Method and apparatus for folding an inflatable cushion
First Claim
1. An apparatus for folding an inflatable cushion having a looped end portion and a main body portion and inserting the folded cushion into a cover comprising:
- folding structure for creating folds in said main body portion to form a folded cushion, said folding structure including a mandrel adapted to extend through said looped end portion of said cushion;
apparatus for supporting a cover into which said folded cushion is inserted; and
said folding structure inserting said folded cushion into said cover.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus is provided for folding an inflatable cushion having an end portion and a main body portion and inserting the folded cushion into a cover. The apparatus comprises folding structure for creating folds in the main body portion to form a folded cushion. The folding structure including first folding apparatus adapted to create a first fold in the main body portion to form a partially folded cushion, and accordion folding apparatus adapted to create a plurality of accordion folds in the partially folded cushion which are generally transverse to the first fold to form the folded cushion. Further included is apparatus for supporting a cover into which the folded cushion is inserted. The folding structure further serves to insert the folded cushion into the cover.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. An apparatus for folding an inflatable cushion having a looped end portion and a main body portion and inserting the folded cushion into a cover comprising:
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folding structure for creating folds in said main body portion to form a folded cushion, said folding structure including a mandrel adapted to extend through said looped end portion of said cushion; apparatus for supporting a cover into which said folded cushion is inserted; and said folding structure inserting said folded cushion into said cover. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. An apparatus for folding an inflatable cushion having a looped end portion and a main body portion and inserting the folded cushion into a cover comprising:
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folding structure for creating folds in said main body portion to form a folded cushion, said folding structure including a mandrel adapted to extend through said looped end portion, first folding apparatus adapted to create a first fold in said main body portion to form a partially folded cushion, and accordion folding apparatus adapted to create a plurality of accordion folds in said partially folded cushion which are generally transverse to said first fold to form said folded cushion; apparatus for supporting a cover into which said folded cushion is inserted; and said folding structure inserting said folded cushion into said cover. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A method for folding an inflatable cushion having an end portion and a main body portion and inserting the folded cushion into a cover comprising the steps of:
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creating a first fold in said main body portion of said cushion to form a partially folded cushion; creating a plurality of accordion folds in said partially folded cushion which are generally transverse to said first fold to form said folded cushion, wherein said step of creating a plurality of accordion folds comprises the steps of providing first and second upper clamping members, said second damping member being movable relative to said first clamping member, providing a plurality of upper and lower accordion blades, moving said lower accordion blades toward said upper accordion blades to create said plurality of accordion folds in said folded cushion moving, one of said lower accordion blades to a retracted position, moving said second clamping member toward said first clamping member to a first clamping position after said one lower accordion blade has been moved to its retracted position, and relaxing said second clamping member after it has moved to said first clamping position; supporting a cover into which said folded cushion is inserted; and inserting said folded cushion into said cover. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. An apparatus for creating first and second folds in an inflatable cushion having an end portion and a main body portion comprising:
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a base plate which is adapted to receive a central section of said main body portion of said cushion; a movable center plate which is adapted to move from a retracted position to an engagement position where it engages said central section of said cushion such that said central section is clamped between said base plate and said movable center plate; a first fold table which is movable from a retracted position to a first fold position so as to create a first fold in said cushion; a second fold table which is movable from a retracted position to a second fold position to create a second fold in said cushion which is generally parallel to said first fold; and support structure for releasably supporting said first and second fold tables, said first and second fold tables being removable from said support structure to permit each of said first and second fold tables to be repositioned on said support structure on an opposite side of said base plate. - View Dependent Claims (20)
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Specification