Floating, stationary and isothermal device for sharing a moment of conviviality

Abstract

The invention relates to a floating, stationary and isothermal device (1), intended for sharing a moment of conviviality between semi-submerged individuals, around drinks and food. The device according to the invention is characterized in that it is floating by its structure and the construction materials used (11), stationary by its anchoring system (18, 19, 20), stable by its internal water impregnation and circulation system (27), portable by its carrying handle (7) and its protective cover (26), and that it integrates an isothermal compartment (13) for keeping drinks, ice cubes and stored food at the right temperature, as well as a storage space (12) allowing on the one hand to store therein any dry food or element useful for the use of the device, and on the other hand to place the vertical containers therein through suitable locations (2) to reduce the risks of overflow Figure for the abstract: Figure 1

Description

Title of the invention: Floating, stationary and isothermal device for sharing a moment of conviviality

[0001] The present invention relates to a floating, stationary and isothermal device, intended for sharing a moment of conviviality between individuals semi-immersed in shallow water, in an artificial or natural pool, around drinks and fresh, hot or dry food. 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 therefore lack an anchoring system, which makes them mobile, nomadic, and poses a constant problem of keeping them in place for users.

[0003] In addition, these platforms are limited to offering a few unprotected locations from the sun to put a 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 or 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 present invention aims in particular to remedy these limitations.

[0007] To this end, it offers a device designed to share a moment of conviviality. between semi-immersed individuals in artificial or natural waters, around drinks or food, this device being remarkable in that it is floating by its structure and the construction materials used, stationary by its anchoring system, stable by its internal water impregnation and circulation system, portable by its carrying handle and its protective cover, and that it incorporates an isothermal compartment to keep drinks, ice cubes and stored food at temperature, as well as a storage space allowing on the one hand to store any dry food or element useful for the use of the device, and on the other hand to place the vertical containers there through suitable locations to reduce the risk of overflow.

[0008] An advantage of this floating device is that it is light and easily transportable to be placed on any body of water, and to be weighted down to less than 2 meters deep in a few seconds. One can then enjoy the environment and its conditions for several tens of minutes or several hours, while refreshing oneself and eating without having to return to the shore thanks to its storage compartments, in particular its isothermal space.

[0009] The device of the invention consists of 3 stages: 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 surface area for receiving food and drinks consumed.

[0010] The upper plate of the device comprises: a. A central, flat, full space to accommodate various food containers and utensils, b. A lateral space, surrounding the central space, composed of circular openings of different diameters to accommodate drinks, glasses, bottles, or any other vertically oriented container, thus reducing the risk of overflow.

[0011] Each of these two spaces on the upper level has an opening system allowing access to a specific compartment on the intermediate level: a. The upper central opening which gives access to the central space of the intermediate plateau, b. The upper side opening which provides access to the side space of the intermediate tray.

[0012] The intermediate lateral space surrounds the intermediate central space and allows glasses, bottles and other containers to be placed there in a vertical orientation during consumption, thus protruding from the upper tray through the openings provided for this purpose. This space also allows utensils useful for using the device according to the invention to be stored there, such as glasses, a lemonade maker, ice tongs, dry food, cutlery, toothpicks, bowls or a cutting knife for example. This space also allows empty containers and any debris resulting from the use of the invention to be stored there as they are used, in order to preserve the natural environment intact.

[0013] The device according to the invention may further comprise one or more of the following characteristics, which may be combined with each other.

[0014] The lower plate of the device includes a flotation system based on polyethylene foam. This results in a floating platform.

[0015] The lower plate of the device comprises a central attachment system to which is fixed, by a marine rope, a ballast bag made of thick fabric and with a 'velcro' type closure, which is to be filled with sand, pebbles or other material from the seabed at the desired location for maintaining the device of the invention. This provides sufficient ballast to keep the platform stationary.

[0016] The lower plate of the device includes an internal water impregnation and circulation system through an opening 3 millimeters wide by 6 centimeters high at each of the 4 angles formed by the side walls of the device, just above the corner protection corners. This results in a non-hermetic lower plate, making it possible to absorb variations in water level or any other external natural element such as wind, swell, or waves.

[0017] The rectangular parallelepiped shape of the device incorporates a handle on one of its sides. This results in an easily transportable case.

[0018] A customizable tarpaulin in color or by flocking allows the device to be wrapped in a non-hermetic manner for its transport or wintering. This provides protection and a personalized visual appearance.

[0019] The central space of the intermediate tray of the device comprises an isothermal compartment representing an internal volume of 12 liters and allowing the stored drinks and food to be kept at the correct temperature. This results in a device allowing the initial temperature to be maintained for several hours.

[0020] The upper tray and the intermediate tray of the device have dedicated locations for the installation of a small, tilting parasol for each circular opening accommodating drinks, glasses, bottles or any other vertically oriented container. This provides protection from the sun for these elements to better preserve their freshness.

[0021] The device is composed of plastic materials, aluminum, stainless steel, fabrics and ropes. The plastic materials constituting the walls of the device can be dyed or flocked. This results in a personalized platform compatible with the natural marine environment.

[0022] The outer side wall of the device incorporates a 'wall-mounted' bottle opener near the upper tray. This prevents the bottles from being submerged when being opened. Brief description of the drawings

[0023] The invention will be better understood and other characteristics and advantages will appear more clearly on reading the description given below by way of purely illustrative and non-limiting examples, with reference to the appended drawings in which:

[0024] [Fig.l] represents the overall 3-dimensional view of the standard format of the device of the invention,

[0025] [Fig. 2] represents, in vertical section and in 3 dimensions, the view of the intermediate tray, without isothermal compartment, of the standard format of the device of the invention,

[0026] [Fig. 3] represents, in vertical section and in 3 dimensions, the view of the intermediate tray, with isothermal compartment, of the standard format of the device of the invention,

[0027] [Fig.4] represents the top view, in 2 dimensions, of the upper plate of the standard format of the device of the invention,

[0028] [Fig.5] represents the top view, in 2 dimensions, of the intermediate tray of the standard format of the device of the invention,

[0029] [Fig.6] represents the bottom view, in 2 dimensions, of the lower plate of the standard format of the device of the invention,

[0030] [Fig.7] represents the view, in 2 dimensions, of the fixing of the handle on the device of the invention: the diagram on the left represents the side view, the diagram on the right represents the top view,

[0031] [Fig.8] represents the view of the tarpaulin system for transporting and wintering the device of the invention, and its 3 stages of introduction into the tarpaulin,

[0032] [Fig.9] represents the view of the water impregnation system for the stability of the device of the invention.

[0033] With reference to these drawings, the device according to the invention (1), presented in [Fig.l] and in [Fig.4], is made of resistant and stainless materials. The sides of the rectangular parallelepiped structuring the device of the invention are made of plastic. The upper side plate is perforated with different diameters (2) to allow use adapted to different container sizes. The opening of the upper central plate (3) rests on 2 hinges (16) and 1 central attachment system (5) on the side opposite the hinges. This central opening plate simply rests on the cover of the isothermal compartment (14) without the need for other support systems. The opening of the upper side plate (4), for its part, also rests on 2 hinges (17), but this time with 2 attachment systems (5), each located at the end of the 2 sides adjacent to the one bearing the hinges.This side opening tray rests on the side walls of the device of the invention. One of these side walls has an integrated bottle opener (6).

[0034] The device of the invention integrates in its intermediate level, as shown in figures 2, a surface allowing glasses, bottles and vertical containers to be placed there through the circular openings of different sizes (2) located on the upper plate. This diversity of diameter allows adaptation as closely as possible to the diameter of the containers themselves. These openings are located at a depth of 8.5 cm from the upper shelf (3 and 4). The combination of these two properties, suitable diameters and opening depth, greatly reduces the risk of tipping and ensures a good level of ability to pick up the containers once placed in these openings.

[0035] This intermediate level also constitutes a non-isothermal reserve and storage space (12) accessible by the upper lateral opening system. This reserve represents a significant dedicated volume of approximately 25% of the total volume of the device of the invention, 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 as the invention is used.

[0036] This intermediate lateral space (12) surrounds the tank of the isothermal compartment (15) as shown in [Fig.3], which constitutes an isothermal storage space accessible by the upper central opening system, then removing the polystyrene cover of the isothermal compartment (14). This isothermal reserve represents a significant dedicated volume of approximately 12 liters, representing approximately 25% of the total volume of the device of the invention, 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 several hours by relying in particular on 2 blocks of gel ice with the internal dimensions of the compartment, and acting as floor and ceiling for the food within this compartment. The intermediate space allows several containers of the type '70cl wine bottles' to be stored there for example.An ice cube tray can also be stored there so that the ice cubes remain solid for at least 4 hours.

[0037] The device of the invention also integrates a flotation system presented in [Fig.2] and 3, based on the presence of a volume of 5 dm3 of rot-proof polyethylene foam (11), with a density of 22kg / m3, placed all around the isothermal compartment at the level of the lower floor.

[0038] The stability of the device of the invention is increased by means of a system of openings 3 millimeters wide by 6 centimeters high (27) at each of the 4 angles formed by the side walls of the device, just above the corner protection corners (8) as shown in [Fig.9]. These 4 openings of approximately 1.5 cm2 each allow the lower stage of the device of the invention to soak up enough water to both not compromise flotation, and to ensure stability by absorbing external water movements and eddies such as than water waves, waves or swells, and thus avoid any volatility of the device of the invention.

[0039] The device of the invention also has circular openings (9) on its upper side plate (4) and the intermediate side space (12), as shown in [Fig.l] and 4, dedicated to the installation of parasols (10) for each of the openings suitable for drinks. Each of these parasols has a diameter of approximately 24 cm when unfolded, a height of approximately 18 cm above the end of the tube, and is tiltable up to 80 degrees relative to the vertical to better adapt its positioning, and thus reduce the impact of thermal heat coming directly from the Sun. Its installation, as shown in [Fig.5], vertically crosses the intermediate stage (12) to reach the lower plate without crossing it. This insertion depth makes it possible to block the base tubes of the parasols in a vertical position, and thus reduces their volatility in the event of turbulence or strong winds.

[0040] As shown in [Fig.7], the device of the invention is made easily portable thanks to its handle (7) fixed to the center of the side wall of the device (21) adjoining the isothermal compartment (13), and this through 2 screws (22) of 30 mm, passing through the wall of the isothermal compartment (23) and fixed using washers and nuts (25) on a single through plate (24) connecting the 2 screws. This reinforced fixing method, fixed directly to the isothermal compartment which can represent the majority of the weight of the device of the invention, allows it to be carried as high as possible during land transport, and thus facilitates it by reducing the rocking movements of the device.

[0041] As shown in [Fig.8], the device of the invention can be protected by a covering tarpaulin (26) during its transport or storage. This tarpaulin is composed of a protective plasticized fabric, customizable in color and flocking, in the shape of the device of the invention and of a slightly larger size to allow it to be inserted. It also has a central opening on one of the sides to allow the handle of the device of the invention to come out, and a complete opening with an envelope system with 3 male 'velcro' type fasteners which close on the 3 female 'velcro' fasteners located on the opposite side. This gives a non-hermetic closure. This tarpaulin system is used by sliding it vertically onto the device of the invention, with the handle pointing towards the sky.It is then attached by lifting the device of the invention by the handle, and closing the envelope from below to rest on the 3 'velcro' type fixing systems.

[0042] The device of the invention also includes an anchoring system by relying, as shown in [Fig.6], on a hooking system (18) fixed to the outside and to the center of the lower plate. This hook allows the attachment of a boat rope (20) of approximately 5 mm in diameter and of a length varying from 1.2 m to 2.2 m depending on the adjustment via a sliding knot system, and this depending on the depth of use. A bag of ballast (19), made of thick fabric and measuring 42 cm x 45 cm, is attached to the other end of this rope. This bag is then to be opened, manually filled with natural elements present locally to ensure a ballast of at least 1 kg, then closed using a 'velcro' type system. This ballast allows it to be immobilized at the bottom of the water, and the device of the invention to be kept stationary over a diameter of approximately 80 cm.

[0043] List of reference signs: 1: Device of the invention 2: Circular opening of various sizes for container 3: Upper central plateau 4: Upper side shelf 5: Top shelf attachment 6: Bottle opener 7: Handle 8: Corner protection corner 9: Circular opening for parasol 10: Tilting parasol 11: Flotation foam 12: Intermediate lateral space 13: Insulated compartment 14: Cover of the insulated compartment 15: Isothermal compartment tank 16: Hinges for opening the upper central space 17: Upper side space opening hinges 18: Marine rope attachment system 19: Fabric ballast bag 20: Marine rope 21: PVC wall of the device of the invention 22: Screws 23: Wall of the insulated compartment 24: Through plate 25: Washer and nut for screws 26: Protective tarpaulin 27: Stabilizing opening system

Claims

Claims

1. Device (1) intended for sharing a moment of conviviality between individuals semi-immersed in artificial or natural water, around drinks or food, characterized in that it is floating by its structure and the construction materials used (11), stationary by its anchoring system (18, 19, 20), stable by its internal water impregnation and circulation system (27), portable by its carrying handle (7) and its protective cover (26), and that it incorporates an isothermal compartment (13) for maintaining the temperature of drinks, ice cubes and stored food, as well as a storage space (12) allowing on the one hand to store therein any dry food or element useful for the use of the device of the invention, and on the other hand to place the vertical containers therein through suitable locations (2) to reduce the risks of overflow.

2. Device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the lower plate of the device comprises a flotation system based on polyethylene foam (11).

3. Device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the lower plate of the device comprises a central attachment system (18) to which is fixed, by a marine rope (20), a ballast bag made of thick fabric and with a 'velcro' type closure (19), which is to be filled with sand, pebbles or other material from the seabed at the desired location for holding the device.

4. Device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the lower plate of the device comprises an internal water impregnation and circulation system through an opening (27) 3 millimeters wide by 6 centimeters high at each of the 4 angles formed by the side walls of the device, just above the corner protection corners (8).

5. Device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the device has the shape of a rectangular parallelepiped which incorporates a handle (7) on one of its sides.

6. Device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the central space of the intermediate tray of the device comprises an isothermal compartment (13) representing an interior volume of 12 liters and allowing the stored drinks and food to be kept at the temperature.

7. Device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the upper plate (4) and the intermediate plate (12) of the device comprise dedicated locations (9) for the placement of a small, tilting parasol (10) for each circular opening (2) accommodating drinks, glasses, bottles or any other container with a vertical orientation.

8. Device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the walls (21) of the device are made of plastic materials, and said materials are dyed or flocked.

9. Device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the outer side wall of the device incorporates a 'wall' type bottle opener (6) near the upper plate (4).

10. Assembly consisting of a device according to claim 1 and a tarpaulin, characterized in that the tarpaulin can be personalized in color or by flocking (26), said tarpaulin being intended to envelop the device in a non-hermetic manner for its transport or wintering.

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