Inflatable Recreational Device

Abstract

An inflatable recreational device includes a first member and a plurality of second members, wherein the first member be a cylinder with an inner side and an outer side, and wherein the second members may be attached to the outer side thereof. The second members may form closed air chambers. A user may place him or herself within the first member for protection during use of the device. In another embodiment, a plurality of second members may form a cavity, without needing a first member, to protect the user.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application claims priority under 35 USC §119 on the Patent Cooperation Treaty application PCT/CN2009/000640, filed on Jun. 9, 2009, which claims priority off of Patent Application No. 200820139540 of the State Intellectual Property Office of the Peoples Republic of China, filed on Oct. 24, 2008, the disclosures of which are incorporated by reference.

FIELD

The present disclosure relates to an inflatable recreational device, and more particularly, an inflatable recreational device that a user may use as a bumper or cushion when participating in games or sports that involve collisions or impacts.

BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE

There are many inflatable recreational designs on the market today. For such existing inflatable designs, one can either play on it (in the case of large inflatable bouncing houses and slides), or one can play with it (in the case of smaller size inflatable such as inflatable beach balls, etc., for example.)

There are also many interactive inflatable games that players may use to play against each other, such as inflatable joust games or bouncing on inflatable structures. Safety is a primary concern for these kinds of games, as these products do not provide much in the way of personal protection. Further, these designs and games are limited in the number of players that may use them at any one time depending on the size of the inflatable structure, for example. These games and structures do not provide any measure of protection to players, and players may suffer injury when they collide with one another or if they fall off the structure onto a hard surface. Due to the risk of injury, inflatable structures may included padded boundaries (i.e., walls) as a protective measure, however these walls limit the size of the play area and the number of players at any one time, and do not provide a readily portable safety device.

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

Accordingly, in light of the disadvantages in the prior art, what is needed is an inflatable recreational device that overcomes all of these disadvantages, and is lightweight, easy to use, and low in cost to manufacture, and provides protection to players or users of the device.

In an embodiment, the present disclosure provides an inflatable recreational device, which players can use in a one-on-one format, or in a larger group of players. The disclosure also provides full protection for each player and may be played at almost any open space without any setup of immobile structures, The disclosure provides a readily portable device that can be easily transported to a number of different locations.

In an embodiment, the inflatable recreational device comprises a first member and a plurality of second members. The first member has a cylindrical configuration, with an inner side and an outer side. The second members attach to the outer side of the first member.

In another embodiment, an inflatable recreational device comprises a first member and a plurality of second members, each of the second members comprising a first side, a second side, a third side, and a fourth side. These sides of the second member form a closed chamber that contains air. The second members may attach to one another, by way of having a side of one second member attach to a side of another second member, and these joined second members may also each be attached to the first member of the inflatable recreational device.

In another embodiment, the second member of the inflatable recreational device has a fourth side section. In this embodiment, the fourth side section joins with the first, second and third side sections of the side unit to cause the second member to comprise a closed air chamber.

It will be apparent that a plurality of side units may be joined together, and that a plurality of joined side units may comprise a plurality of closed air chambers.

In an embodiment, the device further comprises a cover on an end of first member.

In an embodiment, the second member comprises a plurality of side sections, each second member having a first, second, and third side section, the second side section of one second member capable of connecting to the third side section of an adjoining second member.

In an embodiment, the first, second, third and fourth side sections of a side unit, comprise a closed air chamber. It will be apparent that a closed air chamber is independent, and each side unit may form its own closed air chamber.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an illustrative view of an inflatable recreational device, in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 1a is a view of a first member of an inflatable recreational device, in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 1b is a sectional view of a second member of an inflatable recreational device, in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 2 is an illustrative view of an inflatable recreational device, in accordance with another exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 3 is an illustrative view of an inflatable recreational device, in accordance with another exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 4a is an illustrative view of an inflatable recreational device, in accordance with another exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 4b is an illustrative view of an inflatable recreational device, in accordance with another exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DISCLOSURE

Referring to FIG. 1, in an exemplary embodiment, an inflatable recreational device comprises a first member 11 and a plurality of second members 12. The first member 1 has a cylindrical shape and may be formed from flexible material such as PVC. FIG. 1a shows an exemplary configuration of the first member 11. Referring to again to FIG. 1a, the first member further comprises an inner side 111 and outer side 112. The inner side 111 is where a player or user may position him or herself when utilizing the device. The outer side 112 is where a second member 12 may attach.

The outer side 112 may connect to a plurality of second members 12. Each second member 12 may be made from flexible material such as PVC. FIG. 1 depicts the shape of second member as a “slice” for easy representation, however the second member 12 may be of various shapes. FIG. 1 shows an exemplary configuration of the second members 12. FIG. 1b illustrates a single second member 12. The second member 12 comprises a first side section 121, which may connect and attach to the outer side 12 of the first member 11. The second member 12 also may have a second side section 122, a third side section 123 and fourth side section 124. The first side section 121, second side section 122, third side section 123 and fourth side section 124 of the second member 12 forms a closed air chamber. The air chamber can be filled up with air through a valve 5 (shown in FIG. 1).

Referring to the FIG. 1b, a second side section 122 of a second member 12 may attach to a third side section 123 of an adjoining second member 12. With all second members 12 attached to the first member, 11, the fourth side section 124 of the second members 12 will face outwardly away from the inner side 111 of the first member 11.

Per the disclosure, the second member 12 may have a shape other than “slice” shape illustrated at FIG. 1. Another example of the configuration of the second member 12 is shown as a string of spheres in FIG. 2. In this figure, the second members 12 attach to the outer side 112 of the first member 11.

FIG. 3 shows another alternative embodiment of an inflatable recreational device. In this embodiment, a plurality of second members 12 connect with one other through the attachment of a second side section 122 of one second member 12 to a third side section 123 of an adjoining second member, and the plurality of second members 12 being so connected form a circular or cylindrical configuration. Each second member 12 forms an air chamber. In this embodiment, the second members 12 are not connected to a first member 11, and a first member 11 is not otherwise contemplated. (In this embodiment, the second members are referred to and claimed as “multi-sided members.”) The second (i.e., multi-sided) members being so connected form a cavity 21 in which a user may insert him or herself. A valve 5 may be provided for filling the air chamber of a second member 12.

FIG. 4a shows another exemplary embodiment of an inflatable recreational device. In this embodiment, the second member 42 comprises a spherical or ellipsoid shape with a cavity 41 in an interior thereof, in which user may situate him or herself.

FIG. 4b shows another exemplary embodiment of an inflatable recreational device. In this embodiment, a plurality of second member 42 comprise rings, spheres or ellipsoid shapes, with a cavity 41 therein in which a user may situate him or herself.

In use, the inflatable recreational device disclosed herein allows a user to stay within a first member 11 or central opening or cavity formed by the second members 12 and bump into other player. On the inner side 111 of the first member 11, handles 22 are attached so that player can hold the device while in the first member 11 or central opening. On the inner side 111 of the first member 11, a harness 21 (shown in what figures) may be provided so that player attach the device to his or her shoulder, and otherwise avoid having to use his or her hands to hold the device. At an end of the first member 11, an inflatable cover may be attached. The inflatable cover will further protect the player or user.

For protection purposes, the inflatable recreational device disclosed herein offers a benefit from the plurality of second members that form separate closed air chambers, in that even if one air chamber breaks or leaks during use, the remaining air chambers still will provide protection for a player.

The inflatable recreational device shown herein is preferably made from flexible material such as PVC. The second member 12 has valves where the air can be directed to fill the air chamber.

The preferred embodiments of the disclosure described here are exemplary and numerous modifications, variations and rearrangements can be readily envisioned to achieve an equivalent result, all of which are intended to be embraced within the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

1. An inflatable recreational device, the device comprising a first member and a plurality of second members, the first member further comprising an inner side and an outer side, and wherein said second members are attached to said outer side of said first member.

2. The recreational device of claim 1, wherein each second member comprises a first side section, a second side section and a third side section, wherein said first side section attaches to the outer side surface of the first member.

3. The recreational device of claim 2, wherein the second side section of one second member connects with the third side section of the adjoining side portion of another second member.

4. The recreational device of claim 2, wherein the second member further comprises a the fourth side section, and wherein the first, second, third and fourth side sections connects to one another to form a closed air chamber;

5. The recreational device of claim 4, wherein a plurality of second members form a plurality of air chambers.

6. The recreational device of claim 1, wherein the first member further comprises an inflatable cover at an end thereof.

7. An inflatable recreational device, comprising a plurality of multi-sided members, each member having a first side section, a second side section and a third side section, wherein a second side section of one member connects to a third side section of an adjoining member.

8. The recreational device of claim 7, wherein the multi-sided member further comprises a fourth side section, and wherein the first side section, second side section, third side section, and fourth side section form a closed air chamber.

9. The recreational device of claim 8, further comprising a plurality of separate closed air chambers.