Patent ID: 8932096
Filing Date: 2015-01-13
Classification: B63C

Abstract:
1. A safety device that permits a wearer to be retrieved from water by rescue personnel, the safety device comprising: a life vest including two buoyant front panels and a backpack, the backpack including an interior area and a zippered peripheral region, the zippered peripheral region being water permeable upon immersion into water; an inflatable boom stored within the interior area in an accordion like manner, the boom being formed from a length of polyurethane coated nylon that is folded and joined along a seam via radio frequency welding, the interior of the boom forming an airtight chamber, the boom including opposing ends that are joined to together, the boom further including a plurality of joints that are formed by sewing together adjacent portions of the seam, a Schrader valve formed along the length of the boom and providing a fluid connection to the interior of the boom; a tether including first and second ends and an intermediate extent therebetween, the first end being secured about the inflatable boom, a fastener securing the second end of the tether to the interior area of the backpack; and a water activated inflator secured to the Schrader valve, the inflator being activated upon contact with the water to fully inflate the boom; wherein when the life vest is immersed in water, water enters the interior area of the backpack via the zippered peripheral region, the water thereafter activating the inflator to inflate the boom, inflation of the boom causing the zipper to open, the joints causing the boom to form a bounded area when inflated, the bounded area arranged to be used by the rescue personnel in retrieving the wearer.