Ballast for an inflatable water slide

Abstract

The present invention comprises an inflatable water slide for use with a swimming pool. In one embodiment, the inflatable water slide comprises an inflatable main body having a slide portion and a ballast extending downward from the inflatable body at or near the lower front end portion of the slide portion. In use, the main body of the inflatable water slide is placed adjacent to the swimming pool with the lower front end portion of the slide portion at the edge of the pool so that the ballast hangs over and abuts the edge of the swimming pool. The ballast thereby serves to minimize and resist movement of the inflatable body during use.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Inflatable water slides have been used for many years to allow a person to slide into a pool of water, such as a swimming pool. However, conventional inflatable water slides often tend to move during use, perhaps due to a gust of wind or a push by a person. As a result, the inflatable water slide may not always be safely positioned relative to the edge of the swimming pool. Some inflatable water slides include one or more external compartments filled with water and located at the rearward end of the inflatable water slide. However, such an arrangement may not adequately and completely prevent undesirable movement of the slide.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

One object of the present invention is to provide an inflatable water slide for use with a swimming pool wherein the slide will not readily move or be moved when in use.

The present invention comprises an inflatable water slide for use with a swimming pool. In one embodiment, the inflatable water slide comprises an inflatable main body having a slide portion and a ballast extending downward from the inflatable body at or near the lower front end portion of the slide portion. In use, the main body of the inflatable water slide is placed adjacent to the swimming pool with the lower front end portion of the slide portion at the edge of the pool so that the ballast hangs over and abuts the edge of the swimming pool. The ballast thereby serves to minimize and resist movement of the inflatable body during use.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

The following description of the invention will make reference to the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a top perspective view of an inflatable water slide in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a side view of the inflatable water slide shown in place at the edge of a swimming pool;

FIG. 3 is a side perspective view of the inflatable water slide;

FIG. 4 is a bottom perspective view of the inflatable water slide; and

FIG. 5 is a cross sectional view of the ballast.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the present invention is an inflatable water slide 10 for use adjacent a swimming pool 12. The swimming pool 12 generally comprises a substantially horizontal deck surface 14 having an edge portion 16 and a body of water 18. In one embodiment, the water slide 10 comprises an inflatable main body 20 having a bottom surface 22 and a downwardly extending slide portion 24 with a front end portion 26. The water slide 10 further comprises a ballast 28 extending downward from bottom surface 22 at a position substantially adjacent the front end portion 26. In operation, the water slide 10 is positioned such that the ballast 28 abuts the edge portion 16 of the pool 12, with the ballast 28 hanging over the edge portion 16 of the pool 12 just below the level of the deck surface 14. In swimming pools that include a substantially horizontal gutter around the edge of the pool just below the level of the pool deck, the ballast 28 may rest on the gutter. In any case, the ballast 28 serves to minimize and resist movement of the main body 20 along the deck surface 14 during use of the slide 10. The inflatable main body 20 may be inflated by one or more valves (not shown) in a conventional fashion. Main body 20 may be made from a variety of strong and durable materials such as heavy gauge vinyl.

The inflatable water slide 10 may further comprise an inflatable extension 30 engaged with and extending outward from the front end portion 26 of the main body 20, and may rest or float on the surface of the water 18. The extension 30 may be inflated by a valve (not shown) in a conventional fashion. The inflatable extension 30 may be attached to the main body 20 by conventional means such as welding. The extension 30 may be made from a variety of materials such as vinyl.

Referring to FIGS. 3-5, the ballast 28 may comprise an enclosure 32 containing a weighted material 34 such as water, sand, or other suitable material. In the embodiment shown, the weighted material 34 may be removably from the enclosure 32. The enclosure 32 comprises an opening 36 (with a plug not shown) to allow the weighted material 34 to be added or removed from the enclosure 32 via opening 36. The ballast 28 may extend substantially from a first side portion 38 of the inflatable body 20 to a second side portion 40 of the inflatable main body 20 and is preferably substantially perpendicular relative to the sliding surface of the slide portion 24. As shown in FIG. 5, the enclosure 32 may comprise top and bottom wall portions 42 and 44, first and second side wall portions 46 and 48, and first and second end wall portions 50 and 52. The first side wall portion 46 is substantially parallel to the second sidewall portion 48. In use, the main body 20 is positioned with substantially the entire length of the sidewall portion 48 of the ballast 28 abutting the edge portion 16 of the swimming pool 12. Positioning the ballast 28 against the edge portion 16 minimizes the chances of movement or slippage of the inflatable main body 20 during use. The enclosure 32 of the ballast 28 may be fabricated in a conventional fashion and may be made from a variety of materials such as vinyl. The ballast 28 may be welded to the bottom surface 22 of the main body 20 in conventional fashion.

The water slide 10 may further comprise inflatable side rails 55 and 56 connected to the upper portion of the main body 20. The side rails 55 and 56 may be made from a variety of materials such as vinyl and attacked to the main body 20 by conventional means such as welding or sewing. The inflatable side rails 55 and 56 may be inflated by valves (not shown) in conventional fashion.

The water slide 10 may further comprise a plurality of spray nozzles 54 disposed upon one or both of the inflatable side rails 55 and 56 of the main body 20 in fluid communication with a connector 58 disposed on the inflatable side rail 56. The connector 58 is adapted to engage with a garden hose to provide a flow of water to the nozzles 54 and a spray of water onto the slide portion 24 of the inflatable main body 20. One or more flexible tubes (not shown) provide fluid communication between the connector 58 and the spray nozzles 54.

The water slide 10 may further comprise one or more handles 62 attached to the inflatable rails 55 and 56. The handles 62 may be made from a variety of materials such as plastic, and may be attached to the inflatable side rails 55 and 56 by conventional means such as welding.

The water slide 10 may further comprise one or more water chambers (not shown) within the main body 20 which may be filled with water via a plug valve 60 (FIG. 3) in a conventional fashion. The water chamber (not shown) serves to weigh down the water slide to minimize movement.

The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit and/or scope of the specification and appended claims.

Claims

1. A water slide for use with a swimming pool having an edge portion, comprising an inflatable body having a slide portion and a ballast extending downward from said inflatable body.

2. The water slide of claim 1 wherein said ballast is positioned and adapted to abut the edge portion of the swimming pool to minimize movement of said inflatable body during use.

3. The water slide of claim 1, wherein said ballast is disposed adjacent to the lower end of said slide portion of said inflatable body and overhangs and abuts the edge portion of the swimming pool.

4. The water slide of claim 3, where said ballast substantially extends from a first side portion of said inflatable body to a second side portion of said inflatable body.

5. The water slide of claim 4, wherein said ballast comprises an enclosure and a weighted material disposed in said enclosure.

6. The water slide of claim 5, wherein said weighted material is removably disposed within said enclosure.

7. The water slide of claim 6, wherein said enclosure comprises an opening to allow said weighted material to be added and removed from said enclosure.

8. The water slide of claim 7, wherein said opening is disposed in an end wall of said enclosure.

9. The water slide of claim 8, wherein said weighted material is water.

10. A water slide for use with a swimming pool having an edge portion, comprising an inflatable body having a bottom surface, and a ballast member extending downward below said inflatable body; said ballast member comprising a chamber that may be filled with weighted material.

11. The water slide of claim 10, in which the ballast member is adapted to abut the edge portion of the swimming pool to minimize movement of said inflatable body during use.

12. The water slide of claim 11, in which the ballast member comprises a valve that permits the member to be filled and emptied as desired.