Buoys – rafts – and aquatic devices – Water rescue or life protecting apparatus – Personal flotation device
Reexamination Certificate
2001-03-09
2003-10-28
Avila, Stephen (Department: 3617)
Buoys, rafts, and aquatic devices
Water rescue or life protecting apparatus
Personal flotation device
Reexamination Certificate
active
06638126
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
a) Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a personal floatation device which when worn by a person, is prevented to overturn. This personal floatation device is particularly suited for handicaped persons.
b) Description of the Prior Art
Floatation devices provided with one or several buoyant members to be positioned around a neck of a person are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 634,445 (DE WILDE), 824,664 (KRIEGER), 1,043,367 (SMACK), 1,653,974 (WALCHER), 2,547,333 (LUND), 3,048,860 (RICHARDSON), 3,956,786 (O'LINK) and 3,988,795 (ROBERTSON). More particularly, U.S. Pat. No. 1,043,367 (SMACK) describes a neck life ring comprising two rigid half sections hinged together, under arm straps, devices carried by the ring and engaging the under arm straps. Said under arm straps are arranged to draw the two ring sections together around the neck of the wearer and snugly down onto the shoulders of the wearer and hold the ring in such position, when secured. Said connecting devices for the straps pass through the ring from the bottom to the top thereof for transmitting the strain on the straps due to the weight of the wearer, to the top of the ring. This device does not allow to prevent overturning of the combination “wearer—neck life ring”. Because the harness is in the vicinity of the surface of water, if the wearer become unconscious, it is possible he had his face in water due to the rise of the remain of the body to the surface.
None of the prior art discloses a personal floatation device allowing to prevent overturning of the combination wearer—personal floatation device.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a personal floatation device having when worn by a person, a center of gravity positioned substantially under the surface of water, to thus overcome substantially the problems and disadvantages encountered with the existing prior art.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a personal floatation device, which when worn by a person, positions the center of gravity of a combination “wearer—personal floatation device” substantially under the water surface to thus prevent overturning of said combination. This substantial lowering of the center of gravity works similarly to a ballast keel of a sailing ship.
It is another object of the present invention to maintain the head of the wearer above the water level and a buoyant member provided with a neck receiving opening. More particularly, even the chin of the wearer is maintained above the water level and the buoyant member.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a personal floatation device that is particularly suited for handicaped persons. Indeed, the wearer will be maintain into a substantially vertical position in water (with his head above the water level and the buoyant member) and no pressure will be applied against the head of the wearer.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a personal floatation device that does not interfere with mobility of the limbs of the wearer. This is particularly useful when the wearer has to do exercises in a swimming pool.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a personal floatation device that can be adjusted to wearer of various sizes.
It is a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention to provide a personal floatation device comprising:
first means comprising at least a buoyant member provided with a neck receiving opening; and
second means allowing to apply the weight of the wearer to said first means; wherein said second means are positioned underneath said first means to position the center of gravity of a combination “wearer—personal floatation device” substantially under the water level and prevent overturning of the same.
Advantageously, the buoyant member may be made or may comprise any material having buoyant properties. Preferably, the material having buoyant properties may consist of expanded polypropylene polymer.
Advantageously, the buoyant member may have sufficient flexibility to allow an easy insertion of the neck of the wearer in the neck receiving opening, and may have sufficient rigidity to be able to substantially keep its original shape in normal condition of use.
According to another particularly preferred embodiment, saids second means comprises a harness, advantageously a harness comprising a saddle.
According to another particularly preferred embodiment, the harness comprises a saddle, advantageously made of fabric material, and a set of at least two straps, advantageously made of fabric material. Each strap has a first end and a second end. Saids first ends are connected to the bottom of the buoyant member (preferably with seams or any other appropriate means) while the second ends are connected to the saddle (preferably with seams or any other appropriate means). Preferably, the saddle has a fore part and a rear part, and at least one of said second ends is connected to said fore part of the saddle and is intended to pass at the crotch of the wearer, and at least one of said second ends is connected to said rear part of said saddle.
According to a particularly preferred embodiment, the invention relates to a personal floatation device wherein the harness is made of two distinct sections.
A first section comprises a set of four straps evenly distributed around the periphery of a buoyant member. Each straps has a first end and a second end, the first end being fastened to the buoyant member, while the second end is fastened to one part of a two part fastener.
A second section comprises three sets of straps. A first set of straps may comprises two straps having opposite ends and removably fastened together (e.g. with two part fastener), to define a belt to be wear at the waist of the wearer. A second set of straps comprises two straps having opposite ends, one end being fastened to one strap of the first set of straps, one end of the other strap being fastened to the other strap of the first set of straps. The opposite end of both straps are fastened together with an adjustment buckle. A third set of four straps having opposite ends, one end being fastened to a corresponding strap of the belt, while the opposite end is fastened to the other part of a two part fastener of the first section.
A portion of one strap of the second set of straps and a portion of one strap of the third set of straps are fastened to a saddle. The strap of the third set of straps which is fastened to the saddle passes between legs of the wearer, more particularly at the crotch of the wearer. The second section may preferably define a trouser.
According to a particularly preferred embodiment, the invention relates to a personal floatation device wherein the buoyant member comprises a collar made of a fabric material, said collar being provided with a neck receiving opening, a periphery, a slit communicating with the neck receiving opening and optionally with a periphery of said collar, fastening means to removably fasten opposite sides of the slit a housing and at least one buoyant element enclosed in the housing of said collar. Advantageously, said fastening means comprise at least one set of VELCRO® fasteners, and more preferably two sets of VELCRO® fasteners.
According to a particularly preferred embodiment, the invention relates to a personal floatation device wherein the straps and the saddle are made of a fabric material, wherein saids straps are fastened to the fabric material of the collar with any appropriate means such as seams, rivets, glue, ect., (preferably with seams); and wherein saids straps are fastened to the saddle with any appropriate means such as seams, rivets, glue, ect., (preferably with seams).
According to a particularly prefered embodiment, the invention relates to a personal floatation device wherein saids straps are each further provided with means allowing to adjust their length. Preferably, said means allowing to adjust the length of each strap may comprise an adjustment buckle.
The invention also comprises such other objects, advantages
Avila Stephen
Darby & Darby
LandOfFree
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