Quick-release device

Claim 1

A QUICK RELEASE DEVICE FOR RELEASING THE LASHINGS OF A LIFE-SAVING RAFT COMPRISING A HOLLOW BODY, A FLEXIBLE WALL SECURED ACROSS SAID BODY FORMING TWO CHAMBERS, ONE BEING HERMETICALLY SEALED AND THE OTHER OPEN TO AMBIENT PRESSURES, A PLATE SECURED TO SAID BODY, THE PLATE HAVING A RECESS AND A SLOT OPENING THROUGH THE BASE OF THE RECESS, A PIVOT MOUNTED IN SAID PLATE AND EXTENDING INTO SAID RECESS AND DISPLACED TO ONE SIDE OF SAID SLOT, A LATCH PIVOTABLE ON SAID PIVOT AND HAVING A HOOK PORTION AND A LOCK-ENGAGING ARM BOTH EXTENDING AWAY FROM SAID PIVOT IN THE DIRECTION OF SAID SLOT WHEN IN LOCKING POSITION, A LOCKING PIN SECURED TO SAID FLEXIBLE WALL, MOVABLE IN A DIRECTION NORMAL TO THE PIVOTABLE PLANE OF THE LATCH AND HAVING A SQUARED END PROJECTING INTO SAID RECESS TO ABUT AN EDGE OF SAID LOCK ENGAGING ARM WHEN SAID LATCH IS IN LOCKING POSITION, AND A COVER CLOSING SAID RECESS, WHEREIN A CONNECTING MEMBER CAN BE RETAINED IN SAID SLOT BY SAID HOOK PORTION WHEN SAID SQUARED END IS IN LOCKING POSITION TO ABUT SAID EDGE OF THE LOCK ENGAGING ARM AND CAN BE RELEASED BY ROTATION OF SAID LATCH ABOUT SAID PIVOT ON MOVEMENT OF SAID SQUARED END OUT OF ABUTMENT WITH SAID LOCK ENGAGING ARM BY A PRESSURE DIFFERENTIAL ACROSS SAID FLEXIBLE WALL.