Inflatable product with an internal tensioning structure

Technical field The present disclosure relates to the construction of an inflatable product and in particular to a construction of an inflatable product that is light and cheap.

2. Background art [0002] Inflatable products are lightweight, easy to store and easy to carry. Technologies of such products have been used for outdoor equipment and toys, as well as various household items, including inflatable beds, inflatable sofas and the like.

[0003] In many inflatable products, internal constructions are used to produce the product in its intended predetermined shape after inflating. For example, one type of inflatable bed, called a wavy shapely, rectangular inflatable bed or an I-shaped inflatable bed, can have an internal tensioned belt type structure placed along the wavy, rectilinear or l-shaped paths inside the inner chamber. Another type of inflatable bed, called a column type inflatable bed, has tensioned belts arranged in honeycomb structures or cylindrical structures inside an inflatable chamber.

[0004] Such internal structures of stretched strands placed in an inflatable bed add shape to the bed as the internal pressure increases and thus prevent the balloon from spreading the inflatable bed in all directions in a balloon manner. Namely, to maintain the rectangular shape of the inflatable bed, the tensioned straps connect the upper and lower surfaces of the inflatable bed with each other. To allow the flow of compressed air on both sides of these connecting structures, the tensioned strips can be formed as strips extending between the upper and lower surfaces or as vertical spaces of the material with the air columns formed inside. The number and arrangement of the tension belts is proportional to the sharpness of the outline of the rectangularity of the inflatable product. Means,

[0005] In traditional inflatable products, such as the inflatable beds described above, the stretched strips are made of PVC sheets with a thickness sufficient to provide a distribution of forces, while reducing stresses in the material of the article. For example, tension belts in known inflatable beds or sofas may have a thickness of about 0.36 mm. For some known water holding devices, such as inflatable bathing pools, internal tension belts may have a thickness of about 0.38 mm, while inflatable layered bathing pools may have a thickness of 0.7-0.8 mm.

[0006] Thus, traditional inflatable constructions with tensioned belts or PVC-stressed strips meet the load requirements of the product by varying the thickness of the tension belts. However, where continuous plastic strips or belts are used, such tensioned belts increase the weight of the inflatable product. Similarly, increasing the thickness and / or the spatial density of the fixed strip of tensioned belts also increases the volume of the flattened / composite evacuated inflatable structure.

-1 ΕΡ 2 674 072 Β1 [0007] Examples of such known designs are disclosed in DE 102006053666. This application discloses inflatable products with first and second sheets that are spaced apart to define a gap, and encapsulated to form an inflatable chamber.

SUMMARY [0008] The present disclosure provides an inflatable article with an internal tensioning structure. This tensioning structure fulfills the basic function of keeping two adjacent inflatable surfaces in the desired geometrical arrangement after compressing the inflatable product. The tensioning structure is formed by connecting a pair of plastic strip sheets with spaced bundles, such as cords or wires. After stretching, the beams have a high tensile strength between two opposite plastic strips. At the same time, the plastic straps facilitate obtaining a strong, long-lasting weld between the tensioning structure and the inflatable product.

[0009] Within the scope of the present disclosure, various configurations of the tensioning structure are considered. According to the present invention, an inflatable article according to claim 1 is obtained. In one example, the pair of parallel plastic strips comprises a plurality of bundles extending therebetween to connect the plastic strips together, these bundles being substantially parallel to each other and substantially perpendicular to each other. plastic belts. In a further embodiment, a similar arrangement of two parallel plastic belts is connected by a plurality of beams to each adjacent pair of such beams converging to a point at one of the plastic belts according to the configuration of V. Both variants can be inserted into the tensioning structure in one of a number of geometrical arrangements within an inflatable cavity, such as a linear system,

[0011] According to one embodiment, the present disclosure describes an inflatable article comprising a first sheet and a second sheet placed opposite the first sheet, the first and second sheets being spaced apart to define the aperture after inflating the article. In addition, the inflatable product includes a tensioning structure comprising a slit portion stretched in the gap space between the first sheet and the second sheet to maintain a spatial spacing between the first and second sheet after the article has been inflated. The slot portion has a range measured along the surface of at least one of the first sheet and the second sheet. The slit part occupies a certain volume and has a working area occupied by the slotted part of the tension structure,

The slit part of the tensioning structure determines the ratio of the working area to the volume of at least 10 square millimeters per cubic millimeter.

[0012] According to another embodiment, the present disclosure describes an inflatable product comprising a first sheet and a second sheet placed opposite the first sheet. The first and second sheets are offset from each other to define the gap after inflating this article. In addition, the inflatable product includes a tensioning structure comprising a slit portion stretched in the gap space between the first sheet and the second sheet to maintain a spatial spacing between the first and second sheet after the article has been inflated. The slot portion has a range measured along the surface of at least one of the first sheet and the second sheet. The slot portion has a working area occupied by the slotted portion of the tensioning structure, designated as

-2ΕΡ 2 674 072 Β1 the total area of ​​the gap between the first sheet and the second sheet, measured along the range of the slotted part of the tensioning structure.

The lacing portion of the tensioning structure has a total weight such that the tensioning structure defines a working-to-weight ratio of at least 6,000 square centimeters per kilogram.

[0013] According to a further embodiment, the present disclosure describes an inflatable product comprising a first sheet and a second sheet placed opposite the first sheet. The first and second sheets are offset from each other to define the gap after inflating this article. In addition, the inflatable product includes a tensioning structure comprising a slit portion stretched in the gap space between the first sheet and the second sheet to maintain a spatial spacing between the first and second sheet after the article has been inflated.

The slit portion of the tensioning structure has an average thickness of less than 0.125 millimeters.

[0014] According to yet another embodiment, the present disclosure describes an inflatable product comprising a first sheet and a second sheet placed opposite the first sheet, the first and second sheets being offset from each other to define a gap, a tensioning structure stretched in the gap space between the first sheet and a second sheet, the tensioning structure comprising: a plurality of beams spaced uniformly and substantially parallel to one another, and a plurality of welded belts spaced relative to each other and substantially perpendicular to the plurality of beams, each of the plurality of welded belts being affixed to each of the plurality of bands and each of the plurality of welded belts is attached to at least one of the first sheet and the second sheet.

[0015] According to yet another embodiment, the present disclosure describes an inflatable product comprising a first sheet and a second sheet placed opposite the first sheet, the first and second sheets being offset from each other to define a gap, a tensioning structure stretched in the gap space between the first sheet. and a second sheet, the tensioning structure comprising: a plurality of beams spaced uniformly and arranged parallel to each other, and a first welded sheet having a plurality of beams also attached to the top surface of the first sheet to be welded.

[0016] According to yet another embodiment, the present disclosure describes an inflatable article comprising a first sheet, a second sheet placed opposite a first sheet, the first and second sheets being offset from each other to define a gap, a tensioning structure stretched in a gap space between a first sheet. and a second sheet, said tensioning structure comprising: an upper welded band, a bottom welded band disposed essentially parallel to the upper welded band and spaced from the upper welded band, in the span relative to the slot space between the first sheet and the second sheet, and a plurality of converging ends of the beam in the V shape, placed between the welded belts,each of the V-shaped bundles has upper and lower ends attached to the upper and lower welded belts respectively.

[0017] According to yet another embodiment, the present disclosure describes an inflatable article comprising a first sheet, a second sheet placed opposite a first sheet, the first and second sheets being spaced apart to define a gap, the first sheet and the second sheet.

-3ΕΡ 2 674 072 Β1 arkusz współpracują dla przynajmniej częściowego ograniczenia nadmuchiwanej komory, liczne konstrukcje naprężające zgrzane do odpowiednich wewnętrznych powierzchni pierwszego i drugiego arkusza, tak że liczne konstrukcje naprężające są rozpięte w szczelinie, a każda z licznych konstrukcji naprężających zawiera: górny zgrzewany pas, przytwierdzony do jednego spośród pierwszego arkusza i drugiego arkusza, dolny zgrzewany pas, przytwierdzony do drugiego spośród pierwszego arkusza i drugiego arkusza, oraz liczne wiązki łączące ze sobą górne i dolne zgrzewane pasy.

[0018] According to yet another embodiment, the present disclosure describes an inflatable article comprising a first sheet, a second sheet placed opposite a first sheet, the first and second sheets being spaced apart to define a gap, the first sheet and the second sheet cooperating with each other. for at least partially enclosing the inflatable chamber, i.e. tensioning structures welded to the inner surfaces of the first and second sheets, such that the plurality of tensioning structures are stretched in the slit space, each of the plurality of tensioning structures comprising: a welded sheet, plurality of beams, which plurality of beams are spaced substantially uniformly and arranged substantially parallel to each other, wherein the plurality of bundles are attached to the sheet to be welded,and a welded belt attached to each end of the sheet to be welded so that the longitudinal extent of the welded strip is located substantially perpendicular to the plurality of beams, the respective ends of the plurality of beams are attached to the welded strip, and each welded strip is welded to one of the first sheet and the second sheet.

[0019] According to yet another example, the present disclosure describes a method for manufacturing a tensioning structure of an inflatable product, the method comprising: placing the at least one welder behind the beam guide, providing a plurality of bundles to the welding machine via the beam guide, such that the bundles delivered are spaced substantially evenly and placing the heat sealing strips essentially parallel to one another on the first welding die or adhesive device, the welded strips having a longitudinal extent corresponding to the total width of the plurality of beams, moving the second welding die or adhesive device to an operating position in which the first and second matrices are placed on opposite sides of welded belts,activating the welding machine or adhesive device for the permanent connection of the welded belts with multiple beams, such that the welded belts are secured to a plurality of beams in a spaced apart and substantially parallel arrangement, and so that the welded belts are substantially perpendicular to the plurality of beams.

[0020] According to yet another example, the present disclosure describes a method for manufacturing a tensioning structure of an inflatable product, the method comprising: placing a hot roll behind the beam guide, supplying a plurality of beams to a hot roll via the beam guide, such that the bundles delivered are spaced substantially evenly and uniformly. arranged essentially parallel to one another, placing a guide beam behind the beam guide, this guide roll being operated to deliver at least one welded sheet to the hot roll, the at least one welded sheet having a width corresponding to the total width of the plurality of beams, and passing a plurality of beams and at least one sheet welded by a hot roll,such that a plurality of beams are attached to at least one welded sheet.

[0021] According to yet another example, the present disclosure describes a method for manufacturing a tensioning structure of an inflatable product, the method comprising: placing a pair of welded belts

- 4ΕΡ 2 674 072 równol1 parallel to each other on the connecting device, wrapping at least one continuous bundle around a plurality of members arranged along a pair of rows adjacent the respective first pair of welded belts, each pair of rows of members being offset from the second pair of rows of members; the wrapping step comprises alternation between a pair of rows, so that at least one continuous beam forms a plurality of converging V-shaped bundles, and using a connecting device to connect the first pair of welded belts with multiple beams at respective V-shaped corners formed by at least one continuous beam such that the tensioning structure provides resistance to stress along a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal extent of the first pair of welded belts.

Brief Description of the Drawing [0022] The aforementioned and other features and advantages of the disclosure and the method of obtaining them will become more evident and the invention itself will be better understood with reference to the following description of embodiments of the invention given in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein;

Fig. 1 shows a distributed, perspective view of a tensioning structure of an inflatable article made in accordance with the present disclosure;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged perspective view of the tensioning structure shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is an exploded perspective view of an inflatable bed according to the present disclosure, with tensioning structures;

Fig. 4 shows a juxtaposed view of the inflatable bed according to Fig. 3, in which the material of the inflatable bed is transparent to show the internal arrangement of the tensioning structures;

Fig. 5 is an exploded perspective view of an inflatable bed made according to the present disclosure having an alternative geometrical arrangement of tensioning structures; Fig. 6 shows a juxtaposed view of the inflatable bed according to Fig. 5, in which the material of the inflatable bed is transparent to show the internal spatial arrangement of the tensioning structures;

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of a device for producing mass material for the tensioning structures shown in Figs. 3-6;

Figure 8 is an exploded perspective view of the first example of the mass material produced by the apparatus of Figure 7;

Figure 9 is a perspective view of the first example of the mass material produced by the device of Figure 7;

Figure 10 is a perspective view of the mass material produced by the apparatus of Figure 7 used for the tensioning structures shown in Figs. 3-6;

Fig. 11 is a perspective view of the mass material formed by the apparatus of Fig. 7 used for the tensioning structures shown in Figs. 3-6;

Figure 12 is an exploded perspective view of the first alternative tension structure;

Figure 13 is a juxtaposed perspective view of the first alternative tension structure shown in Figure 12;

Figure 14 is an exploded perspective view of a second alternative tension structure;

-5ΕΡ 2 674 072 Β1 Fig. 15 is an exploded perspective view of a third alternative tension structure; Figure 16 is a juxtaposed perspective view of the third alternative tension structure shown in Figure 15;

Figure 17 is an exploded perspective view of a fourth alternative tension structure of an inflatable article made in accordance with the present disclosure; Fig. 18 is an exploded perspective view of a fifth alternative tension structure; Figure 19 is a juxtaposed perspective view of the fifth alternative tension structure shown in Figure 18;

Figure 20 is an exploded perspective view of an inflatable bed with alternative tensioning arrangements made in accordance with the present disclosure;

Fig. 21 shows a juxtaposed view of the inflatable bed according to Fig. 20, the material of which is transparent for showing the internal stack of the tensioning structures;

Fig. 22 is an exploded perspective view of an inflatable bed made in accordance with the present disclosure with alternative tensioning arrangements configured in an alternative geometrical arrangement;

Figure 23 is a juxtaposed view of the inflatable bed of Figure 22, wherein the inflatable bed material is transparent to show the internal spatial arrangement of the tensioning structures;

Figure 24 is a perspective view of a device for mass-mass production for the first through fifth alternative tension structure shown in Figs. 12-19; Figure 25 is an exploded perspective view of a sixth alternative tension structure of an inflatable article according to the present disclosure;

Fig. 26 is a juxtaposed perspective view of the sixth alternative tensioning structure shown in Fig. 25;

Fig. 27 is an exploded perspective view of an inflatable bed with a sixth alternative tensioning structure shown in Fig. 25;

Figure 28 is a juxtaposed view of the inflatable bed of Figure 27, wherein the material of the inflatable bed is transparent to show the internal arrangement of the tensioning structures;

Fig. 29 is perspective view of a device for mass production for the six alternative tensioning structures shown in Figs. 25-28; Figure 30 is an exploded perspective view of a seventh alternative tension structure of an inflatable article made in accordance with the present disclosure;

Figure 31 is a juxtaposed perspective view of a seventh alternative tension structure shown in Figure 30;

Fig. 32 is a perspective view of the mass-producing device for the seventh alternative tensioning structures shown in Figs. 30 and 31;

Figure 33 is a top view of the tensioning structures gathered together during the welding process;

Fig. 34 shows a top view of sunken parts of the tensioning structure when the mattress is empty for storage or transport;

-6EP 2 674 072 Β1 Fig. 35 is a view similar to Fig. 33 showing parts of tensioning structures with stacked beams during the welding process; and Fig. 36 is a view similar to Fig. 33 showing parts of tensioning structures offset by a self-reference during the welding process.

[0023] Suitable references indicate the relevant parts on several views. The exemplary embodiments set forth hereinbelow illustrate exemplary embodiments of the invention, and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention in any way.

[0024] The expressions top, bottom, up, down, top, bottom and similar language expressions have been used in the description according to the relative positions of the features of the given embodiments of the invention in use. In the present context, the term "in use" is intended to mean that the inflatable article is inflated and oriented in the position of the solution shown in Fig. 4. This means that the device can be used, stored and transported in any orientation, not only as shown in the figures. .

Detailed Description [0025] The present disclosure provides inflatable devices, such as inflatable sofas, beds or swimming pools. The tensioning structures here are light and take up a minimum volume when the device is empty and packed, and at the same time also function as a strong and durable internal support after inflating and during use of the inflatable device.

[0026] An example of a tensioning structure uses thin and elastic stringed or similar types of bundles that connect the two surfaces of the fabric together. The bundles are firmly connected to the adjacent material via an intermediate material, such as a tape or sheet, and the intermediate material is in turn firmly connected to the fabric. The contact surface between the intermediate material and the interconnected beams can be controlled to give a connection strength proportional to the tensile strength of the beam. Similarly, it is also possible to control the contact surface between the intermediate material and the adjacent fabric to impart a bond strength to the fabric / tensioning structure, proportional to the combined tensile strength of all the bundles in the tensioning structure.

[0027] In the following, various tensioning arrangements and methods for their production are described in detail. It is contemplated that any of the tensioning structures described may be used in any inflatable article, alone, as a group, or in combination with each other according to need or request for a particular design. In addition, it is contemplated that the tensioning structures of the present disclosure may be used in other contexts, such as camping equipment, or in any other context when a light packagable structure combining two parts of material that are repelled from each other will be needed. using.

1. Welded belts connected by spaced apart bundles [0028] Figures 1 and 2 show a tensioning structure 3 connecting the upper material 1 to the lower material

2. In the example shown, the tensioning structure 3 comprises upper and lower welded strips 31, connected to each other by a plurality of substantially parallel bundles 32, which form a slit part between the upper and lower sheets 1, 2. The upper and lower welded strips 31 are in turn welded to upper material 1 and lower material 2, respectively, whereby the forces acting on the upper and lower material 1, 2 are transmitted by stresses in the bundles 32.

[0029] Optionally, along the longitudinal extent of the welded pass 31 (i.e., substantially perpendicular to the bundles 32) reinforcing beams 5 can be placed (Fig. 3). Amplification bundles 5,

-7EP 2 674 072 Β1 when present, can be combined with the tensile bundles 32, e.g. by bundling bundles 32 on reinforcement bundles 5, tying bundles 5, 32 with each other or by gluing reinforcing beams

5, 32 with each other. The combined reinforcing beams 5 then form an additional contact surface with the welded belts 31 and thereby improve the resistance of the reinforcing beams 5 for freedom of withdrawal from the welded belts 31. In addition, the presence of reinforcing bundles 32 inside the welded belts 31 increases the tensile strength of the welded belts 31 on their longitudinal extent. .

[0030] The numerous beams 32 of the tensioning structure 3, as shown in Figures 1 and 2, are arranged such that the bundles 32 are substantially parallel to each other when they are stretched (i.e., when the welded strips 31 are spaced apart). In addition, adjacent pairs of bundles 32 may have equal spacings between them, thereby maintaining a substantially constant tensile strength of the tensioning structure 3 over the longitudinal extent of welded belts 31. The bundles 32 may extend along the entire width of the welded belts 31 as shown in Fig. 1 and 2, which gives a large contact area between the beams 32 and the welded belts 31. For clarity, Figs. 1 and 2 show only a limited number of bundles 32 attached in this way to the belts 31, and it is obvious that all bundles 32 of the structure can be attached tensioning 3.

[0031] In one embodiment of the application shown in Figs. 3 and 4, a plurality of tensioning constructions 3 are used in an inflatable structure such as a mattress 10 which includes a sleeping surface on the upper material 1, and a surface contacting the substrate on the lower material 2. An annular sideband 4 is permanently connected or welded to the perimeter of the upper material 1 and lower material 2 to form an inflatable chamber. To facilitate the filling and emptying of the mattress 10, a valve may be provided

6.

[0032] Although the mattress 10 is shown as a single layer, double layers may also be provided. Additional mattress features may also be introduced, as set forth in U.S. Patent No. 7,591,036 regarding an air mattress. In addition to the mattresses, the tensioning structure can be used in products such as inflatable pontoons, inflatable islands, float devices, swimming pools, inflatable slides and any other inflatable devices.

[0033] Each of the plurality of tensioning structures 3 is welded corresponding to the mutually opposite parts of the inner surfaces of the upper and lower material 1, 2 as described in detail above. As shown in Figs. 3 and 4, the tensioning structure 3 in the example shown creates a total longitudinal extension (i.e., along the longitudinal direction of the welded belts 31) corresponding to the width or length of the sleep material 1 and the substrate-based material 2 in the mattress 10.

[0034] As mentioned above, the tensioning structures 3 are connected to the upper material 1 and to the lower material 2 with welded belts 31. The welding is performed by supporting one welded belt 31 on one of the upper and lower material 1, 2, and then by applying heat, for melting and joining the material of the welded belts 31 with the back support material. The welded bands 31 and the upper and lower material 1, 2 are made of PVC, and the welding is done by applying a temperature of 105 degrees Celsius for about 0.5 seconds. The upper and lower sheets 1, 2 and the welded strips 31 have thicknesses ranging from 0.15 to 1.0 mm, with a thickness of 0.34 mm advantageous for the upper and lower sheets 1, 2 and with a thickness of 0.18 mm, advantageous for welded sheets belts 31. The width of the welded belts 31 is preferably 12, 7 mm and can range from 1 to 100 mm in width. Applied PVC has

-8EP 2 674 072 Β1 preferably has a tensile strength of at least 7 kG / cm to 73kG / cm and a density in the range of 0.8-2.5 grams per cubic centimeter, with a preferred density of 1.5 grams per cubic centimeter.

[0035] The tensioning structures 3 shown in Figs. 3 and 4 are welded to the top and bottom material 1, 2 along a substantially linear track, with a plurality of structures 3 substantially parallel to each other and spaced at equal intervals in the materials 1, 2. However, that the welding geometry may adopt any other suitable geometry, such as a wavelet path, an I-shaped path, a Z-shaped or V-shaped path. One example of an alternative geometry is a cylindrical or columnar arrangement as shown in Figure 5 and 6. In this arrangement, the upper and lower welded strips 31 are connected at their ends in a buttress manner to form an arcuate ring, such as a circular ring, as shown in the drawing. The numerous bundles 32 between the upper and lower welded belts 31 thus form a closed perimeter of the column, thereby forming a columnar body. During the assembly of the inflatable bed, the column 10 is welded to the upper and lower material 1, 2 in a similar manner as described for the linear arrangement of the tensioning structure 3.

[0036] During inflation of the mattress 10, the introduction of compressed air into the mattress chamber distances the upper material 1 and the lower material 2 from one another. After sufficient pressure has been created, the bundles 32 are strained and the tensioning structures 3 prevent greater distances between the upper and lower material 1, 2 in the vicinity of each tensioning structure 3. Further pressure increases generate higher tensile stresses in the tensioning structures 3 and additional forces on welds between the constructions tensioning 3 and adjacent materials.

[0037] In the embodiment of the mattress 10, the tensioning structure 3 comprises only one beam for every two centimeters, 1, 2, 3, 4 beams per centimeter of the longitudinal extent of the welded belts 31 or 5, 10, 15, 20, 30, 40, 50 or more beams per centimeter, or may include any number of beams per centimeter in any of the ranges specified by any of the above values. Preferably, there is a distance of about 2.8 mm between the beams (i.e. 3.6 beams per centimeter). The bundles 32 may be made of ordinary cotton, polyester, nylon thread formed from multiple fibers twisted together, of the type commonly used in clothing seams or any other type of bundle. These regular threads provide considerable tensile strength at very low costs. According to alternative examples, the bundles 32 may be woven together to form a fabric. According to another example, a nonwoven fabric may be used to form a part of the tensioning structure 3 extending through the gap between the sheets 1, 2.

[0038] According to the present disclosure, the threads may have a diameter of 0.1 to 1.0 mm. According to a preferred embodiment, the thread has a diameter of 0.2 mm. According to the present disclosure, the tensile strength of the thread may be from 0.2 kG to 10 kG per thread. According to a preferred embodiment, the tensile strength of the thread is 3 kg per thread. According to a preferred embodiment, the threads have a density in the range of 0.01 to 0.3 grams per meter. According to a preferred embodiment, the threads have a density of 0.085 grams per meter. It is of course understood that other materials may be used, such as veins, metal wires or plastic links, and the like.

[0039] The above-described embodiment of the tensioning structure 3 provides a strong final product suitable for use in a variety of inflatable products. In other examples, the tensioning structure 3 has beams 32 with a total axial spread between 5 cm and 65 centimeters, providing beams 32 suitable for cover the appropriate spaces created between

-9ΕΡ 2 674 072 Β1 expanded welded belts 31. Therefore, this example is suitable for use in an inflated thickness mattress 10 approximately equal to the axial span of beams 32. This example further uses the regular beam material given above, with a beam density in the ranges given above. The exemplary tensioning structure 3 obtained has a total tensile strength between 5.9 and 23.3 kG per linear centimeter {where linear centimeters are measured along the longitudinal extent of the welded belts 31).

[0040] When the mattress 10 is inflated, the tensioning structure defines a working surface along its longitudinal extent and across the gap between the upper and lower material 1, 2. In particular, the surface occupied by the tensioning structure 3 is defined as the surface of the gap between the material sheets connected by the structure. 3, with a distance measured along the longitudinal extent of the tensioning structure, such that the measured surface includes each of the plurality of beams 32. Where the tensioning structure 3 is linearly arranged and the upper and lower material 1, 2 are parallel to one another (as shown, for example, in Figures 3 and 4), this surface is simply the longitudinal extent of the tensioning structure 3, multiplied by the space between the upper and lower material 1 and 2. There,where the tensioning structure 3 assumes a non-linear path (such as a column track, arcuate path shown, for example, in Figures 5 and 6) and the upper and lower materials 1 and 2 are non-parallel, then the surface measurement method described above still determines the exact working surface.

[0041] The exemplary solution of the tensioning structure 3 described above achieves a high tensile strength, while at the same time promoting a compactness and a small packaging volume of the finished inflatable product. According to the present disclosure, the beams 32 and the area between the bundles 32 form a slit part 33 (see FIG. 1) of the tensioning structure 3, spaced apart from the upper and lower material sheet 1, 2 which maintains a spatial relationship between the first and second sheets when the mattress 10 is inflated. As shown in Fig. 1, the set of bundles 32 which define this slit part 33 has a span measured along the surface of at least the first sheet 1 and / or the second sheet 2. The bundles 32 of this slit part 33 of the tensioning structure 3 occupy a volume. The slit part 33 has a working surface defined by a span 35 of the slit part 33 (also closely similar to the length of the welded strips 31) and a length 37 of bundles 32. The work surface is occupied by the beams 32 of the tensioning structure 3 and determines the total gap between the first sheet 1 and the second sheet 2, measured along the gap 35 of the slit part 33 of the tensioning structure 3. For example, if the bundles 32 of the exemplary tensioning structure have a length 37 of 100 mm between the first and second sheets 1, 2 and the gap 35 of the slit part 33 is 100 mm, the working surface The slit portion 33 defined by the bundles 32 is 10,000 square millimeters. Assuming 3.6 beams per centimeter, there are 3.571 millimeters of beam at 32 per 10. 000 millimeters of square work surface. If the bundles 32 have a diameter of 0.2 mm, the total volume occupied by the bundles 32 will be 112.2 cubic millimeters. In this example, the slit portion 33 of the tensioning structure 3 defines a surface to volume ratio of 89.13 millimeters per cubic millimeter (e.g., 10,000 square millimeter / 112.2 cubic millimeters). According to the present disclosure, the ratio of the working surface to the volume can be from 10 to 3,000 square millimeters per cubic millimeter. 13 square millimeters per cubic millimeter (e.g. 10,000 square kilometers / 112.2 cubic millimeters). According to the present disclosure, the ratio of the working surface to the volume can be from 10 to 3,000 square millimeters per cubic millimeter. 13 square millimeters per cubic millimeter (e.g. 10,000 square kilometers / 112.2 cubic millimeters). According to the present disclosure, the ratio of the working surface to the volume can be from 10 to 3,000 square millimeters per cubic millimeter.

- 10ΕΡ 2 674 072 Β1 [0042] The use of bundles 32 instead of PVC sheets also makes it possible to reduce the total weight of the mattress 10. The slit part 33 of the tensioning structure 3 defined by the bundles 32 has a total weight and a working surface as stated above. In the above example, the working surface was 10,000 square mm (100 millimeters per 100 millimeters) and there were 3.6 beams per centimeter. This means 3.571 mm of beam. At a density of 0.085 grams per meter of thread, the total thread weight is 0.304 grams. As a result, the ratio of the work surface to weight is preferably around 32.941 square millimeters per gram (or 329.412 square centimeters per kilogram), (e.g. 10,000 square millimeters / 0.304 gram). According to some examples of the present disclosure, the ratio of work surface to weight is between 8,000 and 5,000,000 square centimeters per kilogram. According to other examples, the ratio of work surface to weight is from 12,500 to 2,500,000 square centimeters per kilogram. According to other examples, the ratio of work surface to weight is from 20,000 to 1,000,000 square centimeters per kilogram.

By using bundles 32 instead of PVC sheets, it is also possible to reduce the average thickness of the slit part 33 of the tensioning structure 3 extending between the first and second sheets 1, 2. The slit portion 33 of the tensioning structure 3 defined by the bundles 32 has an average thickness and a working surface, as described above. The average thickness will be reduced by the nominally circular cross section of the beams 32 and the spacing between each beam 32.

[0044] For example, the maximum thickness of the slit portion 33 will be the diameter of the bundles 32 (0.2 millimeters in the above example). The minimum thickness of the slit part 33 is zero in the non-concealed areas between the beams 32. In averaging over the total area of ​​the slit portion 33 occupied by the beams 32 and the total surface of the slit portion 33 without beams 32, the average thickness is smaller than the diameter of the beams 32. Furthermore, if it increases the distance between the beams 32, the average thickness decreases because most of the slit part 33 is not covered by the beams (i.e., the size of the slit part 33 of zero thickness increases, which reduces the average thickness of the slit part 33).

[0045] In the above example, the working surface was 10,000 square millimeters (100 millimeters by 100 millimeters) and was 3.6 beams per centimeter (or 2.8 millimeters from beam 32 to beam 32). In contrast to the maximum thickness of the round thread, which is the diameter, the average thickness of the round thread is pi * diameter / 4. The use of bundles 32 with a diameter of 0.2 mm gives an average thickness of 0.157 mm for each beam 32. Due to the spacing between the beams 32, the average thickness of the slit portion 33 defined by the beams 32 and the spacing therebetween is 0.0112 millimeters (i.e. 2.8 millimeter between beams 32 has a thickness of zero, which reduces the average thickness of the slit portion 33 to a much smaller than the average thickness of the beams 32). According to some examples of the present disclosure, the average thickness of the slotted portion of the tensioning structure 3 is from 0.0003 to 0.1 millimeters. According to other examples, the average thickness is 0.001 to 0.05 mm. According to other examples, the average thickness is from 0.005 to 0.02 mm.

[0046] Turning now to Fig. 7, an apparatus 20 for producing a tensioning structure 3 is shown.

A plurality of bundles 32 from a source of threads 11 are fed to the apparatus 20, which may be, for example, a yarn warehouse comprising plurality of yarn spools. The thread source 11 continually feeds a plurality of beams through the thread guide A with the plurality of holes through which the individual bundles 32 pass through after feeding from the source of threads 11 and before being incorporated into the bulk material 30 of the tensioning structure.

- 11 ΕΡ 2 674 072 Β1 (shown in Fig. 9, and described below). The thread guide A maintains an even spacing between the beams 32 and arranges the beams 32 in parallel so that the plurality of bundles 32 are substantially flat. The width of the welded belts 31, the distance between adjacent pairs of welded belts 31 and the spacing between adjacent pairs of bundles 32 can be set to any value required or desirable in terms of their purpose in a particular inflatable product.

The flat, parallel and evenly spaced bundles 32 are then fed to the welding machine 40 as shown in FIG. 7. The welding machine 40 can be a thermofusion device using heat to connect together two different plastic materials or it can be a high frequency welding machine in which electromagnetic waves use excited chemical dipoles in the plastic material to soften and bond materials to each other. In addition, any suitable welding method can be used in the welding machine 40 as required or desired for specific materials and methods.

[0048] The welded strips 31 with a length corresponding to the width of the plurality of bundles 32 disposed are placed on the lower matrices B1 of the welding machine 40. The bundles 32 are inserted above the welded strips 31 as shown and the upper matrices B2 are then lowered into contact with the welded strips 31. energy (i.e., heat and electromagnetic waves) to permanently connect the welded belt 31 to each of the plurality of beams 32 so that the respective beams 32 are fixed at a distance from each other and in a parallel configuration dictated by the beam guide A, after fixing the bulk material 30 (Fig. 9) is finished and ready for use.

[0049] The finished bulk material 30 is then provided on the receiving device (not shown), such as a spool or roll. This allows the mass material 30 to be produced continuously and stored for later use. The bulk material 30 can be converted into a tensioning structure 3 (figure 2) by cutting past the belt welding station 31. The tensioning structure 3 can then be used for different inflatable products by cutting its length and width according to the dimensions of the product.

[0050] As mentioned above, a reinforcing beam 5 may be added to the tensioning structure 3 to further improve the strength of the structure, including the tensile strength of the welded belts 3

31. To add at least one reinforcement beam 5 to bulk material 30, the reinforcing beams 5 are placed perpendicular to the plurality of bundles 32, with the backrest on the corresponding welded belts 31. The upper die B2 of the welding machine 40 is pressed down for a permanent connection of the welded belts 31 both to the reinforcing bundles 5 as well as a plurality of bundles 32 as described above. The reinforcing beams 5 are shown in Fig. 3, but omitted in Fig. 4 for greater clarity.

[0051] As shown in Fig. 4, the tensioning structures 30 are arranged within the band 4 and welded to the lower and upper sheet 1, 2. Although shown as perpendicular to the sheets 1, 2 in Fig. 4, the welded strips 31 after the welding lies flat on the sheets 1, 2, as shown in the bottom part of fig. 1. Similarly, in the mattresses 10 according to FIGS. 6, 21, 23 and 28, the welded strips 31 are shown perpendicular to the sheets 1, 2 but lying flat. on sheets 1, 2 after welding, as shown at the bottom of Figure 1.

[0052] As shown in Figs. 8 and 9, bulk material 30 (Fig. 9) can be formed using a single layer of welded strips 31 connected to bundles 32. In another example shown in Fig. 10 and

11, the bulk material 30 can be produced as a two-layer structure, using welded belts both above and below the bundles 32. Using two opposite ones

-12ΕΡ 2 674 072 Β1 welded belts includes gripping for "catching" and capturing the bundles 32 between them, which contributes to a stronger connection strength When used in an inflatable product, the resultant double-layered tensioning structure 3 has greater strength and can be welded to upper or lower material 1, 2 (Figures 1, 3 and 4) on each side As shown in Figures 10 and 11 and described above, at least one reinforcement beam 5 can also be gripped between welded belts 31.

2. Tendon-supported tensioning structures with attached beams [0053] Alternatively, the tensioning structure shown in Figs. 12 and 13 is shown as a tensioning structure 103. The structure 103 is substantially similar to the tensioning construction 3 described above, with reference numerals used in structure 103 analogous to the numbering The structure elements 103 correspond to similar elements marked with the reference numerals of structure 3, except if otherwise stated. The tensioning structure 103 comprises a plurality of bundles 32 which are spaced evenly and spaced substantially parallel to each other. self, in a manner similar to the tensioning construction 3 described above. However, the tensioning structure 103 includes a welded belt 131, at the site of the welded strips 31 of the structure 3. Instead of affixing the ends of the bundles 32 to the welded belt 31, the entire lengths of bundles 32 are attached to the welded strip 131. The welded sheet 131 is provided to ensure proper placement and protection of the plurality of bundles 32, e.g. to avoid loops or damage bundles 32 during practical use. Since the tensioning structure 103 includes the beams 32 embedded therein, the welded sheet 131 does not have to transmit significant tensile loads and can be kept in a minimum thickness. For example, the welded sheet 131 may be 0.10 millimeters thick. The welded sheet 131 serves to ensure proper placement and protection of numerous bundles 32, for example to avoid loops or damage to beams 32 during practical use. Since the tensioning structure 103 includes the beams 32 embedded therein, the welded sheet 131 does not have to transmit significant tensile loads and can be kept in a minimum thickness. For example, the welded sheet 131 may be 0.10 millimeters thick. The welded sheet 131 serves to ensure proper placement and protection of numerous bundles 32, for example to avoid loops or damage to beams 32 during practical use. Since the tensioning structure 103 includes the beams 32 embedded therein, the welded sheet 131 does not have to transmit significant tensile loads and can be kept in a minimum thickness. For example, the welded sheet 131 may be 0.10 millimeters thick.

[0055] In FIGS. 12 and 13, a single welded sheet 131 is used, although other solutions are considered. Fig. 14 shows an example of a tensioning structure 103 (Fig. 13) with an additional welded sheet 131 applied against the first welded sheet 131. Similar to the example of the tensioning structure 3 using mutually opposed welded belts 31 (Figures 10 and 11), for bundling the beams 32, opposite welded strips 131 may be used.

[0056] Figs. 15 and 16 show a tensioning structure 203 that is substantially similar to the tensioning construction 3 described above, with the numbering of structure links 203 analogous to the numbering in structure 3, with the exception of the addition of the number 200. The structure elements 203 correspond to similar elements designated corresponding to The structure 203 shows a hybrid solution of the connecting elements of the tensioning structures 3 and 103, in which a plurality of welded strips 31 are used to enclose a portion of the bundles 32 between the strips 31 and the welded sheet 131.The addition of welded belts 31 to the welded sheet 131 improves the strength of the welded connection between the tensioning structure 203 and the adjoining material of the article (e.g. upper and / or lower material 1, 2 of the inflatable bed 10 as shown in Figures 2 and 3).

Fig. 17 shows a tensioning structure 303 that is substantially similar to the tensioning construction 3 described above, with the reference numbers used in the structure 303 analogous to the numbering in structure 3, with the exception of the addition of the number 300. The structure elements 303 correspond to similar elements designated corresponding to numeral references to structure 3, except if given

-13ΕΡ 2 674 072 Β1 differently. In addition, the structure 303 includes all components of the tensioning structure 203, but adds a second lower layer of straps 31 attached to the welded sheet 131 opposite the first top layer of welded strips 31. This is therefore a two-layered structure of opposite welded strips 31 further expanding the welded sheet 131, a tensioning structure 303 that is very strong and durable, both along the beam spacing 32 and in the weld between the bundles 32 and the adjoining material, e.g. material 1, 2 of the inflatable bed 10 (Figures 3 and 4).

[0058] Figures 18 and 19 show yet another tensioning structure 403. The tensioning structure 403 is substantially similar to the tensioning construction 3 described above, with the reference numbers used in the structure 403 analogous to the numbering in structure 3, with the exception of the addition of the number 400. Elements Constructions 403 correspond to similar elements identified by reference numerals in structure 3, except where otherwise stated. However, the numerous beams 32 used in structure 403 are discontinuous. As shown in Figs. 13 and 14, a plurality of bundles 32 may be cut to any desired length, and then attached to the heat-sealing sheet 131 by hot pressing. After mounting in the inflatable article, the attached bundles 32 can be cut lengthwise and welded in place as described above.

[0059] Alternatively, as shown in Fig. 20, each end of the welded sheet 131 (i.e. ends of bundles 32) may include reinforcement bundles 5 arranged similar to the tensioning structure 3 as described above. The amplifying beams 5 are omitted from FIG. 21 for clarity.

[0060] The structure supported by the sheet 103, 203, 303 and 403 in Figs. 12-19 can be integrated in the inflatable device in a similar manner as the tensioning structures 3 described above. For example, FIGS. 20 and 21 illustrate the integration of tensioning structures 103 in an inflatable bed 10, which was obtained in the same manner as described above.

[0061] The tensioning structures 103, 203, 303 and 403 can also be made in a variety of geometrical configurations as described above with respect to the tensioning structure 3. These configurations include a wavy path, an I-shaped path, a Z-shaped path or a V-shaped track. As shown in FIGS. 22 and 23, a cylindrical or columnar arrangement may also be used. In this arrangement, the welded sheet 131 (and upper and lower welded strips 31, if present) is buttressably connected at its ends to form an arcuate ring, for example a circular ring as shown in the drawing. The plurality of beams 32 cooperate with the material of the welded sheet 131 to form a closed perimeter of the column, thereby forming a columnar body.

[0062] Fig. 24 shows a device 120 for producing tensioning structures 103, 203, 303 or 403. A plurality of bundles 32 from a yarn store or other yarn storage container are introduced into the device 120 as described above with reference to device 20. Beam 32 provides continually through the beam guide A described above, which provides a uniformly spaced apart and parallel beam 32 to the sealer 140 placed below.

- 14EP 2 674 072 Β1 [0063] Welder 140 comprises conveying rollers C below the beam guide A, which continuously supply a welded sheet 131 with a sufficient width corresponding to the width of the plurality of bundles 32. Behind roller C, a plurality of bundles 32 are in the vicinity of the sheet or abut o welded sheet 131.

[0064] Next, the iwi beams 32 and the welded sheet 131 pass together through a hot roll D that heats and presses the material, so that the bundles 32 are attached to the softened material of the welded sheet 131. After passing through the roll D, the tensioning structure 103 is ready, like shown in Figure 13. The mass material of the tensioning structure 103 can be wound onto a take-up reel, for subsequent cutting of the tensioning structure 103 with a suitable dimension for a particular application.

[0065] By using a tensioning structure 103 for an inflatable article such as an inflatable bed 10 (Figures 21 and 22), the welded sheet 131 may have a relatively small thickness given the internal pressure level (and therefore the stresses) expected to be transmitted by structure 103 during pumping and use of the product. For example, the thickness may be reduced by 20% -40% compared to known internal tensioning structures without bundles 32. Since the beams 32 are positioned and configured to carry the tensile loads present in the tensioning structure 103, the welded sheet 131 is only to ensure correct alignment and securing a plurality of bundles 32 to avoid looping or damaging the bundles 32 during practical use,

[0066] In the case where a second welded sheet 131 is added to the tensioning structure 103, as shown in Fig. 14 and described above, a second roll C (not shown) can be used opposite the roll C shown in Fig. 24, thereby rolls C will be arranged on both sides of the bundles

32. Both welded sheets 131 then pass through a hot roll D, gripping bundles 32 between two layers of plastic sheets.

[0067] In the case where a plurality of welded bands 31 are added to create the tensioning structure 203 as shown in Figs. 15 and 16 and described above, then the tensioning structure 103 can be further processed in the device 120 using the device 20, as shown in FIG. 7 and described above. When the blank sheet equivalent to the tensioning structure 103 exits the hot rollers D, one or more reinforcement strips 31 can be added on one or both sides of the blank. If desired or desired, at least one reinforcement beam 5 can be added so that the reinforcing beams 5 are perpendicular to the plurality of bundles 32 as described in detail above.

[0068] When welded belts 31 are added to both sides of the sheet blank to form a tensioning structure 303, a method similar to the one above is used, in which the product blank after additional rollers D receives additional welded bands 31. However, the welded bands 31 are added on on both sides, instead of on one side, in accordance with a method for producing a two-layer version of bulk material 30 using a welder 40 as described above. Of course, at least one reinforcing beam 5 may be added in a similar manner as described above.

3. Welded belts connected by V-shaped beams [0069] Figs. 25 and 26 show an alternatively arranged tensioning structure as a tensioning structure 503. The structure 503 is substantially similar to the tensioning structure 3 described above,

-15ΕΡ 2 674 072 Β1 with the numbering of construction links 503 analogous to the numbering of the links used in structure 3, except for the addition of the number 500. The structure elements 503 correspond to similar elements marked with the corresponding numerals of structure 3, except if otherwise stated.

[0070] However, the beam 532 in the tensioning structure 503 has a V-shaped zigzag pattern and can be formed from a single beam wound back and forth instead of using, for example, a plurality of discrete and separate bundles in the tensioning structure 3. As described below in the context of the method To manufacture the tensioning structure 503, the beam 532 may be a single, continuous woven beam between the welded belts 31, 3Γ with the top of each "V" attached to at least one of the welded belts 31, 31 '.

the hooked members 541 are spaced uniformly from each other and positioned on the outer sides of the lower pair of welded belts 31, with each row of hooked members 541 being offset from the second row. In this arrangement, the continuous beam 532 forms a plurality of V-shaped butt-bending beams as they are wrapped around successive hooked elements 541 in alternating rows, as shown. This means that the top of each "V" is formed on the respective hooked members 541, and the vertices of the subsequent members following the continuous beam 532 are arranged alternately between the rows of hooked members 541. when they are wrapped around consecutive hooked elements 541 in alternating rows, as shown. This means that the top of each "V" is formed on the respective hooked members 541, and the vertices of the subsequent members following the continuous beam 532 are arranged alternately between the rows of hooked members 541. when they are wrapped around consecutive hooked elements 541 in alternating rows, as shown. This means that the top of each "V" is formed on the respective hooked members 541, and the vertices of the subsequent members following the continuous beam 532 are arranged alternately between the rows of hooked members 541.

[0073] Next, the second pair of welded belts 3Γ are respectively placed on the first pair of welded belts 31 and attached to it so that each vertex "V" formed by the beam 532 is placed between the top of the first pair of welded belts 31 and the adjacent top of the second weld pair. The second pair of welded strips 31 'can also be unwound from 550 unwind devices.

[0074] Finally, the adjoining pairs of welded belts 31, 31 'are connected to each other and to the beam 532, e.g. by welding or by one of the other joining methods described above. For example, the welded belts 31, 31 'can be connected by a high-frequency resistor welding machine or another thermofusion device.

[0075] As with other tensioning constructions discussed above, the tension structure 503 can be manufactured and stored as bulk material and later used for various inflatable products. The length and width of the tensioning structure 503 can be cut to match the internal length or width of the inflatable article.

[0076] In one alternative example, provision of a second layer of welded belts 31 'may not be necessary and instead may only be applied to the first layer of welded belts 31 to the beam 532. Attaching the beam 532 to a single layer of welded belts 31 can be

-16ΕΡ 2 674 072 Β1 in a similar way as in the embodiments for the single-layer welded strip and welded sheet described above.

[0077] As shown in Figs. 30-32, the tensioning structure 503 may also be provided with at least one reinforcing beam 5 extending along the longitudinal axis of at least one of the welded belts 31, 31 '. Similar to the use of the reinforcing beam 5 in the examples described above, the reinforcing beams 5 can be placed on one of the welded belts 31 of the lower pair and / or between the lower and upper pair of welded belts 31, 31 '.

[0078] The tensioning structure of the present disclosure, including the tensioning structures 3, 103, 203, 303, 403 and 503 described above, has high tensile strength in the axial direction of webs 32, 532 passing between corresponding welded belts and / or along welded sheets. Such a high tensile strength complements the full weld strength between the adjacent material of the inflatable product, which is facilitated by the full contact of the surface provided by the front joining of the welded strip and / or the welded sheet between the bundles 32, 532 and the adjacent material. In this way, the tensioning structure duly forms the internal structure of the inflatable article, while allowing a general reduction in mass and a deflated / folded volume of the article to be inflated, e.g.

[0079] When welding sheets 131 are used, they act to ensure a consistent position and arrangement of the plurality of bundles 32 (or 532), and thus prevent the bundles from being rolled up or entangled in another manner. The welded strips 31 can be used to form a strong structure for welding the tensioning structure in an inflatable product, thereby ensuring a high tensile strength realized by the bundles of the tensioning structure. In addition, the use of the welded sheet 131 can significantly reduce the mass of the entire inflatable product compared to a traditional, relatively thicker one-piece sheet, which is also responsible for transferring the tensile load (in other words,

[0080] As shown in Fig. 33, the tensioning structures 3 form a gap 39 between adjacent tensioning structures 3. As discussed above, the beams 32 have a length 37 which is close to the height 37 of the tensioning structures 3 when the mattress 10 is inflated. During the construction of typical mattresses using PVC tensioning structures (not shown), the height of the PVC tensioning structures is practically limited by the distance between neighboring PVC tensioning structures. This limitation results from a typical manufacturing method in which all PVC tensioning structures are leveled on the bottom sheet 2 and at the same time welded to the lower sheet 2. If PVC tensioning structures are too high, they will overlap the adjacent PVC tensioning structures, causing welding together of neighboring tensioning structures with PVC, which interferes with the operation of these structures. To increase the height of PVC tensioning structures, these constructions can be folded into fields along their length when welding one edge. By assembling PVC tensioning structures, the maximum height can be increased to slightly less than twice the distance between adjacent PVC tensioning structures (e.g. 15 mm less

-17EP 2 674 072 Β1 than twice the height of the PVC tensioning structure). Creating more than one bend is not practicable.

[0081] Because the slit portions 33 in the tensioning structures 3 are made of bundles 32 instead of the typical PVC sheets described above, they are therefore much more flexible than in typical PVC tensioning constructions. As a result of this flexibility, mattresses 10 with a height of 37, which is greater than twice the spacing 39 between adjacent tensioning structures 3, can be easily produced.

[0082] During production, the welded belts 31 of each of the plurality of tensioning structures 3 are aligned in their respective position for welding with the lower sheet 1. The other welded belts 31 of these tensioning structures 3 are transferred in the vicinity of the belt 31 to be welded as shown in FIG. .

33. Because of their flexibility, the beams 32 stack on themselves and on top of adjacent bundles 32, which facilitates stacking of multiple layers of bundles 32 on top of one another. By allowing multiple layers of bundles 32 to be stacked on top of each other, the height 37 of the tensioning structures 3 can be greater than the double distance 39 between the tensioning structures 3. The length of the bundles 32 can be 2, 2.5, 3, 3.5, 4, 4.5, 5, 5.5, 6 or more times longer than the spacing 39 between the tensioning structures 3.

[0083] As shown in Fig. 33, loops 41 are formed in bundles 32 during deflection, and portions of bundles 32 may be placed under belt 31, which is not welded at this time. Although each bundle 32 shown in Fig. 33 has only one loop 41 and overlaps only one other beam 32, each bundle 32 can have a plurality of loops 41, and can overlap a plurality of other bundles 32, especially when the distance between the beams 32 along the welded belts 31 is shorter than the distance shown in Fig. 33.

[0084] In addition to the deflection system shown in Fig. 33 to facilitate welding of the strips 31 to the lower sheet 2, other orientations of the long bundles 32 may be used to prevent overlapping of parts of one tensioning structure 3 on the adjacent tensioning structure 3 during welding. For example, as shown in Fig. 35, the bundles can be piled up to allow the welded belts 31 to move each of the tensioning structures 3 in their vicinity. Stack stacks 43 allow reducing the distance between the welded belts 31 when the welded belts 31 move together. According to another example, the welded belts 31 of each tensioning structure 3 are moved along the range or length of the tensioning structures 3, as shown in Fig. 36. The offset results in the formation of sharp beam angles 32 with the welded belts 31 and makes it possible to reduce the distance between the welded belts 31. By adapting the beams 32 which are longer than the distance between adjacent tensioning structures 3, the tensioning structures 3 can be higher without interference of the welding of the tensioning structures 3 to upper and lower sheets 1, 2. As mentioned above, the beams 32 may be longer than shown in Figs. 33-36. With longer bundles 32, more loops or larger loops 41 (Figure 33), larger and / or higher stacks 43 (Figure 35) or larger offset (Figure 36) may be used to accommodate longer bundles 32 to avoid overlapping tensioning structures. 3 during welding. which are longer than the distance between adjacent tensioning structures 3, the tensioning structures 3 may be higher without interference of the welding of the tensioning structures 3 to the upper and lower sheets 1, 2. As mentioned above, the beams 32 may be longer than shown in Figures 33-36 . With longer bundles 32, more loops or larger loops 41 (Figure 33), larger and / or higher stacks 43 (Figure 35) or larger offset (Figure 36) may be used to accommodate longer bundles 32 to avoid overlapping tensioning structures. 3 during welding. which are longer than the distance between adjacent tensioning structures 3, the tensioning structures 3 may be higher without interference of the welding of the tensioning structures 3 to the upper and lower sheets 1, 2. As mentioned above, the beams 32 may be longer than shown in Figures 33-36 . With longer bundles 32, more loops or larger loops 41 (Figure 33), larger and / or higher stacks 43 (Figure 35) or larger offset (Figure 36) may be used to accommodate longer bundles 32 to avoid overlapping tensioning structures. 3 during welding.

[0085] In preparation for transport or storage, the mattresses 10 are emptied. When emptying, the bundles 32 may be arranged as shown in Fig. 33. Furthermore, the bundles 32 of the adjoining tensioning structures 3 will contact each other and be interlaced with the bundles 32 of the tensioning structure 3 interposed between the beams 32 of the second tensioning structure. In addition, because the beams 32 are very flexible, they are easily collapsed when in contact with other structures when

-18ΕΡ 2 674 072 Β1 mattress 10 will be emptied for dispatch or storage. For example, when the beams 32 come into contact with the top or bottom sheet 1, 2 in the evacuated condition, they will be compatible with the top and bottom sheets 1, 2 to allow a more compact top and bottom sheet 1, 2. At least partially due to this density, the total volume of the emptied mattress 10 will be reduced compared to mattresses with tensioning structures made of PVC sheets. When the sunken beams 32 from the tensioning structure 3 are interlaced with beams 32 from the same tensioning structure 3, loops 41 may be formed, stacks 43 may be formed and / or the bundles 32 may be angled to the welded belts 31 in a manner similar to shown in Fig. 36.

The total volume of a folded or emptied mattress 10 can be 8-25% smaller than a comparable mattress with tensioning structures made of a PVC sheet. Preferably, the volume is about 16% lower.

[0087] The tensioning structure of the inflatable product according to the present disclosure is also an economical solution for imparting the desired structure and shape of the inflatable device. For example, a large reduction in the amount of PVC material can be achieved by using the current tensioning structure compared to a one-piece sheet of similar size and tensile strength.

[0088] Although the disclosure has been described as having exemplary designs, they may be further modified within the scope and scope of the invention.

This application is therefore intended to protect all variants, applications or adaptations of the disclosure, using its general principles. Furthermore, the present application is also intended to protect such deviations from the present disclosure which fall within known or common practice in the field to which this disclosure belongs.