Abstract:
A personal flotation device, includes a shell defining a cavity having a first portion and a second portion for each receiving a buoyant element where the first and second portions are relatively moveable. Aa fastener for releasably interconnecting the first and second portions having a first and a second part such that when interconnected relative movement of the first and second portions is limited. A safety device is connected to the second portion and is associated with the first part of the fastener for redundant interconnection of the first and second portions in the event that the fastener is unintentionally disconnected.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF INVENTION 
     The present invention is directed to a personal flotation device (“PFD”) having improved flotation support and interconnection with a wearer. More in particular, the present invention includes an improved shell having buoyant elements and fastener assembly to interconnect the PFD to the wearer and thereby apply buoyant forces to lift the wearer&#39;s body in water. The PFD is structured to comfortably support the wearer&#39;s head above water level and to tend to orient the head into a face-up attitude while the wearer is in water. Further, the improved PFD is preferably adaptable for use with infants, children and other wearers with little or no experience swimming or in the water. 
     Various types of life vests or personal flotation devices exist which are designed to be worn or otherwise used by a wearer to keep the wearer afloat in a body of water. Such flotation devices, also referred to as marine buoyant devices, are currently in wide use in the recreational, commercial and military areas. In addition, flotation devices having certain performance characteristics are a legal requirement in the operation of boats and ships of various sizes. 
     The United States Coast Guard (“USCG”) has established guidelines for determining the performance level of a life vest or personal flotation device, based on the lifesaving capacity of such devices. For instance, Underwriters Laboratories, Inc., which is understood by the inventor hereof to be an approved testing agency for the USCG, lists several categories of “Buoyant Devices” in its Mar. 29, 1996 handbook entitled “UL 1123 Standard for Marine Buoyant Devices” which is incorporated herein by reference. 
     One of these categories is for a Type I device, also referred to as an “off-shore” PFD which is intended to turn most unconscious wearers face up on the water and which is best suited for open, rough or remote water where rescue may be slow in coming. There is also a Type II device, sometimes also referred to as a “near shore PFD”, which is “intended to turn some unconscious persons from a face down position in the water to a position where the wearer&#39;s respiration is not impeded.” These PFDs are good for calm, inland water or where there is a good chance to fast rescue. Other categories of PFDs include a Type III device, which is “intended to support a conscious person in the water in an upright position or backward position but is not required to turn an unconscious person in the water from a face-down position to a position where the wearer&#39;s respiration is not impeded.” As such, a Type III device is not suitable for an unconscious wearer because a wearer may have to tilt his or her head back to avoid going face down in the water, and further, his or her face may often be covered by waves. There is also a Type IV device, which is “intended to be thrown to and grasped by a person in the water” and which does not need to provide any means for closely fitting about the person&#39;s body. Of course, the Type IV device is also not suitable for an unconscious person, but also not even for a non-swimmer, as such devices require a person to hold on for buoyant support. 
     In addition, the USCG subjects PFDs to certain “tests” such as the “Donning Test” wherein the PFD must be capable of being donned in a short period of time, usually one minute or less, and a “Flotation Stability Test,” to name a few. There are others, such as a “freeboard test,” which measures a distance perpendicularly from the surface of the water to the lowest point where the wearer&#39;s respiration may be impeded, a “head support” test, a “face plan angle” test, and a “chin support” test, with specific criteria for passing such tests. As one might imagine, to qualify as a Type I or a Type II device, there is also a “turning test.” Of course, several PFDs have been developed which meet the various testing and other criteria of the USCG for the foregoing “Types” of devices. 
     The USCG requires that approved PFDs be available on a boat, although the number and type depend on the number of people on board, the size and type of boat, and the kind of boating. Of course, a PFD can only be helpful in an emergency on the water if it is readily available. As one never knows when an emergency situation will arise, it would naturally be best for persons who are out on the water or on a boat to wear a PFD at all times. The USCG&#39;s booklet entitled “Think Safe Choose the Right Personal Flotation Device (PFD)” reports that most drownings do not occur way out at sea, but instead, that nine (9) out of ten (10) drownings occur in inland waters. Given this fact, and a choice among the various “Types” of PFDs, it would be preferable for recreational boaters and the like on inland waters to carry at least Type II PFDs on board, and further, to wear such PFDs at all times. 
     Regarding infants and toddlers, PFDs must provide additional support as these children do not know how to swim and often lack the awareness to refrain from actions which may cause the PFD to become unattached. Frightened children flail about in an attempt to regain a certain comfort zone. As a result loosely connected or fitting PFDs become partially or completely separated from the infant wearer. Further, it is important for an infant PFD to turn the infant to a face-up position without effort from the child. 
     There has, however, been a persistent problem in the art relating to adequate support in connection of the wearer to a Type II PFD when it is being worn by a person with little or no experience swimming or in the water who may be helpless to save themselves without a PFD, namely, infants, children, and others similarly situated. Presumably, this is also true of Type I PFDs as well. This discussion will refer more to Type II PFDs but its teachings are not so limited. 
     More in particular, with all of the known Type II PFDs, there is a tendency for the PFD to “ride up” from the intended position about the torso of the wearer. This “ride-up” tendency creates a situation where an inexperienced wearer is more susceptible to becoming separated from the PFD. Further, the cause for the tendency to ride up is a loose fitting design. The problem of separation from the PFD is exacerbated by this loose fitting design. This is particularly troublesome where infants or inexperienced swimmers are involved. 
     Accordingly, there remains a need in the art for a PFD which not only meets the lifesaving criteria of all the USCG for a Type II device, but which supports the wearer in a face up position and is securely fastened to the body of the wearer such that the wearer may not easily be separated therefrom. Ideally, any such PFD should permit the wearer freedom of movement even when immersed in water. Any such PFD should also be relatively simple in construction, inexpensive to manufacture, and capable of enabling a person to determine easily how to don the PFD, so that it may be readily donned in a short period of time. 
     SUMMARY OF INVENTION 
     The personal flotation device of the present invention is primarily for use with an infant or a person weighing less than 30 pounds. However, adjustments as to scale may be used for wearers of larger dimensions and the teachings of this invention are not so limited. A personal flotation device has a shell defining a cavity having a first portion, a second portion, and a third portion. A first buoyant element is disposed in the first portion of the cavity. A second buoyant element is disposed in the second portion of the cavity. An opening is defined by a penannular portion and a gap defined between a first end and a second end of the penannular portion. The opening is generally disposed between the first and second portions of the shell and is adapted to receive and retain a first portion of a wearer&#39;s body. The third portion extends from the first portion, opposite the second portion and is connected to the second portion. The first and second buoyant elements are relatively movable about the opening for installation on and removable from the wearer&#39;s body. A first fastener including a first part connected adjacent the first end of the penannular portion and a second part connected adjacent the second end of the penannular portion releasably interconnect the first and second ends of the penannular portion to limit relative movement of the first and second portions. A safety is operatively associated with the first fastener for redundant interconnection of the first and second ends of the penannular portion. A strap connected to the first portion has a free end for encircling the wearer&#39;s body. A handle is connected to the second portion for lifting the wearer. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
     The features of the present invention which are believed to be novel are set forth with particularity in the pending claims. The invention may be best understood by reference to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in the several figures of which like reference numerals identify like elements. 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the personal flotation device of the present invention as worn by a wearer. 
     FIG. 2 is a front elevation view of the PFD of FIG. 1 including broken-away portions of a shell showing the buoyant elements. 
     FIG. 3 is a rear elevation view of the PFD of FIG.  1 . 
     FIG. 4 is a side perspective view of the PFD of FIG. 1 showing a disconnected first fastener and the first and second portions relatively movable. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of the PFD  20  in accordance with an embodiment of this invention. A wearer W has donned the PFD  20  which includes a shell  22 , having a first portion  24 , a second portion  26 , and a third portion  28 . An opening  30  is defined by a penannular portion  32  and a gap  34  defined between a first end  36  and a second  38  of the penannular portion  32 . The opening  30  is disposed generally between the first and second portions  24  and  26  of the shell  22  and is adapted to receive and retain a first portion W 1  of a wearer&#39;s W body. 
     A first fastener  40  including a first part  42  is connected to the first portion  24  adjacent the first end  36  of the penannular portion  32  and a second part  44  connected to the second portion  26  adjacent the second end  38  of the penannular portion  32  for releasably interconnecting the first and second ends  36  and  38  of the penannular portion  32  to limit relative movement of the first and second portions  24  and  26 . 
     A strap  46  is connected to the first portion  24  and has a free end  48  for encircling the wearer&#39;s W body. The strap  46  further includes a second fastener  50  for releasably interconnecting a first end  52  and a free end  48  of the strap  46 . 
     FIG. 2 shows a front elevation view of the PFD  20  of FIG. 1 with two partially broken away sections showing a first buoyant element  54  and a second buoyant element  56 . The shell  22  includes a first material element  58  having a first surface  60  and a first peripheral edge  62 , and a second material element  64  having a second surface  66  and a second peripheral edge  68 . The first and second material elements  58  and  64  are interconnected about the first and second peripheral edges  62  and  68  to define a cavity  70  therebetween. The first and second material elements  58  and  64  may be formed from any suitable material, for example, nylon, coated nylon, polyester, coated polyester, or poly-cotton or other material conventionally used in this industry for the stated purpose. Interconnection of the material elements about the first and second peripheral edges is achieved by stitching with a thread. Any suitable thread may be used, for example, nylon or polyester thread. Any suitable conventional stitch type may be used for stitching, for example, stitch Type  301  is used on all structural seams, and stitch Type  515  is used in lieu of Type  301  on non-structural seams, such as overlays. 
     The cavity  70 , defined within the shell  22 , has a corresponding first portion  24 , second portion  26 , and third portion  28 . The first portion  24  is generally medially disposed between the second and third portions  26  and  28 . The first buoyant element  54  is disposed in the first portion  24  of the cavity  70 . The second buoyant element  56   4 is disposed in the second portion  26  of the cavity  70 . The buoyant elements  54  and  56  may be formed from any suitable material to achieve the desired buoyancy tolerance. For example, the buoyant element material may be formed from polyvinyl cloride or polyethylene or the combination of polyvinyl cloride and polyethylene. Further, the buoyant elements may be formed from the different materials described above in any combination such that the front buoyant distribution tolerance is 52% or greater. Preferably, the front buoyant distribution tolerance is 55% or greater. The buoyant material may have a conventional structure and be commonly available, such as the products from Airex AG, product S30.50, and/or Ensolite, Inc., products MLC, MLC-2, or MFC-2, and/or Rubatex Corp., product FLO-10, and/or United Technologies, product 768.12 and/or Sealed Air Corp., products ¼FF-1, -2, -3, or -4, and/or Sentinel Product Corp., product HF-¼. 
     The opening  30  formed in the shell  22  is defined by a penannular portion  32  and a gap  34  defined between the first end  36  and a second end  38  of a penannular portion  32 . 
     The first fastener  40  includes a first part  42  connected to the first portion  24  adjacent the first end  36  of the penannular portion  32 , and a second part  44  connected to the second portion  26  adjacent the second end  38  of the penannular portion  32  for releasably interconnecting the first and second ends  36  and  38  to limit relative movement of the first and second portions  24  and  26 . The first part  42  includes a strap  72  connected to the first portion  24 , such that the first part  42  is disposed at a position along the length of the strap  72 . The dimension of the opening  30  and gap  34  may be adjusted and controlled by the position of the first part  42  on the strap  72 . Preferably, the first part  42  is adjusted on the strap  72  such that the opening  30  is disposed snugly around the first part of the wearer&#39;s body. 
     The strap  46  connected to the first portion  24  and has a free end  48  for encircling the wearer&#39;s body. The strap  46  may have any suitable construction. For example, a one inch wide webbing may be provided, however, other sizes and styles may be used. The cut ends of the webbing are heat-sealed. The strap  46  is connected to the first portion  24  by any suitable manner. For example, a Box-X or Bar-Tack stitching method may be used. Other webbing used in connection with the present invention may also be attached to the shell  22  with either of the above stitches. The free end  48  of the strap  46  is adjusted to snuggly fit the PFD  20  to the wearer&#39;s body. 
     A safety device  74  is connected to the first portion  24  adjacent the first end  36  of the penannular portion  32  and is operatively associated with the first fastener  40  for redundant interconnection of the first and second ends  36  and  38  of the penannular portion  32 . The safety device  74  may be formed of any suitable material and in any suitable manner such that the first and second portions  24  and  26  remain interconnected in the event that the first fastener  40  is unintentionally disconnected. The safety device  74  may be formed of any suitable material. For example, a one-quarter inch (¼″) flat polypropylene cord, such as Style  637  from William M. Jette and Son, Inc. which is secured to the first portion  24  with a minimum of three rows of back stitching. The safety device  74  is defeated by carefully threading the second part  44  therethrough. 
     The third portion  28  extends from the first portion  24  opposite the second portion  26 , and is interconnected to the second portion  26  as will be discussed below. 
     FIG. 3 shows a rear elevation view of the PFD  20  of FIG.  1 . The third portion  28  has a tapered configuration such that a width dimension WD of the third portion  28  decreases for a first distance D 1  from the first portion  29 , then increases for a second distance D 2  for supporting a second portion W 2 , see FIG. 1, of the wearer&#39;s body. It will be noted by those of skill in the art, that the third portion  28  passes through the legs of the wearer in order to prevent the PFD  20  from riding up. The first portion  24  associated with the torso of the wearer&#39;s body pushes up against the wearer&#39;s chin. The width dimension WD near the second portion  26  has sufficiently increased to support the width of the second portion W 2  of the wearer. It will be noted by those of skill in the art, that this structural configuration keeps the second portion  26  securely associated with the wearer. Further, the increased width dimension WD of the third portion  28  prevents the wearer from easily falling out of the PFD  20 . This is further enabled when the third portion  28  is interconnected to the second portion  26  adjacent the penannular portion at a point A. A loop  76  is connected to the third portion  28  and may have a structural configuration as described for the strap  46 . The loop  76  is configured to receive and position the strap  46  while encircling the wearer&#39;s body. It will be noted by those of skill in the art, that the loop  76  further aids in preventing separation of the wearer from the PFD  20  through sideways movement. The loop  76  is connected to the third portion  28  with any suitable stitching technique described above. 
     A handle  78  is connected to the second portion  26 . The handle  78  may be formed from any suitable material. For example, the handle may be formed from webbing similar to that used for the strap  46  or loop  76 . Likewise, the handle  78  is connected to the second surface  66  of the second portion  26  by any suitable stitching technique described above. 
     FIG. 4 shows a side perspective view of the PFD  20  of FIG. 1 wherein the first fastener  40  has been releasably disconnected. The first and second portions  24  and  26  and the corresponding buoyant elements are movable about the opening  30 . This ease of movement, whereby the dimension of the opening and the gap may be increased or decreased, aids in the donning of the PFD  20 . 
     The invention is not limited to the particular details of the apparatus depicted and other modifications and applications may be contemplated. Certain other changes may be made in the above-described apparatus without departing from the true spirit and scope of the invention herein involved. It is intended, therefore, that the subject matter of the above depiction shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.