GB2431585A

GB2431585A - An inflatable device for holding an object

Info

Publication number: GB2431585A
Application number: GB0620966A
Authority: GB
Inventors: James Hamilton
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2005-10-21
Filing date: 2006-10-20
Publication date: 2007-05-02
Also published as: GB0620966D0

Abstract

An inflatable device for supporting an article, the device comprising an inflatable member 20 for providing a structural element of the device, an intermediate element 30 mounted on the structural element, and a receiving member 40 provided in engagement with the intermediate element for receiving an article therein. The embodiment described provides an inflatable cushion with a receiving member for holding a sex toy but the application also envisages use of such a device for holding a child's toy, an ornament or a torch, for example. The receiving member may comprise a body having a conical shaped inner surface adaptable to receive objects of different sizes by removing a portion of the receiving member whose inner surface diameter is less than the outer diameter of the portion of the object to be held in the receiving member.

Description

INFLATABLE DEVICE

Background to the invention

The present invention relates to an inflatable device adapted to receive and support an article thereon. More particularly, the present invention relates to an inflatable device adapted to receive and support a toy, such as a sex toy thereon.

It is often desirable to support an article in such a way as to leave the hands of the user free. For example, cameras are often supported on tripods to both steady the camera and leave the hands of the user free to operate the camera and associated equipment, microphones are often supported on microphone sttnds in order to leave the user free to play a musical instrument, toys are often supported so that children are free to observe and enjoy the toy without having to pick the toy up.

which is particularly useful for babies and handicapped youngsters for whom picking up a toy may be difficult or impossible. In addition, many sex toys are preferably operated in a hands-free manner so that full satisfaction can be derived from the sexual experience.

There are many solutions to this problem provided in the prior art, such as tripods, as mentioned above for supporting cameras, microphone stands for supporting microphones, and rubber sucker arrangements and suspension and/or clipping and/or handing arrangements for attaching toys to surfaces or hooks. However, such supporting means are bulky, for example in the case of the camera Iripod or microphone stand, or limited as to their location of use, for example, a sucker arrangement for a child's toy can only be used where a clean flat surtace is available at the point of use to which the sucker can he contacted.

In the prior art, strap arrangements and the like exist to allow the attachnient of sex toys to the person of a user and permit hands-free use, particularly where the toy is 3(1 being used by one person for the pleasure of another. However, a user cannot readily experience the pleasure of the sex toy themselves, particularly if alone, whilst having the toy strapped to their person. A prior art solution supplied, for example, for the use of dildos, is an arrangement whereby the dildo is supported in place at the point of use on the female anatomy. However, this does not allow the user to move relative to the dildo during use.

There is therefore a need for a device which is suitable to support an artic'e in a multitude of locations, in a stand-alone manner leaving the hands of the user free, and which allows a user to move relative to the supported article, if desired. I ()

Summary of the Invention

The present invention seeks to address the problems of the prior art.

A first aspect of the present invention provides an inflatable device for supporting an article comprising an inflatable member for providing a structural element of the device, an intermediate element mounted on the structural element, and a receiving member provided in engagement with the intermediate member for receiving an article therein.

Such an arrangement allows the article to be receiving within a holder located on an inflatable structure. Such an inflatable device can be assembled at any location, is readily deflatable and transportable or storable, and an article received therein in use is supported in a hands-free manner.

In one embodiment, the intermediate element and receiving member are reversibly engaged with one another. For example, the intermediate element and receiving member may be provided with respective complementary inter-engagement means, such as a screw-thread arrangement, a female element and interconnecting male element arrangement, a snap-fit arrangement, a press-stud fastening arrangement, or any other suitable reversible engagement means known to the skilled person and appropriate for the function.

Alternatively, the intermediate element and receiving member may be provided in a non-releasable arrangement, or may be provided as an integral element.

In one embodiment, the inner surface of the receiving member is conical in shape.

With such an arrangement, the receiving member may be adjustable in dependence upon the article to be received therein. For example, the receiving member may be 1(1 truncated at a selected point on the conical shape to render the minimum interior diameter of the receiving member of an appropriate dimension to receive the article therein, the selected dimension being dependent upon the exterior dimension of the article to be received therein.

In one embodiment, the receiving member comprises a resilient material, such as a resilient plastic material, rubber material, or any other suitable material know to the skilled person and appropriate for the function. It is preferred that the receiving member, and optionally the intermediate member, are composed at least in part of polyurethane material or any other suitable material which is non-toxic to the human body.

In one embodiment, the intermediate member is welded to the inflatable member.

In such an arrangement, the inflatable member may comprise a suitable polymer material which is, for example, injection moulded, with the intermediate element subsequently welded to the inflatable member during manufacture.

In one embodiment, the receiving member is adapted to receive a toy therein. Such a toy may comprise a sex toy, such as a dildo or vibrator or any other suitable toy whose use is desired in a hands-free manner. 3(1

A second aspect of the present invention provides a receiving member for receiving an article therein, the receiving member comprising a body having a conical-shaped inner surface, the receiving member being adaptable to receive an object therein by removing the portion of the body whose inner surface dianieter is less than the outer diameter of the portion of the article to he received within the receiving member.

Such an arrangement allows a single receiving member to be adjusted to receive a variety of articles having a variety of outer diameters.

A further aspect of the present invention provides an inflatable device according to a first aspect of the invention, wherein the receiving member is a receiving member according to a second aspect of the present invention.

Brief Description of the Drawings

An embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view illustrating an inflatable device embodying 21) one aspect of the present invention; Figure 2 is a cross-sectional diagram the inflatable device of figure I; Figure 3 is a side view illustrating the inflatable device of figure un an assembled state; Figure 4 is a cross-sectional diagram illustrating the device of figure 1 in an assembled state and with an article received therein; Figure5 is a perspective view of the inflatable device of figure I, in au assembled state and with an article received therein; Figures 6A and 68 illustrate a method of adjusting the inflatable device of figure 1 to adapt the device to receive articles of varying external dimensions; Figure 7 is a perspective view illustrating a further inflatable device embodying one aspect of the present invention; Figure 8 is a plan view illustrating the device of figure 7 in a partially assembled state; Figure 9 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a further inflatable device embodying a further aspect of the present invention; Figure 10 is a plan view illustrating the device of figure 9; and Figure 11 is a further cross-sectional view of the device of figure 9.

Detailed Description of the Invention

Figures 1 and 2 show an inflatable device 10 comprising a cushion 20, with an intermediate element 30 mounted thereon and adapted for engagement with conical-shaped receiving member 40. The intermediate element is provided with a threaded region 35, for inter-engagement with a complementary threaded arrangement 45 provided on the interior surface of receiving member 40.

The intermediate element 30 is mounted on cushion 20 and welded in place.

Receiving member 40 is then fitted to intermediate element 30 by means of the aforementioned screw fit arrangement involving threads 35 and 45 on the intermediate element 30 and receiving member 40, respectively. Figure 3 illustrates the assembled arrangement of intermediate member 30 and receiving member 40.

Once assembled, an article 50 can be received within receiving member 4(1, as shown in figures 4 and 5, where it can be held in place in a stand-alone arrangement allowing [he hands of a user of the article to remain free. Thus the article can be used by a user without the need for another person to be present to support the article. The article 50 shown in figures 4 and 5 is a vibrating dildo.

The inflatable cushion not only allows hands-free use of the article 50, hut contributes to the pleasure of the experience of hands-free use of the article as the inflatable cushion 20 does not absorb or restrict the vibratory motion of the article, and therefore contributes to maximum vibratory stimulation being available far hands-free experience by the user.

A further advantage of the inflatable device 10 is that it is made of a plastics material so is wipe clean and, due to its inflatable structure, can be simply deflated and packed away for storage or transportation, without taking up undue space. In addition, the inflatable device 10 does not require the presence of any particular surfaces or supporting arrangements to be present at the point of use and can therefore be inflated and used wherever desired.

Figure 6A shows a receiving member 40 whose outer surface is conical iii shape.

The receiving member 40 has an opening, x, as shown in figure 6A, in which can be received an article with a maximum dimension of less than x at the point of insertion into receiving member 40. However, the receiving member 40 can he adapted to receive an article of maximum dimension greater than x at the point of insertion into receiving member 4() by simply removing the portion of the receiving member at an appropriate point to produce an opening in receiving member 40 of appropriate dimensions.

For example, if receiving member 40 is truncated at the dotted line shown in figure 6A, the resulting opening will have dimension y, as shown in figure 6B, which is greater than dimension x shown in figure 6A. The receiving member 40 shown in figure 6B will be able to receive an article of any dimension less than y. In other words, truncation of receiving member 40 results in the increase in the opening dimensions of receiving member 40.

Other means of adjustability of receiving member 40 to receive articles of differing dimensions at the point of insertion into receiving member 40 are possible. For example, receiving member 40 may comprise and elastic material which can be stretched to accommodate articles of larger dimension and which may resiliently retract to its original shape and dimension of withdrawal of the article from the receiving member.

Figure 6 illustrates a further embodiment of the present invention in which the intermediate element 30 and receiving member 40 are formed from one iuilegial piece of moulded plastic. The receiving member portion 40 of the integral piece is cone-shaped, such that the cone may be truncated at a selected point in order to JO dimension the opening into which an article is received. For example, possible truncation points are illustrated at dashed lines x, y and z in figure 7. It will be appreciated that truncating at dashed line x will result in the opening in receiving member 40 being smaller than if the receiving member 40 is truncated at dashed line y. Similarly, truncation at dashed line z would result in. an opening in receiving member 40 of greater dimension than truncation at either dashed line x or dashed line y.

Intermediate element portion 30 is a large planar member, the periphery of which extends beyond the periphery receiving member 40. This is a practical consideration which is necessary in order to easily carry Out high frequency welding of the integral component 30, 40 to cushion 20 during manufacture.

Welding is carried out from above to attach the periphery of intermediate element to cushion 20, and thus the periphery of intermediate element 30 must extend beyond the periphery of receiving member 40 in order to ensure that the high frequency welding operation is not impeded by the presence of the receiving member 40.

Figure 8 illustrates the inflatable device 10 of figure 7 in a partially assembled state. Cushion 20 is shown as a planar member upon which receiving member 40 is attached around the periphery of intermediate element 30. In addition, an air-valve 60 is attached to cushion 20 by high frequency welding. After the high frequency welding operation has taken place with respect to intermediate member and air-valve 60, cushion 20 is folded about dashed line A (shown in figure 8), and the contacting peripheries of cushion 20 are high frequency welded together to create a compartment which can be filled with air via air-valve 60.

Figure 9 shows a further embodiment of the present invention. Intermediate element 30 and receiving member 40 are formed integrally, with the conical-shaped receiving member 40 located the surface level of cushion 20, such that in use, an article (not shown) may be held within receiving member 40, the one end of the article being held below the surface level of cushion 20, and the remainder of the article extending above the surface of cushion 20. Intermediate clement 30 is further formed with a contoured surface to provide additional stimulation for the portion of female genitalia, such as the clitoral region, which may make contact with intermediate element 30, during use of for example a dildo received within receiving member 40. Such a contoured region is intended to enhance the pleasure experience by a user of the inflatable cushion during use.

Figure 10 shows the embodiment of figure 9 viewed from above, the dashed lines 21) indicating the portion of receiving member 40 extending below the surface of cushion member 20. Valve 60 is provided on the surface of cushion 20, to which air is passed into the cushion on inflation and from the cushion on deflation. In figure 10 and figure 11, valve 60 is shown as being located on the upper surface of cushion 20. However, it will be appreciated that valve 60 may be located at any suitable position on cushion 20 and may preferably be located on the base of cushion 20 such that valve 60 is trapped between cushion 20 and the surface of which cushion 20 is resting, when in use.

Figure 11 is a cross-sectional view of the inflatable device 10 of figure 9, showing the whole of cushion 20. The arrow indicates the direction in which an article should pass in order to be received within receiving member 40. As shown in figure 9, receiving member 40 tapers away from intermediate element 30 such that the receiving member 40 has a decreasing width along its width in the direction in which it extends away from intermediate element 30. For example, positions x, y and z are indicated on receiving member 40 in figure 9. The width of receiving member 40 at position z is wider than that at positions x and y. The width of receiving member 40 at position y is wider than that at position x. Therefore, an article to be received within receiving member 40 may be inserted into receiving member 40 as far as it will go before being obstructed by the tapering walls of receiving member 40. Thus, an article may be inserted to position z and he of such a width that the article cannot be inserted into receiving member 40 beyond position z. Another article of lesser width may be inserted into receiving member 40 as far as position y or x. The tapering nature of receiving member 40 therefore allows for receiving article of various widths securing therewithin without any need to truncate the receiving member as a suitable position to vary the dimensions of the receiving member to accommodate the article.

Although aspects of the invention have been described with reference to the embodiment shown in the accompanying drawings, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the precise embodiment shown and that various changes and modifications may be effected without further inventive skill and effort, for example, although the example provided in figures 4 to 6 shows a dildo being received within the receiving means, the article being received could be a decorative article for display such as, for example, an ornament. Such a received article would be protected from being knocked over as the cushion 20 would provide additional stability to the ornament. Alternatively, the article being receiving could be a child's toy. in particular, a toy for a baby who is too young to be able to pick the toy up and hold it on their own, but who can be stimulated by a toy which provides visual interest. Alternatively, the article being received could be a lamp or torch for use in an environment lacking a functional overhead light.

The lamp or torch would therefore be held steady and in a hands-free manner.

Once use of the inflatable member is over, the inflatable member can be simply deflated and stored for future use, or transported to a new location for further use.

In addition, the adjustability of the inflatable device with respect to the dimensions of the article to be received therein allows the device to be used with a range of articles, as desired. It will also be appreciated that although in the embodiment U) shown in the figures, the receiving member is shown as having a conical-shaped outer surface, the outer surface may be any preferred shape. It is the contours of the inner surface which is important to allow adjustability of the dimensions of ihe opening in the receiving member to receive an article that is important iii the adjustable method described in respect to figures 6A and 6B. Although the inner surface of the receiving member shown in figures âA and 6B is circular in cross-section, it will be appreciated that the cross-section of the inner surface of the receiving member could be any appropriate shape, for example, oval, triangular, square, rectangular, or any other shape in cross-section. It will also be appreciated that the tapering shape of the inner shape of receiving member shown in figures 6A and 6B allows the receiving member to be truncated at a selected point lo provide the receiving member opening into which an article is received to be of a desired dimension. This tapering shape is also envisaged with a receiving member of any cross-sectional shape to allow the receiving member opening dimension 10 be selected to be appropriate to receive a specifically dimensioned article. However, it should also be appreciated that an inflatable device according to the present invention is also envisaged in which the receiving member is not tapering in shape and thus has an opening whose dimensions cannot be adjusted by truncating the receiving member at a selected point. Instead, the receiving member is provided with an opening which is appropriately dimensioned to receive an article of corresponding dimensions. Ii

Claims

CLAIMS

1. An inflatable device for supporting an article comprising an iiiflaiable member for providing a structural element of the device, an intermediate element mounted on the structural element, and a receiving member provided in engagement with the intermediate element for receiving an article therein.

2. An inflatable device according to Claim, wherein the intermediate element and receiving member are reversibly engaged with one another.

3. An inflatable device according to Claim 2, wherein the intermediate element and receiving member are provided with respective complementary inter-engagement means.

4. An inflatable device according to Claim 3, wherein the complementary inter-engagement means comprises a screw thread arrangement.

5. An inflatable device according to Claim 1, wherein the intermediate member and receiving member are integrally formed.

6. An inflatable device according to any preceding Claim, wherein the inner surface of the receiving member is conical in shape.

7. An inflatable device according to any preceding Claim, wherein at least a portion of the receiving member comprises a resilient material.

8. An inflatable device according to Claim 7, wherein at least a portion of the receiving member comprises a resilient plastic material.

9. An inflatable device according to any preceding Claim, wherein the receiving member is adjustable in dependence upon the article to be received therein.

10. An inflatable device according to Claim 9, wherein the receiving member is adjustable by removal of a portion of the receiving member in dependence upon the article to be received (herein.

11. An inflatable device according to any preceding Claim, wherein the intermediate element is non-releasably secured to the inflatable member.

12. An inflatable device according to Claim 12, wherein the intermediate element is welded to the inflatable member.

13. An inflatable device according to any preceding Claim, wherein the receiving member is adapted to receive a toy therein.

14. An inflatable device according to any preceding Claim, wherein the receiving member is adapted to receive a sex toy therein. 2(1

15. An inflatable device according to Claim 14, wherein the receiving member is adapted to receive a dildo therein.

16. A receiving member for receiving an article therein, the receiving member comprising a body having a conical-shaped inner surface, the receiving member being adaptable to receive an object therein by removing the portion of the body whose inner surface diameter is less than the outer diameter of the portion of the object to be received within the receiving member.

17. An inflatable device according to any one of Claims Ito 15, wherein the receiving member is a receiving member according to Claim 16.

18. An inflatable device substantially as hereinbefore described and with reference to the accompanying drawings.

19. A receiving member substantially as hereinbefore described and with reference to the accompanying drawings.