Combination boat and distressed boat flotation apparatus and related methods

Abstract

A combination boat and distressed boat flotation apparatus, a distressed boat flotation apparatus, and methods of installing and using a boat flotation apparatus are provided. The combination preferably includes a boat including a boat hull and a plurality of flotation containers positioned to substantially surround the boat hull and positioned to be inflated with a gas responsive to the boat hull being in a distressed condition so that the boat is prevented from sinking by the inflated plurality of flotation containers. The apparatus of the combination also preferably includes a plurality of moisture sensors each positioned in the boat hull to sense the distressed condition and a distressed condition controller positioned in communication with the plurality of moisture sensors and the plurality of flotation containers to control the inflation of the plurality of flotation containers responsive to at least one of the plurality of moisture sensors sensing the distressed condition.

That which is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A combined boat and distressed boat flotation apparatus comprising: 
 a boat including a boat hull having an outer surface and an inner surface;    a plurality of containers positioned to substantially surround the boat hull when inflated with a gas responsive to the boat hull being in a distressed condition so that the boat is prevented from sinking by the inflated plurality of flotation containers, the distressed condition being defined by water passing through the outer surface of the boat hull into contact with the inner surface of the boat hull when the boat is positioned in a body of water;    a plurality of spaced-apart moisture sensors each embedded in the boat hull to sense the distressed condition; and    a distressed condition controller positioned in communication with the plurality of moisture sensors and the plurality of flotation containers to control the inflation of the plurality of flotation containers responsive to at least one of the plurality of moisture sensors sensing the distressed condition.    
     
     
         2 . A combination as defined in  claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of flotation containers is formed of a puncture-resistant and fire-resistant material.  
     
     
         3 . A combination as defined in  claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of lights each associated with a respective one of the plurality of flotation containers, each of the plurality of lights being responsive to the respective one of the plurality of flotation containers being inflated during the distressed condition.  
     
     
         4 . A combination as defined in  claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of lights each associated with a respective one of the plurality of flotation containers, each of the plurality of lights comprising at least one moisture sensor so that the plurality of lights are responsive to the moisture sensor.  
     
     
         5 . A combination as defined in  claim 1 , further comprising a solar-powered, global positioning device associated with the boat, in communication with the distressed condition controller, and in communication with a satellite communication system to communicate the location of the boat when in the distressed condition.  
     
     
         6 . A combination as defined in  claim 1 , further comprising a boat occupant shelter associated with the plurality of inflated flotation containers to shelter boat occupants from damaging weather conditions during the distressed condition.  
     
     
         7 . A combination as defined in  claim 6 , wherein the boat occupant shelter comprises at least one sheet formed of a fabric material and positioned to connect to and extend between at least two of the plurality of inflated flotation containers so that boat occupants can underlie the at least one sheet and thereby be protected from damaging weather conditions.  
     
     
         8 . A combination as defined in  claim 1 , further comprising a water purification device associated with the boat to purify water for boat occupants during the distressed condition.  
     
     
         9 . A combination as defined in  claim 8 , wherein the water purification device includes a water desalinater to desalinate salt water for drinking by boat occupants during the distressed condition, the water desalinater having a salt water intake positioned to intake salt water, a salt water purifier positioned in fluid communication with the salt water intake to remove salt from the intake salt water, and a purified water output positioned in fluid communication with the salt water purifier to output purified water to boat occupants during the distressed condition.  
     
     
         10 . A combination as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the distressed condition is further defined as the boat being capsized and wherein each of the plurality of moisture sensors further comprise a boat capsizing sensor to control the inflation of the plurality of flotation containers responsive to the boat capsizing sensor.  
     
     
         11 . A distressed boat flotation apparatus comprising: 
 a plurality of flotation containers positioned to substantially surround a boat hull of a boat when inflated with a gas responsive to the boat hull being in a distressed condition so that the boat is prevented from sinking by the inflated plurality of flotation containers, the distressed condition being defined by water passing through the outer surface of the boat hull into contact with the inner surface of the boat hull when the boat is positioned in a body of water;    a plurality of spaced-apart moisture sensors each embedded in the boat hull to sense the distressed condition; and    a distressed condition controller positioned in communication with the plurality of moisture sensors and the plurality of flotation containers to control the inflation of the plurality of flotation containers responsive to at least one of the plurality of moisture sensors sensing the distressed condition.    
     
     
         12 . An apparatus as defined in  claim 10 , wherein each of the plurality of flotation containers is formed of a puncture-resistant and fire-resistant material.  
     
     
         13 . An apparatus as defined in  claim 10 , further comprising a plurality of lights each associated with a respective one of the plurality of flotation containers, each of the plurality of lights being responsive to the respective one of the plurality of flotation containers being inflated during the distressed condition.  
     
     
         14 . An apparatus as defined in  claim 10 , further comprising a plurality of lights each associated with a respective one of the plurality of flotation containers, each of the plurality of lights comprising at least one moisture sensor so that the plurality of lights are responsive to the at least one moisture sensor.  
     
     
         15 . An apparatus as defined in  claim 10 , further comprising a solar-powered, global positioning device adapted to be positioned associated with the boat, in communication with the distressed condition controller, and in communication with a satellite communication system to communicate the location of the boat when in the distressed condition.  
     
     
         16 . An apparatus as defined in  claim 10 , further comprising a boat occupant shelter associated with the plurality of inflated flotation containers to shelter boat occupants from damaging weather conditions during the distressed condition.  
     
     
         17 . An apparatus as defined in  claim 10 , wherein the boat occupant shelter comprises at least one sheet formed of a fabric material and positioned to connect to and extend between at least two of the plurality of inflated flotation containers so that boat occupants can underlie the at least one sheet and thereby be protected from damaging weather conditions.  
     
     
         18 . An apparatus as defined in  claim 10 , further comprising a water purification device adapted to be associated with the boat to purify water for boat occupants during the distressed condition.  
     
     
         19 . An apparatus as defined in  claim 18 , wherein the water purification device includes a water desalinater to desalinate salt water for drinking by boat occupants during the distressed condition, the water desalinater having a salt water intake positioned to intake salt water, a salt water purifier positioned in fluid communication with the salt water intake to remove salt from the intake salt water, and a purified water output positioned in fluid communication with the salt water purifier to output purified water to boat occupants during the distressed condition.  
     
     
         20 . An apparatus as defined in  claim 10 , wherein the distressed condition is further defined as the boat being capsized and wherein each of the plurality of moisture sensors further comprise a boat capsizing sensor to control the inflation of the plurality of flotation containers responsive to the boat capsizing sensor.  
     
     
         21 . A method of installing a boat flotation apparatus on a boat, the method comprising: 
 embedding a plurality of moisture sensors within a boat hull of a boat; and    positioning a plurality of flotation containers to substantially surround the boat hull when inflated, the plurality of flotation containers in communication with the plurality of moisture sensors.    
     
     
         22 . A method as defined in  claim 21 , further comprising positioning a distressed condition controller in communication with the plurality of moisture sensors and the plurality of flotation containers to control inflation of the flotation containers responsive to the sensing of a distressed condition, the distressed condition being the sensing of water passing through the boat hull.  
     
     
         23 . A method as defined in  claim 21 , wherein the embedding of the plurality of moisture sensors includes forming a plurality of recesses in an inner surface of a boat hull, inserting a respective one of the plurality of moisture sensors in a respective one of the plurality of recesses, and covering each one of the respective plurality of moisture sensors so that each one of the respective plurality of moisture sensors are embedded between the inner surface of the boat hull and an outer surface of the boat hull.  
     
     
         24 . A method as defined in  claim 21 , wherein the embedding of the plurality of moisture sensors includes positioning each of the plurality of moisture sensors to contact an inner surface of a boat hull.  
     
     
         25 . A method of preventing a boat from sinking responsive to damage to the hull of the boat, the method comprising: 
 sensing water passing through the boat hull; and    inflating a plurality of flotation containers positioned to substantially surround the boat hull when inflated to float the boat therewith thereby preventing sinking of the boat.    
     
     
         26 . A method as defined in  claim 25 , further comprising indicating the location of the floating boat to rescue personnel.  
     
     
         27 . A method as defined in  claim 26 , wherein the indicating step includes communicating to a satellite the location of the floating boat.  
     
     
         28 . A method as defined in  claim 26 , wherein the indicating step includes illuminating lights associated with the floating boat.