Abstract:
A blanket usable for protection against fire within a vehicle wherein the blanket is stored within the vehicle is provided. The blanket includes a first layer having a flame resistant material, a second layer having a heat resistant material adjacent the first layer, a fastener having a flame resistant material configured to attach the first layer to the second layer, and a cushion usable within the vehicle wherein the cushion includes a sealable cavity for storing the blanket in a deployable position. The first layer and the second layer form a thin, flexible, sheet-like blanket having a length and a width dimension larger than a thickness dimension.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION  
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/443,973, filed Jan. 31, 2003. 
     
    
     
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    This invention relates generally to fire safety products and methods, and more particularly to methods and systems for deploying a blanket usable for protection against fire and heat within a vehicle.  
           [0003]    Commercial airline passenger safety continues to be paramount in the minds of industry professionals and passengers. The increase in the number of both domestic and international flights has led to a potential increase in accidents. Airplanes present a significant danger of fire after a technically survivable crash. In most accidents, passenger injuries may arise from three basic threats including impact, fire, and heat.  
           [0004]    In the event of a potential crash landing, passengers are instructed to fasten their seat belts and tuck into a crash position. Although seat belts reduce the threat of injury from impact and tucking reduces the threat of injury from dislodged debris, the passengers are substantially unprotected against fire and heat. A passenger seat-based system that provides each passenger with the means to shield themselves against fire and heat would be beneficial.  
         BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
         [0005]    In one aspect, a blanket usable for protection against fire within a vehicle wherein the blanket is stored within the vehicle is provided. The blanket includes a first layer having a flame resistant material, a second layer having a heat resistant material adjacent the first layer, a fastener having a flame resistant material configured to attach the first layer to the second layer, and a cushion usable within the vehicle wherein the cushion includes a sealable cavity for storing the blanket in a deployable position. The first layer and the second layer form a thin, flexible, sheet-like blanket having a length and a width dimension larger than a thickness dimension.  
           [0006]    In another aspect, a cushion attachable to a seat is provided. The cushion includes a sealable cavity, and a blanket usable for protection against fire wherein the blanket is configured to be stored in the sealable cavity in a deployable position. The blanket includes a first layer having a flame resistant material, a second layer having a heat resistant material adjacent to the first layer, and a fastener having a flame resistant material configured to attach the first layer to the second layer. The first layer and the second layer form a thin, flexible, sheet-like blanket having a length and a width dimension larger than a thickness dimension.  
           [0007]    In another aspect, a fire emergency protection system usable within a vehicle is provided. The system includes a seat having a headrest for a passenger within the vehicle, a cushion attached to the headrest having a sealable cavity, and a blanket usable by the passenger for protection against fire within the vehicle. The blanket is foldable for storage within the sealable cavity and for facilitating deployment around the passenger.  
           [0008]    In another aspect, a method of deploying a fire emergency protection system usable within a vehicle is provided. The method includes providing a cushion attachable to a headrest on a seat within the vehicle wherein the cushion has a cavity configured to store a blanket usable for protection against fire within the vehicle, enabling a passenger to easily access the blanket within the cavity in case of a fire emergency, and deploying the blanket from the cavity using a first and a second strap such that the blanket covers the passenger within the seat. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0009]    [0009]FIG. 1 is a top view of an emergency blanket.  
         [0010]    [0010]FIG. 2 is a side perspective view of the emergency blanket shown in FIG. 1.  
         [0011]    [0011]FIG. 3 is a side view of the emergency blanket shown in FIG. 1.  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 4 is a bottom view of the emergency blanket shown in FIG. 1.  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 5 is front perspective view of an airplane seat and the emergency blanket shown in FIG. 1.  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 6 is front perspective view of the airplane seat with the emergency blanket stored therein.  
         [0015]    FIGS.  7 A- 7 F are front perspective views of the airplane seat with the emergency blanket being deployed by a passenger. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0016]    For the purposes of description herein, the terms “upper,” “lower,” “right,” “left,” “front,” “rear,” “vertical,” “horizontal,” and derivatives thereof shall relate to blanket  10  as oriented in FIG. 1. However, it is to be understood that the invention may assume various alternative orientations and step sequences, except where expressly specified to the contrary. It is also to be understood that the apparatus and methods illustrated in the figures and described in the specification are exemplary embodiments. Hence, specific dimensions and other physical characteristics relating to the embodiments disclosed herein are not to be considered as limiting, unless the claims expressly state otherwise.  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 1 is a top view of an emergency blanket  10  designed to protect passengers from fire and heat within a vehicle such as an airplane, a motor vehicle, an automobile, and a train. Blanket  10  could also be used in other applications where persons are seated, for example, in a theater. FIG. 2 a prospective view of blanket  10  and FIG. 3 is side view of blanket  10 . Blanket  10  includes a first layer  12  adjacent to and fixedly attached to a second layer  14  by a fastener  16 . First layer  12 , second layer  14 , and fastener  16  are described in greater detail below.  
         [0018]    Blanket  10  has a length  18  and a width  20  larger than a thickness  22 . In one embodiment, blanket  10  is substantially rectangular shaped and length  18  is greater than width  20 . In an alternative embodiment, blanket  10  is substantially square and length  18  is equal to width  20 . In the example embodiment, length  18  is approximately six feet, width  20  is approximately four feet, and thickness  22  is approximately 0.002 inches. In another embodiment, length  18  ranges from approximately five feet to approximately seven feet, width  20  ranges from approximately three feet to approximately five feet, and thickness ranges from approximately 0.001 inches to approximately 0.003 inches.  
         [0019]    Blanket  10  has a first end  30 , a second end  32 , and a body  34  extending therebetween such that second end  32  is opposite first end  30 . Blanket  10  also has a first edge  36  and a second edge  38 , wherein body  34  extends therebetween such that second edge  38  is opposite first edge  36 . A first center axis  40  extends through length  18  and a second center axis  42  extends though width  20 .  
         [0020]    First layer  12  is a flame resistant material that retains its physical properties in the presence of fire. In one embodiment, first layer  12  is made from a flame resistant material with a UL-94 Flammability rating of V-0. In the example embodiment, first layer  12  is made of KAPTON® HN, an all-polyimide film commercially available from American Durafilm Corporation, Holliston, Mass. (KAPTON is a registered trademark of E. I. Du Pont De Nemours and Company Corporation, Wilmington, Del.). In another embodiment, first layer  12  is made from or combinations of flame resistant materials, including, but not limited to, a polyamide, a melamine, an acrylic, and a modacrylic. In yet another embodiment, first layer  12  is made from or combinations of flame and heat resistant materials, including, but not limited to, P84®, BASOFIL®, KEVLAR®, and NOMEX®. (P84 is a registered trademark of Lenzing Group, Austria; BASOFIL is a registered trademark of BASF Corporation, Germany; KEVLAR and NOMEX are registered trademarks of E. I. Du Pont De Nemours and Company, Corporation, Wilmington, Del.)  
         [0021]    First layer  12  has a thickness  13 . In the example embodiment, thickness  13  is approximately 0.001 inches. In another embodiment, thickness  13  ranges from approximately 0.001 inches to approximately 0.003 inches.  
         [0022]    Second layer  14  is a heat resistant material that retains its physical properties in environmental temperatures as high as 400° C. In one embodiment, second layer  14  is made from a heat resistant material with an UL-94 Flammability rating of V-0. In the example embodiment, second layer  14  is made of a heat resistant material similar to first layer  12 . In the one embodiment, second layer  14  is made of KAPTON® HN. In another embodiment, second layer  14  is made from or combinations of heat resistant materials, including, but not limited to, a non-metallic, a ceramic oxide, a polyamide, a melamine, an acrylic, a silica, an aluminum, and a modacrylic. In yet another embodiment, second layer  14  is made from or combinations of heat resistant materials, including, but not limited to, P84®, BASOFIL®, KEVLAR®, and NOMEX®.  
         [0023]    Second layer  14  has a thickness  15 . In the example embodiment, thickness  15  is approximately 0.001 inches. In another embodiment, thickness  15  ranges from approximately 0.001 inches to approximately 0.003 inches  
         [0024]    Fastener  16  is a flame and heat resistant material that retains its physical properties in the presence of fire and environmental temperatures as high as 400° C. In one embodiment, fastener  16  fixedly couples first layer  12  adjacent to second layer  14  using a mechanical fastener. In one embodiment, fastener  16  is a double locked stitched flame and heat resistant thread made from or combinations of flame resistant materials, including, but not limited to, a polyamide, a melamine, an acrylic, and a modacrylic. In one embodiment, fastener  16  is made from a flame and heat resistant material with an UL-94 Flammability rating of V-0. In the example embodiment, fastener  16  is made of KAPTON® HN. In another embodiment, fastener  16  is made from or combinations of flame and heat resistant materials, including, but not limited to, P84®, BASOFIL®, KEVLAR®, and NOMEX®.  
         [0025]    In an alternative embodiment, fastener  16  fixedly couples first layer  12  adjacent to second layer  14  using a chemical fastener (shown in FIG. 3), including, but not limited to, a flame and heat resistant adhesive or glue that retains its physical properties in the presence of fire and environmental temperatures as high as 400° C. In one embodiment, chemical fastener  16  is a flame and heat resistant material adhesive, including, but not limited to, a polyamide, a melamine, an acrylic, and a modacrylic.  
         [0026]    A first strap  44  and a second strap  46  extend parallel to length  18  from the intersection of first edge  36  and first end  30  and second edge  38  and first end  30 , respectively. In an alternative embodiment, greater than two straps extend along blanket end  30  and are positioned at various locations along first end  30 . In the exemplary embodiment, first strap  44  and second strap  46  are looped straps and are coupled to first end  30  such that first layer  12  and second layer  14  are positioned between the loop attachment ends (not shown). In an alternative embodiment, first strap  44  and second strap  46  are not looped and are coupled to first end  30  to either first layer  12  or second layer  14 . In the exemplary embodiment, first strap  44  and second strap  46  extend approximately eleven inches from blanket first end  30 . In one embodiment, first strap  44  and second strap  46  extend from blanket first end  30  approximately seven to fifteen inches.  
         [0027]    First strap  44  and second strap  46  are coupled to blanket first end  30  using a mechanical fastener (not shown), including, but not limited to, a double locked stitched fire and heat resistant thread or a metallic grommet. In another embodiment, the fire and heat resistant thread used to couple straps  44  and  46  to blanket first end  30  is made from a flame and heat resistant material, including, but not limited to, a polyamide, a melamine, an acrylic, and a modacrylic. In an alternative embodiment, first strap  44  and second strap  46  are coupled to blanket first end  30  using a chemical fastener (not shown), including, but not limited to, a flame and heat resistant adhesive or glue that retains its physical properties in the presence of fire and environmental temperatures as high as 400° C. In one embodiment, the chemical fastener is a flame and heat resistant material adhesive, including, but not limited to, a polyamide, a melamine, an acrylic, and a modacrylic.  
         [0028]    First strap  44  and second strap  46  are made of a flame resistant material. In the example embodiment, first strap  44  and second strap  46  are made of TEFLON® Coated Glass Fabric (TCGF) commercially available from American Durafilm Corporation, Holliston, Mass. (TEFLON is a registered trademark of E. I. Du Pont De Nemours and Company Corporation, Wilmington, Del.). In another embodiment, first strap  44  and second strap  46  are made from flame and heat resistant materials, including, but not limited to, a polyamide, a melamine, an acrylic, and a modacrylic. In yet another embodiment, first strap  44  and second strap  46  are made from flame and heat resistant materials, including, but not limited to, KAPTON® HN, P84′, BASOFIL®, KEVLAR®, and NOMEX®.  
         [0029]    In one embodiment, blanket first end  30  is folded back on itself to form a pleat  50 . In another embodiment, pleat  50  includes a first support strap  52  positioned within pleat  50  and configured to facilitate securing first strap  44  and second strap  46  to blanket first end  30 . Support strap  52  is made of a flame resistant material. In the example embodiment, support strap  52  is made of TCGF. In another embodiment, support strap  52  is made from flame and heat resistant materials, including, but not limited to, a polyamide, a melamine, an acrylic, and a modacrylic. In yet another embodiment, support strap  52  is made from flame and heat resistant materials, including, but not limited to, KAPTON® HN, P84®, BASOFIL®, KEVLAR®, and NOMEX®.  
         [0030]    A third strap  48  extends across blanket body  34  along second center axis  42  extending beyond each of first edge  36  and second edge  38 . In the exemplary embodiment, third strap  48  extends approximately 16.25 inches beyond first edge  36  and second edge  38 . In one embodiment, third strap  48  extends between a range of approximately twelve to twenty inches beyond each of first edge  36  and second edge  38 .  
         [0031]    Third strap  48  is coupled to blanket body  34  using a mechanical fastener (not shown), including, but not limited to, a double locked stitched fire and heat resistant thread or a metallic grommet. In another embodiment, the fire and heat resistant thread used to couple third strap  48  to blanket body  34  is made from a flame and heat resistant material, including, but not limited to, a polyamide, a melamine, an acrylic, and a modacrylic. In an alternative embodiment, third strap  48  is coupled to blanket body  34  using a chemical fastener (not shown), including, but not limited to, a flame and heat resistant material adhesive or glue that retains its physical properties in the presence of fire and heat. In one embodiment, the chemical fastener is a flame and heat resistant material adhesive, including, but not limited to, a polyamide, a melamine, an acrylic, and a modacrylic.  
         [0032]    Third strap  48  is made of a flame resistant material. In the example embodiment, third strap  48  is made of TCGF. In another embodiment, third strap  48  is made from flame and heat resistant materials, including, but not limited to, a polyamide, a melamine, an acrylic, and a modacrylic. In yet another embodiment, third strap  48  is made from flame and heat resistant materials, including, but not limited to, KAPTON® HN, P84®, BASOFIL®, KEVLAR®, and NOMEX®.  
         [0033]    In one embodiment, blanket second end  32  is folded back on itself to form a pleat  54 . In another embodiment, pleat  54  includes a support strap  56  positioned within pleat  54  and configured to facilitate securing blanket second end  32  to a cushion (not shown in FIGS.  1 - 3 ). Support strap  56  is made of a flame resistant material. In the example embodiment, support strap  56  is made of TCGF. In another embodiment, support strap  56  is made from flame and heat resistant materials, including, but not limited to, a polyamide, a melamine, an acrylic, and a modacrylic. In yet another embodiment, support strap  56  is made from flame and heat resistant materials, including, but not limited to, KAPTON® HN, P84®, BASOFIL®, KEVLAR®, and NOMEX®.  
         [0034]    [0034]FIG. 4 is a bottom view of emergency blanket  10  shown in FIG. 1. Blanket  10  is a thin, flexible sheet such that it is foldable. In the example embodiment, blanket  10  can be folded along a series of lengthwise folds  60 . Each fold  60  has a width  62 . In the exemplary embodiment, fold width  62  is approximately seven inches wide. Fold width  62  is dependant upon the size of blanket  10  and the vehicle seat (not shown in FIGS.  1 - 3 ). Each of blanket edge  36  and  38  are folded in a first direction  64  towards center axis  40 . Blanket  10  is folded until a distance  66  exists between center axis  40  and fold  60 . In the exemplary embodiment, distance  66  is 7.5 inches.  
         [0035]    [0035]FIG. 5 is front perspective view of an airplane seat  70  and headrest  71  and emergency blanket  10  prior to storage in headrest  71 . FIG. 6 is front perspective view of the airplane seat with the emergency blanket stored therein. Blanket  10  is folded as shown in FIG. 4 until blanket  10  resembles the folded blanket  10  in FIG. 5. Blanket  10  is then folded in a series of accordion-like folds  72 . Each fold  72  has a width  74 . In the exemplary embodiment, fold width  74  is approximately seven inches wide.  
         [0036]    During storage, blanket  10  is disposed within a cushion  80  that includes a cavity  82 . Cavity  82  is sized to receive blanket  10  and is configured to secure blanket second end  32  to an attachment member  84 . Blanket  10  is fixedly attached within cavity  82  using a mechanical fastener (not shown), including, but not limited to, a thread or a metallic grommet. A protective flap  86  allows blanket  10  to remain covered while in cavity  82 . A first end  88  of protective flap  86  is fixedly attached to headrest  71  using a mechanical fastener (not shown), including, but not limited to, a thread or a metallic grommet. A second end  90  of protective flap  86  is releasably attached to headrest  71  using a mechanical fastener (not shown), including, but not limited to, hook and pile fasteners.  
         [0037]    FIGS.  7 A- 7 F are front perspective views of airplane seat  70  with emergency blanket  10  being deployed by a passenger  100 . Beginning with FIG. 7A, passenger  100  is notified of a potentially dangerous situation. Passenger  100  lifts protective flap  86  up and back in a direction  102  toward the rear of the airplane (not shown) exposing first and second straps  44  and  46 . Next in FIG. 7B, passenger  100  grasps first and second straps  44  and  46  and pulls in a vertical direction  104  by extending their arms a length  106  until blanket  10  extends from seat  70 . In FIG. 7C, passenger begins to pull blanket  10  in a second horizontal direction  108  and blanket  10  begins to unfold. In FIG. 7D, passenger  100  pulls blanket  10  in a downward direct  110  and then grabs third strap  48  and pulls in a downward and sideways direction  112  using both arms. In FIG. 7E, passenger  100  secures first and second straps under their feet. In FIG. 7F, passenger  100  pulls third strap  48  until the entire passenger is covered by blanket  10 .  
         [0038]    The flame resistant side of blanket protects the passenger from flames that may occur at or shortly after impact, while the heat resistant side protects the passenger from the heat generated by the flames. In one embodiment, the blanket can be detachably connected to headrest such that it can be removed while the passenger exits the plane. Additionally, the blanket has uses outside vehicles that take advantage of both its accordion-like folding nature and its fire and heat protection. In one embodiment, high rise buildings could place cushions within an office such that a person trapped by a fire in the office could deploy the blanket as a shield to assist in exiting the building, therefore eliminating the need to jump from the building and yet maintain access to fresh air.  
         [0039]    The blanket&#39;s ability to provide protection from fire and heat and its ability to be stored in small cavities will facilitate reducing deaths and injuries resulting from fire emergencies that occur within vehicles including airplanes, motor vehicles, and trains.  
         [0040]    While the invention has been described in terms of various specific embodiments, those skilled in the art will recognize that the invention can be practiced with modification within the spirit and scope of the claims.