Buoys – rafts – and aquatic devices – Body supporting buoyant device – With seat
Utility Patent
1998-06-30
2001-01-02
Basinger, Sherman (Department: 3617)
Buoys, rafts, and aquatic devices
Body supporting buoyant device
With seat
C441S132000
Utility Patent
active
06168489
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF INVENTION
Float tubes are commonly used by fishermen to float on lakes to reach fishing locations unavailable from the shore. The body of these float tubes has heretofore either been an annular tube or a U-shaped tube. In both types, an inflatable bladder is inserted inside of a tougher puncture resistant cover. In the case of the annular tube, a seat extends across the opening in the center of the tube, and in the case of the U-shaped tube, a seat extends across the arms of the U. An inflatable backrest is placed across the arms of the U or on one side of the annular tube behind the seat.
A related fishing device, commonly referred to as a pontoon boat, comprises a pair of side-by-side, spaced-apart inflatable pontoons, with a seat and backrest extending between them. Again, the pontoons comprise inflatable bladders which are placed inside of tougher puncture resistant covers. Generally, the seat is built on a rigid frame which holds the pontoons in their proper spaced-apart orientation.
In general, a pontoon boat is easier to propel than a float tube and has two bladders rather than one, which gives it a larger capacity and the ability to remain buoyant if one of the tubes is punctured. In addition, a pontoon boat can be made to seat the user higher off of the water and is more comfortably than in a float tube. However, because of the rigid structure that extends between pontoon boat pontoons to keep them at their proper spacing and provide the seat and backrest, float tubes are much lighter and collapse into a much smaller package when deflated. Thus, float tubes are easier to pack into a remote location.
The subject invention provides most of the advantages of both float tubes and pontoon boats by using a pair of separate, elongate, cylindrical pontoons with inflatable bladders located inside of covers. On top of the pontoons is a generally U-shaped support having its own cover and bladder. The support has arms that overlay the pontoons, with the arms of the support cover being attached to the pontoon covers. The support also has a back support member which interconnects the arms. The support serves to both interconnect the pontoons with the desired spacing between them and as a backrest. Thus, there are three separate bladders, all of which can be completely deflated to permit the device to be transported.
In a preferred embodiment of the invention, a headrest having a separate bladder in a separate cover is located on top of the support. A seat extends between the pontoons in front of the back support member and a separation element is located in front of the seat.
The foregoing and other objectives, features, and advantages of the invention will be more readily understood upon consideration of the following detailed description of the invention, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
REFERENCES:
patent: 2407666 (1946-09-01), Kearny
patent: 3659298 (1972-05-01), Edwards
patent: 3740095 (1973-06-01), Nail
patent: 4782777 (1988-11-01), Sussman
patent: 5171178 (1992-12-01), Creek et al.
patent: 5222779 (1993-06-01), Johnson
patent: 5732650 (1998-03-01), Peterson
patent: 33 04 702 A1 (1984-08-01), None
Basinger Sherman
Caddis Manufacturing, Inc.
Chernoff Vilhauer & McClung & Stenzel
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