Patent Abstract:
An inflatable device that floats on water has an inflatable body that has a hollow interior, a speaker unit removably secured to the body, a battery box removably secured to the body, and wiring that electrically connects the speaker unit with the battery box. The wiring is housed inside a tube that extends inside the hollow interior of the body and exits the body at least one exit location, the wiring including a first electrical connector that is removably coupled to the speaker unit, and a second electrical connector that is removably coupled to the battery box.

Full Description:
RELATED CASES 
     This is a continuation application of Ser. No. 12/454,591, filed May 20, 2009, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,988,512, whose disclosures are incorporated by this reference as though fully set forth herein. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention is directed to inflatable devices that are adapted for use in water environments, and in particular; to inflatable devices that have electronic devices incorporated therewith. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     Inflatable devices such as pool floats are popular recreational products that are used at pools and beaches. These products are intended to float on the water, and some are intended to carry or support a user or other items. Many such floats are adapted to carry drinks, toys or other amusement items that the user can use while enjoying the float. Pool users often enjoy using electronic devices at the pool. Examples include boom boxes, radios, MP3 players, cell phones, and similar devices. 
     Unfortunately, air leaks and water leaks are serious concerns in such applications. Air leaks can be caused by ineffective sealing of the wires if the wires are to extend inside the inflatable device. Water leaks would lead to water contacting electrical components, which can be hazardous and dangerous. 
     Therefore, there remains a need for inflatable devices that allow electronic devices to either be used, or incorporated for use, therewith in water-based environments. 
     SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     To accomplish the objectives set forth above, the present invention provides an inflatable device that floats on water. The device has an inflatable body that has a hollow interior, a speaker unit removably secured to the body, a battery box removably secured to the body, and wiring that electrically connects the speaker unit with the battery box. The wiring is housed inside a tube that extends inside the hollow interior of the body and exits the body at least one exit location, the wiring including a first electrical connector that is removably coupled to the speaker unit, and a second electrical connector that is removably coupled to the battery box. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is an perspective view of a pool float assembly that incorporates electronic devices according to the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is an perspective view of a floating assembly that incorporates electronic devices according to the present invention. 
         FIG. 3  is an perspective view of a jacuzzi assembly that incorporates electronic devices according to the present invention. 
         FIG. 4  is an perspective view of a floating music bag assembly that incorporates electronic devices according to the present invention. 
         FIG. 5  is an exploded side view of a speaker unit with the latching assembly of the present invention. 
         FIG. 6  is an exploded perspective view of the latching assembly of the present invention. 
         FIG. 7  is an exploded side view of an MP3 battery box of the present invention. 
         FIG. 8  is a side plan view of the MP3 battery box of  FIG. 7 . 
         FIG. 9  is an enlarged view of the area indicated by the circle A in  FIG. 8 . 
         FIG. 10  is an exploded cross-sectional view of the MP3 battery box of  FIG. 7 . 
         FIG. 11  illustrates the connections between the MP3 battery box and the speaker units. 
         FIG. 12  is an enlarged view of the wiring of  FIG. 11 . 
         FIG. 13  is an exploded cross-sectional view of a plug and a jack according to the present invention. 
         FIG. 14  is a cross-sectional view showing the plug and jack of  FIG. 13  connected together. 
         FIG. 15  is an enlarged view of the area B shown in  FIG. 14 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     The following detailed description is of the best presently contemplated modes of carrying out the invention. This description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating general principles of embodiments of the invention. The scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims. 
       FIG. 1  illustrates a pool float assembly  20  according to one embodiment of the present invention. The assembly  20  includes a conventional pool float  22 , one or more speaker units  24 , and an MP3 battery box  26 . The pool float  22  can be the same as any conventional pool float that is available in the marketplace, and includes cavities  28  provided in the back portion  30  for receiving respective speaker units  24 , and another cavity  32  in the arm rest portion  34  for receiving the MP3 battery box  26 . The speaker units  24  and the MP3 battery box  26  are secured to the cavities  28 ,  32  in the manner described below. 
       FIG. 2  illustrates a floating assembly  40  according to another embodiment of the present invention. The assembly  40  includes a floating device  42 , one or more speaker units  44 , and an MP3 battery box  46 . The floating device  42  can be the same as any conventional inflatable floating device or floating ring that is available in the marketplace, and includes cavities  48  provided in the body  50  for receiving respective speaker units  44 , and another cavity  52  in the body  50  for receiving the MP3 battery box  46 . The speaker units  44  and the MP3 battery box  46  are secured to the cavities  48 ,  52  in the manner described below. 
       FIG. 3  illustrates a jacuzzi assembly  60  according to yet another embodiment of the present invention. The assembly  60  includes a jacuzzi sidewall  62 , one or more speaker units  64 , an MP3 battery box  66 , and a lighting device  70 . The jacuzzi sidewall  62  can be the same as any conventional jacuzzi that is available in the marketplace, and includes cavities  68  provided in the top of the sidewall  62  for receiving respective speaker units  64 , and another cavity  72  in the top of the sidewall  62  for receiving the MP3 battery box  66 . The speaker units  64  and the MP3 battery box  66  are secured to the cavities  68 ,  72  in the manner described below. In addition, the lighting device  70  can be secured in a cavity  74  provided in an inner wall of the jacuzzi using the techniques described below. 
       FIG. 4  illustrates a floating assembly  80  according to another embodiment of the present invention. The assembly  80  includes a floating ring  82 , one or more speaker units  84 , and an MP3 battery box  86 . The floating ring  82  can be the same as any conventional inflatable floating ring that is available in the marketplace, and includes cavities  88  provided in the body  90  for receiving respective speaker units  84 , and another cavity  92  in the body  90  for receiving the MP3 battery box  86 . The speaker units  84  and the MP3 battery box  86  are secured to the cavities  88 ,  92  in the manner described below. 
       FIG. 5  illustrates a speaker unit  24 , with the other speaker units  44 ,  64  and  84  having the same construction. The speaker unit  24  has a speaker housing  102  that houses the internal components and circuitry of a conventional speaker, and a speaker section  104  at the top of the housing  102  where sounds are broadcast. The housing  102  is preferably made of a waterproof material such as plastic, ABD or PP. 
     Referring also to  FIG. 6 , a latching assembly that includes a base latch  106  and a device latch  108  is provided to secure the speaker unit  24  inside the appropriate cavity  28 ,  48 ,  68 ,  88  to that the speaker unit  24  does not become disengaged and contact water. In particular, the base latch  106  has a base portion  110  that is permanently attached (e.g., by ultrasonic welding) to the wall of the body (e.g.,  30 ,  50 ,  62  and  90 ) of the inflatable device  22 ,  42 ,  62  or  82 . The base latch  106  further includes a central shaft portion  112  that extends upwardly from the base portion  110 , and a flat top cap  114  that is greater in diameter than the shaft portion  112  so that an annular flange  116  extends around the top of the shaft portion  112 . A plurality of vertical ribs  118  extend from the base portion  110  along the annular wall of the shaft portion  112  to the flange  116 . The ribs  118  function to prevent the speaker unit or the battery box from freely rotating about the connection between the base latch  106  and the device latch  108 , because the rotation may damage the connecting plugs and wires of the speaker unit and battery box. The three ribs  118  limit the rotation of the speaker unit and the battery box to a maximum of 120 degrees. The device latch  108  has a flat generally circular panel  120  that is mounted by three screws (via screw holders  121 ) to the bottom of the speaker housing  102 , and a plurality of flexible legs  122  extending in spaced-apart manner about the annular edge of the panel  120 . Each leg  122  has an inwardly-facing hook portion  124 . In use, the device latch  108  is pressed against the top cap  114  of the base latch  106  until the legs  122  are flexed and the hook portions  124  secured below the flange  116 . This secures the device latch  108  (and its speaker unit  24 ) to the base latch  106 . The latches  106 ,  108  are disengaged by gripping the speaker housing  102  with one hand and then pulling it upwardly, causing the legs  122  to flex and pass around the flange  116 . 
       FIGS. 7-10  illustrate an MP3 battery box  26 , with the other MP3 battery boxes  46 ,  66  and  86  having the same construction. The MP3 battery box  26  has a battery housing  130  that houses a battery  131  and associated circuitry and components, an MP3 container portion  132  which is like a removable tray that holds an MP3 player (not shown), and a top cap  134 . The MP3 container portion  132  is positioned inside the battery housing  130  above the battery  131 , with top cap  134  positioned above the battery housing  130  to seal the battery housing  130 . As shown in  FIG. 8 , a silicon O-ring  136  can be provided between the top cap  134  and the housing  130  to further prevent leakage of water into the interior of the MP3 battery box  26 . The housing  130  is preferably made of a waterproof material such as plastic, ABS or PP. The MP3 container portion  132  can be used to hold small items such as an MP3 player, an IPOD, a cell phone, or a repair kit in a waterproof environment. 
     Referring to  FIG. 3 , the lighting device  70  has a housing that houses a light-emitting element  78  (e.g., a light bulb, LEDs, or LCDs) and associated circuitry and wiring. The latching assembly of  FIG. 6  can be provided to secure the lighting device  70  to a cavity  74 . 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 11-12 , the MP3 battery box  86  can be electrically connected to the speaker units  84  by wires  140  that extend inside the body  90  of the assembly  80 . In particular, each inflatable device (such as a floating ring) is made up of a body (such as  90 ) that has a hollow interior is that adapted to be filled by air when inflated. The wires  140  extend through the hollow interior of the body  90 , and can be used to deliver electrical signals and power between the speaker units  84  and the MP3 battery box  86 . The wires  140  are covered by PVC™ tubes  142  that also extend in the hollow interior of the body  90 . A plug  144  (i.e., an electrical connector) is provided at the opposite ends of each wire  140 , with each plug  144  adapted to be removably connected with a corresponding jack  146  (i.e., another electrical connector; see  FIGS. 13-15 ) that is provided at either the speaker unit  84  or the MP3 battery box  86 . An exit flange  148  (see  FIGS. 11-12 ) of a stereo plug can be ultrasonically welded on the PVC™ tube  142  to the material of the body  90  at the locations where the wires  140  and their PVC™ tube  142  exit the hollow interior of the body  90 . The use of the PVC™ tube  142  to retain the wires  140  minimizes air leaks. Specifically, the locations (i.e., where the flanges  148  are located) where the wires  140  exit the interior of the body  90  are where air is most likely to escape from the interior of the body  90 . By providing the wires  140  inside the tube  142 , and by sealing the tube  142  at the exit locations via use of the flanges  148 , air from inside the body  90  will have to go through a complicated path to escape. For example, the air would have to penetrate the tube  142 , and then escape from inside the tube  142  via the flange  148 . In contrast, if the tube  142  were omitted, and the wires  140  made to exit directly from the flanges  148 , then the air can escape directly via the exit locations. Thus, the provision and arrangement of the tubes  142  further minimizes air leaks. 
     In addition, referring to  FIGS. 13-15 , a silicone O-ring  150  can be provided on an extension  152  of the plug  144  which is to be inserted into the bore  154  of the jack  146  to further water-proof this connection between the plugs  144  and the jacks  146 . 
     Even though  FIG. 11  illustrates the electrical connections in connection with the assembly  80  of  FIG. 4 . the same principles can be applied to the assemblies  20 ,  40  and  60  in  FIGS. 1-3 . For jacuzzis in  FIG. 3  that do not have inflatable walls, then the tubes  142  are not needed and can be omitted. 
     While the description above refers to particular embodiments of the present invention, it will be understood that many modifications may be made without departing from the spirit thereof. The accompanying claims are intended to cover such modifications as would fall within the true scope and spirit of the present invention.

Technology Classification (CPC): 1