U.S. patent application number 13/984861 was filed with the patent office on 2014-03-13 for inflation device.
This patent application is currently assigned to APPLICATION DES GAZ. The applicant listed for this patent is Sylvain Arnaud, Laurent Noca. Invention is credited to Sylvain Arnaud, Laurent Noca.
Application Number | 20140069517 13/984861 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 44504349 |
Filed Date | 2014-03-13 |
United States Patent
Application |
20140069517 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Noca; Laurent ; et
al. |
March 13, 2014 |
INFLATION DEVICE
Abstract
The subject of the present invention is an inflation device that
can be used for inflating an inflatable craft having two lateral
tubes and a bottom each having an independent air chamber, the
device including an airtight body having an enclosure having at
least three communicating openings, each of the openings being
connected to another opening by a passage that allows a stream of
air to flow, and notably a first opening intended to be connected
to a first air-conveying means intended to supply air to the air
chamber of the first lateral tube of the inflatable craft, a second
opening intended to be connected to a second air-conveying means
intended to supply air to the air chamber of the second lateral
tube of the inflatable craft, and a third opening intended to be
connected to an inflation pump.
Inventors: |
Noca; Laurent; (La
Mulatiere, FR) ; Arnaud; Sylvain; (Oullins,
FR) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Noca; Laurent
Arnaud; Sylvain |
La Mulatiere
Oullins |
|
FR
FR |
|
|
Assignee: |
APPLICATION DES GAZ
Saint Genis Laval
FR
|
Family ID: |
44504349 |
Appl. No.: |
13/984861 |
Filed: |
January 19, 2012 |
PCT Filed: |
January 19, 2012 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/FR12/50118 |
371 Date: |
November 25, 2013 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
137/223 |
Current CPC
Class: |
Y10T 137/3584 20150401;
B63B 7/08 20130101; B63B 7/085 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
137/223 |
International
Class: |
B63B 7/08 20060101
B63B007/08 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Feb 10, 2011 |
FR |
11/51059 |
Claims
1. An inflating device capable of being used for inflating an
inflatable boat having two side tubes and a bottom respectively
including an independent air chamber, said device being the device
comprising: a sealing body comprising an enclosure having at least
three communication openings, each of the openings being connected
to another opening with a passage allowing for airflow circulation,
the at least three communication openings comprising: a first
opening to be connected to a first air routing means for supplying
air to the air chamber of the first side tube of the inflatable
boat, a second opening to be connected to a second air routing
means for supplying air to the air chamber of the second side tube
of the inflatable boat, a third opening to be connected to an
inflating pump, and a baseplate joining both air routing means of
both tubes, a removable base capable of being connected on the one
hand to the baseplate and including two air ducts arranged in
continuation of the two air routing means of both tubes and capable
of being connected on the one hand to the sealing body of the
inflating device.
2. The inflating device according to claim 1, wherein both air
ducts of the removable base respectively include a non-return
device preventing air from passing in the direction from the
baseplate to the sealing body of the inflating device.
3. The inflating device according claim 1, wherein the body is
removable.
4. The inflating device according to claim 3, including closing
means of the two air ducts of the removable base capable of
replacing the removable body.
5. The inflating device according to claim 4, wherein the closing
means include a first closing member of the first duct and a second
closing member of the second duct, and a handling part embodying a
motion conversion device of the screw-and-nut type converting a
relative rotary motion of the handling part into a simultaneous
relative translatory motion of the two closing members with respect
to the removable base.
6. The inflating device according claim 4, wherein the removable
base includes a handling part embodying a motion conversion device
of the screw-and-nut type converting a relative rotary motion of
the handling part into a simultaneous relative translatory motion
of the two ducts with respect to the baseplate.
7. An inflatable boat comprising an inflating device as described
in claim 1.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present invention relates to the field of nautical
recreation, and more particularly relates to an inflating device
that can be used to inflate an inflatable boat comprising two side
tubes and a bottom, each including an independent air chamber, as
well as inflatable boat equipped with such an inflating device.
BACKGROUND
[0002] An inflatable boat generally includes two independent side
tubes each having a valve of the same model designed for inflation
and deflation of the corresponding boat as well as a valve, often
of another model, designed for inflating and deflating the bottom
of the inflatable boat.
[0003] However, the inflation of such an inflatable boat has the
drawback of causing an asymmetry between the two tubes if the
latter are inflated alternatingly with excessive pressure
deviation.
[0004] These asymmetries are essentially due to the deformation of
the inner wall separating the air chambers of the two tubes, that
inner wall tending to curve toward the lower pressure air
chamber.
[0005] This frequently occurs when one of the two tubes is
completely inflated before inflating the other.
[0006] To avoid this drawback, the user must, during the inflation
phase, connect and disconnect the pump several times, alternating
between both of the valves of the two side tubes.
[0007] However, this independent inflation of the two side tubes is
laborious and allows a slight asymmetry to remain between the two
air chambers of the two tubes, one always being irreparably more
inflated than the other.
[0008] The standards in force in the field of inflatable boats
provide that in the event of a puncture of one of the two side
tubes, at least 50% of the inflatable volume of the inflatable boat
must remain inflated, which rules out designs with two side tubes
communicating through a single air chamber, which would
nevertheless resolve the problem of the asymmetry.
BRIEF SUMMARY
[0009] The present invention aims to resolve all or some of the
aforementioned drawbacks.
[0010] To that end, the present invention relates to an inflating
device capable of being used for inflating an inflatable boat
comprising two side tubes and a bottom respectively including an
independent air chamber, said device being characterized in that it
comprises a sealing body comprising an enclosure having at least
three communication openings, each of the openings being connected
to another opening with a passage allowing for airflow circulation,
and namely a first opening to be connected to a first air routing
means for supplying air to the air chamber of the first side tube
of the inflatable boat, a second opening to be connected to a
second air routing means for supplying air to the air chamber of
the second side tube of the inflatable boat, a third opening to be
connected to an inflating pump, and a baseplate joining both air
routing means of both tubes, a removable base being able to be
connected on the one hand to the baseplate and including two air
ducts arranged in continuation of the two air routing means of both
tubes and capable of being connected on the one hand to the sealing
body of the inflating device.
[0011] This arrangement makes it possible to inflate two tubes
simultaneously from a single connection of the pump and makes it
possible to perform quick deflation of the two tubes.
[0012] According to one embodiment, both air ducts of the removable
base respectively include a non-return device preventing air from
passing in the direction from the baseplate to the sealing body of
the inflating device.
[0013] This arrangement makes it possible to keep the air blown in
by the pump through the inflating device inside the air chambers of
the side tubes.
[0014] According to one embodiment, the body is removable.
[0015] According to one embodiment, the inflating device includes
closing means of the two air ducts of the removable base capable of
replacing the removable body.
[0016] This arrangement makes it possible to protect the air
routing means designed to supply the air chambers of the side tubes
with air.
[0017] According to one embodiment, the closing means include a
first closing member of the first duct and a second closing member
of the second duct at, and a handling part embodying a motion
conversion device of the screw-and-nut type converting a relative
rotary motion of the handling part into a simultaneous relative
translatory motion of the two closing members with respect to the
removable base.
[0018] This arrangement ensures good sealing of the air routing
means designed to supply the air chambers of the side tubes with
air and protect them from the outside environment.
[0019] According to one embodiment, the removable base includes a
handling part embodying a motion conversion device of the
screw-and-nut type converting a relative rotary motion of the
handling part into a simultaneous relative translatory motion of
the two ducts with respect to the baseplate.
[0020] This arrangement makes it possible to produce sealed
interlocking of the ducts of the removable base inside the ducts of
the baseplate.
[0021] According to one embodiment, the inflating device includes
closing means for the passage between the first opening and the
second opening, positioned in the enclosure, and movable between a
first so-called open position in which the passage between the
first opening and the second opening is open to a second so-called
closed position in which the passage between the first opening and
the second opening is closed.
[0022] This arrangement allows equilibrium of the pressure of the
two tubes during inflation and makes it possible to separate the
air chambers of the two tubes once the inflation thereof is
complete.
[0023] According to one embodiment, the inflated device includes
means for positioning the blocking means in an intermediate
position located between the opening position and the closing
position.
[0024] This arrangement results in making it possible to control
the airflow passing through the two tubes through the inflating
device, for example during re-equilibration made necessary
following a pressure drop of one of the tubes.
[0025] According to one embodiment, the positioning means include
return means for returning the closing means to the open position
thereof.
[0026] This arrangement allows default positioning in which the
pressure of the air chambers is balanced.
[0027] According to one embodiment, the positioning means include a
tappet member and a handling member embodying a motion conversion
device of the screw-and-nut type converting a relative rotary
motion of the handling member into a relative translatory motion of
the tappet member so as to bring the blocking means into the
closing position thereof.
[0028] This arrangement allows the user to go from one position to
the other through a simple rotational movement.
[0029] According to one embodiment, the device includes fastening
means for attaching the positioning means to the enclosure of the
inflating device.
[0030] This arrangement makes it possible to keep the positioning
means in place when the pressure inside the chamber of each of the
side tubes becomes significant.
[0031] According to one embodiment, the closing means comprise a
non-return device preventing the passage of air in the direction
from the first opening or the second opening toward the third
opening.
[0032] This arrangement makes it possible to keep the air blown in
by the pump through the inflating device inside the air chambers of
the side tubes.
[0033] According to one embodiment, the enclosure has a fourth
opening to be connected to third air routing means for supplying
air to the air chamber of the bottom of the inflatable boat, each
of the openings being connected to another opening by a passage
allowing for airflow circulation.
[0034] This arrangement makes it possible to inflate the side tubes
and the bottom of the boat simultaneously.
[0035] According to the same embodiment, the passages between the
first opening or the second open and the fourth opening are open in
the open position of the closing means, and the passages between
the first opening or the second opening and the fourth opening are
closed in the closed position of the closing means.
[0036] This arrangement makes it possible to isolate each of the
air chambers of the side tubes and the bottom. Advantageously, the
section of the fourth opening is undersized with respect to the
sections of the first opening and the second opening.
[0037] This arrangement makes it possible to have the end of the
inflation of the bottom, the air chamber of which generally has a
smaller volume than that of the two side tubes, coincide with the
end of inflation of the chambers of the side tubes and therefore
protect the bottom from periodic overpressures due to pump movement
during the inflation.
[0038] According to one embodiment, the closing means are removable
from the enclosure.
[0039] This arrangement allows easy replacement of the closing
means, for example in the event of loss of sealing, and allows
simultaneous and rapid deflation of the air chambers of the
inflatable boat connected to the inflating device.
[0040] The present invention also relates to an inflatable boat
including an inflating device as previously described.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0041] In any case, the invention will be well understood using the
following description, in reference to the appended diagrammatic
drawing showing, as a non-limiting example, several embodiments of
an inflating device according to the invention.
[0042] FIG. 1 shows an exploded perspective view of an inflating
device according to a first embodiment.
[0043] FIG. 2 shows a cross-sectional view of the inflating device
of FIG. 1 in the deflating position.
[0044] FIG. 3 shows a cross-sectional view of the inflating device
of FIG. 1 in the closed position.
[0045] FIG. 4 shows a cross-sectional view of the inflating device
of FIG. 1 in the inflating position.
[0046] FIG. 5 shows an operational view of an inflating device
according to a second embodiment.
[0047] FIG. 6 shows an inflatable boat equipped with an inflating
device according to the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0048] As illustrated in FIG. 6, an inflating device 100, 200
according to the invention may be used to inflate an inflatable
boat 2 comprising a right side tube 3, a left side tube 4 and
optionally a bottom 4 each respectively comprising an independent
air chamber 31, 41, 51 as well as air routing means 32, 42, 52.
[0049] The air chambers 31, 41 of the two side tubes 3, 4 have the
same volume.
[0050] As illustrated in the different embodiments shown in FIGS. 1
to 4 and 5, an inflating device 100, 200 according to the invention
comprises a sealed body 6 comprising an enclosure 7 having three
communicating openings 11, 12, 13 connected to each other.
[0051] The first opening 11 is designed to be connected to the air
routing means 32 designed to supply the air chamber 31 of the first
side tube 3 of the inflatable boat 2 with air, the second opening
12 being designed to be connected to the second air routing means
42 designed to supply the air chamber 41 of the second side tube 4
of the inflatable boat 2 with air, the third opening 13 is designed
to be connected to an inflating pump (not shown).
[0052] Furthermore, the first opening 11 and the second opening 12
have a same inner diameter or section so as to equitably distribute
the air injected by the pump coming from the third opening 13.
[0053] In a first embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 4, the
inflating device 100 includes a baseplate 101 joining the two air
routing means 32, 42 of the two side tubes 3, 4, and a removable
base 110 that can be connected on the one hand to the baseplate
101, and can be connected on the other hand either to the sealed
body 6 of the inflating device 100, for example during an inflating
position illustrated in FIG. 4, or to sealing means 130, for
example in a closed position illustrated in FIG. 3 or in a
deflating position illustrated in FIG. 2.
[0054] In the present embodiment, the sealed body 6 is removable,
the closing means 130 being able to replace the sealed body 6.
[0055] The baseplate 101 includes a first duct 102 that can be
connected to the air routing means 32 of the first side tube 3 of
the boat 2 and a second duct 103 that can be connected to the air
routing means 42 of the second side tube 4 of the inflatable boat
2.
[0056] Each of these ducts 102, 103 protrudes in the top of a body
106 of the baseplate 101.
[0057] This body 106 assumes the form of a hollow cylinder and
includes an outer peripheral thread 107, the function of which will
be described later in the text.
[0058] This thread 107 extends circumferentially from an outer
upper end of the body 106 to a transverse peripheral shoulder 105
extending toward the outside of the baseplate 101 performing the
function of a mechanical base for fastening the inflating device
100 to a rigid part of the inflatable boat 2.
[0059] The protruding parts of the ducts 102, 103 include an outer
annular shoulder 108 designed each to receive an O-ring 104.
[0060] In the closed position illustrated in FIG. 3 and in the
inflating position illustrated in FIG. 4, the removable base 110 is
designed to cover the baseplate 101 and comprises a central part
113 around which a peripheral part 114 is positioned designed to be
handled by the user of the inflating device 100.
[0061] The central part 113 and the peripheral part 114 are both
generally cylindrical.
[0062] The central part 113 includes an outer peripheral thread
119, the function of which will be described later in the text, as
well as a wall positioned transversely that is generally
cylindrical.
[0063] The central part 113 also includes two air ducts 111, 112
protruding on either side of said transverse wall and designed to
be positioned in the extension of the two ducts 102, 103 of the
baseplate 101.
[0064] These two air ducts 111, 112 each comprise a non-return
device 8 for the air preventing the air located in one of the two
side tubes 3, 4 from accessing the sealed body 6 of the inflating
device 100 in the closed inflating positions.
[0065] Furthermore, the upper end of each of the portions of the
two air ducts 111, 112 protruding from the transverse wall is
beveled on the inner surface thereof.
[0066] The central part 113 of the removable base 110 includes an
annular shoulder 117 serving as a stop and guide for an annular
shoulder 118 positioned on the peripheral part 114 of the removable
base 110.
[0067] Thus, the mechanical connection allows the free rotational
movement of the peripheral part 114 around the central part
113.
[0068] The peripheral part 114 also comprises, on the inner face
thereof, a thread 115 designed to cooperate with the thread 107 of
the baseplate 101.
[0069] Furthermore, the central part 113 includes a transverse
annular shoulder 116 designed to compress the 0-ring 104 positioned
on the shoulder 108 of each of the protruding parts of the ducts
102, 103 of the baseplate 101.
[0070] Thus, when the removable base 110 is placed on the baseplate
101, each of the portions of the ducts 111, 112 protruding downward
gradually penetrates the top of the ducts 102, 103 of the baseplate
101.
[0071] The central part 113 of the removable base 110 is thus
blocked in rotation and the removable base 110 lowers in
translation until the thread 115 of the removable base 110 reaches
the thread 107 of the baseplate 101.
[0072] A rotational movement of the peripheral part 114 in the
anti-trigonometric direction then causes a conversion of the
screw-nut movement that then better translates the central part 113
of the removable base 110 until the shoulder 116 reaches the
O-rings 104 and compresses them to ensure sealing between the
baseplate 101 and the removable base 110 of the inflating device
100.
[0073] In order to increase the sealing, the diameters of the ducts
102, 103 and the ducts 111, 112 are substantially equal to within
play.
[0074] In this position, the removable base 110 can receive either
the sealed body 6 to inflate the inflatable boat 2, or the closing
means 130 in the closed position after inflating or storage of the
deflated boat 2.
[0075] In this embodiment, the sealed body 6 of the inflating
device 100 is removable and is generally in the shape of an upside
down "Y" where the two symmetrical branches of the "Y" each have a
bend 120 to align the openings 11 and 12 along two parallel axes,
each of said axes being coaxial with an axis of alignment of one of
the ducts 111, 112 of the removable base 110.
[0076] Each of the openings 11, 12 has a beveled outer contour 121
so as to facilitate insertion thereof into the ducts 111, 112 of
the removable base 110.
[0077] The main branch of the "Y" forms the opening 13 for
connection to the inflating pump.
[0078] In this embodiment, the closing means 130 comprise a
peripheral part 132 rotating freely around a central part 131.
[0079] The peripheral part 132 is designed to be handled by the
user of the inflating device 100.
[0080] The central part 131 and the peripheral part 132 both have a
generally cylindrical shape.
[0081] The central part 131 is connected to the peripheral part 132
by means of a slitted axis 137 substantially fixed at the center of
the peripheral part 132 passing through the central part 131
through an orifice 139.
[0082] The slitted axis 137 comprises a circumferential lug 138
positioned substantially at a distance substantially equal to
within play to the thickness passed through of the central part
131.
[0083] The circumferential lug 138 is beveled in the direction of
insertion of the slitted axis 137 into the orifice 139.
[0084] Thus, this beveled shape as well as the elasticity of the
slitted axis 137 imparted by its slit facilitates the insertion of
the slitted axis 137 through the orifice 139.
[0085] The central part 131 also includes two stoppers 134, 135
having a cylindrical shape with a diameter larger than those of the
ducts 111, 112 of the removable base 110.
[0086] The stopper 134 and the stopper 135 are designed to
simultaneously respectively close the duct 111 and the duct 112 in
the closed position of the inflating device 100, thus these two
stoppers 134, 135 are aligned along two parallel axes, each of said
axes being coaxial with an axis of alignment of one of the ducts
111, 112 of the removable base 110.
[0087] The peripheral part 132 includes a thread 133 on the inner
surface thereof designed to cooperate with the peripheral thread
119 of the central part 113 of the removable base 110.
[0088] Furthermore, these two stoppers 134, 135 are bordered by two
stops 136 extending longitudinally to the axes of the stoppers 134,
135 and on either side of the central orifice 139.
[0089] Thus, during placement of the sealing means 130 on the
removable base 110, the stops 136 slide in translation between the
two protruding portions of the ducts 111, 112 of the removable base
110 until the thread 133 of the peripheral part 132 of the closing
means 130 reaches the thread 119 of the central part 113 of the
removable base 110.
[0090] The central part 131 of the closing means 130 is then locked
in rotation by the action of the stops 136 that bear on the edges
of the protruding portions of the ducts 111, 112 of the removable
base 110.
[0091] The rotational movement of the peripheral part 132 in the
anti-trigonometric direction causes a conversion of the screw-nut
type movement that then better translates the central part 131 of
the closing means 130 until the stoppers 134, 135 reach the ducts
111, 112 of the removable base 110.
[0092] In order to make the inflating device 100 hermetic, two
disc-shaped planar seals 141 with diameters substantially equal to
that of the stoppers 134, 135 are respectively maintained at each
of the two surfaces of the stoppers 134, 135 coming into contact
with the ducts 111, 112 by means of two axes including an annular
shoulder 140 respectively positioned at the center of each of said
surfaces and passing through their respective planar seal 141.
[0093] Thus, in this embodiment of the inflating device 100, the
user, in order to inflate the inflatable boat 2, will first begin
by removing the closing means 130, then will engage the body 6 of
the inflating device 100 and removable base 110.
[0094] He will next connect the inflating pump on the third opening
13 of the body 6 so as to inflate the two side tubes 3, 4 of the
inflatable boat 2 simultaneously.
[0095] Once the latter are inflated to the recommended pressure,
the user will remove the body 6 from the removable base 110 and
will replace it with the closing means 130.
[0096] To deflate the inflatable boat 2, the user will separate the
removable base 110 from the baseplate 101 of the inflating device
100.
[0097] In a second embodiment illustrated in FIG. 5, the inflating
device 200 according to the invention still comprises a sealed body
6 comprising an enclosure 7, but has four communicating openings
11, 12, 13 and 14 connected to each other.
[0098] The openings 11, 12 and 13 keep the same functions as in the
first embodiment presented above.
[0099] The fourth opening 14 is connected to a third duct formed in
the removable base 110, which in turn is connected to a third duct
of the baseplate 101 on which the air routing means 52 of the air
chamber 51 making up the bottom 5 of the inflatable boat 2 will
connect.
[0100] Each axis of the three openings 11, 12 and 14 as well as
each axis of the three ducts of the removable base 110 and the
baseplate 101 is separated by a 120.degree. angle from the other
two axes, from the other two openings, respectively, when measured
from the axis of the third opening 13, or the other two ducts of
the removable base 110 or the baseplate 101 when measured
respectively from that central axis of the removable base 110 or
the central axis of the baseplate 101.
[0101] Although the invention has been described in connection with
specific example embodiments, it is of course in no way limited
thereto and encompasses all technical equivalents of the described
means as well as combinations thereof.
* * * * *