Personal floatation device

Abstract

A personal floatation device may include a body, a strap and a belt. The body may include front and back portions. One of the front and back portions may include a first closure member. At least one of the front and back portions may be at least partially formed from a material that is sufficiently buoyant to keep a user afloat in water. The strap may extend around at least a portion of at least one of the front and back portions to secure the body to the user. The belt may include a first end fixed to the body and a second end having a second closure member selectively engaging the first closure member.

1 . A personal floatation device comprising:
 a body at least partially formed from a buoyant material and including front and back portions each having an inner layer;   a strap extending at least partially around said inner layers of said front and back portions; and   a first belt engaging said front and back portions and including first and second ends, said first end being fixed to one of said front and back portions, said second end including a first clasp member selectively engageable with a second clasp member to secure said front and back portions relative to each other.   
     
     
         2 . The personal floatation device of  claim 1 , wherein said first end of said first belt is fixed to said front portion, said second clasp member is mounted to said front portion, and said back portion includes a loop member engaging said belt. 
     
     
         3 . The personal floatation device of  claim 1 , further comprising a second belt engaging said front and back portions and including first and second ends, said first end being fixed to one of said front and back portions, said second end including a third clasp member selectively engageable with a fourth clasp member to secure said front and back portions relative to each other. 
     
     
         4 . The personal floatation device of  claim 3 , wherein said first belt secures first sides of said front and back portions to each other and said second belt secures second sides of said front and back portions to each other. 
     
     
         5 . The personal floatation device of  claim 4 , wherein said strap includes an adjustment member selectively tightening said strap around said inner layers of said front and back portions, said adjustment member disposed between said first and third clasp members. 
     
     
         6 . The personal floatation device of  claim 1 , wherein said strap is at least partially disposed between inner and outer layers of said body. 
     
     
         7 . The personal floatation device of  claim 6 , wherein said first belt is disposed outside of said inner and outer layers. 
     
     
         8 . The personal floatation device of  claim 1 , wherein said strap is formed from a relatively elastic material and said first belt is formed from a relatively inelastic material. 
     
     
         9 . The personal floatation device of  claim 1 , wherein said strap includes a relatively wide back portion and a relatively narrow front portion, a central section of said back portion extends between a first area of said body corresponding to a user's waist and a second area of said body corresponding to the user's upper back. 
     
     
         10 . The personal floatation device of  claim 1 , wherein said first clasp member includes a body portion and a stud extending from the body portion, and said second clasp member includes a plurality of apertures adapted to engage said stud. 
     
     
         11 . A personal floatation device comprising:
 a body including front and back portions, one of said front and back portions including a first closure member, at least one of said front and back portions being at least partially formed from a material that is sufficiently buoyant to keep a user afloat in water;   a strap extending around at least a portion of at least one of said front and back portions to secure said body to the user; and   a belt including a first end fixed to said body and a second end having a second closure member selectively engaging said first closure member.   
     
     
         12 . The personal floatation device of  claim 11 , wherein said first closure member includes a cup-shaped element and a cantilevered member extending over a portion of said cup-shaped element. 
     
     
         13 . The personal floatation device of  claim 12 , wherein said second closure member includes a ring element received in said cup-shaped element and engages said cantilevered member. 
     
     
         14 . The personal floatation device of  claim 11 , wherein said second clasp member includes a body portion and a stud extending from the body portion, and said first closure member includes a plurality of apertures adapted to engage said stud. 
     
     
         15 . The personal floatation device of  claim 11 , wherein said strap is a relatively inelastic member. 
     
     
         16 . The personal floatation device of  claim 15 , wherein said belt is a relatively elastic member. 
     
     
         17 . The personal floatation device of  claim 11 , wherein said body includes at least one relatively stiff support member corresponding to at least one of a user's back and kidney areas. 
     
     
         18 . The personal floatation device of  claim 11 , wherein said back portion includes a loop member, and wherein said belt is slidably received by said loop member. 
     
     
         19 . The personal floatation device of  claim 11 , wherein at least one of said belt and said strap extends through a sleeve opening defined by said body portion. 
     
     
         20 . The personal floatation device of  claim 11 , wherein said strap includes a relatively wide back portion and a relatively narrow front portion, a central section of said back portion extends between a first area of said body corresponding to a user's waist and a second area of said body corresponding to the user's upper back.