GB2354977A

GB2354977A - A compressible float

Info

Publication number: GB2354977A
Application number: GB9922800A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Andrew Charles Firth
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1999-09-28
Filing date: 1999-09-28
Publication date: 2001-04-11
Anticipated expiration: 2019-09-28
Also published as: GB2354977B; GB9922800D0

Abstract

A float 2 has a significant surplus of buoyancy in water and is readily compressible so as to allow air to be expelled from said float during compression and to allow air to be drawn back into the float on release returning it to its buoyant state. Means 18 are also provided for supporting a load. The means for supporting the load may be a key ring 18 while the load may be a bunch of keys. The float may comprise a waterproof flexible pouch 8 around elastically compressible means such as springs or foam material, which urge apart opposite walls of the pouch. The float may have one or more perforations 20 through the wall to allow air to flow out during compression of the float and to allow air to flow in on release of the float. The float when compressed may be small enough to fit into the pocket of an article of clothing.

Description

FLOAT / D21 2354977 A FLOAT This invention relates to a float,

particularly for carrying a load, for example one or more keys.

According to the present invention, there is provided a float, comprising buoyant means which has a significant surplus of buoyancy in water and is readily compressible manually to a significant degree and, following compression thereof and removal of the compressing force, promptly expands to a significant degree; and supporting means provided on said buoyant means for supporting a load thereon.

Owing to the invention, it is possible to ensure that the load does not soon sink to the bottom of the water.

In order that the invention may be clearly and completely disclosed, reference will now be made, by way of example, to the accompanying drawing, which shows a diagrammatic perspective view of a float from above.

Referring to the drawing, the float 2 includes a buoyant body 4 which has a significant surplus of buoyancy in water, is readily compressible manually to a significant degree, and, following compression thereof and removal of the compressing force, promptly expands to a significant degree. A supporting device 6 provided on the body 4 serves to support a load (not shown) on the body 4. The body 4 has a width (i.e. height) and a length each significantly greater than its thickness. For example, the length of the body 4 in a free state may be approximately 100mm. and its width may be approximately 70mm., whilst its thickness at its middle may be approximately 30mm.. Manual compression of the body 4 in its thickness direction at the middles of the side walls (of which one is seen and referenced 4a) of the body 4 preferably results in a reduction of the manually compressed part of the body 4 by approximately 50%. For example, with the body 4 of substantially 30mm. thickness at its middle, a force of about 20N would result in a reduction in the thickness from about 30mm. to about 15mm. The body 4 consists of an outer envelope in the form of a flexible pouch 8 of plastics film and, inside the outer envelope, a readily, elastically compressible device (not seen). The pouch 8 is sealed 1 FLOAT / D21 throughout its outer periphery 10 and the elastically compressible device is a block (not shown) of readily manually compressible, open-cell, foam plastics which continuously urges outwards the respective opposite side walls of the body 4. A corner portion of the pouch 8 sealed in a liquid-tight manner from the interior of the pouch 8 forms a lug 12 on which the supporting device 6 is provided.

The device 6 consists of a hole 14 through the lug 12, a grommet 16 lining the edge of the hole 14, and a key ring 18 extending through the hole 14. The ring 18 serves to carry the load (not shown) in the form of one or more keys such as boat keys, house keys, and/motor car keys. At the diametrically opposite, upper corner of the body 4 from the supporting device 6 the wall of a top part of the body 4 is formed with one or more perforations 20 to enable air to flow out of the pouch 8 and into the pouch 8 during compression and expansion, respectively, of the body 4. The or each perforation 20 is of a width to render difficult flow of water therethrough; there is preferably a plurality of perforations 20 each preferably of a diameter of no more than 3mm. The pouch 8 is of water-resistant or, preferably, waterproof material, e.g. polyethylene, rubber, or rubberised canvas.

The float 2 is provided with one or more markings 22 transversely thereof to indicate a maximum desirable extent of submersibility of the float in water during use of the float. The marking(s) 22 is or are substantially perpendicular to gravitational force during use of the float 2. As shown, the markings 22 consist of a wavy line 24 and wording ""MAX(IMUM) WATERLINE" 26. The float 2 also has markings 24 thereon for a user to complete to identify his boat and a likely location of his boat, the markings as shown being "'BOAT" ""BERTH" and "MOORING". For ease of manufacture of the float and entry of the identifying details by the user, the markings 22 and 24 are carried in a waterproof manner on a waterproof label 28 itself adhered in a waterproof manner to the side wall 4a. The markings 22 are provided in an endeavour to prevent the user from putting 2 FLOAT / D21 onto the ring 18 a load (probably in the form of a bunch of keys) greater than that which would leave a significant amount of the float 2 unsubmerged, so as not only to endeavour to prevent the load from sinking to the bottom of the water, but also to endeavour to ensure that a significantly high proportion of the float 2 is left projecting above the water level to render it reasonably visible, for recovery of the load (and the float) in the event that the user drops the load and the float into, say, a river or the sea. The intention is that the user will test the float and load in, say, a pail of water, if and when adding one or more keys to the ring 18. The float 2 is of such a size that, with the load, it is completely insertable into a pocket of an article of clothing, particularly an article of marine clothing, or into a handbag.

The maximum advisable load on the ring 18 with the version described with reference to the drawings is approximately 50g. (approximately six assorted keys). For the waterline to be at the level of the perforations 20, the load on the ring 18 would be approximately 110g.

The float 2 described with reference to the accompanying drawing has the following advantages:

(1) it is sufficiently buoyant to support a bunch of keys when in water, (2) it compresses easily when placed in the pocket of an article of marine clothing (when the air exhausts through the perforations 20 and the foam material is compressed) to make a more convenient size and feel under the small forces applied by the article of marine clothing, (3) it is supple in the pocket for comfort and convenience, (4) it inflates sufficiently rapidly when dropped from above the water to ensure that the keys and the float 2 have a net buoyancy upon reaching any water, either sea or fresh water, (5) the air intake device (i.e. the perforations 20) is designed, located and protected so as to ensure minimal water intake when floating, so that the float avoids becoming 3 FLOAT / D21 waterlogged; in fact, the air intake device is provided at the highest part of the float 2 when floating, (6) the outer surface of the body 4 is able to withstand normal treatment of a bunch of keys on a boat, because it is both resilient and tough, (7) the outer envelope is sufficiently water-resistant, preferably waterproof, to ensure that a reasonable length of time can elapse before the keys are recovered following being dropped into the water, before the float 2 becomes waterlogged, if it becomes waterlogged at all, (8) the outer envelope is relatively strong, so as to be able to withstand the forces associated with a keyring 18 being used.

(9) the float 2 is of low density, to ensure that the float 2 is relatively highly buoyant.

Whilst a presently preferred version has been described with reference to the drawings, various other versions are possible. For example, the perforation(s) 20 could be replaced by an arrangement of one or more perforations of greater than 3mm. diameter, although such version may need to include some form of water intake prevention, such as a snorkel with a shut-off ball, or a non-return valve.

Alternatively, very small perforations could be provided over at least a large proportion of the walls of the pouch 8.

In another version, the outer envelope could take the form of a hinged or folding device including a relatively rigid material, for example could be a bellows-type or like structure. Instead of the plastics foam block, some other device could be used, for example a mechanical device with metal or plastics springs and/or levers, for example metal or plastics leaf springs, to expand the outer envelope.

In another possible version, the body 4 may be a unit of a single material, particularly of open-cell foam material.

The unit could be an open-cell foam unit moulded as such, so to give the unit a water-resistant skin. Alternatively, an open-cell foam unit could be coated over at least certain areas of its external surface, to improve its water resistance. The use of open-cell foam material is 4 FLOAT / D21 particularly advantageous in that it allows the flow of air out of and into the body during compression and expansion, respectively, whereby the body is readily compressible.

FLOAT / D21

Claims

1 A f loat, comprising buoyant means which has a significant surplus of buoyancy in water and is readily compressible manually to a significant degree and so as to expel air from said buoyant means and, following compression thereof and removal of the compressing force, promptly expands to a significant degree so as to draw air into said buoyant means; and supporting means provided on said buoyant means for supporting a load thereon.

2. A float according to claim 1 and provided with a marking transversely thereof to indicate a maximum desirable extent of submersibility of the float in water during use of the float.

3. A float according to claim 2, wherein said marking is substantially perpendicular to gravitional force during use of the float.

4. A float according to any preceding claim and provided with markings thereon for identifying a boat and a likely location of said boat.

5. A float according to any one of claims 2 to 4, wherein said marking(s) is/are provided on a label carried by said buoyant means.

6. A float according to any preceding claim, wherein said supporting means comprises a hole through said buoyant means.

7. A float according to any preceding claim, wherein said supporting means comprises a key ring.

8. A float according to any preceding claim, wherein said buoyant means has an outer peripheral lug on which said supporting means is provided.

9. A float according to any preceding claim and of a size such that the float is completely insertable into a pocket of an article of clothing.

10. A float according to any preceding claim, wherein said buoyant means comprises a flexible pouch and elastically compressible means in said pouch and arranged to urge apart respective opposite side walls of said pouch.

11. A float according to claim 10, wherein said elastically compressible means comprises foam material.

6 FLOAT / D21

12. A float according to claim 10 or 11, wherein said elastically compressible means comprises one or more springs.

13. A float according to any one of claims 10 to 12, wherein said pouch is formed at a top part thereof with one or more perforations through a wall of said top part to enable air to flow out of said pouch and into said pouch during compression and expansion, respectively, of said buoyant means.

14. A float according to claim 13, wherein the or each perforation is of a width to render difficult flow of water therethrough.

15. A float according to any one of claims 10 to 14, wherein said pouch is of water-resistant or waterproof material.

16. A float according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein said buoyant means is a unit of a single material.

17. A float according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein said buoyant means is a unit of foamed material.

18. A float according to claim 16 or 17, wherein said unit has an outer peripheral skin which is water-resistant or waterproof.

19. In combination:

a float according to any preceding claim, and a load supported on said supporting means.

20. A combination according to claim 19, wherein said load comprises one or more keys.

21. A combination according to claim 19 or 20, and further comprising an article of clothing having a pocket, said float and said load being contained in said pocket, and said buoyant means being in a significantly compressed condition.

22. A float, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawing.

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