Survival belt

Abstract

A multi-purpose survival belt includes an elongated strap having a sealable cavity along its length and configured for storage and retrieval of a thin, foldable sheet. The cavity is sealable by means of a zipper or Velcro® loop-type arrangement. The thin material may be in the form of a body insulating sheet, rope, wire saws and the like. The belt includes a sealable buckle configured for storage and retrieval of selected implements. The belt provides convenient and immediate access for implements stored in the various portions of the belt. The belt uses a conventional locking hook and aperture arrangement for cinching about a wearer.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A survival belt comprising a flexible strap having an engagement end and a buckle end, said flexible strap having a sealable container portion extending substantially between the engagement end and the buckle end.  
     
     
         2 . The belt of  claim 1  wherein the strap comprises two attached together segments, the sealable container portion being sandwiched between one segment and the other segment of the strap.  
     
     
         3 . The belt of  claim 2  wherein one segment of the strap has two open edges along the length thereof and a zipper attached to said edges and configured to draw the edges together in a sealing fashion when the zipper is closed and to release the edges apart when the zipper is open so as to provide access to an interior of the container portion.  
     
     
         4 . The belt of  claim 2  wherein one segment of the strap has two open edges along the length thereof adapted to be releasably locked together by a fastener comprising a hook strip and a loop strip attached to respective ones of said edges such that pressing the edges together causes the hook strip and loop strip to engage and lock together and drawing the edges apart causes the fastener to release the edges apart so as to provide access to an interior of the container portion.  
     
     
         5 . The belt of  claim 2  wherein the container portion contains a removable sheet.  
     
     
         6 . The belt of  claim 5  wherein the removable sheet comprises a water repellent relatively thin material.  
     
     
         7 . The belt of  claim 5  wherein the removable sheet comprises a heat insulating material.  
     
     
         8 . The belt of  claim 5  wherein the removable sheet comprises a heat repellent material.  
     
     
         9 . The belt of  claim 2  wherein the container portion is sized to receive and contain a relatively thin flexible implement.  
     
     
         10 . The belt of  claim 1  wherein the buckle end comprises a buckle attached to the flexible strap, the buckle defining a receptacle portion sized and adapted to store selected implements.  
     
     
         11 . The belt of  claim 10  wherein the receptacle portion includes a removable face plate configured to cover the receptacle portion in a sealing fashion.  
     
     
         12 . The belt of  claim 11  wherein the face plate includes a spring-loaded lock adapted to be releasably locked in place over the receptacle portion, comprising a spring anchored to the face plate, the spring having movable complimentary arms each arm having an end portion positioned to be in alignment with mating receiving apertures in the receptacle portion, said apertures adapted to receive respective end portions in a locking manner when the face plate is positioned to seal the receptacle portion.  
     
     
         13 . The belt of  claim 12  wherein the receptacle portion has a receiving orifice and the face plate includes a locking tab positioned to be in locking engagement with the orifice when the face plate is positioned to seal the receptacle portion.  
     
     
         14 . The belt of  claim 1  wherein the engagement end includes a series of apertures oriented along a length of the belt and wherein the buckle includes a locking hook positioned and sized to engage a selected aperture so as to cinch the belt to be secure about a wearer.  
     
     
         15 . A survival belt comprising strap means for encircling a wearer, the strap means comprising a series of longitudinally positioned openings located at one end of the strap means, buckle means located at the other end of the strap means and adapted to engage a selected one of the openings so as to secure the belt about a wearer, the buckle means comprising receptacle means for storing implements and detachable plate means for sealing engagement with a receptacle means to maintain the implements within the receptacle means, said plate means being detachable for providing access to the receptacle means and container means extending longitudinally along a portion of the belt for storing implements therein said container means including sealing means for sealing and unsealing the container means.  
     
     
         16 . A survival belt comprising strap means for encircling a wearer, said strap means comprising a series of longitudinally positioned apertures located at one end of the strap means, buckle means located at the other end of the strap means and adapted to engage a selected one of the openings so as to secure the belt about a wearer and container means extending longitudinally along a portion of the strap means for storing implements therein said container means including sealing means for sealing and unsealing the container means.  
     
     
         17 . A survival belt comprising strap means for cinching about a wearer, buckle means for releasable engagement with the strap means and container means extending along a portion of the strap means for storing implements therein, said container means including sealing means for sealing and unsealing the container means.