INFLATABLE SLEDGE

Description

[0001] The invention relates to an inflatable sled enabling the practice of a recreational activity, in particular to allow at least one user to slide on a snowy terrain.

[0002] Inflatable sleds can be easily compressed when not in use, making them easier to transport and / or store, for example in the trunk of a car. Furthermore, an inflatable sled is lighter than wooden or plastic sleds, making it even easier to carry.

[0003] Such sleds include an air mattress which has a lower wall arranged to allow them to slide on snowy terrain, an upper wall arranged to allow at least one user to sit on it, and a peripheral wall connecting said lower and upper walls.

[0004] To allow a user sitting on the upper wall to control their movements, some of these inflatable sleds are equipped with at least one braking system comprising a lever forming a lower skid operated by an upper handle, this lever being mounted in rotation in a housing between an inactive position, in which the ski is retracted towards the housing, and a braking position by pulling on the handle by the user to make said ski protrude from the lower wall and thus allow it to rub against the ground.

[0005] In particular, inflatable sleds are known with two braking systems arranged symmetrically on either side of a median sagittal plane of said sled, the user selectively operating at least one of the handles to brake and / or turn.

[0006] To be able to store the deflated sled compactly, it is preferable to be able to disassemble the braking systems as long as their housing is rigid.

[0007] US-6 637 552 describes an inflatable sled whose mattress includes two symmetrical cavities, each opening into the upper and lower walls of said mattress, and which are arranged to each reversibly receive a lever braking system.

[0008] To use the sled, the user must lay the deflated mattress flat on the ground, placing each braking system in its respective cavity. Then, when the mattress is inflated, each cavity conforms to the outer wall of its corresponding brake housing, thus holding the braking system in place through friction.

[0009] This solution is not entirely satisfactory, as it proves complex to implement, both for the manufacture of the air mattress and for the assembly of the braking systems in order to use the sled.

[0010] Furthermore, the arrangement of the braking systems through the sliding wall does not allow for optimal control of the sled's movements, and requires the presence of recesses in said wall which can alter its sliding performance.

[0011] The invention aims to improve the prior art by proposing in particular an inflatable sled whose air mattress is equipped with at least one braking system which can be mounted and dismounted in a simple and intuitive way, while optimizing the braking function conferred for better control of the movements of said sled.

[0012] To this end, the invention proposes a sled comprising an air mattress having a lower wall arranged to allow the sled to slide, an upper wall arranged to allow at least one user to sit on it, and a peripheral wall connecting said lower and upper walls, said sled being equipped with at least one braking system comprising a lever forming a lower skid actuated by an upper handle, said lever being mounted in rotation within a housing between an inactive position in which the skid is retracted towards the housing and a braking position by pulling on the handle to make said skid protrude from the lower wall, the peripheral wall being equipped with a reversible fixing device for the housing on it,said device comprising at least one strap which is removably associated with the housing between a clamping configuration of said housing on said peripheral wall and a dismounting configuration of said housing.

[0013] Other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent in the following description, made with reference to the accompanying figures, in which: [ Fig.1 ], [ Fig.2 ] And [ Fig.3 ] represent in perspective, top view, an inflatable sled according to an embodiment of the invention, respectively front view ( figure 1 ), rear view ( figure 2 ) and in exploded view ( figure 3 ) ; [ Fig.4 ] represents a top view of the sled from the previous figures, [ Fig.4a ] being a cross-sectional view along plane BB of the figure 4 in which the brake lever is not shown; [ Fig.5 ] represents a partial enlargement showing the reversible fixing device of the braking system of the previous figures.

[0014] In relation to these figures, an inflatable sled, intended in particular for recreational use, is described below, to allow at least one user to slide on snowy terrain.

[0015] The sled includes an air mattress 1 having a lower wall 2 arranged to allow the sled to slide, an upper wall 3 arranged to allow at least one user to sit on it, and a peripheral wall 4 connecting said lower and upper walls.

[0016] The lower wall 2 and upper wall 3 both extend in a horizontal plane respectively lower and upper, the peripheral wall 4 extending vertically between said planes.

[0017] In the embodiment shown, the air mattress 1 comprises an air bladder 5, a lower shell 6 carrying the lower wall 2 and an upper shell 7 carrying the upper wall 3, said shells being joined together to form a peripheral wall 4 delimiting with said upper and lower walls a space 8 in which the bladder 5 is disposed.

[0018] Shells 6, 7 can be made of a textile material, for example a synthetic fabric based on polyester and / or polyamide.

[0019] The sled includes a canvas 9 which covers the underside of the lower shell 6, said canvas forming the lower sliding wall 2 of said sled. To this end, the canvas 9 is made of a suitable material, for example, oilcloth, and may also feature a network of recessed and / or raised patterns arranged to facilitate its gliding on snowy terrain.

[0020] In the description, the terms describing positioning in space are chosen relative to the orientation of the sled as shown in the figures. Thus, the terms "upper" and "lower" are used in relation to a position respectively far from and close to the external surface of the lower wall 2 on which the sled slides. Furthermore: The term "longitudinal" refers to a direction corresponding to the maximum dimension of the sled, the term "transverse" refers to a direction perpendicular to this maximum dimension; the terms "front", "back", "left" and "right" are taken in reference to the direction of movement of the sled when it slides on snowy terrain.

[0021] The upper shell 7 has an orifice 11 in which a bladder inflation valve 5 is accessible, said orifice being formed on a rear peripheral edge of said upper shell.

[0022] As depicted on the figure 2 The opening is fitted with a reversible closure device, for example in the form of a screw-on or snap-on cap, to block access to the valve when not in use. This design protects the valve from impacts that could damage it or cause it to activate unintentionally, particularly during sledding, and also improves the sled's appearance.

[0023] Advantageously, the upper wall 3 has a recessed imprint 13, in order to form a seating area to improve the comfort of the user(s) occupying the sled.

[0024] In particular, the recessed imprint 13 can extend over a significant portion of the upper seat wall 3, so as to allow an adult user to sit on it by extending their legs over a front portion of said imprint.

[0025] In the figures, the bladder 5 is formed from a toroidal geometry tube in which a housing 14 is formed, said tube being made in particular of a polymer material, for example based on polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and / or thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU).

[0026] The seat wall 3 extends above the housing 14, and may also have a longitudinal opening 15 that can be closed, in particular by means of a zipper-type system

[0027] The user can thus access the housing 14 through this opening 15, in order to store or retrieve equipment such as clothing items like gloves and / or hats, to avoid their loss when not in use, or a portable manual inflation device, in order to be able to reinflate the sled if necessary during its use.

[0028] The peripheral wall 4 of the sled extends over an edge of at least one shell 6, 7. In the embodiment shown, the shells 6, 7 each have a peripheral border 6a, 7a, the air mattress 1 including a band 16 of association of said borders to form the space 8 in which the bladder 5 is disposed.

[0029] In particular, the upper edge 16a and lower edge 16b of the band 16 are sewn onto a peripheral border 7a, 6a respectively, and the peripheral wall 4 extends over said band.

[0030] The band 16 can be made of a different textile material than that or those constituting the shells 6, 7, in particular with different colours and / or patterns, in order to improve the aesthetic appearance of the sled.

[0031] In relation to the figure 4a, the canvas 9 completely covers the lower shell 6, and their respective peripheral edges 9a, 6a are joined by sewing and folded inside the space 8 to form a hem which is arranged in an outer hem formed by folding the lower edge 16b of the band 16, the whole then being secured by at least one seam.

[0032] Similarly, the peripheral edge 7a of the upper shell 7 is folded inwards into the space 8 to form a hem which is arranged in an outer hem formed by folding the upper edge 16a of the headband 16, the whole then being joined together by at least one seam.

[0033] These arrangements strengthen the association of the headband 16 with the shells 6, 7 while concealing the seam hems inside the mattress 1, in order to improve the aesthetic appearance of the sled.

[0034] To enable a user occupying the seat wall 3 to control their movements, the sled is equipped with at least one braking system 17 comprising a lever 18 forming a lower pad 18b actuated by an upper handle 18a, said lever being mounted in rotation in a housing 19 between an inactive position, in which the pad 18b is retracted towards the housing 19, and a braking position by pulling on the handle 18a to make said pad protrude from the lower wall 2.

[0035] The lever 18 is formed in one piece, for example by molding a thermoplastic material, and has two arched arms, upper and lower, forming respectively the handle 18a and the pad 18b. The lever 18 further includes a central bore 18c to allow its mounting for rotation about a horizontal axis 20 fixed in the housing 19.

[0036] The housing 19 can also be formed in one piece by molding, which makes it easier to manufacture the braking system 17.

[0037] The peripheral wall 4 is equipped with a reversible fixing device for the housing 19 on it, said device comprising at least one strap 21 which is removably associated with the housing 19 between a clamping fixing configuration of said housing on said peripheral wall and a dismounting configuration of said housing.

[0038] This arrangement makes it easier to manufacture the sled, and in particular the air mattress 1. Furthermore, the placement of the braking system 17 around the perimeter of the mattress 1 does not alter the lower wall 2, which improves the sled's glide, and also allows the user to locate and operate it easily, so that they can control their movements in a simple and intuitive way.

[0039] In the figures, the sled has two braking systems 17 of identical design, whose respective housings 19 are fixed to a portion respectively left and right of the peripheral wall 4, said central portions each being equipped with a reversible fixing device for the housing 19 on it.

[0040] Thus, the user can selectively or simultaneously operate either of the levers 18 to control their movements more precisely. In particular, the braking systems 17 are located on the rear of the air mattress 1, in positions close to the arms of a user seated on the upper wall 3, which facilitates access to the handles 18 by said user.

[0041] Each fastening device includes at least one strap 21 attached to the peripheral wall 4 for engagement with the housing 19. This strap can be tightened against the peripheral wall in the fastening configuration and detached from the housing 19 in the dismounting configuration. In particular, this design allows the housing 19 to be pressed against the peripheral wall 4, thereby improving the system's stability against braking forces.

[0042] Advantageously, each fastening device includes two straps 21 which are spaced longitudinally on the peripheral wall 4, each of the straps 21 being engaged in the housing 19. Thus, the risks of pivoting of the braking system 17 during its actuation are limited, so as to optimize the braking force transmitted by the lever 18.

[0043] According to the embodiment shown, each housing 19 comprises at least two longitudinally spaced slots 22, 23, in each of which a strap 21 is engaged by sliding. In particular, each housing 19 comprises an outer wall 19a which has two sets of longitudinally spaced slots 22a, 22b, 23a, 23b, each set comprising a pair of lower upstream slots 22a and upper slots 22b and a pair of lower downstream slots 23a and upper slots 23b which pass through said wall, the strap 21 sliding on said outer wall between said pairs of upstream slots 22a, 22b and downstream slots 23a, 23b.

[0044] Each strap 21 features: an upstream segment 21a permanently fixed to a first part of the peripheral wall 4, for example by being fixed by stitching in the lower hem 16b of the band 16, in particular jointly with the peripheral edges 6a, 9a of the lower shell 6 and of the canvas 9; an intermediate segment 21b engaged by sliding in the housing 19, in particular between the two pairs of slots 22a, 22b, 23a, 23b of a set, so as to slide on the inner face of the outer wall 19a; and a free downstream segment 21c emerging from the upper downstream slot 23b of said set, arranged to engage reversibly in a fixing member 24 integral with a second part of said peripheral wall, said member allowing the adjustment and immobilization in length of said strap to ensure its tightening.

[0045] This design improves the stability of the braking system 17 because segment 21b ensures optimal contact between wall 19a and peripheral wall 4. In the figures, the upstream slots 22a, 22b and downstream slots 23a, 23b of a set are substantially aligned vertically, being formed in the lower and upper parts respectively of the outer wall 19a of the housing 19.

[0046] The fastening element 24 is integral with an upper part of the peripheral wall 4, in particular at the level of the peripheral edge 7a of the upper shell 7.

[0047] The fastening member 24 includes a rigid loop of the "double D" type, the free segment 21c being mounted to slide in a first downstream pass, then in the second upstream pass of said rigid loop, so as to form a clamping loop which the user can manipulate, in particular by pulling on it to tighten the housing 19 on the peripheral wall 4.

[0048] The fastening member 24 is associated with one end of a strap 25, which is folded over itself to form a loop fixed by sewing in the downstream loop of said member, the other end of said strap being fixed by sewing on a patch 26 of the peripheral wall 4.

[0049] The sled can be equipped with at least one accessory chosen from a pull rope 27 and a seat backrest 28.

[0050] In the figures, the seat back 28 includes two lateral straps 29 whose respective free ends are each associated with a fastening element 30, for example a rigid "double D" type buckle, said elements being fixed respectively on a patch 26 of the peripheral wall 4.

[0051] Furthermore, the pull rope 27 includes a first end 27a which is fixed to the front of the air mattress 1, for example by sewing into an association hem of the band 16 to one of the shells 6, 7, the other end being folded back on itself to form a loop 27b which the user can grasp to slide the sled on the ground by pulling on said rope.

Claims

1. Sledge comprising a pneumatic mattress (1) having a lower wall (2) arranged to allow said sledge to slide, an upper wall (3) arranged to allow at least one user to sit on it, and a peripheral wall (4) connecting said lower and upper walls, said sledge being equipped with at least one braking system (17) comprising a lever (18) forming a lower shoe (18b) actuated by an upper handle (18a), said lever being rotatably mounted in a casing (19) between an inactive position in which the shoe (18b) is retracted towards the casing (19) and a braking position by pulling on the handle (18a) to cause said shoe to project from the lower wall (2), said sledge being characterized in that the peripheral wall (4) is equipped with a device for reversibly securing the casing (19) thereto, said device comprising at least one strap (21) which is removably associated with the casing (19) between a configuration for clamping said casing to said peripheral wall and a configuration for disassembling said casing.

2. Sledge according to claim 1, characterized in that it has two braking systems (17) of which the casings (19) are secured to a respective left and right portion of the peripheral wall (4), said central portions each being equipped with a device (21) for reversibly securing the casing (19) thereto.

3. Sledge according to one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the strap (21) is associated with the peripheral wall (4) for engagement in the casing (19), said strap being clampable to said peripheral wall in the fastening configuration and releasable from the casing (19) in the disassembly configuration.

4. Sledge according to claim 3, characterized in that the casing (19) has at least one slot (22a, 22b, 23a, 23b) in which the strap (21) is slidingly engaged.

5. Sledge according to one of claims 3 or 4, characterized in that the strap (21) has a segment (21a) permanently fixed to a first part (16) of the peripheral wall (4), an intermediate segment (21b) engaged in the casing (19) and a free segment (21c) arranged to engage reversibly in a fixing member (24) which is connected with a second part of said peripheral wall, said member allowing adjustment and immobilization in length of said strap to ensure its tightening.

6. Sledge according to one of claims 5, characterized in that the fixing member (24) is associated with one end of a strap (25), the other end of said strap being fixed to a patch (26) of the peripheral wall (4).

7. Sledge according to claim 6, characterized in that it comprises a member (30) for attaching an accessory (28), said member being fixed to the patch (26) of the peripheral wall (4).

8. Sledge according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the fastening device comprises two straps (21) which are spaced longitudinally on the peripheral wall (4).

9. Sledge according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the pneumatic mattress (1) comprises an air bladder (5), a lower shell (6) carrying the lower wall (2), and an upper shell (7) carrying the upper wall (3), said shells being associated by forming a peripheral wall (4) that delimits with the upper (3) and lower (2) walls a space (8) in which the bladder (5) is disposed.

10. Sledge according to claim 9, characterized in that the peripheral wall (4) extends over an edge of at least one shell (6, 7).

11. Sledge according to one of claims 9 or 10, characterized in that the shells (6, 7) each have a peripheral edge (6a, 7a), the pneumatic mattress (1) comprising a band (16) associating said edges to form the space (8) in which the bladder (5) is arranged.

12. Sledge according to claim 11, characterized in that the strap (21) has a segment (21a) fixed to the band (16).

13. Sledge according to any one of claims 9 to 12, characterized in that it comprises a canvas (9) which covers the underside of the lower shell (6), said canvas forming the lower wall (2) arranged to allow said sledge to slide.

14. Sledge according to any one of claims 9 to 13, characterized in that the bladder (5) is formed by a tube with toroidal geometry in which a housing (14) is formed.

15. Sledge according to any one of claims 1 to 14, characterized in that it is equipped with at least one accessory chosen from a pull cord (27) and a seat back (28).