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US 9,802,359 B2Granted
Method for producing an inflatable product
AssigneeIntex Marketing Ltd.
InventorsHua Hsiang Lin, Yaw Yuan Hsu
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
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.
Claims209
A method for producing an inflatable product comprising the steps of
- providing a first sheet made of weldable plastic,
- providing a second sheet 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 strip materials made of weldable plastic, the plurality of weld strip materials including
- a first weld strip material disposed on the first and second sides of the tensile sheet such that the tensile sheet is captured by the first weld strip material, and
- a second weld strip material disposed on the first and second sides of the tensile sheet such that the tensile sheet is captured by the second weld strip material, the second weld strip material spaced from the first weld strip material,
- a plurality of strands arranged to provide a substantially uniform height among the plurality of tensioning structures throughout the inflatable product;
- welding the plurality of tensioning structures to the first sheet by welding the first weld strip material to the first sheet,
- welding the plurality of tensioning structures to the second sheet by welding the second weld strip material to the second sheet,
- creating an inflatable chamber defined between the first and second sheets by the step of coupling the first sheet to the second sheet, and
- providing a valve in communication with the inflatable chamber to facilitate inflation and deflation of the inflatable product.
9 more elements
A method for producing an inflatable mattress comprising the steps of
- providing a first sheet made of weldable plastic and having a width and length suitable for a sleeping surface,
- providing a second sheet made of weldable plastic and having a width and length suitable for a ground-contacting surface supportive of the first sheet,
- providing a plurality of weld strip materials made of weldable plastic,
- providing a non-woven 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 strip materials on the first and second sides of the non-woven sheet material such that the non-woven sheet material is captured by the first weld strip material, and
- positioning a second of the plurality of weld strip materials on the first and second sides of the non-woven sheet material such that the non-woven sheet material is captured by the second weld strip material, the second weld strip material spaced from the first weld strip material,
- welding the plurality of tensioning structures to the first sheet by welding at least one of the first and second weld strip materials to the first sheet,
- welding the plurality of tensioning structures to the second sheet by welding the other of the first and second weld strip materials to the second sheet,
- creating an inflatable chamber defined between the first and second sheets by the step of coupling the first sheet to the second sheet, and
- providing a valve in communication with the inflatable chamber to facilitate inflation and deflation of the inflatable mattress.
8 more elements
A method for producing an inflatable product comprising the steps of
- providing a double-layer first sheet made of weldable plastic and having a first layer and a second layer,
- providing a second sheet 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 pair of the plurality of weld strips on the first and second sides of the tensile sheet, and
- positioning a second pair of the plurality of weld strips on the first and second sides of the tensile sheet, the first pair of weld strips spaced apart from the second pair of weld strips,
- welding the plurality of tensioning structures to the first sheet by welding at least one of the first and second pairs of weld strips to the first sheet,
- welding the plurality of tensioning structures to the second sheet by welding the other of the first and second pairs of weld strips to the second sheet,
- creating a first inflatable chamber between the first and second sheets by the step of coupling the first and second sheets together,
- creating a second inflatable chamber between the layers of the double-layer first sheet by the step of coupling the first and second layers together, and
- providing a valve in communication with at least one of the first and second inflatable chambers to facilitate inflation and deflation of the inflatable product.
9 more elements
A method for producing an inflatable product comprising the steps of
- providing a first sheet made of weldable plastic,
- providing a second sheet made of weldable plastic,
- providing a plurality of weld strip materials made of weldable plastic,
- providing a substantially planar 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 and second sides of the tensile sheet material,
- positioning a second of the plurality of weld strip materials on the first and second sides of the tensile sheet material, the first weld strip material spaced from the second weld strip material,
- welding the plurality of tensioning structures to the first sheet by welding at least one of the first and second weld strip materials to the first sheet,
- welding the plurality of tensioning structures to the second sheet by welding at least one of the first and second weld strip materials to the second sheet,
- creating an inflatable chamber between the first and second sheets by the step of coupling the first sheet to the second sheet, and
- providing a valve in communication with the inflatable chamber to facilitate inflation and deflation of the inflatable product.
8 more elements
A method for producing an inflatable product comprising the steps of
- providing a first sheet made of weldable plastic,
- providing a second sheet 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 strip materials made of weldable plastic, the plurality of weld strip materials including
- a first weld strip material disposed on the first and second sides of the tensile sheet such that the tensile sheet is captured by the first weld strip material, and
- a second weld strip material disposed on the first and second sides of the tensile sheet such that the tensile sheet is captured by the second weld strip material, the second weld strip material spaced from the first weld strip material,
- wherein, between the first and second weld strip materials, each tensioning structure has an area-to-weight ratio between 8,000 and 5,000,000 square centimeters per kilogram,
- welding the plurality of tensioning structures to the first sheet by welding the first weld strip material to the first sheet,
- welding the plurality of tensioning structures to the second sheet by welding the second weld strip material to the second sheet,
- creating an inflatable chamber defined between the first and second sheets by the step of coupling the first sheet to the second sheet, and
- providing a valve in communication with the inflatable chamber to facilitate inflation and deflation of the inflatable product.
9 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.