Water floatation device

Abstract

A water floatation device for supporting a person in a body of water, the device comprising: a base having an upper surface, a lower surface, a front end, and a back end; a seat located on the upper surface and having a raised back portion, a raised front portion, and a central sitting portion positioned between the raised back portion and the raised front portion; and an anti-tipping element located on the lower surface of the base; the base, seat, and anti-tipping elements being composed of a buoyant material.

1 . A water floatation device for supporting a person in a body of water, the device comprising:
 a base having an upper surface, a lower surface, a front end, and a back end;   a seat located on the upper surface and having a raised back portion, a raised front portion, and a central sitting portion positioned between the raised back portion and the raised front portion; and   an anti-tipping element located on the lower surface of the base;   the base, seat, and anti-tipping elements being composed of a buoyant material.   
     
     
         2 . The water floatation device according to  claim 1 , wherein the lower surface of the base is substantially flat. 
     
     
         3 . The water floatation device according to  claim 1 , wherein the base, seat, and anti-tipping element comprise a unitary body of buoyant material. 
     
     
         4 . The water floatation device according to  claim 1 , wherein the anti-tipping element is a keel having opposing water bearing surfaces for resisting lateral tipping of the device in the body of water. 
     
     
         5 . The water floatation device according to  claim 4 , wherein the keel is a barrier extending substantially the length of the lower surface of the base. 
     
     
         6 . The water floatation device according to  claim 5 , wherein the keel is substantially straight throughout its length. 
     
     
         7 . The water floatation device according to  claim 5 , wherein the keel has a height in the range of 2 inches to 5 inches. 
     
     
         8 . The water floatation device according to  claim 5 , wherein the keel is sized and shaped to have a primary portion attached to the lower surface of the base and a secondary portion extending beneath the primary portion, wherein the secondary portion has a length at least 40% of the length of the primary portion. 
     
     
         9 . The water floatation device according to  claim 1 , further including recesses in opposing sides of the base, the recesses being adjacent to at least part of the central sitting portion and at least part of the raised front portion of the seat. 
     
     
         10 . The water floatation device according to  claim 9 , wherein each recess includes a knee resting surface adjacent to raised front portion of the seat. 
     
     
         11 . The water floatation device according to  claim 1 , further including a front handle located on the upper surface and substantially at the front end of the base. 
     
     
         12 . The water floatation device according to  claim 11 , wherein the front handle has an opening to facilitate gripping by a person sitting in the water floatation device. 
     
     
         13 . The water floatation device according to  claim 11 , wherein the front handle has a front gripping surface, and at least a part of the front gripping surface is located at a position higher above the upper surface of the base than a top of the raised front portion of the seat. 
     
     
         14 . The water floatation device according to  claim 1 , further including a rear handle located on the upper surface and substantially at the back end of the base. 
     
     
         15 . The water floatation device according to  claim 14 , wherein the rear handle has an opening to facilitate gripping. 
     
     
         16 . The water floatation device according to  claim 14 , wherein the rear handle has a rear gripping surface, and at least a part of the rear gripping surface is located at a position higher above the upper surface of the base than a top of the raised back portion of the seat. 
     
     
         17 . The water floatation device according to  claim 1 , wherein the seat is sized and shaped to have a contour over its surface that is substantially the same as the contour of a saddle. 
     
     
         18 . The water floatation device according to  claim 17 , wherein the saddle is a roper saddle. 
     
     
         19 . The water floatation device according to  claim 1 , wherein the raised front portion of the seat has a rise of approximately 2.6 inches over a length of approximately 7 inches. 
     
     
         20 . The water floatation device according to  claim 1 , wherein the raised back portion of the seat has a rise of approximately 5.7 inches over a length of approximately 5 inches. 
     
     
         21 . The water floatation device according to  claim 1 , wherein the buoyant material is closed-cell foam. 
     
     
         22 . The water floatation device according to  claim 1 , wherein at least part of the buoyant material is a hollow shell filled with air. 
     
     
         23 . The water floatation device according to  claim 1 , wherein at least part of the buoyant material is a hollow shell containing foam beads. 
     
     
         24 . The water floatation device according to  claim 1 , wherein the device will float on a surface of the body of water when a person is not sitting on the device. 
     
     
         25 . The water floatation device according to  claim 24 , wherein, when a person sits on the device in the body of water, the device will be submerged below the surface of the body of water and at least a head of a person will be above the surface of the body of water.