Life preserver

Abstract

A life preserver has one or more torso portions 3, 4 extending over the front of a wearer's torso in use: a neck portion extending behind the wearer's neck in use; a first inflatable bladder 80 configured to provide buoyancy primarily to the one or more torso portions when inflated; and a second inflatable bladder 60 configured to provide buoyancy to the neck portion when inflated; and inflation means 112-118 for controlling inflation of the first bladder and the second bladder such that the second bladder begins inflation after the first bladder.

1 . A life preserver comprising:
 one or more torso portions configured to extend over a front of a wearer's torso in use; a neck portion configured to extend behind the wearer's neck in use;   a first inflatable volume configured to provide buoyancy primarily to the one or more torso portions when inflated;   a second inflatable volume configured to provide buoyancy to the neck portion when inflated; and   an inflation system configured to control inflation of the first inflatable volume and the second inflatable volume such that the second inflatable volume begins inflation after the first inflatable volume.   
     
     
         2 . The life preserver of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more torso portions and the neck portion are formed by an outer casing, the first and second inflatable volumes being contained in a chamber defined by the outer casing. 
     
     
         3 . The life preserver of  claim 2 , wherein the outer casing has a top surface and a bottom surface that form the chamber; wherein a baffle is provided that extends between the top surface and the bottom surface, the baffle being configured to divide the chamber into a first region located on a first side of the baffle and a second region located on a second side of the baffle; and wherein the first inflatable volume is in the first region and the second inflatable volume is in the second region. 
     
     
         4 . The life preserver of  claim 3 , wherein the baffle extends obliquely between the top surface and the bottom surface such that the first region and the second region partially overlap one another. 
     
     
         5 . The life preserver of  claim 1 , wherein a first inflatable bladder provides the first inflatable volume and a second inflatable bladder provides the second inflatable volume. 
     
     
         6 . The life preserver of  claim 5 , wherein the outer casing has a top surface and a bottom surface that form the chamber; wherein a baffle is provided that extends between the top surface and the bottom surface, the baffle being configured to divide the chamber into a first region located on a first side of the baffle and a second region located on a second side of the baffle; wherein the first inflatable volume is in the first region and the second inflatable volume is in the second region; and wherein the baffle is configured to constrain the location of the bladders such that the first bladder in located in the first region and the second bladder is located in the second region. 
     
     
         7 . The life preserver of  claim 6 , wherein the first bladder and the second bladder are located by the baffle such that they partially overlap one another when inflated. 
     
     
         8 . The life preserver of  claim 1 , wherein the inflation system is configured to be automatically triggered by contact with water. 
     
     
         9 . The life preserver of  claim 1 , wherein the inflation system includes a first inflator configured to inflate the first inflatable volume and a second inflator configured to inflate the second inflatable volume, the second inflator being arranged such that it is automatically triggered after the first inflator is triggered. 
     
     
         10 . The life preserver of  claim 9 , wherein the second inflator is configured to be mechanically triggered by inflation of the first inflatable volume. 
     
     
         11 . The life preserver of  claim 10 , wherein the second inflator includes a trigger mechanism and cable coupled to the first inflatable volume, and that is moved by inflation of the first inflatable volume, the movement of the cable operating the trigger mechanism and triggering operation of the second inflator to inflate the second inflatable volume. 
     
     
         12 . The life preserver of  claim 9 , wherein the inflation system is configured to be automatically triggered by contact with water; and wherein only the first inflator is automatically triggered by contact with water. 
     
     
         13 . A method of operating a life preserver having one or more torso portions configured to extend over a front of a wearer's torso in use, a neck portion configured to extend behind the wearer's neck in use, a first inflatable volume configured to provide buoyancy primarily to the one or more torso portions when inflated, and a second inflatable volume configured to provide buoyancy to the neck portion when inflated, the method including controlling inflation of the first inflatable volume and the second inflatable volume such that the second inflatable volume begins inflation after the first inflatable volume. 
     
     
         14 . A method of operating a life preserver having one or more torso portions configured to extend over a front of a wearer's torso in use and a neck portion configured to extend behind the wearer's neck in use, the method including inflating a first inflatable volume to provide buoyancy primarily to the one or more torso portions to rotate a wearer from a face-down position to a face-up position on water, and subsequently inflating a second inflatable volume configured to provide buoyancy to the neck portion to increase the distance of the wearer's mouth from the water surface and/or to vary a face plane angle of the wearer.