Self-sealing inflatable article

Abstract

A self sealing inflatable article including an inflatable body portion and a neck portion having an opening, a ring member supporting the opening of the article and a plug member for sealing the opening wherein at least a portion of the body portion of the article is invaginated through the opening of the article with the plug member associated with the invaginated portion.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A self sealing An inflatable article comprising:
 an inflatable body portion; 
 a neck portion having an opening; having a first opening at a first end, the first opening leading to an elongated passage, said inflatable body portion including
 at least a pair of one flexible ring members supporting the opening at a second end of the article, wherein the pair of at least one flexible ring members comprises an outer ring member and an inner ring member adjacent the outer ring member, the inner ring member is provided between the neck portion and a folded back portion of the neck portion, and the outer ring member is provided outside the folded back portion, wherein the folded back portion is a section of the neck portion that is folded back over itself; is formed from an elastic material, and 
 an expandable cavity, a portion of which is formed by said elongated passage, said inflatable body portion, including said elongated passage, being formed from the elastic material; and 
 
 a neck portion adjacent to the inflatable body portion, the neck portion including a plug member for sealing the opening at a second end of the elongated passage wherein the second end is substantially opposite the first end and wherein said plug member forms a seal against the at least one flexible ring to define a second opening into the expandable cavity between the plug member and the at least one flexible ring; and  
 wherein at least a portion of the body portion of the article is invaginated through the opening of the neck portion of the article with the plug member associated with the invaginated portion to inflate the article the seal formed between the plug member and the at least one flexible ring is broken and fluid is inserted through the second opening into the expandable cavity. 
 
     
     
       2. The self sealing inflatable article as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the neck portion has an elongate neck portion, and the body portion having a bulbous main portion and an elongate tip portion located on the main portion, opposite the neck portion elastic material is a silicon-based material. 
     
     
       3. The self sealing inflatable article as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the elongate tip portion has a length approximately a length of the bulbous main portion and the elongate neck portion. 
     
     
       4. The self sealing inflatable article as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the second opening is a single opening provided on the article at least partially occluded by the invaginated portion when invaginated and totally occluded after inflation of the article. 
     
     
       5. The self sealing inflatable article as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the article is formed from more than one layer of material for higher demand applications. 
     
     
       6. The self sealing inflatable article as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein the layers are attached together. 
     
     
       7. The self sealing inflatable article as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the ring member is dimensionally stable against accidental passage of the plug. 
     
     
       8. The self sealing inflatable article as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the at least one flexible ring member is formed integrally with the neck inflatable body portion. 
     
     
       9. The self sealing inflatable article as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the ring member is separate from the neck and body portions. 
     
     
       10. The inflatable article of claim 1 wherein the plug is deformable.  
     
     
       11. The inflatable article of claim 10 wherein the body portion has a third opening formed within the plug which leads to a hollow tube which extends through the plug into the elongated passage.  
     
     
       12. The inflatable article of claim 1 further comprising a fastener for clamping said plug.  
     
     
       13. The inflatable article of claim 1 wherein the article is self sealing.  
     
     
       14. The inflatable article of claim 1 wherein the plug is conical shaped.  
     
     
       15. The inflatable article of claim 8 wherein the at least one ring is formed of a rolled end portion of said inflatable body portion.  
     
     
       16. The inflatable article of claim 1 wherein the fluid is water.  
     
     
       17. The inflatable article of claim 1 wherein the article adopts an uninvaginated configuration wherein the seal between the at least one flexible ring and the plug member is fully broken.  
     
     
       18. The inflatable article of claim 1 wherein the article is configured for use as a sex aid.