This application claims the benefit of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 29/790,871 entitled INFLATABLE CHAIR filed on Dec. 17, 2021 and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 17/661,726 entitled MODULAR INFLATABLE PLATFORM SYSTEM filed on May 2, 2022, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety for all purposes.
The present invention is directed to an inflatable and floatable modular platform system. The inflatable platform system of the present disclosure includes floating elements of differing shapes and sizes configured to be interconnected in order to allow users to stand, sit, and walk between floating elements.
Inflatable furniture and inflatable products, referred herein as inflatables, devised for outdoor recreation provide a buoyancy to keep users partially or entirely above the surface of the water on which they are deployed.
Traditional inflatables have been limited to spherical and cylindrical elements, including products such as rafts which relied upon adjoined cylindrical chambers which dictate the external form of the inflatable. Recent developments in technology, such as drop-stitch construction, enable the ability to manufacture inflatables in planar surfaces and other forms which do not rely upon cylindrically shaped chambers.
Inflatable furniture has traditionally been limited to individual units such as a raft, chair, or other unit, wherein the inflatable unit is used independently of other inflatable units. When multiple units are used in concert, maintaining proximity to other inflatable units to maintain a socially conducive distance is challenging. Thus, a need for a modular inflatable platform system of interconnectable inflatable units has been identified, wherein each unit is configured to be used as an individual unit, and can be alternatively used modularly when interconnected with other inflatable units to produce a configurable system.
It is an aspect of the present invention to provide a system of modularly interconnectable inflatable platforms wherein each inflatable platform is individually usable as a floating platform, or interconnectable with other inflatable platforms.
It is an aspect of certain embodiments of the present invention to provide a modular inflatable platform system comprising an inflatable platform wherein the inflatable platform comprises a recess for receiving a cooler, wherein the cooler is configured to keep beverages and other food items cool. The recess of the inflatable platform constrains the cooler therein to provide buoyancy and to prevent the tipping of the inflatable platform. Furthermore, placing the cooler within the recess allows the cooler to rest on a surface below the top surface of the inflatable platform resulting in a system having a lower center of gravity than a configuration of the cooler placed on the top surface of the inflatable platform.
It is an aspect of certain embodiments of the present invention to provide a modular inflatable platform system which comprises a first inflatable platform and a second inflatable platform, wherein the inflatable platforms are interconnectable to result in a system of inflatable platforms. The inflatable platforms each comprise at least one interconnection point located proximal to the perimeter of the inflatable platforms, or upon a top surface of the inflatable platform. In certain embodiments the inflatable platforms comprise interconnection points in the form of lashing points comprising a D-Ring, shackle, or other lashing points configured to receiving a tether therethrough for interconnection of the first inflatable platform and the second inflatable platform.
It is an aspect of certain embodiments of the present invention to provide at least one handle interconnected with a top surface of an inflatable platform. Alternate embodiments comprising handles interconnected with a side of an inflatable platform are within the spirit and scope of the present invention.
It is an aspect of certain embodiments of the present invention to provide inflatable platforms which are configured to be interconnected wherein the first inflatable platform and the second inflatable platform are constrained to prevent relative movement between the first inflatable platform and the second inflatable platform. In certain embodiments, the interconnection between the first inflatable platform and the second inflatable platform comprises at least one tensile element spanning between the first inflatable platform and the second inflatable platform. Certain embodiments employ at least two points of contact between a first inflatable platform and a second inflatable platform, wherein an external perimeter of a first inflatable platform is interconnected with an internal perimetral aspect of a second inflatable platform. As discussed herein, perimetral aspects such as a convex elements, and reflex angles are considered external perimetral aspects for the purposes of the present application. Furthermore, perimetral aspects such as concave elements, and internal angles are considered internal perimetral aspects for the purposes of the present application.
Certain embodiments of the present invention comprise a first inflatable platform comprising an external perimetral aspect, and a second inflatable platform comprising an internal perimetral aspect. The external perimetral aspect and the internal perimetral aspect are similarly shaped wherein the external perimetral aspect of the first inflatable platform is configured to be received by the internal perimetral aspect of the second inflatable platform, resulting in continuous contact between the first inflatable platform and the second inflatable platform.
It is an aspect of certain embodiments of the present invention to provide inflatable platforms which are configured to be interconnected wherein the first inflatable platform and the second inflatable platform are constrained to prevent relative movement between the first inflatable platform and the second inflatable platform. In certain embodiments the interconnection between the first inflatable platform and the second inflatable platform comprises two tensile elements spanning between the first inflatable platform and the second inflatable platform. For example, a first linear perimetral aspect of the first inflatable platform is abutted with a first linear perimetral aspect of the second inflatable platform, wherein each inflatable platform comprises a first lashing point and a second lashing point, wherein the lashing points of the inflatable platforms are configured to align with each other when the linear perimetral aspects of the inflatable platforms are abutted.
The interconnection of inflatable platforms resulting in the constraint of the inflatable platforms in relation to each other allows users to enjoy a modular inflatable platform system wherein users can lay, sit, or walk along and between the interconnected inflatable platforms. The interconnection of the inflatable platforms to each other results in a more stable inflatable platform system and allows for increased social interaction without the need for continual adjusting of inflatable platforms in relation to each other.
It is an aspect of certain embodiments of the present invention to secure and interconnect beverages and other personal items to the top surface of an inflatable platform using magnetic apparatus. Personal items include, but are not limited to: keys, cameras, pocket knives, or other items that have ferrous metal components that are desirably carried by outdoor sportspeople while engaged in fishing, paddling, boating, sailing, and other outdoor sports. Such technologies are disclosed by U.S. patent application Ser. No. 17/350,845 filed Jun. 17, 2021 to Cory Cooper (“the '845 application), and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 17/443,504 filed Jul. 27, 2021 to Cory Cooper (“the '504 application”)—each of which are incorporated by reference in their entirety for all purposes herein.
Certain embodiments comprise an inflatable platform comprising an inflatable bolster or backrest which is configured to assist a user in laying or sitting upon the top surface of the inflatable platform. In certain embodiments a bolster comprises a circular cross section inflatable device interconnected with a top surface allowing a user to lean against or rest their head upon the bolster. In certain embodiments a back rest comprises an inflatable panel hingedly interconnected to a top surface of the inflatable platform, thus allowing a user to configure the back rest between 0-degrees and 180-degrees from the top surface of the inflatable platform.
These and other advantages will be apparent from the disclosure of the inventions contained herein. The above-described embodiments, objectives, and configurations are neither complete nor exhaustive. As will be appreciated, other embodiments of the invention are possible using, alone or in combination, one or more of the features set forth above or described in detail below. Further, this Summary is neither intended nor should it be construed as being representative of the full extent and scope of the present invention. The present invention is set forth in various levels of detail in this Summary, as well as in the attached drawings and the detailed description below, and no limitation as to the scope of the present invention is intended to either the inclusion or non-inclusion of elements, components, etc. in this Summary. Additional aspects of the present invention will become more readily apparent from the detailed description, particularly when taken together with the drawings, and the claims provided herein.
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Certain embodiments of the present invention comprise a top surface 1010 and a bottom surface 1020 wherein the top surface 1010 and bottom surface 1020 are interconnected by a plurality of threads, typically polyester, wherein the plurality of threads maintain a thickness 1100 between the top surface 1010 and the bottom surface 1020. This interconnection between the top surface 1010 and the bottom surface 1002 is commonly referred to as drop-stitching. The volume contained between the top surface 1010 and the bottom surface 1020 comprises an air-tight chamber 1150 which is pressurized to inflate the chamber 1150. Alternate embodiments comprising alternate construction strategies known in the prior art are within the spirit and scope of the present invention.
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Certain embodiments comprise an inflatable platform 1000 having a magnetic connection apparatus 1400 configured to receive and interconnect with drinkware and other objects as disclosed in the '845 application and the '504 application. An inflatable platform of such embodiments comprises at least one magnetic connection apparatus interconnected with the top surface 1010 of the inflatable platform. Certain embodiments comprise an inflatable platform comprising a plurality of magnetic connection apparatus 1300 distributed about the top surface 1010 of the inflatable platform.
Certain embodiments of the present invention comprise an inflatable platform 1000 having a top surface 1010, a bottom surface 1020, and an inflatable chamber 1150 therebetween having a thickness 1100. The inflatable platform 1000 further comprises a recess 1500 offset from a perimeter 1050 of the inflatable platform. The recess 1500 of certain embodiments (
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Certain embodiments of the present invention comprise an arced inflatable platform 2000 having an arced internal perimetral aspect 2080, an arced external perimetral aspect 2070, and linear aspects 2090 extending therebetween. In certain embodiments, as shown, the linear aspects 2090 are orthogonal to the internal perimetral aspect 2080 and the external perimetral aspect 2070. The arced internal perimetral aspect 2080 is configured to interconnect with a circular inflatable platform 1000 (as shown in
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In certain embodiments the interconnection point 6600 comprises a hinged interconnection 6650 between the back-rest and the inflatable platform comprising a male feature 6660 and a female feature 6670, wherein the male feature 6660 is configured to be slidably received within the female feature 6670. In certain embodiments male feature 6660 and a female feature 6670 are elongated.
In certain embodiments, female feature 6670 comprises a hollow form and a longitudinal slot 6675 wherethrough a tensile member 6665 such as a flexible sheet material can be disposed, wherein the tensile member 6665 interconnects between the male feature 6660 of the hinged connection and the bottom aspect 6520 of the back-rest. Embodiments shown herein demonstrate the female feature 6670 interconnected with the top surface 4015 of the inflatable platform and the male feature 6660 interconnected with the back-rest 6500. However, embodiments wherein the back-rest 6500 is interconnected with the female feature 6670 and wherein the male feature 6660 is interconnected with the top surface 4015 of the inflatable platform are within the spirit and scope of the present invention. As shown, in certain embodiments the male feature 6660 comprises a round cross-section and the female feature comprises a round cross-section configured to receive the male feature. However, the male feature 6660 and the female feature 6670 are not limited to round cross-sectional profiles and alternate cross-sectional profiles, such as square, rectangular, or triangular, are within the spirit and scope of the present invention.
While various embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail, it is apparent that modifications and alterations of those embodiments will occur to those skilled in the art. However, it is to be expressly understood that such modifications and alterations are within the scope and spirit of the present invention. Further, the inventions described herein are capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or of being carried out in various ways. In addition, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology used herein is for the purposes of description and should not be regarded as limiting. The use of “including,” “comprising,” or “adding” and variations thereof herein are meant to encompass the items listed thereafter and equivalents thereof, as well as additional items.
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4662852 | Schneider | May 1987 | A |
6045423 | Silvia | Apr 2000 | A |
9144318 | Lagier | Sep 2015 | B1 |
11246422 | de Grasse | Feb 2022 | B2 |
11325684 | Bai | May 2022 | B2 |
11685480 | Cooper | Jun 2023 | B2 |
20210387700 | Bai | Dec 2021 | A1 |
20220089256 | Cannon | Mar 2022 | A1 |
20230278676 | Cooper | Sep 2023 | A1 |
20230284783 | Mason | Sep 2023 | A1 |
20230286619 | Blakeney | Sep 2023 | A1 |
Number | Date | Country | |
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20230192248 A1 | Jun 2023 | US |
Number | Date | Country | |
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Parent | 17661726 | May 2022 | US |
Child | 17664210 | US | |
Parent | 29790871 | Dec 2021 | US |
Child | 17664210 | US |