Patent ID: 6399015
Filing Date: 2002-06-04
Classification: A47C

Abstract:
A method of manufacturing an inflatable element for use as a support body of a piece of furniture or a part thereof, a mattress, or a cushion, said element having a thin wall of a soft, flexible polymeric material, formed by blow-moulding in an essentially closed form, wherein the method is carried out for production of a plate-like element, and during the blow-moulding process at least one portion of a wall on one of two largest opposing sides of the element is pressed inwardly by a pressing means to a position where the at least one portion of the wall is brought to permanently adhere to a portion of a wall of the other one of the two largest opposing sides of the element or another portion of the wall of the other one of the two largest opposing sides of the element which is pressed inwardly, and wherein the method is conducted in at least three steps, comprising:a first step wherein a starting material having a starting shape is expanded to a part of a volume which is limited by the form, a second step including closing of the form whereby said pressing means is pressed inwardly into wall portions of a partially completed element, and a third step wherein the element is finally expanded to a final shape, so as to create meeting portions of opposing walls, ensuring that in use of the element unwanted partial expansion is restricted.