FLOATING LOUNGE WITH IMPROVED BACK SUPPORT

• US 20150289663A1
• Filed: 07/09/2014
• Published: 10/15/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 04/14/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Aqua-Leisure Recreation LLC
• Original Assignee: Aqua Leisure Industries Incorporated (Aqua-Leisure Industries)
• Inventors: Berenson, Steven M., Santaw, Peter, LeBlanc, Jeffrey J., Gould, Benjamin
• Granted Patent: US 9,486,083 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 1/143 Chaise lounges
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 1/146 of legless type
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 15/006 Floating seats floatable vessel furniture for life-saving B63C9/30
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 4/54 Inflatable chairs connection of valves to inflatable elastic bodies B60C29/00
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 7/00 Parts, details, or accessories of chairs or stools attaching to floor A47B91/08
• CPC Class Codes: B63B 34/52 Inflatable or partly inflatable

Abstract

According to one aspect, embodiments of the invention provide a recreational floatation device comprising a body portion comprising an inflatable member having a first inner perimeter surrounding a first inner area, a first support portion comprising a layer of material extending through the first inner area and attached to the inflatable member at its first inner perimeter to support a user of the device, a back support member located within said first inner area, a hinge mechanism coupled to the back support member and the first inner perimeter and configured to allow the back support member to rotate between a first position, wherein a substantial portion of the back support member extends generally away from the first inner area, and a second position, in which the back support member lies substantially within the first inner area.

Claims

1. A recreational floatation device comprising:

a body portion comprising an inflatable member having a first inner perimeter surrounding a first inner area;

a first support portion comprising a layer of material extending through the first inner area and attached to the inflatable member at its first inner perimeter to support a user of the device;

a back support member located within said first inner area; and

means for rotatably connecting said back support member to said inflatable member at its first inner perimeter so that said back support member may be moved between a first position, wherein a substantial portion of the back support member extends generally away from the first inner area, and a second position, in which the back support member lies substantially within the first inner area.

2. The recreational floatation device of claim 1, wherein the inflatable member further has a second inner perimeter surrounding a second inner area, and

wherein the recreational floatation device further comprises a second support portion comprising a layer of material extending through the second inner area and attached to the inflatable member at its second inner perimeter.

3. The recreational floatation device of claim 2, further comprising a removable support member configured to be inserted into the second inner area.

4. The recreational floatation device of claim 3, further comprising at least one cup holder located within at least one of the body portion and the removable support member.

5. The recreational floatation device of claim 1, wherein the layer of material of the first support portion is one of plastic and fabric.

6. The recreational floatation device of claim 1, wherein the back support member is inflatable.

7. The recreational floatation device of claim 1, wherein the body portion is shaped in a general “

figure 8”

configuration.

8. The recreational floatation device of claim 1, further comprising at least one handle coupled to the body portion.

9. A recreational floatation device comprising:

a body portion comprising an inflatable member having a first inner perimeter surrounding a first inner area;

a first support portion comprising a layer of material extending through the first inner area and attached to the inflatable member at its first inner perimeter to support a user of the device;

a back support member located within said first inner area; and

a hinge mechanism coupled to the back support member and the first inner perimeter and configured to allow the back support member to rotate between a first position, wherein a substantial portion of the back support member extends generally away from the first inner area, and a second position, in which the back support member lies substantially within the first inner area.

10. The recreational floatation device of claim 9, wherein the hinge mechanism comprises:

a male interlocking cylindrical member coupled to the back support member; and

a female interlocking cylindrical member coupled to the first inner perimeter of the inflatable member,

wherein the male interlocking cylindrical member is configured to be inserted into the female interlocking cylindrical member to rotatably couple the back support member to the first inner perimeter.

11. The recreational floatation device of claim 10, wherein the male interlocking cylindrical member comprises a circumferential rim extending outwardly from an outer edge of the male interlocking cylindrical member,

wherein the female interlocking cylindrical member comprises at least one circumferential ring extending from an inner side of the female interlocking cylindrical member, and

wherein when the male interlocking cylindrical member is inserted into the female interlocking cylindrical member, the rim of the male interlocking cylindrical member rests on the at least one circumferential ring of the female interlocking cylindrical member to prevent the male interlocking cylindrical member from being detached from the female interlocking cylindrical member.

12. The recreational floatation device of claim 10, wherein at least one of the male interlocking cylindrical member and the female interlocking cylindrical member is molded or machined.

13. The recreational floatation device of claim 9, wherein the inflatable member further has a second inner perimeter surrounding a second inner area, and

wherein the recreational floatation device further comprises a second support portion comprising a layer of material extending through the second inner area and attached to the inflatable member at its second inner perimeter.

14. The recreational floatation device of claim 13, further comprising a removable support member configured to be inserted into the second inner area.

15. The recreational floatation device of claim 14, further comprising at least one cup holder located within at least one of the body portion and the removable support member.

16. The recreational floatation device of claim 9, wherein the layer of material of the first support portion is one of plastic and fabric.

17. The recreational floatation device of claim 9, wherein the back support member is inflatable.

18. The recreational floatation device of claim 9, wherein the body portion is shaped in a general “

figure 8”

configuration.

19. The recreational floatation device of claim 9, further comprising at least one handle coupled to the body portion.

20. A method for providing a recreational floatation device, the method comprising:

providing a body portion comprising an inflatable member having an inner perimeter surrounding an inner area,

attaching a first support portion comprising a layer of material to the inner area of the inflatable member such that the first support portion extends through the inner area;

providing a back support member located within said first inner area; and

rotatably coupling the back support member to the inner perimeter with a hinge mechanism configured to allow the back support member to rotate between a first position, wherein a substantial portion of the back support member extends generally away from the first inner area, and a second position, in which the back support member lies substantially within the first inner area.