Inflatable articles with self-contained inflation mechanism

• US 20030032507A1
• Filed: 08/01/2002
• Published: 02/13/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 10/14/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Russell Brands LLC (Berkshire Hathaway Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Spalding Sports Worldwide, Inc. (Berkshire Hathaway Incorporated)
• Inventors: Stahl, Joseph E., Polk, Louis F. III, Schachtner, Joseph J., Schomburg, Kenneth V., Lacroix, Matthew K., Amundsen, Neil T., Touhey, Daniel P., Stickler, George D., Melvin, Terence, Feeney, Brian P.
• Granted Patent: US 6,887,173 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 473/593
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2041/005 with counterweight for adjusting the centre of gravity
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 41/00 Hollow inflatable balls
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 41/12 Tools or devices for blowing up or closing balls for pricking-balls A63B39/04
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 2027/1033 Inflation devices or methods for inflating balloons
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 2027/1083 Valves or nozzles
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 27/10 Balloons connection of valves to inflatable elastic bodies B60C29/00; other than toy aspects B64B1/40
• CPC Class Codes: B63B 2059/025 pneumatic, e.g. inflatable
• CPC Class Codes: B63B 59/02 Fenders integral with waterborne vessels or specially adapted therefor, e.g. fenders forming part of the hull or incorporated in the hull; Rubbing-strakes fenders on coasts, in harbours or on other fixed marine structures E02B3/26
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 33/00 Pumps actuated by muscle power, e.g. for inflating
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 15/147 the closure elements having specially formed slits or being of an elongated easily collapsible form
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 15/202 and with flexible valve member

Abstract

Inflatable articles with self-contained mechanisms, such as sporting equipment, medical equipment, recreational devices and toys, preferably any inflatable article with at least one mechanism for inflating or adding pressure to the article, or for deflating or removing pressure from the piece of equipment, such that the mechanism is located inside the article are disclosed.

Claims

1. An inflatable article comprising at least one internal pump, wherein the at least one pump includes means for actuating the pump and wherein the pump includes means for pumping ambient air into the article and means for preventing the pumped air from escaping out of the article, and further wherein the pump is essentially flush with or slightly below the surface of the article when not in use.

2. The inflatable article of claim 1, wherein the at least one pump is small and lightweight and weighs about 5 to about 200 grams.

3. The inflatable article of claim 1, wherein the article is piece of sports equipment, a recreational device, a medical device, or a toy.

4. The inflatable article of claim 1, wherein the article is a bumper or fender for a boat.

5. The inflatable article of claim 1, wherein the at least one pump is slightly below the surface of the article when not in use.

6. The inflatable article of claim 1, wherein the article comprises at least two internal pumps.

7. The inflatable article of claim 6, wherein the at least two internal pumps are in different locations or areas on the article.

8. The inflatable article of claim 1, further including means inside the article to counterbalance the weight of the at least one internal pump.

9. The inflatable article of claim 1, further including means to bleed air from or decrease the pressure of the article.

10. An inflatable article comprising an internal pump, said pump including a cylinder having an air outlet into said article, a one-way valve attached to said air outlet permitting air flow from said cylinder into said article and preventing air flow from said article back into said cylinder, means in said cylinder operable to draw ambient air from outside said article into said cylinder and to force said drawn ambient air from said cylinder through said one-way valve into said article and further including means for actuating said pump from outside said article.

11. The inflatable article of claim 10, wherein the pump is small and lightweight and weighs about 5 to about 200 grams.

12. The inflatable article of claim 10, wherein the article is piece of sports equipment, a recreational device, a medical device, or a toy

13. The inflatable article of claim 10, wherein the article is a bumper or fender for a boat.

14. The inflatable article of claim 10, wherein said pump is slightly below the surface of the article when not in use.

15. The inflatable article of claim 10, wherein the article comprises at least two internal pumps.

16. The inflatable article of claim 15, wherein the at least two internal pumps are in different locations or areas on the article.

17. The inflatable article of claim 10, further including means inside the article to counterbalance the weight of the at least one internal pump.

18. The inflatable article of claim 10, further including means to bleed air from or decrease the pressure of the article.