U.S. patent application number 13/984856 was filed with the patent office on 2014-05-22 for inflating device.
This patent application is currently assigned to APPLICATION DES GAZ. The applicant listed for this patent is APPLICATION DES GAZ. Invention is credited to Arnaud Lamy, Laurent Noca, Denis Rochefort, Loic Sieber.
Application Number | 20140137790 13/984856 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 44513355 |
Filed Date | 2014-05-22 |
United States Patent
Application |
20140137790 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Noca; Laurent ; et
al. |
May 22, 2014 |
INFLATING DEVICE
Abstract
The present invention relates to an inflating device that can be
used for inflating an inflatable boat having two sides and a
bottom, each having an independent air chamber, the device
including a sealed body with an enclosure having at least three
communication openings, each of the openings being connected to
another opening by a passage for the circulation of a flow of air,
and in particular a first opening intended to be connected to a
first air supply means intended to supply air to the air chamber of
the first side fender of the inflatable boat, a second opening
intended to be connected to a second air supply means intended to
supply air to the air chamber of the second side fender of the
inflatable boat, a third opening intended to be connected to an air
pump, and means for shutting off the passage between the first
opening and the second opening, the means being disposed in the
enclosure and being able to move between a first position, called
the open position, in which the passage between the first opening
and the second opening is open, and a second position, called the
closed position, in which the passage between the first opening and
the second opening is closed.
Inventors: |
Noca; Laurent; (La
Mulatiere, FR) ; Sieber; Loic; (Lyon, FR) ;
Rochefort; Denis; (Grezieu La Varenne, FR) ; Lamy;
Arnaud; (Saint Laurent d'Agny, FR) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
APPLICATION DES GAZ |
Saint Genis Laval |
|
FR |
|
|
Assignee: |
APPLICATION DES GAZ
Saint Genis Laval
FR
|
Family ID: |
44513355 |
Appl. No.: |
13/984856 |
Filed: |
February 9, 2012 |
PCT Filed: |
February 9, 2012 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/FR2012/050291 |
371 Date: |
January 31, 2014 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
114/345 ;
141/114 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F16K 15/20 20130101;
B63B 7/00 20130101; B63C 9/18 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
114/345 ;
141/114 |
International
Class: |
B63C 9/18 20060101
B63C009/18; B63B 7/00 20060101 B63B007/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Feb 10, 2011 |
FR |
1151060 |
Claims
1. An inflating device capable of being used for inflating an
inflatable boat including two side tubes and a bottom respectively
including an independent air chamber, said 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,
said 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 means for
blocking the passage between the first opening and the second
opening, arranged inside the enclosure and movable between a first
opening position, wherein the passage between the first opening and
the second opening is open, to a second closing position, wherein
the passage between the first opening and the second opening is
closed, means for positioning the blocking means in an intermediate
position located between the opening position and the closing
position, the third opening being made on the positioning
means.
2. The inflating device according to claim 1, wherein the
positioning means include the blocking means.
3. The inflating device according to claim 1, wherein the
positioning means comprise 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.
4. The inflating device according to claim 1, wherein the
positioning means include a non-return device.
5. The inflating device according to claim 1, wherein the enclosure
includes two removable parts.
6. The inflating device according to claim 1, including locating
means for the closing position and/or for the opening position, in
particular for a position for inflating the inflatable boat.
7. The inflating device according to claim 1, wherein the enclosure
has a fourth opening to be connected to a 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 in the
opening position.
8. The inflating device according to claim 7, wherein the passages
between the first opening or the second opening and the fourth
opening are open in the opening position of the blocking means, and
the passages between the first opening or the second opening and
the fourth opening are closed in the closing position of the
blocking means.
9. The inflating device according to claim 7, wherein the section
of the fourth opening is undersized with respect to the sections of
the first opening and the second opening.
10. The inflating device according to claim 1, wherein the blocking
means can be removed from the enclosure.
11. 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
sometimes misunderstood, 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 means for closing 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 passage in which the passage
between the first opening and the second opening is closed, and
means for positioning the closing means in any intermediate
position found between the open position and the closed position,
the third opening being formed on the positioning means.
[0011] This arrangement makes it possible to inflate two tubes
simultaneously from a single connection of the pump and also allows
equilibrium of the pressure of the two tubes during inflation and
separation of the air chambers of the two tubes once the inflation
is done.
[0012] Furthermore, this arrangement results in making it possible
to control the airflow passing between the two tubes through the
inflating device, for example during re-equilibration made
necessary following a pressure drop of one of the tubes.
[0013] According to one embodiment, the positioning means comprise
the closing means.
[0014] 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.
[0015] This arrangement allows the user to go from one position to
the other through a simple rotational movement.
[0016] According to one embodiment, the positioning means include a
non-return device.
[0017] According to one embodiment, the enclosure includes two
removable parts.
[0018] According to one embodiment, the inflating device includes
mistake-proofing means for the closed position and/or for the open
position, in particular for inflating position of the inflatable
boat.
[0019] This arrangement facilitates the use of the inflating
device.
[0020] 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 in the open position.
[0021] This arrangement makes it possible to inflate the side tubes
and the bottom of the boat simultaneously.
[0022] 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.
[0023] This arrangement makes it possible to isolate each of the
air chambers of the side tubes and the bottom.
[0024] Advantageously, the section of the fourth opening is
undersized with respect to the sections of the first opening and
the second opening.
[0025] 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.
[0026] According to one embodiment, the closing means are removable
from the enclosure.
[0027] 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.
[0028] The present invention also relates to an inflatable boat
including an inflating device as previously described.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0029] 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.
[0030] FIG. 1 shows an exploded perspective view of an inflating
device in the closed position according to a first embodiment.
[0031] FIG. 2 shows a top perspective view of the inflating device
of FIG. 1 in the deflating position.
[0032] FIG. 3 shows a bottom perspective view of the inflating
device of FIG. 1 in the deflating position.
[0033] FIG. 4 shows a transverse cross-sectional view of the
inflating device of FIG. 1 in the closed position.
[0034] FIG. 5 shows a transverse cross-sectional view of the
inflating device of FIG. 1 in the deflating position.
[0035] FIG. 6 shows a transverse cross-sectional view of the
inflating device of FIG. 1 in the inflating position.
[0036] FIG. 7 shows a first view of an alternative of the
embodiment of FIGS. 1 to 6.
[0037] FIG. 8 shows a second view of the device of FIG. 7.
[0038] FIG. 9 shows a third view of the device of FIGS. 7 and
8.
[0039] FIG. 10 shows an inflatable boat equipped with an inflating
device according to the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0040] As illustrated in FIG. 10, an inflating device 1 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.
[0041] The air chambers 31, 41 of the two side tubes 3, 4 have the
same volume.
[0042] As illustrated in the different embodiments shown in FIGS. 1
to 10f, an inflating device 1 according to the invention comprises
a sealed body 6 comprising an enclosure 7 having three
communicating openings 11, 12, 13 connected to each other.
[0043] 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).
[0044] 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.
[0045] In the first embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 9, the
inflating device 100 includes a fourth opening 14 that can be
connected to the other three openings 11, 12, 13 and designed to be
connected to the air routing means 52 designed to supply the air
chamber 51 of the bottom 5 of the inflatable boat 2 with air.
[0046] In this embodiment, the body 6 comprises two complementary
parts 101, 115 forming the enclosure 7.
[0047] The first of these parts is formed by a baseplate 101
designed to be kept against the inflatable boat 2.
[0048] This baseplate 101 comprises a body 105 with a substantially
cylindrical shape that is completely open on one of said two
bases.
[0049] This body 105 forms a first part of the enclosure 7 of the
body 6 of the inflating device 100.
[0050] The other of these two bases includes a first duct 102 with
a cylindrical shape forming the first opening 11 and designed to be
connected to the air routing means 32, which in turn are designed
to supply the air chamber 31 of the right tube 3 of the inflatable
boat with air, a second cylindrical duct 103 forming the second
opening 12 and designed to be connected to the air routing means
42, which in turn are designed to supply the air chamber 41 of the
left tube 4 of the inflatable boat 2 with air, and a third
cylindrical duct 104 forming the fourth opening 14 and designed to
be connected to the air routing means 52, which in turn are
designed to supply the chamber 51 of the bottom 3 of the inflatable
boat 2 with air.
[0051] Each of these three hollow cylindrical ducts 102, 103, 104
transversely crosses the base of the body 105 of the baseplate 101
so as to emerge inside the enclosure 7 of the body 6 of the
inflating device 100.
[0052] The main axis of each of these three ducts 102, 103, 104
passes through the apex of an equilateral triangle positioned
transversely to the crossed base of the body 105 of the baseplate
101.
[0053] Thus, each of these three ducts 102, 103, 104 respectively
comprises a protruding portion 110, 111, 112 of the crossed base of
the body 105 of the baseplate 101.
[0054] Furthermore, each of the ends of the protruding portions
110, 111, 112 is planar and positioned in a same plane as the other
two, said plane in turn being positioned transversely to the
cylindrical shape of the body 105 of the baseplate 101 and
substantially at the height thereof.
[0055] The body 105 of the baseplate 101 also comprises a thread
109 positioned on its cylindrical inner surface, the function of
which will be described later in the text.
[0056] Furthermore, on its cylindrical outer surface, the body 105
of the baseplate 101 comprises, in the direction from the base
crossed by the ducts 102, 103, 104 toward the open base, a
circumferential annular bead 106 followed by a circumferential
annular slot 107 in which an O-ring 108 is positioned, the O-ring
giving the baseplate 101 a greater lateral bulk than that of the
circumferential annular bead 106.
[0057] The bead 106 as well as the slot 107 occupy a predetermined
position, the function of which will be described later in the
text.
[0058] The second part is formed by positioning means 115 and
comprises a second part of the enclosure 7 of the body 6 of the
inflating device 100.
[0059] These positioning means 115 are removable and have a
substantially cylindrical shape that is completely open on one of
said two bases and is designed to be engaged on the first part 101
or baseplate 101 so as to position the inflating device 100 in its
different operational positions.
[0060] These positioning means 115 are formed by a tappet 120 and a
handling member 130 of the tappet 120.
[0061] The tappet 120 comprises a disk-shaped body 128 from which
central guide means 121 extend on the one hand in the form of a
triangular prism with curved surfaces whereof the curve radius is
substantially equal to the radius of the three ducts 102, 103, 104
of the baseplate 101, and cylindrical closing means 122, 123, 124
on the other hand, respectively designed to bear on the protruding
portions 110, 111, 112 of the ducts 102, 103, 104 of the baseplate
101 of the inflating device.
[0062] In order to hermetically close these ducts 102, 103, 104,
each closing means 122, 123, 124 comprises a planar seal 125
positioned on its end face across from the protruding portions 110,
111, 112 and maintained at the center thereof by retaining means
126 in the shape of a "T".
[0063] The central guide means 121 extend beyond the closing means
122, 123, 124 so as to perform their guiding function during the
engagement of the positioning means 115 on the first part 101 or
baseplate 101 and also comprise a central opening 127 emerging on
the one hand on the outer face of the guide means 121 and on the
other hand on the center of the body 128 of the disc-shaped tappet
120.
[0064] The handling member 130 comprises a body 131 in the shape of
a hollow cylinder with an open base and a quasi-closed base and
having an inner cylindrical part 135 and an outer cylindrical part
137 that are coaxial to each other and both include an inner face
and an outer face.
[0065] The inner face of the outer cylindrical part 137 of the
handling member 130 comprises a diameter substantially equal to the
outer diameter of the base 101, allowing the O-ring 108 to ensure
sealing between the enclosure 7 and the outside.
[0066] The tappet 120 is designed to be retained in translation but
free in rotation inside the inner cylindrical part 135 of the
handling member 130.
[0067] To that end, the handling member 130 of the tappet 120
comprises a central rivet 134 extending from the center of the
quasi-closed base of handling member 130 in the direction of the
main axis of its cylindrical shape, passes through the central
opening 127 formed on the guide means 121 of the tappet 120, then
retains the tappet 120 in translation against the handling member
130 in the direction of the main axes, which are then coaxial, of
the tappet 120 and the handling member 130.
[0068] Furthermore, the handling member 130 comprises a thread 136
positioned on the outer face of the inner cylindrical part 135 and
designed to cooperate with the thread 109 of the base 101 as well
as a circumferential annular bead 138 positioned on the end of the
inner face of the outer cylindrical part 137 and designed to
cooperate with the circumferential annular bead 106 of the base
101.
[0069] Lastly, the handling member 130 comprises a duct 132
emerging in the inner cylindrical part 135 making up the third
opening 13 of the enclosure 17 of the inflating device 100 designed
to connect an inflating pump.
[0070] According to one alternative of this first embodiment, this
inflating duct 132 comprises a non-return device 8 designed to
prevent the air blown into the enclosure 7 by the inflating pump
through the duct 132 from leaving the enclosure 7 through that same
duct 132.
[0071] Nevertheless, this non-return device 8 is not essential to
the inflating device 100.
[0072] In fact, most of the inflating pumps used to inflate the
inflatable boat 2 are sealed at the piston.
[0073] Part of the air blown in by the inflating pump through the
duct 132 can therefore emerge through that same duct 132, in
particular when air is taken from the inflating pump, but will
never go beyond the piston of the inflating pump.
[0074] Thus, by acting only on the positioning means 115 of the
inflating device 100 and in particular on the rotation of the
handling member 130 of the tappet 120, it is possible to position
the inflating device 100 in a closed position P2 as illustrated in
FIG. 4, in a deflating position PD as illustrated in FIG. 5 or in
an inflating position PI as illustrated in FIG. 6.
[0075] The inflating position PI and deflating position PD are more
generally part of a so-called open position P1.
[0076] This consideration is valid for this first embodiment as
well as the following embodiments described hereafter.
[0077] In the closed position P2 illustrated in FIG. 4, each planar
seal 125 of each closing means 122, 123, 124 bears on the flank of
each protruding portion 110, 111, 112 so as to hermetically close
one of the ducts 102, 103, 104 under the action of the screwing of
the thread 136 of the handling member 130 on the thread 109 of the
baseplate 101, thereby preventing any communication whatsoever
between the openings 11, 12, 13, and 14.
[0078] Furthermore, the O-ring 108 exerts pressure on the one hand
on the wall of the circumferential annular slot 107 and on the
other hand on the wall of the inner face of the outer cylindrical
part 137 of the handling member 130, thereby partitioning the air
located in the enclosure 7 from the outside air.
[0079] To return the inflating device 100 to its deflating position
PD, illustrated in FIG. 5, the user unscrews the handling member
130 from the baseplate 101.
[0080] This first results in balancing the pressure of the air
inside the air chambers 31, 41, 51.
[0081] By continuing to gradually unscrew the handling member 130,
the user reaches a hard point generated by the action of the
circumferential annular bead 138 of the handling member 130 on the
circumferential annular bead 106 of the baseplate 101.
[0082] At this stage of unscrewing, the enclosure 7 is still
hermetically isolated from the outside.
[0083] By continuing to unscrew the handling member 130 beyond this
hard point, the O-ring 108 no longer exerts pressure on the wall of
the inner face of the outer cylindrical part 137 of the handling
member 130, then the thread 136 disengages from the thread 109,
thereby putting the enclosure 7 in communication with the
outside.
[0084] At this stage, the positioning means 115 are separated from
the baseplate 101, thereby freeing the openings 11, 12, 14 so as to
allow the air located in the air chambers 31, 41, 51 to exit to the
outside.
[0085] When the user wishes to position the inflating device 100 in
its inflating position PI illustrated in FIG. 6, the user begins by
engaging the positioning means 115 in the baseplate 101 while
making sure to correctly engage the guide means 121 between the
three protruding portions 110, 111, 112 of the ducts 102, 103, 104
on the one hand, and the thread 136 in the thread 109 on the other
hand.
[0086] By screwing the thread 136 in the thread 109, the guide
means 121 move in translation along the outer lateral edge of the
protruding portions 110, 111, 112 until reaching the hard point
generated by the action of the circumferential annular bead 138 of
the handling member 130 on the circumferential annular bead 106 of
the base 101.
[0087] By continuing to screw the seal beyond this hard point, the
O-ring 108 again exerts pressure on the wall of the inner face of
the outer cylindrical part 137 of the handling member 130, thereby
isolating the enclosure 7 from the outside.
[0088] The user connects the inflating pump to the duct 132 and
blows air into the enclosure 73 the non-return device 8.
[0089] The air passing through the duct 132 reaches the enclosure 7
on the one hand through the play remaining between the tappet 120
and the handling member 130 and on the other hand through orifices
129 formed in the closing means 122, 123, 124 necessarily putting
the upper part of one of the closing means 122, 123, 124 across
from the duct 132 due to one of the three positions allowed by the
guide means 121 in communication with a side wall of the same
closing means 122, 123, 124 emerging in the enclosure 7.
[0090] In this inflating position PI, the air chambers 31, 41, 51
are inflated simultaneously and the pressure of one of them is
balanced with respect to the other two.
[0091] At the end of inflation, the user returns the inflating
device 100 to the closed position P2 thereof illustrated in FIG. 4
by simply screwing the handling member 130 of the tappet 120 until
it abuts on the planar seals 125 on the flanks of the protruding
portions 110, 111, 112 of the ducts 102, 103, 104.
[0092] During this transition from the inflating position P1 to the
closed position P2, the inner wall of the outer cylindrical part
137 of the handling member 130 slides on the O-ring 108 following
the helical movement of the threads 109, 136, the O-ring 108
ensuring sealing between the enclosure 7 and the outside at all
times.
[0093] FIGS. 7 to 9 illustrate another alternative of this first
embodiment. Furthermore, this alternative is compatible with the
alternative previously described involving eliminating the
non-return device 8.
[0094] According to this alternative, the inflating device 100
comprises mistake-proofing means 150 in particular including first
positioning means 151 for the handling member 130 of the tappet 120
in the closed position P2, and second positioning means 152 for the
handling member 130 of the tappet 120 in the open position P1 and
more particularly in the inflating position PI of the inflatable
boat 2.
[0095] In this alternative embodiment, the inner thread 109 of the
stationary baseplate 101 and the thread 136 of the inner cylinder
part 135 of the handling member 130 of the tappet 120, cooperate
over substantially a half-revolution to go from the closed position
P2 to an open position P1 and vice versa.
[0096] Furthermore, still according to this alternative, the
circumferential annular bead 106 and the circumferential annular
bead 138 can be eliminated.
[0097] According to this alternative, the baseplate 101 comprises a
peripheral portion 153 in the shape of a hollow cylinder with a
small thickness, extending over its entire outer periphery,
substantially along the same plane as the bottom of the body 105 of
the baseplate 101 over a predetermined diameter greater than that
of the outer cylindrical part 137 of the handling member 130 of the
tappet 120.
[0098] The outer cylindrical part 137 of the handling member 130 of
the tappet 120 comprises a toroid peripheral annular portion 154,
extending over its outer lateral surface substantially along the
same plane as the bottom of the positioning member 130 of the
cylindrical tappet 120, over a predetermined diameter smaller than
that of the peripheral portion 153 of the baseplate 101.
[0099] The first positioning means 151 of the handling member 130
of the tappet 120 in the closed position P2 on the one hand
comprise a first closing member 155 supported by the peripheral
portion 153 of the baseplate 101 arranged to cooperate with a
second closing member 157 supported by the handling member 130 of
the tappet 120.
[0100] The first closing member 155 has a generally parallelepiped
shape with a small thickness extending substantially transversely
to the plane in which the peripheral portion 153 of the baseplate
101 extends from a first predetermined peripheral position of that
same peripheral portion 153 of the baseplate 101 to a height that
is also predetermined.
[0101] Furthermore, this first closing member 155 has an opening
156 passing through its surface at a predetermined height and
having a general rectangular shape.
[0102] The second closing member 157 has a generally parallelepiped
shape and protrudes from the outer surface of the outer cylindrical
part 137 of the handling member 130 of the tappet 120 with a
predetermined height and thickness.
[0103] The second positioning means 152 of the handling member 130
of the tappet 120 in the open position P1 and more particularly in
the inflating position PI of the inflatable boat 2 comprise a first
opening member 158 supported by the peripheral portion 153 of the
baseplate 101 on the one hand, arranged to cooperate with a second
opening member 159 supported by the handling member 130 of the
tappet 120.
[0104] The first opening member 158 is generally in the shape of a
rod extending transversely to the plane in which the peripheral
portion 153 of the baseplate 101 extends from a second
predetermined peripheral position of that same peripheral portion
153 of the baseplate 101 at a height that is also
predetermined.
[0105] The second predetermined peripheral position of the first
opening member 158 is substantially positioned opposite the first
predetermined peripheral position on the first closing member 155
on the peripheral portion 153 of the baseplate 101.
[0106] The second opening member 159 is formed by a centered and
transverse slit, formed on the second closing member 157 of the
first positioning means 151 of the handling member 130 of the
tappet 120.
[0107] This slit 159 comprises a width substantially equal to that
of the first opening member 158 in the form of a rod and divides
the second closing member 157 in two parts.
[0108] Furthermore, the second closing member 157 comprises a shape
substantially complementary to that of the opening 156 of the first
closing member 155 and is then situated across from that same
opening 156 when the handling member 130 of the tappet 120 is in
its closed position P2.
[0109] Furthermore, the second closing member 157 comprises a
thickness greater on the one hand than the distance separating the
handling member 130 of the tappet 120 and the first closing member
155, and on the other hand the distance separating that same
handling member 130 of the tappet 120 and the first opening member
158 when the handling member 130 of the tappet 120 is positioned
near the peripheral portion 153 of the base 101 after having been
engaged therein.
[0110] Thus, when the user wishes to inflate the inflatable boat 2,
he begins by screwing the handling member 130 of the tappet 120 on
the baseplate 101, then connects a pump to the inflating duct
132.
[0111] To that end, the inner thread 109 of the stationary
baseplate 101 and the thread 136 of the inner cylindrical part 135
of handling member 130 of the tappet 120, are arranged to limit the
number of rotations of the handling member 130 of the tappet 120 on
the baseplate 101, that rotation preferably not exceeding one
revolution.
[0112] The second closing member 157 and the second opening member
or slit 159 then reach the first opening member or rod 158.
[0113] The beveled shape of the first part of the second closing
member 157 then exerts lateral pressure on the first opening member
or rod 158, which forces it to deform elastically until that same
first opening member or rod 158 penetrates inside the second
opening member or slit 159 located at the middle of the second
closing member 157.
[0114] The inflating device 100 is then in an open position P1, and
more specifically in an inflating position PI in which the various
air chambers 31, 41, 51 communicate with each other and in which
the enclosure 6 is sealed.
[0115] In this position, the user then inflates the inflatable boat
by actuating the inflating pump.
[0116] To bring the inflating device 100 toward its closed position
P2, the user continues to screw the handling member 130 of the
tappet 120 on the baseplate 101, which frees the first opening
member or rod 158 from the second opening member or slit 159 by
causing a new elastic deformation of the first opening member or
rod 158 following the action of the second part of the second
closing member 157.
[0117] By continuing to screw a half-revolution from the previous
open position P1, the second closing member 157 reaches the first
closing member 155. The beveled shape of the first part of the
second closing member 157 followed by the second part of the second
closing member 157 then successively exerts lateral pressure on the
first closing member 155, which is then forced to deform
elastically until the second closing member 157 penetrates inside
the opening 156 formed in the first closing member 155.
[0118] The inflating device 100 is then in the closed position P2,
in which the various air chambers 31, 41, 51 are hermetic with
respect to one another.
[0119] In this closed position P2, the toroid peripheral annular
portion 154 of the handling member 130 of the tappet 120 bears on
the thin hollow cylindrical peripheral portion 153 of the baseplate
101.
[0120] According to another alternative of this first embodiment,
the inflating duct 132 is positioned near the center of the
handling member 130 of the tappet 120.
[0121] Furthermore, according to other alternatives, the inflating
duct 132 comprises a stopper 160 arranged to protect the inflating
duct 132, and the outer surface of the outer cylindrical part 137
of the handling member 130 of the tappet 120 comprises gripping
means 161 assuming the form of cavities arranged to facilitate
gripping of the positioning means 130 by a user.
[0122] According to the alternative of this first embodiment
comprising doing away with the non-return device 8, the user is
forced to return the inflating device 100 toward the closed
position P2 thereof before disconnecting the inflating pump from
the duct 132, which gives the inflating device 100 additional
security, thereby preventing the user from forgetting to return the
inflating device 100 to the closed position P2 thereof following
inflation of the inflatable boat 2.
[0123] In fact, only the closed position P2 guarantees compliance
with the standard according to which, following the step for
inflating the inflatable boat 2, the various air chambers 31, 41,
51 must be hermetic with respect to one another so as to guarantee
50% inflation of the inflatable boat 2 following a puncture.
[0124] Furthermore, this alternative makes it possible to deflate
the inflatable boat 2 if the latter is overinflated by unscrewing
and rescrewing the handling member 130 of the tappet 120.
[0125] Although the invention has been described with respect to
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.
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