Patent Publication Number: US-2012034831-A1

Title: Personal water safety device

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a continuation-in-part application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/273,184, filed Nov. 18, 2008, which claims the benefit of and priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/003,637, filed Nov. 19, 2007, the entire contents of which are incorporated by reference herein. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     1. Technical Field 
     This application relates to a water safety device, and more particularly, to a compact selectively inflatable device for use during water activities. 
     2. Background of Related Art 
     Shore and near shore activities have always been popular, especially in warmer climates and during summer months. Persons of all ages and aquatic capabilities engage in a variety of pastimes including swimming, surfing, snorkeling, kayaking, boogie-boarding, life guarding, etc. In performing these activities, people tend to rely on life jackets, buoys, kickboards, etc. Many of these activities are more suitably performed when unencumbered by bulky clothing or other prohibitive article that requires one to sacrifice maneuverability. 
     Although certain activities, extreme surfing for example, can produce greater risk, any activity performed in water has the potential for personal injury or even death. Therefore, a continued need to rely on water safety devices exits. Accordingly, safety devices have been known for some time and are produced in a number of forms. One style, perfected for Navy Fliers during World War II, and referred to as a Mae West, applied an expanding gas to inflate a bladder to provide buoyancy. This approach has since been adapted to sporting use, particularly for off-shore sailing. However, in this application, the water safety device is worn as a vest. Although highly effective as a water safety device, the vest tends to encumber free movement, which is, unfortunately, a large deterrent for those who are engaged in near shore activities. Thus, for those who fail to use a safety device or who use an inadequate device during the engagement of such activities, the potential risk for harm is heightened. As such, a small, easily worn device that does not encumber the user, but can provide significant flotation under necessary circumstances, would be of great benefit. 
     SUMMARY 
     The present invention relates to a compact water safety device having a strap and a housing attached thereto. The strap is configured and dimensioned to detachably mount to a plurality of different sized upper arms and includes a cinch and a fastening device. The housing includes an inflatable bladder, an inflation assembly, and an actuator. The housing is configured and dimensioned to accommodate the inflatable bladder in an uninflated configuration. 
     The actuator includes a lanyard having a ring disposed at the proximal end thereof and the inflation assembly disposed at the distal end thereof. The ring and the lanyard are configured and dimensioned to be selectively actuable to a predetermined tension sufficient to cause the inflation assembly to inflate the inflatable bladder. Furthermore, the actuator is configured and dimensioned to selectively actuate the inflation assembly to cause the inflatable bladder to inflate to a volume that is sufficient to enable different sized users to remain afloat upon inflation thereof. 
     After inflation, the inflatable bladder remains attached in a substantially stationary position adjacent to the upper arm of the user by the strap both before and after inflation. In one embodiment, the inflatable bladder is formed in a substantially cylindrical shape when inflated. A second strap may be attached to the inflatable bladder, whereby the second strap provides additional stability for the user when the inflatable bladder is inflated. At least one of the inflatable bladder, the strap, and the second strap can be formed of a high visibility material: 
     The inflation assembly includes a gas container disposed in a frame, whereby the gas container provides gas to the inflatable bladder upon actuation. Furthermore, the gas container is disposed within the inflatable bladder, wherein the inflatable bladder is disposed in a folded configuration and at least partially disposed within the frame. 
     The frame includes a cam rotatably connected thereto by a cam pin, wherein the cam is attached to the actuator and configured and dimensioned to cause the gas container to deploy gas. The frame further includes an attachment aperture configured and dimensioned to receive either the at least one strap or a portion of the housing. The frame also includes a retaining clip, whereby the retaining clip prevents at least one of the gas container and a portion of the inflatable bladder from dislodging from the frame. The retaining clip is disposed in a pair of recesses, wherein each recess is disposed on an opposing side of the frame and includes a ramp. The cam is configured and dimensioned to engage at least a portion of the retaining clip, whereby upon articulation of the cam, the retaining clip rises on at least one of the ramps to a predetermined articulation. As such, at least one end of the retaining clip is freed from at least one of the recesses. Thus, the inflatable bladder and the gas container are enabled to at least partially exit the frame. Since the cam is articulably attached to the retaining clip which is articulably attached to a portion of the housing. Upon selective articulation of the cam, the cam causes the retaining clip to articulate a portion of the housing into an open configuration, thereby enabling the inflatable bladder to exude from the housing. 
     The gas container includes a block assembly hermetically connected to the gas container. The gas container further includes a diaphragm disposed on one end. The block assembly has a ball and a pin at least partially translatably disposed therein, wherein the ball is attached to the pin, and wherein the cam is configured and dimensioned to engage the ball upon a predetermined articulation of the cam. A predetermined articulation causes the ball to drive the pin into the diaphragm, wherein the diaphragm is configured and dimensioned to break upon a predetermined engagement force from the pin. The block assembly further comprises at least one vent, whereby the at least one vent provides a conduit for the gas to flow from the gas container to the inflatable bladder. The pin includes an axial cut portion, wherein the axial cut portion is cut to an angle sufficient to facilitate the venting of gas into the at least one vent. Upon the breaking of the diaphragm, the gas is deployed from the gas container, through the at least one vent, and into the inflatable bladder. The gas container is detachably connected to the frame so that after use, a new gas container can be inserted in the frame, enabling the inflatable bladder to be reinflated. 
     According to one aspect, a personal water safety device includes a strap and a housing secured to the strap. The strap may include a tension adjuster. The housing defines a window in a bottom surface thereof. The housing releasably encloses a bladder and an inflation assembly. The bladder is secured to the strap through the window. The bladder completely encloses the inflation assembly. The inflation assembly includes a gas container that provides gas to the bladder to inflate the bladder upon the selective deployment of gas from the gas container. The strap keeps the bladder secured to a user&#39;s appendage before and after inflation of the bladder. 
     The housing includes a selectively removable cover. A shuttle is secured to the cover. The cover includes a pair of arms extending therefrom. The arms extend through apertures defined in the shuttle. The arms facilitate the movement of the shuttle in response to movement of the cover. One or more of the arms includes a rotation boss securable within a rotation boss aperture defined in a frame of the housing. The rotation boss facilitates the rotation of the shuttle in response to movement of the cover relative to the frame. The cover includes a finger aperture that enables a user to attain purchase of the cover. The cover includes a tab extending therefrom that is releaseably engagable with the frame of the housing to maintain the cover secured to the frame in order to contain the bladder and inflation assembly within the housing prior to deployment. The bladder is inflatable upon the selective removal of the cover from the housing. 
     The shuttle is movable to deploy gas from the gas container in response to movement of the cover. The shuttle is axially and rotatably movable. The shuttle moves axially to facilitate deployment of the gas from the gas container and moves rotationally to facilitate the inflation and release of the bladder from the housing. The shuttle includes a pair of guide tabs extending therefrom. The guide tabs are engagable with a pair of recesses defined in the housing. The guide tabs are axially slidable within the recesses. The recesses prevent the shuttle from rotating when the guide tabs are positioned within the recesses. The shuttle is freely rotatable when the guide tabs are positioned outside of the recesses. The housing defines a pair of detents to stabilize the shuttle via the guide tabs prior to movement of the shuttle. 
     The inflation assembly includes a block and a plunger assembly. The block is secured to the gas container. The plunger assembly is secured to the block. The block and plunger assembly are positionable relative to one another from an unapproximated condition to an approximated condition to deploy gas from the gas container upon predetermined movement of the shuttle. The shuttle is indirectly engagable with the gas container to move the block and plunger assembly between the unapproximated and approximated conditions. 
     The gas container is sealed with a diaphragm and the plunger assembly includes a pin. The pin is engagable with the diaphragm to pierce the diaphragm as the block and plunger assembly are positioned relative to one another from the unapproximated condition to the approximated condition. The plunger assembly includes a ball coupled to the pin to facilitate the piercing of the diaphragm by the pin. The gas container releases gas upon being pierced by the pin to inflate the bladder. 
     The plunger assembly includes a plunger having a deflector plate and a plurality of legs extending from the deflector plate. The block includes a plurality of channels defined therethrough. The plurality of channels accommodates the plurality of legs to facilitate the relative movement of the plunger assembly and the block from the unapproximated condition to the approximated condition. A passage is formed between a leg of the plurality of legs and a channel of the plurality of channels. The passage provides a travel path for the released gas. The deflector plate directs the released gas toward the passage. 
     One or both of a heat shrinkable material and a tape may be secured to the housing to prohibit the ingress of foreign matter. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The above and other aspects, features, and advantages of the present disclosure will become more apparent in light of the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a front perspective view of one embodiment of a personal water safety device in accordance with the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 2  is a front perspective view of the personal water safety device of  FIG. 1  with a portion of the housing removed for clarity; 
         FIG. 3  is a top plan view of an inflation assembly of the personal water safety device of  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the inflation assembly including the cam partially articulated and having a retaining clip and an actuator disposed thereon; 
         FIG. 4  is an enlarged rear perspective view of a portion of the inflation assembly of  FIG. 3 ; 
         FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional view of the gas container and block assembly of the inflation assembly of  FIGS. 3-4 ; 
         FIG. 6  is a perspective view of the inflated bladder of the personal water safety device of  FIGS. 1-2 ; 
         FIG. 7  is a top plan view of another embodiment of the personal water safety device in a partially assembly configuration in accordance with the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 8  is a top plan view of the personal water safety device of  FIG. 7  in a further partially assembly configuration; 
         FIG. 9  is a front perspective view of a personal water safety device in an uninflated configuration, the personal water safety device attached to a user&#39;s upper arm in accordance with the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 10  is a front perspective view of a personal water safety device in an inflated configuration, the personal water safety device attached to a user&#39;s upper arm as the user remains afloat in water in accordance with the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 11  is a perspective view of another embodiment of a personal water safety device in accordance with the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 12  is an enlarged perspective view of the personal water safety device shown in  FIG. 11  with a cover removed for clarity; 
         FIG. 13  is a perspective view of one embodiment of a bladder and one embodiment of an inflation assembly, the bladder shown semi-transparent for clarity; 
         FIG. 14  is a perspective view, with parts separated, of the inflation assembly of shown in  FIG. 13 ; 
         FIG. 15  is a cross-sectional view of the personal water safety device shown in  FIG. 11 , the personal water safety device illustrated in a pre-deployment configuration; 
         FIG. 16  is a cross-sectional view of the personal water safety device shown in  FIG. 11 , the personal water safety device illustrated in a partially deployed configuration; 
         FIG. 17  is a side view illustrating the inflation assembly shown in  FIG. 14  as well as a portion of one embodiment of a cover and one embodiment of a shuttle; 
         FIG. 18  is a top perspective view of one embodiment of a frame and one embodiment of a strap; and 
         FIG. 19  is a side perspective view of the cover and the shuttle of  FIG. 17 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS 
     Particular embodiments of the present disclosure will be described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings. As shown in the drawings and as described throughout the following description, and as is traditional when referring to relative positioning on an object, the term “proximal” refers to the end of the device that is closer to the user and the term “distal” refers to the end of the device that is further from the user. In the following description, well-known functions or constructions are not described in detail to avoid obscuring the present disclosure in unnecessary detail. 
     Referring now to the drawings, in which like reference numerals identify identical or substantially similar parts throughout the several views,  FIGS. 1 and 2  illustrate a personal water safety device  100 . In accordance with the present disclosure, the personal water safety device  100  includes a housing  110  and a strap  120  attached thereto. The strap  120  is configured and dimensioned to detachably mount to a plurality of different sized upper arms of an individual ( FIG. 9 ). The housing  110  includes an inflatable bladder  130 , an inflation assembly  140  and an actuator  150 . The housing  110  is configured and dimensioned to accommodate the inflatable bladder  130  in an uninflated configuration. The uninflated configuration is designed to be relatively small enough not to impede aquatic activities and to securely fit on a user&#39;s arm. 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 1 and 3 , the actuator  150  includes a lanyard  152  having a ring  154  disposed at the proximal end thereof. The inflation assembly  140  is disposed at the distal end of the lanyard  152 . The ring  154  and the lanyard  152  are configured and dimensioned to be selectively actuable to a predetermined tension sufficient to cause the inflation assembly  140  to inflate the inflatable bladder  130 . Furthermore, the actuator  150  is configured and dimensioned to selectively actuate the inflation assembly  140  to cause the inflatable bladder  130  to inflate to a volume that is sufficient to enable a plurality of different sized users to remain afloat upon inflation thereof. 
     With additional reference to  FIG. 2 , the inflation assembly  140 , which is fastened to the inflatable bladder  130  and disposed in the interior of the inflatable bladder  130  upon inflation, includes a gas container  142  disposed in a frame  144 . The gas container  142  remains hermetically sealed within the inflatable bladder  130  before and after the inflatable bladder  130  is inflated. The gas container  142  provides gas (e.g., CO 2 ) to the inflatable bladder  130  upon gas deployment therefrom. In other words, when the inflation assembly  140  is actuated, the liquid CO 2  is allowed to evaporate and expand so as to fill the inflatable bladder  130  with gas to its extents. The inflatable bladder  130  is shown in an uninflated, folded configuration with a portion disposed in the inflation assembly removed for clarity. However, it is envisioned that the gas container  142  is disposed within the inflatable bladder  130 , wherein the inflatable bladder  130  is disposed in a folded configuration and at least partially disposed within the frame  144 . The inflatable bladder  130  is securely affixed to the housing  110  and strap  120  by way of adhesives, fasteners, welding, or the like. 
     Referring again to  FIG. 3 , the frame  144  includes a cam  146  rotatably connected thereto by a cam pin  147 , wherein the cam  146  is attached to the actuator  150  and configured and dimensioned to cause the gas container  142  to deploy gas. The frame  144  further includes an attachment aperture  148  configured and dimensioned to receive either a portion of the strap  120  or a portion of the housing  110 . The attachment aperture  148  is attached (by e.g, welding) to either the strap  120  or the housing  110 . The frame  144  also includes a retaining clip  149 , whereby the retaining clip  149  prevents at least one of the gas container  142  and a portion of the inflatable bladder  130  from prematurely dislodging from the frame  144 . 
     As seen in  FIG. 4 , the retaining clip  149  is disposed in a pair of recesses  143   a,    143   b  wherein each recess  143  is disposed on an opposing side of the frame  144  and includes a ramp  145 . The cam  146  is configured and dimensioned to engage at least a portion of the retaining clip  149 , whereby upon articulation of the cam  146 , the retaining clip  149  rises on the at least one of the ramps  145   a,    145   b  to a predetermined articulation. As such, at least one end of the retaining clip  149  is freed from at least one of the recesses  143   a,    143   b.  Thus, the inflatable bladder  130  and the gas container  142  are enabled to at least partially exit the frame  144 . The cam  146  is articulably attached to the retaining clip  149  and the retaining clip  149  is articulably attached to a portion of the housing  110 . Therefore, upon selective articulation of the cam  146 , the cam  146  causes the retaining clip  149  to articulate a portion of the housing  110  into an open configuration, thereby enabling the inflatable bladder  130  to exude from the housing  110 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 5 , the gas container  142  comprises a block assembly  160  hermetically connected to the gas container  142  (e.g, by a threaded connection, bayonet connection, snap-on connection, etc.). The gas container  142  further includes a diaphragm  142   z  disposed on one end. The diaphragm  142   z  is configured and dimensioned to seal gas inside the gas container  142  until the diaphragm  142   z  is broken, pierced, or otherwise impinged. 
     The block assembly  160  has a ball  162  and a pin  164  at least partially translatably disposed in a bore  166  therein. The ball  162  is attached to proximal end of the pin  164 . The ball is configured to provide the instant compressive load to the pin  164 . The pin  164  has a sharp distal point for puncturing the diaphragm  142   z.  The cam  146  is configured and dimensioned to engage the ball  162  upon a predetermined articulation of the cam  146 . A predetermined articulation of the cam  146  causes the ball  162  to drive the distal end of the pin  164  into the diaphragm  142   z,  wherein the diaphragm  142   z  is configured and dimensioned to break upon a predetermined engagement force from the distal end of the pin  164 . The block assembly  160  further comprises a vent  168  cut through a portion of the bore  166 . As such, the vent  168  provides a conduit for the gas to flow from the gas container  142  to the inflatable bladder  130 . The pin  164  includes an axial cut portion  164   a,  wherein the axial cut portion  164   a  is cut to an angle sufficient to facilitate the venting of gas into the vent  168 . Upon the breaking of the diaphragm  142   z,  the gas is deployed from the gas container  142 , through the vent  168  and into the inflatable bladder  130 . The gas container  142  is detachably connected to the frame  144  so that after use, a new gas container  142  can be inserted in the frame  144 , enabling the inflatable bladder  130  to be reinflated. 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 6 and 10 , the inflatable bladder  130  remains fixedly attached to the upper arm of the user by the strap  120  after inflation. The inflatable bladder is disposed in a substantially cylindrical shape configured to assist a user, either conscious or unconscious, to keep afloat with the user&#39;s airway above the water surface when in or on water. Other shapes and configuration are also contemplated herein including, but not limited to, spherical, toroidal, etc. A second strap  121  is attached to the inflatable bladder  130 , whereby the second strap  121  provides additional stability for the user when the inflatable bladder  130  is disposed in an inflated configuration. At least one of the inflatable bladder  130 , the strap  120 , and the second strap  121  can be formed of a high visibility material. 
     In another embodiment of the personal water safety device  200  (substantially similar to the personal water safety device  100  but only described herein to the extent necessary to describe the differences in construction and operation thereof), as illustrated in  FIGS. 7 and 8 , the strap  220  includes a cinch  222  to tighten the strap  220  to the upper arm of an individual. The strap  220  also includes a fastening device  224  attached thereto, enabling the user to fasten the strap  220  to the upper arm. In this embodiment, both the housing  210  and the strap  220  include a fastening device  224   a,    224   b,  which manifests itself as a hook and loop-type fastener  224 , such as VELCRO. Namely, a synthetic material sold in ribbon, sheet, or piece goods form. The material has complementary parts which adhere to each other when pressed together and are adapted for use as a closure fastener, or button for closing garments, curtains, or the like. In addition, this also includes separable fasteners and components thereof. 
     As shown in  FIG. 7 , the housing  210  holds the inflatable bladder  130  in a folded configuration having a first portion  230   x  disposed in a rolled orientation and a second portion  230   y  partially disposed in the frame  244  and held by the retaining clip  249 . From  FIG. 8 , a portion of the housing  210  is folded over the inflatable bladder  230 , the inflation assembly  140 , and a portion of the actuator  150 . In this embodiment, the lanyard  252  is partially situated to tear the bond from the fastening device  224  (i.e, the hook and loop-type fastener) between the folded over portions of the housing  210  so that upon actuation of the lanyard  252 , the folded over portions of the housing  210  are unfolded, freeing the inflatable bladder  230  to exude from the housing  210 . In addition, the lanyard  252  actuates the inflation assembly  240  to cause gas to inflate the inflatable bladder  230 . 
     In operation, when requiring additional buoyancy, the user simply pulls the ring  154 ,  254  and tensions the lanyard  152 ,  252  with enough force to activate the cam  146 ,  246 . The tensioning of the lanyard  152 ,  252  has the further effect of tearing open a portion of the housing  110 ,  210  so that the inflatable bladder  130 ,  230  is free to expand. The cam  146 ,  246  then causes the pin  164 ,  264  to puncture the diaphragm  142   z,    242   z  and the retaining clip  144 ,  244  to release the inflatable bladder  130 ,  230 . The inflatable bladder  130 ,  230  inflates and remains attached in a substantially stationary position adjacent to the user&#39;s upper arm by the strap  120 ,  220  both before and after inflation thereof. In this orientation, the high visibility inflatable bladder  130 ,  230  can be used as a marker or flag to attract the attention of a potential rescuer. The second strap  121 ,  221 , which is welded to the inflatable bladder  130 ,  230  provides stability to the user, enabling the user to insert the user&#39;s opposite arm. 
     The manufacture is simple and cost effective. The gas container  142 ,  242 , frame  144 ,  244  and cam  146 ,  246  can be injection molded from a strong polymer such as polyamide or acetyl. The inflatable bladder  130 ,  230  and straps  120 ,  220 ,  121 ,  221  can be produced from a suitable film such as polyurethane. In particular, the inflatable bladder  130 ,  230  can be formed of a high visibility film produced in orange, red, yellow, blue, green or the like. The housing  110 ,  210  can be formed of a similar film, or can be injection molded from a suitable and compliant polymer such as polyurethane. The welding procedures can be thermal, ultra sonic, radio frequency or the like. It is envisioned that the personal water safety device  100 ,  200  can be designed to support individuals weighing up to 250 lbs. In addition, even more compact models can be designed to support children and adults under 150 lbs. 
     Additional embodiments are also contemplated, including the addition of further functionality such as a whistle, horn, or other noise maker. A strobe or light can be included for night and limited visibility conditions. Further, an emergency position indicating Radio Beacon (EPIRB) or the like (e.g., GPS) can be provided. 
     Turning now to  FIGS. 11-19 , another embodiment of a personal water safety device, generally referred to as  300 , is substantially similar to personal water safety devices  100  and  200  but is only described herein to the extent necessary to describe the differences in construction and operation thereof. 
     With particular reference to  FIG. 11 , the personal water safety device  300  includes a strap  310  and a housing  320 . The housing  320  is secured to the strap  310 . Generally, the housing  320  includes a frame  322  and a cover  324 , the cover  324  being rotationally displaceable relative to the frame  322 . The strap  310  may include a tension adjuster  312  secured to one end of the strap  310 , while the other end of the strap  310  may include a plurality of teeth  314  adapted to be threaded through the tension adjuster  312  to secure, e.g., cinch the personal water safety device  310  to an appendage (e.g., an arm or leg) of a user. The plurality of teeth  314  enable the personal water safety device  310  to be fixed in a plurality of different orientations (e.g., sizes) to accommodate different users of the device. 
     As shown in  FIG. 12 , the housing  320  releasably encloses a bladder  330  and an inflation assembly  340 . With brief reference to  FIG. 18 , the housing  320 , namely the frame  322 , defines a pair of windows  322   a  in a bottom surface thereof. The bladder  330  is secured to the strap  310  (e.g., chemically bonded) through the window  322   a.  As illustrated in  FIGS. 12-13 , the bladder  330  completely encloses the inflation assembly  340 . The bladder  330 , in this respect, hermetically seals the inflation assembly  340 . The inflation assembly  340  includes a gas container  342  that provides gas to the bladder  330  to inflate the bladder  330  upon the selective deployment of gas from the gas container  342 . The strap  310  keeps the bladder  330  secured to a user&#39;s appendage before and after inflation of the bladder  330 . 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 13 and 14 , the inflation assembly  340  includes a block  344  and a plunger assembly  346 . The block  344  is secured to the gas container  342 . The plunger assembly  346  is secured to the block  344 . The block  344  and plunger assembly  346  are positionable relative to one another from an unapproximated condition ( FIG. 15 ) to an approximated condition ( FIG. 16  illustrates only partial deployment but shows the approximation of the plunger assembly  346  and the block  344 ) to deploy gas from the gas container upon predetermined movement of a shuttle  350  secured to the cover  324  (see  FIGS. 17 and 19 ) (discussed in greater detail below). 
     As shown in  FIG. 14 , the gas container  342  is sealed with a diaphragm  342   a.  The plunger assembly  346  includes a ball  348   a,  a pin  348   b,  and a plunger  347 . The plunger  347  includes a deflector plate  347   a  and a plurality of legs  347   b  extending from the deflector plate  347   a.  The pin  348   b  is engagable with the diaphragm  342   a  to pierce the diaphragm  342   a  as the block  344  and plunger assembly  346  are moved relative to one another from the unapproximated condition to the approximated condition. The ball  348   a  is coupled to the pin  348   b  to facilitate the piercing of the diaphragm  342   a  by the pin  348   b.  The gas container  342  releases gas upon being pierced by the pin  348   b  to inflate the bladder  330 . 
     Continuing to refer to  FIG. 14 , the block  344  includes a plurality of channels  344   a  defined therethrough on an outer surface thereof (four are shown, but any number of channels  344   a  are contemplated). The plurality of channels  344   a  accommodates the plurality of legs  347   b  to facilitate the relative movement of the plunger assembly  346  and the block  344  from the unapproximated condition to the approximated condition. A passage  345  is formed between each leg of the plurality of legs  347   b  and each channel of the plurality of channels  344   a.  Each passage  345  provides a travel path for the released gas. These passages  345  enable the expanding gas (e.g., CO 2 ) to pass without impinging directly onto the bladder  330  (to limit cooling effect that might otherwise subject the bladder  330  to glass transition, possibly leading to cracking or fracture). These passages  345  also enable the expanding gas to pass along the gas container  342  raising the temperature of the gas. The deflector plate  347   a  directs the released gas toward the passage  345 . 
     Turning now to  FIGS. 15-19 , the cover  324 , which is selectively removable from the housing  320 , namely the frame  322 , is secured to shuttle  350 . In particular, the cover  324  includes a pair of arms  326  extending therefrom. The cover  324  includes a top portion  325   a  and a base portion  325   b.  The arms  326 , which are secured to the top portion  325   a  extend through apertures  352  defined in the shuttle  350 . The arms  326  facilitate the movement of the shuttle  350  in response to the rotational movement of the cover  324 . One or both of the arms  326  includes a rotation boss  326   a  securable within a rotation boss aperture  323   a  defined in the frame  322 . The rotation boss  326   a  facilitates the rotation of the shuttle  350  in response to movement of the cover  324  relative to the frame  322 . The cover  324  includes a finger aperture  324   a  (see  FIG. 15 ) that enables a user to attain purchase of the cover  324 . The finger aperture  324   a  is defined between the top portion  325   a  and the base portion  325   b.  The cover  324  also includes a tab  324   b  extending therefrom, namely from the base portion  325   b  that is releaseably engagable with the frame  322  to maintain the cover  324  secured to the frame  322  in order to contain the bladder  330  and the inflation assembly  340  within the housing  320  prior to deployment. In this respect, the tab  324   b  may be configured to yield to the deployment force, but contain the internal components within the housing  320  until that time. The bladder  330  is inflatable upon the selective removal of the cover  324  from the housing  320 . 
     With continued reference to  FIGS. 15-19 , the shuttle  350  is movable to deploy gas from the gas container  342  in response to movement of the cover  324 . The shuttle  350  is indirectly engagable with the gas container  342  (since the bladder  330  completely encloses inflation assembly  340 ) to move the block  344  and plunger assembly  346  between the unapproximated and approximated conditions. The shuttle  350  is axially and rotatably movable. More specifically, as depicted in  FIG. 16 , the shuttle  350  moves axially (driven by the rotation of the cover  324  such that the arms  326  pull the shuttle  350  toward the inflation assembly  340  during the initial movements of the cover  324 ) (e.g., the shuttle  350  provides a compressive force effectuated by the frame  322  serving as a reaction body for the shuttle  350 ) to facilitate deployment of the gas from the gas container  342 . Upon the cover  324  reaching a predetermined angle of rotation (e.g., any suitable angle), namely after the shuttle  350  has caused the inflation assembly  340  to deploy the gas from the gas container  342 , the shuttle  350  stops axially moving and begins to rotate with the cover  324  to facilitate the inflation by rotating away from the bladder  330  thereby enabling the bladder  330  to escape or release from the housing  320 . In particular, once the bladder  330  begins to expand by virtue of the gas expelling from the gas container  342 , e.g., after initial penetration, the deployment may be configured to accelerate on its own. 
     As best depicted in  FIGS. 17-19 , the shuttle  350  includes a pair of guide tabs  354  extending therefrom. The guide tabs  354  are engagable with a pair of recesses  356  defined in the frame  322  of the housing  320 . The guide tabs  354  are axially slidable within the recesses  356 . The recesses  356 , via detents  358  defined in the frame  322 , prevent the shuttle  350  from rotating when the guide tabs  354  are positioned within the recesses  356 . In particular, the pair of detents  358  stabilize the shuttle  350  via protrusions  354   a  on the guide tabs  354  prior to movement of the shuttle  350 . The shuttle  350  is freely rotatable when the guide tabs  354  are positioned outside of the recesses  356 . 
     With reference again to  FIG. 18 , the frame  322  may include a plunger hook  360  to facilitate the securement of the inflation assembly  340  within the frame  322 . In addition, the frame  322  may include rotation boss hooks  362  to facilitate the securement of the rotation bosses  326   a  within the frame  322 , namely within the rotation boss apertures  323   a.  The frame  322  may include vertical appendages  364  engagable with the cover  324  for providing additional stability. 
     One or both of a heat shrinkable material and a tape may be secured to the housing  320 , e.g., at the interface between the cover  324  and the frame  322 , to prohibit the ingress of foreign matter. 
     To assemble, the block  344  is threaded onto the neck of the gas container  342 . The block  344  can be injection molded from a resign such as Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (ABS). The pin  348   b  may be fabricated from a drawn wire in e.g., stainless steel. The pin  348   b  is inserted into a central hole  344   b  extending through the block  344 . The ball  348   a,  which may also be stainless steel, and the plunger  347 , which may also be formed of ABS, follow axially into assembly. 
     The bladder  330  may be formed of Poly Amide (PA) taffeta with a Polyurethane (PU) film applied to one side. The bladder  330  may be die cut and welded along the periphery with the PU film acting as the bonding media. Before final sealing, the inflation assembly  340  is inserted and the bladder  330  evacuated. The inflation assembly  340  is enclosed by, but not bonded to the bladder  330 . The bladder  330  may be formed by one tab that extends axially, exposing the PU film. 
     The strap  310  may be injection molded of thermoplastic PU. The tension adjuster  312  is affixed to the strap  310  by wrapping the strap  310  around an adjuster bar  312   a  of the tension adjuster  312  and either welding or bonding the strap  310  back on itself. Likewise, the frame  322 , which can be injection molded in ABS, can be welded or bonded to the strap  310 . 
     The tab of the bladder  330  may be welded to the strap  310  through one of the windows  322   a.  The moving components, e.g., the shuttle  350  and the cover  324  can be injection molded from ABS. The top portion  325   a  of the cover  324  is first inserted to the shuttle  350  and then the base portion  325   b  of the cover  324  is either welded or bonded to the top portion  325   a  of the cover  324 . 
     The bladder  330  is then rolled to a volume that fits within the housing  320 . The shuttle  350  is placed over the gas container  342 . The guide tabs  354  are slid into the recesses  356  within the frame  322 . The plunger assembly  346 , which is inside the bladder  330 , is snapped into the plunger hook  360  of the frame  322 . The rotational bosses  326   a  of the cover  324  and the tab  324   b,  which can be a breakaway tab, are then simultaneously snapped into the frame  322 . Finally, the entire system can be sealed with the application of heat shrinkable tube and/or tape around the circumference of the device. 
     While several embodiments of the disclosure have been shown in the drawings, it is not intended that the disclosure be limited thereto, as it is intended that the disclosure be as broad in scope as the art will allow and that the specification be read likewise. Therefore, the above description should not be construed as limiting, but merely as exemplifications of preferred embodiments. Thus the scope of the embodiments should be determined by the appended claims and their legal equivalents, rather than by the examples given.