U.S. patent application number 13/219682 was filed with the patent office on 2013-02-28 for decorative noodle.
The applicant listed for this patent is Bruce Abraham. Invention is credited to Bruce Abraham.
Application Number | 20130052896 13/219682 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 47744360 |
Filed Date | 2013-02-28 |
United States Patent
Application |
20130052896 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Abraham; Bruce |
February 28, 2013 |
Decorative Noodle
Abstract
A flotation device for supporting a user may include a flotation
body, a connecting sleeve to detachably connect to the flotation
body and a decorative member including a base portion to detachably
connect to the connecting sleeve.
Inventors: |
Abraham; Bruce; (Frisco,
TX) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Abraham; Bruce |
Frisco |
TX |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
47744360 |
Appl. No.: |
13/219682 |
Filed: |
August 28, 2011 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
441/129 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B63B 34/50 20200201 |
Class at
Publication: |
441/129 |
International
Class: |
B63B 35/73 20060101
B63B035/73 |
Claims
1. A flotation device for supporting a user, comprising: a
flotation body; a connecting sleeve to detachably connect to the
flotation body; a decorative member including a base portion to
detachably connect to the connecting sleeve.
2. A flotation device for supporting a user as in claim 1, wherein
the flotation body is a noodle.
3. A flotation device for supporting a user as in claim 1, wherein
the decorative member includes a Mickey Mouse head.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to flotation devices used by
swimmers and bathers in pools, lakes and oceans. More particularly,
the present invention relates to devices which are formed as
integral bodies from a suitable low-density synthetic resin
material so that the bodies will float.
BACKGROUND
[0002] There are several types of flotation devices for the pool
and other various types of bodies of water. These devices typically
include floating chairs, inflatable rafts, inner-tubes and large
rigid foam pieces.
[0003] These flotation devices are cumbersome, rigid and limit
one's movement in the water. For instance, devices requiring
inflation necessitate the need for either an external air pump or a
person to manually inflate the device with air from their lungs.
This proves to be cumbersome and in the latter case, exhausting.
Once the device is inflated, pin hole leaks can develop which allow
air to escape causing them to deflate and gradually become less
effective in their continued use, at which point the flotation
device must either be re-inflated or the hole must be patched.
Other drawbacks to existing flotation devices are that they hold
the majority of one's body above the surface of the water which
reduces the effect of the water on the body. This would allow one's
body to become very hot while also greatly reducing the movement of
the body for propulsion and/or exercise purposes.
[0004] U.S. Pat. No. 5,520,561, issued to Langenohl on May 28,
1996, discloses making a pool float from a generally rectangular
sheet of netting which is deformed to form sleeve segments in which
a foam tube can be inserted. The shape of the flotation device that
is obtained is limited.
[0005] Swim Ways Corp. of Virginia Beach, Va. markets a chair-like
flotation device known as the FANNY FLOATER. In this design,
permanently U-shaped foam block having a rectangular-shaped
cross-section is fitted with three indentations which serve to hold
in position three sleeves that are positioned around the foam
block. A seat is provided by having a section of material extend
from the left arm to the right arm and one section from the rear of
the U-shaped block extending forward, thus forming a T-shaped seat.
This design is limited to this particular shape. Further, the foam
block is permanently shaped so that the device cannot be stored
easily.
[0006] U.S. Pat. No. 5,571,036, issued to Hannigan on Nov. 5, 1996,
discloses a flexible tube floating sling. In this design, a very
long single foam tube is folded about itself in a U-shape and
inserted in a pair of sleeves that support a sling-like structure.
Again, this method of manufacture limits the shape that can be
obtained.
[0007] U.S. Pat. No. 5,307,527, issued to Schober on May 3, 1994,
discloses a pool chair adapted to be partially submerged in a
swimming pool. The chair is designed to rest along the perimeter of
the pool so that it is held in an upright, stationary position in
order to allow a user to sit on the seat with the user's lower
torso and legs submerged in the water while the user's head is
above the water. Not withstanding the fact that the pool chair
overcomes the limitation of holding the majority of one's body
above the surface of the water, nonetheless, it is accomplished
with a cumbersome and rigid construction which limits one's
mobility throughout the pool due to the chair's dependency on the
edge of the pool.
[0008] With respect to inner-tube type recreational devices, U.S.
Pat. No. 5,295,885, issued to Karl on Mar. 22, 1994, discloses an
attachable/detachable hammock-like seat designed to engage the
central opening of the inner-tube to support users as they sit
across the inner-tube's central opening. A user's head, arms and
shoulders are over one end of the tube, with the feet over the
other end. Unlike the Schober patent, this invention holds the
majority of one's body above the surface of the water. In addition,
the inflatable inner-tube device is subject to pin hole leaks which
would allow air to escape, thus presenting a problem to the user;
either re-inflate the inner-tube or patch the hole for continued
use.
[0009] It would be an improvement on the current art to create a
flotation device that is not cumbersome, rigid or limits one's
movement in the water while holding the majority of one's body
below the surface of the water. A benefit of holding one's body
below the surface of the water would be to increase the effect of
the water on the body such as preventing one's body from becoming
very hot and to also increase the movement of the body for
propulsion and/or exercise purposes. Furthermore, a device is
desired that may provide entertainment when using the device. A
device that overcomes the shortcomings as just described for a
flotation device is not disclosed in the prior art.
SUMMARY
[0010] A flotation device for supporting a user may include a
flotation body,
[0011] a connecting sleeve to detachably connect to the flotation
body and
[0012] a decorative member including a base portion to detachably
connect to the connecting sleeve.
[0013] The flotation body may include a noodle.
[0014] The decorative member may include a Mickey Mouse head.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0015] The invention may be understood by reference to the
following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying
drawings, in which, like reference numerals identify like elements,
and in which:
[0016] FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view the flotation device
of the present invention being used by a user;
[0017] FIG. 2 illustrates a perspective view of the flotation
device of the present invention;
[0018] FIG. 3 illustrates a front view of a portion of the
flotation device of the present invention;
[0019] FIG. 4 illustrates a sectional view of the flotation device
of the present invention;
[0020] FIG. 5 illustrates an end view of the connecting sleeve of
the present invention;
[0021] FIG. 6 illustrates an end view of the flotation body of the
present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0022] FIG. 1 illustrates the flotation device 100 of the present
invention, and the flotation device 100 may include a flotation
body 105 which may have any cross-sectional geometric shape, such
as, circular, square, rectangle, or scalloped or other shape and
which may have a first butt end 111 and a second butt end 113.
[0023] The flotation body 105 may be configured to support the user
or swimmer 107 at least partially above the water line as shown
straddling the floatation body 105. The flotation body 105 may be
referred to as a noodle because of the thin and elongated shape.
The flotation body 105 may be preferably fabricated from a suitable
synthetic resin material, such as extruded cellular polyethylene,
having a density such that the flotation body will float in water.
The material from which the flotation body 105 is fabricated may be
preferably both yieldable and shape-retaining. The flotation body
105 may be substantially straight or gently arcuate as shown in
FIG. 2, or may be yielded to have a more pronounced arcuate shape
as shown in FIG. 1.
[0024] In addition, the floatation body 105 might also include air
bladders or other means to further enhance its buoyancy.
[0025] The flotation device 100 may include a connection sleeve 103
to connect to the flotation body 105, and the connection sleeve 103
may connect to a decorative member 109 which may be a head or other
object representing a horse, a unicorn, Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck
or other such interesting object. The connecting sleeve 103 may be
adapted to form a friction fit with the flotation body 105 and may
form a detachable connection with the flotation body 105.
Furthermore, the connecting sleeve 103 may include a connecting
aperture 115 and the decorative member 109 may include a base
portion 117 which may include a base aperture 119 which may
cooperate with the connecting aperture 115 to form a detachable
connection when a fastening device 121 which may be a pin, screw,
nail, bolt or other appropriate device extends through the base
aperture 119 and the connecting aperture 115.
[0026] FIG. 2 illustrates an exploded view of the decorative member
109 which may include the base portion 117 which may be connected
to the connecting sleeve 103 and illustrates the connecting
aperture 115 and the base aperture 119. FIG. 2 additionally
illustrates the flotation body 105 and the first butt end 111.
[0027] FIG. 3 illustrates the decorative member 109 mounted on the
flotation body 105 and illustrates the connecting sleeve 103, the
connecting aperture 115, the base portion 117, the base aperture
119 and the fastening device 121.
[0028] FIG. 4 illustrates the connecting sleeve 103, the connecting
aperture 115, the base portion 117, the base aperture 119 and the
fastening device 121.
[0029] FIG. 5 illustrates an end view of the connecting sleeve
103.
[0030] FIG. 6 illustrates an end view of the flotation body
105.
[0031] While the invention is susceptible to various modifications
and alternative forms, specific embodiments thereof have been shown
by way of example in the drawings and are herein described in
detail. It should be understood, however, that the description
herein of specific embodiments is not intended to limit the
invention to the particular forms disclosed.
* * * * *