Vest personal flotation device saver

Abstract

A vest-type personal flotation device saver includes: (a) a main body comprising: (1) a saver pillow portion, (2) two substantially mirror image saver tail portions extending from the pillow portion, and (3) a central open neck, (4) a gap extending down from the open neck between two closed sides of the tail portions, (5) a closed tail end pocket at the end of each saver tail portion, and (6) three closable, adjacent sides of the main body; (b) a releasable closure mechanism on the main body; (c) a releasable saver waist strap device attached to the saver tail portion; and (d) a locking mechanism on the main body adjacent the closure mechanism; and preferably (e) a conversion grab strap, (f) a storage pocket, and (g) a conversion flotation liner; wherein the main body has open and closed positions. This simplified abstract is not intended to limit, and should not be interpreted as limiting, the scope of the claims.

1 . A combination personal flotation device and vest personal flotation device saver, the personal flotation device saver comprising: (a) a main body comprising: (1) a saver pillow portion, (2) two substantially mirror image saver tail portions extending from the saver pillow portion, and (3) a central open neck, (4) a gap extending down from the open neck between two closed sides of the tail portions, and (5) three closable, adjacent sides of the main body; (b) a releasable closure mechanism on each of the three closable, adjacent sides of the main body; (c) a releasable saver waist strap device, a portion of which is attached to the saver tail portion; (d) a conversion system comprising (1) a releasable conversion connector device attached to a closed end of each of the saver tail portions, (2) at least two conversion grab straps attached to the main body, and (3) a conversion flotation liner that comprises a plurality of floatable conversion flotation liner sections; and (e) a locking mechanism on the main body, the locking mechanism being adjacent the closure mechanism; wherein the main body has an open position in which the closure mechanism is open, and a closed position in which the closure mechanism is closed. 
   
   
       2 . The combination according to  claim 1 , wherein the closure mechanism comprises a plurality of hook and loop strips, a first portion of the hook and loop strips being attached along an edge of a top section of the main body, a second, corresponding portion of the hook and loop strips being attached along an edge of a bottom section of the main body; corresponding portions of the hook and loop strips being removably attached to one another when the personal flotation device saver is in the closed position. 
   
   
       3 . The combination according to  claim 2 , wherein at least one top flap of the personal flotation device saver is closed over a corresponding bottom flap of the personal flotation device saver when the personal flotation device saver is in the closed position. 
   
   
       4 . The combination according to  claim 2 , wherein the saver pillow portion comprises at least two hook and loop tabs at each corner of the saver pillow portion, each set of two of the at least two hook and loop tabs forming a boxed corner on the saver pillow portion. 
   
   
       5 . The combination according to  claim 2 , wherein the locking mechanism comprises a set of locking holes on at least two sides of the personal flotation device saver, and a locking strip extending through each set of locking holes. 
   
   
       6 . The combination according to  claim 1 , wherein the closure mechanism is at least one zipper, the main body further comprising an accessible locking mechanism storage pocket. 
   
   
       7 . The combination according to  claim 6 , wherein the locking mechanism comprises a locking strip; the at least one zipper being closed and locked by the locking strip, the locking strip extending through a hole in a zipper pull of the at least one zipper and at least one locking hole in the main body. 
   
   
       8 . The combination according to  claim 1 , further comprising: a closed tail end pocket at an end of each of the saver tail portions, a weight strip attached in each tail end pocket of each saver tail portion, and at least two drain holes in each tail end pocket. 
   
   
       9 . The combination according to  claim 1 , wherein the personal flotation device is a Type II personal flotation device, the conversion connector device comprises at least one conversion connector strap and a corresponding conversion connector strap buckle in a normally closed position, and the combination is a Type IV personal flotation device ready for immediate use. 
   
   
       10 . The combination according to  claim 1 , wherein the personal flotation device is a Type II personal flotation device, the conversion connector device comprises at least one conversion connector strap and a corresponding conversion connector strap buckle in an unsnapped position, and the combination is a Type II personal flotation device readily available for use. 
   
   
       11 . The combination according to  claim 1 , wherein the personal flotation device is a Type I personal flotation device, the conversion connector device is in a normally closed position, and the combination is a Type IV personal flotation device ready for immediate use. 
   
   
       12 . The combination according to  claim 1 , wherein the personal flotation device is a Type I personal flotation device, the conversion connector device comprises at least one conversion connector strap and a corresponding conversion connector strap buckle in an unsnapped position, and the combination is a Type I personal flotation device readily available for use. 
   
   
       13 . A vest personal flotation device saver, comprising: (a) a main body comprising: (1) a saver pillow portion, (2) two substantially mirror image saver tail portions extending from the pillow portion, and (3) a central open neck, (4) a gap extending down from the open neck between two closed sides of the tail portions, (5) a closed tail end pocket at the end of each saver tail portion, and (6) three closable, adjacent sides of the main body; (b) a releasable closure mechanism on each of the three closable, adjacent sides of the main body; (c) a releasable saver waist strap device, a portion of which is attached to the tail portion; and (d) a locking mechanism on the main body adjacent the closure mechanism; wherein the main body has an open position in which the closure mechanism is open, and a closed position in which the closure mechanism is closed. 
   
   
       14 . The personal flotation device saver according to  claim 13 , further comprising: (e) a releasable conversion connector device attached to a closed end of each of the saver tail portions; (f) at least two conversion grab straps, each having opposite ends attached to the main body; and (g) a conversion flotation liner that comprises a plurality of floatable conversion flotation liner sections within the personal flotation device saver. 
   
   
       15 . The personal flotation device saver according to  claim 13 , wherein the closure mechanism comprises a plurality of hook and loop strips, a first portion of the hook and loop strips being attached along a first edge of the main body, a second, corresponding portion of the hook and loop strips being attached along a second edge of the main body; the corresponding first and second portions of the hook and loop strips being removably attachable to one another. 
   
   
       16 . The personal flotation device saver according to  claim 13 , wherein the closure mechanism is a zipper, the locking mechanism comprising a locking strip; the zipper being closed and locked by the locking strip, the locking strip extending through a hole in a zipper pull of the zipper and at least one locking hole in the main body. 
   
   
       17 . The personal flotation device saver according to  claim 13 , further comprising a Type II personal flotation device within the personal flotation device saver, where the personal flotation device saver/personal flotation device combination is itself a Type II personal flotation device. 
   
   
       18 . The personal flotation device saver according to  claim 13 , further comprising a Type I personal flotation device within the personal flotation device saver, where the personal flotation device saver/personal flotation device combination is itself a Type I personal flotation device. 
   
   
       19 . The personal flotation device saver according to  claim 15 , further comprising least two top flaps on opposite sides of the personal flotation device saver, and at least two bottom flaps on opposite sides of the personal flotation device saver; wherein one of the at least two top flaps is closed over a corresponding one of the at least two bottom flaps when the main body is in the closed position, and the saver pillow portion comprises at least two hook and loop tabs that form boxed corners on the saver pillow portion. 
   
   
       20 . The personal flotation device saver according to  claim 13 , wherein the saver pillow portion comprises at least one seam that forms at least two boxed corners on the pillow portion.