Patent Publication Number: US-2019185120-A1

Title: Wearable Flotation Device

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/607,515 filed on Dec. 19, 2017. The above identified patent application is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety to provide continuity of disclosure. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a wearable flotation device. More specifically, the present invention provides a wearable flotation device having a garment and a tube disposed within an interior volume thereof. The tube is operably connected to a bladder that is designed to store compressed gas therein, wherein the compressed gas is configured to provide buoyancy of a wearer of the garment to enable flotation of the wearer. The tube is further operably connected to a deployable signal that is configured to extend beyond a periphery of the garment upon actuation thereof, wherein a sensor designed to detect moisture actuates a one-way valve that is designed to enable a flow of compressed gas to the deployable signal. The garment further includes a plurality of lights for illuminating the wearer. The deployable signal and the plurality of lights are configured to assist nearby individuals in identifying the location of the wearer if the wearer of the garment is in an emergency. 
     When swimming or boating, an individual may travel a substantial distance within a body of water. However, the individual faces a risk of being stranded or lost if the boat malfunctions or the individual loses their bearings. Further, an individual who is swimming may inadvertently collide with a nearby boat, which can be fatal or cause serious injury. Further, it can be difficult for search-and-rescue crews to locate stranded or lost swimmers, especially in low-light conditions, such as during the nighttime. Traditional lifejackets exist that provide flotation for the individual swimming in a body of water, but such traditional lifejackets typically provide limited visibility such that the search-and-rescue crews may be unable to easily find the individual. Thus, an improved wearable flotation device for allowing a search-and-rescue team or other persons to more easily locate an individual otherwise stranded in a body of water is desired. 
     In light of the devices disclosed in the known art, it is submitted that the present invention substantially diverges in design elements from the prior art and consequently it is clear that there is a need in the art for an improvement to existing ladder paint can holders. In this regard the instant invention substantially fulfills these needs. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known types of carpet removal tools now present in the prior art, the present invention provides a new wearable flotation device wherein the same can be utilized for providing improved safety to a user when the user is engaging in a desired activity in a body of water. 
     It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved wearable flotation device that has all of the advantages of the prior art and none of the disadvantages. The wearable flotation device includes a garment having a bladder disposed in an interior volume thereof. The bladder is adapted to receive compressed gas therein, wherein the compressed gas enables flotation of the garment. A tube is in fluid communication with the bladder and a sensor, wherein the sensor is designed to detect moisture and actuate a one-way valve disposed within the tube. Upon actuation, the one-way valve is adapted to actuate a deployable signal that is in fluid communication with the tube, whereby the deployable is adapted to extend beyond a periphery of the garment upon actuation thereof. The garment further includes a plurality of lights for illuminating the wearer, wherein the combination of the plurality of lights and the deployable signal, and an air horn in one iteration, enable a search-and-rescue crew or other persons to identify a location of the wearer to provide immediate relief if the wearer in the event of an emergency. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTIONS OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Although the characteristic features of this invention will be particularly pointed out in the claims, the invention itself and manner in which it may be made and used may be better understood after a review of the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein like numeral annotations are provided throughout. 
         FIG. 1  shows a front elevation view of an embodiment of the wearable flotation device. 
         FIG. 2  shows a rear perspective view of an embodiment of the wearable flotation device. 
         FIG. 3  shows a close-up view of a tube and a bladder of an embodiment of the wearable flotation device. 
         FIG. 4  shows a close-up view of a cavity for a deployable member of an embodiment of the wearable flotation device. 
         FIG. 5  shows a perspective view of a block diagram of an embodiment of the wearable flotation device. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Reference is made herein to the attached drawings. Like reference numerals are used throughout the drawings to depict like or similar elements of the wearable floatation device. For the purposes of presenting a brief and clear description of the present invention, the preferred embodiment will be discussed as used for providing improved safety to a user when the user is engaging in a desired activity in a body of water. The figures are intended for representative purposes only and should not be considered to be limiting in any respect. 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , there is shown a front elevation view and a rear perspective view of an embodiment of the wearable flotation device. In the illustrated embodiment, the wearable flotation device  10  comprises a garment  15  having an interior volume in which a pair of first bladders  65  and a second bladder  69  is disposed. More specifically, the first bladders  65  are disposed on opposing ends of a front side  21  of the garment  15  and the second bladder  69  is disposed on a rear side  29  of the garment  15 . In the shown embodiment, the first bladder  65  and the second bladder  69  each define an interior volume enclosed by an annular sidewall, wherein a compressible gas is stored within the interior volume and is configured to provide buoyancy to the garment, such that a user thereof may float in a body of water or other liquid therewith. Further, in the illustrated embodiment, the garment  15  is moveable from an open position to a closed position via a zipper fastener  75 . 
     The zipper fastener extends lengthwise along a lateral side of opposing sides of a front side  21  of the garment  15 , whereby the zipper fastener is configured to substantially obscure a portion of the user&#39;s upper torso. In alternate embodiments, any suitable fastener is used to join the lateral sides of the garment, such as clips, hooks and loop material, and snaps. In the open position, the user is able to don the garment and in the closed position, the user is able to secure the garment to his or her body. In the illustrated embodiment, the garment  15  resembles a vest but may resemble a jacket, a shirt, or any other suitable garment in other embodiments. 
     A tube  35  is in fluid communication with each of the first bladders  65  and the second bladder  69 , wherein the tube  35  extends outwardly from the interior volume of the second bladder  69  and bifurcates on the rear side  29  and extends to each lateral end of the front side  21  of the garment  15 , whereby the tube  35  extends in the interior volume of the first bladders  65 . In this way, the compressible gas within the first bladders  65  and the second bladder  69  is configured to travel within the tube  35  and provide a substantial fluid pressure that is delivered to a deployable member  43 , which is further operably connected to the tube  35 . 
     In the illustrated embodiment, a deployable member  43  extends through a cavity  38  on the rear side  29 . The deployable member  43  is disposed within the rear side of the garment and is configured to extend beyond a periphery of the garment  15  upon actuation of the deployable member  43 . A first light  51  disposed on an upper end of the deployable member  43  and is configured to illuminate to alert nearby individuals of the presence of the user of the garment  15  in water or other. A second light  52  is selectively positioned within the interior volume of the garment  15  on the front side  21  thereof and the rear side  29  thereof, wherein the second light is configured to further illuminate the garment  15 . In the illustrated embodiment, the second light comprises a plurality of lights that are positioned throughout the interior volume of the garment  15 , wherein the plurality of lights is configured to perpetually illuminate, such that a nearby individual may easily view the wearer in lowlight conditions. In an alternate embodiment, the second light is configured to illuminate Further, in the illustrated embodiment, the garment  15  is composed of a semi-transparent material, such that the first light  51  and the second light  52  are visible through the garment  15 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 3 , there is shown a close-up view of a tube and a bladder of an embodiment of the wearable flotation device. A one-way valve  83  is disposed at a position above the second bladder  69 , wherein the one-way valve  83  is configured to enable a flow of the compressed gas to the deployable member  43  upon actuation of the one-way valve  83 . In the shown embodiment, the one-way valve  83  comprises a cylindrical shape but may comprise any other suitable shape in other embodiments. A stopper member  48  is disposed on a lower end of the second bladder  69 , wherein the stopper member  48  is configured to provide a liquid impermeable seal to a lower end of the deployable member  43 , whereby the compressed gas stored within the second bladder  69  is not infiltrated by water or any other liquid. In one embodiment, the stopper member  48  is removeable to enable replacement of compressed gas within the second bladder  69 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 4 , there is shown a close-up view of a cavity for a deployable member of an embodiment of the wearable flotation device. In the illustrated embodiment, the cavity on the rear side  29  of the garment  15 . The cavity  38  is disposed on the rear side  29  of the garment  15  and configured to receive the deployable member  43  therein, wherein the deployable member  43  is in fluid communication with the tube  35 . In one embodiment, the cavity  38  comprises a rigid member protruding from an exterior of the rear side  29 , wherein the rigid member is configured to provide structural support to the cavity  38 . In this way, the cavity  38  is prevented from collapsing inward and further prevents fluid communication between the tube  35  and the deployable member  43 . In one embodiment, the cavity  38  is dimensioned to secure about the lower end of the deployable member  43 , whereby infiltration of any water or other liquid is prevented. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 5 , there is shown a perspective view of a block diagram of an embodiment of the wearable flotation device. In the illustrated embodiment, a power source  123  is disposed within the garment  15 , wherein the power source  123  is configured to provide power to a sensor  220  that is configured to detect moisture and actuate the one-way valve  83  once moisture is detected. Further, the power source  123  is configured to be liquid impermeable, whereby the power source  123  is operable even when contacting a fluid such as water. In one embodiment, the power source  123  is disposed within the tube  35  near the cavity but may be disposed on any other suitable portion of the garment  15  in other embodiments. Further, in one embodiment, the sensor  220  is disposed on the rear side  29  of the garment  15  near the cavity  38 , whereby the sensor may be contact with a fluid. In an alternate embodiment, the sensor  220  is disposed on any other suitable portion of the rear side  29  or the front side  21  of the garment  15 , whereby the sensor  220  is operably connected to the one-way valve  83 . 
     Upon actuation of the one-way valve  83 , the deployable member  43  extends through the cavity  38  by a substantial fluid pressure caused by the delivery of the compressed gas within the first bladders  65  and the second bladder  69 . In one embodiment, actuation of the deployable member  43  is defined by an inflation of the deployable member  43 , wherein the deployable member  43  comprises a flexible body to enable an expansion of an interior volume thereof that causes the deployable member  43  to move beyond a periphery of the cavity  38  and the garment  15 . The power source  123  is further configured to provide power to the first light  51  and the second light  52 . In one embodiment, the power source  123  comprises a low form factor, such that the power source  123  does not excessively bulge within the garment  15 . 
     It is therefore submitted that the instant invention has been shown and described in what is considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiments. It is recognized, however, that departures may be made within the scope of the invention and that obvious modifications will occur to a person skilled in the art. With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention. 
     Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.