The invention relates to a recovery bag, a sheet for a recovery bag, and a method for recovering an object from the water.

GB2476651 describes according to its abstract a body bag for retrieving partially or fully submerged corpses is constructed from flexible tear-resistant and water porous material, e.g. polyester netting, which retains any body or body parts within the chamber but allows water within the chamber to escape. The bag comprises a body enclosing chamber closed by a zip type fastener and provided with several carrying handles located around the edges of the chamber. The body bag is substantially rectangular when viewed in plan and is surrounded by a border of webbing which incorporates the carrying handles or to which the carrying handles are attached. The zip fastener may be arranged in a C-shape fashion, extending along three sides of the bag. An eye may provided on the zip fastener to allow the zip to be securely fastened to an eyelet on the bag to prevent opening. The body bag is able to retain forensic or evidential material.

US2011162178 according to its abstract describes a body bag for water retrieval of human remains is provided. The body bag is lightweight and disposable. The body bag is made of a material having a hole ratio per unit weight of material in a particular range that permits rapid water drainage yet provides sufficient strength and integrity to the body bag, and reduces cross-contamination. The body bag can have a skid pad on an exterior surface as an aid to lifting the body bag out of the water and over the gunwale or sides of a recovery vehicle. The body bag also can have large handles for ease of gripping and to attach buoyancy devices. The body bag further can have a snag line around its periphery.

US8146970 according to its abstract describes a recovery net has a net, a connecting rope, a floating unit, a ballast and two pulling ropes. The net has an upper edge, a lower edge and a surface. The connecting rope and the floating unit are mounted on the upper edge of the net. The ballast and the pulling ropes are mounted on the lower edge of the net. The floating unit provides buoyancy, the ballast provides sinking force so the net can float on water and the surface of the net is vertical. Recoverers align the net near a corpse and then pull the pulling ropes to recover the corpse in its entirety so recovery work is more efficient.

US8869360 according to its abstract describes a body bag that is usually rectangular and has an open end, with the other sides being closed and secured, the material thereof being porous to water, being incapable absorbing or containing water, while preventing viewing of any contents therein. The body bag of this invention is formed of a porous material, which prevents viewing of the body contained therein, while permitting water to pass therethrough. The material may be plastic or fiber.

The invention seeks to provide a recovery bag that is easier in use and allows recovery of a body while minimizing disturbance of the body.

The invention provides a recovery bag of claim 1.

The invention further provides a sheet of claim 12.

The invention further provides a method of claim 14.

The tube may in fact have any cross section. For instance, the cross section of the tube may be elliptic, rectangular, and the like. In an embodiment, for easy production and handling, the cross section of the tube can be round or elliptic. In an embodiment, the cross section is substantially to completely round. The tube may form a cylinder, in particular substantially a circle cylinder.

The sheet material can be made from a pliable, flexible material. The sheet material can a foil, a woven material, but may just as well be a non-woven material. For instance, the sheet can be made from material like sail cloth, which is pliable, relatively strong and tear-resistant.

In an embodiment, the sheet material allows water to drain from its inside after the tube holding a recovered object. In an embodiment, the sheet is from at least partly form a water-permeable material. In order to allow water to drain faster, but hold parts of the objects inside the tube, the sheet may comprise parts that allow water to drain faster. For instance, parts of the sheet may comprise a gauze. This gauze may have openings that are small. In order to obtain a balance between ease of handling and holding important parts of the object inside the tube, the sheet may comprise a part comprising openings having a largest diameter smaller than 2 mm.

In an embodiment, the openings have a largest dimension smaller than 2 mm, in particular smaller than 1 mm. It was found that this may provide a trade-off between easy recovery and maintaining important parts inside the tube. In an embodiment, said sheet comprises a strip of gauze material provided to extending in a longitudinal direction of said tube. In an embodiment, the sheet comprises a strip of gauze or gauze-like material running over substantially the length of the tube. Such a strip may have a width of between 10-20 cm.

In an embodiment, the recovery bag comprises at least one air chamber that can be filled with air in order to provide a floatation capability once the bag holds an object, for instance a corps. In an embodiment, said sheet comprises at least one pocket provided to extend in a longitudinal direction of said tube, provided with at least one inflatable air chamber device for providing said at least one air chamber.

In an embodiment, the sheet has substantially the shape of a parallelogram having two opposite sides forming said tube ends and two opposite sides as said first parallel edges of said sheet, wherein in particular said longitudinal tube direction is functionally perpendicular to said two sides forming said tube ends.

In an embodiment, the recovery bag further comprising an inflation device, functionally coupled with said at least one air chamber for inflating the at least one air chamber. The inflation device may provide a floatation capability, for instance allowing the recovery bag including an object to at least remain floating, in a sense that it does not sink. More in particular, the inflation device may provide sufficient floatation capability for allowing the recovery bag filled with an object to float to the surface of the water.

In an embodiment, the sheet is substantially of sailcloth. This material was found to be strong enough, pliable, tear resistant.

In an embodiment, said tube comprises at least two air chambers coupled to said sheet at a distance from one another and running from one end of the tube to the opposite end for when inflated providing longitudinal rigidity to said tube. This was found to give the recovery bag enough rigidity to make it possible to manipulate it in use, and make it easier to recover it, even in more challenging circumstances. In an embodiment, the recovery bag comprises at least two air chambers and further comprising a conduit connecting said air chambers.

In an embodiment, the recovery bag further comprises a ring at said closable tube end for holding said tube end opened, wherein said closable tube end of said tube is connected to said ring. The ring allows the recovery bag to be manipulated around and over the object and to get the object inside the recovery bag. In an embodiment, it maintains a tube end open for as long as needed. In an embodiment, after an object is inside the recovery bag, the ring may be removed while closing the recovery bag. In an embodiment, closing means like a rope may be connected to the ring and the end.

In an embodiment, the ring is from a perforated ridged material. In an embodiment, the ring is a perforated ring having a having a density allowing it to float in water. The perforations make the ring easier to manipulate end to get it around and past an object to get the object inside the recovery bag. In order to make it easier to manipulate the ring with an unfolding recovery bag attached to it around an object, the ring has a density functionally equal to water, thus, the ring remains more or less floating at the same depth in the water, making "catching" the object easier. The ring may be from a perforated metal, which for making it floating may be provided with for instance pieces of even a ring of foam material, reducing the total density of the ring to functionally the density of water. Alternatively, the ring may be made from a polymer material. This may allow a production freedom, for instance to incorporate parts of foam or hollow chambers.

In an embodiment, the ring is a U-shaped ring with said sheet folded into a holding space between legs of U. This allows the ring to securely store the sheet and other parts safely, preventing damage.

In an embodiment, the recovery bag further comprises a ridged stem coupled to said ring. Via the stem, the recovery bag may be manipulated around the object, for instance by a diver of police on shore or on a boat.

In an embodiment, the closable tube end comprises a closure rope for pulling said closable tube end closed.

In an embodiment, the recovery bag further comprises an inflation device coupled to said at least one air chambers, wherein in particular said inflation device comprising a gas cylinder with pressurized gas. In an embodiment, the inflation device is coupled to said ring described above. The ring can for instance provide housing or support for the inflation device. The inflation device may in an embodiment be coupled to the ring such that an end is coupled to the sheet, in particular to a least one air chamber, and another end is coupled to the ring. In an embodiment, the inflation device is coupled between the ring and the rest of the recovery bag. The inflation device may for instance comprise an activation unit coupled for instance to the ring. In an embodiment, when the ring is being removed from the rest of the recovery bag, this activates the inflation device for filling at least part of the air chambers.

In an embodiment, the recovery bag comprises at least four air chambers. In an embodiment, the air chambers extend in longitudinal direction and are divided around the recovery bag.

In an embodiment, said at least one air chamber has a volume when inflated to provide floatation capacity to said tube. The at least one air chamber may provide sufficient floatation capacity to make the combination recovery bag and object have a density of functionally the same of water or salt water. This allows the filled recovery bag to remain at least level in position. In an embodiment, the density is a little less, allowing the combination to surface. In particular for providing floatation capacity for an object of between 20-100 kg, more in particular said at least one air chamber has a capacity of at least 10 litres, in particular at least 30 litres. The recovery bag holding an object will at least float, i.e., remain at the same depth when holding an object. The floatation should in a embodiment be sufficient for a recovery bag with a corps with clothing and possibly some further objects to slowly surface, i.e., get up to the surface of the water. The density of the recovery bag and an object in total thus is equal to or less than the density of water. The inflation of the air chamber or chambers may be controllable by an operator, for instance a diver. Thus, the recovery bag may remain level, until the operator wants the recovery bag with the object to surface.

In an embodiment, a volume of air of the inflation device is selected with respect to air chambers to fill said air chambers with a pressure of about at least 0.3 bar above atmospheric pressure, in particular at least 2 bar, more in particular at least 5 bar. In case the recovery bag is used in more shallow water, for instance in rivers, a little over pressure is already enough. When used deeper, and/or for instance to recover more heavy objects, a higher pressure of larger volume or both may be needed.

The invention further relates to a sheet for a recovery bag for recovering objects, in particular corpses, from the water, said sheet comprising two functionally parallel first edges comprising a detachable closure for connecting said two first edges together in a closed seam for forming a tube with said closure running in a helix at least partially around said tube, said sheet comprising two parallel second edges forming two opposite ends of said tube, said sheet comprising a tube closure for when formed into said tube providing said tube with a closable end allowing closure of said recovery bag after said recovery bag is filled with said object. In an embodiment, said sheet comprises at least one air chamber on said sheet running from one second edge to the opposite second edge and functional parallel to a longitudinal axis of said tube. In an embodiment, said sheet further comprising at least one water permeable part having openings for allowing water to be drained after said recovery bag with said object is removed from the water.

In an embodiment, said openings have a largest dimension smaller than 1 mm for allowing water to be drained after said recovery bag with said object is removed from the water.

The sheet may be used as a replacement part in a recovery bag. After use, the sheet of a recovery bag may re replaced. The sheet may be part of a kit of parts, further comprising an inflation device, and for instance a ring.

In an embodiment, the sheet is from a material that prevents the interior of a filled recovery bag to be visible. In an embodiment, the sheet is at most translucent. In an embodiment, the sheet is at least largely opaque. In an embodiment, the sheet is substantially opaque. In an embodiment, the sheet is opaque.

The invention further relates to a method for recovering a corps from the water, using the recovery bag, wherein said recovery bag is folded into a ring, said ring is passed over said corps to be recovered while unfolding said recovery bag into a tube covering said corps, and when said recovery bag fully holds said corps closing said closable tube end and subsequently removing the recovery bag from the water.

In an embodiment, the air chambers are inflated after closing said closable tube end.

The invention further relates to a recovery bag for recovering objects, in particular corpses, from the water, said recovery bag comprising a sheet that in use is formed into a tube with two tube ends with a closed tube end and a closable tube end allowing closure of said recovery bag after said recovery bag is filled with said object, said sheet comprising two functionally parallel first edges comprising a openable longitudinal closure for connecting said two edges together in a closed seam for forming said tube with said openable closure, said sheet comprising two parallel second edges forming said two tube ends.

In an embodiment, said sheet further comprising at least one air chamber running from one second edge to the opposite second edge and functional parallel to a longitudinal axis of said tube.

In an embodiment, said sheet comprising an end closure for providing said closed tube end, and a closable tube end closure for closing said closable tube end. In an embodiment, said sheet further comprising at least one water-permeable part having openings for allowing water to be drained after said recovery bag with said object is removed from the water.

The person skilled in the art will understand the term "substantially" in this application, such as in "substantially encloses" or in "substantially extends up to". The term "substantially" may also include embodiments with "entirely", "completely", "all", etc. Hence, in embodiments the adjective substantially may also be removed. Where applicable, the term "substantially" may also relate to 90% or higher, such as 95% or higher, especially 99% or higher, even more especially 99.5% or higher, including 100%. To that same extend, the word "functionally" is used. For instance, used in "functionally parallel", it should be understood as referring to parallel, but also deviations from parallel are included to such an extend that in the of the feature it refers to, that feature functions as if the items are parallel. Sometimes, this may include relatively large deviations, like the once defined in "substantially".

The term "comprise" includes also embodiments wherein the term "comprises" means "consists of'.

Furthermore, the terms first, second, third and the like if used in the description and in the claims, are used for distinguishing between similar elements and not necessarily for describing a sequential or chronological order. It is to be understood that the terms so used are interchangeable under appropriate circumstances and that the embodiments of the invention described herein are capable of operation in other sequences than described or illustrated herein.

The recovery bag herein is amongst others described during operation. As will be clear to the person skilled in the art, the invention is not limited to methods of operation or devices in operation.

It should be noted that the above-mentioned embodiments illustrate rather than limit the invention, and that those skilled in the art will be able to design many alternative embodiments without departing from the scope of the appended claims. In the claims, any reference signs placed between parentheses shall not be construed as limiting the claim. Use of the verb "to comprise" and its conjugations does not exclude the presence of elements or steps other than those stated in a claim. The article "a" or "an" preceding an element does not exclude the presence of a plurality of such elements. The mere fact that certain measures are recited in mutually different dependent claims does not indicate that a combination of these measures cannot be used to advantage.

The invention further applies to a recovery bag or parts thereof comprising one or more of the characterising features described in the description and/or shown in the attached drawings. The invention further pertains to a method or process comprising one or more of the characterising features described in the description and/or shown in the attached drawings.

The various aspects discussed in this patent can be combined in order to provide additional advantages. Furthermore, some of the features can form the basis for one or more divisional applications.

Embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying schematic drawings in which corresponding reference symbols indicate corresponding parts, showing an embodiment of a recovery bag, and showing in:

• Figure 1 the recovery bag when filled with a corps before closing the bag;
• Figure 2 the recovery bag after closure and inflated;
• Figure 3 the recovery bag in a storage state with said tube folded;
• Figure 4 a cross section through the recovery bag in its storage state of figure 3, and
• Figure 5 the sheet spread out flat and with a tube closure.

The drawings are not necessarily on scale.

In the following detailed description, preferred embodiments and alternative features are discussed. Fig. 1 shows a recovery bag 1, here while being filled with a corps before closing the recovery bag 1.

The recovery bag 1 has a tube 2 that is formed from a sheet 3 of material. The tube 2 has two tube ends, a closed tube end 4 and a closable tube end 5. The closed tube end 4 comprises a tube closure 6 that closes off the tube 2. It is here attached to the edges of the tube 2 by means of a zipper. The tube closure 6 usually is from the same material as the rest of the tube. The tube 2 in this embodiment has a round cross section, thus forming a circle cylinder. It may, however, also has other cross sectional shaped, like elliptic of even rectangular.

The closable tube end 5 is here connected to a ring 7. Usually, the tube 2 is connected to the ring 7 in such a way that a user may detach the ring 7 from the tube 2. The ring 7 is from a ridged material like metal, for instance iron, steel or aluminium. It here has through holes in it as perforation to reduce drag in the water in use. The ring 7 is here fixed to a ridged stem 8 or handle or shank connected to the ring 7. With this stem 8, a user can manipulate and move the ring through the water in order to properly get the body into the recovery bag 1. The ring 7 here holds the tube 2 in a folded manner. During use, the tube 2 will unfold from the ring 7. The user can move the ring 7 over the body while the tube 2 unfolds from the ring 7 and cover the body.

The recovery bag 1 further has air chambers 9 that extend in a longitudinal direction 1 of tube 2. These air chambers 9 can be inflated for instance after the complete body is in the recovery bag 1. Thus, the body is covered in in a ridged construction and will be damaged as little as possible. Furthermore, it can easy recovery of the recovery bag. To that end, the recovery bag is furthermore provided with recovery loops 10 and one or more reinforcement loops 11 running around the tube 2. The tube 2 is closed by a closure that will be referred to as longitudinal closure 12. It will be explained further in the following drawings. The longitudinal closure 12 in fact is partly a helix, as will be clear from the further description. Longitudinal closure 12 closes the tube 2 in substantially a longitudinal direction and provides a user access to the recovery bag 1. The longitudinal closure 12 is openable. Usually, for instance a zipper is used as a closure means, but alternatively Velcro may be used, or another closure means known to a skilled person.

Fig. 2 shows the recovery bag 1 after closure and when inflated. An inflation device (not shown) inflated the air chambers 9. The ring 7 with handle 8 is removed by a user. Furthermore, the closable tube end 5 is closed. Here, for closing the recovery bag 1 a strap rope closure is used. A user just pulls a rope and in that way closes the recovery bag 1. With the air chambers 9 inflated, the recovery bag forms a ridged cylinder that co be recovered easily for instance using the recovery loops 10. In an embodiment, the inflation device may be activated for instance using a (further) rope running through the stem. Alternatively, the inflation device may be activated when the ring separates from the recovery bag 1.

In fig. 3, the recovery bag 1 is shown in a storage state with said tube folded into ring 7 with handle 8. The view is on the closable tube end 5, also showing the tube closure 6. In Fig. 4, a cross section through the recovery bag in its storage state of figure 3 is shown.

Fig. 5 shows the sheet 3 that forms in fact tube 2, now spread out flat. The sheet 2 has two functionally parallel first sides or edges 13. These parallel edges 13 are provided with the openable longitudinal closure 12. Thus, for instance, both edges 13 may be provided with complementary parts. For instance, two parts of a zipper, or two parts of Velcro. The sheet is further provided with four air chambers 9. In an embodiment, the sheet may comprise bags formed from the sheet material that hold air chamber devices that may be removable form the bags. Here, the air chambers 9 are coupled via conduct 14 that in turn is coupled to an inflation device 15. Such an inflation device may comprise an inflation device that is known in the art and is used for instance in life jackets and/or in emergency lifeboats. These inflation devices 15 usually comprise a small cylinder of container of compressed air and a release part for actuating the air cylinder to release its contents. Here, the inflation device 15 may be actuated when it comes into contact with water, but it may also of in combination be user-activated.

The sheet 3 may be from a water-permeable material, allowing water to drain from the recovery bag during or after recovery. Here, the sheet additionally comprises a strip of gauze material 16 that allows water to drain from the recovery bag quicker, but retain the further contents inside of the recovery bag, preventing for forensic evidence to get lost. Here, the strip of gauze material 16 is a strip running in longitudinal direction of the tube 2 hen formed.

One edge of the sheet 2 here has an open seam 17 with a closing cord 18 running through it for forming the closure for the closable tube end 5 when the sheet 2 is formed into the tube 2. Other closures for the closable tube end 5 may be considered. In an embodiment, the closure is operable by a user from the stem end opposite to the stem end attached to the ring 7.

Noticeable is the shape of the sheet 3. The sheet 3 is here parallelogram-shaped. When the sheet 3 is formed into the tube 2, the longitudinal direction 1 is in this embodiment parallel to the direction of the gauze strip 16 and parallel to the air chambers 9. The reinforcement loops 11 with recovery loops 10 run substantially cross with respect to the air chambers 9. The parallel first sides 13 of sheet 2 are at an angle with respect to the longitudinal direction 1. Thus, when the sheet 3 is formed into the tube 2, the longitudinal tube closure 12 runs like a helix partially around the tube 2. The spiralling of the longitudinal tube closure 12 allows the tube 2 to be folded into the ring 7. The edge of sheet 2 that is provided with the closure can be removably attached to the ring 7.

In use, the recovery bag 1 operates as follows. The recovery bag 1 is stored for instance at a police boat or rescue vessel in the configuration shown in figure 3, with the tube folded into the ring 7. A user takes the stem 8 at the end opposite to the ring 7 and starts to move the ring 7 over a body, as shown in figure 1. At that stage, the user may already starts the inflation of the air chambers 9, or it is automatically activated when the ring 7 contacts the water.

When the ring 7 is past the body or object to be recovered, the user pulls the closing cord 18. This will close the recovery bag 1 and detach the closed tube 2 from the ring 7. The recovery bag 1 will then have the configuration shown in figure 2. The recovery bag 1 can now be retrieved, for instance via the recovery loops 10. When pulled out of the water, the water inside the recovery bag can leave the recovery bag 1 via the gauze strip 16.

The ring 7 can now be re-fitted with a new tube 2 and new inflation device 15.

It will also be clear that the above description and drawings are included to illustrate some embodiments of the invention, and not to limit the scope of protection. Starting from this disclosure, many more embodiments will be evident to a skilled person. These embodiments are within the scope of protection and the essence of this invention and are obvious combinations of prior art techniques and the disclosure of this patent.

• 1 Recovery bag
• 2 tube
• 3 sheet
• 4 closed tube end
• 5 closable tube end
• 6 Tube closure
• 7 ring
• 8 stem/handle
• 9 air chamber
• 10 recovery loop
• 11 reinforcement loop
• 12 longitudinal tube closure
• 13 first parallel sheet edge
• 14 conduit
• 15 inflation device
• 16 gauze strip
• 17 open seam
• 18 closing cord
• l longitudinal axis