US3248746A

US3248746A - Life jacket, especially for flying personnel

Info

Publication number: US3248746A
Application number: US379867A
Authority: US
Inventors: Bernhardt Jost; Bohle Friedrich
Original assignee: Bernhardt Apparatebau GmbH and Co
Current assignee: Bernhardt Apparatebau GmbH and Co
Priority date: 1963-07-06
Filing date: 1964-07-02
Publication date: 1966-05-03
Anticipated expiration: 1983-05-03
Also published as: GB1020464A; DE1243550B; NL6407645A

Description

LIFE JACKET, ESPECIALLY FOR FLYING PERSONNEL Filed July 2, 1964 May 3, 1966 J. BERNHARDT ETAL.

4 Sheets-Sheet 1 y 1966 J. BERNHARDT ETAL 3,248,746

LIFE JACKET, ESPECIALLY FOR FLYING PERSONNEL Filed July 2, 1964 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 LIFE JACKET, ESPECIALLY FOR FLYING PERSONNEL Filed July 2, 1964 May 3, 1966 J. BERNHARDT ETAL 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 LIFE JACKET, ESPECIALLY FOR FLYING PERSONNEL Filed July 2, 1964 May 3, 1966 J. BERNHARDT ETAL 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 United States Patent Claims. {01. 9-342 The present invention relates to a life jacket, especially for flying personnel and, more specifically, concerns a life-saving apparatus for a person equipped with a parachute.

It is an object of this invention to provide a life-saving apparatus for a person equipped with a parachute, which will protect such person when floating down toward a water surface from getting drowned.

Patented-May 3, 1966 ing bod-y are so shaped and dimensioned as to length that below said chest wings the parachute straps are freely accessible. With such an arrangement, the lower edge of the chest wing will, regardless of whether the cover for the floating body is in folded condition or in blown-up condition, be spaced from the hip portion of the wearer in I such a way that suflicient space remains for the straps It is another object of this invention to provide a lifesaving apparatus as set forth in the preceding 'paragraph, which will still be able to save the life of a paratrooper if a portion of his life jacket with which he is equipped should be damaged during the ejection from the airplane.

It is still another object of this invention to provide a life-saving apparatus including a life jacket for a parachute equipped person jumping from an airplane over a water surface, which will make it possible for the jumping person at a proper time to detach the parachute while seeing to it that his life jacket will keep him afloat.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will appear more clearly from the following specification in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates the life-saving apparatus according to the present invention in folded condition as carried by a person.

FIG. 2 illustrates the life-saving apparatus according to the invention at a time when the person carrying said apparatus is about to land on the water.

FIG. 3 shows the person in a floating position in which the person is held by an upper floating body of the lifesaving apparatus according to the invention.

FIG. 4 shows a swimming position of the person carrying the life-saving apparatus according to the invention as brought about by the fact that an upper floating body is ineffective and the person is held up only by a lower floating body.

FIG. 5 shows the person in a still different floating position as it may be brought about by the person inflating a lower floating body.

FIG. 6 shows the fully inflated life jacket on the body of a person.

FIGS. 7 and 8 respectively show sections through folded portions of the life-saving apparatus according to the present invention.

The life-saving apparatus according to the present invention, which is intended for a person equipped with a parachute and comprises a portion extending around the neck of the wearer and has two wings over the chest of the wearer, is characterized primarily in that a life jacket of the above mentioned type comprises two superimposed floating bodies each having a neck and a chest section and being inflatable to such an extent that each of them will furnish the necessary buoyancy, while said life jacket is so arranged on a supporting member to be connected to the body of the person that between the upper and lower floating bodies there will be sufl'icient space to receive the strapping of a parachute, the upper floating body being inflatable without interference by the said strapping. Preferably, the chest wings of the lower floatof the parachute. The wearer can therefore connect these straps in an unimpeded manner and can easily and quickly detach them in case of danger, namely when the wearer is landing on the water. The disconnecting device which, with customary parachute constructions, is located ahead of the lower chest portion, will be freely accessible.

According to a further feature of the invention, the folded-together lower floating body is located in a twopart cover in such a way that the free passage of suspension straps of the parachute is not impeded.

- Inasmuch as the life-saving apparatus according to the present invention leaves free the back portion of its wearer, with the exception of the narrow neck portions of the floating body, the entire body surface is available for a packed parachute and, if necessary, also for a packed rubber life raft.

Referring now to the drawing in detail, FIG. 1 shows the life-saving apparatus according to the invention in folded condition ready for use and on the body of the wearer. A vest-like supporting member 1, which is covered up in FIG. 1, but visible in FIG. 6 extends'in the manner of a horseshoe around the neck of the wearer and has its two legs 2 (FIG. '5) located over the'chest of the wearer. The lower ends of the legs 2 are displaceably arranged on a hip strap 3 to the center of which a strap 4 may be connected. This strap 4 extends through the crotch and over the back of the wearer up to the neck portion of the supporting member 1, FIGS. 1 and 2 showing the front portion only of strap 4.

Arranged on supporting member 1 are two inflatable floating bodies which are arranged partly one above the other. More specifically, there is an upper floating body 5 and a lower floating body 6 which in FIGS. 5 and 6 are shown in inflated condition. Each of said two floating bodies embraces the neck of the wearer by means of a

semicircular portion

7, 8 and extends over the chest side of the wearer with one pair of

wings

9, 10 each. The

wings 9 of the upper floating body end approximately at chest level, and the wings of the lower floating body end substantially at the level of the hip strap 3. The lower floating body is held at its wings 10 by means of short straps 12 on the supporting member 1 (see FIGS. 5 and 6). The way in which the floating body at the neck is held will be explained in connection with FIGS. 7 and 8. When the envelopes of the two floating bodies are empty, they may be folded together by folding them over the area of the supporting member 1. They will then lie on said supporting member 1 in fully covered condition and will be closed therein below a pair of flaps of material as shown in FIG. 1 and particularly as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8. The folded-together envelopes of the lower floating body are, within the range of their chest wings 10, covered by a flap 14 each, which are fastened to the outer end of the supporting member 1 and are connected to the latter at the remaining edges by means of snap buttons 15 (FIGS. 1, 2 and 6). When inflating the lower floating body, which may be eflected by means of a compressed air containing bottle or by means of the mouth of the wearer, the snap buttons 15 will snap open so that the flaps 14 are opened up and the envelopes of the floating bodies are released as shown in FIG. 6. The wrapping of the two envelopes in their respective neck portions is illustrated on a somewhat larger scale in FIG. 7 in a vertical section along the central plane of the body, whereas FIG. 8 shows the condition of the two envelopes after inflation thereof.

The back section 21 of strap 4 (FIGS. 1 and 2) passed through the crotch is connected below the neck portion 22 of the supporting memberl. The covers for the two floating body envelopes are non-detachably connected to the upper edge 23 of the neck portion 22. The cover of the lower floating body envelopes 24 consists of a lower section of material 25 and an upper section of material 26. Both sections are connected at their lower marginal portion by means of a folded section of material 27 and are closed by a row of snap buttons 28. The cover for the neck portion of the upper floating body envelope 29 consists of two flaps 3t) and 31 which are closed at their lower marginal portion and directly by a row of snap buttons 32 (see FIG. 1). The lower flap is by means of a buckle 33 or the like guided on a loop 34 of strap 21. Loop 34 will in packed condition of the apparatus (see FIG. 7) be located between the flaps 26 and 3t and will be rested in this position by a snap button 35 on flap 30.

In this position loop 34 will remain if only the upper floating body is infiated. The snap buttons 32 will snap open (FIG. 8) and will release flap 31 which will then rest between the inflated envelope 23 and the upper floating body and the neck of the wearer (see also FIGS. 2 and 6). A loop 36 will locate the envelope 29 on flap 39 which for the time being retains its position according to FIG. 7. Envelope 29 will be moved to its position according to FIG. 8 only when also the upper floating body is inflated. In this instance envelope 29 will, following the bursting open of snap button 35, slide with its closure member 33 to the end of loop 34 which will thus locate the neck portion of the lower floating body in inflated condition thereof. Moreover, container 34 will after the bursting open of the snap buttons 28 and stretching of the folded fabric section 27 hold the inflated envelope 24 of the lower floating body and also the inflated envelope of the upper floating body in their rated position, thereby preventing a too steep upward tilting of the upper floating body. The closed

covers

25, 26, 27 of the envelope of the lower floating body extends only over the neck section. Flaps 14 (FIGS. 1, 2 and 6) close above the chest wings.

FIG. '1 illustrates the location or fit of the life jacket when the latter is in condition of readiness. The supporting member with the folded floating body envelopes covered by

flaps

14 and 31 is held to the body of the wearer by a hip strap 3 and the

back crotch straps

4, 21. In this flat condition, the life saving apparatus will without difliculties permit the proper mounting of the parachute straps of standard designs and, in particular, the mounting of the straps 42 (FIG. 1) which so to speak radiate from a closure member or buckle 41. The sections 42 leading to the suspension straps 43 are located below the lower flap 30 of the upper floating body and on the upper flap 26 of the chest floating body. The straps 43 which convey the body weight extend free from the floating body envelopes between the covers 30 and 26 without impeding each other because the supports are both firmly located only at the inner marginal portion of the supporting member.

FIG. 2 illustrates the location and condition prior to dipping into the water. The wearer suspended by straps 43 on the parachute has through a mouth hose or by means of a compressed gas bottle inflated the envelopes of the upper floating body 5 while due to said inflation the buttons 32 have snapped open and flaps 30 and 31 are opened. This operation takes place in a manner completely unimpeded by the straps of the parachute which in their turn are not affected by the intended location of the inflated upper floating body 5. When the wearer with his life saving apparatus occupying the thus outlined position dips into the water, the buoyancy of the upper floating body 5 will bring the wearer into the floating position shown in FIG. 3 in which he is saved from drowning even if he should be unconscious. If after the wearer of the life jacket has dipped into the water he should first occupy a position lying face down, the buoyancy of the floating body 5 will move or turn the wearer into the safe vertical inclined position according to FIG. 3 in which his breathing openings are reliably held above the water level. Since the parachute straps are completely free from the life jacket, the wearer is in a position to free himself from the parachute straps and the parachute in a manner known per se by opening the closure member 41 (FIGS. 1 and 2) which is easily accessible to him in view of the large free space below the floating body wings.

FIG. 4 illustrates the condition in which the upper floating body 5 is ineffective and only the lower floating body 6 is available. In view of the fact that the lower floating body 6 has a sufliciently great volume, it will be able alone to hold the wearer in an upright position so that his breathing openings are held free while the wearer floats in a somewhat inclined backward position. The said lower floating body will bring the wearer automatically into this position even if he should first have occupied a position in which he is inclined somewhat forwardly.

By inflating the lower floating body 6, preferably by means of a compressed air bottle, the wearer may take advantage of an additional buoyancy which will lift him correspondingly higher out of the water (FIG. 5). In this way and due to the deflecting effect of the upper floating body 5 the wearer is still further and better protected against back water surge and the like.

It is, of course, to be understood that the present invention is, by no means, limited to the particular arrangement shown in the drawings but also comprises any modifiications within the scope of the appended claims.

What we claim is:

1. A life-saving arrangement for parachutists to land on the Water, which includes: a substantially horseshoeshaped support having a neck portion for placement around the neck of a wearer of the life-haying arrangement and also having two leg portions for placement over the upper front body portion of a wearer of said lifesaving arrangement, means connected to said support for holding the same to the wearer of said life-saving arrangement, at lower individually inflatable floating body having a shape similar to that of said support and comprising a neck portion and two leg portions, said support including cover means for covering said leg portions in non-inflated condition thereof and holding the same on said support, an upper inflatable floating body likewise having a neck portion for placement around the neck of a wearer of said life-saving arrangement and also having leg portions adapted to be inflated independently of the leg portions of said lower inflatable body and being adapted independently of said lower body to hold a wearer of said life-saving arrangement afloat, and strap means forming part of a parachute and arranged on one hand above said cover means containing the leg portions of said lower body in non-inflated condition and on the other hand below the leg portions of the upper floating body and releasable from an area between said upper and lower floating bodies, said upper floating body being inflatable unimpededly by said strap means.

2. A life jacket comprising in combination: a substantially horseshoe-shaped support having a neck portion for placement around the neck of a wearer of the life jacket and also having two leg portions for placement over the upper front body portion of a wearer of said life jacket, means connected to said support for holding the same to the wearer of said life jacket, a lower individually inflatable floating body having a shape similar to that of said support and comprising a neck portion and two leg portions having a length so as to be able to extend substantially over the stomach area of said wearer of the life jacket, said support including cover means for covering said leg portions in non-inflated condition thereof and holding the same on said support, and an upper inflatable floating body likewise having a neck portion for placement around the neck of \a wearer of said lire jacket and also having leg portions adapted to be inflated independently or the leg portions of said lower inflatable body and being adapted independently or said lower body to hold a wearer of said 'life jacket afloat, the -leg portions of said upper floating body being considerably shorter than the 'leg portions of said lower inflatable body so as to be able to extend substantially over the chest portion only of the wearer of said life jacket whereby sufiicient free space will be left between said upper and said lower inflatable floating bodies to permit mounting and holding together the strap ends of a parachute harness and to permit the unimpeded inflation of said upper floating body.

3. An arrangement according to claim 1, in which said support comprises two-part cover means for receiving and covering the two leg portions of said upper floating body in non-inflated condition thereof, said two-part cover means being so located as to permit the tree passage of said strap means.

4. A life-having arrangement for parachutists to land on the water, which includes: a substantially horseshoeshaped support having .a neck portion for placement around the neck of a wearer of the life-having arrangement and also having two leg portions for placement over the upper front body portion of a wearer or said life-having arrangement, means connected to said support for holding the same to the wearer of said llifesaving arrangement, a lower individually inflatable floating body having a shape similar to that of said support and comprising a neck portion and two leg portions, said support including first cover means for covering said leg portions in non-inflated condition thereof and holding the same on said support, an upper inflatable floating body likewise having a neck portion for placement around the neck of a wearer of said life-having arrangement and also having -leg portions adapted to be inflated independently of the leg portions of said lower inflatable body and being adapted independently of said lower body to hold a wearer of said life-having arrangement afloat, second cover means connected to said support [for covering the leg portions of said upper floating body in non-inflated condition thereof, said first and second cover means comprising snap button parts [for cooperation with corresponding snap button parts on said support and being adapted in response to the inflation of the respective leg portions in the respective cover means to snap off from the respective adjacent snap button parts, and strap means form ing part of .a parachute and arranged on one hand above said cover means containing the leg portions of said lower body in non-inflated condition and on the other hand below the leg portions of the upper floating body and releasable from an area between said upper and lower floating bodies, said upper floating body being inflatable unimpeded-1y by said strap means.

5. An arrangement according to claim 4, in which the leg portions of the lower floating body are covered by flaps connected to said support and foldable outwardly in response to the inflation of said lower leg portions, and in which the neck portion of said lower floating body is covered by a container having a folded section adapted to open up to thereby permit said container to expand in response to an inflation of said upper floating body.

ment, a lower individually inflatable floating body having a shape similar to that of said support and comprising a neck portion and two leg portions, said support including first cover means for covering said leg portions in noninflated condition thereof and holding the same on said support, an upper inflatable floating body likewise having a neck portion for placement around the neck of a wearer of said life-saving arrangement and also having leg portions adapted to be inflated independently of the leg portions of said lower inflatable body and being adapted independently of said lower body to hold a wearer of said life-saving arrangement afloat, second cover means connected to said support for covering the leg portions of said upper floating body in non-inflated condition thereof, said first and second cover means comprising snap button parts for cooperation with corresponding snap button parts on said support and being adapted in response to the inflation of the respective leg portions in the respective cover means to snap off from the respective adjacent snap button parts, additional cover means for covering the neck portion of the lower floating body, said additional cover means comprising a closed container having a folded section adapted to open up in response to the inflation of said lower floating body, first flap means arranged above said container, second flap means arranged above said first flap means and connected thereto by snap buttons and forming with said first flap means a cover for the neck portion of the upper floating body, and strap means forming part of a parachute and arranged on one hand above said cover means containing the leg portions of said lower body in non-inflated condition and on the other hand below the leg portions of the upper floating body and releasable from an area between said upper and lower floating bodies, said upper floating body being inflatable unimpededly by said strap means.

7. An arrangement according to claim 6, which includes parachute straps passed between said container and said first flap means.

8. An arrangement according to claim 6, in which said support has a back strap with a loop, and in which said first flap means is guided in said'loop.

9. An arrangement according to claim 4, in which the cover means for the upper floating body is provided with a loop surrounding the upper floating body in inflated condition and connected to said support.

10. A an arrangement according to claim 4, in which the cover means covering the neck portion of said floating bodies are connected to the upper marginal portion of the support.

References Cited by the Examiner German printed application, 1,143,412, 2/1963.

MILTON BUCHLER, Primary Examiner.

A. E. CORRIGAN, Assistant Examiner.

Claims

1. A LIFE-SAVING ARRANGEMENT FOR PARACHUTISTS TO LAND ON THE WATER, WHICH INCLUDES: A SUBSTANTIALLY HORSESHOESHAPED SUPPORT HAVING A NECK PORTION FOR PLACEMENT AROUND THE NECK OF A WEARER OF THE LIFE-HAVING ARRANGEMENT AND ALSO HAVING TWO LEG PORTIONS FOR PLACEMENT OVER THE UPPER FRONT BODY PORTION OF A WEARER OF SAID LIFESAVING ARRANGEMENT, MEANS CONNECTED TO SAID SUPPORT FOR HOLDING THE SAME TO THE WEARER OF SAID LIFE-SAVING ARRANGEMENT, A LOWER INDIVIDUALLY INFLATABLE FLOATING BODY HAVING A SHAPED SIMILAR TO THAT OF SAID SUPPORT AND COMPRISING A NECK PORTION AND TWO LEG PORTIONS, SAID SUPPORT INCLUDING COVER MEANS FOR COVERING SAID LEG POTIONS IN NON-INFLATED CONDITION THEREOF AND HOLDING THE SAME ON SAID SUPPORT, AN UPPER INFLATABLE FLOATING BODY LIKEWISE HAVING A NECK PORTION FOR PLACEMENT AROUND THE NECK OF A WEARER OF SAID LIFE-SAVING ARRANGEMENT AND ALSO HAVING LEG PORTIONS ADAPTED TO BE INFLATED INDEPENDENTLY OF THE LEG PORTIONS OF SAID LOWER INFLATABLE BODY AND BEING ADAPTED INDEPENDENTLY OF SAID LOWER BODY TO HOLD A WEARER OF SAID LIFE-SAVING ARRANGEMENT AFLOAT, AND STRAP MEANS FORMING PART OF A PARACHUTE AND ARRANGED ON ONE HAND ABOVE SAID COVER-MEANS CONTAINING THE LEG PORTIONS OF SAID LOWER BODY IN NON-INFLATED CONDITION AND ON THE OTHER HAND BELOW THE LEG PORTIONS OF THE UPPER FLOATING BODY AND RELEASABLE FROM AN AREA BETWEEN SAID UPPER AND LOWER FLOATING BODIES, SAID UPPER FLOATING BODY BEING INFLATABLE UNIMPEDEDLY BY SAID STRAP MEANS.