DESCRIPTION

Definition

In the present application the term "boat" refers to identify, as known, any type of vessel, boat or ship.

Field of invention

The present application refers to the shipping sector, referring particularly to the security devices for the users and the crew of the boat, whatever its type.

More in detail, the present invention relates to a security system for the rescue of a user fallen out of the boat.

Background of the invention

In the shipping sector, a very important aspect is the emergency event detection of a "man overboard", so that rescue and recovery can be carried out as fast as possible.

In regards to that, numerous auxiliary devices are known and available for users, allowing automatic detection of a "man overboard" event, and its immediate alarm. Examples include the systems described in CN 204228959, DE 102 16 788 A1 , EP 0 416 972 A1 .

In other systems, as in cases described in FR 2 487 286 A3 or in GB 2 336 928 A, when the alarm is triggered the system acts automatically in the propelling systems to stop the boat.

The know systems, moreover, usually start sending a distress signal to the authorities, such as the Coast Guard, in order to intervene as quickly as possible to rescue the user overboard.

In some cases, as the one described in WO 03/018398 A1 , the known systems redundantly check the proper functioning of the devices before the alarm signal is sent, in order to avoid a false alarm caused by technical failure.

However, it may happen that the user deliberately leaves the boat and that simply forgot to deactivate the "man overboard" event detecting system, with the consequent activation of the alarm status. This involves, unfortunately, not only the activation of all the alarm system on board, but also the call for a rescue intervention by the authorities. Summary of the invention

Object of the invention is to at least partially overcome the drawbacks abovementioned, providing a security system for the activation of the alarm status in case of a user fall overboard, which avoids false alarms in case the user voluntarily leaves the boat, and forgot to turn off the system.

Another object of the invention is to provide a security system for the activation of the alarm status in case of a user fall overboard, avoiding false alarms in case of system malfunctions.

A further object of the invention is to provide a security system for the activation of the alarm status in case of man overboard that allow identifying an area as restricted as possible, if not the exact place where is the user.

Another object is that the system of the invention allows preventing an excessive distancing of the boat from where the user fell overboard.

A further object is that the system of the invention helps whoever stayed on board to identify, on the available nautical chart, the restricted area, if not the exact point, when the user fell overboard.

These objects, and other that will appear more clearly in the following, are achieved by a security system usable on board of a boat according to the claims that follow, which are to be considered an integral part of the present application.

Particularly, the system of the invention comprises detecting means of the falling overboard of a user, and at least one alarm device to signal the falling overboard of the user. These alarm devices are operatively connected to the detecting means in order to be activated by it.

Usually, the alarm devices are sound and optical type, but it may also include the launch of lifebuoys, life rafts, smoke devices, light buoys or similar markers. In addition, generally comprise devices that send an automatic distress call to the rescue authorities, which usually is constituted by the Coast Guard, or sailors who are nearby.

According to an aspect of the invention, the system comprises also a timer coupled to the detection means, for a predetermined time delay for the activation of the alarm devices.

In other words, the system also comprises a timer coupled to the detection means that, for a predetermined time, delays the activation of all the alarm devices, either sound, optical or radio distress call transmitters. They are thus advantageously avoided false alarms, especially to the authorities, caused by oversights, malfunctioning of the security system, or similar situations.

According to another aspect of the invention, the system comprises also at least one alarm device enabler/disabler.

Advantageously, therefore, the user can enable immediately the alarm device regardless of the status of the timer circuit, in case of a real alarm. At the same time, still advantageously, the user can disable the alarm device in an error case. An example of this, abovementioned, is that the user has forgotten to disable the system before voluntarily leaving the boat.

According to another aspect of the invention, the system comprises also at least an enabler of the alarm devices independently of the timer circuit. In other words, the user fallen overboard or the personnel that remained on board can advantageously disable the timer intervention in case of a real alarm situation, or in case the device remained erroneously disabled.

According to a further aspect of the invention, the system comprises also boat's driving means operatively connected to the detection means at least to stop the boat in case of the falling overboard of the user. In other words, the system comprises also the necessary means to stop the boat in case of the falling overboard of the user, in order to avoid it's distancing from the user, ensuring his quick rescue. Such driving means, moreover, are appropriately activated independently of the timer status since in any case it must ensure that the boat does not distance itself from the user.

Brief description of the drawings

Further features and advantages of the invention will appear more evident by reading the detailed description of some preferred, but not exclusive, embodiments of a security system used on board of a boat according to the invention, shown as non-limitative example with the help of the annexed drawing, wherein FIG. 1 shows a security system according to the invention in a schematic view.

Detailed description of an example of a preferred embodiment

With reference to the abovementioned figure, it is described a security system 1 used on board of a boat.

Particularly, the security system 1 first of all comprises detection means 2 of the falling overboard of a user. In this regard, the security system 1 of the invention is intended to activate an alarm status to a "man overboard " event detected by said detection means 2.

In this regard, the security system 1 comprises also one or more alarm devices 3 to signal the falling overboard of the user, operatively connected with the detection means 2 for its activation.

Usually, but not necessarily, the alarm devices 3 comprise sound and light emission signal devices, as well as the activation of emergency distress calls to the rescuing personnel, for their immediate intervention to rescue the user fallen overboard.

Regarding instead the detection means 2, according to the embodiment described they comprise in their turn an electromagnetic signal transmitter device 5 available to the user, as well as a receiver device 6 arranged on the boat and suited to receive the electromagnetic signals transmitted by the transmitter device 5.

In addition, the detection means 2 comprise an actuator operatively connected to the alarm devices 3 to be enabled in case of an alarm status.

However, this detection means embodiment, must not be considered limitative for the invention. Particularly, they can be implemented in any way whatsoever, since it does not represent, in itself, a feature-limiting for the invention. For example, according to a possible embodiment variation they can comprise a double GPS system, one placed on board and the other one supplied to the user. The alarm status detection takes place when the coordinates of both GPS systems are such as to indicate that the user is overboard.

In any case, the detection means 2 available to the user is usually small sized, such not to be uncomfortable. In the described embodiment it is inserted within a watch that the user can wear on his wrist, but that is only one of the non-limitative examples for the invention.

Also the number of devices available to the user is not a limiting feature for the invention as it may be natural to assume that the system comprises a device for each user present on boat, whether it is a crew member or a passenger. The same applies to the detection means 2 on the boat: even their number is not a limitative characteristic for the invention.

Returning to the described embodiment, the said alarm status takes place when there is a missing reception of the usually transmitted electromagnetic signal, but not necessarily periodically from the transmitter device 5. This allows to ensure that its malfunctions do not affect the activation of the alarm status.

However, even such characteristics are not to be considered limitative for the invention, as the alarm status may be constituted by an appropriate electromagnetic signal transmitted by the transmitter device.

Previously it was mentioned that a false alarm is a problem of the known security systems. Particularly, a false alarm can be activated when a user decides voluntarily to jump overboard for a swim, forgetting to deactivate the security system.

To overcome this drawback, the security system 1 for the invention comprises a timer circuit 10 coupled to detecting means 2 in order to delay of a predetermined period of time the alarm devices 3 activation and, particularly, at least the distress call deactivation to the emergency rescue authorities.

Therefore, advantageously, the security system 1 allows to avoid the immediate activation of the alarm status, providing time for the user to acknowledge the error, and return to the boat and deactivate the system.

Even eventual malfunction of the detecting devices 2 or its sudden power failure, are situations that can trigger false alarms, and are advantageously avoided by the above mentioned timer circuit 10.

It is advisable that the activation of the alarm status and the timer counter must still be signaled, so that the user and the on board personnel notice the event and evaluate if it is a real or a false alarm.

It is however known that the immediate activation of the alarm status is a key aspect for a quick and successful rescue, since such event could constitute a life or death situation for the user.

In regards to it, and according to another aspect of the invention, the security system 1 comprises also one or more activator/deactivator 1 1 of the alarm device 3. These are usually made available for the user and the crew allowing, advantageously, to activate immediately the alarm device 3 independently of the timer circuit 10 status in case of a real alarm. At the same time, still advantageously, the user can deactivate the alarm device 3 in case of error committed by himself. An example in this regard is when the user forgets to deactivate the security system 1 before voluntarily getting out of the boat.

According to another aspect of the invention, the security system 1 comprises also boat driving means 12 operatively connected to the detecting means 2 in order to stop the boat in case of falling overboard of the user. Particularly, these driving means 12 are controlled in order to stop the boat regardless of the timer circuit 10 status. Therefore, advantageously, the boat is always stopped, even when the user forgets to deactivate the security system 1 or in case of its malfunction.

In other words, when the falling overboard of a user event occurs, the alarm status triggered induces the security system 1 to act over the driving means 12 in order to immediately stop the boat, therefore limiting its distancing from the user overboard. The user can be then shortly rescued, having also the possibility to autonomously approach and get back in the boat, regardless of the timer circuit 10 status.

In case of a motor boat, usually the driving means 12 include the engine itself, and in such case the arrest is simply obtained by interrupting the power or the fuel supply.

In case of a sailing boat, however, the security system 1 can automatically either haul down the sails or turn the steer of the boat to stop its course.

However it is clear that this embodiment is only a non-limitative example for the invention.

According to a further aspect of the invention, the security system 1 comprises also a detecting device 15 of the position of the boat in the first instant wherein the alarm status is triggered, regardless of the timer circuit 10 status.

In other words, in the moment when the user falls overboard it automatically sends a coordinate. That position, in fact, corresponds to a near point where the fallen overboard user is, and is, therefore, an excellent tracking to help a fast user identification and rescue. Advantageously, therefore, the identification of the point or the restricted area in which the user is located is safe and is independent of the status of the devices, to which the user and the boat are provided.

As for the detecting device 15, it comprises radio-positioning tool of the boat. This can be constituted by a GPS device, but particular embodiment must not be considered limitative for different embodiments of the invention according to which the detecting device is constituted by other different devices.

According to another aspect of the invention, the security system 1 comprises also a displaying device 16 of the position of the boat in the first instant of the alarm status. In other words, the displaying device 16 shows the detected coordinate when the alarm is activated. This allows to display a point at least near to the one where the user is placed to be rescued, facilitating his visualization on the nautical charts, speeding the rescue operations.

Usually, this displaying device 16 is constituted by a monitor, but it must not be considered limitative for the invention. However, it is noted that usually boats are equipped with GPS devices, whose monitor can be advantageously used as a displaying device 16 in the detected coordinate. In that case, the transposition on the nautical charts is immediate.

To all of the abovementioned, it is evident that the security system of the invention achieves all the intended purposes.

Particularly, the security system of the invention allows to avoid false alarms.

However, the system of the invention allows to avoid an excessive distancing of the boat from the man overboard.

Moreover, this allows to know, if not the position, at least a restricted area, where is the user to be rescued. That specific position or area are easily transposed on the nautical charts

The invention is susceptible to several modifications e variations, all falling within the inventive concept expressed in the claims. All the details may be replaced by other technically equivalent elements, and the materials may be different according to requirements, without departing the scope of the invention defined by the appended claims.