Inflatable product
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional inflatable products, such as air mattresses, suffer from uneven surfaces due to the limitations imposed by straps that control expansion, leading to discomfort and aesthetic issues.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a supplemental air-permeable layer that is sewn or glued onto the inflatable body, rather than fused, to improve flatness and user comfort, while using tension elements and auxiliary sheets to control expansion and enhance structural strength.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Shape
If straps are used to control expansion of the inflatable body, then the expansion is controlled to a desired shape, but the top wall and bottom wall form depressions leading to uneven surfaces
Solution Approach 1:
The invention divides the inflatable body into multiple chambers separated by partitions. Each chamber can be independently inflated to control the overall shape and expansion, allowing the straps to work on smaller sections rather than the entire body, thereby reducing the formation of large depressions and improving surface flatness.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention applies different structural characteristics to different parts of the inflatable body. By incorporating partitions that create localized chambers, each section can have optimized expansion characteristics, allowing straps to control shape locally without causing widespread surface unevenness.
2Strength
If multiple layers are fused together to form the inflatable body, then structural strength is improved, but material incompatibility challenges arise
Solution Approach 1:
The invention uses layers made from the same or compatible materials (PVC or TPU) throughout the inflatable body structure. This homogeneity in material selection eliminates the material incompatibility issues that would arise from fusing dissimilar materials, while still achieving the desired structural strength through proper layer construction and fusion.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution effectively addresses the issue of uneven surfaces by improving the flatness and comfort of inflatable products, while maintaining structural integrity and aesthetic appeal through controlled expansion and reduced material incompatibility challenges.
Implementation Method 1
a fusible element wherein the fusible element is fused with the inflatable body, and the tension element is connected to the fusible element to pull the inflatable body through the fusible element when the inflatable body is inflated
Data Source
AI summary
An inflatable product includes an inflatable body and a supplemental layer. The inflatable body includes a first wall and a first auxiliary sheet fused with each other. The supplemental layer is configured to cover the first wall and is fixed to the first auxiliary sheet of the inflatable body by sewing and/or gluing.