Rapid Drying Buoyant Cushion and Floatation Device

Abstract

A rapid drying inflatable cushion for floating on water includes an inflatable element surrounded by a covering. The covering includes a top side adapted for the user and a bottom side made from a mesh adapted to interface with the water. The covering includes a sidewall, the sidewall has a portion which includes an opening which may be opened or shut by a zipper to permit the inflatable element to be placed in or removed from the covering. The inflatable element has a air valve which would be proximal the closed position of the zipper to allow ease of inflation or deflation. The mesh permits any water or other material which may have infiltrated the covering to exit when removed from the water, permitting the rapid drying inflatable cushion to rapidly dry.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Beach and pool floatation devices to allow a user to float in the water are known in the art. Resorts employ cushions on the chairs which surround the pool. The current invention will allow such cushions to also be employed as floatation devices which are quick drying, retain an aesthetic shape and are easy to clean. Floating cushions may also be employed with boats, rafts, cabanas, or individually by a user in a body of water.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The Rapid Drying Buoyant Cushion and Floatation Device includes 2 main components.

The first component is an inflatable device which may be manufactured of any material which would retain air within, and includes an air valve for the air to enter or egress. The inflatable device would be inflated manually or by other inflation methods. Once inflated sufficiently, the air valve would be closed, sealing the air within. When it is desired to store the inflatable device, the valve is opened and the air is displaced from within, permitting the inflatable device to be deflated. The inflatable device includes a plurality of connected generally cylindrical chambers. The air valve permits air to fill each of the plurality of generally cylindrical chambers, and conversely permits the air to be evacuated for each of the plurality of generally cylindrical chambers. There are two orientations of the plurality of connected generally cylindrical chambers, and both are considered to be within the scope of the invention. The preferred orientation will be shown and described in the Figs.

The second component is a covering for the inflatable device. The covering has a top side (on which the user would lay upon and such), a bottom side (generally interfacing with the water), and a sidewall which connects the top side to the bottom side forming a generally rectangular element.

On one side of the sidewall which forms the long side of the rectangle, a zipper or other closure fastener is provided. The inflatable device would be placed inside the covering through the aperture formed by the open zipper (or other mechanism) and would be secured inside when the zipper is closed. The air valve of the inflatable device would be proximal the zipper when fully closed, permitting easy access to the air valve to permit the user to easily adjust the pressure of the inflatable device when it is located inside of the covering, by merely opening the zipper a few inches to gain access to the air valve. Other devices which may by used instead of a zipper include hook and loop fasteners, snap clips, buttons with associated buttonholes and the like.

The bottom side of the cover which is designed to lay atop the body of water is made from a polymeric mesh material. The sidewalls and top side of the cover are made from a polymeric non-mesh material. The non-mesh material may be water resistant, or may be non-permeable to water, UV resistant and of a sufficient thickness to provide support and prevent tearing. It would preferably be comprised of a material which would be comfortable to the skin of the user. The bottom of the covering of the inflatable device is comprised of a porous mesh material, permitting water to easily drain from the interior of the covering surrounding the inflatable device, allowing the interior and exterior of the Rapid Drying Buoyant Cushion and Floatation Device to rapidly dry when removed from a pool or other body of water. Further, when the water drains from the interior of the covering, it helps remove sand or other detritus from the invention. In addition, the cover may be easily removed and laundered, keeping a clean appearance. The combination of a rapid drying inflatable device with a easily washable outer covering also would help prevent the growth of mildew as well as the build up of unsightly detritus. Agents which may retard molds, algae, bacteria or mildew may be employed on both main components of the invention.

The bottom of the covering of the inflatable device would include handles over the mesh materials. Further, a tether is provided which is attached to one of the handles. The tether may include a securing clip on it's distal end to secure the floatation device to another object. The Rapid Drying Buoyant Cushion and Floatation Device may be referred to any of the following: floating cushion, floatation device, buoyant cushion, rapid drying buoyant cushion, rapid drying floating cushion or cushion. Other equivalent and or appropriately descriptive nomenclature may be used to describe the invention as a whole.

Both the polymeric mesh material or polymeric non-mesh material may comprise any polymeric material which has appropriate material properties to manufacture the floating cushion. The floating cushion may also be comprised of non-polymeric material or combinations of polymeric material and non-polymeric material; provided that such materials meet the material properties for the use of the invention.

Although the invention is designed mainly to be used for enjoyment close to shore, or close to the side of a lake, or on a placid stream or such, there may be times when these conditions are exceeded. It has been contemplated that the floatation device may be coated with a high visibility coating with reflective elements or the like, to increase the chances of locating the floating cushion for rescue. Such a rescue may be required if the floating cushion is pulled away from the shore, encounters rapids or for other reasons.

These and other features of the floating cushion will be described in the description of the figures and the claims which follow.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the Rapid Drying Buoyant Cushion and Floatation Device.

FIG. 2 is a view of the inflatable element which is adapted to reside inside the outer covering of the Rapid Drying Buoyant Cushion and Floatation Device.

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the Rapid Drying Buoyant Cushion and Floatation Device with the inflatable/deflatable element secured inside the outer covering.

FIG. 4 is bottom plan view of the Rapid Drying Buoyant Cushion and Floatation Device with the inflatable/deflatable element secured inside the outer covering, showing the mesh portion of the outer covering.

FIG. 5 is an environmental perspective view of the Rapid Drying Buoyant Cushion and Floatation Device tethered to a Cabana or Floating Lounge now patented by Mr. Harrison.

FIG. 6 is a view of the Rapid Drying Buoyant Cushion and Floatation Device being deflated and stored in a portable carrying device.

FIG. 7 show a comparative side by side view of a plurality of deflated Rapid Drying Buoyant Cushion and Floatation Devices to a single inflated Rapid Drying Buoyant Cushion and Floatation Device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1 shows the outer covering 12 of the rapid drying buoyant cushion and floatation device 10 with the inflatable device 20 inflated and secured inside the outer covering 12. The outer covering 12 is generally rectangular and has a top portion 15 on which the user would ordinarily recline or sit upon. The bottom portion 16 is ordinarily in contact with the water when in use (best seen in FIG. 5). The top portion 15 and the bottom portion 16 are connected to a plurality of sidewalls, a right sidewall 17, a left sidewall 14, a forward sidewall 13, and a rearward sidewall 11. The top portion 15 is connected to an upper perimeter formed by the top of the right sidewall 17, the top of the left sidewall 14, the top of the forward sidewall 13, and the top of the rearward sidewall 11. The bottom portion 16 is connected to a lower perimeter formed by the bottom of the right sidewall 17, the bottom of the left sidewall 14, the bottom of the forward sidewall 13, and the bottom of the rearward sidewall 11. These connections may be made by, but not limited to, heat welding, sonic welding, or sewn thread.

The bottom portion 16 of the outer covering 12 is comprised of a mesh or screen 30 causing the bottom portion 16 to be porous to water, other fluids, or other objects which can fit through the openings formed by the mesh 30. Although not shown in FIG. 1, the entire bottom portion 16 is encompassed of the mesh 30 which in turn is attached as described to the bottom perimeter of the four sidewalls.

The top portion 15, the right sidewall 17, the left sidewall 14, the forward sidewall 13, and the rearward sidewall 11 are comprised of a non-mesh material.

The right sidewall 17 includes a zipper 18 which when opened allows the inflatable device 20 (best seen in FIG. 2) to be placed inside the outer covering 10 and by closing the zipper secures the inflatable device 20 within.

The zipper 18 is employed as a closure fastener in FIG. 1, although any of a variety of closure fasteners may be employed, including, but not limited to, hook and loop fasteners, buttons with opposing button holes, or male-female snap fit devices. Additionally, it has been contemplated that the zipper 18 (or other closure fastener) may be located on any of the sidewalls, including the right sidewall 17, the left sidewall 14, the forward sidewall 13, and the rearward sidewall 11 and such a position of the zipper 18 is considered to be within the scope of the invention.

FIG. 1 additionally shows four generally identical handles 32 located proximal the four corners of the bottom portion 16 of the outer covering 12. Each end of the handles 32 is attached to a portion of the bottom of each of the adjacent sidewalls as shown, and a gap (not shown) is formed between each of the handles 32 and the mesh 30 of the bottom portion 16 of the outer covering 12. This gap would permit a hand, rope, tether or the like to be secured thereto or to pass there-through.

Again, although the mesh 30 is shown on just a portion of bottom portion 16, in this embodiment it extends over the entire bottom portion 16 of the outer covering 12.

Referring now to FIG. 2, the inflatable device 20 is shown in it's inflated state with air valve 25. The inflatable device 20 includes a plurality of generally cylindrical elements 28 which are interconnected to each other. This permits air to enter and egress from air valve 25 either inflating or deflating the entire inflatable device 20.

The inflatable device 20 would generally reside inside the outer covering 12. The air valve 25 would then be proximate the closed end 18A of the zipper 18. In order gain access to the air valve 25 of the inflatable device 20, one would just have to open the zipper 18 a short distance from it's closed position 18A. This would expose the air valve 25, and allow the inflatable device 20 to be inflated or deflated by any means. The air valve 25 may be placed anywhere on the inflatable device 20 to allow easy access if the zipper 18 or other closure device was located on a different sidewall then right sidewall 17.

The inflatable device 20 can be removed from the outer covering 12 if desired, especially to clean the interior of the outer covering 12 or the exterior of the inflatable device 20. Further, if the inflatable device 20 was punctured, it could be removed from the outer cover 12 and repaired by a bicycle tube repair kit or the like.

Referring specifically to FIG. 3, a top plan view of the rapid drying buoyant cushion and floatation device 10 with the inflatable/deflatable element 20 secured inside the outer covering 12. The top portion 15 is solid layer of an appropriate polymer or other material with appropriate material properties to be employed of such a floatation device 10. The top portion 15 is connected to the upper perimeter of the top of the right sidewall 17, the top of the left sidewall 14, the top of the forward sidewall 13, and the top of the rearward sidewall 11.

Referring specifically to FIG. 4, a bottom plan view of the rapid drying buoyant cushion and floatation device 10 with the inflatable/deflatable element 20 secured inside the outer covering 12. The bottom portion 16 is a layer of mesh or screen 30 of an appropriate polymer or other material with appropriate material properties to be employed of such a floatation device 10. The mesh or screen 30 covers generally the entire bottom element 16.

An embodiment of the invention where a small portion of the sidewalls come up and over the bottom portion 16 forming a lip of solid material about the inner perimeter of bottom portion 16 is considered to be within the scope of the invention. Such a lip may prevent tearing of the mesh along the bottom perimeter of the sidewalls.

Handles 32 may be placed on other locations on the floatation device 10, including any of the sidewalls or the top portion 15.

The bottom portion 16 is connected to the bottom perimeter of the bottom of the right sidewall 17, the bottom of the left sidewall 14, the bottom of the forward sidewall 13, and the bottom of the rearward sidewall 11.

Four generally identical handles 32 located proximal the four corners of the bottom portion 16 of the outer covering 12. Each end of the handles 32 is attached to a portion of the bottom of each of the adjacent sidewalls as shown, and a gap (not shown) is formed between each of the handles 32 and the mesh 30 of the bottom portion 16 of the outer covering 12.

A tether or line 34 is shown connected to one of the handles 32 by a proximal tether connection device 36. A distal tether connection device 38 is shown unconnected. The distal tether connection device could be connected to anything.

Referring now to FIG. 5, the rapid drying buoyant cushion and floatation device 10 is shown attached by tether 34 to a floating cabana 100.

The rapid drying buoyant cushion and floatation device 10 may be used out of water as well. In FIG. 5, a pair of the floatation devices 10 are shown secured atop the two parallel hull elements of the floating cabana 100 where they act as cushions for users of the cabana 100. The rapid drying buoyant cushion 10 may be used on the ground as a comfortable inflated cushion, or atop poolside or other type of reclining chair for sunbathing or the like.

Referring to FIG. 6, the rapid drying buoyant cushion and floatation device 10 is shown rolled up inside a portable carrying bag 110. The floatation device 10 rapidly dries when it leaves the water due to the mesh 30. This allows the floatation device to be deflated in a dry state, rolled up generally as shown, and placed in carrying bag 10 without concern for mildew or other damage that may be caused by long term exposure to water. If used in salt water, when the floatation device 10 is deflated, a fresh water hose may be sprayed through the bottom portion 16 through the mesh 30. In this manner any salt or other sea water minerals which may have left a residue on the interior of the covering 12 or the exterior of the inflatable device 20 would be removed.

Referring now to FIG. 7, a comparative side by side view of a plurality of deflated rapid drying buoyant cushion and floatation devices 10a to a single inflated rapid drying buoyant cushion and floatation device 10 is shown. In this example, a 5:1 ratio between deflated floatation devices 10a and a single inflated floatation devices 10 is shown. This is for example only, the ratio of heights of the deflated state to the inflated state could be different due to many factors.

To summarize, the invention is directed to a rapid drying inflatable cushion for floating in water which comprises a rectangular inflatable element, a rectangular covering, the rectangular covering having a top side and a bottom side, the top side and the bottom side connected by a sidewall, and the bottom side of the covering is comprised of a mesh, the sidewall having a first portion including an opening, the opening including a closure fastener thereon, the rectangular inflatable element disposed within the rectangular covering whereby the rectangular inflatable element may be inflated or deflated within the rectangular covering and the rectangular inflatable element may be further secured within the rectangular covering by closing the closure fastener whereby the user may float in a body of water when the inflatable element is in the inflated state and the mesh allows any water or other material which may have infiltrated the covering to exit, permitting the rapid drying inflatable cushion to rapidly dry, wherein the closure fastener includes a first end and a second end, the closure fastener opens from the first end to the second end, and the rectangular inflatable element includes an air valve, the air valve proximal to the closure fastener first end, and where the top side and the sidewalls are comprised of a sheet of non-mesh material, wherein the closure fastener is selected from the group consisting of zippers, hook and loop fasteners, snap fasteners or ZIPLOC® brand fasteners, (a registered trademark of S.C. Johnson & Son, Inc. Racine Wis.), and wherein the rectangular covering includes a plurality of handles on the bottom side, where the rapid drying inflatable cushion for floating in water includes a tether, the tether having a proximal side and a distal side, the tether proximal side includes a first connection element and the tether distal side includes a second connection element, where the first connection element connects to one of the plurality of handles, and the second connection element may be connected to another object, and where the rapid drying inflatable cushion may be attached atop a pool lounge chair or secured atop a hull element of a floating cabana.

Preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described above. Those skilled in the art will understand, however, that changes and modifications may be made in these embodiments without departing from the true scope and spirit of the present invention, which is defined by following claims.

Claims

1. A rapid drying inflatable cushion for floating in water comprising: a rectangular inflatable element,a rectangular covering;said rectangular covering having a top side and a bottom side,said top side and said bottom side connected by a sidewall, andsaid bottom side of said covering is comprised of a mesh,said sidewall having a first portion including an opening,said opening including a closure fastener thereon, said rectangular inflatable element disposed within said rectangular covering whereby said rectangular inflatable element may be inflated or deflated within said rectangular covering and said rectangular inflatable element may be further secured within said rectangular covering by closing said closure fastener whereby the user may float in a body of water when said inflatable element is in said inflated state and said mesh permits any water or other material which may have infiltrated said covering to exit, permitting said rapid drying inflatable cushion to rapidly dry.

2. A rapid drying inflatable cushion for floating in water as claimed in claim 1 wherein said closure fastener includes a first end and a second end, said closure fastener opens from said first end to said second end.

3. A rapid drying inflatable cushion for floating in water as claimed in claim 2 wherein said rectangular inflatable element includes an air valve, said air valve proximal to said closure fastener first end.

4. A rapid drying inflatable cushion for floating in water as claimed in claim 3 where said top side and said sidewalls are comprised of a sheet of non-mesh material.

5. A rapid drying inflatable cushion for floating in water as claimed in claim 4 wherein said closure fastener is selected from the group consisting of zippers, hook and loop fasteners, snap fasteners or ZIPLOC® fasteners.

6. A rapid drying inflatable cushion for floating in water as claimed in claim 5 wherein said rectangular covering includes a plurality of handles on said bottom side.

7. A rapid drying inflatable cushion for floating in water as claimed in claim 6 including a tether, said tether having a proximal side and a distal side, said tether proximal side includes a first connection element and said tether distal side includes a second connection element, where said first connection element connects to one of said plurality of handles, and said second connection element may be connected to another object.

8. A rapid drying inflatable cushion for floating in water as claimed in claim 7 where said rapid drying inflatable cushion may be attached atop a pool lounge chair.

9. A rapid drying inflatable cushion for floating in water as claimed in claim 8 where said rapid drying inflatable cushion may be secured atop a hull element of a floating cabana.

10. A rapid drying inflatable cushion for floating in water as claimed in claim 9 wherein when said rapid drying inflatable cushion is deflated, it may be placed in portable carrying device.