IP Library Granted Patent US 12,060,139
Granted Patent B2
US 12,060,139 · App. 17/664,210 · Granted Aug 13, 2024

Modular inflatable platform system

Inventor: Aaron May (Parker, CO)
Assignee: BOTE, LLC
B63B35/58B63B3/08B63B7/085
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,060,139
App. No.
17/664,210
Granted
Aug 13, 2024
Kind
B2
Abstract

The present invention is directed to an inflatable and floatable modular platform system wherein certain embodiments comprise an adjustable back-rest. The inflatable platform system of the present disclosure includes floating elements of differing shapes and sizes configured to be interconnected in order to allow users to stand, sit, and walk between floating elements. Embodiments include inflatable platforms having circular, arc-shaped, rectangular, and L-shaped inflatable platforms.

Claims (35)

1. An inflatable apparatus comprising:

a first inflatable platform comprising a top surface;

an inflatable back-rest comprising a bottom aspect, the bottom aspect comprising a hinged connection to the top surface of the inflatable platform, wherein the hinged connection comprises a female portion comprising a longitudinal hollow form and a longitudinal slot; and a male portion interconnected to a tensile member, wherein the male portion is configured to be slidably received by the hollow form of the female portion, and wherein the tensile member is configured to be received by the slot of the female portion;

a first tether interconnected between the first inflatable platform and a first side of the back-rest; and

a second tether interconnected between the first inflatable platform and a second side of the back-rest, wherein the first and second tethers are configured to maintain the back-rest at a desired angle from the first inflatable platform.

2. The inflatable apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the hinged connection further comprises a polymeric sheet material.

3. The inflatable apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the tensile member comprises a flexible material which interconnects the male feature to the bottom aspect of the back-rest, and wherein the female feature is interconnected with the top surface of the first inflatable platform.

4. The inflatable apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the male feature comprises a round cross-sectional profile, and wherein the female feature comprises a round cross-sectional profile configured to receive the male feature therein.

5. The inflatable apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the tensile member comprises a flexible material which interconnects the male feature to the top surface of the first inflatable platform, and wherein the female feature is interconnected to the bottom aspect of the back-rest.

6. The inflatable apparatus of claim 5 , wherein the male feature comprises a round cross-sectional profile, and wherein the female feature comprises a round cross-sectional profile configured to receive the male feature therein.

7. The inflatable apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the back-rest is removably interconnected with the first inflatable platform.

8. The inflatable apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first inflatable platform comprises a first external perimetral aspect adapted to nest with an internal perimetral aspect of a second inflatable platform.

9. The inflatable apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the first external perimetral aspect is located at a forward aspect of the inflatable platform.

10. The inflatable apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the first external perimetral aspect is located at a rearward aspect of the inflatable platform.

11. The inflatable apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the first external perimetral aspect comprises an interconnection point adapted to interconnect with an interconnection point of the internal perimetral aspect of the second inflatable platform.

12. The inflatable apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first inflatable platform comprises a first internal perimetral aspect adapted to nest with an external perimetral aspect of a second inflatable platform.

13. The inflatable apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the first internal perimetral aspect is located at a forward aspect of the inflatable platform.

14. The inflatable apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the first internal perimetral aspect is located at a rearward aspect of the inflatable platform.

15. The inflatable apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the first internal perimetral aspect comprises an interconnection point adapted to interconnect with an interconnection point of the external perimetral aspect of the second inflatable platform.

16. The inflatable apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a magnetic connection apparatus interconnected to a top surface of the first inflatable platform.

17. An inflatable apparatus comprising:

a first inflatable platform comprising a top surface, wherein the first inflatable platform comprises a first internal perimetral aspect adapted to nest with an external perimetral aspect of a second inflatable platform;

an inflatable back-rest comprising a bottom aspect, the bottom aspect comprising a hinged connection to the top surface of the inflatable platform;

a first tether interconnected between the first inflatable platform and a first side of the back-rest; and

a second tether interconnected between the first inflatable platform and a second side of the back-rest, wherein the first and second tethers are configured to maintain the back-rest at a desired angle from the first inflatable platform.

18. The inflatable apparatus of claim 17 , wherein the hinged connection further comprises a female portion comprising a longitudinal hollow form and a longitudinal slot; and a male portion interconnected to a tensile member, wherein the male portion is configured to be slidably received by the hollow form of the female portion, and wherein the tensile member is configured to be received by the slot of the female portion.

19. The inflatable apparatus of claim 18 , wherein the tensile member comprises a flexible material which interconnects the male feature to the bottom aspect of the back-rest, and wherein the female feature is interconnected with the top surface of the first inflatable platform.

20. The inflatable apparatus of claim 19 , wherein the male feature comprises a round cross-sectional profile, and wherein the female feature comprises a round cross-sectional profile configured to receive the male feature therein.

21. The inflatable apparatus of claim 18 , wherein the tensile member comprises a flexible material which interconnects the male feature to the top surface of the first inflatable platform, and wherein the female feature is interconnected to the bottom aspect of the back-rest.

22. The inflatable apparatus of claim 21 , wherein the male feature comprises a round cross-sectional profile, and wherein the female feature comprises a round cross-sectional profile configured to receive the male feature therein.

23. The inflatable apparatus of claim 18 , wherein the back-rest is removably interconnected with the first inflatable platform.

24. The inflatable apparatus of claim 17 , wherein the first internal perimetral aspect is located at a forward aspect of the inflatable platform.

25. The inflatable apparatus of claim 17 , wherein the first internal perimetral aspect is located at a rearward aspect of the inflatable platform.

26. The inflatable apparatus of claim 17 , wherein the first internal perimetral aspect comprises an interconnection point adapted to interconnect with an interconnection point of the external perimetral aspect of the second inflatable platform.

27. The inflatable apparatus of claim 17 , further comprising a magnetic connection apparatus interconnected to a top surface of the first inflatable platform.

Assignments (4)
TERMINATION AND RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS Recorded Nov 25, 2025
From: ECLIPSE BUSINESS CAPITAL LLC
To: KENT WATER SPORTS, LLC; BAREFOOT INTERNATIONAL, LLC; ABSOLUTE OUTDOOR OF AMERICA, LLC; CONNELLY SKIS, LLC; HO SPORTS COMPANY, LLC; MOTION SPORTS OF AMERICA, LLC; BOTE, LLC
Reel/Frame 073705/0862 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 21, 2025
From: KENT WATER SPORTS, LLC; ABSOLUTE OUTDOOR OF AMERICA, LLC; HO SPORTS COMPANY, LLC; MOTION SPORTS OF AMERICA, LLC; CONNELLY SKIS, LLC; BAREFOOT INTERNATIONAL, LLC; BOTE LLC
To: PNC BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
Reel/Frame 073661/0975 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Apr 18, 2024
From: BOTE, LLC
To: GOLDMAN SACHS BANK USA, AS AGENT
Reel/Frame 067144/0511 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Apr 18, 2024
From: KENT WATER SPORTS, LLC; ABSOLUTE OUTDOOR OF AMERICA, LLC; BAREFOOT INTERNATIONAL, LLC; CONNELLY SKIS, LLC; HO SPORTS COMPANY, LLC; MOTION SPORTS OF AMERICA, LLC; BOTE, LLC
To: ECLIPSE BUSINESS CAPITAL LLC
Reel/Frame 067153/0600 →