Inflatable flotation device

An elongated inflatable flotation device which is bendable when inflated, comprising:

• an elongated tubular member having a sealed side wall and sealed at each end thereof to form a sealed inflation air chamber;
• spaced apart bendable folds each extending across said tubular member and having a central attached portion and unattached end portions, each said attached portion formed by attachment of opposite surfaces of said side wall thereby allowing air within said tubular member to freely flow through and expanding each end portion of each said fold to balance air pressure within said tubular member during inflation, deflation and bending thereof;
• each particular said fold orthogonally oriented from each said fold adjacent thereto when viewed along a longitudinal axis of said tubular member thereby allowing said flotation device to be bent in more than one direction about said longitudinal axis;
• at least one of said central attached portions is open to pliably receive and retain one said end of said tubular member.

An elongated inflatable flotation device which is bendable when inflated, comprising:

• an elongated tubular member sealed at each end thereof to form a sealed inflation air chamber;
• spaced apart bendable folds each extending across said tubular member and having a central attached portion and unattached end portions, each said attached portion formed by attachment of opposite surfaces of a side wall of said tubular member thereby allowing air within said tubular member to freely flow through and expanding each end portion of each said fold to balance air pressure within said tubular member during inflation, deflation and bending thereof;
• each particular said fold extending across a longitudinal axis of said tubular member and having a varying radial orientation thereby allowing said flotation device, when inflated, to be bendable about one or more said folds and, thereby, in multiple directions about said longitudinal axis;
• each said central attached portion having a length along the longitudinal axis of said tubular member such that said unattached end portions sufficiently inflate to resiliently resist bending and to stiffen said device while still allowing useful flexing of the entire said device.