Patent Publication Number: US-2018028867-A1

Title: Pool noodle connector

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims priority to Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62/366774 filed Jul. 26, 2016, the entire contents of which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. 
    
    
     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
     Not Applicable. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to toys for children and adults, and more particularly for a device for forming interlocked structures of the elongated cylindrical foam materials used as water toys, and frequently referred to as foam pool noodles. 
     Pool noodles are foam tubes which float in the water and are used for recreation in and out of the water. Foam pool noodles typically have a hollow core. In Leemon, U.S. Pat. No. 6,554,677 a building kit is shown to connect foam tubes together to make play structures. In Samlaska, U.S. Pat. No. 9,272,226 a constructible water toy is shown with connectors and large links to interconnect noodles. 
     The art described in this section is not intended to constitute an admission that any patent, publication or other information referred to herein is “prior art” with respect to this invention, unless specifically designated as such. In addition, this section should not be construed to mean that a search has been made or that no other pertinent information as defined in 37 C.F.R. §1.56(a) exists. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention provides a unique connector for connecting foam pool noodles together to enable an individual to combine a plurality of foam pool noodles into a structure of a desired shape. A single connector may be manipulated into a 4-way connector, a 3-way “T” connector, a 2-way corner connector or a straight connector as desired by an individual. The connector may be formed of a plastic, typically polypropylene material having a square central web to which living hinges are disposed at up to all 4 sides, which in some embodiments form up to 4 legs. Each leg may have simple bar-like projections which facilitate the retention of a leg of the connector for retention within the interior of a pool noodle. The projections deter separation of the leg of the connector from the pool noodle following insertion therein. 
     The living hinge may be formed by simply compressing the plastic at a desired location proximate to the central web establishing a joint/hinge which has a reduced thickness dimension. The joint/hinge is flexible to bend back and forth. Once a leg is folded over upon another portion of the connector, the manipulated leg reinforces the opposing leg by covering the bendable joint of the opposing leg, therefore strengthening it. Legs which are not folded may articulate in a desired direction relative to the central web. In some embodiments the non-folded legs may be articulated to a position all the way back against the central web. 
     In some embodiments, two connectors may also be joined together to form an eight way connector. A hole in the center/hub of the connector allows for a fastening method such as a bolt or rivet. This singular mounting point allows each connector to rotate individually relative to each other. Also two connectors may be inserted into the end and central hollow area in the same pool noodle. 
     The foam pool noodle has an elongate hole extending through the center of the pool noodle. One or more legs of the connector may slide into the hole. The connectors combined with the pool noodles allow structures to be formed. These structures can be used indoors, outdoors, or within water. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       A detailed description of the invention is hereafter described with specific reference being made to the drawings in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the connector; 
         FIG. 2  is a top view of the connector; 
         FIG. 3  is a top view showing one leg folded back forming a 3-way Tee connector; 
         FIG. 4  is a top view showing two legs folded back to form a corner connector; 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view showing four legs folded to form a straight connector; 
         FIG. 6  is a perspective view showing connector legs inserted into a pool noodle; 
         FIG. 7  is an end view of a pool noodle with a leg inserted into the pool noodle; 
         FIG. 8  is a view of a connector connected to two pool noodles; 
         FIG. 9  is a view showing two connectors affixed together through a central web opening; 
         FIGS. 10  shows a structure which may be formed the connectors of the invention. 
         FIGS. 11  shows a structure which may be formed the connectors of the invention. 
         FIGS. 12  shows a structure which may be formed the connectors of the invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       FIG. 1  shows a connector  10  which includes a central web  12  having four edges. Each respective edge includes a first living hinge  14 , a second living hinge  16 , a third living hinge  18  and a fourth the hinge  20 . Attached to and extending from the living hinges are legs  22   a,    22   b,    22   c,  and  22   d.  One or more of the legs  22   a - d  are designed to be inserted and secured within an opening  32  of a pool noodle  30  as best shown in  FIG. 6  and  FIG. 7 . The legs  22   a - d  may be sized to friction fit in the opening  32  of a pool noodle and may include projections  24  which may be in the form of barbs or other projections which would tend to dig into the interior of the opening  32  in the pool noodle  30  material to increase the holding force. The connector  10  and legs  22   a - d  are releasably engaged to a pool noodle  30 . In some embodiments, the projections  24  include a ramp surface  34  and a vertical grasping surface  42 . The ramp surface  34  facilitates insertion of a leg  22   a - d , and the grasping surface  42  deters the outward separation of the legs  22   a - d , from the interior of the pool noodle  30 , once the legs  22   a - d  are inserted within the opening  32 . 
       FIG. 2  shows the connector  10  with four legs  22   a - d . The connector  10  of  FIG. 2  may have one leg  22   a  folded back against itself represented by arrow  38 , through the use of the living hinge  14 , as shown in  FIG. 3 , to effectively become a 3-way “T” connector capable of being simultaneously secured to three separate pool noodles  30 . Two legs  22   a  and  22   b  may be folded as represented by arrows  38  and  40  through the use of living hinges  14  and  16  as shown in  FIG. 4 , to make a corner connector  10  in which two pool noodles  30  may be secured. 
     In some embodiments the thickness of the connector  10  proximate to the living hinges  14 - 20  allows more than one leg  22   a - d  to be inserted within an opening  32  in a pool noodle  30 . 
     As may be seen in  FIG. 5  a first leg  22   a  may be folded upwardly via the living hinge  14  and a third leg  22   c  may be folded upwardly via living hinge  18  to be substantially parallel to the first leg  22   a.  The first and third legs  22   a  and  22   c  may then be inserted into a single opening  32  of a pool noodle  30 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 5 , the legs  22   a - d  may be folded to provide a straight connector  10  in which two pool noodles  30  are secured longitudinally. This configuration may also occur when the second leg  22   b  is folded rearwardly via the living hinge  16  and the fourth  22   d  is folded rearwardly via the living hinge  20  to be substantially parallel to the second leg  22   b.  The second and fourth legs  22   b  and  22   d  may then be inserted into a second opening  32  in a second pool noodle  30  as longitudinally aligned to the first pool noodle  30 . 
     In this manner, the attachment is quite rigid since the living hinges  14 - 20  do not provide much flex once they are disposed in a folded configuration. Also, when one leg is folded onto another leg as in  FIG. 4 , it forms a much more rigid joint which may be desired for some constructions/configurations of pool noodles  30 . 
       FIG. 6  shows a connector  10  in a 3-way configuration being inserted into an opening  32  in a pool noodle  30 . In the configuration of the connector  10  in  FIG. 6  the second leg  22   b  is folded by the living hinge  16  towards and over the central web  12 , and a portion of the fourth leg  22   d.  The second leg  22   b  and fourth leg  22   d  may then be inserted into the opening  32  of a pool noodle  30  as a 3-way “T” connector. 
     Referring back to  FIG. 4 , the first leg  22   a  is folded over central web  12  and partially over third leg  22   c  via the living hinge  14 . The second leg  22   b  is folded over a portion of the first leg  22   a,  the central web  12 , and a portion of the fourth leg  22   d  to form an “L” shaped corner connector  10 . (Please also see  FIG. 8 ) 
     The remaining legs  22   a  and  22   c  may then be secured into two additional pool noodles  30 .  FIG. 7  shows an end view of a pool noodle  30  with a connector leg  22   a - d  inserted within opening  32 .  FIG. 8  shows the connector  10  of  FIG. 4  in a corner configuration attached to two pool noodles  30 . 
     In the figures, optional openings  36  may be formed in the legs  22   a - d  which would decrease the amount of plastic used as well as to reduce weight of the connector  10 . A central opening  44  may be formed within central web  12  as shown in  FIGS. 1, 2 and 9 . Opening  44  may be used to join one connector  10  to a second or subsequent connector  10  by a rivet, bolt or even string to interconnect the connectors  10  to each other, forming an 8 legged connector  10 . In some embodiments any number of legs may be used in the formation of a connector  10  and the number of legs identified herein has been provided for purposes of illustration of the numerous alternative configurations for the connectors  10 . 
       FIGS. 10-12  show some of the structures which may be formed from pool noodles  30  and connectors  10  of the invention. It should be noted that an almost infinite number of configurations of pool noodles  30  may be formed through the use of a plurality of connectors  10 . 
     In one embodiment, polypropylene may be used to form the connector  10 . Other alternative materials may be used provided the same provide a suitable living hinge  14 - 20 . In some embodiments, the connectors  10  may be molded in a single step with compression on each corner of central web  12 , to thin out the plastic to form a living hinge  14 - 20 . 
     Although the central web  12  of the connector  10  is shown in each of the figures with all four possible legs, the connectors may be formed with fewer than four legs, or the legs may be removed by being cut off as desired. It is also noted that the central web  12  may have only three edges and at least two living hinges. It is possible to have a central web  12  with more than four edges and living hinges although interference with adjacent pool noodles may be an issue as the number increases. 
     In a first embodiment a connector for pool noodles comprises a central web having at least three edges and at least two of the edges including a living hinge and a leg extending from the living hinges. 
     In a second embodiment according to the first embodiment, the central web has four edges and four living hinges, each of the living hinges having a leg extending therefrom. 
     In a third embodiment according to the second embodiment, each of the legs comprises a plurality of grasping members. 
     In a fourth embodiment according to the third embodiment, the legs have a first position and a second position, at least one of the legs extending outwardly from the central web in the first position and at least one of the legs being disposed over the central web and at least partially over another of the legs in the second position. 
     In a fifth embodiment according to the fourth embodiment, at least one of the legs is in the second position and the connector is “T” shaped. 
     In a sixth embodiment according to the fifth embodiment, at least one of the legs is manipulated from the first position to the second position about the living hinge. 
     In a seventh embodiment according to the sixth embodiment, at least one of the legs having a first position and a second position, at least one of the legs extending outwardly from the central web in the first position and at least one of the legs extending perpendicularly outward from the central web in the second position. 
     In a eightieth embodiment according to the seventh embodiment, two legs extend perpendicularly outward from said central web in a first direction. 
     In a ninth embodiment according to the eightieth embodiment, two legs extend perpendicularly outward from said central web in a second direction. 
     In a tenth embodiment according to the ninth embodiment, the first direction is offset from the second direction by 180 degrees. 
     In an eleventh embodiment according to the tenth embodiment, the first direction is offset from said second direction by 90 degrees. 
     In a twelfth embodiment according to the third embodiment, the connector further comprises a first leg, a second leg, a third leg and a fourth leg, wherein the first leg has a first position and a second position, the first leg extending outwardly from the central web in the first position and the first leg being disposed over the central web and at least partially over the third leg in the second position. 
     In a thirteenth embodiment according to the twelfth embodiment, the second leg has an extended position and a folded position, the second leg extending outwardly from the central web in the extended position and the second leg being disposed partially over the first leg, the central web and at least partially over the fourth leg in the folded position. 
     In a fourteenth embodiment according to the thirteenth embodiment, the legs are folded to form the connector in the shape of an “L”. 
     In a fifteenth embodiment according to the third embodiment, the connector further comprises a second connector engaged to the central web of the connector. 
     In a sixteenth embodiment according to the fifteenth embodiment, the second connector is rotatably engaged to the central web of the connector. 
     In a seventeenth embodiment according to the sixteenth embodiment, the second connector is offset from the connector by 90 degrees. 
     While this invention may be embodied in many different forms, there are shown in the drawings and described in detail herein specific preferred embodiments of the invention. The present disclosure is an exemplification of the principles of the invention and is not intended to limit the invention to the particular embodiments illustrated. 
     This completes the description of the preferred and alternate embodiments of the invention. Those skilled in the art may recognize other equivalents to the specific embodiment described herein which equivalents are intended to be encompassed by the claims attached hereto.