WO2008123635A1

WO2008123635A1 - Life vest

Info

Publication number: WO2008123635A1
Application number: PCT/KR2007/001669
Authority: WO
Inventors: Soon Suk Joo
Original assignee: Seong Ji Industrial Co., Ltd
Priority date: 2007-04-05
Filing date: 2007-04-05
Publication date: 2008-10-16

Abstract

A life vest is disclosed, which prevents a user from being died due to a low human body temperature even when the user is exposed to water for a longer time. In a life vest including a life vest body having left and right extensions, with a center upper side between the extensions of the life vest body being hung onto a user's neck, there is provided an improved life vest which comprises an air tube which is provided at one side of the life vest body and is expanded in a mat shape if necessary.

Description

LIFE VEST

Technical Field

[1] The present invention relates to a life vest used during an marine accident, and in particular to a life vest in which a new type life vest combined with a tube is developed. When a user is drowned into the sea, it is possible to wait a rescue out of water and to survive for a longer time, so that a human life damage can be minimized in the course of a marine accident.

[2]

Background Art

[3] Generally, a life vest means equipment by which a user is floated on the sea using buoyance. When a person is drowned into the sea in case of a marine accident of a ship or an airplane, it is possible to prevent the user from being died.

[4] The life vest is necessarily worn by a passenger of a boat so that a person who cannot swim is floated in safe on water or in preparation of an accident.

[5] In recent years, as a water related leisure sports is populated, many people enjoy a water ski or water related plays by using a motor boat. In this case, the life vest is generally used so as to avoid accidents.

[6] In the construction of a conventional life vest, a certain space is formed in the interior of an outer skin made of a waterproof material. An air or floating material is provided in the space so that a user is floated on water against the weight of a user. With the above construction, when a user wears a life vest and is drowned into water, it is possible to prevent the user from being died.

[7] With the above life vest, it is possible to prevent a user from being drowned and died.

However, when the person is drowned into water and is died, almost victims die due to a low body temperature.

[8] The conventional life vest has only a function of preventing the user from being drowned into water and being died during a shorter time period. So, there is limit in decreasing the human life accident since a quick rescue cannot be performed in the course of accident.

[9] Namely, when a person is drowned into water, it is needed to quickly rescue. In addition, a certain equipment is needed so that a drowned person can have a certain degree of a body temperature for a longer time. The conventional life vest is useless when a rescue is not quickly performed.

[10]

Disclosure of Invention Technical Problem

[11] Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a life vest which overcomes the problems encountered in the conventional art. [12] It is another object of the present invention to provide a life vest which is possible to prevent a drowned person from being died. [13] It is further another object of the present invention to provide a life vest which prevents a user from being died due to a low human body temperature even when the user is exposed to water for a longer time. [14] It is still further another object of the present invention to provide a life vest in which a user can wait for a longer time out of water using a tube, so that it is possible to maximize a human damage. [15]

Technical Solution [16] To achieve the above objects, in a life vest including a life vest body 11 having left and right extensions, with a center upper side between the extensions of the life vest body 11 being hung onto a user's neck, there is provided an improved life vest which comprises an air tube which is provided at one side of the life vest body 11 and is expanded in a mat shape if necessary. [17] The air tube is integrally attached to an upper side of the life vest body or is detachably attached to the same.

[18] A member for detachably attaching the air tube is a zipper or a Velcro tape.

[19] The air tube is stored in an upper side of the life vest body in a non-expanded state in a rolled up shape. [20] The life vest body comprises a cover surrounding the air tube which is stored in a rolled up shape.

[21] The inner space of the air tube is sectioned into multiple independent sections.

[22] A flexible cloth is sewed over the whole portions of the air tube 12 for thereby forming a certain size pocket like a sleeping bag so that a user can stay in the pocket. [23]

Advantageous Effects

[24] In the present invention, since a new type life vest combined with an air tube is implemented, it is possible to protect a person drowned into water from being died. The user can wait rescue for a longer time out of the water using the air tube according to the present invention, so that the death due to low body temperature can be prevented, and a marine accident damage can be minimized. [25]

Brief Description of the Drawings [26] Figure 1 is a front view illustrating a life vest according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[27] Figure 2 is a side view illustrating a life vest according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[28] Figure 3 is a front view illustrating a state that an air tube is exploded in a life vest according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[29] Figure 4 is a rear view illustrating a state that an air tube is exploded in a life vest according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[30] Figure 5 is a side view illustrating a state that an air tube is exploded in a life vest according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[31] Figure 6 is a front view illustrating a state that an air tube is exploded in a life vest according to another embodiment of the present invention.

[32]

Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[33] In the present invention, in a life vest including a life vest body 11 having left and right extensions 10a and 10b, with a center upper side between the extensions 10a and 10b of the life vest body 11 being hung onto a user's neck, there is provided an improved life vest which comprises an air tube 12 which is provided at one side of the life vest body 11 and is expanded in a mat shape if necessary.

[34]

Mode for the Invention

[35] Figure 1 is a front view illustrating a life vest according to an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 2 is a side view illustrating a life vest according to an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 3 is a front view illustrating a state that an air tube is exploded in a life vest according to an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 4 is a rear view illustrating a state that an air tube is exploded in a life vest according to an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 5 is a side view illustrating a state that an air tube is exploded in a life vest according to an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 6 is a front view illustrating a state that an air tube is exploded in a life vest according to another embodiment of the present invention.

[36] As shown in Figures 1 through 5, a life vest according to the present invention comprises a life vest body 11 and an air tube 12. Here, the air tube 12 remains in a rolled-up state, and the life vest body 11 is hung onto a user's neck.

[37] The life vest body 11 is formed in an inverted U shape in which a left extension 10a and a right extension 10b are connected through a center upper side. The life vest body 11 is stored in a state that an air is removed from the interior of the same.

[38] The life vest body 11 is made in such a manner that an outer material and an inner material formed by coating or laminating a synthetic resin such as urethane on a synthetic fiber such as nylon or natural fiber surround an inner side of a circumferential side of the same.

[39] The adhering portion is formed over the left and right extensions 10a and 10b and a center upper side and is formed along the outer and inner edge portions, so that an inner side of the same is substantially sealed.

[40] In the life vest body 11, a gas discharger 15 is provided at a front side of the left or right extension 10a or 10b. The life vest body 11 can be expanded using the gas discharger 15.

[41] For example, the life vest body 11 is designed to expand as the gas from the gas discharger 15 is filled into the interior of the same. Carbonic acid gas is generally filled into the gas discharger 15. It is designed to operate as a user pulls a strap connected with an operation lever of the gas discharger 15.

[42] The gas discharger may be formed of a well-known gas discharger which is adapted to a conventional life vest.

[43] An air injection pipe 15a is provided at a front side of the left or right extension 10a or 10b of the life vest body 11 so as to inject air when the expansion is not sufficient.

[44] The life vest body 11 is provided with a binding member such as a belt. So, the user hangs the life vest body 11 onto the neck and fixes the same using the binding member, so that a stable wearing state is obtained.

[45] For example, there may be provided a Y-shaped upper belt engaged at a center upper portion of a life vest body and positioned at an upper side of a user's back, and a circular lower belt which is engaged at a lower side of the left and right extensions through a connection strap and positioned below the upper belt. The life vest according to the present invention can be tightly worn by a user by binding the above elements using a conventional elastic engaging member. The binding members may be implemented using various known elements.

[46] The air tube 12 is formed of a rectangular mat shaped expandable tube. In the course of a marine accident, the user can wait a rescue out of the water.

[47] Like the life vest body 11, the air tube 12 is made in such a manner that an outer material and an inner material made by coating or laminating a synthetic resin such as urethane on a synthetic fiber such as nylon or natural fiber surround a circumferential side of the same. The inner side of the same is sealed by adhering along an outer edge side.

[48] The air tube 12 is sectioned into multiple adhering lines 16. It is preferred that the whole parts of the tube communicate with each other. As another example, the inner space may be sectioned into multiple parts by the multiple adhering lines 16 formed in the length wise or width wise direction. In this case, even when one of the section is damaged or lose the air, the remaining sections may work properly. [49] The gas discharger 15 is provided to the air tube 12. The gas discharger 15 is formed of a well-known gas discharger which is generally adapted to a life vest. An air injection type pipe 15a is provided so as to provide air when expansion is not sufficient for a longer time. [50] The life vest body 11 and the air tube 12 may be formed in an integration type or a detachable type. In the course of marine accident, if necessary, only the life vest body

11 may be used or may be used along with the air tube 12.

[51] In the case of the integration type, the air tube 12 is integrally connected at one side of the life vest body 11, namely, one edge side is integrally connected at an upper end of the same or is sewed. In the case of the separation type, one side edge of the air tube

12 is engaged at an upper side of the life vest body 11 using a binding member such as a zipper 14 or a velcro tape. In the case of the integration type, the binding member is removed from the construction of the separation type, so that it is now shown in the drawings.

[52] The air tube 12 provided in the life vest body 11 is rolled up and stored when the life vest is not used, and is engaged at the upper side of the life vest body 11.

[53] Namely, the air-lost air tube 12 is rolled up from the side opposite to where it is engaged at the life vest body 11, and then is fixedly attached using a velcro tape, so that the air tube 12 can be connected with minimum volume.

[54] A cover 13 is attached at an upper side of the life vest body 11 or a lower end of the aur tube 12 with one side of the cover 13 being sewed, and the other side of the same being opened. So, the cover surrounds the rolled-up air tube 12. An outer appearance of the product is good, and the air tube 12 is not loosened so that it is possible to stably store the life vest.

[55] The cover 13 surrounds and supports the rolled up air tube 12 so that the adhering member such as velcro tape attached at one side of the same is fixed at the adhering member such as velcro tape attached to the life vest body 11.

[56] The operation of the life vest according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described.

[57] When a life vest is worn in the course of sea accident, the life vest body 11 is worn along the neck and is fitted to a user's body using belts. When the life vest body 11 is expanded using the gas discharger 15, the user floats on water with the head and part of user's body being exposed out of the water in the help of buoyance of the life vest body 11. So, the user can wait rescue.

[58] In the case that the user waits for a longer time with wearing the life vest owing to a worse rescue situation, a low body temperature phenomenon occurs. In this case, it is needed to wait out of the water. The user can use the air tube 12 attached to the life vest body 11.

[59] For example, in the case of the separation type, the air tube 12 is detached from the life vest body 11. In the case of the integration type, the gas discharger 15 of the air tube 12 is operated in a state that it is attached to the life vest body 1 l(in a state that the wearing life vest body is got off for short time period), and the air tube 12 is filled with gas. When the air tube 12 is charged with gas, it expands and becomes widened. So, the user gets on the exploded air tube, namely, waits rescue out of the water in safe.

[60] Figure 6 is a front view illustrating a state that an air tube is exploded in a life vest according to another embodiment of the present invention.

[61] The another embodiment of the present invention is provided so as to supplement the previous embodiment of the present invention. Namely, it is basically designed so as to protect the user from wind or cold or other environments when the user stays on the air tube out of the water during the marine accident.

[62] Namely, the air tube 12 is made larger, and a flexible cloth is attached to the whole portions of the upper surface and is sewed in a shape of a pocket 17, so that the user can stay in the pocket. When the user stays and waits in the pocket during the marine accident, it is safe from wind, so that the user can maintain normal body temperature. Here, the pocket may be formed in a conventional sleeping bag and may be sealed using a zipper member.

[63] Since the user can wait rescue in safe using the air tube provided at the life vest in the course of marine accident, it is possible to protect the user from being hurted due to low body temperature. So, the death can be minimized in the course of marine accident.

[64] The present invention is not limited to the above disclosed embodiments. The shape, material, and others may be modified and implemented.

[65]

Industrial Applicability

[66] As described above, since a new type life vest combined with an air tube is implemented, it is possible to protect a person drowned into water from being died. The user can wait rescue for a longer time out of the water using the air tube according to the present invention, so that the death due to low body temperature can be prevented, and a marine accident damage can be minimized.

[67]

Sequence Listing

[68] air tube, life vest, extension, velcro tape

[69]

[70] [71]

Claims

[1] In a life vest including a life vest body 11 having left and right extensions 10a and 10b, with a center upper side between the extensions 10a and 10b of the life vest body 11 being hung onto a user's neck, an improved life vest, comprising: an air tube 12 which is provided at one side of the life vest body 11 and is expanded in a mat shape if necessary. [2] The vest of claim 1, wherein said air tube 12 is integrally attached to an upper side of the life vest body 11 or is detachably attached to the same. [3] The vest of claim 2, wherein a means for detachably attaching the air tube 12 is a zipper or a Velcro tape. [4] The vest of either claim 1 or claim 2, wherein said air tube 12 is stored in an upper side of the life vest body 11 in a non-expanded state in a rolled up shape. [5] The vest of either claim 1 or claim 2, wherein said life vest body 11 comprises a cover 13 surrounding the air tube 12 which is stored in a rolled up shape. [6] The vest of either claim 1 or claim 2, wherein a flexible cloth is sewed over the whole portions of the air tube 12 for thereby forming a certain size pocket like a sleeping bag so that a user can stay in the pocket.