Patent Publication Number: US-7594477-B2

Title: Reconfigurable buoyant apparatus

Description:
BACKGROUND 
   This invention relates to a buoyant device, and more particularly to an aquatic toy having a reconfigurable geometric configuration. 
   Numerous children&#39;s activity devices are useful to entertain and stimulate children playing in water. For example, some toy devices can be thrown into water, such as, for example, a pool. These devices can float on the surface of the water but have limited use because they have one pre-defined shape and configuration. 
   Thus, a need exists for a device that is buoyant and can have a user-specified geometric configuration. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   In one embodiment, a buoyant device includes multiple buoyant members with each buoyant member defining a first aperture and a second aperture. Each buoyant member is coupled to an elongate member such that the elongate member extends from that first aperture to that second aperture. For example, in one embodiment the buoyant device also includes multiple retaining members with each retaining member being fixedly coupled to the elongate member and fixedly coupled to each buoyant member. 
   In another embodiment, the buoyant device can have at least one of a variety of different geometric configurations. For example, in one embodiment, the buoyant members collectively have a buoyancy configured to support a weight of an average user such that at least a portion of the user is above a surface of a liquid when disposed within the liquid. In other embodiments, multiple buoyant devices, each with multiple buoyant members, have collectively a buoyancy configured to support a weight of an average user when disposed within the liquid. The buoyant members are selectively positionable with respect to the elongate member to define a user-specified geometric configuration. In yet another embodiment, the elongate member is configured to limit a distance between each adjacent buoyant member. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a schematic illustration of a buoyant device according to an embodiment of the invention. 
       FIG. 2  is a side view of the buoyant device according to an embodiment of the invention. 
       FIG. 2A  is a cross-sectional view of the buoyant device along the line  2 - 2  of  FIG. 2 . 
       FIGS. 3 and 4  are side perspective views of the buoyant device of  FIG. 2 . 
       FIG. 4A  is a side perspective view of the buoyant device of  FIG. 4 . 
       FIGS. 5-7  are perspective, top and side views, respectively, of a portion of the buoyant device of  FIGS. 2-4 . 
       FIGS. 8 and 9  are perspective views of an elongate member of the buoyant device of  FIGS. 2-7 . 
       FIGS. 9A and 9B  are side views of an elongate member of the buoyant device, according to an embodiment of the invention. 
       FIGS. 10-13  are top, perspective, side, and side views, respectively, of a portion of the buoyant device according to an embodiment of the invention. 
       FIG. 14  illustrates a cross-section of the portion of the buoyant device along the line  14 - 14  of  FIG. 12 . 
       FIGS. 15 and 16  are a top view and a side view of a portion of the buoyant device according to an embodiment of the invention. 
       FIG. 17  is a cross-sectional view of the portion of the buoyant device along the line  17 - 17  of  FIG. 16 . 
       FIG. 18  is a side perspective view of a buoyant device according to an embodiment of the invention. 
       FIG. 19  is a side view of a buoyant device according to an embodiment of the invention. 
       FIG. 20  is a side perspective of a portion of a buoyant device according to an embodiment of the invention. 
       FIG. 21  is a side view of a portion of a buoyant device according to an embodiment of the invention. 
       FIG. 22  is a side view of a portion of a buoyant device according to an embodiment of the invention. 
       FIGS. 22A and 22B  are side views showing internal components of a buoyant device according to various embodiments of the invention. 
       FIGS. 23-25  are perspective views of a portion of a buoyant device according to various embodiments of the invention. 
       FIG. 26  is a side view of the portion of the buoyant device of  FIG. 25 . 
       FIG. 27  is a side view of a portion of a buoyant device according to an embodiment of the invention. 
       FIGS. 28-30  are side views of a portion of a buoyant device according to an embodiment of the invention. 
       FIGS. 31-33  are side views of a portion of a buoyant device according to an embodiment of the invention. 
       FIG. 34  is a cross-sectional view of the portion of the buoyant device of  FIG. 31 . 
       FIG. 35  is an enlarged view of a portion of  FIG. 34 . 
       FIG. 36  is a side view of a portion of a buoyant device according to an embodiment of the invention. 
       FIG. 37  is a side view of a buoyant device including the portion of the buoyant device of  FIG. 36 . 
       FIG. 38  is a cross-sectional view of the buoyant device of  FIG. 38 . 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
   The buoyant device described herein can be place into a liquid, such as, for example a pool of water. For example, the buoyant device can be configured as an aquatic activity device or toy having a user-defined geometric configuration. For example, a user can move the buoyant device from a first geometric configuration to a second geometric configuration. In some embodiments, the user uses the buoyant device to keep a portion of the user above the surface of the water. 
     FIG. 1  is a schematic illustration of a buoyant device according to an embodiment of the invention. An apparatus  100  (also referred herein as a “buoyant device”) can be placed into a body of liquid. As shown in  FIG. 1 , the buoyant device  100  includes an elongate member  110  and buoyant members  120 . The elongate member  110  is slidably coupled to the buoyant members  120 . 
   In one embodiment, the buoyant members collectively have a buoyancy configured to support a weight of an average user such that at least a portion of the user is above a surface of a liquid when disposed within the liquid. In an alternative embodiment, the buoyant members collectively have a buoyancy configured to support a portion of a weight of an average user when disposed within a liquid. More specifically, the buoyant device can aid the buoyancy of the user. For example, the user or child can hold on to or sit on one or more of the buoyant devices to maintain a position at least partially afloat when disposed with a liquid such as, for example, a pool of water. 
   The buoyant members can collectively have a buoyancy configured to support at least a portion of a weight of a user. For example, various embodiments can support the weight of a user up to 40 lbs, 100 lbs, 200 lbs, or 325 lbs such that at least a portion of the user is above a surface of a liquid when disposed within the liquid. Alternatively, multiple buoyant devices can be used to support at least a portion of the user above the surface of a liquid. For example, three buoyant devices, each having a buoyancy configured to support the user a user up to 100 lbs., can be used to support a user that weighs 240 lbs. Similarly, other combinations of buoyant devices can be used by different users of different weights. 
   The buoyant members can collectively form a buoyant device having a length such as, for example, 0.5 ft, 1 ft, 2 ft, 3 ft, 4 ft, 5 ft or 6 ft. In some embodiments, the length of the buoyant device is associated with its buoyancy. For example, the 4 ft buoyant device can have a buoyancy configured to support a portion of the 40 lbs user when disposed within the liquid. In some embodiments, a buoyant device with a length of 6 ft can support a user of more weight than a buoyant device with a length 2 ft such that at least a portion of the user is disposed above the surface of the liquid. 
   Various embodiments of the buoyant device can have a specific gravity, for example, of 0.9, 0.94, 1.1, or 1.2 where specific gravity is a unitless measure of relative density with respect to water. In some embodiments, one buoyant member of the buoyant device can have a different specific gravity than the specific gravity of another buoyant member. 
   In some embodiments, each buoyant member can have the same buoyancy as the each of the other buoyant members. In other embodiments, a buoyant member can have a buoyancy different from another buoyant member of the buoyant device. 
   The buoyant members can be made from any material that provides the appropriate buoyancy and can be used in a liquid for extended periods of time, such as for example, a pool or a lake. For example, the buoyant members can be made from a synthetic material such as a polyurethane foam, a polyethylene foam, an expanded polystyrene or any other open cell or closed cell polymer. The buoyant members can be made from a homogenous materials, multiple non-homogenous materials, and can have an inflatable structure or a solid structure. 
     FIG. 2  is a side view of the buoyant device according to an embodiment of the invention.  FIG. 2A  is a cross-sectional view of the buoyant device along the line  2 - 2  of  FIG. 2 . As shown in  FIGS. 2 and 2A , the buoyant device  200  includes an elongate member  210 , buoyant members  220  and retaining members  240 . 
   Each buoyant member  220  defines a first aperture  224  and a second aperture  226 , and is coupled to the elongate member  210  such that the elongate member  210  extends from that first aperture  224  to that second aperture  226 . Each retaining member  240  is fixedly coupled to the elongate member  210  and fixedly coupled to a buoyant member  220 . In this embodiment, the buoyant members  220  are substantially cubic in shape, however, it should be understood that the buoyant members  220  can be any of a variety of different shapes and configurations, including for example, pyramidal, spherical, octagonal, etc. For example, the buoyant member can be a polyhedron block. In some embodiments, a buoyant member can have a different shape and configuration than that of another buoyant member. 
   The elongate member  210  can be substantially taut and configured to hold the buoyant members  220  in an adjacent arrangement as shown in  FIGS. 2-4 . Adjacent retaining members  240 B,  240 C are configured to limit a distance D between two adjacent buoyant members  220 B,  220 C as shown in  FIG. 3 . Specifically, the retaining members  240  aid in retention of the elongate member  210  within each buoyant member  220 , thereby limiting the length of elongate member between each buoyant member  220 . For example, when the elongate member is elastic, the distance between each of the buoyant members can be increased. In such an embodiment, however, the elongate member has a maximum distance between one buoyant member and an adjacent buoyant member. Additionally, the elastic elongate member will return the buoyant members to an adjacent arrangement once the force stretching the elastic elongate member is removed. 
   A retaining member  240  can be, for example, a washer, a clamp, and the like. In some embodiments, each buoyant member is configured to retain a portion of the elongate member at a fixed location without a retaining member to limit a distance between an adjacent buoyant member. In such embodiments without a retaining member, the buoyant member has a rigidity sufficient to withstand forces produced by tension in the elongate member against the surface of the buoyant member without altering the structure of the buoyant member. In various embodiments (with or without retaining members), the elongate member can be coupled to the buoyant members with a tension such that a maximum distance between any two adjacent buoyant members is, for example, one inch, two inches or three inches. 
   In some embodiments, the elongate member  210  can be configured to aid in maintaining the position of the elongate member  210  within each buoyant member  220 . Thus, the elongate member also limits the distance between adjacent members. For example,  FIG. 3  shows the distance D between a buoyant member  220 B to an adjacent buoyant member  220 C when the elastic elongate member is stretched. 
   For example, the elongate member can have a first knotted portion and a second knotted portion within each buoyant member with a washer retaining member disposed therebetween. Both the first knotted portion and the second knotted portion have a width greater than a diameter defined by an inner aperture of the washer inhibiting their passage through the aperture such that the both the first knotted portion and the second knotted portion of the elongate member are retained with respect to the washer. 
     FIGS. 3 and 4  are side perspective views of the buoyant device of  FIG. 2 . As shown in  FIG. 2 , buoyant members  220  collectively form an elongate body and are selectively positionable with respect to the elongate member  210  to define a user-specified geometric configuration as shown in  FIG. 4 . More specifically, the buoyant device  200  has a first geometric configuration as shown in  FIG. 2  and a second geometric configuration as shown in  FIG. 4  different from the first geometric configuration. The buoyant members  220  are configured to move from the first geometric configuration to the second geometric configuration and vice versa. Specifically, three buoyant members  220 B,  220 C, and  220 F have been pivoted with respect to the elongate member  210  and/or rotated with respect to the elongate member defined by the first geometric configuration. Additionally, the elongate member  210  moves to different positions associated with different portions of the first aperture and the second aperture of at least one of the buoyant members  220 . More specifically, the first geometric configuration defines one axis A. While the second geometric configuration defines  4  independent and distinct axes A, B, C and E. The elongate member  210  is located at a substantially center location with respect to each buoyant member  220  as shown in  FIG. 4A . The elongate member  210  travels along a portion of each of the axes A, B, C and E when in the buoyant device  200  is in the second geometric configuration. 
   Although, only two geometric configurations have been illustrated in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , it should be understood that multiple other geometric configurations can be specified by the user. The user can define any of a variety of different geometric shapes and configurations each defining one or more separate and distinct axes. For example, the buoyant members  220  can collectively form geometric configurations that are substantially, but are not limited to, S-shaped, J-shaped, circular, rectangular, ovular, etc., and any combination thereof. 
   In some embodiments, the total number of geometric configurations possible is associated with the number of apertures of each buoyant member. In some embodiments, the number of apertures of each buoyant member is more than one or two to allow an increased number of geometric configurations of the buoyant device. In some embodiments, the apertures can be any of a variety of different shapes, including for example, L-shaped, U-shaped, X-shaped, etc. In some embodiments, the apertures are off set from the center of the block. In some embodiments, the aperture is curved. 
     FIGS. 5-7  are perspective, top and side views, respectively, of a portion of the buoyant device of  FIGS. 2-4 .  FIG. 5  illustrates a buoyant member  220  having a first aperture  224  and a second aperture  226 . A portion of the wall  228  defining the first aperture  224  and a portion of the a wall  230  defining the second aperture  226  collectively define a hole  232  having an area associated with an area of a cross-section of the elongate member  210  as shown in  FIG. 6 .  FIGS. 5-7  each illustrate the geometric relation of the first aperture  224  to the second aperture  226 . 
     FIGS. 8 and 9  are perspective views of an elongate member of the buoyant device of  FIGS. 2-7 . The elongate member  210  includes a sheath  216  and strands  218  disposed within the sheath  216  as illustrated in  FIG. 8 . The sheath  216  protects the strands from damage by contact with the buoyant members  220 , the retaining members  240 , and external debris such as, for example, dirt, dust, etc. The strands  218  increase the durability of the elongate member  210 . For example, the elongate member  210  can still function even if a strand  219  is damaged or breaks. The strand  219  is illustrated in  FIG. 9 . In one embodiment, the elongate member  210  is elastic to allow the elongate member  210  to increase its length to help permit the multiple geometric configurations discussed above. In an alternative embodiment, the elongate member  1510  includes a sheath  1516  that defines a lumen  1517  as shown in  FIGS. 9A and 9B . 
   In some embodiments, the elongate member is composed of multiple elastic elongate member segments linked together. In some embodiments, the elongate member is a cord. In some embodiments, the elongate member is constructed from a rubber or rubber-like material. For example, the elongate member can be surgical tubing or the like. 
     FIGS. 10-13  are top, perspective, first side and second side views, respectively, of a portion of the buoyant device according to an embodiment of the invention.  FIG. 10  illustrates a buoyant member  320  defining a first aperture  324  and a second aperture  326 , and is coupled to an elongate member such that the elongate member extends from that first aperture  324  to that second aperture  326 . In this embodiment, the portion  334  of the first aperture  324  is substantially circular and located concentrically with the hole  332  defined by the portion of wall  328  defining the first aperture  324  and the portion of the wall  330  defining the second aperture  326 .  FIG. 14  illustrates a cross-section of the buoyant member  320  along the line  14 - 14  of  FIG. 12 . The substantially circular portion  334  of the first aperture  324  has a diameter associated with a diameter defined by a retaining member, such as, for example, a washer. 
     FIGS. 15 and 16  are a top view and a side view of a portion of the buoyant device according to an embodiment of the invention. A buoyant member  420  includes a first aperture  424  and a second aperture  426  and is coupled to an elongate member such that the elongate member extends from that first aperture  424  to that second aperture  426 . The first aperture  424  including a substantially circular portion  434  located concentrically with the hole  432  defined by the portion of wall  428  defining the first aperture  424  and the portion of the wall  430  defining the second aperture  426 .  FIG. 17  is a cross-sectional view of the buoyant member  420  along the line  17 - 17  of  FIG. 16 . The substantially circular portion  434  of the first aperture  424  has a diameter smaller than a diameter defined by a retaining member to fixedly dispose the retaining member within the buoyant member  420 . More specifically, the buoyant member  420  defines a retaining member cavity  422  substantially concentric with the hole  432 . 
     FIG. 18  is a side view of a buoyant device according to an embodiment of the invention. The buoyant device  500  includes multiple buoyant members  520  and multiple retaining members. In this embodiment, the buoyant device  500  includes multiple elongate members  510 , each elongate member  510  extending from one buoyant member  520 A to an adjacent buoyant member  520 B. Each elongate member  510  is fixedly coupled to the retaining member of the buoyant member  520 A and the retaining member of the adjacent buoyant member  520 B. The multiple elongate members  510  permit the buoyant members  520  to define more geometric configurations as shown in  FIG. 18 . In this embodiment, each buoyant member  520  includes a retaining member configured to fixedly retain one or more elongate members. In an alternative embodiment, the elongate member can be fixedly coupled to multiple buoyant members. In some embodiments, multiple elongate members extend from one buoyant member to an adjacent buoyant member. 
   In another alternative embodiment, the buoyant members  620  of the buoyant device  600  collectively form an enclosed loop as shown in  FIG. 19 . In other embodiments, the buoyant members of the buoyant device collectively form more complex shapes without free ends. 
   In yet another alternative embodiment, the elongate member includes the retaining member and is configured to releasably couple to one or more elongate members. In this embodiment, the buoyant device includes an elongate member  710  having a first end portion  712  and a second end portion  714  opposite the first end portion  712  as shown in  FIG. 20 . The first end portion  712  of the elongate member  710  is configured to releasably couple to a second end portion of another elongate member (e.g., similar to second end portion  714 ). The second end portion  714  of the elongate member  710  is configured to releasably couple to a first end portion of another elongate member (e.g., similar to first end portion  712 ). In this embodiment, the first end portion  712  defines a ball shape. The second end portion  714  defines a socket configured to receive the ball shape from a first end portion from another elongate member. Similarly, the first end portion  712  is configured to receive the socket-type end portion from another elongate member. 
   In another example, the first end portion  712 B of a first elongate member  710 B can releasably couple to the second end portion  714 A of a second elongate member  710 A as shown in  FIG. 21 . The socket of the second end portion  714 A has a width larger than a width associated with an aperture of a buoyant member to fixedly retain the socket within the buoyant member. 
   In one embodiment, the first elongate member  710 B is associated with a single buoyant member and is configured to couple to the second elongate member  710 A associated with another single buoyant member. 
   In another embodiment, the first elongate member  710 B is associated with multiple buoyant members and is configured to couple to the second elongate member  710 A associated with one or more other buoyant members. The first elongate member can be, for example, associated with three buoyant members: a first buoyant member, a second buoyant member, and a third buoyant member. The first end portion of the first elongate member that defines the ball shape can be disposed in the first buoyant member. The second end portion of the first elongate member that defines the socket can be disposed within the third buoyant member. The first elongate member can be disposed, in part, within the second buoyant member without disposing the ball defined by the first end portion nor the socket defined by the second end portion within the second buoyant member. 
     FIG. 22  is a side view of a portion of a buoyant device, according to an embodiment of the invention. The buoyant member  820  defines a first aperture  824  and a second aperture. The first aperture  824  is shaped such that a width of the first aperture  824  at a distal end is greater than a width of the first aperture  824  at a center as shown in  FIG. 22 . The buoyant member  820  is configured to releasably couple to the elongate member. In some embodiments, the buoyant member is permitted to flex to facilitate the coupling and decoupling of the elongate member from the buoyant member. In some embodiments, the second aperture of the buoyant member is shaped the same as the first aperture. 
     FIG. 22A  is a side view of a buoyant device with internal components shown in phantom, according to an embodiment of the invention. The buoyant device  1300  includes a buoyant member  1320 , a first elongate member  1310 A, a second elongate member  1310 B and a third elongate member  1310 C. Each of the elongate members  1310  has a first end portion  1312  that defines a ball shape and a second end portion  1314  that defines a socket shape as described in the above embodiments. The buoyant member  1320  is coupled to each of the elongate members  1310 . The buoyant member  1320  defines a first aperture (not shown) and a second aperture (not shown). At least one of the elongate members  1310  is coupled to the buoyant member  1320  such that the elongate members  1310  extend from the first aperture to the second aperture. The second end portion  1314 B of the second elongate member  1310 B is coupled to the first end portion  1312 A of the first elongate member  1310 A. The first end portion  1312 C of the third elongate member  1310 C is coupled to the second end portion  1314 A of the first elongate member  1310 A. The buoyant member  1320  is coupled to each of the elongate members  1310 . In other words, multiple elongate members are associated with one buoyant member. The buoyant member  1320  defines multiple slots or rings  1350  to permit the buoyant member  1320  to flex or bend. In some embodiments, the buoyant member  1320  can maintain a flexed or bent shape. 
     FIG. 22B  is a side view of a buoyant device with internal components shown in phantom, according to an embodiment of the invention. The buoyant device  1400  includes a first buoyant member  1420 A, a second buoyant member  1420 B, a third buoyant member  1420 C and an elongate member  1410 . Each of the buoyant members  1420  define a first aperture (not shown) and a second aperture (not shown). Each of the buoyant members  1420  are coupled to the elongate member  1410  such that the elongate member  1410  extends from that first aperture to that second aperture for each respective buoyant member. In other words, one elongate member is associated with multiple buoyant members. In some alternative embodiments, multiple elongate members can be associated with multiple buoyant members. 
     FIGS. 23-25  are perspective views of a portion of a buoyant device according to various embodiments of the invention. In one embodiment, the hole defined by the first aperture  924  and the second aperture  926  of the buoyant member  920  is off center as shown in  FIG. 23 . In another embodiment, the buoyant member  1020  includes a third aperture  1027  as shown in  FIG. 24 . Specifically, at least a portion of both the first aperture  1024  and the third aperture  1027  intersect the second aperture  1026 . 
   In another embodiment, the buoyant member  1120  defines a first aperture  1124 , a second aperture  1126 , a third aperture  1125  and a fourth aperture  1127  as shown in  FIG. 25 . The buoyant member  1120  is coupled to a first elongate member such that the first elongate member extends from first aperture  1124  to second aperture  1126 . The buoyant member  1120  is coupled to a second elongate member such that the second elongate member extends from third aperture  1125  to fourth aperture  1127 . Specifically, the lines  26 A- 26 A and  26 B- 26 B of  FIG. 26  illustrate one of a variety of orientations of the first elongate member and the second elongate member, respectively. More specifically, the buoyant member  1120  is configured such that the first elongate member and the second elongate member do not intersect. 
   In some embodiments, the buoyant member  1120  is configured such that the first elongate member, corresponding to line  27 A- 27 A, passes over the second elongate member, corresponding to line  27 B- 27 B, as shown in  FIG. 27 . 
     FIGS. 28-30  are side views of a portion of a buoyant device according to an embodiment of the invention. The buoyant member  1620  defines a first aperture  1624  and a second aperture  1626 . In this embodiment, the buoyant member  1620  has an octagonal shape. 
     FIGS. 31-33  are side views of a portion of a buoyant device according to an embodiment of the invention. An end cap  1752  is configured to help retain the elongate member  1710  within the buoyant members  1720  and to help maintain an adjacent configuration of the buoyant device  1700  as shown in  FIG. 37 .  FIG. 38  is a cross-sectional view of  FIG. 37  along line A-A. Specifically, the end cap  1752  has an inner retention surface  1754  configured to engage an end buoyant member  1720 .  FIG. 36  is a side view of the end buoyant member  1720 . The end cap  1752  has a connection portion  1760  that defines a lumen  1756  therethrough. The lumen  1756  is configured to receive the elongate member  1710 .  FIG. 34  is a cross-sectional view of  FIG. 31  along line A-A.  FIG. 35  is an enlargement of a ridge portion  1758  of  FIG. 34  along line B. The ridge portion  1758  is configured to help the end cap  1752  retain a fixed position with respect to the end buoyant member. 
   While various embodiments of the invention have been described above, it should be understood that they have been presented by way of example only, and not limitation. Thus, the breadth and scope of the invention should not be limited by any of the above-described embodiments, but should be defined only in accordance with the following claims and their equivalents. While the invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to specific embodiments thereof, it will be understood that various changes in form and details may be made. 
   For example, a buoyant device can include various combinations and sub-combinations of the various embodiments described herein.