Deployable float safety system

Abstract

A safety system for use with vehicles such as boats. The safety system includes one or more inflatable bags or bladders which may prevent the vehicle from sinking in a body of water. The bags may be stored in housings, and the housings may be angled to ensure smooth deployment of the bags. A pressure regulator and one or more valves may ensure the inflatable components stay inflated so as to ensure the vehicle stays afloat. The safety system may be automatically or manually activated.

What is claimed: 
     
         1 . A safety system for a vehicle to prevent the vehicle from sinking in a body of water, the vehicle including vehicle outer walls and vehicle inner walls, and the system comprising:
 a housing secured to one of the vehicle outer walls;   an inflatable component stored within the housing when the inflatable component is in a stored state; and   a fluid tank storing a fluid and in fluid communication with the inflatable component by a fluid line, the fluid line passing from the fluid tank through one of the vehicle inner walls and through the housing   wherein the safety system in an activated state initiates a flow of fluid from the fluid tank to the inflatable component thereby inflating the inflatable component with the fluid.   
     
     
         2 . The safety system of  claim 1  further comprising a housing door connected to an end of the housing proximate the adjacent vehicle outer wall at a hinge, and the housing door pivotable about the hinge. 
     
     
         3 . The safety system of  claim 2 , wherein the housing includes a first lid connector and the housing door includes a second lid connector, the first and second lid connectors engageable to secure the housing door in a closed position. 
     
     
         4 . The safety system of  claim 3 , wherein the first or second lid connector is a magnet. 
     
     
         5 . The safety system of  claim 3 , wherein the inflation of the inflatable component presses against the housing door thereby opening the housing door. 
     
     
         6 . The safety system of  claim 1 , wherein the housing is angled between about 30 degrees and about 60 degrees with respect to the adjacent outer side wall. 
     
     
         7 . The safety system of  claim 6 , wherein the housing is angled downward towards the body of water, and the angle is about forty five degrees. 
     
     
         8 . The safety system of  claim 1  further comprising a pressure regulator to adjust the release of the fluid and to ensure the pressure within the inflatable component remains constant. 
     
     
         9 . The safety system of  claim 1  further comprising one or more additional housings, each housing including an inflatable component, and a splitter to fluidly connect the fluid tank with each inflatable component. 
     
     
         10 . The safety system of  claim 1  further comprising an automatic switch, wherein the automatic switch detects entry of water into the vehicle and activates the safety system.