TECHNICAL FIELD
This disclosure relates to flotation devices, and more specifically, a recreational personal flotational device.
BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE
A pool noodle is typically in the form of an elongated linear piece of closed-cell foam material manufactured by extrusion methods. Pool noodles are popular ubiquitous pool toys used by people of all ages while swimming and recreating in the pool. Due to their buoyant properties, pool noodles are used for floating, for aquatic exercise, and in various forms of water play.
DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES
The accompanying drawings facilitate an understanding of the various embodiments.
FIGS. 1A-1C are various views of a first embodiment of a personal flotational device configuration according to the teachings of the present disclosure;
FIGS. 2A-2D are various views of a second embodiment of a personal flotational device configuration according to the teachings of the present disclosure;
FIGS. 3A and 3B are two views of an embodiment of a connector for connecting pool noodles according to the teachings of the present disclosure;
FIGS. 4A and B are two views of another embodiment of a connector for connecting pool noodles according to the teachings of the present disclosure; and
FIGS. 5A and 5B are illustrations of how the personal flotational device may be used according to the teachings of the present disclosure.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
The recreational personal flotational devices described herein are constructed of closed-cell foam that is buoyant in water. The terms closed-cell foam cylinder, foam cylinder, and pool noodle are interchangeably used herein to refer to elongated closed-cell foam cylinders and segments thereof.
FIGS. 1A-1C provide various views of a first embodiment of a personal flotational device 100 according to the teachings of the present disclosure. The personal flotational device 100 is constructed of two elongated closed-cell foam (i.e., pool noodle) cylinders 102 and 104 in a cross-configuration, where one is in perpendicular relationship to the other. In one embodiment of the personal flotational device 100, the two elongated pool noodle cylinders are connected and secured to one another at a location 106 by an adhesive or bonding agent, or by heat bonding. Alternatively, a connector 300, as shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B, may be used to connect two equal-length or different length pool noodles in the cross configuration. Connector 300 is described in more detail below. In an alternate embodiment, the elongated foam cylinders 102 and/or 104 may include an optional semi-rigid rod 108 embedded longitudinally therein that can be used to manipulate and maintain the shape of the foam cylinders. In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1A-1C, all four elongated members (102a, 102b, 104a, 104b) extending from a centrally located connecting point 106 are generally of the same length. In an alternate embodiment, the four elongated members extending from the connecting point 106 may have different lengths. For example, one elongated member may be shorter than the three remaining elongated members of generally equal length. In another embodiment, two elongated members may be of a shorter length than the length of the two remaining elongated members.
FIGS. 2A-2D provided various views of a second embodiment of a personal flotational device 200 according to the teachings of the present disclosure. The personal flotational device 200 is constructed of two elongated closed-cell foam (i.e., pool noodle) cylinders 202 and 204 in a T-shaped configuration, where one is in perpendicular relationship to the other. In one embodiment of the personal flotational device 200, the two elongated pool noodle cylinders 202 and 204 are connected and secured to one another at a connection location 206 by an adhesive or bonding agent, or by heat bonding. Alternatively, connector 300 shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B or connector 400 shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B may be used to connect two equal-length or different length pool noodles to form the T-shaped configuration. Connectors 300 and 400 are described in more detail below. In an alternate embodiment, the elongated foam cylinders 202 and/or 204 may include an optional semi-rigid rod 208 embedded longitudinally therein that can be used to manipulate and maintain the shape of the foam cylinders. The two elongated foam cylinders 202 and 204 may be of the same length, and the connecting point 206 may be located at a midpoint of the elongated foam cylinder 202 so that segments 202a and 202b are the same length. In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 2A-2D, the length of elongated foam cylinder 204 extending from the connecting point 206 is greater than the length of segments 202a and 202b extending from the connection point 206. In an alternate embodiment, the connection point 206 may be located along a point other than the midpoint of the elongated foam cylinder 202.
FIGS. 3A and 3B are two views of an embodiment of a connector 300 for connecting foam cylinders (a.k.a. pool noodles) according to the teachings of the present disclosure. The connector 300 includes two perpendicularly intersecting tubular openings or cylindrical tubes 302 and 304. Depending on the material, the two cylindrical tubes 302 and 304 may be bonded together via any suitable method, e.g., using adhesives such as epoxy, cyanoacrylate, or silicone; by heating the tubes until they melt and then allowing them to connect, cool and solidify; or via mechanical fasteners such as screws, bolts, or clamps. The connector 300 may be made of a durable and weather resistant material, such as rubber, silicone, polyvinyl chloride, polyethylene, or polypropylene, or materials having similar characteristics. The connector 300 may be rigid or flexible. The connector openings may be sized to allow a pool noodle to pass through, or to securely fasten to the ends of pool noodle segments. The connector 300 may be used to quickly and easily couple two pool noodles, one pool noodle and two pool noodle segments, or four pool noodle segments to form the cross-configuration of the personal flotational device 100 shown in FIGS. 1A-1C.
FIGS. 4A and 4B are two views of an embodiment of a connector 400 for connecting foam cylinders (a.k.a. pool noodles) according to the teachings of the present disclosure. The connector 400 includes two tubular openings or cylindrical tubes 402 and 404 joined in a T-shaped configuration. Depending on the material, the two cylindrical tubes 402 and 404 may be bonded together via any suitable method, e.g., using adhesives such as epoxy, cyanoacrylate, or silicone; by heating the tubes until they melt and then allowing them to connect, cool and solidify; or via mechanical fasteners such as screws, bolts, or clamps. The connector 400 may be made of a durable and weather resistant material, such as rubber, silicone, polyvinyl chloride, polyethylene, or polypropylene, or materials having similar characteristics. The connector 400 may be rigid or flexible. The connector openings may be sized to allow a pool noodle to pass through, or to securely fasten to the ends of pool noodle segments. The connector 400 may be used to quickly and easily couple two pool noodles, one pool noodle and one pool noodle segment, or three pool noodle segments to form the T-configuration of the personal flotational device 200 shown in FIGS. 2A-2D.
It should be noted that the tubular openings of the connector 300 or 400 have a diameter that enables pool noodles of conventional diameters to be inserted and held securely. The tubular openings are preferably made smaller than conventional pool noodles, so that the pool noodles may be press-fitted into the connector openings, creating a tight fit and a secure connection. In a preferred embodiment, the inner walls of the connector have a texture such as ridges or bumps that further ensure a secure grip of the pool noodles. Although the tubular openings of the connectors are shown to be circular in cross-section, they may have other suitable shapes.
The connectors 300 and 400 may be offered and sold together with the pool noodles already inserted and securely fastened. Alternatively, the connectors 300 and 400 may be offered and sold separately from pool noodles to allow the end users to construct the personal flotational devices 100 and 200 shown in FIGS. 1A-1C and FIGS. 2A-2D themselves. Alternatively, the connectors may be offered and sold with pool noodles of preferred lengths as a kit for the end user to construct their own personal flotational devices 100 and 200 shown in FIGS. 1A-1C and FIGS. 2A-2D.
FIGS. 5A and 5B show how the recreational personal flotational devices 100 and 200 described herein may be used. Although FIGS. 5A and 5B illustrate the use of the T-shaped personal flotational device 200, the personal flotational device 100 with the cross-shaped configuration can also be used in a similar manner. As shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B, a user may sit astride the foam cylinder 204 while the foam cylinder 202 encircles the torso of the user laterally under the user's arms. The connection point 206 of the two foam cylinders 202 and 204 may be positioned in front of or behind the user's torso. The weight of the user in water causes the foam cylinder 204 to bend in a U-shaped configuration around the user's body. In the embodiment that include the embedded semi-rigid rod in the foam cylinders, the user may also bend the semi-rigid rod 208 into a desired shape to conform around the user's body. The buoyancy of the foam cylinders 202 and 204 is sufficient to lift and maintain the user's head and upper torso above water. The recreational personal flotational devices 100 and 200 may be used in a pool, lake, ocean, or another body of water.
The pool noodle is typically made of a flexible, durable, buoyant material, such as closed-cell foam. The recreational personal flotational devices 100 and 200 may be constructed with the connectors 300 and 400 or by using conventional bonding methods. The connectors 300 and 400 provide a way to easily construct the flotational devices 100 and 200 without using any adhesive, bonding agent, tool, or heat source. Because pool noodles can be easily cut to a desired length, the user may use pool noodles of any length to customize the flotational device to their preferences.
The connectors may be used to connect the pool noodles in two ways. The pool noodles can be inserted and pulled through the tubular openings of the connectors, or the tubular lengths of the connectors may be of sufficient length that the ends of the pool noodles may be inserted and securely held by the tubular openings of the connectors. The user can insert one pool noodle into the first hollow tube of the connector 300 and push the pool noodle all the way in to ensure that the connector 300 is securely positioned in the center of the pool noodle. The user can then insert the second pool noodle all the way into the second hollow tube of the cross-shaped connector with the connector positioned in the center of the second pool noodle. The tubular openings of the connector 300 are sized to accommodate pool noodles of conventional diameters. The connector 400 may be used in a similar manner. A first pool noodle can be inserted all the way through the tubular opening of cylindrical tube 402, and one end of a second pool noodle can be inserted into the tubular opening of the cylindrical tube 404 and securely held thereby.
The user can also manipulate the pool noodles and connectors to create any desired shape. For example, a user can use multiple connectors and pool noodles of various lengths to create complex shapes. A user can repeat the process of inserting additional connectors into the ends of the pool noodles and adjust the positions of the connectors. Depending on the complexity of the shape, a user may need to bend, twist, or turn the pool noodles in different directions to create a desired shape. The connector may have openings that accommodate pool noodles of an identical diameter or with different diameters to achieve desired buoyant properties.
The connectors 300 and 400 provide a quick and secure connection to attach the pool noodles. Because the pool noodles can be easily cut by a serrated knife or another type of sharp edge, the connectors can also be used to create a variety of pool noodle structures, such as platforms or rafts. The tubular openings of the connectors provide multiple attachment points for other noodles or connectors, allowing for more complex shapes and designs.
The features of the present invention which are believed to be novel are set forth below with particularity in the appended claims. However, modifications, variations, and changes to the exemplary embodiments described above will be apparent to those skilled in the art, and the tree grubber implement described herein thus encompasses such modifications, variations, and changes and are not limited to the specific embodiments described herein.
Patent Application
20240300623
