Around 200 people are killed every year in avalanches. 92% of those who are entirely buried are still alive after 15 minutes, whereas after 45 minutes only 25% are still alive.

There are currently survival aids available, such as a collapsible snow shovel, collapsible avalanche probe, a transmitter, space blanket etc. but rescue and survival of the victim of an avalanche is still dependent on external rescuers. Extensive research into avalanche protection and rescue has shown that the best chance of surviving an avalanche is self-help, as external aid often comes too late.

French patent specification 2674761 describes a safety suit for affording protection in avalanches, consisting of several air pockets at least partially covering the back, front, arms, legs and head of the wearer. The air pockets can be inflated in the event of an avalanche, thereby cushioning the wearer against injury from the weight of snow and reducing the risk of immersion. However, having several individual air pockets requires the use of considerable additional material, which leads to excessive manufacturing costs, as well as adding unnecessary weight to the suit.

I have now devised an arrangement which alleviates the problems outlined above.

In accordance with a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a protective garment comprising two layers of substantially gas impermeable material joined together as a single chamber which covers at least a portion of the wearer's arm, back and front, and means for introducing gas into said chamber to inflate it.

The wearer, if caught in an avalanche, can activate the inflation means and inflate the (or each) chamber to provide cushioned protection for the wearer's upper body and also reduce the wearer's density to help prevent immersion in the snow. In particular, where the garment is in the form of a jacket or vest, buoyancy of the top half of the user's body (as opposed to the whole body) facilitates orientation, keeping the user upright in an avalanche. However, the wearer may suffocate if immersed in the snow, unless breathable gas is provided.

Swedish patent specification 8601809 describes a jacket including foldable containers for respirable gas arranged at the front and back. In the event of an avalanche, the user inflates the containers to protect the upper body.

The containers are made of gas permeable material so that immediately after inflation, they quickly deflate as the gas escapes providing the wearer with breathable gas to aid survival. However, the gas escapes quickly from a large surface area so that some of it will inevitably be lost into the atmosphere.

In accordance with a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a protective garment including at least one chamber of substantially gas impermeable material and means for inflating said chamber, a portion of said chamber being gas permeable so as to allow gas to escape from the chamber after inflation thereof.

The present invention is primarily intended with a garment to aid self-rescue. The garment helps to protect the wearer from trauma and from becoming submerged deeply in the snow, by quickly surrounding the upper body in a pressurised protective layer. It provides buoyancy and distributes the weight of the wearer, while at the same time providing a source of air to breathe, in the event that the wearer is buried in the snow. Also, as the suit deflates, it frees up the space around the wearer allowing him to move around to free himself.

Thus, purposes of this invention include: 1. To provide an additional air supply for the avalanche victim to breath.

2. To protect the chest and lungs from snow compression.

3. To insulate the victim from heat loss.

4. To cushion the upper body from injury during an avalanche slide. 5. To serve as a flotation device to help float the victim to the surface of snow while in the avalanche.

6. To provide space for the victim to move and free oneself.

Beneficially, the garment according to both aspects of the present invention comprises one or two inflatable chambers, each of which covers at least half of the wearer's front and back as well as a portion of an arm. Beneficially, at least one of the chambers extends into the collar of the garment, with a portion of the collar being of gas permeable material to allow gas to escape slowly into the atmosphere around the user's mouth and nose after inflation. The collar is beneficially such that in use, after inflation, it covers the user's nose and mouth, the gas permeable portion preferably being adjacent the user's nose and/or mouth.

The garment may also be provided with one or more deflation mouthpiece valves, preferably in the collar, through which the user can, in use, breathe the gas from the chamber, preferably releasing the gas by biting or otherwise compressing the valve. The garment also beneficially includes a manual pressure release valve for releasing gas from the chamber.

The or each chamber is preferably inflatable by compressed air from one or more bottles or other containers mounted on the garment, preferably in pocket (s) on the front of the garment. Such containers are preferably actuatable to inflate the chamber (s) by pulling a ripcord. In the case where there is more than one gas container, the ripcord for each respective container is preferably joined to the others to provide a single ripcord for actuating the inflation mechanism for all of the containers at the same time.

The garment is beneficially lined with a temperature regulating material such as fleece, or similar.

The garment may include a transmitter for transmitting a signal, such as a radio or ultrasonic signal, so that the location of the wearer can be easily determined by members of a rescue party having receivers for receiving said signal.

An exemplary embodiment of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a jacket according to an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 2 is a front view of the upper part of the jacket of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a front view of the collar of Figure 2, when the zip is fastened and the jacket inflated; Figure 4 is a side view of the collar of Figure 3; Figure 5 is a perspective view of the sleeve of the jacket of Figure 1; Figure 6 is a perspective view of the sleeve of Figure 5, when inflated; Figure 7 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the sleeve of Figure 5; and Figure 8 is a perspective view of the gas bottle and inflation mechanism used in the jacket of Figure 1.

Referring to the drawings, an exemplary embodiment of a survival jacket according to the present invention comprises an inflatable chamber 10 formed of two layers of gas-impermeable material. The chamber 10 covers substantially all of the front, the back, the collar 16 and a portion 12 of the sleeves of the jacket. The rest 14 of each sleeve is formed of a flexible, but durable and substantially waterproof material, such as polyester laminate, so that the wearer can still bend his elbows and use his arms when the jacket is inflated. As shown in Figure 6, the two gas-impermeable layers are joined together by adhesive or welding, for example.

The second layer making up the rest 14 of the sleeve is stitched to the edge of the chamber 10. The front and back of the jacket are joined at the sides below the armhole by elongate strips of the polyester laminate, and the jacket also has a waistband 18 of the same material.

The front of the jacket is provided with an opening, which can be closed by means of a zip 20. When the zip 20 is open, the upper edges of the jacket form lapels 22, as shown. A zipped collar formed of the polyester laminate is provided.

Substantially the whole jacket is lined with a temperature regulating material, such as fleece laminate for example.

At least one strip 28 (see Figure 2 of the drawings) of microporous material is provided in the lapels 22, incorporated into the inflatable chamber so that air from the chamber 10 can escape into the atmosphere after inflation.

A gas bottle 30 typically containing 33g of compressed air is held within each of two pockets 32 which may be lined and attached to the front of the jacket. Each of the bottles 30 has a ripcord 34 for releasing the air into the chamber. The ripcords 34 are connected together by a single central tag 36, which will enable both gas bottles 30 to be actuated when the tag is pulled. The gas bottles 30 and inflation mechanisms co-operate with the inflatable chamber via a manifold 38 (see Figure 7) which extends into the chamber and is welded to the front of the jacket.

When the front of the jacket is zipped up, the collar it forms covers the wearer's nose, mouth and chin for extra protection. Deflection valves 40, are provided on the lapels of the jacket, which are arranged to be actuated when bitten by the user. This can provide additional breathing apparatus if required. A manual pressure release valve 44 may also be provided for use if required.

In summary, the jacket is a quickly inflatable device for off-piste skiers and the like, comprising of a protective and buoyant chamber made of a flexible impervious material, which is incorporated into the main body of the jacket uninflated. Because of the design and placement of the buoyant chamber the user can still move his arms even when the jacket is fully inflated. An undergarment or lining made of temperature regulating material is attached to the main body of the jacket. To activate when needed, an inflation ripcord connected to two-pressure canisters and two valves are manually pulled to release compressed air into the chamber. The chamber is inflated to quickly enclose the skier's upper body, including the neck, arms and mouth (see Figures 3 and 4 of the drawings), providing protection, air to breath if needed, and buoyancy in snow avalanche environments. Deflation may be accomplished using either a manual pressure release valve, or through the collar, which has a slow deflation patch, and/or by the deflation mouthpiece valves, which are activated when the valve is bitten. Thus the victim of an avalanche can breathe the gas provided if trapped under the snow, thereby greatly increasing the available rescue time, and because of the added buoyancy and protection given, the victim should be either near or on the surface of the snow. When the jacket deflates it frees up space around the victim which enables the person to move and be able to dig himself out.

Primary safety features of a preferred embodiment of the present invention are as follows: When inflated it helps protect the wearer from the trauma caused by the impact of the snow.

To act as a buoyancy aid causing the wearer to float on the surface of the avalanche.

To insulate the chest from snow compression.

To provide an additional air supply for the avalanche victim to breath.

The lining prevents heat loss.

To facilitate orientation to keep the skier upright in an avalanche.

Upon deflation it creates an air cavity around the victim allowing the victim to move.

Accordingly, advantages of the jacket according to the present invention are as follows: 1. It allows safer backcountry skiing and ski resort avalanche patrolling.

2. It provides protection of the upper body from objects associated with avalanches. 3. It provides lightweight, personal, transportable and immediately inflatable protection.

4. It provides a source of breathable air, if needed.

5. It is quick and easy to put on and to operate, and is resusable.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the foregoing is by way of example only. Modifications, variations and alterations may be made to the described embodiment without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.