US3769647A

US3769647A - Aquatic lounge & tray ensemble

Info

Publication number: US3769647A
Application number: US00172769A
Authority: US
Inventors: N Basa
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1971-08-18
Filing date: 1971-08-18
Publication date: 1973-11-06
Anticipated expiration: 1990-11-06

Abstract

An aquatic lounge-and-tray ensemble adapted to support an occupant in a generally reclining position while in water comprising rigidly interconnected floating means provided with means to support the occupant. The ensemble includes tray means for supporting food, beverage, cigarettes and the like and a suitable shade or canopy means. The ensemble also includes paddle means. The ensemble further comprises readily detachable components wherein the buoy means are inflatable members.

Description

United States Patent [1 1 Basa [451 Nov. 6, 1973 I AQUATIC LOUNGE & TRAY ENSEMBLE [76] Inventor: Napoleon A. Basa, 46 Cordillers St.,

Quezon City, Philippines [22] Filed: Aug. 18, 1971 [21] App]. No.: 172,769

[52] US. Cl. 9/400 [51] Int. Cl. 1363c 9/00 [58] Field of Search 4/185 S, 185 R, 171, 4/172; 9/313, 312, 311, 347, 342, 348, 400, 349

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,268,303 6/1918 Wanat 9/313 1,562,276 11/1925 Assenzio 9/347 UX 1,743,396 1/1930 'Robertson, Jr. 9/31] X 2,006,169 6/1935 Harris-Jones 4/185 R UX 2,302,806 11/1942 Senter 4/185 R X 2,998,613 9/1961 Lynn et a] 9/347 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 426,891 4/1935 Great Britain 9/311 7,406 9/1876 Italy 4/171 Primary ExaminerMilton Buchler Assistant Examiner-Paul E. Sauberer Attorney1mirie and Smiley [57] ABSTRACT An aquatic lounge-and-tray ensemble adapted to support an occupant in a generally reclining position while in water comprising rigidly interconnected floating means provided with means to support the occupant. The ensemble includes tray means for supporting food, beverage, cigarettes and the like and a suitable shade or canopy means. The ensemble also includes paddle means. The ensemble further comprises readily detachable components wherein the buoy means are inflatable members.

14 Claims, 8 Drawing Figures r I i U "l 111 J I PATENYED NOV 6 I975 r o o ATTORNEY AQUATIC LOUNGE & TRAY ENSEMBLE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION With the advent of the modern private swimming pools and frequent trips to beaches by ever increasing numbers of people, there has evolved a rise in demand for ancillary facilities therefor. Not the least among these are aquatic facilities which are to afford the individual a maximum of relaxation and comfort.

Early attempts to achieve poolside or beach comfort may be seen by referring to US. Pat. Nos. 1,746,833 and 1,764,852 of Hermansen and Phillips, respectively. The Hermansen patent relates to a device which combines a pillow or head rest and a sunshade with a life preserver.

The Phillips patent relates to a device in which a seating element and a sunshade are combined with an inflatable toroidal member providing buoyancy to the combination.

Although the Hermansen and the Phillips devices provide their users or occupants with a measure of freedom and relaxation while in the water, they do not afford the maximum degree of relaxation and comfort, namely by supporting the occupant in a reclining position.

As is to be expected, use of aquatic facilities is generally seasonal. Attendant with the fact that such facilities receive only seasonal use is the fact such facilities require storage space which frequently is available only at a premium. To overcome the space problem in this modern age, many household accessories are fabricated in knock-down" fashion or with detachable parts. The present invention is one which includes the knock-down feature of contemporary accessories. Moreover, in travelling to the beach many people use the modern compact auto, for which compactness of such accessory is virtually an absolute must. Thus, the knock-down feature of the present invention affords both compactness and portability.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An aquatic lounge-and-tray ensemble according to the invention comprises an inflatable-deflatable, assembled-disassembled apparatus which when assembled and inflated is adapted to support an occupant in a generally reclining position while in water and comprising rigidly interconnected floating means provided with straps to support the occupant. The ensemble includes tray means for supporting food, beverage, cigarettes, reading material and the like, and a suitable shade or canopy means. The ensemble also includes paddle means to enable the occupant to propel or maneuver it in the water. The ensemble further comprises readily detachable components wherein the buoy means are inflatable members.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a view in perspective of the aquatic loungeand-tray ensemble as used by an occupant in accordance with this invention;

FIG. 2 is an exploded view in perspective of the lounge-and-tray ensemble in accordance with this invention with parts thereof removed;

FIG. 3 is a view in perspective of the tray subassembly of the ensemble shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a front elevation view of a book-holding pocket and stabilizing member on the support posts for the canopy of the ensemble shown in FIG. 1 with parts broken away;

FIG. 5 is a cross-section of the subassembly shown in FIG. 4 taken along line 55;

FIG. 6 is a plan view of the subassembly of the FIG. 4 looking up from the bottom thereof;

FIG. 7 is a view in perspective of a pocket subassembly mounted on support posts for the canopy of the ensemble shown in FIG. 1 with parts broken away, and

FIG. 8 is a view in perspective ofa coupling arrangement between connector-passage tubes and the inflatable buoyant members.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Referring more particularly to the drawing in which like reference numbers are used to designate identical parts, the aquatic lounge-and-tray ensemble 10 according to this invention essentially includes a pair of generally parallel spaced apart longitudinally extending buoyant members 12, a generally transversely extending floating member 14, generally rigid members 16 interconnecting the buoyant members 12 and generally rigid members 18, FIG. 2, interconnecting one end of each buoyant member 12 to one side of the floating member 14 adjacent one end thereof.

As best seen in FIG. 1, the lounge ensemble 10 includes a pocket 20 in which a book 'or the like may be carried; a canopy 22 to provide shade over an occupants head and face; a multiple pocket container 24 in which drinking glasses, beverage bottles and the like may be carried; a tray 26 upon which cigarettes, matches, potable portion of beverage, and the like may be placed; and paddles or oars 28 with which an occupant of the ensemble 10 may propel himself. The paddles or oars 28 may be articulately secured to each buoyant members 12 by a loop 30 integral with each member 12.

As shown in FIG. 2, the lounge-and-tray ensemble 10 readily lends itself to being easily assembled or disassembled. To facilitate this purpose the buoyant members 12 may be readily releasably interconnected to each other, for example, by the transversely extending members 16 which have threaded portions 32 at their opposite ends. Extending out of each buoyant member 12 toward a threaded end 32 of each tube 16 is a threaded nipple or fitting 34. Each threaded end 32 of a tube 16 and a threaded portion 34 are joined together by a two-way female coupling member 36. To expedite assembly or disassembly, the threads on the ends 32 and fittings 34 may be of opposite hand for cooperation with opposite portions of the coupling member 36 which is provided with mating threads therefor so that rotation of member 36 in a given direction (in the direction of the arrows, FIG. 8) will simultaneously assemble or disassemble the couplings.

Extending longitudinally from one end of each of the buoyant members 12 toward one side of the floating member 14 adjacent opposite ends thereof are the generally U-shaped rigid tubes 18 having longitudinally extending threaded end portions 38. Extending out of one end of each buoyant member 12 and one side of floating member 14 adjacent each end thereof toward each threaded portion 38 of the U-shaped tubes 18 are threaded nipples or fittings 40. Threaded

portions

38 and 40 are joined by coupling members 42 in the same manner that threaded

portions

32 and 34 are joined by coupling member 36. Seated in the crotch of each of the U-shaped tubes 18 and suitable secured thereto is an armpit cushion 44.

To further enhance its compactness, portability, and ease of assembly or disassembly, the lounge-and-tray ensemble according to this invention the buoyant members 12 and floating member 14 are constructed as inflatable members with the

rigid tubes

16 and 18 serving as interconnecting passage ways and with

coupling members

36 and 42 being adaptable to provide air-tight joints with the threaded

portions

32 and 34, and 38 and 40, respectively. Valve means may be provided in any one of the buoyant members 12 or floating member 14, or even in one of the

rigid connecting tubes

16 or 18 for inflating the

member

12 and 14 in a single operation. Conveniently, a valve means 46 may be in one end of the floating member 14.

To secure an occupant to the lounge-and-tray ensemble 10, a pair of straps 48 are arranged in tandem along a tube 16 through which the legs of the occupant may pass in getting into or out of the ensemble 10. As shown in FIG. 2, the straps 48 are provided on the tube 16 adjacent the free ends of the buoyant members 12. A pair of vertically extending, upwardly directed sockets 50 are provided on each of the tubes 16 to detachably secure and support the tray 26, and as shown in FIG. 3, this tray comprises a tray element 52, for supporting cigarettes, matches, beverage and the like, and a shade or canopy 54 attached thereto, which, for example, would tend to maintain the coolness of a drink under its umbrage. The tray 52 also has a plurality of downwardly extending inclined legs 56 each of which has a vertically extending, downwardly directed peg 58 and are frictionally insertable into the sockets 50 in assembly.

At the head end of the lounge-and-tray ensemble the floating member 14 is formed with a recess 60 in which an occupant may rest his head. Adjacent each end of the floating member 14 is a pair of longitudinally spaced, vertically extending threaded projections 62 on which may be threaded coupling members 64 for threadedly engaging the lower ends of support posts 66. The upper ends of support posts 66 are also threaded and connected by coupling members 64 to threaded portions 68, extending downwardly from inside canopy 22, which thus is detachably secured to floating member 14 to provide shape over an occupants head and face. An L-shaped hook 72 extends from each support post 66 toward the opposite end of the floating member 14 and then upwardly. A horizontally extending tray or slat 74, FIGS. 4-6, has perforations 76 adjacent the corners thereof to admit the hooks 72 by which the tray or slat 74 is supported and which reciprocally serves to stiffen the support of canopy 22 in assembly.

The pocket supported on the underside of slat 74 by a plurality of hooks 78 has an inboard facing opening for reception and storage of a book B or the like. The pocket 20, FIG. 5, has a relatively narrow opening with the bottom wall diverging downwardly and inwardly thereof whereby outward tendencies of the book is minimized or impeded.

Additionally, pocket member 24, FIG. 7, is secured to a pair of support posts 66 at one end of the floating member 14 by a plurality of clamps 80. The pocket member 24 is provided with separate compartments 82 into which glasses, bottles and the like may be inserted and carried vertically.

I claim:

1. An aquatic lounge-and-tray ensemble comprising in combination a pair of transversely spaced longitudinally extending buoyant means, a floating means disposed transversely at one end of said'buoyant means and spaced longitudinally therefrom, longitudinally extending means rigidly interconnecting one end of each of said pair of buoyant means to the adjoining spaced floating means, said floating means having an upper surface provided with a head rest for an occupant with the body of the occupant lying between the pair of buoyant means over which the arms of the occupant can be draped, said longitudinally extending interconnecting means including concave cushioned sections in which the armpits of the occupant are adapted to rest, transversely extending means rigidly interconnecting said buoyant means and under which the body of the occupant is disposed, and leg supporting means depending from part of said transversely extending interconnecting means in which the legs of the occupant are adapted to be supported.

2. The ensemble as defined in claim 1, wherein each of said buoyant means and floating means comprises an inflatable cushion and each of said means rigidly interconnecting said buoyant means and floating means are constituted by hollow tubular elements affording intercommunicating conduits for an inflating medium therein.

3. The ensemble as defined in claim 2, wherein threaded means are provided for detachably connecting said hollow tube elements to said buoyant means and said floating means.

4. The ensemble as defined in claim 3, wherein said threaded means include a threaded female coupling element wherein opposite ends of said coupling are in threaded relationship with an end of one said hollow tubular elements and a fitting extending out of one of said inflatable cushions.

5. An ensemble as defined in claim 1 comprising a tray removably mounted on said transversely interconnecting means over the area between said buoyant means and overlying the body of the occupant, said tray being adapted to support food, beverage, cigarettes, and the like.

6. The ensemble as defined in claim 5, wherein said tray is supported by plugs extending downwardly therefrom nesting in vertically extending upwardly directed sockets on said means rigidly interconnecting said buoyant means.

7. The ensemble as defined in claim 6, wherein said tray in-cludes shade means disposed thereover.

8. The ensemble as defined in claim 1, wherein a paddle is operatively secured to each of said buoyant means outboard thereof by loop means integral with said buoyant means.

9. The ensemble as defined in claim 1, wherein said floating means includes a concave recess in the top thereof to receive the head of the occupant.

10. The ensemble as defined in claim 1, wherein opposite ends of said floating means are each provided with a pair of detachable secured vertically extending rods forming support posts for a canopy detachably se cured thereto.

11. The ensemble as defined in claim 10, wherein a transversely extending, horizontal board provides the canopy and said support posts with rigidity, and said board has aperture means with hook members extending therethrough from each of said support posts.

14. The ensemble as defined in claim 10, wherein generally vertically extending pocket means adaptable to receiving a drinking glass and a bottle is supported on a pair of said support posts at least at one end of said floating means by looped clamp means extending around the associated support posts and attached to said vertically extending pocket means.

Claims

1. An aquatic lounge-and-tray ensemble comprising in combination a pair of transversely spaced longitudinally extending buoyant means, a floating means disposed transversely at one end of said buoyant means and spaced longitudinally therefrom, longitudinally extending means rigidly interconnecting one end of each of said pair of buoyant means to the adjoining spaced floating means, said floating means having an upper surface provided with a head rest for an occupant with the body of the occupant lying between the pair of buoyant means over which the arms of the occupant can be draped, said longitudinally extending interconnecting means including concave cushioned sections in which the armpits of the occupant are adapted to rest, transversely extending means rigidly interconnecting said buoyant means and under which the body of the occupant is disposed, and leg supporting means depending from part of said transversely extending interconnecting means in which the legs of the occupant are adapted to be supported.

10. The ensemble as defined in claim 1, wherein opposite ends of said floating means are each provided with a pair of detachable secured vertically extending rods forming support posts for a canopy detachably secured thereto.

12. The ensemble as defined in claim 11, wherein said board is provided with a generally horizontally extending pocket in which a book or the like may be stored.

13. The ensemble as defined in claim 12, wherein said pocket includes an inwardly and downwardly extending lower wall which inherently impedes a book or the like stored therein from falling out.