Variably configured inflatable personal flotation device also serving as an emergency distress marker

Abstract

A pleomorphic inflatable device that first helps the victim through the need for corrective turning during water entry by placing buoyancy high on the chest optimizing corrective turning. After the victim is stabilized face up the bladder then can be reconfigured to provide incremental improvements in freeboard and surface positioning. The bladder can be removed and converted into a distress marker to signal a rescuer and mark the victim's location. The buoyancy of the marker can also be converted into a fully submerged bladder providing optimal freeboard to assist scanning for other vessels while enhancing lateral stability that supports a Heat Escape Lessening Posture position. If the seaway is growing increasingly rough the bladder can be reconfigured to once again prioritize corrective turning over vertical freeboard.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A variably configured inflatable personal flotation device, comprising: 
 an inflatable bladder having an elongated substantially cylindrical shape in an unrestricted inflated state; and    means for inflating the inflatable bladder.    wherein once inflated the bladder can be in an unrestricted elongated configuration to serve a marker or restricted and configured to serve as a thoracic personal flotation device by aiding in corrective turning of a user's head out of the water, as a yoke collar personal flotation by providing buoyancy behind the user's head to increase freeboard or as a life ring to generate increased vertical freeboard.    
     
     
         2 . The variably configured inflatable personal flotation device of  claim 1  wherein said inflatable bladder includes a first inflatable chamber and a second inflatable chamber and said means for inflating includes a first inflator in communication with said first inflatable chamber and a second inflator in communication with said second inflatable chamber.  
     
     
         3 . The variably configured inflatable personal flotation device of  claim 2  wherein said first inflator is an oral inflator/deflator and said second inflator is a compressed gas inflation assembly.  
     
     
         4 . The variably configured inflatable personal flotation device of  claim 3  wherein said compressed gas inflation assembly is water activated.  
     
     
         5 . The variably configured inflatable personal flotation device of  claim 1  further including means for removably attaching the inflatable bladder to a garment.  
     
     
         6 . The variably configured inflatable personal flotation device of  claim 1  further including an adjustable connection assembly attached to said inflatable bladder; wherein said adjustable connection assembly comprising: 
 a first portion of a connector attached approximate to a first end of said inflatable bladder;  
 an adjustable strap attached approximate to a second opposite end of said inflatable bladder; and  
 a second portion of the connector attached to the adjustable strap, said second portion of the connector mating with first portion of the connector.  
 
     
     
         7 . The variably configured inflatable personal flotation device of  claim 1  further including a reversible mating assembly for connecting a first portion of the inflatable bladder to a second portion of the inflatable bladder.  
     
     
         8 . The variably configured inflatable personal flotation device of  claim 7  wherein said reversible mating assembly includes a first zipper track disposed along a first external edge portion and a second zipper track disposed along a second external edge portion, wherein the first zipper track and the second zipper track are retained together by an attached pull zipper.  
     
     
         9 . The variably configured inflatable personal flotation device of  claim 8  wherein the location of said first zipper track and said second zipper track cause a first end of said inflatable bladder and a second end of said inflatable bladder to expand outward when said inflatable bladder is inflated.  
     
     
         10 . The variably configured inflatable personal flotation device of  claim 6  further comprising a reversible mating assembly which includes a first zipper track disposed along a first external edge portion and a second zipper track disposed along a second external edge portion, wherein the first zipper track and the second zipper track are retained together by an attached pull zipper.  
     
     
         11 . The variably configured inflatable personal flotation device of  claim 1  further comprising: 
 a plurality of loops disposed along a side edge portion beginning approximate to one end of said inflatable bladder; and  
 a fastener attached approximate to the opposite end of said inflatable bladder for attachment to one of said plurality of loops.  
 
     
     
         12 . The variably configured inflatable personal flotation device of  claim 1  further comprising a light assembly including a light member attached approximate to one end of the inflatable bladder.  
     
     
         13 . The variably configured inflatable personal flotation device of  claim 1  further comprising an audio assembly attached to the inflatable bladder.  
     
     
         14 . The variably configured inflatable personal flotation device of  claim 1  further comprising means for attaching a ballast member to said inflatable bladder.  
     
     
         15 . The variably configured inflatable personal flotation device of  claim 5  wherein said garment is a buoyancy compensator, fishing bib, wader, jacket, wetsuit or swimsuit.