Danger avoidance apparatus and method of use

Abstract

The present disclosure provides danger avoidance apparatuses and related methods, such as for use to avoid avalanches. An apparatus may include a container configured to couple to a user, a lift providing mechanism, a descent control mechanism and at least one rip cord engaged with the container and selectively operable by the user. Both the lift providing mechanism and the descent control mechanism may be movably coupled to the container between a packed position within the container and a deployed position exterior to the container controlled via the at least one rip cord. The lift providing mechanism may include an airfoil that provides lift to the user at a first velocity of the user along a first direction. The descent control mechanism may control the descent and reduce the velocity of the user along the first direction from the first velocity in the deployed position.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A danger avoidance apparatus, comprising:
 a container configured to couple to a user;   a combined lift providing and descent control mechanism movably coupled to the container between a packed position within the container and a deployed position exterior to the container, the combined lift providing and descent control mechanism comprising an airfoil portion that provides lift to the user at a first velocity of the user along a first direction to elevate the user from on a ground surface to an elevated position above the ground surface, and a canopy portion that reduces the velocity and controls descent of the user along the first direction from the first velocity and the elevated position; and   at least one activation member engaged with the container and selectively operable by the user,   wherein the at least one activation member is configured to activate the lift providing and descent control mechanism from its packed position to its deployed position upon the selective operation of the at least one activation member by the user.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the combined lift providing and descent control mechanism is movably coupled to the container via suspension lines. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the combined lift providing and descent control mechanism and the suspension lines are provided within a discrete compartment of the container in the packed position. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the combined lift providing and descent control mechanism comprises structural support struts. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the combined lift providing and descent control mechanism comprises bridle wires configured to steer the combined lift providing and descent control mechanism in the deployed position by the user. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the combined lift providing and descent control mechanism is formed of a flexible material. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the container is configured to removably couple to the user. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the container includes at least one of:
 at least one leg strap; and   at least one shoulder strap.   
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the container includes at least one leg strap and at least one shoulder strap, and wherein a substantially stiff back extends between the at least one leg strap and at least one shoulder strap. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a sensor communicatively coupled to the at least one activation member, wherein the sensor is activated in response to the selective operation of the at least one activation member. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , further comprising a microcontroller communicatively coupled to the sensor configured to obtain an alert from the sensor when the sensor is activated. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , further comprising a communication device communicatively coupled to the microcontroller and configured to communicate the alert to a node on a communications network external to the apparatus. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the microcontroller is communicatively coupled to the communication device and the sensor, wherein the microcontroller is configured to relay communication between the sensor and the communication device, and wherein the microcontroller is further configured to supplement communications through the microcontroller with additional data. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , further comprising a location device communicatively coupled to the microcontroller, wherein the microcontroller obtains location information from the location device, and wherein the alert comprises the location information. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , further comprising a manual alert button communicatively coupled to the microcontroller, wherein activating the manual alert button is configured to send the alert to the communication device. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , further comprising a belt portion comprising a closure, wherein at least one of the microcontroller, manual alert button, location device, and the communication device are internal to the closure. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a memory configured to store a unique identifier;   a processor in communication with the memory;   a trigger in communication with the processor, wherein the trigger is activated by selective operation of the at least one activation member by the user;   a location device in communication with the processor; and   a transponder in communication with the processor,   wherein the combined apparatus is configured to perform a method, the method comprising:
 obtaining, by the processor, data indicating that the trigger has been activated; 
 determining, by the processor, that the data indicates an emergency condition; 
 based on the determining, obtaining, by the processor, location information from the location device; 
 based on the determining, obtaining, by the processor, the unique identifier from the memory; and 
 communicating, by the processor, the location information and the unique identifier to a node via a network connection by accessing the transponder. 
   
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one activation member comprises a rip cord. 
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one activation member comprises an electronic activation system. 
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the airfoil portion comprises at least a portion of the canopy portion configured in an airfoil shape.