Abstract:
Wet suits used by water sports enthusiasts (e.g., surfers) are provided with the ability to be inflated during emergency situations to provide life-saving buoyancy and floatation aid. The inflatable wet suit will preferably include a torso section having a back pocket and a bladder assembly having an inflatable bladder bag and an inflator valve adapted for operative connection with a compressed gas canister positioned within the back pocket. A rip cord has one of its ends connected to the inflator valve and extends over a shoulder region of the torso section so that the other end thereof is graspably positioned adjacent a front portion of the torso section. A canister pouch within the back pocket of the torso section is provided for receiving the gas canister therein. The canister pouch includes a front wall attached to the torso section along side and bottom edges thereof with a top edge being unattached to the torso section so as to define a pouch space with an open upper end. The front wall also preferably includes at least one cut-out region to allow manual manipulation of the gas canister positioned in the pouch space. A deflation assembly allows the bladder bag to be deflated after use.

Description:
FIELD 
       [0001]    The embodiments disclosed herein relate generally to wet suits used by water sports enthusiasts (e.g., surfers) having the ability to be inflated during emergency situations to provide life-saving buoyancy and floatation aid. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    Personal floatation devices (sometimes colloquially known as “life vests”) are well known. More recently, several proposals have been made to combine a wet suit with inflation capabilities so as to provide the wearer with an emergency floatation aid as evidenced by U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,976,894, 7,351,126 and 7,699,679 (the entire content of each such prior-issued U.S. patent being expressly incorporated herein by reference). 
         [0003]    While the inflatable wet suits in the art appear to be suitable for their intended purpose, some improvements are still desirable. It is toward providing such improvements that the present invention is directed. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0004]    According to the embodiments disclosed herein, wet suits used by water sports enthusiasts (e.g., surfers) are provided with the ability to be inflated during emergency situations to provide life-saving buoyancy and floatation aid. In especially preferred embodiments, the inflatable wet suit will include a torso section having a back pocket and a bladder assembly having an inflatable bladder bag and an inflator valve adapted for operative connection with a compressed gas canister positioned within the back pocket. A rip cord has one of its ends connected to the inflator valve and extends over a shoulder region of the torso section so that the other end thereof is graspably positioned adjacent a front portion of the torso section. 
         [0005]    A canister pouch within the back pocket of the torso section is provided for receiving the gas canister therein. The canister pouch includes a front wall attached to the torso section along side and bottom edges thereof with a top edge being unattached to the torso section so as to define a pouch space with an open upper end. The front wall also preferably includes at least one cut-out region to allow manual manipulation of the gas canister positioned in the pouch space. 
         [0006]    According to some embodiments, the canister pouch may include a top flap fixed to the torso section about top and lateral edges thereof so as to provide an unsecured bottom edge to allow the top flap to extend over and thereby close the open upper end of the pouch space. The top flap may include an opening therein to allow a neck of the gas canister to protrude therethrough and permit operative coupling of the gas canister to the inflator valve. 
         [0007]    A handle assembly is preferably provided which is connected to the other end of the rip cord. According to some embodiments, the handle assembly may include an attachment to removably attach the hand handle assembly to the front portion of the torso section. A strap member may be provided to carry the attachment means. 
         [0008]    According to certain disclosed embodiments, the handle member may include an aligned series of beads with a strap member bridging the beads such that proximal and distal ends of the strap member are connected adjacent to proximal and adjacent ones of the beads, respectively. 
         [0009]    Some embodiments of the inflatable wet suit may be provided with a deflation assembly connected operatively to the bladder bag so as to allow for manual deflation of the bladder bag. If provided, the deflation assembly will preferably include an elongate flexible deflation tube having a proximal end connected operatively to the bladder bag, and a manually operated normally closed deflation valve positioned at a distal end of the deflation tube. 
         [0010]    These and other aspects and advantages of the present invention will become more clear after careful consideration is given to the following detailed description of the preferred exemplary embodiments thereof. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF ACCOMPANYING DRAWINGS 
         [0011]    The disclosed embodiments of the present invention will be better and more completely understood by referring to the following detailed description of exemplary non-limiting illustrative embodiments in conjunction with the drawings of which: 
           [0012]      FIGS. 1A and 1B  are front and rear elevational views, respectively, of an inflatable wet suit embodying the present invention; 
           [0013]      FIG. 2  is an exploded rear perspective view of the wet suit depicted in  FIGS. 1A and 1B  particularly showing the inflatable region thereof; 
           [0014]      FIG. 3  is an enlarged perspective view of the inflator assembly showing the gas canister positioned in the canister pouch and operatively connected to an actuator valve associated with the inflatable bladder assembly; 
           [0015]      FIG. 4  is an enlarged close-up view of the rip-cord handle used to manually actuate the actuator valve of the inflator assembly; 
           [0016]      FIGS. 5A-5C  depict a sequence for positioning the canister in the canister pouch so as to arm the inflator assembly; and 
           [0017]      FIGS. 6A and 6B  depict a sequence of operation of the inflatable wet suit embodying the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0018]    An exemplary embodiment of an inflatable wet suit  10  is depicted in  FIGS. 1A and 1B  as being in the form of a so-called full body suit having front and rear torso sections  10 - 1   a ,  10 - 1   b , respectively, and right and left arm sections  10 - 2   a ,  10 - 2   b . Although not shown, right and left leg sections extending downwardly from the torso sections  10 - 1   a ,  10 - 1  may be provided to cover the wearer&#39;s legs. As is conventional, the various sections of the wet suit  10  are constructed from a rubber material (e.g., neoprene). 
         [0019]    Although depicted as a full body suit in  FIGS. 1A and 1B , the wet suit  10  which embodies the present invention may be provided with a variety of coverages for the wearer, such as partial wet suits which include shortened leg and/or arm sections or vest suits (wherein just a torso section is provided). Thus, all varieties and variants of wet suits may advantageously be provided with emergency inflation capability of the embodiments of the present invention. 
         [0020]    The wet suit  10  is provided with a back pocket  10 - 4  having an access opening  11  closed by a closure member  11   a  (e.g., a zipper or equivalent closure system, e.g., snaps, hook and loop fasteners or the like). The access opening  11  is preferably covered by a flap  11   b  associated with the pocket  10 - 4 . The pocket  10 - 4  is sized and configured to accept therein an inflatable bladder assembly  12  comprised of a flexible bladder bag  12 - 1  and an inflator valve  12 - 2 . The bladder assembly  12  is in and of itself conventional and can be obtained commercially from Mustang Survival Corporation of British Columbia, Canada. 
         [0021]    The inflator valve  12 - 2  includes an actuator lever  12 - 2   a  (see  FIG. 3 ) which is connected to one end of a pull cord  14 . The pull cord  14  is directed over the shoulder region  10 - 1   c  of the wet suit  10  and terminates at its other end with a handle assembly  16  positioned on the upper part of the front torso section  10 - 1   a  below the bib flap  10 - 1   d  (which in the view shown by  FIG. 1A  has been folded away to reveal the handle assembly  16  therebelow). The inflator valve  12 - 2  is threadably connected to the threaded stem  18   a  (see  FIG. 2 ) of a conventional gas canister  18  which contains compressed gas of sufficient volume (e.g., a CO 2  canister of conventional size from about 20- to about 35 grams) to expand and thereby inflate the bladder bag  12 - 1  upon actuation of the inflator valve  12 - 2 . The gas canister is positionally retained in a canister pouch  20  to be described in greater detail below. 
         [0022]    In order to allow manual deflation of the bladder bag  12 - 1  following its inflation, a deflation assembly  13  is provided. The deflation assembly  13  includes an elongate flexible deflation tube  13 - 1  which is connected at its proximal end to a deflation nipple  13 - 2  associated with the bladder bag  12 - 1 . The deflation tube  13 - 1  extends from the deflation nipple  13 - 2  to a manually operated normally closed deflation valve  13 - 3  (see  FIG. 1A ) located at its distal end. The deflation tube  13 - 1  may be retained positionally by one or more material loops  13 - 4  associated with the suit and/or by any suitable two-part fastening system (e.g., VELCRO-Brand hook and loop fasteners). Although depicted as being positioned over the wearer&#39;s shoulder, other placements of the deflation tube  13 - 1  and its associated deflation valve  13 - 3  are of course possible. For example, the tube could be positioned near the wearer&#39;s waist region or maintained in the interior of the back pocket  10 - 4  for access when needed. 
         [0023]    The back pocket  10 - 4  and the components contained therewithin are more visible in the exploded perspective view of  FIG. 2 . As shown, the back pocket  10 - 4  is formed by an interior and exterior pair of opposed back panels  10 - 4   a  and  10 - 4   b , respectively, which are overlaid with one another and stitched around their peripheral edges directly into the rubber material forming the back torso section  10 - 1   b  of the wet suit  10 . As noted briefly above, a transverse opening  11  (shown closed by a suitable closure member  11   a ) is provided in the exterior panel  10 - 4   b  and is covered by a flap  10 - 4   b . The opening  11  will thus permit access to the interior space  15  of the back pocket  10 - 4  when the closure member  11   a  is opened. 
         [0024]    The interior space  15  formed between the panels  10 - 4   a  and  10 - 4   b  removably receives the bladder assembly  12  (e.g., which may be inserted physically into the space  15  through the opening  11 ). As shown in  FIG. 3 , the gas canister  18  is received by and removably retained within the canister pouch  20 . The placement of the gas canister  18  within the canister pouch  20  dependently supports the bladder assembly  12  within the back pocket  10 - 4  by virtue of the mechanical coupling of the canister  18  via its stem  18 - 1  to the valve  12 - 2  and the physical attachment of the valve  12 - 2  to the bladder bag  12 - 1  (e.g., via the nut and washer assembly  17  associated with the valve  12 - 2 ). Thus, the bladder bag  12 - 1  can be positionally maintained within the interior space  15  of back pocket  10 - 4  without fear of wrinkling or the like which could impede and/or inhibit its capability for full inflation. 
         [0025]    Accompanying  FIG. 4  depicts in greater detail the handle assembly  16  attached to the distal end of the rip cord  14 . As shown, the handle assembly  16  is most preferably formed by a series of coaxially aligned beads  16 - 1  that fixed to and surround a distal end section of the rip cord  14 . The coaxially aligned beads  16 - 1  are thus preferably capable of independent movement relative to one another which allow the handle assembly  16  to flex relative to the axis of the rip cord  14 . Such flexion of the beads  16 - 1  will thus promote comfort during use and also provide for a tactile sensation to aid the user. If desired, a one-piece handle assembly  16  may be provided in which case suitable tactile impressions and/or grip surfaces may be physically molded or formed thereon. 
         [0026]    The beads  16 - 1  are bridged by a retainer strap  16 - 2  carrying one part  16 - 2   a  of a two-part fastening system. The other part  16 - 2   b  of the fastening system is fixed to the shoulder region of the front torso section  10 - 1   a . Connection of the fastening parts  16 - 2   a  and  16 - 2   b  will thus retain the beads  16 - 1  of the handle assembly in a ready position against the shoulder region of the upper torso section  10 - 1   a  (shown by dashed line in  FIG. 4 ). Although a two-part snap system is depicted, various other suitable fasteners may similarly be employed (e.g., a hook and loop (e.g., VELCRO-Brand) fastener). The strap  16 - 2  also provides a space between the beads  16 - 1  through which a user&#39;s fingers may be inserted. As such, the strap  16 - 2  will facilitate the user exerting a reliable grip on the beads  16 - 1  to allow the handle assembly to be reliably pulled in an emergency situation so as to cause inflation of the inflatable bladder  12 - 1 . 
         [0027]    As noted previously, during normal use the handle assembly  16  is hidden under the bib flap  10 - 1   d  to prevent inadvertent actuation of the inflator assembly  12  with the rip cord  14  extending from the handle assembly  16  to the actuation lever  12 - 2   a  over the shoulder region of the front and back torso sections  10 - 1   a  and  10 - 1   b , respectively. The rip cord  14  is positionally retained within eyelets (one of which is depicted in  FIG. 4  by reference numeral  14 - 1 ). In preferred embodiments, the eyelets  14 - 1  have one end fixed to the material of the wet suit  10  and another free end carrying one part of a two part fastener system (e.g., a hook and loop (VELCRO-Brand) fastener) to allow a user to position the rip cord  14  within the channel formed by the eyelet. 
         [0028]    The manner in which the gas canister  18  is assembled within the canister pouch  20  is depicted by accompanying  FIGS. 5A-5C . As is shown in  FIG. 5A , a back wall  20 - 1  is preferably stitched to the back panel  10 - 4   d  around its perimeter edges. The front wall  20 - 2  is however preferably stitched to the back panel  10 - 4   d  along its side and bottom edges so that its upper edge remains unattached. As such, the front wall  20 - 2  will define a pouch space  20 - 2   a  with an open upper end  20 - 2   b  of sufficient size to accommodate the gas canister  18  therewithin. The front wall  20 - 2  includes opposed cut-out portions  20 - 3   a  to allow side access to the pouch space  20 - 2   a  to thereby permit gas canister  18  to be manipulated when positioned therein. 
         [0029]    A top flap  20 - 4  is provided and stitched along its top and side edges to the back panel  10 - 4   d . The top flap  20 - 4  is thus unattached to the back panel  10 - 4   d  along its bottom edge  20 - 4   b  which is opposed to the unattached upper edge of the front wall  20 - 2 . The top flap  20 - 4  includes a central opening  20 - 4   a  to allow the threaded stem  18 - 1  of the gas canister  18  to protrude therefrom when positioned in the canister pouch  18  (see  FIG. 5C ). The top flap  20 - 4  has a sufficient lengthwise dimension so as to provide a skirt that covers an upper region of the front wall  20 - 2 . 
         [0030]    It is preferred that each of the back wall,  20 - 1 , front wall  20 - 2  and top flap  20 - 3  is formed of a rubber material (e.g., neoprene) comparable to that forming the torso sections  10 - 1   a  and  10 - 1   b . The back wall  20 - 1 , front wall  20 - 2  and top flap  20 - 4  are thus sufficiently elastic to allow each to be resiliently stretched during placement of the canister  18  within the pouch  20 . As shown in  FIG. 5B , therefore, the elastic resiliency of the top flap  20 - 3  allows it to be stretched to expose the pouch space  20 - 2   a  defined by the front wall  20 - 2  to thereby permit the canister  18  to be inserted therein. Once the canister  18  is positioned in the pouch space  20 - 2   a , the top flap  20 - 4  may then be stretched over the stem  18 - 1  of the canister  18  so the stem  18 - 1  can be forced to protrude through the opening  20 - 4   a . With the top flap  20 - 4  extended over the canister  18  such that the stem  18 - 1  extends through the opening  20 - 4   a , the canister  18  will be positionally retained within the pouch  20 . Moreover, the elastic rubber nature of the walls  20 - 1 ,  20 - 2  and the top flap  20 - 4  will serve to reliably hold the canister  18  in the pouch  20  during the water sports activities associated with the wet suit. 
         [0031]    Once the canister  18  is positioned within the canister pouch  20 , it may be threadably coupled to the inflator valve  12 - 2  of the bladder assembly  12 . To accomplish this task, the threaded neck  18 - 1  of the canister  18  will initially be aligned with a threaded female coupling (not shown) associated with the inflator valve  12 - 2 . Finger contact may be established with the sides of the canister  18  in the pouch  20  by virtue of the cut out portions  20 - 3  to allow the canister  18  to be rotated within the pouch space  20 - 2   a  and thereby thread the neck  18 - 1  thereof into the female coupling of the inflator valve  12 - 2 . After finger tight threaded coupling has been established between the canister  18  and the inflator valve  12 - 2 , the inflator assembly  12 , and hence the wet suit  10 , will then be “armed” and ready for use as depicted in  FIG. 3 . 
         [0032]    Accompanying  FIGS. 6A and 6B  schematically show a water sports enthusiast in an underwater emergency situation. In the example depicted, a surfer wearing a wet suit  10  as described above is trapped underwater by hydraulic action of the waves which prevent the surfer from surfacing for air. When the surfer determines that an unsafe situation exists, s/he may access and grasp the handle assembly  16  as is shown in  FIG. 6A . A sharp pull on the handle assembly  16  causes the rip cord  14  to move the actuator lever  12 - 2   a  of the inflator valve  12  which in turn releases the compressed gas within the canister  18  through the valve  12 - 2  to fill the bladder bag  12 - 1 . The decompressed gas released from the canister  18  will thus inflate the bladder bag  12 - 1 . Since the back panel  10 - 4   b  is formed of a rubber material (e.g., neoprene), it will resiliently expand with inflation of the bladder bag  12 - 1 . The increased buoyancy provided by the inflated bladder bag  12 - 1  will thus cause the surfer to ascend rapidly to the water surface as depicted in  FIG. 6B . Moreover, depending on the submerged depth of the surfer when the bladder bag  12 - 1  is inflated, further inflation, and hence buoyancy, will occur due to the decreasing surrounding water pressure during the ascent. 
         [0033]    Upon reaching the surface of the water, the enthusiast may manually deflate the bladder bag  12 - 1  by operating the normally closed deflation valve  13 - 3  associated with the deflation assembly  13 . In this way, the water sports enthusiast can manually decrease buoyancy as needed and/or completely deflate the bladder bag  12 - 2  so it can be rearmed with a fresh canister  18  to allow for more water sports activities. 
         [0034]    While the invention has been described in connection with what is presently considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that the invention is not to be limited to the disclosed embodiment, but on the contrary, is intended to cover various modifications and equivalent arrangements included within the spirit and scope thereof.