Abstract:
An emergency vision device, comprises a collapsible tube made of airtight material and having an expanded form and a deflated stowage form; first and second clear members disposed at respective first and second ends of the tube to enable a user to see through the tube and observe a source of information at a distal end of the tube while smoke or other particulate matter is in the environment; and a portable gas cylinder having compressed clear gas and an outlet operably connected to the interior of the tube. The gas cylinder is operable to release the clear gas to fill the interior of the tube to expand the tube to the expanded form.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention relates generally to an apparatus to enable an operator to maintain visual contact with instruments or other visual sources of data after smoke and/or particulate from a fire or other sources has invaded the operator&#39;s environment. In particular, the present invention relates to a gas activated expandable hand-held enclosure that bridges the gap between the pilot and the windshield and/or instrument panel along the pilot&#39;s line of sight and provide a clear viewing path to the windshield and/or the instrument panel, thereby providing him with vital information for guiding the aircraft to a safe landing after smoke and/or particulate matter invades the cockpit area. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   Emergency vision devices for aiding pilots to see through vision-impairing smoke to maintain their visual access to critical information, such as that provided by an instrument panel and visual information available outside the cockpit to help pilots safely guide their aircrafts are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,832,287; 5,318,250; 5,202,796; 5,947,415 and 6,460,804, all issued to Bertil Werjefelt. 
   The present invention is an improvement over U.S. Pat. No. 6,460,804. 
   OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   It is an object of the present invention to provide an emergency vision device that is relatively compact and easily fits within a brief case. 
   It is another object of the present invention to provide an emergency vision device that is portable, lightweight and easily handled by the operator to assist him in various procedures and checklists required to operate an aircraft while under emergency smoke conditions. 
   It is still another object of the present invention to provide an emergency vision device that takes on a smaller shape for stowage when not in use and uses compressed gas to inflate it for deployment when the need arises. 
   In summary, the present invention provides an emergency vision device, comprising a collapsible tube made of airtight material and having an expanded form and a deflated stowage form; first and second clear members disposed at respective first and second ends of the tube to enable a user to see through the tube and observe a source of information at a distal end of the tube while smoke or other particulate matter is in the environment; and a portable gas cylinder having compressed clear gas and an outlet operably connected to the interior of the tube. The gas cylinder is operable to release the clear gas to fill the interior of the tube to expand the tube to the expanded form. 
   These and other objects of the invention will be apparent from the following detailed description. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an emergency vision device, shown in its deployed inflated form. 
       FIG. 2  is a partial cross-sectional view taken along line  2 - 2  of  FIG. 1 . 
       FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the device shown in  FIG. 1  in a deflated stowage form. 
       FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the emergency vision device of  FIG. 1 , showing straps for holding a flashlight. 
       FIG. 5  is another embodiment of an emergency vision device, shown in its deployed form. 
       FIG. 6  is a partial cross-sectional view across taken along line  6 - 6  of  FIG. 5 . 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
   An emergency vision device R made in accordance with the present invention is disclosed in  FIGS. 1 and 2  in a deployed inflated form. The device is in the form of a collapsible hand-held tube  2  made from an airtight fabric or other suitable materials. The tube  2  may be made from transparent or opaque material. The tube  2  is closed off at each end with respective transparent member  4 , such as clear plastic sheet, to allow the user to see through the tube. The tube  2  is sealed from the outside such that smoke or other particulate from a fire is prevented from invading the interior of the tube. In this manner, a clear view from one end to the opposite end of the tube is maintained for the user. 
   A gas cylinder  6  containing clear compressed gas is disposed within a hollow handle  8 . The gas cylinder  6  is screwed to a standard valve assembly  7 , such as the one commonly used in a hand-held fire extinguisher. The gas cylinder  6  is used inflate the tube  2  from its deflated stowage form (see  FIG. 3 ) to its deployed inflated form. The valve assembly  7  includes an activation lever  10  the operation of which causes the gas to flow into the interior of the tube  2 , causing the tube to expand to its deployed form. A string  12  is advantageously secured to one end of the lever  10  for convenience so that when the tube  2  is in the deflated form, as shown in  FIG. 3 , the string  12  may be positioned in a visible location to the user for quick activation of the gas cylinder when the need arises to deploy the device R. An outlet  14  of the valve assembly  7  operably communicates with the interior of the tube  2  to fill and inflate the tube  2  when the gas from cylinder  6  is released. 
   The handle  8  is made in a standard way such that it can be opened to provide access to the cylinder  6  for replacement after each use. 
   A light source  16  with its own battery power and switch may be provided at one end of the tube  2 . 
   A closeable outlet  18  is provided to exhaust the gas from the interior of the tube  2  when deflating the device to its deflated and stowage form. 
   When not in use, the device R is in a deflated stowage form, as shown in  FIG. 3 , and may be placed within a pouch (not shown). To deploy the device R, the lever  10  is operated in the conventional manner, activating the cylinder to release its content to the interior of the tube  2  via the inlet  14 , thereby inflating the tube  2 . The light  12  provides illumination on the object requiring visual-visibility to the operator. 
   In lieu of the light  16  or in addition to it, a flashlight  20  may be attached to the outside of the tube  2 . Straps  22  with hook-and-loop fastener  24  are attached to the tube  2  for securing the flashlight. Other conventional ways to attach the flashlight to the tube may be used. 
   Although the tube  2  is shown with a circular cross-section, generally in the shape of a cylinder, it should be understood that any cross-sectional shape would be applicable as long as a clear visibility path is provided through the tube. 
   In another embodiment, the tube  2  is surrounded and attached to a network of substantially smaller tubes  26 . The tubes  26  comprise end ring tubes  28  disposed at the respective front and rear end of the tube  2 . Intermediate ring tubes  30  are disposed intermediate the front and rear end of the tube  2 . Longitudinal tubes  32  connect the end ring tubes  28  and the intermediate ring tubes  30  into one communicating network of tubes. The network of tubes  26  provides a supporting framework when inflated to the tube  2 . Although a specific arrangement of small tubes  28 ,  30  and  32  is disclosed, other arrangements may be used that would provide the same function of supporting the tube  2  in the deployed form. The ring tubes  28  and  30  and the longitudinal tubes  32  have a cross-sectional area substantially smaller than the cross-sectional area of the main tube  2 . 
   The outlet  14  of the valve assembly  7  communicates with the network of tubes  26 , preferably via one of the intermediate ring tubes  30 , as best shown in  FIG. 6 . In this manner, the compressed gas fills up the network of tubes  26  relatively quickly, with the gas filling up the ring tube which functions as a header, connecting the longitudinal tubes  32  and the other ring tubes to facilitate the flow of the gas. Advantageously, the gas cylinder  6  only needs sufficient capacity to fill up the network of tubes  26 , which is much smaller than the volume required to fill up the tube  2 . Thus, the gas cylinder  6  for this embodiment can be made smaller and lighter than the one in the embodiment of  FIG. 1 . 
   A filter  34  is disposed at one end of the tube to allow ambient air to fill the volume of the tube as it expands under the action of the network of tubes  26  as it fills up with the compressed gas from the cylinder  6 . The filter  34  is designed to filter the ambient air during an emergency smoke situation and provide clear air to fill the volume of the tube  2 . The filter  8  is preferably a HEPA filter. 
   A closable port or opening  36  is provided to allow the air inside the network of tubes  26  to be exhausted when the tube  2  is deflated for stowage. The air within the tube  2  is exhausted through the filter  34 . 
   The filter  34  may also be integrated into the wall of the tube  2  in various ways. For example, a portion or the entire tube wall may be made of filter material. The entire wall of the tube  2  may also be made of filter material. 
   In operation, the lever  10  is operated in the conventional manner to release the content of the cylinder into the network of tubes  26 , thereby inflating the tube  26  into the form shown in  FIG. 5 . The action of the network of tubes  26  taking on the expanded form as shown in  FIG. 5  forces the tube  2  to also expand, since the tube  2  is attached to the network of tubes  26 . The expanding tube  2  draws in ambient air through the filter  34  to equalize the pressure between the interior and the outside of the tube  2 . Clear air then fills up the interior of the tube  2 . The user then positions the device R between the user and the source of information, such an instrument panel, allowing him to read the information in spite of the smoke that may have invaded the space. After use, the tube  2  and the network of tubes  26  are deflated by compressing the tube  2 , forcing the air inside through the filter  34 , and allowing the gas within the network of tubes  26  to exhaust through the port  36 . 
   The tube  2  may be disposed outside the network of tubes  26 , as long as it is attached thereto. The tube  2  and the network of tubes  26  may be made from the same material and integrated into one unit. 
   The device R is advantageously lightweight, since it is completely supported by pressurized gas, without any metallic framework, such as a helical spring. 
   While this invention has been described as having preferred design, it is understood that it is capable of further modification, uses and/or adaptations following in general the principle of the invention and including such departures from the present disclosure as come within known or customary practice in the art to which the invention pertains, and as may be applied to the essential features set forth, and fall within the scope of the invention or the limits of the appended claims.