Abstract:
A tactical flotation safety system having a tactical flotation safety vest attachment removably attached to a tactical vest. The tactical flotation safety vest attachment has two side panels adjustably attached at the back and which are secured at the front and back of the tactical vest with cover panels. The two side panels include inner flaps and outer flaps enclosing inflation bladders and inflation mechanisms. The inflation mechanisms are secured to the interiors of the side panels and connected to exterior handles. When necessary, a user may deploy the inflation bladders by pulling on the handles to activate a pressurized gas source, such as liquid carbon dioxide cartridges of the inflation mechanism thereby inflating the bladders to provide buoyancy to the user.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/484,394 filed May 10, 2011. This application is also related to U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/599,711 filed Feb. 12, 2012. Each of the aforementioned applications is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     The present disclosure relates to an improved tactical flotation safety system having a flotation safety vest attachment and method for adapting a tactical vest for use as a flotation device. The flotation safety vest attachment disclosed herein may advantageously be used in conjunction with a military or tactical field vest. However, it will be recognized that the present tactical flotation safety system may be used to help users float when immersed in water under a variety of circumstances. Without limiting the foregoing, the present tactical flotation safety system may be adapted for attachment to a variety of articles worn by people, or, alternatively, may be adapted for use independently. 
     SUMMARY 
     A tactical vest to be worn about the torso region of a user includes a front panel, a rear panel, and first and second spaced apart shoulder straps. Each of the first and second shoulder straps secures an upper end of the front panel to an upper end of the rear panel. A first side panel extends between the front panel and the rear panel. A second side panel opposite the first side panel extends between the front panel and the rear panel. Each of said first and second side panels define a covering which houses an inflatable bladder when the bladder is in a deflated condition and a source of compressed gas coupled to the inflatable bladder. An actuator is coupled to each of the inflatable bladders for selectively inflating the inflatable bladders when necessary. 
     In one aspect of the present disclosure, a tactical flotation safety vest system for enabling its wearer to float when submerged in water is provided. 
     In a more limited aspect, a method for converting a tactical vest into a flotation safety system, e.g., for use as a life vest, using a military, law enforcement, or like tactical vest is provided. 
     One advantage of the present flotation safety vest attachment resides in its compatibility with existing tactical vests. 
     Another advantage of the present development is that the tactical flotation safety vest attachment is compact and may be deployed with very little effort on the part of the user. 
     Still further advantages will become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon reading and understanding the detailed description of the preferred embodiments. 
     It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory only and are not restrictive of the invention as claimed. The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of the specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention and, together with the general description, serve to explain the principles of the invention. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The invention may take form in various components and arrangements of components, and in various steps and arrangements of steps. The drawings are only for purposes of illustrating preferred embodiments and are not to be construed as limiting the invention. 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the tactical flotation vest attachment according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention operably coupled to a tactical vest. 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the tactical flotation vest attachment and tactical vest appearing in  FIG. 1  with one of the inflatable bladders deployed. 
         FIG. 3  is an elevational view of the outward facing side of the tactical flotation vest attachment. 
         FIG. 4  is a partially exploded view of the tactical flotation vest attachment of  FIG. 3 , with the outside flaps opened to illustrate the bladders and the deployment mechanism. 
         FIG. 5  is an elevational view of the tactical flotation vest attachment showing the inward facing side of the flotation vest attachment. 
         FIG. 6  is a perspective view of the tactical vest of  FIG. 1  with the front flap in the open position. 
         FIG. 7  is a plan view of the tactical vest of  FIG. 6  having the front portion of the tactical vest in a flipped up portion and having the panels of the tactical flotation vest attachment attached to the rear portion of the tactical vest and showing the interior of the tactical vest and tactical flotation vest attachment. 
         FIG. 8A  is a perspective view of the left side tactical flotation vest attachment. 
         FIG. 8B  is a perspective view of the interior of the right side tactical flotation vest attachment. 
         FIG. 8C  is a cross-section view taken along the lines A-A of  FIG. 8B . 
         FIG. 9  is a perspective view of the tactical flotation vest attachment and tactical vest appearing in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 10  is a perspective view of the tactical flotation vest attachment and tactical vest appearing in  FIG. 1  with the front panel in the open position. 
         FIG. 11  is a rear view of the tactical flotation vest attachment according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention operably coupled to a tactical vest. 
         FIG. 12  is a rear view of an alternative embodiment of the tactical flotation vest attachment and tactical vest appearing in  FIG. 1  with both of the inflatable bladders deployed. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 1-12 , and with particular reference to  FIGS. 1 ,  2 , and  9 - 12 , there appears an exemplary tactical flotation safety system  100  of the present invention. The tactical flotation safety system  100  includes a tactical vest  102  and an inflatable flotation vest attachment  104 . The flotation vest attachment  104  has a left side panel  108   a  and a right side panel  108   b . As best seen in  FIGS. 6 and 7 , the tactical vest  102  includes a front side  200  having a front panel  106 , a back side  202  having a rear panel  204 , two straps  206   a  and  206   b  connecting the front side  200  to the back side  202  at the user&#39;s shoulders, and a belt  208  for securing the front side  200  and back side  202  together at the user&#39;s waist. In the exemplary depicted embodiment the belt  208  passes through loops  210   a  and  210   b  on the inside of rear panel  204  and through the buckles  212   a  and  212   b , respectively, on the front side  200  of the tactical vest  102 . The front and rear panels of the tactical vest may include a ballistic-resistant material, such as a hard or soft ballistic panel or plate. 
     The front panel  106 , rear panel  204 , and side panels  108   a ,  108   b  may each have a one or more rows of webbing  168 , such as nylon webbing. In the exemplary depicted embodiment there are three rows of webbing per panel, e.g., attached at each end and at spaced apart intervals, e.g., at 1.5 inch intervals. The upper portion of the front side  200  and back side  202  of the tactical vest  102  may also have a plurality of rows of webbing  168 . In the exemplary depicted embodiment there is one row of webbing on the front side  200  and three rows of webbing on the back side  202 . The webbing  168  enables the user to attach various types of modular gear, pouches, body armor, holsters, etc., which they may need to the flotation vest  104  and the front panel  106 . It will be recognized that other webbing configurations are possible. The webbing grid  168  may be formed of nylon and may conform to promulgated standards, such as the Pouch Attachment Ladder System (PALS) or the like. 
     As best seen in  FIG. 2-5 , each side panel  108   a  and  108   b  also has a pull handle  114   a  and  114   b , respectively. The pull handles  114   a  and  114   b  each engage an inflation bladder  112   a  and  112   b , respectively, located within the left and right side panels  108   a  and  108   b . When pull handle  114   a  is tugged, the inflation bladder  112   a  is released through an opening  116   a  and inflates. Similarly, when pull handle  114   b  is tugged, the inflation bladder  112   b  releases through a like opening, not shown, on the user&#39;s right side and inflates. If the inflation bladder  112   a  fails to inflate the user may manually inflate the inflation bladder  112   a  using an oral inflation valve  122   a  located on the bladder  112   a . Likewise, if the inflation bladder  112   b  fails to inflate the user may also manually inflate the inflation bladder  112   b  using an oral inflation valve. In the depicted preferred embodiment, the oral inflation valve is located on the front lobe so as to be positioned near the user&#39;s mouth. 
     In an alternative embodiment as best seen in  FIG. 12 , when pull handle  114   a  is tugged, the inflation bladder  312   a  is released thereby forcing the closures  144  to disengage and the outer flap  142   a  to open and fold back onto itself as inflation bladder  312   a  inflates. Similarly, when pull handle  114   b  is tugged, the inflation bladder  312   b  releases thereby forcing the closures  144  to disengage and the outer flap  142   b  to open and fold back onto itself as inflation bladder  312   b  inflates. 
     In the depicted preferred embodiments, the bladders  112   a ,  112   b  are generally heart-shaped including a front lobe  118   a  and rear lobe  120   a , not shown for bladder  112   b , and the bladders  312   a ,  312   b  including a front lobe  318   a ,  318   b  and rear lobe  320   a ,  320   b , thereby defining a space for the user&#39;s arms to extend between the front and rear lobes when the bladders are inflated. In certain embodiments, the bladder may be as described in my U.S. Pat. No. 7,335,078 issued Feb. 26, 2008, entitled “Tactical Flotation Support System,” which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
     As best seen in  FIGS. 3-5  and  8 A- 8 C, and with continued reference to  FIGS. 1 ,  2 ,  6 ,  7 , and  9 - 12 , the flotation vest attachment  104  has a left side panel  108   a  and a right side panel  108   b , which in turn have a rear tab  124   a  and a rear tab  124   b , respectively. The side panels  108   a  and  108   b  are secured together at the rear tabs  124   a  and  124   b . In the preferred embodiment, the side panels  108   a  and  108   b  are attached using an adjustable corset type closure, although other closure means including hook and loop fasteners, straps, buckles, and the like are also contemplated. The adjustable corset closure has a string  126  which is alternately laced through a plurality of openings or eyelets  128   a  and  128   b  on the rear tabs  124   a  and  124   b . In the depicted embodiment, each rear tab  124   a  and  124   b  has three eyelets  128   a  and  128   b . The adjustable closure enables users to make the flotation vest attachment  104  larger or smaller based on the size of their body. 
     In use, the flotation vest attachment  104  wraps around the lower portion of the tactical vest  102  at the waist of the user. The rear tabs  124   a  and  124   b  of the flotation vest attachment  104  align with the lower back of the user and are secured to the tactical vest  102  using rear panel  204 . The side panels  108   a  and  108   b  of the flotation vest attachment  104  cover the user&#39;s sides. Advantageously, the rear tabs  124   a  and  124   b  are adapted to secure to the existing, complimentary rear panel  204 , allowing the flotation vest attachment  104  to be retrofit to existing vests  102 . However, it will be recognized that other types of fasteners could also be used, including buttons, hook and loop fasteners, zippers, ties, hooks, buckles, snap lock type fasteners, or the like. The side panels  108   a  and  108   b  of the flotation vest attachment  104  also include a left front tab  132   a  and a right front tab  132   b  which align generally with the abdominal region of the user. Advantageously, the front tabs  132   a  and  132   b  are adapted to secure to the existing, complimentary front panel  106 , allowing the flotation vest attachment  104  to be retrofit to existing vests  102 . Each front tab  132   a  and  132   b  has a cord  134   a  and  134   b  which attaches to the respective front tab  132   a  or  132   b  through openings  136 . The cords  134   a  and  134   b  may be used for easy removal of the front tabs  132   a  and  132   b  from the front side  200  of the tactical vest  102 . The tabs  164  and  166  are also provided to aid a user in quick and easy removal of the flotation vest attachment  104  from the tactical vest  102  when necessary. 
     The flotation vest attachment  104  may include a radio pouch  172 . The radio pouch  172  having a closure  138   a ,  138   b  with a snap  174  for securing the radio within the flotation vest attachment. The radio pouch  172  may also have an optional lanyard  164   a ,  164   b  which may be secured to a radio via an optional lanyard interface on the radio, not shown. While the lanyard and lanyard interface are optional, the use of a lanyard maybe advantageous in preventing damage to the radio, not shown, in the event it comes out of the radio pouch  172  or is dropped by the user. 
     As best seen in  FIGS. 3 ,  4  and  8 A- 8 C, and with continued reference to  FIGS. 1 ,  2 ,  5 - 7 , and  9 - 12 , the side panels  108   a  and  108   b  each have an inner flap  140   a  and  140   b , respectively, and an outer flap  142   a  and  142   b , respectively. The outer flaps  142   a  and  142   b  are secured to the inner flaps  140   a  and  140   b  via closures  144 , which may be of the snap fit type although other fasteners, including buttons, hook and loop, etc. are also contemplated. When the inflation bladders  112   a ,  112   b ,  312   a  and  312   b  are undeployed they are folded and secured between the inner flaps  140   a  and  140   b  and the outer flaps  142   a  and  142   b  of the side panels  108   a  and  108   b . An inflation mechanism  146  is attached to the side panels  108   a  and  108   b  and sits within each of the folded inflation bladders  112   a ,  112   b ,  312   a  and  312   b  to provide the mechanism for inflating the bladders  112   a ,  112   b ,  312   a  and  312   b  when the handles  114   a  and  114   b  are pulled. The handles  114   a  and  114   b  each have a rear attachment portion  156   a  and  156   b  which secures the handles  114   a  and  114   b  to the inner flaps  140   a  and  140   b , respectively, at attachment flaps  162   a  and  162   b  using closures  158 . 
     Each inflation mechanism  146  has a pressurized gas (e.g., carbon dioxide) canister or cartridge  148 . The outlet of the cartridge  148  is coupled to a valve  150 . The valve  150  may be threaded valve for receiving an threaded end of a gas canister such as a CO 2  cartridge and a piercing pin mechanically coupled to the handle  114   a  or  114   b . The valves  150  are also coupled to an inlet of the bladders  112   a ,  112   b ,  312   a  and  312   b  to enable the gas stored in the canisters  148  to fill the bladders  112   a ,  112   b ,  312   a  and  312   b  when the handles  114   a ,  114   b  are pulled. When a user pulls the handles  114   a ,  114   b , the pins  152  which attach to the rear attachment portions  156   a ,  156   b  of the handles  114   a ,  114   b  at hooks  154  disengage the valve members  150 , thereby opening the valves  150  and allowing the gas from the canisters  148  to inflate the bladders  112   a ,  112   b ,  312   a  and  312   b . The rear attachment portions  156   a ,  156   b  of the handles  114   a ,  114   b  also connect to one or more cords  160  at a first end to prevent the handles  114   a ,  114   b  from being lost after they are pulled to deploy the bladders  112   a ,  112   b ,  312   a  and  312   b . The cords  160  connect at a second end to the connection member  150  at one or more different points and the connection member  150  attaches to the inner flaps  140   a ,  140   b  of the side panels  108   a ,  108   b . In the exemplary depicted embodiment of  FIG. 4  there are two cords  160 . In the alternative exemplary depicted embodiment of  FIGS. 8A-8C  there is one cord  160 . A comfort pad or anti-chaffing pad  170  is attached to the inner flaps  140   a  and  140   b  providing a cushion between the inflation mechanism  146  and the users sides. 
     The flotation vest attachment  104  may also be equipped with an automatic inflation switch, not shown, which causes the inflation mechanism  146  to automatically activate and fill the bladders  112   a ,  112   b ,  312   a  and  312   b  when the automatic inflation switch is completely submerged in water. For example, the switch may comprise spaced apart electrodes or contacts which are triggered when water bridges the contacts, or any other electronic actuator which senses water. Advantageously, accidental or inadvertent inflation may be prevented by delaying the automatic inflation until the switch as been fully submerged in water for a prespecified period of time prior to activating the inflation mechanism  146 , e.g., by providing an outer covering over the sensor which slows the rate at which water reaches the switch or sensor. The automatic inflation of the flotation vest attachment  104  enables the flotation vest attachment  104  to be inflated when the user is submerged in water and unable to manually activate the inflation of the bladders  112   a ,  112   b ,  312   a  and  312   b  using the handles  144   a  and  114   b.    
     In alternative embodiments, auto-inflation may be provided using an auto actuator be of the type which uses a compressed member such as a spring which is actuated in the presence of water (e.g., by using a soluble bobbin or pill) which, in turn, drives a piercing member to pierce the cartridge and to allow the pressurized gas to enter the bladder chamber. In an especially preferred embodiment, delayed inflation may be provided by enclosing the soluble bobbin within a water resistant cover so as to slow or delay the entry of water. In this manner, environmental moisture such as rain, water spray, or the like will not cause inadvertent inflation of the bladder, but which will admit water to actuate the auto inflation in the event of submersion in water. The auto-actuator may be of the type commercially available from Halkey-Roberts and others. 
     The invention has been described with reference to the preferred embodiments. Modifications and alterations will occur to others upon a reading and understanding of the preceding detailed description. Therefore, it is not desired to limit the invention to the specific examples disclosed or the exact construction and operation shown and described. Rather, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.