The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Dec. 21, 1999
Filed:
Aug. 11, 1998
Douglas A Biesecker, Binghamton, NY (US);
Bradley A Biesecker, Clarks Summit, PA (US);
Other;
Abstract
The present invention features a pocket-sized, portable, flotation device that folds into a storage or carrying case, which is the size of a cellular phone. It can be carried upon a person in a shirt pocket or clipped to a waistline belt. The flotation device includes a life vest with a collar having separate cells, each of which is substantially sealed from adjacent cells to prevent deflation of the adjacent cells through puncture to one of the cells. The collar of the life vest inflates, cell by cell, allowing the user to position the vest over his or her head during inflation. The carrying case has a body and a detachable, arch-shaped cover, constructed so that a tether can be inserted into the cover and the device automatically activated by pulling the cover from the body. Moreover, the case includes a belt loop through which the belt of the user can be inserted. The handle can be hollow, to form a loop into which the tether (attached to the life vest itself) can be threaded. The handle can be adapted to receive a separate belt worn by the user or to receive a belt integral with the case itself. The case includes a window through which a user can visually determine the status of the device without removing same from its case. Alternatively, the entire case can be transparent.