Patent Application
20110117802
Not Applicable.
Not Applicable.
This invention relates to flotation platform devices, and more particularly to an improved flotation platform device having flotation compartments filled with a foam material to make the flotation platform device non-inflatable and light weight.
Scuba diving has become a popular entertaining, recreational and adventurous activity. Divers travel a great depth under water to take photographs and collect valuable commodities like pearls, or spear fish. Usually, in these hazardous conditions the divers carry scuba equipments such as snorkels, scuba cylinders, scuba masks for their safety. Various flotation platform devices have been developed for carrying the diving equipments and aiding the scuba divers.
One prior art taught in U.S. Pat. No. 4,238,864 issued to Kealoha on Dec. 16, 1980 discloses a diver's floater having a spherical float body with a circumferential groove thereabout in which a line for marking the position of the diver is stored. The float body includes a hole for storing diving equipments. The device provides an indication of water depth for the diver and an extra margin of safety during swimming. Such a device has a complex construction and hence the maintenance cost will be very high.
Another prior art taught in U.S. Pat. No. 4,815,761 issued to Henderson on Mar. 28, 1989 provides a device for assisting a diver to transport scuba tanks and other diving gear across a beach or land area. The device serves as an off-shore floating work platform and dive flag holder. The device includes a quadrilateral frame, a roller unit and a handler unit. Such a device has a cumbersome structure and cannot be used as a backpack.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,522,338 issued to Eilert on Jun. 4, 1996 provides a rigid-hull inflatable boat that includes an inflatable tube having a general U-shape with a forward end and trailing sides. A unitary molded hull is detachably secured to the underside of the inflatable tube by a mechanical locking device. A recessed channel provided in a concave surface of the hull forms a gutter for draining water from the interface between the hull and the tube. However, such a device includes an inflatable tube that requires extra maintenance of the air filled chamber in the inflatable tube. Moreover, the inflatable boat does not provide a storage compartment for the equipment used by a diver.
Therefore, there is a need for a flotation device that would be buoyant yet non-inflatable, easy-to-use and economical. Further, such a device would be used as a backpack. Such a needed device would have compartments for storing equipments used for diving. Moreover, such a device would have simple construction and light weight. The present invention accomplishes these objectives.
The present invention is a flotation platform device for support of scuba divers. The flotation platform device comprises a plurality of flotation compartments attached together to form an arch shaped structure terminating in a tapered prow and connected to a pair of parallel flotation compartments terminating at an opposite end from the tapered prow, at least one sleeve affixed to a lower edge of a bottom portion of the pair of parallel flotation compartments and extending towards the tapered prow, at least one sheet attached to a top portion of an inner peripheral edge of the flotation platform device and at least one fastening means. The plurality of flotation compartments and the pair of parallel flotation compartments are sewn together and filled with a foam material to make the flotation platform device non-inflatable and light weight. The at least one sleeve is designed to form a base of the flotation platform device. The at least one sleeve is adaptable to receive at least one hull for providing additional strength and support to the flotation platform device. The at least one sheet along with the base defines to form a bag for holding at least one equipment used for diving.
The plurality of flotation compartments and the pair of parallel flotation compartments include a plurality of handle grips attached onto an outer side thereof. The at least one fastening means is designed to connect with at least one detachable strap thereby allowing the flotation platform device to use as a backpack.
The plurality of flotation compartments 12 and the pair of parallel flotation compartments 18 may be made of nylon fabric. The at least one sleeve 22 is designed to form a base 34 of the flotation platform device 10. The sleeve 22 may be closed by at least one securing means 36 such as Velcro®, button or the like. The at least one sheet 26 along with the base 34 defines to form a bag 38. The at least one sheet 26 includes at least one pocket 40. The plurality of flotation compartments 12 and the pair of parallel flotation compartments 18 include a plurality of handle grips 42 attached onto an outer side 44 thereof. The plurality of handle grips 42 may be made of nylon fabric and provide more comfortable and convenient transportation of the flotation platform device 10. The pair of parallel flotation compartments 18 includes at least one opening 46 for receiving the foam material 32. The at least one opening 46 of the pair of parallel flotation compartments 18 may be closed by at least one closure means 48 such as drawstring closure, Velcro®, button or the like. The at least one fastening means 30 is designed to connect with at least one detachable strap 50 thereby allowing the flotation platform device 10 to use as a backpack.
Referring to
With reference to
While a particular form of the invention has been illustrated and described, it will be apparent that various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, it is not intended that the invention be limited, except as by the appended claims.
