Abstract:
According to one aspect, embodiments of the invention provide a seat construction for a float, the seat construction comprising an upper layer made of a first plastic material, a lower layer made of a second plastic material, and a middle layer made of a reinforced plastic material, wherein the middle layer is interposed between the upper layer and the lower layer, and wherein the upper layer and the lower layer are bonded together around an outer edge of the seat construction.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119(e) to U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/226,128, entitled “SEAT CONSTRUCTION FOR BABY FLOAT,” filed Jul. 16, 2009, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety for all purposes. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     At least one example in accordance with the present invention relates generally to floating pool and beach toys for babies and toddlers. 
     2. Discussion of Related Art 
     Floating pool and beach toys are oftentimes utilized to keep a young child, such as a baby or toddler, floating at the surface of a body of water while preventing the child from becoming submerged in the water. One example of a common floating pool and beach toy  100 , illustrated in  FIG. 1 , includes a seat  102  affixed to and surrounded by a flotation device  104 , such as a ring. A young child&#39;s legs (not shown) are inserted into apertures  106  in the seat  102  and the seat  102 , in cooperation with the flotation device, supports the weight of the child and keeps the child afloat while the flotation device  104  rests on top of the water. 
     SUMMARY 
     Aspects in accord with the present invention are directed to a safe, sturdy and reliable seat construction for a baby float. 
     In one aspect the present invention features a seat construction for a float comprising an upper layer made of a first plastic material, a lower layer made of a second plastic material, and a middle layer made of a reinforced plastic material, wherein the middle layer is interposed between the upper layer and the lower layer, and wherein the upper layer and the lower layer are bonded together around an outer edge of the seat construction. 
     According to one embodiment, the upper layer, the lower layer and the middle layer each include at least one pair of aligned apertures. In another embodiment, the lower layer and the middle layer are bonded together around the circumference of each aperture. In one embodiment, the lower layer is folded over at least one of the middle layer and the upper layer around the circumference of each aperture. 
     According to another embodiment, the first plastic material and the second plastic material are Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC). In one embodiment the first plastic material is transparent. In one embodiment the reinforced plastic material is PVC mesh. In another embodiment the reinforced plastic material is laminated PVC. 
     According to one embodiment, the upper layer has a smaller diameter than the lower layer. In another embodiment the middle layer has a smaller diameter than the upper layer and the lower layer. In one embodiment, the middle layer is encompassed entirely by the upper and lower layers. In another embodiment the lower layer is configured to be bonded to a flotation device. 
     In another aspect the present invention features a method for constructing a seat for a float. The method may comprise interposing a layer of reinforced plastic material between an upper layer of plastic material and a lower layer of plastic material, and welding the upper layer of plastic material to the lower layer of plastic material around an outer edge of the seat. 
     According to one embodiment, the layer of reinforced plastic material, the upper layer and the lower layer each include at least one pair of aligned apertures, and the method may further comprise welding the layer of reinforced plastic material, the upper layer and the lower layer to each other around an edge of each aperture. 
     According to another embodiment, the method may further comprise folding the lower layer over at least one of the layer of reinforced plastic material and the upper layer around an edge of each aperture. In one embodiment, the method may further comprise welding the lower layer to a flotation device around an edge of the lower layer. 
     In another aspect the present invention features a seat construction for a float. The seat construction may comprise an upper layer made of a first plastic material, a lower layer made of a second plastic material, and means for reinforcing the seat construction, wherein the means for reinforcing the seat construction is interposed between the upper layer and the lower layer, and wherein the upper layer and the lower layer are bonded together around an outer edge of the seat construction. 
     According to one embodiment, the upper layer, the lower layer and the means for reinforcing the seat construction each include at least one pair of aligned apertures. In another embodiment, the upper layer, the lower layer and the means for reinforcing the seat construction are bonded together around the circumference of each aperture. In one embodiment, the lower layer is folded over at least one of the means for reinforcing the seat construction and the upper layer around the circumference of each aperture. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
       The accompanying drawings are not intended to be drawn to scale. In the drawings, each identical or nearly identical component that is illustrated in various FIGs. is represented by a like numeral. For purposes of clarity, not every component may be labeled in every drawing. In the drawings: 
         FIG. 1  is a diagram of a common floating pool and beach toy; 
         FIG. 2  is an exploded view diagram of a seat construction in accordance with aspects of the present invention; and 
         FIG. 3  is a diagram of an assembled seat construction in accordance with aspects of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     For the purposes of illustration only, and not to limit the generality, the present disclosure will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying figures. This disclosure is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangement of components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The disclosure is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or being carried out in various ways. Also the phraseology and terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. The use of “including,” “comprising,” “having,” “containing,” “involving,” and variations thereof herein, is meant to encompass the items listed thereafter and equivalents thereof as well as additional items. 
     As described above, a common floating pool and beach toy  100  may include a seat  102  affixed to and surrounded by a flotation device  104 . One example of a common construction of the seat  102  includes two layers of 7P sheet stock vinyl connected to form a seat construction (thickness) of 12 gauge to 16 gauge. However, such a construction of the seat  102  may result in strength and integrity problems. For example, when a seat constructed of only two vinyl layers is exposed to sunlight and heat, plasticizers within the vinyl may leach out at an accelerated rate, resulting in a weakening of the seat. As the seat weakens, it becomes susceptible to tearing, particularly in the area between the two apertures  106 . If the vinyl in the seat begins to tear, the child being supported by the seat  102  may fall through the torn seat  102  into the water. 
       FIG. 2  illustrates an exploded view of one embodiment of a seat construction  200  in accordance with the present invention. The seat construction  200  may mitigate the seat strength and integrity problem outlined above and provide a safe, sturdy and reliable seat for young children. 
     The seat construction  200  includes an upper seat layer  202 , a lower seat layer  204  and a seat support layer  206 . Each seat layer  202 ,  204 ,  206  includes a pair of apertures  208 . 
     In one embodiment, the upper  202  and lower  204  seat layers are made of Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC). However, it is to be appreciated that the upper  202  and lower  204  seat layers may be made of any type of plastic capable of being welded by known techniques. Also, as illustrated in  FIG. 2 , the upper seat layer  202  has a slightly smaller diameter (i.e. 284 mm) than the lower seat layer  204  (300 mm). However, in other embodiments, the diameters of the upper  202  and lower  204  seat layers may be defined differently. For example, in one embodiment, the diameter of the lower seat layer  204  is smaller than the diameter of the upper seat layer  202  and in another embodiment, the diameters of the lower  204  and upper  202  seat layers are the same. 
     As illustrated in the embodiment of  FIG. 2 , the seat support layer  206  is made of PVC mesh  210 . However, it is to be appreciated that the seat support layer  206  may be made of any type of reinforced plastic material such as laminated PVC. Also, in one embodiment, the seat support layer  206  is smaller in diameter (i.e. 268 mm) than the upper  202  and lower  204  seat layers (i.e. 284 mm and 300 mm respectively). However, in other embodiments, the diameter of the seat support layer  206  may be substantially the same as the diameter of the upper  202  and/or lower  202  seat layers. 
     The seat support layer  206  is interposed between the upper seat layer  202  and the lower seat layer  204  so that the apertures  208  are aligned. The seat support layer  206  provides added support and integrity to the seat construction  200  when the seat construction is connected to a flotation device (not shown). In one embodiment, the upper seat layer  202  is transparent, so as to make the seat support layer  206  visible to a user, thereby providing assurance to the person placing the child in the seat of the safety of the seat. 
       FIG. 3  illustrates an assembled seat construction  300  in accordance with at least one embodiment of the present invention. According to one embodiment, the upper  202  and lower  204  seat layers are welded together around an outer circumference  302  of the seat construction  300 . 
     According to one embodiment, at the apertures  208 , the lower  202 , upper  204  and seat support  206  layers are welded together. For example, in one embodiment, the outer edge of the lower  204  seat layer is folded over both the seat support layer  206  and the upper layer  202  at the apertures  208  and the three layers  202 ,  204 ,  206  are welded together to form a strong seal  304 . In another embodiment, at the apertures  208 , the lower seat layer  202  is folded only over the upper layer  202  and the upper  202  and lower  204  seat layers are welded together to form a seal  304 . 
     The outer edge or rim  306  of the lower  204  seat layer is welded to a flotation device (not shown) (i.e. to a side wall of the flotation device). It is to be appreciated that if the seat support layer&#39;s  206  diameter is less than that of the upper  202  and lower  204  seat layers, the seat support layer  206  may be encompassed entirely by the welded together upper  202  and lower  204  seat layers. 
     By including an independent, flexible and stable seat support layer  206  of reinforced plastic material in the seat construction  300 , the strength and integrity of the seat construction  300  is increased. When the legs of a user (i.e. a young child such as a baby or toddler) are inserted into the apertures  208  and the user is placed on the seat construction  300 , the seat construction supports the weight of the user and the seat support layer  206  helps to prevent structural failure of the seat. 
     Having thus described at least one embodiment of the present disclosure, various alternations, modifications and improvements will readily occur to those skilled in the art. Such alterations, modifications and improvements are intended to be within the scope and spirit of the disclosure. Accordingly, the foregoing description is by way of example only and is not intended to be limiting. The disclosure&#39;s limit is defined only in the following claims and equivalents thereto.