Personal floatation device

Abstract

Various exemplary embodiments of the present invention would provide a back floatation panel comprising an inner panel and an outer panel. The inner panel and the outer panel would be joined to each other in such a way as to allow “bellowed” expansion of a space, or a “sleeve,” in between the inner and outer panels. The bellowed expansion space between the inner and outer panels would be adapted for accommodating, for example, a hydration bladder and/or an insert of high density polyethylene (“HDPE”) plastic for protecting the wearer's back. The inner and outer panels would be joined in such a way as to provide a pathway through which a hydration tube can be inserted. Various exemplary embodiments of the present invention would provide differentially cut fabric panels for covering buoyancy panels. An outer fabric panel, comprising an outer panel surface area, would be used to cover an outer surface of a buoyancy panel. An inner fabric panel, comprising an inner panel surface area, would be used to cover an inner surface of the buoyancy panel. In various exemplary embodiments, the outer panel surface area would be greater than inner panel surface area. That is, the outer panel would comprise a greater number of square inches of fabric than will the inner panel. Various embodiments of the present invention would also provide slit buoyancy panels to allow the buoyancy panels to contour over three-dimensional shapes. Various exemplary embodiments of the present invention would provide a personal floatation device with a belt pivotally connected to a back panel of the personal floatation device. Various embodiments of the present invention would provide front floatation panels for a personal floatation device comprising an upper buoyancy panel, a lower buoyancy panel, and a baffle system separating the upper buoyancy panel from the lower buoyancy panel.

1 . A floatation panel for a personal floatation device, said floatation panel comprising: 
 a first panel of fabric having a first surface area and a peripheral edge;    a second panel of fabric having a second surface area and a peripheral edge;    a panel of buoyant material, the panel of buoyant material comprising an outer surface, an inner surface, a peripheral edge, and a plurality of slits that pierce the panel of buoyant material from the outer surface to the inner surface, wherein the plurality of slits form a plurality of ribs between the slits;    wherein the panel of buoyant material is loosely encased between the first panel of fabric and the second panel of fabric, wherein the first panel of fabric is disposed to cover the outer surface of the panel of buoyant material, and wherein the second panel of fabric is disposed to cover the inner surface.    
   
   
       2 . The floatation panel of  claim 1 , wherein each slit of the plurality of slits is substantially parallel to each other slit of the plurality of slits.  
   
   
       3 . The floatation panel of  claim 1 , wherein the panel of buoyant material is encased between the first panel of fabric and the second panel of fabric in a substantially relaxed state, such that the ribs formed between the slits are substantially flat.  
   
   
       4 . The floatation panel of  claim 1 , wherein each slit of the plurality of slits is substantially parallel to each other slit of the plurality of slits, and wherein the ribs are disposed to translate away from each other when the floatation panel is disposed over a curved object.  
   
   
       5 . The floatation panel of  claim 1 , wherein the peripheral edge of the first panel of fabric is attached to the peripheral edge of the second panel of fabric.  
   
   
       6 . The floatation panel of  claim 5 , wherein each slit of the plurality of slits is substantially parallel to each other slit of the plurality of slits, and wherein the peripheral edge of the panel of buoyant material is free of slits.  
   
   
       7 . The floatation panel of  claim 6 , wherein the ribs are disposed to translate away from each other when the panel of buoyant material is disposed over a curved object.  
   
   
       8 . The floatation panel of  claim 1 , wherein the floatation panel comprises a front floatation panel selected from the group consisting of: a right front floatation panel of a personal floatation device, and a left front floatation panel of the personal floatation device.  
   
   
       9 . A back floatation panel for a personal floatation device, said back floatation panel comprising: 
 a back inner floatation panel in a first plane, the back inner floatation panel comprising a top, a bottom, a left side and a right side, the back inner floatation panel further comprising a back inner buoyancy panel encased in a back inner floatation panel fabric cover;    a back outer floatation panel in a second plane parallel to the first plane, the back outer floatation panel comprising a top, a bottom, a left side and a right side, the back outer floatation panel further comprising a back outer buoyancy panel encased in a back outer floatation panel fabric cover;    a first connection between at least a portion of the top of the back inner floatation panel and at least a portion of the top of the back outer floatation panel;    a second connection between at least a portion of the bottom of the back inner floatation panel and at least a portion of the bottom of the back outer floatation panel; and    a third connection between at least a portion of a first side of the back inner floatation panel and at least a portion of a first side of the back outer floatation panel, wherein the first side of the back inner floatation panel is selected from a group consisting of the left side of the back inner floatation panel and the right side of the back inner floatation panel.    
   
   
       10 . The back floatation panel for a personal floatation device of  claim 9 , said back floatation panel further comprising: 
 a fourth connection between at least a portion of a second side of the back inner floatation panel and at least a portion of a second side of the back outer floatation panel; wherein the second side of the back inner floatation panel is selected from a group consisting of the left side of the back inner floatation panel and the right side of the back inner floatation panel.    
   
   
       11 . A floatation panel for a personal floatation device, said floatation panel comprising: 
 a panel of buoyant material, the panel of buoyant material comprising an outer surface, an inner surface and a peripheral edge;    a first panel of fabric having a first surface area and a peripheral edge;    a second panel of fabric having a second surface area and a peripheral edge, wherein the second surface area is smaller than the first surface area;    a piece of fabric;    wherein the first panel is disposed to cover the outer surface of the panel of buoyant material, wherein the second panel is disposed to cover the inner surface, wherein the piece of fabric is disposed to cover the peripheral edge of the panel of buoyant material, wherein the piece of fabric connects the peripheral edge of the first panel to the peripheral edge of the second panel, and wherein the piece of fabric connecting the peripheral edge of the first panel to the peripheral edge of the second panel bows the buoyant material.    
   
   
       12 . The floatation panel for a personal floatation device of  claim 11 , wherein the panel of buoyant material further comprises at least one slice that pierces the panel of buoyant material from the outer surface to the inner surface.  
   
   
       13 . The floatation panel for a personal floatation device of  claim 11 , wherein the peripheral edge of the panel of buoyant material is tapered.  
   
   
       14 . A floatation panel for a personal floatation device, said floatation panel comprising: 
 an upper buoyancy panel comprising an outer surface, an inner surface, and a peripheral edge;    a lower buoyancy panel comprising an outer surface, an inner surface and a peripheral edge;    a fabric shell encasing the upper buoyancy panel and the lower buoyancy panel, wherein the fabric shell comprises an outer fabric panel and an inner fabric panel, wherein the outer fabric panel comprise a first surface area, wherein the inner fabric panel comprises a second surface area, and wherein the first surface area of the outer fabric panel is larger than the second surface area of the inner fabric panel; and    a baffle system disposed between the upper buoyancy panel and the lower buoyancy panel.    
   
   
       15 . The floatation panel of  claim 14 , wherein the baffle system comprises at least one strap, wherein the at least one strap comprises a first end, a middle portion, a connection portion, and a second end, wherein the first end of the at least one strap is connected to a baffle-supporting fabric panel selected from a group consisting of: the outer fabric panel and the inner fabric panel.  
   
   
       16 . The floatation panel of  claim 15 , wherein the middle portion of the strap is disposed across a strapped buoyancy panel selected from a group consisting of: the upper buoyancy panel and the lower buoyancy panel.  
   
   
       17 . The floatation panel of  claim 16 , wherein the connection portion of the at least one strap is connected to the baffle-supporting fabric panel, and wherein the second end of the at least one strap is connected to the other fabric panel.  
   
   
       18 . The floatation panel for a personal floatation device of  claim 14 , wherein the upper buoyancy panel comprises at least one slice that pierces the buoyancy panel from the outer surface to the inner surface.  
   
   
       19 . A personal floatation device, said personal floatation device comprising: 
 a back floatation panel comprising a right side and a left side;    a right pivot connection attached to the right side of the back floatation panel;    a left pivot connection attached to the left side of the back floatation panel;    a right pivot belt portion attached to the right pivot connection, the right pivot belt portion comprising a right buckle device; and    a left pivot belt portion attached to the left pivot connection, the left pivot belt portion comprising a left buckle device.    
   
   
       20 . A personal floatation device, said personal floatation device comprising: 
 a front left floatation panel;    a front right floatation panel;    a back floatation panel; and    a belt pivotally connected to the back floatation panel.