Life jacket including safety flag assembly

Abstract

A safety flag assembly for a life jacket includes a signaling device including a pole and a flag coupled to a first end of the pole and a pouch defining an opening providing access to an interior pocket of the pouch, the interior pocket sized to receive the signaling device therein. The safety flag assembly further includes a clip configured to attach the pouch to a back panel of the life jacket. When the pouch is attached to the life jacket and the signaling device is received within the pouch, a second end of the pole is accessible to a user wearing the life jacket to facilitate the user removing the signaling device from the pouch

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A safety flag assembly for a life jacket, the safety flag assembly comprising:
 a signaling device comprising a pole and a flag coupled to a first end of the pole;   a pouch defining an opening providing access to an interior pocket of the pouch, the interior pocket sized to receive the signaling device therein; and   a clip configured to attach the pouch to a back panel of the life jacket, wherein, when the pouch is attached to the life jacket and the signaling device is received within the pouch, a second end of the pole is accessible to a user wearing the life jacket to facilitate the user removing the signaling device from the pouch.   
     
     
         2 . The safety flag assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the second end of the pole extends through an opening of an access flap, wherein the access flap extends onto an upper portion of a front panel of the life jacket. 
     
     
         3 . The safety flag assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the signaling device comprises a gripping feature, wherein the gripping feature protrudes through the opening. 
     
     
         4 . The safety flag assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the pole is adjustable between a stowed configuration in which the pole is sized and shaped to facilitate receiving the signaling device within the interior pocket, and a straightened deployed configuration. 
     
     
         5 . The safety flag assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the pole is at least partially constructed from a flexible material to facilitate conforming the pole to a shape of the pouch when in a stored configuration and maintain a straightened configuration when removed from the pouch. 
     
     
         6 . The safety flag assembly of  claim 5 , wherein the pole is telescopingly extendable between a collapsed state when received in the pouch and an extended state when removed from the pouch. 
     
     
         7 . The safety flag assembly of  claim 5 , wherein the flexible material includes a foam outer layer and a flexible spine positioned within the foam outer layer. 
     
     
         8 . The safety flag assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the clip includes a first lever, a second lever, and a hinge, wherein a clamping force secures the safety flag assembly to the life jacket. 
     
     
         9 . The safety flag assembly of  claim 8 , wherein at least one of the first lever or the second lever further includes a plurality of retaining features. 
     
     
         10 . A life jacket comprising:
 at least one buoyant panel; and   a safety flag assembly connected to the at least one buoyant panel, the safety flag assembly comprising:
 a signaling device comprising a pole and a flag coupled to a first end of the pole; 
 a pouch defining an opening providing access to an interior pocket of the pouch, the interior pocket sized to receive the signaling device therein; and 
 a clip configured to attach the pouch to the at least one buoyant panel, wherein, when the pouch is attached to the life jacket and the signaling device is received within the pouch, a second end of the pole is accessible to a user wearing the life jacket to facilitate the user removing the signaling device from the pouch. 
   
     
     
         11 . The life jacket of  claim 10 , wherein the second end of the pole extends through an opening of an access flap, wherein the access flap extends onto an upper portion of a front panel of the life jacket. 
     
     
         12 . The life jacket of  claim 11 , wherein the signaling device comprises a gripping feature, wherein the gripping feature protrudes through the opening. 
     
     
         13 . The life jacket of  claim 10 , wherein the pole is adjustable between a stowed configuration in which the pole is sized and shaped to facilitate receiving the signaling device within the interior pocket, and a straightened deployed configuration. 
     
     
         14 . The life jacket of  claim 10 , wherein the pole is at least partially constructed from a flexible material to facilitate conforming the pole to a shape of the pouch when in a stored configuration and maintain a straightened configuration when removed from the pouch. 
     
     
         15 . The life jacket of  claim 14 , wherein the pole is telescopingly extendable between a collapsed state when received in the pouch and an extended state when removed from the pouch. 
     
     
         16 . The life jacket of  claim 14 , wherein the flexible material includes a foam outer layer and a flexible spine positioned within the foam outer layer. 
     
     
         17 . A life jacket comprising:
 at least one buoyant panel; and   a safety flag assembly connected to the at least one buoyant panel, the safety flag assembly comprising:
 a signaling device comprising a pole and a flag coupled to a first end of the pole; and 
 a pouch fixedly attached to the at least one buoyant panel, the pouch defining an opening providing access to an interior pocket, the interior pocket sized to receive the signaling device therein, wherein a second end of the pole is accessible to a user wearing the life jacket to facilitate the user removing the signaling device from the pouch. 
   
     
     
         18 . The life jacket of  claim 17 , wherein the pole is constructed from a flexible material which allows the pole to conform to a shape of the pouch when in a stored configuration, wherein the pole maintains a straightened form when removed from the pouch. 
     
     
         19 . The life jacket of  claim 17 , wherein the pole is adjustable between a stowed configuration in which the pole is sized and shaped to facilitate receiving the signaling device within the interior pocket, and a straightened deployed configuration. 
     
     
         20 . The life jacket of  claim 17 , wherein the pole is at least partially constructed from a flexible material to facilitate conforming the pole to a shape of the pouch when in a stored configuration and maintain a straightened configuration when removed from the pouch.