Flotation vest having an integral work surface

A fishing vest is provided having a degree of flotation to assist the angler in the water and also having an auxiliary pack located in the front of the vest which provides an integral and portable work surface for creating or repairing fishing flies and lures and also provides integral storage for tools and fishing tackle.

REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present disclosure relates to personal flotation devices, and more particularly to a vest having an integral work surface and fishing tackle storage pocket.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The recreational sport of fishing, often called angling, as contrasted with commercial fishing, involves the use of rods, reels, lines, and lures with hooks to catch fish. Sport angling, one of the more popular forms of recreation in the world, lets people get into the outdoors for the challenge of outwitting and then fighting a game fish.

Modern sportfishing may be broken down between freshwater fishing and saltwater fishing. Freshwater fishing takes place in lakes, ponds, rivers, and streams. Saltwater fishing is done in the ocean and rivers affected by ocean tides. Fish in fresh water are generally smaller than fish found in sale water. Accordingly, freshwater fish are caught with lighter rods, reels, and lines and with smaller lures than saltwater fish. In lakes, ponds, and larger rivers, freshwater anglers either wade, fish from shore, or use a boat. Anglers fishing in smaller rivers, streams, and creeks generally wear waders and/or waterproof garments, including a vest which may have a certain degree of flotation for safety. The angler walks in the water to a suspected fish collecting area.

Freshwater anglers can utilize different fishing methods such as bait casting, spin fishing and fly fishing. Fly fishing is thought to be the most sporting and difficult angling method and is primarily used to catch trout and salmon. A fly rod is typically of 7½ feet, and up to 10 feet, in length is used. This rod is lighter than rods used for bait and spin fishing.

Fly reels are also different from bait casting and spinning reels in that they are of a single action. Fly reels have a frame and revolving spool without gears, designed to only hold the line. The handle is attached directly to the spool. A turn of the handle turns the spool.

Fly lines are thicker in diameter than bait casting lines and are coated with various plastics. Some can float or sink rapidly or slowly. Once the fly fishing line is wound on the reel spool, a nylon leader is added to the end of the line. Fly leaders are much lighter than and have a smaller diameter than the actual fly line. The fly leaders let the angler cast easily.

A fly is attached to the end of the leader to disguise the hook. The fly is made of feathers, fur, silk, hair, or synthetic materials tied onto a hook. Different shapes and sizes are used to imitate a variety of insects, frogs and even mice. The fly is of very little weight. The choice of irritated insect is based upon what fish are feeding on at a particular moment. The majority of anglers “tie” their own flies meaning that they create their own flies by tying the feather, fur, silk, hair or synthetic material onto the hook with string. Anglers tend to carry a variety of different flies with them when fishing so that they can adjust the type of fly for different locations and circumstances.

To cast a fly line, the angler whips the fly rod back and forth until a desired length of line is moving through the air. The line is then cast to a spot, such as pools and pockets in streams where fish may gather. The fly is allowed to touch the water and then float or sink into the water. If a fish goes for the bait, the angler sets the hook in the fish's mouth by pulling the line by raising the top of the rod. The angler fights the fish by pulling the line by hand or by reeling in the line onto the reel.

Fishing with flies involves many variations and subtleties. Serious anglers constantly search for new information about equipment that will help them improve their fishing. One area of improvement is the comfort level of the angler and the ability to make, repair and select different flies without leaving the water.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present disclosure provides a fishing vest having a degree of flotation and including an auxiliary pack secured to the front portion of the vest. The auxiliary pack comprises first and second sections hingedly attached to each other wherein an integral work surface is accessible by rotating a portion of the auxiliary pack about the hinge. The auxiliary pack is secured to the front of the vest and overlies a central opening of the vest. The auxiliary pack also including an integral storage portion.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring now to the drawing figures in which like reference designators refer to like elements, there is shown inFIG. 1a flotation vest10of the present disclosure. The vest10includes a body section11for fitting around a torso of the user. A head opening13and arm holes15,17are provided for fitting the vest10onto a user. A fastener18, such as a zipper, is positioned along a front12of the vest10for allowing release and attachment of the vest10to a user. Front12of vest10includes two generally symmetrical side portions14,16. The two side portions14,16are releasably connected by fastener18. It is within the scope of the present invention, for fastener18to comprise other connecting means known in the industry such as buttons, snaps, toggles, hook and loop material and the like. Fastener18is preferably located along an axis located at the center front20of vest10.

As shown inFIGS. 1-4, auxiliary pack22is located on vest front12and preferably spans the center front20closure axis of vest10. Auxiliary pack22comprises first side24, second side26, top side25and bottom side27. As shown in the figures, first side24is preferably releasably secured to a first edge34aof first connecting panel34via a zipper closure or other known releasable connecting mechanism known in the industry such as hook and loop material, buttons, snaps and the like. The second side26of auxiliary pack22is preferably secured to a first edge36aof second connecting panel36. While the present figures depict a generally permanent securement of second side26of auxiliary pack22to second connecting panel36via stitching, it is also within the scope of the present invention for second side36of auxiliary pack22to be releasably secured to second connecting panel26on second side16of vest in a manner similar to the first side34of auxiliary pack22just described.

As shown inFIGS. 3 and 4, second edge34bof first connecting panel34is secured to first side14of vest10, preferably via stitching or other similar method. Second edge36bof second connecting panel36is similarly secured to second side16of vest10. It is also within the scope of the present invention for first connecting panel34to be entirely comprised of a zipper and no additional material or panel such that the first edge34acomprises one side of the zipper and the second edge34bcomprises the opposite mating side of the zipper.

In use, the vest may be easily and quickly donned and the auxiliary pack22fully secured for use without the need for additional straps around the neck or waist of the user. The auxiliary pack22secures to the vest10. The user of the vest10dons the vest in the traditional fashion by inserting each arm through arm holes15,17respectively and closing fastener18to secure the vest10around the user's torso. At this point, the auxiliary pack22is not fully secured to the vest, as depicted inFIG. 4. Once the vest10is secured, the user may rotate the auxiliary pack22over the vest closure18via the second connecting panel36to a configuration shown inFIG. 3and secure first side24of auxiliary pack to first side14of vest along first connection panel34. As can be seen inFIG. 3, once fully donned and secured, auxiliary pack22spans the center front20closure axis of vest10.

As shown inFIGS. 1 and 2, auxiliary pack22may comprise numerous pockets, cords, straps and other decorative and functional elements as are known and used with conventional fishing vests and life vests. As shown more clearly inFIG. 2, front section28of auxiliary pack22is separable from back section30of auxiliary pack to create a work surface32. Front section28and back section30are preferably releasably connected to each other via zipper31, but other connecting means known in the industry are also within the scope of the present invention, such as hook and loop material, snaps, buttons, toggles and the like. Even when zipper31is fully released (as shown inFIG. 2, front section28and back section30of auxiliary pack22remain connected at hinge33made of fabric or the like at the bottom27of auxiliary pack so that front section28rotates forward and down from orientation of wearer to create the work surface32.

Work surface32is located on the interior side of front section28and comprises at least one retainer38which is preferably a strap, cord or other mechanism to retain front section28in an approximate 90-degree angle orientation with back section30. Preferably, two retainers38are utilized. As shown, the interior may comprise pockets, loops and other utilitarian mechanisms useful for anglers. Work surface32preferably comprises felt or wool that is known and used for retaining lures and flies by providing material into which the hooks can be removably secured. Auxiliary pack22may comprise a removable insert40for providing additional storage or work surface for flies and lures. Insert40may be covered in felt, wool or other material useful for anglers and fly fishermen. Insert40and inside of auxiliary pack22may also comprise various pockets, loops and the like to allow the user to carry string, tools, pliers, hooks, fur, feathers, etc. as needed to angling.

In an embodiment of the present invention, auxiliary pack22may be wholly removable from vest front (not shown) by utilizing a second removable attachment means along second side26of auxiliary pack22along second connecting panel36. It is also within the scope of the present invention for second side26of auxiliary pack to be removable from vest10while first side24of auxiliary pack22remains permanently secured to vest10. At least one of the attachments at either first connecting panel34or second connecting panel36are removable attachments as shown inFIG. 4. Auxiliary pack22is capable of releasable attachment at one side14and rotation about an axis of attachment on a second side16, or vice-versa.

Although front side portions14,16are depicted as generally symmetrical and connecting to each other at the approximate center front20of vest10, it is also within the scope of the present invention for the vest10to comprise front12and back19sections that interconnect at one or both sides (not shown) or for the front12to comprise two sides which are not generally symmetrical (not shown) and which interconnect using fastener18along a line that is off-set from the center front20.

Vest10can have various degrees of flotation in the vest via inflation or foam material or the like. It is within the scope of the present invention for vest10to comprise virtually no additional flotation assistance or to comprise a large degree of flotation assistance. It is also within the scope of the present invention for vest10to be made of various materials known in the industry such as mesh, canvass, nylon, neoprene or other materials known and used for fishing vests or life vests.

All references cited herein are expressly incorporated by reference in their entirety.