MODULAR FLOATATION ASSEMBLY

Abstract

A modular floatation assembly includes a basal panel that is comprised of a buoyant material to float in water. The basal panel has a plurality of wells each is integrated into the basal panel. A plurality of walls is provided and each of the walls is comprised of a buoyant material to float in water. Each of the walls can be attached to the basal panel in a variety of arrangements. A tower is comprised of a buoyant material to float in water and the tower is attachable to the basal panel thereby facilitating the tower to be positioned at a variety of locations on the basal panel. A pair of rods is each releasably attachable to the tower to be gripped in the convention of a handle.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

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STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

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THE NAMES OF THE PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT

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INCORPORATION-BY-REFERENCE OF MATERIAL SUBMITTED ON A COMPACT DISC OR AS A TEXT FILE VIA THE OFFICE ELECTRONIC FILING SYSTEM

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STATEMENT REGARDING PRIOR DISCLOSURES BY THE INVENTOR OR JOINT INVENTOR

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BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

(1) Field of the Invention

The disclosure relates to floatation devices and more particularly pertains to a new floatation device for enhancing recreational activities in water. The device includes a basal panel and a plurality of walls that are attachable to the basal panel in a variety of orientations. Additionally, the device includes a tower that is attachable to the basal panel, in lieu of the walls, and a pair of rods that are attachable to the tower. Each of the basal panel, the walls, the tower and the rods are comprised of a buoyant material.

(2) Description of Related Art Including Information Disclosed Under 37 CFR 1.97 and 1.98

The prior art relates to floatation devices including a modular pool mattress that includes a plurality of buoyant rods and a pair of buoyant side rails. The prior art discloses a submersible water toy for performing stunt based activities in water. The prior art discloses a floatation device that includes a plurality of buoyant tubes that are arranged to define a floatation surface. The prior art discloses a floating game device that includes a pair of floating goals through which a buoyant ball can be passed.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An embodiment of the disclosure meets the needs presented above by generally comprising a basal panel that is comprised of a buoyant material to float in water. The basal panel has a plurality of wells each is integrated into the basal panel. A plurality of walls is provided and each of the walls is comprised of a buoyant material to float in water. Each of the walls can be attached to the basal panel in a variety of arrangements. A tower is comprised of a buoyant material to float in water and the tower is attachable to the basal panel thereby facilitating the tower to be positioned at a variety of locations on the basal panel. A pair of rods is each releasably attachable to the tower to be gripped in the convention of a handle.

There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the disclosure in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the disclosure that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto.

The objects of the disclosure, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the disclosure, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING(S)

The disclosure will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a modular floatation assembly according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 2 is a bottom perspective view of a basal panel and a pair of walls of an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 3 is a top perspective view of an embodiment of the disclosure showing a plurality of walls being attached to a basal panel.

FIG. 4 is a top view of an embodiment of the disclosure showing a plurality of walls each being attached to a basal panel.

FIG. 5 is a right side phantom view of an embodiment of the disclosure showing a wall being attached to a basal panel.

FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view of a tower, a pair of rods and a basal panel of an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a tower, a pair of rods and a basal panel of an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 8 is a top perspective view of a basal panel of an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 9 is a cross sectional view taken along line 9-9 of FIG. 8 of an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 10 is a cross sectional view taken along line 10-10 of FIG. 8 of an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 11 is a perspective in-use view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to FIGS. 1 through 11 thereof, a new floatation device embodying the principles and concepts of an embodiment of the disclosure and generally designated by the reference numeral 10 will be described.

As best illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 11, the modular floatation assembly 10 generally comprises a basal panel 12 that is comprised of a buoyant material such that the basal panel 12 can float in water 14. The buoyant material may comprise aerated foam or other similar type of flexible, buoyant material. The basal panel 12 has a plurality of wells 16 that is each integrated into the basal panel 12. The basal panel 12 has a top surface 18, a bottom surface 20 and a perimeter surface 22 extending between the top surface 18 and the bottom surface 20. The perimeter surface 22 has a front side 24, a back side 26, a first lateral side 28 and a second lateral side 30, and the basal panel 12 is elongated between the front side 24 and the back side 26. The basal panel 12 may have a width ranging between approximately 40.0 inches and 50.0 inches, a length ranging between approximately 60.0 inches and 70.0 inches and a thickness ranging between approximately 8.0 inches and 10.0 inches. Additionally, each of the wells 16 may have a length and a width of approximately 3.0 inches.

Each of the wells 16 extends through the top surface 18 toward the bottom surface 20 and each of the wells 16 has a bounding surface 32. The bounding surface 32 has a plurality of intersecting sides 34 such that each of the wells 16 has a rectangular shape. The wells 16 are arranged into a plurality of rows 36 and columns 38. Furthermore, the rows 36 and columns 38 are spaced from the perimeter surface 22 of the basal panel 12 to define a border 40 extending around the perimeter surface 22.

A frame 42 is integrated into the basal panel 12 and the frame 42 is comprised of a rigid material thereby enhancing structural rigidity of the basal panel 12. The frame 42 is positioned between the top surface 18 and the bottom surface 20 of the basal panel 12. Furthermore, the frame 42 extends around the border 40 defined between the rows 36 and columns 38 of the wells 16 and the perimeter surface 22 of the basal panel 12. The frame 42 comprises a plurality of members 44 and a plurality of elbows 46, and each of the members 44 intersects with a respective pair of the elbows 46 such that the frame 42 has a rectangular shape. The frame 42 may be comprised of polyvinyl chloride pipe or other similar type of hollow material that is positively buoyant.

A plurality of walls 48 is provided and each of the walls 48 is comprised of a buoyant material such that the walls 48 can float in water 14. Each of the walls 48 has a plurality of engagements 50 that is each integrated into the walls 48 and each of the engagements 50 on the walls 48 engages respective wells 16 in the basal panel 12. In this way the walls 48 can be oriented on the basal panel 12 in a variety of arrangements. Each of the walls 48 has a lower surface 52 and each of the walls 48 has a plurality of pegs 54 each extending downwardly from the lower surface 52 such that each of the pegs 54 on each of the walls 48 defines respective ones of the engagements 50 on the walls 48. The plurality of walls 48 may include a plurality of long walls 56 and a plurality of short walls 58. The longs walls 56 may each have a length ranging between approximately 30.0 inches and 40.0 inches and a height ranging between approximately 24.0 inches and 30.0 inches. Each of the short walls 58 may have a length ranging between approximately 10.0 inches and 20.0 inches and a height ranging between approximately 24.0 inches and 30.0 inches.

Each of the pegs 54 on each of the walls 48 has an outer surface 60 and the outer surface 60 of each of pegs 54 has a plurality of intersecting sides 62 such that each of the pegs 54 has a rectangular shape. In this way the pegs 54 can conform to respective ones of the wells 16 in the top surface 18 of the basal panel 12 when the pegs 54 are inserted into the respective wells 16. The pegs 54 associated with each of the walls 48 are spaced apart from each other and are distributed along the lower surface 52 of the associated wall 48.

A tower 64 is provided and the tower 64 is comprised of a buoyant material such that the tower 64 can float in water 14. The tower 64 has a plurality of engagements 66 that is each integrated into the tower 64 and each of the engagements 66 on the tower 64 engages respective ones of the wells 16 in the basal panel 12. In this way the tower 64 can be positioned at a variety of locations on the basal panel 12 having the tower 64 extending upwardly from the basal panel 12. The tower 64 has a lower end 68, an upper end 70 and an outer wall 72 extending between the lower end 68 and the upper end 70. The outer wall 72 has a front side 74, a back side 76, a first sidelong side 78 and a second sidelong side 80, and the tower 64 is elongated between the lower end 68 and the upper end 70. Furthermore, each of the front side 24 and the back side 26 angles inwardly between the lower end 68 and the upper end 70 such that the tower 64 has a trapezoidal cross section taken along a line extending through the first sidelong side 78 and the second sidelong side 80. The tower 64 may have a height ranging between approximately 36.0 inches and 50.0 inches.

Each of the first sidelong side 78 and the second sidelong side 80 has a rod well 82 extending inwardly toward a center of the tower 64. The rod well 82 on each of the first sidelong side 78 and the second sidelong side 80 is positioned adjacent to the upper end 70. A plurality of pegs 84 each extends downwardly from the lower end 68 such that each of the pegs 84 on the lower end 68 defines respective ones of the engagements 66 on the tower 64. Each of the pegs 84 on the lower end 68 has an outer surface 86 and the outer surface 86 of each of pegs 84 on the lower end 68 has a plurality of intersecting sides 88. In this way each of the pegs 84 on the lower end 68 has a rectangular shape thereby facilitating the pegs 84 on the lower end 68 to conform to respective ones of the wells 16 in the top surface 18 of the basal panel 12 when the pegs 84 on the lower end 68 are inserted into the respective wells 16. Furthermore, the pegs 84 on the lower end 68 are spaced apart from each other and are distributed along the lower end 68.

A pair of rods 90 is each releasably attachable to the tower 64 and each of the rods 90 can be gripped in the convention of a handle. Each of the rods 90 has a first end 92 and a second end 94, and the first end 92 of each of the rods 90 is insertable into the rod well 82 in a respective one of the first sidelong side 78 and the second sidelong side 80 of the outer wall 72 of the tower 64. Each of the rods 90 may have a length ranging between approximately 6.0 inches and 10.0 inches. Additionally, each of the rods 90 may be comprised of a buoyant material such that each of the rods 90 can float in water 14.

In use, as is most clearly shown in FIGS. 1, 3, 4 and 5, the basal panel 12 and the plurality of walls 48 can be assembled in variety of different orientations in a swimming pool or other body of water to facilitate recreational activities. As is most clearly shown in FIGS. 6 and 11, the tower 64 can be attached to the basal panel 12 and each of the rods 90 can be attached to the tower 64 to facilitate the basal panel 12 to be ridden in the convention of a water 14 craft. In this way the basal panel 12, the walls 48 and tower 64 facilitate a variety of different recreational activities to be enjoyed in the swimming pool or other body of water 14.

With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of an embodiment enabled by the disclosure, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by an embodiment of the disclosure.

Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the disclosure. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the disclosure to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the disclosure. In this patent document, the word “comprising” is used in its non-limiting sense to mean that items following the word are included, but items not specifically mentioned are not excluded. A reference to an element by the indefinite article “a” does not exclude the possibility that more than one of the element is present, unless the context clearly requires that there be only one of the elements.

Claims

1. A modular floatation assembly to facilitate a variety of personal floatation arrangements, said assembly comprising:

a basal panel being comprised of a buoyant material wherein said basal panel is configured to float in water, said basal panel having a plurality of wells each being integrated into said basal panel;

a frame being integrated into said basal panel, said frame being comprised of a rigid material thereby enhancing structural rigidity of said basal panel;

a plurality of walls, each of said walls being comprised of a buoyant material wherein each of said walls is configured to float in water, each of said walls having a plurality of engagements each being integrated into said walls, each of said engagements on said walls engaging respective wells in said basal panel thereby facilitating said walls to be oriented on said basal panel in a variety of arrangements;

a tower being comprised of a buoyant material wherein said tower is configured to float in water, said tower having a plurality of engagements each being integrated into said tower, each of said engagements on said tower engaging respective ones of said wells in said basal panel thereby facilitating said tower to be positioned at a variety of locations on said basal panel having said tower extending upwardly from said basal panel; and

a pair of rods, each of said rods being releasably attachable to said tower wherein each of said rods is configured to be gripped in the convention of a handle.

2. The assembly according to claim 1, wherein said basal panel has a top surface, a bottom surface and a perimeter surface extending between said top surface and said bottom surface, said perimeter surface having a front side, a back side, a first lateral side and a second lateral side, said basal panel being elongated between said front side and said back side, each of said wells extending through said top surface toward said bottom surface, each of said wells having a bounding surface, said bounding surface having a plurality of intersecting sides such that each of said wells has a rectangular shape, said wells being arranged into a plurality of rows and columns, said rows and columns being spaced from said perimeter surface of said basal panel to define a border extending around said perimeter surface.

3. The assembly according to claim 2, wherein said frame is positioned between said top surface and said bottom surface of said basal panel, said frame extending around said border defined between said rows and columns of said wells and said perimeter surface of said basal panel, said frame comprising a plurality of members and a plurality of elbows, each of said members intersecting with a respective pair of said elbows such that said frame has a rectangular shape.

4. The assembly according to claim 2, wherein each of said walls has a lower surface, each of said walls having a plurality of pegs each extending downwardly from said lower surface such that each of said pegs on each of said walls defines respective ones of said engagements on said walls, each of said pegs on each of said walls having an outer surface, said outer surface of each of pegs having a plurality of intersecting sides such that each of said pegs has a rectangular shape thereby facilitating said pegs to conform to respective ones of said wells in said top surface of said basal panel when said pegs are inserted into said respective wells, said pegs associated with each of said walls being spaced apart from each other and being distributed along said lower surface of said associated wall.

5. The assembly according to claim 2, wherein:

said tower has a lower end, an upper end and an outer wall extending between said lower end and said upper end, said outer wall having a front side, a back side, a first sidelong side and a second sidelong side, said tower being elongated between said upper end and said lower end, each of said front side and said back side angling inwardly between said lower end and said upper end such that said tower has a trapezoidal cross section taken along a line extending through said first sidelong side and said second sidelong side; and

said lower end has a plurality of pegs each extending downwardly from said lower end such that each of said pegs on said lower end defines respective ones of said engagements on said tower, each of said pegs on said lower end having an outer surface, said outer surface of each of pegs on said lower end having a plurality of intersecting sides such that each of said pegs on said lower end has a rectangular shape thereby facilitating said pegs on said lower end to conform to respective ones of said wells in said top surface of said basal panel when said pegs on said lower end are inserted into said respective wells, said pegs on said lower end being spaced apart from each other and being distributed along said lower end.

6. The assembly according to claim 5, wherein each of said first sidelong side and said second sidelong side having a rod well extending inwardly toward a center of said tower, said rod well on each of said first sidelong side and said second sidelong side being positioned adjacent to said upper end.

7. The assembly according to claim 6, wherein each of said rods has a first end and a second end, said first end of each of said rods being insertable into said rod well in a respective one of said first sidelong side and said second sidelong side of said outer wall of said tower.

8. A modular floatation assembly to facilitate a variety of personal floatation arrangements, said assembly comprising:

a basal panel being comprised of a buoyant material wherein said basal panel is configured to float in water, said basal panel having a plurality of wells each being integrated into said basal panel, said basal panel having a top surface, a bottom surface and a perimeter surface extending between said top surface and said bottom surface, said perimeter surface having a front side, a back side, a first lateral side and a second lateral side, said basal panel being elongated between said front side and said back side, each of said wells extending through said top surface toward said bottom surface, each of said wells having a bounding surface, said bounding surface having a plurality of intersecting sides such that each of said wells has a rectangular shape, said wells being arranged into a plurality of rows and columns, said rows and columns being spaced from said perimeter surface of said basal panel to define a border extending around said perimeter surface;

a frame being integrated into said basal panel, said frame being comprised of a rigid material thereby enhancing structural rigidity of said basal panel, said frame being positioned between said top surface and said bottom surface of said basal panel, said frame extending around said border defined between said rows and columns of said wells and said perimeter surface of said basal panel, said frame comprising a plurality of members and a plurality of elbows, each of said members intersecting with a respective pair of said elbows such that said frame has a rectangular shape;

a plurality of walls, each of said walls being comprised of a buoyant material wherein each of said walls is configured to float in water, each of said walls having a plurality of engagements each being integrated into said walls, each of said engagements on said walls engaging respective wells in said basal panel thereby facilitating said walls to be oriented on said basal panel in a variety of arrangements, each of said walls having a lower surface, each of said walls having a plurality of pegs each extending downwardly from said lower surface such that each of said pegs on each of said walls defines respective ones of said engagements on said walls, each of said pegs on each of said walls having an outer surface, said outer surface of each of pegs having a plurality of intersecting sides such that each of said pegs has a rectangular shape thereby facilitating said pegs to conform to respective ones of said wells in said top surface of said basal panel when said pegs are inserted into said respective wells, said pegs associated with each of said walls being spaced apart from each other and being distributed along said lower surface of said associated wall;

a tower being comprised of a buoyant material wherein said tower is configured to float in water, said tower having a plurality of engagements each being integrated into said tower, each of said engagements on said tower engaging respective ones of said wells in said basal panel thereby facilitating said tower to be positioned at a variety of locations on said basal panel having said tower extending upwardly from said basal panel, said tower having a lower end, an upper end and an outer wall extending between said lower end and said upper end, said outer wall having a front side, a back side, a first sidelong side and a second sidelong side, said tower being elongated between said upper end and said lower end, each of said front side and said back side angling inwardly between said lower end and said upper end such that said tower has a trapezoidal cross section taken along a line extending through said first sidelong side and said second sidelong side, each of said first sidelong side and said second sidelong side having a rod well extending inwardly toward a center of said tower, said rod well on each of said first sidelong side and said second sidelong side being positioned adjacent to said upper end, said lower end having a plurality of pegs each extending downwardly from said lower end such that each of said pegs on said lower end defines respective ones of said engagements on said tower, each of said pegs on said lower end having an outer surface, said outer surface of each of pegs on said lower end having a plurality of intersecting sides such that each of said pegs on said lower end has a rectangular shape thereby facilitating said pegs on said lower end to conform to respective ones of said wells in said top surface of said basal panel when said pegs on said lower end are inserted into said respective wells, said pegs on said lower end being spaced apart from each other and being distributed along said lower end; and

a pair of rods, each of said rods being releasably attachable to said tower wherein each of said rods is configured to be gripped in the convention of a handle, each of said rods having a first end and a second end, said first end of each of said rods being insertable into said rod well in a respective one of said first sidelong side and said second sidelong side of said outer wall of said tower.