GPS locatable multi-purpose life jacket system

• US 9,381,982 B1
• Filed: 07/03/2014
• Issued: 07/05/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 07/09/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kevin Sumpter
• Original Assignee: Kevin Sumpter
• Inventors: Sumpter, Kevin
• Primary Examiner(s): Avila, Stephen
• Application Number:
  US14/324,009
• Time in Patent Office: 733 Days
• Field of Search: 441/108, 441/123
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/17 Emergency applications
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0027 of actual mobile position, i.e. position determined on mobile
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0231 Emergency, distress or locator beacons

Abstract

The GPS locatable multi-purpose life jacket system is a survival vest having usefulness in a wide variety of unfortunate situations. The vest has a GPS transmitter that transmits the wearer'"'"'s location and has a multi-colored light having blue and red strobe lights visually indicating the location of the distressed wearer in a dark environment, and a white light for using as a flash light in dark locations. A removable floatation collar is attached about the neck opening which may be automatically inflated via a CO₂ cylinder, to act as a life jacket, if water submersion is detected for more than thirty seconds. The red and blue lights of the multi-colored light may also be automatically activated, but can also be manually activated. The vest has pockets for carrying an I.D. card, means to start a fire, and tools for emergency survival.

Claims

1. A gps locatable multi-purpose life jacket system comprising:

an emergency vest assembly comprising;

a vest body having;

a neck opening;

a right shoulder;

a left shoulder;

a front side having;

a front opening;

a vest fastener;

a plurality of pockets; and

a back side; and

a removable floatation collar; and

a global positioning transmitter comprising;

a transmitter activator; and

a pull cord; and

a multi-colored light;

wherein said emergency vest assembly comprises said vest body having said neck opening, said right shoulder, said left shoulder, said front side having said front opening, said vest fastener, and said plurality of pockets, said back side, said removable floatation collar, said global positioning transmitter having said transmitter activator and said pull cord, and said multi-colored light, all in functional combination;

wherein said neck opening, said right shoulder, said left shoulder, said front side, and said back side of said vest body are integrally formed;

wherein said vest fastener is non-removably attached along a vertical length of each side of said front opening;

wherein said plurality of pockets are non-removably attached about an exterior surface of said vest body such that each pocket has an inner volume and a top opening;

wherein said removable floatation collar is structured and arranged to be removably attached to a top edge of said neck opening;

wherein said global positioning transmitter is removably attached between an inner surface and an outer surface of said left shoulder;

wherein said pull cord is removably attached to said transmitter activator of said global positioning transmitter, said transmitter activator located internally of said global positioning transmitter and accessed externally;

wherein said transmitter activator is structured and arranged to be activated automatically by a 30 second contact with a water and alternately by pulling said pull cord;

wherein said multi-colored light is removably attached to said right shoulder; and

wherein said emergency vest assembly is useful for a user to wear during an outdoor outing such that said user is able to be located by a rescuer in an event that said user becomes lost via said multi-colored light and said global positioning transmitter.

2. The gps locatable multi-purpose life jacket system of claim 1 wherein said removable floatation collar comprises an additional floatation device to said vest body.

3. The gps locatable multi-purpose life jacket system of claim 1 wherein said multi-colored light comprises a blue light, a red light, and a white light.

4. The gps locatable multi-purpose life jacket system of claim 1 wherein said blue light and said red light comprises strobe lights.

5. The gps locatable multi-purpose life jacket system of claim 1 wherein said white light comprises a forward-facing flashlight.

6. The gps locatable multi-purpose life jacket system of claim 3 wherein said multi-colored light comprises light emitting diodes.

7. The gps locatable multi-purpose life jacket system of claim 6 wherein said multi-colored light is activated via a long life battery.

8. The gps locatable multi-purpose life jacket system of claim 2 wherein said removable floatation collar is self-inflatable.

9. The gps locatable multi-purpose life jacket system of claim 1 wherein said vest body is buoyant.

10. The gps locatable multi-purpose life jacket system of claim 1 wherein said front opening is closeable via a zipper fastener.

11. The gps locatable multi-purpose life jacket system of claim 9 wherein said vest body comprises at least one inflatable chamber.

12. The gps locatable multi-purpose life jacket system of claim 1 wherein said at least one inflatable chamber wraps around said vest body.

13. The gps locatable multi-purpose life jacket system of claim 1 wherein said removable floatation collar comprises closed-cell polymeric foam.

14. The gps locatable multi-purpose life jacket system of claim 1 wherein said front opening of said vest body comprises closure straps having snap-lock buckles.

15. The gps locatable multi-purpose life jacket system of claim 1 wherein said emergency vest assembly comprises a high visibility reflective orange coloring.

16. The gps locatable multi-purpose life jacket system of claim 1 wherein said emergency vest assembly is modular such that said removable floatation collar is replaceable with a second collar.

17. The gps locatable multi-purpose life jacket system of claim 1 wherein said removable floatation collar is manually inflatable.

18. A gps locatable multi-purpose life jacket system comprising:

an emergency vest assembly comprising;

a vest body having;

a neck opening;

a right shoulder;

a left shoulder;

a front side having;

a front opening;

a vest fastener;

a plurality of pockets; and

a back side; and

a removable floatation collar;

a global positioning transmitter comprising;

a transmitter activator; and

a pull cord; and

a multi-colored light;

wherein said emergency vest assembly comprises said vest body having said neck opening, said right shoulder, said left shoulder, said front side having said front opening, said vest fastener, and said plurality of pockets, said back side, said removable floatation collar, said global positioning transmitter having said transmitter activator and said pull cord, and said multi-colored light, all in functional combination;

wherein said emergency vest assembly comprises a high visibility reflective orange coloring;

wherein said neck opening, said right shoulder, said left shoulder, said front side, and said back side of said vest body are integrally formed;

wherein said vest body is buoyant;

wherein said vest body comprises at least one inflatable chamber;

wherein said at least one inflatable chamber wraps around said vest body;

wherein said vest fastener is non-removably attached along a vertical length of each side of said front opening;

wherein said front opening is closeable via a zipper fastener;

wherein said front opening of said vest body comprises closure straps having snap-lock buckles;

wherein said plurality of pockets are non-removably attached about an exterior surface of said vest body such that each pocket has an inner volume and a top opening;

wherein said removable floatation collar is structured and arranged to be removably attached to a top edge of said neck opening;

wherein said removable floatation collar comprises an additional floatation device to said vest body;

wherein said emergency vest assembly is modular such that said removable floatation collar is replaceable with a second collar;

wherein said removable floatation collar comprises closed-cell polymeric foam;

wherein said removable floatation collar is manually inflatable;

wherein said global positioning transmitter is removably attached between an inner surface and an outer surface of said left shoulder;

wherein said pull cord is removably attached to said transmitter activator of said global positioning transmitter, said transmitter activator located internally of said global positioning transmitter and accessed externally;

wherein said transmitter activator is structured and arranged to be activated automatically by a 30 second contact with a water and alternately by pulling said pull cord;

wherein said multi-colored light is removably attached to said right shoulder;

wherein said multi-colored light comprises a blue light, a red light, and a white light;

wherein said blue light and said red light comprises strobe lights;

wherein said white light comprises a forward-facing flashlight;

wherein said multi-colored light comprises light emitting diodes;

wherein said multi-colored light is activated via a long life battery; and

wherein said emergency vest assembly is useful for a user to wear during an outdoor outing such that said user is able to be located by a rescuer in an event that said user becomes lost via said multi-colored light and said global positioning transmitter.

19. The gps locatable multi-purpose life jacket system of claim 18 further comprising a kit including:

said emergency vest assembly comprising said removable floatation collar;

said global positioning transmitter having said transmitter activator and said pull cord;

said multi-colored light; and

at least one set of user instructions.