Free Float Personal Floatation Device

Abstract

A comfortable personal floatation device that provides adjustable buoyancy to a wearer for water activities. One or more foam-like tubes are worn on the upper back of the wearer. The wearer places an arm in each of the respective arm holes and secures the floatation device with an attachment piece across the chest. The floatation device is can be configured for many applications, is lightweight, easy to use, and does not restrict movement of the wearer's arms or legs.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to personal floatation devices. More particularly, the present invention relates to personal floatation devices that are worn on or about the shoulders and chest.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Personal floatation devices are generally worn by individuals engaging in water activities, and are designed to increase the wearer's buoyancy in the water, thereby enabling the user to focus less on staying afloat. Personal floatation devices typically are formed in the shape of a vest to cover the wearer's torso and have two armholes for receiving the wearer's arms, and allow their hands to remain unencumbered.

Unfortunately, many of these vests are often unused by the individuals that would benefit the most from their assistance because they are restrictive, tend to rise up toward the neck, and are uncomfortable, especially in warm weather. The primary purpose of these vests is to keep the person afloat with their head above water. This task is usually accomplished by keeping the body substantially vertical in the water, so that their head and face remain above water.

Vests that keep the persons head above water tend to be bulky and hamper the normal range of arm motion necessary for swimming. Beginning swimmers and young children love to play in the water, but do not like the discomfort, chafing and encumbrance of wearing a vest or floatation device that dampers their fun.

Ideally, personal floatation devices should be worn at all times when a person is in the water, although it is not currently required. Even expert swimmers have drowned in a pool due to accidents, leg cramps, and other circumstances beyond their control. It is always advised that you should never swim alone, but when swimming at home in a personal or private pool, using the “buddy system” is not always an option. Having a personal floatation device like the free float alleviates many of the fears of swimming alone without the discomfort of prior art devices.

Some of the shortcomings of using a prior art personal floatation device include: restriction of swim related movements, improper fit for various sizes and shapes of swimmers, bulkiness of the device, and a lack of stylishness or designer appeal. Many other prior art devices also become smelly and moldy from repeated use in the water, thereby further decreasing their likelihood of being used.

An example is U.S. Pat. No. 5,928,046, for a “floatation aid”. This invention discloses a straight strip of closed cell foam material bent into a U shape, wherein the swimmers head/neck rests on the bend of the U, and the two sides rest against the swimmers chest and is secured by straps around the back. The U shaped bend behind the neck may serve to keep the persons head above water when floating on their back, but can also be quite restricting of the swimming movements when swimming on their stomach, and even restrict head movements necessary to lift their face out of the water.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,364,729 discloses a personal flotation device having both a front and back buoyant body portion connected together by straps over the shoulders and around the upper torso. This combination of a front and back portion limits the sizes of wearers, and does not allow effective contouring to the various shapes of individuals. Larger persons, and very small children would be difficult to fit comfortably between the two floatation portions.

Therefore, there remains a need for an improved and more comfortable personal floatation device that allows a beginning swimmer to remain afloat while learning how to swim, and allows an experienced swimmer or exerciser to increase their buoyancy and focus more on their technique or exercise rather than staying afloat.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The free float is an easy to use and comfortable to wear floatation device that provides an adjustable fit for various sizes and shapes, as well as adjustable buoyancy. The enhanced durability of the free float is provided by the plastic sleeves or end caps inside the tubes that overlap the inner edge of the tube to prevent the wearing away of the inner edges of the foam from the movement of the connecting ropes as they are pulled against the inner edge of the tube.

The free float is comprised of one or more foam tubes worn on the upper back of the swimmer by placing their left and right arms through respective arm holes and securing the free float to their body with a strap across the chest. If additional buoyancy is desired, additional foam tubes can be added to the free float by connecting the ropes to the rings attached to each end of the foam tube. The simplicity of design, and the minimalization of materials aids in the comfortability to the wearer. The free float is suitable for all ages, lightweight and unrestricting, and is barely noticeable when engaging in water activities.

To resolve the drawbacks associated with the prior art, it is an object of the present invention to provide swimmers, water exercisers, and other users with an improved, personal floatation device that increases the users buoyancy.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a floatation device with adjustable straps to accommodate a wide range of sizes and shapes of individuals while maintaining maximum comfort for the wearer.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a lightweight and easy to use personal floatation device that is inexpensive to manufacture.

It is still a further object of the present invention to provide a personal floatation device that can be configured to provide an adjustable level of buoyancy depending on the weight of the wearer, or the amount of buoyancy desired.

It is also an object of the present invention to provide a floatation device that is not bulky, easy to store, and easy to transport.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a floatation device that is comfortable enough that it does not have to be removed when the wearer takes a break from the water, and can be worn when eating, lounging by the pool, or going to the restroom.

It is also an object of the present invention to provide a personal floatation device that can be incorporated into water vehicles, cruise ships and aircraft chairs in cases of emergency.

These and additional objects of the present inventions may be determined from a review of the instant disclosure, disclosing a personal floatation device that is both comfortable for the user, and easy to use.

Other objects, advantages and features of the present invention will become apparent upon a consideration of the following detailed description, when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. The brief description sets forth broadly, the more important features of the present disclosure so that the detailed description that follows may be better understood, and so that the present contributions to the art may be better appreciated.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the present invention, showing three buoyancy tubes interconnected by the attachment ropes running through the center of the tubes.

FIG. 2 is a top perspective view of an additional buoyancy tube that can be connected to the free float by attaching the ropes to the attachment ring at either the top or bottom of the free float.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the free float with attachment rings for easy attachment of additional tubes.

FIG. 4 is a front view of a person wearing an embodiment of the free float personal floatation device.

FIG. 5 is a rear view of a person wearing an embodiment of the free float personal floatation device.

FIG. 6 is a front view of a person wearing an alternate embodiment of the free float personal floatation device.

FIG. 7 is a rear view of a person wearing an alternate embodiment of the free float personal floatation device.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the free float personal floatation device incorporated into the backrest of a watercraft or aircraft chair.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In a first embodiment, the free float combines two or more substantially equal lengths of buoyant material that are loosely connected forming rows of buoyant tubes. A hollow plastic sleeve is contained within the interior of the tubes for conducting the rope or strap material that connects each tube together and forms the armholes and then leads to the front torso attachment. The other modes of carrying out the invention, without departing from the scope of the invention, will become apparent to those skilled in the art as the description proceeds.

Referring to FIGS. 1 through 5, a first embodiment of the present invention is shown. As best seen in FIG. 1, the free float pfd 10 comprises a series of foam tubes 16 that are connected together by a connecting rope 12. The connecting rope 12 also forms the left arm insert 18 and the right arm insert 20 which each have an attachment loop 22 at their end. The free float 10 is secured to the person of the wearer by the fastener 14 that secures the attachment loop 22 of the left arm insert 18 to the attachment loop 22 of the right arm insert 20. If additional buoyancy is desired, an additional buoyancy tube 30 as shown in FIG. 2 can be attached.

As shown in FIG. 4 and FIG. 5, the free float connecting rope 12 allows free movement of the arms and shoulders.

FIGS. 6 and 7 show an alternate embodiment of the free float 10 where the buoyancy tubes 16 are connected with adjustable straps 28 that goes over the shoulders and use loops in the strap to allow movement of the individual tubes, but additionally has a shorter cross strap 32 for preventing the tubes from rising too far up the back toward the neck.

FIG. 8 shows the free float 10 as incorporated in the back rest of a watercraft or aircraft chair. The foam tubes provide the cushion and back support in the chair, but are removeably inserted for use as a floatation device in case of emergency. The pull tabs 34 near the passengers left and right shoulders would be pulled open to expose free float.

Conclusion, Ramifications, and Scope

While the above descriptions contain much specificity, these should not be construed as limitations on the scope of any embodiment, but as exemplifications of the presently preferred embodiments thereof. Many other ramifications and variations are possible within the teachings of the various embodiments. For example the free float can also be used as a head and neck rest, either within or outside the water. The foam tubes can be placed behind the lower back when sitting in a pool chair or lounge chair to provide lower back support. The free float is lightweight and portable and can also be stored on cruise ships without taking up additional space by draping them across the back of pool chairs for use as back support or headrests, and then worn in the pool or used in case of an emergency for life saving purposes.

Claims

1. A personal floatation device comprising: one or more buoyancy tubes for maintaining buoyancy while in the water without additional effort by the wearer, a rope-like connecting means for connecting said buoyancy tubes to each other and the wearer, and a fastening means for securing the floatation device to the person of the wearer.

2. The personal floatation device of claim 1 wherein the buoyancy tubes are comprised of closed cell foam.

3. The personal floatation device of claim 1 wherein the rope-like connecting means is comprised of braided nylon or polyester materials.

4. The personal floatation device of claim 1, further comprising one or more plastic sleeves for insertion into the center of the buoyancy tubes to reduce frictional contact.

5. The personal floatation device of claim 1 wherein the fastening means is selected from the group consisting of: a carabiner, a plastic clip fastener, a buckle.

6. The personal floatation device of claim 2 wherein the fastening means is a screw locking carabiner.

7. The personal floatation device of claim 1, further comprising one or more end caps for insertion into the buoyancy tubes for reducing frictional contact between the connecting means and the buoyancy tube.

8. The personal floatation device of claim 1 wherein the connecting means includes an arm enclosing loop on each side of the buoyancy tubes for encircling the arms.

9. The personal floatation device of claim 8 wherein each arm encircling loop further includes an attachment loop for connecting with the fastening means.

10. The personal floatation device of claim 1 wherein the floatation device can be removeably contained within the backrest of a watercraft chair or aircraft chair.

11. The personal floatation device of claim 1 wherein the floatation device can be removeably contained within the seat of a watercraft chair or aircraft chair.

12. A personal floatation device comprising one or more buoyancy tubes that can be removably worn by a person by inserting each arm through respective left and right strap-like connecting means and securing the left and right connecting means with a fastening means on the front of their torso.

13. The device of claim 12, further comprising a cross strap for inhibiting upward movement of the buoyancy tubes.

14. The device of claim 12, wherein the buoyancy tubes are comprised of closed cell foam.

15. The personal floatation device of claim 13, further comprising one or more plastic sleeves for insertion into the center of the buoyancy tubes to reduce frictional contact.

16. The personal floatation device of claim 12, further comprising one or more split rings for connecting with the attachment means.

17. The personal floatation device of claim 12, further comprising an additional buoyancy tube and connecting means for attachment to a free float personal floatation device for increased buoyancy.

18. The personal floatation device of claim 12 wherein the floatation device can be removeably incorporated into a watercraft chair or aircraft chair.

19. The personal floatation device of claim 12 wherein the connecting means comprises adjustable straps.