US3727249A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Foldable yoke life preserver
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1972-03-09
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Granted: 1973-04-17
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Expires: 1992-03-09
Abstract
Abstract A foldable life preserver is described which is usable as a boat cion. The opening for the head and neck of the user is closed by folding doors to allow the life preserver to be used as a solid cushion in either folded or opened form. The doors swing away in use to expose the opening and to provide additional buoyancy for supporting the wearer in an upright position in the water.
Inventors
- 👤 B Bonthelius
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 21:13
CPC Classifications
B; B63; B63C; B63C9/00; B63C9/08; B63C9/11; B63C9/115; B63C9/28
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 7
Claim 1
Independent Claim
92 words
A foldable yoke-type life preserver comprising a buoyant lower portion having securing means for attachment to a user''s body, a buoyant upper portion hingedly attached to the lower portion and having an opening through which a user may insert his head and neck, and characterized by a pair of buoyant doors hingedly attached to the upper portion at opposite sides of said opening, said doors being shaped to substantially fill said opening when in a closed position whereby the life preserver acquires a substantially solid shape for use as a seat cushion.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
92 words
A foldable yoke-type life preserver comprising a buoyant lower portion having securing means for attachment to a user''s body, a buoyant upper portion hingedly attached to the lower portion and having an opening through which a user may insert his head and neck, and characterized by a pair of buoyant doors hingedly attached to the upper portion at opposite sides of said opening, said doors being shaped to substantially fill said opening when in a closed position whereby the life preserver acquires a substantially solid shape for use as a seat cushion.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
36 words
A life preserver as defined in claim 1 wherein the buoyant doors are hinged for opening in a direction toward the user''s shoulders, whereby the doors are retained against movement during use as a life preserver.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
39 words
A life preserver as defined in claim 1 in which the opening consists of a lower rectangular portion and an upper semi-circular portion, and the buoyant doors are hinged oN opposite sides of the lower portion of the opening.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
62 words
A life preserver as defined in claim 1 in which the buoyant upper and lower portions are constructed of resilient cellular material and covered by flexible sheet material, and in which the upper and lower portions are connected by a continuous strip of said sheet material secured to the respective adjoining ends of said upper and lower portions to form a hinge.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
90 words
A life preserver as defined in claim 4 in which each of said upper and lower portions has a thickness L and said hinge means has a dimension between upper and lower portions of L/2, and said hinge means is attached to one of said upper and lower portions at an edge opposite the user and to the other of said portions along a line substantially midway between its front and back faces, whereby the life preserver preferentially folds away from the user to conceal and enclose its outward-facing portions.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
45 words
A life preserver as defined in claim 5 in which the securing means are contained in a pocket on the outwardly directed face of the lower portion when not in use, whereby said securing means are covered when the preserver is in a folded condition.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-04-16 | 1976-10-16 | 1977-04-17 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-04-16 | 1980-10-16 | 1981-04-17 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-04-16 | 1984-10-16 | 1985-04-17 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |