Abstract:
An inflatable water toy that includes a base and a plurality of legs and that is shaped like a spider. In a first, upright position, the legs extend upward and outward so that the ends of the legs touch the water. The base for the inflatable water toy is positioned against the water, and one or more people may float on top of the base. In a second position, the inflatable water toy is turned upside down, and the tips of the legs extend upwards. Each of the legs thus forms a saddle in which a user may sit, and the base extends like a table top between the saddles provided by the legs.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     The present invention is related generally to inflatable products, and more specifically to inflatable water toys.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     Swimming is a recreational activity that is enjoyed by children and adults, especially in the hot summer months. People flock to pools, lakes, and rivers to pass the time on a hot summer&#39;s day.  
         [0003]     When at or in the water, people often enjoy a variety of different pool toys, including water games, dive toys, and inflatables, such as loungers and inflatable toys. These toys and floats provide entertainment and comfort while in the water.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0004]     The following presents a simplified summary of some embodiments of the invention in order to provide a basic understanding of the invention. This summary is not an extensive overview of the invention. It is not intended to identify key/critical elements of the invention or to delineate the scope of the invention. Its sole purpose is to present some embodiments of the invention in a simplified form as a prelude to the more detailed description that is presented later.  
         [0005]     In accordance with an embodiment, an inflatable water toy is provided that includes a base and a plurality of legs. In an embodiment, the inflatable water toy is shaped like a spider, but may have a number of legs other than eight.  
         [0006]     In an embodiment, the inflatable water toy includes a base to which legs attach. The legs extend upward from the base and curl in a C-shaped manner so that they extend initially upward from the base and then downward, almost directly opposite the initial direction of the legs.  
         [0007]     The inflatable water toy may be used at least two different ways. In a first position, the bottom of the base for the inflatable water toy is positioned against the water, and the legs extend upward and curl downward so that the ends of the legs touch the water. One or more people may float on top of the base, or hang onto the legs. In a second position, the inflatable water toy is turned upside down so that the top of the base is in contact with the water, and the tips of the legs extend upwards. Each of the legs thus forms a saddle in which a lightweight user may sit, and the base extends like a table top between the saddles provided by the legs. The inflatable water toy may be used in a similar manner on land, with users situated between legs and the base serving as a table.  
         [0008]     Other features of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the drawings, in which:  
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0009]      FIG. 1  is a top side perspective view of an inflatable water toy in accordance with an embodiment of the invention;  
         [0010]      FIG. 2  is a top side perspective view of the inflatable water toy of  FIG. 1 , with the inflatable water toy shown in water, with a couple of users playing with the inflatable water toy;  
         [0011]      FIG. 3  is a bottom side perspective view of the inflatable water toy of  FIG. 1 ; and  
         [0012]      FIG. 4  is a side view of the inflatable water toy of  FIG. 1 , shown upside down and in use in a swimming pool.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0013]     In the following description, various embodiments of the present invention will be described. For purposes of explanation, specific configurations and details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the embodiments. However, it will also be apparent to one skilled in the art that the present invention may be practiced without the specific details. Furthermore, well-known features may be omitted or simplified to not obscure the embodiment being described.  
         [0014]     Referring now to the drawings, in which like reference numerals represent like parts throughout the several views,  FIG. 1  shows an inflatable water toy  20  in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. In the embodiment shown, the inflatable water toy  20  has the appearance of a six-legged spider, but other configurations may be used. For example, an inflatable water toy in accordance with the invention may have more than or less than six legs, and the legs and/or rest of the inflatable water toy may be shaped differently than shown in  FIG. 1 .  
         [0015]     The inflatable water toy  20  includes a base  22  having a top side  24  and a bottom side  26  (best shown in  FIG. 3 ). In the embodiment shown, the base  22  is oval shaped, but the base may be shaped in a different manner, such as in a circle, a square, or another shape, whether symmetrical or not. The top side  24  includes a central upper indentation  28  ( FIG. 1 ). Similarly, the bottom side  26  includes a central lower indentation  30  ( FIG. 3 ). However, the base  22  may be otherwise configured and may include more than one indentation on either the top side  24  or the bottom side  26 , or no indentations on either of these sides.  
         [0016]     Six legs  32  are attached to the base  22 . Each of the legs  32  includes a base  34  attached at the top side  24  of the base  22 . In the embodiment shown, the legs  32  are attached at the outer perimeter of the base  22 . Each of the legs is substantially C-shaped, with the open portion of the C facing downward in  FIG. 1 . That is, if a plane were to extend along the base (i.e., horizontally in  FIG. 2 ), the open portion of the C would face the plane. Thus, tips  36  of the legs  32  point downward when the inflatable water toy  20  is in the upright position shown in  FIG. 1 . In this position, the legs  32  extend upward from and above the base  34 , and then downward so that the tips  36  are positioned slightly below the bottom side  26  of the base  22 . In alternate embodiments, the legs  32  may be attached at other positions on the base  22 , or may be attached to one another.  
         [0017]     In an embodiment, the inflatable water toy  20  is made of a suitable material for a floatation device. If inflatable, the material may be polyvinyl chloride (PVC), rubber, or another suitable material. The legs  32  may be welded onto the base  22  so that they share an internal chamber. In this manner, a single valve (not shown, but known) may be used for inflation of the inflatable water toy  20 . In an alternate embodiment, each of the legs  32  may be closed off from the base  22  so that the legs are inflated separately from the base.  
         [0018]     In an embodiment, the inflatable water toy  20  may be used in at least two different ways. In a first manner of utilizing the inflatable water toy  20 , the inflatable water toy is placed right side up on water, such as is shown in  FIG. 2 . In this position, the bottom  26  of the base  22  rests against the top of the water, and the tips  36  of the legs  32  extend down to and are in contact with the top of the water. The buoyancy of the legs  32  may slightly push the tips  36  upward, depending upon the configuration of the legs relative to the base  22 . As can be understood, because of the inflatable nature of the inflatable water toy  20 , there will be some flexibility in the legs  32 . In addition, gravity and/or buoyancy of the legs  32  may affect the positions of the legs.  
         [0019]     In the position shown in  FIG. 2 , individuals may climb up onto and lay or sit on the top  26  of the base  22 , as is shown by the user U in  FIG. 2 . In addition, users may hold onto the legs  32 , or may lean on the base  22 , as is shown by the user W in  FIG. 2 . The inflatable water toy  20  has the appearance of a spider floating on the water in this configuration.  
         [0020]     If the inflatable water toy  20  is utilized in the position shown in  FIG. 3 , the tips  34  extend upward, and the bottom side  26  of the base  22  is exposed. The inflatable water toy  20  is shown in this configuration on the water in  FIG. 4 , with the top  26  of the base  22  of the inflatable water toy  20  in contact with the water. In this configuration, the legs  32  may have sufficient buoyancy so that the base  22  does not touch the water. In addition, each of the legs  32  forms a saddle in that the base  34  and tips  36  of the legs are positioned above the water or at high points in the water, and an intermediate portion of the legs is positioned below the tips and base. A lightweight user, such as the users Y and Z, may sit in the saddle formed by one of the legs, and then may utilize the base  22  as a table top or as a leaning surface. Typically, such a user would be a child, for example under 90 pounds.  
         [0021]     The inflatable water toy  20  may also be used in the configuration of  FIG. 3  while land, such as on a beach. In such an arrangement, users may rest in the saddle of the legs  32  or between the legs and the base  34  serves as a table. The C-shaped configuration of the legs  32  spaces the base  34  from the ground, providing an elevated table.  
         [0022]     Other alternatives are available. As an example, the legs may be formed of a foam material, such as conventional float noodles, and/or the base may be formed as a different material. Other floatable materials may be used, instead of inflating the base  22  and/or the legs  32 .  
         [0023]     Other variations are within the spirit of the present invention. Thus, while the invention is susceptible to various modifications and alternative constructions, a certain illustrated embodiment thereof is shown in the drawings and has been described above in detail. It should be understood, however, that there is no intention to limit the invention to the specific form or forms disclosed, but on the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, alternative constructions, and equivalents falling within the spirit and scope of the invention, as defined in the appended claims.  
         [0024]     The use of the terms “a” and “an” and “the” and similar referents in the context of describing the invention (especially in the context of the following claims) are to be construed to cover both the singular and the plural, unless otherwise indicated herein or clearly contradicted by context. The terms “comprising,” “having,” “including,” and “containing” are to be construed as open-ended terms (i.e., meaning “including, but not limited to,”) unless otherwise noted. The term “connected” is to be construed as partly or wholly contained within, attached to, or joined together, even if there is something intervening. Recitation of ranges of values herein are merely intended to serve as a shorthand method of referring individually to each separate value falling within the range, unless otherwise indicated herein, and each separate value is incorporated into the specification as if it were individually recited herein. All methods described herein can be performed in any suitable order unless otherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context. The use of any and all examples, or exemplary language (e.g., “such as”) provided herein, is intended merely to better illuminate embodiments of the invention and does not pose a limitation on the scope of the invention unless otherwise claimed. No language in the specification should be construed as indicating any non-claimed element as essential to the practice of the invention.  
         [0025]     Preferred embodiments of this invention are described herein, including the best mode known to the inventors for carrying out the invention. Variations of those preferred embodiments may become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon reading the foregoing description. The inventors expect skilled artisans to employ such variations as appropriate, and the inventors intend for the invention to be practiced otherwise than as specifically described herein. Accordingly, this invention includes all modifications and equivalents of the subject matter recited in the claims appended hereto as permitted by applicable law. Moreover, any combination of the above-described elements in all possible variations thereof is encompassed by the invention unless otherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context.