MULTICELLED STRUCTURE APPARATUS FOR MAKING SAME

• US 3,870,450 A
• Filed: 05/16/1973
• Issued: 03/11/1975
• Est. Priority Date: 05/16/1973
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Robert H. Graebe
• Original Assignee: Robert H. Graebe
• Inventors: Graebe, Robert H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Spicer, Jr., Robert L.
• Application Number:
  US05/360,743
• Time in Patent Office: 664 Days
• Field of Search: 425/93,269,275,403,383 161/116
• US Class Current: 425/269
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/05769 with inflatable chambers
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 33/00 Moulds or cores; Details thereof or accessories therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 41/14 Dipping a core B29C41/10 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24504 Component comprises a polymer [e.g., rubber, etc.]

Abstract

A multicelled structure which may be used as a body support or other cushioning device has inflatable cells against which a supported or cushioned body bears. The structure is formed from a flexible material on mandrels which have a fluted or other shaped configuration and spaced apart. This prevents the material which is in a soft or uncured condition from bridging adjacent cells during the forming operation. The fluting or shape on the resulting cells is configured to enable the side walls of adjacent cells to closely approach or contact each other when the cells are expanded by internal fluid pressure so that the end walls of the cells form a generally continuous surface.

Claims

1. An apparatus for producing from an initially fluent material a cushioning device having flexible inflatable cells formed integral with and projecting outwardly from an intervening layer, said apparatus comprising:

a base member and mandrels projecting outwardly from the base member such that each of the mandrels except those mandrels located at the periphery of the base is surrounded by other mandrels, the base member having an intervening surface extended between the mandrels with that surface being substantially continuous and substantially free of voids, the mandrels being fluted along their sides to form grooves and ribs with the longitudinal axes of the grooves and ribs for each mandrel being at a steep angle with respect to the portion of the intervening surface surrounding that mandrel whereby, when the mandrels and intervening surface are coated with the initially fluent material and that material is allowed to solidify, the cushioning device is formed with the shape of the flexible cells being determined by the mandrels and the shape of the intervening layer being determined by the intervening surface on the base.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1 and further characterized by means on the base member for further forming the material into embossed channels which open into the interiors of the cells.

3. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the ends of the flutes are spaced from the base member and the portions of the mandrels between the flutes and the base member form attachment portions at which the mandrels are connected to the base member.

4. An apparatus according to claim 3 wherein the attachment portions are of lesser thickness than the fluted portions of the mandrels so as to form reduced necks at the ends of the cells.

5. An apparatus accordIng to claim 3 wherein the attachment portions are of greater diameter than the fluted portions of the mandrels so as to form enlarged connecting pedestals at the ends of the cells.

6. An apparatus according to claim 3 wherein the attachment portions are tapered.

7. An apparatus according to claim 3 and further characterized by elongated embossments extending between the attachment portions of mandrels for shaping the material into connecting fluid transfer channels which open into the hollow interiors of the cells.

8. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the mandrels are imperforate.

9. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the ribs of each fluted mandrel are spaced at equal circumferential intervals around the mandrel.

10. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the intervening surface is substantially planar and the axes of the mandrel ribs and grooves are perpendicular to the intervening surface.

11. An apparatus for producing from an initially fluent material a cushioning device having flexible inflatable cells formed integral with and projected outwardly from an intervening layer, said apparatus comprising:

a base member and mandrels projecting outwardly from the base member, the base member having an intervening surface extended between the mandrels with that surface being substantially continuous and free of voids, each mandrel having its longitudinal axis presented at a steep angle with respect to the portion of the intervening surface from which the mandrel projects, each mandrel also having lontiduinally extending flutes, the mandrels further being arranged such that each mandrel except the mandrels at the periphery of the apparatus is surrounded by other mandrels, whereby when the mandrels and intervening surface are coated with the initially fluent material and that material is allowed to solidify, the cushioning device is formed with the shape of the flexible cells being determined by the mandrels and the shape of the intervening layer being determined by the intervening surface on the base.

12. An apparatus according to claim 11 wherein the base has embossments on the intervening surface with the embossments extended between adjacent mandrels.

13. An apparatus according to claim 11 wherein the flutes of each mandrel are spaced at equal circumferential intervals around the mandrel.