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Title:
INFLATABLE DEVICE WITH PROPULSION AND RELATED METHOD
Document Type and Number:
WIPO Patent Application WO/2020/240598
Kind Code:
A1
Abstract:
An inflatable device (1) with propulsion is described, composed of at least one air chamber (3) designed to allow a user to abut a portion or his whole body on the device (1), and further comprises: an electric control system (5) arranged inside the air chamber (3); at least one directional member (10) arranged on the first air chamber (3) designed to modify or keep the motion of the inflatable device (1) by the user and simultaneously inducing a propulsion to the inflatable device (1), through the electric control system (5); and at least one actuating device (7) arranged on the air chamber (3) and designed to activate the electric control system (5) and the directional member (10).

Inventors:
VITIELLO FABIO (IT)
Application Number:
PCT/IT2019/000041
Publication Date:
December 03, 2020
Filing Date:
May 29, 2019
Export Citation:
Click for automatic bibliography generation   Help
Assignee:
VITIELLO FABIO (IT)
International Classes:
B63B7/08; B63H1/36
Domestic Patent References:
WO2009065874A22009-05-28
WO2006038808A12006-04-13
Foreign References:
CN109383717A2019-02-26
CN106275303A2017-01-04
KR20110091412A2011-08-11
US20030092329A12003-05-15
DE2338524A11974-11-14
Attorney, Agent or Firm:
GARAVELLI, Paolo (IT)
Download PDF:
Claims:
CLAIMS

1. Inflatable device (1) with propulsion composed of at least one air chamber (3) designed to enable a user to abut a portion or his whole body on said device (1), characterized in that it further comprises :

an electric control system (5) arranged inside said air chamber (3) ;

at least one directional member (10) arranged on said first air chamber (3) designed to modify or keep the motion of said inflatable device (1) by said user and simultaneously to induce a propulsion for said inflatable device (1), through said electric control system (5) ; and

- at least one actuating device (7) arranged on said air chamber (3) and designed to activate said electric control system (5) and said directional member (10) .

2. Device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that said electric control system (5) is designed to activate and regulate, individually or simultaneously, an alternate motion along a vertical axis of said directional member (10), inducing said propulsion and said forward movement of said inflatable device (1), and a circular motion along a horizontal plane of said directional member (10), allowing said user to modify or keep the motion of said inflatable device (1), and is equipped with:

- said actuating device (7), actuated by said user, electrically connected to at least one central processing unit (11) ;

a plurality of electromagnetic devices (9), designed to actuate, individually or simultaneously, said alternate motion along said vertical axis and said circular motion along said horizontal plane of said directional member (10) , activating a plurality of physical means (15), through the development of an electromagnetic field;

said central processing unit (11), designed to receive, and process said plurality of signals sent by said actuating device (7), and to send a plurality of timed pulses, through a plurality of microprocessors (13) to said plurality of electromagnetic devices (9) inducing, individually or simultaneously, said alternate motion and said circular motion of the directional member (10);

said plurality of physical means (15), activated by said electromagnetic field induced by said plurality of electromagnetic devices (9), physically connected at a first end to each of said plurality of electromagnetic devices (9), and with a second end suitable to be magnetically connected to at least one electromagnetic means (21) arranged on the rear portion and on the side portions of said directional member (10), through said electromagnetic field induced by said plurality of electromagnetic devices (9); and

- a device for accumulating electric energy, equipped with at least one interface means, inserted in said air chamber (3) , designed to enable by said user an insertion of at least one connector in said interface means, re-charging said electric energy accumulating device and said inflatable device (1).

3. Device (1) according to the previous claim, characterized in that each of said plurality of electromagnetic devices (9) activates each of said plurality of physical means (15), magnetically connected to the extreme portion of said directional member (10), inducing said alternate upward motion along said vertical axis of said directional member (10) , and a deactivation of each of said plurality of electromagnetic devices (9) and of said produced electromagnetic field induces a release of each of said plurality of physical means (15) magnetically connected to said extreme portion of said directional member (10), inducing said alternate downward motion along said vertical axis of said directional member (10), inducing said propulsion and said forward movement of said inflatable device (1).

4. Device (1) according to claim 2 and 3, characterized in that each of said plurality of electromagnetic devices (9), successively or simultaneously, activates in a sequence each of said plurality of physical means (15), magnetically connected to the side portions of said directional member (10) inducing said circular motion towards a first side along said horizontal plane of said directional member (10) , and said deactivation of each of said plurality of electromagnetic devices (9) and of said produced electromagnetic field, activates the release in a sequence of each of said plurality of physical means (15) inducing said circular motion towards a second side along said horizontal plane of said directional member (10), allowing said user to modify or keep said motion of said inflatable device (1) .

5. Device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises a system with propulsion (6) arranged inside said air chamber (3), actuated by said actuating device (7) and composed of:

- at least one moving member (4), arranged inside an entry element (12) of container means (14), actuated through said electric control system (5);

said container means (14), equipped on its top with said entry element (12), and on its bottom with a first opening (16a) connected to a second opening (16b) arranged on a side portion of said entry element (12), through at least one physical connecting means (18);

- a plurality of fluid-dynamic elements (8), radially arranged inside said container means (14) with respect to a central fulcrum (8a);

a first transmission element (20a) , designed to cress in perpendicular said container means (14) next to said central fulcrum (8a), and to transfer simultaneously to a second transmission element (20b) , to a third transmission element (20c) , and consequently to a fourth transmission element (20d) a uniform rotary motion induced by a rotary action of said plurality of fluid-dynamic elements (8), through a plurality of gears (22), inducing said propulsion and a forward movement of said inflatable device (1), through a transfer of said uniform rotary motion of said fourth transmission element (20d) , into an alternate rectilinear motion of said directional member (10) .

6. Device (1) according to the previous claim, characterized in that said directional member (10) is fastened to said inflatable device (1), and is equipped with at least one slit designed to be crossed in perpendicular by said fourth transmission element (2Od) , enabling said transfer of said induced uniform rotary motion to said fourth transmission element (20d) , through the plurality of gears (22), into an alternate rectilinear motion of said directional member (10), inducing said alternate motion of said directional member (10) along a vertical axis from a lower position to an upper position and vice versa.

7. Device (1) according to any one of the previous claims, characterized in that it is equipped with an electric control system (5) comprising:

said actuating device (7), designed to activate in a sequence said electromagnetic device (9);

said electromagnetic device (9), designed to actuate, through a first electric contact (17), said moving member (4), and through a second electric contact (19), said directional member (10) in a succession of operating sequences;

said first electric contact (17) designed to activate said alternate motion along said vertical axis of said moving member (4), composed of a plurality of electric elements;

said second electric contact (19), designed to drive and control said circular motion along said horizontal plane of said directional member (10).

8. Method for actuating a propulsion of an inflatable device (1) according to any one of the previous claims, said method comprising the following steps- providing said inflatable device (Inactivating said electric control system (5), and consequently activating and regulating said alternate motion along said vertical axis of said directional member (10) , inducing said propulsion and said forward movement of said inflatable device (1), and said circular motion along said horizontal plane of said directional member (10), allowing said user to modify or keep said motion of said inflatable device (1) ; and

possibly activating said system with propulsion (6), inducing said alternate rectilinear motion of said directional member (10) along said vertical axis, from said lower position to said upper position and vice versa, inducing said propulsion and said forward movement of said inflatable device (1) .

Description:
INFLATABLE DEVICE WITH PROPULSION AND RELATED METHOD

The present invention refers to an inflatable device with propulsion, in particular an inflatable mattress with propulsion. The present invention further refers to a method for performing the propulsion of such inflatable device.

A plurality of inflatable mattresses are known in the art, used in swimming pools, at the seaside or in campings, etc., but the prior art does not provide for inflatable mattresses equipped with a system which allows a user to manoeuvre the mattress, and perform its propulsion simultaneously, allowing the user to navigate at constant speed.

Object of the present invention is solving the above prior art problems, by providing an inflatable device with propulsion.

A further object of the present invention is providing an inflatable device with propulsion equipped with a directional member capable of allowing a user to modify or keep the motion of the inflatable device, and simultaneously to induce propulsion to the inflatable device, allowing the user to navigate at constant speed.

A further object of the present invention is providing a method for performing the propulsion of the inflatable device.

The above and other objects and advantages of the invention, as will result from the following description, are obtained with a floating device with propulsion as claimed in claim 1. Moreover, the above and other objects and advantages of the invenzione are obtained with a method for performing the propulsion of the inflatable device as claimed in claim 8.

Preferred embodiments and non-trivial variations of the present invention are the subject matter of the dependent claims.

It is intended that all enclosed claims are an integral part of the present description.

It will be immediately obvious that numerous variations and modifications (for example related to shape, sizes, arrangements and parts with equivalent functionality) can be made to what is described, without departing from the scope of the invention, as appears in the enclosed claims.

The present invention will be better described by some preferred embodiments thereof, provided as a non-limiting example, with reference to the enclosed drawings, in which:

Figure 1 shows a perspective view of an embodiment of the inflatable device according to the present invention;

Figure 2 shows a schematic view of a first preferred embodiment of the electric control system of the inflatable device according to the present invention;

Figure 3 shows a schematic view of a second preferred embodiment of the electric control system of the inflatable device according to the present invention;

Figure 4 shows a vertical section of an embodiment of part of a system with propulsion of the inflatable device according to the present invention; and

Figure 5 shows a top view of an embodiment of a part of a system with propulsion of the inflatable device according to the present invention .

With reference to Figure 1, an inflatable

2 device 1 with propulsion, such as, for example, an inflatable mattre.ss, or other similar one, made of plastic material, such as, for example, PVC, or other similar one, according to the present invention, is composed of:

at least one air chamber 3 designed to allow a user to abut a portion or his whole body on the device 1;

an electric control system 5 arranged inside the air chamber 3;

at least one directional member 10, such as, for example, a helm, or other similar one, fastened onto the air chamber 3, through a mechanical or chemical fastening, or other similar one, designed to allow the user to modify or keep the motion of the .inflatable device 1, and simultaneously to induce propulsion for the inflatable device 1, through the electric control system 5; and

at least one actuating device 7, such as, for example, a level, a key, or other similar one, designed to activate the electric control system 5, and the directional member 10.

As shown in Figure 2, in a first embodiment, the electric control system 5 is designed to activate and regulate, individually or simultaneously, an alternate motion along a vertical axis of the directional member 10 inducing the propulsion and the forward movement of the inflatable device 1 and a circular motion along a horizontal plana of the directional member 10 allowing a user to modify or keep the motion of the inflatable device 1, and is equipped with:

the actuating device 7, actuated by at least one user, electrically connected to a central processing unit 11;

a plurality of electromagnetic devices 9, such as, for example switching relays, cyclic relaysm monostable relays, or other similar ones, designed to actuate, individually or simultaneously, the alternate motion along a vertical axis and the circular motion along a horizontal plane of the directional member 10, activating a plurality of physical means 15, through the development of a electromagnetic field;

- the central processing unit 11, such as, for example a CPU, designed to receive and process the plurality of signals sent by the actuating device 7, and to send a .plurality of timed pulses, through a plurality of microprocessors 13, such as, for example chips or other similar ones, to the plurality of electromagnetic devices 9, inducing, individually or simultaneously, the alternate motion and the circular motion of the directional member 10;

- the plurality of physical means 15, such as, for example a lever, or a rod, or other similar one, activated by the electromagnetic field induced by the plurality of electromagnetic devices 9, physically connected at a first end to each electromagnetic device 9, and with a second end suitable to be magnetically connected to electromagnetic means 21 arranged on the rear portion and on the side portions of the directional member 10, through the electromagnetic field induced by the plurality of electromagnetic devices 9; and

a device for accumulating electric energy, such as, for example a battery or other similar one, preferably rechargeable, equipped with interface means, inserted in the air chamber 3, designed to- allow the user to insert a connector, and to recharge the electric energy accumulating device, and consequently the inflatable device 1.

The user, placed on the inflatable device 1, manually actuates the actuating device 7, orienting the actuating device 7 along a direction in space. Consequently, the actuating device 7 sends a plurality of pulses, related to the orientation in space of the actuating device 7, to the central processing unit 11; the central processing unit 11 processes such plurality of signals and sends a plurality of timed pulses to the plurality of electromagnetic devices 9 activating them, through the plurality of microprocessors 13.

Advantageously, the electromagnetic field generated by activating each electromagnetic device

9, activates each physical means 15, magnetically connected to the extreme portion of the directional member 10, inducing an alternate upward motion along a .vertical axis of the directional member 10, and the deactivation of the electromagnetic device 9 and of the produced electromagnetic field induces the release of each physical means 15 magnetically connected to the extreme portion of the directional member 10, inducing an alternate downward motion along the vertical axis of the directional member

10, inducing the propulsion and the forward movement of the inflatable device 1.

Successively or simultaneously the electromagnetic field generated by activating each electromagnetic device 9 activates in a sequence each physical means 15, magnetically connected to the side portions of the directional member 10, inducing a circular motion towards a first side along a horizontal plane of the directional member 10, and the deactivation of the electromagnetic device 9 and of the produced electromagnetic field, activates the release in a sequence of each physical means 15, inducing a circular motion towards a second side along a horizontal plane of the directional member 10, allowing the user to modify or keep the motion of the inflatable device 1.

Figures 3, 4 and 5 show a second embodiment of the inflatable device 1, equipped with a system with propulsion 6 which is composed of:

at least one moving member 4, such as, for example a piston or other similar one, arranged inside the entry element 12, such as, for example a cylindrical element or other similar one, of a container means 14, actuated through the electric control system 5;

the container means 14, advantageously of an ampullar shape, equipped on its top with the entry element 12, and on its bottom with a first opening 16a connected to a second opening 16b arranged on a side portion of the entry element 12, through a physical connecting means 18, such as a semi-rigid, rigid one, or other similar one;

- a plurality of fluid-dynamic elements 8, such as, for example, blades or other similar ones, radially arranged inside the container means 14 with respect to a central fulcrum 8a;

a first transmission element 20a, designed to cross in perpendicular said container means 14 next to the central fulcrum 8a, and to transfer simultaneously to a second transmission element 20b, to a third transmission element 20c, and consequently to a fourth transmission element 20d a uniform rotary motion induced by the rotary action of the plurality of fluid-dynamic elements 8, through a plurality of gears 22, such as, for example, toothed wheels or other similar ones, inducing the propulsion and the forward movement of the inflatable device 1, through the transfer of the uniform rotary motion of the fourth transmission element 20d, into an alternate rectilinear motion of the directional member 10.

In particular, in such second embodiment, the directional member 10 is fastened to the inflatable device 1, and is further equipped with a slit designed to be crossed in perpendicular by the fourth transmission element 20d, enabling the transfer of the induced uniform rotary motion to the fourth transmission element 20d, through the plurality of gears 22, into the alternate rectilinear motion of the directional member 10, inducing an alternate rectilinear motion of the directional member 10 along a vertical axis from a lower position to an upper position and vice versa.

Consequently, the user, through the actuating device 7, is able to actuate the system with propulsion 6, inducing the alternate motion of the directional member 10 along a vertical axis, from a lower position to an upper position and vice versa, inducing the propulsion and the forward movement of the inflatable device 1, and simultaneously the user through the actuating device 7 is able to activate the electric control system 5 and induce a circular motion from a first side position to a second side position of the directional member 10, modifying or keeping the motion of the inflatable device 1.

Advantageously, the rectilinear motion of the moving member 4 inside the entry element 12 is designed to induce an increase of the air pressure value and consequently an activation of the plurality of fluid-dynamic elements 8, whose rotary motion induces a passage of forced air through physical connecting means 18, which, being equipped with a constriction in their medium position, enables the passage of forced air, increasing the value of air speed and pressure which re-enters inside the container means 14 keeping or increasing the speed value of the rotary motion of the plurality of fluid-dynamic elements 8.

As shown in Figure 3, in such second embodiment, the electric control system 5 is designed to simultaneously activate and regulate the alternate motion along a vertical axis of the moving member 4 and the circular motion along a horizontal plane of the directional member 10, and is equipped with the:

actuating device 7, designed to activate in a sequence an electromagnetic device 9;

electromagnetic device 9, designed to actuate, through a first electric contact 17, the moving member 4, and through a second electric contact 19, the directional member 10 in a succession of operating sequences; first electric contact 17 designed to activate the alternate motion along a vertical axis of the moving member 4, composed of a plurality of electric elements, such as, for example, resistences, diodes, etc.;

second electric contact 19, such as, for example an electromagnetic contact or the like, designed to drive and control the circular motion along a horizontal plane of the directional member lo .

The method for performing the propulsion of the inflatable device 1 comprises the following steps :

providing the inflatable device 1;

- activating the electric control system 5, and consequently activating and regulating the alternate motion along the vertical axis of the directional member 10, inducing the propulsion and the forward movement of the inflatable device 1, and the circular motion along a horizontal plane of the directional member 10 allowing a user to modify or keep the motion of the inflatable device 1; and possibly activating the system with propulsion 6, inducing the alternate rectilinear motion of the directional member 10 along a vertical axis, from a lower position to an upper position and vice versa, inducing the propulsion and the forward movement of the inflatable device

1.