Baby on board infant float

Abstract

The invention disclosed in this application is a floatation device for infants and small children combined with an exercise device for their parent. The device is designed to allow the child to be in the swimming pool with their parent with only a small part or none of the child to actually be in contact with the water. The invention consists of a seat for the child integrated into a floatation device. The child's seat will swivel to allow for the child to be facing in various directions while on the floatation device. Sections of the seat are removable so that the child may dangle their legs into the water while affixed in the seat. The floatation part of the invention is similar in size and shape to an adult swimming kickboard and can be utilized as such with a child either in the seat or not.

Claims

1. An exercise device for adults consisting of a buoyant planar base constructed of closed cell polyethylene foam with a seat for an infant or small child at one end of the buoyant planar base where said seat includes a circumferential sidewall having recessed areas for receiving the child's legs therethrough, that the child's legs may rest on the upper surface of the buoyant planar base, where said seat is further equipped with inserts that are removably disposed within a pair of leg apertures in said seat, that the child's legs may extend through the leg apertures into the water when said inserts are removed.

2. The device of claim 1, where said seat for infant or small child is constructed of UV resistant thermoplastic.

3. A floatation device for small children consisting of a buoyant planar base constructed of closed cell polyethylene foam with a seat for an infant or small child at one end of the buoyant planar base where said seat includes a circumferential sidewall having recessed areas for receiving the child's legs therethrough, that the child's legs may rest on the upper surface of the buoyant planar base, where said seat is further equipped with inserts that are removably disposed within a pair of leg apertures in said seat, that the child's legs may extend through the leg apertures into the water when said inserts are removed and where said floatation device can be utilized as an exercise kickboard for an adult with the child in said seat.

4. The device of claim 3, where said seat for infant or small child is constructed of UV resistant thermoplastic.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING

(1) FIG. 1 depicts the invention showing the buoyant planar base (10), child's seat (20), removable inserts (22) and safety strap (24) for child's seat (20).

(2) FIG. 2 depicts the invention being utilized for an infant showing the buoyant planar base (10), child's seat (20) with an infant in the seat (20) with the attached safety strap (24).

(3) FIG. 3 is a drawing of the child's seat (20) with the inserts (22) removed to allow the child in the seat to put their legs through the leg apertures (26) into the water.

(4) FIG. 4 depicts the invention in use for a child with the inserts (22) removed with the child in the seat (20) having their legs in the water.

(5) FIG. 5 depicts the invention showing the buoyant planar base (10), child's seat (20), inserts (22), slot (25) for safety strap and aperture (26) for child's legs to enter water.

(6) FIG. 6 is a view of the child's seat (20) showing the slots (25) for the safety strap, the sidewalls (27) of the seat and the recessed area (28) for the infant to place their legs.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(7) The invention disclosed in this application is a floatation device for infants and small children enjoy aquatic activities with their parents. The device consists of a buoyant planar base (10) with an integrated seat (20) at one end for a child. The buoyant planar base (10) is similar in size and shape to an adult kickboard and can be used for this purpose with or without a child in the integrated seat (20).

(8) The integrated child's seat (20) is configured to receive a child therein and can be rotated so that the child faces a desired direction. The seat (20) includes a circumferential sidewall (27) have recessed areas (28) for receiving the child's legs therethrough, such that the child's legs may rest on the upper surface of the buoyant planar base (10) as shown in FIG. 2.

(9) The integrated child's seat (20) is further equipped with a pair of inserts (22) that are removably disposed within a pair of leg apertures (26) in a frictional engagement therewith. When the inserts (22) are installed, the child's legs rest on the upper surface of the buoyant planar base (10). When the inserts (22) are removed, the child's legs extend through the leg apertures (26) and rest in the water, allowing the child to experience the sensation of water on their skin.

(10) The integrated child's seat (20) is further equipped with apertures (25) on opposite sides of the circumferential sidewall (27) for the inclusion of a safety belt to more securely hold the child in the integrated seat (20).

(11) In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the buoyant planar base (10) of the invention is constructed of a closed cell polyethylene foam. The child's seat (20) and its various parts are constructed of a UV resistant thermoplastic. However, construction of the invention is not limited to these materials.

(12) In some embodiments of the invention, it is envisioned that the buoyant planar base (10) will be configured with handles carrying the invention and ease of use of the invention as a kickboard by the parent either with or without a child in the integrated seat (20).

(13) The potential patent classification for this invention: Class 441: Buoys, Rafts, and Aquatic Devices Subclass 130: Body Supporting Buoyant Device with Seat

(14) The present invention described above and illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 6 is visualized as the preferred embodiment of the invention. It is envisioned that this invention may be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein. It will be understood by those skilled in the art that changes in forms and details may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present application. It is therefore intended that the present invention not be limited to the exact forms and details described and illustrated herein but falls within the scope of the appended claims.

(15) The terminology used herein is for describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the invention. As used herein, the singular forms a, an and the are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms comprises and/or comprising, when used in this specification, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof. As used herein, the term and/or includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items.

(16) Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and scientific terms) used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. It will be further understood that terms, such as those defined in commonly used dictionaries, should be interpreted as having a meaning that is consistent with their meaning in the context of the specification and relevant art and should not be interpreted in an idealized or overly formal sense unless expressly so defined herein. Well-known functions or constructions may not be described in detail for brevity and/or clarity.

(17) It will be understood that when an element is referred to as being on, attached to, connected to, coupled with, contacting, etc., another element, it can be directly on, attached to, connected to, coupled with or contacting the other element or intervening elements may also be present. In contrast, when an element is referred to as being, for example, directly on, directly attached to, directly connected to, directly coupled with or directly contacting another element, there are no intervening elements present. It will also be appreciated by those of skill in the art that references to a stricture or feature that is disposed adjacent another feature may have portions that overlap or underlie the adjacent feature.