Deployable recovery system for wheeled vehicle and rider

Abstract

An improvement in a snowmobile or multi-wheeled all terrain vehicle comprising an inflatable bladder in an initial folded and un-inflated conditioned, operably connected to the frame of the snowmobile or multi-wheeled all terrain vehicle by at least one flexible strap and operably connected to an inflation medium controlled by a deployment system. In response to detection of water submersion, the deployment system activates the inflation medium rapidly inflating the bladder, which releases from its folded, uninflated condition and floats at the surface of the water with the snowmobile or multi-wheeled all terrain vehicle suspended and submerged below the inflated bladder, still connected to the bladder by the at least one flexible strap. When submerged the float acts as a recovery device for retrieving the snowmobile or multi-wheeled all terrain vehicle and a rescue device for the rider to climb up on. The submerged snowmobile or multi-wheeled all terrain vehicle further stabilizes the bladder by acting as a sea anchor.

I claim:  
     
         1 . In a multi-wheeled all terrain vehicle having a frame, a motive power means for propelling at least one wheel of the multi-wheeled all terrain vehicle operably connected to the frame, and at least one steerable wheel operably connected to the frame, the improvement comprising: 
 an inflatable bladder in an initial folded and un-inflated conditioned, operably connected to the frame by at least one flexible strap;    inflation means, operably connected to the inflatable bladder, for inflating the inflatable bladder; and    deployment means, operably connected to the inflation means, for sensing water submersion of the multi-wheeled all terrain vehicle and activating the inflation means to inflate the inflatable bladder;    so that sensing submersion of the multi-wheeled all terrain vehicle activates the inflation means inflating the inflatable bladder, which, when inflated, floats at the surface of the water with the multi-wheeled all terrain vehicle submerged below and connected to the inflatable bladder by the at least one flexible strap.    
     
     
         2 . The invention of  claim 1  in which the inflatable bladder comprises a polymer.  
     
     
         3 . The invention of  claim 2  in which the polymer comprises a polymer selected from a list of polymers consisting of: polyethylene, polypropylene, polyester, polyurethane, poly(vinyl chloride), polyisobutylene, polychloroprene, and polybutadiene.  
     
     
         4 . The invention of  claim 2  in which the polymer comprises a polymeric fabric sheet in combination with a polymer coating.  
     
     
         5 . The invention of  claim 1  in which the inflation means comprises a pressure cylinder of compressed gas.  
     
     
         6 . The invention of  claim 5  in which the compressed gas comprises carbon dioxide.  
     
     
         7 . The invention of  claim 1  in which the deployment means comprises an electrical submersion sensor and electrical power source.  
     
     
         8 . The invention of  claim 1  in which the deployment means comprises a mechanical submersion sensor.  
     
     
         9 . The invention of  claim 8  in which the mechanical submersion sensor comprises a hydrostatic sensor.  
     
     
         10 . The invention of  claim 1  in which the deployment sensor comprises a chemical submersion sensor.