Abstract:
A recreational floatation device is disclosed. In one example, the recreational floatation device comprises a main body having a front portion and members extending substantially parallel from the front portion, a seat portion attached to the main body between the two parallel members and adjacent to the front portion, for receiving and supporting a user of the recreational flotation device in a seated portion, and a floating board removably attachable to said main body, when positioned between the parallel members.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119(e) to U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/620,169, entitled “RECREATIONAL FLOTATION DEVICE,” filed on Apr. 4, 2012, which is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     At least one example in accordance with the present invention relates generally to floating pool and beach toys for children. 
     2. Discussion of Related Art 
     Flotation tubes are commonly utilized to keep young children (babies or toddlers) floating at the surface of a body of water while preventing the child from becoming submerged in the water. For example, flotation tubes such as inflatable bubbles, foam bubbles, life preservers and inflatable arm bands are oftentimes attached to a child to keep the child afloat. Young children are often placed on or in flotation tubes such as inflatable boats to keep the child above water. Older children may use flotation devices as training tools to learn how to swim. 
     SUMMARY 
     According to one aspect, a recreational floatation device is disclosed. In one embodiment, the device includes a U-shaped body having a front portion and members substantially parallel to each other, and extending from the front portion, and a kickboard detachably coupled to the flotation device, disposed between the parallel members, wherein the kickboard is configured to be positioned within the flotation device in a plurality of positions. 
     In one example, the kickboard placed in a first position of the plurality of positions is configured to be coupled to the U-shaped body and substantially positioned between the parallel members of the flotation device. The kickboard can be placed in a second position of the plurality of positions and can be configured to be coupled to the U-shaped body and partially extending outside of the flotation device. The kickboard can also be placed in a third position of the plurality of positions and can be configured to be detached and removed from the flotation device. 
     In one example, the flotation device comprises an inflatable tube, a seat and an upper support, wherein the flotation tube is contoured around the seat and the upper support. In another example, the kickboard is contoured on one side to fit around a torso of a user. In at least one example, the upper support and the parallel members form a space configured to fit the kickboard. The seat can be configured to support weight of a user in a sitting position. The upper support can be contoured to allow at least a portion of the kickboard to rest uniformly on top of the upper support. In addition, the seat can comprise two openings configured to allow user&#39;s legs to fit through the two openings. 
     In another example, the flotation device and the kickboard are inflatable. The kickboard can be configured to be detachably coupled to the flotation device using hook and loop fasteners. The hook and loop fasteners can comprise a first portion of the hook and loop fasteners is disposed on the kickboard and a second portion of the hook and loop fasteners is disposed on the flotation device. In another example, the kickboard can configured to be detachably coupled to the flotation device using fastening straps. 
     According to another aspect, a recreational floatation device comprises a main body having a front portion and members extending substantially parallel from the front portion, a seat portion attached to the main body between the two parallel members and adjacent to the front portion, for receiving and supporting a user of the recreational flotation device in a seated portion, and a floating board removably attachable to said main body, when positioned between the parallel members. 
     In a first position, the floating board can be entirely positioned within the main body and removably attached thereto. In a second position, the floating board is partly positioned within the main body and removably attached thereto. In one example, the recreational flotation device further comprises a support member disposed between the parallel members and adjacent the seat portion, for supporting the floating board when the floating board is placed between the members. The seat portion of the flotation device can include at least one opening. In one example, the kickboard is configured to be detachably coupled to the flotation device using a releasable fastening mechanism. 
     Still other aspects, embodiments, and advantages of these exemplary aspects and embodiments, are discussed in detail below. Any embodiment disclosed herein may be combined with any other embodiment in any manner consistent with at least one of the objects, aims, and needs disclosed herein, and references to “an embodiment,” “some embodiments,” “an alternate embodiment,” “various embodiments,” “one embodiment” or the like are not necessarily mutually exclusive and are intended to indicate that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment may be included in at least one embodiment. The appearances of such terms herein are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment. The accompanying drawings are included to provide illustration and a further understanding of the various aspects and embodiments, and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification. The drawings, together with the remainder of the specification, serve to explain principles and operations of the described and claimed aspects and embodiments. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
       Various aspects of at least one embodiment are discussed below with reference to the accompanying figures, which are not intended to be drawn to scale. Where technical features in the figures, detailed description or any claim are followed by references signs, the reference signs have been included for the sole purpose of increasing the intelligibility of the figures, detailed description, and claims. Accordingly, neither the reference signs nor their absence are intended to have any limiting effect on the scope of any claim elements. In the figures, each identical or nearly identical component that is illustrated in various figures is represented by a like numeral. For purposes of clarity, not every component may be labeled in every figure. The figures are provided for the purposes of illustration and explanation and are not intended as a definition of the limits of the invention. In the figures: 
         FIG. 1  is depicts an example of typical inflatable boat used as a flotation device; 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a flotation device arranged in a boat stage, according to one embodiment; 
         FIG. 3  is a top view of a flotation device arranged in a boat stage, according to an alternative embodiment; 
         FIG. 4  is a top view of a flotation device arranged for storage, according to an alternative embodiment; 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view of a flotation device arranged in an extended stage, according to one embodiment; 
         FIG. 6  is a top view of a flotation device arranged in an extended stage, according to an alternative embodiment; 
         FIG. 7  is a perspective view of a flotation device arranged in a separation stage, according to one embodiment; and 
         FIG. 8  is a top view of a flotation device arranged in a separation stage, according to an alternative embodiment. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     As described above, typical inflatable boats (or baby boats) are used for young children for entertainment and safety purposes.  FIG. 1  shows a typical inflatable boat which may include a bottom  102  affixed to and surrounded by a ring-like flotation tube  104 . The bottom  102  may include apertures  106  through which a child&#39;s legs may be inserted. The bottom  102  functions as a seat, and in cooperation with the flotation tube  104 , supports the weight of the child in a sitting position and keeps the child afloat while the flotation tube  104  rests on top of the water. While useful for the safety of a child in water, the inflatable boat does not play a role in teaching a child how to swim. 
     Another type of flotation device is a swimming board or a kickboard, which is normally used as a training device to teach older children how to swim. A typical kickboard may include a flat rectangular body having a front and a back portion. The front portion may be rounded to provide smoother movement through water and the back portion may be contoured to fit around a child&#39;s torso. The front portion may include apertures or slits used as hand holds. In using the kickboard, the child typically lies on top of the kickboard in a swimming position while holding on to the front portion of the kickboard, and the child&#39;s legs kick to propel the child through the water. The front portion of the kickboard emerges from the water, while the back portion supports the weight of the child, keeping the child afloat. 
     The transition from sitting in the water to using the kickboard to learn how to swim can be challenging for a child. Therefore, embodiments described herein and illustrated in  FIGS. 2-8 , include a recreational flotation device that is a combination of a baby boat and a kickboard. The combined baby boat and kickboard helps to transition the child from a stationary sitting position into an active swimming position. When the child is younger, the child can use the recreational flotation device as an inflatable boat. As the child&#39;s comfort level, age and skill in the water grows, the child can lean forward on the kickboard portion and use the combined boat and kickboard to feel more comfortable in the swimming position. Finally, when the child grows more comfortable in the swimming position, the kickboard portion can be removed from the boat portion and used independently. Both the boat portion and the kickboard portion can be easily stored and transported. 
       FIGS. 2-8  illustrate one example of a recreational flotation device  200  during various stages of assembly including a “boat stage,” an “extended stage” and a “separation stage.”  FIG. 2  illustrates one example of the flotation device  200 , including a kickboard  202  and a boat portion  204 , in the boat stage of assembly. The kickboard  202  is detachably coupled to the boat portion in the various stages of assembly. In some embodiments, both the kickboard  202  and the boat portion  204  are inflatable and can support the weight of a child in the water. In other embodiments, the kickboard may not be inflatable and may be made from a foam or plastic material, such as for example EVA or HDPE material. 
     The boat portion  204  includes a well  206  having apertures  208 , an upper support  220 , a flotation tube  210 , and fastening straps  212 . As shown in this example, the kickboard  202  includes two pairs of apertures or slits  216 , which can be used as hand-holds as further described below. In the boat stage, the child&#39;s legs fit through the apertures  208  and the child sits in the well  206 . The well  206  is submerged in water while the flotation tube  210  supports the weight of the floating child. 
     The flotation tube  210  has an elongated shape forming a “U-shape” with a rounded front portion, which partially surrounds the well  206  and the upper support  220  (shown in  FIGS. 4 and 5 ), and two extensions  218  on a back portion of the flotation tube  210  extending from the front portion. As shown in  FIGS. 4 and 5 , the extensions  218  may be substantially parallel to each other and together with the upper support  220  form a space for the kickboard  202  to be placed within the bounds of the boat portion  204 . 
     According to one embodiment, the flotation tube  210  may include one or more inflatable chambers, with each of the chambers including a separate valve that allows each chamber to be inflated and/or deflated independently. In one example, the length of the flotation tube  210  is approximately 26 inches while the width of the flotation device is 25.5 inches. The flotation tube  210  may include one or more arches  214  forming hand-holds, as shown in  FIG. 3 . The arches  214  may be used to carry the recreational device  200  when outside the water and may be used for stability when the recreational device  200  is placed in water. 
     The well  206  is contoured and includes the apertures  208 . The well  206  functions as a seat in the boat stage of assembly and supports the weight of the child in a sitting position. The apertures  208  may have an oval shape with a diameter large enough to easily allow the legs of a child to fit through in both the boat stage and in the extended stage of assembly. In one example, the length of the apertures is approximately 4.5 inches and the width of the apertures is approximately 3.25 inches. 
     The upper support  220  is contoured in a way as to allow a portion of the kickboard to rest uniformly on top of the upper support  220 , in the boat stage of assembly or when the kickboard is stored within the boat portion  204 . In one example, the well  206  can extend below the bottom plane of the flotation device. However, in other examples, the well  206  can be flush with the bottom plane of the flotation device. In one embodiment, the well  206  and the upper support  220  are smaller than the total length of the flotation tube  210 . 
     According to other embodiments, the well  206 , together with the upper support  220 , can extend through the length of the flotation tube  210 , as shown in  FIG. 8 . For example, the diameter of the well  206  is 10 inches and the length of the upper support  220  is 5 inches, as shown in  FIG. 3 , while the total length of the flotation device  200  is 26 inches. In another embodiment, as shown in  FIG. 8 , the well  206 , without the support  220 , can extend the entire length of the flotation device  200 . Although the well  206  is shown as circular in shape, in other embodiments the well  206  may be elongated or oval in shape. In other embodiments, the well  206  may be rectangular or square in shape. 
     In one example, the kickboard  202  has an elongated shape and further includes a front end  224  and a rear portion  226 . In one embodiment, as shown in  FIG. 5 , the edge of the rear portion  226  is contoured to fit around a child&#39;s torso, while the edge of the front end  224  is extends outside of the extensions  218  of the flotation tube  210 . In another embodiment, as shown in  FIG. 3 , the edge of rear portion  226  is contoured to fit to the shape of the child&#39;s torso, while the edge of the front end  224  of the kickboard  202  may form a substantially straight edge. The kickboard shown in  FIG. 3  is substantially rectangular with the front end  224  having a smaller width than the width of the rear portion  226 . 
     In one embodiment, the kickboard includes two pairs of apertures or slits  216  which are disposed in the front end  224  and the rear portion  226  of the kickboard  202 ; first pair of slits in the front end  224  and second pair in the rear portion  226 . In one example, the first pair of slits may be disposed perpendicular to the length of the kickboard and the second pair of slits is disposed parallel to the length of the kickboard. It is appreciated that the slits can be included in other orientations on the flotation device  200 . The slits serve can dual functions. First, in one example, the slits can be configured to allow the fastening straps  212  to couple the kickboard  202  to the flotation tube  210 , as shown in  FIGS. 2 and 5 . Second, the slits can also serve as hand holds for the child in the extended and the separation stages of assembly. 
     In an alternative embodiment, the kickboard  202  is uniform in shape and does not include slits  216  or fastening straps  212 . Illustrated in  FIG. 3 , in this embodiment, the kickboard is fastened to the boat portion  204  by using Velcro® hook-and-loop fasteners. The hook and loop fasteners may be disposed on both sides of the kickboard  202  and on the inner side of flotation tube  210 . For example, one portion of the hook and loop fasteners is placed on the upper support and another portion of the hook and loop fasteners is placed on one side of the kickboard. 
     As shown in  FIG. 4 , the fasteners can also be used to position and secure the kickboard  202  entirely inside the boat portion  204  for easy storage. It is appreciated that other releasable fastening mechanisms may be used to attach the kickboard  202  to the boat portion  204 , including a snap, a clip, a button, a buckle, or a reusable adhesive. 
     Referring again to  FIG. 2 , in one embodiment, the proportions of the kickboard are configured such that the kickboard  202  can slide within the extensions  218  of the U-shape flotation tube  210  and rest on the upper support  220 . The width of the front end  224  may match the outer width of the flotation tube  210 . In another embodiment, the width of the front end  224  may match the inner width of the flotation tube. In one embodiment, the width of the rear portion  226  may match the inner width of the flotation tube  210 , with the front end  224  being proportionally wider than the rear portion  226 . In addition, front end  224  may be proportionally shorter than the length of the rear portion  226 , and with the front end  224  extending beyond the extensions  218  of the U-shape flotation tube  210 . In one example, the width of the front end  224  is approximately 10 inches. In one example, the length of the front end  224  is approximately a third of the length of the rear portion  226 . In various examples, the length of the entire kickboard is approximately 15 inches. 
     In at least one embodiment, as shown in  FIGS. 2 and 5 , the fastening straps  212  are attached to the flotation tube  210  and fit through one pair of the slits  216  on the kickboard  202 . The fastening straps  212  can keep the kickboard  202  secured to the flotation tube  210  in the boat stage and the extended stage of assembly, as shown in  FIGS. 2 and 5  and discussed further below. In the boat stage, shown in  FIG. 2 , the fastening straps  212  attach to the first pair of slits  216  and in the extended stage, shown in  FIG. 5 , the fastening straps  212  attach to the second pair of slits. In another embodiment, as shown in  FIGS. 3 ,  4  and  6 , the hook and loop fasteners are configured to releasably attach the kickboard  202  to the boat portion  202 . 
     According to one embodiment, elements of both the kickboard  202  and the boat portion  204  as described herein may be constructed of plastic material. For example, in one embodiment, the plastic material is Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC), reinforced PVC, PVC mesh, laminated PVC or any other plastic material. 
       FIG. 5  illustrates one example of the flotation device  200  in the extended stage of assembly. In the extended stage, the kickboard  202  is extended away from the boat portion  204  while still attached to the extensions  218  of the flotation tube  210 . As shown, fastening straps  212  are attached to flotation tube  210  and fit around the second pair of slits of the kickboard. The kickboard  202  can be situated relative to the flotation tube  210  based on the child&#39;s size and comfort in the water. For example, as the child grows taller, the child can extend the kickboard may be placed farther away from the upper support  220  to match the child&#39;s height. In use, the child lays down in a swimming position on top of the kickboard  202  while the child&#39;s legs protrude through the apertures  208 . In one example, the child can use the first pairs of slits as hand-holds, while the boat portion serves to support the weight of the child. 
     Illustrated in  FIG. 6 , in an alternative embodiment, the flotation device  200  is shown in the extended stage of assembly. In this embodiment, the kickboard  202  has a uniform shape and does not include slits  216  or fastening straps  212 . In this embodiment, the kickboard  202  can be attached to the boat portion  204  by using VELCRO® hook-and-loop fasteners  222 . One portion of the fasteners may be disposed on the side of the kickboard (not shown), while the second portion may be disposed on the inner surface of the boat portion  204 , as shown in  FIG. 6 . In this embodiment, the fasteners are disposed starting at the well  206 , continuing through the length of the flotation tube  210 , and ending at the extensions  218 . However, it is appreciated that one or more hook and loop fasteners may be disposed on any portion of the upper support  220 . 
     In this embodiment, the kickboard  202  can be placed in any position in relation to the boat portion  204  and can be progressively secured further away from the well  206  to accommodate for the growing size of the child. The hook and loop fasteners  222  provide enough strength to keep the kickboard in place, while a child is placed onto the kickboard. As shown in  FIG. 6 , the flotation device  200  is in the extended stage of assembly with the kickboard  202  extending away from the boat portion  204 . 
       FIG. 7  illustrates one example of the flotation device  200  in the separation stage of assembly. In the separation stage, the kickboard  202  is separated from the boat portion  204  and can be used by the child independently of the boat portion  204 . As shown, the fastening straps  212  are unfastened, but remain attached to the flotation tube  210 . The boat portion  204  can be removed, deflated and stored. In this stage, the child feels more comfortable in the water and does not need the support of the boat portion  204 . 
       FIG. 8  illustrates another embodiment, where the kickboard attaches to the boat portion using hook and loop fasteners and is shown in the separation stage of assembly, where the kickboard is removed from the boat portion  204 . One portion of the hook and loop fasteners is shown and the upper support portion  220  is exposed. 
     As described above, children can sometimes feel cautious transitioning from a fully supportive, sitting flotation device to a less supportive kickboard. But through use of flotation device  200  in the various stages as described above, the child can gradually become accustomed to the swimming position. The flotation device  200  can be transformed from the boat stage to the extended stage and then to the separation stage to fit the child&#39;s stages of growth and comfort in the water. 
     It is to be appreciated that embodiments of the methods and apparatuses discussed herein are not limited in application to the details of construction and the arrangement of components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the accompanying drawings. The methods and apparatuses are capable of implementation in other embodiments and of being practiced or of being carried out in various ways. Examples of specific implementations are provided herein for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to be limiting. In particular, acts, elements and features discussed in connection with any one or more embodiments are not intended to be excluded from a similar role in any other embodiments. 
     Also, the phraseology and terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. Any references to embodiments or elements or acts of the systems and methods herein referred to in the singular may also embrace embodiments including a plurality of these elements, and any references in plural to any embodiment or element or act herein may also embrace embodiments including only a single element. References in the singular or plural form are not intended to limit the presently disclosed systems or methods, their components, acts, or elements. The use herein of “including,” “comprising,” “having,” “containing,” “involving,” and variations thereof is meant to encompass the items listed thereafter and equivalents thereof as well as additional items. References to “or” may be construed as inclusive so that any terms described using “or” may indicate any of a single, more than one, and all of the described terms. Any references to front and back, left and right, top and bottom, upper and lower, and vertical and horizontal are intended for convenience of description, not to limit the present systems and methods or their components to any one positional or spatial orientation. 
     Having thus described several aspects of at least one embodiment, it is to be appreciated various alterations, modifications, and improvements will readily occur to those skilled in the art. Such alterations, modifications, and improvements are intended to be part of this disclosure and are intended to be within the scope of the invention. Accordingly, the foregoing description and drawings are by way of example only, and the scope of the invention should be determined from proper construction of the appended claims, and their equivalents.