Abstract:
A self-contained emergency flotation device, the flotation device, with attached reflective material that is manual and/or automatic inflatable which is permanently, semi-permanently or temporarily mounted to a pleasure vessel, boat, canoe, kayak or personal watercraft, the vessel. The flotation device provides additional flotation, incremental buoyancy to the vessel. The flotation device includes one or more reusable flotation bladder, one or more inflators coupled to the bladder(s), one or more cartridges of compressed gas coupled to the inflator(s), one or more retention straps, a mounting mechanism, at least one backup inflator, one or more rollover strap is provided. The inflator activates to inflate one or more inflatable bladders when the flotation device is immersed in water. The flotation device remains attached to the vessel of which it is fastened. However, the temporary mounted flotation device can be reattached before and/or after inflation to assist the vessel&#39;s flotation. The rollover strap attached to the flotation device provides a hand grab(s) that can be used to roll the vessel to an upright position or used by the passenger(s) to stay with the vessel when in the water. As an integral part of the vessel, the flotation device is ready for deployment which converts a vessel into a suitable life raft type device.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention generally relates to a flotation device that may be permanently, semi-permanently, or temporarily mounted to a pleasure vessel, boat, canoe, kayak, or personal watercraft. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Today more people boat without wearing a life jacket than do. So when tragedy strikes, people have little at their immediate disposal to ensure their safely. Minimum requirement is a personal life preserver or personal flotation device, the PFD, for each person onboard. These PFDs are usually stored under a seat cushion or in a cabin, not readily accessible. In most cases tragic events happen so fast, people do not have time to locate the PFD. Leaving them in the water exposed to the elements in a semi-capsized or fully capsized vessel. 
     In general, people want the security of a life raft but find the life raft to be more of a nuisance; where to store them, servicing cost, etc. So the flotation device provides a unique, self-contained emergency flotation device to increase boating safety over that of a PFD and that of a life raft. Integrating flotation devices into the vessel turns the vessel into a suitable life raft type device. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In one aspect of the present invention a flotation device that includes a bladder, of least one inflator coupled to the bladder, at least one cartridge of compressed gas coupled to the inflator, at least one retention strap, a mounting mechanism, a backup inflator, and at least one strap is provided. 
     In another aspect of the present invention, the inflator of the flotation device may be an automatic inflator that may be activated by liquid contact, a change in pressure, or an electric trigger and the strap may include one or more loops suitable for a human hand or foot. 
     In another aspect of the present invention, the inflator of the flotation device may be a mechanical inflator that is activated by a mechanical trigger. 
     These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following drawings, description, and claims. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  illustrates one embodiment of a flotation device according to the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  illustrates one embodiment of coaming pad for storing a flotation device according to the present invention; 
         FIG. 3  illustrates a flotation device that is stored within the coaming pad of  FIG. 2 ; 
         FIG. 4  illustrates one embodiment of a universal rigid flotation device according to the present invention; 
         FIG. 5  illustrates a flotation device that is stored within the universal rigid flotation device of  FIG. 4 ; 
         FIG. 6  illustrates one embodiment of a universal soft flotation device according to the present invention; and 
         FIG. 7  is illustrates a flotation device that is stored within the universal soft flotation device of  FIG. 6 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The following detailed description is of the best currently contemplated modes of carrying out exemplary embodiments of the invention. The description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention, since the scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims. 
     Various inventive features are described below that can each be used independently of one another or in combination with other features. However, any single inventive feature may not address any of the problems discussed above or may only address one of the problems discussed above. Further, one or more of the problems discussed above may not be fully addressed by any of the features described below. 
     Broadly, one embodiment of the present invention generally provides a flotation device that is inflatable, either manually or automatically, that may be permanently, semi-permanently, or temporarily mounted to various types of marine vessels at various mounting locations. Those mounting locations may include but are not limited to a surface on top of, inside, or under the gunwale, inside the vessel (i.e. excluding the outside hull surface(s)), any structure above the vessel&#39;s floor that is exposed or concealed under another surface or material which provides flotation to the vessel, or any vessel opening inside the vessel&#39;s hull. 
     The flotation device of the present invention may provide additional flotation and incremental buoyancy to the vessel. The flotation device may be utilized with a several different types of vessels which may include but are not limited to a bass, center console, express cruise, Fish &#39;N Ski, flying bridge sedan, deck boats, pontoon, express fish, runabout bowrider, runabout, cuddy, tournament ski, utility, walk-around, and jon type vessel. 
     When a vessel takes on water or is capsized due to water egress, the vessel may sink, float upside down, or float bow up providing little if any support to sustain human life until rescue. In heavy seas it is nearly impossible to stay with the vessel while waves and winds pound the vessel as passengers float alongside. Due to the vessel&#39;s size, water forces exerted by the submerged structure, and the lack of leverage it is almost impossible for passengers in the water to roll the marine vessel upright. While passengers are stranded in the water, hypothermia may also become an issue before a successful rescue is made because a capsized vessel floating upside down provides little access to stored safety gear, food, water, emergency signaling equipment, etc. to assist passengers in survival and rescue. 
     When one or more flotation devices, such as but not limited to a tower structure, coaming pads, or any above deck structure or compartments, are placed above a vessel&#39;s floor, the device&#39;s buoyancy may create enough force to assist in rolling the marine vessel on its side or fully upright. Existing inflatable devices may be attached to the exterior hull of a vessel, but these devices require the manufacturer to modify the hull during the manufacturing process to incorporate such devices. Other vessel manufacturers may use rigid flotation material such as foam between their deck(s) and hull which provides some flotation. However, the flotation is not adequate to completely float the vessel and there is no device(s) to assist the passenger(s) in rolling the vessel over, upright. 
     Therefore, there is a need for a flotation device that requires no modification to a vessel&#39;s hull and may be an add-on device. Furthermore, incorporation of rollover straps may assist passengers in rolling a capsized vessel. Once upright, the vessel may be used as a life raft for passengers and they may also reenter the vessel to gain access to safety gear, food, water, emergency signaling equipment as well as limit the possibility of hypothermia. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 1 , the flotation device  02  of the present invention may include a bladder  04 . The bladder  04  may be shaped as a cylinder or as other shapes such as but not limited to a cone, sphere, hemisphere, cube, elongated cube, cylinder, pyramid, triangular prism, rectangular prism, pentagonal prism, hexagonal prism, octagonal prism, or any other polyhedron prism. The bladder  04  may be comprised of any air-tight material known in the art of inflatable devices, including but not limited to all inflatable materials, fabrics or coated fabrics such as PVC or PVC/PU coated nylon. The bladder material may also be resistant to punctures by sharp objects. The bladder may include one or more self contained chambers or one or more chambers with one-way valves which may allow gas to fill each chamber. 
     The flotation device  02  may have one or retention straps  06  which may be external or internal to the bladder  04  or as part of the bladder  04  material itself. The retention straps  06  may provide the connection between the flotation device  02  and the vessel. The retention straps  06  may be made of suitable material to handle the mechanical forces and environmental elements that a marine vessel may encounter. Such material may include but is not limited to webbing, enforced materials, or structural fabrics. The retention straps  06  may be attached to the bladder  04  at one or more bladder seams external to the air-tight vessel created by the bladder  04  or as part of the bladder  04  itself. The retention straps  06  may be flexible and pliable so that they can be folded as required. 
     One or more inflators  08  may deliver an inflating gas to the bladder  04  in an automatic or manual mode. The automatic mode may include, but is not limited to, contact with liquids, increase in pressure, electronic trigging, or a combination of liquid, gas, and/or pressure methods. Some embodiments may also have electronic activated sensors and/or monitoring sensors that could automatically activate the flotation device  02  and/or send information of activation to a vessel monitoring system to notify passengers of the flotation devices&#39; current status. In some cases, premature activation in automatic mode could occur during wash down, cleaning, rain, or water spray on the vessel. To prevent this, the bladder  04  may be wrap-folded in order to create a cocoon around the leading, top, and front edges to direct liquid away from the inflator  08 . The manual mode may require an external mechanical activation, movement, or electronic trigging event to dispense the inflating gas. The inflator  08  may be mounted to the bladder  04  in any location with an airtight seal. In addition, the inflator  08  may be mounted external from the flotation device  02  for various applications. 
     One or more custom cartridges  10  of suitable size and volume may be attached to the flotation device  02  to deliver the required inflation gas to the bladder  04 . The cartridge  10  may be an enclosed vessel which contains compressed gas that is connected to the inflator  08 . The cartridge  10  may be connected to the inflator  08  using a screw, bayonet, slide and clip mount, or other similar methods. The cartridge  10  may have a cylindrical or oval cylindrical profile may be 1 to 2.5 inches in diameter and 8 inches or longer. The cartridge  10  may also be wider in diameter and shorter or longer based on the design of the flotation device. 
     Each retention strap  06  may have a mounting mechanism  12  to connect the flotation device  02  to the vessel. The mounting mechanisms  12  may include but are not limited to eyelets, screws, bolts &amp; nuts, helical &amp; threaded inserts, rivets, threaded rods &amp; studs, U-Bolts, shim clips, pins, anchors, mails, staples key stocks, retaining rings, cable ties, hook &amp; loop, buckles, snaps, or adhesives. 
     The flotation device  02  may also have one or more straps  14  which are external to the bladder. The straps  14  may be mounted to the retention straps  05  or as part of the mounting mechanism  12  or on its own external mount. The strap  14  may be of suitable length and material to handle the mechanical forces and environmental elements a marine vessel may encounter. Each strap  14  may also have one or more loops suitable for a human hand or foot hold. 
     One or more backup inflators  16  may deliver an inflating gas to the bladder  04  as an alternative method of inflating the bladder  04 . The backup inflator  16  may be mounted to the bladder  04  in any suitable location based on the bladder&#39;s  04  style and mounting location using an air-tight seal. In addition, the backup inflator  16  may be mounted external from the flotation device  02  for various applications. 
     The reflective material  18  may be made of suitable material that reflects light and radar using industry standard materials. One or more reflective materials  18  may be coupled to the bladder  04 , retention strap  06 , or as an independent element. The reflective material  18  may be any shape such as but not limited to strips, patches, rectangles, circles, ovals, polygons, or any subset, combination of, or partial shape implementation. 
     The flotation device  02  may also be configured into several forms such as but not limited to a coaming pad flotation device  20 , a universal rigid flotation device  38 , or a universal soft flotation device  44  as illustrated in  FIG. 2 ,  FIG. 4 , and  FIG. 6 , respectively. The coaming pad flotation device  20  may allow for immediate deployment for adding incremental flotation to the vessel&#39;s cockpit area where most of the vessel&#39;s weight is and where the passengers may be during an emergency event. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 2 , the flotation device  02  may be packaged inside a vessel&#39;s coaming pad so that it is concealed to retain the vessel&#39;s style and function. As illustrated in  FIG. 3 , a soft cover  24  may enclose the flotation device  02  and may be made of industry standard materials for coaming pads such as but not limited to vinyl, marine-grade vinyl, poly/vinyl, UV treated materials, Supplex, taffetta, coated-nylon, naugahyde, nautolex marine vinyls, canvas, morbern, enduratex, foam backed vinyl, pleated vinyl, sante fe suede, 100% vinyl, or nylon fabrics such as cordure, oxford cloth, pack cloth, or rip stop. The soft cover  24  may use welt cording on seams between soft cover  24  panels. A removal seam closure  36  may be used as required on each end of the coaming pad flotation device  20  so that the soft cover  24  may open during activation of the flotation device  02 . Velcro™, breakaway stitch seam, staples, or any hook and loop closure device may be used as a seam closure  36  but are not limited to these methods or devices. 
     The soft cover  24  may include one or more ventilation openings  34 . The ventilation openings  34  may be a simple opening in the soft cover  24  material, opening with reinforced edges of stitching, a grommet, a grommet with screen, or any other device that allows a ventilation opening  34  into the coaming pod&#39;s internal cavity. The ventilation openings  34  may be located on the bottom side of the soft cover  24  but may be located at any suitable location. 
     The inside cavity may be filled with padding  22  which is of industry standard materials such as medium to high density polyfoams that are either open, closed, or quick drain cell foam designs. The protective cover  30  may be a flexible polymer, a protective coaming on the padding  22 , or a rigid polymer that may protect the flotation device  02  while in its non-active state. The protective cover  30  may be of various lengths and may have openings or voids in the material for ventilation into the internal cavity. 
     The mounting plate  26  may be made of a suitable polymer material to provide support for the coaming pad flotation device  20  and its components. One or more retention devices  28  made of but not limited to Velcro™, breakaway stitch seams, or any hook and loop closure device may be located on the coaming pad flotation device  20  flap opening. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 4 , a universal rigid flotation device  38  may have a similar package as the coaming pad flotation device  20  without the padding. The universal rigid flotation device  38  may also have a smaller profile for different vessel mounting locations. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 5 , a hard/soft cover  40  can be of a soft cover or of a semi-rigid or rigid polymer material with breakaway devices to allow the hard/soft cover&#39;s  40  removal during activating of the flotation device  2 . The protective cover  42  may be required when using a soft cover material. The hard/soft cover  40  may also provide protection from the environmental elements surrounding the flotation device  02  and protect against premature inflations. 
     The protective cover  42  may be a flexible polymer, a protective coaming on the soft cover, or a rigid polymer to protect the flotation device  02  while in its non-active state. This protective cover  42  may be of various lengths and may have openings or voids in the material for ventilation into the internal cavity. 
     The mounting device  32  may be internal as shown in  FIG. 5  or external to the universal rigid flotation device  38  envelope. This may allow for different mounting locations within a vessel. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 6 , a universal soft flotation device  44  may allow for the most flexibility in mounting locations and vessel types using a semi-permanent or temporary mounting method. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 7 , a soft cover  46  may enclose the flotation device  02  and may be made of industry standard materials for marine upholstery as described above. The soft cover  46  may use welt cording on seams between softer cover  46  panels. A removal seam closure  36  may be used as required, and may be on each end of the universal soft flotation device  44  to allow the soft cover  46  to open during activation of the flotation device  02 . Velcro™, breakaway stitch seam, or any hook and loop closure device may be used as a seam closure  36  but are not limited to those methods or devices. 
     The soft cover  46  is shown in  FIG. 7  as an individual component of the universal soft flotation device  44 , however it can be part of the bladder  04 , as well. The mounting mechanism  12  may exit the soft cover  46  at any location, however the bottom side along the longitudinal axis or side is may provide a better location for mounting on a vessel. 
     The mounting device  48  may be a buckle or may include any of the above described mechanisms to connect the universal soft flotation device  44  to the vessel. A buckle may be made of steel, plastic, or other polymers or metals such as but not limited to feed-through adjusting plates, a spring-loaded clamp, hinged-bar, cam, quick-tight, or squeeze-release which may be sew-on or no-sew. 
     The embodiments described above by reference to  FIG. 1-FIG .  7  may be combined using various connection means. These connection may include any known connectors such as eyelets, screws, bolts &amp; nuts, bolts helical &amp; threaded inserts, rivets, threaded rods &amp; studs, U-Bolts, Shim Clips, pins, anchors, mails, staples, key stocks, retaining rings, cable ties, hook &amp; loop, buckles, snaps, sewing seams, or adhesives. The connection may also be made using any other industry standard methods for the materials used, such as RF welding, chemical bonding, etc. RF welding is also known as RF sealing, radio frequency welding, dielectric bonding, dielectric interface, dielectric sealing, dielectric welding, dielectric heat sealing, dielectric interface, electronic heat sealing, high frequency welding, high frequency sealing, HF sealing, HF welding, induction heating, bar sealing, blister sealing, blister welding, clam shell sealing, custom RF welding, custom RF sealing, electronic heat sealing, industrial sealing, industrial welding, low dielectric welding, medical radio frequency sealing, package heat sealing, package sealing, plastic sealing technology, PVC welding, and RF bonding. 
     The inflator  08 , backup inflator  16 , and reflective materials  18  may be connected to the one or more bladder panels in a location that is accessible to user from inside the vessel or when floating alongside the vessel. These elements may also be coupled to the bladder  04  with RF welding. The bladder panels may be bonded with RF welding to each other on the outer peripheral edge to create the design shape for the flotation device  02  and an air-tight seal. Reinforcement between bladder panels may be in the form of sewing seams external to the RF welding seam. Industry standard thread may be used for this connection. 
     The cartridge  10  may connect to the inflator  08  via an industry standard connection such as screw, bayonet, or slide and clip mount methods. The cartridge&#39;s  10  body may be held in place by a loop  49  located on the retention strap  06 . The retention straps  06  may be connected to the bladder  04  on the outer edge of the bladder  04  external to the RF welding seam. When the retention straps  06  are part of the bladder material, no connection is required between these two components. 
     The mounting mechanism  12  may be connected to the mounting plate  26  using an industry standard method via one or more openings in the retention straps  06 . The retention straps  06  may have enough scope to make the connection and allow the flotation device  02  to swing freely and unobstructed from the mounted surface. The strap  14  may be connected to either the retention straps  06 , the mounting mechanism  12 , or an external mount. When connected to the retention strap  06  a sewing seam may be used. 
     In the coaming pad flotation device  20  or the universal rigid flotation device  38  configuration, the flotation device  02  may connected to the mounting plate  26  via the mounting device  32  using a bolt and nut method, for example. The mounting device  32  may be long enough to mount the coaming pod flotation device  20  or the universal rigid flotation device  38  to the vessel using a nut-lock washer method. 
     The padding  22  may be connected to the inside surface of the soft cover  24  using adhesive. The soft cover  24  may be connected to the mounting plate  26  using staples, for example, which may provide a secure connection that enables proper use of the coaming pad during normal operation. The protective cover  30  may be connected to (1) the mounting plate  26  using one or more mechanical clips, (2) the padding using adhesive, or (3) it may be a spray-on material to the padding  22 . 
     The retention devices  28  may be connected to the mounting plate  26  with staples, adhesive, and/or other industry standard methods used in upholstering. In addition, the retention devices  28  may be connected to the soft cover  24  with sewing seams and/or adhesive. Any mechanical ventilation opening  34  may be connected to the soft cover using a pressure fix, adhesive, mechanical clamp, crimp or other industry standard method. The seam closure  36  may be applied using a sewing seam, adhesive and/or other industry standard method as well. 
     In the universal rigid flotation device  38  device, the retention device  28  may also be connected to the mounting plate  26  using staples, adhesive, and/or other industry standard methods used in upholstering. In addition, the retention device  28  may be connected to the hard/soft cover  40  with sewing seams and/or adhesive. 
     The protective cover  42  may be connected to (1) the mounting plate  26  using one or more mechanical dips, (2) the hard/soft cover  40  using adhesive or (3) is a spray-on material to the hard/soft cover  40 . 
     For the universal soft flotation device  44 , all previous connections apply with the following changes. The soft cover  46  may be sewn, RF welded, or adhered to the bladder  02 . In addition, the mounting device  48  may be a buckle which is sewn-on or not sewn onto the retention strap  06 . 
     Use of the various flotation devices described above will now be explained. One or more flotation devices  02  may be secured to a vessel to provide incremental flotation to the vessel. Each flotation device  02  can be inflated using the automatic function of the inflator  08 , the manual function of the inflator  08 , or the backup inflator  16 . When the vessel is taking on water and is in the normal floating position, hull side down and in the water, the manual inflation method may be used to assist in preventing the vessel from rollover. When the vessel rolls over and is capsized, the inflator&#39;s  08  automatic function may inflate each flotation device  02 . 
     Upon activation of the inflator  08 , compressed gas from the cartridge  10  may be expelled into the bladder  04  filling it with gas. While the bladder  04  is inflating, the force may open any of the flotation devices  02  packaging including but not limited to the coaming pod flotation device  20 , the universal rigid flotation device  38 , or the universal soft flotation device  44 , allowing the bladder  04  to fully inflate. The inflated bladder  04  is connected to the vessel via the one or more mounting mechanisms  12  and mounting devices  32  &amp;  48 . This allows the flotation devices&#39;  02  buoyancy forces to transmit to the vessel. In some mounting locations the flotation devices&#39;  02  buoyancy forces may be transmitted to the vessel via the bladder with contact to the vessel&#39;s structure. In this case, the mounting mechanisms  12  and mounting devices  32  &amp;  48  may hold the flotation device  02  in position. Fully inflated, the flotation devices  02  may increase the vessel&#39;s ability to stay afloat when taking on water. 
     Based to the flotation devices&#39;  02  mounting locations, the leverage distance from the surface, and the flotation devices  02  upward buoyancy force, the flotation devices may create a rolling force to place the vessel on its side or fully upright. When on its side, the straps  14  may be used to help roll the vessel to a full upright position. 
     The inflator  08  may be an industry standard device which operates on water contact and/or water pressure and/or electrical activation for the automatic method of operation. This water includes all types but not limited to saltwater, freshwater or brackish water. One manual method may also include a rip cord pull method to activate the cartridge  10 . 
     The backup inflator  16  may be used to initially inflate the flotation device  02  or used to refill the bladder with gas. The backup inflator  16  may be an industry standard device which requires a human blowing air into the bladder  04  via the backup inflator  16 . The reflective material  18  on the bladder  04  may also provide identification at day or night for light and radar search methods. 
     Once a flotation device  02  is deployed. It may also be repackaged and rearmed for continued service. A temporarily mounted flotation device  02  may also be repositioned before or after inflation to secure the vessel&#39;s stability in comprising situations. If the flotation device is removed altogether by cutting the retention strap  06  free from its mount or unbuckling the flotation device  02 , it may be used as a personal flotation device independent of the vessel or a flotation element of a raft or vessel. Furthermore, the flotation device  02  may also be used as a lifting element by connecting the retention straps  06  to the object or by placing the flotation device  02  under the object to be lifted. 
     It should be understood, of course, that the foregoing relates to exemplary embodiments of the invention and that modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims.