초록 ▼

A method of and apparatus for floatation is provided in which a compressible and expandable float has a variable volume air chamber enclosed within a tubular main body portion made up of a foldable, cylindrical side wall and opposing end walls. One of the end walls of the floatation apparatus is non

A method of and apparatus for floatation is provided in which a compressible and expandable float has a variable volume air chamber enclosed within a tubular main body portion made up of a foldable, cylindrical side wall and opposing end walls. One of the end walls of the floatation apparatus is non-apertured while the other end wall has an aperture therethrough which is openable and closable by means of a cap may be positioned on a spout surrounding the aperture in order to open and close the aperture against movement of air or water in or out of the air chamber. The cap allows for the opening and closing of the aperture in order to expand or compress the tubular body of the floatation apparatus by increasing or decreasing the amount of air in the air chamber. The cylindrical side wall of the floatation apparatus may be either bellows-shaped or formed from plastic sheet material enclosing an inner coiled wire in order to fold and unfold in an accordion-like manner to accommodate the compressing and expanding of the air chamber of the floatation apparatus. The aperture in one of the end walls of the floatation apparatus is capped to maintain the apparatus in an expanded or compressed state, but uncapped when the apparatus is being expanded from its compressed state or compressed from its expanded state. The apparatus also include a backdraft valve adjacent to the aperture inside the air chamber of the floatation apparatus. The backdraft valve allows air to exit the air chamber slowly, yet not affecting the speed of air entering the air chamber so as to be a safety feature to guard against rapid deflation of the floatation apparatus in the event the of an emergency situation when a user might be panicky.

대표청구항 ▼

A compressible and expandable floatation apparatus which is quickly expandable without aid of a pump, breathing tube or gas cartridge for inflation, said flotation apparatus comprising: means for enclosing a variable volume of air within a tubular main body portion which includes a cylindrical side

A compressible and expandable floatation apparatus which is quickly expandable without aid of a pump, breathing tube or gas cartridge for inflation, said flotation apparatus comprising: means for enclosing a variable volume of air within a tubular main body portion which includes a cylindrical side wall extending between first and second end wall members to enclose an air chamber; one of said first or second end wall members including an aperture therethrough; cap means for opening and closing said aperture to the passage of air into and out of said air chamber, wherein said cap means comprises a friction fit type cap including means for safety and alignment which includes a cylindrical attachment having a molded bottom stop and a hollow main body portion with air holes therein, said cylindrical attachment being attached to a bottom surface of said cap means for displacement up and down in said aperture as said cap means is snapped and unsnapped from tight friction fitting contact with a spout surrounding said aperture, wherein said cylindrical attachment is prevented from being totally removed from said aperture by said bottom stop in order to act as a splash guard to keep water from entering said tubular chamber when said floatation apparatus is expanded in proximity to a body of water, but to also allow air to enter said tubular chamber of said floatation apparatus through said air holes of said cylindrical attachment when said cap is removed from said tight friction fitting contact with said spout; said cylindrical side wall being foldable into a compressed state, thereby forcing air out of said air chamber through said aperture in one of said first and second end walls, to decrease said volume of said air chamber or being unfoldable into an expanded state, thereby forcing air into said air chamber through said aperture in one of said first and second end walls, to increase said volume of said air chamber, wherein said side wall is made up of a plurality of substantially circular bellows having conical sections connected at a predetermined angle for said cylindrical side wall to fold and unfold in an accordion-like manner; said aperture being capped when said apparatus is in said compressed state or in said expanded state in order to maintain said apparatus in said compressed state or in said expanded state, respectively; said aperture being uncapped when said apparatus is to be expanded from said compressed state or compressed from said expanded state; means for dually functioning to slow down a normal rate at which air exits said air chamber when said floatation apparatus is being compressed and for allowing air to enter said air chamber at said normal rate when said floatation apparatus is being expanded.