Abstract:
An emergency location device with a deployable rescue balloon is presented. The rescue balloon is housed in tube body in its stowed state with a frangible foil holding it in place at the proximal edge of the tube body. The location device includes a ball valve attached to the opposite end of the rescue balloon and further coupled to a charger valve. The charger valve includes a piercing needle configured to pierce a helium pressure tank thereby deploying and inflating the rescue balloon. The helium tank, the charger valve, the ball valve are all enclosed in the lumen of the tube body. The rescue balloon is attached to the inside of the tube body via a lanyard, which unravels when the balloon is deployed. A threaded cap coupled to the distal end of the tube body, which is also used to deploy the rescue balloon, secures the helium pressure tank in the tube body.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    The present application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/963,627 filed on Dec. 9, 2013, specification of which is herein incorporated by reference for completeness of disclosure. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Field of the Invention 
       [0002]    Embodiments of the invention relates to the field of signals and indicators, and more specifically, to emergency location indicators. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    One or more embodiments of the invention provide a field deployable emergency location device to enable rescuers to find a person or thing needed to be rescued. The emergency location device comprises tube body or housing, with a lumen therethrough. The tube body is preferably configured like a funnel at its proximal end and with a threaded inside perimeter at its distal end. The tube body further includes at least one orifice for securing a safety strip to prevent cartridge activation. 
         [0004]    In one or more embodiments, the emergency location device further comprises rescue balloon that is configured to fit inside the funnel end of the tube body in its stowed state. The rescue balloon is packaged into the funnel end of the tube body and enclosed by a frangible foil end cap affixed to the end of the flared (funnel) end. 
         [0005]    In one or more embodiments, emergency location device further comprises a filler ball valve coupled to the rescue balloon with its proximal end attached to the rescue balloon. The filler ball valve allows for inflation of rescue balloon and prevents deflation. An LED strobe fob (with its own built-in battery) may be attached to the filler ball valve. 
         [0006]    In one or more embodiments, emergency location device further comprises a charger valve coupled to the distal end of filler ball valve. The charger valve is installed and mounted in the lumen of tube body between the filler ball valve and the cartridge safety strip. The cartridge safety strip separates the helium pressure cartridge from the charger valve to prevent inadvertent deployment of rescue balloon. 
         [0007]    In one or more embodiments, a lanyard with spool secures the rescue balloon tube body. 
         [0008]    In one or more embodiments, emergency location device further comprises helium pressure cartridge inside the lumen of the tube body. The helium pressure cartridge is mounted such that its proximal end, i.e. top of the cartridge, abuts cartridge safety strip and its distal end is towards distal end of the tube body. 
         [0009]    In one or more embodiments, a cap is screwed into the distal end of the tube body to secure helium pressure cartridge inside the tube body. A safety clip may be installed between the tube body and the cap to prevent inadvertent plunging of the helium pressure cartridge into the charger valve. 
         [0010]    In one or more embodiments, the cap may further include a clip for securing the emergency location device to a person or thing needing rescue. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0011]    The above and other aspects, features and advantages of the invention will be more apparent from the following more particular description thereof, presented in conjunction with the following drawings wherein: 
           [0012]      FIG. 1  is an isometric view of the location devise in a stowed state in accordance with one or more embodiments of the present invention. 
           [0013]      FIG. 2  is an illustration of the location devise in a deployed state in accordance with one or more embodiments of the present invention. 
           [0014]      FIG. 3  is a cut away view taken along the line  3 - 3  of the fully assembled location device of  FIG. 1  in accordance with one or more embodiments of the present invention. 
           [0015]      FIG. 4  is an isometric view of the base assembly of the location device in accordance with one or more embodiments of the present invention. 
           [0016]      FIG. 5  is an isometric view of the balloon of the location device in an assembled state in accordance with one or more embodiments of the present invention. 
           [0017]      FIG. 6  is an isometric view of the LED Strobe fob of the location device in accordance with one or more embodiments of the present invention. 
           [0018]      FIG. 7  is an isometric view of the Filler ball valve of the location device in accordance with one or more embodiments of the present invention. 
           [0019]      FIG. 8  is an isometric view of the charge valve of the location device in accordance with one or more embodiments of the present invention. 
           [0020]      FIG. 9  is an isometric view of the Cartridge safety strip of the location device in accordance with one or more embodiments of the present invention. 
           [0021]      FIG. 10  is an isometric view of the Helium pressure cartridge of the location device in accordance with one or more embodiments of the present invention. 
           [0022]      FIG. 11  is an isometric view of the deployment safety clip of the location device in accordance with one or more embodiments of the present invention. 
           [0023]      FIG. 12  is an isometric view of the deployment cap of the location device in accordance with one or more embodiments of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0024]    The emergency location device in accordance with embodiments of the present invention will now be described. In the following description, numerous specific details are set forth to provide a more thorough description of the present invention. It will be apparent, however, to one skilled in the art, that the present invention may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well known features have not been described in detail so as not to obscure the present invention. 
         [0025]    For a better understanding of the disclosed embodiment, its operating advantages, and the specified object attained by its uses, reference should be made to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which there are illustrated exemplary disclosed embodiments. The disclosed embodiments are not intended to be limited to the specific forms set forth herein. It is understood that various omissions and substitutions of equivalents are contemplated as circumstances may suggest or render expedient, but these are intended to cover the application or implementation. 
         [0026]    The term “first”, “second” and the like, herein do not denote any order, quantity or importance, but rather are used to distinguish one element from another, and the terms “a” and “an” herein do not denote a limitation of quantity, but rather denote the presence of at least one of the referenced item. 
         [0027]    One or more embodiments of the present invention comprises a compact device that can be used to enhance the visibility of the person or thing by providing a visual aid to rescuers in any land or water type situation if they become lost, injured, or generally needed to be rescued. 
         [0028]    A detailed description of the specific components and optional components of the emergency location device in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention will be described using the illustrations of  FIGS. 1 to 12 . 
         [0029]    As illustrated, device  100  comprises an elongated tube body or housing  10 , with a lumen running from the proximal end  50  to the distal end  52 . Housing  10  is preferably configured like a funnel at its proximal end  50  and a threaded inside perimeter at its distal end, as illustrated in  FIG. 3 . Housing  10  further comprises at least one orifice  38  for Cartridge safety strip  18 . Orifice  38  preferably includes a second orifice on the opposite side of tube body  10  for securing cartridge safety strip  18 , as illustrated in  FIG. 1 , such that when safety strip  18  is inserted into orifice  38 , it is secured into the second orifice. Thus, in one or more embodiments, foot  64  of safety strip  18  has a length that is equivalent to the outside diameter of tube  10 . Tube body  10  is preferably metal but could be made of any suitable material, e.g. plastic, composite, etc. 
         [0030]    In one or more embodiments, device  100  further comprises rescue balloon  24 , which is configured to fit inside the funnel at the proximal end  50  of housing  10 , in its stowed state (see  FIG. 5 ). Rescue balloon  24  is preferably made of Mylar; however, other materials may be used, e.g. plastic, rubber, cloth or any other suitable balloon material. 
         [0031]    As illustrated, the Mylar rescue balloon  24  is packaged into the flared end  50  of the tube body  10  and enclosed by a Foil end cap  22 , the foil end cap  22  is affixed to the end of the flared (funnel) end  50  of the Tube body  10 . Foil end cap  22  is preferably Frangible to allow for deployment of Mylar rescue balloon  24 . 
         [0032]    In one or more embodiments, device  100  further comprises a filler ball valve  20 , coupled to rescue balloon  24  with its proximal end  58  attached to the rescue balloon,  24 . Filler ball valve  20  is configured to allow for inflation of rescue balloon  24 . An LED strobe fob  26  may be attached to the rescue balloon via the filler ball valve  20 , as illustrated in  FIG. 2 . As illustrated, a metal hook  54  on LED fob  26  is configured to couple with a first one of clip  46  on filler ball valve  20 . 
         [0033]    In one or more embodiments, device  100  further comprises charger valve  28  coupled to the distal end of filler ball valve  20 . The charger valve  28  is installed and mounted in the lumen of tube body  10  between the filler ball valve  20  and the cartridge safety strip  18 , which is installed in orifice  38 . Cartridge safety strip  18  separates helium pressure cartridge  16  from the charger valve to prevent inadvertent deployment of rescue balloon  24 . 
         [0034]    In one or more embodiments, a balloon lanyard with spool  30  is mounted in the lumen of tube  10  and preferably around charger valve  28 . Balloon lanyard  30  may be coupled to rescue balloon  24  through a second one of clip  46 , i.e. lanyard attach point, on filler ball valve  20  and to the inside wall, e.g. hard point  35 , of the lumen in tube body  10 . Balloon lanyard  30  is preferably of suitable length to allow for full deployment of rescue balloon  24  away from the body while secured to tube body  10 . Balloon lanyard  30  can be made of metal, fabric, nylon cord or any other durable lanyard material. 
         [0035]    In one or more embodiments, device  100  further comprises helium pressure cartridge or tank  16  inside the lumen of tube body  10 . Helium pressure cartridge  16  is mounted such that its proximal end  68 , i.e. top of the cartridge, abuts cartridge safety strip  18  and its distal end is towards distal end  52  of tube body  10 . 
         [0036]    In one or more embodiments, a deployment cap  14  is screwed into the Tube body  10  to secure helium pressure cartridge  16 . As illustrated, a substantial portion of helium pressure tank  16  fits inside cap  14  such that the distal end of helium pressure tank  16  abuts the inside wall of cap  14  in such a way that application of pressure from the distal to proximal direction results in movement of the helium pressure tank towards the charger valve  28 . A safety clip  12  may be installed between tube body  10  and threaded cap  14  to prevent inadvertent plunging of helium pressure cartridge  16  into charger valve  28 . It should be apparent to those of skill art that other deployment devices/mechanisms may be used. For instance, cap  14  may be a plunger type device such that application of inward pressure would result in movement of helium pressure cartridge  16  into charger valve  28 . In a preferred embodiment, deployment cap  14  and deployment safety clip  12  are threaded. Deployment cap  14  is threaded substantially on its outside perimeter and configured to thread directly into the distal end of tube body end. 
         [0037]    In one or more embodiments, deployment cap  14  may further include a clip  40  for securing device  100  to a person or thing needing rescue. For instance, a sturdy rope may be used to secure device  100  to a life vest. 
         [0038]    In one or more embodiments, deployment safety clip  12  is configured to fit around the threads of deployment cap  14 . Deployment safety clip  12  may be threaded on the inside to match the threads of deployment cap  14 . 
         [0039]    In the illustrated embodiment, to deploy the rescue balloon, the user holds device  100  by the Tube body  10 , removes and discards the cartridge safety strip  18  from orifice  38 , located approximately in the middle of tube body  10 , the user will then remove and discard the safety clip  12 , e.g. by pulling on the tab  70  and breaking the deployment safety clip  12  from the tube body  10  and the deployment cap  14 . 
         [0040]    The user then points the top of the tube body  10 , i.e. proximal end  50 , towards the sky grips and twists threaded cap  14  in a direction to cause compression into tube body  10 , e.g. counter clockwise direction into the tube body  10 . 
         [0041]    As the threaded cap  14  screws into the tube body  10  the Helium pressure cartridge  16  will be forced into the charger valve  28  past the O-ring seal  34  in the charger valve  28  and onto the charging needle  32  that is part of the charger valve  28 . The charger valve  28  will pierce the Helium pressure cartridge  16  and helium will flow through the filler ball valve  20 , and activate the Mylar rescue balloon  24 . 
         [0042]    As the Mylar rescue balloon  24  starts to inflate it will push out and destroy the Foil end cap  22  that is attached to the end of tube body  10 . As the Mylar rescue balloon  24  exits the tube body  10  it will unfold and the shape of the inflated Mylar rescue balloon  24  will cause disengagement of the filler ball valve  20  from the charger valve  28 . 
         [0043]    The Mylar rescue balloon  24  will start to unravel the internal balloon lanyard  30  from its internal storage location, as the Mylar rescue balloon  24  clears the tube body  10  it will deploy the LED strobe fob  26 . In a preferred embodiment, LED strobe fob  26  will start to strobe until its internal battery is completely discharged. 
         [0044]    The rescue balloon  24  deploys to its full, i.e. operational, height and diameter upon activation, e.g. preferably between 250 to 500 feet. Other heights may be acceptable so long as the balloon clears the object being rescued and provides sufficient height to be seen by rescuers, e.g. from airplanes or ships. Of course, the height of the balloon depends on the height of the lanyard  30  and the size of the balloon. The inflated diameter of the balloon is preferably between about 2 feet and 12 feet. The location device  100  is preferably attached to a life preserver, backpack or any other secure object on the person or thing being rescued. 
         [0045]      FIG. 2  is an illustration of the location devise in a deployed state in accordance with one or more embodiments of the present invention. As illustrated, cap  14  may be fully or partially threaded into tube body  10  when the rescue balloon is deployed. Deployment is facilitated by removal of deployment safety clip  12  and cartridge safety strip  18 . 
         [0046]    While the invention herein disclosed has been described by means of specific embodiments and applications thereof, numerous modifications and variations could be made thereto by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention set forth in the claims.