US20150321738A1 - Buoyant viewing platform - Google Patents

Abstract

A buoyant viewing platform for scanning the bottom of an aquatic environment from above so as to provide a clear, undisturbed field of view is provided. The buoyant viewing platform may include a body portion dimensioned and adapted to accommodate a human user on a top surface, wherein the body portion forms a viewing port for scanning bottom of the aquatic environment, and wherein a canopy may be disposed along the top surface so as to protect the user from the elements.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
• This application claims the benefit of priority of U.S. provisional application No. 61/989,862, filed 7 May 2014, the contents of which are herein incorporated by reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
• The present invention relates to underwater observation devices and, more particularly, to a buoyant platform for scanning the bottom of an aquatic environment from above.
• When trying to observe the bottom of an aquatic environment, while in the water, an observer tends to frighten away any aquatic life that would otherwise be observable. Moreover, the observer tends to disturb the aquatic environment's sediment, which becomes dispersed, clouding the observer's vision and obscuring things that would be otherwise easily seen, like lost valuables or aquatic life.
• As can be seen, there is a need for a buoyant platform for scanning the bottom of an aquatic environment from above so as to leave a clear field of view.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
• In one aspect of the present invention, a buoyant viewing platform, includes a body portion made of resilient buoyant material, defining two opposing side edges; a viewing port formed by the body portion, between the two opposing side edges thereof; and an arm slot formed by the body portion, along each opposing side edge thereof.
• In another aspect of the present invention, a buoyant viewing platform includes a body portion having a resilient buoyant material, defining two opposing side edges; a viewing port formed by the body portion, between the two opposing side edges thereof; an arm slot formed by the body portion, along each opposing side edge thereof; a plurality of coupling slots formed by the body portion; at least one T-angle bars embedded within a portion of the body portion; at least one hook disposed along the body portion; and at least one bumper disposed along a front peripheral edge of the body portion; an arcuate canopy extending from an aft end to a forward end so as to substantially shield a top surface of the body portion, wherein the aft end and the forward end each form an aft pocket and a forward pocket, respectively; a framing system having an aft frame adapted to be received in the aft pocket so as to perpendicularly engage an underside of the arcuate canopy; and a forward frame adapted to be received in the forward pocket so as to obtusely engage the underside of the arcuate canopy, wherein the aft frame and the forward frame engage opposing sides of the tautly extended arcuate canopy; and a spring loaded coupling assembly interconnecting each coupling slot and the framing system.
• These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following drawings, description and claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
• FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, shown in use;
• FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;
• FIG. 3 is an exploded view of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;
• FIG. 4 is an exploded view of an exemplary embodiment of a spring loaded coupling assembly of the present invention;
• FIG. 5 is a section view of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, taken along line5-5 inFIG. 2;
• FIG. 6 is a detail section view of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;
• FIG. 7 is a section view of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, taken along line7-7 inFIG. 2;
• FIG. 8 is a section view of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, taken along line8-8 inFIG. 5;
• FIG. 9 is a detail section view of an exemplary embodiment of the spring loaded coupling assembly of the present invention; and
• FIG. 10 is a section view of an exemplary embodiment of the spring loaded coupling assembly of the present invention, illustrating operability of a coupling sleeve to remove aframe post20.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
• The following detailed description is of the best currently contemplated modes of carrying out exemplary embodiments of the invention. The description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention, since the scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims.
• Broadly, an embodiment of the present invention provides a buoyant viewing platform for scanning the bottom of an aquatic environment from above so as to provide a clear, undisturbed field of view. The buoyant viewing platform may include a body portion dimensioned and adapted to accommodate a human user on a top surface, wherein the body portion forms a viewing port for scanning bottom of the aquatic environment, and wherein a canopy may be disposed along the top surface so as to protect the user from the elements.
• Referring toFIGS. 1 through 10, the present invention may include abuoyant viewing platform100 for scanning the bottom of an aquatic environment78 from above so that auser76 is afforded a clear field of view thereof. Thebuoyant viewing platform100 may include abody portion90 dimensioned and adapted to accommodate ahuman user76 on a top surface, wherein thebody portion90 forms aviewing port14 for scanning bottom of the aquatic environment, and wherein anarcuate canopy26 may be disposed along the top surface so as to protect theuser76 from the elements, as illustrated inFIG. 1.
• Thebody portion90 may be generally rectangular in shape having two opposing side edges and two opposing end edges, a forward end and an opposing aft end. Thebody portion90 may form opposingarm slots16 along the two opposing side edges. Thebody portion90 may form aviewing port14, near the forward end and generally symmetrically disposed between the opposing side edges, as illustrated inFIG. 3. Theviewing port14 may be a void dimensioned and adapted to receive the head of theuser76 wherein theuser76 may be wearing a mask and snorkel. In certain embodiment, the viewing port may be filled or covered with a transparent material or cover.
• Thearm slots16 may be dimensioned, adapted and disposed for receiving the arms of theuser76 so that said arms are enabled to maneuver and propel thebuoyant viewing platform100 along the water while theuser76 uses theviewing port14.
• Thebody portion90 may be defined aplatform core10 generally encased by aplatform shell12. Theplatform core10 may be a buoyant, resilient material such as polyurethane, polystyrene foam, balsa wood or the like. Theplatform shell12 may be fiberglass cloth coated with polyester, epoxy resin or the like. At least onere-bar62 may be embedded within theplatform core12 for providing flexural and or bending strength about portions of the length of thebody portion90. In certain embodiments, there-bar62 may be sized, dimensioned and disposed inside theplatform core10 so as to account for the loss of strength due to theviewing port14 and thenearby arm slots16.
• At least onehook slots60 may be formed along at least one edge of thebody portion90, wherein each hook slot may be adapted to securely receive ahook58. Eachhook58 may be dimensioned and adapted to retain accessories80, including but not limited to mesh bags, digging implements, means of protection, and the like.
• Thearcuate canopy26 may form a C-shape or generally arcuate shape, as illustrated inFIG. 2, though thecanopy26 can form any volumetric shape so long as thecanopy26 functions as disclosed herein. Thecanopy26 may be made of resilient, light weight material such as nylon, rayon or the like, wherein auser76 disposed underneath thecanopy26 may be shielded from the elements, including exposure to the sun, as illustrated inFIG. 1.
• Thecanopy26 may interconnected to thebody portion90 by a framing system. The framing system may provide aforward frame18 and anaft frame22 for supporting opposing ends of thecanopy26. Theforward frame18 may perpendicularly engage an underside of thecanopy26 and so be generally shaped and dimensioned to match the shape of thecanopy26. Each opposing end of the, say, C-shapedforward frame18 may terminate inframe posts20. Theaft frame22 may be dimensioned and adapted to be obtusely engage the underside of thecanopy26, and so may be have an elongated C-shape. The opposing ends of theaft frame22 may terminate inframe posts24. Eachframe18 and22 may be interconnected near opposing ends of the top side of the body portion by spring loaded coupling assemblies. Each spring loaded coupling assembly may includecoupling posts40 and48,coupling sleeves42 and50, andcoupling anchors44 and52, for operatively engaging thecomplementary frame posts20 and24, facilitating quick installation, locking and removal of thecanopy26 from thebody portion90. Each spring loaded coupling assembly may be secured withcoupling slots38 and46 formed within thebody portion90. Theaft coupling slots46 may be formed at an angle so that the projectingaft frame22 shields the feet of theuser76. Each spring loaded coupling assembly may includecoupling springs54 andretainer elements56 so that the coupling sleeves42 and50 operatively engage therespective coupling posts40 and48, as illustrated inFIG. 10.
• In certain embodiments, the opposing ends of thecanopy26 may form anaft pocket34 and aforward pocket32 for slidably receiving theaft frame22 and theforward frame18, respectively. As such, thecanopy26 may be tautly disposed along the framing system between theaft frame22 anchored in theaft pocket34 and theforward frame18 anchored in theforward pocket32. Thecanopy26 may formopposing side pockets28 dimensioned and adapted to retainweights30, further tautly anchoring thecanopy26 to the framing system.
• Acleat64 may be disposed along thebody portion90 for knotting a rope thereto, wherein thebuoyant viewing platform100 may be tied to a vessel or pier so as to be pulled along or secured from floating, respectively. Thecleat64 may be fastened to thebody portion90 bycleat fasteners68 engaging by cleat holes66 andcleat fasteners holes70, sandwiching acleat fastener plate72 havingplate fastener holes74.
• Abumper36 may be disposed along a forward end of thebody portion90, as illustrated inFIG. 3. In certain embodiments, a camera and or light may be mounted to an underside of thebody portion90.
• A method of using the present invention may include the following. Thebuoyant viewing platform10 disclosed above may be provided. Theuser76 may lay along the top surface of thebody portion90 so that a portion of their head is received in theviewing port14 and their arms are received in theopposing arm slots16. With thecanopy26 disposed to shield theuser76 from the elements, the user's arms may maneuver and propel thebuoyant viewing platform100 along the water. The user may retain accessories in the provided hooks58 while scanning the bottom of the aquatic environment for pleasure, studying marine biology or as an environmentalist monitoring the health of an ecosystem. In certain embodiments, disabled individuals, such as paraplegics, can once again be able to explore and take part in an aquatic activity.
• A method of making the present invention may include the following. An individual may start with a mold that may be in the desired shape and dimensions, this would incorporate a raised sections which may create a voids to form theviewing port14, also to the right and left and about a foot and half aft from this may be a half circle on both sides that would form the voids for the arm cutouts16. The mold may have an upper and lower half, both having the voids for theviewing port14 and cutouts16 for the arms. The upper mold may also have voids to accommodate thecoupling slots38 and46 to keep them from being driven down too far in the foam. After the mold is ready the bottom half may be flooded with theplatform core10, such as a polyurethane or polystyrene foam. While the foam is still wet the T-angel bar62 and thecoupling slots38 and46 may be set in a predetermined disposition, wherein theaft coupling slot46 may be set at an angle (about 45 degrees) pointing aft so thecanopy26 would extend past the feet of theuser76. Theaft couplings slots46 may both be set inward from the aft end of the platform (one on each side) theforward couplings slots38 may be set perpendicular to and inward from the forward end of thebody portion90. Thecouplings slots38 and46 may be masked off to avoid being contaminated when the upper half may be clamped in place and filled. Before the bottom half of the mold is done curing the upper half of the mold may be clamped into place and pressure filled with the same foam that was used for the lower half. After the mold has cured the platform would be removed and all the rough edges would be sanded down to make a nice smooth board. Then it would be wrapped in theplatform shell12, such as fiberglass and coated with resin, let cure and then painted. After the appropriate cure time the frame system could be attached using thecouplings slot38 and46.
• It should be understood, of course, that the foregoing relates to exemplary embodiments of the invention and that modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims.

Claims (11)

What is claimed is:

1. A buoyant viewing platform, comprising:

a body portion made of resilient buoyant material, defining two opposing side edges;

a viewing port formed by the body portion, between the two opposing side edges thereof; and

an arm slot formed by the body portion, along each opposing side edge thereof.

2. The buoyant viewing platform ofclaim 1, further comprising an arcuate canopy releasably connected to the body portion, wherein the arcuate canopy extends from an aft end to a forward end so as to substantially shield a top surface of the body portion from the elements.

3. The buoyant viewing platform ofclaim 2, further comprising a plurality of coupling slots formed by the body portion, wherein each coupling slot is dimensioned and adapted to facilitate the releasable connection of the arcuate canopy.

4. The buoyant viewing platform ofclaim 3, further comprising a framing system interconnecting the coupling slots and the arcuate canopy, the framing system comprising:

an aft frame adapted to perpendicularly engage an underside of the arcuate canopy; and

a forward frame adapted to obtusely engage the underside of the arcuate canopy,

wherein the aft frame and the forward frame engage opposing sides of the arcuate canopy.

5. The buoyant viewing platform ofclaim 4, wherein the aft end and the forward end each form a pocket for slidably receiving the aft frame and the forward frame, respectively,

whereby the arcuate canopy tautly extends from the aft frame to the forward frame.

6. The buoyant viewing platform ofclaim 3, further comprising a spring loaded coupling assembly interconnecting each coupling slot and the framing system.

7. The buoyant viewing platform ofclaim 3, further comprising at least one T-angel bar embedded within a portion of the body portion.

8. The buoyant viewing platform ofclaim 1, further comprising at least one re-bar embedded within a portion of the body portion.

9. The buoyant viewing platform ofclaim 1, further comprising at least one hook disposed along the body portion.

10. The buoyant viewing platform ofclaim 1, further comprising at least one bumper disposed along a front peripheral edge of the body portion.

11. A buoyant viewing platform, comprising:

a body portion comprising:

a resilient buoyant material, defining two opposing side edges;

a viewing port formed by the body portion, between the two opposing side edges thereof;

an arm slot formed by the body portion, along each opposing side edge thereof;

a plurality of coupling slots formed by the body portion;

at least one T-angel bar embedded within a portion of the body portion;

at least one hook disposed along the body portion; and

at least one bumper disposed along a front peripheral edge of the body portion;

an arcuate canopy extending from an aft end to a forward end so as to substantially shield a top surface of the body portion, wherein the aft end and the forward end each form an aft pocket and a forward pocket, respectively;

a framing system comprising:

an aft frame adapted to be received in the aft pocket so as to perpendicularly engage an underside of the arcuate canopy; and

a forward frame adapted to be received in the forward pocket so as to obtusely engage the underside of the arcuate canopy, wherein the aft frame and the forward frame engage opposing sides of the tautly extended arcuate canopy; and

a spring loaded coupling assembly interconnecting each coupling slot and the framing system.

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