Life vest apparatus

Abstract

An improved life vest apparatus structured and arranged to allow for easy access to a built-in water pack thereby preventing a user from having to stop while riding a jet ski or enjoying other kinds of water sports along with quick access to a whistle, which is required by all those riding on personal water crafts.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An improved life vest apparatus comprising:
 a main body including:
 a front portion including:
 an inner volume;
 wherein said inner volume includes an inner fill material adapted to allow said improved life vest apparatus to float in water; 
 
 a front surface; and 
 a straw holding member;
 wherein said straw holding member is attached to said front surface and is adapted to releasable retain a portion of a straw member therein; 
 
 
 a back portion including:
 an inner volume;
 wherein said inner volume includes an inner fill material adapted to allow said improved life vest apparatus to float in water; 
 
 a back surface; and 
 a pocket member;
 wherein said pocket member is attached to said back surface and is adapted to releasably hold a water bottle member therein; 
 
 
 two shoulder portions;
 wherein said two shoulder portions are spaced from one another and connected between upper portions of said front and back portions; and 
 
 wherein said front portion, said back portion, and said two shoulder portions form a neck opening; and 
 a plurality of releasable attachment members;
 wherein said plurality of releasable attachment members are connected between said front portion and said back portion and are adapted to hold said improved life vest apparatus against an upper torso portion of a person wearing said improved life vest apparatus; 
 
   a water bottle member including:
 a main body portion includes:
 an interior volume adapted to retain liquids therein; and 
 an opening within a top portion thereof; 
 wherein said main body portion is adapted to be removably placed within said pocket member of said back portion; 
 
 a cap member including:
 an aperture therethrough adapted to allow a straw member to pass therethrough; 
 wherein said cap member is adapted to releasably connect with said main body portion and releasably cover said opening; 
 
 a straw member including:
 a proximal end portion adapted to pass through said aperture and into said interior volume of said main body portion; 
 a middle section adapted to extend out from said pocket member of said back portion, extend over one of said two shoulder portions, and be located upon said front portion of said main body; and 
 a distal end portion adapted to pass through and be releasably retained by said straw holding member of said front portion of said main body and be accessible by said person wearing said improved life vest apparatus to thereby be able to suck on said distal end portion and retrieve liquids retained in said main body portion; and 
 
   a whistle member;
 wherein said whistle member is releasably attached to said distal end portion of said straw member, such that said person wearing said improved life vest apparatus is able to retrieve and blow said whistle member when necessary. 
   
     
     
         2 . The improved life vest apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said front portion further includes two support slots formed within opposite side portions thereof and adapted such that a person located behind a person wearing said improved life vest apparatus can grab onto said improved life vest apparatus via said two support slots with their hands and hold onto said person. 
     
     
         3 . The improved life vest apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said front surface of said front portion further includes an elongated groove therein and is adapted to retain at least said middle section of said straw member therein, to thereby help prevent said straw member being blown away from said front portion via windy conditions when said improved life vest apparatus is in use. 
     
     
         4 . The improved life vest apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said pocket member includes a zipper member adapted to allow said water bottle member to be securely removably placed and retained therein. 
     
     
         5 . The improved life vest apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein said pocket member further includes a transparent portion adapted to allow visual inspection of said water bottle member; and wherein said water bottle member is formed from a translucent material adapted to allow a person to determine the amount of liquid retained therein, such that a person using said improved life vest apparatus can look through said transparent portion of said pocket member and determine the amount of liquid retained within said water bottle member. 
     
     
         6 . The improved life vest apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said back portion further includes a loop member attached to an upper portion thereof and adapted to allow said improved life vest apparatus to be hung upon a hook member when not in use. 
     
     
         7 . The improved life vest apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said front portion further includes a lanyard member attached thereto adapted to releasably attach a jet ski key thereto. 
     
     
         8 . The improved life vest apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein each of said plurality of releasable attachment members are formed as mating snap latch and latch receiver members. 
     
     
         9 . The improved life vest apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein each of said plurality of releasable attachment members are formed as mating hook and loop material portions. 
     
     
         10 . The improved life vest apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein each of said plurality of releasable attachment members are formed as strap members. 
     
     
         11 . The improved life vest apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said front surface of said front portion further includes a pocket member thereon for securely storing items therein. 
     
     
         12 . The improved life vest apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein said transparent portion of said pocket member includes graduated indicia thereon adapted to allow a person to visually measure the amount of liquid retained within said water bottle member. 
     
     
         13 . The improved life vest apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said inner fill material is formed from a foam material. 
     
     
         14 . The improved life vest apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein said foam material is a plastic foam material. 
     
     
         15 . The improved life vest apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said water bottle member is formed as a flexible bladder member. 
     
     
         16 . The improved life vest apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein said flexible bladder member is formed from a translucent polyvinyl material.