Lighted life jacket

• US 5,370,566 A
• Filed: 05/26/1993
• Issued: 12/06/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 05/26/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Kenneth C. Mitchell Jr, Linda M. Mitchell
• Original Assignee: Kenneth C. Mitchell Jr, Linda M. Mitchell
• Inventors: Mitchell, Kenneth C. Jr., Mitchell, Linda M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Sotelo, Jesus D.
• Application Number:
  US08/072,843
• Time in Patent Office: 559 Days
• Field of Search: 441/6, 441/11, 441/13, 441/16, 441/36, 441/80, 441/89
• US Class Current: 441/89
• 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 lighted lifejacket for facilitating a location of a user wearing the lifejacket. The lighted lifejacket includes a plurality of lights located around the lifejacket and is provided with a power source in the form of a battery and a switch that allows the lights to either flash or to remain on. The lifejacket further includes a plurality of interchangeable lenses that may be attached to the lights on the lifejacket to selectively change a color of the lights. The lifejacket is also provided with an extensible light mounted in a back area of the lifejacket that is operable to extend above a users head to increase a visibility of the user.

Claims

1. A new lighted life jacket comprising:

a floatation vest having front and back sides and being wearable by a user to provide floatation to said user;

three light assemblies, two of said light assemblies being secured to said front side of said floatation vest, and one of said light assemblies being secured to said back side of said floatation vest;

and,

a power source electrically connected to said light assemblies for providing electrical power thereto;

wherein said power source comprises;

a base, a battery supported by said base;

a switch supported by said base and electrically connected to both said battery and said light assemblies to selectively permit energization of said light assemblies by said battery; and

a substantially flexible and transparent cover secured to said base for enclosing said battery and said switch to permit an operation of said switch through a deformation of said cover and subsequent movement of said switch by said user.

2. The new lighted life jacket of claim 1, and further comprising a selector in electrical communication with said power source, said selector being selectively operable by said user to provide a pulsed flow of electrical power to said light assemblies.

3. The new lighted life jacket of claim 2, wherein each of said light assemblies comprises a lens having a journal along a perimeter thereof, and a light modifying lens cover placed over said lens, said lens cover having a ridge for engagement to said journal to releasably retain said lens cover over said lens.

4. The new lighted life jacket of claim 3, and further comprising a pole movably attached to said backside of said floatation vest in a vertical orientation, and a further light assembly pivotally mounted on said pole and electrically connected to said power source.

5. The new lighted life jacket of claim 4, wherein each of said light assemblies is substantially rectangular in shape.

6. The new lighted life jacket of claim 5, wherein said light assemblies and said power source are partially embedded within said floatation vest.

7. The new lighted life jacket of claim 6, wherein said power source is electrically connected to said light assemblies by a plurality of wires, said wires being positioned within said floatation vest.

8. The new lighted life jacket of claim 7, wherein said further light assembly is substantially hemispherically shaped.

9. A new lighted life jacket comprising:

a floatation vest having front and back sides and being wearable by a user to provide floatation to said user;

three substantially rectangular light assemblies partially embedded within said floatation vest, two of said light assemblies being positioned on said front side of said floatation vest, and one of said light assemblies being positioned on said back side of said floatation vest, each of said light assemblies comprising a lens having a journal along a perimeter thereof, and a light modifying lens cover placed over said lens, said lens cover having a ridge for engagement to said journal to releasably retain said lens cover over said lens;

a power source partially embedded within said floatation vest and electrically connected by a plurality of wires positioned within said floatation vest to said light assemblies, said power source comprising a base;

a battery supported by said base;

a switch supported by said base and electrically connected to both said battery and said light assemblies to selectively permit energization of said light assemblies by said battery; and

, a substantially flexible and transparent cover secured to said base for enclosing said battery and said switch to permit an operation of said switch through a deformation of said cover and subsequent movement of said switch by said user;

a pole movably attached to said backside of said floatation vest in a vertical orientation, and a substantially hemispherically shaped further light assembly pivotally mounted on said pole and electrically connected to said power source;

and,

a selector in electrical communication with said power source, said selector being selectively operable by said user to provide a pulsed flow of electrical power to said light assemblies and said further light assembly.