Inflatable product, and manufacturing apparatus and manufacturing method therefor

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Inflatable products made from PVC materials deform under high internal pressure and are environmentally unfriendly due to slow degradation, leading to increased material costs and environmental pollution.

Innovation Solution

The use of internal tensioning members with helically wound threads directly fixed to the walls of the inflatable product, reducing material usage and production costs while enhancing tensile resistance, and made from materials like cotton, polyester, or polypropylene, which are more environmentally friendly.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If PVC material is used for internal tensioning members, then the material can be easily welded and processed, but the material deforms under high internal pressure and is environmentally unfriendly

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveweldabilityVSAvoidtensile resistance
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses composite materials consisting of fabric layers (such as polyester, polypropylene, or cotton) combined with elastic materials. The fabric layers provide high tensile strength and resistance to deformation under pressure, while the elastic material allows for welding and flexibility. This composite structure resolves the contradiction between ease of manufacture and tensile resistance by combining materials with complementary properties.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

2Stability of the object's composition

If more PVC material is used to reduce deformation, then the deformation resistance improves, but material costs increase and environmental degradation pressure increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedeformation resistanceVSAvoidmaterial consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

By using fabric layers combined with elastic materials, the patent achieves high deformation resistance without requiring excessive material quantity. The fabric structure provides inherent stiffness and strength, allowing the tensioning members to maintain shape under pressure while using less material overall compared to solid PVC constructions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies different materials with specific properties to different functional requirements: fabric layers are used where tensile strength and deformation resistance are needed, while elastic materials are used where welding and flexibility are required. This localized material assignment optimizes performance while minimizing overall material consumption.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Strength

If helically wound threads are used for internal tensioning members, then the tensile resistance is enhanced and material usage is reduced, but the manufacturing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetensile resistanceVSAvoidmanufacturing process complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the internal tensioning member into distinct segments: fabric layers and elastic material layers. This segmentation allows each component to be manufactured separately using conventional techniques, then combined through lamination. The helical winding pattern is applied to the fabric layers, which are then laminated with elastic materials, breaking down the complex manufacturing into manageable steps.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The composite structure of fabric and elastic material layers simplifies manufacturing compared to creating entirely new complex structures. The fabric layers can be woven or knitted in helical patterns using standard textile processes, then laminated with elastic materials using established lamination techniques, making the overall manufacturing process more feasible despite the enhanced functional requirements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

4Object-affected harmful factors

If natural fibers or synthetic fibers are used for internal tensioning members, then the environmental friendliness improves, but the welding capability is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveenvironmental impactVSAvoidweldability
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates a composite material system where fabric layers made from environmentally friendly fibers (natural or synthetic) are laminated with elastic material layers. The fabric layers provide ecological benefits and structural strength, while the elastic material layers maintain welding capability. This composite approach allows the product to be environmentally friendly while retaining ease of manufacture through welding.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

Solution Approach 2:

The elastic material layers act as an intermediary between the non-weldable fabric layers and the welding process. During manufacturing, the elastic material layers are laminated to the fabric layers, creating a composite structure where the elastic material serves as the weldable interface, allowing conventional welding techniques to be applied to products containing environmentally friendly but non-weldable fiber materials.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentEP4410153A1Inflatable product, and manufacturing apparatus and manufacturing method therefor
Publication Date: 2024.08.07 BESTWAY INFLATABLES & MATERIAL
  • EP4410153A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4410153A1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP4410153A1 patent drawingFigure 4a~4b

AI summary

The present application discloses an inflatable product, including a first wall, a second wall, and a plurality of internal tensioning members connecting the first and second walls. Each internal tensioning member includes a first fixing strip and a second fixing strip, the first fixing strip and the second fixing strip respectively include a first surface fixedly coupled to the first wall or a second surface fixedly coupled to the second wall. The inflatable product further includes a thread helically wound around the first fixing strip and the second fixing strip, preferably at equal intervals, a first part of the thread is fixed between the first surface of the first fixing strip and the first wall, and a second part is fixed between the second surface of the second fixing strip and the second wall. The inflatable product can improve the tensile resistance property of the internal tensioning members of the inflatable product and reduce the consumption of non-degradable materials. The present application further discloses an apparatus set and method for manufacturing the inflatable product.