Survival and Rescue Capsule

Abstract

A survival and rescue capsule for protecting an occupant encountering a natural crisis includes a body member having an ellipsoidal outer wall assembly that includes bottom and top wall sections and that accommodates a person. A ballast weight is positioned adjacent the bottom wall section to enhance upright stability of the body member. A seat is positioned in the interior area, the seat having a seat bottom and springs mounted beneath the seat bottom to cushion a person from impact forces. The wall assembly defines a main ventilation channel having a lower end in communication with ambient air outside the interior area and an upper end in communication with ambient air inside the interior area, the lower end being lower than the upper end relative to the top wall section of the wall assembly.

1 . A survival and rescue capsule for protecting an occupant encountering a natural crisis, comprising:
 a body member having a generally ellipsoidal outer wall assembly that includes a bottom wall section having a dimension that is larger than a corresponding dimension of a top wall section so as to enhance balance of said body member, said body member defining an interior area large enough to accommodate at least one person;   a ballast weight situated in said interior area adjacent said bottom wall section configured to enhance an upright stability of said body member on unlevel ground or when floating; and   a seat positioned in said interior area, said seat having a seat bottom and springs mounted beneath said seat bottom to cushion a person from impact forces;   wherein said wall assembly defines a main ventilation channel having a lower end in communication with ambient air outside said interior area and an upper end in communication with ambient air inside said interior area, said lower end being lower than said upper end relative to said top wall section of said wall assembly.   
     
     
         2 . The survival and rescue capsule as in  claim 1 , wherein said ventilation channel includes a main transfer conduit extending generally vertically between said lower end and said upper end thereof that is configured to direct air therebetween. 
     
     
         3 . The survival and rescue capsule as in  claim 2 , wherein said main transfer conduit is configured to allow air to flow freely from said lower end to said upper end of said ventilation channel but inhibits moisture from flowing upwardly from said lower end to said upper end of said ventilation channel. 
     
     
         4 . The survival and rescue capsule as in  claim 1 , wherein said main outer wall assembly includes a continuous side wall section extending between said top wall section and said bottom wall section, said side wall section defining a plurality of vent openings in communication with said lower end of said ventilation channel through which ambient air is selectively received into or expelled from said ventilation channel. 
     
     
         5 . The survival and rescue capsule as in  claim 4 , comprising a vent regulation member having a rod rotatably coupled to said side wall section proximate said lower end of said ventilation channel, said vent regulation member having a vent plate at a distal end of said rod situated adjacent said plurality of vent openings defined by said side wall section, said vent plate defining a plurality of apertures complementary in configuration to said plurality of vent openings, said vent regulation member being rotatably movable between a closed configuration preventing ambient air from entering said lower end of said ventilation channel and an open configuration allowing air to enter said lower end of said ventilation channel. 
     
     
         6 . The survival and rescue capsule as in  claim 5 , comprising:
 a battery positioned in said interior area of said body member;   a light situated in said interior area and electrically connected to said battery, said light configured to emit light when energized by current from said battery.   
     
     
         7 . The survival and rescue capsule as in  claim 1 , comprising:
 a battery positioned in said interior area of said body member;   a light situated in said interior area and electrically connected to said battery, said light configured to emit light when energized by current from said battery.   
     
     
         8 . The survival and rescue capsule as in  claim 5 , wherein said bottom wall section of said main wall assembly includes a generally planar configuration to enhance the stability of said body member when positioned atop a land surface. 
     
     
         9 . The survival and rescue capsule as in  claim 1 , wherein said bottom wall section of said main wall assembly includes a generally planar configuration to enhance the stability of said body member when positioned atop a land surface. 
     
     
         10 . The survival and rescue capsule as in  claim 5 , wherein said top wall section includes a main door that is pivotally movable between a closed configuration that prevents access to said interior area of said body member and an open configuration that allows access to said interior area of said body member. 
     
     
         11 . The survival and rescue capsule as in  claim 1 , wherein said top wall section includes a main door that is pivotally movable between a closed configuration that prevents access to said interior area of said body member and an open configuration that allows access to said interior area of said body member. 
     
     
         12 . The survival and rescue capsule as in  claim 10 , comprising an auxiliary door pivotally coupled to said side wall section of said wall assembly and movable between a closed configuration that prevents access to said interior area of said body member and an open configuration that allows access to said interior area of said body member. 
     
     
         13 . The survival and rescue capsule as in  claim 5 , comprising a platform situated in said interior area of said body member that is displaced from said bottom wall section of said wall assembly, said bottom wall section and said platform defining a compartment therebetween in which said ballast weight is situated. 
     
     
         14 . The survival and rescue capsule as in  claim 13 , wherein said platform has a generally planar configuration, said seat being supported atop said platform by said springs. 
     
     
         15 . The survival and rescue capsule as in  claim 1 , comprising a fluorescent marker mounted to an outer surface of said wall assembly of said body member that is configured to enhance visibility of said body member to a rescuer. 
     
     
         16 . The survival and rescue capsule as in  claim 1 , wherein said wall assembly includes:
 an inner layer adjacent said interior area that is constructed of a spongy material that enhances the safety of the occupant when impact forces are encountered; and   an outer layer outside of said interior space that is constructed of a buoyant material that enhances the flotation ability of said body member in a water environment.   
     
     
         17 . The survival and rescue capsule as in  claim 1 , comprising:
 an inflatable bladder mounted to an outer surface of said wall assembly of said body member; and   an air tank situated in said interior area of said body member that is in operative fluid communication with said inflatable bladder and configured to selectively inflate said bladder when actuated.   
     
     
         18 . The survival and rescue capsule as in  claim 4 , wherein said side wall defines a plurality of spaced apart windows through which an area outside said body member is selectively viewed from within said interior area of said body portion. 
     
     
         19 . The survival and rescue capsule as in  claim 1 , comprising a plurality of hook members spaced apart and coupled to an outside surface of said outer wall assembly, each hook member being configured to be hoisted upwardly by a rescue hoist. 
     
     
         20 . The survival and rescue capsule as in  claim 6 , further comprising a global positioning system (“GPS”) electrically connected to said battery, said GPS being configured to determine a global position and to transmit said determined position to rescue authorities