Swimming Pool Water Toy

Abstract

A toy for receiving and shooting a constant stream of water is comprised of a tubular connection port or mounting means, and a hollow foam tube. The hollow foam tube is connected to a return line of a swimming pool circulation system via the tubular connection port, wherein a first end of the connection port is sized to connect to the return line and a second end of the connection port is sized to connect to the proximal end of the hollow foam tube, and wherein water flows from the return line, through the connection port and the channel of the hollow foam tube, and then out of the distal end of the tube when connected, to provide a constant flow of water shooting out of the toy.

1 . A toy for shooting a constant stream of water, comprising:
 a) a tubular connection port for connecting to a return line of a swimming pool circulation system, the connection port including a first end and a second end, wherein the first end connects to the return line; and   b) a hollow foam tube comprising a channel extending between a proximal end and a distal end, wherein the proximal end connects to the second end of the tubular connection port, the hollow foam tube further comprising a soft material that has buoyancy sufficient to keep the toy afloat in water.   
     
     
         2 . The toy of  claim 1 , wherein the soft material of the hollow foam tube is closed-cell polymer foam. 
     
     
         3 . The toy of  claim 1 , wherein the length of the second end of the connection port is much shorter than the length of the hollow foam tube, such that it proceeds only partially into the channel of the hollow foam tube when connected thereto. 
     
     
         4 . The toy of  claim 3 , wherein the length of the second end of the connection port is between about 1 inch to about 6 inches. 
     
     
         5 . The toy of  claim 1 , wherein the channel of the hollow foam tube includes a reinforcement lining for providing strength to the inner walls of the tube. 
     
     
         6 . The toy of  claim 1 , wherein the length of the second end the connection port is only slightly less than the length of the hollow foam tube, such that the second end of the connection port extends substantially all the way through the channel of the hollow foam tube to the distal end of the tube. 
     
     
         7 . The toy of  claim 1 , wherein the hollow foam tube measures between about 18 inches to about 60 inches in length, between about 1.0 inch to about 4.0 inches in outer diameter, and between about 0.25 inches to about 1.0 inches in inner diameter. 
     
     
         8 . A toy for shooting a constant stream of water, comprising a hollow foam tube including a channel extending between a proximal end and a distal end, the hollow foam tube connected to a return line of a swimming pool circulation system via a tubular mounting means, wherein a first end of the mounting means is sized to connect to the return line and a second end of the mounting means is sized to connect to the proximal end of the hollow foam tube, and wherein water flows from the return line, through the mounting means and the hollow foam tube, and then out of the distal end of the tube when connected, to provide a constant flow of water shooting out of the toy. 
     
     
         9 . The toy of  claim 8 , wherein the hollow foam tube comprises a soft material that has buoyancy sufficient to keep the toy afloat in water. 
     
     
         10 . The toy of  claim 9 , wherein the soft material of the hollow foam tube is closed-cell polymer foam. 
     
     
         11 . The toy of  claim 8 , wherein the length of the second end of the tubular mounting means is much shorter than the length of the hollow foam tube, such that it proceeds only partially into the channel of the hollow foam tube when connected thereto. 
     
     
         12 . The toy of  claim 11 , wherein the length of the second end of the tubular mounting means is between about 1 inch to about 6 inches. 
     
     
         13 . The toy of  claim 11 , wherein the channel of the hollow foam tube includes a reinforcement lining for providing strength to the inner walls of the tube. 
     
     
         14 . The toy of  claim 8 , wherein the tubular mounting means has a length that is only slightly less than the length of the hollow foam tube, such that the second end of the tubular mounting means extends substantially all the way through the channel of the hollow foam tube to the distal end of the tube. 
     
     
         15 . The toy of  claim 8 , wherein the hollow foam tube measures between about 18 inches to about 60 inches in length, between about 1.0 inch to about 4.0 inches in outer diameter, and between about 0.25 inches to about 1.0 inches in inner diameter. 
     
     
         16 . A kit for assembling a toy for shooting a constant stream of water, comprising:
 a) a plurality of hollow foam tubes, each hollow foam tube including a channel extending between a proximal end and a distal end, wherein each hollow foam tube is made of a soft material that has a buoyancy sufficient to keep the toy afloat in water; and   b) a plurality of tubular connection ports for connecting to a return line of a swimming pool circulation system, each connection port including a first end for connecting to the return line, and a second end for connecting to the proximal end of one of the plurality of hollow foam tubes.   
     
     
         17 . The toy of  claim 16 , wherein the length of the second end of at least one of the plurality of connection ports is much shorter than the length of at least one of the hollow foam tubes, such that it proceeds only partially into the channel of the hollow foam tube when connected thereto. 
     
     
         18 . The toy of  claim 17 , wherein the length of the second end of the connection port is between about 1 inch to about 6 inches. 
     
     
         19 . The toy of  claim 17 , wherein the channel of at least one of the plurality of hollow foam tubes includes a reinforcement lining for providing strength to the inner walls of the tube. 
     
     
         20 . The toy of  claim 16 , wherein at least one of the plurality of connection ports has a length that is only slightly less than the length of at least one of the hollow tubes, such that the second end of the connection port extends substantially all the way through the channel of the hollow foam tube to the distal end of the tube.