Abstract: A tactical flotation safety system having a tactical flotation safety vest attachment removably attached to a tactical vest. The tactical flotation safety vest attachment has two side panels adjustably attached at the back and which are secured at the front and back of the tactical vest with cover panels. The two side panels include inner flaps and outer flaps enclosing inflation bladders and inflation mechanisms. The inflation mechanisms are secured to the interiors of the side panels and connected to exterior handles. When necessary, a user may deploy the inflation bladders by pulling on the handles to activate a pressurized gas source, such as liquid carbon dioxide cartridges of the inflation mechanism thereby inflating the bladders to provide buoyancy to the user.

Abstract: A tactical flotation safety system having a tactical flotation safety vest attachment removably attached to a tactical vest. The tactical flotation safety vest attachment has two side panels adjustably attached at the back and which are secured at the front and back of the tactical vest with cover panels. The two side panels include inner flaps and outer flaps enclosing inflation bladders and inflation mechanisms. The inflation mechanisms are secured to the interiors of the side panels and connected to exterior handles. When necessary, a user may deploy the inflation bladders by pulling on the handles to activate a pressurized gas source, such as liquid carbon dioxide cartridges of the inflation mechanism thereby inflating the bladders to provide buoyancy to the user.

Abstract: A tactical flotation safety system having a tactical flotation safety vest attachment removably attached to a tactical vest. The tactical flotation safety vest attachment has two side panels adjustably attached at the back and which are secured at the front and back of the tactical vest with cover panels. The two side panels include inner flaps and outer flaps enclosing inflation bladders and inflation mechanisms. The inflation mechanisms are secured to the interiors of the side panels and connected to exterior handles. When necessary, a user may deploy the inflation bladders by pulling on the handles to activate a pressurized gas source, such as liquid carbon dioxide cartridges of the inflation mechanism thereby inflating the bladders to provide buoyancy to the user.

Abstract: A tactical flotation safety system having a tactical flotation safety vest attachment removably attached to a tactical vest. The tactical flotation safety vest attachment has two side panels adjustably attached at the back and which are secured at the front and back of the tactical vest with cover panels. The two side panels include inner flaps and outer flaps enclosing inflation bladders and inflation mechanisms. The inflation mechanisms are secured to the interiors of the side panels and connected to exterior handles. When necessary, a user may deploy the inflation bladders by pulling on the handles to activate a pressurized gas source, such as liquid carbon dioxide cartridges of the inflation mechanism thereby inflating the bladders to provide buoyancy to the user.

Abstract: A buoyancy device has a rear buoyancy area interconnected to a pair of lateral under arm buoyancy areas by a pair of front buoyancy areas, and combining to form a simulated W-shape when viewed in a plan view. The provision of the lateral or underarm buoyancy areas function to hold the user more upright and normally higher above the level of the water when in use.

Abstract: An inflatable life preserver, capable of being in an inflated state and an uninflated state, is disclosed. The life preserver includes a structural overshell which defines the size and shape of the life preserver in the inflated state and a gas retention bladder fitted within the overshell. The overshell bears the expansion force of a gas within the bladder in the inflated state. The overshell defines inflatable side portions which are confined to sides of at least a portion of a chest area of a wearer, when the life preserver is in an uninflated state, and, which extend laterally over the chest area of the wearer, when the life preserver is in an inflated state.

Abstract: A personal floatation device 10 includes a buoyant foam member 20 enclosed within inner and outer layers 52, 54 of a garment 50. The foam member 20 can be cut as an initially flat member, which can then be folded to fit around and conform to the wearer's upper torso. The folded foam member 20 is held in a folded configuration by the multi-layer outer garment 50. The buoyant foam 20 bears against the wearer's upper body to hold the head above water. The buoyant foam includes segments 38, 40 fitting over the wearer's shoulders and wings 42, 44 extending beneath the wearer's arms. This personal floatation device 10 is especially suited for use by small children.

Abstract: A dive vest that includes a torso-engaging member with a waistband, an air bladder contained throughout the torso-engaging member, beaded weight pads quickly releasable from the waistband, a scuba tank carrier plate attached to the torso-engaging member, a first stage regulator with an extended, flexible base that is permanently attached within the dive vest, an on demand/oral inflation assembly extending upwardly from the torso-engaging member, a second stage regulator assembly fluidly communicating with the first stage regulator, and an octopus second stage regulator assembly fluidly communicating with the first stage regulator and being retractable into, and extendable from, the torso-engaging member, and when retracted, is hidden in the torso-engaging member, and as a result thereof, is protected from wear and tear from, and snagging on, objects on both land and underwater and provides less resistance during a dive.

Abstract: An aquatic exercise device includes at least two specially shaped buoyant elements to be worn around the midsection of a human. The buoyant elements are affixed to a band or belt for surrounding the mid portion of the human and for securing at least two buoyant elements to the band. The buoyant elements can be located in multiple relationships on the band about the body. The exercise device can take on different shapes about the body and buoyancy characteristics in order to meet the requisite conditions, needs or desires of the user.

Abstract: Vest-like flotation garment including a buoyant work vest and a flotation unit attached to the work vest in order to enhance the buoyancy of the work vest. The work vest includes a wear-resistant surface layer and an inner lining, between which is arranged at least one elastic and shape-permanent flotation body. The flotation unit includes one or more flotation members arranged on the front part of the work vest and extending around its neck section. The flotation unit is detachably fixed to the work vest with the aid of a first fastening device, one member of which is arranged at the neck section of the work vest and the other member of which is arranged at the neck section of the flotation unit, and a second fastening device, one member of which is arranged on a portion of the flotation member spaced from the neck section and the other member of which is arranged on the front part of the work vest.

Abstract: An airplane passenger restraint system is provided that cooperates with an existing seat belt of an airplane seat where the seat belt has two straps which are releasably coupled together. The existing airline seat is typically equipped with an existing seat belt having a first female buckle end and a first male buckle end. The system includes a second male buckle end for mating connection to the first female buckle end of the seat belt and a second female buckle end for mating and releasable connection to the first male buckle end of the seat belt. A first passenger strap is coupled to the second male buckle end and the second female buckle end and extends therebetween. A second passenger strap is coupled to the second male buckle end and the second female buckle end and also extends therebetween. The system further includes a floatation tube secured around the second passenger strap.

Abstract: An aquatic exercise device includes two substantially identical flexible sheets of gas impermeable material. The sheets are sealed together to form at least two separate variably inflatable chambers having a safety valve disposed in each chamber to inflate, deflate or close the chamber. Four different embodiments of the aquatic exercise device, a cuff, a belt, a head gear and a flex device, may be used together or separately. The inflatable chambers of the aquatic exercise devices are adjusted individually to place substantially all patients in the optimal biomechanical positions while simultaneously preventing the undesirable migration of the device with respect to the body.

Abstract: A flotation supplement to a personal flotation device. The flotation supplement has an inflatable buoyancy chamber mountable upon a buoyant life vest. An air storage container is coupled to the inflatable buoyancy chamber to inflate the buoyancy chamber. The buoyancy chamber is laterally offset upon the life vest to provide asymmetric supplemental buoyancy. When not in use, the inflatable buoyancy chamber is stored in its deflated position and releasably restrained to the life vest.

Abstract: A belt that can be fitted through belt loops of a pair of trousers for holding the trousers up is equipped with a pair of inflatable bladders, one on each side of the wearer. Controllable inflating means for the bladders are mounted on the belt, and when inflated expand outwardly along respective sides of the wearer. The bladders have a closed loop structure through which the wearer can extend the arms. A tie strip is provided across the front of the two bladders to hold them tightly against the body.

Abstract: A water exercise device to be worn by a person who is desirous of acquiring increased buoyancy while exercising in water. The device includes a waist-encircling band of flexible buoyant material such as elastomeric foam through which is intertwined a flexible and inextensible belt to be strapped around the user's wait. The buoyant band extends circumferentially behind the wearer from just forward of each hip where it terminates in an enlarged lobe portion. Thus the stomach and general body area in front of the wearer are free from interference and the buoyancy of the two lobe portions and interconnecting back band tend to raise the wearer to a vertical position as opposed to a naturally occurring forward face to the water position.

Abstract: A buoyancy compensator includes a backpack assembly for holding a tank of compressed gas and an inflatable air cell which is removably attached to the backpack assembly. The backpack assembly includes a cummerbund and a shoulder harness so that the backpack assembly can be used to support a tank with or without the air cell. The cummerbund and shoulder harness support the entire weight of the tank, and the air cell is not required to support any of the load of the tank. The air cell is shaped to provide flotation in the lower back to buttocks area of the wearer and in the rib cage area.

Abstract: A floatation suit for physically disabled persons includes a jacket, pants, and outrigger floatation members. The outriggers prevent the wearer from tilting or rotating and assist in floatation. By selectively affixing long and short outriggers to both or either the jacket or pants, the degree and location of buoyancy will be controllable. A collar floatation member is attachable to the jacket to stabilize the wearer's head and neck. All components are constructed so as to allow the disabled person to float in the water for recreational and therapeutic purposes, while maintaining the wearer's body in a desired position.

Abstract: A personal flotation device is provided with auxiliary pads for partially closing the arm openings. The pads are attached to the back of the flotation device, and a strap is attached to each pad. The pads can be maintained at the lower portion of the arm openings by connecting the straps in front of the flotation device. When the straps are not connected, the pads hang freely from their attachment points at the back.