Abstract: A toting apparatus can include a bucket, a combination lid and seat cushion, and a harness for carrying the apparatus while the lid covers the top opening of the bucket and the cushion is in the inflated or deflated configuration. The cushion can be formed by a drop-stitch type bladder inflatable using a common hand-operated bicycle pump. The harness can include a belt that wraps around the bucket and a pair or diametrically spaced-apart straps that adjustably and snuggly attach to a central handle structure atop the lid. Various corresponding patches of hook-and-vane style fabric fasteners allow for releasable affixation of various components of the apparatus. Thus the harness can be made of durable flexible fabric.

Abstract: A floatation garment includes a front panel formed of a front panel sheet of elastic material tapering inwardly at the front panel sheet lower end and having series of buoyant members which are laterally spaced apart and contained within the front panel sheet, and a generally horizontal front securing strap having front strap connection means at opposing strap ends and a rear panel formed of rear panel sheet also tapering inwardly at the rear panel sheet lower end and also having a generally horizontal rear securing strap having rear strap connection means at opposing strap ends positioned to connect to corresponding front strap connection means, the front and rear panel sheets preferably being interconnected at the front and rear panel sheet lower ends by an elastic connecting segment to form a single, continuous garment sheet.

Abstract: A safety seat for a child for use proximate a body of water is disclosed. The safety seat may be fixed with a vehicle, such as a boat, or used independently on a ground surface. A seat is adapted to hold the child in a seated position therein. A base engagement is fixed with a lower side of the seat and comprises a projection having therein a buoyant material in a top portion thereof. The base engagement further includes a weighted material, such as metal weights or the like, in a bottom portion thereof. A base has an open top end and is adapted to slidably receive the projection of the base engagement. If the base becomes submerged in the body of water, the seat and the base engagement slide out of the base, the weighted material maintaining the seat in an upright orientation above a surface of the water.

Abstract: A self-setting marker buoy comprising a floatation unit (20), including a hollow upper member (22), a separable end cap closure lower member (36) with a line storage spool (38) having a uniquely shaped line-trapping element (52) on its lower flange (50), anchor line (44), and anchor (68). The upper member (22) can be tapered inwardly toward the top to allow multiple upper members (22) to nest together for storage. Lower members (36) can also stack together. The line-trapping element (52) is in the shape of a disk having alternating slots (54) and spokes (56) at the perimeter thereof. When tossed onto the water, the weight of the anchor (68) causes the floatation unit (20) to tilt sufficiently to allow the release of anchor line (44) as the anchor (68) descends to the bottom of the water body. When the anchor (68) reaches the bottom, ballast (62) in the lower member (36) rights the floatation unit (20), and the line-trapping element (52) comes into effect to prevent any further release of anchor line (44).

Abstract: A vehicle seat comprising a seating substrate, an outer seat covering, and a housing containing an integrated self-inflating floatation device. The self-inflating flotation device includes one or more inflatable flotation bladders and an inflator that is activated to automatically inflate the one or more inflatable flotation bladders when the seat or a vehicle to which it is attached is immersed in water. The one or more inflatable flotation bladders are releasably received and secured within the housing when the bladders are deflated. The housing is received within the vehicle seat such that upon activation of the inflator the one more inflatable flotation bladders inflate and are completely released and detached from the housing and from the vehicle seat.

Abstract: A new chair floatation device for permitting a person, such as a child, to float comfortably in a body of water. The inventive device includes a hollow body member with a back wall portion forming a backrest, a seat portion, and a front wall portion. A pair of spaced apart leg holes extend through the front wall portion. A tray extends from the front wall and a pair of spaced apart armrests extend between the back wall portion and the front wall portion. A seat harness member 50 extends between the front wall portion 32 and the back wall portion 26 while a belt strap harness 60 is also coupled to the body member.

Abstract: A multi-purpose fishing bucket having a bucket member and a cover-seat member in which the cover-seat member includes a floatable ring, a detachably-engaged separate middle portion, and a line secured to the ring and to the middle portion such that, detached but tethered, the ring may be thrown for rescue purposes. Preferred embodiments include a line-spooling structure on the middle portion, friction fit of principal parts, and a tip-up holder member preferably removably nested within the bucket member.

Abstract: A child- or infant-sized safety seat is disclosed with relatively horizontal seat and relatively vertical back support elements designed with flotation effecting materials sufficient to keep said child or infant at the water's surface and with critically positioned and apportioned (relative to the weight of the back and seat support elements and the anticipated weight of the child) counter-weight effecting materials to result in that portion of the vertical back support element supporting the child's head and shoulders well above the water's surface. The safety seat is preferably constructed by injecting a semi-rigid, resilient polyurethane foam into a die cast mold into which the weight materials have been pre-positioned to result in the up-righting of the safety seat at the water's surface, and the foam, upon rising and curing, forms around the weighted material to fix its position.

Abstract: An inflatable recreational inner tube toy comprising a seat further including a toroid-shaped inflatable primary tube having a bottom surface, a top surface, an inner periphery defining a hollow interior, an outer periphery, a plurality of straps extended across the interior and coupled to the inner periphery, a generally-inflatable leg rest integrally coupled to and extended outwards from the outer periphery of the primary tube, and a valve for allowing the seat to be inflated and deflated; and a back rest formed of a toroid-shaped inflatable secondary tube sized smaller than the primary tube with the back rest coupled to the inner periphery of the primary tube and extended upwards therefrom and with the back rest further including a valve coupled thereto for allowing it to be inflated and deflated.

Abstract: A combination tote bag, floating chair/recliner and beach chair/pad (10) comprised of buoyant cushioned sections, all of which are covered with material (53) and are fastened together with zippers in a number of different ways for a variety of purposes. A collapsible chair frame (58) is included and is configured by placing the tubular parts together, zipping the cushions together in a flat position and, by using the headrest pocket (42), secure the cushions onto the frame. Without the frame, the cushion configuration forms a beach mat or chair pad. The carrying case can be configured to carry a substantial number of articles or be configured to a smaller size by attaching two rectangular cushions to provide storage space for flat articles such as magazines or correspondence. The carrying case is reversible and is carried by hand straps, or a shoulder strap. It becomes a back pack by detaching the shoulder strap (20) from the carrying case and attaching it to the fasteners provided on the back section (13).

Abstract: A combination seat cushion and life vest particularly adapted for use as an aircraft chair includes a generally rectangular buoyant main rear panel and a buoyant segmented front panel hingedly joined to the rear panel in substantially covering relationship thereto so as to form, in a closed position thereof, a generally rectangular cushion of generally uniform thickness and, in an open position thereof, an openable and wearable life vest sized and dimensioned to cover the rear side and front side of a user from the shoulder to approximately the waist.

Abstract: A kayak (10) is an elongated hull (12) having a hull interior (20) and an upper hull portion in which a cockpit (18) is formed for accomodating a boater in a seated position. A perimeter hull flange (22) is formed in the upper hull portion of the kayak defining a deck opening (24). A detachable pod deck (26) is carried in the deck opening. A cockpit rim (30) is formed in the pod deck defining a cockpit opening (32). A pod compartment (27) is carried in the hull interior below the pod deck generally closed and isolated from the hull interior. A cockpit seat (34) is carried in the pod compartment in which a boater may be seated. Attachment for attaching and sealing the pod deck and the upper hull portion together in an integral manner during normal kayak operation includes a retaining band (54, 94) and a sealing ring (60) sealing between hull and said pod deck against the entry of water.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a life-jacket assembly primarily intended for aircraft passengers, including a buoyant body (7) furnishing at least the principal part of the buoyancy, and straps or the like adapted to retain the life-jacket assembly in position on persons in emergency situations, said buoyant body (7) being utilized as upholstery in a chair or the like.The novel feature is that the life-jacket includes an elongated, generally flat buoyancy body (7) substantially made of buoyancy material, that the life-jacket is entirely contained in an upwardly open compartment in the back-rest of a chair where the buoyant body (7) forms at least part of the upholstery, that an end surface of the life-jacket is provided with a pull handle (6) which is accessible at the top end of the back-rest, and that the generally flat body (7) has, at some distance from that end which is provided with the pull handle, an opening (8) through which the user has to pass his head.

Abstract: A boat dingy which also serves as a cockpit while the boat is underway and as a cabin top when the boat is moored.