Float device

A system for pumping water from a body of water, the system comprising:

• a float assembly comprising:
• a float configured to transform between a un-inflated configuration, wherein the float has a first dimension and an inflated configuration, wherein the float has a second dimension, the second dimension being greater than the first dimension;
• a plurality of internal chambers located within an outer surface layer of the float each of the plurality of internal chambers being fluidly coupled to each other and wherein the plurality of internal chambers include an inner chamber, a middle chamber, and an outer chamber, wherein the outer chamber surrounds the middle chamber and the middle chamber surrounds the outer chamber;
• a mechanism for quickly inflating the float into the inflated state, wherein the mechanism is configured to fluidly couple a source of compressed gas to the plurality of internal chambers;
• a manual inflation valve accessible from an exterior of the float and being configured to provide a fluid passageway to the plurality of internal chambers;
• and
• an attachment member secured to the outer surface layer of the float, wherein the inflated configuration prevents a vortex from drawing air into the inlet end of the hose when it is supported below a bottom surface of the outer surface layer of the float when the float is floating in the body of water;
• a hose attachment member fixed to a first end of a hose and configured to be releasably secured to the float attachment member such that the float device supports the first end of the hose;
• and
• a water pump fluidly connected to a second end of the hose, the water pump being configured to pump water drawn from the first end of the hose when it is located in the body of water.

A method for quickly inflating a float from an un-inflated state to an inflated state and locating an inlet end of a hose below a surface of a body of water and preventing a vortex from forming between the surface of the body of water and the inlet end of the hose, the method including:

• releasing an amount of pressurized gas from a reservoir secured to the float by actuating a quick fill mechanism fluidly coupled to the reservoir and a plurality of internal chambers of the float, wherein the amount of pressurized gas inflates the plurality of internal chambers to inflate the float from the un-inflated state to the inflated state, wherein the un-inflated state has a first dimension and the inflated state has a second dimension, the second dimension being greater than the first dimension and wherein the plurality of internal chambers are located within an outer surface layer of the float and each of the plurality of internal chambers being fluidly coupled to each other and wherein the plurality of internal chambers include an inner chamber, a middle chamber, and an outer chamber, wherein the outer chamber surrounds the middle chamber and the middle chamber surrounds the outer chamber;
• locating the inflated float in the body of water;
• and
• attaching the inlet end of the hose to an attachment member of the float located below the surface of the body water, wherein the second dimension is greater than a dimension of the vortex, and wherein the float further comprises a manual inflation valve accessible from an exterior of the float and being configured to provide a fluid passageway to the plurality of internal chambers.