Personal location indicating attachment assembly and personal flotation lifejacket constructed therewith

Abstract

A location indicating attachment assembly for a personal flotation lifejacket includes a brightly colored, broad, flat, pliant covering formed with attachment straps to secure the covering with respect to an exterior outer surface of a back of the personal flotation life jacket. A brightly colored, broad, elongate, pliant flag is secured to the covering and extends outwardly with respect to the covering and the exterior outer surface of the back of the personal flotation life jacket, and cooperates with the covering to improve the ability of onlookers to visually identify a user wearing the personal flotation lifejacket during aquatic recreational activity, such as boating, waterskiing, or the like, and who may be floating in a body of water.

1 . A location indicating attachment assembly for a personal flotation lifejacket, comprising:
 a brightly colored, broad, flat, pliant covering including opposed inner and outer faces, opposed upper and lower ends, and opposed first and second sides extending between the opposed upper and lower ends;   the upper end having a first intermediate section and opposed first and second shoulder sections formed on either side of the first intermediate section proximate to the first and second sides, respectively, of the covering;   the lower end having a second intermediate section and opposed first and second hip sections formed on either side of the second intermediate section proximate to the first and second sides, respectively, of the covering;   a strap attached to each of the first and second shoulder sections and the first and second hip sections, each of the straps having an inner end attached to the covering and an opposed outer end;   an engagement assembly formed between the covering and the outer end of each of the straps, the engagement assemblies operable to configure the straps between open positions with respect to the covering and closed positions with respect to the covering forming engagement loops to secure a personal flotation lifejacket, including a back having an exterior outer surface, to hold and retain the covering to the back of the personal flotation lifejacket with the inner face of the covering facing the exterior outer surface of the back of the personal flotation lifejacket; and   a brightly colored, broad, elongate, pliant flag having a inner end secured to the covering at a substantially intermediate location with respect to the opposed upper and lower ends and the opposed first and second sides, and which extends outwardly with respect to the outer face of the covering to an opposed outer end.   
     
     
         2 . A location indicating attachment assembly for a personal flotation lifejacket according to  claim 1 , wherein the engagement assemblies are each a hook and loop fastener including an element thereof formed in the covering and a complementing element thereof formed in the outer end of the respective strap. 
     
     
         3 . A location indicating attachment assembly for a personal flotation lifejacket according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 the covering having a length extending from the upper end to the lower end; and   the inner end of the flag is elongate and extends along substantially the entire length of the covering from the upper end to the lower end at an intermediate position with respect to the opposed first and second sides of the covering.   
     
     
         4 . A location indicating attachment assembly for a personal flotation lifejacket according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 the covering having a width extending from the first side to the second side; and   the inner end of the flag is elongate and extends along substantially the entire width of the covering from the first side to the second side at an intermediate position with respect to the opposed upper and lower ends of the covering.   
     
     
         5 . A location indicating attachment assembly for a personal flotation lifejacket according to  claim 1 , wherein the inner end of the flag is secured to the covering with stitching. 
     
     
         6 . A location indicating attachment assembly for a personal flotation lifejacket according to  claim 1 , wherein the inner end of the flag is secured to the covering with a fastener assembly formed between the covering and the inner end of the flag. 
     
     
         7 . A location indicating attachment assembly for a personal flotation lifejacket according to  claim 6 , wherein the fastener assembly is a hook and loop fastener including an element thereof formed in the covering and a complementing element thereof formed in the inner end of the flag. 
     
     
         8 . A combination location indicating attachment assembly and personal flotation lifejacket, comprising:
 a personal flotation lifejacket, which includes a top and an opposed bottom, opposed sides, and a back, having an exterior outer surface, extending between the top and the opposed bottom and between the opposed sides;   a brightly colored, broad, flat, pliant covering including opposed inner and outer faces, opposed upper and lower ends, and opposed first and second sides extending between the opposed upper and lower ends;   the upper end having a first intermediate section and opposed first and second shoulder sections formed on either side of the first intermediate section proximate to the first and second sides, respectively, of the covering;   the lower end having a second intermediate section and opposed first and second hip sections formed on either side of the second intermediate section proximate to the first and second sides, respectively, of the covering;   a strap attached to each of the first and second shoulder sections and the first and second hip sections, each of the straps having an inner end attached to the covering and an opposed outer end;   an engagement assembly formed between the covering and the outer end of each of the straps, the engagement assemblies operable to configure the straps between open positions with respect to the covering and closed positions with respect to the covering forming engagement loops loopingly securing the personal flotation lifejacket at the top and the bottom of the personal flotation lifejacket holding and retaining the covering to the back of the personal flotation lifejacket with the inner face of the covering facing the exterior outer surface of the back of the personal flotation lifejacket and the covering extending between the top and bottom and the opposed sides of the personal flotation device; and   a brightly colored, broad, elongate, pliant flag having a inner end secured to the covering at a substantially intermediate location with respect to the opposed upper and lower ends and the opposed first and second sides, and which extends outwardly with respect to the outer face of the covering and the exterior outer surface of the back of the personal flotation lifejacket to an opposed outer end.   
     
     
         9 . A combination location indicating attachment assembly and personal flotation lifejacket according to  claim 1 , wherein the engagement assemblies are each a hook and loop fastener including an element thereof formed in the covering and a complementing element thereof formed in the outer end of the respective strap. 
     
     
         10 . A combination location indicating attachment assembly and personal flotation lifejacket according to  claim 8 , further comprising:
 the covering having a length extending from the upper end to the lower end; and   the inner end of the flag is elongate and extends along substantially the entire length of the covering from the upper end to the lower end at an intermediate position with respect to the opposed first and second sides of the covering.   
     
     
         11 . A combination location indicating attachment assembly and personal flotation lifejacket according to  claim 8 , further comprising:
 the covering having a width extending from the first side to the second side; and   the inner end of the flag is elongate and extends along substantially the entire width of the covering from the first side to the second side at an intermediate position with respect to the opposed upper and lower ends of the covering.   
     
     
         12 . A combination location indicating attachment assembly and personal flotation lifejacket according to  claim 8 , wherein the inner end of the flag is secured to the covering with stitching. 
     
     
         13 . A combination location indicating attachment assembly and personal flotation lifejacket according to  claim 8 , wherein the inner end of the flag is secured to the covering with a fastener assembly formed between the covering and the inner end of the flag. 
     
     
         14 . A combination location indicating attachment assembly and personal flotation lifejacket according to  claim 13 , wherein the fastener assembly is a hook and loop fastener including an element thereof formed in the covering and a complementing element thereof formed in the inner end of the flag. 
     
     
         15 . A combination location indicating attachment assembly and personal flotation lifejacket, comprising:
 a personal flotation lifejacket, which includes a top and an opposed bottom, opposed sides, a back, having an exterior outer surface, extending between the top and the opposed bottom and between the opposed sides, opposed shoulder straps formed at the top, and at least one securement belt formed at the bottom;   a brightly colored, broad, flat, pliant covering including opposed inner and outer faces, opposed upper and lower ends, and opposed first and second sides extending between the opposed upper and lower ends;   the upper end having a first intermediate section and opposed first and second shoulder sections formed on either side of the first intermediate section proximate to the first and second sides, respectively, of the covering;   the lower end having a second intermediate section and opposed first and second hip sections formed on either side of the second intermediate section proximate to the first and second sides, respectively, of the covering;   a strap attached to each of the first and second shoulder sections and the first and second hip sections, each of the straps having an inner end attached to the covering and an opposed outer end;   an engagement assembly formed between the covering and the outer end of each of the straps, the engagement assemblies operable to configure the straps between open positions with respect to the covering and closed positions with respect to the covering forming engagement loops loopingly securing the shoulder straps and the at least one securement belt of the personal flotation lifejacket holding and retaining the covering to the back of the personal flotation lifejacket with the inner face of the covering facing the exterior outer surface of the back of the personal flotation lifejacket and the covering extending between the top and bottom and the opposed sides of the personal flotation device; and   a brightly colored, broad, elongate, pliant flag having a inner end secured to the covering at a substantially intermediate location with respect to the opposed upper and lower ends and the opposed first and second sides, and which extends outwardly with respect to the outer face of the covering and the exterior outer surface of the back of the personal flotation lifejacket to an opposed outer end.   
     
     
         16 . A combination location indicating attachment assembly and personal flotation lifejacket according to  claim 15 , wherein the engagement assemblies are each a hook and loop fastener including an element thereof formed in the covering and a complementing element thereof formed in the outer end of the respective strap. 
     
     
         17 . A combination location indicating attachment assembly and personal flotation lifejacket according to  claim 15 , further comprising:
 the covering having a length extending from the upper end to the lower end; and   the inner end of the flag is elongate and extends along substantially the entire length of the covering from the upper end to the lower end at an intermediate position with respect to the opposed first and second sides of the covering.   
     
     
         18 . A combination location indicating attachment assembly and personal flotation lifejacket according to  claim 15 , further comprising:
 the covering having a width extending from the first side to the second side; and   the inner end of the flag is elongate and extends along substantially the entire width of the covering from the first side to the second side at an intermediate position with respect to the opposed upper and lower ends of the covering.   
     
     
         19 . A combination location indicating attachment assembly and personal flotation lifejacket according to  claim 15 , wherein the inner end of the flag is secured to the covering with stitching. 
     
     
         20 . A combination location indicating attachment assembly and personal flotation lifejacket according to  claim 15 , wherein the inner end of the flag is secured to the covering with a fastener assembly formed between the covering and the inner end of the flag, the fastener assembly comprising a hook and loop fastener including an element thereof formed in the covering and a complementing element thereof formed in the inner end of the flag.