Abstract:
A platform structure surrounded by water is disclosed. The platform structure is put together with rigid hollow tubes passing through recesses and internal passages of inflated sacks floating on the water surface, to support a series of rigid slats under the water. The series of slats comprise a firm and flat underwater platform in the middle of two or more inflated sacks floating on the water surface. The apparatus is specially designed to be disassembled and carried compactly on the trunk of an automobile, with the sacks deflated and the series of slats rolled up. The rigid hollow tubes which join together the sacks and the slats can also be separated from one another.

Description:
FILING HISTORY  
       [0001]    This application is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 09/751,784 filed on Dec. 29, 2000 and application Ser. No. 10/384,690 filed on Mar. 11, 2003 and application Ser. No. 10/682,828 filed on Oct. 10, 2003. 
     
    
     
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    Field of the Invention  
           [0003]    The present invention relates generally to the field of recreational equipment for supporting people in the water. More specifically, the present invention relates to an underwater platform structure comprised of a series of rigid slats, supported by rigid aluminum tubes extending all the way from said slats to inflated sacks with cushioned surfaces floating on the water surface on opposite sides of said slats.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0004]    A main object of the present invention is to provide a safe and comfortable recreational platform structure for supporting people above the surface of the water and also under the surface of the water. The apparatus includes two cushioned above the water platforms on opposite sides of one rigid underwater platform. The rigid underwater platform is supported by a rigid aluminum structure secured to opposite inflatable sacks floating on the water surface.  
           [0005]    Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a lightweight apparatus which can be disassembled and compacted for transportation to the beach or lake in, for instance, the trunk of a car or the bed of a pick-up truck.  
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0006]    The object, advantage and features of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following discussion taken in conjunction with the following drawings, in which:  
         [0007]    [0007]FIG. 1 shows a rigid aluminum segment  2  having a grip  3  and a circular ring  19 .  
         [0008]    [0008]FIG. 2 shows a joint  4  with side openings which serve to connect segment  2  with another similar rigid aluminum segment  6 .  
         [0009]    [0009]FIG. 3 shows cylindrical aluminum segments  2  and  6  interconnected by joints  4  to form two pairs of rigid side arms  7 .  
         [0010]    [0010]FIG. 4 is a close up of joint  4  connecting segments  2  and  6 .  
         [0011]    [0011]FIG. 5 shows rectangular-like inflatable sacks  8  with inner longitudinal passages  10  across their width. The inner longitudinal passages end on C-shaped recesses  11  on the long sides of said sacks.  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 6 shows how connected segments  2  and  6  can be snugly fitted inside inner longitudinal passages  10  to assemble sets of inflatable sacks  8 .  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 7 shows a series of rigid slats  44  joined together by two pairs of elastic bands  101 . The slats can be made of aluminum. The elastic bands secure the slats to one another in different positions, including that shown in FIG. 7, where the slats appear aligned side by side to comprise a straight sheet of aluminum.  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 8 shows slats  44  secured together by the two pairs of elastic bands  101 , but in folded or rolled form for compact and convenient storage and transportation.  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 9 shows slats  44  as they form a flat and rigid surface secured by elastic bands  101  and also a pair of rigid parallel aluminum tubes  102  secured underneath said slats. Aluminum tubes  102  are also connected to perpendicular aluminum tubes  87  which are connected further to circular aluminum rings  18 .  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 10 additionally shows four separate short rigid aluminum segments  22  secured to circular rings  18 . Short rigid segments  22  are passed through said circular rings  18  and secured thereto with pins  20 .  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 11 further shows a set of three inflatable sacks  8  connected to a side of slats  44  and a second set of three inflatable sacks  8  secured to an opposite side of said slats  44 . Slats  44  are all shown at approximately the same level as the sets of inflatable sacks  8  on opposite sides of the apparatus.  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 12 finally shows the complete apparatus  50 , which includes four additional rigid segments, namely, long rigid segments  28 , secured on top of short rigid segments  22 .  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 13 shows the apparatus  50  as it is deployed for use, with tubes  102  and  87  and slats  44  lowered a few feet under inflatable sacks  8  to provide a recreational underwater platform, as said inflatable sacks float on the water surface, providing cushioned above the water platforms on opposite sides of said slats and stability to the entire apparatus.  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 14 shows a small inflatable sack  149  attached underneath tubes  102  and  87  and slats  44 . Sack  149  is equipped with an air hose  167 , which is then connected to an air pump  168  out of the water. This optional accessory serves to inflate a sack underwater to readily lift the underwater platform from beneath the water surface.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0021]    As required, detailed embodiments of the present invention are disclosed herein. However, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the invention which may be embodied in various forms. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the present invention in virtually any appropriately detailed structure.  
         [0022]    Reference is now made to the drawings, wherein like characteristics and features of the present invention shown in the various FIGURES are designated by the same reference numerals.  
         [0023]    [0023]FIG. 1 shows an aluminum segment  2 , consisting of a hallow rigid tube having a cylindrical shape, a circular ring  19  on one end and a grip  3  on the other end.  
         [0024]    [0024]FIG. 2 shows joint  4  with side openings, one of which can be used to insert grip  3  of segment  2  and secure it thereto.  
         [0025]    [0025]FIG. 3 shows that grip  3  of cylindrical hallow tubes or rigid segments  6  can likewise be inserted inside an opposite side opening of joint  4 , to assemble a pair of rigid side arms  7 , with combinations of aluminum segments  2  and  6 .  
         [0026]    [0026]FIG. 4 shows how grip  3  of segments  2  and  6  is locked inside joint  4 . Each grip  3  has a pin  64  which retracts inside grip  3  as a spring  65  is pressed. As the spring then returns to its normal extended position, pin  64  locks grip  3  inside a central chamber on joint  4 .  
         [0027]    [0027]FIG. 5 shows a set of three identical rectangular-like inflatable sacks  8 . Each inflatable sack  8  has two separate inner longitudinal passages  10  across its width, which end on C-shaped recesses  11  on the long sides of said sacks. The longitudinal passages  10  are shown generally parallel with their counterpart passages but spaced not so distantly to be adequately separated from the edges of the short sides of said rectangular-like sacks.  
         [0028]    [0028]FIG. 6 shows how connected rigid segments  2  and  6  can be snugly fitted inside inner longitudinal passages  10  to assemble sets of side by side inflatable sacks  8 , with said rigid aluminum segments  2  and  6  located well underneath the cushioned surfaces of said sacks when inflated. Circular rings  19  at the end of the pair of rigid side arms  7  (formed by connected segments  2  and  6 ) are located within C-shaped recesses  11  and thus do not protrude beyond the main periphery of said rectangular-like sacks. Joints  4  connecting rigid segments  2  and  6  are also shown within opposing C-shaped recesses  11 .  
         [0029]    [0029]FIG. 7 shows a series of rigid slats  44  joined together by two pairs of elastic and parallel bands  101 . The slats can be made of aluminum. As shown in this FIGURE the elastic bands secure the slats side by side to comprise a straight aluminum sheet. The elastic bands thus allow the rigid slats to be readily positioned in horizontal alignment.  
         [0030]    [0030]FIG. 8 shows the series of rigid slats  44  no longer in horizontal alignment but rolled up as elastic bands  101  hold them together. This rolled or folded position of slats  44  facilitates their storage and transportation when not in use.  
         [0031]    [0031]FIG. 9 shows slats  44  as they form a flat and rigid surface secured by elastic bands  101  and also a pair of rigid parallel aluminum tubes  102  removably secured underneath said slats by suitable fasteners (e.g., screws). Tubes  102  are interconnected to four perpendicular rigid tubes  87 , also underneath slats  44 . Each of the four perpendicular tubes  87  is then connected to a circular ring  18 . Aluminum tubes  102  rigidly support slats  44 , so that the set of slats comprise a flat and firm underwater surface, even as people stand or walk over it. But as said aluminum tubes  102  are removed and said slats  44  are again joined together only by the two pairs of elastic bands  101 , the slats can be rolled up as previously shown in FIG. 8.  
         [0032]    [0032]FIG. 10 additionally shows four separate short rigid aluminum segments  22 . Each said rigid segment  22  is secured to a different circular ring  18 . Short rigid segments  22  are passed through circular rings  18  and removably secured thereto with pins  20  passing through holes  90 .  
         [0033]    [0033]FIG. 11 shows a set of three inflatable sacks  8  and a pair of rigid side arms  7  connected to a side of slats  44  and another set of three inflatable sacks  8  and a pair of rigid side arms  7  secured to an opposite side of said slats  44 . The slats and the two sets of inflatable sacks are all shown connected at approximately the same level. Slats  44  are connected between the pairs of side arms  7  and the two sets of inflatable sacks  8  with short rigid segments  22 , which secure circular rings  19  and  18 . Each one of the four short rigid segments  22  passes through a circular ring  19  (of segments  2  of side arms  7 ) and a circular ring  18  (of perpendicular tubes  87 ), and is removably secured thereto with upper pins  58  and lower pins  20 , which rest on corresponding holes  98  and  90 . Upper pins  58  thus secure short rigid segments  22  to circular rings  19  while lower pins  20  secure the same short rigid segments to circular rings  18 . Circular rings  18  are located underneath circular rings  19 .  
         [0034]    [0034]FIG. 12 then shows the apparatus  50 , which includes four additional rigid segments, namely, long rigid segments  28 , which are secured over short rigid segments  22  and are in essence a long rigid extension of said short rigid segments.  
         [0035]    [0035]FIG. 13 shows the apparatus  50  as it is deployed for use, with slats  44  aligned horizontally and lowered a few feet under inflatable sacks  8  to provide a recreational underwater platform, while said inflatable sacks float on the water surface, providing cushioned above the water platforms on opposite sides of said slats and also support and stability to the entire apparatus. The lowered slats give people the opportunity to stand or walk over a flat and firm surface with their lower bodies under the water. To lower slats  44  as shown in this FIGURE the four upper pins  58  are removed from corresponding holes  98  so that short and long rigid segments  22  and  28  can slide downward. Upper pins  58  are thus shown in FIG. 13 resting on holes  99  (not  98 ) in the upper end of long rigid segments  28 . Holes  99  are located immediately under stopper  29  on top of long rigid segments  28 . However, long rigid segments  28  could also have other intermediate holes (not shown) between holes  99  and  98 , where pins could rest to hold the underwater platform at an intermediate depth. Stoppers  29  are designed to stop the downward slide of short and long rigid segments  22  and  28  so that upper pins  58  can be more easily introduced on holes  99 .  
         [0036]    [0036]FIG. 14 shows a small-sized inflatable sack  149  underwater, underneath lowered slats  44  and tubes  102  and  87 . This small inflatable sack is optional and has a flexible air hose  167  connected to an air pump  168  out of the water. Inflatable sack  149  is designed to remain deflated while apparatus  50  is deployed for use and is intended to be inflated only to facilitate the lifting of the underwater platform (comprised of slats  44 , elastic bands  101 , and tubes  102  and  87 ) from beneath the water surface, once upper pins  58  are removed from holes  99 .