Floating Device

Abstract

A floating device and a method of keeping a floating device in position in water are provided. The floating device includes a main body and a projecting portion. The main body is configured to float on water. The projecting portion extends from the main body into the water to surround a part of water for keeping the main body in position.

Claims

1. A floating device, comprising: 4 a main body configured to float on water; and a projecting portion extending from the main body into the water to surround a part of water for keeping the main body in position.

2. The floating device as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one opening is formed in the projecting portion for exhausting air surrounded by the projecting portion when the floating device is put in the water.

3. The floating device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the projecting portion has a closed shape in cross section to surround the part of water.

4. The floating device as claimed in claim 3, wherein the projecting portion comprises a plurality of side walls connected to the main body.

5. The floating device as claimed in claim 4, wherein at least one opening is formed in the side walls for exhausting air surrounded by the side walls when the floating device is put in the water.

6. The floating device as claimed in claim 4, wherein the floating device satisfies 0.00190775 (LBS/in.sup.3)F/V0.0198411 (LBS/in.sup.3) where F is a maximum lateral force which the floating device in water can sustain without moving, and V is a volume of a space defined by the projecting portion.

7. The floating device as claimed in claim 4, further comprising a reinforcement element connected to the projecting portion, wherein the reinforcement element is stiffer than the projecting portion.

8. The floating device as claimed in claim 7, wherein the reinforcement element is a looped strip.

9. The floating device as claimed in claim 3, wherein the projecting portion comprises a bottom wall and a plurality of side walls connected to the main body and the bottom wall.

10. The floating device as claimed in claim 9, wherein at least one opening is formed in the bottom wall for introducing water into a space defined by the projecting portion.

11. The floating device as claimed in claim 9, wherein the floating device satisfies 0.00248 (LBS/in.sup.3)F/V0.0261903 (LBS/in.sup.3) where F is a maximum lateral force which the floating device in water can sustain without moving, and V is a volume of a space defined by the projecting portion.

12. The floating device as claimed in claim 9, further comprising a weight disposed in the projecting portion.

13. The floating device as claimed in claim 12, wherein the weight is fixed to the bottom wall.

14. The floating device as claimed in claim 1, wherein: the floating device is an inflatable floating table; the main body comprises an inflatable chamber; the projecting portion is tubular, extending from the main body into the water when the main body floats on the water.

15. The floating device as claimed in claim 1, wherein: the floating device is an inflatable floating table; the main body comprises a plurality of inflatable chamber connected to each other; the projecting portion is tubular, extending from the main body into the water when the main body floats on the water.

16. The floating device as claimed in claim 1, wherein: the floating device is an inflatable floating chair; the main body comprises an inflatable chamber; the projecting portion is tubular, extending from the main body into the water when the main body floats on the water.

17. A method of keeping a floating device in position in water, comprising: providing the floating device which comprises a main body and a projecting portion extending from the main body; putting the floating device in the water, with the projecting portion disposed below a water surface to surround a part of water, thereby keeping the floating device in position in the water.

18. The method as claimed in claim 17, further comprising: exhausting air surrounded by the projecting portion through at least one opening formed in the projecting portion, when the floating device is put in the water.

19. The method as claimed in claim 17, further comprising: introducing water into a space defined by the projecting portion through at least one opening formed in the projecting portion, when the floating device is put in the water.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0026] The invention can be more fully understood by reading the subsequent detailed description and examples with references made to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

[0027] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a conventional floating table that carries food and drinks.

[0028] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a floating device in accordance with a first embodiment of the invention.

[0029] FIG. 3 is another perspective view of the floating device of FIG. 1, observed at a different angle.

[0030] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a floating device in accordance with a second embodiment of the invention.

[0031] FIG. 5 is a sectional view of a floating device in accordance with a third embodiment of the invention.

[0032] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a floating device in accordance with a fourth embodiment of the invention.

[0033] FIG. 7 is another perspective view of the floating device of FIG. 6, observed at a different angle.

[0034] FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a floating device in accordance with a fifth embodiment of the invention.

[0035] FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a floating device in accordance with a sixth embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0036] Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, a floating device in accordance with a first embodiment is an inflatable floating table 20 which includes a main body 21 and a projecting portion 22 extending downwards from the main body 21. The structure and operation of the inflatable floating table 20 are described in detail in the following:

[0037] The main body 21 that is inflatable has a top 211, a bottom 212, and sides 213 connecting the top 211 and the bottom 212. The main body 21 further has holes 215, 216 on the top 211 to carry food and drinks. In the first embodiment, the main body 21 is made of plastic material such as Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC).

[0038] The projecting portion 22 is made of plastic material such as Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC), or other suitable materials. Further, the projecting portion 22 has a closed shape in cross section. The shape of projecting portion 22 is not limited. In the first embodiment, the projecting portion 22 is tubular or sleeve-shaped, with its top edge connected to the bottom wall 212 of the main body 21. It is worth noting that the projecting portion 22 is provided with one or more openings 221. In the first embodiment, the projecting portion 22 has four side walls laterally connected to each other. Each side wall has at least one opening 221.

[0039] When the inflatable floating table 20 is put in water (e.g. a swimming pool), the projecting portion 22 is below the water surface. Air contained in the space surrounded by the projecting portion 22 can be exhausted through the openings 221 and water can enter the space to replace air. Therefore, when floating on the water, the inflatable floating table 20 has water contained in the projecting portion 22 to resist lateral forces generated by waves. By such arrangement, the inflatable floating table 20 can be kept in position without floating away.

[0040] FIG. 4 depicts a floating device in accordance with a second embodiment of the invention, wherein the inflatable floating table 20 further includes a reinforcement element 222. In the second embodiment, the reinforcement element 222 is a looped strip. The projecting portion 22 has its bottom edge folded to wrap the reinforcement element 222. The reinforcement element 222 is made of foam, metal, plastic, or other material stiffer than the projecting portion 22. The reinforcement element 222 is able to keep the shape of the projecting portion 22 without deformation in water.

[0041] Referring to FIG. 5, a floating device in accordance with a third embodiment is an inflatable floating table 40 which includes a main body 41 and a projecting portion 42 extending downwards from the main body 41. It is worth noting that the main body 41 includes a plurality of inflatable chambers 413 connected to each other. Similar to that of the first embodiment, the projecting portion 42 of the third embodiment is tubular or sleeve-shaped or in a closed shape (the shape of the projecting portion of the invention is not limited thereto). Further, the projecting portion 22 has one or more openings 421 to exhaust air when the inflatable floating table 40 is put in the swimming pool.

[0042] Referring to FIGS. 6 and 7, a floating device in accordance with a fourth embodiment is an inflatable floating chair 50 which includes a main body 51 and a projecting portion 52 extending downwards from the main body 51. The structure and operation of the inflatable floating chair 50 are described in detail in the following:

[0043] The main body 51 includes a first inflatable chamber 511, a second inflatable chamber 514, a net 513 connecting the first inflatable chamber 511 and the second inflatable chamber 514, and at least one plastic sheet 512 connecting to the second inflatable chamber 514. The first inflatable chamber 511 is U-shaped to function as a backrest and two armrests. The second inflatable chamber 514 is configured to surround the plastic sheet 512.

[0044] The projecting portion 52 is made of plastic material such as Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC), or other suitable materials. Further, the projecting portion 52 is tubular or sleeve-shaped or in a closed shape (the shape of the projecting portion of the invention is not limited thereto), with its top edge connected to the second inflatable chamber 514 and/or the plastic sheet 512 of the main body 51. In the first embodiment, the projecting portion 52 has four side walls laterally connected to each other. Each side wall has at least one opening 521.

[0045] When the inflatable floating chair 50 is put in water (e.g. a swimming pool), the first inflatable chamber 511 floats on the water, the net 513, the second inflatable chamber 514, the plastic sheet 512 and the projecting portion 52 are below the water surface. Air contained in the space surrounded by the projecting portion 52 can be exhausted through the openings 521 and water can enter the space to replace air. Therefore, when floating on the water, the inflatable floating chair 50 has water contained in the projecting portion 52 to resist lateral forces generated by waves. By such arrangement, the inflatable floating chair 50 can be kept in position without floating away.

[0046] FIG. 8 depicts a floating device in accordance with a fifth embodiment of the invention, wherein the inflatable floating chair 50 further includes a reinforcement element 522. In the fifth embodiment, the reinforcement element 522 is a looped strip or has a predetermined shape. The projecting portion 52 has its bottom edge folded to wrap the reinforcement element 522. The reinforcement element 522 is made of foam, metal, plastic, or other material stiffer than the projecting portion 52. The reinforcement element 522 is able to keep the shape of the projecting portion 52 without deformation in water.

[0047] FIG. 9 depicts a floating device in accordance with a sixth embodiment of the invention, wherein the floating device is an inflatable floating chair 60. The inflatable floating chair 60 includes a main body 61 and a projecting portion 62 extending downwards from the main body 61. The projecting portion 62 is made of plastic material such as Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC). Further, the projecting portion 62 is tubular or has a closed shape in cross section, with its top edge connected to the main body 61. In the sixth embodiment, the projecting portion 62 has four side walls 622 laterally connected to each other, a bottom wall 623 connected to the side walls 622, and a weight 625 fixed to the bottom wall 623. Each side wall 622 has at least one opening 621. The bottom wall 623 has at least one opening 624.

[0048] When the inflatable floating chair 60 is put in water, the projecting portion 62 is below the water surface. Air contained in the space surrounded by the projecting portion 62 can be exhausted through the openings 621 and water can enter the space through the opening 624 to replace air. The weight 625 is provided to accelerate the downward movement of the projecting portion 62 and to increase the weight of the projecting portion 62 for resisting lateral forces exerted on the floating device 60. The weight 625 may be a sandbag, a metallic ring, or any heavy object. The bottom wall 623 is able to keep the shape of the projection portion 62 without deformation in water. When floating on the water, the inflatable floating chair 60 has water contained in the projecting portion 62 to resist lateral forces generated by waves. By such arrangement, the inflatable floating chair 60 can be kept in position without floating away.

[0049] In the sixth embodiment, the projecting portion 62 has a bottom wall 623. In other words, the projecting portion 62 is closed at the bottom. In the first embodiment through the fifth embodiment, the projecting portions 22, 42, 52 are open at the bottom. After study and researches, it is found that a floating device in which the projecting portion is closed at the bottom has a better ability to resist lateral forces than a floating device in which the projecting portion is open at the bottom.

[0050] Further, it is found that the ratio F/V can be designed in the invention for improving the performance of the floating device, where F is a maximum lateral force which the floating device in water can sustain without moving, and V is the volume of the space defined by the projecting portion. In the invention, the floating device is designed to satisfy 0.00190775 (LBS/in.sup.3)F/V0.0198411 (LBS/in.sup.3) if the projecting portion is open at the bottom (the first embodiment through the fifth embodiment), or to satisfy 0.00248 (LBS/in.sup.3)F/V0.0261903 (LBS/in.sup.3) if the projecting portion is closed at the bottom (the sixth embodiment).

[0051] In the above embodiments, the floating devices are inflatable products that are made of plastic. However, the invention is not limited thereto. The floating device (the floating table, the floating chair, etc.) may be not inflatable, made of wood, foam, or other material to float on the water. Therefore, the scope of the appended claims should be accorded the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and similar arrangements.