Stock material or miscellaneous articles – Pile or nap type surface or component – Interlaminar
Reexamination Certificate
1999-07-08
2001-11-27
Copenheaver, Blaine (Department: 1771)
Stock material or miscellaneous articles
Pile or nap type surface or component
Interlaminar
C428S035200, C428S035400, C428S085000, C442S038000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06322870
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to inflatable apparatus, and more specifically to such an inflatable apparatus, which provides high tensile strength, and the seams between the upper cover sheet and bottom cover sheet thereof are reinforced against leakage.
Regular inflatable apparatus, such as inflatable boats, beds and sofas, are commonly made by sealing PVC sheets into shape.
FIG. 1A
shows an inflatable boat of this design. The inflatable boat is comprised of an upper sheet
10
and a bottom sheet
10
′. The inner peripheral edge and outer peripheral edge of the upper sheet
10
and the inner peripheral edge and outer peripheral edge of the bottom sheet
10
′ are respectively sealed together by, for example, a heat sealing apparatus, forming a respective seam R. As illustrated in
FIG. 1B
, when one peripheral edge of the upper sheet
10
and the corresponding peripheral edge of the bottom sheet
10
′ are attached together and pressed tight (see arrowheads A), and then welded together. When inflated, components of force are employed to each seam R in reversed directions F (see FIG.
1
B). When a sudden compressive pressure is given to the inflatable boat, the seams R tend to be stretched open, causing an air leakage. In order to eliminate this problem, rubber material may be used for making an inflatable apparatus. However, the cost of rubber material is much higher than PVC sheet material. Further, a rubber inflatable apparatus is heavy, and low mobility. Therefore, except for professional use, most consumers do not accept rubber inflatable apparatus.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention has been accomplished to provide an inflatable apparatus, which eliminates the aforesaid drawbacks. According to one aspect of the present invention, the inflatable apparatus comprises an upper cover sheet and a bottom cover sheet respectively cut from a multi-layer sheet material, and at least one connecting band respectively connected between the upper cover sheet and the bottom cover sheet and defining with the upper cover sheet and the bottom cover sheet an air-tight air chamber, each connecting band having a lining cut from same multi-layer sheet material, and a water-proof plastic cover layer covered on the lining over cutting edges of the lining and welded to border areas between the upper cover sheet and the bottom cover sheet. According to another aspect of the present invention, the multi-layer sheet material comprises two water-proof plastic cover layers, a meshed intermediate nylon layer sandwiched in between the plastic cover layers, and two bonding layers covered on top and bottom sides of the meshed intermediate nylon layer and respectively bonded to the plastic cover layers.
REFERENCES:
“Goodyear Maintenance Shelter”, Jul. 1951,Rubber Age, p. 450.
Casey, Esq. Donald C.
Copenheaver Blaine
Torres Norca L.
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