LIFE VEST WITH TWO-WAY RADIO

• US 20090311928A1
• Filed: 05/01/2007
• Published: 12/17/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 05/22/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Coleman Company Incorporated (Newell Brands Inc.)
• Original Assignee: THJE Coleman Company Incorporated
• Inventors: Kelly, Luke E., McClintock, Jason T.
• Application Number:
  US12/301,733
• Publication Number:
  US 20090311928A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 441/89
• CPC Class Codes: B63B 2203/00 Communication means
• CPC Class Codes: B63B 2213/02 using satellite radio beacon positioning systems, e.g. the Global Positioning System GPS
• CPC Class Codes: B63C 9/11 covering the torso, e.g. harnesses B63C9/081 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B63C 9/1255 inflatable
• CPC Class Codes: B63C 9/20 characterised by signalling means, e.g. lights arrangement or adaptation of signalling or lighting devices for ships or other waterborne vessels B63B45/00

Abstract

A life vest having a built-in two-way radio. The two-way radio may be mounted behind a protective covering. The protective covering includes contours that match buttons for the two-way radio, and depressing or otherwise actuating the contours results in actuation of the corresponding buttons or controls for the two-way radio.

Claims

1. A life vest, comprising:

a body portion; and

a two-way radio mounted to the body portion.

2. The life vest of claim 1, further comprising a recess in the life vest configured to receive the radio.

3. The life vest of claim 2, wherein the radio comprises an outer portion, and wherein the life vest further comprises a flexible shroud configured to fit over the outer portion.

4. The life vest of claim 3, wherein the flexible shroud comprises at least one of thermoplastic rubber, vulcanized rubber, or soft plastic.

5. The life vest of claim 3, wherein the flexible shroud comprises a thermoplastic rubber.

6. The life vest of claim 3, wherein the outer portion of the radio includes at least one control, microphone, or speaker, and wherein the shroud includes at least one opening or contoured surface, the opening or contoured surface configured to match said at least one control, microphone, or speaker.

7. The life vest of claim 1, wherein the two-way radio is positioned adjacent a head opening of the life vest.

8. The life vest of claim 7, wherein the two-way radio is positioned on a shoulder of the life vest.

9. The life vest of claim 1, further comprising a protective covering, positioned so that, when a wearer is wearing the life vest, the protective covering is between the two-way radio and the wearer of the life vest.

10. The life vest of claim 9, wherein the protective covering comprises a nylon covering.

11. The life vest of claim 1, wherein the two-way radio comprises a talk button exposed to the outside of the life vest.

12. The life vest of claim 11, wherein the talk button is on the front of the two-way radio.

13. The life vest of claim 12, further comprising a volume control on the front of the two-way radio.

14. The life vest of claim 1, further comprising a form fitting pocket into which the two-way radio is fitted.

15. The life vest of claim 14, further comprising a recess in the body portion, and wherein the form fitting pocket fits into the recess.

16. The life vest of claim 14, wherein the form fitting pocket includes a clear front panel.

17. A life vest, comprising:

a body portion; and

a digital music player mounted to the body portion.

18. The life vest of claim 17, further comprising a recess in the life vest configured to receive the digital music player.

19. The life vest of claim 18, wherein the digital music player comprises an outer portion, and wherein the life vest further comprises a flexible shroud configured to fit over the outer portion.

20. The life vest of claim 19, wherein the flexible shroud comprises at least one of thermoplastic rubber, vulcanized rubber, or soft plastic.

21. The life vest of claim 19, wherein the flexible shroud comprises a thermoplastic rubber.

22. The life vest of claim 19, wherein the outer portion of the digital music player includes at least one control, and wherein the shroud includes at least one contoured surface, said at least one contoured surface configured to match said at least one control.

23. The life vest of claim 17, wherein the digital music player is positioned adjacent a head opening of the life vest.

24. The life vest of claim 23, wherein the digital music player is positioned on a shoulder of the life vest.

25. The life vest of claim 17, further comprising a protective covering, positioned so that, when a wearer is wearing the life vest, the protective covering is between the digital music player and the wearer of the life vest.

26. The life vest of claim 25, wherein the protective covering comprises a nylon covering.

27. The life vest of claim 17, wherein the digital music player is mounted in a waterproof or water resistant pocket.

28. The life vest of claim 27, wherein the pocket is mounted behind a protective covering.

29. The life vest of claim 27, further comprising an extension cord that extends from an interior of the pocket to a shoulder portion of the life vest.

30. The life vest of claim 29, wherein the extension cord comprises a female jack at the shoulder portion for attaching to a headphone jack.