Flotation assistance device for use in bathing applications

Abstract

A bathing flotation assist device for use by an individual in a bathing enclosure. A buoyant flotation base is conformable to the back of the individual laying thereon such that it will maintain the body of the individual in position along the centre axis of the flotation base. A conformable buoyant head protector and nonconformable buoyant left and right side protection panels are attached, and a removeable fabric cover provides an enhanced gripping surface to the flotation base. By hingedly attaching the side edges of adjacent base elements to each other, the flotation base itself will have the ability to axially flex and bend in the direction of the centre axis of the flotation base in response to the weight of the user, and thus hold or retain the body in safe position in relation to the enclosure axis.

1 . A bathing flotation assist device in accordance with any embodiment of the enclosed specification. 
     
     
         2 . A bathing flotation assist device for use by an individual in a bathing enclosure having at least a back wall and side walls defining a water surface area when the bathing enclosure contains water, and an enclosure axis being approximately the direction of positioning of the body of a bather therein, said device comprising:
 a. a conformable buoyant flotation base having a connecting edge and a distal edge at the opposite end therefrom and left and right side edges extending therebetween, said flotation base being conformable to the back of the individual laying thereon such that it will maintain the body of the individual in position along the centre axis of the flotation base;   b. a conformable buoyant head protector having a head edge and a connecting edge at the opposite end therefrom and left and right side edges extending therebetween, the connecting edges of the head protector and the flotation base being hingedly attached, said head protector being conformable to the shoulder region and head of the individual in contact therewith to maintain said shoulder region and head in position along the centre axis of the flotation base;   c. nonconformable buoyant left and right head protection panels each having an attachment edge and left and right side edges, the attachment edges of the left and right protection panels being hingedly attached along the left and right edges of the head protector;   d. nonconformable buoyant left and right side protection panels each having an attachment edge and left and right side edges, the attachment edges of the left and right side protection panels being hingedly attached along the left and right edges of the flotation base; and   e. at least one removeable fabric cover which will cover the remainder of the flotation assist device and which will provide an enhanced gripping surface to the flotation base when the device is in use, and which can be cleaned with traditional methods when removed;   wherein the width of the flotation base and head protector between their respective left and right side edges is approximately the width of the bathing enclosure between the side walls thereof;   wherein the length of the left and right side edges of the head protection panels is sufficient to allow the head protection panels to provide protection of the shoulder area and head of the user from collision or encounter with the side walls of the bathing enclosure; and   wherein the length of the left and right side edges of the side protection panels is sufficient to allow the side protection panels to provide protection of the lower body area of the user from collision or encounter with the side walls of the bathing enclosure.