Patent Publication Number: US-2021169231-A1

Title: Tensioning member for inflatable product, and inflatable product

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This U.S. patent application claims priority to and the benefit of Chinese patent application number CN201922180262.1, filed Dec. 9, 2019, the entire disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention generally relates to an inflatable product, and more specifically to an inflatable product that includes a tensioning member. 
       2 . Related Art 
     This section provides background information related to the present disclosure which is not necessarily prior art. 
     Inflatable products are popular consumer items, and may include, for example, inflatable beds, inflatable mattresses, inflatable sofas, inflatable pools, and inflatable toys, which are widely favored by consumers over their non-inflatable counterparts, at least because they are light weight, foldable, portable, comfortable, etc. These inflatable products commonly include a number of tensioning members to keep the shapes of the inflatable products, as desired by their users after inflation. 
     A major defect of existing tensioning members used in inflatable products is that the tensioning members may have a high cost and/or a low tensile strength. Consequently, there exists a need for an inflatable product with improved tensioning members. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     This section provides a general summary of the disclosure and should not be interpreted as a complete and comprehensive listing of all of the objects, aspects, features and advantages associated with the present disclosure. 
     According to one aspect of the present invention, an inflatable product is provided. The inflatable product includes a top sheet and a bottom sheet disposed opposite the top sheet, with the top sheet and the bottom sheet at least partially defining an inflatable chamber. The inflatable product also includes a tensioning member. The tensioning member includes a first belt having a first top extension, a first bottom extension, and a first base extending between the first top extension and the first bottom extension. The tensioning member also includes a second belt having a second top extension, a second bottom extension, and a second base extending between the second top extension and the second bottom extension. The first top extension of the first belt and the second top extension of the second belt are attached to the top sheet, and the first bottom extension of the first belt and the second bottom extension of the second belt are attached to the bottom sheet. The first base and second base each have two side edges with arcuate-shaped recesses. 
     According to another aspect of the present invention, an inflatable product is provided. The inflatable product includes a top sheet and a bottom sheet disposed opposite the top sheet, with the top sheet and the bottom sheet at least partially defining an inflatable chamber. The inflatable product also includes a tensioning member. The tensioning member includes a first belt having a first top extension, a first bottom extension, and a first base extending between the first top extension and the first bottom extension. The tensioning member also includes a second belt having a second top extension, a second bottom extension, and a second base extending between the second top extension and the second bottom extension. The first top extension of the first belt and the second top extension of the second belt are attached to the top sheet, and the first bottom extension of the first belt and the second bottom extension of the second belt are attached to the bottom sheet. The first belt and the second belt are symmetrically arranged with respect to each other to define a generally annular cross-section. 
     Further areas of applicability will become apparent from the description provided herein. The description and specific examples set forth in this summary are intended for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The drawings, as shown and described herein, are for illustrative purposes only of selected embodiments and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure. The inventive concepts associated with the present disclosure will be more readily understood by reference to the following description, in combination with the accompanying drawings wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a partial cutaway perspective view of an inflatable mattress including tensioning members, according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is an enlarged perspective view of a tensioning member of the inflatable mattress shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a partial cutaway perspective view of an inflatable mattress including tensioning members, according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 4  is an enlarged perspective view of the a tensioning member of the inflatable mattress shown in  FIG. 3 ; and 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view of a Tarpaulin material that may be used for the tensioning members in some embodiments of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The implementation and application of the embodiments will be discussed in detail below. However, it should be understood that the specific embodiments discussed only exemplarily describe the implementations and uses of the present invention, and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention. Throughout the description, the structural positions of various components, e.g., upper, lower, top, bottom, etc., are not absolute but relative descriptions. The orientation expressions are appropriate when the various components are arranged, as shown in the Figs., but should change accordingly when the positions of the various components in the Figs. change. 
     As used herein, “inflatable product” (or “inflatable body”) includes, but is not limited to, an inflatable bed, an inflatable mattress, an inflatable pool, an inflatable boat, an inflatable raft, an inflatable toy, and any other products that can be inflated. 
     It should be understood that the embodiments shown in the Figs. only show example shapes, dimensions, and arrangements of the inflatable product according to the present disclosure, which are merely illustrative but not restrictive. It should be appreciated that other shapes, dimensions, and arrangements may be employed without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. It should be noted that the accompanying drawings are not only intended to explain and illustrate the present invention, but also contribute to the definition of the present invention if necessary. Furthermore, in the description, technical terms with directional expressions, such as, for example, “top,” “bottom,” “top sheet,” and “bottom sheet,” etc. are defined according to the directions shown in the accompanying drawings, and these technical terms are merely descriptive and not limiting. 
     Example embodiments will now be described more fully with reference to the accompanying drawings. In general, the subject embodiments are directed to an inflatable product. In the description and the accompanying drawings, the inflatable product described and shown is an inflatable mattress. Of course, the type of inflatable product is not limiting. The present invention can cover any inflatable products, such as and without limitation, inflatable sofas, inflatable pools, and inflatable toys. 
       FIG. 1  shows a partial cutaway perspective view of an inflatable mattress which includes tensioning members  1   a,  according to a first embodiment of the present disclosure, and  FIG. 2  is an enlarged perspective view of the tensioning member  1   a  of the inflatable mattress in  FIG. 1 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 1 , the inflatable mattress comprises a top sheet  2 , a bottom sheet  3  and a lateral sheet  4 . An outer edge of the top sheet  2  is coupled to a top edge of the lateral sheet  4 , and an outer edge of the bottom sheet  3  is coupled to a bottom edge of the lateral sheet  4 , such that an inflatable body delimiting an air chamber is formed. In other words, the air chamber is defined between the top sheet  2  and the bottom sheet  3  and is bounded by the lateral sheet  4 . According to an embodiment of the present invention, the top sheet  2  and the bottom sheet  3  may be coupled to the lateral sheet  4  by various methods such as but not limited to high-frequency welding. However, other connection methods, including without limitation, adhesives and/or fasteners may be used. The top sheet  2 , the bottom sheet  3 , and/or the lateral sheet  4  may be made of a PVC material or a Tarpaulin material, including a net sandwiched between solid two sheets, as shown in  FIG. 5 . 
     The inflatable mattress also includes a plurality of tensioning members  1   a  within the inflatable body, and these tensioning members  1   a  are connected to the top sheet  2  and the bottom sheet  3  to tension and keep a desired shape of the inflatable body. In some embodiments, these tensioning members  1   a  are arranged inside the inflatable body in a rectangular array, as shown. 
     As shown in  FIG. 2 , the tensioning member  1   a  includes a first belt  11  and a second belt  12 , with each of the first belt  11  and the second belt  12  extending between the top sheet  2  and the bottom sheet  3  for providing a connection therebetween. The first belt  11  and the second belt  12  are symmetrically arranged with respect to each other to form an annular structure. More specifically, the first belt  11  and the second belt  12  are symmetrically arranged to define a generally annular cross-section. Such a generally annular cross-section may include any closed-loop shape, such as a box shape, which may include one or more sides that bulge outwardly or inwardly. More specifically and as shown in  FIG. 2 , the generally annular cross-section of the first belt  11  and the second belt  12  may take the form of a quadrilateral-shaped cross-section. It should be appreciated that these are merely examples, and the first belt  11  and the second belt  12  may together to define any generally annular cross-sectional shape. 
     The first belt  11  includes a first base  111  that extends between a first top extension  112  and a first bottom extension  113 . The first top extension  112  extends parallel and adjacent to the top sheet  2  and is joined thereto. Likewise, the first bottom extension  113  extends parallel and adjacent to the bottom sheet  3  and is joined thereto. The first base  111  is a generally rectangular sheet. Each of the first top extension  112  and the first bottom extension  113  extends from a corresponding edge of the first base  111  in a common direction. The second belt  12  includes a second base  121  that that extends between a second top extension  122  and a second bottom extension  123 . The second top extension  122  extends parallel and adjacent to the top sheet  2  and is joined thereto. Likewise, the second bottom extension  123  extends parallel and adjacent to the bottom sheet  3  and is joined thereto. The second base  121  is a generally rectangular sheet. Each of the second top extension  122  and the second bottom extension  123  extends from a corresponding edge of the second base  121  in a common direction. 
     Accordingly, the first base  111  and the second base  121  extend substantially vertically between the top sheet  2  and the bottom sheet  3 . The first top extension  112  and the second top extension  122  extend toward each other to jointly form a top connection portion of the tensioning member  1   a  for connection to the top sheet  2 . In some embodiments, the top connection portion is fixed to the top sheet  2  by high-frequency welding. For example, as shown in Fig. 1  and  FIG. 2 , the first top extension  112  of the first belt  11  is welded to the top sheet  2  along a first top seam  116 . The second top extension  122  of the second belt  12  is welded to the top sheet  2  along a second top seam  126 . The first top extension  112  of the first belt  11  is welded to the second top extension  122  of the second belt  12  along a third top seam  120 . The first top seam  116  is spaced apart from the second top seam  126  to define two gaps, with one of the gaps between corresponding ends of the first top seam  116  and the second top seam  126 . The third top seam  120  extends through each of the two gaps between the first top seam  116  and the second top seam  126 . The first top seam  116  and the second top seam  126  are each arch-shaped, and together form a generally circular contour, as illustrated. The contour may be visible from outside of the inflatable mattress. Of course, the shapes of the first top seam  116  and the second top seam  126  are not limiting and can be varied according to the appearance requirements of the inflatable mattress. 
     Likewise, the first bottom extension  113  and the second bottom extension  123  extend toward each other to jointly form a bottom connection portion of the tensioning member  1   a  for connection to the bottom sheet  3 . In some embodiments, the bottom connection portion is fixed to the bottom sheet  3  by high-frequency welding. For example, as shown in  FIG. 2 , the first bottom extension  113  is welded to the bottom sheet  3  along a first bottom seam  117 . The second bottom extension  123  is welded to the bottom sheet  3  along a second bottom seam  127 . The first bottom seam  117  and the second bottom seam  127  jointly form a generally circular contour, as illustrated. The contour may be visible from outside of the inflatable mattress. Of course, the shapes of the first bottom seam  117  and the second bottom seam  127  are not limiting and can be varied according to the appearance requirements of the inflatable mattress. 
     Further, as shown in  FIG. 2 , the first base  111  and the second base  121  each have two side edges extending between a respective top connection portion and a respective bottom connection portion, with the two side edges each defining an arcuate-shaped recess  114 ,  124 . In embodiments in which the first base  111  and the second base  121  have a generally rectangular shape, the “side edges” may extend substantially perpendicular to the top sheet  2  and the bottom sheet  3 . In some embodiments, the tensioning member  1   a  includes a pair of arcuate-shaped recesses  114 ,  124 , with at least one of the two side edges of each of the first base  111  and the second base  112  defining a corresponding one of the pair of arcuate-shaped recesses  114 ,  124 . In some embodiments, and as shown in  FIG. 2 , the tensioning member  1   a  includes four arcuate-shaped recesses  114 ,  124 , with each of the two side edges of each of the first base  111  and the second base  112  defining a corresponding one of the four arcuate-shaped recesses  114 ,  124 . Compared with linear side edges, these arcuate-shaped recesses  114 ,  124  can reduce the amount of material used to construct the tensioning member  1   a.  Furthermore, these arcuate-shaped recesses  114 ,  124  may also improve the tensile strength of the tensioning member  1   a,  making the tensioning member  1   a  less prone to breakage. 
     The tensioning member  1   a  can be made of the same material as the top sheet  2 , the bottom sheet  3  and/or the lateral sheet  4 . That is to say, the tensioning member  1   a  may be made of a PVC material and/or a Tarpaulin material, as shown in  FIG. 5 . 
     The first top extension  112  and the second top extension  122  may be first connected to each other, for example by welding, such as by high-frequency welding, to form an integrated top connection portion. The top connection portion may then be connected to the top sheet  2 , and the first bottom extension  113  and the second bottom extension  123  may be connected to the bottom sheet  3 , thus providing a complete tensioning member structure. Similarly, the first bottom extension  113  and the second bottom extension  123  may also be connected to each other, for example by high-frequency welding, to form an integrated bottom connection portion. The bottom connection portion may be connected to the bottom sheet  3 .The first top extension  112  and the second top extension  122  may be connected to the top sheet  2 , thus providing a complete tensioning member structure. Of course, the first top extension  112  and the second top extension  122  may also be directly connected to the top sheet  2 , and the first bottom extension  113  and the second bottom extension  123  may be connected to the bottom sheet  3  without first directly connecting the first belt  11  and the second belt  12 . 
     According to some embodiments, the first bottom extension  113  of the first belt  11  and the second bottom extension  123  of the second belt  12  are integrally formed from a single contiguous piece of material. For example, the tensioning member  1   a  may be made from a single contiguous piece of material, which is symmetrically bent to form the first belt  11  and the second belt  12  which are formed integrally with each other. 
     According to some embodiments, and as shown in  FIGS. 1-2 , the inflatable mattress includes a plurality of tensioning members  1   a,  each having an axial length along an axis A that extends orthogonally through a center of the quadrilateral-shaped cross-section, with the axial length being less than a height of the tensioning member  1   a  between the top sheet  2  and the bottom sheet  3 . 
     According to some embodiments, and as shown in  FIGS. 1-2 , the inflatable mattress includes a plurality of tensioning members  1   a  arranged in a grid pattern. The grid pattern may include a first plurality of tensioning members that are each spaced apart from one another along the axis A. The grid pattern may also include a second plurality of tensioning members  1   a  that are each spaced apart from one another along a line that extends orthogonally with respect to the axis A. This grid pattern may take the form of rows and columns of a rectangular array, as shown in  FIGS. 1 and 3 . 
       FIG. 3  shows a partial cutaway perspective view of a further inflatable mattress which includes tensioning members  1   b,  according to a second embodiment of the present disclosure, and  FIG. 4  is an enlarged perspective view of the tensioning member  1   b  of the inflatable mattress in  FIG. 3 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 3  and  FIG. 4 , the tensioning member  1   b,  according to the second embodiment of the present disclosure, has a similar configuration to the tensioning member  1   a,  according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure, except that the first base  111  defines a first hole  115  therethrough, and the second base  121  defines a second hole  125  therethrough. Due to the provision of the first arcuate-shaped recesses  114  and the second arcuate-shaped recesses  124  and the selection of material, the tensile strength of the tensioning member  1   b  can be ensured. Moreover, the provision of the first hole  115  and the second hole  125  further reduces the amount of material used to make the tensioning member  1   b,  and the removed material may be recycled. The first hole  115  and/or the second hole  125  may have a circular shape or an oval shape capable of ensuring a high tensile strength. 
     Furthermore, as shown in  FIG. 4 , the first bottom extension  113  is formed integrally with the second bottom extension  123 . In fact, compared with the tensioning member  1   a  with two separately formed tensile belt halves in  FIG. 2 , the tensioning member  1   b  made from a single sheet is symmetrically bent to form the first belt  11  and the second belt  12  which are formed integrally with each other, and the first top extension  112  and the second top extension  122  are formed at two adjacent regions of the single sheet. For the tensioning member  1   b,  the bottom connection portion (i.e., the first bottom extension  113  and the second bottom extension  123  which are integrally formed) may be connected to the bottom sheet  3 , and the first top extension  112  and the second top extension  122  are connected to the top sheet  2 , such that a complete tensioning member structure is obtained. 
     The technical content and technical features of the present disclosure are disclosed above, but it could be understood that those skilled in the art may make variations and improvements to the concepts disclosed above under the inventive concepts of the present invention, and all such variations and improvements fall into the scope of the present invention. The scope of the present invention shall be defined by the claims. 
     Although multiple embodiments have been described herein, various modifications may be made to these embodiments without departing from the spirit of the invention, and all such modifications still belong within the concepts of the present invention and fall within the scope of the claims of the present invention. The scope of protection is only limited by the scope of the accompanying claims. 
     The disclosed systems and methods of operation are well adapted to attain the ends and advantages mentioned, as well as those that are inherent therein. The particular implementations disclosed above are illustrative only, as the teachings of the present disclosure may be modified and practiced in different but equivalent manners apparent to those skilled in the art having the benefit of the teachings herein. Furthermore, no limitations are intended by the details of construction or design herein shown, other than as described in the claims below. It is therefore evident that the particular illustrative implementations disclosed above may be altered, combined, or modified and all such variations are considered within the scope of the present disclosure. The systems and methods of operation illustratively disclosed herein may suitably be practiced in the absence of any element that is not specifically disclosed herein and/or any optional element disclosed herein. The terms in the claims have their plain, ordinary meaning unless otherwise explicitly and clearly defined in the specification. Moreover, the indefinite articles “a” or “an,” as used in the claims, are defined herein to mean one or more than one of the element that it introduces. If there is any conflict in the usages of a word or term in this specification and one or more patents or other documents that may be incorporated herein by reference, the definitions that are consistent with this specification should be adopted. 
     As used herein, the phrase “at least one of” preceding a series of items, with the terms “and” or “or” to separate any of the items, modifies the list as a whole, rather than each article of the list (i.e., each item). The phrase “at least one of” includes at least one of any one of the items, and/or at least one of any combination of the items, and/or at least one of each of the items. By way of example, the phrases “at least one of A, B, and C” or “at least one of A, B, or C” may each refer to only A, only B, or only C. Claim recitations of “first” or “second” are not necessarily limited to usage in the specification unless otherwise supported within the claim terminology. The various features described in reference to specific embodiments can be arranged with other embodiments without departing from the subject disclosure.