Anchoring system for an inflatable floating device

Abstract

An anchoring system for inflatable floating devices such as rafts, air mattresses and the like. The anchoring system is comprised of an anchor which is attached to an anchor line. The anchor line is selectively positionable and removably detachable around the periphery of the floating device by a clipping the anchor line into one of a plurality of reinforced eyelets or grommets disposed about the outer periphery of the floating device. Alternatively, a slip cover adapted having a plurality of reinforced eyelets around its outer periphery may be utilized to receive the inflatable floating device when the outer periphery of the floating device does not include an outer periphery on which a plurality of grommets are or may be attached. The anchor line is preferably adjustable to accommodate various depths of water, and the anchor weight is also preferably adjustable to compensate for varying drift forces.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] Not Applicable.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

[0002] Not Applicable.

REFERENCE TO MICROFICHE APPENDIX

[0003] Not applicable.

AUTHORIZATION PURSUANT TO 37 C.F.R. §1.71(d)(e)

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0004] 1. Field of the Invention

[0005] This invention relates generally to inflatable floating devices, such as rafts, air mattresses and the like, used for floating and sunbathing on lakes, ponds, pools and oceans, and more particularly to an anchoring system for such inflatable floating devices.

[0006] 2. Description of the Related Art

[0007] A popular form of summer recreation around lakes, ponds, pools and oceans includes floating and sunbathing on inflatable rafts, air mattresses and the like. Individuals floating on these devices often find themselves unwantingly drifting great distances away from the beach or shore or up against the edge of their pools due to the wind, waves or water currents. Such drifting can be dangerous on larger bodies of water if an individual happens to fall asleep on the inflatable device and winds up floating out and into the paths of recreational boaters and skiers. Those floating on these devices must then paddle their way back toward the beach or shore, often great distances. Alternatively, if an individual is trying to relax in his or her pool, it is frustrating to be continually bumping into the edge of the pool and then having to push the raft or mattress away from the edge of the pool or having to paddle back to the middle of the pool.

[0008] Accordingly, those familiar with these and other problems recognize the need for an anchoring system to prevent drifting of inflatable rafts, air mattresses and the like.

[0009] In additional to the need for an anchoring system, it should be appreciated that sunbathers prefer to lay in a direction facing the sun. One need only go to the beach or a pool and witness sunbathers rotating their chairs or blankets toward the sun as it moves across the sky. Thus, it should be recognized that the raft or air mattress on which a sunbather is floating should be capable of being anchored so that it will always face toward the sun. Controlling the direction toward which the raft or air mattress faces has heretofore only been accomplished by the individual paddling to maneuver the raft or air mattress to compensate for drifting due to the wind, water currents or waves. Having to continually work to compensate for drifting defeats the intent of floating on these devices in the first place,—i.e. to relax. It should also be readily appreciated, that if the floating device has only one anchor attaching point, the floating device will eventually drift to a position where the floating device is not facing the sun, because the floating device will eventually drift away from the anchor and spin or rotate in the direction of least resistance to the wind or water current acting thereon.

[0010] Therefore, those familiar with these and other problems recognize the need for an anchoring system to enable a user not only to float in one place for extended periods of time, but also to allow the floating device to face toward the sun no matter which direction the floating device tends to drift.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0011] An anchoring system for inflatable floating devices such as rafts, air mattresses and the like. The anchoring system is comprised of an anchor which is attached to an anchor line. The anchor line is removably detachable around the periphery of the floating device by clipping the anchor line into one of a plurality of reinforced eyelets or grommets disposed about the outer periphery of the floating device. The anchor line is preferably adjustable to accommodate various depths of water, and the anchor weight is also preferably adjustable to compensate for varying drift forces.

[0012] An alternative embodiment of the present invention includes a slip cover adapted to receive the inflatable floating device when the outer periphery of the floating device does not include an outer periphery on which a plurality of grommets are or may be attached. Thus, rather than the floating device having the plurality of grommets, the slip cover includes a plurality of grommets disposed about its outer periphery. Similar to the first embodiment, the anchor line is preferably adjustable to accommodate various depths of water and the anchor weight is also preferably adjustable to compensate for varying drift forces. The slip cover is preferably made of durable, light weight, machine washable material such as nylon fabric netting. Additionally, the slip cover preferably includes a pocket for storing additional anchor weights and any additional anchor lines.

[0013] Therefore, an object of the present invention is the provision of an anchoring system for inflatable floating devices such as rafts, air mattresses and the like.

[0014] Another object of the present invention is to provide an anchoring system that enables the floating device to float in one place for extended periods of time.

[0015] Another object of the present invention is to provide an anchoring system that enables the floating device to face toward the sun no matter which direction the raft or mattress tends to drift.

[0016] Other objects, advantages, and novel features of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of the invention when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

[0017] FIG. 1A is a perspective view showing the first embodiment of present invention in use on the water;

[0018] FIG. 1B is a perspective view showing the second embodiment of present invention in use on the water;

[0019] FIG. 2 is a detailed perspective view of the first embodiment of the present invention showing the detachable anchor and the reinforced eyelets around the periphery of the floating device;

[0020] FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the floating device showing the plurality of reinforcing eyelets around the periphery of the floating device;

[0021] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the slip cover for use in the second embodiment of the present invention;

[0022] FIG. 5 is a detailed partial perspective view showing the inflatable device inside the slip cover; and

[0023] FIG. 6 is a detailed view of the anchor line with the anchor attached thereto clipped to the floating device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0024] Referring now to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals designate identical or corresponding parts throughout the several views, FIGS. 1A, and 1B show perspective views of the first and second embodiments respectively of the anchoring system (10) of the present invention for an inflatable floating device (12), such as an air mattress, in use on the water.

[0025] The preferred anchoring system (10) includes a plurality of reinforced eyelets (14) (FIGS. 2, 3) such as grommets disposed around the outer periphery (16) of the floating device (12). An anchor line (18) is detachably connected to the floating device (12) by a clip (20) (FIGS. 2, 6) disposed at one end of the line (18) which may clip into any one of the plurality of eyelets (14) disposed around the outer periphery (16) of the floating device (12). An anchor (22) is secured to the other end of the line (18).

[0026] The length of the anchor line (18) is preferably adjustable to accommodate various depths of water. Adjustment of the anchor line (18) may performed in a number of different ways, for example by adding or removing lengths of anchor line segments which may be clipped or knotted to the anchor line (18), by having a number of different lengths of anchor lines (18) for selectively attaching to the floating device (12) for various depths of water, by simply knotting and unknotting a long anchor line (18) to create various lengths for varying depths, or by having a long anchor line (18) with numerous clips (20) secured at spaced increments along its length which can be selectively clipped to the floating device (12) at the desired incremental length for varying depths of water.

[0027] The anchor (22) is also preferably adjustable in weight to prevent drifting of the floating device (12) in stronger winds or current. One method of having an adjustable weight anchor would be to simply add additional weights in predetermined increments to the line (18). Other alternatives may include having an anchor (22) adapted to connect to additional weights in predetermined increments.

[0028] For floating devices (12) that do not have a plurality of grommets (14) around their outer periphery (16), or do not have a peripheral flange (16) or seam to which a plurality of grommets (14) may be attached, an alternative is to utilize a slip cover (30) (FIGS. 1B, 4) adapted to receive the floating device (12) (FIG. 5). Such a slip cover (30) is preferably made of a material that is durable, lightweight and machine washable, such as a nylon fabric netting or mesh. One end of the slip cover (30) should include an opening (32) (FIG. 5) of sufficient size to receive the floating device (12). The opening (32) can then be closed around the floating device (12) preferably by the use of a hook and loop fastener (33) (FIG. 5) such as Velcro®, or alternatively by snaps, a draw string any other suitable closing method. Similar to the first disclosed embodiment, the outer periphery (16) of the slip cover (30) includes a plurality of reinforced eyelets (14) or grommets to which to detachably secure the anchor line (18). The slip cover (30) may also be adapted to include an inside pocket (34) (FIG. 4) in which to store personal items and/or to store additional anchor line segments for varying the length of the anchor line (18) and/or to store additional weights for the anchor (20).

[0029] The plurality of reinforced eyelets (14) around the outer periphery (16) of the floating device (12) or the slip cover (30), enables the user floating on the device to selectively and detachably locate the anchor line (18) anywhere around its periphery (16) to not only anchor the floating device in one position for extended periods of time, but to also enable the floating device to spin or rotate on the water surface toward the direction of the sun as shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B. It should be appreciated that the floating device (12) when anchored at one point will naturally tend to spin or rotate in a direction down-wind, down-stream or down-current from the anchoring position. Additionally, the floating device (12) will naturally spin or rotate about the anchoring point where there is the least amount of wind resistance or resistance to the water current. These naturally tendencies to spin or rotate can be countered by selectively positioning the attachment point of the anchor line (18) so that the floating device (12) will tend to spin or rotate toward the direction of the sun, no matter what amount of drifting forces due to wind, water current or waves are acting on the floating device (12).

[0030] Therefore, although only exemplary embodiments of the invention have been described in detail above, those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that many modifications are possible without materially departing from the novel teachings and advantages of this invention. Accordingly, all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of this invention as defined in the following claims.

Claims

1. An anchoring system for an inflatable floating device, comprising:

a plurality of reinforced eyelets disposed around an outer periphery of the inflatable floating device;

an anchor; and

an anchor line having a clip at one end adapted for selectively positioning and removably detaching said anchor line with respect to any of said plurality of reinforced eyelets, said anchor line having said anchor secured at one other end.

2. The anchoring system of claim 1 wherein said anchor line is adjustable in length to accommodate various depths of water.

3. The anchoring system of claim 2 wherein said anchor is adjustable in weight to counter increased drifting forces.

4. An anchoring system for an inflatable floating device, comprising:

a slip cover adapted to receive the inflatable floating device, said slip cover having a plurality of reinforced eyelets disposed around an outer periphery thereof;

an anchor; and

an anchor line having a clip at one end adapted for selectively positioning and removably detaching said anchor line with respect to any of said plurality of reinforced eyelets, said anchor line having said anchor secured at one other end.

5. The anchoring system of claim 4 wherein said anchor line is adjustable in length to accommodate various depths of water.

6. The anchoring system of claim 5 wherein said anchor is adjustable in weight to counter increased drifting forces.

7. The anchoring system of claim 4 wherein said slip cover is made of durable, light weight, machine washable material.

8. The anchoring system of claim 7 wherein said material is nylon fabric netting.

9. The anchoring system of claim 4 wherein said slip cover includes a pocket for storing additional anchor weights and additional anchor lines.