Abstract:
An inflatable life-saving swimming garment for a swimmer that comprises an inflatable part for floating the swimmer while being in distress and for creating, when inflated, volume difference between upper body part and lower body part of the swimmer. The garment includes an inflating system that consists of a gas tank with compressed gas for inflating, whenever required, the inflatable part; a controllable valve connecting between the air tank and the inflatable part, for allowing, whenever required, the compressed gas to inflate the inflatable part; a controller for analyzing the swimmer&#39;s status underwater and opening the valve after the swimmer has been in an actual or impending distress for a predetermined time; and a battery for supplying power for the operation of the controller and the valve.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention relates to an inflatable life saving apparatus. The invention particularly relates to an inflatable life-saving swimming garment for children and toddlers, and which is operable automatically or manually in distress and emergency situations. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    Life-saving swimming garments are designed to decrease the number of drowning cases amongst children while swimming in the open sea or in swimming-pools. Swimming in the open sea requires overcoming safety problems, such as powerful drift currents and swirls, which are risky even for a skilled swimmer. 
         [0003]    During the swimming season, swimming areas in the sea and swimming-pools are enormously crowded, and therefore, the ability of lifeguards to notice an emergency situation is limited, particularly in case of a drowning child who is not a skilled swimmer. It requires only a few seconds for a small child to disappear underwater without any attention paid by the adults in the vicinity, and especially the attention of the lifeguard who has to notice any exceptional or emergency situation. Also, toddlers, who have been left unsupervised in a bath for few moments, can lose their balance, while sitting, and drown, even though it is very shallow water. 
         [0004]    Several approaches to overcome drowning problems use buoyant clothing, e.g., inflatable arm bands, annular flotation members, etc. All these inflatable devices generally limit the mobility of a young swimmer so that he cannot enjoy the swimming activity. Therefore, inflatable devices are usually not worn by the children who have developed some swimming skills. 
         [0005]    Those swimming skills are often not sufficient to function in panic situations or at momentary lapsing of the swimmer&#39;s capabilities. Moreover, in most cases, toddlers or babies take off the inflatable device or refuse to put it on. 
         [0006]    JP 2,241,890 discloses a floating device for rescuing a drowning person. The floating device is a necklace-shaped float tube that fits, before inflation, onto the neck of the swimmer. The necklace-shaped float tube is attached to a miniature sealed sack by means of an air pipe. The sealed sack contains miniature timer, an electronic circuit and an air bottle. The air bottle comprises a valve which is located in the air bottle stopper. The valve is connected to the electronic circuit which is attached to the miniature timer by wiring. A water-sensor that floats on the water surface is connected to the electronic circuit, by a wire. When the swimmer is drowning, the water-sensor wire is forced against the water-sensor which is sunk down and activates the miniature timer. The miniature timer is adjusted by the swimmer to a threshold underwater time. When the threshold time lapses, a signal is sent to the electrical circuit which, in turn, sends a command to the valve to open. After the valve is opened, the air from the bottle flows to the float tube through the air pipe, and inflates it. Thus, the inflated float tube floats to the swimmer up above the water surface level for breathing. However, there are some drawbacks associated with this device. When a child is playing in the sea or in a swimming-pool where the water is shallow, the danger of drowning still exists. In this case, the floating/rescuing device may be useless when a child is lying unconscious at the bottom of shallow swimming-pool or sea. The floating device may not inflate because the water-sensor is not deep enough to create the appropriate force between the water-sensor and the sealed sack, which is needed to operate the miniature timer. On the other hand, a child who is a more skilled swimmer wants to dive more than a few centimeters below the water surface level without restrictive devices. Using the device described hereinabove, restricts the swimmer to stay close to the water surface level. Thus, false alarms may be caused. 
         [0007]    An additional drawback of such devices is their arrangement/structure. Swimming or paddling within an aquatic environment should be safe and comfortable feeling This floating device, when inflated, may apply pressure on the neck and may cause blood flow and breathing problems. Furthermore, the device&#39;s components are attached to the float tube by an air pipe and a wire that hang freely from the neck, thereby interrupting swimming. 
         [0008]    It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an inflatable life-saving swimming garment for children and toddlers which overcomes the problems associated with the prior art. 
         [0009]    It is a further object of the present invention to provide an inflatable life-saving swimming garment for children and toddlers which is operable automatically in an actual emergency situation. 
         [0010]    It is yet another object of the present invention to provide an inflatable life-saving swimming garment for children, which is instantly operable when the child is in distress. 
         [0011]    It is an additional object of the present invention to provide an inflatable life-saving swimming garment for children and toddlers which floats them up with the head directed upward. 
         [0012]    It is another advantage of the present invention to provide an inflatable life-saving swimming garment for children and toddlers that is reliable. 
         [0013]    Additional objects and advantages of the present invention shall become clear as the description proceeds. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0014]    The present invention is directed to an inflatable life-saving swimming garment for a swimmer, that comprises:
       an inflatable part preferably with separated inflatable sections, for floating the swimmer while being in distress and for creating, when inflated, volume difference between upper body part and lower body part of the swimmer, so as to raise the swimmer up with his head directs to the water surface level;   an inflating system that includes:   a gas tank with compressed gas which is not inflammable, such as air or CO2 for inflating, whenever required, the inflatable part;   an electronically controllable valve, connecting between the air tank and the inflatable part, for allowing, whenever required, the compressed gas to inflate the inflatable part;   a controller for analyzing the swimmer&#39;s status underwater and opening the valve after the swimmer has been in an actual or impending distress for a predetermined time; and   a battery for supplying power for the operation of the controller and the valve.       
 
         [0021]    The inflatable part may be attached to the swimming garment by gluing or sewing. 
         [0022]    The inflatable life-saving swimming garment may be suitable to fit the swimmer&#39;s size. The inflatable part and the inflation system may be worn on an exposed upper body, without the swimming garment. The inflatable part may be connected to the gas tank directly by a valve or indirectly, via a valve and an air pipe. The separated inflatable parts are inflated by one or more valves that branch out of the gas tank. 
         [0023]    The gas tank may further include a pressure sensor for sensing the amount of gas remained. The inflating system may further comprise an additional valve that is manually operable by pulling a button loop that is connected to the additional valve by wiring. 
         [0024]    The controller may comprise:
       electrical contacts for providing indication regarding salt-water and pool water;   a depth-meter for measuring the present depth and a threshold depth;   a digital-timer for measuring the time for being at, or deeper than, the threshold depth;   an orientation sensor for sensing the deviation angle, such as a negative angle, from the vertical position, related to the water&#39;s surface level;   a central processing unit (CPU) with software for analyzing the data inserted and received from the inflation system, for processing the data that is inserted and received;   a memory card for saving data related to the swimmer;   a threshold depth-meter display for displaying the depth remains before starting the digital timer;   a digital-timer display for displaying the time remains before sending the signal to the electronically controlled valve to open;   a depth display for displaying the current depth;   a light button for illuminating the controller whenever desired;   a digital-timer adjusting button for adjusting the threshold time;   a depth-meter adjusting button for adjusting the threshold depth;   a self-test button for testing the inflation system;   a display for operability of the inflation system;   a battery for supplying electrical energy to the inflation system; and   a battery status display for displaying the current status of the battery.       
 
         [0041]    The depth-meter is adjusted to threshold depth and the digital timer is adjusted to threshold time. Whenever the inflatable life-saving swimming garment is at, or deeper than, the threshold depth, the CPU sends a signal to the digital timer to start count down. Whenever the inflatable life-saving swimming garment is at the threshold depth and the threshold time lapses, the CPU sends a signal to the electronically controlled valve to open. 
         [0042]    The inflatable life-saving swimming garment may further comprise a signaling system, connected to the controller, to signal a swimmer in distress. The signaling system preferably comprises:
       a balloon for signaling the swimmer;   a tank with compressed lightweight connected to the controller for inflating the balloon; and   a pipe with a valve such as an electronically controlled valve, for connecting the gas tank to the balloon;   a LED within the balloon to emit light whenever required.       
 
         [0047]    The pipe contains inside an electrical wire for conveying power to the LED from a battery or from the controller. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
         [0048]    All the above and other characteristics and advantages of the invention will be further understood through the following illustrative and non-limitative description of preferred embodiments thereof, with reference to the appended drawings. 
           [0049]    In the drawings: 
           [0050]      FIG. 1  is a schematic illustration of an inflatable life-saving swimming garment for children, according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0051]      FIG. 2   a  is a front view of the inflatable life-saving swimming garment for children, according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0052]      FIG. 2   b  is a rear view of the inflatable life-saving swimming garment for children, according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0053]      FIG. 3  is an illustration of the inflation system, according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0054]      FIG. 4  is an illustration of a controller, according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0055]      FIG. 5  is a schematic illustration of an inflatable life-saving swimming garment for children, according to another preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0056]      FIG. 6   a  is a schematic illustration of an inflatable life-saving swimming garment for toddlers, according to another preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0057]      FIG. 6   b  is an illustration of a controller, according to another preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0058]      FIG. 7   a  is a schematic illustration of an inflatable life-saving swimming garment for children with a signaling system, according to another preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0059]      FIG. 7   b  is an illustration of the signaling system, according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0060]      FIG. 7   c  is an illustration of the controller, according to another preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0061]    The inflatable life-saving swimming garment proposed by the present invention comprises an inflatable part that is inflated using an inflation system, attached to it. For brevity, the term “inflatable life-saving swimming garment” and the term “swimming garment” will be used interchangeably in this application to describe the apparatus of the invention. 
         [0062]      FIG. 1  is a schematic illustration of an inflatable life-saving swimming garment  10  for children. Swimming garment  10  includes a zipper  11  for easier dressing, and a concealed inflatable part  12  which is attached to the shoulders and waist regions of the garment  10  by any appropriate means. A small air tank  16  that contains compressed air is attached to the inflatable part  12  by an air pipe and an electronically controlled valve (not shown), which is controlled by controller  18 . 
         [0063]    Controller  18  is composed of a depth-meter and a digital-timer (not shown) that are synchronized. The depth-meter measures the water depth by sensing the underwater pressure and converts it into depth units. The depth meter, the digital-timer, and the valve are connected to controller  18  by wiring, and thus function as an integrated device. 
         [0064]    Before the child enters the water with swimming garment  10 , a self-test is done to verify that the equipment is intact. Afterward, a depth threshold and a time threshold are adjusted in the depth-meter and in the digital-timer, respectively. The depth threshold is adjusted in accordance with the child&#39;s body dimensions. Because of safety considerations, the minimum depth threshold should be the distance between the child&#39;s chin and his chest. The minimum time threshold should be adjusted by an adult. 
         [0065]    As long as the child wears swimming garment  10  and swims at the water surface level, the depth reading received by the controller  18  is smaller than the adjusted depth threshold. If the child is submerged deeper than the depth threshold, an electronic signal from the depth-meter is sent to the digital-timer through controller  18 . The digital-timer starts counting down toward the threshold time and continues, as long as the current depth is deeper or equal to the depth threshold. 
         [0066]    When the threshold time has lapsed, an electronic signal is sent to controller  18  from the digital timer. Controller  18  processes the signal from the digital-timer and sends a command in the form of an electronic signal to open the electronically controlled valve. After the electronically controlled valve is opened, the compressed air within air tank  16  expands into inflatable part  12  through the air pipe and inflates it. 
         [0067]    The upper body part of the child increases its volume in accordance with the volume of inflatable part  12 , while the child&#39;s lower body part volume remains constant. Thus, the volume difference between the two body parts causes a torque which rotates the child body around its center of mass, i.e. the waist. The child&#39;s body rotates around its center of mass point until its longitudinal axis is perpendicular to the water surface level. Therefore, while the inflatable part  12  inflates, the child starts rising up with is head directed up to the water surface level until he floats above it. The upper part of the child&#39;s body is always directed up first, even when, initially, the child&#39;s head is directed down towards the see/swimming-pool bottom. 
         [0068]    A preferred embodiment of the swimming garment of the present invention is shown in  FIGS. 2   a  and  2   b  in front and rear views respectively, and is generally designated by reference numeral  10 . 
         [0069]      FIG. 2   a  illustrates a swimming garment  10  which comprises an inflatable part  12  around the shoulders part and around the waist part with a small gap for zipper  11  in front, and instant operating button loop  25 . Instant operating button loop  25  is installed for cases in which the child who wears swimming garment  10  is in physical distress while swimming. Pulling the instant operating button loop  25  immediately inflates the swimming garment  10 . Instant operating button loop  25  is attached to mechanically operated valve  23  by wire  125 , as shown in  FIGS. 2   a  and  2   b . Mechanically operated valve  23  controls the air flow from air tank  16 . Air tank  16  is connected to inflatable part  12  by an air pipe  21  that flows through path  123  as shown in  FIG. 3 . Pulling button loop  25  opens the mechanically operated valve  23  instantly, and the compressed air within air tank  16  expands into inflatable part  12  through path  123  and inflates it. Inflatable part  12  comprises inflatable back-part  112  at the lower back part of swimming garment  10  exploiting maximum inflatable regions. Inflatable back-part  112  and Inflatable part  12  inflates by the same air tank  16  and the same air pipe  21 . 
         [0070]    As illustrated in  FIG. 3 , inflation system  30  is an example of a possible arrangement. Inflation system  30  comprises controller  18  for controlling the swimming garment  10 . Air tank  16  comprises compressed air for inflating inflatable part  12 , air pipe  21  for conveying the air from air tank  16  to inflating inflatable part  12 , electronically controlled valve  22  for keeping the compressed air within air tank  16 , mechanically operated valve  23  for instantly operated cases, wiring  122  for conveying the commands from controller  18  toward the electronically controlled valve  22 , air tank pressure sensor  24  for announcing about the air amount in air tank  16 , and wiring  116  for conveying the data concerning air amount in air tank  16  to controller  18 . 
         [0071]      FIG. 4  illustrates the controller  18  for adjusting and controlling the swimming garment  10 . Controller  18  comprises:
       electrical contacts  41  for operating the system, and for providing indication about saltwater or pool water;   a digital-timer  142  and its related display for counting down the time for inflating the inflatable part  12 ;   depth-meter  144  and its related display which displays the depth remains for starting digital-timer  142 ,   a central processing unit (CPU)  43   a  for controlling inflatable system  30  and processing the received data;   a memory card  43   b  for saving the inserted data;   a current depth display  49  for displaying the current depth;   a light button  40  for illuminating the controller  18  at night time;   a digital-timer adjusting button  42  for adjusting the time threshold;   a depth-meter adjusting button  44  for adjusting the depth threshold;   a button  48  for inner test of inflatable system  30 ;   a display  47  for the operability of inflatable system  30 , including two green lights for undamaged inflatable system  30 , and a red light (or vice versa);   a battery for supplying electrical energy, not shown in the figure;   a battery status display  45  for displaying the current status of the battery;   a wiring  122  for electrically connecting the controller  18  to electronically operated valve  22 ;   a wiring  116  for electrically connecting the controller  18  to air tank pressure sensor  24 ;         
         [0087]    Electrical contacts  41  senses that the child is in aquatic environment with swimming garment  10 . Electrical contacts  41  prevent the operation of inflatable system  30  out of the water. While staying in non-aquatic environment electrical contacts  41  enables CPU  43   a  to operate and to correlate between controller  18  components. In addition, controller  18  senses the resistance between electrical contacts  41 . This resistance is analyzed by software within CPU  43   a . This software is able to distinguish between pool water and salt-water and a suitable program will operate the swimming garment  10 . 
         [0088]    Before the child enters the water, a self test of inflation system  30  should be done by pressing self-test button  48 . Pressing self-test button  48  sends an electrical signal which tests the intactness of controller  18  and inflation system  30  components. CPU  43   a  analyzes the data and outputs the test results by means of green light for intact system and red light for improper operation. The green/red light appears on display  47 . After checking the operability of the system, the adjustment of the depth threshold and the threshold time is done by means of depth-meter adjusting button  44  and digital-timer adjusting button  42 . 
         [0089]    CPU  43   a  analyzes the time and depth adjustments, saves them in memory card  43   b  using the software installed in the CPU  43   a , and displays them on display  142  and  144 , respectively. In case when the depth shown in display  144  is zero, thus the depth is the depth threshold or deeper, CPU  43   a  receives a signal for starting digital timer  142 . CPU  43   a  sends a signal to digital timer  142  which starts counting down the time threshold toward zero. 
         [0090]    When the threshold time lapses CPU  43   a  processes it and sends a signal, through wiring  122 , to electronically operated valve  22  to open. Consequently, air from air tank  16  flows into the inflatable part  12  through air pipe  21  and path  121  and inflates inflatable part  12 . 
         [0091]    All the electronic components introduced hereinabove are waterproofed by a suitable sealing material. This sealing material is attached to garment by any appropriate means such as gluing or sewing. 
         [0092]    Swimming garment  10  should provide comfort feeling while wearing it either during swimming or outside the water, just the same as wearing a regular swimming suit. Swimming garment  10  is a re-usable apparatus, i.e. it can be used many times after it has been inflated. Therefore, it requires emptying the air of inflatable part  12  by opening valve  160 , and afterwards to repeat the abovementioned process before re-using. 
         [0093]      FIG. 5  is shows another preferred embodiment of the inflatable life-saving swimming garment  500 , which is only an inflatable part  12  connected to inflation system  30 . This inflatable part  12  can be worn on a naked or dressed child. 
         [0094]    Inflatable life-saving swimming garment  500  comprises an inflatable part  12 , a buckle  550  for fastening the inflatable life-saving swimming garment  500 , and inflation system  30 . Inflation system  30  operates as described hereinabove and comprises the same components. Inflating part  12  may consist of one or more inflatable parts in case one of them has been punctured. Each inflatable part is connected to the air tank by a corresponding valve. 
         [0095]    Inflatable life-saving swimming garment  500  is also instantly operable manually by button loop  25 , which is connected to the mechanically operated valve and inflatable part  12  within Inflation system  30  by means of wire  125 . 
         [0096]      FIGS. 6   a  and  6   b  show an inflatable life-saving swimming garment  600  for toddlers and controller  618 . These toddlers are not considered to be swimmers, since they can drown even in a bath without care of an adult. In addition, the steadiness of toddler either when sitting or standing is problematic. Thus, while the toddler enters the water his ability to stabilize himself becomes a difficult action. Consequently, the toddler may fall back or forward into the water easily, without the ability to help himself, unless an adult is in the area to take care of him. 
         [0097]    Therefore, controller  618  herein is upgraded with an orientation sensor  644  instead of the depth-meter used hereinabove. The orientation sensor  644  senses the toddler&#39;s deviation from the vertical position, relatively to the water surface level. 
         [0098]    In case the toddler is alone in water and falls forward or backward, the orientation sensor  644  sends two electrical signals, one for starting the digital-timer  142 , the other to start a sound alert device (not shown). The digital-timer counts down the threshold time (in this case, a very short time) toward the zero while the sound alert device announces the caring adult about the emergency situation of the toddler. In any event, when the threshold time lapses, the inflatable part  12  inflates and floats the toddler up above the water surface level with his head directed upwardly. 
         [0099]      FIGS. 7   a ,  7   b  and  7   c  show another optional embodiment of inflatable life-saving swimming garment  700 . This embodiment discloses signaling system  719  which inflates colored and lightened balloon that is emitted out of swimming garment  700  for signaling the distressed child in predefined time after sinking below the threshold depth. 
         [0100]    Signaling system  719  comprises wiring  70  for connecting controller  18  to signaling system  719 , a tank  76  with compressed lightweight gas (such as helium), electronically operated valve  74  for keeping the gas within the tank  76  in high pressure, predetermined length of rolled up pipe  78  that contains electrical wire within it, a miniature LED  77  and a colored balloon  79 . Before the threshold time is adjusted, the timer in signaling system  719  is adjusted adjusting button  42  and saved in memory card  43   b . After the predefined time lapses, an electronic signal is sent to electronically operated valve  74  to open. 
         [0101]    Electronically operated valve  74  has been opened and the lightweight gas from tank  76  flows through rolled up pipe  78  to balloon  79  and inflate it. While the lightweight gas flows through the rolled up pipe  78 , the compressed gas causes balloon  79  to inflate and simultaneously to jump out of the swimming garment  700 . When electronically operated valve  74  received the electronic signal to open, electrical current flows through an inner electric wire located inside pipe  78  and lights LED  77 . Consequently, the distressed child is signaled by a lightened and colored balloon which enables the lifeguard to save the child&#39;s life before the inflatable part  12  inflates and by that saving very important time. In case the lifeguard or any other adult has not noticed the distressed child, the inflatable part  12  will inflate after the predefined threshold time and will float the child up above the water surface level. 
         [0102]    Another preferred embodiment of the inflatable life-saving swimming garment is the use of an orientation sensor for children in addition to the depth meter. The orientation sensor detects situations in which the child longitudinal body&#39;s axis is at predefined negative angle with respect to the water surface level (with his head directed in the opposite direction to the water surface level) and below it. In case the child is in a predefined negative angle and not at the threshold depth, a signal is sent to the digital-timer to start counting down the time toward the zero. Another case is when the child is at a predefined negative angle and also at the threshold depth, than the timer also gets a signal to start counting down. After the digital-timer has finished counting down, the inflation system  30  will work as already described. 
         [0103]    Although embodiments of the invention have been described by way of illustration, it will be understood that the invention may be carried out with many variations, modifications, and adaptations, without departing from its spirit or exceeding the scope of the claims.