U.S. patent application number 11/602883 was filed with the patent office on 2007-06-07 for personal flotation device with adjustment cable system and method for tightening same on a person.
Invention is credited to John Spencer Cooke.
Application Number | 20070128959 11/602883 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 38119397 |
Filed Date | 2007-06-07 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070128959 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Cooke; John Spencer |
June 7, 2007 |
Personal flotation device with adjustment cable system and method
for tightening same on a person
Abstract
A personal flotation device including a flotation portion
configured to be fitted onto a person and an adjustment cable
system including a spool and at least one cable carried on the
spool and connected to the flotation portion such that turning the
spool tightens the flotation portion on the person.
Inventors: |
Cooke; John Spencer;
(Fairview, NC) |
Correspondence
Address: |
J. DEREL MONTEITH, JR.;CARTER, SCHNEDLER & MONTEITH, P.A.
56 CENTRAL AVENUE, SUITE 101
P.O. BOX 2985
ASHEVILLE
NC
28802
US
|
Family ID: |
38119397 |
Appl. No.: |
11/602883 |
Filed: |
November 20, 2006 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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60738268 |
Nov 18, 2005 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
441/108 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B63C 9/08 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
441/108 |
International
Class: |
B63C 9/08 20060101
B63C009/08 |
Claims
1. A personal flotation device, comprising: a flotation portion
configured to be fitted onto a person; an adjustment cable system
comprising a spool and at least one cable carried on the spool and
connected to the flotation portion such that turning the spool
tightens the flotation portion on the person.
2. A personal flotation device according to claim 1, wherein the at
least one cable consists of two cables.
3. A personal flotation device, comprising: a flotation portion
configured to be fitted onto a person; an adjustment cable system
comprising at least one cable and cable tightening means, the least
one cable being connected to the cable tightening means and the
flotation portion such that actuating the cable tightening means
tightens the flotation portion on the person.
4. A personal flotation device according to claim 3, wherein the at
least one cable consists of two cables.
5. A personal flotation device according to claim 3, wherein the
cable tightening means comprises a ratchet.
6. A method for tightening a personal flotation device on a person,
comprising: providing a personal flotation device comprising a
flotation portion configured to be fitted onto a person, and an
adjustment cable system comprising cable tightening means and at
least one cable carried on the cable tightening means and connected
to the flotation portion such that actuating the cable tightening
means tightens the flotation portion on the person; donning the
personal flotation device; actuating the cable tightening means
such that the flotation portion of the personal flotation device is
tightened on the person.
7. A method according to claim 6, wherein the at least one cable
consists of two cables.
8. A method according to claim 6, wherein the cable tightening
means comprises a ratchet.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This U.S. nonprovisional patent application relates to,
claims the benefit of the filing date of, and otherwise claims
priority to U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No.
60/738,268, filed in the United States Patent & Trademark
Office on Nov. 18, 2005.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0002] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a personal flotation device
according to an embodiment of the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0003] A personal flotation device ("PFD") according to an
embodiment of the invention is shown broadly at reference numeral
10 in FIG. 1. The PFD 10 comprises a flotation portion 11
configured to be fitted onto a person. The flotation portion 11 is
formed of canvas and/or mesh covering a buoyant material, as known
by those of ordinary skill in the art. The flotation portion 11
includes a front torso subportion 12, a shoulder subportion 13, a
waist subportion 14, and a rear torso subportion (not shown). The
front torso subportion 12 of the flotation portion 11 of the PFD 10
is provided with a flap 15, which in turn is provided with closure
straps 20. In the drawings the flap 15 is shown in a substantially
fully opened position.
[0004] The PFD 10 further comprises an adjustment cable system 21.
The adjustment cable system 21 includes two cables 22 each
comprising a proximal end (not shown) and a distal end 28; a
plurality of cable guides 23; two bumpers 26; a termination ferrule
27; and cable tightening means such as a spool, reel, turnbuckle,
or other manually adjusted mechanism, or a plurality of such
mechanisms, that includes a ratchet or other tension-retaining
hardware for maintaining the cables 22 in the desired tightened
position.
[0005] The cable tightening means shown in FIG. 1 is a spool 24
comprising an internal ratchet mechanism (not shown). The spool 24
includes a base 25, a closed arbor 30, and a knob 31. The internal
ratchet mechanism of the spool 24 may be disengaged by pulling the
knob 31 outward and re-engaged by pushing the knob 31 inward. The
base 25 of the spool 24 is secured to the front torso subportion 12
of the flotation portion 11 of the PFD 10 by a spool panel 32. The
spool panel 32 is sewn or otherwise attached or mounted onto the
front torso subportion 12.
[0006] The proximal end of each of the two cables 22 is retained
within the closed arbor 30 of the spool 24. From the spool 24, each
of the two cables 22 extends through the associated cable guides 23
and the associated bumper 26. Each of the cables 22 then terminates
at its distal end 28 at the terminal ferrule 27. A lesser or
greater number of cable guides and bumpers and/or a shorter or
longer cable path could be utilized without departing from the
scope of the invention.
[0007] The cable guides 23 are forms of rubber and/or plastic sewn
or otherwise attached or mounted to the waist subportion 14 of the
flotation portion 11 of the PFD 10. Each of the cable guides 23
connects or attaches the cables 22 to the flotation portion 11 of
the PFD 10 and defines a channel (not shown) through which the
cables 22 may travel substantially freely. The bumpers 26 are tubes
of canvas, plastic, rubber, and/or fabric that are secured around
the cables 22 to help to ensure that no portion of the cables 22
becomes substantially more rolled into or unrolled out of the spool
24 than other portions of the cables 22, and to help to ensure that
the distal ends 28 of the cables 22 are not dislodged from the
termination ferrule 27. Although the illustrated embodiment of the
invention comprises two cables 22, one cable or more than two
cables could be used without departing from the scope of the
invention.
[0008] The illustrated embodiment of the invention functions as
follows. Before donning the PFD 10, a person using the PFD 10
loosens the adjustment cable system 21. This loosening is
accomplished by opening the flap 15, ensuring that the knob 31 of
the spool 24 has been pulled outward or otherwise actuated to
release or disengage the internal ratchet mechanism of the spool
24, and pulling upon the waist subportion 14 of the flotation
portion 11 of the PFD 10 until the flotation portion 11 is able to
fit over the head and around the torso of the user. The user may
then don the PFD 10. The user then ensures the flap 15 is open,
pushes the knob 31 of the spool 24 inward or otherwise actuates the
spool 24 to engage the internal ratchet mechanism of the spool 24,
and turns the knob 31 or otherwise actuates the spool 24 to tighten
the cable 22, which tightens the flotation portion 11 of the PFD 10
around the user. The user may then close the flap 15 to help
protect the spool 24 from being damaged or unintentionally turned
or pulled outward by activities of the user. The user may remove
the PFD 10 after loosening the adjustment cable system 21 as
described above.
[0009] The particular spool 24 utilized in the illustrated
embodiment of the PFD 10 is marketed under the trademark BOA by Boa
Technology Inc. of Denver and Steamboat Springs, Colo.
(www.boatechnology.com). The internal architecture of the BOA spool
is disclosed in United States patents in which Boa Technology Inc.
holds an interest, specifically U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,934,599,
6,202,953, and 6,289,558, which are incorporated herein by
reference. The flotation portion 11 utilized in the illustrated
embodiment of the PFD 10 is manufactured by or for Astral Buoyancy
Company, LLC of Asheville, N.C. (www.astralbuoyancy.com). However,
these particular products are named by way of example and not by
way of limitation, as other specific components could be used
without departing from the scope of the invention.
[0010] A personal flotation device with adjustment cable system and
method of tightening same on a person are described herein. Various
details of the invention may be changed without departing from its
scope. Furthermore, the foregoing description of the invention is
provided for the purpose of illustration only and not for the
purpose of limitation--the invention being defined by the
claims.
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