Patent Application
20210078680
Not Applicable
Not Applicable
Not Applicable
Not Applicable
The disclosure and prior art relate to flotation assemblies and more particularly pertain to a new flotation assembly for selective creation of a raft.
An embodiment of the disclosure meets the needs presented above by generally comprising a plurality of shells. Each of a plurality of couplers is coupled to a respective shell so that the shells of the plurality of shells are selectively interconnectable in a substantially planar configuration. The plurality of shells thus interconnected is configured to function selectively a raft and a portable dock.
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.
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:
With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to
As best illustrated in
The first end 14 and the second end 16 may be separated by from 1.22 to 3.66 meters, while the first side 18 and the second side 20 may be separated by from 0.61 to 1.83 meters. The first end 14 and the second end 16 may be separated by from 1.83 to 3.05 meters, while the first side 18 and the second side 20 may be separated by from 0.91 to 1.52 meters. The first end 14 and the second end 16 are separated by 2.44 meters, while the first side 18 and the second side 20 are separated by 1.22 meters.
The shell 12 may comprise plastic, or other material, such as, but not limited to, fiberglass, and carbon-kevlar. The shell 12 may comprise at least one of rotomolded polyethylene, thermoformed plastic, blow molded polyethylene, and polyvinyl chloride.
Each of a plurality of sets of ribs 22 is coupled to a bottom 24 of a respective shell 12, as shown in
Each of a plurality of panels 26 is coupled to a top 28 of a respective shell 12, as shown in
Each of a plurality of couplers 30 is coupled to a respective shell 12 so that the shells 12 of the plurality of shells 12 are selectively interconnectable in a substantially planar configuration. The plurality of shells 12 thus is configured to function selectively a raft 32, as shown in
The plurality of couplers 30 comprises a plurality of first connectors 34 and a plurality of second connectors 36. The first connectors 34 are coupled two-apiece to the first side 18 and singly to the first end 14 of each shell 12. The second connectors 36 are coupled two-apiece to the second side 20 and singly to the second end 16 of each shell 12. The second connectors 36 are complementary to the first connectors 34. The second connectors 36 that are positioned on the second side 20 of one of the shells 12 are positioned to selectively couple singly to respective first connectors 34 that are positioned on the first side 18 of another of the shells 12 to interconnect the shells 12 in a side to side configuration, as shown in
Each second connector 36 comprises a void 38 and a pair of slats 40, as shown in
Each first connector 34 comprises a plate 56 and a rod 58. The plate 56 is coupled to and extends perpendicularly from a respective shell 12. The rod 58 is coupled longitudinally to the plate 56 distal from the respective shell 12. The rod 58 is positioned to be inserted into a respective opening 52, positioning the plate 56 to slide into the slot 46 to interconnect a pair of shells 12.
Each of a plurality of plugs 60 is positioned in a respective shell 12. The plug 60 is configured to be removed to to drain the respective shell 12.
Each of a plurality of recesses 62 extends into the top 28 of a respective shell 12, as shown in
In use, a number of the shells 12 suited for use in a desired situation are interconnected. To interconnect shells 12 in the side to side configuration, the two rods 58 that are positioned on the first side 18 of one shell 12 are inserted singly into the two openings 52 that are positioned on the second side 20 of another shell 12. The shells 12 are then slid relative to each other so that the plates 56 slide into the slots 46 to interconnect the shells 12. To interconnect shells 12 in the head to tail configuration, the rod 58 that is positioned on the first end 14 of one shell 12 is inserted into the opening 52 that is positioned on the second end 16 of another shell 12. The shells 12 are then slid relative to each other so that the plate 56 slides into the slot 46 to interconnect the shells 12.
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 elements is present, unless the context clearly requires that there be only one of the elements.
