US2938727A - Aquatic recreational device - Google Patents

Description

May 31, 1960 c. s. NOSAK AQUATIC RECREATIONAL DEVICE Filed Jan. 18, 1957 ATTORNEYS United States Patent AQUATIC RECREATIONAL DEVICE Chester S. Nosak, 509 Hamlin St., Warwick, Va.

Filed Jan. 18, 1957, Ser. No; 634,995

2 Claims. (Cl. 272-57) This invention relates to recreational equipment and more particularly to that form of inflatable recreational equipment which may be used in water at beaches and swimming pools for support in the water, play and exercise.

Inflatable rubber or plastic rafts are well-known. These are used principally as plat-forms from which to dive into the water, and as a support for the body of a user who uses his hands and feet to paddle it about in the water. The user of such equipment must either lie on the raft or straddle it, standing in an upright position being almost impossible due to the action of the water in upsetting the users balance; and, in models made of light-weight material, a good footing could not be obtained due to the feet of the user sinking into the raft.

The present invention is designed to enable the user to obtain a far greater range of exercise which will develop abdominal muscles as well as muscles of the legs and arms. At the same time, it will furnish a means for entertainment and provide for a wider range of games that may be played by a group.

Consequently, it is an object of the present invention to provide an inflatable hollow-wall recreational device for use in the water at beaches and swimming pools, having the form of a generally spherical cage into which the user may enter and standing upright may propel the device over the water by changing his position in the device in one direction or another to over-balance it.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide such an aquatic recreational device with means by which the user may secure himself within the sphere so that he may roll about on the water head-over-heels.

Other objects of the invention will become apparent from the description of the following practical embodi ments of the invention when read in conjunction with the drawings, wherein,

Figure 1 is a plan view of the inflatable hollow-wall recreational sphere of the present invention;

Figure 2 is a side elevational view of the sphere, parts a being in section;

Figure 3 is a section taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 1.

Adverting now to the drawings, and particularly to Figures 1 and 2, there is shown an aquatic sphere 1 having a double wall 2. The wall 2 consists of concentric spheres, one being the inner envelope 3 and the other being the outer skin 4 spaced therefrom to provide an air space 5. The diameter of the sphere may be varied to accommodate the height of users, three sizes being adequate to accommodate children, women and men. The most likely size would have, for example, a diameter of about 6 feet.

A plurality of ports or entrances 6 are provided about the periphery of the sphere 1. The size and number of the ports 6 may be varied according to the size of the sphere. In the embodiment shown in Figure 1 there 2,938,727 I Patented May 31, 1969 are fourteen" of the ports 6 fora six-foot diameter sphere, and each of the ports is about 20" in diameter.

'A liner 7 surrounds each of the ports 6 and connects the inner envelope 3 with the outer skin 4. The liner 7 is about 6" in width in the embodiment shown in Figure 1.

The inner envelope 3 and the outer skin 4 are made of plastic or rubber and may be reinforced with suitable fabric. Each may be molded in the shape of hemispheres, two hemispheres, not shown, being vulcanized or heatsealed'together to form the inner envelope or the outer skin. Perhaps more conveniently they may be made of pieces of rubber or plastic material cut to the shape of spherical sectors and vulcanized or heat-sealed together to form the inner envelope 3 or the outer skin 4, in the well-known manner of forming inflatable beach balls. The two spheres may then be connected together by the port liners 7 by sealing the edges of the liners to the inner envelope 3 and outer skin 4.

A recess 8 is provided in one of the liners 7 and a valve 9, which is similar to a tire valve, is installed in the recess in communication with the air space 5. A tire pump may be used for pressurizing the air space 5. When the device is inflated, it assumes a generally spherical form.

Of course, the elastic material of which the two spheres 3 and 4 are made will bulge inwardly in the case of the inner envelope 3, and outwardly in the case of the outer skin 4 when the air space 5 is pressurized, so that while the distance between the outer skin 4 and the inner envelope 3 will be 6" at the edge of the ports 7, they will lie, for example, 8 or 9" apart at the mid-points between the ports when the wall 2 of the sphere 1 is inflated.

A pair of handholds 10 are attached to the inner envelope 3. The handheld 10 comprises a handgrip 11 and an attachment ring 12 through which an adjustable length strap 13 is passed and fastened with a buckle 14. The attachment ring 12 is fixed to the inner envelope 3 by means of a strap 15 passed through the attachment ring 12 and vulcanized or heatwelded to the inner envelope 3. To reinforce the point of attachment, one or more plies of reinforcement material 16 may be seecured to the inner envelope and the strap 15 may then be attached to the reinforcement material.

A pair of stirrups 17 are attached to the inner envelope 3 at a point diametrically opposite the handholds 10. The inner envelope 3 may be reinforced in the same manner as for the handholds.

In use, the spherical aquatic recreational device of this invention may be deflated and packed in a suitable carrying case for transportation. After inflation, the sphere is rolled into the water, and the user enters the interior through one of the openings or ports. Inserting his feet in the stirrups and gripping the handholds which have 7 been adjusted for his height, the user arches his body forwardly or rearwardly to create an imbalance of the sphere to cause it to roll, the user being turned head-over heels as the sphere revolves. With practice, the user can readily propel the sphere over the water by rhythmically pulling on the handholds and kicking with his feet, the flexibility of the device being advantageous to this maneuver; and by lurching in one direction or another he can change his rotation to that of a spiral.

For the playing of games in the water, the device of the present invention affords an excellent medium for a contest. The players on the outside of the sphere can readily grip the sphere at the ports or openings, to facilitate propelling it toward a goal line.

While in the above description there has been disclosed practical embodimentsof the invention, it will be under- 3 stood that the invention may include other structural forms.

What is claimed is:

1. An inflatable aquatic'recreational device conipris ing inner and 'outer concentric spheresof airtight material, each said sphere having a plurality of ports registering with similar ports in the other said sphere, s aid spheres being joined together along the edges of said ports to form a sealed air space between said spheres, said spheres defining the wall of a chamber of a size to receive a person whensaid air space between said which said person may enter said chamber.

' 2. In an inflatable aquatic recreational device as claimed in claim 1, a pair of hand holds and a pairof stirrups, said pairs being attached to said inner sphere at diametrically opposite points.

spheres is pressurized, and said ports being means through References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Maroukis Jan. 10, 1922 Guinzburg Dec. 22, 1925 Feick July 3, 1928 Bertram Aug. 13, 1935 Hochberg'u; Aug. 13, 1940 .Carvell June 22, 1954 FOREIGN PATENTS a 1 'Germany Aug. 4, 1928 Germany Aug. 29, 1929 Great Britain Q. Feb. 20, 1939 Germany Oct. 26, 1939 France Ian. 31, 1951

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