Patent Publication Number: US-7210976-B2

Title: Inflatable raft with inflatable climbing slide

Description:
RELATED APPLICATION 
   This application claims the benefit of my copending U.S. Provisional Application Serial No. 60/246,151 filed Nov. 3, 2000. 

   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field 
   The invention is in the field of inflatable play structures for use in water or on land. 
   2. State of the Art 
   In recent years inflatable structures or inflatables, especially water toys and lounges or mats that people lay on while in the water have become very popular. With their increased popularity in recent years, more sophisticated inflators and valves have been developed which has opened up opportunities for even larger inflatable designs. Nearly all such inflatables on the market are used passively, i.e., a user lies on, sits on, or rides on them. There are very few inflatables which are interactive with the user thereof. Interactive inflatables on the market include small, inflatable slides such as those which fit within or otherwise interface with small children&#39;s wading pools. Such inflatable slides are not useable in adult pools or lakes, either at the edge thereof or actually in the water. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   According to the invention, an inflatable slide, which includes a substantially vertical end and a sloped surface extending from the top of the vertical end downwardly toward the opposite end of the slide, is secured to an inflatable platform which forms a stabilizing base for the inflatable slide. The platform provides a standing area to start ascent of or use of the slide when the structure is used in water or a cushioned landing area for users of the slide when the structure is used on land. The position of attachment of the inflatable slide to the inflatable platform may be changed for water or land use. 
   The inflatable platform, which serves as a raft in the water, with the inflatable slide thereon makes it possible to not only have a slide that can be safely used around the perimeter of an adult pool, but in the pool, on the water, off a dock, or in a lake. Additionally, it can also be used on the grass, indoors at home, or in a daycare or preschool environment. 

   
     THE DRAWINGS 
     The best mode presently contemplated for carrying out the invention is illustrated in the accompany drawings, in which: 
       FIG. 1  is a front right side perspective view of the inflatable play structure of the invention; 
       FIG. 2 , a rear left side perspective view of the inflatable play structure of the invention; 
       FIG. 3  a top plan view of the structure of  FIGS. 1 and 2 ; 
       FIG. 4 , a bottom plan view; 
       FIG. 5 , a side elevation of the structure showing the positioning of the slide to provide a standing area on the platform behind the slide; 
       FIG. 6 , a side elevation of the opposite side to that of  FIG. 5 ; 
       FIG. 7 , a front elevation of the structure; 
       FIG. 8 , a rear elevation of the structure; 
       FIG. 9 , a front right side perspective view similar to that of  FIG. 1 , but showing an alternate positioning of the slide with respect to the platform to provide a landing area on the platform in front of the slide; 
       FIG. 10 , a side elevation of the structure of  FIG. 9 ; 
       FIG. 11 , a side elevation of a clip means for securing the slide to the platform showing the two disconnected; and 
       FIG. 12 , a side elevation of the clip of  FIG. 11  showing the clip secured together. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENTS 
   The inflatable play structure of the invention includes an inflatable platform  10  having a top surface  11  and an inflatable slide  12  having a bottom surface  13  with the bottom surface  13  of the slide  12  mounted on the top surface  11  of the platform  10 . Slide  12  is secured to platform  10  by clips  14 , such as releasable clips which allow separation of the slide and platform by a user, or other suitable securement means. Slide  12  includes a substantially vertical wall or end  15  with a sloped slide surface  16  extending from the top of the substantially vertical end  15  downwardly toward the opposite end  17  to form a slide surface upon which a user can slide from the upper end at the top of end  15  downwardly to and off the opposite end of the sloped slide surface  16 . End  17  may extend upwardly from slide bottom surface  13  a short distance (shorter distance than end  15 ), as shown, or may be substantially flush with the edge of bottom surface  13 . Inflatable sides  20  may be provided extending along the sides of sloped slide surface  16  to ensure that a user does not slide off a side of the surface. 
   The play structure of the invention may be used in water or on land. When the structure is used in water, it is preferred that the slide  12  be positioned on the platform  10  as shown in  FIGS. 1 ,  2 ,  3 ,  5 , and  6 , to provide platform space  21  between end  22  of platform  10  and end  15  of slide  12 . Preferable there is about two feet of platform extending behind end  15  of slide  12  to provide room for users to stand and prepare for use of the slide. Handles  25  are secured to platform  10 , such as on top surface  11 , to help a user mount the platform from the water. Handles  26 , and foot receiving grip holes  27  if desired, may be provided to help a user get onto the sloped slide surface. Foot holds  27  may be formed by baffles extending through the slide. The end  17  of the slide is positioned in close proximity to the edge  28  of the platform, allowing the user to have an unobstructed free fall from the end of the slide surface into the water. This configuration is also used when the structure is placed on land directly adjacent a body of water such as at the edge of a swimming pool or at the edge of a dock so that the user slides off the sloped surface of the slide and falls into the water. 
   When the structure is used on land away from water, either outdoors, such as on grass, or inside, such as in a room, it is preferred that the slide  12  be positioned on the platform  10  as shown in  FIGS. 9 and 10  to provide platform space  31  between the end  28  of platform  10  and end  17  of slide  12  so that there is an adequate length of platform space extending beyond the end of the slide end  17  to allow the user to have a soft landing on the inflatable platform  10  as he or she slides off the sloped surface of the slide. Slide  10  can be positioned so that a small step is formed between platform end  22  and slide end  15 . 
   To facilitate movement of the slide  12  in respect to platform  10 , the securing clips  14  can be arranged in a grid formation with extra clips so that the slide can be secured in either position described above by selecting the appropriate clips  14  to use. A set of clips  14  will be unused on the platform area providing the platform space such as platform space  21  in  FIGS. 1 and 2 . Alternately, the arrangement of clips would allow the user to rotate the slide  12  one hundred and eighty degrees with respect to the platform  10  to effectively move the slide forward or backward on the platform. 
   While various clips could be used for clips  14 , or various means other than clips could be used to secure slide  12  to platform  10  (slide  12  could even be permanently attached to platform  10  in one or the other water or land configurations), a clip as shown in  FIGS. 11 and 12  is commercially available and has been found satisfactory. As shown in  FIGS. 11 and 12 , a “T” fitting  35  extending from a securement disc  36  is secured to the material  37  forming slide  12 . Disc  36  may be glued, heat sealed, or ultrasonically welded to such material. Similarly, a receiving bracket  38  made up of two plates  38   a  and  38   b  extending from securement disc  39  is secured to material  40  forming platform  10 . To secure the clips together, “T” fitting  35  is rotated as shown by arrow  42  so the “T” is aligned with the space between plates  38   a  and  38   b  and is moved downwardly between the plates. Because the material forming slide  12  is flexible, a user can rotate “T” fitting  35  as indicated, although some deflation of slide  12  may be necessary. When “T” fitting  35  is positioned between plates  38   a  and  38   b,  it is allowed to rotate back to is normal position which causes the arms of the “T” to move into slots  44  in plates  38   a  and  38   b  to hold the two together. The operation is reversed to release the clips. 
   In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the inflatable mat or platform  10  is approximately ten inches thick, by six feet wide, by nine feet long. Platform  10  holds its rectangular shape by means of a plurality of internal baffles well known in the art. The platform is made of flexible material known for use in inflatable structures. It may have carrying handles on the sides (not shown), if desired, for use while the mat is inflated, and, as indicated, handles or grips  25  at the top of one end to allow swimmers to get a grip to help them mount the mat from the water. The mat could be much bigger, or smaller, depending on its end use and the size of the slide. 
   In such preferred embodiment, the inflatable slide  12  may be approximately three feet high, four feet wide, and six feet long. Again, the shape of the slide is maintained by internal baffles and it is constructed of similar material as the platform. The slide can be higher, wider, and/or longer, which would enable larger people to use it. However, the platform would have to be appropriately larger also. 
   The invention provides a stable, inflatable platform that will allow an inflatable slide to be connected to its surface. Without the inflatable platform, the slide would be unstable in water, easily capsizing. In addition, the platform provides a standing, resting, and staging area for a user to prepare for the slide when used in water, and a cushioned landing area when used on land. 
   If desired, the slide can have a hose attachment at the top of the sloped surface to allow a water connection for the purpose of keeping the slide constantly wet and slippery when being used, particularly when being used on grass. For example, the hose attachment can take the form of a hose clamp  49 ,  FIG. 9 , into which the end of a garden hose may be placed, or could be a spray nozzle or other distribution device. Further, the two components, platform and slide, can be separated and used separately as a slide on the ground, although it is preferred to use the platform when the slide is used, and the platform used as a floating raft or sunbathing platform. For such use, the platform can be turned over so that the smooth bottom as shown in  FIG. 4  is exposed and used and the clips  14  are not exposed. The bottom may be provided with cylindrical indentations  50  which serve as drink and cup holders for use by a user lounging on the platform. The platform can also make a tumbling or exercise mat. 
   While an end of the slide has been described as substantially vertical, this description means that it extends upwardly from the platform to the sloped surface at a steep angle, but can vary some from vertical as shown in the drawings. 
   Whereas this invention is here illustrated and described with reference to embodiments thereof presently contemplated as the best mode of carrying out such invention in actual practice, it is to be understood that various changes may be made in adapting the invention to different embodiments thereof without departing from the broader inventive concepts disclosed herein and comprehended by the claims that follow.