Self-inflating life raft

Claim 1

An inflatable life raft for use on the ocean surface and having a chamber in which a multitude of people may wait for rescue comprising: a series of attached tubes forming the walls of said raft, said tubes sealed at one end and open at the opposite end, the tubes being generally tapering from the open end to said sealed end and defining a chamber therebetween which opens at the closed ends of the tubes; the opening to said chamber adapted to be closed by flaps of transparent material attached to the sealed ends of said tubes; said flaps sealed against the entrance of water; a manifold positioned at the open end of said tubes and intercommunicating therewith; a hollow inflation sleeve having one end opening into said manifold; an air scoop attached to the opposite end of the inflation sleeve and opening therein; thus, air entering the scoop and passing through the inflation sleeve will inflate the tubes forming the walls of said raft; the air scoop being formed of material having a negative buoyancy in water so as to provide an anchor which prevents unnecessary movement of the raft and prevents loss of air.