Head and neck floating support device

• US 10,307,645 B2
• Filed: 10/11/2011
• Issued: 06/04/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 10/21/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Debra Ehrlich May, Joanne Drew Zucchelli
• Original Assignee: Debra Ehrlich May, Joanne Drew Zucchelli
• Inventors: Zucchelli, Joanne Drew, May, Debra Ehrlich
• Primary Examiner(s): Polay, Andrew
• Application Number:
  US13/270,620
• Publication Number:
  US 20120100768A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,793 Days
• Field of Search: 441123, 5636, 5637
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 7/383 Detachable or loose head- or neck-supports, e.g. horse-shoe shaped
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2208/03 the user being in water
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 31/00 Swimming aids teaching swimming A63B69/10 - A63B69/14; life-saving in water , e.g. life-buoys, life-belts, B63C9/00
• CPC Class Codes: B63C 2009/133 specially adapted for being attachable to the user's head or neck, e.g. like a cap or collar

Abstract

A water floating device that offers support for the head or neck of a user when swimming or practicing water exercises. The floating support device includes a unitary piece body made of a floating and waterproof material. The unitary piece body has a U-shape including a curved central section having a first leg on a first end and a second leg on a second end. The first leg and the second leg project from the curved central section. The first leg and the second leg angle inwardly to one another.

Claims

1. A floating support device comprising:

a unitary piece body having a solid core and made of a floating and waterproof material;

wherein the unitary piece body has a U-shape including a curved central section having a first leg on a first end and a second leg on a second end, and a hole formed between the first leg and the second leg and configured to receive the neck of the user;

wherein the first leg and the second leg project from the curved central section;

wherein the first leg and the second leg angle inwardly to one another forming an acute angle, the angle of the first and second legs being operable to grip the neck of the user within the hole formed between the first leg and the second leg, and

wherein the unitary piece body has a flat top face and a flat bottom face, the flat top face being smooth and the flat bottom face being textured, the texture having semi-spherical peaks and valleys, and at least one wall disposed vertically between the flat top face and flat bottom face forming a substantially rectangular cross section, wherein the curved central section is operable to surround the neck of a user such that a head of the user rests on the smooth flat top face a distance above a surface of the water.

2. The floating support device according to claim 1, wherein the unitary piece body is made of rubber, plastic, foam, polyethylene foam, closed cell foam, recycled foam, vinyl covered foam, polymer, resin, or composite material.

3. The floating support device according to claim 1, further comprising a coating layer applied to the unitary piece body.

4. The floating support device according to claim 1, further comprising a cover placed over the unitary piece body.

5. The floating support device according to claim 4, further comprising a pocket secured to the cover.

6. The floating support device according to claim 1, further comprising a connection device attached to the unitary piece body.

7. The floating support device according to claim 3, wherein the coating layer is poly vinyl.

8. The floating support device according to claim 3, wherein curved central section includes an inner section and an outer section, wherein the outer section has a shape selected from geometrical shape, heart shape, flower shape, animal shape, fish shape, dolphin shape, or holiday motifs.