Buoys – rafts – and aquatic devices – Water rescue or life protecting apparatus – Personal flotation device
Reexamination Certificate
2001-12-28
2003-06-24
Avila, Stephen (Department: 3617)
Buoys, rafts, and aquatic devices
Water rescue or life protecting apparatus
Personal flotation device
C441S117000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06582266
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF INVENTION
The present invention is directed to a personal flotation device (“PFD”) having improved flotation support and interconnection with a wearer. More in particular, the present invention includes an improved shell having buoyant elements and fastener assembly to interconnect the PFD to the wearer and thereby apply buoyant forces to lift the wearer's body in water. The PFD is structured to comfortably support the wearer's head above water level and to tend to orient the head into a face-up attitude while the wearer is in water. Further, the improved PFD is preferably adaptable for use with infants, children and other wearers with little or no experience swimming or in the water.
Various types of life vests or personal flotation devices exist which are designed to be worn or otherwise used by a wearer to keep the wearer afloat in a body of water. Such flotation devices, also referred to as marine buoyant devices, are currently in wide use in the recreational, commercial and military areas. In addition, flotation devices having certain performance characteristics are a legal requirement in the operation of boats and ships of various sizes.
The United States Coast Guard (“USCG”) has established guidelines for determining the performance level of a life vest or personal flotation device, based on the lifesaving capacity of such devices. For instance, Underwriters Laboratories, Inc., which is understood by the inventor hereof to be an approved testing agency for the USCG, lists several categories of “Buoyant Devices” in its Mar. 29, 1996 handbook entitled “UL 1123 Standard for Marine Buoyant Devices” which is incorporated herein by reference.
One of these categories is for a Type I device, also referred to as an “off-shore” PFD which is intended to turn most unconscious wearers face up on the water and which is best suited for open, rough or remote water where rescue may be slow in coming. There is also a Type II device, sometimes also referred to as a “near shore PFD”, which is “intended to turn some unconscious persons from a face down position in the water to a position where the wearer's respiration is not impeded.” These PFDs are good for calm, inland water or where there is a good chance to fast rescue. Other categories of PFDs include a Type III device, which is “intended to support a conscious person in the water in an upright position or backward position but is not required to turn an unconscious person in the water from a face-down position to a position where the wearer's respiration is not impeded.” As such, a Type III device is not suitable for an unconscious wearer because a wearer may have to tilt his or her head back to avoid going face down in the water, and further, his or her face may often be covered by waves. There is also a Type IV device, which is “intended to be thrown to and grasped by a person in the water” and which does not need to provide any means for closely fitting about the person's body. Of course, the Type IV device is also not suitable for an unconscious person, but also not even for a non-swimmer, as such devices require a person to hold on for buoyant support.
In addition, the USCG subjects PFDs to certain “tests” such as the “Donning Test” wherein the PFD must be capable of being donned in a short period of time, usually one minute or less, and a “Flotation Stability Test,” to name a few. There are others, such as a “freeboard test,” which measures a distance perpendicularly from the surface of the water to the lowest point where the wearer's respiration may be impeded, a “head support” test, a “face plan angle” test, and a “chin support” test, with specific criteria for passing such tests. As one might imagine, to qualify as a Type I or a Type II device, there is also a “turning test.” Of course, several PFDs have been developed which meet the various testing and other criteria of the USCG for the foregoing “Types” of devices.
The USCG requires that approved PFDs be available on a boat, although the number and type depend on the number of people on board, the size and type of boat, and the kind of boating. Of course, a PFD can only be helpful in an emergency on the water if it is readily available. As one never knows when an emergency situation will arise, it would naturally be best for persons who are out on the water or on a boat to wear a PFD at all times. The USCG's booklet entitled “Think Safe Choose the Right Personal Flotation Device (PFD)” reports that most drownings do not occur way out at sea, but instead, that nine (9) out of ten (10) drownings occur in inland waters. Given this fact, and a choice among the various “Types” of PFDs, it would be preferable for recreational boaters and the like on inland waters to carry at least Type II PFDs on board, and further, to wear such PFDs at all times.
Regarding infants and toddlers, PFDs must provide additional support as these children do not know how to swim and often lack the awareness to refrain from actions which may cause the PFD to become unattached. Frightened children flail about in an attempt to regain a certain comfort zone. As a result loosely connected or fitting PFDs become partially or completely separated from the infant wearer. Further, it is important for an infant PFD to turn the infant to a face-up position without effort from the child.
There has, however, been a persistent problem in the art relating to adequate support in connection of the wearer to a Type II PFD when it is being worn by a person with little or no experience swimming or in the water who may be helpless to save themselves without a PFD, namely, infants, children, and others similarly situated. Presumably, this is also true of Type I PFDs as well. This discussion will refer more to Type II PFDs but its teachings are not so limited.
More in particular, with all of the known Type II PFDs, there is a tendency for the PFD to “ride up” from the intended position about the torso of the wearer. This “ride-up” tendency creates a situation where an inexperienced wearer is more susceptible to becoming separated from the PFD. Further, the cause for the tendency to ride up is a loose fitting design. The problem of separation from the PFD is exacerbated by this loose fitting design. This is particularly troublesome where infants or inexperienced swimmers are involved.
Accordingly, there remains a need in the art for a PFD which not only meets the lifesaving criteria of all the USCG for a Type II device, but which supports the wearer in a face up position and is securely fastened to the body of the wearer such that the wearer may not easily be separated therefrom. Ideally, any such PFD should permit the wearer freedom of movement even when immersed in water. Any such PFD should also be relatively simple in construction, inexpensive to manufacture, and capable of enabling a person to determine easily how to don the PFD, so that it may be readily donned in a short period of time.
SUMMARY OF INVENTION
The personal flotation device of the present invention is primarily for use with an infant or a person weighing less than 30 pounds. However, adjustments as to scale may be used for wearers of larger dimensions and the teachings of this invention are not so limited. A personal flotation device has a shell defining a cavity having a first portion, a second portion, and a third portion. A first buoyant element is disposed in the first portion of the cavity. A second buoyant element is disposed in the second portion of the cavity. An opening is defined by a penannular portion and a gap defined between a first end and a second end of the penannular portion. The opening is generally disposed between the first and second portions of the shell and is adapted to receive and retain a first portion of a wearer's body. The third portion extends from the first portion, opposite the second portion and is connected to the second portion. The first and second buoyant elements are relatively movable about the opening for installation on and removable from the wearer's body
Carter David
Steger Ralph E.
Avila Stephen
Hedstrom Corporation
Wedder Price Kaufman & Kammholz
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