Inflatable flotation vest

Aug. 30, 1960

2,950,488

S. C. SABO

INFLATABLE FLOTATION VEST

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ATTY.

Aug. 30, 1960 _s. _c. _SABO 2,950,488

INFLATABLE FLOTATION VEST

Filed Aug. 14, 1956 4 gheets-Sheet 2

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ATTY

Aug. 30, 1960

2,950,488

S. C. SABO

INFLATABLE FLOTATION VEST

<img file="US2950488A_D0004.tif" />

Aug. 30, 1960

2,950,488

S. C. SABO

INFLATABLE FLOTATION VEST

Filed Aug. 14, 1956

Sheets-Sheet 4

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Α3ΊΥ.

United States Patent Office

2,950,488

Patented Aug. 30, 1960

2,950,488

INFLATABLE FLOTATION VEST

Stephen C. Sabo, Barberton, Ohio, assignor to The B. F. Goodrich Company, New York, N.Y., a corporation of New York

Filed Aug. 14,1956, Ser. No. 603,898

Claims. (CI. 9—316)

The invention relates to inflatable articles with one or more individual fluid-inflatable walled chambers and especially to inflatable flotation garments including vests, life-preservers and the like with superimposed non-communicating chambers for sustaining the wearer safely in water.

Aviators flying military airplanes are sometimes compelled, due to failure of the airplane, to bail-out and subsequently land in the water of an ocean and the like. Since military aviators are generally wearing at least a parachute and a special type of flying suit to permit them to fly at high altitudes, it is essential that they be provided with flotation garments such, for example, as snug fitting, inflatable vests capable of sustaining the wearer safely in water. Preferably, the inflatable flotation vests not only should accommodate the harness of parachute, but should include provision for a strong attachment to the wearer and for carrying emergency oxygen bottles and other articles promoting the safety of the wearer during the parachute descent and also while floating in the water. It is important that the flotation vest have provision of a self-righting feature, so that the aviator is compelled to float upon his back in the water with his head and face supported above the surface of the water, since the aviator may be in a conscious or an unconscious condition at the time he lands in the water feet or even head first.

Prior inflatable vests of the single chamber type for the occupants of boats, ocean liners, aircraft and the like have been subject to puncture and deflation and have generally lacked the self-righting feature; hence they are objectionable. Also, prior inflatable vests of other types have been unduly cumbersome, loose fitting and otherwise objectionable as from undue interference with the movement of the wearer, while the latter is floating in water, or operating the aircraft.

Objects of the invention are to provide an improved inflatable flotation article or garment, especially a flotation vest with a self-righting feature and of increased buoyancy and safety; to provide for such an article or garment with individual, inflatable, walled chambers or compartments, especially superimposed chambers; to provide for independent inflation of each chamber; to provide for pressure inflation of at least one chamber and for oral inflation of at least one chamber; to provide for yieldably pillowing the wearer’s head and maintaining the head forwardly and upwardly relative to the torso; to provide for compelling the wearer to float upon his back in the water with his head and face above the surface of the water i.e. a self-righting function; to provide for preventing sealing of the walls of the chambers against one another at the shoulder cross-over regions of the garment; to provide for conveniently attaching and snugly fitting the garment or vest to the wearer’s body and for avoiding inflated portions of the vest beneath the wearer’s arms and along the sides of his torso; to provide for accommodating the parachute harness of the wearer; to provide for carrying articles promoting the safety of the wearer in air and in water; to provide for freedom of movement of the wearer; and to provide for simplicity of construction, compactness, convenience of manufacture and for effectiveness of operation.

These and other objects and advantages will be apparent from the following description:

In the accompanying drawings which form a part of this specification and in which like numerals are employed throughout to designate like parts,

Fig. 1 is a plan view facing toward the front side of a divided inflatable flotation vest in a closed, extended, uninflated condition and constructed in accordance with and embodying the invention, parts being broken away,

Fig. 2 is a. view showing the closed flotation vest in15 flated and supporting an aviator upon his back in water, while yieldably pillowing his head so that it is tilted upwardly with his mouth and nose above the water level,

Fig. 3 is a plan view like Fig. 1 but showing the flotation vest in the open, extended condition, parts being 20 broken away,

Fig. 4 is a plan view facing toward the back side of the flotation vest in the open, extended condition, parts being broken away,

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken along line 5—5 in 25 Fig. 4,

Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken along line 6—6 in Fig. 4,

Fig. 7 is a sectional view taken along line 7—7 in Fig. 4,

Fig. 8 is a sectional view taken along line 8—8 in Fig. 4,

Fig. 9 is a sectional view taken along line 9—9 in Fig. 4,

Fig. 10 is a sectional view taken along line 10—10 in 35 Fig. 3,

Fig. 11 is a side elevation of a back attaching pack portion as viewed -from the right side of the latter as shown in Fig. 3, parts being broken away,

Fig. 12 is a plan view like Fig. 3 but showing a modi40 fled construction of the flotation vest,

Fig. 13 is a sectional view taken along line 13—13 in Fig. 12,

Fig. 14 is a sectional view taken along line 14—14 in Fig. 12, and

Fig. 15 is a sectional view taken along line 15—15 in Fig. 12.

The construction of the inflatable flotation vest 20 shown in Figs. 1 to 11, inclusive, includes a pair of circumferentially spaced collar portions 21, 21 each of 50 generally arcuate segmental configuration in plan for crossing over the wearer’s shoulders and for fitting against opposite sides of the wearer’s neck, a head rest portion 22 integral and merging with and projecting outwardly away from the segmental collar portions 21, 21 at their 55 back end region for fitting against the back part of the wearer’s neck and for pillowing the wearer’s head, and a torso portion 23 integral and merging with and projecting outwardly away from the segmental collar portions 21, 21 at their front end region for fitting against the 60 front part of the wearer’s neck and for positioning lengthwise of the wearer’s torso at the front only thereof, all of which portions are inflatably distensible for flotation in water purposes. The flotation vest 20 preferably includes a non-inflatable hollow back pack portion 24 65 beneath the head rest portion 22 and secured thereto and to the collar portions 21, 21 at their back region in the manner shown especially in Fig. 4. The arrangement, by virtue of the coacting inflatable front torso portion 23 and the inflatable head rest portion 22, has provision 70 for supporting and maintaining the wearer upon his back in water, while yieldably pillowing and continuously supporting his head so that it is tilted forwardly and

2,950,488 upwardly with his mouth and nose above the surface of the water.

The integrally united, inflatable collar, head rest and torso portions of the flotation vest 20 are formed by a plurality of plies, preferably four plies 25, 26, 27, 28, of flexible, fluid-impervious material such, for example, as nylon, rayon, cotton, linen and other suitable strong, square-woven textile fabric sheet material with a thin impervious layer of natural or synthetic rubber, or other rubber-like material on one or both sides of the fabric. Desirably, the plies 25, 26, 27, 28 are each of lightweight, square-woven nylon fabric, the outer 25 and inner 28 plies having a thin impervious layer or coating of neoprene (polychloroprene) on one side only, which coated side is preferably disposed at the interior of the aforesaid inflatable portions, while the intermediate plies 26 and 27 have a similar impervious layer of neoprene on both sides of the nylon fabric.

' The plies 25 to 28, inclusive, of fluid-impervious nylon fabric sheet material of the desired configuration are superimposed and joined together in sealing relation, as by a suitable neoprene liquid cement of the air-curing type, continuously along their superimposed, narrow, peripheral marginal portions and their marginal portions bounding a neck opening in the vest and are in separated or unattached relation one to the other intermediate the joined marginal portions, as shown especially in Fig. 5. Reinforcing crotch tapes 29, 30, 31 of neoprene treated woven textile fabric material are suitably adhesively attached continuously along and at the junction of the joined marginal portions, a crotch tape being positioned between each pair of adjacent plies in the manner shown, to resist separation of the adhered marginal edge portions upon inflation of the flotation vest. A reinforcing tape 32 may be folded about the edges of the plies and adhered and desirably sewed thereto. This construction provides a plurality of superimposed, individual, non-communicating, inflatable walled chambers 33, 34, 35 or compartments extending continuously and uninterruptedly in the collar portions, and head rest and torso portions of the flotation vest, so that all parts of each individual chamber are in communication, one with the other.

For assuring the desired continuity of communication between the torso parts and the collar parts and head-rest parts of each individual non-communicating inflatable chamber 33, 34, 35, a venting means or thin, narrow, flat strip 36, 37, 38 of flexible rubber-like material with a longitudinally ribbed venting surface may be adhesively attached, as by a suitable neoprene liquid cement of the air-curing type, to a wall of each chamber 33, 34, 35 with the ribbed venting surface uppermost or exposed within the chamber, as shown especially in Fig. 6. A group of three superimposed, venting strips extend, as shown especially in Fig. 4, from a position in the upper region of the torso parts of the chambers 33, 34, 35 at one side of the vest part way circumferentially along the collar parts of the chambers to a position adjacent the lower region of the head rest parts of the chambers. A similar group of venting strips is similarly arranged at the other shoulder cross-over region of the vest. This construction provides an individual group of three venting strips 36, 37, 38 within and extending along each segmental collar portion 21 at each side of the vest, where the segmental collar portion 21 is preferably arcuate and crosses over the wearer’s shoulders, thus preventing sealing of the walls of the respective chambers against one another in the uninflated condition of the vest, even though straps of a parachute harness (shown in part in broken lines in Fig. 3 at portion 24), for example, overlie and press against the collar portions 21, 21 at both shoulder cross-over regions thereof.

The inflatable collar portions 21, 21, head rest 22 and torso 23 portions are preferably each of the particular shape in plan shown, in Figs. 3 and 4. Inasmuch as the torso portion 23 is preferably divided longitudinally for ease of donning purposes, each arcuate segmental collar portion 21 merges with one of the two parts of the divided torso portion 23 and with the head rest portion 22. Each arcuate segmental collar portion 21 may have a laterally or radially extending strap 40 of suitable treated nylon fabric adhered or otherwise attached to the underside (side nearest the wearer’s shoulder) of the collar portion and extending away from the side edges thereof, as shown in Fig. 3. The strap at its respective ends may be provided with female 41 and male 42 members of one or more snap fasteners, so that the strap, when closed and fastened, will overlie and hold in place a strap of the parachute harness, where it extends over the shoulder region of the collar portion.

The head rest portion 22 may be multi-sided, oblong, circular, oval or other suitable shape and of sufficient dimensions, especially lateral extent or width, to function effectively as a pillow for the wearer’s head and to prevent the head from slipping off the sides of the portion 22 into the water, when the chambers in the portion 22 are inflated. However, for the particular embodiment shown in Fig. 3, the head rest portion in plan is not only of sufficient dimensions laterally to function as stated but is generally triangular with slightly laterally curved, diverging sides extending outwardly from the outer margins of and at the laterally spaced back or rearward end regions of the collar portions to the straight sided base of the triangle substantially remote from the collar portions 21, 21. This generally triangular shape -accommodates extending the straps of the parachute harness beneath the head rest portion adjacent the collar portion. It is important that the head rest portion have sufficient buoyancy and dimensions laterally and longitudinally to effectively support the wearer’s head out of the water and prevent slippage of the head off the sides of such portion into the water.

Preferably, the lower wall of the head rest portion 22 and the upper wall of the collar portions 21, 21 at their back end regions are provided with spaced-apart female 41 and male 42 parts of snap fasteners located as shown in the drawings, so that in the uninflated condition of the head rest portion, it can be rolled into a compact roll and releasably held rolled-up by the engagement of the snap fasteners. Upon inflation of the vest, the inflating pressure and pull on the walls of the rolled head rest portion 22 causes disengagement of the snap fasteners and this disengagement permits the extension and inflation of the head rest portion.

The divided torso portion 23 may be of elongated form and extends from the collar portions 21, 21. at their front end regions downwardly along the front but not the sides of the wearer’s torso to about the region of his hips, and terminates at its lower end in opposed, laterally-extending projections 43, 44 which may be lobes of rounded form in plan, as shown in Fig. 3. A strap and buckle structure 78, 79 is provided, at and secured to each outer margin of the torso portion and is spaced upwardly from the adjacent lobe for attaching purposes. The margins of the torso portion at its divide may have fabric stringers or tapes of a known type of slide fastener 45 adhesively or otherwise securely attached to such margins for detachably joining the two parts of the divided torso portion as shown in Fig. 1. Each lobe 43, 44 at its front or upper wall may. be provided with vertically spaced-apart female 41 and male 42 parts of snap fasteners to facilitate folding upwardly the material in the lower zone, of the uninflated lobe, so as to avoid hindrance with movement of the wearer’s hips and/or legs, when the wearer is seated. These snap fasteners quickly disengage to permit unfolding of the lobs 43, 44 when the vest is inflated.

A laterally-extending attaching strap 46, 47 of strong webbing or other suitable fabric may be attached adhesively and sewed to each lobe 43, 44 at its back or

2,050,488 δ lower wall and projects beyond the margins of the lobe, the strap 46 being the longest to extend around the wearer’s back and engage an adjusting buckle 48 of the other strap 47. The zone of attachment, indicated at “A” in Fig. 4, is desirably less than the lateral length of the lobe and adjacent the lower end of the slide fastener 45 to facilitate inflating distension of the lobe. The attaching strap 47 is provided at its free end with the quick-acting, adjusting buckle 48. The attaching straps 46, 47, when joined by means of the buckle 48, extend entirely across the wearer’s back to securely hold the vest in place in its uninflated and its inflated conditions. Each attaching strap 46, 47 is provided with a pair of snap fastener parts 41, 41 at a position slightly spaced from the outer margin of the adjacent lobe.

A laterally-extending attaching strap 80, 81 of suitable webbing or fabric is suitably attached to the fabric in the front or upper wall of each lobe so as to extend outwardly along and overlie the adjacent underlying attaching strap 46, 47 and is provided at its free end with a pair of snap fastener parts 42, 42. Each attaching strap 80, 81 is of sufficient length beyond the margin of the lobe to be loosely folded inwardly upon itself, in the uninflated condition of the vest, with its fastener parts 42, 42 engaging the fastener parts 41, 41 of the adjacent attaching strap 46, 47 in the uninflated closed condition of the vest with the straps 46, 47 engaged, whereby this construction facilities full inflating distension of the lobes without creating undue tension and tautness in the engaged attaching straps 46, 47 encircling the wearer’s body hence effecting undue squeezing pressure against the wearer’s torso, and at the same time this construction maintains the lobes in the desired position at the lower frontal region of the wearer’s torso to promote the desired self-righting functioning of the vest.

When the flotation vest is to be used for aviation purposes, it may be provided, if desired, at the torso portion 23 with other attaching straps and fastening means (not shown) for engagement with coacting fastening means on the flying suit (not shown) and on the parachute harness. ⁴⁰If desired, pockets or other containers formed of suitable fabric material (not shown) and adapted to receive packages of shark repellant material and emergency flares and other related accessories, may be mounted on the front wall of the torso portion at spaced-apart locations thereon. 45

For pressure inflation of the inner or back chamber 33, that is the chamber nearest the wearer’s body when the flotation vest is being worn, an inflating valve structure comprising a flanged rubber body 49 and a cylindrical metal tubular stem 50 is mounted on the fabric ply 28 at 50 one lobe of the torso portion 23 and is in communication with the chamber 33, as shown in Figs. 4 and 8. The flange of the rubber body 49 is adhesively attached to the fabric ply 28, and a circular bleeder pad 51 of suitable rubber-like material with a ribbed upper surface is adhesively attached to the adjacent fabric ply 27 immediately overlying or underneath the rubber body 49 to prevent sealing of the latter against the ply 27, which sealing resists inflating the walled chamber 33. The cylindrical metal stem 50 may have along the upper part of its length an external flat surface 52, and may have external screw threads 50α and a sealing gasket 50b at its upper end for engaging a suitable hold-down threaded nut (not shown).

The smooth flat surface 52 contacts and mates with a corresponding second flat surface in a known type of car- 65 bon dioxide (CO₂) cartridge container and puncturing means 53 to resist rotation of the same. The container and puncturing means 53 has a laterally projecting, annular portion including said second flat surface adapted to slip over the end of the stem 50 and to be held on the metal stem 50 by the hold-down nut. The CO₂ gas under pressure is released from the cartridge by puncturing the latter while it is within the container. The released gas passes through a port 54 in the stem 50 and then through the bore in the stem into the inner chamber 33, thereby fully inflating and distending the collar, head rest and torso parts of the latter chamber.

The valve stem structure and the cartridge container and puncturing means 53 may be protected by an overly5 ing fabric cover 55 suitably shaped and adhesively attached to the fabric back ply 28 of one lobe of the torso portion, as shown in Fig. 4, an access flap and snap fastener arrangement 56 in the cover 55 facilitating access to the cartridge container and puncturing means 53 and the 10 removal of the contained cartridge, when desired. The cartridge puncturing means can be manually operated externally of the cover 55 by a suitable pull cord 57 which extends beyond the cover.

For pressure inflation of the intermediate chamber 34, 15 a second inflating valve structure is suitably attached and mounted on the other lobe of the torso portion 23 at the back of the latter portion, as shown in Figs. 4 and 9. The second valve structure is like that of the first valve structure and has its flanged rubber body 49 adhered to 20 the fabric ply 27, and its threaded and ported metal stem 50 in communication with the intermediate chamber 34. A suitable circular, ribbed bleeder pad 51 is adhered to the adjacent fabric ply 26 immediately overlying or underneath the rubber body 49, as shown in Fig. 9. A 25 similar known type of carbon dioxide cartridge container and puncturing means 53 is mounted and held on the stem 50 of the second inflating valve structure at the back of the lobe in a manner like that described hereinabove for the first inflating valve structure, and can be manually 30 operated by a suitable pull cord 57. A suitable protective fabric cover 55 with flap arrangement 56 may be attached to the back ply 28 of the lobe and arranged to overlie the second inflating valve structure and the cartridge container and puncturing means 53 mounted there35 on. This second inflating arrangement functions in a manner like that of the first described inflating arrangement, but produces full inflating distension of the collar, head rest and torso parts of the intermediate chamber 34.

Normally, the pressure inflation and distension of the two chambers 33 and 34 by the CO₂ gas under pressure produces the desired differential in centers of buoyancy of the head rest and torso portions for self-righting purposes and sufficient displacement of water by the vest to provide adequate buoyancy to support the wearer of the flotation vest in the desired manner in the water even though the wearer be encumbered, for example, with a flying suit and other paraphernalia used for aviation purposes. If for any reason one of the chambers 33, 34 can not be inflated, or if increased water-displacement and hence buoyancy of the flotation vest is desired, the outer or front inflatable walled chamber 35 may be orally inflated using the mouth and exhaust breath of the wearer for this purpose. To these ends, there is provided at the upper region of one part of the divided torso portion 23, 55 a flexible, flanged rubber tube 58 of suitable length with its base flange mounted adhesively on the exterior surface of the outer or front fabric ply 25, the tube 58 being in communication with the front inflatable walled chamber 35, as shown in Figs. 3 and 10. A suitable known type 60 of oral inflating valve 59 is mounted on the free end of the tube 58 for insertion into the mouth of the wearer. The tube 58 and valve 59 may be held in a position out of the way of the wearer by the adjacent strap 40 in the closed condition until the wearer desires to make use of 'the front inflatable walled chamber 35.

The particular construction of the flotation vest shown in Figs. 3 and 4, includes the non-inflatable back pack portion 24, preferably hollow and of rectangular shape in plan, which may be attached adhesively to the lower 70 wall of the head rest portion 22 at its neck region by an extension of a front or a back wall of the portion 24. The back pack portion 2.4 underlies the head rest portion 22 and can be positioned against and along the wearer’s back. The front and back walls of greater length than 75 width and the narrow side and end walls of the back pack

2,950,488 '7 8 portion, as shown in Figs. 3, 4 and 10, may be made of non-impervious, square-woven nylon fabric and may be sewed or otherwise suitably fastened together to provide a relatively shallow, flexible-walled, hollow receptacle for articles which for flight purposes may include an emergency oxygen bottle and other miscellaneous flight gear of the wearer. The two side walls and part of the upper end wall of the portion 24 adjacent the neck. region of the head rest portion 22 may be slitted and. the fabric margins at the slits may be detachably joined by slide fasteners 60, 61 or other suitable separable fasteners, as shown in Fig. 3, to permit the insertion, and removal of articles from the back, pack portion 24.. A. laterallyextending strap 62 of strong webbing or other suitable material may be fastened to the inside surface of the inner wall of the back pack portion 24 as by sewing and may be located approximately midway the length of the portion, projecting end portions of the strap having substantial length extend through and laterally away from the side walls of the portion .24 for engagement with the adjusting buckles of the attaching straps 78 and 79, respectively, on the torso portion 23. At the lower end of the portion 24 on its outer wall is sewed a suitable fabric guide strip 82 for overlying and accommodating the attaching strap 46, as shown especially in Fig. 3.

When the flotation vest in the closed condition shown in Fig. 1 is worn over a flying suit and associated with a parachute harness, a pair of the straps of the harness may extend over the wearer’s shoulders at the collar portions 21, 21 and then without interference from the head rest portion 22 by virtue of its generally triangular shape, such straps of the harness may criss-cross one another along the outer wall of the back pack portion 24 as shown in broken lines in Fig. 3. In this case, spaced-apart strips of suitable nylon fabric shown in broken lines at the desired positions may be secured suitably to the outer wall of the portion 24 to maintain the crossed straps of the harness in position.

The modified construction of the inflatable flotation vest shown in Figs. 12, 13, 44 and 15, includes the features of but differs from the flotation vest described hereinabove in that the torso portion is integral and not longitudinally divided nor provided with a slide fastener arrangement; that the head rest portion is of straight-sided, approximately rectangular configuration in plan; that the attaching back flap is not hollow nor adapted for receiving articles; and that the attaching means at each of the lobes is constituted by a strap and buckle arrangement for attachment to the wearer.

The inner or back 63 and intermediate 64 inflatable chambers in the torso portion 65 have their continuous, flexible, impervious, nylon fabric walls, as shown in Figs. 12 and 13, adhesively united longitudinally along a narrow central zone in the portion 65 to provide an internal partition 65α separating the inflatable parts of each of the chambers 63, 64 in such portion. The outer or front inflatable chamber 66 has no internal partition between the margins of the torso portion 65.

All parts of each of the back and intermediate chambers are pressure inflated by suitable individual inflating means constructed and arranged in the torso portion at its back wall in the manner described for the flotation vest shown in Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 4. Like the front inflatable chamber of the first described vest, the front inflatable chamber 66 is for increased buoyancy or for emergency purposes and may be orally inflated by the mouth of the wearer by virtue of the suitable inflating tube and valve means 67.

The multiple chambered head rest portion 68 projects outwardly away from the generally arcuate segmental collar portions 69, 69 a sufficient extent to support the back of the.wearer’s head at a position spaced from his neck. The head rest portion 68 is of sufficient length and width to prevent the wearer’s head from slipping sidewardly off the sides into the water and to maintain the head above the surface of the water. However, the nontriangular form of the head rest portion 68 requires a relatively wider spacing of the straps of the parachute harness at their shoulder cross-over regions.

The attaching back flap portion 70 separated from and 5 underlying the head rest portion, may be made of two thicknesses of suitable nylon fabric abutting and united throughout as by cementing or stitching or both, and secured to the head rest portion 68 and the collar portions 69, 69 along the line 73, and is provided with a pair of 10 spaced-apart, laterally extending attaching strips 71, 72 suitably secured or sewed to the portion 70 for adjustably engaging strap and buckle structures 77, 77 and 83, 83, respectively, secured to the torso portion 76 of the vest.

The lobes 74, 75 of the undivided torso portion 76 may 15 each be provided at its upper margin with the outwardly projecting strap and buckle structure 77, 77, as shown ' in Fig. 12. This permits the separable attachment of the torso portion 65 to the suit of the wearer.

The respective flotation vests described hereinabove 20 have provision for easy donning and doffing by the wearer &gt; and advantageously produce increased buoyancy by virtue of the plurality of non-communicating, superimposed, individual, inflatable chambers, and also increased safety in case one of the walls of the back or front chambers is punctured accidentally. The inflatable head rest feature assures maintenance of the head of the wearer with or without a helmet thereon in an upwardly and forwardly inclined relationship to the torso and facilitates keeping the mouth and nose of the wearer above the surface of the water, while preventing slippage of the wearer’s head off the sides of the inflated head rest portion. The flotation vests accommodate the straps of the parachute harness of an aviator and are conveniently separably attached to the flying suit of the aviator, even though the flying 35 suit be of the inflatable type.

Also, the flotation vests, when worn by the wearer and inflated’ with either two or three chambers fully distended, each has its center of buoyancy at and somewhat above the front of the wearer’s torso so that the wearer is com40 pelled to float upon his back in the water with his head above the surface of the water i.e. a self-righting feature, whether the wearer enter the water head first or feet first in a conscious or unconscious condition. This is an important advantage of the flotation vest, especially for 45 aviation purposes.

Variations may be made without departing from the scope of the invention as it is defined in the following claims.