Convertible towable inflatable device

Inventors: Corey A. Lewison (Superior, CO); Kevin J. Kresch (Arvada, CO)

Assignee: Kwik Tek, Inc.

B63B34/54 B63B34/52

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Quick Facts

Patent No.: US 12686473
App. No.: 18/593,875
Granted: Jul 21, 2026
Kind: B2

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Abstract

Certain embodiments of the present invention provide an inflatable towable device for towing behind a watercraft providing accommodation for at least one rider and adapted to convert from a first configuration allowing a rider to safely ride the device in a seated position to a second configuration allowing a rider to safely ride the device in a prone lying position.

Claims (34)

1 . A towable inflatable device for at least one rider comprising:

an inflatable platform comprising a top surface and a trailing aspect;

a first lateral support comprising a rear aspect, the first lateral support interconnected to a first lateral aspect of the top surface of the platform;

a second lateral support comprising a rear aspect, the second lateral support interconnected to a second lateral aspect of the top surface of the platform; and

a backrest comprising a front surface, a bottom surface, and a top surface;

wherein the backrest is interconnected to the trailing aspect of the platform and is adapted to move from a first position to a second position;

wherein, when the backrest is in the first position, the bottom surface of the backrest rests on the top surface of the platform and the front surface of the backrest abuts the rear aspects of the first and second lateral supports; and

wherein, when the backrest is in the second position, the backrest and the top surface of the platform form a surface upon which the at least one rider can lay prone.

2 . The towable inflatable device of claim 1 further comprising a first flexible hinge panel comprising a first edge and a second edge, wherein the first edge of the first flexible hinge panel is interconnected to the top surface of the backrest and the second edge of the first flexible hinge panel is interconnected to the top surface of the platform.

3 . The towable inflatable device of claim 2 further comprising a second flexible hinge panel comprising a first edge and a second edge, wherein the first edge of the second flexible hinge panel is interconnected to the backrest and the second edge of the second flexible hinge panel is interconnected to the bottom surface of the platform.

4 . The towable inflatable device of claim 3 further comprising at least two rider positions.

5 . The towable inflatable device of claim 4 further comprising a third lateral support interconnected to the top surface of the platform between the two rider positions.

6 . The towable inflatable device of claim 5 wherein the backrest comprises a first portion and a second portion, wherein the first portion of the backrest is adapted to move from the first position to the second position independently from the second portion.

7 . The towable inflatable device of claim 2 wherein the first flexible hinge panel comprises a first end and a second end and wherein, when the backrest is in the first position, the first end of the first flexible hinge panel is sandwiched between the front surface of the backrest and the rear aspect of the first lateral support and the second end of the first flexible hinge panel is sandwiched between the front surface of the backrest and the rear aspect of the second lateral support.

8 . The towable inflatable device of claim 7 wherein, when the backrest is in the first position, the first end of the first flexible hinge panel is interconnected to the rear aspect of the first lateral support by a hook and loop patch and the second end of the first flexible hinge panel is interconnected to the rear aspect of the second lateral support by a hook and loop patch.

9 . The towable inflatable device of claim 6 wherein the first flexible hinge panel comprises a first portion and a second portion, wherein when the first portion of the backrest is in the first position, a first end of the first portion of the first flexible hinge panel is sandwiched between the front surface of the first portion of the backrest and the rear aspect of the first lateral support and a second end of the first portion of the first flexible hinge panel is sandwiched between the front surface of the first portion of the backrest and the rear aspect of the third lateral support.

10 . The towable inflatable device of claim 9 wherein, when the second portion of the backrest is in the first position, a first end of the second portion of the first flexible hinge panel is sandwiched between the front surface of the second portion of the backrest and the rear aspect of the second lateral support and a second end of the second portion of the first flexible hinge panel is sandwiched between the front surface of the second portion of the backrest and the rear aspect of the third lateral support.

11 . A towable inflatable device for at least one rider comprising:

an inflatable platform comprising a top surface, a bottom surface, and a trailing aspect;

a first lateral support comprising a rear aspect, the first lateral support interconnected to a first lateral aspect of the top surface of the platform;

a second lateral support comprising a rear aspect, the second lateral support interconnected to a second lateral aspect of the top surface of the platform; and

a backrest comprising a front surface, a rear surface, a bottom surface, and a top surface;

wherein the backrest is moveably interconnected to the platform and adapted to move from a first position to a second position;

wherein, when the backrest is in the first position, the bottom surface of the backrest abuts the top surface of the platform and the front surface of the backrest abuts the rear aspects of the first and second lateral supports; and

wherein, when the backrest is in the second position, at least one of the front, rear, or bottom surfaces of the backrest abuts the trailing aspect of the platform.

12 . The towable inflatable device of claim 11 further comprising a first flexible hinge panel comprising a first edge and a second edge, wherein the first edge of the first flexible hinge panel is interconnected to the backrest and the second edge of the first flexible hinge panel is interconnected to the top surface of the platform.

13 . The towable inflatable device of claim 12 further comprising a second flexible hinge panel comprising a first edge and a second edge, wherein the first edge of the second flexible hinge panel is interconnected to the backrest and the second edge of the second flexible hinge panel is interconnected to the bottom surface of the platform.

14 . The towable inflatable device of claim 13 further comprising at least two rider positions.

15 . The towable inflatable device of claim 14 further comprising a third lateral support interconnected to the top surface of the platform between the two rider positions.

16 . The towable inflatable device of claim 15 wherein the backrest comprises a first portion and a second portion, wherein the first portion of the backrest is adapted to move from the first position to the second position independently from the second portion.

17 . The towable inflatable device of claim 12 wherein the first flexible hinge panel comprises a first end and a second end and wherein, when the backrest is in the first position, the first end of the first flexible hinge panel is sandwiched between the front surface of the backrest and the rear aspect of the first lateral support and the second end of the first flexible hinge panel is sandwiched between the front surface of the backrest and the rear aspect of the second lateral support.

18 . The towable inflatable device of claim 17 wherein, when the backrest is in the first position, the first end of the first flexible hinge panel is interconnected to the rear aspect of the first lateral support by a hook and loop patch and the second end of the first flexible hinge panel is interconnected to the rear aspect of the second lateral support by a hook and loop patch.

19 . The towable inflatable device of claim 16 wherein the first flexible hinge panel comprises a first portion and a second portion, wherein when the first portion of the backrest is in the first position, a first end of the first portion of the first flexible hinge panel is sandwiched between the front surface of the first portion of the backrest and the rear aspect of the first lateral support and a second end of the first portion of the first flexible hinge panel is sandwiched between the front surface of the first portion of the backrest and the rear aspect of the third lateral support.

20 . The towable inflatable device of claim 19 wherein, when the second portion of the backrest is in the first position, a first end of the second portion of the first flexible hinge panel is sandwiched between the front surface of the second portion of the backrest and the rear aspect of the second lateral support and a second end of the second portion of the first flexible hinge panel is sandwiched between the front surface of the second portion of the backrest and the rear aspect of the third lateral support.