Abstract:
A double pillow flotation device that allows users to easily turn over while minimizing the risk of falling off the flotation device, which is accomplished in part by the use of multiple head supports at opposite ends of the flotation device.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    The present application is a continuation of, and claims priority to and full benefit of, provisional patent application Ser. No. 61/583,867, entitled “DOUBULE PILLOW FLOTATION DEVICES,” filed on Jan. 6, 2012, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference. 
     
    
     FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
       [0002]    None 
       PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT 
       [0003]    None 
       REFERENCE TO A SEQUENCE LISTING 
       [0004]    None 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Technical Field of the Invention 
       [0005]    The disclosure generally relates to a flotation device and a method of using the same, and more specifically to a double pillow flotation device designed to make it easier for users to turn over on the flotation device without falling off. 
       Description of Related Art 
       [0006]    Individuals often use floatation devices, such as inflatable rafts, to support their weight as they float in a body of water, such as a pool. A typical inflatable raft includes a plurality of elongated, substantially cylindrical air chambers that are attached together in a side-by-side arrangement. In some cases, the raft may include an inflatable pillow adjacent one end of the raft to support a user&#39;s head as they lie on the raft. 
         [0007]    After lying on a raft in a particular position for a period of time, users often wish to reposition their body on the raft. For example, when sunbathing, a user may wish to “flip” from a first position, in which the user is lying face up in the raft, to a second position, in which the user is lying face down on the raft. To do this, users often try to roll over on the raft. Because rafts are often narrow and unstable, this often causes the raft to tip over, which may cause the user to fall into the water. 
         [0008]    Accordingly, there is a need for improved flotation rafts, and other floatation devices, that allow users to turn over on the raft without falling off the raft and into the water. 
         [0009]    Accordingly, a feature of the double pillow flotation device is its ability to be easy to setup. 
         [0010]    Another feature of the double pillow flotation device is its ability to be easy to use. 
         [0011]    Still another feature of the double pillow flotation device is its ability to be relatively easy to manufacture. 
         [0012]    Yet another feature of the double pillow flotation device is its ability to allow the user to turn over without falling in the water. 
         [0013]    Yet another feature of the double pillow flotation device is its ability to be easily reconfigured. 
         [0014]    These and other features of the double pillow flotation device will become more apparent to one skilled in the art from the following Brief Description of the Drawings, Detailed Description, and Claims when read in light of the accompanying Detailed Drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0015]    The present double pillow flotation device will be better understood by reading the Detailed Description with reference to the accompanying drawings, which are not necessarily drawn to scale, and in which like reference numerals denote similar structure and refer to like elements throughout, and in which: 
           [0016]      FIG. 1  is a side view of a flotation device of an exemplary embodiment with a user in a first (face up) position; 
           [0017]      FIG. 2  is a side view of the embodiment of  FIG. 1  with the user transitioning between the first position and a second (face down) position; and 
           [0018]      FIG. 3  is a side view of the flotation device of  FIG. 1  with the user in the second position. 
           [0019]    It is to be noted that the drawings presented are intended solely for the purpose of illustration and that they are, therefore, neither desired nor intended to limit the disclosure to any or all of the exact details of construction shown, except insofar as they may be deemed essential to the disclosure. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0020]    In describing the exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure, as illustrated in  FIGS. 1-3 , specific terminology is employed for the sake of clarity. The present disclosure, however, is not intended to be limited to the specific terminology so selected, and it is to be understood that each specific element includes all technical equivalents that operate in a similar manner to accomplish similar functions. Embodiments of the claims may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed to be limited to the embodiments set forth herein. The examples set forth herein are non-limiting examples, and are merely examples among other possible examples. 
         [0021]    Referring now to  FIGS. 1-3  by way of example, and not limitation, therein is illustrated an example embodiment flotation device  10  according to a first embodiment. As may be understood from this figure, flotation device  10  comprises: (1) elongated float base portion  20  that extends between first end  22  and second end  24  and that defines top surface  26  and bottom surface  28 ; (2) first head support  30  disposed adjacent float base portion&#39;s first end  22 ; and (3) second head support  40  disposed adjacent float base portion&#39;s second end  24 . These various components are discussed in greater detail below. 
         [0022]    Float Base Portion 
         [0023]    In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 , elongated float base portion  20  may comprise any suitable floating material. In particular embodiments, elongated float base portion  20  may comprise a substantially solid (e.g., solid) foam body that includes any suitable floating foam (e.g., polyethylene or ethylene vinyl acetate). In other embodiments, float base portion  20  may comprise any other suitable substantially solid (e.g., solid) material that is adapted to float (e.g., rubber or plastic). 
         [0024]    In other embodiments, floatation device  10  is an inflatable raft. In such embodiments, float base portion  20  may comprise at least one inflatable air chamber that is adapted to maintain a volume of air within its interior, which causes the air chamber to float on water. In various embodiments, the at least one air chamber may comprise a valve or other suitable mechanism to allow user  50  to selectively inflate or deflate the inflatable air chamber. In other embodiments, the inflatable air chamber may be substantially permanently (e.g., permanently) inflated. In particular embodiments, float base portion  20  comprises a plurality of elongated, substantially cylindrical air chambers that are attached together in a side-by-side arrangement. 
         [0025]    In certain embodiments, the float base portion  20  is substantially rectangular (e.g., rectangular) and substantially planar (e.g., planar). 
         [0026]    First Head Support 
         [0027]    In particular embodiments, first head support  30  may comprise any support that is suitable for supporting the head of a user who is lying on floatation device  10 . In a particular embodiment, first head support  30  comprises an inflatable air chamber. In various embodiments, the air chamber may comprise any suitable number of valves or other suitable mechanisms for allowing a user to selectively inflate and/or deflate the air chamber. In certain embodiments, the inflatable air chamber may comprise, or be substantially covered by (e.g., covered by) a material, which may, for example, comprise a suitable waterproof material (e.g., canvas, rubber, or plastic). 
         [0028]    In other embodiments, first head support  30  may be substantially solid (e.g., solid), and may, for example, comprise any suitable material that is adapted to float (e.g., foam, plastic, or rubber). In other embodiments, first head support  30  may comprise a material that is not adapted to float. In such embodiments, and in other embodiments, first head support  30  may be disposed adjacent float base portion&#39;s top surface  26 , which may be adapted to support first head support  30  when flotation device  10  is floating. 
         [0029]    In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 , floatation device&#39;s first head support  30  may extend above elongated float&#39;s top surface  26  to any height suitable for supporting user&#39;s head  60  when user  50  is lying on float base portion  20  with user&#39;s head  60  on first head support  30 . First head support may, for example, be disposed adjacent float base portion&#39;s first end  22  and may, for example, extend upwardly from float base portion&#39;s top surface  26  at least about two to four inches in a substantially pillow shaped (e.g., pillow shaped) arrangement. 
         [0030]    Second Head Support 
         [0031]    In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 , second head support  40  is substantially structurally similar (e.g., identical) to first head support  30 . In various embodiments, second head support  40  may include any suitable support for supporting user&#39;s head  60 . For example, second head support  40  may include any of the various forms of head support discussed above. 
         [0032]    In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 , floatation device&#39;s second head support  40  may extend above elongated float&#39;s top surface  26  to any height suitable for supporting user&#39;s head  60  when user  50  is lying on float base portion  20  with user&#39;s head  60  on second head support  40 . Second head support  40  may, for example, be disposed adjacent float base portion&#39;s second end  24  and may, for example, extend upwardly from float base portion&#39;s top surface  26  at least about two to four inches in a substantially pillow shaped (e.g., pillow shaped) arrangement. 
         [0033]    In various embodiments, first head support  30  and second head support  40  are positioned so that, when a user of average height lies on the floatation device and positions their head on first head support  30 , the user&#39;s feet are adjacent, but do not reach, second head support  40 . 
         [0034]    Similarly, first head support  30  and second head support  40  may be positioned so that, when a user of average height lies on the floatation device and positions their head on second head support  40 , the user&#39;s feet are adjacent, but do not reach, first head support  30 . 
         [0035]    Exemplary Use of the Reversible Flotation Device 
         [0036]    In various embodiments, flotation device  10  is adapted to float on a liquid surface (e.g., water) and is further adapted to support user  50  on floatation device  10 .  FIGS. 1-3  show user  50  transitioning between: (1) a first position in which user&#39;s head  60  is disposed adjacent first head support  30  and user&#39;s feet  70  are disposed adjacent second head support  40 ; and (2) a second position in which user&#39;s head  60  is disposed adjacent second head support  40  and user&#39;s feet  70  are disposed adjacent first head support  30 . 
         [0037]    As may be understood from  FIG. 1 , in the first position, user  50  is lying on the elongated float&#39;s top surface  26  in a first, face up position while flotation device  10  floats on a liquid surface. User  50  in the first position may desire to move to the second position shown in  FIG. 3  to alter the user&#39;s orientation on flotation device  10 . As may be understood from  FIGS. 1-2 , in order to transition to a second, face down position from the first position, the user may first sit up from the first position by lifting the user&#39;s upper body from the face up position and lowering user&#39;s feet  70  to either side of float base portion  20 . 
         [0038]      FIG. 2  shows user  50  in a position between the first position and second position. In this transitioning position, user  50  is seated substantially upright (e.g., upright) on a central portion of elongated tube&#39;s top surface  26 . As may be understood from this figure, in the transitioning position, user&#39;s feet  70  hang off of opposite lateral sides of float base portion  20 . As shown in this figure, in the transitioning position, the user&#39;s torso remains substantially out of (e.g., out of) the water while the user transitions between the first and second positions. In various embodiments of flotation device  10 , user&#39;s feet  70  may briefly enter the water while in the transitioning position. 
         [0039]    As may be understood from  FIGS. 2-3 , in order to move from transitioning position to the second position, user  50  may lean forward from the user&#39;s sitting position in the transitioning position and bring user&#39;s feet  70  up along the sides of float base portion  20  and then rest user&#39;s feet  70  on or laterally adjacent first head support  30 .  FIG. 3  shows user  50  in the second position, in which user  50  is lying in a prone position on float base portion&#39;s top surface  26 . 
         [0040]    To move from the second position to the first position, the user may simply reverse the steps outlined above. 
       Alternative Embodiments 
       [0041]    Alternative embodiments of the flotation device may comprise, for example, components that are, in some respects, similar to the various components described above. Selected distinguishing features of various alternative embodiments are discussed below. 
         [0042]    Selectively Removable and/or Adjustable Head Supports 
         [0043]    In particular embodiments, one or both of the first and second head support may be adapted to allow a user to selectively remove them. For example, in various embodiments, the first and second head supports may comprise hook and loop fastener segments that are adapted to selectively attach to hook and loop fastener segments disposed adjacent the ends of the elongated float. In other embodiments, the head supports may comprise other suitable mechanisms, such as zippers, for allowing a user to selectively remove the head supports from the flotation device, and/or for adjusting the position of the head supports between different positions on the flotation device. 
         [0044]    Integrated Head Rests 
         [0045]    Although the head rests are described above as being separate from the float base portion, in other embodiments, at least one of the head rests and float base portion may be part of a single float structure. 
         [0046]    Flotation Devices with Additional Features 
         [0047]    In particular embodiments, the flotation device may comprise handles disposed adjacent the elongated tube or head supports. In other embodiments, the elongated tube may define cup holders on the elongated tube&#39;s top surface. In other embodiments, the flotation device may further comprise any suitable back rest that is adapted to allow the user to sit upright on the flotation device. Other embodiments of the flotation device may include arm rests, or other additional supports for various other parts of the user&#39;s body (e.g., foot rests). Further embodiments may include a bag (e.g., a net/mesh bag) for carrying items such as sunglasses or suntan lotion. 
         [0048]    The foregoing description and drawings comprise illustrative embodiments. Having thus described exemplary embodiments, it should be noted by those skilled in the art that the within disclosures are exemplary only, and that various other alternatives, adaptations, and modifications may be made within the scope of the present disclosure. Merely listing or numbering the steps of a method in a certain order does not constitute any limitation on the order of the steps of that method. Many modifications and other embodiments will come to mind to one skilled in the art to which this disclosure pertains having the benefit of the teachings presented in the foregoing descriptions and the associated drawings. Although specific terms may be employed herein, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation. Accordingly, the present disclosure is not limited to the specific embodiments illustrated herein, but is limited only by the following claims.