GB2168294A - Life-saving equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

A lifebelt for use in life-saving at sea in which the lifebelt 10 is substantially of horseshoe configuration and has a bendable element 11 on its inner periphery to allow the area within the horseshoe to be varied to accommodate persons of different bulk, i.e. a child or an adult. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Life-saving equipment This invention relates to life-saving equipment especially for use in rescuing persons from the sea, lakes, rivers and other areas of water, all hereinafter, for convenience, simply referred to as "the sea".

It is well known that lifebelts are employed in the rescue of persons from the sea, and it is an object of this invention to provide a lifebelt adapted to fit persons of widely varying size, for example a small child and an adult.

According to the present invention there is provided a iifebelt of substantialy horseshoe configuration and incorporating at its inner periphery a bendable element which allows the area within the horseshoe to be varied.

Such element may be a stiff spring element or a stiff plastics element.

The outer periphery of the lifebelt may be recessed to define cut-outs to accommodate the arms of, say, injured persons allowing them to keep their arms down thus improving stability. Such recessing also assists bending ofthe lifebelt.

An embodiment of the present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figs. 1 and 2 are diagrammatic views of a lifebelt according to the invention adapted to cater respectively for a child and for an adult.

The lifebelt comprises a buoyant horseshoeshaped body 10 having on its inner periphery a bendable element 11 of, say, nylon and it is recessed as indicated at 12 on its outer periphery to accommodate the arms of injured persons for stability purposes.

Fig. 1 shows the lifebelt adapted for a child and Fig. 2 for an adult.

The advantage of such a lifebelt over a conventional fixed-sized horseshoe-shaped lifebelt is manifest. It is capable of fitting tightly around and under the arms of individuals of widely different sizes. This is not the case with conventional lifebelts.

1. Life-saving equipment for use in rescuing persons from the sea, the equipment comprising a lifebelt of substantially horseshoe configuration and incorporating at its inner periphery a bendable element which allows the area within the horseshoe to be varied.

2. Equipment as claimed in claim 1, in which the outer periphery of the lifebelt is recessed to define cut-outs to accommodate a user's arms thus improving stability and to assist bending of the lifebelt.

3. Life-saving equipment for use in rescuing persons from the sea, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawing.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (3)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Life-saving equipment This invention relates to life-saving equipment especially for use in rescuing persons from the sea, lakes, rivers and other areas of water, all hereinafter, for convenience, simply referred to as "the sea". It is well known that lifebelts are employed in the rescue of persons from the sea, and it is an object of this invention to provide a lifebelt adapted to fit persons of widely varying size, for example a small child and an adult. According to the present invention there is provided a iifebelt of substantialy horseshoe configuration and incorporating at its inner periphery a bendable element which allows the area within the horseshoe to be varied. Such element may be a stiff spring element or a stiff plastics element. The outer periphery of the lifebelt may be recessed to define cut-outs to accommodate the arms of, say, injured persons allowing them to keep their arms down thus improving stability. Such recessing also assists bending ofthe lifebelt. An embodiment of the present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figs. 1 and 2 are diagrammatic views of a lifebelt according to the invention adapted to cater respectively for a child and for an adult. The lifebelt comprises a buoyant horseshoeshaped body 10 having on its inner periphery a bendable element 11 of, say, nylon and it is recessed as indicated at 12 on its outer periphery to accommodate the arms of injured persons for stability purposes. Fig. 1 shows the lifebelt adapted for a child and Fig. 2 for an adult. The advantage of such a lifebelt over a conventional fixed-sized horseshoe-shaped lifebelt is manifest. It is capable of fitting tightly around and under the arms of individuals of widely different sizes. This is not the case with conventional lifebelts. CLAIMS

1. Life-saving equipment for use in rescuing persons from the sea, the equipment comprising a lifebelt of substantially horseshoe configuration and incorporating at its inner periphery a bendable element which allows the area within the horseshoe to be varied.

2. Equipment as claimed in claim 1, in which the outer periphery of the lifebelt is recessed to define cut-outs to accommodate a user's arms thus improving stability and to assist bending of the lifebelt.

3. Life-saving equipment for use in rescuing persons from the sea, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawing.