Inflatable Paddle Board

Abstract

A water sports board formed of flexible planar material is provided which may be inflated from a collapsed configuration to a rideable water sports board. All connections of components forming the board are fused thereby eliminating the use of adhesives. A rail is formed around a circumferential edge of the board to provide additional rigidity and a bumper.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An inflatable water sports board comprising:
 said sports board having a top surface formed of flexible material;   said sports board having a bottom surface formed of said flexible material;   said top surface in a sealed engagement to said bottom surface around a circumferential edge of said sports board;   said sealed engagement including a first sealing layer having a first side thereof in a fused engagement with said top surface and having a second side thereof opposite said first side in a fused engagement thereof to said bottom surface;   a cavity formed in between said top surface and said bottom surface; and   a valve for communicating compressed air into said interior cavity to form said sports board to an inflated configuration.   
     
     
         2 . The inflatable water sports board of  claim 1  additionally comprising:
 drop stitch material positioned within said interior cavity. 
 
     
     
         3 . The inflatable water sports board of  claim 1  additionally comprising a rail formed around said circumferential edge, said rail including:
 a second sealing layer of flexible material in a first fused engagement thereof along a first side thereof to said top surface; 
 said second sealing layer in a second fused engagement thereof along a second side thereof opposite said first side thereof, to said first sealing layer; 
 a third sealing layer of flexible material in a first fused engagement thereof along a first side thereof with said bottom surface; 
 said third sealing layer in a second fused engagement thereof along a second side thereof with said first sealing layer; and 
 an exposed portion of said first sealing layer in between said second sealing layer and said third sealing layer, whereby said rail defines a bumper along said circumferential edge and imparts rigidity to said circumferential edge of said sports board in said inflated configuration. 
 
     
     
         4 . The inflatable water sports board of  claim 2  additionally comprising a rail formed around said circumferential edge, said rail including:
 a second sealing layer of flexible material in a first fused engagement thereof along a first side thereof to said top surface; 
 said second sealing layer in a second fused engagement thereof along a second side thereof opposite said first side thereof, to said first sealing layer; 
 a third sealing layer of flexible material in a first fused engagement thereof along a first side thereof with said bottom surface; 
 said third sealing layer in a second fused engagement thereof along a second side thereof with said first sealing layer; and 
 an exposed portion of said first sealing layer in between said second sealing layer and said third sealing layer, whereby said rail defines a bumper along said circumferential edge and imparts rigidity to said circumferential edge of said sports board in said inflated configuration. 
 
     
     
         5 . The inflatable water sports board of  claim 1  additionally comprising:
 said fused engagements being formed by a sonic weld or heat fused connection. 
 
     
     
         6 . The inflatable water sports board of  claim 2  additionally comprising:
 said fused engagements being formed by a sonic weld or heat fused connection. 
 
     
     
         7 . A method of manufacture of said inflatable waters sports board of  claim 1  comprising:
 forming said top surface in a shape of said water sports board; 
 forming a bottom surface in said shape of said water sports board; 
 forming a strip of said flexible material to said sealing layer; 
 employing heat or a sonic welder to fuse said first side of said sealing layer to said top surface; 
 employing heat or sonic welding to fuse said second side of said sealing layer to said bottom surface; and 
 positioning said valve in a fused connection with one of said top surface or said bottom surface. 
 
     
     
         8 . A method of manufacture of said inflatable waters sports board of  claim 3  with a rail:
 forming said top surface in a shape of said water sports board; 
 forming a bottom surface in said shape of said water sports board; 
 forming a strip of said flexible material to said sealing layer; 
 employing heat or sonic welding to fuse said first side of said sealing layer to said top surface; 
 employing said heat or said sonic welding to fuse said second side of said sealing layer to said bottom surface; 
 employing said heat or sonic welding to fuse said second sealing layer of flexible material to said first sealed engagement thereof along said first side thereof to said top surface; 
 employing said heat or sonic welding to fuse said second sealing layer to said second sealed engagement thereof along said second side thereof, to said first sealing layer; 
 employing said heat or sonic welding to fuse said third sealing layer to said first sealed engagement thereof along said first side thereof to said bottom surface; 
 employing said heat or sonic welding to fuse said third sealing layer to said second sealed engagement thereof along said second side thereof to said first sealing layer; and 
 employing said heat or sonic welding to fuse said valve to said sealed connection with either of said top surface or said bottom surface.