Foldable floating mattress

Abstract

A floating mattress includes a first section coupled to a second section by a joint which provides for the first section to rotate relative to the second section. At least one the first section and the second section is filled with a buoyant material. A sidewall of at least one the first section and the second section is permeable to water.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A floating mattress comprising:
 a plurality of sections having upper surfaces, lower surfaces, and side surfaces defining a compartment within at least one of the plurality of sections configured to retain a buoyant material therein;   a mesh section defined in a side surface of at least one of the plurality of sections and configured to provide for the passage of water into and out of the compartment of the at least one of the plurality of sections; and   a joint between a pair of adjacent sections of the plurality of sections configured to provide for the adjacent sections to rotate relative to one another about an axis defined by a widthwise extent of the joint,   the floating mattress configured to buoyantly support a human user in a body of water with at least a portion of the human user supported above a surface of the body of water.   
     
     
         2 . The floating mattress of  claim 1 , wherein the upper surfaces and lower surfaces of the plurality of sections are impermeable to the passage of water. 
     
     
         3 . The floating mattress of  claim 2 , wherein the mesh section extends substantially along an entire length of the side surface of at least one of the plurality of sections. 
     
     
         4 . The floating mattress of  claim 2 , wherein the joint is configured to provide for a first of the plurality of sections to rotate relative to a second of the plurality of sections into a position in which the upper surface of the first of the plurality of sections contacts the upper surface of the second of the plurality of sections. 
     
     
         5 . The floating mattress of  claim 4 , comprising:
 a center section;   a first end section coupled by a first joint to a first side of the center section; and   a second end section coupled by a second joint to a second side of the center section opposite from the first side,   the first joint configured to provide for the first end section to rotate relative to the center section into a position in which the upper surface of the first end section contacts the upper surface of center section,   the second joint configured to provide for the second end section to rotate relative to the center section into a position in which the upper surface of the second end section contacts the upper surface of center section.   
     
     
         6 . The floating mattress of  claim 5 , further comprising a handle coupled to the first end section. 
     
     
         7 . The floating mattress of  claim 6 , wherein the handle includes:
 a handle band;   a panel secured to the handle band; and   releasable fasteners included in the panel and configured to releaseably secure a first portion of the panel to a second portion of the panel.   
     
     
         8 . The floating mattress of  claim 7 , further comprising a strap secured between the center section and the second end section. 
     
     
         9 . The floating mattress of  claim 8 , wherein the panel is configured to engage the strap and retain the floating mattress in a folded configuration in which the second end section is disposed between the first end section and the center section. 
     
     
         10 . The floating mattress of  claim 1 , wherein the compartment is at least partially filled with the buoyant material. 
     
     
         11 . A floating mattress comprising:
 a plurality of sections having water impermeable upper surfaces, water impermeable lower surfaces, and water permeable side surfaces defining a compartment within each of the plurality of sections configured to retain a buoyant material therein; and   a joint between a pair of adjacent sections of the plurality of sections configured to provide for the adjacent sections to rotate relative to one another about an axis defined by a widthwise extent of the joint,   the floating mattress configured to buoyantly support a human user in a body of water with at least a portion of the human user supported above a surface of the body of water.   
     
     
         12 . The floating mattress of  claim 11 , further comprising a mesh section defined in a side surface of at least one of the plurality of sections and configured to provide for the passage of water into and out of the compartment of the at least one of the plurality of sections. 
     
     
         13 . The floating mattress of  claim 11 , wherein at least a portion of the lower surfaces is formed of a different material than the upper surfaces. 
     
     
         14 . The floating mattress of  claim 13 , wherein the material of the portion of the lower surfaces is stronger and more resistant to mechanical damage than a material of the upper surfaces. 
     
     
         15 . The floating mattress of  claim 11 , wherein each of the plurality of sections has a different length. 
     
     
         16 . The floating mattress of  claim 11 , comprising:
 a center section;   a first end section coupled by a first joint to a first side of the center section; and   a second end section coupled by a second joint to a second side of the center section opposite from the first side,   the first joint configured to provide for the first end section to rotate relative to the center section into a position in which the upper surface of the first end section contacts the upper surface of center section,   the second joint configured to provide for the second end section to rotate relative to the center section into a position in which the upper surface of the second end section contacts the upper surface of center section.   
     
     
         17 . The floating mattress of  claim 16 , further comprising a handle coupled to the first end section. 
     
     
         18 . The floating mattress of  claim 17 , wherein the handle includes:
 a handle band;   a panel secured to the handle band; and   releasable fasteners included in the panel and configured to releaseably secure a first portion of the panel to a second portion of the panel.   
     
     
         19 . The floating mattress of  claim 18 , further comprising a strap secured between the center section and the second end section. 
     
     
         20 . The floating mattress of  claim 19 , wherein the panel is configured to engage the strap and retain the floating mattress in a folded configuration in which the second end section is disposed between the first end section and the center section.