Hybrid lifevest soft pouch
Described is a hybrid lifevest enclosure having a base, a frame assembly, and an attachment member for coupling the base to the frame assembly. The base may be formed of a flexible material and the frame assembly may be formed of a rigid material. The hybrid lifevest enclosure may comprise a sealed configuration in which the base is coupled to the frame assembly in a manner that prevents insertion of a foreign object having a length of 9.9 cm and a diameter of 0.9 cm into the sealed configuration without evidence that the sealed configuration has been unsealed. The hybrid lifevest enclosure may also comprise a sealed configuration that complies with Design for Safety requirements.
1 . A hybrid lifevest enclosure comprising:
a base for receiving a lifevest;
a frame assembly comprising a first frame member and a second frame member;
at least one attachment member coupled to the first frame member and positioned between the frame assembly and the base for coupling the base to the frame assembly, wherein the frame assembly is pivotally coupled to the base via the at least one attachment member, and the second frame member is sandwiched between the at least one attachment member and the first frame member; and
a gripping portion coupled to the first frame member, the gripping portion comprising a first end coupled to the frame assembly and a second end opposite the first end, wherein the second end is a free end,
wherein:
the at least one attachment member extends around a perimeter of the base;
the frame assembly is formed of a rigid material, and the base is formed of a flexible material; and
the hybrid lifevest enclosure comprises a sealed configuration in which the base is coupled to the frame assembly in a manner that prevents insertion of a foreign object having a length of 9.9 cm or greater and a diameter of 0.9 cm or greater into the sealed configuration without evidence that the sealed configuration has been unsealed.
2 . The hybrid lifevest enclosure of claim 1 , wherein the flexible material is a fabric.
3 . The hybrid lifevest enclosure of claim 2 , wherein the fabric comprises at least one of nylon, coated nylon, carbon foam, polybenzimidazole (PBI) fiber, canvas, polyester, coated fabric, duck cloth, tweed, bamboo, synthetic fabric, organic fiber, synthetic rubbers, or acrylic.
4 . The hybrid lifevest enclosure of claim 1 , wherein the rigid material comprises at least one of low-density polyethylene, high-density polyethylene, polypropylene, polystyrene, polytetrafluoroethylene, polyvinyl chloride, polychlorotrifluoroethylene, carbon reinforced plastic, fiber reinforced plastics, acrylic modified polyvinyl chloride, or polyetherimide resin.
5 . The hybrid lifevest enclosure of claim 1 , wherein the rigid material has a tensile strength of at least 35 MPa.
6 . The hybrid lifevest enclosure of claim 1 , wherein a weight of the hybrid lifevest enclosure is less than 0.685 lbs.
7 . A hybrid lifevest enclosure comprising:
a base for receiving a lifevest;
a frame assembly comprising a first frame member and a second frame member;
at least one attachment member coupled to the first frame member and positioned between the frame assembly and the base for coupling the base to the frame assembly, the frame assembly is pivotally coupled to the base via the at least one attachment member, and the second frame member is sandwiched between the at least one attachment member and the first frame member; and
a gripping portion coupled to the first frame member, the gripping portion comprising a strap, wherein a first end of the strap is coupled to the frame assembly and is a fixed end and a second end of the strap is a free end opposite from the fixed end;
wherein:
the at least one attachment member extends around a perimeter of the base;
the frame assembly is pivotable relative the base;
wherein the frame assembly is formed of a rigid material, and the base is formed of a flexible material; and
wherein a weight of the hybrid lifevest enclosure is less than 0.685 lbs.
8 . An apparatus comprising:
a hybrid lifevest enclosure coupled to a seat tube of a passenger seat, wherein the hybrid lifevest enclosure comprises a sealed configuration;
wherein the hybrid lifevest enclosure comprises:
a base for receiving a lifevest;
a frame assembly comprising a first frame member and a second frame member;
at least one attachment member coupled to the first frame member and positioned between the frame assembly and the base for coupling the base to the frame assembly, wherein the frame assembly is pivotable relative to the base via the at least one attachment member, and the second frame member is sandwiched between the at least one attachment member and the first frame member; and
a gripping portion coupled to the first frame member wherein the gripping portion has a fixed end and a free end, wherein:
the attachment member extends around a perimeter of the base; and
the frame assembly is formed of a rigid material and the base is formed of a flexible material.
9 . The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the at least one attachment member includes a projection member, wherein the projection member is configured to couple to a notch member of a frame member.
10 . The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the at least one attachment member includes a projection member, wherein the projection member is configured to couple to a notch member of the first frame member that extends around a perimeter of the base.
11 . The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the at least one attachment member includes a first attachment portion and a second attachment portion, the first attachment portion mirroring the second attachment portion along the perimeter of the base.
12 . The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the frame assembly further comprises:
a door member located between the first frame member and the second frame member, wherein the at least one attachment member is configured to couple to the first frame member but not the second frame member.
13 . The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the first frame member includes a first opening and the second frame member includes a second opening, the door member being disposed within the first and second opening.
14 . The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the second frame member includes a top side, a bottom side, and two peripheral sides, the top side or the two peripheral sides including a flange.
15 . The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the second frame member includes a tab which is a breakable seal attached to a top side of the second frame member.
16 . The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the gripping portion is attached to a top side of the second frame member configured to be moved away from the base.
17 . The apparatus of claim 16 , wherein the gripping portion is a strap.
18 . The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the door member is tinted or transparent.
19 . The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the base includes one or more support members configured to engage a seat tube of a passenger seat.
20 . The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the first frame member pivots at a pivot point formed at a notch member.