INFLATABLE SKATEBOARDING RAMP

Abstract

Inflatable skateboarding ramp with an inflatable base that gives shape to the ramp, a semi-rigid surface located on the upper face of the inflatable base with one or two entrance platforms, as well as a rolling area and means for fixing the semi-rigid surface and the inflatable base.

Claims

1. An inflatable skateboarding ramp comprising: an inflatable base that gives shape to the inflatable skateboarding ramp; a semi-rigid surface located on an upper face of the inflatable base, comprising one or two entrance platforms; a rolling area; and, a surface fixing means to fasten the semi-rigid surface to the inflatable base.

2. The inflatable skateboarding ramp of claim 1, wherein the semi-rigid surface comprises semi-rigid plates; and, the surface fixing means comprise fastening elements arranged on the upper face of the inflatable base in correspondence with complementary fastening elements arranged on a lower face of the semi-rigid plates.

3. The inflatable skateboarding ramp of claim 1, wherein the inflatable base comprises fixing means to ground.

4. The inflatable skateboarding ramp of claim 3, wherein the fixing means to ground comprise skirts or flaps integral with the inflatable base that extend on the ground and on which ballast elements are placed or fixing pins.

5. The inflatable skateboarding ramp of claim 3 wherein the fixing means to ground comprise straps or tensile straps that are anchored to the ground by fixing pins.

6. The inflatable skateboarding ramp of claim 1, wherein the inflatable base comprises ballast chambers to increase stability of the inflatable skateboarding ramp on ground.

7. The inflatable skateboarding ramp of claim 6, wherein the inflatable base has external ballast chambers configured to be filled with liquid.

8. The inflatable skateboarding ramp of claim 6, wherein the inflatable base has internal ballast chambers configured to be filled with liquid.

9. The inflatable skateboarding ramp of claim 1 wherein the inflatable base comprises flotation chambers configured to be filled with air, enabling use of the inflatable skateboarding ramp as a floating structure.

10. The inflatable skateboarding ramp of claim 1, comprising leveling chambers arranged on an underside of the inflatable base.

11. The inflatable skateboarding ramp of claim 1, further comprising coupling means between two or more inflatable skateboarding ramps for assembling circuits of several ramps.

12. The inflatable skateboarding ramp of claim 11, wherein the coupling means adjoin at least one face of a first inflatable skateboarding ramp to an adjacent face of a second inflatable skateboarding ramp; and the coupling means comprise a fastening between the first inflatable skateboarding ramp and the second inflatable skateboarding ramp.

13. The inflatable skateboarding ramp of claim 2, wherein the semi-rigid surface comprises semi-rigid plates.

14. The inflatable skateboarding ramp of claim 13, wherein the semi-rigid plates are joined in a joint line in which edges of the semi-rigid plates converge.

15. The inflatable skateboarding ramp of claim 14 wherein the joint line comprises a receiving edge comprising a support zone that extends from a lower face of a first semi-rigid plate and on which an edge of an adjoining semi-rigid plate rests.

16. The inflatable skateboarding ramp of claim 15, wherein the support zone has a plurality of slits corresponding with a plurality of pins protruding from a lower face of the edge of the adjoining semi-rigid plate; and, said first semi-rigid plate is joined to said adjoining semi-rigid plate by inserting said plurality of pins into said plurality of slits, and applying an immobilizing adhesive band on the joint line.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0035] FIG. 1.—Isometric view showing an inflatable base already inflated in which the fixing elements, for the semi-rigid surface, can be seen arranged on the upper face.

[0036] FIG. 2.—Exploded isometric view of the new ramp showing the inflatable base with two semi-rigid plates that constitute the two entrance platforms and one rolling area of the semi-rigid surface.

[0037] FIG. 3.—Detailed view of the rolling area in which the design of the overlap joint of the two semi-rigid plates can be seen, which guarantees the continuity and adjustment of the rolling surface in any circumstance.

[0038] FIG. 4.—Isometric view of the ramp showing the inflatable base and the semi-rigid surface coupled in condition of use for the practice of the activity.

[0039] FIG. 5.—Isometric view of the ramp showing the fixing means to the ground.

[0040] FIG. 6.—Isometric view of a version of the ramp according to an embodiment of the invention equipped with external ballast chambers or compartments.

[0041] FIG. 7.—Isometric view of a version of the ramp according to an embodiment of the invention equipped with internal ballast chambers or compartments.

[0042] FIG. 8.—Isometric view of a version of the ramp according to an embodiment of the invention equipped with flotation chambers that present a configuration whose design allows the use of the ramp as a floating structure.

[0043] FIG. 9.—Side view of the new inflatable ramp in an installation that incorporates the leveling chambers system.

[0044] FIGS. 10 and 11—Are perspective views of an embodiment of the invention as a modular ramp in which a three-ramp circuit is shown.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0045] As shown in the figures, the ramp according to one or more embodiments of the invention comprises an

inflatable base (1) that gives shape to the ramp, on which a semi-rigid surface (2) is attached, in which we can distinguish the entrance platforms (3) and a rolling area (4).

[0046] Both the inflatable base (1) and the semi-rigid surface (2) can vary in their chemical composition or type of material, but the combination of these properties (flexible with semi-rigid “skin”) is what validates the product.

[0047] The semi-rigid surface (2) and the inflatable base (1) are joined by means of fixing elements attached on each surface.

[0048] These surface fixing means are constituted, according to the examples shown, by fixing elements (5) arranged on the upper face (6) of the

inflatable base (1) and in correspondence to complementary fixing elements arranged on the underside of the semi-rigid plates (7) that make up the semi-rigid surface (2).

[0049] The fixing elements (5) that constitute the fixing means of the semi-rigid surface can vary.

[0050] According to the illustrated example, the semi-rigid surface (2) is constituted by two semi-rigid plates (7) that are coupled in a joint line (25) located in the center of the rolling area (4). The union line (25) has a receiving edge

(21) with a support area (20) that extends from the underside of the semi-rigid plate and on which a support edge (22) of the other semi-rigid plate rests
to complete the joint.

[0051] To secure the position of the receiving edge (21) and the support edge (22), the support area (20) has a plurality of slits (23) located in correspondence with a plurality of pins (24) projecting from the bottom face of the support edge (22) which, in the assembly position, are inserted in the grooves (23) preventing displacement of the surfaces in contact. Thus, the semi-rigid plates (7) are perfectly aligned, then the joint line (25) is covered with an adhesive immobilizing band (26).

[0052] The inflatable base (1) has fixing means to the ground which in the illustrated example are made up of flaps (8) located at the ends of the ramp, on which ballast elements (9) are placed. The skirts (8) act in combination with straps (10) located in a spaced manner on the sides of the ramp, which are anchored to the ground by means of fixing pins (11).

[0053] In the embodiment shown in FIG. 6, the inflatable base (1) incorporates two external ballast chambers (12) that are filled with water to increase the stability of the inflatable structures on the ground.

[0054] In the embodiment shown in FIG. 7, the inflatable base (1) incorporates six internal ballast chambers (13) that are filled with water to increase stability of the inflatable structures on the ground.

[0055] In the embodiment shown in FIG. 8, the inflatable base (1) incorporates two flotation chambers (14) that are filled with air for the use of the ramp as a floating structure.

[0056] The ramp according to one or more embodiments of the invention incorporates a leveling system constituted by some leveling chambers (15) arranged on the lower face of the inflatable base (1) that inflate independently to level the ramp in cases of uneven terrain, as represented in FIG. 9).

[0057] The inflatable base (1) as well as the flotation chambers (14) and the leveling chambers (15) have valve means to allow their inflation and deflation, which may be one of those available on the market, so no further detail will be given in the description.

[0058] One or more embodiments of the invention allow the assembly of multiple ramp circuits as shown in FIGS. 10 and 11.

[0059] In this type of embodiment, the inflatable base (1) of each ramp has a configuration with one or both connectable ends (18), which allow coupling between ramps, keeping at least one of their adjacent faces (18) attached to that of the adjoining ramp by means of fastening between ramps (19), which may be one of those available in the market, so we will not go into greater detail in the description.