Abstract:
The subject of the present invention is an inflation device that can be used for inflating an inflatable craft having two lateral tubes and a bottom each having an independent air chamber, the device including an airtight body having an enclosure having at least three communicating openings, each of the openings being connected to another opening by a passage that allows a stream of air to flow, and notably a first opening intended to be connected to a first air-conveying means intended to supply air to the air chamber of the first lateral tube of the inflatable craft, a second opening intended to be connected to a second air-conveying means intended to supply air to the air chamber of the second lateral tube of the inflatable craft, and a third opening intended to be connected to an inflation pump.

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 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 a baseplate joining both air routing means of both tubes, a removable base being able to be connected on the one hand to the baseplate and including two air ducts arranged in continuation of the two air routing means of both tubes and capable of being connected on the one hand to the sealing body of the inflating device. 
         [0011]    This arrangement makes it possible to inflate two tubes simultaneously from a single connection of the pump and makes it possible to perform quick deflation of the two tubes. 
         [0012]    According to one embodiment, both air ducts of the removable base respectively include a non-return device preventing air from passing in the direction from the baseplate to the sealing body of the inflating device. 
         [0013]    This arrangement makes it possible to keep the air blown in by the pump through the inflating device inside the air chambers of the side tubes. 
         [0014]    According to one embodiment, the body is removable. 
         [0015]    According to one embodiment, the inflating device includes closing means of the two air ducts of the removable base capable of replacing the removable body. 
         [0016]    This arrangement makes it possible to protect the air routing means designed to supply the air chambers of the side tubes with air. 
         [0017]    According to one embodiment, the closing means include a first closing member of the first duct and a second closing member of the second duct at, and a handling part embodying a motion conversion device of the screw-and-nut type converting a relative rotary motion of the handling part into a simultaneous relative translatory motion of the two closing members with respect to the removable base. 
         [0018]    This arrangement ensures good sealing of the air routing means designed to supply the air chambers of the side tubes with air and protect them from the outside environment. 
         [0019]    According to one embodiment, the removable base includes a handling part embodying a motion conversion device of the screw-and-nut type converting a relative rotary motion of the handling part into a simultaneous relative translatory motion of the two ducts with respect to the baseplate. 
         [0020]    This arrangement makes it possible to produce sealed interlocking of the ducts of the removable base inside the ducts of the baseplate. 
         [0021]    According to one embodiment, the inflating device includes closing means for 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 position in which the passage between the first opening and the second opening is closed. 
         [0022]    This arrangement allows equilibrium of the pressure of the two tubes during inflation and makes it possible to separate the air chambers of the two tubes once the inflation thereof is complete. 
         [0023]    According to one embodiment, the inflated device includes means for positioning the blocking means in an intermediate position located between the opening position and the closing position. 
         [0024]    This arrangement results in making it possible to control the airflow passing through the two tubes through the inflating device, for example during re-equilibration made necessary following a pressure drop of one of the tubes. 
         [0025]    According to one embodiment, the positioning means include return means for returning the closing means to the open position thereof. 
         [0026]    This arrangement allows default positioning in which the pressure of the air chambers is balanced. 
         [0027]    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. 
         [0028]    This arrangement allows the user to go from one position to the other through a simple rotational movement. 
         [0029]    According to one embodiment, the device includes fastening means for attaching the positioning means to the enclosure of the inflating device. 
         [0030]    This arrangement makes it possible to keep the positioning means in place when the pressure inside the chamber of each of the side tubes becomes significant. 
         [0031]    According to one embodiment, the closing means comprise a non-return device preventing the passage of air in the direction from the first opening or the second opening toward the third opening. 
         [0032]    This arrangement makes it possible to keep the air blown in by the pump through the inflating device inside the air chambers of the side tubes. 
         [0033]    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. 
         [0034]    This arrangement makes it possible to inflate the side tubes and the bottom of the boat simultaneously. 
         [0035]    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. 
         [0036]    This arrangement makes it possible to isolate each of the air chambers of the side tubes and the bottom. Advantageously, the section of the fourth opening is undersized with respect to the sections of the first opening and the second opening. 
         [0037]    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. 
         [0038]    According to one embodiment, the closing means are removable from the enclosure. 
         [0039]    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. 
         [0040]    The present invention also relates to an inflatable boat including an inflating device as previously described. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0041]    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. 
           [0042]      FIG. 1  shows an exploded perspective view of an inflating device according to a first embodiment. 
           [0043]      FIG. 2  shows a cross-sectional view of the inflating device of  FIG. 1  in the deflating position. 
           [0044]      FIG. 3  shows a cross-sectional view of the inflating device of  FIG. 1  in the closed position. 
           [0045]      FIG. 4  shows a cross-sectional view of the inflating device of  FIG. 1  in the inflating position. 
           [0046]      FIG. 5  shows an operational view of an inflating device according to a second embodiment. 
           [0047]      FIG. 6  shows an inflatable boat equipped with an inflating device according to the invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0048]    As illustrated in  FIG. 6 , an inflating device  100 ,  200  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 . 
         [0049]    The air chambers  31 ,  41  of the two side tubes  3 ,  4  have the same volume. 
         [0050]    As illustrated in the different embodiments shown in  FIGS. 1 to 4  and  5 , an inflating device  100 ,  200  according to the invention comprises a sealed body  6  comprising an enclosure  7  having three communicating openings  11 ,  12 ,  13  connected to each other. 
         [0051]    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). 
         [0052]    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 . 
         [0053]    In a first embodiment illustrated in  FIGS. 1 to 4 , the inflating device  100  includes a baseplate  101  joining the two air routing means  32 ,  42  of the two side tubes  3 ,  4 , and a removable base  110  that can be connected on the one hand to the baseplate  101 , and can be connected on the other hand either to the sealed body  6  of the inflating device  100 , for example during an inflating position illustrated in  FIG. 4 , or to sealing means  130 , for example in a closed position illustrated in  FIG. 3  or in a deflating position illustrated in  FIG. 2 . 
         [0054]    In the present embodiment, the sealed body  6  is removable, the closing means  130  being able to replace the sealed body  6 . 
         [0055]    The baseplate  101  includes a first duct  102  that can be connected to the air routing means  32  of the first side tube  3  of the boat  2  and a second duct  103  that can be connected to the air routing means  42  of the second side tube  4  of the inflatable boat  2 . 
         [0056]    Each of these ducts  102 ,  103  protrudes in the top of a body  106  of the baseplate  101 . 
         [0057]    This body  106  assumes the form of a hollow cylinder and includes an outer peripheral thread  107 , the function of which will be described later in the text. 
         [0058]    This thread  107  extends circumferentially from an outer upper end of the body  106  to a transverse peripheral shoulder  105  extending toward the outside of the baseplate  101  performing the function of a mechanical base for fastening the inflating device  100  to a rigid part of the inflatable boat  2 . 
         [0059]    The protruding parts of the ducts  102 ,  103  include an outer annular shoulder  108  designed each to receive an O-ring  104 . 
         [0060]    In the closed position illustrated in  FIG. 3  and in the inflating position illustrated in  FIG. 4 , the removable base  110  is designed to cover the baseplate  101  and comprises a central part  113  around which a peripheral part  114  is positioned designed to be handled by the user of the inflating device  100 . 
         [0061]    The central part  113  and the peripheral part  114  are both generally cylindrical. 
         [0062]    The central part  113  includes an outer peripheral thread  119 , the function of which will be described later in the text, as well as a wall positioned transversely that is generally cylindrical. 
         [0063]    The central part  113  also includes two air ducts  111 ,  112  protruding on either side of said transverse wall and designed to be positioned in the extension of the two ducts  102 ,  103  of the baseplate  101 . 
         [0064]    These two air ducts  111 ,  112  each comprise a non-return device  8  for the air preventing the air located in one of the two side tubes  3 ,  4  from accessing the sealed body  6  of the inflating device  100  in the closed inflating positions. 
         [0065]    Furthermore, the upper end of each of the portions of the two air ducts  111 ,  112  protruding from the transverse wall is beveled on the inner surface thereof. 
         [0066]    The central part  113  of the removable base  110  includes an annular shoulder  117  serving as a stop and guide for an annular shoulder  118  positioned on the peripheral part  114  of the removable base  110 . 
         [0067]    Thus, the mechanical connection allows the free rotational movement of the peripheral part  114  around the central part  113 . 
         [0068]    The peripheral part  114  also comprises, on the inner face thereof, a thread  115  designed to cooperate with the thread  107  of the baseplate  101 . 
         [0069]    Furthermore, the central part  113  includes a transverse annular shoulder  116  designed to compress the  0 -ring  104  positioned on the shoulder  108  of each of the protruding parts of the ducts  102 ,  103  of the baseplate  101 . 
         [0070]    Thus, when the removable base  110  is placed on the baseplate  101 , each of the portions of the ducts  111 ,  112  protruding downward gradually penetrates the top of the ducts  102 ,  103  of the baseplate  101 . 
         [0071]    The central part  113  of the removable base  110  is thus blocked in rotation and the removable base  110  lowers in translation until the thread  115  of the removable base  110  reaches the thread  107  of the baseplate  101 . 
         [0072]    A rotational movement of the peripheral part  114  in the anti-trigonometric direction then causes a conversion of the screw-nut movement that then better translates the central part  113  of the removable base  110  until the shoulder  116  reaches the O-rings  104  and compresses them to ensure sealing between the baseplate  101  and the removable base  110  of the inflating device  100 . 
         [0073]    In order to increase the sealing, the diameters of the ducts  102 ,  103  and the ducts  111 ,  112  are substantially equal to within play. 
         [0074]    In this position, the removable base  110  can receive either the sealed body  6  to inflate the inflatable boat  2 , or the closing means  130  in the closed position after inflating or storage of the deflated boat  2 . 
         [0075]    In this embodiment, the sealed body  6  of the inflating device  100  is removable and is generally in the shape of an upside down “Y” where the two symmetrical branches of the “Y” each have a bend  120  to align the openings  11  and  12  along two parallel axes, each of said axes being coaxial with an axis of alignment of one of the ducts  111 ,  112  of the removable base  110 . 
         [0076]    Each of the openings  11 ,  12  has a beveled outer contour  121  so as to facilitate insertion thereof into the ducts  111 ,  112  of the removable base  110 . 
         [0077]    The main branch of the “Y” forms the opening  13  for connection to the inflating pump. 
         [0078]    In this embodiment, the closing means  130  comprise a peripheral part  132  rotating freely around a central part  131 . 
         [0079]    The peripheral part  132  is designed to be handled by the user of the inflating device  100 . 
         [0080]    The central part  131  and the peripheral part  132  both have a generally cylindrical shape. 
         [0081]    The central part  131  is connected to the peripheral part  132  by means of a slitted axis  137  substantially fixed at the center of the peripheral part  132  passing through the central part  131  through an orifice  139 . 
         [0082]    The slitted axis  137  comprises a circumferential lug  138  positioned substantially at a distance substantially equal to within play to the thickness passed through of the central part  131 . 
         [0083]    The circumferential lug  138  is beveled in the direction of insertion of the slitted axis  137  into the orifice  139 . 
         [0084]    Thus, this beveled shape as well as the elasticity of the slitted axis  137  imparted by its slit facilitates the insertion of the slitted axis  137  through the orifice  139 . 
         [0085]    The central part  131  also includes two stoppers  134 ,  135  having a cylindrical shape with a diameter larger than those of the ducts  111 ,  112  of the removable base  110 . 
         [0086]    The stopper  134  and the stopper  135  are designed to simultaneously respectively close the duct  111  and the duct  112  in the closed position of the inflating device  100 , thus these two stoppers  134 ,  135  are aligned along two parallel axes, each of said axes being coaxial with an axis of alignment of one of the ducts  111 ,  112  of the removable base  110 . 
         [0087]    The peripheral part  132  includes a thread  133  on the inner surface thereof designed to cooperate with the peripheral thread  119  of the central part  113  of the removable base  110 . 
         [0088]    Furthermore, these two stoppers  134 ,  135  are bordered by two stops  136  extending longitudinally to the axes of the stoppers  134 ,  135  and on either side of the central orifice  139 . 
         [0089]    Thus, during placement of the sealing means  130  on the removable base  110 , the stops  136  slide in translation between the two protruding portions of the ducts  111 ,  112  of the removable base  110  until the thread  133  of the peripheral part  132  of the closing means  130  reaches the thread  119  of the central part  113  of the removable base  110 . 
         [0090]    The central part  131  of the closing means  130  is then locked in rotation by the action of the stops  136  that bear on the edges of the protruding portions of the ducts  111 ,  112  of the removable base  110 . 
         [0091]    The rotational movement of the peripheral part  132  in the anti-trigonometric direction causes a conversion of the screw-nut type movement that then better translates the central part  131  of the closing means  130  until the stoppers  134 ,  135  reach the ducts  111 ,  112  of the removable base  110 . 
         [0092]    In order to make the inflating device  100  hermetic, two disc-shaped planar seals  141  with diameters substantially equal to that of the stoppers  134 ,  135  are respectively maintained at each of the two surfaces of the stoppers  134 ,  135  coming into contact with the ducts  111 ,  112  by means of two axes including an annular shoulder  140  respectively positioned at the center of each of said surfaces and passing through their respective planar seal  141 . 
         [0093]    Thus, in this embodiment of the inflating device  100 , the user, in order to inflate the inflatable boat  2 , will first begin by removing the closing means  130 , then will engage the body  6  of the inflating device  100  and removable base  110 . 
         [0094]    He will next connect the inflating pump on the third opening  13  of the body  6  so as to inflate the two side tubes  3 ,  4  of the inflatable boat  2  simultaneously. 
         [0095]    Once the latter are inflated to the recommended pressure, the user will remove the body  6  from the removable base  110  and will replace it with the closing means  130 . 
         [0096]    To deflate the inflatable boat  2 , the user will separate the removable base  110  from the baseplate  101  of the inflating device  100 . 
         [0097]    In a second embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 5 , the inflating device  200  according to the invention still comprises a sealed body  6  comprising an enclosure  7 , but has four communicating openings  11 ,  12 ,  13  and  14  connected to each other. 
         [0098]    The openings  11 ,  12  and  13  keep the same functions as in the first embodiment presented above. 
         [0099]    The fourth opening  14  is connected to a third duct formed in the removable base  110 , which in turn is connected to a third duct of the baseplate  101  on which the air routing means  52  of the air chamber  51  making up the bottom  5  of the inflatable boat  2  will connect. 
         [0100]    Each axis of the three openings  11 ,  12  and  14  as well as each axis of the three ducts of the removable base  110  and the baseplate  101  is separated by a  120 ° angle from the other two axes, from the other two openings, respectively, when measured from the axis of the third opening  13 , or the other two ducts of the removable base  110  or the baseplate  101  when measured respectively from that central axis of the removable base  110  or the central axis of the baseplate  101 . 
         [0101]    Although the invention has been described in connection with 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.