U.S. patent application number 15/947316 was filed with the patent office on 2018-11-01 for self-inflating swim aid.
This patent application is currently assigned to Aqua-Leisure Industries, Inc.. The applicant listed for this patent is Aqua-Leisure Industries, Inc.. Invention is credited to Scott R. de Grasse.
Application Number | 20180312232 15/947316 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 63915503 |
Filed Date | 2018-11-01 |
United States Patent
Application |
20180312232 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
de Grasse; Scott R. |
November 1, 2018 |
SELF-INFLATING SWIM AID
Abstract
A self-inflating swimming aid comprises a flotation member
having a core of open cell foam closely encompassed in a waterproof
casing of impermeable plastic. An inflation valve allows fluid
communication with the foam core through the cover. The device is
inflated by opening the valve so that the foam core may assume its
expanded shape, and is deflated by compressing the foam core to
force the air out of the flotation member through the valve. Once
the flotation member is deflated to a desirable size and shape, the
valve may be closed and the device may be folded or rolled up for
storage.
Inventors: |
de Grasse; Scott R.;
(Marshfield, MA) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Aqua-Leisure Industries, Inc. |
Avon |
MA |
US |
|
|
Assignee: |
Aqua-Leisure Industries,
Inc.
Avon
MA
|
Family ID: |
63915503 |
Appl. No.: |
15/947316 |
Filed: |
April 6, 2018 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
62490100 |
Apr 26, 2017 |
|
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Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63B 2208/12 20130101;
A63B 2225/605 20130101; B63C 9/081 20130101; A63B 2225/62 20130101;
B63C 9/1255 20130101; A63B 31/00 20130101; A63B 2225/60 20130101;
A63B 2208/03 20130101 |
International
Class: |
B63C 9/08 20060101
B63C009/08; B63C 9/125 20060101 B63C009/125; A63B 31/00 20060101
A63B031/00 |
Claims
1. An inflatable, buoyant swim aid comprising: a core element of
open cell foam having a compressed and an expanded state; an
impermeable, flexible casing enclosing said core element; and a
valve affixed to said casing and communicating with said open cell
foam allowing the flow of air into and out of said casing to
selectively expand and contract the core element.
2. The swimming aid of claim 1 wherein the swim aid includes a
pocket therein, said flexible casing being held in said pocket and
said inflation valve projecting outwardly through an aperture in
said device.
3. An inflatable flotation vest comprising: a body portion formed
in the shape of a vest; a core element of open cell foam having a
compressed and an expanded state; an impermeable, flexible casing
enclosing said core element; and a valve in communication with said
core element to allow selective expansion and contraction of the
core element by allowing air into said casing to expand the core
element, and to allow air to be expelled from the casing in order
to contract the core element.
Description
RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. Section
119(e) to U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 62/490,100 entitled
"SELF-INFLATING SWIM AID," filed on Apr. 26, 2017, which
application is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety for
all purposes.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] This invention relates to flotation devices used to teach
swimming, such as vests, arm bands, waist bands, and the like, and
particularly to such devices that require inflation before use.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0003] Various devices are available to assist in teaching a child
to swim. Many of the devices are attached to the child to provide
some degree of buoyancy as the child attempts to learn to swim.
Some of these devices are inflatable and typically require that a
bladder be inflated via a valve, the inflation being effected
either by mouth or sometimes by operation of a mechanical or
automatic pump. When the child is eager to plunge into the water,
it may be inconvenient to inflate the device orally or via a
pump.
[0004] The instant invention provides a swimming aid that is
self-inflating. In one aspect of the invention, the swimming aid
comprises a vest having a pocket within. A flotation member,
comprising an appropriately shaped core of open cell foam closely
encompassed in a waterproof casing of impermeable plastic, is
secured in the pocket. An inflation valve allows fluid
communication with the foam core through the cover. The valve is
accessible through an opening in the back panel of the vest.
[0005] In order to inflate the device, the valve is opened and the
foam core is allowed to assume its expanded shape. The valve is
then closed so that the device may be put into use. To deflate the
foam core, the valve is opened and the device is squeezed or
compressed to force out the air from within the foam core. Once the
flotation member is deflated to a desirable size and shape, the
valve may be closed and the device may be folded or rolled up for
storage.
[0006] To re-inflate the device, the consumer needs only to open
the valve. The open cell foam will expand from its compressed
condition, drawing in air through the intake valve and expanding
the foam.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0007] Non-limiting embodiments of the present invention will be
described by way of example with reference to the accompanying
figures, which are schematic and are not intended to be drawn to
scale. In the figure, each identical or nearly identical component
illustrated is typically represented by a single numeral. For
purposes of clarity, not every component is labeled in every
figure, nor is every component of each embodiment of the invention
shown where illustration is not necessary to allow those of
ordinary skill in the art to understand the invention. In the
figures:
[0008] FIG. 1 depicts a swim aid in the form of a vest.
[0009] FIG. 2 depicts the back of the vest and the inflation
valve.
[0010] FIG. 3 depicts the flotation member, the location of the
three panels of the foam core within its cover being shown in
dashed lines.
[0011] FIG. 4 depicts the rear of the flotation member, the
inflation valve protruding therefrom.
[0012] FIG. 5 depicts the vest of FIG. 1, unzipped and opened up,
the dashed lines showing the placement of the flotation member
within a closed pocket formed in the inside of the vest.
[0013] FIGS. 6A and 6B depicted another self-inflating swim
aid.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0014] One possible construction of a swim aid 10 in accordance
with the instant invention is shown in FIG. 1, in the form of a
vest comprised of fabric jacket 12 that wraps around the upper
torso of the user, and having two armholes 14 and a zipper fastener
16 in the front. Adjustable strap 18 may be employed to secure the
vest to the user.
[0015] FIG. 2 shows the inflation valve 20 located at the rear of
the swim aid 10, the inflation valve protruding through aperture 22
in jacket 12 to allow convenient inflation and deflation of the
device.
[0016] FIG. 3 depicts inflation member 24 comprised of waterproof
cover 26 and, shown in dashed lines, rectangular foam core elements
28A, 28B, and 28C having a thickness of approximately one inch. The
foam core elements are held in place within cover 26 by heat sealed
areas 30 in cover 26. These sealed areas 30 also facilitate the
folding and fitting of the vest to the wearer by allowing the
flotation member 24 to be bent or folded at or near the hips of the
wearer.
[0017] FIG. 4 depicts the valve attached to and protruding from the
back of cover 26 of flotation member 24.
[0018] FIG. 5 depicts the swim aid 10 in its unzipped and open
state. Flotation member 24, represented by dashed lines, is fully
enclosed in a fabric pocket 32 stitched to and located on the
interior of fabric jacket 12.
[0019] FIGS. 6A and 6B depict another swim aid that may incorporate
a self-inflating flotation element as described above. The
inflation valve is depicted in FIG. 6B, on the rear surface of the
device.
[0020] The foregoing description of the invention is provided by
way of example and is not intended to be limiting. Variations,
alterations and modifications may occur to those skilled in the
art, and they are intended to be within the spirit and scope of
this disclosure.
[0021] From the description of at least one embodiment of the
present disclosure, various alterations, modifications, and
improvements will readily occur to those skilled in the art. Such
alterations, modifications, and improvements are intended to be
within the scope and spirit of the disclosure. Accordingly, the
foregoing description is by way of example only and is not intended
to be limiting.
[0022] While several embodiments of the present invention have been
described and illustrated herein, those of ordinary skill in the
art will readily envision a variety of other means and/or
structures for performing the functions and/or obtaining the
results and/or one of more of the advantages described herein, and
each of such variations and/or modifications is deemed to be within
the scope of the present invention. More generally, those skilled
in the art will readily appreciate that all parameters, dimensions,
materials, and configurations described herein are mean to be
exemplary and the actual parameters, dimensions, materials and/or
configurations will depend upon the specific application or
applications for which the teachings of the present invention
is/are used. Those skilled in the art will recognize or be able to
ascertain using no more than routine experimentation, many
equivalents to the specific embodiments of the invention described
herein. It is therefore to be understood that the foregoing
embodiments are presented by way of example only and that, with the
scope of the appended claims and equivalents thereto, the invention
may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described and
claimed. The present invention is directed to each individual
feature, system, article, material, and/or method described herein.
In addition, any combination of two or more such features, systems,
articles, materials, and/or methods, if such features, systems,
articles, materials, and/or methods are not mutually inconsistent,
is included within the scope of the present invention.
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