Flotation system

Abstract

A flotation system includes a crotch support and a vest. The crotch support includes a central body, a first pad, a second pad, and first and second elastic bands extending from the first pad. The vest includes a lower torso support and an upper torso stabilization system. The lower torso support can include a flexible body, and first and second flanks extending from the flexible body. The stabilization system can include first and second arms, each having a proximal end extending from the lower torso support, and a distal end. An extension may extend from each distal end to engage the first or second flank. Each of the central body, pads, flexible body, and arms can include a buoyant body. The elastic bands can wrap around the lower torso support such that a compressive force is applied along a circumference defined by a torso of a user.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A flotation system, the flotation system comprising:
 a crotch support including:
 a central body, 
 a first pad, 
 a second pad, 
 a first elastic band extending from the first pad, and 
 a second elastic band extending from the first pad in an opposite direction of the first elastic band; and 
   a vest including:
 a lower torso support including:
 a flexible body, 
 a first flank extending from a first side of the flexible body, the first flank having a first flank attachment segment, and 
 a second flank extending from a second side of the flexible body, the second flank having a second flank attachment segment configured to attach to the first flank attachment segment, and 
 
 a first arm and a second arm, each of the first arm and the second arm having:
 a proximal end extending from a top edge of the lower torso support, 
 a distal end, and 
 an extension extending from the distal end and configured to engage a respective one of the first flank and the second flank, 
 
 wherein each of the central body, the first pad, the second pad, the flexible body, the first arm, and the second arm include a respective buoyant body, and 
 wherein the first elastic band and the second elastic band are configured to wrap around the lower torso support and attach to one of the first flank, the second flank, and each other, such that a compressive force is applied along a circumference defined by a torso of a user. 
   
     
     
         2 . The flotation system of  claim 1 ,
 wherein the buoyant body in each of the first arm and the second arm extends from a respective proximal end to a respective distal end.   
     
     
         3 . The flotation system of  claim 1 ,
 wherein the lower torso support includes a plurality of grips extending from the top edge to a bottom edge of the lower torso support.   
     
     
         4 . The flotation system of  claim 1 ,
 wherein the first pad of the crotch support is configured to attach to the flexible body of the vest, and   wherein the second pad is configured to attach to at least one of the first flank attachment segment and the second flank attachment segment.   
     
     
         5 . The flotation system of  claim 1 ,
 wherein the buoyant body of each of the first strap and the second strap has a circular cross-section.   
     
     
         6 . The flotation system of  claim 1 ,
 wherein the buoyant body of each of the first pad, the second pad, and the flexible body has a rectangular cross-section.   
     
     
         7 . The flotation system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a cross-strap system including a first cross-strap and a second cross-strap,   wherein the first arm extends from the flexible body between a center of the flexible body and the first flank and the second arm extends from the flexible body between the center and the second flank,   wherein the first cross-strap includes:
 a first arm loop attached to the first arm, and 
 a first strap body configured to adjustably attach to the first arm loop and at least one attachment provided on the lower torso support proximate to the second flank, and 
   wherein the second cross-strap includes:
 a second arm loop attached to the second arm, and 
 a second strap body configured to adjustably attach to the second arm loop and at least one attachment provided on the lower torso support proximate to the first flank. 
   
     
     
         8 . The flotation system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a spread adjustor positioned around the first arm and the second arm,   wherein the spread adjustor includes a lateral body and a vertical body,   wherein the lateral body is configured to wrap around the first arm and the second arm, and   wherein the vertical body is configured to wrap around the lateral body between the first arm and the second arm and adjust a space between the first arm and the second arm.   
     
     
         9 . The flotation system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a cross-connector attached to the first arm and the second arm in corresponding locations; and   a cross-grip attached to the cross-connector.   
     
     
         10 . The flotation system of  claim 9 , further comprising:
 a strap connector,   wherein the strap connector configured to attach to the cross-grip and a pad loop extending from the first pad of the crotch support.   
     
     
         11 . The flotation system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a strap connector including a head and a pair of sub-straps extending from the head;   wherein each sub-strap includes a first sub-strap body extending from the head and a second sub-strap body attached to the first sub-strap body extending perpendicular to the first-sub-strap body,   wherein the head defines a first sub-strap loop and is configured to attach to a pad grip extending from the first pad of the crotch support,   wherein each first sub-strap body includes a first plurality of attachment segments such that each first sub-strap body can be arranged to define a respective second sub-strap loop, and   wherein each second sub-strap-body includes a second plurality of attachment segments such that each second sub-strap body can be arranged to define a respective third sub-strap loop.   
     
     
         12 . A vest providing a flotation device, the vest comprising:
 a lower torso support including:
 a flexible body, 
 a first flank extending from a first side of the flexible body, the first flank having a first flank attachment segment, 
 a second flank extending from a second side of the flexible body, the second flank having a second flank attachment segment configured to attach to the first flank attachment segment, 
 a plurality of grips extending from a top edge to a bottom edge of the lower torso support, and 
   a first arm and a second arm, each of the first arm and the second arm having:
 a proximal end extending from the top edge of the lower torso support, 
 a distal end, and 
 an extension extending from the distal end and configured to engage a respective one of the first flank and the second flank, 
 wherein each of the flexible body, the first arm, and the second arm includes a respective buoyant body. 
   
     
     
         13 . The vest of  claim 12 ,
 wherein the buoyant body in each of the first arm and the second arm extends from a respective proximal end to a respective distal end.   
     
     
         14 . The vest of  claim 12 ,
 wherein each of the first arm and the second arm includes an arm attachment segment,   wherein in each extension includes an extension attachment segment configured to attach a respective arm attachment segment and secure a respective one of the first arm and the second arm to the lower torso support.   
     
     
         15 . The vest of  claim 14 ,
 wherein the first arm extends from the flexible body between a center of the flexible body and the first flank and the second arm extends from the flexible body between the center and the second flank,   wherein a first attachment extends from one of the top edge and the bottom edge of the lower torso support proximate to the first flank and the second flank, and   wherein the extension of the first arm is configured to engage the first attachment proximate to the first flank and the extension of the second arm is configured to engage the first attachment proximate to the second flank.   
     
     
         16 . The vest of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 a cross-strap system including a first cross-strap and a second cross-strap,   wherein a second attachment extends from the other of the top edge and the bottom edge of the lower torso support proximate to the first flank and the second flank,   wherein the first cross-strap includes:
 a first arm loop attached to the first arm, and 
 a first strap body configured to adjustably attach to the first arm loop and the second attachment proximate to the second flank, and 
   wherein the second cross-strap includes:
 a second arm loop attached to the second arm, and 
 a second strap body configured to adjustably attach to the second arm loop and the second attachment proximate to the first flank. 
   
     
     
         17 . The vest of  claim 12 , further comprising:
 a spread adjustor positioned around the first arm and the second arm,   wherein the spread adjustor includes a lateral body and a vertical body,   wherein the lateral body is configured to wrap around the first arm and the second arm, and   wherein the vertical body is configured to wrap around the lateral body between the first arm and the second arm and adjust a space between the first arm and the second arm.   
     
     
         18 . A method of guiding an activity of a user in an aquatic environment, the method comprising:
 wrapping a lower torso support around a lower torso of the user;   attaching an attachment segment of a first flank of the lower torso support to an attachment segment of the second flank;   positioning a first arm attached to a flexible body of the lower torso support over a first shoulder of the user and securing a distal end of the first arm to the first flank with an extension of the first arm;   positioning a second arm attached to the flexible body over a second shoulder of the user and securing a distal end of the second arm to the second flank with an extension of the second arm;   attaching a first pad of a crotch support to the flexible body and attaching a second pad of the crotch support to one of the first flank and the second flank such that central body of the crotch support extends between legs of the user;   wrapping a first elastic band attached to the first pad around the user and attaching first elastic band to one of the second pad, the first flank, and the second flank;   wrapping a second elastic band attached to the first pad around the user in an opposite direction as the first elastic band and attaching the second elastic band to one of the second pad, the second flank, the first flank, and the first elastic band; and   guiding the user into the aquatic environment,   wherein the lower torso support applies a moderate compressive force to a region of the user including a lower torso, and   wherein the first and second elastic bands exert an inwardly directed radial compressive force on a buoyant body provided in at least the flexible body.   
     
     
         19 . The method of guiding of  claim 18 , the method further comprising:
 gripping at least one of a body grip and a flank grip provide on the lower torso support; and   guiding a movement of the user in the aquatic environment by one of pulling and pushing on the at least one of the body grip and the flank grip.   
     
     
         20 . The method of guiding of  claim 18 , the method further comprising:
 attaching a first end of a strap connector to a cross-grip attached to a cross-connector attached to the first arm and the second arm in corresponding locations;   attaching a second of the strap connector to a pad loop extending from the first pad of the crotch support; and   pulling the user in the aquatic environment using the strap connector.