Water rescue devices using expanding flotation nets and other expanding, body-gripping forms

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10850815-B2
Application number	US-201916525557-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 29, 2019
Priority date	Oct 20, 2012
Publication date	Dec 1, 2020
Grant date	Dec 1, 2020

Abstract

New water rescue devices and methods of use are provided. In some embodiments, a rescue device comprises an inflatable net with a handle, and a switch for causing the inflation of the inflatable net. In some methods, a user positions the inflatable net underneath at least part of a person or other object prior to inflation, and the inflating net rises due to increased buoyancy, while water passes through and below the net. The rising net lifts the person or object above the surface of a body of water, rescuing the person or object. In some embodiments, the invention is incorporated in a rescue buoy or rescue can. In some embodiments, an inflatable body other than a net also, or alternatively, is provided. For example, an expanding flotation ring or other flotation device is provided, which envelopes and holds the person or object when inflated.

First claim

I claim:

1. A device for rescuing persons or objects immersed in water, comprising:
a net of at least one inflatable body(ies), configured to be inflated by a user;
at least one handle or grip, connected with the net of at least one inflatable body(ies).

2. The device for rescuing of claim 1 , wherein said net of at least one inflatable body(ies) are tubes comprising air- or other gas-tight flexible walls.

3. The device for rescuing of claim 1 , wherein said at least one inflatable body(ies) comprise an elastic material in a compressed state that, when the elastic material in a compressed state is released, causes the expansion of said net.

4. The device for rescuing of claim 1 , wherein said device comprises a switch or other user-operated control; and
wherein said switch or other user-operated control is configured to inflate at least some of said at least one inflatable body(ies).

5. The device for rescuing of claim 4 , wherein said switch or other user-operated control is located within or adjacent to said handle or grip.

6. A device for rescuing persons or objects immersed in water, comprising:
at least one expandable body(ies), in an unexpanded state and configured to be expanded by a user;
a handle or grip connected with a net of expandable body(ies);
wherein said device comprises a switch or other user-operated control configured to expand said expandable bodies.

7. The device for rescuing of claim 6 , wherein said at least one expandable body(ies) comprise a gas when expanded.

8. The device for rescuing of claim 6 , wherein said at least one expandable body(ies) comprise an elastic material in a compressed state that, when the elastic material in a compressed state is released, causes the expansion of said net.

9. The device for rescuing of claim 6 , wherein said device comprises a safety device that, when in an active state, is configured to prevent operation of said user-operated control and wherein said user-operated control is configured to expand said expandable bodies only when said safety device is in an inactive state.

10. The device for rescuing of claim 9 , wherein said safety device comprises a moving piece at least partially exposed from a housing of said device.

11. The device for rescuing of claim 9 , wherein said safety device is deactivated by said moving piece contacting a person or other object.

12. The device for rescuing of claim 11 , wherein said moving piece is located on one side of said device.

13. The device for rescuing of claim 6 , wherein at least some of said at least one expandable body(ies) turn during expansion to form an encircling configuration for enveloping one of said person(s) or other object(s) after expanding.

14. The device for rescuing of claim 13 , comprising at least one fastener configured to link one end of at least one of said at least one expandable body(ies) with another end of at least one of said at least one expandable body(ies) and to retain said encircling configuration for enveloping one of said person(s) or other object(s).

15. The device for rescuing of claim 6 , comprising a rescue buoy or other buoyant body.

16. The device for rescuing of claim 12 , wherein said at least one expandable body(ies) are configured to expand by stretching.

17. A method for rescuing a person or object from a body of water, comprising the following steps:
obtaining a device for rescuing persons or objects immersed in water, comprising:
at least one expandable body(ies), in an unexpanded state and configured to be expanded by a user;
a handle or grip connected with a net of expandable bodies;
wherein said device comprises a switch or other user-operated control configured to expand said expandable bodies.

18. The method of claim 16 , comprising the following additional step:
activating said switch or other user-operated control of said device, causing said being expanded of said at least one expandable body(ies).

19. The method of claim 17 , comprising the following additional step:
positioning said expandable body(ies) at least partially under a person or object prior to said causing said being expanded of said at least one expandable body(ies).

20. The method of claim 16 , wherein said switch or other user-operated control is located adjacent to said handle or grip.

Assignees

• Beckman Christopher V

Inventors

• Beckman Christopher V

Classifications

• B63C9/26 Primary

  Cast or life lines; Attachments thereto; Containers therefor; {Rescue nets or the like}(adaptations of aerial cableways to shipboard use B63B27/18; guns for line throwing F41F; line-carrying missiles F42B12/68) · CPC title

• B63C9/18

  Inflatable equipment characterised by the gas-generating {or inflation} device · CPC title

• B63C9/08 Primary

  Life-buoys, e.g. rings; Life-belts, jackets, suits, or the like ({non-sinkable swimsuits, drawers or trunks A41D7/001} ; equipment for swimming A63B, e.g. swimming aids {other than life-buoys or life-belts} A63B31/00, {teaching frames for swimming, swimming boards A63B69/14}) · CPC title

• B63C2009/265

  Nets or sheet-like devices, e.g. for lifting persons on board or for facilitating climbing on board · CPC title