Collapsible flotation device having back support

• US 8,066,540 B2
• Filed: 05/27/2010
• Issued: 11/29/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 02/21/2003
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Spin Master Incorporated (Spin Master Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Kelsyus LLC (Spin Master Corp.)
• Inventors: Reeb, David, Wilson, Ronald L. II, Le Gette, Brian Edward, Werner, Justin Saul, Alesina, Inna, Tipp, Alan
• Primary Examiner(s): Venne; Daniel V
• Application Number:
  US12/788,473
• Publication Number:
  US 20100233924A1
• Time in Patent Office: 551 Days
• Field of Search: 441129-132, 297/188.14, 297/452.41, 297/DIG.3, 472/129
• US Class Current: 441/130
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 15/006 Floating seats floatable vessel furniture for life-saving B63C9/30
• CPC Class Codes: B63B 2029/043 Seats; Arrangements thereof on vessels
• 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

Abstract

A collapsible flotation device is provided that uses a coilable spring coupled to a panel to collapse the device when the spring is coiled, and to expand the device when the spring is uncoiled configuration. The spring can be contained within a sleeve along the outer portion of the panel. A support member that traverses the panel is provided. An inflatable bladder disposed about a part of the outer portion of the panel and coupled to the support member buoyantly supports a body weight of a user. The combination of the inflatable bladder and the support member provide support for a user in a seated position on the panel. Many configurations are disclosed, including a multi-user collapsible flotation device, multiple connected single-user flotation devices, and so forth. A back support member and a headrest, both of which can be inflatable, provide additional support for a user to maintain a seated position on the panel. A foot support member is provided for the comfort of the user.

Claims

1. An apparatus, comprising:

a panel including an inner portion and an outer portion disposed about at least a portion of the inner portion of the panel, the inner portion of the panel having a first edge and a second edge on an opposite side of the inner portion of the panel from the first edge, a distance between the first edge of the inner portion of the panel and the second edge of the inner portion of the panel defining a width of the inner portion of the panel, the inner portion of the panel being formed with a first flexible material, the outer portion of the panel being formed with a second flexible material different than the first flexible material;

a back support member coupled to at least part of the inner portion of the panel; and

a buoyant member disposed about at least a portion of the outer portion of the panel, the buoyant member having a first portion and a second portion, the first portion of the buoyant member and the second portion of the buoyant member being disposed at opposite locations of the inner portion of the panel, the inner portion of the panel extending continuously between the first portion of the buoyant member and the second portion of the buoyant member without an intervening buoyant member,

the buoyant member having an outermost width that substantially defines an outermost width of the apparatus, the apparatus being configured to support a user in a seated position.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

at least a portion of the buoyant member is disposed within at least a portion of the outer portion of the panel, the first portion of the buoyant member and the second portion of the buoyant member is separated by the width of the inner portion of the panel,

at least one of (1) the outer portion of the panel within which the first portion of the buoyant member is at least partially disposed within or (2) the first portion of the buoyant member, is in contact with the first edge of the inner portion of the panel,

at least one of (1) the outer portion of the panel within which the second portion of the buoyant member is at least partially disposed within or (2) the second portion of the buoyant member, is in contact with the second edge of the inner portion of the panel.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the back support member is inflatable and in fluid communication with the buoyant member.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a shape-retaining member disposed about the outer portion of the panel, the shape-retaining member being movable between a coiled configuration and an uncoiled configuration.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a sleeve disposed about the outer portion of the panel; and

a shape-retaining member being disposed within the sleeve, the shape-retaining member being movable between a coiled configuration and an uncoiled configuration.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first flexible material is a liquid permeable material and the second flexible material is a liquid impermeable material.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first flexible material is a mesh material and the second flexible material is a nylon.

8. An apparatus, comprising:

a panel including an inner portion and an outer portion disposed about at least a portion of the inner portion of the panel, the inner portion of the panel formed with a first flexible material, the outer portion of the panel formed with a second flexible material different than the first flexible material;

a back support member coupled to the inner portion of the panel such that a portion of the inner portion of the panel overlaps at least a portion of the back support member;

a shape-retaining member disposed about the outer portion of the panel, the shape-retaining member being movable between a coiled configuration and an uncoiled configuration; and

a buoyant member disposed about at least a portion of the outer portion of the panel,

the combination of the buoyant member, the panel, and the back support member being collectively configured to support a user in a seated position on the panel.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the back support member is coupled to the outer portion of the panel such that a portion of the outer portion of the panel is disposed on the back support member.

10. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the back support member is inflatable.

11. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the back support member is inflatable and in fluid communication with the buoyant member.

12. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the first flexible material is a mesh material and the second flexible material is a nylon.

13. The apparatus of claim 8, further comprising:

a sleeve disposed about the outer portion of the panel, the shape-retaining member being disposed within the sleeve.

14. The apparatus of claim 8, further comprising:

a foot support disposed at an end portion of the panel, the foot support configured to buoyantly support a weight of the user'"'"'s feet.

15. An apparatus, comprising:

a panel including a first portion and a second portion, the second portion of the panel having a substantially u-shaped configuration;

a back support member coupled to at least one of the first portion or the second portion of the panel, the back support member having a front surface in contact with the first portion of the panel, the front surface of the back support member having a first side edge and a second side edge opposite the first side edge, a distance between the first side edge and the second side edge defining a width of the back support member, the width of the back support member being a first width, a second width being defined collectively by the first portion of the panel and the second portion of the panel, the first width and the second width being measured along substantially the same direction, the second width being greater than the first width,

the back support member and the second portion of the panel collectively defining an inner perimeter and an outer perimeter, a first end portion of the u-shape of the second portion of the panel and a second end portion of the u-shape of the second portion of the panel each terminating at the back support member, the first portion of the panel being disposed within and bounded by the inner perimeter defined by the back support member and the second portion of the panel;

a shape-retaining member disposed adjacent the outer perimeter defined by the back support member and the second portion of the panel, the shape-retaining member being movable between a coiled configuration in which the panel is in a collapsed configuration and an uncoiled configuration in which the panel is in an expanded configuration; and

a buoyant member disposed about at least a portion of the second portion of the panel,

the combination of the buoyant member, the panel, and the back support member being collectively configured to support a user in a seated position on the panel.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein:

the back support member has a side wall extending between the front surface and the back surface of the back support member, a distance between the front surface and the back surface measured across the side wall of the back support member defines a length of the back support member, the length of the back support member is a first length,

a second length is defined collectively by a length of the first portion of the panel and a length of a portion of the second portion of the panel disposed on an opposite side of the first portion of the panel than the back support member, the second length is greater than the first length, the second length and the first length is measured along substantially a same direction.

17. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the first portion of the panel is formed with a first material and the second portion of the panel is formed with a second material different than the first material.

18. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the first portion of the panel at least partially overlaps the front surface of the back support member.

19. The apparatus of claim 15, further comprising:

a foot support disposed at an end portion of the panel, the foot support configured to buoyantly support a weight of the user'"'"'s feet.

20. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the back support member is inflatable and in fluid communication with the buoyant member.

21. An apparatus, comprising:

a panel including an inner portion, an outer portion and a back support portion, the inner portion of the panel having a first edge and a second edge on an opposite side of the inner portion of the panel from the first edge, a distance between the first edge of the inner portion of the panel and the second edge of the inner portion of the panel defining a width of the inner portion of the panel, the inner portion of the panel being substantially planar across the width of the inner portion of the panel, the back support portion being inflatable; and

a buoyant member disposed about at least the inner portion of the panel, at least a portion of the buoyant member being disposed within at least a portion of the outer portion of the panel, the buoyant member having a first portion and a second portion different from the first portion, the first portion of the buoyant member and the second portion of the buoyant member being disposed at opposite locations of the inner portion of the panel and separated by the width of the inner portion of the panel, the inner portion of the panel extending continuously between the first portion of the buoyant member and the second portion of the buoyant member without an intervening buoyant member,

at least one of the outer portion of the panel within which the first portion of the buoyant member is at least partially disposed or the first portion of the buoyant member being in contact with the first edge of the inner portion of the panel,

at least one of the outer portion of the panel within which the second portion of the buoyant member is at least partially disposed or the second portion of the buoyant member being in contact with the second edge of the inner portion of the panel,

the buoyant member having an outermost width that substantially defines an outermost width of the apparatus, the apparatus being configured to support a user in a seated position.

22. An apparatus, comprising:

a panel including an inner portion, an outer portion and a back support portion, the inner portion of the panel including a mesh material, the panel defining an opening configured to collectively receive a user'"'"'s legs therethrough, the opening being outside the inner portion of the panel, the back support portion being inflatable; and

a buoyant member disposed about at least a portion of the outer portion of the panel, the buoyant member having a front portion, the front portion of the buoyant member and the back support member being disposed at opposite locations of the inner portion of the panel and separated by a length of the inner portion of the panel, the front portion of the buoyant member being disposed between the inner portion of the panel and the opening,

the combination of the buoyant member, the panel and the back support portion being collectively configured to support the user in a seated position.

23. An apparatus, comprising:

a panel including an inner portion, an outer portion and a back support portion, the inner portion of the panel including a mesh material, the panel defining an opening, the back support portion being inflatable, the mesh material being disposed at least between the back support portion and a support portion defined by the panel;

a buoyant member disposed about at least a portion of the outer portion of the panel, the combination of the buoyant member, the panel and the back support portion being collectively configured to support a user in a seated position; and

a foot support disposed at an end portion of the panel, the opening disposed between the foot support and the support portion, the foot support configured to buoyantly support a weight of the user'"'"'s feet.

24. An apparatus, comprising:

a panel including an inner portion and an outer portion disposed about at least a portion of the inner portion of the panel, the inner portion of the panel having a first edge and a second edge on an opposite side of the inner portion of the panel from the first edge, a distance between the first edge of the inner portion of the panel and the second edge of the inner portion of the panel defining a width of the inner portion of the panel, at least the inner portion of the panel being formed with a flexible mesh material; and

a buoyant member disposed about the outer portion of the panel and forming a closed loop, the buoyant member having a first portion and a second portion, the first portion of the buoyant member and the second portion of the buoyant member being disposed at opposite locations of the inner portion of the panel, the inner portion of the panel extending continuously between the first portion of the buoyant member and the second portion of the buoyant member without an intervening buoyant member,

the buoyant member having a circular shaped outermost perimeter, and an outermost width that substantially defines an outermost width of the apparatus.