Inflatable slider apparatus

Abstract

A slider apparatus that includes a floatable support tube that includes a main body tube, and an end tube segment extending from the main body tube, the end tube segment including a first end and a second end, the diameter of the first end of the end tube segment being greater than the diameter of the second end of the end tube segment, a stabilizer tube attached to the support tube, and a rail system attached to the support tube.

What is claimed is.  
     
         1 . A slider apparatus comprising: 
 an inflatable, floatable support tube comprising 
 a main body tube, and  
 an end tube segment extending from said main body tube, said end tube segment comprising a first end and a second end, the diameter of said first end of said end tube segment being greater than the diameter of said second end of said end tube segment;  
   a stabilizer tube attached to said support tube; and    a rail system attached to said support tube.    
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said end tube segment comprises a conical shape or a frusto-conical shape.  
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said main body tube comprises a cylindrical shape.  
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said main body tube comprises a conical shape or a frusto-conical shape.  
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said end tube segment extends from said main body tube at an angle to said main body tube.  
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the water contacting surface of said main tube is at an angle of from 90° to less than 180° relative to the water contacting surface of the end tube segment.  
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the end tube segment extends down into the water when said apparatus is placed on a body of water.  
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said end tube segment comprises a conical shape or a frusto-conical shape and tapers from a greater diameter at the union of said end tube segment and said main body tube to a smaller diameter toward the terminal end of said end tube segment.  
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said support tube comprises a second end tube segment extending from said main body tube.  
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein said second end tube segment comprises a conical shape or a frusto-conical shape.  
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein said first end tube segment extends at an angle to said main body tube and said second end tube segment extends at an angle to said main body tube.  
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the water contacting surface of said main tube is at an angle of from 90° to less than 180° relative to the water contacting surface of the second end tube segment.  
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the second end tube segment extends down into the water when said apparatus is placed on a body of water.  
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein said main body tube comprises a cylindrical shape, said first end tube segment comprises a conical shape or a frusto-conical shape, and said second end tube segment comprises a conical shape or a frusto-conical shape.  
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , comprising a second stabilizer tube coupled to said support tube.  
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein said first stabilizer tube and said second stabilizer tube are positioned on opposite sides of said support tube.  
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , comprising a second stabilizer tube coupled to said support tube.  
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein said first stabilizer tube and said second stabilizer tube are positioned on opposite sides of said support tube.  
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein, when said apparatus is placed on a body of water, said rail system extends into the body of water.  
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said rail system comprises a first rail and a second rail in parallel relation to said first rail.  
     
     
         21 . The apparatus of  claim 20 , comprising spacers disposed between said first rail and said second rail.  
     
     
         22 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said rail system comprises a first rail section comprising two rails in parallel relation to each other, a second rail section comprising two rails in parallel relation to each other, and a coupler connecting said first rail section to said second rail section.  
     
     
         23 . The apparatus of  claim 22 , wherein a first end of said coupler is disposed in an opening in said first rail section and a second end of said coupler is disposed in an opening in said second rail section.  
     
     
         24 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said rail system comprises a first rail portion, a second rail portion in parallel relation to said first rail portion, and a third portion disposed between said first rail portion and said second rail portion and contiguous with said first rail portion and said second rail portion along the longitudinal extent of said rail system.  
     
     
         25 . The apparatus of  claim 24 , wherein said rail system comprises openings in said third portion of said rail system.  
     
     
         26 . The apparatus of  claim 25 , comprising attachment mechanisms attached to said support tube, wherein said attachment mechanisms extend through said openings in said third portion to maintain said rail system on said support tube.  
     
     
         27 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , comprising attachment mechanisms attached to said support tube, wherein said attachment mechanisms maintain said rail system on said support tube.  
     
     
         28 . The apparatus of  claim 22 , comprising attachment mechanisms attached to said support tube, wherein said attachment mechanisms extend around said spacers.  
     
     
         29 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said rail system comprises metal.  
     
     
         30 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said rail system comprises polymer.  
     
     
         31 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , comprising a second inflatable, floatable support tube coupled to said first inflatable support tube  
     
     
         32 . The apparatus of  claim 31 , wherein said second support tube comprises a main body tube comprising a conical shape or a frusto-conical shape.  
     
     
         33 . The apparatus of  claim 31 , wherein said second support tube comprises a cylindrical shape.  
     
     
         34 . The apparatus of  claim 31 , wherein said second support tube comprises an end tube segment comprising a conical shape or a frusto-conical shape.  
     
     
         35 . The apparatus of  claim 31 , wherein said main body tube of said first support tube comprises a conical shape or a frusto-conical shape and said end tube segment of said first support tube comprises a conical shape or a frusto-conical shape.  
     
     
         36 . The apparatus of  claim 31 , comprising a third inflatable, floatable support tube coupled to said second support tube.  
     
     
         37 . The apparatus of  claim 36 , wherein said second support tube comprises a cylindrical shape.  
     
     
         38 . The apparatus of  claim 36 , wherein said third support tube comprises a cylindrical shape.  
     
     
         39 . The apparatus of  claim 36 , wherein said third support tube comprises a conical shape or a frusto-conical shape.  
     
     
         40 . The apparatus of  claim 36 , wherein said third support tube comprises a main body tube comprising a conical shape or a frusto-conical shape and an end tube segment comprising a conical shape or a frusto-conical shape.  
     
     
         41 . The apparatus of  claim 31 , comprising a,coupler ring disposed between said first support tube and said second support tube.  
     
     
         42 . The apparatus of  claim 36 , comprising a first coupler ring disposed between said first support tube and said second support tube, and a second coupler ring disposed between said second support tube and said third support tube.  
     
     
         43 . The apparatus of  claim 31 , wherein said coupler ring comprises polymer.  
     
     
         44 . The apparatus of  claim 31 , wherein said coupler ring comprises foam.  
     
     
         45 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , comprising a first attachment mechanism attached to said first stabilizer tube and a second attachment mechanism attached to said support tube, said first stabilizer tube being attached to said support tube through said first and second attachment mechanisms.  
     
     
         46 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , comprising a first clevis mount attached to said first stabilizer tube and a second clevis mount attached to said support tube, said first stabilizer tube being coupled to said support tube through said clevis mounts.  
     
     
         47 . The apparatus of  claim 46 , wherein at least one of said first clevis mount and said second clevis mount is a double clevis mount.  
     
     
         48 . A slider apparatus comprising: 
 an inflatable, floatable support tube;    a stabilizer tube attached to said support tube; and    a rail system attached to said support tube.    
     
     
         49 . The apparatus of  claim 48 , wherein said support tube comprises a main body tube.  
     
     
         50 . The apparatus of  claim 49 , wherein said main body tube comprises a cylindrical shape.  
     
     
         51 . The apparatus of  claim 49 , wherein said main body tube comprises a conical shape or a frusto-conical shape.  
     
     
         52 . The apparatus of  claim 48 , wherein said support tube comprises a main body tube and an end tube segment extending from said main body tube at an angle to said main body tube.  
     
     
         53 . The apparatus of  claim 52 , wherein said end tube segment comprises a conical shape or a frusto-conical shape.  
     
     
         54 . The apparatus of  claim 48 , wherein said support tube comprises a main body tube, and wherein the average diameter of said first stabilizer tube is less than the average diameter of said main body tube.  
     
     
         55 . The apparatus of  claim 51 , wherein the average diameter of said stabilizer tube is less than the average diameter of said main body tube.  
     
     
         56 . The apparatus of  claim 48 , wherein said stabilizer tube comprises a cylindrical shape.  
     
     
         57 . The apparatus of  claim 54 , wherein said stabilizer tube comprises a cylindrical shape.  
     
     
         58 . The apparatus of  claim 55 , wherein said stabilizer tube comprises a cylindrical shape.  
     
     
         59 . The apparatus of  claim 48 , wherein said rail system comprises a first rail section, a second rail section, and a rail coupler connecting said first rail section to said second rail section.  
     
     
         60 . The apparatus of  claim 48 , wherein said rail system comprises a first rail, a second rail in parallel relation to said first rail, and a spacer disposed between said first rail and said second rail.  
     
     
         61 . The apparatus of  claim 48 , wherein said rail system comprises a first rail portion, a second rail portion in parallel relation to said first rail portion, and a third portion disposed between said first rail portion and said second rail portion and contiguous with said first rail portion and said second rail portion along the longitudinal extent of said rail system.  
     
     
         62 . The apparatus of  claim 48 , wherein said stabilizer tube is attached to said support tube through a clevis mount.  
     
     
         63 . The apparatus of  claim 48 , comprising a second inflatable, floatable support tube coupled to said first support tube  
     
     
         64 . The apparatus of  claim 63  wherein said second support tube comprises a main body tube comprising a conical shape or a frusto-conical shape.  
     
     
         65 . The apparatus of  claim 64 , wherein said first support tube comprises a cylindrical shape.  
     
     
         66 . The apparatus of  claim 65 , wherein said second support tube comprises an end tube segment comprising a conical shape or a frusto-conical shape.  
     
     
         67 . The apparatus of  claim 64 , wherein said first inflatable support tube comprises a main body tube comprising a conical shape or a frusto-conical shape and an end tube segment comprising a conical shape or a frusto-conical shape.  
     
     
         68 . The apparatus of  claim 63 , comprising a third inflatable, floatable support tube coupled to said first support tube.  
     
     
         69 . The apparatus of  claim 68 , wherein said first inflatable floatable support tube comprises a cylindrical shape.  
     
     
         70 . The apparatus of  claim 68 , wherein said third inflatable floatable support tube comprises a cylindrical shape.  
     
     
         71 . The apparatus of  claim 69 , wherein said third inflatable floatable support tube comprises a conical shape or a frusto-conical shape.  
     
     
         72 . The apparatus of  claim 69 , wherein said third inflatable floatable support tube comprises a main body tube comprising a conical shape or a frusto-conical shape and an end tube segment comprising a conical shape or a frusto-conical shape.  
     
     
         73 . The apparatus of  claim 72 , wherein said second inflatable floatable support tube comprises a main body tube comprising a conical shape or a frusto-conical shape and an end tube segment comprising a conical shape or a frusto-conical shape.  
     
     
         74 . The apparatus of  claim 63 , comprising a coupler ring disposed between said first support tube and said second support tube.  
     
     
         75 . The apparatus of  claim 68 , comprising a first coupler ring disposed between said first support tube and said second support tube, and a second coupler ring disposed between said second support tube and said third support tube.  
     
     
         76 . The apparatus of  claim 48 , wherein said stabilizer tube is in fluid communication with said support tube.  
     
     
         77 . The apparatus of  claim 48 , comprising a second stabilizer tube attached to said support tube.  
     
     
         78 . The apparatus of  claim 77 , wherein said first stabilizer tube is attached to a first side of said support tube and said second stabilizer tube is attached to a second side of said support tube opposite said first side of said support tube.  
     
     
         79 . A slider apparatus comprising: 
 a support tube comprising 
 a main body tube comprising a cylindrical shape, and  
 an end tube segment extending from said main body tube, said end tube segment comprising a conical shape or a frusto-conical shape and terminating in an end having a diameter less than the diameter of said main body tube; and  
   a rail system attached to said support tube.    
     
     
         80 . A slider apparatus comprising: 
 a floatable support tube comprising 
 a main body tube, and  
 an end tube segment extending from said main body tube, said end tube segment comprising a first end and a second end, the diameter of said first end of said end tube segment being greater than the diameter of said second end of said end tube segment;  
   a stabilizer tube attached to said support tube; and    a rail system attached to said support tube.    
     
     
         81 . A method of using the slider apparatus of  claim 1 , said method comprising riding a water sport implement along at least a portion of said rail of said slider apparatus.