Buoyant Aquatic Recreational Device

Abstract

A buoyant aquatic recreational device of generally spherical shape having at least one opening therethrough which opening does not go through the geometrical center of the buoyant body and is sized to receive a person's arms so that when the body is placed in water under a human, it will support the human.

Description

The invention relates to aquatic recreational devices and in particular to those devices which may be used to support the body of a person in the water.

Broadly, the invention comprises a buoyant body in which is generally spherical in shape and which is provided with an opening therethrough to receive the arms of the user. To aid the device to keep the head of the user above the water level, the opening through the body is offcenter, that is, the center of the device is not included in the opening. Specific embodiments of the invention include means for affixing handles to the outer surface of the device.

It is an important object of the invention to provide an aquatic recreational device which may be used for exercise and play on land and in the water.

It is a further object of the invention to provide such a device which will support the user when in the water and thereby aid in the teaching of swimming and in accustoming nonswimmers to the water.

It is a still further object of the invention to provide such a device which doesn't pop out of the user's hands easily.

It is a still further object of the invention to provide such a device from which the user may easily disengage himself, if desired.

It is a still further object of the invention to provide such a device which is readily maneuverable and which may be used for surfing and similar water sports.

These and other objects, advantages, features and uses will be apparent during the course of the following description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a device of the invention in use;

FIG. 2 is an elevational view of the aquatic recreational device of the invention shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken on the lines 3--3 of FIG. 2, viewed in the direction of the arrows,

FIG. 4 is a view similar to that of FIG. 2 of an alternative embodiment of aquatic recreational device of the invention;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken on the lines 5--5 of FIG. 4, viewed in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 6 is a view similar to that of FIG. 2 of a still further embodiment of the invention; and

FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken on the lines 7--7 of FIG. 6, viewed in the direction of the arrows.

In the drawings, wherein, for the purpose of illustration, are shown preferred embodiments of the invention, the numeral 10 designates an aquatic recreational device of the invention generally. Device 10 is seen to comprise (FIGS. 1 and 2) a body 12 which is generally spherical in shape and which is formed of buoyant material and an opening 14 through the body 12. Opening 14 is offcenter, that is, it does not include or encompass point 16 which is the center of the body 12. Body 12 may be formed of a buoyant material such as foamed plastic or it may be provided with a valve so that it may be inflated with air or other light gas. Since the manner of making body 12 buoyant is not a part of the invention, details of this aspect are neither shown nor described herein.

Opening 14 is curved, as shown at 18, to permit easy insertion of the user's arms into opening 14. FIG. 1 illustrates a manner for using the device 10 of FIGS. 2 and 3. The forearms of user 24 are inserted in opening 14 as far as desired leaving the upper arms 26 outside the device.

Because the opening 14 is offcenter and excludes the center of the body, the device raises the face of the user out of the water and gives him more confidence in the water. It can readily be seen that since the device supports the user's head above the water level, the user will very quickly use his legs to propel him through the water. This is one of the first and most important factors in the teaching of swimming to the neophyte.

Since the user 24 has a good grip on device 10 because his forearms are in opening 14, he can use the device for frolicking in the surf or a pool. He can ride the waves without the attendant danger encountered when surfboards are used. He can use it as a buoy while submerging his body in the water and do numerous other stunts which are only limited by the imagination of the user. When the user desires to escape, he merely removes one or both of his arms from the opening.

Aquatic recreational device 30 (FIGS. 4 and 5) comprises body 32 through which there are two openings 34, neither of which include center 36. Slots 38 are provided to facilitate the insertion of the user's arms in openings 34. Handle 40 is affixed to the outer surface of body 32 as shown at 46. The handle may be affixed in any convenient manner. Handle 40 comprises legs 42 and 44 of a continuous, adjustable strap so the user can adjust the strap length to facilitate his grasping one of the legs in each hand. The handles illustrated hereafter in connection with the embodiment of FIGS. 6 and 7 may also be used with the recreational device of FIGS. 4 and 5. Furthermore, the handle 40 may be used with the embodiment of FIGS. 6 and 7.

Aquatic recreational device 50 (FIGS. 6 and 7) comprises buoyant body 52 through which there are provided two openings 54, neither of which includes the center 56. Handles 58 are suitably affixed to body 52 as shown at 60.

All of the recreational devices of the invention may be used as beach balls on dry land. If this is done, particularly when the device is being used by small children, the handles should be removed. It is also preferred that the means for affixing the handles to the body of the device should be made of soft rubber or plastic so that the users will not be injured when the device is used as a ball.

While particular embodiments of the invention have been shown and described, it is apparent to those skilled in the art that modifications are possible without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Claims

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. An aquatic recreational device comprising:

a buoyant body of generally spherical shape;

a buoyant body having two openings therethrough to receive a person's arms;

the surface of the buoyant body having two slots, each of the slots being associated with one of the openings such that a person may insert an arm in one of the openings through the associated slot;

the openings through the buoyant body being through a portion thereof which excludes the geometrical center of the buoyant body so that when the device is placed in water under a person whose arms are placed in the openings, the person may be supported by the device.

2. The aquatic recreational device of claim 1 including at least one handle affixed to the buoyant body.

3. The aquatic recreational device of claim 2 wherein there are two handles affixed to the buoyant body.