Abstract:
A portable rescue flotation device assembly for use in water rescues includes a floatation device having an elongated body portion and a handle assembly fixedly connected to the body portion. The body portion includes a durable water resistant skin configured to enclose a filler. The skin has an outside surface and an inside surface.

Description:
PRIORITY 
       [0001]    This application claims priority to and incorporates by reference in its&#39; entirety, United States Provisional Patent Application No. 62/284086, entitled “Sandy can”, and filed Sep. 21, 2015. 
     
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0002]    The present invention generally relates to water rescue equipment and more particularly to portable rescue flotation devices with a skin and filler. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    Portable flotation devices are used by professional rescuers in the water rescue (lifesaving) industry to assist people to shore who may not be able to swim to safety without assistance. These devices are normally a few feet long and torpedo shaped with handles around their sides. A strap and line is attached to the device and the rescuer can put the strap around his/her shoulder or other body part to pull a person hanging onto the handles back to shore. Traditionally these floatation devices are made from either foam or a hard plastic. The foam devices are not very durable. The hard plastic devices sometimes fill with water. More importantly, the hard plastic devices frequently cause injuries to both the rescuers and rescued persons from impact in turbulent water. There is a long felt need for an alternative floatation device designed for continuous use with little maintenance, which will not cause serious injury from impacting a rescuer or a recued person. The foregoing background discussion is intended solely to aid the reader. It is not intended to limit the innovations described herein, nor to limit or expand the prior art discussed. Thus, the foregoing discussion should not be taken to indicate that any particular element of a prior system is unsuitable for use with the innovations described herein, nor is it intended to indicate that any element is essential in implementing the innovations described herein. The implementations and application of the innovations described herein are defined by the appended claims. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    A portable rescue flotation device assembly for use in water rescues includes a floatation device having an elongated body portion and a handle assembly fixedly connected to the body portion. The body portion includes a durable water resistant skin configured to enclose a filler. The skin has an outside surface and an inside surface. 
         [0005]    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 
         [0006]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a portable rescue flotation device assembly with a first embodiment of a floatation device according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0007]      FIG. 2  is a top view of the second embodiment of a floatation device according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0008]      FIG. 3  is a rear view of the second embodiment of the floatation device, a view of which is illustrated in  FIG. 2 . 
           [0009]      FIG. 4  is a front view of the second embodiment of the floatation device, views of which are illustrated in  FIGS. 2 and 3 . 
           [0010]      FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional side view of the second embodiment of the floatation device along line  5 - 5 ′ in  FIG. 2 . 
           [0011]      FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional rear view of the second embodiment of the floatation device along line  6 - 6 ′ in  FIG. 2 . 
           [0012]      FIG. 7  is a top view of a third embodiment of the floatation device according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0013]      FIG. 8  is a rear view of the third embodiment of the floatation device, a view of which is illustrated in  FIG. 7 . 
           [0014]      FIG. 9  is a front view of the third embodiment of the floatation device, views of which are illustrated in  FIGS. 7 and 8 . 
           [0015]      FIG. 10  is a cross-sectional side view of the third embodiment of the floatation device along line  10 - 10 ′ in  FIG. 7 . 
           [0016]      FIG. 11  is a cross-sectional rear view of the third embodiment of the floatation device along line  11 - 11 ′ in  FIG. 7 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0017]    The following detailed description is of the best currently contemplated modes of carrying out the invention. Throughout the description, relational terms such as front, rear, first side, second side, top, and bottom are used to aid the reader in understanding relationships of different parts and elements of devices disclosed in the drawings and disclosure. The description, including the relational terms, 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. 
         [0018]    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. 
         [0019]    Referring now to  FIG. 1 , a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a portable rescue flotation device assembly  100  is illustrated. The assembly  100  includes a floatation device  102  with an elongated body portion  108  and a handle assembly  110  fixedly connected to the body portion  108 . The assembly  100  may also include a rope  104  which may be fixedly attached to the floatation device  102  with a rope attachment  124 , and a strap  106  which may be detachably and/or fixedly attached to the rope  104 . In the embodiment illustrated the rope attachment  124  includes a rope aperture  126  in the body portion  108  through which the rope  104  may be inserted and secured as would be known in the art. The rope  104  may include any a length of strong cord made by twisting together strands of natural fibers such as hemp or artificial fibers such as polypropylene, or more generally may include any elongated member which may be used to fixedly attach the floatation device  102  to the strap  106  such that a rescuer may use the strap  106  to pull a rescued person with the floatation device  102 . The strap  106  may include any strip of cloth, rubber, vinyl, or other flexible material which the rescuer may hang on to or fasten around a body part to pull the rescued person to safety. 
         [0020]    The floatation device  102  may include a front end  134 , a rear end  136 , a first side  138 , a second side  140 , a top  142 , and a bottom  144 . The body portion may be an elongated member, and may be torpedo shaped. The body portion  108  may have a rounded end near the rear end  136 , and a rounded cone shape end near the front end  134 . The rope attachment  124  may extend through the body portion  108  near the front end  134 . As shown more clearly in relation to  FIGS. 6 and 11 , the body portion  108  may have an elliptical shaped, and in some cases a circular shaped cross section. The body portion  108  may have a skin  146  enclosing a filler  148  as seen in relation to  FIGS. 5, 6, 10, and 11 . The body portion  108  may include a fill mechanism  128  which may in some embodiments include a valve  130 , or a sealable opening  132  (shown and described in relation to  FIGS. 7 ) through which the filler  148  is inserted into the skin  146 . 
         [0021]    The handle assembly  110  may include a rear handle assembly  112  at the rear end  136 , a first side handle assembly  114  at the first side  138 , and a second side handle assembly  116  at the second side  140 . When being rescued, a person may put their body on the top  142  the body portion  108  while holding onto the handle assembly  110 , while the rescuer pulls them to safety. The person may also just hang onto the handle assembly  110 , or use the handle assembly  110  to pull their body onto the body portion  108 . The handle assembly  110  may include indents  120  or apertures  122  forming handles  118 . In a first embodiment of the floatation device  102  illustrated, the handle assembly  110  includes six handles  118 . In other embodiments, more or less handles may be included. 
         [0022]    Referring now to  FIG. 2 , a top view of an exemplary second embodiment of a floatation device  102  is illustrated. In this embodiment, the handle assembly  110  includes three handles  118 , one in the rear handle assembly  112 , one in the first side handle assembly  114 , and one in the second side handle assembly  116 . Although not illustrated in the figures, a bottom view of the second embodiment of the floatation device  102 , may be very similar if not identical to the top view. The fill mechanism  128  may be located on the top  142  or bottom  144  of the body portion  108 , or in some embodiments on the handle assembly  110 . 
         [0023]      FIG. 3  illustrates a rear view of the second embodiment of the floatation device  102 , and  FIG. 4  illustrates a front view of the second embodiment of the floatation device  102 . 
         [0024]    Referring now to  FIG. 5  a cross-sectional side view of the second embodiment of the floatation device  102  along line  5 - 5 ′ in  FIG. 2  is illustrated. The skin  146  on the body portion  108  may have an outside surface  150  and an inside surface  152 . The inside surface  152  may enclose the filler  148 . The handle assembly  110  may also include the skin  146  enclosing the filler  148  as illustrated. In other embodiments the handle assembly  110  may be formed entirely of the skin  146  and may include layers of skin  146  as shown and described in relation to  FIGS. 10 and 11 . 
         [0025]    The skin  146  may be made of a material which is durable enough such that minimal maintenance is needed despite continuous use of the floatation device  102  over a long period of time rescuing people in turbulent waters. The material the skin  146  is made from may be flexible enough that minimal injury is caused when the rescuer or the person rescued is impacted with the floatation device  102  is turbulent waters of a rescue. In some embodiments, the skin  146  may be at least an eighth (⅛) of an inch thick. Suitable materials may include the vinyl used in making Taylor Made Products vinyl fenders or similar vinyl, rubber, vinyl composite, or rubber composite material. Another suitable material may include layers of an outer nylon type skin such as is used in making a backpack and an inner rubber and/or vinyl or composite rubber and/or vinyl bladder. For example, the layered material used by Mustang Survival to make an inflatable PFD could be used for the skin, or a similar layered material. 
         [0026]    The filler  148  may include compressed atmospheric air, or another gas. When the filler  148  includes a gas or compressed gas, the fill mechanism may include the valve  130 . The valve  130  may include a check valve or other means known in the art to prevent the gas from escaping from the skin  146 . In some embodiments, the handle assembly  110  may be filled with the filler  148  separately from, and with a separate fill mechanism  128  than the body portion  108 . 
         [0027]    In another embodiment, the filler  148  may include foam, such as a light hydrophobic foam. The foam may ensure that the floatable device  102  remains buoyant if punctured. The foam may be sprayed or otherwise inserted in the skin  146  through the fill mechanism  128  before or after manufacture. If the foam is inserted during manufacture other means may be used to insert the foam into the skin, including separately inserting the foam into the body portion  108  and the handle assembly  110 , and then attached the body portion  108  to the handle assembly  110 . In other embodiments, the filler  148  may be any substance which can be used to give the floatation device  102  buoyance, as would be known in the art. 
         [0028]    Referring now to  FIG. 6 , a cross-sectional rear view of the second embodiment of the floatation device  102  along line  6 - 6 ′ in  FIG. 2  is illustrated. In the second embodiment, the handle assembly  110  includes the skin  146  and filler  148 . As illustrated, the skin  146  of the body portion  108  and handle assembly  110  connect and form a cavity enclosing the filler  148 . 
         [0029]    Referring now to  FIGS. 7-11 , a third exemplary embodiment of the floatation device  102  is illustrated.  FIG. 7  illustrates a top view of the third embodiment of the floatation device  102 .  FIG. 8  illustrates a rear view of the third embodiment of the floatation device.  FIG. 9  illustrates a front view of the third embodiment of the floatation device  102 .  FIG. 10  is a cross-sectional side view of the third embodiment of the floatation device along line  10 - 10 ′ of  FIG. 7 , and  FIG. 11  is a cross-sectional rear view of the third embodiment of the floatation device along line  11 - 11 ′ of  FIG. 7 . The third embodiment of the floatation device  102  is similar to the second embodiment, but the skin  146  includes a first layer  154  including the outer surface  150  and a second layer  156  including the inner surface  152 , as best illustrated in  FIGS. 10 and 11 . In addition, the handle assembly  110  does not include filler  148 , but does include layers  158  of the skin  146  material as best illustrated in  FIG. 11 . 
         [0030]    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.