Collapsible flotation device

• US 7,097,524 B2
• Filed: 11/18/2002
• Issued: 08/29/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 10/10/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Spin Master Incorporated (Spin Master Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Kelsyus LLC (Spin Master Corp.)
• Inventors: Arias, David
• Primary Examiner(s): Wright, Andrew D.
• Application Number:
  US10/295,906
• Publication Number:
  US 20030068940A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,380 Days
• Field of Search: 446 46- 48, 446/153, 446/220, 446/487, 114/345, 441/40, 441/43, 441/80, 441/81, 441/125, 441/129, 441/130, 441/131, 441/136, 472/129
• US Class Current: 441/131
• CPC Class Codes: B63B 35/607 having a platform or floor below the level of the buoyancy means, e.g. suspended basket type
• CPC Class Codes: B63B 7/08 Inflatable inflatable water sports boards B63B32/51; inflatable canoes, kayaks or the like being inflatable or having inflatable parts B63B34/22
• CPC Class Codes: B63C 2009/042 inflatable
• CPC Class Codes: B63C 9/04 Life-rafts
• CPC Class Codes: B63C 9/08 Life-buoys, e.g. rings; Life-belts, jackets, suits, or the like non-sinkable swimsuits, drawers or trunks A41D7/001 ; equipment for swimming A63B, e.g. swimming aids other than life-buoys or life-belts A63B31/00, teaching frames for swimming, swimming boards A63B69/14
• CPC Class Codes: B63C 9/081 having compartments comprising elements which are filled with gas by deployment, e.g. sponge-like elements
• CPC Class Codes: B63C 9/082 Annular or U-shaped life-buoys intended to be thrown to persons
• CPC Class Codes: B63C 9/1055 inflatable

Abstract

A device comprises a spring and a sleeve. The spring is configured to form a closed loop. The spring is moveable between a coiled configuration when the spring is collapsed and an uncoiled configuration when the spring is expanded. The spring defines a circumference while in the uncoiled configuration. The spring is disposed within the sleeve. The sleeve includes an inflatable portion disposed about at least a portion of the circumference.

Claims

1. A device, comprising:

a spring configured to form a closed loop, the spring being moveable between a coiled configuration when the spring is collapsed and an uncoiled configuration when the spring is expanded, the spring defining an interior area within at least a portion of the closed loop when the spring is in the uncoiled configuration;

a membrane disposed within the interior area; and

an inflatable bladder being coupled to and disposed circumferentially about at least a portion of the spring, the device being configured to support a body weight of a user.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the portion of the spring is disposed within the inflatable bladder.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the spring is disposed outside of and proximate to the inflatable bladder.

4. The device of claim 1, the membrane is a first membrane, the device further comprising:

a second membrane folded over the spring and configured to retain the spring; and

a sleeve within which the inflatable bladder is disposed.

5. The device of claim 1, the inflatable bladder being a first inflatable bladder, further comprising:

a pillow section configured to encapsulate a second inflatable bladder, the pillow section being coupled to the membrane.

27. The device of claim 1, wherein the device is further configured such that a head of the user is prevented from sinking below a remaining portion of the user.

6. A device, comprising:

a spring configured to form a closed loop, the spring being moveable between a coiled configuration when the spring is collapsed and an uncoiled configuration when the spring is expanded, the spring defining a circumference while in the uncoiled configuration; and

a sleeve within which the spring is disposed, the sleeve including an inflatable portion disposed about at least a portion of the circumference, the device being configured to support a body weight of a user.

7. The device of claim 6, wherein the spring is disposed within the inflatable portion of the sleeve.

8. The device of claim 6, wherein the spring is disposed outside of and proximate to the inflatable portion of the sleeve.

9. The device of claim 6, further comprising:

a panel, the sleeve defining an interior area within at least a portion of the closed loop when the spring is in the uncoiled configuration, the panel being disposed within the interior area.

10. The device of claim 6, further comprising:

a pillow section configured to encapsulate an inflatable bladder, the pillow section being coupled to the sleeve.

11. A device, comprising:

a spring configured to form a closed loop, the spring being moveable between a coiled configuration when the spring is collapsed and an uncoiled configuration when the spring is expanded, the spring defining a circumference when the spring is in the uncoiled configuration; and

a plurality of inflatable bladders being coupled to and disposed about at least a portion of the circumference, the device being configured to support a body weight of a user.

12. The device of claim 11, wherein:

the plurality of inflatable bladders includes a first inflatable bladder and a second inflatable bladder, the first inflatable bladder being disposed within a sleeve, the second inflatable bladder being disposed within a pillow section.

13. The device of claim 11, further comprising:

a sleeve within which the spring and at least a portion of the plurality of inflatable bladders are disposed.

14. The device of claim 11, further comprising:

a membrane folded over and configured to retain at least a portion of the spring; and

a sleeve within which the plurality of inflatable bladders are disposed.

15. The device of claim 11, further comprising:

a membrane folded over and retaining at least a portion of the spring, the membrane having a first end and a second end; and

a sleeve within which the plurality of inflatable bladders is disposed, the first end of the membrane and the second end of the membrane being coupled to the sleeve.

16. A device, comprising:

a spring being moveable between a coiled configuration when the spring is collapsed and an uncoiled configuration when the spring is expanded, the spring defining a circumference while in the uncoiled configuration, the circumference including a first circumference portion and a second circumference portion different from the first circumference portion;

a first set of inflatable bladders disposed about the first circumference portion, the first set of inflatable bladders having at least one inflatable bladder; and

a second set of inflatable bladders disposed about the second circumference portion, the second set of inflatable bladders having at least one inflatable bladder, the device being configured to support a body weight of a user.

17. The device of claim 16, further comprising:

a sleeve, the spring being disposed within the sleeve; and

a pillow section, at least one of the inflatable bladders of the second set of inflatable bladders being encapsulated within the pillow section.

18. The device of claim 16, further comprising:

a sleeve, the first set of inflatable bladders being disposed within the sleeve, the spring being disposed within the sleeve and outside of the first set of inflatable bladders.

19. The device of claim 16, further comprising:

a sleeve, the first set of inflatable bladders and the second set of inflatable bladders being disposed within the sleeve.

20. The device of claim 16, further comprising:

a sleeve, the first set of inflatable bladders being disposed within the sleeve; and

a membrane, the spring being coupled to the sleeve by the membrane.

21. A collapsible device, comprising:

a panel including an inner portion and an outer portion;

a spring disposed about the outer portion of the panel, the spring being movable between a coiled configuration and an uncoiled configuration;

a support member traversing the panel, the support member including a first end and a second end coupled respectively to a first location and a second location of the outer portion of the panel, the inner portion of the panel being disposed proximate to the support member; and

an inflatable bladder disposed about at least a part of the outer portion of the panel and coupled to the support member, the inflatable bladder being configured to buoyantly support a body weight of a user disposed on the panel.

22. The collapsible device of claim 21, further comprising:

a sleeve disposed about the outer portion of the panel, the spring being disposed within the sleeve.

23. The collapsible device of claim 21, wherein the inner portion includes a water-permeable material.

24. The collapsible device of claim 23, wherein the water-permeable material is a mesh material.

25. The collapsible device of claim 21, wherein the inflatable bladder is a first inflatable bladder from a plurality of inflatable bladders.

26. The collapsible device of claim 25, wherein the plurality of inflatable bladders includes a second inflatable bladder coupled along at least a portion of the support member.

28. A device, comprising:

a spring configured to form a closed loop, the spring being moveable between a coiled configuration when the spring is collapsed and an uncoiled configuration when the spring is expanded, the spring defining an interior area within at least a portion of the closed loop when the spring is in the uncoiled configuration;

a membrane disposed within the interior area;

a plurality of inflatable bladders being coupled to and disposed circumferentially about at least a portion of the spring; and

a sleeve, the plurality of inflatable bladders being disposed within the sleeve.

29. The device of claim 28, further comprising:

a pillow section encapsulating at least one bladder from the plurality of inflatable bladders, the spring being disposed within the sleeve.

30. The device of claim 28, wherein the spring being disposed within the sleeve and outside of the first set of inflatable bladders.

31. The device of claim 28, wherein:

the spring is coupled to the sleeve by the membrane.

32. A device, comprising:

a spring configured to form a closed loop, the spring being moveable between a coiled configuration when the spring is collapsed and an uncoiled configuration when the spring is expanded, the spring defining an interior area within at least a portion of the closed loop when the spring is in the uncoiled configuration;

a membrane disposed within the interior area, the membrane being configured to allow water to flow therethrough; and

an inflatable bladder being coupled to and disposed circumferentially about at least a portion of the spring, the device being configured such that a head of a user is buoyantly supported above a remaining portion of the user.

33. The device of claim 32, wherein the membrane is a mesh material.

34. The device of claim 32, wherein the portion of the spring is disposed within the inflatable bladder.

35. The device of claim 32, wherein the spring is disposed outside of and proximate to inflatable bladder.

36. The device of claim 32, the membrane is a first membrane, the device further comprising:

a second membrane folded over the spring and configured to retain the spring; and

a sleeve within which the inflatable bladder is disposed.

37. The device of claim 32, the inflatable bladder being a first inflatable bladder, further comprising:

a pillow section configured to encapsulate a second inflatable bladder, the pillow section being coupled to the membrane.