US Patent 7125301 Brief-type personal flotation unit

A personal flotation unit for supporting a person in a generally sitting position in the water, with the person's head and part of the person's torso above the water has a rear panel and a front panel each made from a flexible flotation material. A fabric seat is connected between bottom edges of the panels. Left edges of the panels are connected by strapping of some kind, as are the right edges of the panels. The seat and the strapping cooperate to form the panels into a diaper or pair of shorts that provides flotation allowing the user to sit in an upright position in water. Preferably the front panel has a T shape with arms that during use are bent backwards by the strapping to provide lateral flotation support for the wearer.