Patent ID: 7052346

Claim:
A suit to be worn by an individual allowing for body protection and flotation while enjoying the activity of riding white water rapids; said suit being different from other flotation devices in as much as it has a rigid plastic shell that protects a wearer from rocks or other areas of danger that may injure the wearer and consists of three areas of protection, a torso protector, a forearm and hand protector and a feet and lower leg protector and are constructed of a molded rigid plastic back with flotation material lining the rigid plastic and secured in position by adjustable straps; a thin, approximately 1″ layer of soft flotation material is attached to the molded rigid back for comfort and floatability, graduating up to 4″ at the front and sides of the neck, chest and stomach areas; this graduation of flotation material allows for additional flotation in the front to assist in righting the individual, allowing their face to be out of the water; forearm and hand protectors are constructed of the same molded rigid plastic as the torso protector with a 1″ soft flotation material on the inside for flotation and comfort and secured to the wearer by two straps, one across the forearm and the other across the wrist and said forearm and hand protectors have fins or rudders which allows the individual a degree of steering in swift water and when in calm water can be used for paddling; feet protectors are constructed of the same molded plastic as the torso and forearm protectors with 1″ soft flotation material on the inside for flotation and comfort and attach to the wearer with two straps across the shin and top of the foot and also have fins to assist steering.