FLOATING FRIENDSHIP ASSEMBLY
A floating friendship assembly (10) comprises a first floating raft (21), a second floating raft (22), and a linkage (50) joining the first raft (21) to second raft (22) so that the pillow portion (31) of the first raft (21) faces the pillow portion (32) of the second raft (22). The rafts can be made from a foam pad (60) having a front end (70) curled to form its pillow portion. The linkage (50) can be made from a floatable material (e.g., foam) and can removably join the rafts (21-22) together so that they can be separated and used independently.
Recreational rafts are often used in pools, rivers, lakes, oceans, and other bodies of water for entertainment and amusement. One popular type of recreational raft comprises a floatable foam pad having its front end curled to form a pillow portion. When lying on this raft in the water, a person rests his/her head on the pillow portion.
SUMMARYMy invention provides a floating friendship assembly wherein recreational rafts are connected together with their pillow portions facing each other. In this manner, friends on the connected rafts can easily talk and chat. And if the rafts are close enough, the friends can hold hands, clap palms (“high five”), and/or touch fists (“pound it”) at significant points in the conversation.
Referring now the drawings, and initially to
As shown in
The pad 60 is made of material compatible for use as a recreational raft without inflation. A suitable material would be buoyant, would not absorb water like a sponge, would not stick to skin, would not get too hot in the sun, and would be light enough to carry (or at least drag). Conventionally, such pads 60 have been formed in one piece from closed cell foam or foam rubber materials (e.g., polyethylene (PE) and ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA)).
The front end 70 of the pad 60 can be curled downward and its front edge bonded to the bottom surface of the pad 60 at a seam 80. The seam 80 can be accomplished by adhesive, heat-fusing, or any other suitable technique. In any event, the curled front end 70 surrounds an empty conduit. In the completed raft 20, the curled front end 70 forms the pillow portion 30 and the empty conduit forms the channel 40.
Referring now to
As shown most clearly in
As is shown in
Moreover, a floating friendship assembly 10 wherein the rafts 21-22 are permanently linked together is possible and contemplated. The advantage, however, of selectively removable linkage 50 is that the rafts 21-22 and the links 90 can be used independently for recreational purposes. Additionally or alternatively, separate pieces may be easier to store, transport, and/or carry.
In
One may now appreciate that my invention provides a floating friendship assembly 10 wherein recreational rafts 20 are connected together with their pillow portions 30 facing each other so that friends can easily talk and chat. Although the assembly 10 has been shown and described with respect to a certain embodiment or embodiments, it is obvious that equivalent alterations and modifications will occur to others skilled in the art upon the reading and understanding of this specification and the annexed drawings.
Claims
1. A floating friendship assembly (10) comprising:
- a first floating raft (21) having a pillow portion (31) with a channel (41) extending therethrough,
- a second floating raft (22) having a pillow portion (32) with a channel (42) extending therethrough, and
- linkage (50) joining the first raft (21) to second raft (22) so that the pillow portion (31) of the first raft (21) faces the pillow portion (32) of the second raft (22);
- wherein the linkage (50) extends at least partially through the pillow portion (31) of the first raft (21) and at least partially through the pillow portion (32) of the second raft (22).
2. A floating friendship assembly (10) as set forth in claim 1, wherein each raft (21-22) is made from a foam pad (60) having a front end (70) curled to form its pillow portion (31-32).
3. A floating friendship assembly (10) as set forth in claim 1, wherein the linkage (50) removably joins the rafts (21-22) together so that they can be separated and used independently.
4. A floating friendship assembly (10) as set forth in claim 3, wherein the linkage (50) comprises one or more links (90) made of a floatable material.
5. A floating friendship assembly (10) as set forth in claim 4, wherein the linkage (50) comprises one or more links made of foam.
6. A floating friendship assembly (10) as set forth in claim 5, wherein each link (90) has a generally elongated geometry.
7. A floating friendship assembly (10) as set forth in claim 6, wherein each link (90) has a round or polygonal cross-sectional shape.
8. A floating friendship assembly (10) as set forth in claim 7, wherein each link (90) is solid.
9. A floating friendship assembly (10) as set forth in claim 7, wherein each link (90) has a hollow core.
10. A floating friendship assembly (10) as set forth in claim 6, wherein the linkage (50) comprises only one link (90).
11. A floating friendship assembly (10) as set forth in claim 6, wherein the linkage (50) comprises two or more links (90).
12. A floating friendship assembly (10) as set forth in claim 11, wherein the links (90) are attached to the rafts (21-22).
13. A floating friendship assembly (10) as set forth in claim 12, wherein the links (90) have end sections that are squeeze-fit into the channels (41-42).
14. A floating friendship assembly (10) as set forth in claim 12, wherein the links (90) have end sections with attachment hooks.
15. A floating friendship assembly (10) as set forth in claim 12, wherein the rafts (21-22) have attachment hooks inside their channels (41-42).
16. A floating friendship assembly (10) as set forth in claim 11, wherein the links have (90) have end faces that are attached to each other.
17. A floating friendship assembly (10) as set forth in claim 11, wherein the links have hooks and/or loops on their end faces for attachment to each other.
18. A floating friendship assembly (10) as set forth in claim 1, comprising three rafts (21-23), wherein:
- each raft (21-23) is made from a foam pad (60) having a front end (70) curled to form a pillow portion (31-33) having a channel (41-43);
- the linkage (50) joins the three rafts (21-23) together so that their pillow portions (31-33) face each other; and
- the linkage (50) comprises one or more links (90) which are made of foam and which extend at least partially through the channels (41-43).
19. A floating friendship assembly (10) as set forth in claim 1, comprising four rafts (21-24), wherein:
- each raft (21-24) is made from a foam pad (60) having a front end (70) curled to form a pillow portion (31-34) having a channel (41-44);
- the linkage (50) joins the three rafts (21-24) together so that their pillow portions (31-34) face each other; and
- the linkage (50) comprises one or more links (90) which are made of foam and which extend at least partially through the channels (41-44).
Type: Application
Filed: Sep 21, 2011
Publication Date: Jan 5, 2012
Inventor: Anna Marie Murphy (Cleveland, OH)
Application Number: 13/237,990