Multi-sport flotation system

A flotation system for supporting a person on a body of water which comprises inflatable tube means providing a buoyant annular body when said inflatable tube means is inflated, said buoyant annular body having an inner wall and upper and lower surfaces and defining an a bottomless interior whereby when said buoyant annular body is placed on said body of water said lower surface will be submerged in said body of water and said inner wall will be partially submerged in said body of water with said bottomless interior being exposed to said body of water, said bottomless interior having a stern portion and a bow portion;

• seat platform means secured to said inflatable tube means across said buoyant annular body and at an elevation between said upper and lower surfaces whereby when said inflatable tube means is inflated and said buoyant annular body is placed on said body of water said seat platform will be located above the surface of said body of water, said seat platform means extending substantially completely across said buoyant annular body and so dividing said bottomless interior into said stern portion and said bow portion whereby a person sitting on said seat platform means may extend his feet and legs through said stern portion into said body of water and propel said flotation system by moving his lower legs and feet without sitting in said body of water;
• and stowage compartment means secured to said inflatable tube means across said bouyant annular body in said bow portion, said stowage compartment means providing a stowage compartment deck spanning said bow portion at an elevation whereby when said inflatable tube means is inflated and said buoyant annular body is placed on said body of water said stowage compartment deck will be located above the surface of said body of water.

A flotation system for supporting a person on a body of water which comprises inflatable tube means providing a buoyant annular body when said inflatable tube means is inflated, said buoyant annular body having an inner wall and upper and lower surfaces and having a stern end and a bow end;

• seat platform means secured to said inflatable tube means across said buoyant annular body and at an elevation between said upper and lower surfaces whereby when said inflatable tube means is inflated and said buoyant annular body is placed on said body of water said seat platform will be located above the surface of said body of water;
• said annular body having a bottomless interior in at least a stern portion extending at least from said seat platform means to the stern end of said buoyant annular body whereby when said buoyant annular body is placed on said body of water said lower surface will be submerged in said body of water and said inner wall will be partially submerged in said body of water with said bottomless interior being exposed to said body of water, said seat platform means extending substantially completely across said buoyant annular body and so dividing said buoyant annular body into said stern portion and a bow portion whereby a person sitting on said seat platfrom means may extend his feet and legs through said stern portion into said body of water and propel said flotation system by moving his lower legs and feet without sitting in said body of water;
• and stowage compartment means secured to said inflatable tube means across said bouyant annular body in said bow portion, said stowage compartment means providing a stowage compartment deck spanning said bow portion.

A method of converting a flotation system into an integrated tote comprising the steps of:

• a) providing a water vehicle that comprises inflatable tube means providing a buoyant annular body when said inflatable tube means is inflated, said buoyant annular body having an inner wall with upper and lower surfaces and defining a bottomless interior whereby when said buoyant annular body is placed on said body of water said lower surface will be submerged in said body of water and said inner wall will be partially submerged in said body of water with said bottomless interior being exposed to said body of water, said bottomless interior having a stern portion and a bow portion;
• seat platform means secured to said inflatable tube means across said buoyant annular body and at an elevation between said upper and lower surfaces whereby when said inflatable tube means is inflated and said buoyant annular body is placed on said body of water said seat platform will be located above the surface of said body of water, said seat platform means extending substantially completely across said buoyant annular body and so dividing said bottomless interior into said stern portion and said bow portion whereby a person sitting on said seat platform means may extend his feet and legs through said stern portion into said body of water and propel said flotation system by moving his lower legs and feet without sitting in said body of water;
• storage pack means mountable in said bow portion, said storage pack means being of a size suitable for holding said inflatable tube means and said seat platform means when said inflatable tube means is deflated;
• and storage pack mounting means for detachably mounting said storage pack means to said inflatable tube means, said storage pack means and said storage pack mounting means being constructed and arranged whereby said storage pack means will be carried above the surface of said body of water;
• b) removing said storage pack means from said buoyant annular body and deflating said inflatable tube means;
• c) folding the bow portion of the deflated tube means toward the stern portion and over the seat platform means;
• forming a transverse fold at the bow margin of the seat platform means;
• forming a longitudinal fold along both the port and starboard margins of the seat platform means, thus overlapping the margins of the lateral walls of the deflated tube means in registry to one another along a midship longitudinal line;
• and then completing the folding process by repeatedly folding over the seat platform means and reflecting and folding material toward the stern of the water vehicle until all material is tightly wrapped around the seat platform means;
• and
• d) stowing the folded water vehicle in said storage pack means.

A flotation system for supporting a person on a body of water which comprises inflatable tube means providing a buoyant annular body when said inflatable tube means is inflated, said buoyant annular body having an inner wall and upper and lower surfaces and having a stern end and a bow end;

• seat platform means secured to said inflatable tube means across said buoyant annular body and at an elevation between said upper and lower surfaces whereby when said inflatable tube means is inflated and said buoyant annular body is placed on said body of water said seat platform will be located above the surface of said body of water, said seat platform means extending substantially completely across said buoyant annular body and dividing said buoyant annular body into a stern portion and a bow portion;
• said annular body having a bottomless interior in at least said stern portion extending at least from said seat platform means to the stern end of said buoyant annular body whereby when said buoyant annular body is placed on said body of water said lower surface will be submerged in said body of water and said inner wall will be partially submerged in said body of water with said bottomless interior being exposed to said body of water, whereby a person sitting on said seat platform means may extend his feet and legs through said stern portion into said body of water and propel said flotation system by moving his lower legs and feet without sitting in said body of water;
• and storage pack means mountable in said bow portion, said storage pack means being of a size suitable for holding said inflatable tube means and said seat platform means when said inflatable tube means is deflated;
• and storage pack mounting means for detachably mounting said storage pack means to said inflatable tube means, said storage pack means and said storage pack mounting means being constructed and arranged whereby said storage pack means will be carried above the surface of said body of water.