STABILIZED FLOTATION PLATFORM

Abstract

A stabilized flotation platform that is used for supporting supplies for those enjoying time in the water. The uniqueness is the stability provided by its construction such that materials contained on or in the device do not spill into the water.

Claims

1. A stabilized floating platform, said platform comprising: I. a center platform manufactured from rigid foam and having an outside wall; II. a semi-rigid foam ring attached-to and encircling said outside wall, said semi-rigid foam having a buoyancy greater than said center platform foam; III. said center platform having a plurality of through holes for holding drink containers; IV. a large through opening in said center platform foam for holding a large container.

2. A stabilized floating platform as claimed in claim 1 wherein there is a tether attached to said stabilized floating platform.

3. A stabilized floating platform as claimed in claim 1 wherein each said plurality of through holes has a tumbler ring associated with it.

4. A stabilized floating platform as claimed in claim 1 wherein the tumbler rings are manufactured from foamed plastic.

5. A stabilized floating platform as claimed in claim 1 wherein there are container insulators inserted into each through hole in III.

6. A stabilized floating platform as claimed in claim 1 wherein the container insulators are manufactured from foamed plastic.

7. A stabilized floating platform as claimed in claim 1 wherein at least one light reflector is attached to said stabilized floating platform.

8. A stabilized floating platform as claimed in claim 1 wherein the stabilized floating platform and auxiliary components are manufactured from white foam.

9. A stabilized floating platform as claimed in claim 1 wherein the stabilized floating platform and auxiliary components are manufactured from colored foams.

10. A stabilized floating platform as claimed in claim 1 wherein the stabilized floating platform has formations therein to accommodate hand-held electronic devices.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0010] FIG. 1 is a full top view of the device of this invention showing the various openings.

[0011] FIG. 2 is a full top view of the device of this invention showing the through holes filled with drink containers.

[0012] FIG. 3A is a full top view of a device of this invention showing the tumbler rings and tether.

[0013] FIG. 3B is a full top view of a tumbler ring of this invention.

[0014] FIG. 3C is a full side view of a tumbler ring of this invention.

[0015] FIG. 4 is full top view of a device of this invention showing a large container in the large opening and auxiliary configurations in the center platform foam.

[0016] FIG. 5 is a full side view of a device of this invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0017] FIG. 1 shows a full top view of a stabilized floating platform 1 of this invention showing a center rigid foam platform 2, and an attached semi-rigid and flexible foam ring 3 encircling the center rigid foam platform 2. The semi-rigid foam ring 3 has a buoyancy higher than the buoyancy of the center rigid foam platform 2. The device 1 of this invention is stabilized in water, meaning for purposes of this invention, that because of this differentiation in the two foams, the semi-rigid foam ring has a greater resistance to tipping over in water and stabilizes the entire device 1.

[0018] The center foam platform 2 has a plurality of holes 4 through it which serve as liquid container holders 7. FIG. 2 is a full top view of the stabilized floating platform with cups 7 in the openings 4. In addition, the center foam platform 2 has a large center opening 5 to hold large containers 8. By “large”, for purposes of this invention, it is meant that this opening 5 is 6 to 14 inches in diameter and will hold an ice bucket or the like (See FIG. 4). Also, this opening 5 can hold containers of beverages, such as iced tea or the like. The through openings 4 have a diameter ranging from about 2 inches to about 5 inches.

[0019] Some beverage containers are larger than the normal glass beverage containers and therefore, the openings 4 can have an auxiliary supporting member called a tumbler ring 6 as shown on FIGS. 3A, 3B, and 3C. FIG. 3B shows the opening 14 in the center of the tumbler ring. Surrounding the beverage container, and being larger in diameter than the beverage container, the tumbler ring 6 stabilizes the beverage container from tipping over.

[0020] FIG. 4 also shows auxiliary component formations (slots or indentions) 9 for holding, for example, telephones, or other electronic devices, or other auxiliary components such as sun cream containers.

[0021] The stabilized floating platform 1 can also have a tether 10 attached to it to allow a person to maintain the platform 1 in a nearby vicinity. One means of attaching the tether to the person is an arm or leg band 11 which can close using Velcro® or something similar.

[0022] FIG. 5 is a full side view of the platform 1 of this invention showing the semi-rigid foam ring 3, liquid containers 7, an ice bucket 8, tumbler rings 6, a tether 10, with arm band 11, and light reflectors 12 (See FIG. 5).

[0023] The stabilized floating platform 1 has a nominal size ranging from about 2 feet to 6 feet long, about 14 to 28 inches wide with the encircling semi-rigid foam ring 3 having a diameter ranging from about 3 inches to about 8 inches. The center platform 2 rigid foam thickness ranges from about 2 inches to about 6 inches.

[0024] The center platform 2 is manufactured from rigid foam. The term “rigid” is well-known to those skilled in the art, especially polyurethane foam art. Typically, this platform is manufactured from rigid polyurethane foam.

[0025] The encirculating foam ring is manufactured from semi-rigid foam and the term “semi-rigid” is well-known to those skilled in the art. This foam may be polyurethane, or vinyl or the like. It is flexible and resilient to the touch.

[0026] All foams float on water, and for this inventive device, one just has to be sure that the buoyancy of the ring 3 is higher than the buoyancy of the center platform 2 to ensure stability of the device in water.