Patent ID: 7169001

Claim:
An inflatable buoyancy device comprising a central inflatable portion for forming when inflated a rear buoyancy area, a pair of inflatable lateral portions each forming when inflated a lateral buoyancy area, and a pair of inflatable front portions forming when inflated front buoyancy areas, each of said pair of front portions connecting its adjacent lateral portion to said central portion, said central portion and said pairs of front and lateral portions forming a simulated W-shape when viewed in a plan view, each of said lateral portions projecting from its front portion a distance sufficient to extend under an adjacent arm of a user and terminating in an end of said W-shape that in operative position on a user will provide a portion of said lateral portion positioned behind said user, a body encircling belt means and first connecting means for releasably connecting said front buoyancy areas to said to said belt means to hold said front buoyancy areas in position on a user and a second connecting means for releasably connecting said central portion to said to said belt means to hold said rear buoyancy area in position on a user, the construction of said lateral portions, said front portions and said central inflatable portion combining to cause said user to float higher above water level than conventional flotation devices and in an upright position at an angle β of between 45 and 90 degrees.