Water rescue flotation systems

Abstract

Rescue flotation systems for use in near-shore and offshore environments to assist with rescue of individuals in dangerous aquatic conditions are disclosed. The rescue flotation systems include a flotation body having a grabbable ring positioned around an outer perimeter, an internal storage compartment, an emergency call actuator configured to trigger a distress response upon activation by a person in distress, a location tracker, a communications system configured to transmit a wireless distress signal including the location to responders upon activation, a distress indicator configured to emit a local visual and/or audible distress signal upon activation, and a power supply (e.g., solar panel) configured to power the location tracker, the communications system, and the distress indicator. Some of the rescue flotation systems further include life-sustaining and first-aid supplies stored in the internal storage compartment.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A near-shore rescue flotation system, comprising:
 a flotation body having a grabbable ring positioned around an outer perimeter of the flotation body above a water line when the near-shore rescue flotation system is floating, wherein the flotation body comprises:
 an internal storage compartment within the flotation body; 
 an emergency call actuator positioned on an outer surface of the flotation body, wherein the emergency call actuator is configured to trigger a distress response upon activation by a person in distress; 
 a location tracker housed in the internal storage compartment, wherein the location tracker is configured to provide location data of the near-shore rescue flotation system; 
 a communications system housed in the internal storage compartment, wherein the communications system is configured to transmit a wireless distress signal to a remote electronic device as part of the distress response upon activation of the emergency call actuator, wherein the wireless distress signal includes the location data of the near-shore rescue flotation system; 
 a distress indicator configured to emit a local distress signal as part of the distress response upon activation of the emergency call actuator; and 
 a power supply configured to power the location tracker, the communications system, and the distress indicator. 
   
     
     
         2 . The near-shore rescue flotation system of  claim 1 , wherein the emergency call actuator comprises a call button. 
     
     
         3 . The near-shore rescue flotation system of  claim 1 , wherein the emergency call actuator comprises a switch. 
     
     
         4 . The near-shore rescue flotation system of  claim 1 , wherein the location tracker comprises a global-positioning system (GPS). 
     
     
         5 . The near-shore rescue flotation system of  claim 1 , wherein the communications system comprises an emergency position-indicating radio beacon (EPIRB). 
     
     
         6 . The near-shore rescue flotation system of  claim 1 , further comprising an anchor configured to maintain a position of the near-shore rescue flotation system. 
     
     
         7 . The near-shore rescue flotation system of  claim 1 , wherein the internal storage compartment is accessible via an access panel. 
     
     
         8 . The near-shore rescue flotation system of  claim 1 , wherein the flotation body further comprises a hollow core portion. 
     
     
         9 . The near-shore rescue flotation system of  claim 8 , wherein the hollow core portion comprises the internal storage compartment. 
     
     
         10 . The near-shore rescue flotation system of  claim 8 , wherein the hollow core portion comprises a ballast weight. 
     
     
         11 . The near-shore rescue flotation system of  claim 1 , further comprising an anchor attached to a bottom portion of the flotation body. 
     
     
         12 . The near-shore rescue flotation system of  claim 1 , wherein the power supply comprises a solar panel positioned on the outer surface of the flotation body and electrically coupled to a rechargeable battery. 
     
     
         13 . The near-shore rescue flotation system of  claim 1 , wherein a first outer perimeter of the flotation body below the water line is larger than a second outer perimeter of the flotation body above the water line. 
     
     
         14 . The near-shore rescue flotation system of  claim 1 , wherein the flotation body further comprises a tow point positioned on the outer surface of the flotation body. 
     
     
         15 . The near-shore rescue flotation system of  claim 1 , wherein the flotation body is made of a rigid, non-inflatable material. 
     
     
         16 . The near-shore rescue flotation system of  claim 1 , wherein the flotation body further comprises internal buoyant material. 
     
     
         17 . The near-shore rescue flotation system of  claim 1 , wherein the distress indicator includes a visual indicator comprising a light, a signal beacon, a strobe, or an infrared (IR) beacon. 
     
     
         18 . A near-shore rescue flotation system, comprising:
 a flotation body having a grabbable ring positioned around an outer perimeter of the flotation body above a water line when the near-shore rescue flotation system is floating, wherein the flotation body comprises:
 a removable access panel, wherein the removable access panel is removably attached to the flotation body; 
 a tow point positioned on an outer surface of the flotation body, wherein the tow point is configured to receive a towline to tow the near-shore rescue flotation system by a watercraft; 
 an internal storage compartment within the flotation base,
 wherein the internal storage compartment is configured to house a portable handheld communications system, and 
 wherein the internal storage compartment is accessible when the removable access panel is detached from the flotation body; and 
 
 a plurality of handholds positioned on the outer surface of the base. 
   
     
     
         19 . The near-shore rescue flotation system of  claim 18 , further comprising an emergency call actuator positioned on the outer surface of the flotation body, wherein the emergency call actuator is electrically connected to the portable handheld communications system. 
     
     
         20 . The near-shore rescue flotation system of  claim 18 , further comprising a distress indicator configured to emit a local distress signal as part of the distress response upon activation of distress indicator.