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.

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 10   f , 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 P 2  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 P 1 . 
         [0076]    This consideration is valid for this first embodiment as well as the following embodiments described hereafter. 
         [0077]    In the closed position P 2  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 P 2  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 P 1  to the closed position P 2 , 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 P 2 , and second positioning means  152  for the handling member  130  of the tappet  120  in the open position P 1  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 P 2  to an open position P 1  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 P 2  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 P 1  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 P 2 . 
         [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 P 1 , 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 P 2 , 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 P 1 , 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 P 2 , in which the various air chambers  31 ,  41 ,  51  are hermetic with respect to one another. 
         [0119]    In this closed position P 2 , 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 P 2  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 P 2  thereof following inflation of the inflatable boat  2 . 
         [0123]    In fact, only the closed position P 2  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.