Background of the invention

[0001] The invention relates to flotation devices and particularly to inflatable flotation devices.

[0002] Prior art knows use of inflatable flotation devices in aeroplanes, for example, where a flotation device in storage occupies only little space, yet may be rapidly activated for use.

[0003] An example of this type of prior art flotation device is disclosed in EP publication 1614620. The flotation device has two fillable bags of the same size, a compressed air cylinder, and a filling mechanism for transferring air from the compressed air cylinder to the bags, whereby the flotation device keeps the user afloat in the water.

[0004] A problem with the above arrangement is that the flotation device is large and hampers movements too much to be fit for any other purpose than life-saving in an emergency situation. Moreover, after use and after activation in particular the flotation device must always be refolded flat back into its storage shape.

Brief description of the invention

[0005] An object of the invention is thus to provide a device that solves the above-mentioned problems. The object of the invention is achieved by a device characterised by what is disclosed in the independent claims. Preferred embodiments of the invention are disclosed in the dependent claims.

[0006] The idea of the invention is that a small casing is provided with a space for a compressed air cylinder and the contents of the compressed air cylinder may be guided, when desired, with a guide to an expansion part, which is preferably an elastic tube made of silicone, for example, and may be placed around a user's chest, for example.

[0007] Advantages of the flotation device of the invention include that it is small and does not need to be refolded or reshaped after activation but the expansion part regains its original shape automatically upon deflation.

Brief description of the drawings

[0008] The invention will now be described in more detail by means of preferred embodiments and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 shows a casing of a flotation device according to an embodiment, with an expansion part attached to the casing;

Figure 2 shows an inside of a casing of a flotation device according to an embodiment, with a compressed air cylinder placed in the casing;

Figure 3 shows an inside of a casing of a flotation device according to an embodiment, with a compressed air cylinder connected to the casing;

Figure 4 shows a casing of a flotation device according to an embodiment, the ends of the casing being provided with shapings for an expansion part;

Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view of an expansion part according to an embodiment;

Figure 6 is a cross-sectional view of an expansion part according to a second embodiment.

Detailed description of the invention

[0009] Figure 1 is a view of a casing 10 of a flotation device according to an embodiment, seen from the side of the casing cover, which is provided with an actuator 13 for activating the flotation device. The casing 10 is associated with an expansion part 20 that connects to the casing on two sides. The expansion part 20 is preferably an elastic tube or comprises an elastic tube which in turn comprises silicone or is entirely made of silicone. The flotation device is used by placing it around the chest, for example, so that the casing is on the chest and easily controllable. When flotation device is activated by means of the actuator, the expansion part of the flotation device becomes filled with air and expands, whereby the device keeps the user afloat. Although this detailed disclosure relates to an embodiment in which a flotation belt is used as an example, the invention is not restricted to a belt-type flotation device. In the following, a number of alternative embodiments for flotation devices of different types are disclosed, these being based on the same inventive idea and must be understood, when necessary, also as flotation devices.

[0010] According to an embodiment, rubber or a mixture of rubber and silicone may be used in the expansion part. The shape of the expansion part may vary quite freely, although preferably the expansion part has a tube with a thicker wall on the side placed against the body and a thinner wall on the side directed away from the body. Hence the tube of the expansion part expands in a controlled and safe manner in a direction away from the user when compressed air is supplied into the expansion part. The casing is dimensioned so that the compressed air cylinder to be used fits into the casing. Preferably, the casing has rounded edges, and the bottom of the casing, which is placed against the skin when the flotation device is used, may be provided with a textile surface, for example, for increased comfort of use.

[0011] Figure 2 shows a casing according to an embodiment without a cover, thus bringing into view a compressed air cylinder 30 placed on guide supports 14 in the casing. The compressed air cylinder in the figures is in the shape of a bottle, although other compressed air cylinder shapes are also possible. Compressed air refers to fluids and gases which are commonly available in pressure packs, safe to use in a flotation device and whose density when released into the expansion part is lower than that of water. Examples of these include air, nitrogen, helium, carbon dioxide and mixtures of these. The figure also shows a first end 21 and a second end 22 of the expansion part 20, and a guide 16 arranged in association with the first end of the expansion part. The actuator 13 to be used, the guide supports 14, the guide 16 and the compressed air cylinder 30 form an entity in which the activation of the actuator 13 connects the compressed air cylinder to the expansion part 20 through the guide 16. Figure 3 shows the embodiment of Figure 2 after activation of the actuator, which has pushed the compressed air cylinder against the guide 16 (to the right in the figure). The guide has a narrow end which enters the compressed air cylinder and opens a valve of the cylinder, whereby compressed air is supplied along the guide into the expansion part 20 and the expansion part expands.

[0012] The bottom and the cover of the casing are preferably shaped so that when the cover of the casing is closed the second end 22 of the expansion part becomes compressed and thus hermetically closed. Correspondingly, the shaping of the opposite end of the casing causes the first end 21 of the expansion part to press between the casing and the guide 16. The shaping of the casing at the ends 21 , 22 of the expansion part is dependent on the shape of the expansion part. In addition, with regard to the sealing of the first end 21 of the expansion part to the casing and the guide, also the shape of the guide 16, which may be made to substantially correspond to the shape of the inner surface of the expansion part tube, is to be taken into account. [0013] The embodiment of Figure 1 shows a turn switch as an example of the actuator 13. Instead of a turn switch, also an actuator expanding by the effect of water may be used, the expanding actuator then connecting the compressed air cylinder 30 to the expansion part 20 through the guide 16. According to an embodiment, the actuator is a slide switch, the sliding of which causes the compressed air cylinder to move and connect the compressed air cylinder to the expansion part through the guide. According to an embodiment, the actuator is a push button, the pushing of which causes the compressed air cylinder to move and connect the compressed air cylinder to the expansion part through the guide. According to an embodiment, when the actuator is activated, it moves the guide 16 while the compressed air cylinder stays in place. According to an embodiment, the activation of the actuator opens a valve of the compressed air cylinder, the compressed air being thus released into the expansion part through the guide.

[0014] Figure 4 shows a first shaping 1 1 and a second shaping 12 of the casing 10 according to an embodiment. The first shaping 1 1 is arranged to seal a first end 21 of the expansion part between the casing 10 and the guide 16. The guide 16 sets into an air conduit of the expansion part tube and the cover and the bottom of the casing press the expansion part against the guide. The second shaping 12 is arranged to seal a second end 22 of the expansion part between the cover and the bottom of the casing 10 and to seal hermetically the second end 22 of the expansion part. It is also possible to seal the second end 22 of the expansion part by plugging, gluing, pressing or some other prior art manner.

[0015] Figures 5 and 6 show two examples of tubes according to different embodiments for the expansion part 20 of the flotation device. In Figures 5 and 6 the wall on the thicker side 24 of the tubes is meant to be set against the user of the flotation belt, the wall on the thinner side 25 expanding when compressed air is supplied into the tube. The shape and size of the pipes may be changed as required according to the floatability aimed at, for example. For example, in flotation belts for small children the tube of the expansion part may be dimensioned short to ensure that the belt stays around the chest. Nevertheless, the tube in a flotation belt for children may be dimensioned to have the same volume as a belt meant for adults, in which case it expands to a large size and provides extremely efficient flotation. A flotation belt for more advanced swimmers may be manufactured so that it is very thin and unnoticeable, but, upon activation, helps the user to stay afloat in the case of a sudden exhaustion, for example, during swimming. For life- saving purposes, the tube of the expansion part may be dimensioned by adjusting the thickness of the thinner side for example in a such a way that the tube setting on the stomach and the sides is dimensioned to be thinner than the tube on the side of the back. In that case the expansion part expands more on the front side, whereby a person that has dropped into water turns automatically so that his/her face is away from the water.

[0016] According to an embodiment, a tubular expansion part made of silicone may be made with small dimensions, a flotation belt around the chest being thus almost as unnoticeable as a measurement strap of a heart rate monitor. The flotation device does not cause any significant inconvenience in physical exercise, such as swimming, water-skiing, surfing and boating, or to children playing on the beach. Since the user does not experience a need take off the small and unnoticeable flotation device as soon as s/he has is no longer close to water or is engaged in activities, the flotation device is more likely to be worn when an accident happens than a life-vest, which is considered inconvenient.

[0017] According to an embodiment, the expansion part comprises not only a strap around the chest but also shoulder-straps that may be of the same material as the flotation device. The air conduit in the tube forming the shoulder-straps may be connected to an air conduit forming the belt, the shoulder-straps being inflated with air or some other gas at the same time as the belt.

[0018] According to an embodiment, the expansion part comprises flat pockets made of an elastic material and expandable by supplying compressed air, for example, into them. The flat pockets are preferably made of silicone and connected by a silicone tube so that some or all of the pockets are filled simultaneously when air is supplied into one of the pockets. The pockets themselves may also be tubular. The pockets may be manufactured in the shape of a vest, T-shirt or jacket, the flotation device functioning at the same time as a protective garment. Due to the large surface area, the pockets and the tubes may be made very thin and unnoticeable indeed, if necessary.

[0019] According to an embodiment, the expansion part consists of a silicone tube pressed onto a fabric or other base and expandable by supplying compressed air, for example, therein. A silicone tube pressed onto the inner or outer surface of a vest, T-shirt or jacket, for example, may form the expansion part of a flotation belt, the flotation belt being thus always ready for use when the user is wearing the garment.

[0020] A person skilled in the art will find in obvious that as technology advances the basic idea of the invention may be implemented in various ways. The invention and its embodiments are therefore not restricted to the above examples but may be varied within the scope of the claims.