Neck Seal Tension Relief Ring Apparatus and Method of Using Same

Abstract

A method, apparatus ( 800 ), and system ( 900 ) for a water activated neck seal tension relief device are described. The system ( 900 ) includes a liner ( 902 ), such as that of a protective suit, and an actuator apparatus ( 800 ) disposed within the liner ( 902 ). The apparatus ( 800 ) includes a resilient member ( 200 ) and a coupling ( 802 ), the coupling ( 802 ) including a body ( 600 ) configured to receive a first ( 810 ) and a second ( 808 ) portion of the resilient member ( 200 ). The liner ( 902 ), body ( 600 ) and resilient member ( 200 ) define a substantially circular opening. A restraint ( 804 ) is mounted on the body ( 600 ) and configured to restrain the second portion ( 808 ) of the resilient member ( 200 ) in relation to the body ( 600 ) to maintain the resilient member ( 200 ) in a first position at which the opening has a first diameter ( 702 ). The restraint ( 804 ) is configured to release the second portion ( 808 ) of the resilient member ( 200 ) when the restraint ( 804 ) is exposed to water.

We claim: 
     
         1 . An actuator ( 800 ), comprising:
 a resilient member ( 200 ) and a coupling ( 802 ), the coupling ( 802 ) comprising:   a body ( 600 ) configured to receive a first ( 810 ) and a second ( 808 ) portion of the resilient member ( 200 ), the body ( 600 ) and the resilient member ( 200 ) defining a substantially circular opening; and   a first restraint ( 804 ) mounted on the body ( 600 ) and configured to restrain the second portion ( 808 ) of the resilient member ( 200 ) in relation to the body ( 600 ) to maintain the resilient member ( 200 ) in a first position at which the opening has a first diameter ( 702 ), wherein the first restraint ( 804 ) is configured to release the second portion ( 808 ) of the resilient member ( 200 ) when the first restraint ( 804 ) is exposed to water, and the resilient member ( 200 ), upon release of the second portion ( 808 ), is configured to deflect to a second position ( 808 ) at which the opening has a second diameter ( 708 ) less than the first diameter ( 702 ).   
     
     
         2 . The actuator ( 800 ) according to  claim 1 , wherein the first restraint ( 804 ) comprises a water-soluble tablet configured to be positioned within a first aperture ( 608 ) formed in the body ( 600 ). 
     
     
         3 . The actuator ( 800 ) according to  claim 2 , wherein second portion ( 808 ) of the resilient member ( 200 ) includes a second aperture ( 818 ), the water-soluble tablet further configured to be positioned within both the first ( 608 ) and the second ( 818 ) apertures. 
     
     
         4 . The actuator ( 800 ) according to  claim 3 , wherein the resilient member ( 200 ) is a band. 
     
     
         5 . The actuator ( 800 ) according to  claim 4 , wherein the resilient member ( 200 ) is comprised of spring steel. 
     
     
         6 . The actuator ( 800 ) according to  claim 5 , wherein the resilient member ( 200 ) is comprised of a plastic polymer. 
     
     
         7 . The actuator ( 800 ) according to  claim 1 , wherein the coupling ( 802 ) further comprises a second restraint ( 812 ) configured to secure the first portion ( 810 ) of the resilient member ( 200 ) to the body ( 600 ). 
     
     
         8 . The actuator ( 800 ) according to  claim 7 , wherein the second restraint ( 812 ) is configured to be secured to the body at multiple locations ( 310 ) thereby permitting the first diameter ( 702 ) to be adjusted. 
     
     
         9 . The actuator ( 800 ) according to  claim 8 , where the second restraint ( 812 ) comprises a ratchet ( 812 ). 
     
     
         10 . A water-activated neck seal tension relief system ( 900 ), comprising:
 a liner ( 902 ) configured to form a seal when pressed against the skin of a user; and   an actuator ( 800 ) comprising a resilient member ( 200 ) and a coupling ( 802 ) disposed within the liner ( 902 ), the coupling ( 802 ) comprising a body ( 600 ) and a water-soluble restraint ( 804 ), wherein: a first end ( 810 ) of the resilient member ( 200 ) is fixed to the body; a second end ( 808 ) of the resilient member ( 200 ) is fixed to the body ( 600 ) on a selective basis by way of the restraint ( 804 ), the second end ( 808 ) of the resilient member ( 200 ) has the same radius as the body ( 600 ); and the restraint ( 804 ), upon exposure to water, is configured to dissolve and thereby release the second end ( 808 ) of the resilient member ( 200 ) allowing the resilient member ( 808 ) to deflect.   
     
     
         11 . The sealing system according to  claim 10 , wherein the resilient member ( 808 ) and the coupling ( 802 ) define an opening having a first diameter ( 702 ) when the second end ( 808 ) of the resilient member ( 200 ) is fixed to the body ( 600 ), and a second diameter ( 708 ) after the resilient member ( 200 ) deflects following release of the second end ( 808 ), the second diameter being ( 708 ) less than the first diameter ( 702 ). 
     
     
         12 . The sealing system of  claim 11 , wherein the second diameter ( 708 ) is approximately equal to or less than a width of the neck of the user. 
     
     
         13 . The sealing system of  claim 12 , wherein the actuator ( 800 ) is operable to press the liner ( 902 ) against the skin of the user following release of the second end ( 808 ) of the resilient member ( 200 ). 
     
     
         14 . A method for relieving tension from the neck and automatically allowing the seal to form around a neck of a user, comprising:
 providing a water-activated sealing system ( 900 ) comprising a liner ( 902 ); and an actuator ( 800 ) comprising a resilient member ( 200 ) and a coupling ( 802 ) disposed within the liner ( 902 ), the coupling ( 802 ) comprising a body ( 600 ) configured to receive a first ( 810 ) and a second portion ( 808 ) of the resilient member ( 200 ), the liner ( 902 ), body ( 600 ) and resilient member ( 200 ) defining a substantially circular opening; and a restraint ( 804 ) mounted on the body ( 600 ) and configured to restrain the second portion ( 808 ) of the resilient member ( 200 ) in relation to the body ( 600 ) to maintain the resilient member ( 200 ) in a first position at which the opening has a first diameter ( 702 ), wherein the restraint ( 804 ) is configured to release the second portion ( 808 ) of the resilient member ( 200 ) when the restraint ( 804 ) is exposed to water, and the resilient member ( 200 ), upon release of the second portion ( 808 ), is configured to deflect to a second position ( 808 ) at which the opening has a second diameter ( 708 ) which is less than the first diameter ( 702 );   placing the sealing system ( 900 ) around the neck of a user so that the resilient member ( 200 ) is in the first position; and   immersing the sealing system ( 900 ) in water to release the second portion ( 808 ) and thereby cause the liner ( 902 ) to be urged against the neck of the user to form a seal between the liner ( 902 ) and the neck of the user.   
     
     
         15 . The method according to  claim 14 , wherein the first portion ( 810 ) is fixed to the body by a resizing mechanism ( 812 ), the method further comprising resizing the actuator ( 800 ) by releasing and re-fixing the first portion ( 810 ) so that the opening has a third diameter when the resilient member ( 200 ) is in the first position and a fourth diameter when the resilient member ( 200 ) is in the second position.