Patent ID: 12202582

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Embodiments of the present invention provide high visibility for an individual floating in open water by providing a wearable flotation device, such as a life jacket, equipped with a location indicator assembly having an indicator device that can be readily deployed by the individual wearing the flotation device. Moreover, when not in use the indicator device can be readily retracted by the individual so that it does not interfere with activities of the individual while wearing the flotation device.

Turning toFIGS.1-6, an individual100is shown wearing a wearable flotation device, e.g., life jacket,102equipped with a location indicator assembly104, according to an embodiment of the present invention. Location indicator assembly104is configured to place an indicator device106as a marker between a retracted state, as shown inFIGS.1,3,5, and a deployed (also referred to herein as “released”) state, as shown inFIGS.2,4,6. According to a feature of the present invention, the retracted and deployed states of indicator device106can be selectively carried out by direct actions of individual100wearing wearable flotation device102equipped with location indicator assembly104.

The structural configuration of location indicator assembly104according to an embodiment of the present invention is described below with reference to the embodiment show inFIGS.7-14.

Location indicator assembly104includes a housing structure4with first and second opposite sides4a,4b, a support mechanism112mounted at a first end thereof to first side4aof housing structure4for undergoing movement between a retracted position (FIGS.7-9) and a deployed position (FIGS.10-12), indicator device104mounted at a second end of support mechanism112opposite the first end, and a mechanism for deploying and retracting support mechanism112to place indicator device106between the deployed and retracted states, respectively.

In this embodiment, housing structure4is in the form a generally rectangular-shaped plate provided with a guide slot7extending from first side4ato second side4band along the length of the rectangle (as shown inFIGS.10-14), pivot pins8,20, and an anchor pin10. In alternative embodiments, housing structure4can be configured in a form other than a generally rectangular-shaped rectangular plate.

Support mechanism112includes links113arranged in the form of a scissor link mechanism (FIGS.6-8,10-11). Indicator device106is securely mounted to a connection point3of upper links113a,113bof support mechanism112. Lower links113c,113dof support mechanism112are mounted to housing structure4. Specifically, link113cis mounted to pin8for undergoing pivotal movement relative to housing structure4, and link113dis mounted to a sliding pin9provided for undergoing sliding movement within guide slot7(FIGS.10-11). By this configuration, support mechanism112is configured to undergo movement from the retracted position shown inFIGS.7-8to the deployed position shown inFIGS.10-11upon selective activation by individual100of the mechanism for deploying and retracting support mechanism112as further described below. While support mechanism112is embodied herein as a scissor link mechanism, it is understood that other structures may be used in place of the scissor link mechanism for the purpose of placing indicator device106between the deployed and retracted states.

FIGS.13and14illustrate the mechanism for deploying and retracting support mechanism112, whereFIG.13shows the configuration of location indicator assembly104when support mechanism112is in the retracted position shown inFIGS.1,3,5and7-9, andFIG.14shows the configuration of location indicator assembly104when support mechanism112is in the deployed position shown inFIGS.2,4,6and10-12.

The mechanism for deploying and retracting support mechanism112includes a latch member15, a retraction cable assembly110, and a deployment cable assembly122. Latch member15is mounted to pivot pin20on the second side4bof housing structure4for undergoing pivotal movement relative thereto. A first biasing member (e.g., leaf spring)21is mounted to second side4bof housing structure4at support points21a,21bfor biasing latch member15to the position shown inFIGS.13-14, that is, for biasing latch member15in the counterclockwise direction about pivot pin20. As shown inFIG.13, latch member15has a retaining portion15aconfigured to retain sliding pin9on a left side of guide slot7in the retracted position of support mechanism112.

Deployment cable assembly122is connected at a terminal end thereof to an anchor point19of latch member15. Retraction cable assembly110is connected at a terminal end thereof to sliding pin9associated with link113dof support mechanism112as described above. A second biasing member (e.g., coil spring)11is connected at opposite ends thereof to sliding pin9and anchor pin10of housing structure4for biasing sliding pin9towards a right side of guide slot7as shown inFIG.14.

In this embodiment, each of the retraction cable assembly110and deployment cable assembly122may be in the form of a BOWDEN® cable arrangement including an inner cable arranged to move relative to a hollow outer cable housing. For example, retraction cable assembly110includes an inner retraction cable12configured to move relative to a hollow outer cable housing13and having the terminal end connected to sliding pin9as described above. Deployment cable assembly122includes an inner deployment cable16configured to move relative to a hollow outer cable housing17and having the terminal end connected to anchor point19of latch member15as described above. At an end opposite its terminal end, cable16is attached to a deployment or release pull handle120accessible to and configured to be handled by individual100to pull cable16outwardly from the individual's body to deploy support mechanism112and place indicator device106in the deployed or released state (FIGS.2,4,6,10-12,14). At an end opposite its terminal end, cable12is attached to a retraction pull handle108accessible to and configured to be handled by individual100to pull cable12outwardly from the individual's body to retract support mechanism112and place indicator device106in the retracted state (FIGS.1-5,7-9,13). In this embodiment, each of retraction pull handle108and release pull handle120has a generally D-shaped configuration to facilitate handling by individual100during pulling of cables12and16, respectively. It is understood, however, that handles108and122can be configured in any suitable shape provided that the selected configuration permits individual100to be able to readily access the handles, particularly during deployment of indicator device106.

Location indicator assembly104may be removably coupled to flotation device102or may be an integral component of flotation device102. In the present embodiment, flotation device102is in the form of a life jacket in the form of a vest worn by individual100as shown inFIGS.1-6. As best shown inFIGS.1,2,5and6, location indicator assembly104can be removably mounted to an outside or exterior surface (e.g., rear surface) of life jacket102. This embodiment allows location indicator assembly104to be retrofitted to existing life jackets without substantial (if any at all) modification to the life jackets. In an alternative embodiment, location indicator assembly104can be mounted in an interior surface of life jacket102. For example, life jacket102may be formed with a compartment or pocket (not shown) dimensioned to receive and removably support location indicator assembly104so that support mechanism112can be deployed and retracted to place indicator device106in the deployed and retracted states as described above. In yet another embodiment, location indicator assembly104can be removably mounted to life jacket102with ties or hook and loop connectors (not shown) either on an outside surface of or within a compartment of life jacket102. In yet another embodiment, the location indicator assembly104can be integrated into the life jacket102and thus non-removably held thereon.

In the embodiment shown inFIGS.1-6and10-11, indicator device106is in the form of a pendant or flag. It is understood, however, that indicator device106may be configured in a form other than a pendant or flag and provided in any configuration and/or color so long as indicator device106is selected so as to be capable of improving visibility of the individual in the deployed state of indicator device106while wearing flotation device102equipped with location indicator assembly104.

An embodiment of the operation of location indicator assembly104to deploy and retract indicator device106during use by individual100wearing flotation device102equipped with location indicator assembly104is described below with reference to the drawings.

Prior to deployment of indicator device106, flotation device102worn by individual100and equipped with location indicator assembly104is in the configuration shown inFIGS.1,3and5in which indicator device106is in the retracted state. As shown inFIG.13, in the retracted state of indicator device106, latch member15is retained in the position shown under the bias of first biasing member21while sliding pin9is retained at a left side of guide slot7by retaining portion15aof latch member15against the bias of second biasing member11. Likewise, prior to deployment of indicator device106, support mechanism112is in the retracted position as shown inFIGS.7-9. It is noted that indicator device106has been omitted fromFIGS.7-9only to facilitate understanding of the features of the present invention.

To initiate the deployment procedure, using the right or left hand the individual100pulls handle120, and thus cable16, away from the individual's body. Pulling of cable16, which is attached to anchor point19of latch member15, causes latch member15to pivot in a clockwise direction about pivot pin20until sliding pin9is caused to be released from retaining portion15aof latch member15under the biasing action of second biasing member11. Specifically, sliding pin9slides along guide slot7due to the action of second biasing member11until sliding pin9reaches the right side of guide slot7as shown inFIG.14. Due to sliding pin9being attached to lower link113dof support mechanism112, support mechanism112undergoes vertical movement from the retracted position shown inFIGS.7-9to the deployed or released position shown inFIGS.10-12. This results in deployment of indicator device106as shown inFIGS.2,4,6and10-12, in which indicator device106is vertically extended on top of support mechanism112.

Retraction of indicator device106is initiated from the configuration of location indicator assembly104shown inFIGS.2-6,10-12and14. To initiate the retraction procedure, using the right or left hand the individual100pulls handle108, and thus cable12, away from the individual's body. Pulling of cable12, which is attached to sliding pin9, causes sliding pin9to slide along and towards the left end of guide slot7, against the bias of second biasing member11, until sliding pin engages and rides on tapered surface portion15bof latch member15. As sliding pin9rides on tapered surface portion15b, latch member15is caused to pivot in a clockwise direction about pivot pin20until sliding pin9engages retaining portion15aof latch member15as shown inFIG.13, at which point latch member15pivots in the counterclockwise direction under the biasing action of first biasing member21. During movement of sliding pin9along guide slot7as described above, support mechanism112undergoes vertical movement from the deployed or released position shown inFIGS.2-6and10-12to the retracted position shown inFIGS.1,3,5and7-9. This results in retraction of indicator device106as shown inFIGS.1,3,5.

In the embodiment shown inFIGS.1-6, pull handle108is positioned on the right side and pull handle120is positioned on the left side of flotation device102worn by individual100. It is understood, however, that pull handles108,120can be alternatively positioned on the left and right sides, respectively, of flotation device102. As described above, individual100may utilize either the right or left hand to pull handles108,120, regardless of the position of pull handles on flotation device102.

In the embodiment shown inFIGS.1-6, the retraction and deployment cable assemblies110,122and corresponding pull handles108,120of location indicator assembly104are mounted relative to life jacket102, which is in the form of a vest, such that the pull handles are positioned in a waist region of the vest so as to be readily accessible by the user's hands for deploying and retracting support mechanism112to place indicator device106between the deployed and retracted states as described above.

FIGS.15-20show an alternative embodiment in which the retraction and deployment cable assemblies of location indicator assembly104are denoted with reference numerals202,206, respectively, and the corresponding pull handles are denoted with reference numerals204,208, respectively. In this alternative embodiment, the cable assemblies202,206and corresponding pull handles204,208are mounted relative to the life jacket102(e.g., in the form of a vest) such that pull handles204,208are positioned in a neck and/or chest region (instead of the waist region) of the vest so as to be readily accessible by the user's hands for deploying and retracting support mechanism112to place indicator device106between deployed and retracted states, as shown inFIGS.15-20.

It will be appreciated from the foregoing description of the present invention according to the foregoing embodiments that in the deployed state, indicator device106provides high visibility for an individual floating in open water. Deployment of indicator device106can be readily achieved by a simple pulling action of pull handle120,208by either the individual wearing flotation device102equipped with location indicator assembly104or by another individual in the proximity of the individual wearing flotation device102. Likewise, retraction of indicator device106can be readily achieved by a simple pulling action of pull handle108,204by either the individual wearing flotation device102or another individual in the proximity of the individual wearing flotation device102. This permits retraction of indicator device106(and thus support mechanism112) when location indicator assembly104is not in use so that support mechanism112and indicator device106do not interfere with activities of the individual while wearing flotation device102. This ability to be able to readily deploy and retract indicator device106as needed (i.e., on demand) is a feature of the present invention.

The embodiments described herein disclose location indicator assembly104used in conjunction with flotation device102in the form of a life jacket. However, it is understood that location indicator assembly104can be used in conjunction with other types of flotation devices, either wearable or non-wearable, without departing from the objectives and scope of the present invention.

Moreover, location indicator assembly104can be used in conjunction with other than flotation devices used in water environments. For example, location indicator assembly104is also adapted for use in conjunction with clothing garments, such as vests and jackets, for use in environments other than water environment, such as amusement parks, to provide high visibility for users wearing such garments. For example, such garments equipped with location indicator assembly104are suitable for use by children of small age, elderly individuals suffering from dementia, and individuals with special needs who are at high risk of getting lost in crowded environments, such as amusement parks. The deployment of indicator106provides high visibility, allowing such individuals to be readily identified and located in case they are lost in a crowd. It also allows such individuals to be easily identified, followed and tracked while walking in crowded environments, even if they are not lost.

Reference in the specification to “one embodiment” or “an embodiment” of the present invention, as well as other variations thereof, means that a particular feature, structure, characteristic, and so forth described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the present invention. Thus, the appearances of the phrase “in one embodiment” or “in an embodiment”, as well any other variations, appearing in various places throughout the specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment. However, it is to be appreciated that features of one or more embodiments can be combined given the teachings of the present invention provided herein.

It is to be appreciated that the use of any of the following “/”, “and/or”, and “at least one of”, for example, in the cases of “A/B”, “A and/or B” and “at least one of A and B”, is intended to encompass the selection of the first listed option (A) only, or the selection of the second listed option (B) only, or the selection of both options (A and B). As a further example, in the cases of “A, B, and/or C” and “at least one of A, B, and C”, such phrasing is intended to encompass the selection of the first listed option (A) only, or the selection of the second listed option (B) only, or the selection of the third listed option (C) only, or the selection of the first and the second listed options (A and B) only, or the selection of the first and third listed options (A and C) only, or the selection of the second and third listed options (B and C) only, or the selection of all three options (A and B and C). This may be extended for as many items listed.

The foregoing is to be understood as being in every respect illustrative and exemplary, but not restrictive, and the scope of the invention disclosed herein is not to be determined from the Detailed Description, but rather from the claims as interpreted according to the full breadth permitted by the patent laws. It is to be understood that the embodiments shown and described herein are only illustrative of the present invention and that those skilled in the art may implement various modifications without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. Those skilled in the art could implement various other feature combinations without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. Having thus described aspects of the invention, with the details and particularity required by the patent laws, what is claimed and desired protected by Letters Patent is set forth in the appended claims.