Abstract:
The invention relates to a floating leisure platform with a heating device (A) for food and a seating facility ( 14 ) for one or several people.

Description:
[0001]     This application is a continuation in part of PCT/EP2004/010852 filed on Sep. 28, 2004 and claims Paris Convention priority of DE 103 47 159.6 filed on Oct. 2, 2003 as well as DE 10 2004 008 155.7 as filed on Feb. 12, 2004. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     The invention concerns a floating leisure platform.  
         [0003]     There are conventional floating leisure platforms in the form of rafts, which are, however, relatively unattractive. The use of hired boats that can be driven on water by physical effort is also known (pedal boats). These devices no longer meet the leisure requirements of today&#39;s public.  
         [0004]     It is therefore the underlying purpose of the invention to provide a floating leisure platform having a high leisure value, which is attractive and offers a wider variety of use.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0005]     This object is achieved by combining the two conventional objects such as floating boats driven by physical effort (pedal boats) with a barbecue unit which is integrated and floatingly disposed in the platform, the platform having two drives which are mounted thereto. All connections of the supporting components are plug-in to obtain a leisure device which is easy to transport and requires little storage space (e.g. for storing the device outside of the swimming season). Further advantageous measures are described in the dependent claims. The invention is shown in the drawings and is explained in more detail below.  
         [0006]     This object is achieved by a leisure platform that can be used on all water surfaces during leisure time and which is, in particular, provided with a drive means in the form of drive units. The platform has a heating device, in particular, a barbeque, a wok or the like for food with a protective device to prevent inadvertent touching of this device, and an adjustable sunshade.  
         [0007]     The combination of moving on water surfaces, and at the same time being able to prepare food is new. A heating device for food that can be carried by a person is disclosed in DE 101 45 231.  
         [0008]     The inventive leisure platform offers an increased variety of use, since the leisure platform is provided with a drive, a sun shade, seats, shelves, storage compartments and a heating device for food, such that the owners of leisure parks, camping sites or artificial lakes etc. can offer the leisure platform to their guests.  
         [0009]     The leisure platform is advantageous in that it can be used to increase the attractiveness of leisure centers and be provided for free or be rented.  
         [0010]     The flexible and simple commercial usability of the leisure platform and the possibility to explore new business opportunities e.g. for all kinds of leisure parks, camping sites, artificial lakes etc. distinguishes the inventive leisure platform from a conventional raft.  
         [0011]     In one variant of the invention, a storage device for gas bottles, in particular oxygen bottles for divers, is provided in addition to or instead of the heating device (A). This increases the leisure value of the leisure platform. Alternatively or additionally, a means for observing the bottom of the body of water may be provided which can be used like a module instead of the heating device. To improve the view of the bottom, the observing device comprises a magnifying lens. Underwater floodlights may also be provided.  
         [0012]     Further advantages, features and details of the invention can be extracted from the following detailed description of a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention with reference to the drawing. The features shown in the drawing and mentioned in the description and the claims may be essential to the invention either individually or in arbitrary combination. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING  
       [0013]      FIG. 1   a  shows a first longitudinal section through the leisure platform;  
         [0014]      FIG. 1   b  shows a second longitudinal section through the leisure platform;  
         [0015]      FIG. 2   a  shows a first cross-section through the leisure platform;  
         [0016]      FIG. 2   b  shows a second cross-section through the leisure platform;  
         [0017]      FIG. 3   a  shows a first perspective view of the leisure platform;  
         [0018]      FIG. 3   b  shows a second perspective view of the leisure platform;  
         [0019]      FIG. 4   a  shows a first detailed view of the floatingly disposed barbeque unit;  
         [0020]      FIG. 4   b  shows a second detailed view of the floatingly disposed barbeque unit; and  
         [0021]      FIG. 5  shows an detail view of the leisure platform, illustrating additional features thereof. 
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0022]     The version of a circular or torus-shaped leisure platform shown in  FIGS. 1   a  through  4   b  corresponds to a preferred embodiment of the leisure platform as claimed in the claims. Other shapes, e.g. a rectangular shape, are also feasible.  
         [0023]     The leisure platform shown in  FIGS. 1   a  through  4   b  substantially consists of a central bottom plate  1  to which five main supports  2   a  through  2   e  are inserted and secured via insertion bolts. A storage compartment  3  for gas bottles  4  of a heating device A, i.a. a barbeque, is mounted to the bottom plate  1  (see  FIGS. 4   a  and  4   b )  
         [0024]     Eight supporting blocks  5  are mounted to the storage compartment  3 , which are necessary to receive the barbeque tray and divide the individual storage compartments  6  associated with each seat. The supporting blocks  5  have a ball  7  disposed in a simple manner on the inclined side which ensures floating disposal of the barbeque tray  8  ( FIGS. 4   a  and  4   b ).  
         [0025]     Seven table units  9  are mounted between the supporting blocks  5 . The table unit on the entrance side is omitted ( FIGS. 3   a  and  3   b ). These table units  9  are produced from an appropriate material and comprise a table with an edge to prevent things from falling off and one storage compartment  6  for each passenger. Additional holders  10  for drinks may be mounted to these table units  9 .  
         [0026]     The barbeque tray  8 , which is provided with gas burners  11  connected to each other via flexible gas hoses  12  and connected to the gas bottles  4  via a plug coupling  13 , has a protective device  29  protecting the passengers from inadvertently contacting the grill. It is screwed to the barbeque tray  8  via spacers  30  ( FIGS. 4   a  and  4   b ).  
         [0027]     The protective device  29  is thermally insulated and does not transfer the heat from the lower to the upper side. It consists of two disks which permit passage of barbeque smoke through slots ( FIGS. 4   a  and  4   b ).  
         [0028]     The use of flexible gas hoses  12  does not impair the movability of the barbeque tray  8  in case of unexpected shocks. The barbeque tray  8  may be removed from the cavity having the shape of the contour of the barbeque tray  8 , if required. The supporting blocks  5  and the table unit  9  thereby define this cavity with outer shapes assuming the contours of the barbeque tray  8 .  
         [0029]     When the barbeque unit has been assembled as is shown in  FIGS. 4   a  and  4   b , the seating ring segments  14  which are deep-drawn from plastic material, are inserted between the main supports  2   a  through  2   e . These seating ring segments  14  may have the same size and also consist of an inflatable material. Three main supports  2   a ,  2   d  and  2   e  comprise three guiding rails  15  on each side, which serve to connect the seating ring segments  14  to the main supports  2   a  through  2   e . They also ensure correct seating of the seating ring segments  14 .  
         [0030]     The seating ring segments  14  are screwed in a non-positive manner to the main supports  2   a ,  2   e  via screws  16  and conical holes provided on the outside of the edge of the seating surfaces. Each main support  2   a ,  2   e  has a guiding rail  15  on only one side to produce an entrance area  17  ( FIGS. 3   a  and  3   b ). Each of the main supports  2   a ,  2   b  additionally comprises a handrail  19  having the shape of a quarter of a circle which ensures safe entry to the entrance area  17 .  
         [0031]     After assembly of the above-described components, one obtains an annular, floating platform having a barbeque unit which is separate from the main structure. The drive units B and a sunshade  18  are subsequently mounted. The sunshade  18  is mounted to a curved hollow profile  20  plugged to the main support  2   c  via a flexible holder  21 . The flexible holder  21  permits turning of the sunshade  18  in all directions to provide shade for the overall platform, depending on the requirements.  
         [0032]     In order to move the leisure platform on water surfaces, the drive units B are movably mounted to the main supports  2   d ,  2   e . The drive units B each consist of a motor-driven diving drive  22  known from diving, and a main receptacle  23  and a mounting clamp  24 . The diving drive  22  is clamped between the main receptacle  23  and the mounting clamp  24  and these components, taken together, have an inner diameter corresponding to the outer diameter of the diving drive  22 . The main receptacle  23  and the mounting clamp  24  are attached to each other via screws. In case the platform runs aground, e.g. on the bottom of a lake, the drive units B are hinged to the main supports  2   d ,  2   e  via sleeves  26  mounted to each of the main supports  2   d ,  2   e . The main receptacle  23  has the shape of a fork at the top to surround the sleeve  26 . The bolt  27  provides a hinged connection to the drive unit B and the main supports  2   d ,  2   e.    
         [0033]     The platform is controlled via a control panel comprising two buttons. By pressing the left hand button, the right hand diving motor  22  is started and the platform moves to the left. By pressing the right hand button on the control panel, the left hand diving motor is started and the platform moves to the right. By pressing both buttons at the same time, the platform moves forward.  
         [0034]     The control pad is connected to a cable at the control electronics  28  provided in the center of the storage compartment  3 . Two cables extend from the control electronics  28  through the main supports  2   d ,  2   e  to the respective drive units B to pass on the control commands entered via the control panel to the drive units B to permit navigation of the platform.  
         [0035]     It must be emphasized that all components are formed as modules. This reduces production costs and permits rapid assembly of the leisure platform. The space required for storage is also small since the platform can be stored in a disassembled or partially disassembled state.  
         [0036]     The torus consists of two halves of substantially the same design. The entrance region  17  is manufactured by inserting a slider into the injection mold at the appropriate position. The holder for the drive motor is manufactured on the opposite side with the assistance of an additional slider, inserted into the injection mold. The basic shape of the device nevertheless remains substantially the same. The two halves have pins and holes and a peripheral seal on their abutting surfaces to prevent water from entering.  
         [0037]     As best seen in  FIG. 5 , the outer periphery  40  of the torus has depressions above the water line  42  into which advertising signs or solar cells  44  (which may also be in the form of a sheet) can be clipped, screwed on, or plugged in using appropriate fastening means  46 . The depressions have a depth which corresponds to the thickness of the signs, such that these are recessed with their outer surface being substantially flush with the outer surface  40  of the torus. Since the torus is made from plastic material, glued sheets may not adhere well. For this reason, clipped, plugged, or screwed in signs are preferred, in particular, since they cannot loosen in water. The advertising signs  44  can moreover be exchanged more easily than glued sheets and can be re-used. The solar cells  44  serve for electric drive, for music, or for illumination. Moreover, the seating surfaces  48  in which the inserts  44  fit can also be separately clipped on and removed from corresponding holders  50 . In this manner, certain color combinations can be used which are associated with the colors of a particular company. The device may be used in water and also ashore, and therefore comprises feet  52 , which may be detachable. The entrance region  17  is provided with a step  54  to ease access and exiting while nevertheless maintaining the structure well above the water line  42 .