CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
This application claims priority from Chinese Application CN202122260908.4 filed Sep. 17, 2021 in China, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
BACKGROUND
1. Field
Apparatuses and methods consistent with example embodiments relate to an inflatable stand-up paddle board.
2. Description of the Related Art
A stand-up paddle board (SUP board) is a sports apparatus that is becoming increasingly popular. A user stands on a stand-up paddle board and can generally move forwards by paddling with a single paddle. A stand-up paddle board can also be used for surfing. To facilitate storage, a stand-up paddle board may also be inflatable. Generally, a user connects an external air pump to an inflatable stand-up paddle board to inflate the board; and after air inflation is finished, the user separates and removes the external air pump from the inflatable stand-up paddle board, and is then able to use the inflated stand-up paddle board.
SUMMARY
Example embodiments may address at least the above problems and/or disadvantages and other disadvantages not described above. Also, example embodiments are not required to overcome the disadvantages described above, and may not overcome any of the problems described above.
According to an aspect of an example embodiment, an inflatable board comprises: a body comprising: a plurality of outer sheets, and an inner sheet having an upper periphery connected to one of the plurality of outer sheets and a lower periphery connected to another of the plurality of outer sheets, such that the plurality of outer sheets and the inner sheet define an inflatable chamber therein, and the inner sheet defines an installation space separated from the inflatable chamber by the inner sheet; and an air pump disposed in the installation space, the air pump comprising: a casing, and an air pump assembly disposed in the casing, the air pump assembly comprising: an air inlet in communication with an outside of the air pump assembly; and an air outlet in communication with the inflatable chamber via a first vent hole in the inner sheet.
The air pump assembly may further comprise: a switching device configured to switch between a first state, in which air is driven into the inflatable chamber, and a second state in which air is driven out of the inflatable chamber.
The stand-up paddle board body may further comprise a second vent hole in the inner sheet; and the air pump assembly may further comprise a suction port in communication with the inflatable chamber via the second vent hole.
The casing may comprise a box and a top cover detachably sealed to the box.
The casing may further comprise a bottom cover detachably connected to the box.
The air pump may further comprise a battery assembly disposed in the casing, wherein the battery assembly is electrically connected to the air pump assembly.
The battery assembly may comprise a rechargeable battery and a recharging port configured to enable recharging of the battery.
The battery assembly may be detachably connected to the air pump.
According to an aspect of an example embodiment, an inflatable board comprises: a body comprising: a plurality of outer sheets, an inner sheet having an upper periphery connected to one of the plurality of outer sheets and a lower periphery connected to another of the plurality of outer sheets, such that the outer sheets and the inner sheet define an inflatable chamber therein, and the inner sheet defines an installation space separated from the inflatable chamber by the inner sheet, and an air valve disposed in a vent hole in one of the top sheet, the bottom sheet, and the outer sheet; an air pump disposed in the installation space, the air pump comprising: a casing, and an air pump assembly disposed in the casing, the air pump assembly comprising: an air inlet in communication with an outside of the air pump assembly, and an air outlet; and a connecting pipe comprising a first end comprising an air valve, and a second end connected to the air outlet.
The connecting pipe may be moveable between: a first performable state in which the first end of the connecting pipe is connected to the vent hole through the air valve, and the second end of the connecting pipe is connected to the air outlet; and a second performable state in which the connecting pipe is stored in the casing.
According to an aspect of an example embodiment, an inflatable board comprises: a body defining an inflatable chamber therein; a sheet defining an installation space and partitioning the installation space from the inflatable chamber; an air pump assembly disposed in the installation space, the air pump assembly comprising an air pump, an air inlet in communication with an exterior of the inflatable chamber, and an air outlet in communication with the inflatable chamber via a vent hole in the sheet.
The inflatable board may further comprise a cover configured to provide a watertight seal between the installation space and an exterior of the inflatable board.
The air pump assembly may further comprise a battery electrically connected to the air pump.
The battery may be rechargeable and the air pump assembly may further comprise a recharging port configured to enable recharging of the battery.
The air pump assembly may further comprise a power indicator light.
The air pump assembly may further comprise a switch moveable between a first position in which the air pump is configured to drive air into the inflatable chamber and a second portion in which the air pump is configured to draw air out of the inflatable chamber.
The inflatable board may further comprise a connecting pipe configured to connect to the air inlet and sized to fit within the installation space.
The inflatable board may further comprise a top cover and a bottom cover each configured to provide a watertight seal between the installation space and an exterior of the inflatable board.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The above and/or other aspects will become apparent and more readily appreciated from the following description of example embodiments, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:
FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of an inflatable stand-up paddle board according to a first example embodiment;
FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the inflatable stand-up paddle board of FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a further exploded view of the inflatable stand-up paddle board of FIG. 2;
FIG. 4 is a sectional view of the inflatable stand-up paddle board of FIG. 1 in an inflated state;
FIG. 5 is an exploded view of an inflatable stand-up paddle board according to a second example embodiment;
FIG. 6 is a further exploded view of the inflatable stand-up paddle board of FIG. 5;
FIG. 7A is a sectional view of the inflatable stand-up paddle board of FIG. 5 in an inflated state;
FIG. 7B is a sectional view of the inflatable stand-up paddle board of FIG. 5 in a deflated state;
FIG. 8 is an exploded view of an inflatable stand-up paddle board according to a third example embodiment;
FIG. 9 is a further exploded view of the inflatable stand-up paddle board of FIG. 8;
FIG. 10A is a sectional view of the inflatable stand-up paddle board of FIG. 8 in an inflated state;
FIG. 10B is a sectional view of the inflatable stand-up paddle board of FIG. 8 in a deflated state;
FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram of an inflatable stand-up paddle board according to a fourth example embodiment;
FIG. 12 is an exploded view of the inflatable stand-up paddle board of FIG. 11;
FIG. 13 is a further exploded view of the inflatable stand-up paddle board of FIG. 12; and
FIG. 14 is a sectional view of the inflatable stand-up paddle board of FIG. 11 in an inflated state.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
Reference will now be made in detail to example embodiments which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals refer to like elements throughout. In this regard, the example embodiments may have different forms and may not be construed as being limited to the descriptions set forth herein.
It will be understood that the terms “include,” “including”, “comprise, and/or “comprising,” when used in this specification, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof.
It will be further understood that, although the terms “first,” “second,” “third,” etc., may be used herein to describe various elements, components, regions, layers and/or sections, these elements, components, regions, layers and/or sections may not be limited by these terms. These terms are only used to distinguish one element, component, region, layer or section from another element, component, region, layer or section.
As used herein, the term “and/or” includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items. Expressions such as “at least one of,” when preceding a list of elements, modify the entire list of elements and do not modify the individual elements of the list.
Various terms are used to refer to particular system components. Different companies may refer to a component by different names—this document does not intend to distinguish between components that differ in name but not function.
Matters of these example embodiments that are obvious to those of ordinary skill in the technical field to which these example embodiments pertain may not be described here in detail.
As used herein, unless otherwise specified, the orientation or positional relationship indicated by the terms “front,” “rear,” “up,” “down,” “left,” “right,” and similar terms is based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings, which is only for ease of description and simplification of the description, but is not limiting of the example embodiments.
FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of an inflatable stand-up paddle board according to a first example embodiment. FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the inflatable stand-up paddle board of FIG. 1. FIG. 3 is a further exploded view of the inflatable stand-up paddle board of FIG. 2. FIG. 4 is a sectional view of the inflatable stand-up paddle board of FIG. 1 in an inflated state. Referring to FIG. 1 to FIG. 4, an inflatable stand-up paddle board 100a includes a stand-up paddle board body 200a and an air pump 300a. The stand-up paddle board body 200a includes a top sheet 202a, a bottom sheet (not shown), an outer sheet 206a, and an inner sheet 208a. The outer sheet 206a is connected to an outer edge of the top sheet 202a and to an outer edge of the bottom sheet; and the inner sheet 208a is connected to an inner edge of the top sheet 202a and to an inner edge of the bottom sheet. The top sheet 202a, the bottom sheet, the outer sheet 206a, and the inner sheet 208a, together, define an inflatable chamber therein. The inner sheet 208a divides the entire stand-up paddle board into two parts: one part being the inflatable chamber and a second part being an installation space. The installation space is substantially located between the top sheet 202a and the bottom sheet. The installation space is enclosed by the inner sheet 208a, and is spaced apart from the inflatable chamber by the inner sheet 208a. In the example embodiment shown in the figures, the inner sheet is enclosed to form the installation space and bulges toward the center of the installation space such that the inner sheet 208a may closely fit the shape of a casing of the air pump 300a, making installation of the air pump 300a reliable and able to provide airtightness.
It should be understood that the installation space may have any of various different shapes according to different example embodiments. For example, in one or more example embodiments, the installation space may be substantially shaped as a square hole, that is, the installation space may be substantially shaped as a cuboid intersecting the stand-up paddle board body 200a.
As shown in FIG. 3, the air pump 300a includes an air pump assembly 302a and a casing. The casing includes a top cover 316a and a box 314a for accommodating the air pump assembly 302a therewithin. Further, the air pump 300a includes a battery assembly 322a disposed in the casing. The box 314a includes a hollow-cylindrical box body and a flange that extends outwards along a radial direction of an upper end of the box body. Of course, the hollow-cylinder shape of the box body is merely an example and the box body may have any of various other shapes in conjunction with any of the example embodiments described herein. When the air pump 300a is mounted in the installation space, the flange may partially or fully closely fit the inner sheet 208a or the top sheet 202a to provide a watertight seal between the flange and the inner sheet 208a or the top sheet 202 so as to prevent water from flowing into the air pump or into the inflatable chamber along the inner sheet. As compared with inflatable products such as inflatable mattresses and inflatable toys, in order to provide a solid support to a user, a relatively high internal pressure may be required for an inflatable stand-up paddle board, that is, air pressure in the inflatable chamber may relatively high as compared to air pressure in another type of inflatable product. Accordingly, the flange may provide good airtightness to prevent air leakage from the installation space to an outside of the stand-up paddle board.
A lower end of the top cover 316a is provided with external threads, and an upper end of an inner side wall of the box body is provided with internal threads matching the external threads of the top cover 316a. The top cover 316a and the box 314a achieve a detachably sealed connection via the threads. With the sealed connection, water can be prevented from entering the box. A battery in the battery assembly 322a may be rechargeable, and a panel of the battery assembly may include a switch 324a (see FIG. 2) and a recharging port 326a (see FIG. 2). The battery assembly 322a may be recharged through the recharging port 326a. Further, the panel of the battery assembly 322a further includes a power indicator light 328a. The battery assembly is electrically connected to the air pump assembly to supply power thereto, and according to one or more example embodiments, the battery assembly is detachably connected to the air pump assembly.
Referring to FIG. 3 and FIG. 4, the air pump assembly 302a includes a driving device (not shown), an air inlet 306a, and an air outlet 308a. The driving device includes a motor that is electrically connected to the battery assembly 322a. When the motor is started, the driving device for example drives a piston such that air external to the air pump assembly 302a, sucked from the air inlet 306a, enters the inflatable chamber via a first vent hole 210a through the air outlet 308a, thereby achieving air inflation, as shown by the arrows of FIG. 4. After a preset air pressure is reached, the motor of the driving device is stopped. It should be understood that, in the first example embodiment, the air inlet 306a is disposed inside the air pump 300a, and therefore, during the air inflation, the top cover 316a may be kept unsealed with the box 314a so as to keep continuous communication between external air and the air inlet 306a.
FIG. 5 is an exploded view of an inflatable stand-up paddle board 100b according to a second example embodiment. FIG. 6 is a further exploded view of the inflatable stand-up paddle board of FIG. 5. FIG. 7A is a sectional view of the inflatable stand-up paddle board of FIG. 5 in an inflated state. FIG. 7B is a sectional view of the inflatable stand-up paddle board of FIG. 5 in a deflated state. An inflatable stand-up paddle board 100b includes a stand-up paddle board body 200b and an air pump 300b. The air pump 300b includes an air pump assembly 302b, a battery assembly 322b, and a casing. The air pump assembly 302b includes a driving device (not shown), an air inlet 306b, an air outlet 308b, and a suction port 310b. The battery assembly 322b includes a switch 324b, a recharging port 326b, and a power indicator light 328b. The air outlet 308b communicates with an inflatable chamber via a first vent hole 210b; and the suction port 310b communicates with the inflatable chamber via a second vent hole 211b. A box 314b in FIG. 6 includes a hollow body structure in the shape of a hollow cylinder, and a box bottom 318b. A diameter of the box bottom 318b is greater than a radius of the hollow body structure. The box bottom 318b cooperates with a top cover 316b such that displacement of the air pump 300b may be restrained. When the air pump 300b is mounted in the installation space, flanges of the box bottom 318b and of the top cover 316b may partially or fully closely fit the inner sheet, the top sheet, or the bottom sheet of the stand-up paddle board body 200b, such that a seal between the flange and the inner sheet or the top sheet may be watertight so as to prevent water from flowing into the air pump 300b or the inflatable chamber along the inner sheet. On the other hand, the flanges described above can also provide good airtightness to prevent air leakage from the installation space to an outside of the board body 200b. In other words, with the top cover 316b and the box bottom 318b, the air pump 300b may be fastened to, rather than separated from, the stand-up paddle board body. A side wall 317b of the box is provided with two through holes 319b that are respectively used for the air outlet 308b and the suction port 310b, as shown in FIG. 7A and FIG. 7B, to penetrate from the inside of the box 314b, and extend into the inflatable chamber. In addition, the inside of the box 314b is divided into at least two areas by a partition plate 320b. For example, the at least two areas include a larger area and a smaller area, as shown in FIG. 6. A portion of the side wall in the smaller area does not include the two through holes 319b such that water leakage into the smaller area due to unexpected water permeating the smaller area via the through holes 319b is avoided.
In addition, the air pump assembly 302b further includes a switching module, the switching module including a switch knob 312b (see FIG. 5), and air channels in the air pump assembly can be switched in response to operation of the switch knob 312b. Referring to FIG. 7A, when the switching module is in a first position, external air passes through the air inlet 306b to communicate with the inflatable chamber through the air outlet 308b to form a first air channel, and the driving device (not shown) drives, for example, a piston to drive air to inflate the inflatable chamber through the first air channel. Referring to FIG. 7B, when the switch knob 312b is operated such that the switching module is in a second position, the inflatable chamber communicates with external air through the suction port 310b via the air inlet 306b to form a second air channel, and the driving device (not shown) drives for example a piston to drive air to deflate the inflatable chamber through the second air channel. After a preset air pressure is reached, the driving device of the air pump 300b stops. It should be understood that, in the second example embodiment, the air inlet 306b plays a role of an air inflation inlet during air inflation, and also plays a role of an exhaust outlet during air deflation.
In one or more example embodiments, the air pump 300b is configured to be removable from the stand-up paddle board body 200b. When the air pump 300b is being mounted to the stand-up paddle board body 200b, the box 314b of the air pump assembly 302b may be first mounted in the installation space from a bottom of the stand-up paddle board body 200b; and then the air outlet 308b of the air pump assembly 302b communicates with the first vent hole 210b, and the suction port 310b of the air pump assembly 302b is coupled to the second vent hole 211b. When the inflatable chamber of the inflatable stand-up paddle board according to the second example embodiment is to be inflated, the switch 324b is triggered, the air pump 300b starts to work and to inflate the inflatable chamber that was deflated, and after a preset air pressure is reached, the driving device of the air pump 300b stops working; and the top cover 316b may be screwed into the box 314b.
FIG. 8 is an exploded view of an inflatable stand-up paddle board according to a third example embodiment. FIG. 9 is a further exploded view of the inflatable stand-up paddle board of FIG. 8. FIG. 10A is a sectional view of the inflatable stand-up paddle board of FIG. 8 in an inflated state. FIG. 10B is a sectional view of the inflatable stand-up paddle board of FIG. 8 in a deflated state. An inflatable stand-up paddle board 100c includes a stand-up paddle board body 200c and an air pump 300c. The air pump 300c includes an air pump assembly 302c, a battery assembly 322c, and a casing. The air pump assembly 302c includes a driving device (not shown), an air inlet 306c, and an air outlet 308c. The battery assembly 322c includes a switch 324c, a recharging port 326c, and a power indicator light 328c. The air outlet 308c communicates with an inflatable chamber via a first vent hole 210c. Similar to the second example embodiment, a box bottom 318c of a box 314c cooperates with a top cover 316c to restrain axial displacement of the air pump 300c. After the air pump 300c is mounted in an installation space, flanges of the box bottom 318c and the top cover 316c may partially or fully closely fit an inner sheet, a top sheet, or a bottom sheet of the stand-up paddle board body to provide a watertight seal between the flange and the inner sheet or the top sheet. The flanges described above can also provide good airtightness to prevent air leakage of the stand-up paddle board body through the installation space to the outside.
In addition, the air pump assembly further includes a reversing element (not shown). Referring to FIG. 10A, when the reversing element is in a third position, external air passes through the air inlet 306c to communicate with the inflatable chamber via the air outlet 308c to form a third air channel, and the driving device (not shown) drives air to inflate the inflatable chamber through the third air channel. Referring to FIG. 10B, when the reversing element is in a fourth position after reversion, the inflatable chamber communicates with external air through the air outlet 308c via the air inlet 306c to form a fourth air channel, and the driving device drives air to deflate the inflatable chamber through the fourth air channel. After a preset air pressure is reached, the driving device of the air pump stops. It should be understood that in the third example embodiment, paths of the third air channel and the fourth air channel are similar but in opposite directions.
FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram of an inflatable stand-up paddle board according to a fourth example embodiment. FIG. 12 is an exploded view of the inflatable stand-up paddle board of FIG. 11. FIG. 13 is a further exploded view of the inflatable stand-up paddle board of FIG. 12. FIG. 14 is a sectional view of the inflatable stand-up paddle board of FIG. 11 in an inflated state. An inflatable stand-up paddle board 100d includes a stand-up paddle board body 200d and an air pump 300d. The air pump 300d includes an air pump assembly 302d, a battery assembly 322d, and a casing. The casing is composed of a top cover 316d, a box 314d, and a bottom cover 330d. A flange extending out of the upper end of the box 314d and a flange extending out of the bottom of the bottom cover are mounted and then cooperate with each other to restrain axial displacement of the air pump. After the air pump 300d is mounted in an installation space, the flanges of the box 314d and the bottom cover 330d may partially or fully closely fit an inner sheet, a top sheet or a bottom sheet of the stand-up paddle board body to provide a watertight seal between the flange and the inner sheet. The flanges described above can also provide good airtightness to prevent air leakage of the stand-up paddle board body through the installation space to the outside. The air pump assembly 302d includes a driving device, an air inlet 306d (see FIG. 14), and an air outlet 308d. In addition, the top sheet 202d of the stand-up paddle board body 200d is provided with a vent hole 210, and the vent hole 210 is provided with an air valve 212.
The inflatable stand-up paddle board 100d further includes a connecting pipe 400. A first end 402 of the connecting pipe 400 is fitted with an air valve 212, and a second end 404 (see FIG. 13) of the connecting pipe 400 is fitted with an air outlet 308d. When the connecting pipe 400 is in a first performable state, that is, when air inflation is being implemented, the first end 402 of the connecting pipe 400 is connected to the vent hole 210 through the air valve 212 so as to communicate with the inflatable chamber, and the second end 404 of the connecting pipe 400 is connected to the air outlet 308d of the air pump assembly 302d. The driving device (not shown) drives air such that the air is sucked via the air inlet 306d, and then the air enters the inflatable chamber through the air outlet 308d via the connecting pipe 400, so as to achieve air inflation. In the example embodiment shown in FIG. 14, the air inlet 306d is located at the bottom of the box 314d. When the connecting pipe 400 is in a second performable state, for example, after air inflation is finished, the first end 402 and the second end 404 of the connecting pipe 400 may be respectively detached from the air valve 212 and the air outlet 308d, and the connecting pipe 400 may be coiled and stored in the box 314d. It should be understood that air deflation in the fourth example embodiment is implemented by the air valve 212.
When the inflatable chamber of the inflatable stand-up paddle board in the fourth example embodiment is being inflated, the first end 402 and the second end 404 of the connecting pipe 400 are first respectively connected to the air valve 212 and the air outlet 308d of the air pump assembly 302d; then a switch of the battery assembly 322d is triggered, the air pump starts to work and inflates the inflatable chamber that was deflated. After a preset air pressure is reached, the driving device of the air pump stops. The first end 402 and the second end 404 of the connecting pipe 400 may be respectively detached from the air valve 212 and the air outlet 308d and then the connecting pipe 400 may be coiled and stored in the box 314d.
In one or more example embodiments, the vent hole is arranged in the outer sheet of the stand-up paddle board body.
In one or more example embodiments, the connecting pipe may be a corrugated pipe to provide good bending performance.
It may be understood that the example embodiments described herein may be considered in a descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation. Descriptions of features or aspects within each example embodiment may be considered as available for other similar features or aspects in other example embodiments.
While example embodiments have been described with reference to the figures, it will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that various changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope as defined by the following claims.
Patent Application
20230091732
