Patent Application
20200261311
This disclosure relates generally to a therapeutic pool floatation device and to a therapeutic method of use thereof.
A pool noodle is a flotation device usable in water, typically a pool. A pool noodle is typically formed of extruded foam, such as a polyethylene, polypropylene, or polyurethane foam. The extruded foam is cut to length, typically about 63 inches long and has a usual diameter of about 3 inches. A pool noodle often has a hollow bore extending through the center thereof. A pool noodle is highly buoyant and is often used for support by a swimmer in a pool. However, the size and shape of a single pool noodle makes it difficult to use in a pool when the user is at rest, even when considering its flexibility.
Relaxation therapies are typically done in salt water pools, with Epsom salt added to the water to allow a body to float at the surface of the pool without any aid or swimming action. Such relaxation therapies are done in specialized pools because of the large amount of Epsom salt required to make a body buoyant. A flotation tank that holds 200 gallons of water requires 850 pounds of Epsom salt for buoyancy. A 12 foot by 24 foot in ground swimming pool with an average depth of 5 feet will hold about 10,500 gallons of water—over 50 times as much as the flotation tank. The need for about 42,250 pounds of Epsom salt (50 times 850) to create buoyance makes it impractical to add the required amounts of Epsom salt to a conventional (indoor or outdoor) swimming pool. As a result, the owner or user of such pools are precluded from practicing such relaxation therapies in a swimming pool.
Accordingly, there is a need for an improved floatation device that allows one to practice relaxation therapies in a conventional swimming pool.
In a first aspect, a therapeutic flotation device has a plurality of buoyant float elements and a member having a first end and a second end. The member couples each of the buoyant float elements such that the buoyant float elements are serially aligned along the member. The first end of the member is secured to the second end of the member.
In a further embodiment, a mating mechanism may secure the first end of the member to the second end of the member. The member may be an elongated web strap. The mating mechanism may be a buckle. The first end of the member may be permanently secured to the second end of the member using an adhesive. Alternatively, the first end of the member may be permanently secured to the second end of the member by sewing the first end of the member to the second end of the member. Each of the buoyant float elements may have a center aperture aligned along the center of a cross-section thereof. The member may be coupled to each of the buoyant float elements by being sequentially passed through the center apertures of each buoyant float element. The buoyant float elements may have a cross-section that is one of circular, triangular, rectangular, star-shaped, crescent-shaped, oval, and tear drop-shape. The center aperture may be aligned along a midpoint of the cross-section. The member may alternatively be coupled to each of the buoyant float elements by being secured to an exterior surface of each of the buoyant float elements.
In a second aspect, a method of providing a therapeutic flotation experience to a user of a flotation device is disclosed. The flotation device has a plurality of buoyant float elements, and a member having a first end and a second end. The member couples each of the buoyant float elements such that the buoyant float elements are serially aligned along the member. The first end of the member is secured to the second end of the member. The method comprises the steps of positioning the flotation device in a body of water and floating on the flotation device in the body of water.
The features, functions, and advantages that have been discussed can be achieved independently in various embodiments or may be combined in yet other embodiments, further details of which can be seen with reference to the following description and drawings.
The following detailed description, given by way of example and not intended to limit the present disclosure solely thereto, will best be understood in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:
In the present disclosure, like reference numbers refer to like elements throughout the drawings, which illustrate various exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure.
The present disclosure describes a flotation device for use in relaxation therapies such as flotation therapy and sensory deprivation therapy, among others. In particular, referring now to
In addition, while float elements 110 shown identically sized and shaped in
Flotation device 100 provides many ways to allow a person to float in water. For example, as shown in
As shown in
In one embodiment, a user can use flotation device 110 for relaxation, meditation, sensory deprivation, or other floating use in a conventional swimming pool—essentially simulating a near-zero gravity environment. In particular, the present disclosure describes a method of providing a therapeutic flotation experience to a user of a flotation device. The flotation device has a plurality of buoyant float element. The device also has a member having a first end and a second end. The member couples each of the buoyant float elements such that the buoyant float elements are serially aligned along the member. The first end of the member is secured to the second end of the member. The method comprises the steps of positioning the flotation device in a body of water (such as a swimming pool) and floating on the flotation device in the body of water.
The water in the swimming pool may be heated to enhance the relaxation experience. After a period of time, the user may begin to feel weightless as if floating through space and a general stillness—allowing stresses and worries to lessen. After a session with flotation device 110, a user's physical body may feel light and energized, and prior pain may slowly fade as an inner peace grows. Flotation therapy with flotation device 110 may provide: diminished physical pain; accelerated healing; spinal decompression; stress relief; mental relaxation; enhanced creativity and learning; help with depression and anxiety; strengthened immune system; more restful; increased energy; enhanced mental focus; anger management; and deep meditation. Also, flotation therapy with flotation device 110 may be used to help treat or relieve symptoms of: arthritis, back pain, premenstrual tension, postpartum depression, asthma, migraine headaches, multiple sclerosis, cardiovascular conditions, osteoporosis, synovitis, and fibromyalgia. The use flotation device 110 may leave a user feeling disconnected and isolated from the normal world of perception. This experience can be very relaxing and therapeutic for the mind and presents a perfect meditation environment with the lack of any mental stimulus.
Although the present disclosure has been particularly shown and described with reference to the preferred embodiments and various aspects thereof, it will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art that various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure. It is intended that the appended claims be interpreted as including the embodiments described herein, the alternatives mentioned above, and all equivalents thereto.
