(12) United States Patent
`Tsai
`
`US006322870B1
`(10) Patent No.:
`US 6,322,870 B1
`(45) Date of Patent:
`Nov. 27, 2001
`
`(54) SHEET MATERIAL SEALING STRUCTURE
`FOR INFLATABLE APPARATUS
`(76) Inventor: Ching-Hsien Tsai, No. 10, Alley 77,
`º º Road, Tamshui
`Subject to any disclaimer, the term of this
`patent is extended or adjusted under 35
`U.S.C. 154(b) by 0 days.
`
`(*) Notice:
`
`Primary Examiner—Blaine Copenheaver
`Assistant Examiner—Norca L. Torres
`(74) Attorney, Agent, or Firm—Donald C. Casey, Esq.
`(57)
`ABSTRACT
`An inflatable apparatus, which includes an upper cover sheet
`and a bottom cover sheet respectively cut from a multi-layer
`sheet material, and at least one connecting band respectively
`connected between the upper cover sheet and the bottom
`cover sheet and defining with the upper cover sheet and the
`(21) Appl. No.: 09/349,080
`bottom cover sheet an air-tight air chamber, each connecting
`(22) Filed:
`Jul. 8, 1999
`7
`band having a lining cut f
`lti-layer sheet
`all Cl ?lav IIIQ, a III III.19. Cull IrC)Im Salme IITULIII-lawe? Silee
`
`(51) Int. Cl." … B32B 3/02 material, and a water-proof plastic cover layer covered on
`(52) U.S. Cl. .......................... 428/86; 428/jº * the lining over cutting edges of the lining and welded to
`(58) Field of Search
`428/º s 5, 3 . 2
`border areas between the upper cover sheet and the bottom
`428/35.4; 442/38
`cover sheet, the multi-layer sheet material having two water
`proof plastic cover layers, a meshed intermediate nylon layer
`sandwiched in between the plastic cover layers, and two
`bonding layers covered on top and bottom sides of the
`meshed intermediate nylon layer and respectively bonded to
`the plastic cover layers.
`
`(56)
`
`References Cited
`PUBLICATIONS
`“Goodyear Maintenance Shelter”, Jul. 1951, Rubber Age, p.
`450.*
`* cited by examiner
`
`1 Claim, 4 Drawing Sheets
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`20
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`202
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`201
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`& XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX, X& 203
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`201
`202
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`INTEX EXHIBIT 2035, Pg. 1
`Bestway v. Intex; PGR2017-00003
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`U.S. Patent
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`Nov. 27, 2001
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`Sheet 1 of 4
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`US 6,322,870 B1
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`PRIOR ART
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`INTEX EXHIBIT 2035, Pg. 2
`Bestway v. Intex; PGR2017-00003
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`U.S. Patent
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`Nov. 27, 2001
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`Sheet 2 of 4
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`US 6,322,870 B1
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`FIG. 1(B)PRIOR ART
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`20
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`5CXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX) & & 202
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`201
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`INTEX EXHIBIT 2035, Pg. 3
`Bestway v. Intex; PGR2017-00003
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`U.S. Patent
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`Nov. 27, 2001
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`Sheet 3 of 4
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`US 6,322,870 B1
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`INTEX EXHIBIT 2035, Pg. 4
`Bestway v. Intex; PGR2017-00003
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`U.S. Patent
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`Nov. 27, 2001
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`Sheet 4 of 4
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`US 6,322,870 B1
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`INTEX EXHIBIT 2035, Pg. 5
`Bestway v. Intex; PGR2017-00003
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`1
`SHEET MATERIAL SEALING STRUCTURE
`FOR INFLATABLE APPARATUS
`
`US 6,322,870 B1
`
`2
`FIG. 4 is an elevational view of an inflatable apparatus
`according to the present invention.
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE
`PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
`Referring to FIG. 2, a multi-layer sheet material 20 is
`shown comprised of two water-proof plastic cover layers
`201, a meshed intermediate nylon layer 203 sandwiched in
`between the plastic cover layers 201, and two bonding layers
`202 covered on top and bottom sides of the meshed inter
`mediate nylon layer 203 and respectively bonded to the
`plastic cover layers 201. The plastic cover layers 201 can be
`obtained from, for example, PVC sheet material for the
`advantages of high smoothness and high water-proof power.
`The meshed intermediate nylon layer 203 greatly reinforces
`the strength of the structure of the multi-layer sheet material
`20 and its resiliency. The plastic cover layers 201 provides
`a soft touch, and a nice looking. When joining two multi
`layer sheet materials, they cannot be directly sealed together
`side to side by a heat sealing apparatus. When two multi
`layer sheet materials are welded together side to side, the
`border edge of the meshed intermediate nylon layer at each
`multi-layer sheet material is exposed to the outside, i.e., the
`apparatus made in this manner cannot be maintained in an
`air tight condition. In order to eliminate this problem, a
`special joining technique must be employed. This special
`joining technique is described hereinafter.
`As illustrated in FIG.3, a connecting band 21 is connected
`between a first multi-layer sheet material 20 and a second
`multi-layer sheet material 20'. The connecting band 21 is
`comprised of a lining 211, and a water-proof plastic cover
`layer 212 covered on the lining 211 over its cutting edges E
`and welded to the border areas between the first multi-layer
`sheet material 20 and the second multi-layer sheet material
`20'. The plastic cover layer 212 is preferably obtained from
`a PVC sheet, and fastened to the multi-layer sheet materials
`20 and 20' by a heat sealing apparatus. The lining 211 has
`same multi-layer structure as the multi-layer sheet materials
`20 and 20', and is fastened to the plastic cover layer 212 by
`a heat sealing apparatus. After the plastic cover layer 212 has
`been covered on the lining 211, the two opposite ends of the
`plastic cover layer 212 are respectively retained between the
`lining 211 and the multi-layer sheet materials 20 and 20, and
`then the multi-layer sheet materials 20 and 20', the plastic
`cover layer 212 and the lining 211 are welded together in
`direction B by a heat sealing apparatus. When welded, the
`cutting edges E of the lining 211 are sealed to the inside of
`the plastic cover layer 212.
`Referring to FIG. 4, the inflatable boat is comprised of an
`upper sheet (the aforesaid first multi-layer sheet material)
`20, a bottom sheet (the aforesaid second multi-layer sheet
`material) 20', and two connecting bands 21 respectively
`connected between the inner peripheral edge and outer
`peripheral edge of the upper sheet 20 and the inner periph
`eral edge and outer peripheral edge of the bottom sheet 20'.
`Because the connecting bands 21 are sealed between the
`upper sheet (the aforesaid first multi-layer sheet material)
`20, a bottom sheet (the aforesaid second multi-layer sheet
`material) 20', the connecting areas between the upper sheet
`20 and the bottom sheet 20' provide high tensile strength,
`and are maintained in an air-tight condition.
`It is to be understood that the drawings are designed for
`purposes of illustration only, and are not intended as a
`definition of the limits and scope of the invention disclosed.
`What the invention claimed is:
`1. An inflatable apparatus comprising an upper cover
`sheet, a bottom cover sheet, and at least one connecting band
`
`10
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`15
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`20
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`30
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`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`The present invention relates to inflatable apparatus, and
`more specifically to such an inflatable apparatus, which
`provides high tensile strength, and the seams between the
`upper cover sheet and bottom cover sheet thereof are rein
`forced against leakage.
`Regular inflatable apparatus, such as inflatable boats, beds
`and sofas, are commonly made by sealing PVC sheets into
`shape. FIG. 1A shows an inflatable boat of this design. The
`inflatable boat is comprised of an upper sheet 10 and a
`bottom sheet 10'. The inner peripheral edge and outer
`peripheral edge of the upper sheet 10 and the inner periph
`eral edge and outer peripheral edge of the bottom sheet 10
`are respectively sealed together by, for example, a heat
`sealing apparatus, forming a respective seam R. As illus
`trated in FIG. 1B, when one peripheral edge of the upper
`sheet 10 and the corresponding peripheral edge of the
`bottom sheet 10' are attached together and pressed tight (see
`arrowheads A), and then welded together. When inflated,
`components of force are employed to each seam R in
`reversed directions F (see FIG. 1B). When a sudden com
`25
`pressive pressure is given to the inflatable boat, the seams R
`tend to be stretched open, causing an air leakage. In order to
`eliminate this problem, rubber material may be used for
`making an inflatable apparatus. However, the cost of rubber
`material is much higher than PVC sheet material. Further, a
`rubber inflatable apparatus is heavy, and low mobility.
`Therefore, except for professional use, most consumers do
`not accept rubber inflatable apparatus.
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`The present invention has been accomplished to provide
`an inflatable apparatus, which eliminates the aforesaid draw
`backs. According to one aspect of the present invention, the
`inflatable apparatus comprises an upper cover sheet and a
`bottom cover sheet respectively cut from a multi-layer sheet
`material, and at least one connecting band respectively
`connected between the upper cover sheet and the bottom
`cover sheet and defining with the upper cover sheet and the
`bottom cover sheet an air-tight air chamber, each connecting
`band having a lining cut from same multi-layer sheet
`material, and a water-proof plastic cover layer covered on
`the lining over cutting edges of the lining and welded to
`border areas between the upper cover sheet and the bottom
`cover sheet. According to another aspect of the present
`invention, the multi-layer sheet material comprises two
`water-proof plastic cover layers, a meshed intermediate
`nylon layer sandwiched in between the plastic cover layers,
`and two bonding layers covered on top and bottom sides of
`the meshed intermediate nylon layer and respectively
`bonded to the plastic cover layers.
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`FIG. 1A is an elevational view of an inflatable boat
`according to the prior art.
`FIG. 1B illustrates the connection between an upper sheet
`and a bottom sheet sealed together according to the prior art.
`FIG. 2 is a sectional view of a multi-layer sheet material
`for an inflatable apparatus according to the present inven
`tion.
`FIG. 3 illustrates the connection between two multilayer
`sheet materials according to the present invention.
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`35
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`3
`respectively connected between said upper cover sheet and
`said bottom cover sheet and defining with said upper cover
`sheet and said bottom cover sheet an air-tight air chamber,
`wherein said upper cover sheet and said bottom cover sheet
`are respectively cut from a multi-layer sheet material com
`prised of two water-proof plastic cover layers, a meshed
`intermediate nylon layer sandwiched in between said plastic
`cover layers, and two bonding layers covered on top and
`bottom sides of said meshed intermediate nylon layer and
`
`US 6,322,870 B1
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`4
`respectively bonded to said plastic cover layers; said at least
`one connecting band each is comprised of a lining cut from
`said multi-layer sheet material, and a water-proof plastic
`cover layer covered on said lining over cutting edges of said
`lining and welded to border areas between said upper cover
`sheet and said bottom cover sheet.
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`INTEX EXHIBIT 2035, Pg. 7
`Bestway v. Intex; PGR2017-00003
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