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EP-4741274-A1 - INFLATABLE WATER SPORT DEVICE, VALVE DEVICE AND VALVE SYSTEM

EP4741274A1EP 4741274 A1EP4741274 A1EP 4741274A1EP-4741274-A1

Abstract

The invention provides an inflatable water sports device comprising at least one inflatable structure with a valve device 1000 through which air can be supplied to an interior of the structure. The valve device 1000 comprises a valve housing 10 with a passage opening 110 and a valve body 20 movably mounted on the valve housing 10 via a bearing for airtight sealing of the passage opening 110. The valve body 20 is rotatable about an axis of rotation relative to the valve housing 10 via the bearing, the bearing being designed such that, starting from a first angular position in which the valve body 20 can assume at least a closed position that closes the passage opening, the valve body 20 can be moved by rotating it about the axis of rotation with an actuation angle α, where 0° < α < 360°, into a second angular position in which the valve body 20 can assume at least an open position that releases the passage opening and no closed position. The bearing is designed in such a way that it allows continuous rotation of the valve body 20, so that the valve body 20, starting from the first angular position, can be rotated about the axis of rotation with a rotation angle β n = α + n · 360° for each n ∈ ℤ can be moved into the second angular position.

Inventors

  • BITTEROLF, ULRICH
  • Mathes, Aron

Assignees

  • Boards & More GmbH

Dates

Publication Date
20260513
Application Date
20250604

Claims (15)

  1. Inflatable water sports equipment, in particular a surfing device, preferably a wing rig (3000) or a kite, and the inflatable structure is preferably an inflatable front tube (3001) of the kite or the wing rig (3000) or an inflatable middle or transverse tube of the kite or the wing rig (3000). wherein the water sports equipment comprises at least an inflatable structure with a valve device (1000) through which air can be supplied to an interior of the structure and which comprises a valve housing (10) with a passage opening (110) and a valve body (20) movably attached to the valve housing (10) via a bearing for airtight sealing of the passage opening (110), The valve body (20) is rotatable about an axis of rotation relative to the valve housing (10) via the bearing, the bearing being designed such that the valve body (20), starting from a first angular position in which the valve body (20) can assume a closed position closing the passage opening (110), can be moved by rotating it about the axis of rotation with an actuation angle α, where 0° < α < 360°, into a second angular position in which the valve body (20) can assume an open position releasing the passage opening (110) and cannot assume a closed position. and the bearing is designed such that it allows continuous rotation of the valve body (20), so that the valve body (20) can be rotated from the first angular position about the axis of rotation with a rotation angle β n = α + n · 360° for each n ∈ ℤ can be moved into the second angular position.
  2. Water sports equipment according to claim 1, wherein the valve body (20) is locked in the first and/or second angular position via the bearing, such that the resistance to rotating the valve body (20) from the first and/or second angular position is greater than the resistance to rotating from an intermediate angular position that lies between the first and the second angular position.
  3. Water sports equipment according to one of claims 1 or 2, wherein the valve body (20) is displaceable via the bearing along a stroke axis relative to the valve housing (10), wherein one direction of the stroke axis corresponds in particular to a direction of the rotation axis.
  4. Water sports equipment according to claim 3, wherein a valve stroke in the first angular position is not equal to a valve stroke in the second angular position, where the valve stroke describes the possible range of motion for stroke movements of the valve body relative to the valve housing along the stroke axis, and the valve lift in the first angular position is preferably greater than the valve lift in the second angular position.
  5. Water sports equipment according to claim 4, wherein the bearing arrangement, at least for the first and second angular positions of the valve body (20), preferably for each angular position of the valve body (20), with respect to a fixed stroke reference point of the valve housing (10), each comprising a lower stroke end position and an upper stroke end position, which determine the valve stroke and between which the valve body (20) is displaceable in the respective angular position relative to the valve housing (10) along the stroke axis, wherein at least one lower stroke end position in the first angular position is different from a lower stroke end position in the second angular position and the valve body (20) assumes the closed position when it is in the lower stroke end position in the first angular position, and assumes the open position when it is in the lower stroke end position in the second angular position.
  6. Water sports equipment according to claim 5, wherein The bearing has a guide contour (120) and one or more guide sections (210) adapted to it, which are movable relative to each other by rotating the valve body (20), wherein the guide contour (120) defines a lower stroke end position for each angular position of the valve body (20) by interaction with the one or more guide sections (210), wherein the guide contour (120) is preferably designed as part of the valve housing (10) and the one or more guide sections (210) are preferably designed as part of the valve body (20).
  7. Water sports equipment according to claim 6, wherein a contour curve of the guide contour (120) in a circumferential direction orthogonal to the axis of rotation is a continuous curve over an angular range from 0° to 360°.
  8. Water sports equipment according to one of claims 5 to 7, wherein The valve device (1000) comprises a return element (40), in particular in the form of an elastic spring, which exerts a return force on the valve body (20), by which the The valve body (20) is clamped in the first angular position in the lower stroke end position of the first angular position.
  9. Water sports equipment according to one of claims 1 to 8, wherein The bearing is designed such that the valve body (20), starting from a third angular position that corresponds neither to the first nor the second angular position and in which the valve body (20) can assume a further closing position that closes the passage opening (110), can be moved by rotating it about the axis of rotation with an actuation angle γ, where 0° < γ < 360°, into a fourth angular position that corresponds neither to the first nor the second angular position, in which the valve body (20) can assume a further opening position that releases the passage opening (110) and cannot assume a closing position, wherein, due to the bearing allowing continuous rotation, the valve body (20), starting from the third angular position, can be moved by rotating it about the axis of rotation with a rotation angle δ n = γ + n · 360° for each n ∈ ℤ can be moved into the fourth angular position.
  10. Water sports equipment according to claim 9, wherein The bearing is designed such that the valve body (20) can be moved from the second angular position to the third angular position by rotating about the axis of rotation with an actuation angle θ, where 0° < θ < 360°, and α + γ + θ < 360° applies, wherein preferably 80° ≤ α ≤ 100° and/or 80° ≤ δ ≤ 100° and/or 80° ≤ θ ≤ 100° applies, and the bearing is particularly designed such that the valve body (20) can be moved from the third angular position to the first angular position by rotating about the axis of rotation with an actuation angle ϕ, where 0° < ϕ < 360°, and preferably α + γ + θ + ϕ = 360° applies.
  11. Water sports equipment according to one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the valve body (20) comprises a closure section (21) adapted to the passage opening (110), an operating section (23) by which the valve body (20) can be rotated, and a connecting section (22) arranged in between, wherein the bearing is particularly located in the area of the connecting section (22).
  12. Valve device (1000) for use on a water sports device, in particular a valve device (1000) of a water sports device according to one of claims 1 to 11, comprising a valve housing (10) with a passage opening (110) and a valve body (20) movably attached to the valve housing (10) via a bearing for airtight sealing of the passage opening (110), wherein the valve body (20) is rotatable about an axis of rotation relative to the valve housing (10) via the bearing, such that the valve body (20) can be moved from a first angular position, in which the valve body (20) can assume a closed position closing the passage opening (110), by rotating it about the axis of rotation with an actuation angle β, with 0° < β ≤ 180°, into a second angular position, in which the valve body (20) can assume an open position releasing the passage opening (110) and cannot assume a closed position, and the bearing is designed in such a way that it allows a continuous rotation of the valve body (20), so that the valve body (20) can be rotated from the first angular position about the axis of rotation with a rotation angle α n = β + n · 360° for each n ∈ ℤ can be moved into the second angular position.
  13. Valve device (1000) according to claim 12, wherein the valve body (20) comprises a closure section (21) adapted to the passage opening (110), an operating section (23) by which the valve body (20) can be rotated, and a connecting section (22) arranged in between, wherein the bearing acts particularly in the area of the connecting section (22), The valve housing (10) has a fastening section adapted to a connection adapter designed for use with a pump device, such that the connection adapter can be brought into interaction with the fastening section by insertion and rotation relative to the valve housing (10) in order to detachably fasten the connection adapter to the valve housing (10), and the fastened connection adapter can be separated from the fastening section by rotation and withdrawal from the valve housing (10) in order to detach the fastened connection adapter from the valve housing (10).
  14. Valve device according to claim 13, wherein The operating section (23) of the valve body (20) is adapted to an actuating section of the connection adapter such that, by inserting and rotating the connection adapter to establish the releasable attachment of the connection adapter to the valve housing (20), the actuating section, through interaction with the operating section (23), rotates the valve body (20) from an angular position that is not the first angular position into the first angular position. and/or the operating section (23) of the valve body (20) is adapted to the actuating section of the connection adapter such that the fastening of the connection adapter to the valve housing (20) can be released by rotating the attached connection adapter. The actuating section, through interaction with the operating section (23), rotates the valve body (20) from an angular position that is not the first angular position to the first angular position.
  15. Valve system for use on a water sports device, in particular a water sports device according to one of claims 1 to 11, comprising: - a connection adapter that can be connected to an outlet of a pump device, and - a valve device (1000) according to claim 14, wherein the connection adapter is adapted to the mounting section of the valve housing (10) of the valve device (1000) such that the connection adapter can be brought into interaction with the mounting section by insertion and rotation relative to the valve housing (10) in order to detachably fasten the connection adapter to the valve housing (10), and the fastened connection adapter can be separated from the mounting section by rotation and withdrawal from the valve housing (10) in order to detach the fastened connection adapter from the valve housing (10), and the connection adapter has an actuating section adapted to the operating section (23) of the valve body (20) of the valve device (1000) such that by inserting and rotating the connection adapter to establish the releasable attachment of the connection adapter to the valve housing (20), the actuating section, through interaction with the operating section (23), rotates the valve body (20) from an angular position other than the first angular position to the first angular position, and/or the operating section (23) of the valve body (20) is adapted to the actuating section of the connection adapter such that by turning the attached connection adapter to release the attachment of the connection adapter to the valve body (20), the actuating section, through interaction with the operating section (23), turns the valve body (20) from an angular position that is not the first angular position to the first angular position.

Description

Technical field The present invention relates to an inflatable water sports device, a valve device for use with an inflatable water sports device and a valve system. Background of the invention Inflatable water sports equipment, particularly in surfing, is known from the field of water sports, specifically surfing equipment, which can only be used as intended after inflating its structure. This has the advantage, among others, that the equipment can be transported in a space-saving manner when deflated and only reaches its final, intended shape at its destination through inflation. Examples that are not restrictive include an inflatable wing rig or an inflatable kite, which are surfing equipment that allows the user to be pulled on a board over water, but also over land (ice, snow, sand, etc.). With a kite, the user controls the equipment via a bar to which lines are attached, connecting the bar to a flying canopy. In contrast, the user of a wing rig holds the equipment directly with their hands, either using handles or a control pole called a boom. Typically, an inflatable kite or wing rig features an inflatable leading edge that acts as a wingtip for the wind. Additionally, inflatable cross tubes extending essentially transversely to the leading edge may be included; when inflated, these cross tubes, together with the leading edge, form a sail. Other examples of inflatable water sports equipment include inflatable canoes, kayaks, dinghies, rafting boats, SUP boards (stand-up paddleboards), surfboards, or wingboards. To inflate or deflate inflatable structures, they typically have a valve device that penetrates an outer skin of the structure to supply or remove air from an interior space. This supply occurs due to the a comparatively large volume of air via a pump device, whose connection adapter is coupled to the valve device. To save weight, such valve devices are usually made of plastic. During each inflation and deflation cycle, the valve is inevitably actuated, subjecting it to mechanical stress. This stress gradually wears down the valve and can easily lead to damage if the valve is handled carelessly, especially considering that water sports equipment, and therefore the valve device, is regularly exposed to extreme conditions, such as pressure when inflated, UV radiation, heat, cold, salt water, sand, etc. Summary One object of the present invention is therefore to create a more robust inflatable water sports device with regard to filling and emptying. To solve this problem, an inflatable water sports device according to claim 1, a valve device for use with a water sports device according to claim 12 and a valve system according to claim 15 are provided. The respective dependent claims relate to preferred embodiments, which can each be provided individually or in combination. According to a first aspect of the invention, an inflatable water sports device is provided, comprising at least one inflatable structure with a valve device through which air can be supplied to an interior of the structure. The valve device comprises a valve housing with a passage opening and a valve body movably mounted on the valve housing via a bearing for airtight sealing of the passage opening. The valve body is rotatable about an axis of rotation relative to the valve housing via the bearing, the bearing being designed such that, starting from a first angular position in which the valve body can assume at least a closed position closing the passage opening, the valve body can be moved by rotating it about the axis of rotation with an actuation angle α, where 0° < α < 360°, into a second angular position in which the valve body can assume at least an open position releasing the passage opening and no closed position. The bearing is designed in such a way that it allows continuous rotation of the valve body, so that, starting from the first angular position, the valve body can be rotated about the axis of rotation with a rotation angle β n = α + n · 360° for each n∈ℤ can be moved into the second angular position. Accordingly, it is preferably the case that the valve body, starting from the second angular position, is rotated about the axis of rotation by an angle of rotation. βn*=−βn=−α−n⋅ 360° for every n∈ℤ ( as the set of integers) can be moved into the first angular position. When rotating around the axis of rotation, the sign of the angle of rotation indicates the direction of rotation. For example, a positive angle of rotation means that the valve body is rotated relative to the valve housing in a mathematically positive direction, whereas a negative angle of rotation means that the valve body is rotated relative to the valve housing in a mathematically negative direction. The rotational orientation of the valve body relative to the valve housing is specified by an angular position, which, with respect to the axis of rotation, describes an angle of rotation between a body-fixed coordinate system of the valve body an