# US 2015/0147503 A1 · Welding process and product for inflatable product > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2015/0147503 A1 - Document ID: US20150147503A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 14/553,705 - Filed: 2014-11-25 - Published: 2015-05-28 - Earliest claimed: 2013-11-25 - Applicants: Intex Recreation Corp. - Inventors: Hua Hsiang Lin; Yaw Yuan Hsu - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20150147503A1 ## CPC - B29C 66/004: {Preventing sticking together, e.g. of some areas of the parts to be joined} - A47C 27/081: {of pneumatic type} - A47C 27/087: {with means for connecting opposite sides, e.g. internal ties or strips} - B29C 65/04: Dielectric heating, e.g. high-frequency welding {, i.e. radio frequency welding of plastic materials having dielectric properties, e.g. PVC} - B29C 65/242: {the heat transfer being achieved by contact, i.e. a heated tool being brought into contact with the welding tool and afterwards withdrawn from it} - B29C 66/0044: {using a separating sheet, e.g. fixed on the joining tool} - B29C 66/1122: {Single lap to lap joints, i.e. overlap joints (B29C66/45, B29C66/472, B29C66/52272 take precedence)} - B29C 66/438: {Joining sheets for making hollow-walled, channelled structures or multi-tubular articles} - B29C 66/474: {said single elements being substantially non-flat} - B29C 66/7315: {Mechanical properties} - B29C 66/73921: {characterised by the materials of both parts being thermoplastics} - B29C 66/81427: {comprising a single ridge, e.g. for making a weakening line; comprising a single tooth} - B29C 66/8322: {Joining or pressing tools reciprocating along one axis} - B29C 66/8432: {Machines for making separate joints at the same time mounted in parallel or in series} - B32B 3/085: {spaced apart pieces on the surface of a layer} - B32B 3/266: {characterised by an apertured layer, the apertures going through the whole thickness of the layer, e.g. expanded metal, perforated layer, slit layer regular cells B32B3/12} - B32B 5/022: {Non-woven fabric} - B32B 5/24: one layer being a fibrous or filamentary layer - B32B 7/12: using interposed adhesives or interposed materials with bonding properties - B32B 27/06: as the main or only constituent of a layer, {which is} next to another layer of {the same or of} a {different material (next to a layer of a particular substance B32B9/045; next to a bituminous or tarry layer B32B11/046; next to a water setting substance layer B32B13/12; next to a metal layer B32B15/08; next to a glass layer B32B17/10; next to a layer formed of natural mineral fibres or particles B32B19/045; next to a wood layer B32B21/08; next to a cellulosic plastic layer B32B23/08; next to a natural or synthetic rubber layer B32B25/08)} - B32B 27/304: {comprising vinyl halide (co)polymers, e.g. PVC, PVDC, PVF, PVDF} - B32B 29/002: {as the main or only constituent of a layer, which is next to another layer of the same or of a different material (next to a layer of a particular substance B32B9/06; next to a bituminous or tarry layer B32B11/06; next to a water-setting substance layer B32B13/08; next to a metal layer B32B15/12; next to a glass layer B32B17/065; next to a layer formed of natural mineral fibres or particles B32B19/046; next to a wood layer B32B21/06; next to a cellulosic plastic layer B32B23/06; next to a natural or synthetic rubber layer B32B25/06; next to a synthetic resin layer B32B27/10)} - B32B 37/06: characterised by the heating method - B32B 37/26: with at least one layer which influences the bonding during the lamination process, e.g. release layers or pressure equalising layers - B29C 66/4722: {Fixing strips to surfaces other than edge faces (fixing strips to edge faces B29C63/0026)} - B29C 66/71: {characterised by the composition of the plastics material of the parts to be joined (welding bar compositions B29C65/125)} - B29C 66/723: {being multi-layered (B29C66/7292, B29C66/72941 take precedence)} - B29K 2027/06: PVC, i.e. polyvinylchloride - B29K 2105/256: {Sheets, plates, blanks or films} - B29L 2022/02: Inflatable articles (balls B29L2031/54 {; inner tyres B29L2023/245}) - B29L 2031/751: {Mattresses, cushions (upholstery B29L2031/58)} - B32B 7/14: applied in spaced arrangements, e.g. in stripes - B32B 2327/06: PVC, i.e. polyvinylchloride - Y10T 428/1352: Polymer or resin containing [i.e., natural or synthetic] - B29C: SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING (making preforms B29B11/00; making laminated products by combining previously unconnected layers which become one product whose layers will remain together B32B37/00 - B32B41/00) - A47C: CHAIRS; SOFAS; BEDS - B32B: LAYERED PRODUCTS, i.e. PRODUCTS BUILT-UP OF STRATA OF FLAT OR NON-FLAT, e.g. CELLULAR OR HONEYCOMB, FORM - B29K: INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASSES B29B, B29C OR B29D, RELATING TO MOULDING MATERIALS OR TO MATERIALS FOR {MOULDS, } REINFORCEMENTS, FILLERS OR PREFORMED PARTS, e.g. INSERTS - B29L: INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASS B29C, RELATING TO PARTICULAR ARTICLES - Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION ## Abstract A welding process of an inflatable product is provided that includes using isolating members between first and second portions of weldable tensioning members to resist the first and second portions of the weldable tensioning structures being welded together during welding of the first portions to a first sheet of weldable material and welding of the second portions to a second sheet of weldable material. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An inflatable product including a first sheet made of weldable plastic, a second sheet made of weldable plastic, the first and second sheets cooperating to define an inflatable chamber, a plurality of tensioning structures, each tensioning structure including a weldable plastic, a first portion of the tensioning structures being welded to the first sheet and a second portion of the tensioning structures being welded to the second sheet, and a plurality of isolating members positioned in the inflatable chamber, the isolating members being positionable to isolate the first portions of the tensioning structures from the second portions of the tensioning structures to block weldable contact between the first and second portions. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The inflatable product of claim 1, wherein the isolating members are a flexible film. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The inflatable product of claim 1, wherein the isolating member are non-metallic. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The inflatable product of claim 1, wherein the isolating member are strips. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The inflatable product of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the isolating members are spaced apart from the tensioning structures. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The inflatable product of claim 1, wherein the isolating members have a thickness less than a thickness of the weldable plastic of the tensioning structures. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The inflatable product of claim 1, wherein the tensioning structures are parallel and separated by a substantially uniform distance and a width of the isolating members is substantially less than the distance. ### Claim 8 An inflatable product including a first sheet made of weldable plastic, a second sheet made of weldable plastic, the first and second sheets cooperating to define an inflatable chamber, a plurality of tensioning structures, each tensioning structure including a weldable plastic, a first portion of the tensioning structures being welded to the first sheet and a second portion of the tensioning structures being welded to the second sheet, and a portion of a non-metallic isolating member positioned in the inflatable chamber and coupled to at least one of the first and second portions of a tensioning structure of the plurality of tensioning structures. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The inflatable product of claim 8, wherein the non-metallic isolating member is positioned in the inflatable chamber. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The inflatable product of claim 8, wherein the non-metallic isolating member is a flexible film. ### Claim 11 An inflatable product including a first sheet made of weldable plastic, a second sheet made of weldable plastic, the first and second sheets cooperating to define an inflatable chamber, a plurality of tensioning structures, each tensioning structure including a weldable plastic, a first portion of the tensioning structures being welded to the first sheet and a second portion of the tensioning structures being welded to the second sheet, the first portions having structures and the second portions having contours matching at least a portion of the structures of the first portions. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The inflatable product of claim 11, wherein the contour of the second portion is a recess matching at least one of the structure of the first portion that is raised. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The inflatable product of claim 12, wherein the structured that is raised is a strand of the tensioning structure. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The inflatable product of claim 11, wherein the contour of the second portion is a protrusion matching at least one recess of the structure of the first portion that is recessed. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The inflatable product of claim 14, wherein the structure of the first portion that is recessed is positioned between a pair of strands of the tensioning structure. ### Claim 16 An inflatable product including a first sheet made of weldable plastic, a second sheet made of weldable plastic, the first and second sheets cooperating to define an inflatable chamber, a plurality of tensioning structures, each tensioning structure including a weldable plastic, a first portion of the tensioning structures being welded to the first sheet and a second portion of the tensioning structures being welded to the second sheet, the first portions having a seam formed by a clamp, and the second portions having a seam formed by the clamp, the perimeters of the seams of the second portions being substantially mirror images of perimeters of the seams of the first portions. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The inflatable product of claim 16, further comprising a plurality of isolating positionable to isolate the first portions of the tensioning structures from the second portions of the tensioning structures to block weldable contact between the first and second portions. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The inflatable product of claim 16, wherein the first portions have structures and the second portions have contours matching at least a portion of the structures of the first portions. ### Claim 19 A method for producing an inflatable product including the steps of providing a first sheet made of weldable plastic, providing a second sheet made of weldable plastic, the first and second sheets cooperating to define an inflatable chamber, providing a plurality of tensioning structures, each tensioning structure including a weldable plastic, the plurality of tensioning structures including a first portion and a second portion, and simultaneously welding the first and second portions of the plurality of tensioning structures to the first and second sheets. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The method of claim 19, further comprising a step of providing a plurality of isolating members positioned between the first and second portions of the plurality of tensioning structures and the plurality of isolating members are positioned between the first and second portions during the simultaneously welding. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) The method of claim 20, wherein the first and second portions are spaced apart by the plurality of isolating members. ### Claim 22 (depends on 20) The method of claim 20, wherein the isolating members are removed from between the first and second portions of the plurality of tensioning structures after the simultaneously welding step. ### Claim 23 (depends on 19) The method of claim 19, further comprising the step of folding the plurality of tensioning structures. ### Claim 24 A method for producing an inflatable product including the steps of providing a first sheet made of weldable plastic, providing a second sheet made of weldable plastic, the first and second sheets cooperating to define an inflatable chamber, providing a plurality of tensioning structures, each tensioning structure including a weldable plastic, the plurality of tensioning structures including a first portion and a second portion, providing an isolating member on a roll, the isolating material being configured to isolate the first portions of the tensioning structures from the second portions of the tensioning structures, and unwrapping the isolating member from the roll, positioning the isolating member between the first and second portions of the plurality of tensioning structures, welding the first portion of the plurality of tensioning structures to the first sheet while the isolating member is positioned between the first and second portions of the plurality of tensioning structures, and welding the second portion of the plurality of tensioning structures to the second sheet while the isolating member is positioned between the first and second portions of the plurality of tensioning structures. ### Claim 25 (depends on 24) The method of claim 24, wherein the isolating member is non-metallic. ### Claim 26 (depends on 24) The method of claim 24, wherein the isolating material is a film. ### Claim 27 (depends on 25) The method of claim 25, further comprising the step of sealing the first and second sheets together to define an inflatable chamber and the isolating member is positioned in the inflatable chamber. ### Claim 28 (depends on 27) The method of claim 27, further comprising a side panel and the sealing step consists of welding the side panel to the first and second sheets. ### Claim 29 (depends on 25) The method of claim 25, further comprising the step of cutting a strip of the isolating material from the roll of isolating material. ### Claim 30 A method for producing an inflatable product including the steps of providing a first sheet made of weldable plastic, providing a second sheet made of weldable plastic, the first and second sheets cooperating to define an inflatable chamber, providing a plurality of tensioning structures, each tensioning structure including a weldable plastic, the plurality of tensioning structures including a first portion and a second portion, folding the plurality of tensioning structures, and welding the first portion of the plurality of tensioning structures to the first sheet and the second portion of the plurality of tensioning structures to the second sheet while the plurality of tensioning structures are folded. ### Claim 31 (depends on 30) The method of claim 30, wherein the folding step includes position the first portions of the tensioning structures adjacent the second portions of the tensioning structures. ### Claim 32 (depends on 30) The method of claim 30, further comprising the step of providing a plurality of isolating members and positioning the isolating members between the first and second portions of the plurality of tensioning structures. ### Claim 33 A method for producing an inflatable product including the steps of providing a first sheet made of weldable plastic, providing a second sheet made of weldable plastic, the first and second sheets cooperating to define an inflatable chamber, providing a plurality of tensioning structures, each tensioning structure including a weldable plastic, the plurality of tensioning structures including a first portion and a second portion, clamping the first portions and second portions of the plurality of tensioning structures together, and welding the first portion of the plurality of tensioning structures to the first sheet and the second portion of the plurality of tensioning structures to the second sheet while the first and second portions of the plurality of tensioning structures are clamped together. ### Claim 34 (depends on 33) The method of claim 33, further comprising the step of unclamping the first and second portions of the plurality of tensioning structures and separating the first and second portions of the plurality of tensioning structures after the welding step. ### Claim 35 (depends on 33) The method of claim 33, further comprising the step of providing a plurality of isolating members and positioning the plurality of isolating members between the first and second portions of the plurality of tensioning structures during welding step.