INFLATABLE STRUCTURE

• US 20100015373A1
• Filed: 09/22/2009
• Published: 01/21/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 03/21/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Szu-Yuan Liu, Techarme Apparel Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Szu-Yuan Liu, Techarme Apparel Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: LIN, Chiang-Chuan
• Application Number:
  US12/564,408
• Publication Number:
  US 20100015373A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 428/36.100
• CPC Class Codes: A41D 2400/14 inflatable
• CPC Class Codes: A41D 31/065 using layered materials
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2250/40 Symmetrical or sandwich layers, e.g. ABA, ABCBA, ABCCBA
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2255/02 on fibrous or filamentary layer
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2255/26 Polymeric coating
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2307/7265 Non-permeable
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2307/728 Hydrophilic
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2437/00 Clothing
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 27/12 next to a fibrous or filamentary layer
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 27/34 comprising polyamides
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 5/26 another layer next to it also being fibrous or filamentary relative arrangement of fibres or filaments of different layers B32B5/12
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 7/027 Thermal properties
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 7/04 Interconnection of layers
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/1362 Textile, fabric, cloth, or pile containing [e.g., web, net, woven, knitted, mesh, nonwoven, matted, etc.]

Abstract

An inflatable structure includes a fabric body having three hydrophilic and vapor-transmissible plastic layers sequentially applied over an inner surface thereof, and including at least one continuous S-shaped bonding channel, along which areas on an outer surface of the fabric body at two opposite sides thereof are bonded together. The three hydrophilic and vapor transmissible plastic layers are lightweight, waterproof, vapor transmissible, and warm; and the S-shaped bonding channel has small width to allow increased inflatable space in the fabric body. The continuous S-shaped bonding channel has two ends formed into two closed circular bonding lines to avoid damage of the inflatable structure by stress concentrated at the bonding line.

Claims

1. An inflatable structure, comprising:

two fabric bodies, wherein each fabric body has an inner surface and an outer surface;

a solvent-based hydrophilic and vapor-transmissible plastic layer applied over the inner surfaces of the fabric body;

a low-modulus hydrophilic and vapor-transmissible plastic layer provided over the solvent-based hydrophilic and vapor-transmissible plastic layer;

a low-melting-point hydrophilic and vapor-transmissible plastic layer provided over the low-modulus hydrophilic and vapor-transmissible plastic layer;

wherein once all the layers are applied onto the inner surfaces of the fabric bodies, the inner surfaces of the fabric bodies are bonded together to form at least one continuous S-shaped bonding channel and an inflatable space is formed and enclosed by the S-shaped bonding channels, and areas on the outer surface at two opposite sides of the fabric bodies are bonded together to limit an inflated overall thickness of the fabric body, and the S-shaped bonding channel is formed at two ends with a closed circular bonding line each; and

an inflating valve provided on the fabric body to communicate with the inflatable space, so that air is supplied into or released from the inflatable space via the inflating valve;

2. The inflatable structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein the fabric body is made of a material selected from the group consisting of Nylon 66.

3. The inflatable structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein the solvent-based, the low-modulus, and the low-melting-point hydrophilic and vapor-transmissible plastic layer have a total thickness ranged from 0.03 mm to 0.05 mm.

4. The inflatable structure as claimed in claim 3, wherein the solvent-based, the low-modulus, and the low-melting-point hydrophilic and vapor-transmissible plastic layer have a total thickness of 0.05 mm.

5. The inflatable structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein the continuous S-shaped bonding channel is formed in a manner selected from the group consisting of high-frequency lamination, supersonic welding, and heat bonding methods.

6. The inflatable structure as claimed in claim 5, wherein the continuous S-shaped bonding channel is formed by high-frequency lamination method.

7. The inflatable structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein the continuous S-shaped bonding channel has a width ranged from 1 mm to 2 mm.

8. The inflatable structure as claimed in claim 7, wherein the continuous S-shaped bonding channel has a width of 2 mm.

9. The inflatable structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein the warm-keeping articles are selected from the group consisting of inflatable hats, inflatable earmuffs, inflatable coats, inflatable gloves, inflatable trousers, inflatable sleeping bags, and inflatable quilts.

10. The inflatable structure as claimed in claim 9, wherein the inflatable coats are provided at a position near each armpit with at least one vent.

11. The inflatable structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein the solvent-based hydrophilic and vapor-transmissible plastic layer is selected from a group that comprises Urethane Polymer or a composition comprising Urethane Polymer, Dimethyl formamide, Toluen and Methyl Ethly Ketone.

12. The inflatable structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein the low-modulus hydrophilic and vapor-transmissible plastic layer is selected from a group comprising Urethane Polymer or a Polymer composition which comprises Urethane Polymer, Dimethyl formamide, Toluen and Methyl Ethly Ketone.

13. The inflatable structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein the low-melting-point hydrophilic and vapor-transmissible plastic layer is made from a group comprising polyurethane Resin or a composition comprising Urethane Polymer, Dimethyl formamide, Toluen and Methyl Ethly Ketone.