Abstract:
A life preserver assembly includes a substantially planar main body portion formed from a buoyant material. A separation means is provided for defining at least one life preserver in the main body portion. The separation means permits the life preserver to be removed from the main body portion. A method for storing a life preserver is also disclosed.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   This invention relates generally to life saving devices, and more particularly to life preservers. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   Life preservers are a necessary safety precaution for boats and aircraft flying over water. The buoyant material from which many life preservers are constructed is a polymer foam which is lightweight but bulky and consequently is difficult to store on boats or planes where there is a limited amount space for storage. This sometimes results in operators not carrying life preservers, or not carrying a sufficient number of life preservers to accommodate each passenger. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   A life preserver assembly includes a substantially planar main body portion formed from a buoyant material. Separation means define in the main body portion at least one life preserver. The separation means permits the life preserver to be removed from the main body portion. 
   The life preserver can be formed as a single unitary piece or can be formed from at least two life preserver portions. In one aspect, the life preserver can include right chest, left chest, and center back portions. Connecting structure can be provided for connecting the life preserver portions, such as the right chest portion to the center back portion and for connecting the left chest portion to the center back portion. The connecting structure can be formed from the main body portion and defined by the separation means. The connecting structure can alternatively be separate from and attachable to the life preserver portions. The connecting structure can comprise fastening structure for securing the connecting structure to the right chest, left chest, and center back portions. 
   The separation means can comprise any suitable structure. In one aspect, the separation means comprises scoring between the life preserver and the main body portion. The scoring can be such that the life preserver is retained within the main body portion by the contact between the life preserver and the main body portion along the score. The life preserver can be removed by pushing or punching out the life preserver from the main body portion. In another embodiment, the separation means can comprise a frangible portion defining the outline of the life preserver. Suitable structure such as a pull cord can be provided to break the frangible portion so as to permit the separation of the life preserver from the main body portion. Alternatively, fastening structure can be provided for fastening the life preserver to the main body portion. 
   The life preserver can comprise any suitable shape and size and can have arm hole portions. The arm hole portions are removable from the life preserver to create arm holes. 
   The main body portion can be elongated and comprise at least two life preservers. The elongated main body portion can serve as a mat or as a recreational flotation device. The main body portion can be segmented. Each segment can comprise a life preserver. Structure can be provided for connecting the segments. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     There are shown in the drawings embodiments which are presently preferred, it being understood, however, that the invention is not limited to the precise arrangements and instrumentalities shown, wherein: 
       FIG. 1  is a plan view of a life preserver assembly according to the invention. 
       FIG. 2  is a cross section taken along the line  2 — 2  in  FIG. 1 . 
       FIG. 3  is a perspective view of a life preserver according to the invention. 
       FIG. 4  is a plan view of an alternative embodiment. 
       FIG. 5  is a perspective view of the embodiment of  FIG. 4  and in a second configuration. 
       FIG. 6  is a plan view illustrating fastening structure for securing segments according to the invention. 
       FIG. 7  is a cross-section illustrating separation means according to one aspect of the invention. 
       FIG. 8  is a cross-section illustrating alternative separation means. 
       FIG. 9  is a plan view illustrating the use of the separation means of  FIG. 8 . 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
   There is shown in  FIG. 1  a life preserver assembly  10  according to the invention. The life preserver assembly  10  includes a main body portion  14  and at least one life preserver  18 . Separation means such as scoring  22  defines the outline of the life preserver  18 . The scoring  22  permits the life preserver  18  to be removed from the main body portion  14  by pushing or pulling the life preserver  18  from the main body portion  14 . The scoring  22  extends through the main body portion as shown in  FIG. 2 . It will be appreciated that the separation means can alternatively comprise perforations or partial scoring such that separation means is frangible and the life preserver  18  can be removed from the main body portion  14  with slight pressure. 
   The main body portion  14  and life preserver  18  can be formed from any suitable material. The material is buoyant so that the life preserver  18  can perform the life saving function. Foamed polymers which are buoyant can be used for this purpose. These materials are easily manipulated to score or perforate so as to form the separation means  22 . Other materials are possible. 
   The life preserver  18  can be of any suitable shape or size. In the embodiments shown in  FIGS. 1–3 , the life preserver  18  comprises right chest portion  30 , left chest portion  34 , and center back portion  38 . The separation means  22  can further define connecting structure  42  for connecting the right chest portion  30  to the center back portion  38 , and for connecting the left chest portion  34  to the center back portion  38 . Other constructions are possible. Arm hole  46  can be provided by scoring  50  in the right chest portion  30  and left chest portion  34  to permit the removal of arm hole portions  54  to form the arm holes. Other constructions are possible. 
   The main body portion  14  can have any suitable size or shape. In the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 1–2 , the main body portion is elongated so as to permit two or more life preservers  18  to be stored within the main body portion  14 . This can have any suitable size but in one embodiment is approximately 6′×3′×1″. This is approximately the size of most recreational flotation devices which permit the user to lie on the device while floating on water, and the life preserver assembly  10  can be used for this purpose. Alternatively, the life preserver  10  can be used as a mat or as a seat cushion. Other shapes and sizes are possible. 
   There is shown in  FIG. 4  an alternative embodiment in which the main body portion is segmented into segments  60 ,  64  and  68 . More or fewer segments are possible. The segments  60 ,  64  and  68  each contain at least one life preserver. The segments can contain the same life preserver, or different sizes, shapes, or types of life preservers. In one aspect the segment  60  includes an adult dimensioned life preserver  74 . The segment  64  contains a child size life preserver  78 . The segment  68  contains two infant sized life preservers  82 . The segments are connected by connecting structure  86 . The connecting structure  86  can be straps, cords, or any other suitable structure. Disassembly of the connecting structure  86  permits the segments  60 ,  64  and  68  to be stacked as illustrated in  FIG. 5 . In this configuration, the stack can function as a seat, table, or a footrest. The connecting structure can be fixed to the segments  60 ,  64  and  68 , or can be detachable. 
   The connecting structure for connecting the life preserver portions can vary. There is shown in  FIG. 6  a life preserver  90  having a right chest portion  94  and center back portion  98 . Connecting structure  102  in the form of a strap is provided. The strap  102  can have hook and loop structure  106  which cooperates with hook and loop structure  110  on the right chest portion  94  and center back portion  98 . The life preserver  90  is removed from the main body portion and the strap  102  is fixed to the cooperating hoop and loop structure  110  on each of the life preserver portions so as to connect the life preserver portions to form the life preserver  90 . Alternative connecting structure and fastening structure for securing the connecting structure is possible, such as snaps, buttons and the like. 
   The separation means can be any suitable structure for permitting the life preserver to be removed from the main body portion. There is shown in  FIG. 7  a portion of a life preserver  114  including a right chest portion  118  and a center back portion  122 . A thinned portion  126  is provided and connects the right chest portion  118  to the center back portion  122 . The thinned portion  126  is frangible and can be broken to separate the right chest portion  118  from the center back portion  122 . 
   The separation means can comprise structure for breaking or disconnecting the life preserver portions from the main body portion and from one another. There is shown in  FIGS. 8–9  a life preserver  130  in which a right chest portion  134  is separated from the center back portion  138  by separation means  142 , which can include a thinned, perforated, or scored portion. A pull tab  146  is provided. The pull tab  146  can be utilized to separate the right chest portion  134  from the center back portion  138 . A similar pull tab  150  can be utilized to separate the left chest portion  154  from the center back portion  138 , as shown in  FIG. 8 . The pull tabs  146  and  150  can extend about the circumference of the right chest portion  134  and left chest portion  154  so as to completely separate these portions from the main body portion  160  and the center back portion  138 . Other pull tabs  168  and  172  can be provided to separate the remaining portions of the life preserver  130 . 
   This invention can be embodied in other forms without departing from the spirit or central attributes thereof, and accordingly, reference should be had to the following claims, rather than to the foregoing specification, as indicated in the scope of the invention.