The present invention relates to so-called “noodles” used for support and play particularly in water.
Such “noodles” are elongated flexible tubes formed of closed-cellular foam plastic used for play in water, e.g. swimming pools. Because of the closed cellular foam construction, these “noodles” float and can be used for support in the water. In general, these “noodles” are formed of closed cell polyethylene terephthalate (PET) or polyethylene foam in tube shapes, commonly used as a toy in swimming pools and for types of water-oriented play. In general, these known “noodles” are tubular, i.e., they have an axial opening extending entirely therethrough, with the exterior being shaped in cross section as a circle, a star or a flower.
In accordance with the present invention, “noodles” of the type described above are modified in the present invention by adding “wiggly tails” to one or preferably each end of the noodle, thus providing a “noodle” capable of new play patterns and a water splashing effect at a relatively low cost.
With reference to
As indicated above, the noodle 10, by itself, may be conventional, i.e. in cross section it may take the form of a circle as shown in
The wiggly tails 12 are desirably tubes or strips formed of a soft extruded polymer such as soft PVC, polyurethane or silicone rubber and these wiggly tails 12 are highly flexible. When the wiggly tails are dipped or splashed in and out of water, they tend to capture small water droplets and create exciting rain splashing effects and patterns. Such wiggly tails 12 are desirably extruded in different colors (e.g. orange, pink, yellow, blue, purple, etc). The wiggly tails also may be of different lengths.
The stopper 14 is desirably removable, and may have screw threads 18 which serve to both lock the stopper 14 within the hollow end 16 of the noodle 10, and also permit is unscrewing therefrom. As illustrated, the stopper 14 is desirably at least slightly tapered to facilitate insertion into the open ends of the noodle 16. It will be understood that the maximum diameter of the stopper 14 is approximately the same as the diameter of the hollow center 16 of the noodle 10, but with the screw thread 18 being slightly greater than the diameter of the hollow center of the noodle 10, so that the screw thread can tap a receiving female screw thread into the interior wall of the hollow center 16 of the noodle, as the stopper 14 is screwed in.
The wiggly tails 12 are attached to the stopper 14, for example as shown in
The plug 14 is appropriately molded of a plastic, such as by rotational casting, injection molding or blow molding. The stopper plugs 14 are desirably of PVC or a similar plastic, or a soft semi-flexible material such as rubber or a polyurethane based polymer, but must be made sufficiently rigid so as to be able to screwed into and out of the ends of the noodle 10 without collapsing, and have sufficient rigidity to not collapse under pressure from the water. One particularly preferred form of the plug 14 is shown in
The two piece plug 14 as shown in
Although the stopper 14 could be eliminated by simply gluing the wiggly tails 12 within the hollow 16 of the noodle 10, the stopper plug 14 provides advantages. Thus, use of the stopper plug 14, desirably at both ends of the noodle 10, permits removal and replacement of the wiggly tails 12. The plug 14 also prevents water from entering the interior of the noodle 10. In addition, use of the plug 14 permits a more reliable attachment of the wiggly tails 12 to the ends of the noodle 10.
The foregoing description of the specific embodiments will so fully reveal the general nature of the invention that others can, by applying current knowledge, readily modify and/or adapt for various applications such specific embodiments without undue experimentation and without departing from the generic concept, and, therefore, such adaptations and modifications should and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalents of the disclosed embodiments. It is to be understood that the phraseology or terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation. The means, materials, and steps for carrying out various disclosed functions may take a variety of alternative forms without departing from the invention.
Thus the expressions “means to . . . ” and “means for . . . ”, or any method step language, as may be found in the specification above and/or in the claims below, followed by a functional statement, are intended to define and cover whatever structural, physical, chemical or electrical element or structure, or whatever method step, which may now or in the future exist which carries out the recited function, whether or not precisely equivalent to the embodiment or embodiments disclosed in the specification above, i.e., other means or steps for carrying out the same functions can be used; and it is intended that such expressions be given their broadest interpretation.
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Number | Date | Country | |
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20140323000 A1 | Oct 2014 | US |
Number | Date | Country | |
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61816362 | Apr 2013 | US |