Side-embossed inflatable product

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Solution Overview

Problem

The manufacturing process of side-embossed inflatable products is complex and costly due to the need for intricate connections between inner confining sheets, which complicates production and increases costs.

Innovation Solution

The design incorporates a top sheet, a bottom sheet, and a lateral confining sheet with an internal connecting sheet that forms a closed annular shape, connected via welding seams, allowing for simpler and more cost-effective embossment formation, and optionally includes notches and tensioning members for enhanced aesthetics and support.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Shape

If multiple inner confining sheets are connected in the inflatable chamber to form side embossment, then the side embossment effect is achieved, but the manufacturing process becomes complex and production cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveside embossmentVSAvoidmanufacturing process complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ShapeVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention extracts the embossment-forming function from the inner confining sheets and relocates it to the lateral confining sheet. The lateral confining sheet is embossed externally to form patterns, while the inner confining sheets are simplified to only provide structural support without complex connections, thereby reducing manufacturing complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention introduces an embossment forming sheet as an intermediary component between the inflatable chamber and the outer surface. This separate sheet is specifically designed to provide the embossment effect through external connection, decoupling the embossment function from the structural support function of the inner confining sheets.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Shape

If multiple inner confining sheets are connected in the inflatable chamber to form side embossment, then the side embossment effect is achieved, but the production cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveside embossmentVSAvoidproduction cost
Core Design Contradiction:
ShapeVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The invention extracts the embossment-forming function from the inner confining sheets and relocates it to the lateral confining sheet. The lateral confining sheet is embossed externally to form patterns, while the inner confining sheets are simplified to only provide structural support without complex connections, thereby reducing manufacturing complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention uses a simpler, more cost-effective configuration by reducing the inner confining sheets to basic structural components and using a separate embossment forming sheet that can be independently manufactured and connected, overall reducing production cost.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

3Strength

If the internal connecting sheet is connected to the lateral confining sheet via welding seam, then the structural integrity is improved, but the manufacturing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructural integrityVSAvoidconnection structure
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention uses a thin film embossment forming sheet that is connected to the lateral confining sheet through welding seams. The welding seams are strategically positioned to provide structural reinforcement at critical points while maintaining the overall flexibility and simplicity of the thin film structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

Data Source

PatentEP4173525A1Side-embossed inflatable product
Publication Date: 2023.05.03 BESTWAY INFLATABLES & MATERIAL
  • EP4173525A1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4173525A1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP4173525A1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

An inflatable product is provided including a top sheet, a bottom sheet, a lateral confining sheet, and an internal connecting sheet. A peripheral edge of the top sheet is connected to an upper edge of the lateral confining sheet, and a peripheral edge of the bottom sheet is connected to a lower edge of the lateral confining sheet, forming an inflatable chamber. An upper edge of the internal connecting sheet is connected to the top sheet, a lower edge of the internal connecting sheet is connected to the bottom sheet, and a connecting part of the internal connecting sheet, located between the upper edge and the lower edge of the internal connecting sheet, is connected to the lateral confining sheet along at least one welding seam. The at least one welding seam may form at least one embossment on an outside of the inflatable product.