Method for producing an air mattress
DCFirst Claim
1. A method for producing an air mattress comprising the steps ofproviding an upper sheet made of weldable plastic,providing a lower sheet made of weldable plastic,providing a side wall made of weldable plastic,providing a plurality of tensioning structures, each tensioning structure includingat 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 anda plurality of weld strips includinga first weld strip positioned on the first side of the tensile sheet,a second weld strip positioned on the second side of said tensile sheet, the first and second weld strips welded together with said tensile sheet positioned between the first and second strips,a third weld strip positioned on the first side of said tensile sheet, anda fourth weld strip positioned on the second side of said tensile sheet, the third and fourth weld strips welded together with said tensile sheet positioned between the third and fourth strips,welding the plurality of tensioning structures to the upper sheet by welding at least one of the first and second weld strips to the upper sheet,welding the plurality of tensioning structures to the lower sheet by welding at least one of the third and fourth weld strips to the lower sheet,creating an inflatable chamber defined by the upper sheet, lower sheet, and side wall by the steps ofcoupling the side wall to the upper sheet, andcoupling the side wall to the lower sheet, andproviding a valve in communication with the inflatable chamber to facilitate inflation and deflation of the air mattress.
10 Assignments
Litigations
1 Petition
Accused Products
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.
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Citations
29 Claims
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1. A method for producing an air mattress comprising the steps of
providing an upper sheet made of weldable plastic, providing a lower sheet made of weldable plastic, providing a side wall 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 the first side of the tensile sheet, a second weld strip positioned on the second side of said tensile sheet, the first and second weld strips welded together with said tensile sheet positioned between the first and second strips, a third weld strip positioned on the first side of said tensile sheet, and a fourth weld strip positioned on the second side of said tensile sheet, the third and fourth weld strips welded together with said tensile sheet positioned between the third and fourth strips, welding the plurality of tensioning structures to the upper sheet by welding at least one of the first and second weld strips to the upper sheet, welding the plurality of tensioning structures to the lower sheet by welding at least one of the third and fourth weld strips to the lower sheet, creating an inflatable chamber defined by the upper sheet, lower sheet, and side wall by the steps of coupling the side wall to the upper sheet, and coupling the side wall to the lower sheet, and providing a valve in communication with the inflatable chamber to facilitate inflation and deflation of the air mattress.
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12. A method for producing an air mattress comprising the steps of
providing an upper sheet made of weldable plastic, providing a lower sheet made of weldable plastic, providing a side wall made of weldable plastic, providing a plurality of weld strips made of weldable plastic, providing a tensile 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 the first side of the tensile sheet material, positioning a second of the plurality of weld strips on the second side of the tensile sheet material, welding the first and second weld strips together with the tensile sheet material positioned between the first and second strips, positioning a third of the plurality of weld strips on the first side of the tensile sheet material, positioning a fourth of the plurality of weld strips on the second side of the tensile sheet material, and welding the third and fourth weld strips together with the tensile sheet material positioned between the third and fourth weld strips, welding the plurality of tensioning structures to the upper sheet by welding at least one of the first and second weld strips to the upper sheet, welding the plurality of tensioning structures to the lower sheet by welding at least one of the third and fourth weld strips to the lower sheet, creating an inflatable chamber defined by the upper sheet, lower sheet, and side wall by the steps of coupling the side wall to the upper sheet, and coupling the side wall to the lower sheet, and providing a valve in communication with the inflatable chamber to facilitate inflation and deflation of the air mattress.
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19. A method for producing an air mattress comprising the steps of
providing an upper sheet made of weldable plastic, providing a lower sheet made of weldable plastic, providing a side wall made of weldable plastic, providing a plurality of weld strips made of weldable plastic, providing at least one tensile sheet having a first side and a second side, 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 the first side of the tensile sheet, positioning a second of the plurality of weld strips on the second side of the tensile sheet, welding the first and second weld strips together with the tensile sheet, positioning a third of the plurality of weld strips on the first side of the tensile sheet, positioning a fourth of the plurality of weld strips on the second side of the tensile sheet, and welding the third and fourth weld strips together with the tensile sheet, welding the plurality of tensioning structures to the upper sheet by welding at least one of the first and second weld strips to the upper sheet, welding the plurality of tensioning structures to the lower sheet by welding at least one of the third and fourth weld strips to the lower sheet, creating an inflatable chamber defined by the upper sheet, lower sheet, and side wall by the steps of coupling the side wall to the upper sheet, and coupling the side wall to the lower sheet, and providing a valve in communication with the inflatable chamber to facilitate inflation and deflation of the air mattress.
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24. A method for producing an air mattress comprising the steps of
providing an upper sheet made of weldable plastic, providing a lower sheet made of weldable plastic, providing a side wall 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 the first side of the tensile sheet material, positioning a second of the plurality of weld strip materials on the second side of the tensile sheet material, welding the first and second weld strip materials together with the tensile sheet material positioned between the first and second strip materials, positioning a third of the plurality of weld strip materials on the first side of the tensile sheet material, positioning a fourth of the plurality of weld strip materials on the second side of the tensile sheet material, and welding the third and fourth weld strip materials together with said tensile sheet material positioned between the third and fourth strips materials, welding the plurality of tensioning structures to the upper sheet by welding at least one of the first and second weld strip materials to the upper sheet, welding the plurality of tensioning structures to the lower sheet by welding at least one of the third and fourth weld strip materials to the lower sheet, creating an inflatable chamber defined by the upper sheet, lower sheet, and side wall by the steps of coupling the side wall to the upper sheet, and coupling the side wall to the lower sheet, and providing a valve in communication with the inflatable chamber to facilitate inflation and deflation of the air mattress.
Specification