US2173963A - Bather's air float - Google Patents

Sept. 26, 1939. J. c. 'EUBANK BATHER'S AIR FLOAT Filed April 14. 1938 A itomeys Patented Sept. 26, 1939 NITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2 Claims.

My invention relates generally to a device for assisting bathers in remaining afloat on and moving about in the water, and particularly to an inflatable device of this character which is safe and convenient for use by grown ups and children alike, and an important object of my invention is to provide a simple and inexpensive arrangement of the character indicated which is susceptible of quantity production and broad marlgeting at a relatively low price.

Other important objects of my invention will be apparent from a reading of the following description taken in connection with the drawing,

wherein for purposes of illustration I have shown preferred embodiments of my invention.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a plan view of a device in accordance with the invention having dual inflatable chambers.

20 Figure 2 is an enlarged transverse vertical sectional view taken through Figure 1 approximately centrally.

Figure 3 is a plan view of another embodiment of the invention containing a single inflatable 25 chamber.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary enlarged transverse vertical sectional view taken through Figure 3.

Referring in detail to the drawing, and first to the embodiment shown in Figures 1 and 2 of the drawing, the numeral 5 generally designates a closed inflatable tube constituting the main buoyant element of the device, capable of being molded in a perfectly circular form and either maintained in that shape in the final product,

35 or caused to assume an oval or elliptical form in the final product by reason of the manner of attachment of the support web. This closed tube may be made of rubber like the inner tube of an automobile tire, or be made of a combination of 40 rubber and fabric, or entirely of some suitable fabric, depending on the desires of the manufacturer.

Strung across the main float element 5 is the support web which is generally designated 6 and 45 which comprises an hour glass shaped sheet I having disposed at similarly spaced distances from the edges of the sheet an hour glass shaped axillary buoyant element 8, and loops 9 fastened to the projecting corners of sheet I and encircling 50 the circular tube 5, or said circular loops may be attached to and a part of the circular tube 5 and attached to the corners of sheet 1, whereby the support 6 is strung across the tube 5. Openings are left at 10 and II and also at right angles to ill and II for the purpose of allowing the free access of Water as the inflated tube is submerged, to pass between the tube and the sides of sheet I which insures the stability of the float and furnishes the support of the bather when using the float for support.

The sheet I may be made sufficiently rigid in character to obviate the necessity for securing the loops 9 to the tube 5 to keep the loops properly positioned on the tube 5; or the sheet I may be as flexible as desired, and the straps 9 as flexible 10 as desired, but the straps 9 attached securely in place in the selected positions on the tube 5.

It will be obvious that the hour glass shaped auxiliary buoyant element or chamber 8 when inflated acts as a cushion and also as an additional agency besides the tube 5 to maintain the bather afloat in the water. While the tube 5 is furnished with an inflating valve l2, the hour glass shaped auxiliary float chamber 8 may be either of the permanently inflated type or be provided like the tube 5 with an inflating valve suitably positioned thereon.

The embodiment of the invention shown in Figures 3 and 4 of the drawing is the same in all particulars as the embodiment described above, but the sheet la. is devoid of the auxiliary float chamber 8.

As to structural details employed in the formation of the support 6 and the support 6a, it is pointed out that the loops 9 and 9a may be fabric I or rubber pieces brought around the tube 5, 5a and their ends secured to opposite sides of the marginal portions of the sheet la as indicated in Figures 2 and 4, and fastened in place by sewing, fasteners of metallic character, or by cementing or vulcanizing, according to the choice of the manufacturer and the type and finish of final product desired.

Although I have shown and described herein preferred embodiments of my invention, it is to be definitely understood that I do not desire to limit the application of the invention thereto, and any change or changes may be made in the materials and in the structure and arrangement of the parts, within the spirit of the invention and the scope of the subjoined claims.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. A bathers float comprising an outer inflatable ring, an hour-glass shaped sheet disposed 5 within the ring, relatively wide strips looped around the ring at substantially equally circumferentially spaced points, said strips having inwardly directed portions extending radially inwardly beyond the inner periphery of said ring generally rectangular in top plan view, loops embracing said ring float at circumferentially spaced equidistant points, said loops having their inner ends projecting radially toward and connected with adjacent corner portions of said sheet, the marginal edges of said sheet being all spaced from the inner peripheral edge of said ring, said sheet being in a plane with the ring and having a buoyant central portion functioning as a cushion as well as an auxiliary float, coacting with said 11 ring.

JOHN CECIL EUBANK.