Patent Publication Number: US-6905383-B1

Title: Personal floatation device

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO PRIOR CO-PENDING APPLICATION 
   This application is a continuation in part of prior application Ser. No. 10/171,202 filed Aug. 26, 2002 and abandoned upon the filing of this application. 

   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   This invention relates to a personal floatation device, which can be worn as a garment by an individual, especially a child, in a manner which insures that the wearer&#39;s head will be maintained above water should the person enter water in circumstances where that person might be injured or drown. 
   2. Description of the Prior Art 
   U.S. Pat. No. 3,144,668 discloses a child&#39;s safety play suit including a single front two-ply panel and two rear two-ply panes form three respective compartments with three separate buoyant pads located in respective two-ply panels. Each buoyant pad comprises an envelope in turn containing a buoyant material mass. Therefore a number of pockets or compartments must be formed making this garment relatively labor intensive to fabricate. The buoyant panels also do not extend continuously beneath the armpits nor does a single buoyant panel extend over the occupant&#39;s shoulders and around the neck. This suit is also joined by snap fastener elements extending down the rear of the suit. This multi-segment configuration could allow the individual floatation foam panels to ride up in water so that the child&#39;s face may not be held above water. Buoyancy forces must therefore be transferred to the child&#39;s body through the fabric and not directly from the buoyant material to the body. 
   U.S. Pat. No. 5,184,968 does disclose a floatation device with a one-piece floatation member extending on both the front and rear of the occupant of the swimwear including the floatation member. The floatation member does not extend below the occupant&#39;s arms so the flotation member can ride up and will be restrained only by the fabric surrounding the floatation member. Reliance upon the fabric in this way will limit the flexibility of the fabric and can limit the size range of children or others who could wear a suit of this type. Greater stress is also place on the fabric and its seams or stitching, which would seem to limit the useful life of individual garments. 
   Front and rear floatation members in the device shown in U.S. Pat. No. 3,050,753 are joined only by straps extending over an infant&#39;s shoulders, and by straps extending along the child&#39;s sides. These straps would be even more likely to permit the floatation member to ride up and would offer less assurance that the child&#39;s head would be maintained above water. 
   U.S. Pat. No. 3,956,786 also employs multiple buoyant members, including front and rear hinged collar members as well as bib and back floatation elements extending below the collar and secured to the torso by a strap. These multiple sections can also shift relative to a child&#39;s body and it would appear that the hinged collar sections could press into the child&#39;s face or push the head forward into water. 
   None of these prior art floatation devices employ a single buoyant member which directly supports the wearer&#39;s upper torso to more reliably serve as a personal floatation device. These prior art devices either do not permit significant expansion of fabric surrounding the floatation members so that each garment can fit occupant&#39;s of different sizes, or they rely upon straps that can relax, come undone or uncomfortably bind the wearer so that they are uncomfortable. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   A personal floatation device according to this invention includes a buoyant foam member. This buoyant foam member fits over a wearer&#39;s shoulders and beneath the wearer&#39;s arms to fit over the majority of the front and rear of the wearer&#39;s upper torso. The buoyant foam member directly supports the wearer&#39;s upper torso to maintain the wearer&#39;s head above water. This buoyant form member comprises a one-piece, initially flat, member folded to fit over the wearer&#39;s shoulders and around the wearer&#39;s sides beneath the wearer&#39;s arms. The buoyant foam member is constrained in a folded configuration to fit the wearer&#39;s upper torso, preferably by an outer fabric garment forming an enclosure in which the buoyant foam member is located. 
   This personal floatation device enhances the safety of one wearing the personal flotation device in water. The buoyant foam member of this personal floatation device is in the form of a one-piece vest, cut from a flat, flexible buoyant material. The one-piece vest, when in a flat configuration has a central trunk section with a generally curved opening above the trunk section and spaced from a top edge thereof. A slot extends from the generally curved opening to the top edge of the foam member to form opposed upper segments on opposite sides of the slot and the curved opening. The one-piece vest, when in the flat configuration, also includes protruding wings extending from opposite side edges of the trunk section adjacent its lower edge. The one-piece vest is folded about a generally horizontal axis to form the personal flotation device so that the upper segments extend behind and are spaced from the trunk section so that the generally curved opening will surround the neck of a wearer of the personal flotation device. The wings are folded about generally vertical axes to also extend behind and spaced from the trunk section with the wings and the upper segments forming arm passages through which the arms of the wearer can extend. The one piece vest being restrained in the folded configuration when worn so that the one-piece vest extends over the wearer&#39;s shoulders and under the wearer&#39;s armpits to support the wearer&#39;s torso. 
   The personal floatation device can comprise a buoyant shirt with inner and outer layers forming a shirt configuration with an enclosure between the inner and outer layers. An upper opening for a wearer&#39;s neck extends through both inner and outer layers. Two side openings, through which the wearer&#39;s arms can extend, are formed through the inner and outer layers on opposite sides of the upper opening. The buoyant material is confined within the enclosure between the inner and outer layers. This buoyant material extends between the upper openings and each side opening between a front portion of the enclosure to a rear portion of the shirt. The buoyant material also extends beneath both side openings between the front portion of the enclosure and the rear portion of the enclosure so that buoyant material would be located on both the front and rear of a wearer&#39;s torso. The buoyant material has a sufficient volume to hold the wearer&#39;s head above water. 
   A personal floatation device according to this invention provides a number of advantages. It will not come off during normal water activities, and does not interfere with arm and shoulder movement. 
   Unlike conventional floatation devices, such as water wings and life jackets, this personal floatation device can be worn as a garment and will not fall off or get knocked off during play. 
   A device of this type will provide confidence to non-swimmers and peace of mind to parents of small children around public and private pools and bodies of water. 
   This device will keep the head above water while allowing free arm movement, so that it can be used during swimming instruction. 
   The comfort afforded by this device and its similarity to a football jersey with shoulder pads will make it more attractive to young children who will be anxious to wear it as a fashion statement as well as for protection. This personal floatation device can be manufactured in a variety of printed fabrics including beach prints, sports prints and can employ a variety of advertising logos and symbols. 
   Although this device is especially suited for use by small children, it can be used by others, either as part of normal activity or in special circumstances. For example, a personal floatation device of this basic type can be used for rehabilitation to provide buoyancy during water therapy. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a view of an infant wearing a personal floatation device according to the invention. 
       FIG. 2  is a three dimensional view of the personal floatation device shown in  FIG. 1 . 
       FIG. 3  is a three dimensional view of a flat piece of buoyant foam material used in the personal floatation device shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 . 
       FIG. 4  is a side view showing how portions of the buoyant foam of  FIG. 3  can be draped over the wearer&#39;s shoulders and around the wearer&#39;s sides. 
       FIG. 5  is a front view of the folded foam material of  FIG. 4 . 
       FIG. 6  is a rear view of the folded foam material of  FIGS. 4 and 5 . 
       FIG. 7  is a three dimensional view of the folded foam material of  FIGS. 4–6  showing openings for the wearer&#39;s neck and arms. 
       FIG. 8  is a three dimensional view of the personal floatation device on the same scale as  FIG. 7  demonstrating how the foam material can be encased by outer fabric layers to form the personal floatation device. 
       FIG. 9  is a front view of a child showing the manner in which the foam material surrounds the upper torso of the child. The outer fabric layers are not shown in  FIGS. 9–11 . 
       FIG. 10  is a side view showing the manner in which the foam material drapes over a child&#39;s shoulders and in which the lower wings extend beneath the child&#39;s armpits. 
       FIG. 11  is a rear view showing the manner in which the upper segments and the lower wings fit on the back of a child. 
       FIG. 12  is a view on the same scale as  FIGS. 9–11  showing the personal floatation device with the outer fabric layers enclosing the buoyant foam material. 
       FIG. 13  is a side sectional vies showing the folded foam material constrained within an envelope formed by two fabric layers. 
       FIG. 14  is a view showing the outer fabric layer prior to assembly with the inner fabric layer to form the garment in which the buoyant foam material. 
       FIG. 15  is a view showing the inner fabric layer prior to assembly with the outer fabric layer to form the garment in which the buoyant material is constrained in its folded or overlapping configuration. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
   The personal floatation device  10  according to the present invention comprises a fabric garment  50  in which a buoyant member  20  is encased. The personal floatation device  10  can be worn much like a Tee Shirt surrounding the upper torso  8  of the wearer  2  as shown in  FIG. 1 . Although not limited to use by a child or an infant, this device  10  is especially suited for use by children. In addition to surrounding the upper torso  8 , the personal floatation device will also fit around the wearer&#39;s neck  4  and includes openings on the sides through which the child&#39;s arms  6  can extend. This device  10  fits so that the buoyancy imparted by buoyant member  20  will act to maintain the wearer&#39;s head above water. In the preferred embodiment, the buoyant material  20  comprises a foam member, which not only fits over the wearer&#39;s shoulders, but also fits below each arm  6 . The foam or buoyant member  20  extends from a front portion  22  over the wearer&#39;s shoulders and under the wearer&#39;s arms so that a rear portion  22  is located along the wearer&#39;s back. Preferably the foam member  20  comprises a one-piece flat flexible foam member that is folded around the wearer&#39;s upper torso. The one-piece flat flexible foam member  20  thus is in the form of a one-piece vest, which fits around the wearer&#39;s upper torso  8  and directly supports the torso  8 , especially beneath the arms  6 . Since the foam material  20  fits around the torso and below the arms, the foam material will not ride up on the occupant. 
   The personal floatation device  10  is in the form of a Tee Shirt like garment as shown in  FIG. 2 , which fits over the head of the wearer  2 . In the preferred embodiment the flat flexible foam member  20  is encased between and inner fabric layer  52  and an outer fabric layer  54 , which form the fabric garment  50 . The combined device  10  thus functions as a buoyant shirt with a neck opening at the top and arm openings  18  on both sides. This buoyant shirt  10  has a shirt front portion  12  and a shirt rear portion  14 , and it is this fabric garment  50  which holds the flat flexible foam member  20  in its folded configuration in which it forms a one piece buoyant vest  20 . The inner fabric layer  52  and the outer fabric layer  54 , each comprise separate sections which are sewn or stitched together, and are stitched to each other to confine and restrain the flexible vest or foam member  20  in a folded configuration. Although the flexible foam vest  20  is constrained in a folded configuration, the foam vest  20  can expand outwardly to fit the torso  8  of its wearer. 
     FIGS. 3–7  show more details of the foam vest  20 . As shown in  FIG. 3 , the foam vest  20  is formed from a single piece of initially flat foam material. In the preferred embodiment this flat foam piece has a thickness of approximately one and one-fourth (1¼) inch, or greater. The shape shown in  FIG. 3  is die cut form a larger sheet or foam material. Since the foam material used in the personal floatation device  10  is a one-piece member, only a single die is needed to cut each unit resulting in manufacturing cost savings and design simplicity. 
   The flat foam piece  20  has a central trunk or bib section  26 . A generally curved or circular upper opening  34  is dic cut at the top of the central trunk section  26  and a slot  36  is die cut between the curved opening  34  and a top edge  28  to form two opposed upper segments  38 ,  40  protruding upwardly from the trunk section  26 . The portion of the foam member  20  including the two upper segments and the curved opening  34  has a generally rectangular shape formed by top edge  28  and side edges  30 . Two generally rectangular wings  42  and  44  extend from opposite sides of the central trunk section  26  and extend to the lower peripheral edge  32  of this one-piece foam member  20 . 
   Although the foam member  20  is die cut in a flat configuration, it is folded into a three dimensional vest shape, as best seen in  FIG. 7 , so that it will fit around the torso  8  of the wearer of the personal floatation device  10 , with front portion  22  fitting on the wearer&#39;s chest and rear portion  24  fitting the wearer&#39;s back. The central trunk section  26  will form the majority of the front portion of the foam vest  20  and the upper segments  38 ,  40  and the lower wings  42 ,  44  will be folded around to extend into the rear portion  24  of the torso fitting vest  20 . The upper segments  38 ,  40  will fold about a horizontal axis, when viewed in  FIG. 7 , as well as when worn, so that these upper segments will fit over the shoulders of the wearer. The portion of these upper segments  38 ,  40  which extend over the shoulders is not merely a strap section because the volume of the foam adds significant buoyancy and this portion of the foam material is especially useful in keeping the occupant&#39;s head above water. The curved opening  34  between the two upwardly protruding segments  38 ,  40  will form an opening surrounding the wearer&#39;s neck and providing space for the wearer&#39;s neck to fit through when the personal floatation device  10  is donned by the wearer. The wings  42  and  44  are folded toward the rear about parallel, generally vertical axes when viewed in  FIG. 7 , as well as when worn, so that the wings will extend around the sides of the wearer beneath the wearer&#39;s arms and behind the wearer&#39;s torso. The wings  42 ,  44  will be spaced from the upper segments  38 ,  40  on each side to form arm passages  46 ,  48  when the wearer dons the personal floatation device  10 . The foam vest  20  will be constrained in this folded configuration by the fabric forming the exterior and interior of the personal floatation device  10  as can be seen by comparing  FIG. 7  and  FIG. 8 .  FIGS. 9–11  show the manner in which the flexible foam vest  20  fits around the torso of the wearer. The outer fabric, which constrains the flexible foam vest  20  in the folded configuration fitting the wearer&#39;s torso is not shown in  FIGS. 9–11 , but comparison of  FIG. 11  with  FIG. 12 , in which the outer fabric garment  50  is shown, demonstrates how the foam material is constrained. 
     FIG. 13  is a side sectional view of the personal floatation device  10  showing the folded foam material  20  constrained within an enclosure  56  formed between an inner fabric layer  52  and an outer fabric layer  54 .  FIGS. 14 and 15  show the fabric pieces that are used to form the inner layer  52  and the outer layer  54 . The outer layer  54  is shown as slightly larger than the inner layer  52 , and each fabric layer is formed by two separate pieces of fabric which are stitched together along a shoulder line  66  flanking a crew neck opening  72 . As also seen in  FIG. 2 , the inner fabric layer  52  is stitched to the outer fabric layer  54  along side stitches  68  and a bottom stitch  70 . The layers are also stitched together to form a stitched neck border and stitched arm borders  60  and  62 . A drawstring pocket  74 , through which a drawstring  64  extends, can be sewn to the bottom edge to complete the two-ply or multiplayer garment  50 . 
   The foam member  20  is not held tightly in the enclosure  56  formed between the inner fabric layer  52  and the outer fabric layer  54 . The foam material  20  can shift within this enclosure to fit the occupant. For example, the free ends of both the upper segments  38 ,  40  and the wings  42 ,  44  can move toward and away from each other to accommodate the torso of the wearer, so that the same personal floatation device  10  can fit occupants of different sizes. The inner fabric layer  52  and the outer fabric layer  54  are preferably formed of an material, such as neoprene, UV-Flex, spandex, stretch jersey or some other material having a greater elasticity than natural textile fibers. Thus the fabric layers can expand and the foam vest member can shift to fit individuals of larger size, and the same garment can, within limits, be worn as a child grows. This expansion is possible because the fabric layers do not hold the buoyant foam material  20  to the occupant&#39;s body. Instead the buoyant foam material  20  fits around the upper torso, especially under the arms so that the foam material bears against a large surface area of the torso, even though it is separated from intimate contact with the body by the inner fabric layer  52 . Since the foam  20  conforms to the body in this manner, it more evenly supports the body in water and can be a more comfortable garment, which will not tend to cut into the occupants skin. 
   The representative embodiment depicted herein is not the only device, which can employ the principles embodied by this invention. Modifications apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art can be for any number of reasons. For example, straps extending between the wearer&#39;s legs could be added to the bottom of this personal floatation device. Means other than an outer garment for holding the foam material in the folded configuration could also be employed. For example the form material could be constrained only on the rear. Therefore the invention is not limited to the single embodiment depicted herein, but is defined by the following claims.