Buoyancy device

Abstract

A buoyancy device comprises a flotation body designed to give the buoyancy device sufficient buoyancy to act as a life buoy for people to hold onto in the water during an emergency. The buoyancy device includes a storage compartment provided in connection with the flotation body for housing rescue equipment or safety equipment. The storage compartment of this embodiment takes the form of a tray. The tray is provided with a lid which is used to cover the tray and maintain the contents securely inside. The lid is preferably coupled to the tray by a tether. The tray is provided with a web of flexible material which forms a satchel with several pockets of various sizes, for storing a variety of safety devices, including flares, EPIRB, etc. The satchel can be rolled-up and stowed in the tray ready for use in an emergency situation.

1 . A buoyancy device for use as a rescue device in water, the buoyancy device comprising:
 a flotation body designed to give the buoyancy device sufficient buoyancy to act as a life buoy for people to hold onto in the water during an emergency; and,   a storage compartment provided in connection with the flotation body for housing rescue equipment.   
     
     
         2 . A buoyancy device as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the flotation body comprises a first section and a second section, the first and second sections being respectively manufactured from moulded plastics components. 
     
     
         3 . A buoyancy device as defined in  claim 2 , wherein each of the first and second sections comprises an outer shell with a foam insert. 
     
     
         4 . A buoyancy device as defined in  claim 3 , wherein the outer shell comprises first and second halves which are joined together to encase the foam insert. 
     
     
         5 . A buoyancy device as defined in  claim 4 , wherein the first and second halves of the outer shell are substantially identical in shape and configuration and may be manufactured using the same injection mould. 
     
     
         6 . A buoyancy device as defined in  claim 5 , wherein the outer shell is manufactured from injection moulded nylon, and the foam insert is manufactured from a moulded closed-cell foam. 
     
     
         7 . A buoyancy device as defined in any one of  claims 2  to  6 , wherein the first and second sections are movable with respect to each other between a contracted and an expanded condition. 
     
     
         8 . A buoyancy device as defined in  claim 7 , wherein the storage compartment is located within the flotation body and is accessed by moving the first and second sections apart to the expanded condition. 
     
     
         9 . A buoyancy device as defined in any one of  claims 2  to  6 , wherein the storage compartment is located within the flotation body and is accessed by removing a lid covering the storage compartment. 
     
     
         10 . A buoyancy device as defined in  claim 9 , wherein the lid is coupled to the flotation body by a tether so that, in use, when lid is removed it does not float away. 
     
     
         11 . A buoyancy device as defined in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the storage compartment is centrally located within the flotation body to allow easy access, in use, to the storage compartment from any position around the outer edge of the flotation body by people holding onto the buoyancy device. 
     
     
         12 . A buoyancy device as defined in any one  claims 2  to  11 , wherein the storage compartment is in the form of a rectangular tray which is received in a cavity formed within the first and second sections of the flotation body. 
     
     
         13 . A buoyancy device as defined in  claim 12 , wherein the tray is provided with a web of flexible material which has several pockets of various sizes provide in connection therewith. 
     
     
         14 . A buoyancy device as defined in  claim 13 , wherein the web of material forms a satchel which can be rolled-up and stowed in the tray ready for use in an emergency situation. 
     
     
         15 . A buoyancy device as defined in  claim 14 , wherein a handle is provided on the back of the web to facilitate quick release of the satchel when the contents need to be deployed. 
     
     
         16 . A buoyancy device as defined in any one of  claims 13  to  15 , wherein the flexible material from which the satchel is made is a waterproof plastics material and includes a layer of cushioning material to cushion the contents of the satchel prior to deployment. 
     
     
         17 . A buoyancy device as defined in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the buoyancy device further comprises a built-in strobe light for attracting attention in the event of an emergency. 
     
     
         18 . A buoyancy device as defined in  claim 17 , wherein the strobe light is mounted in the storage compartment, together with its own battery, so that it becomes visible when the lid is removed. 
     
     
         19 . A buoyancy device as defined in  claim 18 , wherein the strobe light is spring-mounted in the storage compartment and when the lid is removed it automatically pops-up. 
     
     
         20 . A buoyancy device as defined in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the flotation body further comprises a plurality of hand grips to allow one or more people to hold onto the buoyancy device for rescue purposes when the buoyancy device is in the water. 
     
     
         21 . A buoyancy device as defined in  claim 20 , wherein the hand grips may also be used for storing the buoyancy device on a support bracket provided onboard a watercraft and for handling the buoyancy device when throwing it from the watercraft into the water. 
     
     
         22 . A buoyancy device as defined in  claim 20 , wherein the hand grips comprise one or more handles spaced about an outer edge of the flotation body. 
     
     
         23 . A buoyancy device as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the handles are formed integral to the flotation body. 
     
     
         24 . A buoyancy device as defined in  claim 23 , wherein there are four handles arranged at intervals around the outer edge of the flotation body. 
     
     
         25 . A buoyancy device as defined in  claim 24 , wherein the buoyancy device is of generally rectangular shape, and two handles are positioned respectively on two opposed sides of the flotation body. 
     
     
         26 . A buoyancy device as defined in  claim 7 , wherein a plurality of handles are spaced about an outer edge of the flotation body, and the handles are provided with two extensions which join the handles on the respective first and second sections of the flotation body in its expanded condition. 
     
     
         27 . A buoyancy device as defined in  claim 26 , wherein the handle extensions are cylindrical in shape and are slidably received within a hollow interior of the handles in the contracted condition such that in its expanded condition more people can hold onto the buoyancy device when in the water. 
     
     
         28 . A buoyancy device as defined in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the safety equipment that may be housed in the storage compartment includes an Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon (EPIRB), flares and emergency lighting such as a strobe. 
     
     
         29 . A buoyancy device as defined in any one of  claims 2  to  11 , wherein the storage compartment is in the form of a bag which is received in a cavity formed within the first and second sections of the flotation body. 
     
     
         30 . A buoyancy device as defined in  claim 29 , wherein the bag is a flexible bag provided with cushioning of waterproof material. 
     
     
         31 . A buoyancy device substantially as herein described with reference to and as illustrated in any one or more of the accompanying drawings.