Joint assembly for multi-chamber inflatable product

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current joint assemblies for inflatable products require significant pulling force, can slip, necessitate frequent adjustments, and are difficult to orient and access, hindering assembly and disassembly, and causing distortion upon inflation.

Innovation Solution

A joint assembly with a male component and a female component that include protrusions and conduits for fluid communication, along with a locking ring and gasket for secure engagement, allowing for easy assembly and disassembly while maintaining fluid communication between air chambers.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If current joint assemblies are used to connect inflatable chambers, then the chambers can be connected, but significant pulling force is required and the connection may slip

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveconnection stabilityVSAvoidpulling force required

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSForce

Solution Approach 1:

The joint assembly is divided into separate male and female components with distinct engagement features. The male component includes a protrusion with locking features, while the female component has a recess with corresponding locking features, allowing for modular assembly and distribution of mechanical loads.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The locking features are pre-configured on the male and female components before assembly. The protrusion includes locking features that automatically engage with corresponding features in the recess when the components are brought together, eliminating the need for additional locking actions during assembly.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Reliability

If current joint assemblies are used, then chambers can be connected, but frequent adjustments are needed

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveconnection stabilityVSAvoidadjustment frequency

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The joint assembly features self-aligning and self-locking mechanisms. The protrusion and recess are designed with complementary geometries that guide the components into proper alignment during assembly, and the locking features automatically engage to secure the connection without requiring manual adjustment.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Ease of manufacture

If current joint assemblies are used, then chambers can be connected, but assembly and disassembly are difficult

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveassembly easeVSAvoidjoint assembly complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The traditional approach of using threads or complex fasteners is inverted by using a simple protrusion-recess interface with integrated locking features. This inverted design simplifies the assembly process while maintaining connection strength.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

4Reliability

If current joint assemblies are used, then chambers can be connected, but distortion occurs upon inflation

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestructural integrityVSAvoidproduct distortion

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSShape

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentUS11788636B2Joint assembly for multi-chamber inflatable product

Publication Date: 2023.10.17 INTEX MARKETING

AI summary

A joint assembly (100) between multiple air chambers of an inflatable product (P). The joint assembly (100) may include a male component (102) coupled to a first air chamber and a female component (104) coupled to a second air chamber. When assembled, the multiple air chambers of the inflatable product may be in fluid communication with each other or with a multichannel air assembly configured to selectively inflate and/or deflate each chamber.