DESCRIZIONE
An inflation device mechanism (10) for inflation of an inflatable article comprises a housing (11) for supporting a container (18) of pressurised fluid and a piercing device (16) displaceable from a retracted position to penetrate the container to release pressurised fluid, bias means (22) to move the piercing device to penetrate the container, and actuation means comprising co-operating latching elements (26, 30) which, in an engaged, latched configuration, retain the piercing device retracted, said actuation means being actuable by either a first (35) or a second (36) control member to allow the latching elements to disengage and permit the piercing device to penetrate the container under action of the bias means, the first control member (35) comprising a water sensitive member which surrounds the latching elements and has a strength sufficient normally to support the latching elements in the engaged configuration but to allow the elements to disengage when reduced in strength by exposure to water, and the second control member (36) comprising a member which surrounds the co-operating elements and is removable manually (38) whereby the latching elements are free to disengage.