US3207509A

US3207509A - Inflatable water amusement device

Info

Publication number: US3207509A
Application number: US262819A
Authority: US
Inventors: Lawrence V Meyering
Original assignee: Dcutsch & Sons Inc
Current assignee: Dcutsch & Sons Inc
Priority date: 1963-03-01
Filing date: 1963-03-01
Publication date: 1965-09-21
Anticipated expiration: 1982-09-21

Description

Sept. 21, 1965 1.. v. MEYERING INFLATABLE WATER AMUSEMENT DEVICE Filed March 1, 1965 INVENTOR AT TORNEYS United States Patent 3,207,509 INFLATABLE WATER AMUSEMENT DEVICE Lawrence V. Meyering, Coopersville, Mich., assignor to Deutsch & Sons, Inc., Milwaukee, Wis. Filed Mar. 1, 1963, Ser. No. 262,819 1 Claim. (Cl. 27232) It is the prime object of my invention to provide a water amusement appliance embodying a round, dishshaped device formed of flexible air and waterproof material fabricated to provide a hollow body, with means for inflating the body to provide a buoyant float when it is desired to use the same in the water; the body being deflatable to permit the collapsing and folding thereof into a small, compact bundle.

Another salient object of my invention is to provide a flexible inflatable round body having connected to its upper and lower walls in a novel manner, a sleeve for rotatably supporting a vertical drive shaft having detachably secured to its lower end a paddle wheel for bringing about the spinning of the boat on the water upon rotation of the shaft, the shaft and paddle wheel being removable from the sleeve and the body when the body is deflated and collapsed for shipping and packaging.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists in the novel construction, arrangement and formation of parts, as will be hereinafter more specifically described and claimed and illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which drawing,

FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view of my improved water amusement device showing the same in use;

FIGURE 2 is a vertical central sectional view through the amusement device showing the hollow collapsible body in its inflated condition ready for use;

FIGURE 3 is a detail horizontal sectional view taken on the line 33 of FIGURE 2, looking in the direction of the arrows, illustrating the bearing and supporting sleeve, and

FIGURE 4 is a perspective view showing the hollow body in its collapsed, folded condition with the shaft and paddle wheel removed therefrom.

Referring to the drawing in detail, wherein similar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, the letter D generally indicates my improved water amusement device, and the same includes a collapsible, inflatable body 5. The body 5 is formed from flexible air and waterproof material, such as rubber, plastic or the like, and includes upper and lower walls 6 and 7 and a connecting annular end wall 8. The body is preferably of a round shape in plan and in the form of a sector of a hollow sphere, when in its inflated set up position. Thus, the upper wall 6 is of a dish-shape so as to permit one or more persons to sit in the device when the body is in its inflated set up position. At a desired point, the flexible body 5 is provided with a valve 9 to permit the inflation of the hollow body to form a buoyant hull or float, and to also permit the deflation of the body when it is desired to collapse or fold the same.

In accordance with my invention, I provide a centrally disposed sleeve 10 having formed on its upper and lower ends outwardly extending flanges 11 and 12. This sleeve is disposed within the body during the fabrication thereof and its flanges 11 and 12 can be cemented or otherwise secured to the inner faces of the walls 6 and 7. Fitted tight against the outer faces of the walls 6 and 7, are upper and

lower plates

13 and 14. The plates are provided with suitable openings and fastening elements, such as screws 15, are passed through the openings and the walls "use 6 and 7 are threaded into the flanges 11 and 12. By forcibly tightening the screws 15, the walls 6 and 7 of the body can be squeezed between the plates and flanges to bring about a water-tight connection. The axial center of the

plates

13 and 14 is provided with bearing openings for rotatably receiving a vertically disposed drive shaft 16. The shaft extends beyond the lower end of the body and has detachably secured thereto for movement therewith a bladed paddle wheel 17. The shaft 16 above the top plate 13 has rigidly secured thereto a hollow bearing cap 18, and this cap bears against the top plate 13 and this cap can be packed with grease, if such should be desired.

The upper end of the shaft 16 is provided with a hand crank 19 whereby the shaft can be manually rotated. Other means can be provided for bringing about the rotation of this shaft.

By having the body 5 formed of flexible material, the same can be initially folded into a compact bundle for packaging and shipping as shown in FIGURE 4. When the body is collapsed, the paddle wheel 17 and shaft 16 with its cap 18 can be removed from the body. Thus, it can be seen that a compact bundle is provided which can be easily placed in a medium sized carton for shipping.

When it is desired to set up the device, the shaft 16 is slid into position and the paddle wheel is secured to the lower end thereof. The body can now be inflated by forcing air or other fluid under pressure into the body through the valve 9. The body will be expanded and will take the shape shown in FIGURES 1 and 2.

Obviously, the device can be readily collapsed whenever desired by operating the valve 9.

From the foregoing description, it can be seen that I have provided an improved water amusement device or spinner which can be readily collapsed and folded into a compact bundle.

Various changes in details may be made, without departing from the spirit or the scope of this invention, but what I claim as new is:

A Water amusement device comprising a free floating hollow body of a round dish-shape and including upper and lower like walls and a connecting annular wall, said walls being formed of flexible waterproof material, means including a valve for inflating and deflating the hollow body, a bearing sleeve disposed axially within the body and having upper and lower annular flanges engaging the inner faces of the top and bottom walls, bearing plates engaging the outer faces of the upper and lower walls, means connecting the plates to the flanges, a removable drive shaft rotatably mounted in said plates and disposed at the axial center of the body and extending through the lower plate, a paddle wheel detachably secured to the lower end of the shaft, and an operating crank on the upper end of said shaft for bringing about rotation of the shaft and paddle wheel, whereby the device can be deflated, folded and the paddle wheel and shaft detached to provide a compact package for shipping and inflated with paddle wheel and shaft attached for use as a free floating spinning amusement device.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,722,523 7/29 Hunter 272-32 2,761,155 9/56 Headley 911.l X 3,088,732 5/63 Hetland 272-1 FOREIGN PATENTS 198,425 5/08 Germany.

RICHARD c. PINKHAM, Primary Examiner.