Patent Publication Number: US-6901619-B1

Title: Detachable swimming pool mattress

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE PRESENT INVENTION 
   1. Field of Invention 
   The present invention relates to mattress, and more particularly to a detachable swimming pool mattress, which allows the user to self assemble to form a floating platform in a tailor made manner for supporting the user to float on a water surface. 
   2. Description of Related Arts 
   Swimming is one of the most popular sports in the world. During holidays, especially in summer, a lot of people go to beaches or swimming pools with their friends for swimming. Very often, people don&#39;t take swimming very seriously and not treat it as a competition or serious exercise. Rather, a lot of people, especially for the children, would like to go swimming just for fun and enjoy entertainment with water. As a matter of fact, in the United States of America, a lot of people have their own swimming pool in their house for leisure. 
   Just because of this nature, a lot of accessories and equipments have been developed for use during swimming, especially for those basic learners, such as children, and for teenagers who treat swimming as a form of entertainment. Among them, the most notable equipments are floats and swim rings. A conventional float comprises a floating panel which is made of floatable materials, such as foam or plastic, and is cut into a predetermined shape wherein a user of the float can be able to hold on the floating panel while swimming, so that the user is assisted with floating on the water. 
   As a matter of fact, some more sophisticated forms of floats have been developed in order to allow the user to derive enhanced entertainment on the water. For example, giant floating beds have been developed wherein the user may simply lie on them while floating on the water. As such, while floating on water, a user may lie on the giant floating bed and do some other things such as reading, enjoying sun shine, or drinking his/her most favorite beverage. 
   Despite their popularities, such swimming accessories or equipments inevitably suffer some discrepancies. First of all, they are inflexible. For most of the conventional floating beds, they are only designed to function for one particular size. That means when a person, due to his/her body size, is unfit to those floating beds, he/she has no choice but to switch to other equipments, such as a swim ring. However, for those who prefer to use floating bed may be proficient in swimming, and the reason why they prefer using floating beds is that they just want to acquire some fun while floating on the water without making the effort of swimming. In relation to this, it is obvious that an adult floating bed is definitely unsuitable for a child, and for this reason, two floating beds, one for the child and one for the adult, are needed. 
   Second, for those floats which are not inflatable, they present storage and transportation inconvenience for their users. Very often, a non-inflatable float is in the form of a panel which is neither foldable nor reducible to any other more compact structure so that when one is going to transport it or store it, he/she has to transport or store it as such and this usually means considerable occupation of space, whether in a car, in the backyard of one&#39;s house, or even in a cupboard. Thus, a lot of people may be discouraged from using conventional floats just because they feel that they are inconvenient in terms of transportation and storage. 
   Finally, almost all conventional floating beds are limited to individual use. However, most people go swimming with their friends, and they may all want to use floating beds on the water so that they can, for example, chat with each other and have some fun while floating on water. The fact that each floating bed is designed to be used by a single person means that when, for example, five people go together, then five floating beds are inevitably needed. What&#39;s worse is that the five floating beds are not connected together so that while floating on water, each floating bed may float in different direction, thus jeopardizing their very purpose of going together. Even though the size of the floating bed is large enough to allow, for example, two children rested thereon, it may not have the necessary floating capability to support two peoples in a water-floatable manner. In such cases, the floating bed may present a danger to its users. 
   SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION 
   A main object of the present invention is to provide a swimming pool mattress which comprises a plurality of floatable mattress members which is arranged to be retained by a predetermined number of frame holders to form a floating platform for supporting a person rested thereon to float on a water surface. 
   Another object of the present invention is to provide a swimming pool mattress wherein the floating platform is capable of being selectively expanded or reduced in size by engaging or disengaging the mattress members to and from the frame holders respectively. In other words, the size and shape of the floating platform is freely adjustable according to the user&#39;s need and preferences. 
   Another object of the present invention is to provide a swimming pool mattress comprising a plurality of floatable mattress members which is detachable from the frame holders so that the mattress members as well as the frame holders are adapted to be packed in a compact structure for easy transportation and storage. 
   Another object of the present invention is to provide a swimming pool mattress which is adapted to customarily form more than one floating platforms by the plurality of floatable mattress members, so that more than one user can rest on the floating platforms respectively. In other words, the present invention substantially overcomes the difficulty of limited user of conventional floating beds. 
   Another object of the present invention is to provide a swimming pool mattress comprising a plurality of floatable mattress members which are capable of being conveniently and easily connected to the frame holders. In other words, even kids can be able to build up or collapse the swimming pool mattress without needing any help of an adult. 
   Another object of the present invention is to provide a swimming pool mattress which does not involve complicated mechanical structure and expensive structure so that the manufacturing and marketing cost of the present invention can be minimized. 
   Accordingly, in order to accomplish the above objects, the present invention provides a swimming pool mattress for floatably supporting a user on a water surface, comprising: 
   a plurality of floatable mattress members, each having two engaging end portions and a mattress surface extending between the two engaging end portions; and 
   at least two spacedly apart frame holders respectively engaging with the two engaging end portions of each of the mattress members in a detachably connecting manner, wherein the mattress members are retained between the two frame holders to align the mattress surfaces of the mattress members to form a floating platform for supporting the user to rest thereon to float on the water surface. 
   These and other objectives, features, and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description, the accompanying drawings, and the appended claims. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a detachable swimming pool mattress according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
       FIG. 2  is an exploded perspective view of a detachable swimming pool mattress according to the above preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
       FIG. 3  is a sectional view of the detachable swimming pool mattress according to the above preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
       FIGS. 4A  to  4 B are schematic diagrams of the detachable swimming pool mattress according to the above preferred embodiment of the present invention, illustrating that the floating platforms are capable of varying sizes and shapes. 
       FIG. 5  is a first alternative mode of the detachable swimming pool mattress according to the above preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
       FIG. 6  is a sectional view of the detachable swimming pool mattress of the first alternative mode according to the above preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
       FIG. 7  is a second alternative mode of the detachable swimming pool mattress according to the above preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
   Referring to  FIGS. 1  to  2  of the drawings, a swimming pool mattress for floatably supporting a user on a water surface according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention is illustrated. Accordingly, the user is able to grip or rest on the swimming pool mattress of the present invention for floating on a water surface. 
   The swimming pool mattress comprises a plurality of floatable mattress members  10  and at least two frame holders  20 . Each of the floatable mattress members  10  has two engaging end portions  11  formed thereon and an elongated supporting portion extended between the two engaging end portions  11 , wherein a mattress surface  12  is longitudinally formed along the supporting portion of each of the mattress member  10  between the two engaging end portions  11  thereof. 
   The swimming pool mattress further comprises at least two spacedly apart frame holders  20  respectively engaging with the two engaging end portions  11  of each of the mattress members  10  in a detachably connecting manner, wherein the mattress members  10  are retained between the two frame holders  20  to align the mattress surfaces  12  of the mattress members  10  to form a floating platform  13  for supporting the user to rest thereon to float on the water surface. 
   According to the preferred embodiment, the mattress members  10  is made of low-density or water foldable materials having a predetermined buoyancy, such as foam material or polyvinyl chloride (PVC) rubber, so that each of the mattress members  10  is capable of supporting the user on its respective mattress surface  12  while floating on the water surface. Moreover, each of the mattress members  10  can have a cross sectional shape of a circle, square, rectangle, and indeed any other shape. According to the preferred embodiment, each of the mattress members  10  is embodied as having a circular cross sectional shape. 
   As shown in  FIG. 3 , each of the mattress members  10 , which is embodied as an inflatable member, has an air chamber  15  and an air valve  16  communicating with the air chamber  15  for retaining a predetermined amount of air therewithin, in such a manner that each of the mattress members  10  is adapted to be inflated through the air valve  16  to retain the mattress surface  12  of the mattress member  10  between the two engaging end portions  11  thereof, and to be deflated for releasing the air within the air chamber  15 . 
   In other words, the mattress members  10  are made to be air-inflatable which is adapted for floating on a water surface. Thus, the mattress members  10  can be made of elastic yet strong materials such as plastic so that when fully inflated, it is capable of supporting the user on its mattress surface  12  floating on a water surface while the mattress surfaces  12  of the mattress members  10  are lined up to form the floating platform  13 . 
   Each of the frame holders  20  is made of floatable material such as foaming material so as to enhance the floating ability of the floating platform  13  of the detachable swimming pool mattress of the present invention. 
   As shown in  FIG. 2 , each of the frame holders  20  has a plurality of engaging slots  21  alignedly formed therealong wherein the engaging end portions  11  of the mattress members  10  are detachably inserted into the engaging slots  21  respectively such that the mattress surfaces  12  of the mattress members  10  are aligned to form the floating platform  13 . Moreover, the cross sectional shape of each of the engaging slots  21  is corresponding to the cross sectional shape of the respective engaging end portion  11 , so that the engaging end portion  11  of each of the mattress members  10  is fittingly engaged with the respective engaging slot  21 . 
   Accordingly, each of the engaging slots  21  is a through slot transversely aligned through the respective frame holder  20  wherein the engaging end portion  11  of the mattress member  10  is slidably passed through the respective engaging slot  21  so as to mount the mattress member  10  to the frame holder  20 . 
   In other words, the mattress members  10  are substantially retained between the two frame holders  20  to align the mattress surfaces  12  with each other to form the floating platform  13  for supporting a user resting thereon while floating on a water surface, as shown in FIG.  1 . 
   Referring to  FIG. 2  of the drawings, each of the mattress members  10  has two retaining grooves  14  transversely formed around the two engaging end portions  11  of the mattress member  10  respectively to securely retain the engaging end portion  11  of the mattress member  10  with the respective engaging slot  21 . 
   Accordingly, each of the retaining grooves  14  is indently formed at the respective engaging end portion  11  of the mattress member  10  wherein each of the engaging slots  21  is shaped and sized to fittingly hold the respective engaging end portion  11  of the mattress member  10 . In other words, each of the engaging slots  21  has a size slightly larger than a size the retaining groove  14  in such a manner that when the engaging end portion  11  of the mattress member  10  is slidably inserted into the engaging slot  21 , an inner wall of the engaging slot  21  substantially biases against an outer wall of the retaining groove  14  so as to substantially hold the engaging end portion  11  of the mattress member  10  within the engaging slot  21 , as shown in FIG.  3 . 
   Therefore, the mattress members  10  are engaged with the frame holders  20  by slightly squeezing the engaging end portions  11  of the mattress members  10  to slidably insert into the engaging slots  21  respectively until the retaining grooves  14  are substantially aligned with the engaging slots  21  respectively. Then, once the squeezing force is relieved, the two engaging end portions  11  are, by their elastic nature, recovered to their original size and shape in such a manner that the engaging slot  21  substantially surrounds the respective engaging end portion  11  of the mattress member  10  at the retaining groove  14  thereof so as to securely mount the mattress member  10  with the frame holder  20 . 
   As shown in  FIG. 3 , each of the mattress members  10  further has two tapered end  101  having a size gradually reducing from the engaging end portion  11 , wherein the tapered end  101  of each of the mattress members  10  has a size substantially smaller than a size of the engaging slot  21  so as to enhance the engaging end portion  11  of the mattress member  10  to slidably insert into the engaging slot  21  of the frame holder  20 . 
   It is worth to mention that the user can be able to self assemble the detachable swimming pool mattress of the present invention by slidably inserting the engaging end portions  11  of the mattress members  10  into the engaging slots  21  of the frame holders  20  respectively to form the floating platform  13  without any foreseeable difficulty. Thus, the swimming pool mattress can be disassembled for storage or transportation by slidably detaching the engaging end portions  11  of the mattress members  10  from the engaging slots  21  of the frame holders  20 . Therefore, the assembly and disassembly operation of the detachable swimming pool mattress is quick and simple that even a small kid or a teenager is able to complete the operation without necessarily needing the help of an adult. 
   Referring to  FIG. 4A  to  FIG. 4B  of the drawings, the swimming pool mattress is capable of forming different shapes and sizes so as to fit different needs of different user(s). For example, referring to  FIG. 4A  of the drawings, a plurality of frame holders  20  may be utilized for engaging the mattress members  10  into a wide variety of structures as the user(s) decide(s). Then, the swimming pool mattress is capable of being utilized by more than one user, thus substantially overcoming the inherent single user limitation of conventional floating beds. Moreover, the numbers of mattress members  10  used may be dictated by the user so that in accordance with his/her body size, the user is able to utilize an optimal number of mattress members  10  to form an optimal size of the floating platform  13 . Alternatively, as shown in  FIG. 4B  of the drawings, the swimming pool mattress can be expanded to form two or more floating platforms  13  for supporting two or more users floating on a water surface. 
     FIG. 5  illustrates a first alternative mode of the swimming pool mattress in which each of the frame holders  20 ′ comprises a plurality of mattress binders  22 ′ integrally connected with each other wherein each of the mattress binders  22 ′ has the engaging slots  21 ′ formed thereon to detachably engage with the engaging end portions  11 ′ of the mattress members  10 ′ in a detachable connecting manner to form the floating platform  13 ′ as mentioned above. The exterior shape of each of the mattress binders  22 ′ can be circular, rectangular, square, or any other shapes, depending on the circumstances in which the swimming pool mattress&#39; is utilized. For example, fancy shapes, such as a duck-like shape or a fish-like, may be embodied for decoration or promotion purposes. 
   Accordingly, each of the frame holders  20 ′, which is embodied as an inflatable member, has an air cavity  23 ′ and an air regulator  24 ′ communicating with the air cavity  23 ′ for retaining a predetermined amount of air therewithin, in such a manner that each of the frame holders  20 ′ is adapted to be inflated through the air regulator  24 ′ to form the engaging slots  21 ′, and to be deflated for releasing the air within the air cavity  23 ′, as shown in FIG.  6 . Accordingly, the mattress binders  22 ′ are communicated with each other through the air cavity  23 ′ such that during the inflation, the mattress binders  22 ′ are inflated at the same time to form the engaging slots  21 ′ respectively. 
   Each of the mattress members  10 ′ is made of floatable material such as foaming material to enhance the floating ability of the detachable swimming pool mattress of the present invention. In addition, each of the mattress members  10 ′ has two retaining grooves  14 ′ transversely formed around the two engaging end portions  11 ′ of the mattress member  10 ′ respectively to securely retain the engaging end portion  11 ′ of the mattress member  10 ′ with the respective engaging slot  21 ′. 
   Therefore, when the engaging end portions  11 ′ of the mattress members  10 ′ are respectively inserted into the engaging slots  21 ′, the mattress binders  22 ′ binds the engaging end portions  11 ′ of the mattress members  10 ′ to align the mattress surfaces  12 ′ thereof to form the floating platform  13 ′. 
   As shown in  FIG. 6 , each of the mattress members  10 ′ further has two tapered end  101 ′ having a size gradually reducing from the engaging end portion  11 ′, wherein the tapered end  101 ′ of each of the mattress members  10 ′ has a size substantially smaller than a size of the engaging slot  21 ′ so as to enhance the engaging end portion  11 ′ of the mattress member  10 ′ to slidably insert into the engaging slot  21 ′ of the frame holder  20 ′. 
   It is obvious that the mattress members  10 ,  10 ′ and the frame holders  20 ,  20 ′, according to the preferred embodiment and its alternative, are interchangeable that both the mattress member  10  and the frame holder  20 ′ can be made by inflatable structure and both the mattress member  10 ′ and the frame holder  20  can be made of foaming material. 
     FIG. 7  illustrates another alternative mode of the frame holder  20 ″ which comprises a plurality of elastic binders  22 ″ coupling with each other. Each of the elastic binders  22 ′, having an engaging slot  21 ″, is adapted for applying an elastic binding force on the engaging end portion  11 ″ of the respective mattress member  10 ″ in such a manner that when the engaging end portions  11 ″ of the mattress members  10 ″ are respectively inserted into the engaging slots  21 ″, the elastic binders  22 ″ binds the engaging end portions  11 ″ of the mattress members  10 ″ to align the mattress surfaces  12 ″ thereof to form the floating platform  13 ″. 
   Accordingly, each of the mattress members  10 ″ has two retaining grooves  14 ″ transversely formed around the two engaging end portions  11 ″ of the mattress member  10 ″ respectively such that the elastic binders  22 ″ substantially bind up the engaging end portions  11 ″ of the mattress members  10 ″ at the retaining grooves  14 ″ respectively to securely retain the engaging end portion  11 ″ of the mattress member  10 ″ with the respective engaging slot  21 ″. 
   It is worth to mention that each of the mattress members  10 ″ can be embodied as the mattress member  10  having an inflatable structure as shown in  FIG. 3 , or as the mattress member  10 ′ made of foaming material as shown in FIG.  6 . In addition, since the elastic binders  22 ″ bind up the mattress member  10 ″ with the elastic binding force, each of the mattress members  10 ″ may form an irregular shape and is capable of being collapsed to a compact structure so as to minimize the space occupied by the swimming pool mattress for storage or transportation purposes. 
   One skilled in the art will understand that the embodiment of the present invention as shown in the drawings and described above is exemplary only and not intended to be limiting. 
   It will thus be seen that the objects of the present invention have been fully and effectively accomplished. It embodiments have been shown and described for the purposes of illustrating the functional and structural principles of the present invention and is subject to change without departure from such principles. Therefore, this invention includes all modifications encompassed within the spirit and scope of the following claims.