BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Field of the Invention
The invention relates to an inflatable product without or with less use of tensioning elements.
Description of the Related Art
FIG. 1A is a perspective view of a conventional high-profile air mattress, wherein the air mattress 11 includes a top wall 111, a bottom wall 112, four side walls 113 and four corner walls 116. The side walls 113 and the corner walls 116 are integrally formed as a continuous piece. The top wall 111 and the bottom wall 112 are connected to the side walls 113 and the corner walls 116 by fusion.
FIG. 1B is a partial cutaway view of FIG. 1A. A plurality of upright tensioning elements 114 and inclined tensioning elements 115 are provided in the air mattress 11. The upright tensioning elements 114 are tubular and are connected to the top wall 111 and the bottom wall 112 by fusion. The inclined tensioning elements 115 are strap-shaped and are connected to the top wall 111, the bottom wall 112, the side walls 113 and the corner walls 116 by fusion. When the air mattress 11 is inflated to expand, the stretch of the top wall 111, the bottom wall 112, the side walls 113 and the corner walls 116 is limited by the upright tensioning elements 114 and the inclined tensioning elements 115 (under the pulling forces of the upright tensioning elements 114 and the inclined tensioning elements 115), thereby controlling expansion of the air mattress 11 to a desired shape. Specifically, the upright tensioning elements 114 are used for limiting stretch of the top wall 111 and the bottom wall 112, and the inclined tensioning elements 115 are used for limiting stretch of the side walls 113 and the corner walls 116. For easy understanding, a high-profile air mattress 11′ having no inclined tensioning elements inside is shown in FIG. 2. After inflation of the air mattress 11′, the side walls 113′ are bulged and the corner walls 116′ are depressed. The corner walls 116′ under the internal air pressure cannot be bulged because of its shape (curved) and area (small). Under such circumstance, the top wall 111′ and bottom wall 112′ under the internal air pressure turn warping at corners 117′, 118′ that are next to the corner walls 116′. It is therefore understood that the shape of a conventional air mattress cannot be controlled well without the inclined tensioning elements 115.
FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a conventional low-profile air mattress. The air mattress 12 includes a top wall 121 and a bottom wall 122. A plurality of upright tensioning elements 124 are arranged in parallel in the air mattress 12 and are connected to the top wall 121 and the bottom wall 122 by fusion for preventing the top wall 121 and the bottom wall 122 from bulging.
FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a conventional air lounger. The air lounger 13 includes a top wall 131 and a bottom wall 132. A plurality of upright straps 134 are arranged in parallel in the air lounger 13 and are connected to the top wall 131 and the bottom wall 132 by fusion for preventing the top wall 131 and the bottom wall 132 from bulging.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The invention provides an inflatable product without or with less use of tensioning elements to control the shape after inflation, thereby reducing the manufacturing cost of the inflatable product. The inflatable product in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the invention includes an external wall. The external wall includes a plurality of parts. The parts include a plurality of edges. The plurality of edges are connected to each other. At least one of the edges is not straight.
In another exemplary embodiment, the edges include concave portions which are connected to each other.
In yet another exemplary embodiment, the inflatable product is an air mattress, and the external wall is a side wall or a top wall or a bottom wall of the air mattress.
In another exemplary embodiment, the inflatable product is an air lounger, and the external wall is a top wall or a bottom wall of the air lounger.
In yet another exemplary embodiment, the inflatable product further includes an auxiliary portion and a connecting element, wherein the auxiliary portion is provided next to where the edges are connected, and is held by the connecting element.
In another exemplary embodiment, the edges include convex portions which are connected to each other.
In yet another exemplary embodiment, the inflatable product is an air mattress, and the external wall is a corner wall of the air mattress.
In another exemplary embodiment, the parts have different colors and/or different embossing.
In yet another exemplary embodiment, the parts are strip-shaped, the edges of the strip-shaped parts include lateral edges and end edges, the lateral edges of the strip-shaped parts include convex portions and concave portions which are alternately arranged, and the strip-shaped parts are disposed in a symmetrical arrangement with the convex portions connected to each other and the concave portions connected to each other.
In another exemplary embodiment, the inflatable product is an air mattress, and the concave portions are connected to form side walls of the air mattress.
In yet another exemplary embodiment, the inflatable product is an air mattress, and the convex portions are connected to form corner walls of the air mattress.
In another exemplary embodiment, the parts are strip-shaped, the edges of the strip-shaped parts include lateral edges and end edges, the lateral edges of the strip-shaped parts include convex portions and flat portions which are alternately arranged, and the stripe-shaped parts are disposed in a symmetrical arrangement with the convex portions connected to each other and the flat portions connected to each other.
In yet another exemplary embodiment, the inflatable product is an air mattress, and the flat portions are connected to form side walls of the air mattress.
In another exemplary embodiment, the inflatable product is an air mattress, and the convex portions are connected to form corner walls of the air mattress.
In yet another exemplary embodiment, the inflatable product is an air mattress and further comprises a top wall and a bottom wall, the parts are strip-shaped, the edges of the strip-shaped parts comprise lateral edges and end edges, the lateral edges of the strip-shaped parts comprise concave portions connected to the top wall and the bottom wall.
In another exemplary embodiment, the parts are strip-shaped, the edges of the strip-shaped parts include lateral edges and end edges, the end edges include convex portions, and the end edges of the strip-shaped parts are connected to each other.
In yet another exemplary embodiment, the inflatable product is an air mattress, and the end edges of the strip-shaped parts are connected to form corner walls of the air mattress.
In another exemplary embodiment, the external wall is a continuous-unity wall.
The invention also provides a method of producing an inflatable product, including the steps of providing a first sheet and a second sheet; connecting the first sheet and the second sheet by fusion or adhesive to form a connecting line thereon wherein the connecting line is not straight; and spreading a part of the first sheet and second sheet that is disposed at a side of the connecting line to form an external wall of the inflatable product.
In an exemplary embodiment, the method further includes removing another part of the first sheet and second sheet that is disposed at another side of the connecting line.
In another exemplary embodiment, the method includes the steps of connecting different portions of a sheet by fusion or adhesive to form a plurality of parallel connecting lines thereon so that the sheet includes a plurality of spreadable parts, wherein each of the connecting lines are not straight; spreading out the spreadable parts of the sheet to form an external wall of the inflatable product.
In yet another exemplary embodiment, the method further includes cutting the fused sheet into a plurality of sections after the connecting lines are formed, wherein each of the sections has one connecting line thereon.
In another exemplary embodiment, the inflatable product includes a first portion and a second portion. The first portion has a first desired shape. The second portion has a second desired shape. The inflatable product has reduced material at the first portion, to limit expansion of the first portion when the inflatable product is inflated, thereby preventing the first portion from deviating from the first desired shape. The inflatable product further has increased material at the second portion, allowing the second portion to expand more when the inflatable product is inflated, thereby preventing the second portion from deviating from the second desired shape.
A detailed description is given in the following embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The invention can be more fully understood by reading the subsequent detailed description and examples with references made to the accompanying drawings, wherein:
FIG. 1A is a perspective view of a conventional high-profile air mattress.
FIG. 1B is a partial cutaway view of FIG. 1A.
FIG. 2 depicts a high-profile air mattress having no inclined tensioning elements inside.
FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a conventional low-profile air mattress.
FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a conventional air lounger.
FIGS. 5A and 5B show a method of forming an external wall of an inflatable product in accordance with a first embodiment of the invention.
FIGS. 6A and 6B show a method of forming an external wall of an inflatable product in accordance with a second embodiment of the invention.
FIGS. 7A and 7B show a method of forming an external wall of an inflatable product in accordance with a third embodiment of the invention.
FIG. 8A depicts a high-profile air mattress in accordance with a fourth embodiment of the invention.
FIG. 8B is an exploded view of the air mattress of FIG. 8A.
FIG. 8C depicts the strip-shaped parts of the air mattress of FIG. 8B.
FIG. 8D is a side view of the strip-shaped parts of FIG. 8C, wherein the lateral edges of the strip-shaped parts are connected.
FIG. 8E is a side view of the strip-shaped parts of the fourth embodiment, wherein the connected strip-shaped parts of FIG. 8D are spread.
FIG. 8F is a perspective view of the strip-shaped parts of the fourth embodiment, wherein the lateral edges of the strip-shaped parts of FIG. 8E are connected to form a loop.
FIG. 9A depicts strip-shaped parts of an air mattress in accordance with a fifth embodiment of the invention.
FIG. 9B is a perspective view of the strip-shaped parts of the fifth embodiment, wherein the end edges and lateral edges of the strip-shaped parts of FIG. 9A are connected to form a loop.
FIG. 10A depicts strip-shaped parts of an air mattress in accordance with a sixth embodiment of the invention.
FIG. 10B is a perspective view of the strip-shaped parts of the sixth embodiment, wherein the end edges of the strip-shaped parts of FIG. 10A are connected to form a loop.
FIG. 10C is a perspective view of the strip-shaped parts of the sixth embodiment, wherein the lateral edges of the strip-shaped parts of FIG. 10B are connected.
FIG. 11A depicts a low-profile air mattress in accordance with a seventh embodiment of the invention.
FIG. 11B is a perspective view of the top wall of the air mattress of FIG. 11A, observed from the exterior of the air mattress.
FIG. 11C is a perspective view of the bottom wall of the air mattress of FIG. 11A, observed from the exterior of the air mattress.
FIG. 11D is a perspective view of the top wall of the air mattress of FIG. 11A, observed from the interior of the air mattress.
FIG. 11E is a perspective view of the bottom wall of the air mattress of FIG. 11A, observed from the interior of the air mattress.
FIG. 11F depicts a hook element used to hold the holes of the auxiliary portions of the air mattress of FIG. 11A.
FIG. 12 depicts an air lounger in accordance with an eighth embodiment of the invention.
FIGS. 13A-13C depict a method of producing an external wall of an inflatable product in accordance with a ninth embodiment of the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
FIGS. 5A and 5B show a method of forming an external wall of an inflatable product in accordance with a first embodiment of the invention. As shown in FIG. 5A, a sheet 211 is placed over another sheet 212 wherein the sheet 211 and the sheet 212 may be two independent pieces or may be two portions of a continuous piece. The sheet 211 and the sheet 212 are connected by fusion to form a fusion line 213 thereon, wherein the fusion line 213 is not straight. Optionally, a part of the sheets 211, 212 at a first side of the fusion line 213 can be removed. Another part of the sheets 211, 212 at a second side of the fusion line 213 is spread as shown in FIG. 5B, to form an external wall 21 of an inflatable product. Thus, the external wall 21 of the inflatable product has two parts 211′, 212′, and the edges of the parts 211′, 212′ are connected to each other. It is worth noting that the external wall 21 is a continuous piece when the sheets 211, 212 are two portions of a continuous piece and the part of the sheets 211, 212 at the first side of the fusion line 213 is not removed.
The fusion line 213 is formed in such a way that each of the edges of the parts 211′, 212′ has a concave portion and straight portions. The concave portions of the edges of the parts 211′, 212′ are connected to each other. The straight portions of the edges of the parts 211′, 212′ are also connected to each other. In the first embodiment, the concave portions connected to each other are used for replacing the conventional tensioning elements to prevent the external wall 211 from bulging after inflation of the inflatable product. Therefore, when the inflatable product is a high-profile air mattress, the external wall 211 of this embodiment can be a side wall without requiring an inclined tensioning element to control the shape thereof. When the inflatable product is a low-profile air mattress or an air lounger, the external wall 211 of this embodiment can be a top wall or a bottom wall without requiring an upright tensioning element to control the shape thereof.
In the first embodiment, the parts 211′, 212′ of the external wall 21 of the inflatable product are connected by fusion. This is only an exemplary embodiment for descriptions and the invention is not limited thereto. The parts 211′, 212′ of the external wall 21 of the inflatable product may be connected by adhesive. In the invention, therefore, different parts of the external wall of the inflatable product may be connected by fusion and/or adhesive to form a connecting line(s) thereon, which will not be repeatedly described hereinafter.
FIGS. 6A and 6B show a method of forming an external wall of an inflatable product in accordance with a second embodiment of the invention. As shown in FIG. 6A, a sheet 311 is placed over another sheet 312 wherein the sheet 311 and the sheet 312 may be two independent pieces or may be two portions of a continuous piece. The sheet 311 and the sheet 312 are connected by fusion to form a fusion line 313 thereon, wherein the fusion line 313 is not straight. Optionally, a part of the sheets 311, 312 at a first side of the fusion line 313 can be removed. Another part of the sheets 311, 312 at a second side of the fusion line 313 is spread as shown in FIG. 6B, to form an external wall 31 of an inflatable product. Thus, the external wall 31 of the inflatable product has two parts 311′, 312′, and the edges of the parts 311′, 312′ are connected to each other. It is worth noting that the external wall 31 is a continuous piece, when the sheets 311, 312 are two portions of a continuous piece and the part of the sheets 311, 312 at the first side of the fusion line 313 is not removed.
The fusion line 313 is formed in such a way that each of the edges has a convex portion and straight portions. The convex portions of the edges are connected to each other. the straight portions are also connected to each other. In the second embodiment, the convex portions connected to each other are used for replacing the conventional elements to prevent the external wall 311 from being depressed after inflation of the inflatable product. Therefore, when the inflatable product is a high-profile air mattress, the external wall 311 of this embodiment can be a corner wall of the air mattress without requiring an inclined tensioning element to control the shape thereof.
FIGS. 7A and 7B show a method of forming an external wall of an inflatable product in accordance with a third embodiment of the invention. As shown in FIG. 7A, a sheet 411 is placed over another sheet 412 wherein the sheet 411 and the sheet 412 may be two independent pieces or may be two portions of a continuous piece. The sheet 411 and the sheet 412 are connected by fusion to form a fusion line 413 thereon, wherein the fusion line 413 is not straight. Optionally, a part of the sheets 411, 412 at a side of the fusion line 413 can be removed. Another part of the sheets 411, 412 at another side of the fusion line 413 is spread as shown in FIG. 7B, to form an external wall 41 of an inflatable product. Thus, the external wall 41 of the inflatable product has two parts 411′, 412′, and the edges of the parts 411′, 412′ are connected to each other. It is worth noting that the external wall 41 is a continuous piece, when the sheets 411, 412 are two portions of a continuous piece and the part of the sheets 411, 412 at the first of the fusion line 413 is not removed.
The fusion line 413 is formed in such a way that each of the edges has at least one concave portion and at least one convex portion, wherein the concave portions of the edges are connected to each other, and the convex portions of the edges are connected to each other. After inflation of the inflatable product, the concave portions connected to each other can prevent the external wall 411 from bulging, and the convex portions connected to each other can prevent the external wall 411 from being depressed.
It is understood that in the above embodiments all portions of the edges along the fusion line, whether convex, concave, straight, or other, are connected to each other. The concave portions connected to each other can prevent the external wall from bulging, and the convex portions connected to each other can prevent the external wall from being depressed.
Referring to FIG. 8A, a high-profile air mattress 51 in accordance with a fourth embodiment of the invention includes a top wall 511, a bottom wall 512, side walls 513 and corner walls 516 connected to each other to form the external walls of the air mattress 51. Further referring to FIG. 8B, a plurality of upright tensioning elements 514 are disposed in the air mattress 51 for connecting the top wall 511 and the bottom wall 512 and limiting stretch of the top wall 511 and the bottom wall 512 after inflation of the air mattress 51. The air mattress 51 of this embodiment includes no conventional inclined tensioning elements but at least two strip-shaped parts 517, 518 to control the shape of the side walls 513 and the corner walls 516, as described in detail below.
The side walls 513 and the corner walls 516 of the air mattress 51 of FIG. 8A are formed by connecting the strip-shaped parts 517, 518 of FIG. 8B. Referring to FIG. 8C, the strip-shaped part 517 includes two lateral edges 5176, 5178 and two end edges 5177, 5179. The lateral edge 5176 of the strip-shaped part 517 includes convex portions 5171 and concave portions 5172 which are alternately arranged. The lateral edge 5178 of the strip-shaped part 517 includes convex portions 5174 and concave portions 5173 which are alternately arranged. Similarly, the strip-shaped part 518 includes two lateral edges 5186, 5188 and two end edges 5187, 5189. The lateral edge 5186 of the strip-shaped part 518 includes convex portions 5181 and concave portions 5182 which are alternately arranged. The lateral edge 5188 of the strip-shaped part 518 includes convex portions 5184 and concave portions 5183 which are alternately arranged. The strip-shaped parts 517, 518 are disposed in a symmetrical arrangement with the convex portions 5171, 5181 connected to each other and the concave portions 5172, 5182 connected to each other. As shown in FIG. 8D, the connected strip-shaped parts 517, 518 are spread as indicated by arrows D. The spread strip-shaped parts 517, 518 are shown in FIG. 8E. Then, the end edges 5177, 5187 and the end edge 5179, 5189 of the strip-shaped parts 517, 518 are connected to form a loop, as shown in FIG. 8F.
The convex portions 5171 and the convex portions 5181 are connected to form the corner walls 516 of the air mattress 51. As described above, such structure can prevent the air mattress 51 from being depressed. That is, the corner walls 516 are not depressed after inflation of the air mattress 51. The concave portions 5172 and the concave portion 5182 are connected to form the side walls 513 of the air mattress 51. Also as described above, such structure can prevent the air mattress 51 from bulging. That is, the side walls 513 are not bulged after inflation of the air mattress 51.
The lateral edge 5178 of the strip-shaped part 517 is connected to the top wall 511 and the lateral edge 5188 of the strip-shaped part 518 is connected to the bottom wall 512, thereby forming the air mattress 51. Specifically, the lateral edge 5178 of the strip-shaped part 517, including convex portions 5174 and concave portions 5173, is connected to the lateral edge of the top wall 511 that is straight. Similarly, the lateral edge 5188 of the strip-shaped part 518, including convex portions 5184 and concave portions 5183, is connected to the lateral edge of the bottom wall 512 that is straight. Therefore, the air mattress 51 has reduced material at the borders where the concave portions 5173 and the top wall 511 are connected, thereby constraining the top wall 511 from warping at its corners. Besides, the air mattress 51 has increased material at the corner walls 516 where the convex portions 5171 and the convex portions 5181 are connected. Such arrangement allows the corner walls 516 to be stretched more during inflation of the air mattress 51, for reducing the internal air pressure applied to the corners of the top wall 511 so as to further constrain the top wall 511 from warping at its corners. Similarly, the air mattress 51 has reduced material at the borders where the concave portions 5183 and the bottom wall 512 are connected, thereby constraining the bottom wall 512 from warping at its corners. Besides, the air mattress 51 has increased material at the corner walls 516 where the convex portions 5171 and the convex portions 5181 are connected. Such arrangement allows the corner walls 516 to be stretched more during inflation of the air mattress 51, for reducing the internal air pressure applied to the corners of the bottom wall 512 so as to further constrain the bottom wall 512 from warping at its corners.
It is understood that the strip-shaped part 517 may be a continuous piece or may be formed by connecting a plurality of pieces. Similarly, the strip-shaped part 518 may be a continuous piece or may be formed by connecting a plurality of pieces. The shape of the strip-shaped parts of the fourth embodiment can be modified as below.
FIG. 9A depicts strip-shaped parts of an air mattress in accordance with a fifth embodiment of the invention. Part of the fifth embodiment is same as that of the fourth embodiment and therefore the descriptions thereof are omitted. In the fifth embodiment, the strip-shaped part 617 includes two lateral edges 6176, 6178. The lateral edge 6176 of the strip-shaped part 617 includes convex portions 6171 and straight portions 6172 which are alternately arranged. The lateral edge 6178 of the strip-shaped part 617 includes concave portions 6173 and straight portions 6174 which are alternately arranged. Similarly, the strip-shaped part 618 includes two lateral edges 6186, 6188. The lateral edge 6186 of the strip-shaped part 618 includes convex portions 6181 and straight portions 6182 which are alternately arranged. The lateral edge 6188 of the strip-shaped part 618 includes concave portions 6183 and straight portions 6184 which are alternately arranged. The strip-shaped parts 617, 618 are disposed in a symmetrical arrangement with the convex portions 6171, 6181 connected to each other and the straight portions 6172, 6182 connected to each other. Then, the connected strip-shaped parts 617, 618 are spread, and the end edges of the strip-shaped parts 617, 618 are connected to form a loop, as shown in FIG. 9B.
The convex portions 6171 and the convex portions 6181 are connected to form the corner walls of the air mattress. As described above, such structure can prevent the air mattress from being depressed. That is, the corner walls of the air mattress are not depressed after inflation of the air mattress. Also as described above, such structure can constrain the top wall and the bottom wall of the air mattress from warping at their corners.
The concave portions 6173 of the strip-shaped part 617 are connected to the lateral edges of the top wall that are straight. Similarly, the concave portions 6183 of the strip-shaped part 618 are connected to the lateral edges of the bottom wall that are straight. As described above, such structure can constrain the top wall and the bottom wall of the air mattress from warping at their corners.
FIG. 10A depicts a sixth embodiment of the invention, wherein a plurality of strip-shaped parts 7173 and strip-shaped parts 7183 are arranged in two rows 717, 718. Each of the strip-shaped parts 7173 has lateral edges and end edges, wherein the lateral edges are straight and the end edges are convex. Each of the strip-shaped parts 7183 has lateral edges and end edges, wherein the lateral edges are straight and the end edges are convex. The end edges of the strip-shaped parts 7173 are connected to each other to form a loop as shown in FIG. 10B. Similarly, the end edges of the strip-shaped parts 7183 are connected to each other to form another loop. The lateral edges of the strip-shaped parts 7173 are connected to the corresponding lateral edges of the strip-shaped parts 7183, as shown in FIG. 10C, thereby forming the side walls and corner walls of the air mattress. In the sixth embodiment, the corner walls of the air mattress are formed by connecting the convex end edges of the strip-shaped parts 7173 and the strip-shaped parts 7183. Therefore, the air mattress of the sixth embodiment has increased material at the corner walls. As described above, such structural arrangement can prevent depression of the corner walls and constrain the top wall and the bottom wall from warping at their corners.
FIG. 11A depicts a low-profile air mattress 81 in accordance with a seventh embodiment of the invention, wherein the air mattress 81 includes a top wall 811, a bottom wall 812, side walls 813 and corner walls 816 connected to each other. FIG. 11B is a perspective view of the top wall 811 observed from the exterior of the air mattress, wherein the top wall 811 includes a plurality of strip-shaped parts 817 connected to each other. Specifically, the strip-shaped parts 817 has lateral edges connected to each other to form the top wall 811, wherein each lateral edges have at least one concave portion to prevent the top wall 811 from bulging after inflation of the air mattress 81. FIG. 11C is a perspective top view of the bottom wall 812 observed from the exterior of the air mattress, wherein the bottom wall 812 includes a plurality of strip-shaped parts 818 connected to each other. Specifically, the strip-shaped parts 818 has lateral edges connected to each other to form the bottom wall 812, wherein each lateral edges have at least one concave portion to prevent the bottom wall 812 from bulging after inflation of the air mattress 81.
In the seventh embodiment, the air mattress 81 has no conventional inclined tensioning elements, but the concave portions of the strip-shaped parts are connected to each other so as to limit the stretch of the top wall 811 and the bottom wall 812. It is worth noting that connecting elements (e.g. hook elements) can be additionally used as auxiliary structure to limit the stretch of the top wall 811 and the bottom wall 812, when necessary.
FIG. 11D is a perspective view of the top wall 811 observed from the interior of the air mattress 81, wherein a plurality of auxiliary portions 814 are provided next to the fusion lines where the strip-shaped parts 817 are connected. FIG. 11E is a perspective view of the bottom wall 812 observed from the interior of the air mattress 81, wherein a plurality of auxiliary portions 815 are provided next to the fusion lines where the strip-shaped parts 818 are connected. The auxiliary portions 814, 815 are provided with holes. In the seventh embodiment, a hook element 810 as shown in FIG. 11F can penetrate through the holes, thereby limiting the stretch of the top wall 811 and the bottom wall 812.
FIG. 12 depicts an air lounger 91 in accordance with an eighth embodiment of the invention, wherein the top wall 911 and the bottom wall 912 are composed of a plurality of strip-shaped parts. The strip-shaped parts have concave portions laterally connected to each other to limit the stretch of the top wall 811 and the bottom wall 812.
FIGS. 13A-13C depict a method of producing an external wall of an inflatable product in accordance with a ninth embodiment of the invention. As shown in FIG. 13A, a plastic sheet (generally made of Polyvinyl Chloride, PVC) is drawn out from a roll 1004 and is placed between a mold support 1001 and a pressing element 1002. The pressing element 1002 is lowered to bend the sheet 1000 into a plurality of curved parts as shown in FIG. 13B. The molds 1003 at both sides of the curved parts are moved towards each other to connect different portions of each curved part by fusion, thereby forming fusions lines thereon. At this time, the parts higher than the fusion lines are spreadable while the parts lower than fusion lines are non-spreadable. Then, the molds 1003 are moved away, the pressing element 1002 is raised, and the fused sheet 1000 is moved out of the mold support 1001 and is spread out as shown in FIG. 13C, to obtain an external wall of an inflatable product of the above embodiments.
The fusion lines in this embodiment are not straight, for example, are shaped as shown in FIGS. 5A-5B, 6A-6B or 7A-7B, or shaped like the lateral edges of the strip-shaped parts of FIG. 8A, FIG. 8B or FIG. 8C. It is worth noting that the fusion lines are in parallel although they are not straight.
In the ninth embodiment, different portions of the sheet can be simultaneously fused and the fused sheet can be spread out to form an external wall of an inflatable product. By this method, an external wall of an inflatable product can be produced efficiently, especially when an external wall of an inflatable product is composed of many parts. The method is also suitable for producing an external wall that is composed of several parts. To achieve this, the sheet 1000 can be cut into sections, each of which is composed of several parts. For example, the sheet 1000 is cut at the locations indicated by the arrows of FIG. 13C, to obtain a section composed of two parts wherein the two parts have one fusion line thereon.
While the invention has been described by way of example and in terms of preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited thereto. To the contrary, it is intended to cover various modifications and similar arrangements (as would be apparent to those skilled in the art). Therefore, the scope of the appended claims should be accorded the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and similar arrangements.
Patent Application
20250072630
