Volume-flexible body
A volume-flexible body that can be filled with fluid including sheets preferably welded along the circumferential edges made preferably of synthetic material whereby the sheets form additionally a hinged section along which the sheets are folded forming at least two sections of the inflatable body lying partially on top of one another, and whereby a conduit is formed extending at least through the hinged area between the two sections of the fillable body. At least one element (7, 9) is provided in the length of the conduit (4), which keeps the plastic sheets at a distance apart across at least a part of the width of the conduit (4) even in the deflated condition of the body (K) to decrease the flow resistance between the sections of the body as much as possible and to guarantee a simple and smooth fluid exchange even at a small pressure difference.
The invention relates to a volume-flexible body that can be filled with fluid including sheets preferably welded along the circumferential edges made preferably of synthetic material whereby the sheets form additionally a hinged section along which the sheets are folded forming at least two sections of the inflatable body lying partially on top of one another, and whereby a conduit is formed extending at least through the hinged area between the two sections of the fillable body.
THE PRIOR ARTA body of this type is exemplary disclosed in DE 203 07 1633 U1 as a support cushion for a motor vehicle seat. The described support cushion includes two cushion elements which are connected to one another at the edge by a common hinge and which are placed on top of each other, at least partially, in their use. The hinge can be made thereby of the sheet material forming the cushion element whereby fluid communication can be provided between the two cushion elements by means of the hinge or a connecting conduit according to the invention. The connecting conduit can be formed by the sheet section which additionally connects the two cushion elements to the hinge.
In the area of the hinge and/or in the area of the separate conduit, which is curved at a small radius in the same manner as the hinge, there is created a tensile stress within the outer sheet while a compressive strain is created within the inner sheet. This has the result that the sheets are pressed against each other with a relatively strong force. The connecting conduit has therefore a high resistance relative to the flow of fluid, which represents a very negative effect especially during filling or emptying via a single fluid supply element as well as for pressure compensation between the two cushion elements. The contact pressure of the sheets can only be overcome with a specific interior pressure; however, a relatively rapid and almost shock-like fluid exchange takes place in this case. To this end, complete emptying of the body is almost impossible since resistance of the connecting conduit cannot be overcome below a certain residual pressure. Proper functioning is thereby not guaranteed in such cases.
It was therefore the object of the invention to design a body of the aforementioned type in such a manner that the flow resistance between the sections of the body is reduced as much as possible and whereby a simple and smooth fluid exchange is guaranteed between the sections even at low pressure differences.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONFor the achievement of this object, the cushion body is characterized in that there is provided at least one element within the length of the conduit which keeps the sheets apart across at least a part of the width of the conduit in the deflated condition of the body. The fluid connection between the sections of the body is always kept open thereby, even in the case of a highly curved or buckled hinge or in the case of a separate conduit. A body designed in this manner offers smooth pressure compensation and a smooth fluid exchange between its sections and makes possible smooth and even filling as well as complete emptying by means of only one fluid supply element during the filling process and the complete emptying process.
The body is additionally characterized according to the invention in that the conduit is laterally defined by the welding beads created during the joining of the sheets whereby the welding beads maintain a space between the sheets at least in the close vicinity thereof. A smooth fluid exchange can be guaranteed at any time in a simple manner already during the course of manufacturing of the body and its sections.
In case of sheet materials whereby only less distinctly formed welding beads are created, it can be achieved through special manufacturing steps that welding beads are formed in a thicker manner than needed for a secure bond between the sheets lying on top of one another.
To keep open even larger cross sections of the conduit for the fluid exchange, according a further advantageous embodiment additional welding beads, extending essentially in longitudinal direction of the conduit, are provided between the existing welding beads laterally defining the conduit.
In the case where there are no welding beads created, based on the type of the employed material and/or based on the type of manufacturing process, there is at least one spacer element inserted into the conduit according to another inventive embodiment of the fillable body to keep the conduit open in any condition for the fluid exchange between the sections.
The spacer element can thereby be formed by an additional piece of sheeting inserted between the sheet sections forming the conduit whereby the piece of sheeting has slots or grooves extending in longitudinal direction of the conduit and whereby its edges keep the sheets at a distance apart from one another so that fluid exchange is ensured thereby. Joining of the sides of the slots or grooves to each other can be an advantage in manufacturing and for the stability of the spacer element.
Another spacer element is proposed having a similar effect as the welding bead extending in longitudinal direction of the conduit, which is formed by a narrow piece extending essentially in longitudinal direction of the conduit as well.
Alternatively thereto, at least one spacer element can be inserted into the conduit whereby the spacer element is made of permeable material according to an additional characteristic of the invention. For example, conceivable would be elements made of foam, porous materials, preferably synthetic materials, or woven or interlaced material inserted between the plastic sheets.
It is proposed according to an additional advantageous embodiment of the invention that one sheet defining the body, preferably the sheet lying at the outer side after the folding of the body, is wider at least in the area of the conduit than the opposed sheet which forms one or a plurality of arches for the formation of one or all conduits. The excess width of the wider sheet material, as compared to the narrower sheet, can be considered as the additional element. This difference in width leads to the fact that the sheets are not pressed against one another during folding or bending of the connecting area. The formation of waves can possibly occur in the wider sheet—in this case, a plurality of juxtaposed conduits are created remaining open at all times. The formation of arches or waves in the wider sheets can be enhanced through the careful use of a tool to manufacture the body.
It can be proposed as an additional characteristic in the case of wave formation of the wider sheet that additional welding beads are provided between each pair of the multiple arches. The arches improve the open position of the parallel conduits whereby the arches keep the sheets at a distance apart at the vicinity of the welding bead.
The invention is described in more detail in the following description with the aid of embodiment examples illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The joining of the sheets of body K lying on top of one another is performed in the illustrated example by welding under the formation of a circumferential welding bead 7, which also laterally defines the conduit 4. The welding bead 7 is formed through displacement of the sheet material.
The conduit 4 is highly curved in the position of the body K shown in
Welding beads 7 can possibly be formed thicker than needed for a secure bond of the sheets lying on top of one another. This can be performed by means of a suitable shaped tool or through excessive pressure between the sheets to be bonded during the welding process together with a distinctively tooled shape immediately in front of the welding edge so that the sheets can form here the open cross section 8 of the conduit 4.
Additional welding beads can possibly be provided disposed essentially parallel to the welding beads 7 near the edge and extending essentially in longitudinal direction of the conduit 4.
Another embodiment is illustrated in
A design is schematically illustrated in a cross-sectional view in
The formation of a plurality of arches 1 or waves is possible as it is shown in the example of
Claims
1. A volume-flexible body that can be filled with fluid consisting of sheets preferably welded along the circumferential edges made preferably of synthetic material whereby said sheets form additionally a hinged section along which the sheets are folded forming at least two sections of the inflatable body lying partially on top of one another, and whereby a conduit is formed extending at least through the hinged area between the two sections of the fillable body, characterized in that there is provided at least one element (7, 9, 11) within the length of the conduit (4) which keeps the sheets apart across at least a part of the width of the conduit (4) in the deflated condition of the body (K).
2. A body according to claim 1, wherein the conduit (4) is laterally defined by the welding beads (7) created during the joining of the sheets and whereby said welding beads (7) maintain a space between the sheets at least in the close vicinity (8) thereof.
3. A body according to claim 2, wherein welding beads (7) are formed in a thicker manner than needed for a secure bond between the sheets lying on top of one another.
4. A body according to claim 3, wherein additional welding beads, extending essentially in longitudinal direction of the conduit (4), are provided between the existing welding beads (7) laterally defining the conduit (4).
5. A body according to claim 1, wherein at least one spacer element (9) is inserted into the conduit (4).
6. A body according to claim 5, wherein said spacer element can be formed with an additional piece of sheeting (9) inserted between the sheet sections forming the conduit (4) and whereby said piece of sheeting has slots (10) or grooves extending in longitudinal direction of said conduit.
7. A body according to claim 5, wherein a spacer element is formed by a narrow body extending essentially in longitudinal direction of the conduit (4).
8. A body according to claim 5, wherein at least one spacer element made of permeable material is inserted into the conduit (4).
9. A body according to claim 1, wherein one sheet defining the body (K), preferably the sheet lying at the outer side after the folding of the body (K), is wider at least in the area of the conduit (4) than the opposed sheet which forms one or a plurality of arches (11) for the formation of one or all conduits (4, 4a).
10. A body according to claim 9, wherein additional welding beads (7a) are provided between each pair of the multiple arches (11).
Type: Application
Filed: Jan 25, 2005
Publication Date: Aug 18, 2005
Inventors: Erich Dorfler (Landsberg), Thomas Bichler (Penzberg)
Application Number: 11/041,889