GB2223395A - Inflatable safety jacket - Google Patents

Abstract

A double layer jacket 1 has a compressed gas container 2 attached thereto via an inlet so as to allow gas into the space between the layers to cushion the body of a user against impact when the user jumps from a building in an emergency. Moreover, the inflated jacket will slowdown the speed of descent of the user and the impulse produced at the time of inflation will carry the user away from the building. <IMAGE>

Description

Title: Inflatable safety jacket The invention relates to an inflatable safety jacket for use in escape from tall buildings,comprising a double layer air cushion jacket and a compressed air container provided on the reverse side thereof such that when the jacket is worn and the container activated the double layer of the jacket will instantly fill with air, to such an extent that it will be inflated and, at the same time, by means of the impulse which is produced at the time of inflation will carry the body of the user away from the building.

Moreover, prior to landing on the ground, the buoyant effect of the inflated jacket slows down the falling speed of the body,and provides thorough protection to the body at the time of landing so as to ensure the safety of those people escaping from a tall building at times of emergency.

The invention provides an inflatable safety jacket in which a double layer can be filled with air to enable the availability of a specific thickness to protect the body of the user. There is also a buoyant effect to protect the safety of a person who tries to escape from danger.

It is a common trend that modern buildings are high and people who are in such a building might have to jump down from the buildings at the tirne of a sudden emergency when no rescue can be expected Although various types of lif-e saving apparatus have been previously - proposed, tliey cannot effectively prevent such emergency situations from occurring. Furthermore, such equipment is very expensiveand often only a few installations of this equipment-are kept in specific areas of a tall building. In the case of a fire people may not be able to distinguish fire exits or may be prevented from reaching the exit by the fire.

Consequently, they may not be able to reach the specific area of the building where the life saving aparatus is kept and so may be forced to jump from the building.

The main objective of this invention is to provide a safety jacket suitable for use from great heights which is cheap in its production cost, easily operated and easily stored.

The secondary objective of this invention is to provide a safety jacket, which is easily stored and is capable of being folded up when not in use, so as to occupy as little space as possible but remain ready for use as a means of escape at times of emergency.

For a better understanding of how this invention can achieve the aforementioned objective and effects, as well as its method of application, the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a drawing illustrating the folded condition of a jacket.

Figure 2 is a drawing illustrating the opened condition of the jacket which is ready for use.

Figure 3 is an obverse view drawing illustrating how the jacket is worn by the user.

Figure 4 is a side view illustrating how the jacket is worn by the user.

Figure 4A and 4B illustrate the compressed air containers of the invention in operation.

The safety jacket can be folded up easily in any part of a room where it can be clearly seen. As it occupies a very small space and the cost of production is low, it is not expensive to provide a sufficient quantity of the jacket for all the occupants of a building in an emergency. The most prominent feature of this invention is that it can be utilized by everybody.

Referring to figure 2, at the time of utilization, all the user will have to do is to carry the equipment as illustrated in figure 1 to a window or the door through which he wants to make his escape. Then unfold the jacket and spread out the part of the collar 11 of the air cushioned jacket 1 and put it on and buckle the adhesive tapes 12 of the collar. It will then be in the worn condition as shown in figure 3. The person who wears the jacket only exposes his eyes and: nose and -the rest of the body will be wrapped up by, and inside the air cushioned jacket 1 and so is thoroughly protected.

After having completed the aforementioned actions, the user will then face the window or door and turn on the switch on the compressed air container 2 located at the back of the jacket 1 as is shown in figure 4. The air contained inside the container 2 will instantly fill the space inside the double layer of the air cushioned jacket with air and cause it to expand. At the same time, by means of the instant impulse of the air which is being released, the jacket will carry the body of the user through the window or door.

Owing to the fact that the double layer of the air cushioned jacket is inflated with air, the jacket which is carrying the body of the user will float in the air like a balloon prior to falling and slow down its falling speed.

As the periphery of the body of che user is surrounded and protected by an air layer which is more than five inches in thickness provided by the jacket as shown by the shadowed part illustrated in figure 4, the body of the user will be protected from being hurt by the impact absorbing air cushion.

As indicated by figure 4A and 4B, the compressed air container 2, is screwed inside the threaded screw hole 13 at the back of the jacket 1 and the top end of the compressed air container 2 will be engaged by the firing pin 14 of the jacket in a condition as shown in figure 4A.

At the time of use, all the user will have to do is to turn the compressed air container 2 in a clockwise direction to enable the air hole at the end of the firing pin 14 to pierce the compressed air container 2. At this time, the compressed air inside the container 2 will instantly spread out and inflate the double layer of the air cushioned jacket 1 as shown in figure 4B. It can be easily and rapidly operated, so as to achieve the object of making a rapid escape.

Claims (3)

1. An inflatable safety jacket comprising a double layer jacket having a compressed gas container attached thereto via an inlet so as to allow gas into the space between the layers to cushion the body of a user against impact.

2. A jacket as claimed in claim 1 wherein the inlet comprises a threaded collar into which a container can be screwed.

3. A jacket which is substantially as herein described.