Life jacket for aquatic environment

Abstract

The life jacket comprises a harness arranged to be fitted over the torso of an individual and having a dorsal structure, a ventral structure and a belt, ventral buoyancy tubes connected to the harness, and manual inflation means for inflating the ventral buoyancy tubes. The ventral buoyancy tubes are arranged on the ventral structure of the harness, in the uninflated state, folded against the ventral structure of the harness and, in the inflated state, deployed along the ventral structure. The ventral tubes are connected to inflatable connectors extending within the belt. Due to the tubes, in case of difficulty, the head of the swimmer is out of the water and turned upwards. Otherwise, the swimmer is not made uncomfortable.

1 - 10 . (canceled) 
     
     
         11 . A life jacket comprising a harness arranged to be slipped on the torso of an individual and comprising a dorsal structure, a ventral structure and a belt, at least ventral flotation tubes connected to the harness and manually operable inflation means for inflating the ventral flotation tubes, wherein the ventral flotation tubes are disposed on the ventral structure of the harness, in the uninflated state, folded against the ventral structure of the harness and, in the inflated state, deployed along the ventral structure. 
     
     
         12 . The life jacket according to  claim 11 , wherein the ventral structure of the life jacket comprises hinged ventral foldup panels arranged to be folded up and to fold up, against the ventral structure, the ventral flotation tubes in their uninflated state and to be pivoted away from the ventral structure under the action of the inflation of the ventral flotation tubes. 
     
     
         13 . The life jacket according to  claim 11 , wherein the ventral structure comprises ventral pockets for receiving the folded ventral flotation tubes in their uninflated state, the pockets being arranged to open under the action of the inflation of the ventral flotation tubes. 
     
     
         14 . The life jacket according to  claim 11 , wherein the ventral flotation tubes are connected to also inflatable connectors extending into the belt of the harness, from their downstream end to their connecting end and arranged to, under the action of the inflation means, be inflated and deploy the ventral flotation tubes. 
     
     
         15 . The life jacket according to  claim 11 , wherein the ventral structure of the harness is in two parts, arranged to be joined by a zipper. 
     
     
         16 . The life jacket according to  claim 11 , wherein there is provided a dorsal flotation tube. 
     
     
         17 . The life jacket according to  claim 16 , wherein the uninflated dorsal flotation tube and the inflation means are disposed in a pocket of the dorsal structure of the harness. 
     
     
         18 . The life jacket according to  claim 11 , wherein the ventral flotation tubes are connected to also inflatable connectors extending into the belt of the harness, from their downstream end to their connecting end, and arranged to, under the action of the inflation means, be inflated and deploy the ventral flotation tubes and the uninflated dorsal flotation tube, the inflation means and the downstream ends of the inflatable connectors are disposed in a pocket of the dorsal structure of the harness. 
     
     
         19 . The life jacket according to  claim 11 , wherein there is provided a pull control element to actuate the inflation means. 
     
     
         20 . The life jacket according to  claim 14 , wherein the inflation means comprise a gas cartridge, a triggering device, a pull cord for controlling the triggering device and means for putting the gas cartridge and the flotation tubes and their connectors in communication.