US3844236A

US3844236A - Dissemblable float

Info

Publication number: US3844236A
Application number: US00382490A
Authority: US
Inventors: C Boyajian
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1971-05-19
Filing date: 1973-07-25
Publication date: 1974-10-29
Anticipated expiration: 1991-10-29

Abstract

A dissemblable float is described comprising detachable side walls connected to form an enclosure in which are placed a plurality of float members. Each float member has an upper rib connected to a pair of opposing side walls. The rib is attached to a light-weight material, such as a block of cellular polystyrene. Detachable cover portions complete the platform.

Description

United States Patent 1191 Related U.S. Application Data Boyajian 1 Oct. 29, 1974 DISSEMBLABLE FLOAT 3,289,621 12/1966 Sebring 114 .5 [76] I nto C a e oy jia 1 nce St" 3,616,774 11/1971 Thompson 1 14/.5

Saugus, Mass. 01906 Primary ExaminerTrygve M. Bhx Flled: July 1973 Assistant ExaminerStuart M. Goldstein .[211 Appl 3 2 9 Attorney, Agent, or FirmJ0seph Zallen 5 7 ABSTRACT [63] Continuation of Ser. No. 144,766, May 19, 1971,

abandoned- A dissemblable float is described comprising detachable side walls connected to form an enclosure in [52] U.S. CI. which are placed a p i y of float members. Each [51] hit. Cl B631) 35/09 float member has an uppr rib connected to a pair of Fleld of Search R, F, BD, pp g i walls. The is attached to a 61/48 weight material, such as a block of cellular polysty- References Cited 311};- Detachable cover portions complete the plat- UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,036,539 5/1962 Storey 114/.5 6 Glam, 6 D'awmg Flglres 0 T 9 b 11 I6 500 16 DISSEMBLABLE FLOAT This is a continuation of my co-pending patent application of the same title, Ser. No. l44,766, filed May 19, 1971, now abandoned.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION This invention relates to a float. In particular it relates to a float, which can be easily assembled or disassembled.

Floats are used in lakes, rivers and similar bodies of water to enable people to have water deep enough for swimming and diving, and yet accessible to a place for resting or sun bathing. Floats are often equipped with diving boards, and also ladders to assist the swimmers in climbing onto the float.

Conventional floats are generally bulky, heavy, and permanent installations subject to the problems of ice damage in the northern climate. Some floats have been proposed in the past, which purport to be dissemblable, so that they can be removed from the water for the winter season. However, such dissemblable floats as have hitherto been described, are generally heavy, difficult to handle, and bulky in their dissembled state.

One object of the present invention is to provide a float which can be readily assembled or disassembled very rapidly without tools.

Another object of this invention is to provide such a float which can be readily assembled or disassembled by a singular person.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide such a float which is light in weight and which stores compactly in dissembled form.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will be apparent from the description and claims which follow, taken together with the appended drawings.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION This invention comprises generally a float composed of a compact group of readily assembled components. One group of components comprises side walls, as for example four side walls which can be made of wood or similar strong floatable material. These side walls are connected to one another at their ends to form an enclosure which floats in the water. The connection is made by having mating hinge portions, which are held together after alignment by a removable hinge-pin. This form of attachment device is preferred, but other attachment devices, as for example, latches, hooks and the like, can be used.

After the enclosure is formed. floating in the water. a plurality of float members are then positioned within the enclosure. usually occupying most of the space within the enclosure. The float members are preferably uniform in size and shape. Each float member consists essentially of a mass of light weight, cellular, waterresistant, generally rigid material, such as cellular polystyrene. Attached to the top surface of the mass is a long rib, generally in the form of a wooden board. This upper rib or board extends between two opposing side walls and is attached to these walls by similar hinge attaching means, as described above.

The upper long rib of the float member can be attached to the mass by suitable adhesive. It also can be attached by mechanical means. In the latter case, it is preferable to have a corresponding bottom rib so that a bolt can be used and not fracture the cellular polystyrene mass, which usually has low strength. In the embodiment illustrated in the drawings, transverse upper boards are also included for strengthening.

After the float members have been inserted and attached to the enclosure, the main body of the float is completed by attaching a cover portion which generally includes several sections. The cover portion acts as the platform for the float and can be composed of a number of sections, each attached to opposing side walls and also preferably to one another.

Accessories, such as a diving board and ladder. can be attached by means of brackets or similar mounts on a part of the cover portion or side walls to which the diving board or ladder can be detachably connected.

A float made in accordance with this invention can be readily handled by a singular person without assistance and can also be readily dissembled. No tools are required.

It should be noted that in common with all other floats, some means of anchoring or weighting is used with the float in order to keep it in its desired location. This can be accomplished in a variety of ways known to those skilled in the art.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the outer wall alone of one example of this invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view with partial cutaway of the wall of FIG. 1 with three float members in position.

FIG. 3 is a section along line 3-3 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the entire assembled float.

FIG. 5 is a section along line 5-5 of FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is a partial right side elevation of FIG. 4.

SPECIFIC EXAMPLE OF INVENTION Referring now to the drawings, the frame 11 of the float comprises side walls l2, l3, l4 and 15 detachably connected to each other at their ends by means of a pair of mating hinge portions and removable pin 16 to form an enclosure. Into the enclosure is placed float group 20 comprising

float members

25, 30 and 35. Each of the float members is of similar size and construction and positioned in a similar manner within the enclosure. Thus float member 25 has a longitudinal board 25a, and transverse boards 25c resting on a block of cellular polystyrene 25d. The boards are held together on the block and a lower board by means of vertical bolts 25b. The upper board 25a rests on the

side walls

12 and 13 while the polystyrene block 25d rests within the enclosure. The longitudinal board 25a is attached by similar hinge and removable pin portions to

side walls

12 and 13.

In a similar fashion float 30 has upper longitudinal board 30a, bolts 30b, transverse boards 30c, cellular polystyrene block 30d and lower board 30a.

In a similar fashion float member 35 (illustrated in cross section in FIG. 3) has upper longitudinal board 35a, transverse boards 35c, bolts 35b, cellular polystyrene block 35d, lower longitudinal board 35c and hinge-pin sections 35f and 35g.

After the float members have been inserted and attached to the side walls, the

cover portions

36 and 38 are laid on the boards and attached by hinge and removable pin assemblies 37 and 29 to

walls

14 and 15. The inner edges of the cover portions are likewise detachably connected to one another by similar hinge and

removable pins

37 and 39.

After the cover portions have been attached, accessories can be attached. Thus, for example, the diving board 40 comprises a board portion 40a, which is detachably connected by hinge-pin sections 400 and 400 to

short supports

40b and 40d. These short support sections can be permanently mounted on cover portion 38 or readily attached by

bolts

40b, 40d and nuts 40b" and 40d".

Ladder 45 comprises

curved rails

45e and 45f with steps 45g. The ends of the rails are connected to a block 45a by bolts 45c, which in turn is connected by hinge-pin assembly 45d to block 46. Block 46 can be permanently mounted on cover portion 38 or it can be easily assembled by means of bolt 46a. One of the steps 45g is detachably connected to side wall 12 by pin and hinge assembly 45h.

It should be noted in all the above references to hinge and pin assemblies, one portion of the hinge is mounted on one member, a second or mating portion of the hinge is mounted on a second member and when the hinges are brought together in mating position, a pin is inserted which holds them in this position. Removal of the pin permits the members to be readily detached.

One eye bolt 50 is attached with nut 50a to each of the side walls l2, l3, l4 and 15. These eye bolts serve as means for attaching lines leading to an anchor or weight.

I claim:

1. A dissemblable float comprising:

a. side walls (l2, l3, l4 and 15)detachably connected to each other at their ends by mating hinge portions and removable pins (16) to form an enclosure; and

b. a plurality of float members located within said enclosure (25) each member comprising a block of light weight, cellular, water-resistant, generally rigid plastic (25d) extending within and between two opposing side walls. each member further having spaced transverse boards (25c) resting thereon and supporting a longitudinal board (25a) whose ends rest on the side walls and are detachably connected thereto by mating hinge portions and removable pins.

2. The float of claim 1 wherein said plastic is cellular polystyrene.

3. The float of claim 1 wherein there is a cover portion readily detachably connected to said walls.

4. the float of claim 1 wherein the float member has a longitudinal rib on the under side of the cellular material.

5. The float of claim 1 wherein said side walls are made of wood.

6. The float of claim 1 wherein said longitudinal board is made of wood.

Claims

1. A dissemblable float comprising: a. side walls (12, 13, 14 and 15) detachably connected to each other at their ends by mating hinge portions and removable pins (16) to form an enclosure; and b. a plurality of float members located within said enclosure (25) each member comprising a block of light weight, cellular, water-resistant, generally rigid plastic (25d) extending within and between two opposing side walls, each member further having spaced transverse boards (25c) resting thereon and supporting a longitudinal board (25a) whose ends rest on the side walls and are detachably connected thereto by mating hinge portions and removable pins.

2. The float of claim 1 wherein said plastic is cellular polystyrene.

5. The float of claim 1 wherein said side walls are made of wood.

6. The float of claim 1 wherein said longitudinal board is made of wood.