Patent Application
20230047912
Not Applicable
Not Applicable
Not Applicable
Not Applicable
The disclosure relates to inflatable structure devices and more particularly pertains to a new inflatable structure device having removable segments for facilitating repair or replacement of damaged or worn segments of an inflatable structure.
The prior art relates to inflatable structure devices which generally provide for a unitary structure into which air is pumped. Known prior art devices may provide for multiple inflatable portions within a unitary structure, particularly for larger structures. Known prior art devices of these types require patching of replacement of the entire structure.
An embodiment of the disclosure meets the needs presented above by generally comprising a plurality of body segments positionable together to join into an assembled condition to form a structure when inflated. Each body segment has at least one opening. Each opening in each body segment is adjacent to and aligned with an associated opening on an adjacently positioned one of the body segments defining an interior space when the body segments are in the assembled condition to form the structure. Each of a plurality of segment fasteners releasably couples adjacently positioned body segments together in the assembled condition. A main air inlet is positioned in one of the body segments for connection to an air pump for injecting air into the interior space whereby the structure is inflated.
There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the disclosure in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the disclosure that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto.
The objects of the disclosure, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the disclosure, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure.
The disclosure will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein:
With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to
As best illustrated in
Each of a plurality of segment fasteners 26 releasably couples adjacently positioned body segments 12 together wherein the segment fasteners 26 secure the body segments 12 together in the assembled condition. Segment fasteners 26 can be various types of fasteners but hook and loop fastener 28 is well suited as described below. Each segment fastener may comprise a base 30 coupled to an exterior surface of a first one 12A of the adjacently positioned body segments 12. A connection panel 32 extends outwardly from a second one 12B of the adjacently positioned body segments 12. The connection panel 32 has a first surface 34 couplable to the base 30 wherein the first one 12A of the adjacently positioned body segments 12 is secured to the second one 12B of the adjacently positioned body segments 12. Use of heavy duty hook and loop fastener 28 may be sufficient for coupling of the body segments 12. However, additional structural integrity is achieved by a cover panel 36 coupled to the first one 12A of the adjacently positioned body segments 12. The cover panel 36 is adjacent to the base 30 and may be an integral extension of the base 30. The cover panel 36 extends outwardly from the first one 12A of the adjacently positioned body segments 12. The cover panel 36 is foldable over a second surface 38 of the connection panel 32. The cover panel 36 is engageable to the second surface 38 of the connection panel 32. The segment fasteners 26 are typically spaced from openings 16 of the particular body segment 12. The connection panels 32 may be singular or more commonly positioned on opposite edges of an end 44 of an associated body segment 12. Connection panels 32 may be provided to extend fully around the end 44 wherein the segment fasteners 26 are arranged to augment substantial sealing of the connections between body segments 12 as described in more detail below.
Each of a plurality of fastening collars 40 extends around a respective opening 16. Each fastening collar 40 is positioned to engage a complementary fastening collar 40 such that the respective openings 16 of engaged fastening collars 40 are secured adjacently to each other. Each fastening collar 40 extends continuously and fully around the respective opening 16. For purpose of the invention, fully and continuously is defined as providing substantial sealing of the aligned openings 16 such that the air pump 24 may produce sufficient internal pressure within the interior space to maintain the structure 14 in an inflated state. Small gaps may be present provided they do not allow sufficient air to escape to prevent maintaining the structure 14 in a sufficiently inflated state. For purpose of the invention, a fully inflated state is defined as sufficient to inflate and hold the structure 14 with enough resilience to support persons jumping and moving within or on the structure 14 in a manner consistent with conventional inflatable structures as are currently known. The fastening collars 40 may also be hook and loop fastener 28. The fastening collars 40 are shown as being immediately adjacent to and essentially abutting the respective openings 16, the fastening collars 40 may be spaced from the respective opening 16 and may even encircle or encompass multiple openings 16.
A signage fastener 48 may be positioned on one of the body segments 12 such that the signage fastener 48 is configured for facilitating coupling of signage 50, such as a banner or the like, to the structure 14. The signage fastener 48 may also be hook and loop fastener 28. Similarly, auxiliary fasteners 50 may be coupled to and exposed on the structure 14 for coupling of the auxiliary structural elements 18 to the structure 14.
In use, the separable body segments 12 allow for replacement of individual body segments as opposed to having to patch, repair, or more likely replace an entirety of an inflatable structure. As the individual body segments 12 can be provided in myriad shapes, sizes, and with or without additional functional elements 50 such as a hoop 52, the cost of producing and replacing each body segment 12 can be reduced. As can be appreciated by one skilled in the art, the inventive concept may be applied to myriad configurations and any currently known inflatable structure commonly known and used for party rental, exercise, events, or the like. The invention provides for simplified maintenance and repair of the structure 14 and greater cost efficiency. Further, as replacement of a body segment 12 can be made quickly, down time is reduced in the event of damage or wear in the structure 14 sufficient to prevent safe usage.
With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of an embodiment enabled by the disclosure, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by an embodiment of the disclosure.
Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the disclosure. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the disclosure to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the disclosure. In this patent document, the word “comprising” is used in its non-limiting sense to mean that items following the word are included, but items not specifically mentioned are not excluded. A reference to an element by the indefinite article “a” does not exclude the possibility that more than one of the element is present, unless the context clearly requires that there be only one of the elements.
