Reinforcement structure for pull ring of inflatable product made of airtight fabric

Abstract

A reinforcement structure for pull ring of an inflatable product made of airtight fabric, including an inflatable main body made of airtight fabric made from a woven texture with resin coating. The inflatable main body is formed with at least one slit. The reinforcement structure further includes at least one connecting member having a first, a second, a third and a fourth section which are integrally connected with each other. A first folding line is formed between the first and second sections. A second folding line is formed between the third and fourth sections. The second and third sections are side by side fitted through the slit from an inner face of the main body to an outer face thereof. The first section and the fourth section are respectively reversely folded about the first folding line and the second folding line to extend in reverse directions. The first and fourth sections are adhered to the inner face of the main body around the slit. At least one substrate is bonded with the first and fourth sections opposite to the inner face of the main body. The substrate, the connecting member and the inflatable main body are airtight bonded with each other to provide a tensile strength.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is related to a reinforcement structure for pull ring of an inflatable product made of airtight fabric, and more particularly to a reinforcement structure for enhancing tensile strength of a connecting member of an inflatable product and keeping good airtight performance.

A pull ring structure is often applied to an inflatable product such as Hovercraft, inflatable boat, rescue tube, inflatable mattress, jump mattress, etc. FIG. 8 shows a conventional pull ring structure having a main body 6 and a connecting member 7 adhered to the main body 6. The connecting member 7 is made of plastics by injection molding. The connecting member 7 has a projecting section 71 formed with a through hole 711, whereby the projecting section 71 is looped with a ring body 72. By means of the ring body 72, a user can fix or move the main body 6.

The connecting member 7 is adhered to outer side of the main body 6 with resin. When the main body 6 is inflated, the pressure P of the internal air will expand the main body 6 and a tension T₂ is applied to the main body 6. In the case that a pulling force F3 is exerted onto the ring body 72, the pulling force F3 will be transmitted to the connecting member 7. The tension T₂ leads to a tensile stress K₂ between the connecting member 7 and the main body 6. K₂ is transversely equal to T₂, while F3 is a normal force. Accordingly, the adhered section must provide a vertical downward tensile stress Q. Therefore, the adhered section must totally bear the normal force. As a result, the tensile stress Q often exceeds the ultimate force and the connecting member 7 tends to be torn apart from the main body 6. As shown in FIG. 9, the connecting member 7 is adhered to outer side of the main body 6 simply with the resin. Therefore, when a pulling force F₃ is applied to the connecting member 7, the connecting member 7 is easy to be torn apart from the main body 6.

As shown in FIGS. 10 to 12, in the case that the connecting member 7 is applied to a jump mattress main body 8, the connecting member 7 is folded to form a bight section 73. The bight section 73 defines a hole 731 through which the connecting member 7 is looped with a ring body 72. When the main body 8 is inflated, the pressure A of the internal gas will expand the main body 8. In addition, the airtight fabric of the main body 8 will provide a tensile stress Q₁. and the connecting member 7 will provide a back pulling force R. When a user is rebounded from the main body 8, the ring body 72 will bear a normal back pulling force R. At this time, the bight section 73 of the connecting member 7 will bear the resultant force F₄. The oblique F₄ is composed of the horizontal component force F₄₁, and vertical component force F₄₂. The bight section 73 can bear F₄₂, while the horizontal component force F₄₁ is offset by the adhesive force of the connecting section 74 of the connecting member 7. When an excessively great instantaneous force is exerted onto the connecting member 7, the connecting member 7 is often damaged and detached from the main body 8. Therefore, the insufficient adhesive force between the connecting member 7 and the main body 8 often leads to detachment of the connecting member 7 from the main body 8.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is therefore a primary object of the present invention to provide a reinforcement structure for pull ring of an inflatable product made of airtight fabric. The reinforcement structure includes an inflatable main body made of airtight fabric. The inflatable main body is formed with at least one slit through which a connecting member is fitted. One side of the connecting member is adhered to the main body. A substrate is bonded with the other side of the connecting member. The substrate, the connecting member and the inflatable main body are airtight bonded with each other. When the connecting member is pulled, the substrate, the connecting member and the inflatable main body together provide a better tensile strength.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide the above reinforcement structure for pull ring of an inflatable product made of airtight fabric, in which the main body and the connecting member are both made of airtight fabric made from woven textures with resin coating. The woven textures in the airtight fabric longitudinally and transversely intersect each other, whereby the woven textures of the main body and the connecting member can together bear the pulling force. Accordingly, the force loaded on unit area of the texture is evener without concentration of stress. Therefore, the connecting member has better tensile strength and antitear capability.

According to the above objects, the reinforcement structure for pull ring of an inflatable product made of airtight fabric of the present invention includes:

an inflatable main body made of airtight fabric made from a woven texture with resin coating, the inflatable main body being formed with at least one slit;

at least one connecting member also made of the airtight fabric made from the woven texture with resin coating, the connecting member having a first section, a second section, a third section and a fourth section, the first section being integrally connected with the second section along a first folding line, the third section being also integrally connected with the fourth section along a second folding line, the second section and the third section being side by side fifted through the slit from an inner face of the main body to an outer face thereof, the first section and the fourth section being respectively reversely folded about the first folding line and the second folding line to extend in reverse directions, the first and fourth sections being adhered to the inner face of the main body around the slit; and

at least one substrate bonded with the first and fourth sections of the connecting member opposite to the inner face of the main body to which the first and fourth sections are adhered, the substrate, the connecting member and the inflatable main body being airtight bonded with each other, whereby when the second and third sections of the connecting member are pulled, the main body and the substrate together provide a tensile strength.

The present invention can be best understood through the following description and accompanying drawings wherein:

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of the present invention, which is applied to a water sled;

FIG. 2 is a perspective exploded view of the first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the first embodiment of the present invention, showing the relationship between the folded connecting member, the main body and the substrate;

FIG. 3A is a perspective assembled view of the first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of the first embodiment of the present invention, showing the forced state of the connecting member when the main body is inflated;

FIG. 5 is a partially sectional view of the first embodiment of the present invention, showing the forced state of the connecting member when the pull ring is pulled;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view of a second embodiment of the present invention, which is applied to a jump mattress;

FIG. 7 is a sectional view of the second embodiment of the present invention, showing the forced state of the connecting member;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a conventional pull ring of an inflatable product made of airtight fabric;

FIG. 9 is a view showing the forced state of the conventional pull ring of the inflatable product made of airtight fabric;

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of another conventional pull ring of an inflatable jump mattress;

FIG. 11 is a sectional view showing the forced state of the conventional pull ring of the inflatable jump mattress; and

FIG. 12 is an enlarged view showing the forced state of the conventional pull ring of the inflatable jump mattress.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Please refer to FIGS. 1 and 2. According to a first embodiment of the present invention, the reinforcement structure is applied to a water sled. The water sled has an inflatable main body 1 made of airtight fabric. The airtight fabric is made from a woven texture 14 with resin coating. The inflatable main body 1 defines an internal close inflatable space. The inflatable main body 1 has an inner face 12 and an outer face 13. In addition, a front end of the inflatable main body 1 is formed with at least one slit 11.

The reinforcement structure includes at least one connecting member 2 also made of the airtight fabric. The connecting member 2 integrally has a first section 21, a second section 22, a third section 23 and a fourth section 24. The first section 21 is connected with the second section 22 along a first folding line 211. The third section 23 is connected with the fourth section 24 along a second folding line 231. A third folding line 221 formed between the second section 22 and the third section 23. The second section 22 and the third section 23 are looped with a pull ring 27. The second section 23 and the third section 23 are folded about the third folding line 221 toward each other and then side by side fitted through the slit 11 from inner face 12 of the main body 1 to outer face 13. The first section 21 and the fourth section 24 are respectively reversely folded about the first folding line 221 and the second folding line 231 to extend in reverse directions. The first and fourth sections 21 and 24 are adhered to inner face 12 of the main body 1 around the slit 11.

The reinforcement structure further includes at least one substrate 3 bonded with the first and fourth sections 21, 24 of the connecting member 2 opposite to the inner face 12 of the main body 1 to which the first and fourth sections 21, 24 are adhered. The inflatable main body 1, the connecting member 2 and the substrate 3 can be bonded with each other by means of high-frequency wave, thermal fusion or adhesion.

The substrate 3, the connecting member 2 and the inflatable main body 1 are airtight bonded with each other. When the second and third sections 22, 23 of the connecting member 2 are pulled, the main body 1 and the substrate 3 together provide a tensile strength.

When assembled, as shown in FIG. 3, the second and third sections 22, 23 of the connecting member 2 are folded toward each other about the third folding line 221. Thereafter, the second and third sections 22, 23 are looped with a pull ring 27. Then, the first section 21 and the fourth section 24 are respectively reversely folded about the first folding line 211 and the second folding line 231 to form an aspect as shown in FIG. 3A. Then, the bottom sides of the first and fourth sections 21, 24 are selectively adhered to the substrate 3 by means of high-frequency wave, thermal fusion or adhesion. Also, the other sides of the first and fourth sections 21, 24 distal from the substrate 3 are adhered to the inner face 12 of the main body 1 by means of high-frequency wave, thermal fusion or adhesion. Accordingly, the first and fourth sections 21, 24 of the connecting member 2 are sandwiched between the main body 1 and the substrate 3. The second and third sections 22, 23 are fitted through the slit 11 of the main body 1 to outward protrude from the outer face 13 of the main body 1 for fixing or tracking the inflatable main body 1.

When the main body 1 is inflated, the pressure A of the internal air will expand the main body 1 as shown in FIG. 4. At this time, a tension T is applied to the main body 1, whereby a leftward pulling force S₁ is applied to the first section 21 of the connecting member 2. At the same time, a rightward pulling force S₂ is applied to the fourth section 24 of the connecting member 2. The first and fourth sections 21, 24 are sandwiched between the main body 1 and the substrate 3 so that the connecting member 2 has better tensile strength. Therefore, when inflated, although the first and fourth sections 21, 24 bear the pulling forces S₁ and S₂, the connecting member 2 will not peel off from the main body 1.

Furthermore, when dragging the main body 1, as shown in FIG. 5, a pulling force F is applied to the pull ring 27. The pulling force F is transmitted to both the second and third sections 22, 23 of the connecting member 2, which together provide a resistance F₁. to offset the pulling force F. Therefore, the connecting member 2 will not be torn apart. The connecting member 2 is an integrated member so that the resistance F₁, can be decomposed into vertical component force F₁₁and horizontal component force F₁₂. The horizontal component force F₁₂ will be offset by the reaction force Q provided by the adhesion between the first and fourth sections 21, 24 and the main body 1. In addition, the main body 1 and the connecting member 2 are made of airtight fabric in which the woven textures longitudinally and transversely intersect each other for resisting against the pulling force F. Moreover, the first and fourth sections 21, 24 have sufficient length which is sandwiched between and adhered to the main body 1 and the substrate 3. Therefore, a reaction force equal to the horizontal component force F₁₂ is provided between the connecting member 2 and the main body 1 to resist against the tearing force resulting from the pulling force F. Accordingly, the connecting member 2 is able to bear the pulling force F without peeling off from the main body 1.

Moreover, the main body 1 and the connecting member 2 are made of airtight fabric made of woven textures with resin coating. The woven textures in the airtight fabric longitudinally and transversely intersect each other, whereby the woven textures of the main body 1 and the connecting member 2 can together bear the pulling force F, the vertical component force F₁₁ and horizontal component force F₁₂. Accordingly, the force loaded on unit area of the texture is evener without concentration of stress. The main body 1, the connecting member 2 and the substrate 3 of the present invention are such bonded with each other that the connecting member 2 has better tensile strength and antitear capability. Moreover, the connecting member 2 is tightly adhered to the substrate 3 to keep good airtight performance.

FIGS. 6 and 7 show a second embodiment of the present invention, which is applied to a jump mattress. The inflatable main body 1A has at least one slit 11A and a slit 111A corresponding to the slit 11A.

The connecting member 2A and the substrate 3A are disposed on outer face 13A of the inflatable main body 1A. The connecting member 2A has a second section 22A and a third section 23A extending through the corresponding slit 111A of the main body 1A out of the main body 1A. The second section 22A extends out of the corresponding slit 111A to form a fifth section 25A. A fourth folding line 251A is formed between the second section 22A and the fifth section 25A. The third section 23A extends out of the corresponding slit 111A to form a sixth section 26A. A fifth folding line 261A is formed between the third section 23A and the sixth section 26A. The fifth section 25A and the sixth section 26A are folded in reverse directions and bonded with the outer face 13A of the main body 1A by means of high-frequency wave, thermal fusion or adhesion. A second substrate 31A is bonded with outer sides of the fifth and sixth sections 25A, 26A of the connecting member 2A. The fifth and sixth sections 25A, 26A of the connecting member 2A are sandwiched between the main body 1A and the second substrate 31A. A first section 21A and a fourth section 24A of the connecting member 1A are sandwiched between the outer face 13A of the main body 1A and the substrate 3A distal from the fifth and sixth sections 25A and 26A.

When the main body 1A is inflated, the pressure A of the internal air will outward push the main body 1A. 4. At this time, the second and third sections 22A, 23A provide a back pulling force R to achieve a balance. When a user rebounds from the main body 1A, the gravitational acceleration will lead to a vertical downward force F₂₁. In the instant of rebounding, the air pressure A in the close space of the main body 1A will result in a restoring force F22 equal to but reverse to the vertical force F₂₁. The second section 22A and third section 23A of the connecting member 2A must bear the restoring force F₂₂. Also, the connecting member 2A will bear the outward pushing air pressure A to lead to a tensile stress F₂₃. The connecting member 2A is an integrally connected member so that the first, fourth, fifth and sixth sections 21A, 24A, 25A, 26A will all provide tensile stress F₂₃. The main body 1A and the connecting member 2A are made of airtight fabric made of woven textures with resin coating. The woven textures in the airtight fabric longitudinally and transversely intersect each other, whereby the woven textures of the main body 1A and the connecting member 2A can bear the restoring force F₂₂. The first, fourth, fifth and sixth sections 21A, 24A, 25A, 26A have sufficient length sandwiched between the main body 1A and the substrates 3A, 31A, whereby the second and third sections 22A, 23A have better antitear capability. Accordingly, the connecting member 2A is able to bear any action force applied to the main body 1A without peeling off from the main body 1A.

The above embodiments can be variously modified to be applied to inflatable minitype dome, inflatable boat, inflatable water rescue mattress, tent, etc.

The above embodiments are only used to illustrate the present invention, not intended to limit the scope thereof. Many modifications of the above embodiments can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

Claims

1. A reinforcement structure for pull ring of an inflatable product made of airtight fabric, comprising: an inflatable main body made of airtight fabric made from a woven texture with resin coating, the inflatable main body being formed with at least one slit; at least one connecting member also made of the airtight fabric made from the woven texture with resin coating, the connecting member having a first section, a second section, a third section and a fourth section, the first section being integrally connected with the second section along a first folding line, the third section being also integrally connected with the fourth section along a second folding line, the second section and the third section being side by side fitted through the slit from an inner face of the main body to an outer face thereof, the first section and the fourth section being respectively reversely folded about the first folding line and the second folding line to extend in reverse directions, the first and fourth sections being adhered to the inner face of the main body around the slit; and at least one substrate bonded with the first and fourth sections of the connecting member opposite to the inner face of the main body to which the first and fourth sections are adhered, the substrate, the connecting member and the inflatable main body being airtight bonded with each other, whereby when the second and third sections of the connecting member are pulled, the main body and the substrate together provide a tensile strength.

2. The reinforcement structure for pull ring of the inflatable product made of airtight fabric as claimed in claim 1, wherein the inflatable main body, the connecting member and the substrate are bonded with each other by means of high-frequency wave, thermal fusion or adhesion.

3. The reinforcement structure for pull ring of the inflatable product made of airtight fabric as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first, second, third and fourth sections of the connecting member are integrally connected with each other, a third folding line being formed between the second and third sections, whereby the second and third sections are folded toward each other about the third folding line.

4. The reinforcement structure for pull ring of the inflatable product made of airtight fabric as claimed in claim 1, wherein the inflatable main body is close structure defining an internal inflatable space, the inflatable main body having an inner face and an outer face.

5. The reinforcement structure for pull ring of the inflatable product made of airtight fabric as claimed in claim 4, wherein the inflatable main body further has at least one corresponding slit corresponding to the slit of the inflatable main body.

6. The reinforcement structure for pull ring of the inflatable product made of airtight fabric as claimed in claim 5, wherein the connecting member and the substrate are disposed on outer face of the inflatable main body, the connecting member having a second section and a third section extending through the corresponding slit of the main body out of the main body, the second section extending out of the corresponding slit to form a fifth section, the third section extending out of the corresponding slit to form a sixth section.

7. The reinforcement structure for pull ring of the inflatable product made of airtight fabric as claimed in claim 6, wherein a fourth folding line is formed between the second section and the fifth section of the connecting member, a fifth folding line being formed between the third section and the sixth section, the fifth section and the sixth section being folded in reverse directions and bonded with the outer face of the main body, a second substrate being bonded with outer sides of the fifth and sixth sections of the connecting member.