Adjustable personal flotation device

Abstract

A personal flotation device with a back float adjustably connected to a front float through a shoulder strap. The front float has a shoulder strap guide that prevents the shoulder strap from falling off a top portion of the front float. Adjustment of the personal flotation device is done by pulling on the end of the shoulder strap, the end of the shoulder strap being located on the front float and thereby easy to access.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An adjustable vest having a front portion and a back portion comprising:
 a pair of front-side adjustable shoulder straps, where each of the pair of front-side adjustable shoulder straps includes
 a strap guide connected to the front portion, the strap guide defining a channel; 
 a shoulder strap in sliding engagement with the channel, the shoulder strap having a first end connected to the back portion; 
 a buckle connected to a second end of the shoulder strap; and, a buckle strap connected to the front portion at an securing area and having a free end looped through the buckle for reducing a distance between the front portion and the back portion as the free end is pulled, the buckle being positioned on the front portion between the strap guide and the securing area. 
   
     
     
         2 . The adjustable vest of  claim 1 , further including a side connection means connecting the front portion to the back portion. 
     
     
         3 . The adjustable vest of  claim 2 , wherein the side connection means includes an adjustable side strap with a side strap buckle. 
     
     
         4 . The adjustable vest of  claim 1  wherein, the strap guide is formed in the top region of the front portion. 
     
     
         5 . The adjustable vest of  claim 1  wherein, the strap guide is formed in a middle region of the front portion. 
     
     
         6 . The adjustable vest of  claim 1  wherein, the strap guide includes a length of material secured to the front portion with a securing means, the securing means defining a width of the channel. 
     
     
         7 . The adjustable vest of  claim 6  wherein, the securing means includes stitches. 
     
     
         8 . The adjustable vest of  claim 1  wherein, the strap guide includes a length of material secured to a sleeve, the sleeve being dimensioned for defining the channel. 
     
     
         9 . The adjustable vest of  claim 1  wherein, the front portion includes a first panel and a second panel releasably securable to each other. 
     
     
         10 . The adjustable vest of  claim 9 , wherein one of the pair of front-side adjustable shoulder straps is connected between the back portion and the first panel, and the other of the pair of front-side adjustable shoulder straps is connected between the back portion and the second panel. 
     
     
         11 . The adjustable vest of  claim 10  wherein, the first panel and the second panel are releasably secured to each other by at least one of a zipper and a quick release belt. 
     
     
         12 . The adjustable vest of  claim 1  wherein, the front portion and the back portion include buoyant material. 
     
     
         13 . The vest of  claim 12  wherein, the front portion or the back portion includes a padded extended side for protecting a side of the user. 
     
     
         14 . A search and rescue personal flotation device comprising:
 a back float;   a front float;   a first front-side adjustable shoulder strap for connected to the back float and the front float, the first front-side adjustable shoulder strap having first adjustment means positioned on the front float for changing a first distance between the front float and the back float; and,   a second front-side adjustable shoulder strap for connected to the back float and the front float, the second front-side adjustable shoulder strap having second adjustment means positioned on the front float for changing a second distance between the front float and the back float.   
     
     
         15 . The search and rescue personal flotation device of  claim 14 , further including a side strap connecting the back float to the front float. 
     
     
         16 . The search and rescue personal flotation device of  claim 14 , wherein the front float includes a first panel and a second panel releasably secured to each other. 
     
     
         17 . The search and rescue personal flotation device of  claim 14 , wherein the adjustment means includes a buckle, and the first front-side adjustable shoulder strap includes
 a strap guide connected to the front float, the strap guide defining a channel,   a shoulder strap in sliding engagement with the channel, the shoulder strap having a first end connected to the back float, the buckle being connected to a second end of the shoulder strap, and   a buckle strap connected to the front float at a securing area and having a free end looped through the buckle for reducing the first distance between the front float and the back float as the free end is pulled, the buckle being positioned on the front float between the strap guide and the securing area.   
     
     
         18 . The search and rescue personal flotation device of  claim 17 , wherein the second front-side adjustable shoulder strap is identically configured to the first front-side adjustable shoulder strap.