Baby on board infant float

The invention disclosed in this application is a floatation device for infants and small children combined with an exercise device for their parent. The device is designed to allow the child to be in the swimming pool with their parent with only a small part or none of the child to actually be in contact with the water. The invention consists of a seat for the child integrated into a floatation device. The child's seat will swivel to allow for the child to be facing in various directions while on the floatation device. Sections of the seat are removable so that the child may dangle their legs into the water while affixed in the seat. The floatation part of the invention is similar in size and shape to an adult swimming kickboard and can be utilized as such with a child either in the seat or not.

This invention was not made by an agency of the United States Government nor under a contract with an agency of the United States Government.

THE NAME OF THE PARTIES TO JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT

Not Applicable.

INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE OF MATERIAL SUBMITTED ON A COMPACT DISC OR AS A TEXT FILE VIA THE OFFICE ELECTRONIC FILING SYSTEM (EFS-WEB)

Not Applicable.

Relationship: Provisional application was for same invention.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the Invention

Playing or swimming in a pool is a warm weather activity enjoyed by many; adults and children both enjoy aquatic activities. Summer time is often family pool time. However, for the very young the initial forays into a swimming pool can be a frightening and dangerous activity.

Floats especially design for infants or young children are often used by parents to reduce the risk for their children when playing in a pool. Typical floats are inflatable donut shaped devices with the infant suspended in the center hole with their lower body in the water and the upper body out of the water. There is often a harness or other type of seat suspended below the floating donut to hold the child in place. Some of the floats provide canopies for protection from the sun.

Some inflatable donut style floats are designed to fit around the infant's neck and keep the head out of water while the rest of the infant's body is submerged.

However, some infants are fearful of the water and are afraid to have any part of their body submerged. The present invention is a device that allows a parent to take their infant into the pool with them without the infant being in the water. As the infant grows less fearful of the water, the disclosed device can be easily modified to allow the infants legs to enter the water while keeping them secure on the float. After growing more use to being partially in the water, the infant can graduate to a float that allows for more of the body to be submersed.

The invention disclosed in this application can also be used as an aquatic exercise device, most commonly referred to a kickboard. The parent can place their child in the seat portion of the invention and then exercise with the device functioning as a kickboard all the while keeping the child in their immediate presence.

Description of Related Art

The Combination Child Float/Adult Aquatic Exercise Device (U.S. Pat. No. 5,766,052 issued Jun. 16, 1998 to Martha C. Metro and Naomi R. Fine) describes a device that is a combination kickboard for an adult and a floatation device for a child. This invention submerges the lower portion of the child in the water allowing for the torso to be above water. Unlike the present invention, there is no provision for the child to remain out of the water when using the device.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention disclosed in this application is a floatation device for infants and small children and exercise device for their parent. The device is designed to allow the child to be in the swimming pool with their parent with only a small part or none of the child to actually be in contact with the water. The invention consists of a seat for the child integrated into a floatation device. The child's seat will swivel to allow for the child to be facing in various directions while on the floatation device. Sections of the seat are removable so that the child may dangle their legs into the water while affixed in the seat. The floatation part of the invention is similar in size and shape to an adult swimming kickboard and can be utilized as such with a child either in the seat or not.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The invention disclosed in this application is a floatation device for infants and small children enjoy aquatic activities with their parents. The device consists of a buoyant planar base (10) with an integrated seat (20) at one end for a child. The buoyant planar base (10) is similar in size and shape to an adult kickboard and can be used for this purpose with or without a child in the integrated seat (20).

The integrated child's seat (20) is configured to receive a child therein and can be rotated so that the child faces a desired direction. The seat (20) includes a circumferential sidewall (27) have recessed areas (28) for receiving the child's legs therethrough, such that the child's legs may rest on the upper surface of the buoyant planar base (10) as shown inFIG. 2.

The integrated child's seat (20) is further equipped with a pair of inserts (22) that are removably disposed within a pair of leg apertures (26) in a frictional engagement therewith. When the inserts (22) are installed, the child's legs rest on the upper surface of the buoyant planar base (10). When the inserts (22) are removed, the child's legs extend through the leg apertures (26) and rest in the water, allowing the child to experience the sensation of water on their skin.

The integrated child's seat (20) is further equipped with apertures (25) on opposite sides of the circumferential sidewall (27) for the inclusion of a safety belt to more securely hold the child in the integrated seat (20).

In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the buoyant planar base (10) of the invention is constructed of a closed cell polyethylene foam. The child's seat (20) and its various parts are constructed of a UV resistant thermoplastic. However, construction of the invention is not limited to these materials.

In some embodiments of the invention, it is envisioned that the buoyant planar base (10) will be configured with handles carrying the invention and ease of use of the invention as a kickboard by the parent either with or without a child in the integrated seat (20).

The potential patent classification for this invention:Class441: Buoys, Rafts, and Aquatic DevicesSubclass130: Body Supporting Buoyant Device with Seat

The present invention described above and illustrated inFIGS. 1 through 6is visualized as the preferred embodiment of the invention. It is envisioned that this invention may be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein. It will be understood by those skilled in the art that changes in forms and details may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present application. It is therefore intended that the present invention not be limited to the exact forms and details described and illustrated herein but falls within the scope of the appended claims.