Water Safety Flag

Abstract

A safety flag for a life jacket alerts nearby boaters when a user is in the water. The safety flag comprises a flag assembly secured to a backside of a life jacket, and a flag holder secured to a front side of the life jacket. The flag assembly includes a flexible, resilient flag pole and a flag attached adjacent an upper end of said pole. The flag pole bends over the shoulder of a user in a stowed position and stands upright in a deployed position. The flag holder secures the upper end of the flag assembly when the flag assembly is in the stowed position.

1 . A safety flag for a life jacket comprising: 
 a flag assembly secured to a backside of a life jacket; said flag assembly including a flexible, resilient flag pole and a flag attached adjacent an upper end of said flag pole, wherein said flag pole bends over the shoulder of a user in a stowed position and stands upright in a deployed position;    a flag holder secured to a front side of said life jacket, said flag holder including a pocket to receive the flag when the flag pole is in the stowed position; and    a rip cord connected to the flag assembly and adapted to be pulled by the user to release said flag from said flag holder when the user is in the water, such that said flag will rise to a deployed position when released to alert watercraft to the presence of the user.    
   
   
       2 . The safety flag of  claim 1  wherein said flag assembly detachably secures to the front side of said life jacket.  
   
   
       3 . The safety flag of  claim 2  wherein said flag holder includes first and second sets of securing straps for securing said flag holder to said life jacket, said first set of securing straps adapted to loop around belt loops or rings on said life jacket, and said second set of securing straps adapted to loop around torso belts on said life jacket.  
   
   
       4 . The safety flag of  claim 3  further comprising fastening means to fasten said first and second securing straps in a loop around said belt loops or rings and said torso belts respectively.  
   
   
       5 . The safety flag of  claim 1  wherein said flag assembly includes a securing member for securing said flag assembly to the back side of said life jacket.  
   
   
       6 . The safety flag of  claim 5  wherein said securing member detachably secures to the back side of said life jacket.  
   
   
       7 . The safety flag of  claim 6  wherein said securing member includes first and second sets of securing straps for securing said securing member to said life jacket, said first set of securing straps adapted to loop around belt loops or rings on said life jacket, and said second set of securing straps adapted to loop around torso belts on said life jacket.  
   
   
       8 . The safety flag of  claim 7  further comprising fastening means to fasten said first and second securing straps in a loop around said belt loops or rings and said torso belts respectively.  
   
   
       9 . The safety flag of  claim 1  further comprising a releasable fastener to fasten an end of said rip cord to said flag holder.  
   
   
       10 . An article holder for attachment to a life jacket, said article holder comprising: 
 a pocket member having a pocket to receive an article;    a first set of securing straps adapted to be inserted through vertical loops or rings on said life jacket;    a second set of securing straps adapted to loop around horizontal torso belts on said life jacket.    
   
   
       11 . The article holder of  claim 10  further comprising first fasteners to secure said first set of securing straps, and second fasteners to secure said second set of securing straps.  
   
   
       12 . The article holder of  claim 11  further comprising a flap to cover an opening to said pocket.  
   
   
       13 . A safety flag for a life jacket comprising: 
 a flag assembly detachably secured to a backside of a life jacket; said flag assembly including a flexible, resilient flag pole and a flag attached adjacent an upper end of said flag pole, wherein said flag pole bends over the shoulder of a user in a stowed position and stands upright in a deployed position;    a flag holder detachably secured to a front side of said life jacket to secure the flag pole and flag in the stowed position.    
   
   
       14 . The safety flag of  claim 13  further comprising a pocket formed in said flag holder to receive the flag and means for releasing the flag from said pocket.  
   
   
       15 . The safety flag of  claim 14  wherein said means for releasing said flag from said pocket comprises a rip cord attached to said flag and adapted to be pulled by the user.  
   
   
       16 . The safety flag of  claim 13  wherein said flag holder includes a first set of securing straps adapted to be inserted through vertical loops or rings on said life jacket, and a second set of securing straps adapted to loop around horizontal torso belts on said life jacket.  
   
   
       17 . The safety flag of  claim 13  wherein said flag assembly includes a securing member for securing said flag assembly to the back side of said life jacket.  
   
   
       18 . The safety flag of  claim 17  wherein said securing member includes first and second sets of securing straps for securing said securing member to said life jacket, said first set of securing straps adapted to loop around belt loops or rings on said life jacket, and said second set of securing straps adapted to loop around torso belts on said life jacket.