Wearable and buoyant life saving apparatuses

Abstract

A wearable life saving apparatus may have or include at least one inflatable raft attached to at least one tethering material for securing the inflatable raft(s) to a user's body. The tethering material may be a cord, a string, a strap, or some other mechanism allowing the wearable life saving apparatus to be worn by a user. The inflatable raft may have a compressed gas unit mounted inside, inboard, or on each inflatable raft. The compressed gas unit may have a release mechanism that is releasable exterior to the at least one inflatable buoyancy body.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A wearable life saving apparatus comprising:
 at least one inflatable raft having a compressed gas unit, wherein the compressed gas unit has a release mechanism configured to be exterior to the at least one inflatable raft; and   a tethering material having a first end secured to the at least one inflatable raft and a second end configured to be securable to a user.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the release mechanism comprises an unraveling mechanism for triggering the release mechanism. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the release mechanism comprises a pull grip for releasing the release mechanism by a pulling force. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising an enclosure around the at least one inflatable raft, wherein the enclosure is secured to the second end of the tether material. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein each inflatable raft allows for one to two people when inflated. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one inflatable raft is configured to be attached to or inserted into a tetherable object selected from the group consisting of a life jacket, a backpack, an article of clothing, a flipper fin used for swimming, a hat, a donut raft, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the release mechanism further comprises a sensor in communication with a user apparatus. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one inflatable raft is attachable to at least one buoyant object. 
     
     
         9 . A life jacket life saving apparatus comprising:
 a back part, a first wearable front part, and a second wearable front part where the back part, the first wearable front part, and the second wearable front part are integrally formed with one another, and wherein the first wearable front part and the second wearable front part have inboard edges disposed in confronting relation to one another, wherein the back part comprises:
 a first cavity comprising a buoyant panel and at least one inflatable raft, wherein the at least one inflatable raft comprises a compressed gas unit having a release mechanism configured to be triggered exterior to the at least one inflatable raft; 
   a tether material having a first end secured to the inflatable raft and a second end secured to the life jacket.   
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the release mechanism comprises an unraveling mechanism for triggering the release mechanism. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the release mechanism comprises a pull grip for releasing the release mechanism by a pulling force. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein each inflatable raft allows for one to two people when inflated. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the release mechanism further comprises a sensor in communication with a user apparatus. 
     
     
         14 . A backpack-style life saving apparatus comprising:
 a back part and at least one wearable strap; wherein the at least one wearable strap is integrally formed into the back part, wherein the back part comprises:
 a first cavity comprising at least one inflatable raft, wherein the at least one inflatable raft comprises a compressed gas unit having a release mechanism configured to be triggered exterior to the at least one raft; and 
   a tether material having a first end secured to the at least one inflatable raft and a second end securable to the backpack-style life saving apparatus.   
     
     
         15 . The backpack life saving apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein the back part further comprises a buoyant panel. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein the release mechanism comprises an unraveling mechanism for triggering the release mechanism. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein the release mechanism comprises a pull grip for releasing the release mechanism by a pulling force. 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein the release mechanism further comprises a sensor in communication with a user apparatus.