Floating construction

Abstract

A floating construction (1, 11) includes a vessel (2, 12) partially or fully filled with water and with transparent walls or with walls including transparent sections, and space (3, 5, 6) provided around or partially around the vessel, where the vessel includes at least one opening allowing the surrounding water to enter into the vessel, wherein the space (3, 5, 6) provided around the vessel (2, 12) is enclosed to provide interior observation area for activities taking place inside the vessel.

Claims

1. A floating construction comprising: an outer construction floating in surrounding outside water; a vessel at least partially filled with water and located within the outer construction, the vessel comprised of walls that are transparent or include transparent sections, the vessel further comprised of at least one opening that allows the water to enter into the vessel and at least partially fill the vessel; and an enclosed space located within the outer construction and provided at least partially around the vessel, wherein a surface level of the water in the vessel is significantly higher than a surface level of the surrounding outside water, wherein the enclosed space provides an interior observation area for activities taking place inside the vessel, and wherein the vessel comprises a horizontally extending floor structure located inside the vessel and connected to the walls of the vessel.

2. The floating construction according to claim 1, wherein the enclosed space comprises a plurality of floors, and the vessel extends vertically through the plurality of floors.

3. The floating construction according to claim 1, wherein the floor structure is connected watertightly to the walls of the vessel.

4. The floating construction according to claim 1, wherein the walls of the vessel are provided with plurality of air locks for entering and exiting the water inside the vessel.

5. The floating construction according to claim 1, wherein the enclosed space comprises a plurality of living quarters.

6. The floating construction according to claim 1, wherein the enclosed space comprises premises for providing at least one of the group consisting of food, and entertainment.

7. The floating construction according to claim 1, further comprising an anchoring system for securing the construction on water.

8. The floating construction according to claim 1, further comprising a roof equipped with an airstrip.

9. The floating construction according to claim 1, further comprising a fixed or detachable docking facility for allowing passengers to enter and exit the floating construction.

10. The floating construction according to claim 2, wherein the floor structure is connected watertightly to the walls of the vessel.

11. The floating construction according to claim 2, wherein the walls of the vessel are provided with plurality of air locks for entering and exiting the water inside the vessel.

12. The floating construction according to claim 1, further comprising a roof equipped with a helipad.

13. The floating construction according to claim 1, further comprising a roof equipped with an airstrip and a helipad.

Description

(1) Exemplifying embodiment of the invention and its advantages are explained in greater detail below in the sense of example and with reference to accompanying drawings, where:

(2) FIG. 1 shows schematically a cross-sectional side view of an embodiment of a floating construction according to the invention,

(3) FIG. 2 shows schematically a cross-sectional side view of an alternative embodiment of a floating construction according to the invention,

(4) FIGS. 3A-3D shows schematically top views of embodiments of floating constructions according to the invention.

(5) FIG. 1 shows schematically a cross-sectional side view of an embodiment of a floating construction 1 according to the invention.

(6) The floating construction 1 comprises a vessel 2 located inside the structure of the floating construction, which vessel is surrounded by enclosed space comprising plurality of floors or decks.

(7) At least some of the floors of the floating construction 1 comprise space 3 around and next to the vessel 2, from where the activities taking place inside the vessel can be observed through transparent, or transparent portions of, walls of the vessel. These spaces 3 can be equipped with chairs or other seating arrangements, like in theatres or movie theatres for examples.

(8) At least some of the floors of the floating construction 1 also comprise living quarters 4 in the form of hotel rooms, for example, where the passengers or visitors can stay overnight.

(9) The top floor 5 of the floating construction 1 is equipped with restaurants, bars, casinos and other facilities taking care of the needs of the visitors or passengers.

(10) The bottom floor 6 of the floating construction 1 is equipped with required machinery to keep the floating construction in operating condition, including power and electricity generation, air conditioning and so on. The bottom floor is also provided with facilities required for providing different kinds underwater shows or sporting events inside the vessel 2.

(11) From the bottom surfaces of the floating construction extends an azimuth propulsion arrangement 7 used to move and steer the floating construction on the water. The underwater portion of the floating construction 1 also includes anchoring system comprising anchoring wires or chains 8, which are used in anchoring the floating construction on the water.

(12) The bottom of the vessel 2 is open to surrounding water in this embodiment and it is advantageously covered with removable net or grill structure to catch any dropped items inside the vessel and to prevent sea life to enter the vessel during shows, for example.

(13) The vessel 2 or its surrounding structure is provided with suitable machinery for creating an under pressure or partial vacuum inside the vessel and with pumping machinery for pumping water inside the vessel, which are used for filling the vessel with water and setting the water surface level inside the vessel.

(14) Further, in order to be able to fill the vessel 2 completely, the floating construction 1 comprises a system for adjusting the draft of the floating construction. This way the draft is increased when the vessel needs to be fully filled, and decreased when the floating construction is moved to a new location. The vessel 2 also includes suitable machinery for changing the air in the possible airspace between the water surface level and the top surface of the vessel.

(15) The walls of the vessel 2 are provided with air locks 9, which allow entrance to and exit from the water inside the vessel.

(16) The floating construction 1 is also equipped with fixed or detachable docking platform 10, which allows ships, boats, hydroplanes etc. to dock to the floating construction for transporting passengers and/or visitors to and from the floating construction. For transporting passengers and visitors, the level top surface or roof of the floating construction 1 can be equipped with airstrip or helipad.

(17) In the embodiment of FIG. 2 the floating construction 11 comprises plurality of floors and a vessel 12 having an open bottom surface. In the vessel 12 is arranged a horizontally extending floor structure 13.

(18) The floor structure 13 in this embodiment is connected watertighly to the vertical walls of the vessel 12. This type of arrangement removes the maximum height difference restriction between the surface level of the surrounding body of water and the surface level of the water inside the vessel 12 based on laws of physics. Further, the connection between the walls of the vessel 12 and the floor structure 12 is preferably vertically adjustable, so that the volume of the vessel above the floor structure can be adjusted to be suitable for different types of activities.

(19) The watertight floor structure 13 in the present invention is advantageously removable or the watertightness of the floor structure is removable in suitable way, so that the inner part of the vessel 12 can be returned to a single entity.

(20) Alternatively the floor structure can cover only portion of the cross-section of the vessel 12 and connected to the walls of the vessel only from certain places in order to be able to keep its position inside the vessel. In this type of arrangement water and people can move from one side of the horizontally extending floor structure to another through areas between the floor structure and the walls of the vessel, for example.

(21) The floor structure inside the vessel 12 is advantageously used for defining a suitable playing field for the game taking place inside the vessel.

(22) The floating construction 11 does not have any own propulsion system in this embodiment, whereby the floating construction is towed by tugboats to different locations on water, and anchored to keep its position.

(23) FIGS. 3A-3D shows schematically examples of different forms and shapes for the floating construction 1 viewed from top, where the outline of the vessel 2 inside the floating construction is shown in dashed line. In FIG. 3D is shown an example, where part of the vessels 2 wall forms portion of the outer surface of the floating construction 1.

(24) The specific exemplifying embodiments of the invention shown in figures and discussed above should not be construed as limiting. A person skilled in the art can amend and modify the exemplary floating construction described above in many evident ways within scope of the attached claims. Thus the invention is not limited merely to the embodiments described above.