Patent Publication Number: US-10773173-B1

Title: Inflatable structure with drain system

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Field of the Invention 
     This invention relates generally to inflatable structures, and more particularly to drains, for air and water, for inflatable structures. 
     Description of Related Art 
     The prior art shows some examples of drains for inflatables, such as those which are glued to a structure and include hook-and-loop fasteners for opening and closing a drain flap. One issue with this type of drain is that the hook-and-loop fasteners tend to wear over time, and eventually will fail to properly contain air within the inflatable device. 
     The prior art does not teach an inflatables drain which is simple to manufacture and use, and is durable enough for long usage without failure. The present invention fulfills these needs and provides further advantages as described in the following summary. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention teaches certain benefits in construction and use which give rise to the objectives described below. 
     The present invention provides an inflatable structure comprising an air mattress capable of sustaining an air pressure, the air mattress having a side wall and a mattress aperture through the side wall of the air mattress. The inflatable structure further has a panel having a first pair of opposing edges, a second pair of opposing edges, and a panel aperture through the panel, and fasteners for fastening the first pair of opposing edges to the air mattress such that the panel aperture is positioned over the mattress aperture. Finally, the inflatable structure includes an elongate sheet having side edges that extend from a first end to a second end, the elongate sheet having a sheet aperture. The elongate sheet is slidably mounted between the panel and the air mattress so that the elongate sheet may slide between a closed position wherein the elongate sheet covers the mattress aperture to provide an airtight seal over the air mattress, and an open position wherein the sheet aperture is aligned with the mattress aperture and the panel aperture, thereby permitting air/water to drain out of the air mattress. 
     A primary objective of the present invention is to provide an inflatable structure having advantages not taught by the prior art. 
     Another objective is to provide an inflatable structure which is simply constructed and easy to install. 
     A further objective is to provide an inflatable structure which is durable. 
     Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following more detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which illustrate, by way of example, the principles of the invention. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The accompanying drawings illustrate the present invention. In such drawings: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an inflatable structure with drain system according to one embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is an exploded perspective view thereof; 
         FIG. 3  is a front elevational view thereof, in a closed position; 
         FIG. 4  is a front elevational view thereof, in a partially open position; and 
         FIG. 5  is a front elevational view thereof, in an open position. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The above-described drawing figures illustrate the invention, an inflatable structure with drain for removing water and air from inflatables such as an air mattress, inflatable slide, etc. 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the inflatable structure  10  according to one embodiment of the present invention.  FIG. 2  is an exploded perspective view thereof. As shown in  FIGS. 1-2 , the inflatable structure  10  comprises an air mattress  20 , a panel  30 , and an elongate sheet  40 , each described in greater detail herewith. The air mattress  20  is capable of sustaining an air pressure, and has a side wall  22  which includes a mattress aperture  24 . For the purposes of this application, “air mattress” is hereby defined to include any inflatable structure including a side wall which may be used to drain air or water, including inflatable slides, bounce-houses, inflatable pool products, or any related products in the field. The term “side wall” is defined to include any location on the air mattress  20 , including any location on any side, the top, bottom, or elsewhere deemed suitable by the designer. The air mattress  20  may be manufactured including the mattress aperture  24 , or the mattress aperture  24  may be cut into an existing air mattress for use with the present invention. 
     The panel  30  comprises a first pair of opposing edges  32 , a second pair of opposing edges  34 , and a panel aperture  36  through the panel  30 . The panel  30  may be in the form of a flexible sheet of a variety of materials, e.g., PVC, nylon, vinyl, etc., or any other similar materials known to those skilled in the art. In alternative embodiments, however, the panel  30  may be formed of other materials and structure (e.g., a rigid or semi-rigid sheet or housing, etc.), and any alternatives known to those skilled in the art should be considered within the scope of the present invention. 
     Fasteners  38  may be used for fastening the first pair of opposing edges  32  to the air mattress  20  such that the panel aperture  36  is positioned over the mattress aperture  24  (shown in  FIGS. 3-5 ). In this embodiment, the fasteners  38  are in the form of sewn thread, but in other embodiments, the panel  30  may be glued, welded, fastened (e.g., with mechanical fasteners), or otherwise attached to the air mattress  20 . The panel  30  may be generally rectangular, such that the first pair of opposing edges  32  are approximately parallel, explained in greater detail later. The second pair of opposing edges  34  are not attached to the air mattress  20 , to allow the elongate sheet  40  to pass between them, as described below. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 1-2 , the elongate sheet  40  is intermediate the panel  30  and the air mattress  20 , and includes side edges  42  that extend from a first end  44   a  to a second end  44   b . The elongate sheet  40  may further include a connector, e.g., a ribbon or strap (not shown) for retaining the sheet between the panel  30  and the air mattress  20 . The elongate sheet  40  may be constructed of the same or similar material as the panel  30  and the air mattress  20 , or be made of any other suitable material known to those in the art. In this embodiment, the first and second ends  44   a  and  44   b  of the elongate sheet  40  taper inwardly from the side edges  42 , facilitating movement of the sheet  40  be reducing friction between the sheet  40  and the panel  30 . The elongate sheet  40  further has a sheet aperture  48  for selectively allowing air or water to drain out of the mattress aperture  24 , the panel aperture  36 , and the sheet aperture  48 , as elaborated below. 
       FIG. 3  is a front elevational view of the inflatable structure with drain, showing the whole assembly in a closed position. As shown in  FIG. 3 , the elongate sheet  40  is slidably mounted between the panel  30  and the air mattress  20  so that the elongate sheet  40  may slide between the closed position, wherein the mattress aperture  24  is covered, and an open position (shown in  FIG. 5 ). In the closed position, the elongate sheet  40  covers the mattress aperture  24  and provides a seal (or at least a partial seal) over the air mattress  20 . The panel  30  holds the elongate sheet  40  in place. 
       FIG. 4  is a front elevational view of the inflatable structure  10 , in a partially open position, illustrating a user&#39;s hand gripping the first end  44   a  of the elongate sheet  40  to pull the elongate sheet  40  from the closed position to a partially open position, towards the fully open position shown in  FIG. 5 . In this embodiment, the first pair of opposing edges  32  of the panel  30 , and the side edges  42  of the elongate sheet  40  are each approximately parallel, such that the first pair of opposing edges  32  guide the side edges  42 , as on a track, when a user pulls the first or second ends  44   a  or  44   b  of the elongate sheet  40  to open or close the inflatable structure with drain  10 . 
       FIG. 5  is a front elevational view of the inflatable structure  10 , in the fully open position. 
     In the open position, the sheet aperture  48  is aligned with the mattress aperture  24  and the panel aperture  36 , thereby permitting air/water to drain out of the air mattress  20 . 
     As used in this application, the words “a,” “an,” and “one” are defined to include one or more of the referenced item unless specifically stated otherwise. The terms “approximately” and “about” are defined to mean +/−10%, unless otherwise stated. Also, the terms “have,” “include,” “contain,” and similar terms are defined to mean “comprising” unless specifically stated otherwise. Furthermore, the terminology used in the specification provided above is hereby defined to include similar and/or equivalent terms, and/or alternative embodiments that would be considered obvious to one skilled in the art given the teachings of the present patent application. While the invention has been described with reference to at least one particular embodiment, it is to be clearly understood that the invention is not limited to these embodiments, but rather the scope of the invention is defined by claims made to the invention.