GB2156209A

GB2156209A - An inflatable object

Info

Publication number: GB2156209A
Application number: GB08408148A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Cheng Chung Wang
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1984-03-29
Filing date: 1984-03-29
Publication date: 1985-10-09
Also published as: GB8408148D0; GB2156209B

Abstract

An inflatable object (10, 101, 103) includes an inflatable member (11) having a protruding peripheral seal (19, 20) and a plurality of inflatable chambers (12), and a cover (14) heat-sealed to the inflatable member (11) to define therewith at least one further inflatable chamber (15). The object (10, 101, 103) has an inflating value (17) thereon for inflating the chambers (12) and further chambers (15) or two valves (16, 17) for inflating the further chambers (15) and the chamber (12), respectively. With a single inflation valve, a plurality of check valves (18) are provided on the surfaces each of which is the surface between one of the inflatable chambers (12) and one of the inflatable further chambers (15) in order that when the object (10, 101, 102, 103, 104, 105) is to be inflated from the inflating valve (17) each of the inflatable chambers (12) and further chambers (15) is inflated so that when one of the inflatable chambers (12) and further chambers (15) is ruptured the object (10, 101, 102, 103, 104, 105) will not collapse completely. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION A stiffened inflatable object The present invention relates to an inflatable object, and more particularly to an inflatable object being stiffened and shape-modified.

An inflatable object 1 ofthe prior art, as shown in Fig. 1, includes an upper layer u, a lower layer 1, a peripheral seal 2, a pluralityof barseals 3 and an inflating valve 4. Since the portions of ba r seals 3 entrap no air therein, even a thickened plastic material is used these portions are apt to be bent. Further, object 1 cannot be retained in a plane when object 1 is put into use.

It has been known that by using I belts 5within the object, as shown in Fig. 2, the surfaces ofthe object can be maintained somewhat planar. However, imparting these I belts into the inflatable object is not an easy work. Furthermore, this imparting procedure influences the strength ofthe object which is thus prone to rupture.

In addition, the object generally presenta peripheral seal which is disreputable on the whole appearance and i n th e touch ed feel i ng ofthe object.

The United States Patent No. 1851768 of Water Toy relates two the hot-seal technique with thin and flexible material, the United States Patent No.2170539 of Toy Balloon still leaves a protruding peripheral seal and the United States Patent No.3755820 of Inflatable Boxing Glove or Pillow merely relates to a glove which is inflatable. All of the three patents have nothing to do with an inflatable object which is stiffened and shape-modified. It is therefore tried by the applicant to alleviate the disadvantages of the prior art in this field.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an inflatable object stiffened.

It is therefore another object of the present invention to provide an inflatable object shape-modified.

According to the present invention, a stiffened inflatable object includes an inflatable member having at least a first inflatable chamber and an inflatable coating having at least a first inflatable room formed an supperposed upon the inflatable member and substantially designed for stiffening the inflatable member so that when both of the inflatable member and the inflatable coating are inflated the stiffness of the inflatable member is improved.

Generally, the inflatable memberfurther includes a second inflatable chamber and between the first and second inflatable chambers there is provided with a bar seal and the first inflatable room has two sides thereof been hot-sealed on the inflatable portions of the first and second inflatable chambers respectively and the inflatable portions are the portions otherthan a place in the very proximity ofthe bar seal so that when the first inflatabie room is inflated the bar seal is contained withinthe inflatable region ofthefirst inflatable room and thus the improved stiffness is achieved.

More generally, the inflatable memberfurther includes a plurality of inflatable chambers, the inflatable coating further includes a plurality of inflatable rooms, each of which is formed and superposed upon the surfaces of every two adjacent inflatable chambers, at least an inflating valve is provided on the object so that the object can be inflated therefrom and a plurality of check valves are provided on the surfaces, each of which is the surface between one of the inflatable chambers and one ofthe inflatable rooms in order that when the object is to be inflated from the inflating valve each ofthe inflatable chambers and rooms is inflated so that when one ofthe inflatable chambers and rooms is ruptured the object won'tshrinkcompletely.

Certainly, the inflatable chambers can be in communication with the inflatable rooms so thatthe object only needs one inflating valve.

Alternatively, the object can include a first inflating valvefrom which the inflatable chamber isto be inflated and a second inflating valve from which the inflatable room isto be inflated.

Generally, the object presents a protruding peripheral seal and the first inflatable room has one side thereof been hot-sealed on the peripheral seal andanothersidethereofbeen hot-sealed on the inflatable portion of a sidest inflatable chamberwhich is adjacent to the peripheral seal so that the protruding condition ofthe peripheral seal can be improved and the shape of the object is thus modified.

The present invention may best be understood with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is an inflatable object ofthe prior art shown in a perspective view; Fig. 2 is a partially sectional view showing another inflatable object ofthe priorart; Fig. 3 is a sectional view showing a preferred embodiment of a stiffened inflatable object of the present invention; Fig. 4 is a sectional view showing another preferred embodiment of a stiffened inflatable object of the present invention; Fig. 5 is a partially sectional view showing yet a preferred embodiment of a stiffened inflatable object ofthe present invention; Fig. 6 is a sectional view particularly showing further a preferred embodiment of a stiffened inflatable object ofthe present invention for shape modification;; Fig.7 is a perspective view showing a safety hat according to the present invention; Fig. 8 is a sectional view showing a boxing glove according to the present invention; and Fig. 9 is a sectional view taken from arrows A-A in Fig. 8 showing another sectional view of a boxing glove according to the present invention.

Referring now to Fig. 3, there is shown a stiffened inflatable object 10 according to the present invention which includes an inflatable member 11 having a plurality of inflatable chambers 12 and barseals 13 and an inflatable coating 14 having a plurality of inflatable rooms 15so that when both of inflatable chambers 12 and rooms 15 are inflated from a common inflating valve 17 orfromtwovalves 17,16 respectively, bar seals 13 are contained within the inflatable regions of inflatable rooms 15 andthusthe stiffness of object 10 is improved. What can be inferred from the above is that a plurality of layers of inflatable coatings can be applied to the object for additionally stiffening thereon.

Another stiffened inflatable object 101 according to the present invention, as shown in Fig 4, is divided into two parts, i.e. A and B, each of which is g2iverned by valves 161, 162 respectively. A plurality of check valves 18 are provided on the surfaces each of which is the surface between one of inflatable chambers 12 and one of inflatable rooms 15 in order that all ofthe inflatable chambers 12 and rooms 15 in parts A and B can be inflated when object 101 is to be fully inflated from only the two valves 161 and 162 respectively. It can be found that, through such a structure, if the space III ruined only the spaces I & Ill shrink and all of the other spaces remain unchanged. Check valves 18 can be hot-sealed and preformed on the material used of object 101.Thus, such a structure is suitable for being used in sub-water or on water surface.

In Fig. 5, there is shown yet a stiffened inflatable object 102 according to the present invention. It can be seen thatthe outer periphery is more or less planed somewhat and it can be realized that object 102 is stiffened.

In Fig. 6, there is shown further a stiffened inflatable object 103 according to the present invention which has two peripheral seals 19,20. Inflatable room 15 has one side thereof 151 being hot-sealed on peripheral seal 19 and another side thereof 152 being hot-sealed on the inflatable portion of inflatable chamber 12.

Inflatable room 15 can possess its own inflating valve 163. Such a structure can thus hide the peripheral seals 19,20 and provides a shape-modifying effect.

Safety hat 104 according to the present invention, as shown in Fig. 7, has its two originally hot-sealed peripheral lines been hot-sealed with inflatable rooms 15 and thus is stiffened and shape-modified.

As shown in Figs. 8 & 9, a boxing glove toy 105 according to the present invention has a space 21 to let in a hand and inflatable rooms 15 are designed to stiffen and shape-modify toy 105.

Claims

1. A stiffened inflatable object comprising: an inflatable member having at least a first inflatable chamber; and an inflatable coating having at least a first inflatable room formed and superposed upon said inflatable member and substantially designed for stiffening said inflatable memberwherebywhen both of said inflatable member and said inflatable coating are inflated the stiffness of said inflatable member is improved.

2. A stiffened inflatable object according to Claim 1 wherein: said inflatable memberfurther includes a second inflatable chamberand between said first and second inflatable chambers there is provided with a bar seal; and said first inflatable room has two sidesthereof been hot-sealed on the inflatable portions ofsaid first and second inflatable chambers respectivelyand said inflatable portions are the portions otherthan a place in the very proximity of said bar seal whereby when said first inflatable room is inflated said bar seal is contained within the inflatable region of said first inflatable room and thus said improved stiffness is achieved.

3. A stiffened inflatable object according to Claim 1 or2wherein: said inflatable memberfurther includes a plurality of inflatable chambers; said inflatable coating further inciudes a plurality of inflatable rooms, each of which is formed and superposed upon the surfaces of every two adjacent inflatable chambers; at least an inflating valve is provided on said object so that said object can be inflated therefrom; and a plurality of check valves are provided on the surfaces, each of which is the surface between one of said inflatable chambers and one of said inflatable rooms in orderthatwhen said object is to be inflated from said inflating valve each of said inflatable chambers and rooms is inflated whereby when one of said inflatable chambers and rooms is ruptured said object won't shrink completely.

4. Astiffened inflatable object according to claim 1,2 or 3, wherein said first inflatable chamber is in communication with said first inflatable room.

5. A stiffened inflatable object according to Claim 1,2,or3,furthercomprising: a first inflating valve from which said inflatable chamberisto be inflated; and a second inflating valve from which said inflatable room is to be inflated.

6. A stiffened inflatable object according to Claim 1 wherein: said inflatable memberfurther includes a protruding peripheral seal; and said inflatable room has one side thereof been hot-sealed on said peripheral seal wherebythe protruding condition of said peripheral seal can be improved and the shape of said object is thus modified.

7. A stiffened inflatable object according to Claim 6 wherein: said inflatable room has another side thereof been hot-sealed on the inflatable portion of said inflatable chamber; said inflatable memberfurther includes a plurality of inflatable chambers; and said inflatable coating further includes a plurality of inflatable rooms, each of which is formed and superposed upon the inflatable surfaces of every two adjacent inflatable chambers whereby when both of said inflatable chambers and rooms are inflated said object is stiffened and shape-modified.

8. Astiffened inflatable object according to Claim 7 wherein: an inflating valve is provided on and enables said object to be inflated therefrom; and said inflatable chambers and rooms are capable of in communication one another.

9. A stiffened inflatable object according to Claim 7, further comprising: a first inflating valve from which said inflatable chambers are to be inflated; and a second inflating valve from which said inflatable rooms are to be inflated.

10. A stiffened inflatable object substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.