Reversible inflatable personal flotation device

Abstract

An inflatable personal flotation device that is reversible and comparatively easily to put on and secure even under difficult conditions. The device can be donned and worn with either side to the front. The personal flotation device of the present invention uses a harness rather than a belt to secure the device in place on the user. The harness preferably also includes a keeper configured to locate the strap always within reach of the user once the device is slipped over the user's head to make it easier to buckle the harness to secure the device. The reversible nature of the invention allows the user to don the device without having to contemplate which way the device should be oriented.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A reversible inflatable personal flotation device, comprising: 
 an inflatable bladder comprising a collar configured to be worn about the neck of a user and an adjoining chest portion extending down from the collar generally over the user's chest and mid-section when the device is being worn, the chest portion extending from a top part adjoining the collar to a bottom part opposite the top part;    a first strap having a first end fastened to the collar of the bladder;    a second strap operatively connected to the first strap at a point generally between the user's shoulder blades when the device is being worn and the bladder is uninflated, the second strap extending from the bottom of the chest portion of the bladder up to the first strap and back down to the bottom of the chest portion of the bladder; and    an inflator operatively coupled to the bladder.    
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second straps are discrete parts operatively coupled to one another.  
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second straps are an integral unit having first and second components operatively coupled to one another.  
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein a first end of the second strap is fastened to the bottom of the chest portion and a second end of the second strap is releasably fastened to the bottom of the chest portion.  
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the first end of the first strap is fastened to the collar of the bladder at a location that lies substantially on a centerline that divides the torso of the user into left and right sides  
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second straps are fastened to the bladder at locations generally within a plane that extends through the edge perimeter of the bladder.  
     
     
         7 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the collar includes a curved inside perimeter that fits adjacent the back of the user's neck and head when the device is being worn and an outside perimeter, the first strap fastened to the outside perimeter of the collar of the bladder and the first strap 8″-12″ long measured from the outside perimeter of the collar to the second strap.  
     
     
         8 . The device according to  claim 4 , wherein the operative connection between the first and second straps comprises the second strap slidable through a loop in the end of the first strap.  
     
     
         9 . The device according to  claim 4 , wherein the first end of the second strap or the second end of the second strap is adjustably fastened to the bottom of the chest portion such that the functional length of the second strap may be varied.  
     
     
         10 . The device according to  claim 8 , further comprising a keeper on the second strap, the keeper configured to prevent the second strap from sliding back through the loop past the location of the keeper and the keeper located 12″-18″ from the second end of the second strap.  
     
     
         11 . A reversible inflatable personal flotation device, comprising: 
 an inflatable bladder comprising a collar configured to be worn about the neck of a user and an adjoining chest portion extending down from the collar generally over the user's chest and mid-section when the device is being worn, the chest portion extending from a top part adjoining the collar to a bottom part opposite the top part;    a harness fastened to the bladder at locations generally within a plane that extends through the edge perimeter of the bladder, the harness fastened to the bladder collar at a first location and to the bottom of one side of the bladder at a second location, and the harness releasably fastened to the bottom of the other side of the bladder at a third location, and the harness configured to secure the bladder on the user; and    an inflator operatively coupled to the bladder.    
     
     
         12 . The device according to  claim 11 , wherein the harness comprises a first strap having a first end fastened to the collar of the bladder and a second strap operatively connected to the first strap at a point generally between the user's shoulder blades when the device is being worn and the bladder is uninflated, the second strap extending from the bottom of one side of the chest portion of the bladder up to the first strap and back down to the bottom of the other side of the chest portion of the bladder.  
     
     
         13 . A reversible inflatable personal flotation device, comprising: 
 an inflatable bladder comprising a collar configured to be worn about the neck of a user and an adjoining chest portion extending down from the collar generally over the user's chest and mid-section when the device is being worn, the chest portion extending from a top part adjoining the collar to a bottom part opposite the top part;    a harness configured to secure the bladder on the user;    first and second cartridges of compressed gas disposed on opposite sides of the bladder;    a user operated cartridge firing mechanism operatively coupled between each cartridge and the bladder, the firing mechanisms operable between a first position in which gas is retained in the cartridge and a second position in which gas is expelled from the cartridge into the bladder; and    a grab handle coupled to each firing mechanism for activating the firing mechanism to move from the first position to the second position, each grab handle disposed adjacent to the bladder generally in a plane that extends through the edge perimeter of the bladder.    
     
     
         14 . The device according to  claim 13 , further comprising first and second blow tubes operatively coupled to the bladder, each tube located on opposite sides of the bladder and each tube projecting up to a position that will be near the mouth of the user when the device is donned and oriented toward one or the other of the tubes.  
     
     
         15 . A reversible inflatable personal flotation device, comprising: 
 an inflatable bladder comprising 
 a collar configured to be worn about the neck of a user,  
 an adjoining chest portion extending down from the collar generally over the user's chest and mid-section when the device is being worn,  
 the collar having a curved inside perimeter that fits around the back of the user's neck and head when the device is being worn,  
 the chest portion having a top adjoining the collar and a bottom,  
 the bladder having a U-shaped outside perimeter extending along one side of the chest portion, around the collar and along the other side of the chest portion,  
 a flexible joint between the collar and the adjoining chest portion, the collar movable back and forth when the device is inflated between a first position in which the joint flexes in a first direction and the collar tilts to one side and a second position in which the joint flexes in a second direction and collar tilts to the other side;  
   a harness configured to secure the bladder on the user; and    an inflator operatively coupled to the bladder.    
     
     
         16 . The device of  claim 15 , wherein the joint comprises a localized narrow region across the bladder at the transition from the chest portion to the collar.  
     
     
         17 . A reversible inflatable personal flotation device, comprising: 
 an inflatable bladder comprising 
 a collar configured to be worn about the neck of a user,  
 an adjoining chest portion extending down from the collar generally over the user's chest and mid-section when the device is being worn,  
 the collar having a curved inside perimeter that fits around the back of the user's neck and head when the device is being worn,  
 the chest portion having a top adjoining the collar and a bottom,  
 the bladder having a U-shaped outside perimeter extending along one side of the chest portion, around the collar and along the other side of the chest portion,  
 a localized narrow region across the bladder at the transition from the chest portion to the collar;  
   a harness configured to secure the bladder on the user; and    an inflator operatively coupled to the bladder.    
     
     
         18 . The device of  claim 17 , wherein each localized narrow region is defined by a rounded indentation of the outside perimeter of the bladder at the transition from the chest portion of the bladder to the bladder collar.  
     
     
         19 . A reversible inflatable personal flotation device, comprising: 
 a generally U-shaped inflatable bladder comprising a collar configured to be worn about the neck of a user and adjoining chest portions extending down from the collar generally over the user's chest and mid-section when the device is being worn;    a first strap having a first end and a second end, the first end fastened to the bladder collar at a location that lies substantially on a centerline that divides the torso of the user into left and right sides and the second end comprising a loop disposed 8″-12″ from the first end;    a second strap extending from the bottom of the chest portion of the bladder up through the loop on the second end of the first strap and back down to the bottom of the chest portion of the bladder, the second strap having a first end fastened to the bottom part of the chest portion of the bladder and a second end releasably fastened to the bottom part of the chest portion of the bladder;    wherein the first and second straps are fastened to the bladder at locations generally within a plane that extends through an edge perimeter of the bladder;    a keeper disposed on the second strap 12″-18″ from the second end of the strap, the keeper configured to prevent the second strap from sliding back through the loop past the location of the keeper; and    an inflator operatively coupled to the bladder.    
     
     
         20 . The device according to  claim 19 , further comprising a cover defining a generally U shaped enclosure configured to hold the uninflated bladder, the enclosure characterized by two fabric panels permanently fastened together along an inside perimeter of the bladder and releasably fastened along an outside perimeter of the bladder.  
     
     
         21 . The device according to  claim 19 , wherein the inflator comprises: 
 first and second cartridges of compressed gas disposed on opposite sides of the bladder;    a user operated cartridge firing mechanism operatively coupled between each cartridge and the bladder, the firing mechanisms operable between a first position in which gas is retained in the cartridge and a second position in which gas is expelled from the cartridge into the bladder; and    a grab handle coupled to each firing mechanism for activating the firing mechanism to move from the first position to the second position, each grab handle disposed adjacent to the bladder generally in a plane that extends through the edge perimeter of the bladder.    
     
     
         22 . The device according to  claim 19 , wherein the bladder includes a flexible joint between the collar and the adjoining chest portion, the collar movable back and forth when the device is inflated between a first position in which the joint flexes in a first direction and the collar tilts to one side and a second position in which the joint flexes in a second direction and collar tilts to the other side.  
     
     
         23 . The device according to  claim 20 , further comprising mating strips of material that adhere to one another when pressed together disposed on an inside surface along an outside perimeter of the cover panels, the mating strips of material being so disposed to releasably fasten together the outside perimeter of the two cover panels.  
     
     
         24 . The device according to  claim 22 , wherein the joint comprises a localized narrow region defined by rounded indentations in the outside perimeter of the bladder at the transitions from the chest portion of the bladder to the bladder collar.