Float and combination of floats

Abstract

The present invention relates to a float (1) useable as a buoy, provided with a substantially elongate and flexible body (2), comprising a structural element (4) to be fitted into its body (2), the structural element (4) permitting the shaping of the body (2).

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a float useable as a buoy in water activities and capable of being used in forming floating objects in general.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART

[0002] Floats known from the prior art are cylindrical pieces, usually rectilinear and elongate, made of expanded polymer.

[0003] Even if these known floats are solid, they are flexible and can be deformed without breaking, when subjected to external forces applied by the user while playing in water entertainment. However, once these external forces have ceased, the float returns to the original rectilinear shape, that is to say, it loses the shape desired by the user.

[0004] Since these floats permit only momentary deformations, their options of use are restricted. They have only the function of enabling a person to float so as to gets a support, maintaining him afloat at least in part. They do not provide other creative variations for entertainment in water environment.

OBJECTIVES OF THE INVENTION

[0005] An objective of the present invention is to provide a float useable in water activities in general, constituted of flexible materials, capable of maintaining the desired shapes when deformed.

[0006] Another objective of this invention is to provide floating constructions or objects formed from a single float or from the combination of multiple floats.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0007] The present invention relates to a float useable as buoy, provided with a substantially elongate and flexible body, comprising a structural element to be fitted into its body, the structural element permitting shaping of the body.

[0008] The present invention further comprises a combination of floats, this combination being particularly useable in constructing floating objects, each float comprising a substantially elongate and flexible body, each body comprising a structural element to be fitted into it, the structural element permitting shaping of the body.

[0009] The body of the float is provided with an inner axial channel along its length, into which the structural element is inserted.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0010] The present invention will now be described in greater detail with reference to an embodiment represented in the drawings. The figures show:

[0011] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a floating body used in the object of the present invention;

[0012] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a structural element used in the object of the present invention;

[0013] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the float comprising the floating body and the structural element of FIGS. 1 and 2; and

[0014] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an object constructed by the combination of multiple floats of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0015] According to a preferred embodiment and as can be seen from FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, the float 1 comprises a body 2 provided with an inner axial channel 3 and a structural element 4 or core.

[0016] The body 2 of the float 1 is flexible, substantially cylindrical and elongate in shape, made of non-toxic expanded polymer. The axial channel 3 is passed along the length of the body 2.

[0017] Although the preferred construction illustrated in the drawings is an elongate body 2 having circular cross-section, one should understand that the body 2 may have various sizes and colors and may further be non-cylindrical, as for example, prismatic in shape.

[0018] FIG. 2 illustrates a structural element 4, which may be either hollow or solid, made of a ductile material, thus being malleable, metallic or non-metallic and further resistant to corrosion in water environments. The structural element 4 is housed inside the inner axial channel 3, in the body 2 of the float, so as to fill it completely along its whole length, as shown in FIG. 3.

[0019] Alternately, the structural element 4 may fill the inner axial channel 3 of the body 2 only partly.

[0020] When the structural element 4 is inserted into the body 2, it allows the formed assembly to be shaped and mainly to retain the desired shaped configuration, taking on creative and appropriate shaped to improve water activities, as for instance therapeutic exercises or plays.

[0021] The possibility of maintaining the shape modeled by the user is one of the advantages of the float 1 in comparison with the object of the prior art. This characteristic becomes feasible by virtue of the structural element 4 inside the body 2 of the float.

[0022] The combination of one or more floats 1 provided with the structural element 4 enables the construction of different floating objects, such as shown in FIG. 4. FIG. 4 illustrates a floating mattress 6 that has a structure formed by the combination of floats 1 according to the present invention, modeled and joined together so as to take on the desired anatomic shape. In the case of the object shown in this figure, the shaped structure is completed by a support element 5 for a user, also made of a polymeric material.

[0023] A preferred embodiment having been described, it should be understood that the scope of the present invention embraces other possible variations, being limited only by the contents of the accompanying claims, the possible equivalents being included therein.

Claims

1. A float (1) useable as a buoy, provided with a substantially elongate and flexible body (2), characterized in that it comprises a structural element (4) to be fitted into its body (2), the structural element (4) permitting the shaping of the body (2).

2. A float according to claim 1, characterized in that the body (2) is provided with an outer axial channel (3) along its length.

3. A float according to claim 2, characterized in that the structural element (4) is inserted into the inner axial channel (3).

4. A float according to claim 3, characterized in that the structural element (4) is made of a ductile material.

5. A float according to claim 4, characterized in that the structural element (4) is made of aluminum.

6. A combination of floats, the combination being particularly useable in the construction of floating objects, each float comprising a substantially elongate and flexible body (2), characterized in that each body (2) comprises a structural element fitted into it, the structural element permitting the shaping of the body (2).

7. A combination of floats according to claim 6, characterized in that the body (2) is provided with an inner axial channel (3) along its length.

8. A combination of floats according to claim 7, characterized in that the structural element (4) is inserted into the inner axial channel (3).

9. A combination of floats according to claim 8, characterized in that the structural element (4) is made of a ductile material.

10. A combination of floats according to claim 9, characterized in that the structural element (4) is made of aluminum.