Abstract:
Aquatic apparatus formed by a support with a fixed tube positioned thereon and having an open end; a movable tube encircles the fixed tube is sealed thereto, and has a pivoted end cap beyond the position of the seal and at least one vent below the position of the seal; the end cap is controlled and pressurized fluid is applied to the fixed tube.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    This invention relates to fluid controlled aquatic platforms and, more particularly, to fluid controlled platforms that can be used for general recreation.  
           [0002]    Conventional dive platforms generally are fixed structures that have fixed locations in relation to the bodies of water where they are used.  
           [0003]    Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to provide greater flexibility for platforms that are used for aquatic recreation, such as diving and jumping.  
           [0004]    Another object of the invention is to make use of fluidic induced movements in conjunction with aquatic or dive platforms.  
           [0005]    A further object of the invention is to provide aquatic platforms that give enhanced recreational effects.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0006]    In accomplishing the foregoing and related objects, the invention provides aquatic apparatus in which a fixed tube or cylinder, with an open end, is positioned on a support in the form of a base frame that may connect to a poolside or ladder. A movable tube or cylinder having a pivoted end cap encircles the fixed tube or cylinder and is sealed to it. At least one vent is located in the movable tube or cylinder below the position of the seal to the fixed tube or cylinder. Provision is made for controlling the end cap, illustratively by an aquatic or dive platform, and pressurized fluid is applied to the fixed tube.  
           [0007]    In accordance with one aspect of the invention, the float support is formed by a plurality of at least three pontoons connected to the fixed tube. Adjoining ones of the pontoons can be connected by legs, and a platform is pivotally connected to the moveable tube.  
           [0008]    In accordance with another aspect of the invention, the platform controls the end cap of the movable tube, for example, by at least one cable, rod, or the like, that extends from the platform to the end cap; whereby the downward pivoting of the platform can produce closure by the action of the end cap on the lovable tube.  
           [0009]    When pressurized fluid is applied to the fixed tube, for example, through a hose, and the platform is free to move, the pressurized fluid forces the end cap to an open position and the fluid exits from the aquatic structure in the form of a spray. When pressure is applied to the platform, for example, by having a person stand on it, the end cap is moved downwardly to a closed position and pressurized fluid in the fixed tube causes the movable tube to rise between the top of the fixed tube and the moveable tube simultaneously elevating the platform on which a person, such as a swimmer, is standing. When the swimmer dives from the elevated platform, the system returns to its prior condition with the end cap open and fluid exiting in the form of a spray.  
           [0010]    In accordance with a further aspect of the invention, the seal between the fixed and movable tubes is provided by a grommet that surrounds a cylindrical ring at an intermediate or top end location on the fixed tube. The grommet engages the inner wall of the movable tube. A keyway and key can be provided between tile fixed and movable tubes to stabilize the movement of the movable tube relative to the fixed tube.  
           [0011]    In a method of the invention for using aquatic apparatus, the steps include (a) applying fluid pressure to a fixed tube connected to a float support and surrounded by a movable tube with a seal therebetween; (b) allowing the fluid applied to the fixed tube to exit at the ends of both the fixed and movable tubes; and (c) capping the exit end of the movable tube so that the applied fluid causes the movable tube to rise in relation to the fixed tube.  
           [0012]    The method further includes the step of pivotally connecting a platform to a moveable tube and linking the platform with the capping member of the movable tube by at least one cable, whereby downward pivoting of the platform caps the movable tube and causes it to rise in relation to said fixed tube.  
           [0013]    The method can also include the step of providing fluid exhaust holes in the movable tube below the location of the seal between the fixed and movable tubes in order to control the extent to which the movable tube can rise in relation to the fixed tube when the movable tube is capped.  
           [0014]    In a method of the invention for manufacturing aquatic apparatus, the steps include (a) fabricating a float support; (b) attaching a hollow outlet tube to the float support; (c) surrounding the hollow outlet tube by a movable tube having an openable end cap, and (d) providing a seal between the hollow outlet tube and the surrounding, movable tube. The openable end cap can be pivotable, slidable or otherwise openable. A platform can be connected to the moveable tube for controlling the end cap.  
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0015]    Other aspects of the invention will become apparent after considering several illustrative embodiments, taken in conjunction with the drawings in which  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an aquatic device in accordance with the invention with an unoccupied diving platform.  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 2 is a view showing the result of having the diving platform of FIG. 1 occupied.  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 3A is a plan view of an illustrative base frame float support for the aquatic diving platform of the invention.  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 3B is a view of a triangular plate for securing the fixed tube of the aquatic device to the float support.  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 4 is a partial sectional side view of a lower portion of the fixed tube attached to a float support and surrounded by a movable tube.  
         [0021]    [0021]FIG. 5 is a partial sectional side view of the upper portion of the fixed and movable tubes of FIG. 4.  
         [0022]    [0022]FIG. 6 is top view of the aquatic diving platform of the invention with the fixed and moveable tubes in section.  
         [0023]    [0023]FIG. 7 is a top view of the end cap associated with the moveable tube, and associated structure. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0024]    With reference to the drawings, the aquatic structure  10  of the invention is formed by a support  20  connected to a fixed tube  30  and surrounded by a movable outer tube  40  that has a closeable end cap  41 . Control cables  42  and  43  extend from the pivoted end cap  41  to a diving platform  50 , and a source of fluid pressure, such as supplied by a hose  60 , is connected to the fixed inner tube  30 . The diving platform  50  of FIG. 1 is pivoted, but it could also flex or slide.  
         [0025]    As indicated in FIG. 1, when the diving platform  50  is unoccupied, fluid under pressure applied by the hose  60  rises in the inner tube  30  and forces open the pivoted end cap  41 . The result is that there is an outward spray, indicated by the arrow S, of fluid from above the end cap  41 . When the platform  50  is occupied, as represented in FIG. 2 by the downward pressure arrow D, the pivoted end cap is moved to its closed position. Fluid in the inner tube  30  then applies pressure to the outer tube  40 , causing it to rise. This elevates the platform  50  until the elevation of the outer tube  40  allows fluid escape through vent holes in the outer tube.  
         [0026]    In FIG. 1 the support  20  is formed by four float pontoons. When the support  20  is to be attached to a structure associated with a pool, suction cups may be used and in other circumstances, rubber legs can be used. The pontoons  21 - 1  and  21 - 2  are joined by a side connector  21 , and the float pontoons  22 - 1  and  22 - 2  are joined by a side connector  22 . The connectors  21  and  22  are joined in turn by a cross-connector  24  which is used to fix the location of the inner tube  30  at the center position  24 -C.  
         [0027]    In an alternative form of the support  70 , shown in FIG. 3A, only three pontoons  71 - 1  through  71 - 3  are employed. Pontoons  71 - 1  and  71 - 2  are joined by a connecting leg  72 , and pontoons  71 - 1  and  71 - 3  are joined by a connecting leg  73  The connectors  72  and  73  are in turn joined by a cross-connector  74  where the platform  50  is pivotally secured to the fixed tube (not visible in FIG. 3A.  
         [0028]    In order to secure the fixed tube  30  to the float support  70 , a triangular plate  75  shown in FIG. 3B, may be employed by being secured to the cross-connector  74 , as shown in FIG. 4. In a working embodiment of the invention, the triangular plate  75  was 4″ in height with bolt holes  76 A and  76 B used to attach the plate to the inner tube  30  as shown in FIG. 4. Additional bolt holes  76 C and  76 D secure the plate  75  to the cross-connector  74  also, as shown in FIG. 4. The float Support  70  had legs  72  and  73  that were 5′ in length.  
         [0029]    As shown in FIG. 4, the outer, movable tube or cylinder  40  has a bottom cylindrical end cap  40 C and vent holes, such as the vent hole  40 V in the end cap  40 C There is a pivot  40 P into the end cap for the dive platform  50  and the triangular plate of FIG. 3B is bolted into the column and horizontal base frame of the float support  70 . The fixed inner tube or cylinder  30  can have an elongated key  31  and a keyway  32  in the end cap  40 C for stabilizing the movement of the movable tube or cylinder  40  with respect to the fixed inner tube or cylinder  30 . Also shown in FIG. 4, is one of the vent holes  44  by which water is exhausted when there is an occupant on the dive platform  50  at the end of rise.  
         [0030]    In a working embodiment of the invention, there were five water exhaust holes  44  and four vent holes  44 V.  
         [0031]    The upper structure showing the relationship between the fixed cylinder  30  and the movable cylinder  40  is shown in FIG. 5. The elongated key  31  on one side of the fixed column  30  extends to a ring cap  33  for the fixed column  30 . A toroidal grommet, i.e., “O”-ring,  34  encircles the column cap  33  and provides a seal against the outer cylinder  40 .  
         [0032]    The upper end of the movable cylinder  40  has a cylinder cap  43  with an off-center opening  45  that is closed by a lid  41 L of the pivoted end cap  41 , which includes a pivot arm  41 A and a lid  41 L. A pivot  41 P is located at the top of the outer cylinder  40 . A control cable  42 , for example, of rope, extends from a fitting  41 F at the top of the pivot arm  41 A to the dive platform  50 . In a working model of the invention, the inner and outer cylinders  30  and  40  were approximately 5′ in length.  
         [0033]    Details of the relationship between the dive platform and the cylinders  30  and  40  are shown in FIG. 6. The dive platform  50  is illustratively in the form of a trapezoid with the rope or cable  43  connected at the base of the trapezoid through a hole  51  which allows the end of the rope to be knotted against the base  52 . From the opposite end  53  of the trapezoidal platform  50  extend opposed pivot arms  54 A and  54 B. These arms are in turn affixed to opposite ends of pivot shafts  45 . Also shown in FIG. 6 is a vent hole  40 V which is one of four illustrative vent holes in the base of the cylindrical end cap lob the outer or movable tube or cylinder  40 .  
         [0034]    In the top view of FIG. 7 the interrelation is shown between the fixed cylinder  30  and the movable cylinder  40 .  
         [0035]    It will be understood that the foregoing, detailed description is illustrative only and that modifications and adaptations may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.