BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to flotation and stability devices and, more particularly, it relates to an automatically inflating device for equipment that inhibit the equipment from sinking if the equipment should enter the water. The flotation and stability device is inflatable, either manually or automatically, when the equipment becomes at least partially submerged in the water thereby inhibiting sinking and promoting stability.

2. Description of the Prior Art Many cargo containers and other equipment are transported each year via ships, barges, and other vessels. Typically, the equipment is positioned on and within the ship. During inclement weather and/or high seas, some equipments could and does become dislodged from the deck of the ship and enters the water. In many instances, the equipment sinks to the ocean floor or lake floor and/or they break apart spilling the contents into the water. While some of the equipment can be environmentally harmless, the contents of some of the equipment can have tremendous adverse affects on the surrounding environment and distant environments depending on the water currents.

In addition, the equipment and the contents of these cargo containers have a value to the owners of the equipment and the contents therein. Such losses amount to millions of dollars a year that leads to increased operating costs and increased consumer costs. It would be beneficial to retrieve the equipment and cargo containers once the equipment and cargo containers enter the water and salvage the equipment and contents therein. Furthermore, it would be beneficial to retrieve the equipment and cargo containers prior to the equipment and the cargo containers breaking up or otherwise being breached.

The flotation and stability device of the present invention solves these problems and others by being easy to install, either as a retrofit to equipment or during manufacture of the equipment. In addition, the flotation and stability device of the present invention is designed to automatically deploy when the equipment or cargo container becomes at least partially submerged within the water. The flotation and stability device will not deploy when water merely splashes against the equipment or cargo container on the deck of the cargo ship thereby preventing unneeded deployment in inclement weather and/or heavy seas. Once deployed the present invention will keep the equipment and cargo container afloat thereby providing time for retrieval of the equipment and cargo container and the contents therein.

SUMMARY The present invention is an inflating flotation and stability device for equipment. The device comprises at least one inflatable bladder mounted to the mounting plate and a cover covering the inflatable bladder. A carrier mechanism secures the inflatable bladder to the equipment. Cover removing means removes the cover and inflation means inflates the inflatable bladder.

The present invention further includes a method for floating and/or stabilizing equipment upon the equipment entering the water. The method comprises mounting at least one flotation bladder to the equipment and inflating the flotation bladder upon occurrence of a predetermined event.

In addition, the present invention includes a system for maintaining the upright stability of an object. The system comprises at least one flotation bladder secured to the object. Sensing means senses the object in a non-upright condition. Inflation means inflates the flotation bladder wherein upon inflation of the flotation bladder, the object returns to an upright stable condition.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating an inflating flotation and stability device, constructed in accordance with the present invention, with the flotation bladders being in an inflated condition on a cargo container ;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating the inflating flotation and stability device of FIG. 1, constructed in accordance with the present invention, with the flotation bladders being in a deflated condition on the cargo container; FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating the inflating flotation and stability device, constructed in accordance with the present invention, with the flotation and stability devices prior to mounting on the cargo container; FIG. 4 is a perspective view illustrating the adjustable strap and buckling mechanism for securing the flotation and stability devices to the cargo container or other equipment; FIG. 5 is another perspective view illustrating the adjustable strap and buckling mechanism for securing the flotation and stability devices to the cargo container or other equipment; FIG. 6 is an elevational side view illustrating cover-removing tubing in the non-inflated position and fluidly connected to an inflation medium; FIG. 7 is a perspective view illustrating the cover-removing tubing and the flotation bladder in an inflated condition; FIG. 8 is a perspective view illustrating the inflating flotation and stability device, constructed in accordance with the present invention, with the gas supply being connected to the flotation and stability devices; FIG. 9 is a perspective view illustrating the inflating flotation and stability device, constructed in accordance with the present invention, with the flotation and stability device prior to mounting on equipment ; FIG. 10 is a perspective view illustrating the inflating flotation and stability device, constructed in accordance with the present invention, with the flotation and stability devices mounted on a drilling platform prior to inflation of the flotation bladders; FIG. 11 is a perspective view illustrating the inflating flotation and stability device, constructed in accordance with the present invention, with the flotation and stability devices mounted on a drilling platform subsequent to inflation of the flotation bladders; FIG. 12 is a perspective view illustrating a mounting method for mounting a flotation bladder ;

FIG. 13 is a perspective view illustrating an additional view of the mounting method of FIG. 12; FIG. 14 is an elevational end view illustrating the mounting method of FIGS.

12 and 13; FIG. 15 is an elevational end view illustrating the inflating flotation and stability device, constructed in accordance with the present invention, with the flotation and stability devices mounted on a drilling platform prior to inflation of the flotation bladders; FIG. 16 is an elevational end view illustrating the inflating flotation and stability device, constructed in accordance with the present invention, with the flotation and stability devices mounted on a drilling platform subsequent to inflation of the flotation bladders; FIG. 17 is a perspective view illustrating the inflating flotation and stability device, constructed in accordance with the present invention, prior to the flotation and stability devices being mounted on a sunken vessel; FIG. 18 is a perspective view illustrating the inflating flotation and stability device, constructed in accordance with the present invention, with the flotation and stability devices mounted to the sunken vessel; FIG. 19 is a perspective view illustrating the inflating flotation and stability device, constructed in accordance with the present invention, with the flotation and stability devices mounted to the sunken vessel and fluidly connected to inflation means for inflating the flotation bladders; and FIG. 20 is a perspective view illustrating the inflating flotation and stability device, constructed in accordance with the present invention, with the flotation and stability devices mounted to the sunken vessel and the flotation bladders being inflated to lift the sunken vessel to the surface.

Before explaining the disclosed embodiment of the present invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of the particular arrangement shown, since the invention is capable of other embodiments. Also, the terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS As illustrated in FIG. 1, the present invention is a flotation and stability device, indicated generally at 10, mounted to equipment and the like and which activates, either manually or automatically, to maintain the equipment in a floating and/or stable and/or upright condition when the equipment enters the water. The equipment can be any type of equipment typically transported by watercraft. In the case of a cargo container 12, the cargo container 12 can be any type of container used to transport goods via cargo ship (not shown) or the like.

As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, in a preferred embodiment, there are four (4) flotation and stability devices 10 mounted to each cargo container 12. It should be noted, however, that there can be more than four (4) flotation and stability devices 10 or less than four (4) flotation and stability devices 10 mounted to each cargo container 12 depending on the weight of the cargo container 12 and the contents transported therein.

As illustrated in FIGS. 3,4, and 5, each flotation and stability device 10 is preferably mounted to an L-shaped plate 14 having a plurality of slots 16 formed therein. Each L-shaped plate 14 is positioned on an edge 18 of the cargo container 12.

An adjustable strap 20 is receivable within each of the slots 16 to connect adjacent flotation and stability devices 10 together and to releasably mount each of the flotation and stability devices 10 to the cargo container 12. Each adjustable strap 20 has a buckling mechanism 22 for tightening and loosening the adjustable straps 20 about the cargo container 12. While the flotation and stability device 10 of the present invention has been described and illustrated as an adjustable strap 20 with a buckling mechanism 22, it is within the scope of the present invention to secure the flotation and stability devices 10 to the cargo container 12 by other means.

As stated, each flotation and stability device 10 is preferably mounted on the exterior edges 18 of the cargo container 12. Preferably, each flotation and stability device 10 has a low profile and an unobtrusive visual presence, so that the flotation and stability device 10 does not significantly affect the stacking of the cargo containers 12 on the cargo ship. Furthermore, it is within the scope of the present invention for the flotation and stability device 10 to be incorporated into the design of the container manufacturer thereby providing a low, unobstructing profile.

Each flotation and stability device 10 of the present invention includes a mounting plate 24 secured to the L-shaped plate 14 in a known manner, such as with adhesive, bolts, screws, rivets, welds, etc. Each mounting plate 24 of each embodiment is preferably constructed from a semi-rigid material, such as UHMW plastic. The mounting plate 24 is preferably constructed from plastic, resin, metal, such as aluminum, or similar material although constructing the mounting plate 24 from different types of material is within the scope of the present invention. While the material can be flexible to allow the mounting plate 24 to bend to match any imperfections in the L-shaped plate 14 and to allow compression and bending under pressure, the material of the mounting plate 14 must to be rigid enough so that the inflation of the flotation bladder 26 therein will not dislodge the flotation bladder 26 from the mounting plate 14, as will be described in further detail below.

Preferably, the mounting plate 24 is mounted to the L-shaped plate 14 using either an adhesive or screws depending on the L-shaped plate 14 material. The preferred type of adhesive is a two-part epoxy. The preferred brand of epoxy is DP 190 or 460, manufactured by Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing (3M), St. Paul, Minnesota.

As illustrated in FIGS. 5,6, 7, and 8, the flotation and stability device 10 of the present invention further includes a cover 28, a cover-removing tubing 30, and a flotation bladder 26. The mounting plate 24 has two channels 32,34 spaced apart from each other and extending longitudinally along the length of the mounting plate 24. The mounting plate 24 can be extruded or otherwise constructed in a single piece or can be constructed in two separate pieces to allow accommodation of various-sized flotation bladders 26. The two separate pieces of the mounting plate 14 can be moved apart or together during mounting of the mounting plate 14 on the L-shaped plate 14 to accommodate the various flotation bladder 26 sizes.

The flexible cover-removing tubing 30 is positioned in at least one of the channels 32,34 of the mounting plate 24. The cover-removing tubing 30 is preferably constructed from a flexible material so that the cover-removing tubing 30 can be collapsed against itself. When the cover-removing tubing 30 is expanded it substantially fills the channels 32,34, as illustrated in FIG. 8. Operation of the cover- removing tubing 30 and the process of inflating the remainder of the flotation and stability device 10 will be described in further detail below.

It should be noted that removal of the cover 28 as herein described is one embodiment of the present invetnion. It is within the scope of the present invention to remove the cover 28 by any means including, but not limted to, manually.

The cover 28 has an interior surface 36, an exterior surface 38, a first cover edge 40, and a second cover edge 42 with the first cover edge 40 and the second cover edge 42 extending longitudinally along the length of the cover 28. The first and second cover edges 40,42 are shaped to fit in the channels 32,34, respectively, on the mounting plate 24. The cover 28 can be attached to the mounting plate 24 by sliding the first and second cover edges 40,42 into the channels 32,34, respectively.

In the alternative, the cover 28 can be snapped into the channels 32,34 of the mounting plate 24. In this instance, the first and second cover edges 40,42 of the cover 28 have a movable finger 44 provided along each side of the cover 28. A space 46 between the fingers 44 and the first and second cover edges 40,42 of the cover 28 allow the finger to move into the space 46 toward the first and second cover edges 40, 42 and be inserted into the channels 32,34 and to maintain the first and second cover edges 40,42 within the channels 32,34.

The cover 28 of the flotation and stability device 10 of the present invention is preferably constructed from a flexible, durable material, such as thermoplastic rubber, as it is continuously exposed to the elements. Metal shrouds or guards (not shown) can substantially surround the flotation and stability device 10 to protect the flotation and stability device from rough environments. Preferably, the cover 28 is initially formed in a substantially flat position thereby allowing the cover 28 to spring back to the substantially flat position upon release from the mounting plate 24. Furthermore, a puncture resistant material (not shown) can be molded within the cover 28 to inhibit objects from piercing the cover 28 and damaging the flotation bladders 26 thereunder.

Actual operation of the cover 28 being removed from the mounting plate 24 will be described in further detail below.

When the mounting plate 24 is mounted on the L-shaped plate 14 and the cover 28 is in place, the flotation and stability device 10 of the present invention further serves and functions as a bumper to protect the cargo containers as they come in close proximity to each other or other objects.

The flotation and stability device 10 of the present invention further includes a first bladder retaining slot 50 and a second bladder-retaining slot 52 extending along

the mounting plate 24 between the first channel 32 and the second channel 34. The first and second bladder retaining slots 50,52 have narrowed necks at the top of the first and second bladder retaining slots 50,52. The first and second bladder retaining slots 50,52 can be any diameter for retaining any size bladder 26 required for maintaining the cargo container 12 in a floating condition.

The flotation bladder 26 of the flotation and stability device 10 of the present invention is folded into a substantially spiral configuration to fit between the mounting plate 24 and the cover 28. The flotation bladder 26 can be configured in a round spiral wound, a flat spiral wound, or in a serpentine manner. Winding the flotation bladder 26 in a flat spiral wound allows the mounted flotation and stability device 10 to have a lower profile on the cargo container 12.

The flotation bladder 26 of the flotation and stability device 10 of the present invention includes a tongue portion 54. The tongue portion 54 extends from the flotation bladder 26 and connects to the gas supply 48. The tongue portion 54 allows the flotation bladder 26 to be spirally wound in a tight manner without interference between a valve (not shown) and the wound flotation bladder 26.

The valve of the flotation and stability device 10 is preferably welded within the flotation bladder 26. Each valve has varying sized orifices (not shown) to control the flow of gas to the flotation bladders 26 and allow inflation of the flotation bladders 26 to be timed subsequent to inflation of the cover-removing tubings 30.

The valve of the flotation and stability device 10 of the present invention can be a check valve. As a check valve, only one-way airflow into the flotation bladders 26 is allowed thereby maintaining the flotation bladders 26 in an inflated condition upon cessation of the airflow thereto.

To maintain the flotation bladder 26 within the first or second bladder retaining slots 50,52, the flotation bladder 26 are lap welded about a gas supply line 58. The supply line 58 is connected to the gas supply 48, and receivable within the first or second bladder retaining slots 50,52, to maintain the flotation bladder 26 to the mounting plate 24. The gas supply line 58 also serve as a source for filling the cover-removing tubing 30 and the flotation bladder 26 during activation of the flotation and stability device 10.

In another embodiment of the flotation and stability device 10 of the present invention, the gas supply line 58 has a plurality of apertures (not shown). The

flotation bladder 26 is welded about the gas supply line 58 such that the gas through the gas supply line 58 can flow into the flotation bladder 26. Check valves (not shown) can be provided within the gas supply line 58 or elsewhere to prevent gas from flowing out of the flotation bladders 26 upon cessation of the gas flow.

Furthermore, regulators or relief valves (not shown) can be provided to protect the flotation bladder 26 from overinflation.

The cover-removing tubing 30 preferably has rigid ends 60 for attaching to the gas supply 48 and connecting the cover-removing tubing 30 together. To remove the cover 28 so that the flotation bladder 26 can be inflated, inert, compressed gas such as C02 or an alternate inflation source is released from the first gas supply and flows through the gas supply line 58 to inflate the cover-removing tubing 30. The cover- removing tubing 30 expands and urges the finger 44 into the space 46 in a direction generally toward the first cover edge 40 of the cover 28. As the cover-removing tubing 30 inflates, the moved finger 44 clears the first channel 32. Since the cover- removing tubing 30 is connected to the same gas supply line, at the same time, the flotation bladder 26 is inflating thereby urging the cover 28 in a direction generally away from the mounting plate 24 and removing one side of the cover 28 from the mounting plate 24. The cover 28 remains connected to the mounting plate 24 in the second channel 34 of the cover 28 and swings out of the way of expanding flotation bladder 26.

The preferred embodiment of the cover-removing tubing 24 and the flotation bladders 26 are single bladders that are each a given length and are attached to mounting plate 14 individually. It should be noted that the flotation bladders 26 can be constructed from more than a single bladder with each portion inflating individually.

Either type of the cover-removing tubing 30 and the flotation bladder 26 can be used with any of the embodiments of the flotation and stability device 10. The plurality of flotation bladders 26 are the preferred embodiment because they are easier to manufacture and makes the flotation and stability device 10 easier to mount on a variety of cargo containers 12. The cover-removing tubings 30 and the flotation bladders 26 are manufactured in a given length and the needed numbers of tubings and bladders 26 are positioned along the length of the cargo container 12.

An automatic or manual float switch activation assembly (not shown) activates the flotation and stability device 10 of the present invention. The float switch activation assembly can be mechanical, electrical, or chemical which is responsive to water or water pressure. For example, the float switch activation assembly can be mounted on the flotation and stability device 10, the L-shaped plate 14, and/or the cargo container 12 and is fluidly connected to the gas supply 48. Extending from the float switch activation assembly is the gas supply line 58 connected to the cover- removing tubings 30 and the flotation bladders 26. Upon activation of the float switch activation assembly, gas flows from the gas supply 48 through the gas supply line 58 to the cover-removing tubings 30 and the flotation bladders 26 thereby inflating the cover-removing tubings 30 and the flotation bladders 26. It should be noted that redundant gas supplies are within the scope of the present invention for supplying gas to the flotation and stability device 10.

As illustrated in FIG. 9, the flotation and stability device 10 of the present invention can be mounted to other equipment 64. As with the cargo containers, each flotation and stability device 10 is preferably mounted to the L-shaped plate 14 having the plurality of slots or apertures 16 formed therein. Each L-shaped plate 14 is positioned on an edge 18 of the equipment 64. The adjustable strap 20 is receivable within each of the slots 16 to connect adjacent flotation and stability devices 10 together and to releasably mount each of the flotation and stability devices 10 to the equipment 64. Other means of mounting the flotation and stability device 10 including, but not limited to, rivets, magnets, suction cups, bolts, mechanical snaps, etc. , are within the scope of the present invention.

While the flotation and stability device 10 of the present invention has been described and illustrated as being mounted to a particular piece of equipment 64 having a particular shape, it is within the scope of the present invention to secure the flotation and stability devices 10 to any type of equipment having any shape and/or size.

As illustrated in FIGS. 10-16, the flotation and stability device 10 of the present invention can be mounted to drilling platforms 66 for floating and/or maintaining the stability of the drilling platform 66. Preferably, the flotation and stability device 10 is secured to the floats 68 of the drilling platform 66 although

securing the flotation and stability device 10 to other parts of the drilling platform 66 is within the scope of the present invention.

In an embodiment of the flotation and stability device 10 of the present invention, the flotation and stability device 10 includes a spool device 70 having a first end 72 and a second end 74. An aperture 76 is formed in the first end 72 and the second end 74 of the spool device 70. A bladder retaining slot 78 extends along the length of the spool device 70 for receiving the propellant supply tube 80 and the flotation bladder 26. The flotation bladder 26 is spirally wound about the spool device. An evacuation valve (not shown) can be formed in the flotation bladder 26 for evacuating air from the flotation bladder 26 when rolling the flotation bladder 26 about the spool device 10 after inflation.

The flotation and stability device 10 is mounted between a first bracket 82 and a second bracket 84. Pins 86 or the like are inserted through the first bracket 82 and the second bracket 84 into the aperture 76 formed in the first end 72 of the spool device 70 and the aperture 76 formed in the second end 74 of the spool device 70, respectively.

In operation, the cover removing tubing 30 is inflated, as described above, removing the cover 28 from the mounting plate 24, as described above. A propellant is forced into the flotation bladders 26 at the outer edge of the flotation bladders 26 causing the flotation bladders 26 to inflate. The propellant can include, but is not limited to, air, COs, kerosene, helium, solid fuel with a gas generator, etc. The pins 86 allow free rotation of the spool device 70 as the flotation bladder 26 inflates and allows the flotation bladder 26 to be rolled back, either manually or automatically, onto the spool device as the flotation bladders 26 are deflated.

As illustrated in FIGS. 17-20, the flotation and stability device 10 of the present invention can be mounted to a sunken or submerged vessel 88 to raise the vessel 88 to the surface. In this embodiment, the mounting plate 24 of the flotation and stability device 10 is mounted to a substantially planar plate 90. The plate 90 includes a plurality of apertures 92 for receiving screws, bolts, or the like (not shown), and secured to the sunken vessel 90. Inflation lines 94 extend to the flotation and stability device 10 to inflate the flotation bladders 26. Upon activation of the flotation and stability device 10, the flotation bladders 26 inflate causing the vessel to rise.

In another embodiment of the present invention, the flotation and stability device 10 of the present invention includes maintains the upright stability of an object.

With at least one flotation bladder secured to the object, sensing means, such as a gravity sensor, senses the equipment in a non-upright condition. Inflation means, as described above, automatically inflates the flotation bladder wherein upon inflation of the flotation bladder, the equipment returns to an upright stable condition.

The foregoing exemplary descriptions and the illustrative preferred embodiments of the present invention have been explained in the drawings and described in detail, with varying modifications and alternative embodiments being taught. While the invention has been so shown, described and illustrated, it should be understood by those skilled in the art that equivalent changes in form and detail may be made therein without departing from the true spirit and scope of the invention, and that the scope of the present invention is to be limited only to the claims except as precluded by the prior art. Moreover, the invention as disclosed herein, may be suitably practiced in the absence of the specific elements which are disclosed herein.