COMPRESSOR

The object of the invention is an inflatable watercraft with an embedded compressor, preferably a SUP watercraft (SUP - stand up paddling), provided at its rear part by an inserted set with an autonomous compressor for automatic inflation of the inflatable watercraft. The invention belongs to Class B63B 35/79 of the International Patent Classification.

The technical problem that is successfully solved by the present invention is a configuration of an inflatable watercraft having an autonomous compressor and insertion of a set with such a compressor into the inflatable watercraft of a drop stitch type.

Inflating a watercraft using a known manual air pump is very straining and time consuming. Usually, weak people cannot inflate it up to the necessary pressure. There is also a known variant with an external compressor used to inflate a watercraft up to the necessary pressure. Both variants require much space and a problem arises when we sail and additional equipment is difficult to store. A yet greater problem arises when we desire to use the watercraft to travel from one place to another and there is no possibility to take additional cargo with us. A special problem is encountered when a hole is to be made into a drop stitch inflatable watercraft; In the drop stitch variant an upper PVC shell and a bottom PVC shell of an inflatable watercraft are internally joined by a huge number of threads, the length of which defines the shape and thickness/height of the inflatable watercraft and the threads prevent the occurrence of projections or bulges while the watercraft is being inflated. If an opening is to be made into the inflatable watercraft, these threads would be damaged.

The inflatable watercraft with an embedded compressor of the invention is provided with an opening for inserting a set with an autonomous compressor, wherein the inserted set consists of an upper assembly with a housing fastened in the upper PVC shell and a bottom assembly with a panel with a direction fin fastened in the bottom PVC shell, both shells being mutually connected by strips. The strips are used to define a distance between both assemblies and the distance can be adjusted to various lengths of drop stitch and consequently to the shape and thickness/height of the inflatable watercraft.

The invention will be explained in more detail by way of an embodiment and the enclosed drawings, representing in:

Figure 1 side view of the inflatable watercraft with an illustration of arrangement of an embedded set; Figure 2 top view of the inflatable watercraft with an illustration of arrangement of an embedded set;

Figure 3 detail of arrangement of the set in the inflatable watercraft

- side view;

Figure 4 detail of arrangement of the set in the inflatable watercraft

- top view;

Figure 5 cross-section A-A of the inserted set with an autonomous compressor.

The inflatable watercraft with an embedded compressor has an inserted set consisting of an upper assembly with a housing 1 , which is inserted into the rear part of the inflatable watercraft, preferably above a rear fin. The housing 1 comprises a compressor 2, an electric motor 3, a battery 4, a return valve 5 for supplying air into the inflatable watercraft, and a double relief valve 6 for supplying and discharging the air.

The upper assembly of the set is inserted with the housing 1 into an opening provided in the inflatable watercraft, preferably in the rear part of the watercraft, above the fin. The housing 1 is glued and/or screwed through its reinforcing edge 1a via upper layer of a PVC shell 7 of the watercraft with an upper frame 8 with reinforcing ribs. The upper assembly is linked with a bottom assembly through the upper frame 8 with strips 9 for adjusting the thickness of the inflatable watercraft, said bottom assembly consisting of a frame 10 that is glued and/or screwed through a bottom layer of a PVC shell 11 of the watercraft (bottom of the watercraft) with a bottom panel 12 provided with a fin guide 13.

Such an arrangement of the upper assembly which is connected with the bottom assembly with strips 9 makes it possible to fabricate a cut-out in the inflatable watercraft. A cut-out presents a problem per se since it damages/removes the threads (drop stitch) which basically connect the upper 7 and the bottom 11 PVC material and give the inflatable watercraft necessary stability. The damaged/removed threads of the drop stitch are replaced by the strips 9.

The upper part of the housing 1 is provided with a cover 14 that may be reinforced from the bottom side by ribs. A gasket 15 is arranged between the cover 14 and the reinforcing edge 1a of the housing 1.

Embedding the set in a way as described in the present invention solves the problem of embedding an autonomous compressor into the inflatable watercraft. The double relief valve 6 allows supply of the air for inflating the inflatable watercraft and simultaneously also represents a valve for deflating the inflatable watercraft. The known existing valve for inflating and deflating the inflatable watercraft is technically upgraded in that another valve is added in a row, wherein the valves are connected by a lever. The air enters through the upper part of the relief valve 6 into the housing and further through the compressor into the body of the inflatable watercraft. The bottom part of the relief valve 6 is closed and functions as a relief valve. When the inflatable watercraft is to be deflated, a button is pushed at the upper part of the relief valve 6 which, by way of the lever, releases both the upper and the bottom parts of the relief valve 6. The inflatable watercraft is thus easily deflated.

The cover 14 of the housing 1 can also have integrated pins for charging the battery 4 and a key for compressor power-on. The compressor automatically powers off when the pre-set pressure is reached.

The type of the inflatable watercraft with an embedded compressor, preferably a SUP - stand up paddling watercraft which has a set with an autonomous compressor for an automatic inflating of the inflatable watercraft inserted in the rear part of the watercraft allows the user to simply inflate the inflatable watercraft without any additional devices or accessories. The embedded autonomous compressor automatically inflates the inflatable watercraft up to the desired pressure. The time that would otherwise be needed for inflation can be used to prepare for paddling. We save energy and no extra space for storing a pump or an external compressor is needed. Thanks to the embodiment of the invention, the height of the device is reduced while the inflatable deflated watercraft is rolled up and this height is not disturbing and does not increase the size of the rolled-up watercraft. Known solutions have a fin cassette glued at the bottom and an inflating valve at the top. The solution of the invention is in fact a replacement for both. The volume of the watercraft with an embedded compressor of the invention is comparable with the volume of both above-mentioned.

The embedding method is suitable both for individuals who already have an inflatable watercraft and for mass production. Due to the combination of the upper assembly and the bottom assembly being mutually connected, the integration and gluing can be carried out on existing watercrafts and in a batch production in a factory.

The variant of the inflatable watercraft with an embedded compressor also allows for manual inflation by using a known universal manual pump.