The 'Rado Apéro'

Abstract

'Rado Apéro' device. The invention relates to a floating and geostatic device, allowing the sharing of a moment of conviviality in shallow water, around drinks and various foods while being semi-submerged. It is made up of: Floating and stainless materials constituting an easily transportable portable case, This case is made up of 3 trays: lower, intermediate and upper, The upper tray is made up of a central space for sharing various foods, and a lateral space made up of openings allowing the storage of different types of vertical containers (example: drinks), and their protection from the sun by small dedicated and tilting parasols, The upper tray has 2 openings: the central opening giving access to an isothermal storage space, the lateral opening giving access to the intermediate tray serving as a non-isothermal storage space,The isothermal compartment allows the preservation temperature to be maintained for more than 4 hours at + / - 4 degrees,The non-isothermal storage space allows the storage of food and utensils useful for using the invention: glasses, lemonade, toothpicks, etc., as well as used items or debris,The lower tray ensures the buoyancy and stability of the invention by a water impregnation device at the top of the corner protection corners,A bottle opener is integrated on the side of the invention,An anchoring system allows the invention to be fixed punctually so that it remains geostatic within a radius of 80 cm.,

Description

Title of the invention: The 'Rado Apéro'

[0001] The present invention relates to a floating, stable and geostatic device, intended for sharing a moment of conviviality between individuals, in shallow water, around drinks and fresh, hot or dry food, and while being semi-submerged (from the waist to the shoulders). Prior art

[0002] Some devices, simplified or inflatable, currently exist but can only be used in closed artificial pools such as swimming pools. In fact, their buoyancy and stability levels are too light and are therefore not compatible with use in natural environments such as seas or oceans, subject to elements such as wind, water currents, swell or waves. These platforms are therefore devoid of an anchoring system, which makes them non-geostatic, and poses a constant problem of keeping them in place by users

[0003] In addition, these platforms are limited to offering a few locations not protected from the sun to put the few common drinks there.

[0004] These platforms also do not offer a 'food' space.

[0005] Finally, these platforms do not have an isothermal food tank allowing additional and immediate consumption, with the expected and necessary level of freshness, and not requiring multiple trips between land and sea which interrupt these moments of conviviality. They also do not have storage space for containers, utensils and even rubbish from that moment. Statement of the invention

[0006] The 'Rado Apéro', the subject of the present invention, overcomes these limitations. It is in fact constructed from floating materials and stainless steel to form an easily transportable portable case. It is therefore a rectangular parallelepiped in shape. It can have several dimensions depending on the target use. The dimensions of the standard use model are described in the attached drawings.

[0007] The 'Rado Apéro' consists of 3 floors: a. The lower plate, corresponding to the submerged part of the invention, b. The intermediate, interior plateau, also called the 1st floor, c. The upper plate, opposite the lower plate, corresponding to the food and beverage reception area.

[0008] The upper tray of the 'Rado Apéro' includes: a. A central, flat, full space to accommodate various food containers and utensils, b. A lateral space, surrounding the central space, and composed of circular openings of different diameters to accommodate drinks, glasses and bottles (or any other vertically oriented container), and small, tilting parasols, each dedicated to one of the drink locations, and allowing these drinks to be protected from the sun and thus better keep them fresh.

[0009] The 'Rado Apéro' is a case that can be opened in two different ways: a. The upper central opening, located on the upper tray, which gives access to the insulated compartment b. The upper side opening, always located on the upper shelf, and which provides access to the intermediate shelf.

[0010] The insulated compartment is made of polystyrene and contains drinks and food that need to be kept fresh. It can also contain an ice cube tray. Its performance allows the preservation of freshness and ice cubes in their solid state for more than 4 hours.

[0011] The intermediate tray, accessible through the upper side opening, surrounds the insulated compartment. This intermediate tray has several functions: a. To rest glasses, bottles and other containers in a vertical orientation during consumption, b. Store utensils useful for using the 'Rado Apéro', for example: glasses, lemonade maker, ice tongs, dry food, cutlery, toothpicks or bowls, carving knife, etc. c. Store, as and when used, empty containers and any waste resulting from the use of the invention, in order to preserve the natural environment intact.

[0012] The lower tray of the case, for its part, is not accessible by consumer users, and contains the components ensuring the buoyancy and stability of the case, thanks in particular to floating foams and openings in the corners at the level of the vertical edges, reinforced by corner protection corners ('suitcase' type) in marine stainless steel at the base, consolidating the entire device, while preventing the floor from being airtight and therefore too sensitive to external natural elements (wind, swell, waves, etc.).

[0013] A bottle opener is also attached to the side wall of the 'Rado Apéro'

[0014] The 'Rado Apéro' is intended to be used in shallow waters, less than 2 meters deep. A central attachment system, fixed to the center of the lower shelf, allows the attachment of a marine rope using a small carabiner. A ballast bag made of thick fabric, attached to the other end of the rope, is to be filled with sand, pebbles or other material from the seabed at the desired location for the 'Rado Apéro' to be held, in order to ensure sufficient ballast to remain motionless at the bottom of the water. This ballast bag is then closed with a 'velcro' type system. The length of the rope that connects the ballast to the 'Rado Apéro' is adjustable by a sliding knot system, depending on the water depth of the chosen location, and varies on average between 1m20 and 2m20.

[0015] For the transport or wintering of the invention, a tarpaulin allows the device to be wrapped in a non-hermetic manner for simple visual and protective purposes. This tarpaulin can be personalized in color or flocking, in the same way as the walls of the case.

[0016] The attached drawings illustrate the invention:

[0017] [Fig.l] represents the overall 3-dimensional view of the standard format of the device of the invention

[0018] [Fig.2] represents, in vertical section and in 3 dimensions, the view of the inter tray intermediate, without isothermal compartment, of the standard format of the device of the invention

[0019] [Fig.3] represents, in vertical section and in 3 dimensions, the view of the inter tray intermediate, with isothermal compartment, of the standard format of the device of the invention

[0020] [Fig.4] represents a focused view on the isothermal compartment of the format standard of the device of the invention

[0021] [Fig.5] represents the top view, in 2 dimensions, of the upper plate of the format standard of the device of the invention

[0022] [Fig.6] represents the top view, in 2 dimensions, of the intermediate plate of the standard format of the device of the invention

[0023] [Fig.7] represents the top view, in 2 dimensions, of the lower plate of the format standard of the device of the invention

[0024] [Fig.8] represents the view, in 2 dimensions, of the fixing of the handle on the device of the invention

[0025] [Fig.9] represents the view of the tarpaulin system for transport and wintering of the device of the invention

[0026] [Fig. 10] represents the view of the materials and screws used for the construction of the device of the invention

[0027] [Fig. 11] represents the view of the external flotation and stability device of the device of the invention

[0028] The materials constituting said invention are mainly: a. Lightweight 'expanded PVC' panels, b. Interior fixing angle brackets made of lightweight plastic, c. Exterior PVC consolidation corner strips d. Polyethylene foam for better flotation, e. Marine stainless steel screws (10, 20 or 30mm screws + washers + nuts) f. Corner protection corners ('suitcase' type) in marine stainless steel for ex fixings exterior g. Polystyrene insulated block h. Marine stainless steel hinges and latch fasteners for the two upper openings. i. Plastic and fabric handle j. Marine rope k. Thick fabric bag 1. Plastic tarpaulin for wintering

Claims

Claims

1. Floating, stable and geostatic device, intended for sharing a moment of conviviality between individuals in shallow waters (less than 2 meters), around drinks and fresh, hot or dry food, and while being semi-submerged (from the waist to the shoulders). This device is itself composed of a device compatible with the marine environment, composed of floating plastic materials, 'marine' type stainless steel, fabrics and rope. It constitutes a rectangular parallelepiped shape, light and floating, and the use of the 'expanded PVC' material for its 6 external walls allows it to be dyed in color, on the surface or in the mass, and also to be personalized by flocking. It can also have different dimensions depending on the need (Fig.l). It has a portable device which transforms it into a transportable case, accompanied by its covering and protective tarpaulin device for transport of more than 100 meters.This case is composed of 3 trays: the lower tray (immersed once in water), the intermediate tray (internal to the device) and the upper tray (used to place, work and / or consume food and drinks). The device contains 2 interior levels separated by the intermediate tray. The lower level, not accessible by users of the invention, contains a specific flotation and stability device, based on a water impregnation system and the absorption of water level variations, and completed by polyethylene foam. The upper level, also called 1st level, constitutes both the glass and bottle resting device, allowing the storage of drinks that may exceed the upper level and overflow beyond its level, and at the same time the non-isothermal reserve and storage device, dedicated to the storage of any other food container, various utensils, detritus, etc. (Fig.2).An isothermal reserve and storage device, made of polystyrene material, constitutes the physical heart of this device and occupies the 2 floors to maximize the storable content (Fig 3 and Fig 4). Its performance allows the initial temperature to be maintained at plus or minus 4 degrees for more than 4 hours. This isothermal behavior represents the majority of the surface area of ​​the upper plate of the device (Fig.5). This upper panel allows food to be placed and consumed through this common central space, flat and full, corresponding to the sub- location.

2.

3. adjacent to the insulated compartment, and also to place and consume drinks through several dedicated lateral locations, of different dimensions, thus greatly reducing any risk of overflow, in particular for liquid items (Fig.5). Each of these lateral locations has a dedicated parasol device, characterized by a location dedicated to the placement of a small, tilting parasol, and allowing protection from the sun and thus slowing down the heating of the covered items (Fig 1). The upper panel offers 2 opening flaps allowing access on the one hand to the underlying insulated compartment, and on the other hand to the 1st floor dedicated to the storage of dry products or even waste (Fig.6). A 'wall' type bottle opener is integrated into the device on its side panel supporting the portable device (Fig 1).It is positioned 3 cm from the upper plate and 3 cm from the side panel, thus allowing the bottles to be uncapped on site without immersing them. A geostatic anchoring device allows the device to be held in place, within a maximum diameter of 80 cm, by a ballast system fixed to the submerged lower panel by a marine rope (or boat rope), itself connected to a thick fabric bag to be filled with sand, pebbles or any other natural element present on site. This bag closes using a 'velcro' system and is placed directly on the targeted ground (Fig 7). Portable device according to claim 1 characterized by a plastic handle connected to fabric fasteners at the ends, reinforced by square-shaped plastic blocks (Fig 8). This handle is fixed to the center of the side wall of the device adjoining the isothermal compartment, and this through 2 marine stainless steel screws of 30 mm, passing through the wall of the isothermal compartment and being fixed on a single stainless steel plate passing through, connecting the 2 screws. This reinforced fixing method, fixed directly to the isothermal compartment which represents the vast majority of the weight of the device, allows it to be carried at the highest point during land transport, and thus to facilitate it by reducing its movements. Covering and protective tarpaulin device for transport or storage according to claim 2, characterized by a protective plasticized fabric of the shape of the device according to claim 1, increased by 20%, and having a central hole on one of the sides to allow the handle of the device according to claim 2 to come out there, and on the opposite side a complete opening and an envelope system

4. with 3 male 'velcro' type fasteners which close on the 3 female 'velcro' fasteners located on the side of the vertical device, and which allow this tarpaulin device to be closed non-hermetically (Fig 9). The latter can be personalized in color and flocking, in the same way as the device according to claim 1. It is used by sliding it vertically onto the device of claim 1, with the handle pointing towards the sky. It is then attached by lifting the device of claim 1 by the handle, and closing the envelope from below the tarpaulin to rest on the 3 'velcro' type devices. Note: this tarpaulin device is not essential for the proper use of the device according to claim 1, but is recommended for any transport over 100 meters, or for its winter storage. Device compatible with the marine environment according to claim 1, characterized by the use of resistant and stainless materials (Fig 10). The sides of the rectangular parallelepiped are made of 'expanded PVC' material. Its sides are attached by light internal angle brackets, made of white plastic, each held by 2 marine stainless steel screws (1 screw + 1 washer + 1 nut per angle iron and per side) with a length of 10mm. 16 angle brackets are necessary to hold the external structure of the device of claim 1: 12 for the lower plate alone with its side walls, and 4 for the side walls between them (a total of 32 screws). 4 PVC angle strips make it possible to consolidate the lower plate at its edges, and are each held by the screws of the angle brackets of the lower plate mentioned above.These corner strips are then connected and fixed by 4 corner protection corners ('suitcase' type), in marine stainless steel, each fixed by 3 dedicated 20mm marine stainless steel screws, i.e. 12 screws in total. 3 'expanded PVC' boards constitute the intermediate tray, surrounding the isothermal compartment. These boards are fixed to the external side walls by 13 light internal corner brackets (5+3+5), according to the same principle as that described previously in this claim, and this from the inside of the device of claim 1, at the level of the lower tray (therefore not accessible and not visible to consumer users). The central opening of the upper tray is supported by 2 marine stainless steel hinges with 4 20mm screws each, and 1 central 'latch' type closing system in marine stainless steel on the side opposite the hinges, and fixed by a total of 4 10mm screws. This central opening tray.

5.

6. simply rests on the lid of the insulated compartment without the need for other support systems. The side opening of the upper tray, for its part, also rests on 2 marine stainless steel hinges with 4 screws of 20mm each, but this time with 2 marine stainless steel 'toggle' type closing systems, each fixed by a total of 4 screws of 10mm and located at the end of the 2 sides adjacent to the one bearing the hinges. This side opening tray rests on the one hand on the 4 corner brackets mentioned above and used to fix the side walls together, and also requires the support of 2 additional corner brackets, each fixed on one side only (10mm screws) at the middle of the side wall corresponding to the sides adjacent to that of the hinges, and at the highest level of the device to serve as support for the upper tray in the 'closed' state.Note: this entire assembly can also be simplified by an assembly of plastic moldings, thus avoiding the multiplication of stainless steel angles and screws, as long as it respects the various claims of the invention drafted herein. Flotation device according to claim 1 characterized by the assembly of floating materials individually, as described in claim 4, leaving an opening space 3 millimeters wide by 6 centimeters high at each of the 4 angles formed by the side walls of the device according to claim 1, just above the 'suitcase' type corner protection corners (Fig 11).This assembly of lightweight and floating elements, coupled with these 4 openings of approximately 1.5 cm2 each, allows the lower stage of the device of claim 1 to absorb enough water to both not compromise flotation, and to ensure stability by absorbing external water movements and eddies such as water waves, waves or swell, and thus avoid any volatility of the device. In addition, the polystyrene isothermal compartment (Fig 4), as well as the presence of a volume of 5 dm3 of rot-proof polyethylene foam, with a density of 22 kg / m3, placed all around the isothermal compartment at the level of the lower stage (Fig 2 and 3) complete the process of ensuring the correct level of flotation. Non-isothermal reserve and storage device according to claim 1, characterized by a dedicated space within the 1st stage (intermediate stage), surrounding the isothermal compartment (Fig 2 and 3). This space is accessible either globally by the lateral opening system

7.

8.

9. upper, or locally by the holes forming the locations of the drinks and vertical containers once the upper tray is closed. This reserve represents a significant dedicated volume of approximately 25% of the total volume of the device according to claim 1, and thus allows the storage of food, containers or any utensil useful for its use. It also allows the storage of used elements and waste to guarantee cleanliness and respect for the environment during and as the invention is used. An insulated reserve and storage device according to claim 1, characterized by a dedicated and closed space (Fig 3 and 4), fixed to the side wall by the portable device according to claim 2. This space is accessible by the upper central opening system, then by removing the polystyrene cover of the insulated compartment. This insulated reserve represents a significant dedicated volume of approximately 25% of the total volume of the device according to claim 1, and thus allows the storage of food requiring the maintenance of its preservation temperature, whether hot or cold. The performance of this compartment is such that it allows the temperature to be maintained for more than 4 hours, at + / - 4 degrees, relying in particular on 2 blocks of gel ice, each 15 mm thick and of length and width equivalent to the internal dimensions of the compartment, and acting as floor and ceiling for the food within this compartment. The remaining intermediate space allows you to store several containers such as '70cl wine bottles' for example. In addition, a tray of ice cubes can be stored there to be consumed over this period of at least 4 hours while maintaining their solid state. Device for resting glasses, bottles or vertical containers according to claim 1, characterized by circular openings of different sizes located on the upper plate, and allowing said containers to be inserted or placed therein (Fig 5). These opening diameters can vary according to the type of use of the invention, but are by default of 3 different sizes as standard, 65 mm, 80 mm and 90 mm, thus allowing the containers to be adapted to an opening of diameter close to its own diameter. These openings have a depth of 8.5 cm (Fig 2). These 2 properties, diameter and depth of opening, greatly limit the risks of overturning, and ensure a good level of capacity to pick up the containers once placed in these openings. Parasol device dedicated to beverage locations and adjustable according to claim 1 characterized by several circular openings of 11 mm located on the upper plate (Fig 5). These openings are each dedicated to a larger opening of the device for resting glasses, bottles or vertical containers as presented in claim 8, and located less than 3 cm while remaining in the space corresponding to the upper lateral opening. Indeed, each of these 11 mm openings allows a hollow tube of 10 mm in diameter and 27 cm in length to be inserted, and crossing the intermediate level to reach the lower plate without crossing it (Fig 1). This insertion depth allows the tubes to be blocked in a vertical position, and thus reduces their volatility in the event of turbulence or strong winds for example. Indeed, each of these tubes has a small parasol fixed in its upper end.Each of these parasols has a diameter of 24 cm when unfolded, and a height of 18 cm above the end of the tube. It also has, at its base, a flexible arm allowing it to tilt up to 45 degrees to better adapt its positioning, and thus reduce the impact of thermal heat coming directly from the Sun.

10. Geostatic anchoring device according to claim 1 characterized by a central attachment system of the 'ceiling hook' type in marine stainless steel, fixed by 4 screws of 10 mm on the outside of the lower plate, and in its center (Fig 7). This hook allows, thanks to a small marine stainless steel carabiner, the attachment of a boot or boat rope of 5 mm in diameter and of a length varying from 1.2 m to 2.2 m according to adjustment via a sliding knot system, and this depending on the depth of use. A thick fabric bag, measuring 42 cm x 45 cm, is attached to the other end of this rope. This bag is then to be opened, filled manually with natural and locally present elements to ensure a ballast of at least 1 kg (example: sand, pebbles, etc.) then to be closed by a 'velcro' type system. This ballast allows it to be immobilized at the bottom of the water, and the geostatic maintenance of the device described in claim 1 over a diameter of 80 cm maximum.The storage of this anchoring device before and after use is done in a 'rolled up' manner, and this in the non-isothermal reserve and storage device according to claim 6.

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