Personal flotation device and related system for maintaining human body in partially-submerged horizontal position

• US 6,213,832 B1
• Filed: 07/09/1999
• Issued: 04/10/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 09/16/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Otto P. Fest Sr
• Original Assignee: Otto P. Fest Sr
• Inventors: Fest, Otto P. Sr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Avila, Stephen
• Assistant Examiner(s): Olson, Lars A.
• Application Number:
  US09/350,706
• Time in Patent Office: 641 Days
• Field of Search: 441/88, 441/119, 441/129, 441/130, 441/131, 441/81, 441/40, 441/124, 441/80, 441/89
• US Class Current: 441/129
• CPC Class Codes: B63C 9/135 using solid buoyant material
• CPC Class Codes: B63C 9/155 inflatable

Abstract

A personal flotation device is configured and sized so that it is adapted to be positioned beneath a person'"'"'s body to cause the person to be suspended in equilibrium in a partially-submerged state. The device includes a ring-shaped body and a plurality of side floats extending radially away from the ring-shaped body.

Claims

1. A personal flotation device, comprising:

a buoyant ring body having a central opening therethrough;

a plurality of arms each in physical communication with and extending generally radially outwardly from the ring body from a first end to a second end;

a plurality of buoyant side floats each in physical communication with an associated arm; and

wherein said ring body, said side floats and said arms are made from two flat sheets of material joined to each other at their respective perimeters, thereby forming an air-tight unitary body adapted to be filled with air.

2. A personal flotation device for supporting a person in a generally horizontal, partially submerged state of floating equilibrium in a body of water, said device comprising:

a buoyant ring body having a central opening therethrough and being adapted to be positioned underneath the seat of the person at a position below the surface of the body of water;

a plurality of arms each in physical communication with and extending generally radially outwardly from the ring body from a first end to a second end;

a plurality of buoyant side floats each in physical communication with an associated arm and each adapted to float upward relative to the ring body along the sides of the person when said ring body is positioned beneath the seat of the person; and

wherein said ring body, said side floats and said arms are made from two flat sheets of material joined to each other at their respective perimeters, thereby forming an air-tight unitary body adapted to be filled with air.

3. A personal flotation system for supporting a person in a generally horizontal, partially submerged state of floating equilibrium in a body of water, said system comprising:

a first buoyant ring body having a central opening therethrough and being adapted to be positioned underneath the seat of the person at a position below the surface of the body of water;

a plurality of first arms each in physical communication with and extending generally radially outwardly from the first ring body from a first end to a second end;

a plurality of first buoyant side floats each in physical communication with an associated first arm and each adapted to float upward relative to the first ring body along the sides of the person when said first ring body is positioned beneath the seat of the person;

a second buoyant ring body being of smaller diameter than said first buoyant ring body, and being adapted to be positioned underneath the head of the person at a position below the surface of the body of water;

a plurality of second arms each in physical communication with and extending generally radially outwardly from the second ring body from a first end to a second end;

a plurality of second buoyant side floats each in physical communication with an associated second arm and each adapted to float upward relative to the second ring body along the sides of the person when said second ring body is positioned beneath the seat of the person;

wherein said first ring body, said first arms and said first side floats are made from two flat sheets of material joined to each other at their respective perimeters, thereby forming an air-tight unitary body adapted to be filled with air; and

said second ring body, said second side floats and said second arms are made from two flat sheets of material joined to each other at their respective perimeters, thereby forming an air-tight unitary body adapted to be filled with air.

4. A personal flotation device comprising:

a buoyant ring body having a central opening therethrough;

a plurality of arms each physically communicating with the ring body and extending generally radially outwardly from said ring body; and

a plurality of buoyant side floats each physically communicating with an associated arm, the ring body, the side floats and the arms being made from two flat sheets of material joined to each other at their respective perimeters, thereby forming an air-tight unitary body adapted to be filled with air.