United States Patent [19]
`Smith
`
`[54] TANNING POOL
`[76] Inventor: Gary Smith, 2550 Dumont, Baton
`Rouge’ La' 70815
`[21] Appl' No‘: 684’431
`[22] Filed:
`Apr. 10, 1991
`
`1
`[60]
`
`Related us. Application Data
`Continuation of Ser. No. 526,546, May 18, 1990, aban-
`gggedl’4wlhégg lasbzngglrlltguaélgéhofs saeg'ivrl‘résii?gi’
`No. ‘76,497, 1111. 22, 1987, abandoned, which is a con:
`tinuation-in-part of Ser. No. 929,726, Nov. 12, 1986,
`abandoned_
`
`Illt- CLS ........................................... ..
`[5.] US. Cl. .........................
`58
`F, m f s
`h
`[
`1
`1e 524:3’;
`’
`’
`
`’
`
`’
`
`258/238742,
`/1’;8 ’369 /376 ’372 /377_
`473/417’ 474’ 419’ 426
`’
`’ 40/410 41’ 135’
`’
`’
`
`|lllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllIllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll
`USOOS 101 823A
`[11] Patent Number:
`5,101,823
`45
`Date of Patent:
`A r. 7 1992
`
`9
`
`4,489,452 12/1934 Lickert .................................. .. 5/465
`FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS
`611144 5/1979 Switzerland .
`Primary Examiner-William H. Grieb
`Assistant Examiner-Mark S. Graham
`Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Pravel, Gambrell, Hewitt,
`Klmball & Kneger
`ABSTRACT
`[57]
`An apparatus for sun bathing, which includes an in?at
`able floor portion substantially rectangular in nature for
`SuPPO?mg the length 9f 21 user lymg on one’s back or
`stomach; a contmuous in?atable side wall portion rising
`the height above the ?oor portion and attach integral
`thereto’ the side portion having a head rest portion,
`likewise in?atable for allowing the user to rest his head
`on that portion of the head rest portion while placement
`upon the position within the apparatus. For purposes of
`use, the apparatus is more particularly suitable for using
`on a hard surface, and to be ?lled with a predetermined
`quantity of ?uid such as water in order to maintain the
`user cool during use. The apparatus may also be con
`structed of transparent plastic for allowing sun’s rays
`through the wall of the apparatus yet have a re?ective
`surface ?oor portion so that the sun’s rays may be di
`rected to other parts of a person’s body which would
`not normally be exposed to'the sun while laying in
`
`[56]
`
`References Cited
`U S PATENT DOCUMENTS
`'
`'
`
`Kessman ........................... ..
`315137489 5/1970 Mme‘ ~ - ' ~ -
`- - ' 1 - - - -- 5/449
`gam ‘ ‘ ' ' '
`' ' ' "
`3’835’482 9/1974 T222}.
`I
`' ‘ ' " 128/372
`
`3,997,927 12/1976 Culligan . . . . . . . . .
`
`. . . .. 5/420
`
`P°Sm°n wlthm ‘11¢ apparatus
`
`. 128/372
`4,320,744 3/1982 Fodor et al ..... _.
`4,476,593 10/1984 Famselow .‘. ........................... .. 5/417
`
`4 Claims, 2 Drawing Sheets
`
`3
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`US. Patent
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`Apr. 7, 199i
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`Sheet 1 of 2
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`5,101,823
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`US. Patent
`
`Apr. 7,1992
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`Sheet 2 of 2
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`5,101,823
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`

`1
`
`TANNING POOL
`
`'10
`
`25
`
`1 This is a continuation of Ser. No. 526,546, May 18,
`1990, abandoned, which is a continuation of Ser. No.
`323,443, Mar. 14, 1989, abandoned, which is a Division
`of Ser. No. 076,497, July 22, 1987, abandoned, which is
`a continuation-in-part of Ser. No. 929,726, Nov. 12,
`1986 abandoned.
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`1. Field Of The Invention
`The apparatus of the present invention relates to sun
`bathing. More particularly, the apparatus of the present
`invention relates to an in?atable apparatus for place
`ment onto a ?rm foundation for a person to recline in
`having a predetermined depth of water for obtaining a
`sun tan while submerged within the water.
`2. General Background
`One of the most common pleasant past times of indi
`20
`viduals is to relax on the side of a pool or other body of
`water in order to obtain a sun tan. The past time of sun
`tanning for the most part is done by individuals who
`during the course of swimming may choose to lie on the
`beach, on a towel, or in a recliner chair on the side of a
`pool and allow the sun’s rays to burn or tan the exposed
`skin. However, due to the nature of sun tanning, and the
`effect of the sun’s rays on the body, it is often very
`uncomfortable after a period for an individual to be
`laying in the hot sun on a surface such as a chair or a
`towel which offers no relief from the sun’s rays, and for
`the most part one must continue sun bathing in some
`discomfort. On the other hand, if one attempts to re
`main in the water while sun bathing, it does not accom
`plish the results of obtaining a sun tan over the entire
`surface of the exposed skin in view of the fact that a
`great portion of the skin is deep beneath the water and
`is not, affected by the sun’s rays, therefore uneven tan
`ning is accomplished. If one chooses therefore to lie on
`a mattress ?oating on the water, the effects of the sun’s
`rays on a person laying on an air mattress, although
`a?oat in water, is likewise unpleasant as would be laying
`on the side of a pool or on the beach.
`Therefore, there is a need in the art for an apparatus
`which would allow one to sun bathe next to a pool or a
`similar body of water, or even without a pool in one’s
`backyard, for example, yet at the same time may take
`advantage of being submerged, within a certain quan
`tity of water during the sun bathing. This concept has
`been addressed in several patents, the most pertinent
`being as follows:
`U.S. Pat. No. 3,688,775 issued to Raymann, entitled
`“Sun Bathing And Tanning Apparatus”, relates to a sun
`bathing apparatus which may be an in?atable mattress
`having an interior portion wherein water is sprinkled
`into the mattress from a water sprinkling means so that
`the person laying within the con?ned area is kept cool
`from the water sprayed therein.
`U.S. Pat. No. 4,151,618 issued to Carpenter, entitled
`“Water Sheet”, relates to a device for cooling a person
`who may be sun bathing, which comprises a ?exible,
`water proof material such as plastic to receive the body
`in the reclined position. There is a head portion pro
`vided with a suitable pillow cushion for the bather. For
`the most part, the apparatus would be used in combina
`tion with a reclining chair or the like.
`U.S. Pat. No. 4,476,593 issued to Fanselow et al.,
`entitled “Tanning Blanket”, relates to a blanket utilizing
`
`5,101,823
`2
`a plurality of oriented ?exible incremental re?ectors
`within the blanket so that a person laying on the blanket
`is able to take advantage of the sun’s rays when sun
`bathing while reclined on the blanket.
`U.S. Pat. No. 4,320,744 issued to Fodor, et al., enti
`tled “Solar Heated Portable Structure”, relates to a
`structure having a ?exible bottom panel, ?exible side
`assembly and ?exible transmitting panel coupled to the
`bottom and side assembly forming an enclosed chamber
`and is capable of transmitting the majority of the radiat
`ing energy from solar radiation to the enclosed chamber
`like a sauna.
`U.S. Pat. No. 3,610,249 issued to Baker, entitled “Sun
`Re?ector Booth”, relates to a booth having identical
`panels for sun bathing, each of the panels being formed
`of a light re?ected sheet framed by intersecting tubular
`members wherein a user would position himself within
`' the booth for sun tanning.
`U.S. Pat. No. 3,170,172 issued to Kessman, entitled
`“Sun Bathing Device”, provides a device in such a way
`that upwardly facing and downwardly facing surfaces
`of the body of the user will be uniformly exposed to the
`sun’s rays simultaneously in order to reduce the time
`required for tanning and eliminate the need for changes
`of position.
`U.S. Pat. No. 3,997,927 issued to Culligan, entitled
`“Sun Bathing Mat Assembly”, relates to an assembly
`wherein cooling water for the under surfaces of the
`body lying in the sun bathing position without applying
`water to the upper surface exposed to the sun’s rays.
`The invention comprises a soft foam mat to be laid on
`slightly sloping surface of a lawn or yard in combina
`tion with a conduit fronting along one edge for provid
`ing water along the mat to cool the user and yet allow
`the user to sun bathe.
`U.S. Pat. No. 3,835,482 issued to Tersch, entitled
`“Sun Tanning Tub”, relates to a molded tub having an
`elongated rectangular bottom and side and end walls
`projecting upwardly therefrom to define a shallow re
`ceptacle capable of holding water with the end walls
`being of different height so that the receptacle increases
`in depth from the foot to the head portion.
`SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION
`The apparatus of the present invention provides a
`tanning pool which includes an in?atable floor portion
`substantially rectangular in nature for supporting the
`length of a user lying on one’s back or stomach, the
`?oor portion including a plurality of transverse baf?e
`members between the upper and lower surfaces of the
`?oor portion for providing structural integrity to the
`?oor portion and the upper portion while the ?oor is in
`the in?ated state, a continuous in?atable side wall por
`tion rising a height above the in?ated ?oor portion and
`integrally attached thereto, the side portion having a
`head rest portion, likewise in?atable, and detachable
`therefrom via velcro or like fastening means, for allow
`ing the user to have the option of resting one’s head on
`that portion of the head rest portion while placed in
`position within the apparatus, or to remove it for lying
`in the completely prone position. For purposes of use,
`the apparatus is more particularly suitable for using on
`a hard surface, and to be ?lled with a predetermined
`quantity of ?uid such as water in order to maintain the
`user cool during use, The apparatus may also be con
`structed of transparent plastic for allowing sun’s rays
`through the wall of the apparatus, yet having a re?ec
`tive surface ?oor portion so that the sun’s rays may be
`
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`5,101,823
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`the ?oor portion enables the provision of the curved
`directed to other parts of a person’s body which would
`comers 27 as seen in the Figures.
`not normally be exposed to the sun while laying in
`In addition, apparatus 10 further includes a continu
`position within the apparatus.
`ous in?atable upper side or ring portion 18 which is
`- Therefore it is an object of the present invention to
`provide an apparatus which is easily transportable and
`in?atable via valve 119 and would in?ate to a height
`substantially above the height of the ?oor portion 12
`may be in?ated upon assembling for use;
`and would form a continuous wall 21 around the outer
`It is still a further object of the present invention to
`perimeter of the ?oor portion 12 yet resting completely
`provide a sun bathing apparatus having a separate in?at
`able ?oor portion from the in?atable wall portion, so
`thereupon as seen in FIG. 2. In addition, in?atable
`upper wall portion 18 would form a ?uid tight seal at
`that in?ation of the apparatus de?nes a retaining area
`the interface 22 between the ?oor portion 12 and the
`for a person to lay within and is able to contain a quan
`wall portion 18. Likewise, in?ated wall portion 18
`tity of water within the con?nes of the wall; and
`It is still a further object of the present invention to
`would also include a continuous seam 27 which forms a
`provide a sun bathing apparatus wherein there is further
`composite seam between the upper portion 29 of wall
`portion 18 and the lower portion 31 of wall portion 18
`included a head rest detachable from the face of one of
`the end portions for allowing a person’s head to rest
`to form the composite wall portion.
`thereupon, or when removed, for lying prone or to be
`As seen in the overall perspective view in FIG. 1, and
`removed and the apparatus used as a “mini-pool”; and
`in cross-sectional view in FIG. 2, ?oor portion 12 in
`It is still a further object of the present invention
`cludes a plurality of transverse baf?es 33 attached at
`provide a sun-bathing apparatus having an in?atable
`their upper most edge to upper surface 13 and their
`?oor portion, which includes a plurality of transverse
`lower most edge to lower surface 15, with transverse
`baf?es to provide structural integrity to the in?ated
`baf?es 33 extending substantially the width of ?oor
`?oor portion and the upper wall portion while a person
`portion 12. Baf?es 33 would provide a means for assur
`is lying thereupon.
`ing that the structural integrity of the ?oor portion 12
`would be maintained in substantially the rigid rectangu
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`lar shape as seen in FIG. 1 when a person is lying there
`For a further understanding of the nature and objects
`upon. Baf?es 33 would eliminate the possibility of the
`of the present invention, reference should be had to the
`outermost wall of ?oor portion 12 and the upper wall or
`following detailed description, taken in conjunction
`ring portion 18 being diverted outward in the direction
`with the accompanying drawings, in which like parts
`of Arrows 35 as seen in FIG. 1.
`are given like reference numerals, and wherein:
`In the preferred embodiment, the parallel side walls
`FIG. 1 is an overall perspective view of the preferred
`123 and 125 would be of equal length and shape and
`embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention;
`would continue to front end portion 127 of the same
`FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional side view along lines 2—2
`shape as rear end portion 227 so that the wall portion 18
`of FIG. 1 of the preferred embodiment of the apparatus
`would simply de?ne a water proof barrier as will be
`of the present invention;
`- described further. The removable head rest portion 40
`FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional end view of the preferred
`would comprise a means for allowing the user of the
`embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention;
`apparatus to rest his head while tanning in the sun. This
`and
`head rest portion 40 would comprise a wedge shape
`FIG. 4 is a top view of the preferred embodiment of
`pillow 41 which would de?ne a means for resting ones
`the apparatus of the present invention.
`head thereupon, the pillow 41 including an upper angu
`lated surface 43 where one’s head is placed and a sub
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE
`stantially ?at bottom surface 45 having a velcro strip
`PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
`(not illustrated), which would be accommodated to a
`FIGS. 1-4 illustrate the preferred embodiment of the
`second velcro strip 47 as seen in FIG. 1 attached to the
`apparatus of the present invention by the numeral 10. In
`upper face 13 of ?oor portion 12. Therefore, pillow 41
`FIGS. 1-4 there is illustrated apparatus 10 which is
`is a removable head rest means, which would allow the
`designed for allowing a person to position himself in the
`user to utilize the pillow as seen in FIG. 4, or to remove
`prone position within the apparatus for tanning or the
`the pillow and to simply lay in the completely prone
`like. What is provided in apparatus 10 is an in?atable
`position.
`?oor portion 12 having a upper surface 13 for lying
`In addition to this structure of the apparatus there
`thereupon, and a lower surface 15, and a continuous
`would be further included in the preferred embodiment
`side wall 17 together which de?nes a space 19 there
`a re?ective surface 39 which would cover the entire
`within for ?lling with ,a volume of air to de?ne the
`interior ?oor portion 12 for allowing the sun's rays 140
`in?ated ?oor portion for support of a human body lying
`to be directed in a re?ective fashionroff of re?ective
`upon it in comfort. Floor portion 12 is in?ated via air
`surface 39 onto the user of the apparatus.
`valve 14 which would be a standard type of valve of the
`Further, in the preferred embodiment, the wall por
`type which may be a check valve for allowing air to be
`tion 18, would be for the most part constructed of trans
`blown into the ?oor portion and in?ated. For purposes
`parent material so that any sun’s rays 140 entering the
`of illustration in its preferred use, apparatus 10 would be
`apparatus, could penetrate through the side walls 123
`used on a solid surface 16, as seen in FIG. 1 of the type
`and 125 yet be re?ected off of a re?ective surface 39.
`which may be a beach or that area around a pool.
`The user likewise in the preferred embodiment of the
`For purposes of construction, ?oor portion 12 is
`apparatus would, prior to use of the apparatus, fill the
`formed of an upper rectangular section 21 (See FIG. 2)
`interior portion bounded by the wall portion 18 with
`fused at seam 23 to a lower rectangular section 25 to
`water so that the user may be partially or fully sub
`form the composite ?oor portion 12 as seen in the in
`merged within the water while tanning in the apparatus.
`?ared state in the Figures. This construction of the seam
`By doing such, the user would be kept quite cool yet
`substantially within the mid line of the cross-section of
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`5,101,823
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`the base portion is in?ated a user can lay prone "on the
`continue to take full advantage of the sun’s rays in tan»
`base portion in comfort even with a hard underlying
`mng.
`surface supporting the base portion.
`Because many varying and different embodiments
`3. The apparatus in claim 1, wherein the side wall is
`may be made within the scope of the inventive concept
`herein taught, and because many modi?cations may be
`sealed to the upper surface of the base portion for allow
`made in the embodiments herein detailed in accordance
`ing water to be placed upon the base portion upper
`with the descriptive requirement of the law, it is to be
`surface so that a person lying on the upper surface is at
`understood that the details herein are to be interpreted
`least partially submerged in the water.
`4. A sun bathing pool apparatus comprising:
`as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.
`a) a substantially rectangular in?atable base portion,
`What is claimed as invention is:
`1. A sun bathing pool apparatus comprising:
`including upper and lower vertically spaced apart
`a) a substantially rectangular in?atable base portion,
`generally rectangular surfaces, and including a
`including upper and lower vertically spaced apart
`plurality of parallel in?atable base chambers there
`generally rectangular surfaces, and including a
`within extending substantially over the area of the
`plurality of parallel in?atable base chambers there
`upper and lower surface;
`within extending substantially over the area of the
`b) a substantially continuous in?atable tubular side
`upper and lower surface;
`wall mounted upon and extending above the upper
`b) a substantially continuous in?atable cylindrically
`generally rectangular surface of the in?atable base
`shaped tubular side wall mounted on top of and
`portion;
`extending above the upper generally rectangular
`c) the continuous in?atable tubular side wall sur
`surface of the in?atable base portion;
`rounding the upper generally rectangular surface
`c) the continuous in?atable cylindrical tubular side
`to de?ne a water holding portion in combination
`wall surrounding the upper generally rectangular
`with the upper generally rectangular surface of the
`surface and forming a seal therewith, so that the
`in?atable base portion;
`tubular side wall de?nes a water holding portion in
`d) the peripheral, in?atable tubular side wall provid
`combination with the upper generally rectangular
`ing a pillow portion at a position above the upper
`surface of the in?atable base portion;
`generally rectangular surface portion, for placing
`d) a pillow portion extending above the upper gener
`ones head thereupon;
`ally rectangular surface for placing ones head
`e) ?rst and second in?ation means contained respec
`thereupon;
`30
`tively on the base portion and on the continuous
`e) ?rst and second in?ation means mounted respec-'
`side wall, so that the base portion can be in?ated
`tively on the base portion and on the continuous
`separately from the side wall;
`side wall, so that the base portion can be in?ated
`f) means on the base portion for serving as a sun
`separately from the side wall;
`re?ector surface;
`f) the in?atable base portion having a re?ector sur
`g) the plurality of inflatable base chambers de?ned by
`face for re?ecting sun rays toward the user; and
`an array of generally vertically extending baf?es of
`g) the plurality of in?atable base chambers de?ned by
`generally uniform height positioned between the
`an array of generally vertically extending and
`upper and lower generally rectangular surfaces of
`closely spaced baf?es of generally uniform height
`the in?atable base portion, and substantially over
`positioned between the upper and lower generally
`the area of the upper and lower generally rectangu
`rectangular surfaces of the in?atable base portion,
`lar surfaces, the baf?es each forming a connection
`and substantially over the area of the upper and
`to the upper and lower surfaces of the base portion
`lower generally rectangular surfaces, the baf?es
`for maintaining a generally ?attened texture to the
`each forming a connection to the upper and lower
`upper generally horizontal surface when the base
`surfaces of the base portion for maintaining a gen
`portion is in?ated and adding structural integrity to
`erally ?attened texture to the upper generally hori
`the in?atable base portion when the base portion is
`zontal surface when the base portion is in?ated and
`in?ated and a person is lying thereupon; and
`adding structural integrity to the in?atable base
`11) wherein the side wall is of substantially transparent
`when the base portion is in?ated and a person is
`lying thereupon.
`material so that sun rays may penetrate the side
`wall to be re?ected off of the upper surface.
`2. The apparatus in claim 1, wherein the upper and
`lower surface are spaced apart suf?ciently so that when
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