Life-saving device

Claim 2

A buoyant lifesaving device comprising, a flotation element having a generally oval shape with a front portion, a rear portion, and a pair of side portions joining said front portion and said rear portion so as to define an aperture with a generally oval shape, said flotation element front portion is a relatively larger component than each of said side portions and said rear portion individually, said flotation element including a slit in said front portion which slit communicates with said aperture thereby to produce a pair of closely spaced ends of said front portion in juxtaposition to each other, first strap means imbedded in each of said front, rear and side portions of said flotation element around said aperture, second strap means having one end thereof joined to said first strap and imbedded in said rear portion of said flotation element, and ring means having a portion thereof connected with said second strap means and partially imbedded in said rear portion and a portion thereof extending from said rear portion of said flotation element.

Claim 3

The device recited in claim 1 wherein, said rear portion is relatively larger than said side portions.

Claim 4

The device recited in claim 1 wherein, the ends of said first strap means extend out of said flotation element at said front part.

Claim 5

The device recited in claim 1 wherein, said ring means arranged to protrude from said flotation element substantially perpendicular thereto.

Claim 6

The device recited in claim 1 wherein, said flotation element is fabricated of closed cell foam material.

Claim 7

The device recited in claim 1 including, indicator means attached to said flotation element to provide for ease in locating said flotation element.

Claim 8

The device recited in claim 6 wherein, said indicator means comprises a man-overboard pole which is connected to said flotation element by means of an elongated tether line.

Claim 9

A lifesaving device comprising, a flotation element having a generally oval shape, said flotation element having an aperture therethrough, said aperture having a generally oval shape with the long dimension thereof disposed transverse to the long dimension of said flotation element, said flotation element having front portion which is relatively larger than each of the side portions and the rear portion, individually, and wherein said rear portion is relatively larger than each of said side portions, said front portion of said flotation element includes a slit which communicates with said aperture such that the front portion of said flotation element is selectively separable and defines a pair of closely spaced opposed ends, first strap means imbedded in said flotation element around said aperture such that the ends of said first strap means extend out of said flotation element at said front portion on opposite sides of said slit and adjacent to the opposed ends, and second strap means having a portion adjacent to one end thereof joined to said first strap substantially at the midpoint of said first strap and imbedded in the rear portion of said flotation element along with said first strap means.

Claim 10

A lifesaving device comprising, a flotation element having a generally oval shape, said flotation element having an aperture therethrough, said aperture having a generally oval shape with the long dimension thereof disposed transverse to the long dimension of said flotation element, said flotation element having front portion which is relatively larger than each of the side portions and the rear portion, individually, and wherein said rear portion is relatively larger than each of said side portions, said front portion of said flotation element includes a slit which communicates with said aperture such that the front portion of said flotation element is selectively separable and defines a pair of closely spaced opposed ends, first strap means imbedded in said flotation element around said aperture such that the ends of said first strap means extend out of said flotation element at said front portion on opposite sides of said slit and adjacent to the opposed ends, and second strap means having a portion adjacent to one end thereof joined to said first strap substantially at the midpoint of said first strap and imbedded in the rear portion of said flotation element along with said first strap means.

Claim 11

The device recited in claim 8 including, connector means joined to the ends of said first strap means and to a second end of said second strap means for selective connection of said ends of said first strap means and said second end of said second strap means.

Claim 12

The device recited in claim 8 including, ring means at least a portion of which is connected to at least one of said first and second strap means and is imbedded in said rear portion of said flotation element.