Life vest with integrated audio device and method of use

Abstract

A life vest is adapted to retain or hold a waterproof audio playback device so that a wearer of the life vest when engaging in water-related activities can listen to audio playback. The life vest can utilize pockets or device holders to integrate the audio playback device, and can also integrate one or more lead wires of the audio playback device into the vest.

1 . In a life vest having buoyancy structure to permit a wearer of the life vest to float in water, the improvement comprising incorporating a waterproof audio playback device with the life vest, the audio playback device secured to the life vest and being adapted to connect to waterproof earphones so that a wearer can listen to audio playback during life vest wearing.  
   
   
       2 . The life vest of  claim 1 , wherein the life vest includes a pocket to retain the audio playback device.  
   
   
       3 . The life vest of  claim 2 , wherein the pocket is located on a back side, a front side, or an inside surface of the life vest.  
   
   
       4 . The life vest of  claim 3 , wherein the pocket is located near a neck opening of the life vest.  
   
   
       5 . The life vest of  claim 1 , wherein the audio playback device is attached to a strap or other elongate member associated with the life vest via a holder.  
   
   
       6 . The life vest of  claim 1 , wherein the audio playback device includes earphones that are connected to the audio playback device by lead wires, and at least a portion of the lead wires are either integrated into material of the life vest or held to the material of the life vest by attaching structure on the life vest.  
   
   
       7 . The life vest of  claim 1 , wherein the components of the audio playback device are waterproof.  
   
   
       8 . The life vest of  claim 1 , wherein the audio playback device has an audio unit with a waterproof housing, or a housing enclosed in a waterproof casing.  
   
   
       9 . In a method of engaging in a water activity, wherein a participant in the water activity wears a life vest for safety purposes, the improvement comprising the participant listening to audio playback while wearing the life vest, the audio playback deriving from an audio playback device integrated into the life vest.  
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the audio playback device is secured to the life vest and is adapted to connect to waterproof earphones so that a wearer can listen to audio playback using the waterproof earphones.  
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the water activity is one wherein the wearer uses a water floatation item or is floating in water using the life vest.  
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the water floatation item is one of a wakeboard, water ski, kiteboard, surfboard, windsurfboard, boogie board, raft, boat, or the like.  
   
   
       13 . A life vest having means for keeping a wearer of the life vest afloat in water, and means for integrating an audio playback device therein, so that the wearer can listen to audio playback when wearing the life vest.  
   
   
       14 . The life vest of  claim 13 , wherein the means for integrating the audio playback device is one of: 
 a) a pocket on the life vest;    b) a holder attached to a portion of the life vest;    c) a pocket on the life vest with a portion of the lead wires extending through a portion of the life vest; and    d) a holder attached to a portion of the life vest with a portion of the lead wires extending through a portion of the life vest.    
   
   
       15 . The life vest of  claim 13 , wherein the life vest integrates at least a portion of one or more lead wires of an audio playback device.  
   
   
       16 . The life vest of  claim 13 , wherein the means for keeping a wearer of the life vest afloat in water further comprises a buoyancy material or materials associated with the life vest, an inflated or inflatable component, or a combination thereof.  
   
   
       17 . The life vest of  claim 13 , further comprising at least one connector to allow one or more free ends of the lead wires to connect to different audio playback devices and/or different types of earphones.  
   
   
       18 . The life vest of  claim 15 , further comprising earphones connected to the one or more lead wires.