Self-Inflating Mat
OwnerHartmut ORTLIEBinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The invention relates to a self-inflating mat or pillow consisting of open-cell foamed material which is hermetically covered on both sides by outer layers of cloth, the outer layers being sealed on the edges and at least one valve providing a connection between the foamed material and the surrounding atmosphere. At least one layer of cloth or a mesh fabric is provided on at least one side and the cloth or mesh fabric consists of a hot-pressed yarn coated with a thermoplastic material.
Claims20
A method of producing a self-inflating mat, said method comprising the steps of:
- (a) establishing a core layer, said core layer further comprising:
- (i) an open cell foam material having opposing sides;
- and
- (ii) a valve;
- (b) covering each of said opposing sides of said core layer with one or more outer layers of a fabric so as to produce a fabric covering, said one or more outer layers further comprising a hot-pressed yarn pre-coated with a thermoplastic material;
- (c) introducing said valve through said fabric covering so as to connect said core layer with an ambient environment;
- (d) sealing together, in an airtight fashion, the edges of said outer layers so as to form an airtight seal about said core layer;
- (e) calendering a portion of said fabric covering so as to enhance said airtight seal;
- (f) coating said fabric of said outer layers with a first foil coating, said first foil coating having a lower melting point than a melting point of said thermoplastic material and a melting point of said fabric covering;
- and
- (g) overlaying a second foil coating on said first foil coating, said second foil coating having a melting point that is lower then the melting point of said first foil coating.
A method of producing a self-inflating mat, said method comprising the steps of:
- (a) establishing a core layer, said core layer further comprising:
- (i) an open cell foam material having opposing sides;
- and
- (ii) a valve;
- (b) covering each of said opposing sides of said core layer with one or more outer layers of a fabric so as to produce a fabric covering, said one or more outer layers further comprising a woven coated fabric with yarns coextruded with thermoplastics and having little or no twist;
- (c) pressing flat said coated fabric with an ironing process;
- (d) introducing said valve through said fabric covering so as to connect said core layer with an ambient environment;
- (e) sealing together, in an airtight fashion, the edges of said outer layers so as to form an airtight seal about said core layer;
- (f) calendering a portion of said fabric covering so as to enhance said airtight seal.
A self-inflating mat, comprising:
- (a) a first foamed material hermetically covered by means of outer layers of fabric, said outer layers of cloth being sealed on edges thereof;
- (b) a valve for adjustably connecting said foamed material to an external atmosphere;
- (c) at least one layer of said cloth including a hot-pressed yarn coated with a thermoplastic material;
- and
- (d) at least a portion of said fabric covering has been subjected to a calendering.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.