Patent ID: 6685520
Filing Date: 2004-02-03
Classification: B63B,B63C

Abstract:
A self-righting inflatable life raft comprising:a raft body having inflatable side walls and a floor located therebetween; and at least two inflatable tube members forming arches that extend from one side of the raft body to the other, each arch extending upwardly and outward from a perimeter of the raft body at an angle from the perpendicular to the raft body; the life raft having a central axis of symmetry and a center of gravity through which the weight of the life raft acts to rotate the raft on the surface of water from an unstable inverted position to a stable upright position, wherein the tube members when inflated have a buoyancy sufficient to exert a turning moment on the life raft causing the life raft to topple by gravity to an upright position, and at least one inflatable interconnecting tube which is asymmetrically positioned between the arches relative to the central axis to introduce asymmetry to the self-righting raft thereby creating, when the life raft is in the inverted position and the tube is inflated, an upward force offset from the central axis which causes a turning moment to assist in rotating the life raft to the stable upright position.