Buoyant anti-hypothermia apparatus

Abstract

A personal flotation device capable of providing buoyancy and preventing hypothermia and death caused by loss of body heat by supporting the individual's entire body out of the water. Special design features increase the ease of use to ensure successful deployment and boarding, even among injured, weak, and/or physically exhausted individuals. This personal flotation device is small and compact, so that it may be used in a prophylactic manner from low-risk to high-risk applications.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of using a flotation device, comprising:
 inflating the flotation device;   boarding the flotation device by passing through an ingress opening in a support portion of the flotation device to at least substantially support a user's body on a surface of the support portion of the flotation device;   moving a flap from an open position to a closed position to at least substantially cover the ingress opening.   
     
     
         2 . The method of using the flotation device of  claim 1 , further comprising moving the flap from the closed position to the open position before passing through the ingress opening in the support portion of the flotation device. 
     
     
         3 . The method of using the flotation device of  claim 1 , further comprising reversibly securing the flap in the closed position using a zipper, a hook and loop system, snaps, buttons, or other fasteners. 
     
     
         4 . The method of using the flotation device of  claim 1 , further comprising positioning the flotation device on the surface of a body of water before boarding the flotation device. 
     
     
         5 . The method of using the flotation device of  claim 1 , wherein the flotation device is configured to support one user substantially or completely out of contact with a surface of water in an operable state. 
     
     
         6 . The method of using the flotation device of  claim 1 , wherein the support portion is coupled with an inflatable bladder portion. 
     
     
         7 . The method of using the flotation device of  claim 6 , wherein at least the bladder portion is constructed from a high-strength material having a thickness of no greater than 8 mils. 
     
     
         8 . The method of using the flotation device of  claim 6 , wherein at least the bladder portion is constructed from a high-strength material with a tensile strength of at least 23 lbs. per square inch. 
     
     
         9 . The method of using the flotation device of  claim 1 , wherein inflating the flotation device comprises activating an automatic deployment mechanism to inflate at least a portion of the flotation device. 
     
     
         10 . The method of using the flotation device of  claim 9 , wherein activating an automatic deployment mechanism comprises discharging a compressed gas cartridge. 
     
     
         11 . The method of using the flotation device of  claim 9 , wherein inflating the flotation device further comprises orally inflating at least a portion of the flotation device. 
     
     
         12 . The method of using the flotation device of  claim 1 , wherein the support portion is inflatable. 
     
     
         13 . The method of using the flotation device of  claim 1 , wherein the flotation device comprises a belt or a strap configured to secure the device to an individual and further comprising decoupling the flotation device from the user's body before inflating the flotation device. 
     
     
         14 . A method of using a flotation device, comprising:
 inflating at least a portion of the flotation device, the flotation device having an inflatable bladder member and a support member having an elongated shape terminating in end portions, the support member being circumscribed by the bladder member,   boarding the flotation device by passing through an ingress opening in the support portion to at least substantially support a user's body on a surface of the support portion of the flotation device; and   moving a flap element from an open position to a closed position to at least substantially cover the ingress opening, wherein an end portion of the flap element is adjacent to an end portion of the support portion of the flotation device.   
     
     
         15 . The method of using the flotation device of  claim 14 , wherein moving the flap element from the open position to the closed position comprises deflecting or unrolling the flap element. 
     
     
         16 . The method of using the flotation device of  claim 14 , further comprising selectively securing a distal portion of the flap element to a perimeter of the opening using a zipper, a hook and loop system, snaps, buttons, or other fasteners. 
     
     
         17 . The method of using the flotation device of  claim 14 , wherein the flotation device comprises a belt or a strap configured to secure the device to an individual and further comprising decoupling the flotation device from the user's body before inflating the flotation device. 
     
     
         18 . A method of using a flotation device, comprising:
 pulling a pull cord to inflate the flotation device from a compact state to an expanded state;   boarding the flotation device by passing through an ingress opening in a floor portion of the flotation device to at least substantially support a user's body on a surface of the support portion of the flotation device; and   securing the ingress opening in a closed state.   
     
     
         19 . The method of using the flotation device of  claim 18 , wherein the flotation device comprises a belt or a strap configured to secure the device to an individual and further comprising decoupling the flotation device from the user's body before inflating the flotation device.