Inflatable towable chariot

An inflatable towable chariot includes a generally U-shaped inflatable wall bladder insertable within an exterior jacket including a generally U-shaped wall pocket of a size and shape to receive and be substantially filled by the wall bladder upon inflation of the wall bladder. A floor is connected to the pocket and spans and substantially covers the area partially enclosed by the pocket for supporting a passenger on the chariot. The floor may likewise be constructed as a pocket for receiving either an inflatable floor bladder, or a rigid floor insert. Upon inflation of the wall bladder, the bladder and exterior jacket partially define the shape of one another and reinforce one another afford a relatively rigid raised wall. Handles on the exterior jacket accommodate securement of a passenger in any desired standing, kneeling, sitting or reclining position. The towing system includes a generally triangular shaped tongue covered by relatively nonstretchable fabric and secured to the exterior jacket across the rearward edge thereof to minimize side to side wobbling during towing of the chariot.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
1. Technical Field 
The present invention is directed generally to inflatable recreational 
passenger support devices and more particularly to a generally 
chariot-shaped towable inflatable apparatus for use on water and snow. 
2. Description of the Prior Art 
Towable inflatables for recreational water use likely originated with a 
rope tied to an automotive tire inner tube and pulled by a boat. In fact, 
a modified form of this early inner tube has survived all competition to 
remain one of the most popular towable inflatables on the market. The new 
tubes, or rings as they are called, include either a pvc or rubber tube 
situated within a fabric cover having a towing strap extended from one 
edge for connection to a power boat or the like. But such rings are not 
designed to accommodate more than one passenger; they ride so low as to 
afford little visibility to other traffic and the low profile affords 
little if any protection for passengers from wind, water, or any object 
which the ring may accidentally strike. 
One competitive inflatable device was the torpedo which was generally a 
long inflatable tube secured to a towing rope at one end and adapted to 
support multiple riders stratling the tube in generally horseback riding 
positions. Whereas this device gave the riders a different sensation than 
the conventional ring, it requires substantial skill on the part of the 
rider since it rolls easily in the water and, like the ring, it also has a 
very low profile not easily viewed by other traffic. 
For one to enjoy water sports in a standing or kneeling position, it has 
heretofore been necessary to use some device other than inflatables such 
as water skies or the more recently popular knee board which affords a 
surfboard-like experience for one being pulled behind a power boat. These 
devices also require the passenger to develop riding skills before they 
can be enjoyed and neither device provides protection from wind, water, 
objects and the like. 
Accordingly, the present invention is directed to an improved inflatable 
passenger support device. 
Another object is to provide an inflatable towable passenger support device 
in the shape of a chariot with raised front wall and side walls and a 
floor surface for supporting one or more passengers thereon in a standing, 
kneeling, sitting or reclining position. 
Another object is to provide an inflatable towable chariot having multiple 
handles on the top edge thereof and exterior side walls to accommodate 
both forward and side to side leaning movements of the chariot. 
Another object is to provide an inflatable towable chariot having raised 
side walls which enable the chariot to be easily seen by other traffic on 
the water or snow. 
Another object is to provide an improved inflatable towable chariot wherein 
an inflatable U-shaped wall bladder is enclosed within a fabric jacket 
such that the bladder and jacket reinforce one another to afford a 
generally rigid wall structure for protecting and securing the passenger 
or passengers on the chariot. 
Another object is to provide an inflatable towable chariot which is stable 
when being towed and easily mounted by a swimmer in the water adjacent the 
stationary chariot. 
Another object is to provide an improved inflatable towable chariot having 
a generally continuous triangular towing system to minimize side to side 
wobbling of the chariot in use. 
Finally, an object of the invention is to provide an improved inflatable 
towable chariot which is simple and rugged in construction, economical to 
manufacture and efficient in operation. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
The inflatable chariot-style passenger support apparatus of the present 
invention includes a generally U-shaped inflatable wall bladder encased 
within an exterior jacket including a generally U-shaped pocket of a size 
and shape to receive and be substantially filled by the wall bladder upon 
inflation of the wall bladder. A floor is connected to the pocket and 
spans and substantially covers the area partially enclosed by said 
U-shaped pocket for supporting a passenger thereon. Handles are provided 
adjacent the top edge of the jacket pocket and on the exterior walls 
thereof adjacent the rearward end of the chariot for a passenger to hold 
on to both when the chariot is pulled in a normal forward direction, or 
when leaning the chariot to accommodate turning movements. To connect the 
chariot to a towing vehicle, a towing system preferably includes a 
flexible generally triangular tongue having one edge connected to the 
U-shaped pocket at a central position adjacent the bottom wall, which 
tongue includes a generally continuous non-stretchable sheet substantially 
covering the triangular shape to reinforce the tongue and minimize side to 
side wobbling movement of the chariot. 
The open backed generally U-shaped raised wall is readily visible by other 
traffic on the water or snow and provides support for handles at an 
elevated position so that a passenger may comfortably and securely kneel 
or stand on the floor surface and hold onto the handles as the chariot is 
towed. The width of the chariot and number of handles are designed to 
accommodate more than one passenger. Besides standing and kneeling, the 
passengers may be seated or reclined within the chariot for all sorts of 
different sensations as the chariot is towed. The raised wall furthermore 
affords protection for the passenger against wind, water and can cushion 
any impact should the inflatable accidentally strike some object. 
The floor may be either a separate inflatable insert, preferably of 
longitudinal I-beam construction for rigidity, or a solid board for 
insertion through a zippered opening in the exterior jacket floor. 
Suitable openings are provided at rearward portions of both the U-shaped 
pocket of the exterior jacket and floor for drainage of any water which 
enters the jacket. 
Whereas the raised walls of the U-shaped wall bladder may be constructed of 
stacked U-shaped tube members, the walls may alternately be formed as a 
single chamber with horizontal or upright I-beam ribs to conform the walls 
to the desired upright shape. In one embodiment, the chariot may be formed 
as an inflatable device without any separate exterior protective jacket.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
The inflatable towable chariot 10 of the present invention is illustrated, 
in a preferred embodiment, in FIGS. 1 through 9, as including an exterior 
jacket 12 including a raised upright generally U-shaped wall pocket 14 and 
a floor 16 connected to the pocket and spanning and substantially covering 
the area partially enclosed by the pocket for supporting a passenger 
thereon. 
The generally U-shaped wall pocket 14 of the exterior jacket 12 has a 
generally U-shaped interior wall 18, a generally U-shaped exterior wall 20 
and top and bottom walls 22 and 24 to define an enclosed U-shaped chamber 
for receiving a raised upright inflatable wall bladder 26, as shown in 
FIG. 6. The U-shaped wall pocket 14 preferably has an upright zipper 
opening 28 at a central position on interior wall 18, which opening can be 
opened and closed by a zipper 30 to accommodate insertion and removal of 
the inflatable wall bladder 26 in a deflated condition. Zipper opening 28 
also provides access to the inflation valves 32 and 34 of the wall bladder 
26, as shown in FIG. 6. Upon insertion of the wall bladder 26 into the 
U-shaped wall pocket 14 and upon inflation of the wall bladder 26, the 
bladder fills the pocket and both the bladder 26 and pocket 74 tend to 
partially define the shape of the other and reinforce one another to 
afford a generally rigid wall capable of supporting and protecting a 
passenger riding on the chariot. 
The interior, exterior, top and bottom walls of the U-shaped wall pocket 14 
are preferably interconnected by interlocking double stitching with 
binding on the seams. The material of the exterior jacket may be any 
fabric or other sheet material which will add puncture resistance to the 
wall bladder 26. A generally nonstretchable fabric is preferred. It is 
preferred that at least the bottom wall to which the towing system is 
secured be 850 D or 1000 D nylon commercially available under the name 
Cordura. The upper walls of the exterior jacket may be of the same 
material or a lighter 600 D or 420 D nylon or nylon with pvc coating. The 
various walls of the exterior jacket afford ample surface area for 
colorful graphics, written indicia, advertisements or the like, all of 
which compliment the raised height of the chariot walls to provide 
increased visibility for safer operation. 
The floor 16 preferably includes a top sheet 36 and a bottom sheet 38 
defining a floor pocket of a size and shape to receive and be 
substantially filled by a stiffening insert. FIG. 7 illustrates an 
inflatable insert in the form of a floor bladder 40. Bladder 40 includes 
top and bottom walls 42 and 44, preferably of pvc sheet material and a 
heat seal peripheral seam as indicated at 46. The flat shape and rigidity 
are provided by a plurality of longitudinally extended interior I-beams 48 
which define interior chambers interconnected for filling by one or more 
air filler valves 50. Whereas a preferred floor bladder 40 is illustrated, 
it is readily apparent that the floor bladder could be constructed of 
"X-beam" construction, rather than "I-beam" construction; the beams may 
run either transversely or horizontally; all with the object of providing 
a relatively rigid floor insert for secure, safe and comfortable support 
of passengers riding on the chariot. 
Added rigidity may be provided by replacing the floor bladder 40 with a 
solid floor board insert 52, as illustrated in FIG. 13. Floor board insert 
52 may be made of plywood, perhaps 3/4" in thickness, plastic board or the 
like. 
One embodiment of the wall bladder 26 is illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 8. In 
this embodiment, the wall bladder 26 includes a separately inflatable top 
tube 54 and bottom tube 56 stacked one upon the other and a pair of spaced 
heat sealed seams 58 and 60 for securing the tubes together. As shown in 
FIG. 8, the top tube 54 is preferably constructed with a top sheet 62 and 
bottom sheet 64 heat sealed together along a continuous peripheral seam 66 
and including the inflation valve 32 as shown in FIG. 6. The bottom tube 
56 is of similar construction but preferably of larger diameter so that 
the walls have a slightly upwardly tampering width for added rigidity. 
It is apparent that the raised U-shaped wall bladder 26 may be constructed 
many different ways such as a single chamber wall structure having the 
shape defined by spaced apart horizontal or transverse I-beam ribs of 
similar pvc sheet material, for example. It is simply important that the 
wall bladder 26 be constructed to afford a relatively rigid U-shaped 
insert for the U-shaped wall pocket 14 of exterior jacket 12. In a 
prototype constructed according to the illustrated embodiment in FIGS. 6 
and 8, the top tube 54 has a 12" diameter and the bottom tube 56 a 15" 
diameter. Upon assembly into the exterior jacket 12, that jacket has a 
height of 27", a front to back length of 51" excluding the towing system 
and a maximum transverse width adjacent the lower end thereof of 
approximately 51". The height of the wall is therefore preferably about 
twice the thickness of the wall. The material of the wall bladder 26 is 
preferably between 20 and 30 gauge pvc sheet material. 
The chariot 10 is equipped with multiple handles 68 on the top wall 22 to 
accommodate one or more passengers in various positions. The handles are 
preferably longitudinally oriented and may be formed of a strap of 2" 
webbing 70 extended through a plastic sleeve 72 enclosed within a foam 
handle grip sleeve of EVA material, for example. Opposite ends of the 
webbing 70 are stitched to the top wall 22. The handles 68 are preferably 
symmetrically arranged two at the front of top wall 22 in spaced apart 
relation and two more adjacent the front end of the generally parallel 
side wall portions of the U-shaped wall pocket 14. Additional handles 76 
are provided adjacent both rearward ends of the exterior wall 20 of jacket 
12. Each adjacent pair of handles 76 may be formed from a single strip of 
webbing 78 stitched to the exterior wall 20 at opposite ends and between 
the handle grips 74. The position of these handles 76 both facilitates 
climbing onto the chariot from the water and they also enable a passenger 
to grip the chariot for leaning into turns. For example, when the towing 
boat swings to the right sending the chariot in an arc to the left, the 
passenger may wish to grasp one of the handles 76 on the left exterior 
wall and lean to his right to facilitate passage through the turn. The 
handle positions are also selected to comfortably accommodate a passenger 
in any position whether he/she be standing, kneeling, sitting or 
reclining. 
The towing system 80 is illustrated best in FIGS. 3 and 10 and includes a 
flexible generally triangular tongue 82 having a rearward edge 84 
connected to the U-shaped wall pocket 14 at a central position adjacent 
the floor 16. The tongue 82 is preferably constructed of an elongated 
strap 86 folded into a generally V-shape with a D-ring 88 at the free apex 
thereof and with the rearward opposite ends stitched to the bottom wall 24 
of the U-shaped wall pocket 14. The opposite sides of the straps are also 
stitched to a cross strap 90 which is stitched to a front bottom portion 
of exterior wall 20 for additional support. The opening between the 
opposite sides of strap 86 forwardly of exterior wall 20 is closed by a 
continuous generally nonstretchable sheet material having two edges 
secured to the strap 86 and a rearward edge secured to cross strap 90 on 
exterior wall 20. This continuous connection of the tongue to the exterior 
jacket along the transverse extent of the rearward end of the tongue 
rigidifies the tongue and stabilizes the chariot 10 against side to side 
wobbling movement as the chariot is towed through the water or over a snow 
surface. 
Whereas the inflatable chariot of the invention has been shown and 
described in connection with a preferred embodiment thereof. It is 
understood that many modifications, substitutions and additions may be 
made which are within the intended broad scope of the appended claims. For 
example, FIG. 14 illustrates a velcro retention strap 92 having an upper 
end secured by stitching or the like to the front of exterior wall 20 with 
a lower free end that may be directed through the D-ring 88 of the towing 
system 80 and doubled back on itself for securement by the hook and loop 
type Velcro fastening system to support the tongue in an elevated non-use 
position, such as for sliding down a snow hill. 
Alternately, FIG. 15 illustrates another embodiment of the invention 
wherein the chariot is constructed as a combination of an inflatable wall 
bladder 126 without any exterior jacket 12. In this embodiment, the 
handles 176 are secured directly to the wall bladder 26. Likewise, the 
towing system is secured directly to the wall bladder 126. 
Whereas the semi-circular rounded U-shape for the chariot is preferred, the 
term "U-shaped" is alternately intended to encompass a V-shape, square 
cornered U-shape or any other such shape having a closed front, opposite 
side walls and open at the back for easy entry onto the floor 16.