US3048395A - Watersports float - Google Patents

Description

Aug. 7, 1962 F. S. HQBBS WATERSPORTS FLOAT Filed March 7, 1960 INVENTOR.

FRANK S. HOBBS BY ZM WV WM ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,048,395 WATERSPORTS FLOAT Frank S. Hobbs, 202 Palm Ave, National City, Calif. Filed Mar. 7, 1960, Ser. No. 13,239 2 Claims. (Cl. 272--1) The present invention relates to an article for use in water sports and more particularly to an article which can be readily grasped by the hand of the player. The article may take the form of one which floats on the surface of water or may take the form of one that is submerged.

The article of the present invention comprises an integral structure formed of elastic material and includes a main body portion and a projecting portion, preferably an upright projecting portion, which projecting portion is provided with an opening so as to form a hand grip which may be grasped by the player. The article is an inflated structure formed of flexible soft rubber or plastic.

The mass of the article, particularly when used as a floating object on water, is provided with weight means in the bottom thereof so that the article floats upright on the surface of the water. Preferably the elastic mass is such that it has a specific gravity less than water although it is to be used as a submerged article; in that event, suflicient weight is added to the main body portion to submerge the article and so that the grip extends above the bottom of the main body portion whereby it can be readily grasped by the diver.

The advantages will be apparent from the following description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings wherein a preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a front view of the new article; and

FIG. 2 is a view looking in the direction of arrow 2 in FIG. 1 and is partly in section to show the weight means.

Referring more specifically to the drawings, the article 20 comprises a resilient structure 21 including a main body or base portion 22 and a projecting portion 24. Preferably, the projecting portion extends upwardly. This projection portion is provided with a hand grip 26 formed by an opening 28 which extends completely through the upper part of the projecting portion 24.

The main body and projecting portion 21 are formed integrally and comprise an inflated means formed of soft, flexible rubber, synthetic rubber or plastic. It is provided with an inflating valve 30.

The mass of the integral main body and projecting portion is buoyant in fresh water. However, weight means is employed having the tendency to maintain the article in an upright position. This weight means is ice secured to the bottom 32 of the main bottom portion. It can comprise an integral package containing, for example, sand.

Preferably the weight means 34 is in the form of a sandwich comprising an envelope including an upper leaf 36 and a lower leaf 38 welded to one another at the peripheries thereof with sand 40 therebetween. And the entire upper leaf is welded to the bottom 32 of the structure 21.

When used as a floating object, only sufficient sand is employed to maintain the article in an upright position, i.e., with the projecting portion extending vertically. Several or as many as desired are suitably positioned in the game area and then the water skier collects them as he is being towed in a predetermined path of travel. The skier grasps the articles by the handles, i.e., the grips 26.

When used as a submerged object, only sufficient sand is employed so that the specific gravity of the mass is slightly less than that of the water. The divers will collect the same while diving or swimming submerged. Again the projection portion 24 will extend vertically.

While the form of embodiment herein shown and described constitutes a preferred form, it is to be understood that other forms may be adopted falling within the scope of the claims that follow.

I claim:

1. An article for use in water sports, said article comprising an inflatable, integral structure formed of flexible material, the mass having a specific gravity less than water, said structure including an inflatable and flexible main body portion and a projecting portion of smaller circumference than the main body portion, said projecting portion being inflatable and flexible and having an opening providing a hand grip; an inflating valve for said integral structure and stationary weight means in the bottom of the main body portion.

2. An article for use in water sports, said article comprising an inflatable, integral structure formed of flexible material, the mass having a specific gravity less than water, said structure including an inflatable and flexible main body portion and an upright portion of smaller circumference than the main body portion, said upright portion being inflatable and flexible and having an opening providing a hand grip; an inflating valve for said integral structure and stationary weight means in the bottom of the main body portion.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,529,392 Sheridan Apr. 17, 1951 2,605,576 Young et al Aug. 5, 1952 2,790,187 Marconi Apr. 30, 1957

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