Segmented Air Mattress Structure for Flat, Lightweight Support
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing air mattresses are heavy, not portable, prone to piercing, not cold-resistant, environmentally unfriendly, and have poor flatness and low automation in production due to their materials and construction methods.
Innovation Solution
An air mattress design featuring top, bottom, and side sheets made of flexible airtight materials with elongated flexible strips that include first bonding, intermediate connecting, and second bonding portions, bonded to the sheets using high-frequency or thermal welding, allowing for a lightweight, flat, and easily manufactured product.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If PVC material is used for top and bottom sheets, then the air mattress has good airtightness and durability, but the air mattress becomes heavy and has poor portability
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the material parameter from traditional heavy PVC to lighter TPU (thermoplastic polyurethane) while maintaining the required airtightness and durability properties through material selection and bonding design
2Reliability
If PVC material is used for top and bottom sheets, then the air mattress has good airtightness, but the material is easy to be pierced and worn out
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses TPU material which has superior resistance to piercing and wear compared to traditional PVC, while maintaining airtightness through the combination of material properties and hermetic bonding of sheets
3Reliability
If PVC material is used for top and bottom sheets, then the air mattress has good airtightness, but the material is brittle at low temperature and not cold resistant
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the material parameter from temperature-sensitive PVC to cold-resistant TPU material that maintains flexibility and airtightness at low temperatures, eliminating the brittleness issue while preserving sealing performance
4Strength
If I-shaped or annular connecting bands with linear bonding are used, then the air mattress has structural support, but the air mattress has poor flatness
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the connecting structure into multiple segments including intermediate connecting units with transverse and longitudinal connecting members, creating a grid-like support system that provides both structural strength and surface flatness through distributed support points
5Ease of operation
If rope segments are used to connect top and bottom bands, then the air mattress has flexible connection, but much labor is needed and automation degree of production remains low
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual rope tying with automated bonding mechanisms that can hermetically bond the intermediate connecting units to the sheets, enabling machine automation while maintaining the flexible connection properties needed for the air mattress structure
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 air mattress achieves improved portability, flatness, and increased automation in production while maintaining airtightness and load support, with enhanced cold resistance and reduced material wear.
Implementation Method 1
bonded to an inner surface of the top sheet to form first bonding surfaces, the second bonding portions being bonded to an inner surface of the bottom sheet to form second bonding surfaces
Implementation Method 2
bonded to the sheets using high-frequency or thermal welding
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention relates to an air mattress and inflatable product. The air mattress comprises top and bottom sheets made of a flexible airtight material, and an airtight inflatable compartment formed at least partially by the top and bottom sheets. The air mattress further comprises a plurality of elongated flexible strips positioned within the airtight inflatable compartment, each of the strips including a plurality of first bonding portions, intermediate connecting portions and second bonding portions arranged in order along the length direction of the strips, wherein the first bonding portions are bonded to an inner surface of the top sheet to form first bonding surfaces, the second bonding portions are bonded to an inner surface of the bottom sheet to form second bonding surfaces, and the intermediate connecting portions are positioned between the first bonding portions and the second bonding portions. The present air mattress is not only lightweight and flat but also has a simple structure so as to be suited to automated production, thereby reducing productions costs.