Abstract:
A life vest includes a hydration pack capable of providing hydration to a user of the life vest; and a personal locator having a global positioning system receiver and a transmitter capable of transmitting the global positioning system location of the user of the life vest.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention generally relates a life vest. More specifically, the invention relates to a life vest with a hydration system and personal locator transmitter. 
         [0002]    The use of emergency position indicating radio beacons for locating personnel stranded at sea or on land are well known in the prior art. Typically, the device is battery powered, compact, and when turned on, a device will transmit radio waves at predetermined frequencies, typically 121.5 MHz and 243 MHz, which are guard channels that are listened to for emergency situations. By sending out an emergency signal at these frequencies, the Coast Guard and other surrounding people who are alerted to the guard channels are aware of the emergency and can use the frequency transmissions for locating the downed personnel. 
         [0003]    However, transmission of the beacon merely provides a signal that requires triangulation by emergency craft. The need to hone-in on a signal, without further information, may cause delay because of the lack of more exacting location information. 
         [0004]    As can be seen, there is a need for a more exacting location system for water-born survivors, and a hydration system. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    In one aspect of the present invention, a life vest, comprises a hydration pack capable of providing hydration to a user of the life vest; and a personal locator having a global positioning system receiver and transmitter capable of transmitting a global positioning system location of the user of the life vest. 
         [0006]    In another aspect of the present invention, a life vest comprises a front panel having a top, a hydration pack capable of providing hydration to a user of the life vest, the hydration pack having a top and a bottom, wherein the top of the front panel is attached to the top of the hydration pack, and a strap attached to the bottom of the hydration pack capable of fitting around a waist of the user during use of the life vest. 
         [0007]    These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following drawings, description and claims. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0008]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a hydration system and life jacket with a built-in waterproof personal locator according to one embodiment; 
           [0009]      FIG. 2  is an exploded perspective view of the embodiment of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0010]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of a hydration system and life jacket with a built-in waterproof personal locator according to an alternate embodiment; 
           [0011]      FIG. 4  is an exploded perspective view of the embodiment of  FIG. 3 ; 
           [0012]      FIG. 5  is a front view of the embodiment of  FIG. 3 ; and 
           [0013]      FIG. 6 : is a side view of the embodiment of  FIG. 3 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0014]    The following detailed description is of the best currently contemplated modes of carrying out exemplary embodiments of the invention. The description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention, since the scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims. 
         [0015]    Various inventive features are described below that can each be used independently of one another or in combination with other features. 
         [0016]    Broadly, embodiments of the present invention generally provide a hydration system and life vest or life jacket within a single unit with a built-in waterproof personal locator. 
         [0017]    With reference to  FIG. 1 , a perspective view of a personal water safety system  10  is shown according to one embodiment. The system may have hydration pack  14  and a life vest  12  with a built-in waterproof personal locator  24 . 
         [0018]    In one embodiment, the hydration pack  14  may be attachable to the rear portion of the life vest  12 . A flow tube  18  may extend from the hydration pack  14  with enough length to allow for easy reach to the mouth of a user. A waterproof pocket  26  may be included to hold the personal locator  24 , and protect electronics used by the personal locater  24  from water and the elements. In one embodiment two waterproof pockets  26  may be provided to allow for additional storage of food or other articles that the user wishes to keep dry. 
         [0019]    In one embodiment, a mouthpiece  18  may be attached to the flow tube  18 . The mouthpiece  18  may comprise a rigid tubular body glued to, or formed with, the flow tube  18 , which may fit in the user&#39;s mouth and allows suction of liquid by the user from the hydration pack  14 . An on/off valve  22  may allow the user to close off the mouthpiece from flow of liquid when the user is not drinking from the hydration pack. When in the closed or off position, the on/off valve  22  may prevent leakage from the hydration pack  14  during non-use of the life vest  12 , and may prevent back-flow or salt water intrusion during use of the life vest  12  when the user is not drinking from the hydration pack  14 . 
         [0020]    With reference to  FIG. 2 , an exploded perspective view of the embodiment of  FIG. 1  is shown. A bladder bag  16  may be used to fit within the hydration pack  14 , which may shrink as liquid is drawn from the hydration pack  14  by the user. The bladder bag  16  used in this way may prevent accumulation of air so that the user may have a steady flow of liquid during use of the hydration pack  14 . 
         [0021]    The personal locater  24  may comprise a combination global positioning system (GPS) locator and transmitter. The GPS portion of the personal locater  24  may determine GPS coordinates of the user from the well-known GPS system currently in use World-Wide. In one embodiment, the GPS coordinates are constantly transmitted in regular intervals by the transmitter portion of the personal locator to be received by rescue personnel. The rescue personnel may then input the received coordinates into rescue aircraft or watercraft GPS guidance systems to guide them to the user wearing the life vest  12 . GPS tracking devices that transmit location information are widely available for use as the personal locater with the system  10 , including the FAST FIND GPS personal locator, available from McMurdo Ltd. of Portsmouth, United Kingdom. 
         [0022]    With reference to  FIG. 3 , a perspective view of an alternate embodiment of a personal water safety system  110 , comprising the hydration pack  114  and life vest  112  with the personal locator  24  is shown. The embodiment of  FIG. 3  may comprise a one panel life vest  112 , with the hydration pack  114  forming a back panel. A waist strap  28  may be included to secure the user between the life vest  112  panel and the hydration pack  114 . The waterproof pockets  26 , with the personal locator  24 , may be attached to the front panel of the life vest  112 . 
         [0023]      FIG. 4  is an exploded perspective view of the embodiment of  FIG. 3 . As with the embodiment of  FIG. 1 , a bladder bag  16  may be used to fit within the hydration pack  114 . However, the hydration pack  114  may have one portion of the strap  28  attached to the bottom right side, and another portion of the strap  28  attached to the bottom left side, in such a way that the strap  28  may fit around the waist of the user. The top of the hydration pack  114  may be attached to the top of the life vest  112  such that the life vest  112  may fit over the user&#39;s head to bend over the user&#39;s chest, and wherein the hydration pack  114  may abut the back of the user. 
         [0024]    With reference to  FIG. 5 , a front view of the embodiment of  FIG. 3  is shown with the hydration pack  114  shown in phantom behind the life vest  112 . As shown in  FIG. 5 , the strap  28  may be able to reach around the user&#39;s waist. 
         [0025]    With reference to  FIG. 6 , a side view of the embodiment of  FIG. 3  is shown being worn by a user. The strap  28  is shown around the waist of the user and buckled in the front of the user behind the bottom portion of the life vest  112 . The side of the pocket  26  is shown, with the personal locater inside the pocket  26  shown in phantom. 
         [0026]    It should be understood, of course, that the foregoing relates to exemplary embodiments of the invention and that modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims.