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(11) | EP 1 604 895 A1 |
| (12) | EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION |
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| (54) | Island Float |
| (57) The invention applies to floats, be they rigid and unsinkable or inflatable, that
are used to go out to sea or leave the water's edge and its essential characteristic
lies in the devices situated on the sides of the floats for attachment to other similar
floats to create a floating "island" of greater dimensions. The devices are as follows: a rigid fixture, named "female" (2) and a rigid but sliding mechanism which can rotate at an orthogonal angle around its axis, called "male" (3). The floating elements described above can be attached to each other by inserting the male element (3) in the female element (2) which incorporates a conical opening (4) in its outer wall to allow the male to move around. The bolt (5) blocks the male in position in the female housing and when necessary the other bolt (6) holds the male element in position in the centre. |
[0001] Up to now it has not been possible for people to socialise in the water on traditional inflatable mattresses or floats which tend to drift off or bump into each other.
[0002] The Island Float is a single float with devices incorporated for attachment to other single Island Floats to form an "island". It comprises a floating element (being an inflatable mattress or a float of an unsinkable rigid material) that by means of a rigid fixture (called herein "female") and a rigid but sliding mechanism which can rotate at an orthogonal angle around its axis (called "male") - both situated on the sides of the float - can be attached to other floating elements to form a floating "island" of greater dimensions.
[0003] The female device is rigid and situated in the floating element. It consists of a rigid, truncated cylinder made of synthetic material which has a hollow chamber in its central part to allow entry of the male element. There is a conical opening at the end of the hollow chamber on the outer wall of the truncated cylinder which permits the male element that has reached this position to perform a wide movement at an orthogonal angle to its axis.
[0004] The male element is blocked in place within the female element by a cylindrical bolt which slides in a special cavity and is operated by a small knob situated on the outside of the floating element, all positioned near the conical opening.
[0005] The male device is made up of a central, cylindrical bar with a single sphere at one end connected to another cylindrical bar at an orthogonal angle with two symmetrical spheres at one end.
This assembly of bars and spheres is called "male" in the description. The two symmetrical spheres permit a sliding movement along the length of the male element housing which is situated inside the floating element. Once fully extended, the male element can rotate at an orthogonal angle to its axis. The movement of the bar at an orthogonal angle to its axis permits the float to ride smoothly with wave motion and the sliding along its length allows the male bar to be hidden neatly in its housing inside the floating element. The movement of the bar at an orthogonal angle to its axis can be blocked in its centre by means of a "u" ended, cylindrical bolt which holds the bar in position, slides in a special cavity and is operated by a small knob on the outside of the floating element.
[0006] The invention is illustrated by diagrams as follows:
Fig. 1 is a top view of the Island Float where No. 1 represents the floating element, No. 2 is the female device and No. 3 is the complete male device.
Figs. 2 and 3 are a front and side view of the Island Float showing the situation of the male and female devices: No. 1 is the floating element, No. 2 is the female element, No. 3 is the complete male element and No. 4 is the female element's conical opening. No. 5 is the bolt knob which blocks the male element in the female housing and No. 6 is the "u" ended bolt knob which holds the bar in the centre of the male element.
Figs. 4 and 5 are two perspectives of the Island Float illustrating the male and female device housings. No. 1 is the floating element, No. 2 is the female element, No. 3 is the complete male element and No. 4 is the conical opening which allows greater movement to the male, once inserted in the female housing. No. 5 represents the bolt knob which blocks the male in the female housing and No. 6 is the "u" ended bolt knob which holds the male element bar in position.
Fig. 6 is a group of No. 20 floating elements which form an "island" of greater dimensions where No. 1 is the floating element, No. 2 is the female device and No. 3 is the male device.
Fig. 7 is a cross section of the floating element where No. 1 is the floating element, No. 2 is the female element, No. 3 is the male element and No. 4, the housing of the male element inside the floating element.
Fig. 8 is a perspective of two floating elements attached, where No. 1 is the floating element, No. 2 is the female device, No. 3 is the male device and No. 4 is the conical opening in the female element, No. 5 is the bolt knob which blocks the male in the female housing and No. 6 is the "u" ended bolt which holds the male element bar in position.
Figs. 9, 10 and 11 are (in that order): a top view, a cross section and a perspective of the female device where No. 1 is the entrance hole, No. 2 is the conical opening which allows the male to move around once inserted in the female housing and No. 3 is the bolt knob which blocks the male element in the female housing.
Figs. 12, 13 and 14 are (in that order): a top view, a longitudinal section and a cross section of the entire male element where No. 1 is the spheres that allow movement at an orthogonal angle around its axis and the lengthwise sliding action, No. 2 is the cylindrical bar, No. 3 is the sphere at the end of the bar; its function is to enter in the female element to assure the attachment of the floating elements.
[0007] Both the cylindrical structure called "female" and the complete male element can be manufactured with synthetic material, metal or a mixture of both.
[0008] It is anticipated that the attachment device as originally conceived will be subjected to numerous modifications and variations and this falls within the scope of the invention; furthermore, all particulars can be replaced with other technical equivalents.
[0009] The device described above is preferred but other attachment methods are not excluded and the attachment variation with rigid elements could be selected from flexible type elements.
[0010] The shape of the floating element (see Fig. 1) is preferred but other shapes are not excluded, in fact all geometric shapes are possible and fall within the scope of the invention.
[0011] Each floating element can be attached to similar elements and the distance between them is such to consent the boarding of a person from the water and the execution of lateral movement by pushing with hands or paddles.
[0012] Each element can be detached from another at all times; detachment is as easy as attachment and both are executed manually.
[0013] Movement of the Island Float in the water is carried out by pushing with the hands or feet, or by using paddles.
[0015] My objectives are to:
a) Supply the Island Float (consisting of a float with devices incorporated for attachment to similar elements, so forming an "island" of floats) at a minimum purchase price for consumers.
b) Enhance leisure activities at the sea and in other water environments e.g. natural and artificial lakes and even rivers.
c) Make it easier for everyone to socialise on the water.
d) Provide the means of crossing water to the other side or creating a path on the water.