Carleton Life Support Systems Inc.

Carleton Technologies, Inc.

Conax Florida Corporation

Carlston Life Support Systems, Inc.

Brian Ford

Donald E Blackman

Justin Robinson

M Elizabeth Bolint

Robert E Clark

Kevin Holler

Don Blackman

Daniel H Meggs

Joel Harshbarger

Timothy Raleigh

Lyle Berkenbosch

Marc Jung

Tom Yandle

Hugo Granados

Matt Scholes

Andre Coumand

David A Sapio

Michael E Kelley

Christopher Motta

Alphonse S Larose

Brian DeMenezes

Andre Cournand

Ivan Gonzales

Nicholas W Pandelos

Shawn Roemer

Hugh Granados

Donald Blackman

Life vest

Disclosed is an improved reel assembly for use in conjunction with an occupant restraint system. The assembly employs a dual locking arrangement whereby an occupant can be restrained during both major and minor incidents. After a minor incident, the reel assembly can be conveniently unlocked, without the need for accessing the push button, by applying counter tension to the webbing. After a major incident, the reel assembly remains locked until the occupant disengages the reel via a push button. When the reel assembly experiences the force of a major incident, rotation of the webbing shaft may be first partially arrested by the engagement of a first of two locking teeth on a locking dog with a first of two engagement surfaces on a geared end plate and subsequently completely arrested by the combined engagements of the first and second locking teeth with their respective first and second engagement surfaces.

Reel lock having multiple tooth dog

A buckle release mechanism can be used to couple together various types of straps, webbing or belts. In one particular embodiment, the release mechanism forms part of a parachute canopy for a pilot's harness. The mechanism includes a housing with a locking mechanism. The locking mechanism employs two rotatable locking pins with associated cams and openings. An opening is formed within the housing for receiving a yoke. A striker plate with opposing lugs is formed at one end of the yoke. The lugs cooperate with the locking pins to either retain or eject the striker plate within the housing.

Buckle release mechanism

A ballistic powered inertial reel device comprises an inertia unit and a ballistic powered unit. The inertia unit includes a reel shaft and a webbing wound on the reel shaft. A reel lock has a disengaged orientation with the reel shaft during normal operation and an engaged orientation to prevent rotation of the reel shaft during an emergency. A control dog drives the reel lock. A geared cam rotates to drive a lock rod which operates against the control dog to drive the reel lock into the engaged orientation. The ballistic powered unit comprises a flywheel coupled to the geared cam. A piston drives the flywheel and a rewind spring couples the flywheel to the reel shaft. Actuation of the piston rotates the flywheel to cause the rewind spring to rotate the reel shaft to rewind the webbing and rotate the geared cam to lock the reel lock.

Ballistic powered inertia reel

Disclosed is a pretensioner for an occupant restraint. The pretensioner is designed to be used in conjunction with an inertial reel that locks the occupant restraint when detecting an adverse event. The pretensioner acts to remove slack in the webbing of the restraint and thereby safely secure the occupant once the reel is locked. The pretensioner described herein includes a rack that is initially held in place by a shear pin. Upon being activated, the rack is forced to a fully extended orientation, whereby the shear pin is severed. A deceleration ramp in included beneath the rack to slowly bring the rack to a stop at the end of the stroke.

Restraint pretensioner with deacceleration mechanism

A water activated restraint release that is designed to be retrofitted onto an existing restraint system. The water activated restraint release includes a buckle and a tang to be secured to the buckle. The buckle includes a release mechanism and an actuator assembly. The actuator assembly causes the release mechanism to release the tang in the presence of water, thereby releasing a passenger.

Water activated restraint release system

Disclosed is a personal flotation and rescue device. The device includes a life vest with an interconnected backpack. The backpack includes an interior area that is enclosed by a peripheral zipper. A boom is initially stored within the backpack in an uninflated and accordion-like state. A water activated inflator is secured to the boom and is adapted to fully inflate the boom upon contact with water. Inflation of the boom causes the zipper to open and thereby permit the boom to be fully extended from the back of the wearer. Joints are included along the length of the boom such that it takes on a bounded configuration after inflation. The bounded area and then be used by rescue personnel in retrieving the wearer of the device.

Life vest with retrieval device

Disclosed is an inflatable article that is designed to be launched to an intended target. The article is launched by a gun in an un-inflated state and inflates upon contacting water. The target can be, for example, a person being rescued. The article is initially stored in an outer layer of material. The outer layer of material may be shrink-wrap or a foam layer. The outer layer permits the article to be retained in a compact configuration prior to being launched. This, in turn, allows the article to be launched over great distances. The outer layer is designed to rupture upon inflation of the article.

Inflatable life preserver and associated delivery system

Disclosed is a gas release device that is adapted to be secured to an inflatable article. The device includes an container, which can be a commercially available gas bottle, a salinity sensor, and an end cap. The salinity sensor operates an electrically fireable primer that serves to release an inflation gas from the container and inflate the article. The end cap includes a cylindrical through hole that accepts a rotatable D-ring. The D-ring is dimensioned to fit over the valve of the inflatable article. The D-ring includes a series of peripheral apertures that can be selectively aligned with a slot to create a fluid passage between the container and valve. The D-ring allows the device to be rotated between different angular positions while maintaining a pneumatic coupling between to the inflatable article and the container.

Water actuated pressurized gas release device

Disclosed is a device for generating a volume of gas from solid and liquid generates. In one particular embodiment, a volume of nitrogen gas is generated by combining the output of Sodium Azide and liquid nitrogen. A vacuum is initially maintained about the liquid nitrogen container by way of a dewar jacket. The present disclosure also relates to a method of manufacturing the disclosed gas generating device.

Gas generating device and method of manufacturing gas generating device

Disclosed is a restraint system for a vehicle, such as a wheeled vehicle, boat, or fixed or rotary winged aircraft. The system includes a control system integrated into the harness and strap of the restraint. This permits crewmembers to lock and unlock the restraint from a body worn control panel. Other auxiliary equipment also be operated from the control panel. In another embodiment, wiring for a communication system is integrated into the harness and strap.

Aircrew restraint system with integrated communications and controls

Disclosed is an apparatus for selectively adjusting the maximum payout of a tether from a reel assembly. The maximum payout can be selected by the user via a dial indicator on the end of the apparatus. By rotating the dial, an internal pawl is positioned relative to an associated ring gear. The ring gear includes a cut-out about its peripheral edge. The shaft of the reel assembly is rotatably interconnected to the ring gear via a series of gear reductions. After a predetermined about of tether has been paid out, the pawl encounters the cut-out about the ring gear. This, in turn, causes the pawl to engage the reel shaft to prevent further rotation. The maximum payout is determined by the initial spacing between the pawl and the cut-out.

Apparatus for adjusting the payout of tether from a reel assembly

Disclosed is a rotary buckle assembly for harness. The assembly is adapted to selectively secure or eject the tongue plates for the straps of the harness. The buckle assembly includes a mechanism for automatically releasing the harness in the presence of water.

Water activated ejector mechanism for rotary buckle assembly

Disclosed is a trolley assembly that is adapted to be used with a passenger restraint, such as a locking reel. The trolley assembly allows the reel lock to be securely positioned at any of a number of discrete locations along the length of an associated track. A mechanism is included for permitting the user to selectively lock and unlock the trolley as needed.

Growing community of inventors

Seminole, FL, United States of America

Brian Ford