Technical field of the invention The present invention relates to a rigid life jacket comprising a chest part and a neck part, the chest part comprising at least one buoyancy element with first sides and second sides as well as a first face and a second face.

Background art

Rigid life jackets of the above-mentioned type are well-known in the art. The chest part of the life jacket with the buoyancy element serves to turn the wearer in the water if he or she lies in a face down position, as well as to subsequently keep the upper body of the wearer floating so that his or her head is kept above surface.

Especially in circumstances where the life jacket is worn by a wearer who is unconscious, injured, disabled, or for some other reason unable to turn him or herself in the water, it is vital that the life jacket is adapted and able to turn the wearer in the water rapidly. The same applies if the wearer is a child or an infant, who is not able to turn him or herself in the water either.

Also, when the wearer has been turned and placed correctly in the water, it is of the utmost importance that the life jacket also provides a certain buoyancy stability to the wearer so that he or she will feel secure in the water and that his or her movements in the water are limited.

Furthermore, the statutory requirements to life jackets used on passenger ships worldwide are presently being strengthened with regard to the above-mentioned issues. There is thus a need for providing a new and improved rigid life jacket.

Summary of the invention

An object of the present invention is to provide a rigid life jacket which makes the wearer more stable in the water. Moreover, it is an object of the present invention to provide a life jacket which is able to turn the wearer in the water. The above objects, together with numerous other objects, advantages and features, which will become evident from the below description, are accomplished by a solution in accordance with the present invention by a rigid life jacket comprising a chest part and a neck part, the chest part comprising at least one buoyancy element with first sides and second sides as well as a first face and a second face,

wherein the first sides extend inward from both the first face and the second face towards a centre of the buoyancy element, so that the buoyancy element has more buoyancy near the first and second faces than at the centre between the first and second faces.

The unique shape of the buoyancy element increases the buoyancy near the first and second faces and thus provides momentum to the ability of the life jacket to turn the wearer in the water. Moreover, it provides a larger contact surface against the water, making the wearer more stable in the water than prior art life jackets. Thus, the shape of the buoyancy element according to the invention prevents the wearer from tilting in the water, providing as much stability and freeboard for the wearer as possible. In one embodiment of the life jacket, the inward extension of the first sides may constitute a V-form, a concave form, a half-circular form, a half-elliptic form, or the like.

Moreover, the chest part and the buoyancy element may be divided into two parts making it possible to separate the chest, which again makes it easier for the wearer to put on the life jacket.

The second face may comprise a recess near the neck part providing room for the chin of the wearer and thereby comfort.

In addition, a strap or belt may be arranged around the chest part for fixating and holding the life jacket close to the torso of the wearer.

In another embodiment, the neck part may comprise a buoyancy element.

Moreover, a collar may be arranged in connection with the neck part for supporting the neck and head of the wearer as well as providing comfort. In yet another embodiment, visibility means, such as reflectors, may be arranged on the life jacket.

Advantageously, the buoyancy element may comprise closed cell foam, the closed cells containing encapsulated air. The foam may be made of polyethylene, polyurethane, chloroprene, or the like.

Brief description of the drawings The invention and its many advantages will be described in more detail below with reference to the accompanying schematic drawings, which for the purpose of illustration show some non-limiting embodiments and in which

Fig. 1 shows a life jacket according to the present invention in perspective,

Fig. 2 shows the life jacket of Fig. 1 from an opposite side, and

Figs. 3-5 show different embodiments of the buoyancy element in cross-section. All the figures are highly schematic and not necessarily to scale, and they show only parts which are necessary in order to elucidate the invention, other parts being omitted or merely suggested.

Description of preferred embodiments

Fig. 1 shows the rigid life jacket 1 according to the invention in perspective. The life jacket 1 comprises a chest part 2 and a neck part 3, which are connected to each other at one end. The chest part 2 comprises at least one buoyancy element 4. In this embodiment, the buoyancy element 4 has first sides 5 and second sides 6 as well as a first face 7 and a second face 8.

The first face 7 faces the chest of the wearer (not shown), whereas the second face 8 is the face opposite from this. According to the present invention, the first sides 5 extend inward from both the first face 7 and the second face 8 towards a centre 9 of the buoyancy element 4, so that the buoyancy element 4 has more buoyancy near the first and second faces 7, 8 than at the centre 9 between the first and second faces 7, 8.

In this embodiment, the buoyancy element 4 has a substantially X-shaped configuration when seen in cross-section. Other embodiments of the buoyancy element 4 will be described in connection with Figs. 3-5 below.

In addition, the neck part 3 may also comprise a buoyancy element as well as a recess or room (not shown) for the wearer's head.

In this embodiment, the chest part 2 furthermore comprises a recess 10 near the neck part 3 providing room as well as comfort for the wearer's head.

In the embodiment shown in Fig. 1, the chest part 2 and buoyancy element 4 are divided into two parts 11, 12, enabling the chest part to be separated when it is put on the wearer. However, the life jacket may as well be put on in other ways known in the prior art.

Between the two parts 11 and 12 of the chest part 2, a tape (not shown) with hooks and loops closures may be arranged in order to fixate the two parts 11, 12 and hold them together.

Furthermore, a strap or belt (not shown) may be arranged around the chest part 2 to secure that the life jacket is held closely to the torso of the wearer and prevent it from sliding off when the wearer is in the water. Furthermore, an additional strap (not shown) may extend from the first face 7 between the legs of the wearer to the second face 8, preventing the life jacket from sliding upwards on the wearer's torso. In addition, a collar 14 is arranged in connection with the chest part 2 and the neck part 3. The collar 14 is adapted to support the head and neck of the wearer as well as to provide comfort. When the two parts 11, 12 of the chest part 2 is separated, the collar 14 may be separated as well so that it can be put around the neck of the wearer. In Fig. 2, the life jacket 1 according to the invention is shown from the opposite side than in Fig. 1. The neck part 3 is here folded backwards against the first face 7 of the chest part 2, making the life jacket more compact and easier to stow. In this embodiment, the chest part 2 and the neck part 3 are connected to each other via two strips 13, which are either welded, sewed, or glued onto the chest part and neck part.

Furthermore, additional buoyancy elements 4 may be connected to either the chest part 2 and/or the neck part 3 in order to enhance the total buoyancy of the life jacket.

The buoyancy elements 4 may comprise closed cell foam, the closed cells of which contain encapsulated air. The foam may for instance be made of polyethylene, polyurethane, chloroprene, or the like.

In Figs. 3 to 5, different configurations of the buoyancy element according to the invention are shown in cross-section. In Fig. 3, the inward extension of the first sides 5 constitute a V-form. It is hereby obtained that the buoyancy element 4 has more buoyancy in the vicinity of the faces 7, 8 than at the centre 9 of the buoyancy element 4.

In Fig. 4, the inward extension of the first sides 5 constitute a concave form, a half-circular form, or a half-elliptic form, which results in the same technical effects as described in connection with Fig. 3.

In Fig. 5, another embodiment of the buoyancy element 4 according to the invention is shown. In this embodiment, the first sides 5 first extend in a straight line from the first and second faces 7, 8, after which they extend inward, creating a V-formed recess in the first sides 5. Like the embodiments of Figs. 3 and 4, this embodiment also ensures that the buoyancy element 4 has more buoyancy in the vicinity of the faces 7, 8 than at the centre 9 of the buoyancy element 4. A cover (not shown), e.g. made of PU-coated polyester, is arranged around the chest part 2 and neck part 3. The cover may be made in bright colours, making the life jacket easily visible from a distance. The cover may also comprise one or more holes facilitating drainage of water from the life jacket.

Each of the different elements constituting the life jacket may be folded or collapsed for easy storage.

The life jacket may be equipped with emergency light and/or a whistle, and it may be fitted with retroreflective tape. Furthermore, the life jacket may also be equipped with a lifting strap, making it possible to hoist the wearer out of the water.

Additionally, the life jacket may comprise a neoprene layer covering the torso of wearer and providing thermal protection against loss of body temperature (hypothermia). This is especially significant when the wearer is a child or infant.

Although the invention above has been described in connection with preferred embodiments of the invention, it will be evident for a person skilled in the art that several modifications are conceivable without departing from the invention as defined by the following claims.