RECREATIONAL FLOTATION DEVICE

Abstract

A recreational flotation device comprising an outer buoyant body member having a support member located in an inner area in the form of a panel of material attached to the buoyant body member and extending across the inner area. Connectors provided on the buoyant body member are adapted to mate with connectors on the support member whereby the user may choose among several possible shapes for the support member by appropriately mating the connector on the buoyant body member with selected connectors on the support member.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to recreational flotation devices, and particularly to a floating lounge, chair, or the like having a support member extending across an inner area of the device for supporting the user, the shape of the support member being adjustable to allow the user to choose a desired position on the device.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Floating lounges, rafts, and chairs are among the most popular beach and pool recreational devices. They are typically inflatable and may comprise a buoyant body member forming the outer portion of the device, with an inner support member, often constructed of a panel of plastic or mesh material, upon which the user sits or reclines, the inner support member being attached to an inner perimeter of the buoyant body member. However, because the support member is typically fixed in position and shape, it may not provide optimum comfort for users of different sizes or for a user who desires to change his or her position or posture.

The buoyant body member of the recreational flotation device may completely surround the support member, or may only partly surround it, as in the embodiment discussed here, which comprises a buoyant body member formed generally in a U-shape. A panel of flexible material, such as plastic mesh, is attached to opposite arms of the U-shaped buoyant body member and extends between them to serve as a support member for the user. Connectors located on the edges of the panel may be selectively mated with corresponding connectors located on the buoyant body member to allow the user to change the effective length and shape of the support member and thereby choose the desired configuration of the support member.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 depicts a recreational flotation device having an adjustable support member for supporting the user.

FIG. 2 depicts the device of FIG. 1 with the adjustable support member extended to its full length between the sides of the buoyant body member.

FIG. 3 is a close-up view of the connectors on one side of the buoyant body member, and of several connectors on the support member, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

FIG. 4 depicts the connectors on one side of the buoyant body member mated with a pair of corresponding connectors on the support member in a first position.

FIG. 5 is a close-up view of the connectors on one side of the buoyant body member mated with connectors on the support member, as shown in FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 depicts the flotation device with the connectors on the support member mated with the connectors on the buoyant body member in a second position.

FIG. 7 depicts the flotation device with connectors on the support member mated with the connectors on the buoyant body member in a third position.

FIG. 8 depicts three possible positions of the support member, depending on the user's choice of connectors employed.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 depicts a recreational flotation device 10, here in the form of chair comprising a buoyant body member 12 having a generally U-shaped configuration. A support member 14 is attached to and extends between the arms 16, 18 of the buoyant body member 12. Support member 14 comprises a relatively elongated panel of flexible material attached to body member 12 at the (shown in FIG. 2) of arms 16 and 18, respectively, as shown in FIG. 2. Connectors 24 and 26, here in the form of toggle buttons, are attached at the inner edge 20 of the buoyant body member by cords 25 and 27 (see FIG. 3), and are adapted to receive selected connectors in the form of slots or apertures 28A, 28B, or 28C and 30A, 30B, or 30C on support member 14, as explained below.

As shown in FIG. 2, support member 14 is attached to and extends between the two inner edges 20 and 22 of buoyant body member 12. Connectors 24 and 26 are attached to and extend from edge 20. Here, connectors 24 and 26 are not mated with connectors 28A, 28B, or 28C and 30A, 30B, or 30C on support member 14.

FIG. 3 provides a close-up view of connectors 24 and 26 attached by cords 25 and 27 to, and extending from, edge 20 of arm 16 of buoyant body member 12. Also depicted are several of the connectors on support member 14.

FIG. 4 depicts the recreational flotation device 10 with connectors 24 and 26 mated with connectors 28A and 30A on support member 14, thereby shortening the length of support member panel 14 as it extends between arms 16 and 18. As a result, portion 32 of support member 14 hangs down from edge 16 below the support member.

FIG. 5 provides a close-up view of connectors 24 and 26 mated with connectors 28A and 30A, as shown in FIG. 4, with portion 24 of support member 14 hanging down below the support member.

FIG. 6 depicts the flotation device with connectors 24 and 26 mated with connectors 28B and 30B on support member 14, shortening the length of support member 14 extending between arms 16 and 18.

FIG. 7 depicts the flotation device with connectors 24 and 26 mated with connectors 28C and 30C on support member 14, further shortening the length of support member 14 extending between arms 16 and 18.

FIG. 8 illustrates how each of three users of differing heights might choose a particular configuration for the recreational flotation device 10 by selecting the appropriate pairs of connectors on support member 14 for mating with connectors 24 and 26 on buoyant body member 12.

By choosing which connectors on the support member 14 to mate with the connectors on arm 16 of buoyant body member 12, the user of the recreational flotation device 10 may select the configuration of support member 14 that is most comfortable or appropriate.

The embodiment here illustrated includes a U-shaped buoyant body member, but in the invention here disclosed the buoyant body member is not limited to that configuration and could include a buoyant body member that completely surrounds the support member 14. Furthermore, the particular embodiment here discussed utilizes three pairs of apertures on support member 14 for receipt of toggle button connectors 24 and 26, but the invention is not limited to any particular number of connector pairs, nor to any particular type of connector. Other types of connectors could also be used, provided they appropriately secure the support member 14 to the buoyant body member 12. Furthermore, connectors could be located on both sides of recreational flotation device 10, and the number of connectors on support member 14 could be fewer of more than three. Other configurations could incorporate more than three connectors on the buoyant body member 12, with appropriate modification of the support member 14 to include the correspondingly appropriate number of mating connectors.

From the description of at least one embodiment of the present disclosure, various alternations, 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.

Claims

1. A recreational flotation device comprising:

A buoyant body member having a first portion and a second portion opposite the first portion, forming an inner area therebetween;

a support member located in the inner area for supporting a user of the device, said support member comprising a panel of material having a first end and a second end opposite to the first end, the first end being attached to the first portion of the buoyant body member and the second end being attached to the second portion of the buoyant body member, whereby the support member extends across the inner area between the first portion and the second portions of the buoyant body member; and

a plurality of connectors located on the first portion of the buoyant body member adapted for attachment to connectors on the support member, whereby the user may by choosing appropriate connectors on the support member change a length of the support member between the first portion and the second portions of the buoyant body member.

2. A buoyant chair comprising:

A buoyant body member having a first arm portion and a second arm portion substantially opposite the first arm portion, partly surrounding an inner area formed therebetween;

a seat member located in the inner area for supporting a user of the chair, said seat member comprising a panel of material having a first end and a second end opposite to the first end, the first end being attached to the first arm portion of the buoyant body member and the second end being attached to the second arm portion of the buoyant body member, whereby the seat member extends across the inner area between the first arm portion and the arm second portion of the buoyant body member, and

a plurality of connectors located on the first arm portion of the buoyant body member adapted for attachment to connectors on the seat member, whereby the user may by choosing appropriate connectors on the seat member change a length of the seat member between the first and second arm portions of the buoyant body member.