Inflatable Structure and Method of Manufacture
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method of thermoforming an inflatable structure of dissimilar materials includes the steps of providing a first sheet formed of a first material and a second sheet formed of a second material different than the first material, the second sheet being spaced from the first sheet, and a valve being positioned between the first and second sheets; heating the first and second sheets to a temperature above their glass transition temperature and below their melting point; bonding the first and second sheets together in a mold having an opposed pair of cavities to form an inflatable structure having a seal around a periphery thereof, the valve extending through the seal and being in fluid communication with an interior and exterior of the inflatable structure; and trimming excess material from the periphery of the inflatable structure.
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Citations
61 Claims
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1-13. -13. (canceled)
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14. A method of thermoforming an inflatable structure of dissimilar materials comprising the following steps, in combination:
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providing a first sheet formed of a first material and a second sheet formed of a second material different than the first material, the second sheet being spaced from the first sheet, and a valve being positioned between the first and second sheets;
heating the first and second sheets to a temperature above their glass transition temperature and below their melting point;
bonding the first and second sheets together in a mold having an opposed pair of cavities to form an inflatable structure having a seal around a periphery thereof, the valve extending through the seal and being in fluid communication with an interior and exterior of the inflatable structure; and
trimming excess material from the periphery of the inflatable structure. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. A method of thermoforming an inflatable structure of dissimilar materials comprising the following steps, in combination:
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providing a frame for supporting a first sheet of material formed of a first material and a second sheet of material formed of a second material different than the first material, the second sheet being spaced from the first sheet, and a valve being positioned between the first and second sheets;
transporting the frame into an oven;
heating the first and second sheets of material in the oven to a temperature above their glass transition temperature and below their melting point;
transporting the frame from the oven and into position between a first portion of a mold having a first cavity formed therein and a second portion of the mold having a second cavity formed therein;
thermoforming the first and second sheets together by compressing the first and second portions of the mold together to form an inflatable structure having a seal around a periphery thereof, the valve extending through the seal and being in fluid communication with an interior and exterior of the inflatable structure;
removing the frame from the mold and the inflatable structure from the frame; and
trimming excess material from the periphery of the inflatable structure.
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26. A method of using an inflatable structure as a balancing device comprising the following steps:
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providing an inflatable structure having a first side formed of a first material, a second side formed of a second material different from the first material, and a sidewall connecting the first side to the second side, a first portion of the sidewall being formed of the first material and a second portion of the sidewall being formed of the second material, the first and second portions secured to one another by thermoforming, and an inflation valve positioned in the sidewall;
inflating the inflatable structure through the inflation valve to an initial pressure;
standing on the inflatable structure; and
maintaining one'"'"'s balance while standing on the inflatable structure. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37)
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38. A method of using an inflatable structure of dissimilar materials molded together by thermoforming comprising the following steps, in combination:
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providing a first sheet formed of a first material and a second sheet formed of a second material different than the first material, the second sheet being spaced from the first sheet, and a valve being positioned between the first and second sheets;
heating the first and second sheets to a temperature above their glass transition temperature and below their melting point;
bonding the first and second sheets together in a mold having an opposed pair of cavities to form an inflatable structure having a seal around a periphery thereof, the valve extending through the seal and being in fluid communication with an interior and exterior of the inflatable structure;
trimming excess material from the periphery of the inflatable structure;
inflating the inflatable structure through the valve to an initial pressure;
standing on the inflatable structure; and
maintaining one'"'"'s balance while standing on the inflatable structure. - View Dependent Claims (39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49)
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50. A method using an inflatable structure formed of dissimilar materials thermoforded together comprising the following steps, in combination:
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providing a frame for supporting a first sheet of material formed of a first material and a second sheet of material formed of a second material different than the first material, the second sheet being spaced from the first sheet, and a valve being positioned between the first and second sheets;
transporting the frame into an oven;
heating the first and second sheets of material in the oven to a temperature above their glass transition temperature and below their melting point;
transporting the frame from the oven and into position between a first portion of a mold having a first cavity formed therein and a second portion of the mold having a second cavity formed therein;
thermoforming the first and second sheets together by compressing the first and second portions of the mold together to form an inflatable structure having a seal around a periphery thereof, the valve extending through the seal and being in fluid communication with an interior and exterior of the inflatable structure;
removing the frame from the mold and the inflatable structure from the frame;
trimming excess material from the periphery of the inflatable structure;
inflating the inflatable structure through the valve to an initial pressure;
standing on the inflatable structure; and
maintaining one'"'"'s balance while standing on the inflatable structure. - View Dependent Claims (51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61)
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Specification