Water Noodle

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to pool toys, and in particular, to water noodles that have some degree of buoyancy in water and thus allow a swimmer to support his or her body weight by laying across the water noodle.

2. Description of the Prior Art

In the past, there have been pool toys such as those typically called “water noodles” which have some degree of buoyancy in water and thus allow a swimmer to support his or her body weight by laying across the pool toy, for example with the pool toy held under the arms of the swimmer. The “water noodle” is typically a highly flexible cylindrical tube 4 to 7 inches in diameter and 3 to 5 feet in length, typically made of an open or closed cell foam with a hollow interior. Thus, it is an elongated, highly flexible device which tends to bend about the swimmer's body or to bend into a “U” shape when it is used for buoyancy or aquatic activity.

Most of the presently-available water noodles are made of an open or closed cell foam cylindrical tube, with the hollow interior space of the cylindrical tube filled by recycled product scraps that are essentially trash. The product scraps are broken into small pieces and then filled into plastic bags. The bags of product scraps are then stuffed into the hollow space inside the cylindrical tube. These product scraps are relatively lightweight, are inexpensive and have a degree of buoyancy.

Product scraps are used to fill the hollow interior of the cylindrical tube because it is undesirable to have the cylindrical tube made entirely of foam (i.e., with no hollow interior). Having the cylindrical tube made entirely of foam would increase the cost, and may not provide as effective a buoyancy effect as a cylindrical tube with a hollow interior filled with product scraps.

Unfortunately, there is one significant drawback to the use of product scraps to fill the hollow cylindrical tubes for water noodles. Uneven amounts of scrap fillers appear in each individual product, resulting in uneven buoyancy on a product-by-product basis. Also, when the cylindrical rube breaks during use in a swimming pool, the product scraps will become scattered around or in the pool.

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

It is an object of the present invention to provide a water noodle that avoids the drawbacks of the existing water noodles, while providing an inexpensive product that provides the required buoyancy.

To meet the objectives of the present invention, there is provided a floating pool noodle having a cylindrical outer member having an outer channel extending therethrough, and a cylindrical inner member having an inner channel extending therethrough, with the inner member retained inside the outer channel. The outer member is more rigid than the inner member, and has a greater density than the inner member.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1A is a perspective view of a water noodle according to one embodiment of the present invention shown in its straight configuration.

FIG. 1B is a perspective of the water noodle of FIG. 1A shown in its bent configuration.

FIG. 2 is a perspective cut-away view showing a conventional water noodle that is currently available in the market.

FIG. 3 is a perspective cut-away view of the water noodle of FIG. 1A.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the water noodle of FIG. 1A.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of another embodiment of the water noodle according to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The following detailed description is of the best presently contemplated modes of carrying out the invention. This description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating general principles of embodiments of the invention. The scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims.

FIG. 2 shows an existing water noodle 10 having a cylindrical tube 12 with product scraps 14 filling the hollow interior of the tube 12.

FIGS. 1A, 1B, 3 and 4 illustrate a water noodle 100 according to one embodiment of the present invention. A cylindrical outer member 110 is shown together with a cylindrical inner member 120. The end caps 130 and 140 of the outer member 110 are sealed to render it water-tight, and so that the inner member 120 cannot escape from a hollow central channel 150 of the outer member 110, while allowing it to float inside. In the final assembly, the inner member 120, which is sealed by any suitable means, occupies and is retained within the channel 150 running the length of outer member 110. The channel 150 can be considered to be an outer channel. The end caps 130 and 140 can be sealed by glue with circle foam cap and patch.

The outer member 110 can be made of rubber or foam. If rubber is used, it can be NBR (Nitrile Butadiene Rubber).

Foam is a lightweight, versatile, polymer-based material. The base foam material, such as plastic or polyurethane, is “frothed up” while in a molten state and then cooled, which fills the material with countless little bubbles, giving it an appearance similar to a sponge. Foams are typically classified into two categories: open-cell and closed-cell. In closed-cell foam, each little air pocket, or cell, is completely enclosed by a thin wall. Closed cell foams are desirable for the present invention because they tend to limit absorption of water which would tend to increase weight and reduce buoyancy of the device in an aquatic environment. In open-cell foams the individual cells are interconnected and more susceptible to absorption of water. However, the absorption of water may be regulated with either of these foams by regulating the size of the individual pores or cells and/or by coating the exposed surfaces of the outer foam material. Such adaptations will be readily apparent to those skilled in the foam production art.

The foam is typically resistant to excessive water absorption and harsh pool chemicals and has good tear resistance, tensile strength, and resiliency, making the outer member 110 able to endure bending, twisting, and abuse. Additionally, similar lightweight, buoyant foam or foam-like materials to make the outer member will be apparent to one skilled in the art. The material for the outer member 110 may suitably be a closed-cell polyethylene foam if foam is used instead of rubber.

In one illustrative embodiment, the outer member 110 is made of NBR (Nitrile Butadiene Rubber) and has an outer diameter 112 of about 13 cm to 16 cm (preferably 14 cm), and a length 114 of about 91 cm to 152 cm (preferably around 117 cm).

The length 114 of the outer member 110 is much greater than the outer diameter 112 of the outer member 110. For example, the inner and outer members may each have a length in the range of about 117-140 cm. Additionally, FIG. 4 shows the relative relationship between the diameter 152 of the channel 150 of outer member 110 and the outer diameter 112 of the outer member 110. The diameter 152 of the channel 150 can range from 8 cm to 11 cm (preferably 9.5 cm).

Referring to FIG. 5, another embodiment of the invention is shown, in which the outer member 110 has a scalloped outer surface 200 instead of a circular outer surface. Thus, this FIG. 5 shows that it is not necessary for the cross-sectional shape of the exterior of the outer member 110 to be the same as the cross-sectional shape of the interior channel 150 thereof, even though this may be the case in some instances.

Although it will be apparent that a wide range of values are acceptable for the diameter 152 of channel 150 and outer diameter 112 of the outer member 110, a suitable ratio of the outer diameter 112 to the inner diameter 152 is greater than about 1.4 to 1.75 times, for example, the outer diameter 112 and inner diameter 152 can be 14 cm:10 cm to 16 cm:9 cm. Likewise, the diameter 152 is slightly larger than the outer diameter 122 of the inner member 120, such that the inner member 120 may be slidably retained within the hollow channel 150. This can be seen in FIGS. 3 and 4, in which the inner diameter (i.e., the diameter 152) of the outer member 110 is slightly greater than the outer diameter 122 of the inner member 120, such that there is a gap 160 between the outer surface of the inner member 120 and the inner surface of the outer member 110. The gap 160 is preferably between 0.1 cm and 1.5 cm. Thus, the outer diameter 112 of the outer member 110 is substantially greater than the diameter 152 the channel 150. The thickness of the wall of outer member 110 ranges from 1 cm to 4 cm.

The inner member 120 is best shown in FIGS. 3-4. The inner member 120 is 5.0 cm to 7.5 cm shorter than outer member 110. Like the outer member 110, the inner member 120 has a length that is much greater than its diameter 122. The inner member 120 has an outer diameter 122 that is greater as its inner diameter 126. This gives the inner member 120 a wall that has a thickness which can be greater than, or less than, or about the same as, when compared to the wall of the outer member 110. A typical thickness value for the wall of the inner member 120 is about 1 cm to 4 cm. However, a wide variety of thicknesses could be used for the wall of the inner member 120 so long as, when adapted to be water-tight, the inner member 120 maintains a positive buoyancy. Additionally, the cross-sectional shape of the inner member 120 may be cylindrical or any of a number of other shapes (i.e., hexagonal, oval, square, etc.) without affecting the utility of the present invention. Cost-wise, from a production standpoint, the shape of choice is preferably cylindrical. The inner member 120 has a channel 128 that has a diameter 126 that ranges from 2 cm to 4 cm. The channel 128 can be considered to be an inner channel.

The inner member 120 may be made from a wide variety of materials so long as it provides the necessary buoyancy, and it is preferred that the same foam material or rubber used for the inner member 120 is also used for the outer member 110.

As further examples of dimensions that can be applicable to the various elements of the water noodle 100, the following are applicable ratios:

• • The diameter ratio of 112 to 122 ranges from about 1:1.5 to about 1:1.75
  • The diameter ratio of 112 to 152 ranges from about 1:1.4 to 1:1.75
  • The diameter ratio of 152 to 126 is about 1:2.5
  • The thickness ratio of 120 to 110 ranges from about 0.25:1 to 1:1 to 1:4

The outer member 110 and the inner member 120 should have different density. Preferably, the density of the outer member 110 is greater than the density of the inner member 120. As an example, the density of the outer member 110 can range from 55 to 75 kg/m3 (preferably around 65 kg/m3), and the density of the inner member 120 can range from 35 to 50 kg/m3 (preferably around 45 kg/m3). Also, the outer member 110 is preferably more rigid than the inner member 120.

The gap 160 between inner member 120 and the outer member 110 is important because an air space is needed to allow the inner member 120 to be inserted into the channel 150. The air space can also provide improved buoyancy or shock buffering for the noodle 100.

In addition, the outer surface of the outer member 110 has a vinyl water proof coating to protect the outer surface and to provide better comfort to the user.

The pool noodle 100 also has a molded contour pattern on the surface of outer member 110 to provide better grip and better comfort.

While the description above refers to particular embodiments of the present invention, it will be understood that many modifications may be made without departing from the spirit thereof. The accompanying claims are intended to cover such modifications as would fall within the true scope and spirit of the present invention.