U.S. patent application number 11/334304 was filed with the patent office on 2007-03-29 for inflatable and expandable slide and pool construction.
This patent application is currently assigned to Aqua-Leisure Industries, Inc.. Invention is credited to Steven M. Berenson, Allan R. SR. Ferraro.
Application Number | 20070072690 11/334304 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 37958254 |
Filed Date | 2007-03-29 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070072690 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Berenson; Steven M. ; et
al. |
March 29, 2007 |
Inflatable and expandable slide and pool construction
Abstract
The invention comprises an inflatable and expandable slide and
pool construction that permits the user to selectively change the
structure of the slide by expanding it to include a pool or basin
at the end of the slide. The pool portion may be releasably
attached to the front of the slide and may include inflatable sides
and an inflatable end bumper. If the slide is a continuous airflow
inflatable, the sides of the pool portion may be inflated by the
air blower when the sides are released from their attachment to the
end of the slide.
Inventors: |
Berenson; Steven M.;
(Canton, MA) ; Ferraro; Allan R. SR.; (Attleboro,
MA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
FOLEY HOAG, LLP;PATENT GROUP, WORLD TRADE CENTER WEST
155 SEAPORT BLVD
BOSTON
MA
02110
US
|
Assignee: |
Aqua-Leisure Industries,
Inc.
Avon
MA
|
Family ID: |
37958254 |
Appl. No.: |
11/334304 |
Filed: |
January 18, 2006 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
60720340 |
Sep 23, 2005 |
|
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|
Current U.S.
Class: |
472/117 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63G 31/007 20130101;
A63G 21/18 20130101; A63G 31/12 20130101; A63G 21/00 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
472/117 |
International
Class: |
A63G 21/18 20060101
A63G021/18 |
Claims
1. An inflatable and expandable slide comprising a slide portion
having a front wall at the bottom of the slide, a bumper member, a
pair of extendable leg members each having a first and second end,
the first ends being affixed to the bumper member and the second
ends being releasably attached to the front wall of the slide
portion, and a collapsible pool floor member attached to the leg
members, the bumper member, and the front wall of the slide
portion, whereby upon release of the leg members from attachment to
the front wall of the slide portion, the leg members and the
collapsible pool floor member may be extended away from the slide
portion to form a pool or basin bounded by the leg members, the
bumper member, and the lower end of the slide portion.
2. The slide of claim 1, wherein the leg members are
inflatable.
3. The slide of claim 2, wherein the bumper member is
inflatable.
4. The slide of claim 3, wherein the slide portion is constructed
of air permeable material and further comprises a port for receipt
of a continuous flow of air from an air blower to maintain the
slide portion in inflated condition.
5. The slide of claim 4, wherein each leg member includes an
opening adjacent the front wall of the slide portion through which
opening air may enter the leg member from the slide portion so that
the leg member may be inflated by the air blower when the leg
member is released from attachment to the slide portion.
6. The slide of claim 5, wherein the front wall of the slide
portion includes a pair of flaps corresponding with the openings in
the leg members, which flaps may be opened to allow air to flow
from the slide portion into the leg members to inflate the leg
members.
7. The slide of claim 6, wherein each of the leg members includes a
flap near the end adjacent the front wall of the slide portion,
which flap may be opened to allow access to the flaps in the front
wall of the slide portion.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This claims priority to U.S. provisional application Ser.
No. 60/720,340 filed on Sep. 23, 2005, which is hereby incorporated
by reference in its entirety into this application.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Inflatable slides are an increasingly popular backyard or
poolside recreational toy. The slide may be inflated either by
filling the slide structure with air via an inflation valve and
then closing the valve, or by a continuous airflow from an air
blower. In the latter case, as is known, the outer material of the
slide body is permeable and allows air to escape at a rate that
will maintain the body in an inflated state as air is blown into
the body. The slides typically include a ladder or other means to
permit the user to climb to the top of the slide, and often include
a device for spraying water onto the slide to facilitate sliding.
However, known constructions for inflatable slides are fixed in the
sense that they do not permit the user to selectively change the
slide structure.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0003] The instant invention permits the user of an inflatable
slide to selectively change the structure of the slide by expanding
it to include a pool or basin at the end of the slide. The pool
portion may be releasably attached to the front end of the slide
and may include inflatable sides and an inflatable end bumper. If
the slide is a continuous airflow inflatable, the sides of the pool
portion may be inflated by the air blower when the sides are
released from their attachment to the end of the slide.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0004] The following description of the invention will be more
fully understood with reference to the accompanying drawings in
which:
[0005] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an expandable inflatable
slide according to the instant invention, prior to expansion.
[0006] FIG. 2 is a close-up view of the outside fasteners that
detachably secure the end bumper of the slide to the sides of the
slide.
[0007] FIG. 3 is a close-up view of the inside fasteners that
detachably secure the end bumper to the sides of the slide.
[0008] FIG. 4 is a view of the end bumper after it has been
detached from the sides of the slide and pulled a small distance
away from the slide.
[0009] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the slide structure after
the end bumper has been fully pulled away from the slide and the
extended legs have been inflated, in order to form a pool or basin
at the end of the slide.
[0010] FIG. 6 is a close up view of one of the external flaps
located on each of the two extendable legs of the pool.
[0011] FIG. 7 depicts the flap of FIG. 6 in open position so that
the user of the slide may reach into the extendable leg to open or
close the inner flap.
[0012] FIG. 8 is a close up view of one of the inner flaps located
on each side of the slide structure at the end of the slide, with
the inner flap being opened to allow air from the air blower to
enter into the extendable legs of the pool to inflate them.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0013] FIG. 1 depicts an expandable inflatable slide construction
10 in accordance with the instant invention. In this particular
embodiment two slide surfaces 14 are separated by a barrier 16
formed in the slide, but the slide may have a single sliding
surface, or several, as desired. Sleeve 12 extends from side 18 of
the slide to receive air from an air blower (not shown) to maintain
the slide in an inflated state. Ties 13 permit the sleeve to be
secured to the blower. For small slides, the slide may be
constructed of impermeable material and inflated in the manner of a
balloon--i.e., in conventional fashion, using a shut-off valve to
close off the inflated body. For larger slides, however, it is
recommended that the slide be made of air permeable material and
that a continuous air blower be employed to keep the slide
inflated, as in known in the field.
[0014] A U-shaped end bumper 20 is detachably secured to the front
wall 24 of the slide, and provides cushioning when a person slides
down the slide and reaches the bottom. End bumper 20 is preferably
comprised of an inflatable bladder made of, for example, PVC, that
may be sealed off by a valve (not shown); in other words, it is not
a continuous airflow inflatable structure. The bladder is enclosed
in a cover made of the same material as the sides of the slide,
both for continuity of appearance and for protection of the bladder
from puncture.
[0015] For decorative purposes, members 26 may be formed on each
side of the slide and are inflated by the air blower as part of
slide construction 10. Extendable legs 36, which will form the
sides of the pool, as explained more fully below, are seen in
collapsed condition; the legs 36 are secured to the slide front
wall 24 and the distal portions 25 of end bumper 20 (FIGS. 2 and
3). The collapsed legs 36 are held in place between end bumper 20
and slide front wall 24 as explained more fully below. Pool bottom
35 (FIG. 4), which comprises a sheet of plastic material such as
PVC, is also held in collapsed position adjacent slide front wall
24 (not shown here).
[0016] As seen in FIGS. 2 and 3, end bumper 20 may be released from
attachment to the slide by unfastening outside fasteners 30 and
inside fasteners 32. These fasteners may comprise conventional
hook-and-loop materials, straps and buckles, or other devices, as
desired. The end bumper 20 may then be pulled away from the front
wall 24 of the slide as shown in FIG. 4, thereby extending out pool
bottom 35 and pool legs 36. Handles 22 formed in end bumper 20 may
facilitate the re-positioning of the end bumper 20.
[0017] In FIG. 5, end bumper 20 is seen in its outwardmost position
with extendable legs 36 inflated and pool or basin 34 fully formed
at the bottom of the slide
[0018] FIGS. 6-8 depict the procedure for effecting inflation of
the extendable pool legs 36. After end bumper 20 has been pulled
substantially to its outermost position, external flap 40 on each
leg may be opened via fasteners 42, here shown as zippers. The user
may then reach inside and open internal flaps 44, located at each
of the ends 24 of the slide, via fasteners 46, again shown as
zippers. Air from the air blower may now flow out of the ends of
the slide and into the extendable pool legs 36 to inflate them. The
user then closes the external flaps 40 to prevent air from escaping
from legs 36.
[0019] The slide portion of the instant invention may be made from
420 denier polyester or 490 denier Nylon, with a PVC coating, and
may be fabricated by well known die-cutting, sonic welding and/or
sewing operations. Preferably, the sliding surfaces themselves have
an external coating of PVC, while the remainder of the slide and
the extendable legs has an internal PVC coating. The air blower
unit may be a commercially available 380 watt or 580 watt, 110 volt
blower.
* * * * *