Personal flotation device
AssigneeFT Systems, Inc.
InventorsJeffrey R. Betz, Michael J. Lobsinger
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A personal flotation device may include a chest portion, an abdominal portion, and a connecting portion positioned between the chest portion and the abdominal portion. The width of the connecting portion may be smaller than the width of both the chest portion and the abdominal portion. The connecting portion may extend only from a center region of the chest portion. The chest portion, abdominal portion and connecting portion may be arranged to together form an approximately I-shaped portion. The personal flotation device may be secured to a garment.
Claims28
A personal flotation device, comprising:
- a chest portion having a top region and a bottom region;
- an abdominal portion;
- and
- a connecting portion positioned between the bottom region of the chest portion and the abdominal portion and extending only from a center region of the chest portion, wherein the width of the connecting portion is smaller than the width of both the chest portion and the abdominal portion, wherein the connecting portion is configured in a manner to extend along a wearer's sternum such that the connecting portion does not extend substantially along a wearer's ribs, wherein the width of the connecting portion is between approximately 1-5 inches, and the ratio of the width of the connecting portion to the width of the chest portion is at least approximately 1:3;
- wherein the chest portion, the abdominal portion and the connecting portion are each configured to be buoyant, and
- wherein the ratio of the width of the connecting portion to the width of the abdominal portion is at least approximately 1:3.
A personal flotation device, comprising:
- a chest portion having a top region and a bottom region;
- an abdominal portion;
- and
- a connecting portion positioned between the bottom region of the chest portion and the abdominal portion and extending only from a center region of the chest portion, wherein a width of the connecting portion is smaller than a width of both the chest portion and the abdominal portion, wherein the connecting portion is configured in a manner to extend along a wearer's sternum such that the connecting portion does not extend substantially along a wearer's ribs, wherein the width of the connecting portion is between approximately 1-5 inches, and a ratio of the width of the connecting portion to the width of the chest portion is at least approximately 1:3;
- wherein a bottom edge of the chest portion angles upwardly toward a centerline of the device;
- and
- wherein the chest portion, the abdominal portion and the connecting portion are each configured to be buoyant.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.