Collapsible flotation device
View Patent ↗A device comprises a spring and a sleeve. The spring is configured to form a closed loop. The spring is moveable between a coiled configuration when the spring is collapsed and an uncoiled configuration when the spring is expanded. The spring defines a circumference while in the uncoiled configuration. The spring is disposed within the sleeve.
1. An apparatus, comprising:
a spring being moveable between a coiled configuration when the spring is collapsed and an uncoiled configuration when the spring is expanded, the spring defining a closed loop when in the uncoiled configuration;
a first membrane disposed within at least a portion of the closed loop of the spring, the first membrane formed with a first material;
a second membrane coupled to the first membrane and disposed at least partially within the closed loop of the spring, the second membrane being formed with a second material different than the first material;
a third membrane coupled to the first membrane, at least a portion of an outer perimeter of the third membrane being non-concentric with the closed loop; and
an inflatable bladder coupled to the first membrane and disposed within the closed loop of the spring.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first material includes a mesh material and the second material includes a nylon material.
3. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the third membrane includes a nylon material.
4. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the inflatable bladder is a first inflatable bladder, the apparatus further comprising:
a second inflatable bladder coupled to the third membrane.
5. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the inflatable bladder is a first inflatable bladder, the apparatus further comprising:
a fourth membrane coupled to the third membrane, the fourth membrane and the third membrane defining an interior region; and
a second inflatable bladder disposed within the interior region.
6. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising:
a valve coupled to the inflatable bladder, the valve configured to inflate an inner inflatable portion of the inflatable bladder.
7. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the inflatable bladder is a first inflatable bladder, the apparatus further comprising:
a second inflatable bladder coupled to the third membrane;
a first valve coupled to the first inflatable bladder and configured to inflate at least a portion of the first inflatable bladder; and
a second valve coupled to the second inflatable bladder and configured to inflate at least a portion of the second inflatable bladder.
8. An apparatus, comprising:
a spring being moveable between a coiled configuration when the spring is collapsed and an uncoiled configuration when the spring is expanded, the spring defining a closed loop having an interior region when in the uncoiled configuration;
a first membrane disposed within at least a portion of the closed loop of the spring when the spring is in the uncoiled configuration;
a second membrane coupled to the first membrane and disposed at least partially within the closed loop of the spring when the spring is in the uncoiled configuration, at least a portion of a perimeter of the second membrane being non-concentric with the closed loop;
a first inflatable bladder coupled to the first membrane, the first inflatable bladder extending linearly across at least a portion of the interior region of the closed loop; and
a second inflatable bladder coupled to the second membrane.
9. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the first membrane is formed with a first material, the second membrane is formed with a second material different than the first material.
10. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the first membrane is formed with a mesh material, the second membrane is formed with a nylon material.
11. The apparatus of claim 8 , further comprising:
a third membrane coupled to the second membrane, the third membrane and the second membrane defining an interior region, the second inflatable bladder being disposed within the interior region defined by the third membrane and the second membrane.
12. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the first inflatable bladder has a length greater than a length of the second inflatable bladder.
13. The apparatus of claim 8 , further comprising:
a first valve coupled to the first inflatable bladder and configured to inflate at least a portion of the first inflatable bladder; and
a second valve coupled to the second inflatable bladder and configured to inflate at least a portion of the second inflatable bladder.
14. The apparatus of claim 8 , further comprising:
a third membrane coupled to the first membrane, the first membrane being formed with a first material, the third membrane being formed with a second material different than the first material.
15. An apparatus, comprising:
a spring being moveable between a coiled configuration when the spring is collapsed and an uncoiled configuration when the spring is expanded, the spring defining a closed loop when in the uncoiled configuration;
a first membrane disposed within at least a portion of the closed loop of the spring when the spring is in the uncoiled configuration, the first membrane at least in part defining a first interior region;
a second membrane coupled to the first membrane and disposed at least partially within the closed loop of the spring when the spring is in the uncoiled configuration, the second membrane at least in part defining a second interior region;
a first inflatable bladder disposed within the first interior region, at least a portion of the first inflatable bladder extending from an edge of the first membrane linearly across a portion of the first interior region;
a second inflatable bladder disposed within the first interior region, at least a portion of the first inflatable bladder extending from the edge of the first membrane linearly across a portion of the first interior region; and
a third inflatable bladder disposed within the second interior region.
16. The apparatus of claim 15 , wherein the first membrane is formed at least in part with a first material, the second membrane is formed at least in part with the first material.
17. The apparatus of claim 15 , wherein the first membrane is formed at least in part with a first material, the second membrane is formed at least in part with a second material different than the first material.
18. The apparatus of claim 15 , further comprising:
a third membrane coupled to the second membrane, the third membrane being formed with a first material, the second membrane formed with a second material different than the first material.
19. The apparatus of claim 15 , further comprising:
a first valve coupled to the first inflatable bladder and configured to inflate at least a portion of the first inflatable bladder; and
a second valve coupled to the second inflatable bladder and configured to inflate at least a portion of the second inflatable bladder.
20. The apparatus of claim 15 , wherein the second interior region has a length greater than a length of the first interior region.