FR2891238A1 - Inflatable floating device for use in water sports has rudder plate is connected to the bottom end of the rotary shaft of the steering device and is disposed outwards of the bottom side - Google Patents

Abstract

A steering device (4) is mounted on the inflatable body (100) and includes a rotary shaft (42) extending through the penetrating hole (111). of the same body. A steering handle (43) is connected to the top end of the rotary shaft and is disposed outward of the top side. A rudder plate (44) is connected to the bottom end of the rotary shaft and disposed outwards of the bottom side.

Description

2891238 1

INFLATABLE FLOATING DEVICE

  The invention relates to a floating device, more particularly to an inflatable floating device.

  In many water sports devices are used which are driven by an engine so as to be propelled to the surface of the water. If the engine has a malfunction or is removed from the device, the user must use his hands or a train to advance the device to the surface of the water, which can be painful. In the case where the device is an inflatable device, no auxiliary part is provided which can be directly connected to a body of the device which makes it possible to advance the device and to dispense with any direct or indirect use of the motor. In addition, the conventional inflatable floating device is not provided with a counterweight or a rudder element so that it can not stably float on the surface of the water and that its direction of advance does not can not be ordered.

  Therefore, the main object of the present invention is to provide an inflatable floating device, which includes a steering device for facilitating the direct change of the inflatable floating device during the water advance.

  Another object of the present invention is to provide an inflatable floating device which can control and stabilize a feed direction.

  According to the present invention, there is provided an inflatable floating device, characterized in that it comprises an inflatable body including front and rear ends, upper and lower faces and a through hole passing through said upper and lower faces, and a device headpiece mounted on said inflatable body and comprising a rotary shaft traversing said through hole, a steering handle connected to an upper end of said rotary shaft and disposed outside said upper face, and a rudder plate connected to a lower end said rotary shaft is disposed outside said lower face.

  According to another characteristic of the invention, said steering device further comprises a support tube inserted in said through hole around said rotary shaft, said rotary shaft being rotatably received in said support tube.

  According to another characteristic of the invention, said inflatable body further comprises first, second and third inflatable parts, said steering device mounted on said third inflatable part, said third inflatable part being connected to and arranged between said first and second parts inflatable.

  According to another characteristic of the invention, said rudder plate can be switched between a first configuration, in which said rudder plate is situated in a plane substantially aligned with an axis of said rotary shaft, and a second configuration, in which said plane said rudder plate is inclined with respect to said rotary shaft.

  According to another characteristic of the invention, said rudder plate can be detached from said rotary shaft to switch said rudder plate between a first configuration, wherein said rudder plate is located in a plane substantially aligned with an axis of said rotary shaft, and a second configuration, wherein said plane of said rudder plate is inclined with respect to said rotary shaft.

  According to another characteristic of the invention, said support tube has a lower support near said lower side of said inflatable body, said inflatable body further comprising a first retaining unit provided on said lower face to be applied against said lower support so as to prevent rotation of said support tube.

  According to another feature of the invention, said support tube further has an externally threaded end near said upper side of said inflatable body, a restrictor plate, which has a threaded hole attached to said externally threaded section.

  According to another characteristic of the invention, a limiting element provided near said lower face of said inflatable body to limit said rotary shaft to rotate at a limited angle.

  According to another characteristic of the invention, said limiting element is provided on said support tube near said lower face.

  According to another characteristic of the invention, two diametrically opposed curved elements formed on said lower support around said rotary shaft, said rotary shaft having a radial projecting portion which protrudes between said curved elements.

  According to another characteristic of the invention, said rotary shaft further has a first fixed portion located on the lower end of said rotary shaft, said rudder plate having a second fixed portion connected to said first fixed portion.

  According to another characteristic of the invention, said inflatable body further comprises a rear spoiler pivotably connected to said rear end.

  Other features and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the description given hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: - Figure 1 is an exploded perspective view of the preferred embodiment of a floating device inflatable according to the present invention; FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the preferred embodiment in an assembled state; Fig. 3 is a partial sectional front view of the preferred embodiment, which shows a rudder plate in a first configuration; Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 3 but showing the rudder plate in a second configuration; FIG. 5 is a diagrammatic bottom view of the preferred embodiment, taken along the line VV in FIG. 3 and showing radial projections of a rotary shaft abutting against one end of elements of curves of tubes of support; - Figure 6 is a view similar to Figure 5, but illustrating the radial projections abutting against another end of the curved elements; Figure 7 is a partial sectional view of the preferred embodiment taken along line VII-VII in Figure 2; Figure 8 is a schematic side elevational view of the preferred embodiment, showing how a rear wing pivots downwardly when a front end of an inflatable body is pushed down; FIG. 9 is a view similar to FIG. 8, but on which the rear wing is moved upwards when the front end of the inflatable body is pushed upwards; and Fig. 10 is a schematic plan view of the preferred embodiment.

  With reference to Figures 1 to 4, the preferred embodiment of an inflatable floating device according to the present invention is shown to include an inflatable body 100 and a steering device 4.

  In this embodiment, the inflatable body 100 resembles a dolphin and includes front and rear ends, top and bottom faces, and a through hole 111 that passes through the top and bottom faces. The underside of the inflatable body 100 is convex downwardly between the front and rear ends, and the width of the inflatable body 100 is adjusted toward the front end from a portion of the inflatable body 100 between the front and rear ends. rearward to facilitate a downward movement of the front end of the inflatable body 100 in the water.

  The inflatable body 100 includes first, second and third inflatable portions 2, 3, 1. The first and second inflatable portions 2, 3 are respectively connected to the opposite side of the third inflatable portion 1 and resemble the fins of the dolphin. The first, second and third inflatable portions 2, 3, 1 have first, second and third respective air chambers 24, 34, 14 of the respective first, second and third upper walls 21, 31, 11 and the first, second and third lower walls 22, 32, 12. The through hole 111 is formed in the third inflatable portion 1. Since each of the first, second and third bottom walls 22, 32, 12 extend upward and curl from of a respective median part, indentations 20, 30 (see FIGS. 3, 4 and 7) are defined between the third bottom wall 12 and the first bottom wall 22 and between the third bottom wall 12 and the second bottom wall 32. The indentations 20, 30 extend substantially in a forward-to-back direction.

  The inflatable body 100 further comprises a first retaining unit 13, a second retaining unit 14, a connecting element 15 and a rear wing 16.

  The first retaining unit is provided on the third bottom wall 12 near a front end thereof, and comprises two spaced apart first leg portions 131 each of which is heat sealed to the third bottom wall 12 and has a first positioning hole 132.

  The second retaining unit 14 is provided on the third bottom wall 12 near a rear end thereof and includes two second spaced tab portions 141, each of which is heat sealed to the third bottom wall 12 and has a second positioning hole 142.

  The connecting member 15 is pivotably connected to the third holding unit 14, is substantially U-shaped and has spaced upper and lower arms 151, 152 and a pivot plate 154 which extends to provide a bridging between the upper and lower arms 151, 152. The upper and lower arms 151, 152 respectively have upper and lower rear edges 1511, 1521. The pivoting plate 154 has a pivoting hole 141. The upper arm 151 is provided with a lug-shaped member 1512 which is pivotably connected to the second lug-shaped portions 141 by the insertion of a pivot pin 153 into a through-hole formed of an element legform 1512, and the second positioning holes 142 in the second leg-shaped portions 141.

  The rear wing 16 has a swivel bifurcated front portion 167 which defines an elongate groove 160 for engagement of the swivel plate 157. A swivel rod 164 traverses pivot holes in the swivel front portion 167 and the swivel hole. 1541 in the swivel plate 154 so as to pivotably connect the rear spoiler 16 to the connecting member 15. When the rear spoiler 16 is connected in this manner, the front swivel portion 167 may swing upwardly and downwardly between the upper and lower arms 151, 152 and is capable of coming into contact with the upper and lower rear edges 1511, 1521, which limit the displacement of the front pivoting portion 167.

  The rear wing 16 further includes upper and lower frame members 161, 162 connected to the front pivoting portion 167, a flexible thin section 163 clamped between the upper and lower frame members 161, 162. In this embodiment, the upper and lower frame members 161, 162 are made of an injection molded plastic material so as to ensure a high degree of mechanical strength for the rear wing 16, while the thin section 163 is formed of rubber so as to reduce the total weight of the rear wing 16. The thin section 163 is cut to match the shape of the tail of a dolphin.

  In this embodiment, the steering device 4 is mounted on the third inflatable portion 1 and comprises a support tube 41, a rotary shaft 42, a steering handle 43 and a rudder plate 44.

  The support tube 41 is inserted into the through hole 111 and has a lower support 411 near the third bottom wall 12, an externally threaded section 413 near the third top wall 11, a limiting plate 45. The support bottom 411 has two locating pins 414, which protrude outwardly in opposite radial directions and engage respectively in the first locating holes 132 so as to prevent rotation of the support tube 41. Limiting plate 45 has a tapped hole 451 cooperating with the externally threaded section 413. When the third inflatable portion 1 is inflated, the limiting plate 45 closely abuts against the third upper wall 11, which limits the displacement of the support tube 41 relative to to the third inflatable part 1.

  A limiting member 415 (see Figures 5 and 6) is provided on the support tube 41 and comprises two diametrically opposed curved elements 4151 which are formed on a lower face of the lower support 411 about the rotatable shaft 42.

  The rotary shaft 42 is rotatably housed in the support tube 41 and has two opposed radial protruding portions 422, a first fixed portion 423 on the lower end of the rotary shaft 42, and a first connecting portion 424. on the upper end of the rotary shaft 42. The radial projections 422 protrude between the curved elements 4151 so as to limit the rotation of the rotary shaft 42 to a limited angle. The first fixed portion 423 is substantially L-shaped and is provided with three spaced second positioning holes 426, 427, 428. The first connecting portion 424 protrudes out of the externally threaded section 413 of the support tube 41 and includes a third positioning hole 425.

  The steering handle 43 is connected to the upper end of the rotary shaft 42, is disposed outside the third upper wall 11 and includes a second connecting portion 431 for its connection to the first connecting portion 424, a joystick portion 432 disposed at the top of the second connection portion 431, and a first attachment bolt 433. The second connection portion 431 includes a fourth radial positioning hole 434. The first attachment bolt 433 passes through the fourth positioning hole 434 and the third positioning hole 425 so as to fix the steering handle 43 on the rotary shaft 42.

  The rudder plate 44 is releasably connected to a lower end of the rotary shaft 42 and is disposed outside the third bottom wall 12 and has a second fixed portion 442 and two attachment bolts 443, 444. The second attachment portion 442 includes two parallel plates, which protrude upwardly from an upper end of the rudder plate 44 and define therebetween a groove 445 for receiving the first fixed portion 423. Each clamping plate has two fifth aligned alignment holes 446, 447.

  When the second attachment bolts 443, 444 are mounted in the fifth positioning holes 446, 447 formed in the respective clamping plates, and in the corresponding second locating holes 426, 427 formed in the rotary shaft 42, the rudder 44 is placed in a first configuration as is best seen in Figure 3, wherein the rudder plate 44 is located in a plane substantially aligned with an axis of rotation 42. When the inflatable body 100 is disposed on the water the rudder plate 44 can be rotated about a vertical axis by means of the steering handle 43 to control a direction of advance of the inflatable body 100.

  When the second securing bolts 443, 444 are mounted in the fifth positioning holes 446, 447 formed in the respective clamping plates and in the corresponding second locating holes 428, 427, the rudder plate 44 is placed in a second configuration. as best shown in FIG. 4, in which the plane of the rudder plate 44 is inclined with respect to the rotary shaft 42.

  When the inflatable body 100 is taken out of the water, the rudder plate 44 is placed in the second configuration so that the rudder plate 44 is not easily damaged when, for example, the inflatable body 100 is pulled onto the ground .

  When the joystick 43 is rotated, the rudder plate 44 rotates so that the direction of advance of the inflatable body 100 is changed as previously described. At this time, the radial projections 422 are moved clockwise or counterclockwise. As shown in Fig. 5, when the radial projections 422 are moved counterclockwise, the radial projections 422 abut against one end of the curved members 4151. When moving the radial projections 422 clockwise, as shown in FIG. 6, the radial projecting portions 422 abut against another end of the curved elements 4151. Because of the presence of the radial projecting portions 422 and the curved elements 4151, the angle of rotation of the joystick 43 is limited to a limited range.

  With reference to FIG. 7, to improve the stability of the inflatable floating device according to the present invention on the water, a counterweight 23, 33 is disposed in each of the first and second inflatable parts 2, 3 adjacent to the first or the second part. lower 22, 32 so as to prevent the inflatable body 100 is turned. The counterweight 23, 33 in each of the first and second inflatable parts 2, 3 can be made by filling with water, a space sealed in the inflatable body 100 before the air inflation is sent in the first, second and third inflatable parts 2, 3, 1. However, instead of water, other counterweight elements may be used, such as sand, pieces of lead, etc. Referring to Figure 8, when the front end of the inflatable body 100 is pushed down, the rear end of the inflatable body 100 moves upwards. At this moment, the rear wing 16 pivots downwards and abuts against the lower rear edge 1521. When the inflatable body 100 is pushed downwards, the front ends of the first, second and third inflatable parts 2, 3 , 1 propel the water backwards, thereby advancing the inflatable body 100. Due to the presence of the indentations 20 and 30, the water can be efficiently collected and discharged backwards, which increases the speed beforehand.

  On the contrary, with reference to FIG. 9, when the front end of the inflatable body 100 is pulled upward, the rear end of the inflatable body 100 lowers, and the rear wing 16 pivots upwardly and comes into abutment against the upper rear edge 1511. The upward and downward movements of the rear wing can facilitate the advance of the inflatable body 100.

  With reference to FIG. 10, to facilitate the actuation of the inflatable body 100, the hands of the user can grasp the gripping portion 432 of the joystick portion 432 of the joystick 43. In addition, the first and second walls 21, 31 of the first and second inflatable parts 2, 3 are respectively provided with non-slip elements 211, 311 so that when the driver is sitting on the third inflatable part 1 while kneeling or climbing on the element anti-skid 211, 311, the driver can maintain his position without sliding of the inflatable body 100.

  In the whole of the description mentioned

  of the present invention, it is obvious that the upward and downward alternating movement accelerates the advance of the inflatable body 100. In addition, the driver can control the direction of advance of the inflatable body 100 at will of the steering device 4.

Claims (12)

  An inflatable floating device, characterized in that it comprises: an inflatable body (100) including front and rear ends, upper and lower faces and a through hole (101) passing through said upper and lower faces, and a direction (4) mounted on said inflatable body (100) and comprising a rotatable shaft (42) passing through said through hole (111), a steering handle (43) connected to an upper end of said rotary shaft (42) and disposed at a outside said upper face, and a rudder plate (44) connected to a lower end of said rotary shaft (42) is disposed outside said lower face.   An inflatable floating device according to claim 1, wherein said steering device (4) further comprises a support tube (41) inserted into said through hole (111) around said rotary shaft (42), said rotary shaft (42) ) being rotatably received in said support tube (41).   The inflatable floating device according to claim 2, wherein said inflatable body (100) further comprises first, second and third inflatable portions (2, 3, 1), said steering device (43) mounted on said third inflatable portion. (1), said third inflatable portion (1) being connected to and disposed between said first and second inflatable portions (2, 3).   An inflatable floating device according to claim 1, wherein said rudder plate (44) is switchable between a first configuration, wherein said rudder plate (44) is located in a plane substantially aligned with an axis of said rotary shaft (42), and a second configuration, wherein said plane of said rudder plate (44) is inclined with respect to said rotatable shaft (42).   An inflatable floating device according to claim 1, wherein said rudder plate (44) is detachable from said rotary shaft (42) for switching said rudder plate (44) between a first configuration, wherein said rudder plate (44) ) is located in a plane substantially aligned with an axis of said rotary shaft (42), and a second configuration, wherein said plane of said rudder plate (44) is inclined with respect to said rotary shaft (42).   An inflatable floating device according to claim 2, wherein said support tube (41) has a lower support (411) near said lower side of said inflatable body (100), said inflatable body (100) further comprising a first unit retainer (13) provided on said lower face for engaging against said lower support (411) to prevent rotation of said support tube (41).   The inflatable floating device according to claim 6, wherein said support tube (41) further has an externally threaded end (413) proximate said upper side of said inflatable body (100), a limiting plate (45), which has a tapped hole (451) attached to said externally threaded section (413).   An inflatable floating device according to claim 2, further comprising a limiting member (415) provided near said lower face of said inflatable body (100) for limiting said rotary shaft (42) to rotate at a limited angle .   The inflatable floating device according to claim 8, wherein said limiting member (415) is provided on said support tube (41) near said lower face.   The inflatable floating device according to claim 6, further comprising two diametrically opposed curved members (4151) formed on said lower support (411) about said rotary shaft (42), said rotary shaft (42) having a radial projection (422). which protrudes between said curved elements (4151).   The inflatable floating device according to claim 5, wherein said rotary shaft (42) further has a first fixed portion (423) located on the lower end of said rotary shaft (42), said rudder plate (44) having a second fixed portion (442) connected to said first fixed portion (423).   The inflatable floating device according to claim 1, wherein said inflatable body (100) further comprises a rear fin (16) pivotally connected to said rear end.