FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The invention relates to equipment for rescuing drowning people in open waters and can be used both in work of professional rescuers and for the rescuing of a drowning person by somebody without any special rescue skills.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] In situations involving the rescue of drowning people, a standard rescue board is commonly used, which is tied to a rescuer's leg and floats after him until the rescuer reaches the target. Many years of using such a board has revealed a number of problems and inconveniences. In the case of using a traditional solid non-inflatable board, people were faced with the problem of mobility and transportation of a relatively bulky and heavy device. The one-piece construction of the rescue board allowed limited its use, mainly applied to stationary rescue stations.

[0003] Also, one of the main reasons for providing the invention is a problem well reflected by modern statistics - a huge number of rescue attempts are made by people who are absolutely unprepared for this. Such attempts are characterized by low efficiency and high mortality. Unlike professional rescuers, random people often do not have necessary rescue equipment on their hands. They spend almost all their strength to swim to a drowning person and do not have enough capabilities to recuperate and carry out further rescue actions. The situation is complicated by the fact that the victim is almost always exhausted and requires huge efforts from the rescuer to provide assistance. The death of both the drowning and the rescuer often happens.

[0004] In this scenario the task for professional rescuers most often consists in holding the victim above water (preferably using rescue equipment) and waiting for additional help with minimal energy costs. More rarely attempts are made to transport the victim.

[0005] In this case significant disadvantages include the inability to fix the victim relative to the traditional rescue board. The rescuer had to hold the victim and the rescue board at the same time. The situation could often be complicated by the loss of consciousness of the victim, the loss of strength of both, and the difficulty to hold the rescue board during high waves of water.

[0006] Additionally, attempts to fix the victim's hands relative to the rescue board came up short - this still led to the victim's head immersion into water, especially in the case of loss of consciousness or during high waves of water. Furthermore, the possibility to transport the victim to the shore was almost completely excluded - the rescuer had to wait for help, holding the rescue board and the victim at the same time.

[0007] Thus, there is a need for a lightweight compact device made of modern materials with the possibility to fix the victim's head above the water level, which can be available for people that are non-professional rescuers in open water. And it does not require special professional skills in use.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0008] The technical result of the claimed invention is to increase the efficiency of saving drowning people in open water and reduce mortality during rescuing.

[0009] The said technical result is achieved by the proposed invention that can be implemented in the form of a flotation device which in its initial (not inflated) state is a compact product, folded, for example, in a covering and suitable for transportation in a car, carrying in a backpack or storage at a rescue station, and in a working (inflated) state it is a small raft. Note that the product is made of lightweight and durable materials, which makes it lightweight, convenient for transportation, and also when in use it reduces the drag and allows to swim with less resistance, and therefore less tiredness of a rescuer. The proposed rescue device is equipped with a universal valve that allows to inflate the rescue raft by mouth, for example, when preparing for swimming, or using suitable nozzles by a standard electric pump used when inflating, for example, air mattresses, as well as by a compressed air balloon which can be used in emergency cases when it is necessary to have the flotation device in a readiness in a few seconds or when there is no access to electricity. Furthermore, the proposed rescue raft, unlike known solutions, is equipped with a cutout that allows a rescuer to fix a victim's head above water even if he loses consciousness.

[0010] Additionally, the proposed rescue raft is equipped with fixing devices that allow to fix a victim's torso relative to the rescue raft to reduce effects of pitching and jerks during movement that can injure the neck of the victim, and also, along with the cutout for fixing the head, minimize a risk of pulling out the flotation device by a wave and minimize efforts of the rescuer to hold the victim and the rescue raft.

[0011] Moreover, the flotation device has locking tightening straps, which allows the rescuer to fix at least one of his/her hands relative to the rescue raft and minimize his/her efforts to hold the rescue raft. This solution allows a rescuer to stay near the rescue raft and near the victim after being covered by a wave, loss of strength or short-term loss of consciousness. With one fixed arm, a rescuer can afford a wider range of actions for the free hand, as well as make greater efforts.

[0012] In general, the proposed invention allows to wait much longer for additional assistance keeping the victim and the rescuer afloat, allows to transport the victim in a fixed position, even if he loses consciousness, which makes it possible to increase the efficiency of a rescue operation, significantly reduce mortality during carrying out the latter.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0013] The claimed invention is explained by the following drawings.

[0014] FIG.1 . shows an example of using the flotation device by a rescuer in water when transporting it to the drowning person.

[0015] FIG.2. shows an example of using the flotation device when the victim is fixed.

[0016] FIG.3. shows a top view of the flotation device.

[0017] FIG.4. shows a side view of the flotation device equipped with straps for fixing the shoulder girdle and torso of the victim.

[0018] FIG.5. shows a side view of the flotation device equipped with the inflatable vesttype element for fixing the shoulder girdle and torso of the victim.

[0019] FIG.6. shows a top view of the flotation device with another arrangement of the cutout for fixing victim's head and neck.

[0020] The positions on said figures have the following designations.

[0021] 1 . The hull of the flotation device in the form of a buoyancy chamber.

[0022] 1.1. Buoyancy chamber.

[0023] 2. The upper part of the flotation device hull.

[0024] 3. The lower part of the flotation device hull.

[0025] 4. A hole for installing the universal valve 4.1 for pressurizing the buoyancy chamber 1.1. [0026] 4.1 . The universal valve for pressurizing the buoyancy chamber 1.1.

[0027] 5. The cutout for positioning and fixing the victim's neck.

[0028] 5.1 . The part of the cutout 5 configured to accommodate the victim's neck.

[0029] 5.2. The place of expansion of the cutout 5.

[0030] 6. Sidewalls 1 of the hull.

[0031] 7. Means for fixing the cord 8.

[0032] 8. The cord for moving flotation device in water by a rescuer.

[0033] 9. A loop for securing the cord 8 to the rescuer's leg or torso.

[0034] 10. A handle for holding the flotation device.

[0035] 11 . Straps for fixing a rescuer's wrist.

[0036] 12. Loops for grabbing and holding the flotation device.

[0037] 13. A fastener of the victim's neck.

[0038] 14. Straps for fixing the shoulder girdle and torso of the victim relative to the flotation device.

[0039] 15. The inflatable vest-type element for fixing the shoulder girdle and torso of the victim relative to the flotation device.

[0040] 16. An element for attaching light and sound alarms.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0041] The technical result is achieved by the proposed invention which is a flotation device comprising: a hull in the form of a buoyancy chamber having an elliptical shape in plane with upper and lower surfaces connected to each other along the perimeter at the side, wherein the front end of the hull is equipped with a means for securing a cord to move the flotation device by a rescuer in water, and a cutout is made at the rear end in the hull to accommodate and hold the neck of a victim, forming two symmetrical sidewalls of the hull at the sides, wherein the said cutout is pear-shaped with recessing into the hull along the longitudinal axis of the hull, wherein sidewalls at their bases are made with the height lower than the height of the ends of sidewalls by lowering the level of their upper surface at the base of sidewalls, the hull is equipped with a universal valve for pressurizing the buoyancy chamber, a handle for holding the flotation device, straps for fixing a rescuer's wrist and loops for grabbing and holding the flotation device, the buoyancy chamber is made of waterproof material. [0042] In additional aspects, the claimed invention is characterized in that:

[0043] - the cutout is made with recessing into the hull along the longitudinal axis of the hull by at least 180 mm;

[0044] - sidewalls have a thickness less than the thickness of the hull;

[0045] - sidewalls have a thickness equal to the thickness of the hull;

[0046] - the cutout is made with a diameter of a circle, inscribed in the part intended to accommodate the neck, in the range from 100 to 150 mm;

[0047] - the height of sidewalls is selected in the range from 80 to 120 mm;

[0048] - the cord for moving the flotation device is provided with a loop for securing the cord to the leg or torso of a rescuer;

[0049] - the length of the cord is selected in the range from 700 to 2500 mm;

[0050] - the cord is made of material with a tensile strength of at least 10.8 kN;

[0051] - the means for securing the cord is a rigid bracket with a hole;

[0052] - the means for securing the cord is a flexible bracket with a hole in which a rigid ring is installed;

[0053] - on sidewalls at the place of expansion of the cutout there is a fastener for the victim's neck, which in the closed state connects sidewalls with each other and thereby covers the cutout;

[0054] - sidewalls can be equipped with straps for fixing the shoulder girdle and torso of the victim relative to the flotation device;

[0055] - sidewalls can be equipped with an inflatable vest-type element for fixing the shoulder girdle and torso of the victim relative to flotation device;

[0056] - straps for fixing the rescuer's wrist, loops for grabbing and holding the flotation device, the fastener for the neck of the victim, straps for fixing the shoulder girdle and torso of the victim, as well as the inflatable vest-type element are made of material with a tensile strength of at least 950 N;

[0057] - a universal valve for pressurizing the buoyancy chamber is configured to be inflated by a mouth, or a pump, or a cylinder with compressed air;

[0058] - the hull is equipped with an element for attaching light and sound alarms;

[0059] - the hull is made with a length in the range from 500 to 1500 mm, a width from 300 to 600 mm, a thickness from 100 to 200 mm with forming the working volume of the buoyancy chamber of at least 0.01 and up to 0.18 m ³ ;

[0060] - the material of the buoyancy chamber is a rubberized fabric; [0061] - the material of the buoyancy chamber is polyvinyl chloride;

[0062] - the material of the buoyancy chamber provides a tensile strength of at least

950 N, a tear strength of at least 98 N, a specific gravity of 400 g/m ² ;

[0063] - the buoyancy chamber is made with wall thickness from about 1 to about 8 mm;

[0064] - the hull can be divided inside into two or more buoyancy chambers by means of a horizontal, and/or vertical, and/or inclined membrane.

[0065] The technical result of the claimed invention, which consists of increasing the efficiency of rescuing drowning people in open water, reducing mortality during rescue, and expanding the use of the flotation device, is achieved as follows.

[0066] The flotation device including the hull in the form of a buoyancy chamber has a flowing elliptical shape in plane which reduces water resistance when the flotation device is transported in open water by a rescuer.

[0067] Also, for effective movement of the flotation device in water by the rescuer the front end of the hull is equipped with a means for attaching the cord, while the cord for moving the flotation device is equipped with a loop for securing the cord to the leg or torso of the rescuer, the length of the cord is selected from 700 to 2500 mm. With a cord length of less than 700 mm inconveniences and hindrances arise when moving the flotation device by a rescuer in open water, and with a cord length of more than 2500 mm inconveniences appear when unwinding the cord, as well as the time increases excessively when pulling the flotation device to the drowning, the weight of the flotation device increases.

[0068] To avoid rupture the cord is made of material with a tensile strength of at least 10.8 kN. At a lower value, the cord may break during transportation of the victim, which will not allow to increase the efficiency of rescuing drowning people.

[0069] The means for securing the cord is a bracket that can be made as a rigid bracket with a hole or as a flexible bracket with a hole in which a rigid ring is installed. These embodiments will preserve the integrity of the buoyancy chamber when using the flotation device through transferring the load from the cord to a large area of the hull.

[0070] Due to the cutout is made at the rear end in the hull to accommodate and fix the neck of the victim, forming two symmetrical sidewalls of the hull on the sides, and also due to the cutout is made pear-shaped with recessing into the hull of the flotation device, which is suitable for fixing the neck of the victim, the victim is held on water effectively and his head is prevented from immersion even in the case of loss of consciousness of the victim. Note that the cutout is made with recessing into the hull along the longitudinal axis of the hull by at least 180 mm from the ends of sidewalls to the end of the cutout. This depth of the cutout allows to securely accommodate and encompass the victim's neck by sidewalls, contributes to reliable holding. Also, the cutout is made with a diameter of a circle, inscribed in the part intended to accommodate the neck, in the range from 100 to 150 mm. With a smaller size of the cutout, it will be difficult to accommodate and fix the neck of the victim, its compression will occur. With a higher value, the reliability of fixing the neck and head of the victim will be lost, there will be a risk of spontaneous slipping of the victim, especially if she or he is a child. [0071] The reliability of keeping the victim's head above water is also ensured due to sidewalls at their base are made with a height lower than the height of the ends of sidewalls through lowering the level of their upper surface at the base of sidewalls. This design feature allows to reduce the likelihood of unintentional exit of the victim's neck from the cutout naturally under the weight of body. Note that the height of sidewalls is selected in the range from 80 to 120 mm, which is due to the need of effective holding and supporting the victim's head. If the height of sidewalls is less than 80 mm, reliable head support is not provided. If the height of sidewalls is more than 120 mm, there are inconveniences of fixing the head commonly due to the full use of the distance between shoulders of the victim and his head. Also, sidewalls can be made with a thickness less than the thickness of the hull, which will allow to combine a sufficiently large volume of the buoyancy chamber with convenience and efficiency of fixing the victim’s neck. In another embodiment, sidewalls can be made with a thickness equal to the thickness of the hull, which reduces the weight of the flotation device, facilitates its transportation, and also simplifies production of the product.

[0072] Also, for the purpose of reducing the likelihood of unintentional exit of the victim's neck from the cutout there is a fastener for the victim's neck on sidewalls at the place of expansion of the cutout, which, when closed, connects sidewalls to each other and thereby bridges the cutout.

[0073] Also, the reliability of holding the victim is ensured due to sidewalls that can be equipped with straps or an inflatable vest-type element to fix the shoulder girdle and torso of the victim relative to the flotation device. Additional fixing devices allow to fix a victim's torso relative to the rescue raft to reduce effects of pitching and jerks during movement that can injure the neck of the victim, and also, along with the cutout for fixing the head, minimize a risk of pulling out the flotation device by a wave and minimize efforts of the rescuer to hold the victim and the rescue raft. [0074] Rapid inflating the flotation device in emergency situations is ensured due to the fact that the hull is equipped with a universal valve for pressurizing the buoyancy chamber, which thanks to the presence of a universal valve can be inflated by mouth, by a pump or by a compressed air cylinder.

[0075] The increase in efficiency of rescuing is also provided by presence of a handle for holding the flotation device, as well as straps for fixing the rescuer's wrist and loops for grabbing and holding the flotation device. Thanks to these elements the convenience and reliability of holding the flotation device by a rescuer, as well as by a victim in open water, increase even during high waves. Moreover, it allows the rescuer to fix at least one of his hands relative to the rescue raft and minimize his efforts to hold the rescue raft. This solution allows a rescuer to stay near the rescue raft and near the victim after being covered by a wave, loss of strength or short-term loss of consciousness. With one fixed arm, a rescuer can afford the wider range of actions with their free hand, as well as make greater efforts.

[0076] The reliability of the device itself is ensured by making the buoyancy chamber of waterproof material, for example, rubberized fabric, or polyvinyl chloride, or other similar material providing a tensile strength of at least 950 N, tear strength of at least 98 N, as well as by making straps for fixing the rescuer's wrist, loops for grabbing and holding the flotation device, the fastener of the victim's neck, straps for fixing the shoulder girdle and torso of the victim, and the inflatable vest-type element of material with a tensile strength of at least 950 N. Note that it was found that the permissible values of the wall thickness of the buoyancy chamber, providing the efficiency of production and operation of the flotation device, are from about 1 to about 8 mm. With smaller values of the wall thickness, there is a high risk of damage to the wall up to the loss of its tightness. With larger values, the weight of the flotation device increases unreasonably, while manufacturability of production and efficiency of using decrease significantly.

[0077] Also, the increase in efficiency of rescuing drowning people is achieved due to the hull being equipped with an element for attaching light and sound alarms. The presence of light and sound alarms on the flotation device will allow to receive additional assistance faster, which will reduce mortality during rescue.

[0078] Dimensions of the hull are also selected on the basis of improving the efficiency of rescuing drowning people in open water: length is in the range from 500 to 1500 mm, width is from 300 to 600 mm, thickness is from 100 to 200 mm, volume of the buoyancy chamber is from 0.01 to 0.18 m ³ . With smaller values of dimensional parameters, reliable keeping afloat of the rescuer and the victim afloat will not be provided. With larger values, it will be difficult for the rescuer to use the flotation device when moving it on shore and in water.

[0079] Due to the hull can be divided inside into two or more buoyancy chambers by a horizontal, and/or vertical, and/or inclined membrane, each of which allows to keep the flotation device, a rescuer and a victim afloat, the increase in reliability of the flotation device is ensured in the case of damage followed by tightness failure of one of buoyancy chambers.

[0080] The proposed flotation device is implemented as follows. Two elliptically contoured parts of the hull 1 are made of light, durable water-resistant material, for example, rubberized fabric, with a tensile strength of at least 950 N, a tear strength of at least 98 N, a specific gravity of 400 g/m ² , and a thickness of about 1 to about 8 mm, for example, 4 mm, more specifically the upper part 2 and the lower part 3 that are hermetically connected, for example, by adhesive bonding or by thermal welding to each other along the perimeter thereby forming the buoyancy chamber 1.1. Note that an opening 4 is made in the upper part 2 of the hull 1 for installing the universal valve 5 for pressurizing the buoyancy chamber 1.1. Also, a pear-shaped cutout 5 is made on each of the parts 2 and 3 of the hull 1 at the rear end with recessing into the hull 1 along the longitudinal axis of the hull 1 with forming two symmetrical sidewalls 6 of the hull 1 on sides, while the said cutout 5 is made with recessing into the hull 1 along the longitudinal axis of the hull 1 by at least 180 mm and with a diameter of a circle, inscribed in the part 5.1 of the cutout 5 intended to accommodate the victim's neck, in the range from 100 to 150 mm. At the front end the hull 1 is equipped with a means 7 for securing a cord 8 for moving the flotation device in water by a rescuer, which can be made in the form of a rigid bracket with a hole or a flexible bracket with a hole in which a rigid wear-resistant ring is installed (not shown). The cord 8 is fixed for moving the flotation device in the said means 7 for fastening the cord 8. The cord 8 is selected with a length from 700 to 2500 mm, a loop 9 is provided at the end of the cord 8 to secure the cord 8 to the leg or torso of the rescuer. Note that the cord 8 should be made of material with a tensile strength of at least 10.8 kN. The hull 1 is equipped with a handle 10 for holding the flotation device, as well as with straps 11 for fixing the rescuer's wrist and with loops 12 for grabbing and holding the flotation device. On sidewalls 6 at the place 5.2 of the expansion of the cutout s a fastener 13 for the victim's neck is provided. In an embodiment, sidewalls 6 can be equipped with straps 14 for fixing the shoulder girdle and torso of the victim relative to the flotation device. In another embodiment, sidewalls 6 can be equipped with an inflatable vest-type element 15 for fixing the shoulder girdle and torso of the victim relative to the flotation device.

[0081] Note that straps 11 for fixing the rescuer's wrist, loops 12 for grabbing and holding the flotation device, a fastener 13 for the victim's neck, straps 14 for fixing the shoulder girdle and torso of the victim, as well as the inflatable vest-type element 15 are made of material with a tensile strength of at least 950 N.

[0082] In the hole 4 for installing the universal valve 4.1 for pressurizing the buoyancy chamber 1.1 , made in the upper part 2 of the hull 1 , the specified universal valve 4.1 is hermetically installed. Furthermore, on the upper part 2 of the hull 1, an element 16 is installed, for example, a bracket for attaching light and sound alarms.

[0083] The following dimensional parameters are kept in manufacturing the flotation device: the hull is made in the range from 500 to 1500 mm for length, preferably 1000 mm, 300 to 600 mm for width, preferably 400 mm, 100 to 200 mm for thickness, preferably 150 mm, with forming the working volume of the buoyancy chamber of at least 0.01 and up to 0.18 m ³ , preferably 0.05 m ³ .

[0084] Although the specific form of the invention has been illustrated and described, it is obvious that various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. For example, depending on tasks and methods of use, different sizes of the flotation device can be implemented, with different location and number of cutouts for fixing the head and neck of victims, with different colors of manufacturing materials. Additional means for fixing rescuer's hands relative to the flotation device can be used. Additional features can be applied for attaching identification and detection elements, light and sound devices, and so on. The hull can be divided inside into two or more buoyancy chambers, each of which can have its own universal valve for pressurization, by a horizontal, and/or vertical, and/or inclined membrane. Any other suitable materials can be used in manufacturing depending on tasks, the intensity of use, and planned loads.