Water Noodle

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.

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.

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.

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.

shows an existing water noodlehaving a cylindrical tubewith product scrapsfilling the hollow interior of the tube.

illustrate a water noodleaccording to one embodiment of the present invention. A cylindrical outer memberis shown together with a cylindrical inner member. The end capsandof the outer memberare sealed to render it water-tight, and so that the inner membercannot escape from a hollow central channelof the outer member, while allowing it to float inside. In the final assembly, the inner member, which is sealed by any suitable means, occupies and is retained within the channelrunning the length of outer member. The channelcan be considered to be an outer channel. The end capsandcan be sealed by glue with circle foam cap and patch.

The outer membercan 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 memberable 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 membermay suitably be a closed-cell polyethylene foam if foam is used instead of rubber.

In one illustrative embodiment, the outer memberis made of NBR (Nitrile Butadiene Rubber) and has an outer diameterof about 13 cm to 16 cm (preferably 14 cm), and a lengthof about 91 cm to 152 cm (preferably around 117 cm).

The lengthof the outer memberis much greater than the outer diameterof the outer member. For example, the inner and outer members may each have a length in the range of about 117-140 cm. Additionally,shows the relative relationship between the diameterof the channelof outer memberand the outer diameterof the outer member. The diameterof the channelcan range from 8 cm to 11 cm (preferably 9.5 cm).

Referring to, another embodiment of the invention is shown, in which the outer memberhas a scalloped outer surfaceinstead of a circular outer surface. Thus, thisshows that it is not necessary for the cross-sectional shape of the exterior of the outer memberto be the same as the cross-sectional shape of the interior channelthereof, 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 diameterof channeland outer diameterof the outer member, a suitable ratio of the outer diameterto the inner diameteris greater than about 1.4 to 1.75 times, for example, the outer diameterand inner diametercan be 14 cm:10 cm to 16 cm:9 cm. Likewise, the diameteris slightly larger than the outer diameterof the inner member, such that the inner membermay be slidably retained within the hollow channel. This can be seen in, in which the inner diameter (i.e., the diameter) of the outer memberis slightly greater than the outer diameterof the inner member, such that there is a gapbetween the outer surface of the inner memberand the inner surface of the outer member. The gapis preferably between 0.1 cm and 1.5 cm. Thus, the outer diameterof the outer memberis substantially greater than the diameterthe channel. The thickness of the wall of outer memberranges from 1 cm to 4 cm.

The inner memberis best shown in. The inner memberis 5.0 cm to 7.5 cm shorter than outer member. Like the outer member, the inner memberhas a length that is much greater than its diameter. The inner memberhas an outer diameterthat is greater as its inner diameter. This gives the inner membera 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. A typical thickness value for the wall of the inner memberis about 1 cm to 4 cm. However, a wide variety of thicknesses could be used for the wall of the inner memberso long as, when adapted to be water-tight, the inner membermaintains a positive buoyancy. Additionally, the cross-sectional shape of the inner membermay 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 memberhas a channelthat has a diameterthat ranges from 2 cm to 4 cm. The channelcan be considered to be an inner channel.

The inner membermay 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 memberis also used for the outer member.

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

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

The gapbetween inner memberand the outer memberis important because an air space is needed to allow the inner memberto be inserted into the channel. The air space can also provide improved buoyancy or shock buffering for the noodle.

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

The pool noodlealso has a molded contour pattern on the surface of outer memberto 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.