Fluid handling – Inflatable article
Reexamination Certificate
1999-10-14
2001-01-09
Rivell, John (Department: 3753)
Fluid handling
Inflatable article
C137S846000, C137S522000, C446S224000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06170513
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a simple inflation nozzle structure of an inflatable envelope. Prior to forming the air passage of the inflatable envelope, an isolating membrane is previously disposed at the position of the air passage so as to simplify the procedure of forming the air passage on the inflatable envelope.
FIGS. 1
to
4
show the inflation nozzle structure of a conventional inflatable envelope. In manufacturing, the inflation nozzle
2
is first completed and then an isolating member is placed into the air passage
21
of the inflation nozzle
2
. Prior to adhering and forming the inflatable envelope
1
, the inflation nozzle
2
is first position between the two envelope membranes
5
of the inflatable envelope
1
, whereby when adhering and forming the inflatable envelope
1
, the inflation nozzle
2
is simultaneously adhered to the inflatable envelope
1
without sealing the air passage
21
. After the inflatable envelope
1
is adhered and formed, the isolating member is removed.
In manufacturing the inflation nozzle
2
of the inflatable envelope
1
, some shortcomings exist as follows:
1. Prior to adhering the inflation nozzle
2
with the inflatable envelope
1
, it is necessary to first place the isolating member (which can be alternatively oil ink or paint) into the air passage
21
. Therefore, when adhering and forming the inflatable envelope
1
, the air passage
21
will not be adhered and sealed. The air passage
21
generally is not so large and often carries static charge so that the nozzle membranes
22
are often tightly attached to each other. This makes it difficult to place the isolating member into the air passage
21
.
2. It is necessary to previously complete the inflation nozzle
2
prior to adhering the inflation nozzle
2
with the inflatable envelope
1
. Then the isolating member is placed into the air passage. Thereafter, the inflation nozzle
2
is adhered with the inflatable envelope
1
and formed together. Finally, the isolating member is removed. Such manufacturing procedure is discontinuous and it takes longer time to form the product. As a result, the production efficiency is reduced.
3. In manufacturing and use of the conventional inflation nozzle, it is necessary to provide a simple identification of the position of the inflation nozzle. Therefore, the inflation nozzle is such formed as to extend out of the inflatable envelope
1
by a certain length for easy identification of the position of the inflation nozzle. For keeping the extension of the inflation nozzle, an excessive part is formed in both manufacturing and use. This leads to trouble to a certain extent.
4. In manufacturing of the inflation nozzle, it is necessary to previously place the isolating member into the air passage
21
without attaching to the inner wall thereof. Thereafter, the isolating member must be removed. Under such circumstance, the isolating member tends to detach from the air passage in manufacturing. This will result in defective product.
FIGS. 5
to
8
show another type of inflation nozzle structure of the inflatable envelope. In manufacturing, the two inner membranes
51
are first thermally pressed to form an air passage
21
. Then two envelope membranes
5
are overlaid on upper and lower sides thereof. Then an isolating layer
6
is placed between the two inner membranes
51
of the reserved mouth section of the inflation nozzle. Then the nozzle mouth
52
is thermally pressed to respectively adhere the inner membranes
51
to the envelope membranes
5
. However, the two inner membranes
51
are not adhered to each other. Thereafter, the isolating layer
6
is removed and an L-shaped thermally pressing mold is used to thermally press and adhere the respective membranes
5
,
51
, the side
53
of the nozzle and the edge
3
of the envelope.
The above manufacturing procedure is quite complicated. In the final step, the L-shaped mold with fixed specification is used to thermally press and adhere the nozzle side and envelope edge. Therefore, when manufacturing another specification of inflatable envelope with different length and size, it is necessary to manufacture another specification of mold or adjust the mold in accordance with the size of the envelope. As a result, when producing a new specification of inflatable envelope by test or mass-produce the inflatable envelope, it is necessary to make a new mold and rectify the position of the mold. Moreover, after finished, it is necessary to tear off the remaining material adjacent to the edge of the nozzle. Such operation is troublesome and complicated and time-consuming and will lead to waste material. Furthermore, in case that the tested product has poor quality, the mold with new specification will be wasted.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is therefore a primary object of the present invention to provide an inflation nozzle structure of an inflatable envelope. The adhesion and forming of the inflation nozzle can be quickly completed so as to continue the manufacturing procedure of the inflatable envelope. An isolating membrane is sandwiched between the inner membranes defining the air passage of the inflation nozzle. One face of the isolating membrane is laid with a glue layer or two faces of the isolating membrane are formed by two kinds of membranes with different melting points. When thermally pressing the envelope membranes and the inner membranes, one face of the isolating membrane is thermally adhered to inner wall of one of the inner membranes without detachment, while the other face with higher melting point will not be adhered to the inner membrane so as to form the air passage. Therefore, the inflation nozzle can be formed together with the overlaying envelope membranes so as to simplify the manufacturing procedure. Moreover, under the condition that the inflation nozzle does not extend outward, the opening of the nozzle is positioned on the same straight lines as the adhesion edge. Therefore, the manufacturing of the mold is facilitated. In addition, the thermally pressing and adhesion is performed in straight line pattern so that one single mold can be used to manufacture different specifications of inflatable envelopes. As a result, the procedures of adhesion of the isolating membrane and the forming and overlaying of the membranes can be speeded and continuously performed by a machine so as to lower cost and enhance competition.
Also, after manufactured, the isolating membrane is attached to the opening of the nozzle, serving as a mark for the position of the nozzle so that it is easy to find the inflation nozzle and extend an inflating device into the inflation nozzle.
The present invention can be best understood through the following description and accompanying drawings wherein:
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Dougherty & Troxell
Rivell John
Schoenfeld Meredith H.
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