INTERNAL TENSIONING STRUCTURE USEABLE WITH INFLATABLE DEVICES

• US 20130230671A1
• Filed: 12/26/2012
• Published: 09/05/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 03/02/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Intex Marketing Ltd. (Intex Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Intex Recreation Corporation (Intex Corporation)
• Inventors: Lin, Hua Hsiang, Hsu, Yaw Yuan
• Granted Patent: US 10,165,868 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 428/12
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 27/081 of pneumatic type
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 27/087 with means for connecting opposite sides, e.g. internal ties or strips
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 65/02 by heating, with or without pressure
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 65/04 Dielectric heating, e.g. high-frequency welding , i.e. radio frequency welding of plastic materials having dielectric properties, e.g. PVC
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 65/18 using heated tools
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/1122 Single lap to lap joints, i.e. overlap joints B29C66/45, B29C66/472, B29C66/52272 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/433 Casing-in, i.e. enclosing an element between two sheets by an outlined seam for bookbinding B42C11/06; for packaging B65B; by laminating B32B37/00; enclosing tubular articles between substantially flat elements B29C66/53261
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/439 Joining sheets for making inflated articles without using a mould
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/45 Joining of substantially the whole surface of the articles methods or apparatus for laminating B32B37/00
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/47 Joining single elements to sheets, plates or other substantially flat surfaces B29C66/5326 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/472 said single elements being substantially flat
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/4722 Fixing strips to surfaces other than edge faces fixing strips to edge faces B29C63/0026
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/474 said single elements being substantially non-flat
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/53462 joining substantially flat covers and substantially flat bottoms to open ends of container bodies
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/69 General aspects of joining filaments bundling articles B65B13/00; interconnecting successive lengths of material B65H69/00
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/71 characterised by the composition of the plastics material of the parts to be joined welding bar compositions B29C65/125
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/723 being multi-layered B29C66/7292, B29C66/72941 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/7352 Thickness, e.g. very thin
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/83413 cooperating rollers, cylinders or drums
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/8432 Machines for making separate joints at the same time mounted in parallel or in series
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/919 : characterised by specific temperature, heat or thermal flux values or ranges specific electrical resistance values B29C66/81262
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/949 : characterised by specific time values or ranges
• CPC Class Codes: B29D 22/02 : Inflatable articles
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2027/06 : PVC, i.e. polyvinylchloride
• CPC Class Codes: B29L 2022/02 : Inflatable articles balls B29L2031/54 ; inner tyres B29L2023/245
• CPC Class Codes: B29L 2031/751 : Mattresses, cushions upholstery B29L2031/58
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2307/54 : Yield strength; Tensile strength
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2307/558 : Impact strength, toughness
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2398/00 : Unspecified macromolecular compounds
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2479/00 : Furniture upholstery B32B2601/00
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 27/12 : next to a fibrous or filamentary layer
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 5/022 : Non-woven fabric

Abstract

An internal tensioning structure for use in an inflatable product fulfills the basic function of maintaining two adjacent inflatable surfaces in a desired geometric arrangement when the inflatable product is pressurized. The tensioning structure is formed by connecting a pair of plastic strips sheets via spaced-apart strands, such as strings or wires. When pulled taut, the strands provide a high tensile strength between the two opposed plastic strips. At the same time, the plastic strips facilitate a strong, long-lasting weld between the tensioning structure and the inflatable product.

Claims

1. An inflatable product comprising:

a first sheet;

a second sheet disposed opposite the first sheet, the first and second sheets spaced apart to define a gap; and

a tensioning structure spanning the gap between the first sheet and the second sheet, the tensioning structure comprising;

a plurality of strands uniformly spaced apart and arranged substantially parallel to one another;

a first weld sheet having the plurality of strands uniformly affixed to an upper surface of the first weld sheet and affixed to the first sheet; and

a second weld sheet disposed opposite the first weld sheet, the plurality of strands captured between the first and second weld sheets when the first and second weld sheets are affixed to one another.

2. The inflatable product of claim 1, wherein each strand includes a first terminal end and a second terminal end, the first and second weld sheets are strips, the strips include adjacent first longitudinal edges and adjacent second longitudinal edges spaced apart from the adjacent first longitudinal edges, and the first terminal ends of the strands are positioned adjacent to the adjacent first longitudinal edge of the strips.

3. The inflatable product of claim 2, wherein the first terminal ends of the strands are sandwiched between the strips.

4. The inflatable product of claim 2, wherein the tensioning structure further includes

a third weld sheet having the plurality of strands uniformly affixed to a lower surface of the third weld sheet and affixed to the second sheet;

and

a fourth weld sheet disposed opposite the third weld sheet, the plurality of strands captured between the third and fourth weld sheets when the third and fourth weld sheets are affixed to one another.

5. The inflatable product of claim 4, the third and fourth weld sheets are strip including adjacent first longitudinal edges and a adjacent second longitudinal edges spaced apart from the adjacent first longitudinal edges, and the second terminal ends of the strands are positioned adjacent to the adjacent first longitudinal edge of the strips of the third and fourth weld sheets.

6. The inflatable product of claim 5, wherein the second terminal ends of the strands are sandwiched between the strips of the third and fourth weld sheets.

7. The inflatable product of claim 2, wherein the first terminal ends are spaced apart.

8. An inflatable product comprising:

a first plastic sheet;

a second plastic sheet disposed opposite the first plastic sheet, the first and second plastic sheets being spaced apart to define a gap;

a plurality of tensioning structures spanning the gap between the first plastic sheet and the second plastic sheet, the plurality of tensioning structure comprising;

a plurality of strands spaced apart from one another;

a first weld sheet having the plurality of strands affixed thereto and welded to the first plastic sheet; and

a second weld sheet having the plurality of strands affixed thereto and welded to the second plastic sheet.

9. The inflatable product of claim 8, wherein the strands are spaced apart from the first and second plastic sheets.

10. The inflatable product of claim 8, wherein in the first and second sheets are made of plastic.

11. The inflatable product of claim 8, wherein the first and second weld sheets are homogeneous.

12. The inflatable product of claim 8, wherein the first and second weld sheets are non-fibrous.

13. The inflatable product of claim 8, wherein the first and second sheets and the first and second weld sheets are made of the same material.

14. An inflatable product comprising:

a first plastic sheet;

a second plastic sheet disposed opposite the first sheet, the first and second plastic sheets spaced apart to define a gap;

a plurality of tensioning structures spanning the gap between the first plastic sheet and the second plastic sheet, each of the plurality of tensioning structure comprising;

a plurality of strands spaced apart from one another;

a first strip affixed to the first plastic sheet and having the plurality of strands affixed thereto; and

a second strip affixed to the second plastic sheet and having the plurality of strands affixed thereto, adjacent tensioning structures of the plurality of tensioning structures being spaced apart by a first distance, adjacent strands of one of the adjacent tensioning structures being spaced apart by a second distance that is significantly smaller than the first distance.

15. The inflatable product of claim 14, wherein the first and second strips have a length and a width that is substantially less than the length and the first distance is greater than the width of the first and second strips.

16. The inflatable product of claim 14, wherein the gap has a width and the first distance is greater than the width of the gap.

17. The inflatable product of claim 14, wherein each strand include a first leg extending between the first and second plastic sheets and a second leg extending parallel to the first plastic sheet.

18. The inflatable product of claim 17, wherein the first and second strips have a length and a width that is substantially less than the length and the first leg of the strands has a length greater than the width of the first and second strips.

19. The inflatable product of claim 18, wherein the second leg of the strands has a length that is substantially equal to the width of the first and second strips.

20. The inflatable product of claim 14, wherein the first plastic sheet includes first portions positioned away from the plurality of tensioning structures that define a first ply count and second portions positioned adjacent the plurality of tensioning structures that cooperate with the tensioning structures to define a second ply count, the first ply count is less than the second ply count.

21. The inflatable product of claim 20, wherein the first ply count is at least two less than the second ply count.

22. An inflatable product comprising:

an upper plastic sheet;

a lower plastic sheet disposed opposite the upper plastic sheet, the upper and lower plastic sheets being spaced apart to define a gap;

a plurality of tensioning structures spanning the gap between the upper plastic sheet and the lower plastic sheet, the tensioning structure comprising;

a plurality of strands spaced apart from one another;

an upper strip having the plurality of strands affixed thereto and being affixed to the upper plastic sheet, the upper strip having an upper surface and a lower surface, the plurality of strands being positioned between the upper surface of the upper strip and the upper plastic sheet, the plurality of strands being spaced apart from the lower surface of the upper sheet, and

a lower strip having the plurality of strands affixed thereto and being affixed to the lower plastic sheet, the lower strip having an upper surface and a lower surface, the plurality of strands being positioned between the lower surface of the lower strip and the lower plastic sheet, the plurality of strands being spaced apart from the upper surface of the lower strip.

23. The inflatable product of claim 22, the plurality of tensioning structures further comprising a second upper strip having a plurality of strands affixed thereto and being affixed to the upper plastic sheet, the second upper strip having an upper surface and a lower surface, the lower surface of the second upper strip being positioned between the plurality of strands and the upper plastic sheet.

24. The inflatable product of claim 23, the plurality of tensioning structures further comprising a second lower strip having a plurality of strands affixed thereto and being affixed to the lower plastic sheet, the second lower strip having an upper surface and a lower surface, the upper surface of the second lower strip being positioned between the plurality of strands and the lower plastic sheet.

25. The inflatable product of claim 23, wherein the upper strips each have a first longitudinal edge and a second longitudinal edge spaced apart from the first longitudinal edge, the plurality of strands extend beyond the first longitudinal edges of the upper strips and the plurality of strands terminate substantially at the second longitudinal edges of the upper strips.