Abstract:
An inflating flotation and stability device for equipment is provided. The device comprises at least one inflatable bladder mounted to the mounting plate and a cover covering the inflatable bladder. A carrier mechanism secures the inflatable bladder to the equipment. A cover removing mechanism removes the cover and an inflation mechanism inflates the inflatable bladder.

Description:
[0001]    The present application is a continuation of pending provisional patent application Ser. No. 60/477,219, filed on Jun. 10, 2003, entitled “Inflating Flotation Device for Cargo Containers and the Like”. 
     
    
     
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    1. Field of the Invention  
           [0003]    The present invention relates to flotation and stability devices and, more particularly, it relates to an automatically inflating device for equipment that inhibit the equipment from sinking if the equipment should enter the water. The flotation and stability device is inflatable, either manually or automatically, when the equipment becomes at least partially submerged in the water thereby inhibiting sinking and promoting stability.  
           [0004]    2. Description of the Prior Art  
           [0005]    Many cargo containers and other equipment are transported each year via ships, barges, and other vessels. Typically, the equipment is positioned on and within the ship. During inclement weather and/or high seas, some equipments could and does become dislodged from the deck of the ship and enters the water. In many instances, the equipment sinks to the ocean floor or lake floor and/or they break apart spilling the contents into the water. While some of the equipment can be environmentally harmless, the contents of some of the equipment can have tremendous adverse affects on the surrounding environment and distant environments depending on the water currents.  
           [0006]    In addition, the equipment and the contents of these cargo containers have a value to the owners of the equipment and the contents therein. Such losses amount to millions of dollars a year that leads to increased operating costs and increased consumer costs. It would be beneficial to retrieve the equipment and cargo containers once the equipment and cargo containers enter the water and salvage the equipment and contents therein. Furthermore, it would be beneficial to retrieve the equipment and cargo containers prior to the equipment and the cargo containers breaking up or otherwise being breached.  
           [0007]    The flotation and stability device of the present invention solves these problems and others by being easy to install, either as a retrofit to equipment or during manufacture of the equipment. In addition, the flotation and stability device of the present invention is designed to automatically deploy when the equipment or cargo container becomes at least partially submerged within the water. The flotation and stability device will not deploy when water merely splashes against the equipment or cargo container on the deck of the cargo ship thereby preventing unneeded deployment in inclement weather and/or heavy seas. Once deployed the present invention will keep the equipment and cargo container afloat thereby providing time for retrieval of the equipment and cargo container and the contents therein.  
         SUMMARY  
         [0008]    The present invention is an inflating flotation and stability device for equipment. The device comprises at least one inflatable bladder mounted to the mounting plate and a cover covering the inflatable bladder. A carrier mechanism secures the inflatable bladder to the equipment. Cover removing means removes the cover and inflation means inflates the inflatable bladder.  
           [0009]    The present invention further includes a method for floating and/or stabilizing equipment upon the equipment entering the water. The method comprises mounting at least one flotation bladder to the equipment and inflating the flotation bladder upon occurrence of a predetermined event.  
           [0010]    In addition, the present invention includes a system for maintaining the upright stability of an object. The system comprises at least one flotation bladder secured to the object. Sensing means senses the object in a non-upright condition. Inflation means inflates the flotation bladder wherein upon inflation of the flotation bladder, the object returns to an upright stable condition.  
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0011]    [0011]FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating an inflating flotation and stability device, constructed in accordance with the present invention, with the flotation bladders being in an inflated condition on a cargo container;  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating the inflating flotation and stability device of FIG. 1, constructed in accordance with the present invention, with the flotation bladders being in a deflated condition on the cargo container;  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating the inflating flotation and stability device, constructed in accordance with the present invention, with the flotation and stability devices prior to mounting on the cargo container;  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 4 is a perspective view illustrating the adjustable strap and buckling mechanism for securing the flotation and stability devices to the cargo container or other equipment;  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 5 is another perspective view illustrating the adjustable strap and buckling mechanism for securing the flotation and stability devices to the cargo container or other equipment;  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 6 is an elevational side view illustrating cover-removing tubing in the non-inflated position and fluidly connected to an inflation medium;  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 7 is a perspective view illustrating the cover-removing tubing and the flotation bladder in an inflated condition;  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 8 is a perspective view illustrating the inflating flotation and stability device, constructed in accordance with the present invention, with the gas supply being connected to the flotation and stability devices;  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 9 is a perspective view illustrating the inflating flotation and stability device, constructed in accordance with the present invention, with the flotation and stability device prior to mounting on equipment;  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 10 is a perspective view illustrating the inflating flotation and stability device, constructed in accordance with the present invention, with the flotation and stability devices mounted on a drilling platform prior to inflation of the flotation bladders;  
         [0021]    [0021]FIG. 11 is a perspective view illustrating the inflating flotation and stability device, constructed in accordance with the present invention, with the flotation and stability devices mounted on a drilling platform subsequent to inflation of the flotation bladders;  
         [0022]    [0022]FIG. 12 is a perspective view illustrating a mounting method for mounting a flotation bladder;  
         [0023]    [0023]FIG. 13 is a perspective view illustrating an additional view of the mounting method of FIG. 12;  
         [0024]    [0024]FIG. 14 is an elevational end view illustrating the mounting method of FIGS. 12 and 13;  
         [0025]    [0025]FIG. 15 is an elevational end view illustrating the inflating flotation and stability device, constructed in accordance with the present invention, with the flotation and stability devices mounted on a drilling platform prior to inflation of the flotation bladders;  
         [0026]    [0026]FIG. 16 is an elevational end view illustrating the inflating flotation and stability device, constructed in accordance with the present invention, with the flotation and stability devices mounted on a drilling platform subsequent to inflation of the flotation bladders;  
         [0027]    [0027]FIG. 17 is a perspective view illustrating the inflating flotation and stability device, constructed in accordance with the present invention, prior to the flotation and stability devices being mounted on a sunken vessel;  
         [0028]    [0028]FIG. 18 is a perspective view illustrating the inflating flotation and stability device, constructed in accordance with the present invention, with the flotation and stability devices mounted to the sunken vessel;  
         [0029]    [0029]FIG. 19 is a perspective view illustrating the inflating flotation and stability device, constructed in accordance with the present invention, with the flotation and stability devices mounted to the sunken vessel and fluidly connected to inflation means for inflating the flotation bladders; and  
         [0030]    [0030]FIG. 20 is a perspective view illustrating the inflating flotation and stability device, constructed in accordance with the present invention, with the flotation and stability devices mounted to the sunken vessel and the flotation bladders being inflated to lift the sunken vessel to the surface.  
         [0031]    Before explaining the disclosed embodiment of the present invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of the particular arrangement shown, since the invention is capable of other embodiments. Also, the terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0032]    As illustrated in FIG. 1, the present invention is a flotation and stability device, indicated generally at  10 , mounted to equipment and the like and which activates, either manually or automatically, to maintain the equipment in a floating and/or stable and/or upright condition when the equipment enters the water. The equipment can be any type of equipment typically transported by watercraft. In the case of a cargo container  12 , the cargo container  12  can be any type of container used to transport goods via cargo ship (not shown) or the like.  
         [0033]    As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, in a preferred embodiment, there are four (4) flotation and stability devices  10  mounted to each cargo container  12 . It should be noted, however, that there can be more than four (4) flotation and stability devices  10  or less than four (4) flotation and stability devices  10  mounted to each cargo container  12  depending on the weight of the cargo container  12  and the contents transported therein.  
         [0034]    As illustrated in FIGS. 3, 4, and  5 , each flotation and stability device  10  is preferably mounted to an L-shaped plate  14  having a plurality of slots  16  formed therein. Each L-shaped plate  14  is positioned on an edge  18  of the cargo container  12 . An adjustable strap  20  is receivable within each of the slots  16  to connect adjacent flotation and stability devices  10  together and to releasably mount each of the flotation and stability devices  10  to the cargo container  12 . Each adjustable strap  20  has a buckling mechanism  22  for tightening and loosening the adjustable straps  20  about the cargo container  12 . While the flotation and stability device  10  of the present invention has been described and illustrated as an adjustable strap  20  with a buckling mechanism  22 , it is within the scope of the present invention to secure the flotation and stability devices  10  to the cargo container  12  by other means.  
         [0035]    As stated, each flotation and stability device  10  is preferably mounted on the exterior edges  18  of the cargo container  12 . Preferably, each flotation and stability device  10  has a low profile and an unobtrusive visual presence, so that the flotation and stability device  10  does not significantly affect the stacking of the cargo containers  12  on the cargo ship. Furthermore, it is within the scope of the present invention for the flotation and stability device  10  to be incorporated into the design of the container manufacturer thereby providing a low, unobstructing profile.  
         [0036]    Each flotation and stability device  10  of the present invention includes a mounting plate  24  secured to the L-shaped plate  14  in a known manner, such as with adhesive, bolts, screws, rivets, welds, etc. Each mounting plate  24  of each embodiment is preferably constructed from a semi-rigid material, such as UHMW plastic. The mounting plate  24  is preferably constructed from plastic, resin, metal, such as aluminum, or similar material although constructing the mounting plate  24  from different types of material is within the scope of the present invention. While the material can be flexible to allow the mounting plate  24  to bend to match any imperfections in the L-shaped plate  14  and to allow compression and bending under pressure, the material of the mounting plate  14  must to be rigid enough so that the inflation of the flotation bladder  26  therein will not dislodge the flotation bladder  26  from the mounting plate  14 , as will be described in further detail below.  
         [0037]    Preferably, the mounting plate  24  is mounted to the L-shaped plate  14  using either an adhesive or screws depending on the L-shaped plate  14  material. The preferred type of adhesive is a two-part epoxy. The preferred brand of epoxy is DP 190 or 460, manufactured by Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing (3M), St. Paul, Minn.  
         [0038]    As illustrated in FIGS. 5, 6,  7 , and  8 , the flotation and stability device  10  of the present invention further includes a cover  28 , a cover-removing tubing  30 , and a flotation bladder  26 . The mounting plate  24  has two channels  32 ,  34  spaced apart from each other and extending longitudinally along the length of the mounting plate  24 . The mounting plate  24  can be extruded or otherwise constructed in a single piece or can be constructed in two separate pieces to allow accommodation of various-sized flotation bladders  26 . The two separate pieces of the mounting plate  14  can be moved apart or together during mounting of the mounting plate  14  on the L-shaped plate  14  to accommodate the various flotation bladder  26  sizes.  
         [0039]    The flexible cover-removing tubing  30  is positioned in at least one of the channels  32 ,  34  of the mounting plate  24 . The cover-removing tubing  30  is preferably constructed from a flexible material so that the cover-removing tubing  30  can be collapsed against itself. When the cover-removing tubing  30  is expanded it substantially fills the channels  32 ,  34 , as illustrated in FIG. 8. Operation of the cover-removing tubing  30  and the process of inflating the remainder of the flotation and stability device  10  will be described in further detail below.  
         [0040]    It should be noted that removal of the cover  28  as herein described is one embodiment of the present invetnion. It is within the scope of the present invention to remove the cover  28  by any means including, but not limted to, manually.  
         [0041]    The cover  28  has an interior surface  36 , an exterior surface  38 , a first cover edge  40 , and a second cover edge  42  with the first cover edge  40  and the second cover edge  42  extending longitudinally along the length of the cover  28 . The first and second cover edges  40 ,  42  are shaped to fit in the channels  32 ,  34 , respectively, on the mounting plate  24 . The cover  28  can be attached to the mounting plate  24  by sliding the first and second cover edges  40 ,  42  into the channels  32 ,  34 , respectively.  
         [0042]    In the alternative, the cover  28  can be snapped into the channels  32 ,  34  of the mounting plate  24 . In this instance, the first and second cover edges  40 ,  42  of the cover  28  have a movable finger  44  provided along each side of the cover  28 . A space  46  between the fingers  44  and the first and second cover edges  40 ,  42  of the cover  28  allow the finger to move into the space  46  toward the first and second cover edges  40 ,  42  and be inserted into the channels  32 ,  34  and to maintain the first and second cover edges  40 ,  42  within the channels  32 ,  34 .  
         [0043]    The cover  28  of the flotation and stability device  10  of the present invention is preferably constructed from a flexible, durable material, such as thermoplastic rubber, as it is continuously exposed to the elements. Metal shrouds or guards (not shown) can substantially surround the flotation and stability device  10  to protect the flotation and stability device from rough environments. Preferably, the cover  28  is initially formed in a substantially flat position thereby allowing the cover  28  to spring back to the substantially flat position upon release from the mounting plate  24 . Furthermore, a puncture resistant material (not shown) can be molded within the cover  28  to inhibit objects from piercing the cover  28  and damaging the flotation bladders  26  thereunder. Actual operation of the cover  28  being removed from the mounting plate  24  will be described in further detail below.  
         [0044]    When the mounting plate  24  is mounted on the L-shaped plate  14  and the cover  28  is in place, the flotation and stability device  10  of the present invention further serves and functions as a bumper to protect the cargo containers as they come in close proximity to each other or other objects.  
         [0045]    The flotation and stability device  10  of the present invention further includes a first bladder retaining slot  50  and a second bladder-retaining slot  52  extending along the mounting plate  24  between the first channel  32  and the second channel  34 . The first and second bladder retaining slots  50 ,  52  have narrowed necks at the top of the first and second bladder retaining slots  50 ,  52 . The first and second bladder retaining slots  50 ,  52  can be any diameter for retaining any size bladder  26  required for maintaining the cargo container  12  in a floating condition.  
         [0046]    The flotation bladder  26  of the flotation and stability device  10  of the present invention is folded into a substantially spiral configuration to fit between the mounting plate  24  and the cover  28 . The flotation bladder  26  can be configured in a round spiral wound, a flat spiral wound, or in a serpentine manner. Winding the flotation bladder  26  in a flat spiral wound allows the mounted flotation and stability device  10  to have a lower profile on the cargo container  12 .  
         [0047]    The flotation bladder  26  of the flotation and stability device  10  of the present invention includes a tongue portion  54 . The tongue portion  54  extends from the flotation bladder  26  and connects to the gas supply  48 . The tongue portion  54  allows the flotation bladder  26  to be spirally wound in a tight manner without interference between a valve (not shown) and the wound flotation bladder  26 .  
         [0048]    The valve of the flotation and stability device  10  is preferably welded within the flotation bladder  26 . Each valve has varying sized orifices (not shown) to control the flow of gas to the flotation bladders  26  and allow inflation of the flotation bladders  26  to be timed subsequent to inflation of the cover-removing tubings  30 .  
         [0049]    The valve of the flotation and stability device  10  of the present invention can be a check valve. As a check valve, only one-way airflow into the flotation bladders  26  is allowed thereby maintaining the flotation bladders  26  in an inflated condition upon cessation of the airflow thereto.  
         [0050]    To maintain the flotation bladder  26  within the first or second bladder retaining slots  50 ,  52 , the flotation bladder  26  are lap welded about a gas supply line  58 . The supply line  58  is connected to the gas supply  48 , and receivable within the first or second bladder retaining slots  50 ,  52 , to maintain the flotation bladder  26  to the mounting plate  24 . The gas supply line  58  also serve as a source for filling the cover-removing tubing  30  and the flotation bladder  26  during activation of the flotation and stability device  10 .  
         [0051]    In another embodiment of the flotation and stability device  10  of the present invention, the gas supply line  58  has a plurality of apertures (not shown). The flotation bladder  26  is welded about the gas supply line  58  such that the gas through the gas supply line  58  can flow into the flotation bladder  26 . Check valves (not shown) can be provided within the gas supply line  58  or elsewhere to prevent gas from flowing out of the flotation bladders  26  upon cessation of the gas flow. Furthermore, regulators or relief valves (not shown) can be provided to protect the flotation bladder  26  from overinflation.  
         [0052]    The cover-removing tubing  30  preferably has rigid ends  60  for attaching to the gas supply  48  and connecting the cover-removing tubing  30  together. To remove the cover  28  so that the flotation bladder  26  can be inflated, inert, compressed gas such as CO 2  or an alternate inflation source is released from the first gas supply and flows through the gas supply line  58  to inflate the cover-removing tubing  30 . The cover-removing tubing  30  expands and urges the finger  44  into the space  46  in a direction generally toward the first cover edge  40  of the cover  28 . As the cover-removing tubing  30  inflates, the moved finger  44  clears the first channel  32 . Since the cover-removing tubing  30  is connected to the same gas supply line, at the same time, the flotation bladder  26  is inflating thereby urging the cover  28  in a direction generally away from the mounting plate  24  and removing one side of the cover  28  from the mounting plate  24 . The cover  28  remains connected to the mounting plate  24  in the second channel  34  of the cover  28  and swings out of the way of expanding flotation bladder  26 .  
         [0053]    The preferred embodiment of the cover-removing tubing  24  and the flotation bladders  26  are single bladders that are each a given length and are attached to mounting plate  14  individually. It should be noted that the flotation bladders  26  can be constructed from more than a single bladder with each portion inflating individually.  
         [0054]    Either type of the cover-removing tubing  30  and the flotation bladder  26  can be used with any of the embodiments of the flotation and stability device  10 . The plurality of flotation bladders  26  are the preferred embodiment because they are easier to manufacture and makes the flotation and stability device  10  easier to mount on a variety of cargo containers  12 . The cover-removing tubings  30  and the flotation bladders  26  are manufactured in a given length and the needed numbers of tubings and bladders  26  are positioned along the length of the cargo container  12 .  
         [0055]    An automatic or manual float switch activation assembly (not shown) activates the flotation and stability device  10  of the present invention. The float switch activation assembly can be mechanical, electrical, or chemical which is responsive to water or water pressure. For example, the float switch activation assembly can be mounted on the flotation and stability device  10 , the L-shaped plate  14 , and/or the cargo container  12  and is fluidly connected to the gas supply  48 . Extending from the float switch activation assembly is the gas supply line  58  connected to the cover-removing tubings  30  and the flotation bladders  26 . Upon activation of the float switch activation assembly, gas flows from the gas supply  48  through the gas supply line  58  to the cover-removing tubings  30  and the flotation bladders  26  thereby inflating the cover-removing tubings  30  and the flotation bladders  26 . It should be noted that redundant gas supplies are within the scope of the present invention for supplying gas to the flotation and stability device  10 .  
         [0056]    As illustrated in FIG. 9, the flotation and stability device  10  of the present invention can be mounted to other equipment  64 . As with the cargo containers, each flotation and stability device  10  is preferably mounted to the L-shaped plate  14  having the plurality of slots or apertures  16  formed therein. Each L-shaped plate  14  is positioned on an edge  18  of the equipment  64 . The adjustable strap  20  is receivable within each of the slots  16  to connect adjacent flotation and stability devices  10  together and to releasably mount each of the flotation and stability devices  10  to the equipment  64 . Other means of mounting the flotation and stability device  10  including, but not limited to, rivets, magnets, suction cups, bolts, mechanical snaps, etc., are within the scope of the present invention.  
         [0057]    While the flotation and stability device  10  of the present invention has been described and illustrated as being mounted to a particular piece of equipment  64  having a particular shape, it is within the scope of the present invention to secure the flotation and stability devices  10  to any type of equipment having any shape and/or size.  
         [0058]    As illustrated in FIGS. 10-16, the flotation and stability device  10  of the present invention can be mounted to drilling platforms  66  for floating and/or maintaining the stability of the drilling platform  66 . Preferably, the flotation and stability device  10  is secured to the floats  68  of the drilling platform  66  although securing the flotation and stability device  10  to other parts of the drilling platform  66  is within the scope of the present invention.  
         [0059]    In an embodiment of the flotation and stability device  10  of the present invention, the flotation and stability device  10  includes a spool device  70  having a first end  72  and a second end  74 . An aperture  76  is formed in the first end  72  and the second end  74  of the spool device  70 . A bladder retaining slot  78  extends along the length of the spool device  70  for receiving the propellant supply tube  80  and the flotation bladder  26 . The flotation bladder  26  is spirally wound about the spool device. An evacuation valve (not shown) can be formed in the flotation bladder  26  for evacuating air from the flotation bladder  26  when rolling the flotation bladder  26  about the spool device  10  after inflation.  
         [0060]    The flotation and stability device  10  is mounted between a first bracket  82  and a second bracket  84 . Pins  86  or the like are inserted through the first bracket  82  and the second bracket  84  into the aperture  76  formed in the first end  72  of the spool device  70  and the aperture  76  formed in the second end  74  of the spool device  70 , respectively.  
         [0061]    In operation, the cover removing tubing  30  is inflated, as described above, removing the cover  28  from the mounting plate  24 , as described above. A propellant is forced into the flotation bladders  26  at the outer edge of the flotation bladders  26  causing the flotation bladders  26  to inflate. The propellant can include, but is not limited to, air, CO 2 , kerosene, helium, solid fuel with a gas generator, etc. The pins  86  allow free rotation of the spool device  70  as the flotation bladder  26  inflates and allows the flotation bladder  26  to be rolled back, either manually or automatically, onto the spool device as the flotation bladders  26  are deflated.  
         [0062]    As illustrated in FIGS. 17-20, the flotation and stability device  10  of the present invention can be mounted to a sunken or submerged vessel  88  to raise the vessel  88  to the surface. In this embodiment, the mounting plate  24  of the flotation and stability device  10  is mounted to a substantially planar plate  90 . The plate  90  includes a plurality of apertures  92  for receiving screws, bolts, or the like (not shown), and secured to the sunken vessel  90 . Inflation lines  94  extend to the flotation and stability device  10  to inflate the flotation bladders  26 . Upon activation of the flotation and stability device  10 , the flotation bladders  26  inflate causing the vessel to rise.  
         [0063]    In another embodiment of the present invention, the flotation and stability device  10  of the present invention includes maintains the upright stability of an object. With at least one flotation bladder secured to the object, sensing means, such as a gravity sensor, senses the equipment in a non-upright condition. Inflation means, as described above, automatically inflates the flotation bladder wherein upon inflation of the flotation bladder, the equipment returns to an upright stable condition.  
         [0064]    The foregoing exemplary descriptions and the illustrative preferred embodiments of the present invention have been explained in the drawings and described in detail, with varying modifications and alternative embodiments being taught. While the invention has been so shown, described and illustrated, it should be understood by those skilled in the art that equivalent changes in form and detail may be made therein without departing from the true spirit and scope of the invention, and that the scope of the present invention is to be limited only to the claims except as precluded by the prior art. Moreover, the invention as disclosed herein, may be suitably practiced in the absence of the specific elements which are disclosed herein.