US4382567A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Safety flotation device for aircraft
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1981-01-22
•
Granted: 1983-05-10
•
Expires: 2001-01-22
Abstract
Abstract An aircraft flotation unit used severally on both low wing and high wing and multi-engine aircraft, comprised of a fiberglass or equal enclosure attached to the underside of small and medium size aircraft and built into the underside of commercial size aircraft, said device varying in size and number dependent on the relative size of the aircraft and the unit or units containing rubberized fabric inflatable by gaseous liquid which is released by means of a throttle type control cable and/or automatic device from a container, which when activated thereby allows the fiberglass enclosure to open and the rectangular flat inflatable floats to extend and support all types of aircraft upon the surface of the water. The floats have two additional valves for oral and mechanical inflation. When the floats are extended to their most extended position, they are all on the same plane.
Inventors
- 👤 Victor L. Fredericks
- 👤 Muriel E. Bray
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 21:40
CPC Classifications
B; B64; B64C; B64C25/00; B64C25/32; B64C25/54; B64C25/56
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 6
Claim 1
Independent Claim
293 words
The combination with an aircraft of a plurality of inflatable flotation devices attached to the underside of said aircraft for supporting said aircraft in a body of water; said aircraft having a fuselage and wings attached thereto with said wings extending transversely from said fuselage; the underside of said fuselage and said wings is spaced from a horizontal plane that is parallel to the surface of said body of water in such a manner that the height between said underside and said horizontal plane varies in both transverse direction and in the fore and aft direction of said wings; said plurality of flotation devices are stored in a normally deflated condition in compartments adjacent to the underside of said fuselage and said wings and when inflated the upper surface of said flotation devices is contiguous to the underside of said aircraft and the cross sectional shapes of each said flotational device varies in height in both said transverse and fore and aft directions such that the lower surfaces of said flotation devices are parallel to said horizontal plane, whereby the flotation devices support the entire aircraft in a horizontal attitude substantially out of the water; said compartments each having a streamlined door means thereon which is pivoted about a hinge means parallel to said fore and aft directions and which is held in a closed position by latch means; said latch means comprising pull pins which are actuated by a cable; said flotation devices are inflated from a valve controlled source of pressurized gas which is also actuated simultaneously by said cable when said pull pins are released; said flotation devices are secured to the underside of said aircraft by shock cords when said flotation devices are inflated and released from said compartments.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
293 words
The combination with an aircraft of a plurality of inflatable flotation devices attached to the underside of said aircraft for supporting said aircraft in a body of water; said aircraft having a fuselage and wings attached thereto with said wings extending transversely from said fuselage; the underside of said fuselage and said wings is spaced from a horizontal plane that is parallel to the surface of said body of water in such a manner that the height between said underside and said horizontal plane varies in both transverse direction and in the fore and aft direction of said wings; said plurality of flotation devices are stored in a normally deflated condition in compartments adjacent to the underside of said fuselage and said wings and when inflated the upper surface of said flotation devices is contiguous to the underside of said aircraft and the cross sectional shapes of each said flotational device varies in height in both said transverse and fore and aft directions such that the lower surfaces of said flotation devices are parallel to said horizontal plane, whereby the flotation devices support the entire aircraft in a horizontal attitude substantially out of the water; said compartments each having a streamlined door means thereon which is pivoted about a hinge means parallel to said fore and aft directions and which is held in a closed position by latch means; said latch means comprising pull pins which are actuated by a cable; said flotation devices are inflated from a valve controlled source of pressurized gas which is also actuated simultaneously by said cable when said pull pins are released; said flotation devices are secured to the underside of said aircraft by shock cords when said flotation devices are inflated and released from said compartments.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
37 words
The device set forth in claim 1 in which the cross section of said flotation devices when inflated is trapezoidal type shaped with the lower surfaces being in a single horizontal plane while resting on the water.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
27 words
The device set forth in claim 1 in which the cross section of said flotation devices varies along both the longitudinal and transverse axis of the aircraft.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
71 words
The device set forth in claim 1 comprising said compartments are constructed as pods elliptical in shape, attached to the underside of the wings and fuselage, made of a rigid material and streamlined in shape, attached in a fore and aft direction, eliminating drag, with said door means being opened when activated from the cockpit by a lever after alighting on the water with flotation achieved in six to ten seconds.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
90 words
The device set forth in claim 1 wherein said compartments are built into the underside of the fuselage and wings, leaving a smooth undersurface of the wing and fuselage, which eliminates any air friction and which when said float devices are extended through said door means built into the underside of the wings and fuselage, which opens when a lever is pulled activating the device, simultaneously allowing the gaseous liquid to inflate said flotation devices which support the entire plane in six to ten seconds after alighting on the water.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US1010644A
Cited
FR436530A
Cited
US1733973A
Cited
US1787976A
Cited
US1748492A
Cited
US1818597A
Cited
DE702874C
Cited
FR941135A
Cited
US2711868A
Cited
US3790110A
Cited
US3865332A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1986-05-09 | 1986-11-08 | 1987-05-10 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1990-05-09 | 1990-11-08 | 1991-05-10 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1994-05-09 | 1994-11-08 | 1995-05-10 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |