Auto erected ballast bags

Abstract

A ballast bag includes a top portion, a center portion coupled to the top portion, a bottom portion coupled to the center portion, and a spring coupled to the top portion and the bottom portion and encapsulated by the center portion, the spring being capable of expanding the ballast bag from a compact state to an erect state, the ballast bag being capable of retaining water in the erect state.

1 . A ballast bag, comprising:
 a top portion;   a center portion coupled to said top portion;   a bottom portion coupled to said center portion; and   a spring coupled to said top portion and said bottom portion and encapsulated by said center portion, said spring configured to push said top portion and said bottom portion away from said center portion.   
     
     
         2 . The ballast bag of  claim 1 , wherein said spring is a cylindrical spring. 
     
     
         3 . The ballast bag of  claim 1 , wherein said spring is integrated into a center portion of said ballast bag. 
     
     
         4 . The ballast bag of  claim 3 , wherein said center portion is a tubular center portion whose diameter is equal to a diameter of said spring. 
     
     
         5 . The ballast bag of  claim 1 , wherein said spring is in an unrotated position in a compact state and a rotated position to be in an erect state. 
     
     
         6 . The ballast bag of  claim 1 , wherein said ballast bag is in a compact state when a life raft coupled to said ballast bag has not been deployed. 
     
     
         7 . The ballast bag of  claim 1 , wherein said ballast bag is in an erect state when a life raft coupled to said ballast bag has been deployed. 
     
     
         8 . The ballast bag of  claim 1 , wherein said ballast bag is released from a compact state when a life raft coupled to said ballast bag is deployed.