Importance

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Abstract

A vest of the type having an inflatable bladder providing selectable degrees of buoyancy, such as for snorkeling. The vest comprises an elastic upper body garment for encircling the chest and back of the user and an airtight inflatable bladder, secured at discrete locations to the chest-covering region of the garment by at least a pair of elastic straps for limited movement relative to the garment. The bladder is substantially flat against the garment when deflated and is free to move relative to the garment while being inflated. Attachment of the bladder to the underlying garment is provided by means of a plurality of elastic straps which permits the relative movement of the bladder and the underlying vest-shaped garment. As a result, inflation of the bladder has little or no effect upon the fit of the underlying garment on the user. Attachment of the bladder and the underlying vest-shaped garment is also provided by an area of Velcro fasteners on the mating surfaces of the bladder and underlying garment. In the preferred embodiment of the invention a Velcro surface is on the back of an integral mesh pocket, formed at the lower-most portion of the frontal region of the bladder. An optional crotch member is provided to limit the movement of the vest on the user, particularly when the bladder thereof is inflated and the user is in the water.

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First Claim