INFLATABLE DEVICE WITH STRAPS CONNECTED BETWEEN AN UPPER LAYER AND LOWER LAYER THEREOF
An inflatable device includes an upper layer, a lower layer, and at least one strap alternately connected to the upper layer and the lower layer to form a wavelike pattern between the upper layer and the lower layer so as to limit deformation of both the upper layer and the lower layer. The strap includes a plurality of first contact portions connected to the upper layer, and a plurality of second contact portions connected to the lower layer. The first contact portions are offset from the second contact portions in a horizontal plane respectively defined by the upper layer and the lower layer, such that the first contact portions are not superimposed with the second contact portions from a perspective orthogonal to the upper and lower layers.
1. Technical Field
The present application relates to an inflatable device, and in particular to an inflatable device with a strap having a wavelike pattern connected between an upper layer and lower layer thereof.
2. Description of the Related Art
With reference to
With reference to
From the depiction of
It is noted from the illustration in
Embodiments of the inflatable device of the present application comprise an upper layer, a lower layer, and at least one strap alternately connected to the upper layer and the lower layer to form a wavelike pattern between the upper layer and the lower layer so as to limit deformation of both the upper layer and the lower layer. The strap comprises a plurality of first contact portions connected to the upper layer, and a plurality of second contact portions connected to the lower layer, wherein the first contact portions are offset from the second contact portions in a horizontal plane respectively defined by the upper layer and the lower layer, such that the first contact portions are not superimposed with the second contact portions from a perspective orthogonal to the upper and lower layers.
The following description is merely exemplary in nature and is in no way intended to limit the present teachings, applications, or uses. Those of skill in the art will recognize that the following description is merely illustrative of the principles of the invention, which may be applied in various ways to provide many different alternative embodiments.
With reference to
As illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 8-10, in preferred embodiments of the application, each strap 34 is a strip of material extending back and forth between the upper layer 31 and the lower layer 32 to form a wavelike pattern when the inflatable device is inflated. Due to the wavelike pattern of the strap 34, each strap 34 is alternately and securely connected to the upper layer 31 and the lower layer 32.
As illustrated in
In
In embodiments of the application, the straps 34 may extend longitudinally or latitudinally relative to the dimensions of the inflatable device. Furthermore, the contact portions connected to a given layer may be aligned in the longitudinal or latitudinal directions as shown in
In embodiments of the invention, contact portions 34A and 34B are respectively connected to the upper layer 31 and lower layer 32 by welding. However, other methods known in the art may be used to adhere the contact portions of the straps to the upper and lower layers. In preferred embodiments, all of the connections of the contact portions 34A with the upper layer 31 and/or all of the connections of the contact portions 34B with the lower layer 32 may be simultaneously welded with a single press of a machine.
It is further noted that the inner surface of upper layer 31 and the inner surface of lower layer 32 respectively define an area available for engagement with the contact portions 34A and contact portions 34B of straps 34. An area of the inner surface of the upper layer and/or the lower layer is defined as an available area wherever a load might be applied. In preferred embodiments, the total areas of the contact portions 34A and 34B are respectively greater than or equal to 6.3% of the available areas of the upper layer and the lower layer. Moreover, in preferred embodiments, the total areas of the contact portions 34A and 34B are respectively less than or equal to 63% of the available areas of the upper layer and the lower layer.
With reference to
In an embodiment of the application illustrated in
With reference to
With reference to
As shown in
The arrangement of straps 34 in a wavelike pattern between upper and lower layers of inflatable device 3 increases the tensile strength of the inflatable device when a load is applied thereon. Moreover, the inventors have discovered that the wavelike pattern of the straps 34 disclosed in the present application, wherein a contact portion 34A in the upper layer 31 shares a single segment 34C of the strap 34 with an adjacent segment 34B in the lower layer 32, allows secure connection of the straps 34 to the upper and lower layers using contact portions 34A and 34B with areas smaller relative to what would be necessary in the conventional coil arrangement shown in
With reference to
With reference to
With reference to
It is to be noted that although the preferred embodiment of the present invention has been described, other modifications, alterations or minor change to the structure should still be within the scope defined in the claims. As those skilled in the art will readily observe that numerous modifications and alterations of the device and method may be made while retaining the teachings of the invention.
Claims
1. An inflatable device comprising:
- an upper layer;
- a lower layer; and
- at least one strap alternately connected to the upper layer and the lower layer to form a wavelike pattern between the upper layer and the lower layer so as to limit deformation of both the upper layer and the lower layer.
2. The inflatable device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the strap comprises a plurality of first contact portions connected to the upper layer, and a plurality of second contact portions connected to the lower layer, wherein the first contact portions are offset from the second contact portions in a horizontal plane respectively defined by the upper layer and the lower layer, such that the first contact portions are not superimposed with the second contact portions from a perspective orthogonal to the upper and lower layers.
3. The inflatable device as claimed in claim 1, comprising a plurality of straps, wherein the straps are arranged longitudinally with respect to the upper layer and the lower layer.
4. The inflatable device as claimed in claim 1, comprising a plurality of straps, wherein the straps are arranged latitudinally with respect to the upper layer and the lower layer.
5. The inflatable device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the upper layer has an inner surface area, and a total contact area between the strap and the inner surface area as a percentage of the inner surface area is equal to or larger than 6.3%.
6. The inflatable device as claimed in claim 5, wherein the total contact area between the strap and the inner surface area as a percentage of the inner surface area is less than or equal to 63%
7. The inflatable device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the lower layer has an inner surface area, and a total contact area between the strap and the inner surface area as a percentage of the inner surface area is equal to or larger than 6.3%.
8. The inflatable device as claimed in claim 7, wherein the total contact area between the strap and the inner surface area as a percentage of the inner surface area is less than or equal to 63%.
9. The inflatable device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the lower layer is provided with a protruding peripheral edge formed on an underside of the lower layer arranged to establish a suction force with a surface on which the inflatable device is disposed.
10. The inflatable device as claimed in claim 9, wherein an auxiliary strap is provided between an exterior surface of the lower layer and an inner sidewall of the protruding peripheral edge.
11. The inflatable device as claimed in claim 1, wherein an auxiliary strap is provided between an inner surface of the sidewall and an inner surface of the lower layer.
12. The inflatable device as claimed in claim 1, wherein a first auxiliary bar is provided at a joint between the upper layer and the sidewall and a second auxiliary bar is provided at a joint between the sidewall and the lower layer to enhance integrity of both the upper layer and the lower layer.
13. The inflatable device as claimed in claim 1, wherein portions of the strap extending between the upper and lower layer are slanted with respect to a reference line orthogonal to the upper layer and the lower layer.
14. The inflatable device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the strap is a single, continuous strip of material.
15. The inflatable device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the strap comprises a plurality of individual strips connected between the upper and lower layers.
16. The inflatable device as claimed in claim 1, wherein an angle measured between a portion of the strap forming a contact portion connected to the upper layer and a segment of the strap extending from the contact portion to the lower layer is between 91 and 167 degrees.
17. The inflatable device as claimed in claim 1, wherein an angle measured between a portion of the strap forming a contact portion connected to the lower layer and a segment of the strap extending from the contact portion to the upper layer is between 91 and 167 degrees.
Type: Application
Filed: Mar 15, 2013
Publication Date: Sep 18, 2014
Inventors: Cheng-Chung Wang (Taipei), Chien-Hua Wang (Taipei)
Application Number: 13/843,759
International Classification: A47C 17/86 (20060101);