Ballast for an inflatable water slide

Abstract

The present invention comprises an inflatable water slide for use with a swimming pool. In one embodiment, the inflatable water slide comprises an inflatable main body having a slide portion and a ballast extending downward from the inflatable body at or near the lower front end portion of the slide portion. In use, the main body of the inflatable water slide is placed adjacent to the swimming pool with the lower front end portion of the slide portion at the edge of the pool so that the ballast hangs over and abuts the edge of the swimming pool. The ballast thereby serves to minimize and resist movement of the inflatable body during use.

1 . A water slide for use with a swimming pool having an edge portion, comprising an inflatable body having a slide portion and a ballast extending downward from said inflatable body.  
   
   
       2 . The water slide of  claim 1  wherein said ballast is positioned and adapted to abut the edge portion of the swimming pool to minimize movement of said inflatable body during use.  
   
   
       3 . The water slide of  claim 1 , wherein said ballast is disposed adjacent to the lower end of said slide portion of said inflatable body and overhangs and abuts the edge portion of the swimming pool.  
   
   
       4 . The water slide of  claim 3 , where said ballast substantially extends from a first side portion of said inflatable body to a second side portion of said inflatable body.  
   
   
       5 . The water slide of  claim 4 , wherein said ballast comprises an enclosure and a weighted material disposed in said enclosure.  
   
   
       6 . The water slide of  claim 5 , wherein said weighted material is removably disposed within said enclosure.  
   
   
       7 . The water slide of  claim 6 , wherein said enclosure comprises an opening to allow said weighted material to be added and removed from said enclosure.  
   
   
       8 . The water slide of  claim 7 , wherein said opening is disposed in an end wall of said enclosure.  
   
   
       9 . The water slide of  claim 8 , wherein said weighted material is water.  
   
   
       10 . A water slide for use with a swimming pool having an edge portion, comprising an inflatable body having a bottom surface, and a ballast member extending downward below said inflatable body; said ballast member comprising a chamber that may be filled with weighted material.  
   
   
       11 . The water slide of  claim 10 , in which the ballast member is adapted to abut the edge portion of the swimming pool to minimize movement of said inflatable body during use.  
   
   
       12 . The water slide of  claim 11 , in which the ballast member comprises a valve that permits the member to be filled and emptied as desired.