Patent ID: 8113897

Claim:
A flotation aid comprising an inflation unit having: an inflatable bladder; a gas container assembly including a gas container comprising a gas capsule or canister containing a compressed gas for inflating said bladder, said gas container including valve means at one end through which a gas may be released into said bladder, said gas capsule or canister including an annular collar adjacent the valve means, said gas container assembly being located at least substantially within said bladder, said gas container assembly further including an actuator adjacent said one end of said gas container, said actuator being actuable externally of said bladder and being movable longitudinally of said container and slidable over said collar when actuated to cause said valve means to move to an open position, said actuator cooperating with said gas container when actuated to maintain said valve means in said open position to allow release of gas from said gas container into said bladder to inflate said bladder.