Batting filled self inflatable body
AssigneeCascade Designs, Inc.
InventorJames Lea
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An inflatable body comprising an airtight envelope enclosing a core of batting material having tensile elements extending from an upper to lower surface thereof and having the upper and lower surfaces thereof bonded to the envelope. The process of making the body comprises first laying down two sheets of air impervious film with the core positioned therebetween. The tensile elements are bonded to the sheets. Simultaneously or separately from bonding to the core, the edges of the sheets are sealed together and a valve assembly is bonded between or inserted in one of the sheets to allow control of the air volume and pressure within the assembly.
Claims20
An inflatable body comprising:
- (a) an air impervious envelope comprising upper and lower sheets joined to one another at perimeter portions thereof enclosing an inflatable portion;
- (b) a resilient fiber batt core positioned within said inflatable portion of said envelope, said core having a planar configuration with length and width dimensions substantially in excess of its thickness dimension, and having tensile elements therein extending across the thickness thereof, and separating said upper and lower sheets when in an unloaded condition;
- (c) each of said upper and lower sheets of the envelope being bonded to said tensile elements whereby said tensile elements extend between said upper and lower sheets;
- (d) said batt core being substantially continuous throughout said envelope and having its upper and lower surfaces securely bonded to or in the upper and lower sheets of the envelope, with a bonding strength adequate to resist tension loads imparted by internal air pressure whereby the batt core acts effectively in tension between said upper and lower sheets to limit deflection of said upper and lower sheets from each other with said sheets providing an air impervious barrier to maintain such air pressure, and
- (e) a valve connected to said inflatable body and providing an air passageway allowing atmospheric air to enter the air impervious envelope caused by the tensile elements of said resilient batt core straightening, because of their resiliency, and thereby urging said upper and lower sheets apart until said tensile elements are fully expanded preventing further expansion, at which time said valve may be closed thereby sealing atmospheric air pressure within said envelope.
An inflatable body capable of being conveniently rolled into a compact stowed position and capable of providing adequate support for a load at atmospheric or near atmospheric inflating pressures, comprising:
- (a) an air impervious envelope comprising top and bottom sheets of a substantially flexible and non-strechable material joined to one another at perimeter portions thereof;
- (b) an inflating valve mounted to said envelope;
- (c) a resilient, fiber batt core positioned within said envelope, said core having a planar configuration with upper and lower batt surfaces, having length and width dimensions substantially in excess of its thickness dimension and having tensile elements extending from said top to said bottom sheet to define the separation therebetween, the resiliency of said tensile elements causing said tensile elements to straighten and thereby urging said top and bottom sheets apart until said tensile elements are fully extended preventing further separation;
- (d) said batt material being characterized in that it has a density no greater than about 5 pounds per cubic foot and an indentation load deflection of between 0.1 and 30 pounds at 25% deflection;
- (e) said batt being substantially continuous throughout said envelope and having upper and lower surfaces thereof securely bonded to, respectively, the upper and lower sheets of the envelope, with a bonding strength adequate to resist tension loads imparted by internal air pressure resulting from compression loading on the body.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.