# US 2016/0355239 A1 · Flexible floating apparatus and manufacturing method thereof > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2016/0355239 A1 - Document ID: US20160355239A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 14/731,388 - Filed: 2015-06-04 - Published: 2016-12-08 - Earliest claimed: 2015-06-04 - Assignees: Bestway Inflatables & Material Corp. - Applicants: Bestway Inflatables & Material Corp. - Inventors: Feng Liu - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20160355239A1 ## CPC - A63B 31/00: Swimming aids (teaching swimming A63B69/10 - A63B69/14; life-saving in water {, e.g. life-buoys, life-belts,} B63C9/00) - A63B 69/12: Arrangements in swimming pools for teaching swimming {or for training} - A63B 2209/10: with adhesive type surfaces, i.e. hook and loop-type fastener - A63B 2225/09: Adjustable dimensions - A63B 2225/605: Floating - A63B: APPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT (apparatus for passive exercising, massage A61H) ## Abstract A flexible floating apparatus has a flexible bone structure and a floating cover. The flexible bone structure has at least a first joint part and a second joint part. The first joint part and the second joint part are connected with a first resistance force to keep a relative position between the first joint part and the second joint part. A floating cover is made of buoyant material wrapping the flexible bone structure. The shape of the floating cover is changed when the relative position between the first joint part and the second joint part is changed. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A flexible floating apparatus, comprising: a flexible bone structure having at least a first joint part and a second joint part, the first joint part and the second joint part being connected with a first resistance force to keep a relative position between the first joint part and the second joint part, and the relative position between the first joint part and the second joint part being changed when an external force larger than the first resistance force being applied on the first joint part and the second joint part; and a floating cover comprising buoyant material wrapping the flexible bone structure and a shape of the floating cover being changed when the relative position between the first joint part and the second joint part being changed. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The flexible floating apparatus of claim 1, wherein the floating cover has a second resistance force to keep the shape of the floating cover, and the second resistance force is smaller than the first resistance force. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The flexible floating apparatus of claim 1, wherein the buoyant material of the floating cover has a smaller density than the first joint part and the second joint part. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The flexible floating apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a third joint part connected to the second joint part, and the third joint part having a second joint structure different from a first joint structure of the first joint part and the second joint part. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The flexible floating apparatus of claim 4, wherein the third joint part has an external connecting structure for connecting to another flexible floating apparatus. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The flexible floating apparatus of claim 5, wherein the connection to said another flexible floating apparatus is detachable. ### Claim 7 (depends on 4) The flexible floating apparatus of claim 4, wherein the third joint part has an internal connecting structure for connecting to a fourth joint part, and the fourth joint part has a third joint structure different from the first joint structure and the second joint structure. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The flexible floating apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first joint part and the second joint part respectively have a tail portion and a head portion, and the tail portion of the first joint part is connected to the head portion of the second joint part with the first resistance force. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The flexible floating apparatus of claim 8, further comprising a fifth joint part having the first joint structure, and the tail portion of the fifth joint part is connected to the head portion of the first joint part. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The flexible floating apparatus of claim 9, wherein the head portion has a ball portion and the tail portion has a socket portion, the socket portion defines an inner space for holding the ball portion, the ball portion is movable with respect to the socket portion in the inner space when the external force larger than the first resistance force is applied to the flexible bone structure. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The flexible floating apparatus of claim 10, wherein the ball portion of the second joint part has a closed round shape heading to the socket portion of the first joint part. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The flexible floating apparatus of claim 1, wherein the floating cover is made of a closed-cell foam material. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The flexible floating apparatus of claim 12, wherein the closed-cell foam material is selected from at least one from Ethylene Vinyl Acetate (EVA) and Polyethylene(PE). ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The flexible floating apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first joint part and the second joint part are made of hardened plastic material selected from at least one of Polypropylene (PP), Polyoxymethylene (POM), Polycarbonate (PC), and Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (ABS). ### Claim 15 A flexible floating apparatus for floating over water, comprising: a flexible bone structure having at least a first joint part and a second joint part, the first joint part and the second joint part being connected with a first resistance force to keep a relative position between the first joint part and the second joint part, and the relative position between the first joint part and the second joint part being changed when an external force larger than the first resistance force being applied on the first joint part and the second joint part; a floating cover comprising buoyant material having an inner tunnel for containing the flexible bone structure and a shape of the floating cover being changed when the relative position between the first joint part and the second joint part being changed; and a decorative member connected to the floating cover. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The flexible floating apparatus of claim 15, wherein the first joint part and the second joint part respectively have a tail portion and a head portion, and the tail portion of the first joint part is connected to the head portion of the second joint part with the first resistance force. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The flexible floating apparatus of claim 16, wherein the head portion has a ball portion and the tail portion has a socket portion, the socket portion defines an inner space for holding the ball portion, the ball portion is movable with respect to the socket portion in the inner space when the external force larger than the first resistance force is applied to the flexible bone structure. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The flexible floating apparatus of claim 16, wherein the ball portion of the second joint part has a closed round shape heading to the socket portion of the first joint part. ### Claim 19 A method for manufacturing a flexible floating apparatus, comprising: providing a flexible bone structure having at least a first joint part and a second joint part, the first joint part and the second joint part being connected with a first resistance force to keep a relative position between the first joint part and the second joint part, and the relative position between the first joint part and the second joint part being changed when an external force larger than the first resistance force being applied on the first joint part and the second joint part; providing a floating cover comprising buoyant material; and placing the flexible bone structure into an inner tunnel of the floating cover. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The method of claim 19, wherein the floating cover is made of two parts and the two parts are affixed after the flexible bone structure is placed in inner channel of the floating cover.