Safety Device and Adapter Therefor

Abstract

The safety device comprises an inflating product container which holds an inflating product and is operatively associated with an inflatable bladder to be worn by a user. The inflating product container is adapted to be placed in an open condition in which an inflating product is allowed to inflate the inflatable bladder. An adapter provides fluid communication between the inflating product container and the inflatable bladder and includes (i) a container coupling formation adapted to secure the adapter to the inflating product container and (ii) an actuator operatively adapted to place the inflating product container in the open condition. A controller includes a sensor assembly so that in use, the controller is adapted to generate an activation signal responsive to measurements taken by the sensor assembly. The actuator is operatively adapted to place the inflating product container in the open condition responsive to the controller generating the activation signal.

1 . A safety device comprising:
 an inflating product container to hold inflating product, the inflating product container operatively associated with an inflatable bladder to be worn by a user, the inflating product container adapted to be placed in an open condition in which an open condition inflating product is allowed to inflate the inflatable bladder;   an adapter to provide fluid communication between the inflating product container and the inflatable bladder, the adapter including:   (i) a container coupling formation adapted to secure the adapter to the inflating product container and;   (ii) an actuator operatively adapted to place the inflating product container in the open condition; and   a controller operatively associated with the actuator, the controller including a sensor assembly, in use the controller adapted to generate an activation signal responsive to measurements taken by the sensor assembly,   wherein the actuator is operatively adapted to place the inflating product container in the open condition responsive to the controller generating the activation signal.   
     
     
         2 . A safety device according to  claim 1 , wherein the sensor assembly includes a water sensor to detect the presence of water or a pressure sensor to sense water pressure when the pressure sensor is immersed in a body of water, or both a water sensor and a pressure sensor. 
     
     
         3 . A safety device according to  claim 1 , wherein the adapter defines a charge chamber to hold a pyrotechnic composition, the charge chamber operatively associated with the inflating product container. 
     
     
         4 . A safety device according to  claim 3 , wherein the actuator comprises:
 (i) a rupture member locatable within the charge chamber defined by the adapter; and   (ii) an igniter operatively associated with the rupture member and adapted to ignite the pyrotechnic composition, the rupture member being adapted such that ignition of the pyrotechnic composition will cause the rupture member to accelerate across the charge chamber so as to rupture the inflating product container, thereby placing the inflating product container in the open condition.   
     
     
         5 . A safety device according to  claim 4 , wherein the pyrotechnic composition comprises flash powder. 
     
     
         6 . A safety device according to  claim 1 , wherein the adapter includes an outlet operatively adapted to couple with a conduit in fluid communication with the inflatable bladder. 
     
     
         7 . A safety device according to  claim 6 , wherein the inflatable bladder includes an oral inflation tube. 
     
     
         8 . A safety device according to  claim 7 , including a connector adapted for attachment to the oral inflation tube. 
     
     
         9 . A safety device according to  claim 8 , wherein the connector is adapted for operative attachment to the conduit in fluid communication with the adapter. 
     
     
         10 . An adapter for a safety device, the safety device including an inflatable bladder to be worn by a user, the adapter comprising:
 a container coupling formation operatively adapted to secure the adapter to an inflating product container holding inflating product, the inflating product container operatively adapted to be placed in an open condition in which an open condition inflating product is allowed to inflate the inflatable bladder;   an outlet operatively adapted to place the inflating product container in fluid communication with the inflatable bladder;   a charge chamber for holding a pyrotechnic composition, the charge chamber operatively associated with the container coupling formation;   a rupture member operatively locatable in the charge chamber; and   an igniter coupling formation operatively adapted to secure an igniter proximate the charge chamber, the igniter operatively associated with a controller,   wherein in use, the igniter ignites the pyrotechnic composition responsive to an activation signal generated by the controller, ignition of the pyrotechnic composition causing the rupture member to accelerate across the charge chamber so as to rupture the inflating product container, thereby placing the inflating product container in the open condition.