Sledding system and apparatus

Abstract

Herein described are inflatable guide tubes for keeping participants within a sledding or tubing track. The tubes are inflated with blower that supplies enough air and pressure to keep the tubes inflated at the optimum pressure while overcoming air loss from the seams. The inflatable tubes provide a resilient bumper surface that deflects the participants towards the center of the track, should they come into contact with the guide tube. The guide tube is sewn out of a fabric such that it forms an enclosed volume. The shape of the tube is generally cylindrical, but is compliant enough to follow undulating terrain. The tube has an opening that can be secured to the output path of a high pressure air blower. When the blower is turned on, air fills the tube to such a pressure that it provides a durable and resilient bouncy surface.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A sledding system and apparatus ( 10 ), comprising:
 a guide tube ( 30 );   a track ( 40 ) disposed immediately adjacent to said between two guide tubes ( 30 ).   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said track ( 40 ) is disposed between two guide tubes ( 30 ). 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said guide tube ( 30 ) is hollow. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said guide tube ( 30 ) if filled with a fluid whereby the an internal pressure inside the guide tube ( 30 ) is greater than the an atmospheric pressure. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein said fluid is air. 
     
     
         6 . The sledding system and apparatus ( 10 ) of  claim 1 , wherein said guide tube ( 30 ) is comprised of a closed surface of flexible fabric able to be filled with air, making a rigid, but compliant structure that follows the a surface beneath said guide tube ( 30 ). 
     
     
         7 . The sledding system and apparatus ( 10 ) of  claim 1 , wherein said guide tube ( 30 ) has exposed to the participant a smooth fabric. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the smooth fabric is a UV-resistant  18 -oz PVC coated polyester. 
     
     
         9 . A sledding system and apparatus ( 10 ), comprising:
 a guide tube ( 30 );   a blower ( 70 );   two guide tubes ( 30 ) disposed leftwardly and rightwardly of a track ( 40 );   a starting deck ( 20 ) disposed upwardly from said track ( 40 );   said blower ( 70 ) operationally disposed through at least one of either a starting deck hole ( 270 ) or a track hole ( 260 ) to displace air into one or more guide tubes ( 30 ).   
     
     
         10 . The sledding system and apparatus ( 10 ) of  claim 9 , wherein said guide tube ( 30 ) is comprised of closed surface of flexible fabric able to be filled with air, making a rigid, but compliant structure that follows surface beneath said guide tube. 
     
     
         11 . The sledding system and apparatus ( 10 ) of  claim 9 , wherein said guide tube ( 30 ) has exposed to the participant an abrasion resistant fabric, such a UV-resistant 18-oz PVC-coated polyester. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein said guide tube ( 30 ) receives fluid from said blower ( 70 ) and displaces the fluid through at least one of either of the following, needle punctures ( 340 ) from at least one of either the sewing operation or at the loop and hook connections and said guide tube ( 30 ) maintains a substantially static volume when the blower ( 70 ) is displacing fluid. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein said fluid is a gas. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein said gas is air. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein said fluid is a liquid. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein said abrasion resistant fabric is a UV-resistant 18-oz PVC-coated polyester.