METHOD FOR PRODUCING AN INFLATABLE PRODUCT

• US 20140332142A1
• Filed: 07/28/2014
• Published: 11/13/2014
• 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 9,802,359 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 156/87
• 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. A method for producing an inflatable product comprising the steps of

providing a first sheet made of weldable plastic,

providing a second sheet made of weldable plastic,

providing a plurality of weld strips made of weldable plastic,

providing a plurality of tensioning structures, each tensioning structure including

at least one tensile sheet having a first side, a second side, and plurality of holes extending through the tensile sheet from the first side to the second side and

a plurality of weld strips including

a first weld strip positioned on one of the first and second sides of the tensile sheet, and

a second strip positioned on one of the first and second sides of the tensile sheet,

welding the plurality of tensioning structures to the first sheet by welding the first weld strip to the first sheet,

welding the plurality of tensioning structures to the second sheet by welding the second weld sheet to the second sheet,

creating an inflatable chamber defined between the first and second sheets by the step of coupling the first sheet to the second sheet, and

providing a valve in communication with the inflatable chamber to facilitate inflation and deflation of the inflatable product.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of providing a side wall, wherein the step of coupling the first sheet to the second sheet includes the step of coupling the side wall to the first sheet and coupling the side wall to the second sheet.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the tensile sheets are non-woven.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the tensile sheets consist of a plurality of fibers.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the plurality of fibers cooperate to define a plurality of strands.

6. The method of claim 2, wherein the plurality strands includes a first plurality of parallel strands and a second plurality of strands that are perpendicular to the first plurality of parallel strands and the second plurality of strands are positioned on a first side of the first plurality of parallel strands.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the tensile sheets include a first plurality of parallel strands and a second plurality of strands extending across the first plurality of parallel strands to define the plurality of holes extending from the first side of the tensile sheet to the second side of the tensile sheet.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein portions of the plurality of holes of the plurality of tensile sheets are positioned between the first weld strip and the first sheet and portions of the plurality of holes of the tensile sheets are positioned between the second weld strip and the second sheet.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of holes extend from the first weld strip to the second weld strip.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the first and second weld strips include longitudinal edges and a portion of the tensile sheets have portions that extend in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal edges of the first and second weld strips.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the tensile sheets include an outer perimeter having at least four sides, first and second sides of the four sides extend from a terminal end of the first weld strip to a terminal end of the second strip, and the tensile sheets include portions that extend from the first side to the second side of the outer perimeter.

12. A method for producing an inflatable product comprising the steps of

providing a first sheet made of weldable plastic,

providing a second sheet made of weldable plastic,

providing a plurality of weld strips made of weldable plastic,

providing a non-woven sheet material having a first side and a second side,

assembling a plurality of tensioning structures by the steps of

positioning a first of the plurality of weld strips on at least one of the first and second sides of the non-woven sheet material, and

positioning a second of the plurality of weld strips on at least one of the first and second sides of the non-woven sheet material,

welding the plurality of tensioning structures to the first sheet by welding at least one of the first and second weld strips to the first sheet,

welding the plurality of tensioning structures to the second sheet by welding at least one of the first and second weld strips to the second sheet,

creating an inflatable chamber defined between the first and second sheets by the step of coupling the first sheet to the second sheet, and

providing a valve in communication with the inflatable chamber to facilitate inflation and deflation of the inflatable product.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the non-woven sheet material is fabric.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the non-woven sheet material includes a plurality of holes extending from the first side to the second side.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the non-woven sheet material includes a plurality of strands cooperating to define the plurality of holes.

16. The method of claim 12, wherein the first and second weld strips are substantially parallel to the non-woven sheet material during the steps of positioning the first and second weld strips on at least one of the first and second sides of the non-woven sheet material.

17. The method of claim 12, wherein the non-woven sheet material is substantially planar prior to the steps of positioning the first and second weld strips on at least one of the first and second sides of the non-woven sheet material.

18. The method of claim 12, wherein the tensile sheet material includes a plurality of V-shaped portions.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the plurality of V-shaped portions includes a first plurality of V-shaped portions and a second plurality of V-shaped portions that are inverted relative to first plurality of V-shaped portions.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein the first and second weld strips include a pair of longitudinal edges and the V-shaped portions of non-woven sheet material extend between the first and second weld strips from one of the pair of longitudinal edges.

21. A method for producing an inflatable product comprising the steps of

providing a first sheet made of weldable plastic,

providing a second sheet made of weldable plastic,

providing a plurality of weld strips made of weldable plastic,

providing at least one tensile sheet,

assembling a plurality of tensioning structures after providing the at least one tensile sheet, the assembly step including the steps of

positioning a first of the plurality of weld strips on at least one of the first and second sides of the tensile sheet, and

positioning a second of the plurality of weld strips on at least one of the first and second sides of the tensile sheet,

welding the plurality of tensioning structures to the first sheet by welding at least one of the first and second weld strips to the first sheet,

welding the plurality of tensioning structures to the second sheet by welding at least one of the first and second weld strips to the second sheet,

creating an inflatable chamber between the first and second sheets by the step of coupling the first and second sheets together, and

providing a valve in communication with the inflatable chamber to facilitate inflation and deflation of the inflatable product.

22. The method of claim 21, further comprising the step of advancing the tensile sheet relative to the first and second weld strips.

23. The method of claim 21, wherein the tensile sheet moves relative to a welder and at least one of the first and second weld strips are stationary relative to the welder during the advancing step.

24. A method for producing an inflatable product comprising the steps of

providing a first sheet made of weldable plastic,

providing a second sheet made of weldable plastic,

providing a plurality of weld strip materials made of weldable plastic,

providing a tensile sheet material having a first side, a second side, and plurality of holes extending through the tensile sheet material from the first side to the second side,

assembling a plurality of tensioning structures by the steps of

positioning a first of the plurality of weld strip materials on at least one of the first and second sides of the tensile sheet material,

positioning a second of the plurality of weld strip materials on at least one of the first and second sides of the tensile sheet material,

welding the plurality of tensioning structures to the first sheet by welding at least one of the first and second weld strip materials to the first sheet,

welding the plurality of tensioning structures to the second sheet by welding at least one of the first and second weld strip materials to the second sheet,

creating an inflatable chamber between the first and second sheets the step of coupling the first sheet to the second sheet, and

providing a valve in communication with the inflatable chamber to facilitate inflation and deflation of the air mattress.

25. The method of claim 24, further comprising the step of cutting the tensile sheet material into a plurality of tensile sheets.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein the cutting step occurs prior to the step of welding the first and second weld strip materials to the first and second sheets.

27. The method of claim 26, further comprising the step of cutting the plurality of weld strip materials into a plurality of weld strips.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein the step of cutting the plurality of weld strip materials into a plurality of weld strips occurs prior to the step of welding the tensioning structures to the first and second sheets.