Abstract: A life vest of the inflatable type is disclosed in which the inflation cell or cells are combined with a back panel and a single-attachment, single-adjustment, waist strap. The single-attachment waist strap may be permanent, or alternatively separable. The waist strap is stitched or otherwise non-movably connected to the inflatable cell or cells, and has a sliding connection to the back panel, for self-adjustability when tightened about the waist of the user, in a preferred embodiment.

Abstract: A rescue transportation device having an inflatable support member with a generally horizontally extending main section and an inclined section adjacent to one end of the main section extending upwardly and outwardly therefrom. A cover is adapted to extend about the inflatable support member and is capable of placement on and off the inflatable support member by way of a slot means defined therein to facilitate fitting. A wide open mesh head restraint device is selectively attachable with respect to the cover to receive a user's head and hold it fixedly with respect to the main support member. A lower body restraint device is also attachable with respect to the cover and is adapted to receive and selectively hold the user's lower body with respect to the inflatable support member.

Abstract: A life raft, having a floor joined at its periphery to a flotation member, is formed with a flexibly-walled, depending, correspondingly water ballast chamber generally parallel and contiguous to the flotation member. The chamber may be compartmented for retention of the water ballast as a distributed stabilizing mass, and extends about a wholly open center area that underlies all or the greatest part of the floor, thus to concentrate the ballast below the peripheral flotation member as a further aid to stability.Ports are provided in the walls of the chamber, the openings of at least the outer wall being continuously open to the flow of water therethrough. In one form of the invention the openings of the inner side wall are check-valved to exhaust air from the center space, creating a partial vacuum that increases the stability of the raft.