EP0888232B1 - Gilet de natation en forme de couche - Google Patents

Gilet de natation en forme de couche Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0888232B1
EP0888232B1 EP97906961A EP97906961A EP0888232B1 EP 0888232 B1 EP0888232 B1 EP 0888232B1 EP 97906961 A EP97906961 A EP 97906961A EP 97906961 A EP97906961 A EP 97906961A EP 0888232 B1 EP0888232 B1 EP 0888232B1
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EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
flotation
panels
panel
section
baby
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Expired - Lifetime
Application number
EP97906961A
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German (de)
English (en)
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EP0888232A1 (fr
Inventor
Regent Lacoursiere
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Individual
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Individual
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Priority claimed from CA002172293A external-priority patent/CA2172293A1/fr
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Publication of EP0888232A1 publication Critical patent/EP0888232A1/fr
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Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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  • This invention relates to personal floatation devices.
  • Diaper Swim Vest is a world champion long distance swimmer and owner of a private swim school in Montreal, Canada, where he has been teaching swimming to babies since 1958. The inventor has given over 1,000,000 swimming lessons to date. The inventor has authored three books on swimming and he is an honoree member in the International swimming Hall of Fame in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. The inventor has always used floatation devices when teaching beginners to swim regardless of the pupils age. The floatation devices used will vary to accommodate the age of the person who is learning how to swim. As the inventor started teaching swimming to younger children and to babies, the floatation device had to be designed to meet the needs and to adapt to the development of the new born infant.
  • the head of the new born baby is heavier then the rest of his body.
  • babies are not physically able to fully support their head before the age of three months.
  • An important feature of the diaper swim vest is the floatation head support containing thicker floatation foam which is needed to keep the head out of the water.
  • the invention now gives parents the chance to continue the baby's adaptation to water outside the womb, in the comfort of the home and the warmth of the family bath tub.
  • type II floatation vests on the market designed to help save the life of a young child. These floatation vests are required to be used when boating and parents will place them on their toddlers when near and close to water. These type II floatation vests are de signed to save a life by keeping the child in an almost upright position with the head held completely out of the water. Because the purpose of the type II vests as personal floatation devices is to save lives, they are made with very thick floatation foam making them bulky and uncomfortable to wear by young children. The type II vests are designed with zippers, tabs, clips, ties, and a crotch strap.
  • the young child is wrapped tightly by the type II floatation vest, as it must stay in place in time of accident by not being able to ride-up and by use of a crotch strap to keep the child from sliding out of the type II vest.
  • the type II vest sizing charts indicate the smallest size to be for children weighing twenty to thirty pounds (9 - 14 kg). This smallest size is too big for use on babies under one year old. None of the type II floatation vests already invented can be conveniently used for home tub bathing with newborn babies and they cannot be used to teach survival back float swimming.
  • U.S. Patent 3,903,555 teaches a combination of flotation elements wherein front and rear flotation panels are provided with a bottom portion thereof having a diaper like configuration. A head support panel is also provided.
  • This device is intended for use by older neophyte swimmers and is designed primarily for use with the swimmer in a normal prone position. Such a device would not be suitable for a very young child.
  • This new invention is one of a safe floatation swim vest which in use preferably comprises a back part and front part which folds at the crotch to envelope the baby.
  • the back part has three floatation foam support panels and the front part has three floatation foam support panels.
  • the diaper swim vest is a pliable unit with all floatation foam pads strategically sewn into a non-slip, sturdy cotton sheeting cover. Spaces separate the floatation foam pads allowing for individual movement of each floatation foam pad, so necessary as movement of the floatation foam pads will help the baby learn how to 'feel his way' through the water as he adapts to floating, learns the survival back float and on to learning how to swim. Two thicknesses of floatation foam are used.
  • Thicker floatation foam is used for the head support panel, necessary to properly support the baby's head out of the water and to support any backward thrust of the head.
  • Thicker foam is also used in the two elongated suspender panels on the front of the diaper swim vest, necessary to keep the baby's body position high on top of the water. These two elongated suspender panels are particularly important for floatation as the baby grows and gains weight.
  • a round, cut-out hole is centered in the lower part of the head support panel. The baby rests his head in the opening on the head support panel.
  • Two Velcro strips are sewn on each side of the head support panel.
  • the front pant panel has Velcro strips sewn on to the inside of the pant.
  • the back pant panel has Velcro strips sewn on to the outside of the pant.
  • the front pant panel overlaps and the Velcro strips fasten to form a diaper pant with two wide leg openings.
  • the crotch keeps the diaper swim vest from riding up.
  • the crotch is wide so as not to cut into the body.
  • Sewn into the front of the pant at the waist are two elongated, rectangular, suspender type floatation panels which have a flat tab sewn into the top seam. Velcro strips are sewn on to each flat tab. These two elongated suspender panels are sewn into the front pant panel at the waist at an angle so that when they are placed on the baby's body, they separate away from the face.
  • each tab on each elongated suspender panel The two Velcro strips sewn on to the end of each tab on each elongated suspender panel are joined to each Velcro strip sewn on each side of the head support panel.
  • a floatation foam pad is sewn into the back support and a floatation foam pad is sewn into the back pant panel.
  • a floatation foam pad is sewn into the center of the front pant panel.
  • All floatation foam pads are buoyant floatation material, either cut or molded to shape from closed cell foam which may be cut from polyvinyl chloride or polyethylene foam.
  • All floatation foam pads of the back section and all floatation foam pads of the front section are sewn into two layers of cotton fabric disposed in overlying, registering relationship and having a peripheral edge seam defined by stitching about the periphery thereof.
  • a pull strap handle is sewn into the top of the head support, which parents use to pull the baby across the surface of the water, while teaching the baby to learn the survival back float and encourage exercising through kicking leg movements and splashing arm movements.
  • Prenatal and postnatal aquatic exercises are contributing to healthy pregnancies. New born babies are introduced to daily exercise periods early in life.
  • the diaper swim vest gives the baby the necessary buoyancy needed to learn the survival back float while freely kicking his legs and moving his arms, benefiting from the positive effects of warm water massage therapy in the comfort of the family tub.
  • the baby learns breath control by keeping his head in position with the face out of the water.
  • the baby quickly learns the survival back float.
  • the baby can be washed while floating in the diaper swim vest as the design is such that the parent has access to all parts of the baby's body.
  • Daily use of the diaper swim vest encourages physical development and is a relaxation, quality time activity shared between parent and baby. Use of the invention before bed time helps a baby sleep better.
  • this personal floatation device is generally designated by reference to number 10, Figure 1.
  • Device 10 includes an upper section 11, an intermediate section 12 and a lower section 13, 14 and 15. When worn by the baby, there is a front part 48 and a rear part 49 (Figure 5).
  • Upper section 11 functions as a head support panel while intermediate section 11 forms a support panel for the back of the baby. Portions 13, 14 and 15 form a pant or diaper.
  • the personal floatation device 10 is a one piece unit which in use folds at the crotch portion 14.
  • the front part 48 of the personal floatation device 10 is made of three pliable panels which contain floatation foam - a front portion 15 of the lower section and a pant panel 15, left elongated suspender panel 16 a right elongated suspender panel 17. Sewn into the top of the left elongated suspender panel 16 is a flat tab 18 onto which is sewn a Velcro strip 26. Sewn into the top of the right elongated suspender panel 17 is a flat tab 19 onto which is sewn a Velcro strip 27.
  • the left elongated suspender panel 16 is a mirror image of the right elongated suspender panel 17.
  • the Velcro strip 26 on the left elongated suspender panel 16 is attached to the Velcro strip 20 located on the left side of the upper section 11.
  • the Velcro strip 27 on the right elongated suspender panel 17 is attached to the Velcro strip 21 located on the right side of panel upper section 11.
  • the left elongated suspender panel 16 and the right elongated suspender panel 17 are sewn into a front waist seam 47.
  • the two elongated suspender panels 16 and 17 are overlapped at the center seam and sewn into the waist seam 47 at an angle so that the left elongated suspender panel 16 and the right elongated suspender panel 17 separate when attached to the Velcro strip 20 and 21 on the head support panel 11, leaving a wide unrestrained opening for the baby's head.
  • a Velcro strip 24 is sewn inside on the left side of the front pant panel 15 and a Velcro strip 25 is sewn inside on the right side of the front pant panel 15.
  • the back part 49 of the personal floatation device 10 is made of three pliable panels which contain floatation foam.
  • the largest section of the back part 49 is upper section 11 which includes a head support foam panel 30.
  • the head support panel 30 is a horizontal, rectangular shape with rounded corners.
  • the head support 30 has a round cut-out hole opening 29, which is centered in the lower part of upper section 11.
  • the back of the baby is supported by an intermediate section comprising a rectangular back panel 31 while a lower section includes a foam panel 32 designed to be adjacent the lower rear torso of the baby.
  • a Velcro strip 22 is sewn outside on the left side of front portion 13 and a Velcro strip 23 is sewn outside on the right side of the front portion 13 to secure front and back portions of the lower section together.
  • the personal floatation device 10 folds at the crotch 14. Two Velcro strips sewn on the inside of left side 24 and right side 25 of front portion 15 of the lower section which overlap the back portion 13 to join and fasten with the left side Velcro strip 22 and the right side Velcro strip 23. A wide left leg opening 37 and a wide right leg opening 38 is formed when the front portion 15 is attached to the back portion 13.
  • the left side 39 and the right side 40 of the personal floatation device 10 is open (figure 3) from the waist to the neck, allowing the baby free movement of the arms and shoulders.
  • the baby's head is placed in the cut-out hole 29 located in the lower center part of the head support panel upper section 11. The baby's head is supported out of the water so that the face and all breathing passages are clear and without hindrance.
  • a pull strap handle 28 is sewn into the center at the top of upper section 11.
  • the floatation foam pad 30 used for the upper section 11 is three quarter inch (2 cm) thick floatation foam and is sewn securely in place by a sturdy stitch seam 41 sewn along the bottom of upper section 11.
  • the floatation foam pad 31 used for the intermediate section 12 is half inch (1.3 cm) thick floatation foam and is sewn securely in place by a sturdy stitch seam 42 along the bottom of the intermediate section 12.
  • Half inch (1.3 cm) thick floatation foam 32 is used for back portion 13 and is securely in place by a sturdy stitch seam 43 sewn around the four sides of the floatation foam pad 32.
  • Half inch (1.3 cm) thick floatation foam 33 is used for front portion 15 and is securely sewn in place by a sturdy stitch seam 44 sewn around the four sides of the floatation foam pad 33.
  • Three quarter inch (2 cm) thick floatation foam pads 34 are sewn into each of the two elongated suspender panels, left side 16 and right side 17, securely sewn into place by sturdy stitching, left seam 45 and right seam 46.
  • the left seam 45 and the right seam 46 are reinforced as they hold in place the flat tabs, left 18 and right 19, on to which are sewn the two Velcro strips, left 26 and right 27.
  • the personal floatation device 10 is sewn together along designated seam lines using sturdy thread and using a minimum seam width of about one half inch (1.3 cm).
  • the personal floatation device has an inner web 48 and an outer web 49 of woven cotton sheeting fabric which are assembled in overlying relationship and sewn around the respective dimensions to define each panel part. Fabric only areas are found between the panels which makes the personal floatation device pliable, giving movability to the wearer.
  • the woven cotton fabric can be replaced by other materials such as nylon, polyester, spandex, canvas.
  • the Velcro attachments can be replaced with buttons, ties, snaps, zippers, clips.
  • the floatation foam pads can be closed cell foam coated or uncoated, polyvinyl chloride, poly-ethylene and other floatation materials commercially available. All alternate floatation materials must have sufficient buoyancy qualities to supply the necessary floatation required by each floatation panel.
  • Floatation foam pads can be die cut or molded. Instead of sewing and stitching the seams, the seams can be held together through use of ultrasonic welding, adhesive bonding, or heat seal, providing these alternate methods have the required strength to provide the durability and resistance needed to give the product continued and safe use.
  • the front section 48 folds at the crotch 14 and the front portion 15 wraps around the lower part of the baby's body forming a pant which holds the baby in place and eliminates ride-up.
  • All Velcro strip tabs 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, are three inches (7.5 cm) in length which makes the personal flotation device 10 adjustable and usable over a longer period of tine, as the width of the pant can be widened and the length of the personal flotation device 10 can be lengthened to accommodate a growing baby.
  • This personal flotation device 10 as illustrated in drawings, Figures 1 to 6, is intended for use with babies and only under the supervision of parents or a responsible adult.
  • This personal flotation device can be made in sizes to fit the children and adults and would be used to teach all ages the survival back float.
  • the adjustable fasteners used in the personal flotation device 10 referred to as Velcro are produced by the Velcro Corporation of New York, N.Y. and marketed under the trademark 'VELCRO'.

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  • Orthopedics, Nursing, And Contraception (AREA)
  • Toys (AREA)
  • Absorbent Articles And Supports Therefor (AREA)

Claims (15)

  1. Flottateur pour un entant en bas-âge, comprenant une section supérieure (11) avec des moyens (30) de flottation, destinée à se trouver près de l'arrière de la tête de l'enfant, une section intérieure (13, 14, 15) avec des moyens de flottation (32, 33) destinée à se trouver près du bassin et du torse intérieur (13, 14, 15) et destiné à se trouver près du torse supérieur de l'enfant, la section intérieure présentant une configuration à losanges, pourvu de moyens (24, 25) pour relier la partie frontale et dorsale de cette section intérieure à la section supérieure,
    caractérisé en ce que les moyens de flottation de la section supérieure comprennent un panneau (30) de flottation, pourvu d'un creux (29) pour loger une partie arrière de la tête de l'enfant.
  2. Flottateur selon la revendication 1, dont la section supérieure comprend une couche de tissu intérieure et une couche de tissu extérieure entourant ledit panneau (30) de flottation et s'étendant à travers ledit creux.
  3. Flottateur selon la revendication 1, dont le panneau de flottation (30) comprend un panneau en mousse à cellules fermées.
  4. Flottateur selon la revendication 1, pourvu d'une section (12) intermédiaire dont les moyens de flottation comprennent un panneau (31) de flottation entre une couche de tissu extérieure et une couche de tissu intérieure.
  5. Flottateur selon la revendication 4 pourvu d'un panneau (31) de flottation dans la section intermédiaire comprenent un panneau en mousse à cellules fermées.
  6. Flottateur selon la revendication 1, dont les moyens de flottation de la section intérieure(13, 14, 15) au moins un panneau de flottation (33) dans la partie frontale et au moins un panneau de flottation (32) dans la partie dorsale.
  7. Flottateur selon la revendication 2, dans lequel la section inférieure (13, 14, 15) comprend une couche de tissu extérieure entourant plusieurs panneaux (32, 33) de flottation, un de ces panneaux au moins étant placé dans la partie frontale et un des panneaux au mains étant placé dans la partie dorsale.
  8. Flottateur selon la revendication 7, dont chaque panneau de flottation de la section inférieure (13, 14, 15) comprend un panneau de mousse à cellules fermées.
  9. Flottateur selon la revendication 1, dont les moyens pour relier la partie frontale de la partie intérieure à ladite partie supérieure comprennent un premier et un second panneau allongé de suspension (16, 17) chacun de ces panneaux étant pourvu de moyens de flottation.
  10. Flottateur selon la revendication 9, dont les panneaux de suspension (34, 35) comprennent des panneaux de flottation en une mousse à cellules fermées.
  11. Flottateur selon la revendication 9, dont chacun des panneaux de suspension comprend une couche de tissu extérieure et une couche de tissu intérieure entourant un panneau (34, 35) de flottation.
  12. Flottateur selon la revendication 2, dans lequel lesdits moyens pour relier ladite partie frontale de ladite section inférieure à ladite section supérieure comprennent un premier et un deuxième panneau (16, 17) de suspension pourvu d'une couche de tissu intérieure et extérieure entourant un panneau de flottation, chacun desdits panneaux de suspension ayant une première extrémité attachée à ladite partie frontale de ladite section inférieure, et une deuxième extrémité attachée de façon dégageable à ladite section supérieure
  13. Flottateur selon la revendication 1, dans lequel lesdits moyens de flottation de la section inférieure (13, 14, 15) et lesdits moyens de flottation de la section intermédiaire (12) comprennent chacun au moins un panneau de flottation pris entre une couche de tissu intérieure et une couche de tissu extérieure, ces couches de tissu étant destinées à retenir les panneaux de flottation, tandis que ledit panneau de flottation de la section supérieure à une plus grande épaisseur que ledit panneau de flottation de la section inférieure.
  14. Flottateur selon la revendication 1, pourvu d'une courroie (28) de retenue fixée à ladite section supérieure.
  15. Flottateur pour un enfant en bas-âge, comprenant une première et une deuxième couche de tissu entourant plusieurs panneaux (30, 31, 32, 33) de flottation placés entre ces couches de tissu, ledit flottateur comprenant une section supérieure, destinée à se trouver près de la zone où se trouve la tête de l'enfant et pourvu d'un des panneaux (30), associé à cette section, comprenant aussi une section (13, 14, 15) inférieure, disposé près du bassin et le torse inférieur de l'enfant et comprenant en outre une section (12) intermédiaire entre ladite section supérieure et ladite section inférieure, située près de la partie dorsale du torse supérieur de l'enfant, ladite section inférieure ayant une configuration en losange et ayant des moyens (24, 25) pour relier une partie frontale et une partie dorsale de la section, tandis que chacune de ces portions, frontale et dorsale, comprend au moins un desdits panneaux (32, 33) de flottation, situés à cet endroit, un de ces panneaux de flottation (31) étant situé dans cette section intermédiaire, caractérisé par une pair de panneaux (16, 17) de suspension, s'étendant entre cette portion frontale de la section inférieure et la section supérieure, chacun de ces panneaux de suspension étant pourvu de moyens de flottation (34, 35) associé à ce panneau, lesdits moyens prévus pour fixer lesdits panneaux de suspension à ladite section supérieure comprenant des moyens de fixation (26, 27, 20, 21) dégageables.
EP97906961A 1996-03-21 1997-03-20 Gilet de natation en forme de couche Expired - Lifetime EP0888232B1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
CA2172293 1996-03-21
CA002172293A CA2172293A1 (fr) 1996-03-21 1996-03-21 Flotteur pour bebes
PCT/CA1997/000189 WO1997034798A1 (fr) 1996-03-21 1997-03-20 Gilet de natation en forme de couche

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0888232A1 EP0888232A1 (fr) 1999-01-07
EP0888232B1 true EP0888232B1 (fr) 2000-01-12

Family

ID=4157792

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP97906961A Expired - Lifetime EP0888232B1 (fr) 1996-03-21 1997-03-20 Gilet de natation en forme de couche

Country Status (2)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0888232B1 (fr)
DE (1) DE69701132T2 (fr)

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
DE69701132T2 (de) 2000-09-28
DE69701132D1 (de) 2000-02-17
EP0888232A1 (fr) 1999-01-07

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