Patent ID: 8572786

Claim:
A method for manufacturing an inflatable article, comprising the steps of: (a) providing a first polymer film having an inner side and an outer side; (b) applying a curable release coating to said inner side of said first polymer film in a pattern that corresponds to the configuration of an inflatable compartment of an inflatable bladder; (c) curing said release coating to said inner side of said first polymer film by the application of ultra violet light; (d) providing a second polymer film having an inner side and an outer side with said first polymer film to form a layered element, such that said release coating is disposed between said inner side of said first polymer film and said inner side of said second polymer film; (e) positioning said layered element between a first ply of material and a second ply of material; (f) applying heat and pressure to said first and second plies of material positioned about said layered element, to adhere said first polymer film to said second polymer film except in the area where said release coating has been applied to said inner side of said first polymer film to form an inflatable compartment surrounded by a sealed perimeter; and (g) removing said first and second plies of material from said adhered first and second polymer films.