Patent Grant
10618604
The disclosure relates to systems and methods for positioning a floatation device. In particular, the disclosure relates to a system and apparatus that facilitates a floatation device to maintain a desirable position or location.
Floatation devices are of many type and various use. Some floatation devices are designed to assist a non-swimmer to float, others are for the enjoyment of laying in the sun while floating, and others are to float objects. In all these situations, the floatation device may drift outside the desirable range of location. Current solutions require utilizing special floatation devices that are designed to work with specific location maintaining apparatus or system. Other current solutions, require the modification of the floatation device to comply with the requirements of such systems or apparatus.
Thus, there is a need for a system or apparatus for positioning variable types of floatation devices without the need to modify such a device.
Embodiments described herein relate to a positioning apparatus and system for keeping a floatation device from moving that includes at least one surface coupling apparatus to couple the positioning apparatus to a surface adjacent to a body of water, wherein the surface coupling apparatus locks into a flat surface securely, at least one non-slip floatation coupler to grasp to a floatation device, the non-slip flotation coupler grasps to any floatation device securely by gripping to any portion of the floatation device, and at least one extension line coupled to the surface coupling apparatus and the non-slip floatation coupler, the at least one extension line maintains drifting of the floatation device to unwanted location.
In another embodiment, described herein are embodiments relating to a positioning apparatus for keeping a floatation device from moving that includes at least one surface coupling apparatus to couple the positioning apparatus to a surface adjacent to a body of water, wherein the surface coupling apparatus locks into a flat surface securely, at least one body band coupler to grasp to a person utilizing the floatation device, wherein the body band coupler couples to any portion of a person's body; and at least one extension line coupled to the surface coupling apparatus and the body band coupler, wherein the at least one extension line maintains drifting of the floatation device to unwanted location.
Reference will now be made to the following drawings:
In the descriptions that follow, like parts are marked throughout the specification and drawings with the same numerals, respectively. The drawing figures are not necessarily drawn to scale and certain figures may be shown in exaggerated or generalized form in the interest of clarity and conciseness.
It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that aspects of the present disclosure may be illustrated and described herein in any of a number of patentable classes or context including any new and useful process, machine, manufacture, or composition of matter, or any new and useful improvement thereof.
Aspects of the present disclosure are described herein with reference to diagrams illustrations of apparatus or systems according to various embodiments of the disclosure. It will be understood that each diagram illustrations may be implemented by combining the illustration of various designs presented in the different figures. The figures are merely illustrative and are not intended to limit the various designs.
The positioning system 100 is utilized to keeping a floatation device from moving on a body of water, such as a pool. The surface coupling apparatus is designed to couple the positioning apparatus 100 to a surface adjacent to a body of water. The surface coupling apparatus 101 locks into a flat surface securely. In this embodiment, the surface coupling apparatus 101 further uses a locking mechanism 104 to lock the suction cup 102 even more securely. Various types of surface coupling apparatuses 101 may use different type of locking mechanism 104. In another embodiment, the positioning system 100 does not use a locking mechanism 104. The surface coupling apparatus 101 may be a suction cup, a vice clamp, and the like. The surface coupling apparatus 101 may include one or more of the following: a locking mechanism to lock the surface coupling apparatus in position and/or a retractable device to allow the extension line to change length, to be retracted and/or for safe keeping.
The non-slip floatation coupler 110 grasp to variable types of floatation devices. The non-slip flotation coupler 110 grasps to any floatation device securely by gripping to any portion of the floatation device. The extension line 106 coupled to the surface coupling apparatus 101 and the non-slip floatation coupler 108. The extension line 106 maintains drifting of the floatation device to unwanted location. In one embodiment, more than one surface coupling apparatus 101 is coupled with a coupling device, such as, a bar, a handle or the likes. In such an embodiment, the coupling apparatus may be coupled to the one or more extension line 106. The extension line 106 may be contained and/or extend from the coupling device, that couples the multiple surface coupling apparatus 101, an embodiment is shown in
The non-slip floatation coupler 108 may be any of the following: a clip with teeth to grasp to any flotation device, a clip with teeth to grasp to any flotation device and wherein the teeth do not deflate the floatation device, a body band, a suction cup, Velcro, a vice clamp and a non-slip surface to grasp to any floatation device and wherein the non-slip surface is in direct contact with the floatation device, and the like. In one embodiment, the surface coupling apparatus 101 and the non-slip floatation coupler 108 may be detachable and interchangeable to comprise at least one of teeth to grasp to any flotation device, teeth to grasp to any flotation device and wherein the teeth do not deflate the floatation device, a body band, a suction cup, Velcro, a vice clamp and a non-slip surface to grasp to any flotation device and wherein the non-slip surface is in direct contact with the floatation device.
In one embodiment, the positioning apparatus may include multiple surface coupling device 101, of different type, multiple extension lines 106 of different types, and/or multiple non-slip floatation coupler, of different types. For example, the flotation position apparatus may have two non-slip floatation couplers 108 coupled to two extension lines 106, respectively, each of the non-slip flotation coupler 108 grasps to a different portion of the flotation device. An example of such an embodiment is shown in
The extension line 106 may be one or more of the following: spring shape, plastic, rubber, metal, cord, cloth-line, water proof material, water resistant material, fabric, elastic, bungee-cord, rope, and the likes. In one embodiment, the extension line 106 wraps around the floatation device, wraps back and grasps to the surface coupling apparatus 101, the extension line 106 and/or adjacent to the flat surface, which will be described below in
In an embodiment that utilizes a body band coupler, the floatation device positioning apparatus and system 700 may couple to any portion of a person, rather than a floatation device. The body band coupler may couple to an ankle, a wrist, a finger, a waste, or the like. The floatation position apparatus 700 may utilize any number of body bands coupled to one or more extension lines 706.
In this embodiment, the weight sheet 808 is placed in contact with a floatation device 820. The weight sheet 808 may include a non-slip surface and/or may lay over or on the floatation device 820 utilizing its weight to secure itself to the flotation device 820. The weight sheet does not cause the raft to sink. In this embodiment only one weight sheet 808 is shown, however, any number of weight sheets 808 may be used. Thus, it is to be noted that any number of weight sheet 808 may be used in such an embodiment with various types and numbers of surface coupling apparatus 801 and/or various types and numbers of non-slip floatation couplers 808. For example, two weight sheets may be coupled to two extension lines. The weight sheet 808 may utilize a Velcro, a magnet and suction to maintain contact with the floatation device, may include a non-slip side and/or a towel side. In such embodiments, the flotation device is not altered in ordered to be coupled to the flotation position apparatus.
It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that changes could be made to the embodiments described above without departing from the broad inventive concept. It is understood, therefore, that this disclosure is not limited to the particular embodiments herein, but it is intended to cover modifications within the spirit and scope of the present disclosure as defined by the appended claims.
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| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20180127063 A1 | May 2018 | US |
