Patent ID: 6409561
Filing Date: 2002-06-25
Classification: B63C

Abstract:
A watercraft personal rescue device ensuring reliable deployment comprising:an inflatable body; a compressed gas canister containing compressed gas, the gas canister connected to the inflatable body such that gas released from the canister enters the inflatable body; a plunger biased toward the canister in a first condition; a penetrator between the plunger and canister a trigger body restraining the plunger in the first condition, the trigger body comprising a plurality of resilient retaining elements encircling the plunger and biased outward by the plunger; and a fuse maintaining the trigger body in the first condition, the fuse comprising at least one metal filament encircling the retaining elements, the fuse separable by passage of electrical current through the fuse; such that, upon the fuse separating, the trigger moves into a second condition allowing the plunger to force the penetrator into the canister to release compressed gas to the inflatable body.