Abstract:
A floatation device of any size or shape stabilized by a ballast system comprised of sponge contained in permeable enclosures, which enclosures in turn are secured to the underside of the device, which sponge, upon contact with water, rapidly absorbs such water and provides prompt, sufficient ballast.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/932,022 filed Feb. 16, 2011 and claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/338,349 filed by Stanton Dennis Terrell and Cynthia Mary Shell-Terrell and awarded a filing date of Feb. 18, 2010. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention relates generally to floatation devices and more specifically, as to certain embodiments, to stabilized rescue rafts. 
         [0003]    Stabilized survival rafts are well known. For ballast, these rafts rely on a depending, weighted, water-enclosure system. These water-enclosure systems are designed in one of three ways: (one) several depending enclosures along the underside of a raft; (two) one large, depending enclosure under the center of a raft; or (three) several peripheral depending enclosures. These enclosures are sometimes referred to as “water-retaining chambers.” The several depending enclosures is seen in U.S. Pat. No. 3,092,854 issued Jul. 11, 1963, to Manhart; the large depending enclosure is seen in U.S. Pat. No. 4,001,905 issued Jan. 11, 1977, to Givens; and the several peripheral enclosures is seen in U.S. Pat. No. 4,216,559 issued Aug. 12, 1980, to Switlik. These systems remain in use today and represent the state of the art in stabilized survival rafts. 
         [0004]    Rescue rafts differ from survival rafts in that they are generally smaller, allowing only one or two occupants, and provide fewer so-called survival supplies. A rescue raft is generally intended to prevent drowning or death from exposure while one awaits rescue, rather than providing for longer-term survival in opens waters, as survival rafts are intended. Rescue rafts use either no ballast system or an ineffective, unweighted water-retaining chamber. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    The present invention contemplates a floatation device. Ballast is provided by compressed sponge within one or more permeable enclosures attached securely to the underside of the device or to the periphery of the device or both. The permeable enclosures need only (one) allow for rapid entry of fluid, usually water; (two) allow for the expansion of compressed sponge; and (three) provide continued containment of the saturated sponge. The enclosures could be sturdy, with perforation; flexible, with perforation; mesh; or any permeable enclosure capable of allowing sufficient fluid entry, capable of containing compressed and then expanded sponge, and capable of being secured to the underside of a floatation device. 
         [0006]    Once the compressed sponge expands from absorption, the ballast provided allows one easily to mount the floatation device without the difficulty typically encountered when one attempts to mount a non-stabilized floatation device, that is, that the opposite side of the device rises, hampering or preventing entry upon the device. Unlike floatation devices fitted with water-retaining chambers, the present invention provides ballast almost immediately upon deployment in water; significantly reduces the risk that a floatation device will overturn due to wind, wave or both; and provides ballast without the additional weight ordinarily required to depend water-retaining chambers. 
         [0007]    Other unique features of the present invention will become apparent upon reading the following specification. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0008]      FIG. 1  is a bottom view of a conventional two-person raft showing a suitable placement of the sponge ballast system. 
           [0009]      FIG. 2  is a bottom view of a conventional two-person raft showing the placement of several sponge elements within permeable enclosures. 
           [0010]      FIG. 3  is a front-side view of a conventional two-person raft suggesting the permeable enclosures with enclosed sponge elements. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0011]    The invention includes any floatation device for which ballast is provided by sponge, usually but not necessarily compressed synthetic sponge, contained in one or more permeable enclosures, which enclosures in turn are secured to the underside of the device. As used in this application, “floatation device” or “floatation element” refers to any item capable of providing buoyancy, such as, for instance, inflated synthetic rubber. 
         [0012]    Referring now to the drawings,  FIG. 1  illustrates a suitable placement of permeable enclosures  14  and  16  of a sponge ballast system  10  according to the present invention, said enclosures indicated with shading, said enclosures being secured to the underside  13  of a floatation device  12  having at least one inflatable element  30 , a forward portion  31  with a bow  32 , a rear portion  33  with a stern  34 , a length extending between the bow  32  and the stern  34 , a width that is less than the length, and a floor  36  including inflatable chambers  38 .  FIG. 2  illustrates a rear portion  33   a  and the placement of sponge  18   a  within the permeable enclosures  14   a,    16   a  in forward portion  31   a,  said sponge  18   a  indicated by several dots, such as dots  20   a  for sponge element  19   a,  within a rounded rectangular shape  26   a  of a permeable enclosure  27   a.  The number of dots is not significant.  FIG. 2  indicates generally how the permeable enclosures might be segmented so the each sponge element is separately contained within a separate permeable enclosure in forward portion  31   a,  such as a sponge element  19   a  within the permeable enclosure  27   a.    FIG. 3  suggests permeable enclosures  16   b  with enclosed sponge, as might appear on an inflated two-person raft  12   b  having a rear portion  33   b  and having sponge ballast system  10   b  with saturated sponges in a forward portion  31   b.    FIG. 3  also indicates generally how the permeable enclosures might be segmented so that each sponge element is separately contained within a separate permeable enclosure, such as sponge element  19   b  within a permeable enclosure  27   b.    
         [0013]    The sponge ballast system need not be configured as indicated an may be configured in any fashion along the underside or periphery of a floatation device. 
         [0014]    The sponge ballast system can be configured to provide ballast of any desired significance by using larger sponge and correspondingly larger permeable enclosures, adding permeable enclosures, stacking permeable enclosures, or any other configurations providing a greater volume of sponge. 
         [0015]    The invention may be configured in the shape of a traditional, circular, life preserver or life ring, yet with a floor rather than a middle opening, and configured with the sponge ballast system, allowing one to avoid exposure to water while awaiting rescue. 
         [0016]    The invention need not be configured for human occupancy and could be configured, for instance, for use as a transport device over any water, such as might occur, for instance, if one sought to transport items while wading across a river. 
         [0017]    A contemplated embodiment of the invention employs compressed cellulose sponge, such as for sponge element  19   b,    FIG. 3 , contained in perforated Neoprene synthetic rubber, heat sealed along the inflatable element  30   b  of a traditional two-person raft  12   b  having a bow  32   b  and a stern  34   b,  with inflatable chambers  38  and  38   a  of floor  36  and  36   a  as depicted in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , respectively. The permeable enclosures are configured in segments to allow easy folding and packing. The raft is packaged compactly for storage on or in kayaks, canoes, small boats or small-engine aircraft. This embodiment may be packed with a rope ladder and traditional survival items and in such a fashion as to inflate in an upright position, such as shown in  FIG. 3 , and is suitable for use in coastal waters. 
         [0018]    In certain embodiments, the permeable enclosures could be accessible, allowing removal of saturated sponge, with or without replacement of the saturated sponge with dry sponge. 
         [0019]    No attempt is made to illustrate the means of manufacture and securing such ballast system, particularly the permeable enclosures, as this is thought sufficiently obvious as not to require special illustration. 
         [0020]    No attempt is made to illustrate the means for inflating a floatation device, as this is thought sufficiently obvious as not to require special illustration. 
         [0021]    Finally, it will be understood that various embodiments have been disclosed by way of example, and that other modifications may occur to those skilled in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the appended claims.