Abstract:
A switch system for automatically activating a mechanism such as a gas or fluid supply, an electrical switch, or chemical process is provided. The switch system comprises a float housing and a float slidable within the float housing with the float slidable from a first position to a second position. An activation trigger extends through the float housing with the activation trigger having a first trigger end and a second trigger end, the first trigger end contacting the float. A valve activates the mechanism with the valve connected to the second trigger end wherein upon movement of the float from the first position to the second position, the second trigger end activating the mechanism.

Description:
[0001]    The present application is a continuation of pending provisional patent application Serial No. 60/207,996, filed on May 26, 2000, entitled “Automatic Inflating Boat Flotation Device” and pending patent application Ser. No. 09/832,774, filed Apr. 10, 2001, entitled “Automatic Boat Flotation Device”. 
     
    
     
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    1. Field of the Invention  
           [0003]    The present invention relates to a float switch activation assembly and, more particularly, it relates to a float switch activation assembly which is capable of inflating a watercraft flotation device that inhibits a watercraft from sinking. The flotation device automatically inflates when a predetermined amount of water enters the hold of the watercraft and activates the float switch activation assembly.  
           [0004]    2. Description of the Prior Art  
           [0005]    Boating is both a popular pastime and a vital commercial activity in much of the world today. A boat is often a substantial investment for the owner. In the case of commercial boats, the boat is often the livelihood of the owner of the boat. As a general concept, boats sink when the hull of the boat takes on water and the boat loses its buoyancy. This can happen if the hull is breached due to a collision with some object or in heavy waves if the boat is swamped.  
           [0006]    Flotation devices and the switches to activate the flotation devices have not been able to always maintain the boats in a floating position. Many times, these switches were required to be manually operated which would allow a boat to sink when the boat was vacant. Other switches were generally unreliable in that premature flotation of the flotation devices or failure to activate the flotation devices would occur thereby causing inconvenience, and possibly injury, to the boat owner.  
           [0007]    The primary aspect of the present invention is to provide a float switch activation assembly which is capable of inflating a watercraft flotation device that inhibits a watercraft from sinking after water has partially filled the hull of the boat and for any other switch or activation based on change in level of fluid or gas.  
         SUMMARY  
         [0008]    The present invention is a float switch assembly for activating a gas supply for inflating a flotation device mounted on a watercraft. The flotation device maintains the watercraft in a floating condition. The float switch assembly comprises a hollow float housing having a first end and a second end and at least one aperture formed in the first end of the float housing. A float body is movable within the float housing upon a predetermined amount of water entering the float housing through the aperture. A trigger mechanism contacts the float body with the trigger mechanism having an attachment end extending through a slot formed in the float housing. A pivot assembly pivotally is connected to the attachment end of the trigger mechanism. An activatable valve mechanism is connected to the gas supply with the valve mechanism releasably connected to the attachment end of the trigger mechanism and movable from a closed position to an open position wherein upon movement of the float body within the float housing, the trigger mechanism pivots about the pivot assembly thereby disconnecting the attachment end of the trigger mechanism from the valve mechanism and moving the valve mechanism into the open position such that gas flows from the gas supply to the flotation device.  
           [0009]    The present invention additionally includes a switch system for automatically activating a gas supply. The switch system comprises a float housing and a float slidable within the float housing with the float slidable from a first position to a second position. An activation trigger extends through the float housing with the activation trigger having a first trigger end and a second trigger end, the first trigger end contacting the float. A valve activates the gas supply with the valve connected to the second trigger end wherein upon movement of the float from the first position to the second position, the second trigger end activating the valve to allow gas flow from the gas supply.  
           [0010]    The invention further includes a method for activating a gas flow between a gas supply and a flotation device. The method comprises providing a hollow float housing, positioning a float body within the float housing, providing a valve mechanism between the gas supply and the flotation device, pivotally connecting a trigger mechanism between the float body and the valve mechanism, sliding the float body within the float housing upon the occurrence of a predetermined event, pivotally rotating the trigger mechanism, and activating the gas flow between the gas supply and the flotation device.  
           [0011]    The present invention is further applicable to any situation where a valve or switch is to be activated by the increase in the level of fluid or gas. While the valve or switch is preferably mechanical, it can also be electrical and/or chemical.  
           [0012]    Other aspects of this invention will appear from the following description and appended claims, reference being made to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification wherein like reference characters designate corresponding parts in the several views. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0013]    [0013]FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a flotation device for inflation by a float switch activation assembly, constructed in accordance with the present invention, with the flotation device being mounted on a hull of a watercraft having a boat rail;  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 2 is a rear view illustrating the flotation device, constructed in accordance with the present invention, with the flotation device mounted to the hull adjacent the waterline;  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 3 is a sectional view illustrating an embodiment of the flotation device, constructed in accordance with the present invention, with an inflatable tubing positioned between the cover and the carrier;  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 4 is a sectional view illustrating the flotation device of FIG. 3 with the inflatable tubing being partially inflated;  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 5 is a sectional view illustrating the flotation device of FIG. 3 with the inflatable tubing being substantially inflated;  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 6 is a sectional view illustrating the flotation device of FIG. 3 with the inflatable tubing being completely inflated and one side of the cover moving away from the carrier;  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 7 is a sectional view illustrating the flotation device of FIG. 3 with the inflatable tubing being completely inflated and the flotation bladder being stored in spiral condition;  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 8 is an exploded assembly view illustrating the flotation device of FIG. 3;  
         [0021]    [0021]FIG. 9 is a sectional view illustrating the flotation device of FIG. 8 in a completely assembled condition;  
         [0022]    [0022]FIG. 10 is a perspective view illustrating the flotation device of FIG. 3, constructed in accordance with the present invention, with the flotation bladder of the flotation device starting to inflate;  
         [0023]    [0023]FIG. 11 is a perspective view illustrating the flotation device mounted on the watercraft with the flotation bladders being fully inflated;  
         [0024]    [0024]FIG. 12 is top perspective view illustrating the flotation bladder in a deflated condition;  
         [0025]    [0025]FIG. 13 is a perspective view illustrating the flotation bladder in an inflated condition;  
         [0026]    [0026]FIG. 14 is a sectional view illustrating the attachment edge of the flotation bladder taken along line A-A of FIG. 12;  
         [0027]    [0027]FIG. 15 is a perspective view illustrating the float switch activation assembly, constructed in accordance with the present invention, with the float switch activation assembly and a compressed gas cylinder mounted to the hull of the watercraft and connected to the rail with tubing;  
         [0028]    [0028]FIG. 16 is an exploded view illustrating an embodiment of the float switch activation assembly, constructed in accordance with the present invention;  
         [0029]    [0029]FIG. 17 is a perspective view illustrating the float switch activation assembly of FIG. 16 in the off position;  
         [0030]    [0030]FIG. 18 is a perspective view illustrating the float switch activation assembly in the on position;  
         [0031]    [0031]FIG. 19 is a perspective view illustrating float switch activation assembly with the interlock between the float switch and the valve switch;  
         [0032]    [0032]FIG. 20 is sectional view illustrating the interlock;  
         [0033]    [0033]FIG. 21 is a side view illustrating another embodiment of the float switch activation assembly, constructed in accordance with the present invention, with the float switch activation assembly being in the off position;  
         [0034]    [0034]FIG. 22 is a side view illustrating the float switch activation assembly of FIG. 21, constructed in accordance with the present invention, with the float switch activation assembly being in the on position;  
         [0035]    [0035]FIG. 23 is a perspective view illustrating the mounting of the flotation device to a watercraft;  
         [0036]    [0036]FIG. 24 is a side elevational view illustrating the bulkhead fitting for connecting the flotation device with the gas supply; and  
         [0037]    [0037]FIG. 25 is a plan view illustrating the connection between the gas supply, the float switch activation assembly, and the flotation device.  
         [0038]    Before explaining the disclosed embodiment of the present invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of the particular arrangement shown, since the invention is capable of other embodiments. Also, the terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0039]    As illustrated in FIG. 1, a flotation device, indicated generally at  10 , is mounted to a watercraft  12  and automatically activates to maintain the watercraft in a floating condition. The flotation device  10  includes a mounting plate  14  preferably mounted on the exterior of the hull  16  of the watercraft  12 . The mounting plate  14  and the cover  22  is the only portion of the flotation device  10  that is visible on the exterior of the watercraft  12 . It is considered important that the mounting plate  14  have low profile and an unobtrusive visual presence, so that the mounting plate  14  does not significantly affect either the aerodynamic or visual lines of the watercraft  12  when not inflated. As illustrated in FIG. 2, the mounting plate  14  is mounted at approximately the water line  18  on the hull  16  of the watercraft  12 .  
         [0040]    As illustrated in FIGS.  3  -  10 , the mounting plate  14  has a carrier  20 , a cover  22 , and a deflated flotation bladder  24 . The mounting plate  14  is preferably made from aluminum or similar material although constructing the mounting plate  14  from different types of material is within the scope of the present invention.  
         [0041]    The flotation bladder  24  is folded to fit inside a space  26  formed between the carrier  20  and the cover  22 . Preferably, the flotation bladder  24  is rolled into a spiral configuration. Furthermore, preferably, the flotation bladder  24  is made from urethane coated ballistic nylon although constructing the flotation bladder  24  from different types of material is within the scope of the present invention.  
         [0042]    The mounting plate  14  has a flat mounting surface  28  on one side which mounts directly to an attachment surface  30  of the hull  16  of the watercraft  12 , as illustrated in FIG. 23. Preferably, the mounting plate  14  is mounted to the exterior of the watercraft hull  16  using either an adhesive for fiberglass and for metal hulls or screws for wood hulls (not shown). The preferred type of adhesive is a two-part epoxy  27 . At least one strip  29  is positioned on the mounting plate  14  which maintains the mounting plate  14  to the hull  16  of the watercraft  12  while the two-part epoxy cures. The preferred brand of epoxy is DP 190, manufactured by Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing (3M), St. Paul, Minn. Screws (not shown) may be necessary on wooden hulled boats since some adhesive only sticks to the outermost layer of paint on the exterior of the hull  16 .  
         [0043]    The carrier  20  slides into and snaps into place within the mounting plate  14 . The carrier  20  has two channels  32 ,  34  spaced apart from each other and extending axially along the length of the carrier  20 . Placed in at least one of the channels  32 ,  34  is a flexible cover tubing  36 . The cover tubing  36  is made from a flexible material so that the cover tubing  36  can be collapsed against itself. When the cover tubing  36  is expanded it substantially fills the channels  32  and/or  34 .  
         [0044]    A bladder retaining slot  38  extends axially along the carrier  20  between the channels  32  and  34 . The bladder retaining slot  38  has a narrowed neck  40  at the top if the bladder retaining slot  38 . In the preferred embodiment, the bladder retaining slot  38  is substantially circular and about ½ inch in diameter. The bladder retaining slot  38  can have a larger diameter for retaining larger bladders required for heavier watercraft.  
         [0045]    The flotation bladder  24  has one side  42  with an enlarged edge  44  along the length of the flotation bladder  24  as shown in FIG. 12 and in cross section in FIG. 14. The enlarged edge  42  has a rod or rope which fits inside the bladder retaining slot  38  and is held in place by the neck  40  as shown in FIG. 7. The enlarged edge  44  and the rod are slid along the bladder retaining slot  38 , attaching the flotation bladder  24  to the carrier  20 .  
         [0046]    The cover  22  has an interior surface  46 , an exterior surface  48 , and two hooked edges  50 ,  52  extending axially along the length of the cover  22 . The hooked edges  50 ,  52  are shaped to fit in the channels  32 ,  34  on the carrier  20  over the flattened tubing  36 , as shown in FIGS.  3 - 8 . The cover  22  is attached to the carrier  20  by sliding the hooked edges  50 ,  52  in to the channels  32 ,  34  over the cover tubing  36  is attached at one end to a supply tubing  54  which is attached to a gas supply  56 . The gas supply  56  preferably contains an inert, compressed gas such as CO 2 .  
         [0047]    The cover  22  must be made from a durable material as it is going to be exposed to the elements continuously. The cover  22  is preferably made from thermoplastic rubber. When the mounting plate  14  is mounted on the hull  16  of the watercraft  12  and the cover  22  is in place, the present invention functions as a bumper to protect the watercraft  12 .  
         [0048]    When the cover  22  is to be removed so that the bladder  24  can be inflated, compressed gas is released from the gas supply  56  and flows through the supply tubing  54  to the cover tubing  36 . As illustrated in FIGS.  3 - 6 , the cover tubing  36  expands, filling the channel  32 , and removing one side of the cover  22  from the carrier  20 . The cover  22  remains connected to the carrier  20  in the other channel  32  and swings out of the way of expanding flotation bladder  24 .  
         [0049]    Referring next to FIG. 15, at the opposing end from the attachment to the supply tubing  54 , the cover tubing  36  is attached to the bladder fill tubing  58 . The bladder fill tubing  58  attaches to each flotation bladder  24  via a one-way flow valve (not shown). Such one-wav valves are known in the art and are, therefore, not described in detail. After the cover tubing  32  has inflated, removing one side of the cover  22 , the inert gas will flow in the inflation bladders  24 , inflating the inflation bladders  24 .  
         [0050]    [0050]FIGS. 10 and 1 1  illustrates a watercraft  12  with the preferred embodiment of the flotation bladders  24  mounted to the exterior of the hull  16 . The flotation bladders  24  are fully inflated. The preferred embodiment of the flotation bladders  24  are single bladders that are each a given length and are attached to carrier  20  individually. FIG. 13 illustrates a fully inflated individual flotation bladder  24 .  
         [0051]    Either type of the flotation bladder  24  can be used with any of the embodiments of the flotation device  10 . The plurality of inflation bladders  24  are the preferred embodiment because it is easier to manufacture and makes the flotation device  10  easier to mount on a variety of watercraft. The flotation bladders  24  are manufactured in a given length and the needed numbers of bladders are put along the length of the hull  16 .  
         [0052]    The carrier  20  of each embodiment is made from a semi-rigid material, such as UHMW plastic. The material must be flexible enough to allow the carrier  20  to bend to match the curve of the watercraft hull  16 . However, the material must to be rigid enough so that the inflation of the flotation bladder  24  will not dislodge the enlarged edge  44  from bladder retaining slot  38 .  
         [0053]    The cover  22  must be made from a durable material including, but not limited to, thermal plastic rubber, as it is going to be exposed to the elements continuously. When the carrier  20  is mounted on the hull  16  of the watercraft  12  and the cover  22  is in place, the present invention functions as a bumper to protect the watercraft  12 .  
         [0054]    As illustrated in FIG. 16, the present invention is a float switch activation assembly, indicated generally at  78 . It should be noted that while the float switch activation assembly  78  of the present invention has been and will be described as capable of inflating the flotation device  10  on a watercraft  12 , a person skilled in the art will understand that the float switch activation assembly  78  of the present invention can be used in any situation to activate a gas or fluid supply  56  or to activate an electrical switch or chemical process. The float switch activation assembly  78  is not limited to use only on a flotation device  10  on a watercraft  12 .  
         [0055]    The float switch activation assembly  78  is mounted on the mounted on the inside  74  of the hull  16  of the watercraft  12  and is connected to a gas supply  56 . The gas supply  56  is attached to the supply tubing  54  via a valve  76  which is activated by the float switch activation assembly  78 . The supply tubing  54  and all fittings are made from stainless steel or silicone rubber tubing. In the preferred embodiment, the supply tubing  54  is drawn seamless hydraulic line tubing, 0.375″ I.D. A watertight bulkhead connection, as illustrated in FIGS. 24 and 25, will penetrate through the boat hull in two (2) places to route the supply tubing  54  from the inside of the hull  16  out to a connection to the cover tubing  36  and the flotation bladders  24 . The float switch activation assembly  78 , in the preferred embodiments, is located on the side of the hull  16  at a height h 1  selected so that the float switch activation assembly  78  actuates when the hull  16  is filled with enough water to lower the watercraft  12  about two (2″) inches below the designed waterline for that particular watercraft  12 . The float switch activation assembly  78  preferably activates when the float  127  rises approximately two (2″) inches within the float body  103 .  
         [0056]    A partially exploded view of the valve  76  and the float switch activation assembly  78  is illustrated in FIG. 16. The valve body  79  is a standard stainless steel ball valve and in the preferred embodiment the valve body  79  is manufactured by the Nupro Corporation. The valve body  79  has an inlet  80 , an outlet  82 , a threaded attachment post  84 , and a valve stem  86  which controls if the valve  76  is open or closed. An attachment plate  88  is threaded down over the attachment post  84  to rest on the top  90  of the valve body  79 . A nut  91  secures the attachment plate  88  to the valve body  79  by threading on to the attachment post  84 .  
         [0057]    The attachment plate  88  has a mounting plate  92  attached to one end to allow the valve  76  to be mounted to the boat hull  16 . Also part of the attachment plate  88  is a pivot mount  93 . In the preferred embodiment, the pivot mount  93  is formed of two holders  94   a,    94   b  with pivot holes  95   a,    95   b,  respectively. A pivot rod  96  slides into pivot hole  95   a,    95   b.  A retaining hole  97  is provided in the attachment plate  88 .  
         [0058]    A handle  89  attaches to the valve stem  86  and has a hole  98 . A spring  99  fits around the base of the handle  89 ; and the ends  101   a,    101   b  of the spring fit in holes  97  and  98 , respectively. The spring  99  holds the handle  89  and the attached valve stem  86  in the open position, so that the valve  76  is biased open as shown in FIG. 16.  
         [0059]    As shown in FIG. 17, the float switch activation assembly  78  is releasably attached to the handle  89  to hold the valve  76  in the closed position. The float switch activation assembly  78  has a body  103 . The body  103  is a hollow shell having a top and bottom end  105   a,    105   b,  respectively, which are closed. Water flow holes  106  are placed around both ends to allow water to flow freely in and out of the body  103 .  
         [0060]    On one side the body  103  has a hole  107 . A float arm  108  extends through the hole  107  from inside the body  103  to the outside. The float arm  108  is pivotally attached at pivot point  109  to the pivot mount  93  with pivot rod  96 . The float arm  108  has a trigger end  115  has a generally L shaped appearance. The L-shaped bend of the trigger is designed to center the interface between the arm and the float and provide better mechanical advantage for the float to release the trigger.  
         [0061]    As shown in FIG. 19, the attachment end  117  has a blade  119  which fits inside a channel  121  inside the handle  89 . The channel  121  has a safety groove  123  running along one side. A bead  125  on the blade  119  fits into the safety groove  123  as shown in cross-section in FIG. 20. This blade  119  and the bead  125  form a releasable attachment between the handle  89  and the float arm  108  when the float arm  108  is attached to the handle  89  biasing the valve  76  open, as shown in FIG. 17.  
         [0062]    The placement of the pivot point  109  close to the attachment end  117  means that with no support of the float arm  108 , the attachment end  117  pivots up against the handle  89 , pressing the blade  119  firmly up in to the groove channel. To release the handle  89  and trigger the spring  99  to bias the valve  76  open, the float arm  108  must be pivoted so that the blade  119  pulls down out of the channel  121 , releasing the handle  89 . The bead  125  and the safety groove  123  are a safety mechanism to insure that vibration alone will not set off the trigger mechanism. When the handle  89  is in the closed position as shown in FIG. 18 this is the safe mode for the valve.  
         [0063]    The trigger end  115  rests on a top  129   a  of a float  127 . The float  127  is preferably made from closed cell polystyrene in the preferred embodiment. The float  127  is sized to snugly fit inside the body  103  so that it will not move up and down inside the body from gravity alone. The float  127  nominally requires at least one pound of force to move although setting the float  127  to another predetermined amount of force is within the scope of the present invention. The bottom end  129   b  of the float  127  is set so that it is just above the line of water flow holes  106  on the bottom edge of the body  103  in the safe mode.  
         [0064]    If a rupture of the hull occurs then water will start to fill the inside of the hull  16 . As the water reaches the base of the float switch  78  the water will flow into the flow holes  106 . The water will cause the float  127  to rise inside the body  103 . The float  127  is fit inside the body  103  tight enough that only the continuous presence of water will provide enough force for the float  127  to rise. Water splashing into the holes  106  due to rough seas will not cause the float  127  to rise. As the float  127  rises it pushes the trigger end  115  of the float arm  108  upward, causing the attachment end  117  downward as shown in FIG. 18. This pulls the blade  119  out of the channel  121  and releases the compressed gas to fill the cover tubing  36  and then the flotation bladder  24  is inflated through a check valve (not shown). The deflated bladder  24  can then be removed by pulling the enlarged edge  44  of the flotation bladder  24  along the bladder retaining slot  38  to the end of the carrier  20 . Then the flotation bladder  24  can be re-rolled and replace or a new flotation bladder  24  can be re-mounted in the bladder retaining slot  38  and the cover  22  replaced.  
         [0065]    As illustrated in FIGS. 21 and 22, another embodiment of the float switch activation assembly  78  is illustrated. The float  127  within the float switch activation assembly  78  moves upward upon a predetermined amount of water entering the float  127  through the water holes  106 . The float  127  moves the float arm  108  to activate the valve  76  to begin inflation of the inflation bladder  24 .  
         [0066]    The present invention can also provide emergency notification device or other device based on the water level in the hull  16  of the watercraft  12 .  
         [0067]    The foregoing exemplary descriptions and the illustrative preferred embodiments of the present invention have been explained in the drawings and described in detail, with varying modifications and alternative embodiments being taught. While the invention has been so shown, described and illustrated, it should be understood by those skilled in the art that equivalent changes in form and detail may be made therein without departing from the true spirit and scope of the invention, and that the scope of the present invention is to be limited only to the claims except as precluded by the prior art. Moreover, the invention as disclosed herein, may be suitably practiced in the absence of the specific elements which are disclosed herein.