Patent · US Expired

Improvements relating to life jackets

US5567191A · kind A · utility

8Cited by
2References
8Claims
0Family size

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateJan 20, 1995
Grant dateOct 22, 1996
Priority date
Expiry dateJan 20, 2015

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
  • CPC primaryB63C9/1255
  • WIPO fieldTransport
  • WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

Abstract

The invention provides an inflatable life jacket which is held in a horse-shoe shaped cover from which the jacket breaks free when inflated. The jacket has two legs (34, 36) and a rear jacket (44,46). The rear portion (44, 46) fits behind the user's head and the legs (34,36) locate to opposite sides of the user's chest. The legs (34,36) are approximately of equal length, but their inner edges are profiled so that one has a major section (42) which extends across the user's chest and a minor lobe (40) which lies adjacent the user's neck and the other leg (36) has a major lobe (38) which also extends across the user's chest and registers with a narrow portion of the other leg lying between the major section (42) and inner lobe (40) so as to interfit with said narrow portion and to underlie (at least partially) said other leg (36) to prevent the formation of a water channel between the legs (34, 36). the rear portion has extension lobes (44,46) to increase buoyancy behind the head.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.