CA1190097A - Floating seat - Google Patents

Abstract

ABSTRACT
"FLOATING SEAT "

Buoyant supports especially for small children must be very stable. The support of the invention achieves great stability by having a plurality of buoyant ring-like support members of different dimensions, each connected to its adjacent support member and body holding means dependent from one or more of the support members.

Description

3q~ 7 'I'his invention rela-tes to a floa-tation support for people. It is par-ticularly useful as a floating sea-t for babies in a swimming pool.
The b:ig problem with floatation devices for people of all ages is that they are unstable and any rnovement of an occupant -toward an edge of the device will tend -to overturn the device.
It is an object of this invention to overcome the problem of prior floatation devices.
According to the invention, there is provided a buoyant chair for supporting a person i.n water in a sitting posi-ti.on comprising two or more ring-like inflatable support members having diameters of different leng-ths that the support members can be located concentrically about a central axis, and spaced at varying distances from the axis according to their diameters in a plane at right angles to the central axis, and such that smaller support members are located in said plane closer to said axis than larger suppor-t members, the adjacent suppor-t members being connected to each other at spaced intervals, whereby downward pressure on part of a support member does not produce downward pressure on an adjacent part of an adjacent suppor-t member and body holding means comprising a seat hanging by suspension means connected to at least one of the support members, said body holding means having openinys through which the legs of the person protrude.
A preferred embodiment of the inven-tion will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:-Figure 1 is a perspective view;
Figure 2 is a side view;

-2-Figure 3 is a plan view;
Fiyure 4 is a rear view;
Figure 5 is a bottom view;
Figure 6 is a sectional view from the front; and Figure 7 is a plan view of another embodiment.
The floatation suppor-t of the invention in one form comprises an outer support member 1, an inner support member 2 situated within the area surrounded by -the outer support member 1 with a space 3 therehe-tween. Spaced connecting members ~ provide flexible connections between the inner and outer support members.

- 2a -~c~

The floatation suppor-t may have a back seat 5. A
form of body support depends from -the inner suppor-t member 2.
In the form shown a seat 6 is supported by flexible cord 7 to lugs 8 on the inner side of the inner support member 2.
The number of connectlng members 4 may be varied but best results are obtained with four connectors positioned as shown in the drawings. With this arrangement any depression of the inner support member by movement of a person therein is not directly reflected in the outer riny and stability of the device as a whole is maintained. It is also envisaged that the cross~sectional area of the outer support member could be enlarged near -the connections 4.
The shape and configuration and the number of the support members 1 and 2 are not important and may be dictated by such things as ease of manufacture, aesthetic appearance, comic appearance e~g. duck shape, stability, size of occupant etc. The more support members there are the safer the support floatation would be.
Figure 7 shows another embodiment. There is no restriction on the number of ring-like members and this embodiment shows three such members 10, 11 and 12 connected together by spaced connections 13. Valves 14 and seat 15 are similar to the other embodiments. This embodiment, like the others, may or may not have a backrest and is shown without one.
The support members may be made of any suitable buoyant material such as E.V.A., polyurethane or cork. The device shown in the drawings comprises inflatable plastic tubing wlth valves 9 and 14. Such valves would be double acting, i.e.
if the plug is knocked out air does not escape.

Claims (6)

THE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION IN WHICH AN EXCLUSIVE
PROPERTY OR PRIVILEGE IS CLAIMED ARE DEFINED AS FOLLOWS:

1. A buoyant chair for supporting a person in water in a sitting position comprising two or more ring-like inflatable support members having diameters of different lengths that the support members can be located concentrically about a central axis, and spaced at varying distances from the axis according to their diameters in a plane at right angles to the central axis, and such that smaller support members are located in said plane closer to said axis than larger support members, the adjacent support members being connected to each other at spaced intervals, whereby downward pressure on part of a support member does not produce downward pressure on an adjacent part of an adjacent support member and body holding means comprising a seat hanging by suspension means connected to at least one of the support members, said body holding means having openings through which the legs of the person protrude.

2. A buoyant chair as claimed in claim 1, wherein the adjacent support members are connected together at four spaced positions.

3. A buoyant chair as claimed in claim 1, wherein the seat means is connected to the smallest support member by flexible cord.

4. A buoyant chair as claimed in claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein there are two support members.

5. A buoyant chair as claimed in claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein a backrest is provided on the smallest support member.

6. A buoyant chair as claimed ln claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein said seat means is a seat for supporting a baby in a body of water such as a swimming pool.