Abstract:
An improved flotation safety system includes a self-righting plate carrier with inflatable tactical aid. The system herein may advantageously be used by military personnel including covert war fighters, combat swimmers, maritime airborne operations personnel, and others. The flotation safety system herein includes buoyancy compensators to offset the wearer&#39;s equipment load and emergency self-righting flotation to provide positive buoyancy to the wear.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims the benefit of priority of U.S. provisional patent application No. 61/905,723 filed Nov. 18, 2014. The aforementioned provisional application is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
    
    
     INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE 
     This application is related to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/468,829 filed May 10, 2012, U.S. provisional patent application No. 61/484,394 filed May 10, 2011, U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/770,375 filed Feb. 19, 2013, and U.S. provisional patent application No. 61/599,711 filed Feb. 16, 2012. Each of the aforementioned applications is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. The entire contents of the Kraken™ Self-Righting Plate Carrier Manual by First Spear, LLC dated July 2014 is also incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
     BACKGROUND 
     The present disclosure relates to an improved flotation safety system. More particularly, the present development related to a self-righting plate carrier providing inflatable tactical aid and may advantageously be used by military personnel including covert war fighters, combat swimmers, maritime airborne operations personnel, and others. The flotation safety system herein includes buoyancy compensators to offset the wearer&#39;s equipment load and emergency self-righting flotation to provide positive buoyancy to the wear. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The invention may take form in various components and arrangements of components, and in various steps and arrangements of steps. The drawings are only for purposes of illustrating preferred embodiments and are not to be construed as limiting the invention. 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a flotation safety vest according to an exemplary embodiment. 
         FIG. 2  is a front view of the vest appearing in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is a rear view of the vest appearing in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 4  is a right side view of the vest appearing in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 5  is a left side view of the vest appearing in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 6  is a top view of the vest appearing in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 7  is a bottom view of the vest appearing in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 8  is an exploded view showing the front section detached from the rear section and showing the interior of the front and rear sections. 
         FIG. 9  is an enlarged view showing the interior surface of the front section. 
         FIG. 10  is an enlarged view showing the interior surface of the rear section. 
         FIG. 11  is an exploded view showing the front section detached from the rear section and showing the exterior of the front and rear sections. 
         FIG. 12  is an enlarged view showing the exterior surface of the front section. 
         FIG. 13  is an enlarged view showing the exterior surface of the rear section. 
         FIG. 14  is an enlarged view of the rear section showing the neck bladder compartment, taken generally from above and the front. 
         FIG. 15  is an enlarged view of the rear section showing the neck bladder compartment, taken generally from above and the rear. 
         FIG. 16  illustrates an accessory panel partially inserted into the rear panel. 
         FIG. 17  is an enlarged view of the right side panel. 
         FIG. 18  shows the right side bladder actuator handle detached from the side panel. 
         FIG. 19  shows the right side bladder partially removed and CO2 inflation valve. 
         FIG. 20  shows the threaded connector for attaching a CO2 cartridge. 
         FIG. 21  shows the bottom/interior surface of the right side bladder removed from the right side panel in the uninflated condition. 
         FIG. 22  shows the top/exterior surface of the right side bladder removed from the right side panel in the uninflated condition. 
         FIG. 23  shows the bottom/interior surface of the left and right side bladders removed from the respective side panels in the uninflated condition. 
         FIG. 24  shows the top/exterior surface of the left and right side bladders removed from the respective side panels in the uninflated condition. 
         FIG. 25  shows the snap tabs and vulnerable portion of the zipper fastener securing the neck bladder compartment. 
         FIG. 26  shows the zipper fastener securing the neck bladder compartment in a partially unzipped state as a result of a separating force. 
         FIG. 27  shows the neck bladder unzipped and neck bladder removed in the uninflated state. 
         FIG. 28  illustrates the rear section with the left and right side bladders and neck bladder removed in the uninflated condition. 
         FIG. 29  is a perspective view of the rear section with the left and right side bladders and neck bladder inflated. 
         FIG. 30  is a front view of the rear section with the left and right side bladders and the neck bladder inflated. 
         FIG. 31  depicts an exemplary inflatable ballistic plate for insertion into the front or rear panel. 
         FIG. 32  illustrates the pocket opening for ballistics plate within the vest front panel. 
         FIG. 33  illustrates the pocket opening for ballistics plate within the vest front panel. 
         FIG. 34  illustrates the manner of attaching an underwater breathing apparatus. 
         FIG. 35  is a schematic diagram of a preferred embodiment system. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Referring now to the drawings an exemplary embodiment flotation vest  100  is shown, which may advantageously be configured as a tactical vest, ballistics plate carrier vest, or the like for military or law enforcement use in a marine or aquatic environment, although other configurations are also contemplated. 
     The flotation vest  100  comprises a front section  110  removably attached to a rear section  112 . The front section  110  comprises a front panel  114  adapted to be positioned on the user&#39;s front torso when worn. Advantageously, the front panel  114  includes one or more interior compartments  116  (see  FIG. 32 ) for carrying one or ballistics plates and/or buoyancy compensators. In preferred embodiments, the front section includes two interior compartments, namely, a first compartment for receiving a ballistic plate, such as a hard or soft body armor plate, and a second compartment for receiving an inflatable buoyancy compensator, as will be described below. In especially preferred embodiments, the second compartment receiving the buoyancy compensator is positioned interiorly of the first compartment. 
     The rear section  112  comprises a rear panel  118  adapted to be positioned on the user&#39;s back when worn, and left and right side panels or cummerbunds  120 . The left and right side panels  120  are mirror images of each other. Advantageously, the rear panel includes one or more interior compartments  124  (see  FIG. 33 ) for carrying one or ballistics plates and/or buoyancy compensators. In preferred embodiments, the rear section includes two interior compartments, namely, a first compartment for receiving a ballistic plate (e.g., a hard or soft body armor plate), and a second compartment for receiving an inflatable buoyancy compensator. In especially preferred embodiments, the second compartment receiving the buoyancy compensator is positioned interiorly of the first compartment. 
     A pair of shoulder straps  126  removably connects the front panel  114  to the rear panel  118 . The shoulder straps are secured at their proximal end  128  to the rear panel  118 , e.g., to a buckle  129  or the like on the rear panel  118 . 
     The front panel  114  includes fastener elements  130  for removable attachment to complementary fastener elements  132  on the distal end of the shoulder straps  126 . In the illustrated embodiment, the fastener elements  130 ,  132  are TUBES™ fasteners available from FirstSpear, LLC, of Fenton, Mo. It will be recognized that other types of fasteners including buckles, clips, snap fasteners, ties, hook and loop fasteners, and the like may also be used. The front panel may also include any number of fasteners, pockets, pouches, holsters, and so forth for carrying or attaching gear. The shoulder straps  126  are removed in  FIGS. 14-16, 25, and 26  for ease of exposition. 
     The side panels  120  may further removably attach the front panel  114  to the rear panel  118 . The side panels  120  are secured at their proximal ends  134  to opposing transverse sides the rear panel  118 . The front panel  114  includes fastener elements  136  for removable attachment to complementary fastener elements  138  on the distal ends of the side panels  120 . The proximal ends  134  of the side panels  120  may be permanently or removably secured to the rear panel  118 , and in preferred embodiments can be adjusted to accommodate users of different sizes. In preferred embodiments, the side panels  120  include tabs  122  which extend into openings  140  in the rear panel  118  and are secured therein with a hook and loop fasteners or other mechanical fasteners. 
     In the illustrated embodiment, the fastener elements  136 ,  138  are TUBES™ fasteners available from FirstSpear, LLC, of Fenton, Mo. It will be recognized that other types of fasteners including buckles, clips, snap fasteners, ties, hook and loop fasteners and the like may also be used. 
     Each of the side panels may have an additional interior compartment for receiving ballistic slide plates (e.g., hard or soft body armor), ammunition or ammunition magazines, or other equipment. Each side panel  120  has a pull handle  142  for actuating an inflation bladder  144  located within an interior compartment within the side panel  120 . The pull handle  142  is mechanically coupled to a valve  146 , which in turn is coupled to a source of compressed gas  158 , such as a CO2 cartridge as are generally known. The size of the gas cylinder should be selected to provide a desired degree of positive flotation without over inflation. In certain embodiments, the inflatable bladders are sized to receive gas from two 38 gram CO2 cartridges. In certain embodiments, a one way check valve may be fluidically coupled to the inflatable bladders to release gas when the pressure exceeds a certain threshold to prevent overinflation and possible rupture of the bladders. 
     A threaded connector  149  is provided for removably attaching a CO2 cartridge or like source of a compressed gas  145 . When the pull handle  142  is tugged, the valve  146  is actuated, e.g., via an actuator lever mechanically coupled to the handle  142 , to allow compressed gas to flow into and inflate the bladder  144 . When the pull handle  142  is tugged, the bladder  144  is partially removed from the interior compartment of the side panel  120 , such that inflation of the bladder causes the bladder to exit the compartment. 
     In additional to, or as an alternative to, the mechanical valve actuator  147 , a chemical and/or electronic actuator for inflating the bladder  144  is also contemplated. A chemical actuator may employ a spring biased firing pin separated from the source of compressed gas by a water soluble pill or bobbin wherein the pill or bobbin will dissolve in the presence of water allowing the firing pin to pierce the source of compressed gas to inflate the bladder  144 . An electronic actuator may include a switch having spaced-apart electrodes or contacts which are triggered when water bridges the contacts or any other electronic actuator which senses water. 
     If the bladder  144  fails to inflate or if the user has not installed properly weighted CO2 cartridges, the user may manually inflate the inflation bladder  144  using an oral inflation valve  148 . In the depicted preferred embodiment, the oral inflation valve  148  is located on the front lobe so as to be positioned near the user&#39;s mouth when the unit is donned by the user. 
     In the illustrated preferred embodiment, the bladder  144  is generally kidney shaped, including a front lobe  150  and a rear lobe  152 , defining a cutaway portion  154  providing a space for the user&#39;s arm during operation. In the depicted preferred embodiment, the front lobe is larger than the rear lobe to assist in orienting a user to a generally face up and reclined position in the water. In the preferred embodiments, each of the front lobes has a fastener element thereon to allow the left and right bladders  144  to be removably attached together in front of the user&#39;s body. In addition, providing fastener elements on the bladders  144  also allow two or more divers wearing the system to be hooked together via the fastener elements, e.g., to allow two or more divers to tether themselves together in an emergency situation. For example, such fastener elements could be used by a first diver to attach to a second diver such as a diver that is unconscious or otherwise requiring aid. In this manner, the first diver can render aid to the second diver while preventing separation or otherwise reducing the risk of separation. 
     In certain embodiments, not shown, the fastener elements on the front lobes  150  of the left and right bladders  144  may be quick release fasteners, such as complementary snap fasteners or complementary side release fasteners. In the illustrated preferred embodiment, each of the side bladders  144  includes a pocket region  151  defined between the two plies of material forming the bladder  144 . 
     As best seen in  FIG. 23 , the pocket  151  is defined by the two flaps of material forming the bladder  144  and is closed on the proximal end via the permanent bond  149  between the bladder ply layers. The pocket  151  is closed on opposite transverse sides by closures  153 . The closures  153  may be stitching and are preferably include fabric tape  155  secured over the unfinished edge of the bladder ply material to provide reinforcement, which it when secured by the stitching  153 . Alternatively, the side closures may be formed using an adhesive or by thermally bonding or fusing the edges of the bladder plies together. 
     The pocket  151  this defines an open distal end which is releasably closed via a releasable fastener such as complementary male and female snap fasteners  156   a  and  156   b . Other releasable fasteners may also be employed in place of the snap fasteners, such as hook and loop fasteners. 
     The pocket  151  on the right bladder  144  receives a strap  159   a  having a first end sewn into the pocket  151 , e.g., via stitching  157 , or otherwise permanently secured within the pocket  151 . The strap  159   a  includes a second end  161   a  opposite the first end. A first fastener element  163   a  is received on the strap  159   a . In the illustrated embodiment, the first fastener element  163   a  is a side release type fastener having an integral emergency whistle  165  as are generally commercially available. The first fastener element  163   a  is slidably received on the strap  159   a  and may be fixed at a desired position along the length of the strap  159   a.    
     A first pull tab  167   a  is attached to one of the plies defining the bladder  144  and a second pull tab  167   b  is attached to the other one of the plies, e.g., by stitching  169 . The tabs  167   a ,  167   b  assist the user in separating the snap fastener elements  156   a ,  156   b  and additionally reinforce their attachment to the bladder  144 . 
     The pocket  151  on the left bladder  144  receives a strap  159   b  having a first end sewn into the pocket  151 , e.g., via stitching  157 , or otherwise permanently secured within the pocket  151 . The strap  159   b  includes a second end  161   b  opposite the first end. A second fastener element  163   b  is received on the strap  159   b . In the illustrated embodiment, the second fastener element  163   b  is a side release type fastener complementary with the first fastener element  163   a . The second fastener element  163   b  is affixed to the end  161   b  of the strap  159   b.    
     A first pull tab  167   a  is attached to one of the plies defining the bladder  144  and a second pull tab  167   b  is attached to the other one of the plies, e.g., by stitching  169 . The tabs  167   a ,  167   b  assist the user in separating the snap fastener elements  156   a ,  156   b  and additionally reinforce their attachment to the bladder  144 . 
     The tabs  167   a ,  167   b  and the straps  159   a ,  159   b  may advantageously be formed of a nylon web material or other suitable strap material. The straps  159   a ,  159   b  and respective fastener elements  163   a ,  163   b  are folded and inserted into the respective one of the pockets  151  and are retained therein by securing the fasteners  156   a ,  156   b  together. 
     In the illustrated preferred embodiment, the bladders are formed from two layers of water and gas impermeable sheet material, secured about the periphery via the bond  149  to define an inflatable chamber. The shape of the sheet materials is advantageously selected to provide a desired three-dimensional shape or structure of the bladder when inflated. The sheet material may be fabric, plastic coated fabric, nylon, polymer sheet material, and so forth. 
     A neck or head support bladder  160  is provided on the rear panel  118  and is positioned behind the user&#39;s head. The bladder  160  when uninflated is folded or rolled up and stored within a generally U-shaped zippered compartment  162 . The zippered compartment includes an upper fabric shell  164  and a lower fabric shell  166  secured in the closed position with a zipper  168 . The shoulder straps  126  can be fed through loops  170  formed on the lower shell  166  to secure the compartment  162  to the shoulder straps  126 . 
     The zipper  168  includes a noninterlocked portion  172  where the zipper teeth are non-interlocking. The noninterlocked portion  172  allows the zipper  168  to separate and continue separating even along the interlocked portion with a relatively low separating force. In this manner an inflation force will cause the zipper  168  to separate when the bladder  160  is inflated. Snap tabs  174  and  176  are snapped together about the noninterlocked portion  172 . The snap tabs are configured to separate upon exertion of an inflation pressure. However, the snap tabs have a greater separation resistance than that of the zipper  168 , thereby preventing inadvertent unzipping of the zipper  168 . 
     When inflated, the bladder  160  includes a central portion  180  located behind the user&#39;s head and two legs  182  extending therefrom on opposite sides of the user&#39;s neck. In the illustrated embodiment, the inflated bladder  160  is generally triangular in shape, with the two legs  182  crossing in front of the user&#39;s torso. By providing a flotation bladder  160  behind the user&#39;s head and around the user&#39;s neck, the system herein further aids in orienting a user generally face up with his or her head out of the water. 
     As best seen in  FIG. 35 , the side bladders  144  and the neck bladder  160  are preferably in fluid communication with each other. In the illustrated embodiment, conduits  186  provide a fluidic coupling between each of the side bladders  144  and the neck bladder  160  such that all bladders can be inflated at the same time using either or both of the oral inflation valves  148  and/or either or both of the sources of compressed gas  158 . 
     In preferred embodiments, the side and neck bladders are configured to provide self-righting flotation that provides about 45 lbs of positive buoyancy in seawater at a depth of 33 ft., 57 lbs of positive flotation at a depth of 15 ft., and 90 lbs of flotation on the surface. 
     In the illustrated preferred embodiment, the vest system  100  may optionally include an inflatable bladder or buoyancy compensator inserted into a pocket in the front panel  114  and/or a pocket in the rear panel  118 . In the illustrated embodiment, a front inflatable buoyancy compensator  190  is received within a pocket formed within the front panel  114 , e.g., a pocket adapted to receive a ballistic plate or a like pocket positioned adjacent (and preferably behind) a ballistic plate. Likewise, a rear inflatable buoyancy compensator  192  is received within a pocket formed within the rear panel  118 , e.g., within a pocket adapted to receive a ballistic plate or within a like pocket positioned adjacent (and preferably behind) a ballistic plate. 
     An oral inflation valve  194  is attached to a hose  196  which extends through an opening in the front panel  114  and is coupled to the buoyancy compensator  190 . The oral inflation valve should be positioned near the mouth of the wearer. A loop or other fastener  198  may be provided to secure the valve  194  when not in use. A hose  200  extends from the rear buoyancy compensator  192  to the line  196 , e.g., via a manifold or T-connector  202 . In this manner both the front and rear buoyancy compensator members  190 ,  192  can be inflated with the valve  194 . 
     In alternative embodiments, the connector  202  can be omitted and each buoyancy compensator  190 ,  192  can remain separate and fluidically decoupled and inflated individually by the end user. 
     The buoyancy compensators are inflatable to offset at least a portion of the weight of an equipment load in water. For example, in preferred embodiments, each of the buoyancy compensators is configured to provide about 5 lbs of lift on the surface in seawater when inflated for a total buoyancy compensation capability of 10 lbs of offset. The buoyancy compensators can be deflated via the oral inflation valve when not in use. 
     The front and rear buoyancy compensators  190  and  192 , may be of the same configuration or of different configurations. The front and rear buoyancy compensators  190  and  192 , may be as described in prior U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/770,375 filed Feb. 19, 2013. The front and rear buoyancy compensators  190  and  192  and may include an integral foam panel, a rigid body armor plate, a soft body armor plate, or any combination thereof. 
     In certain embodiments, the front and rear buoyancy compensators  190  and  192  may include a foam panel (e.g., a closed cell foam panel, impact resistance foam panel, etc.) which is received within the pocket together with a separate hard or soft ballistic insert. The front and rear buoyancy compensators  190  and  192  are advantageously positioned behind (relative to a fired projectile) any separately inserted ballistic insert to reduce back face deformation of the ballistic insert or otherwise reduce the impact force of a non-penetrating projectile. 
     In certain embodiments, it is contemplated that a hard or soft ballistic layer is integrated into the front and rear buoyancy compensators  190  and  192 . In such embodiments, the inflatable bladder portion should be positioned toward the user&#39;s body, opposite the strike face of the ballistic layer to reduce back face deformation of the ballistic flotation member or otherwise reduce the impact force of a non-penetrating projectile. 
     In addition to reducing back face deformation of an associated ballistic insert, in certain embodiments, the inflatable front and rear buoyancy compensators  190  and  192  also provide buoyancy compensation to allow the user to remain neutrally buoyant. In alternative embodiments, the front and rear buoyancy compensators  190  and  192  are configured to provide positive buoyancy. For example, a foam member may be provided to provide neutral buoyancy to the user when the buoyancy compensators  190  and  192  are uninflated and positive buoyancy when the buoyancy compensators  190  and  192  are inflated. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 34 , the illustrated system  100  may advantageously be used with an underwater breathing apparatus  210 , such as a self-contained underwater breathing apparatus and preferably a closed circuit rebreather device (e.g., a closed circuit underwater breathing apparatus (CCUBA)). 
     In the depicted embodiment, a first pair of straps  212  and a second pair of straps  222  removably connect the rebreather device  210  to the vest system  100 . A first end of each strap  212  includes a fastener element  214  for removable attachment to complementary fastener element  216  on a respective one of the shoulder straps  126 . A first end of each strap  222  includes a fastener element  224  for removable attachment to complementary fastener element  226  on a respective one of the side panels  120 . In the illustrated embodiment, the fastener elements  214 ,  216 ,  224 , and  226 , are TUBES™ fasteners available from FirstSpear, LLC, of Fenton, Mo. It will be recognized that other types of fasteners including buckles, clips, snap fasteners, ties, hook and loop fasteners, and the like may also be used. In an especially preferred embodiment, each of the straps  212  and  222  may employ a quick release fastener system to allow rapid attachment and detachment of the rebreather device. Exemplary quick release fastener systems that may be used include side release buckles commercially available from ITW Fastex-U.S. of Des Plaines, Ill. In contrast to prior art devices, the vest system  100  of the present disclosure allows the breathing apparatus  210  to be readily removed independently of the vest system  100 . This allows, for example, a user exiting the water to remove the rebreather device  210  without the need to remove the vest system  100 . 
     The invention has been described with reference to the preferred embodiment. Modifications and alterations will occur to others upon a reading and understanding of the preceding detailed description. It is intended that the invention be construed as including all such modifications and alterations insofar as they come within the scope of the appended claims or the equivalents thereof.