U.S. patent application number 11/041889 was filed with the patent office on 2005-08-18 for volume-flexible body.
Invention is credited to Bichler, Thomas, Dorfler, Erich.
Application Number | 20050177947 11/041889 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 34831645 |
Filed Date | 2005-08-18 |
United States Patent
Application |
20050177947 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Dorfler, Erich ; et
al. |
August 18, 2005 |
Volume-flexible body
Abstract
A volume-flexible body that can be filled with fluid including
sheets preferably welded along the circumferential edges made
preferably of synthetic material whereby the sheets form
additionally a hinged section along which the sheets are folded
forming at least two sections of the inflatable body lying
partially on top of one another, and whereby a conduit is formed
extending at least through the hinged area between the two sections
of the fillable body. At least one element (7, 9) is provided in
the length of the conduit (4), which keeps the plastic sheets at a
distance apart across at least a part of the width of the conduit
(4) even in the deflated condition of the body (K) to decrease the
flow resistance between the sections of the body as much as
possible and to guarantee a simple and smooth fluid exchange even
at a small pressure difference.
Inventors: |
Dorfler, Erich; (Landsberg,
DE) ; Bichler, Thomas; (Penzberg, DE) |
Correspondence
Address: |
DYKEMA GOSSETT PLLC
FRANKLIN SQUARE, THIRD FLOOR WEST
1300 I STREET, NW
WASHINGTON
DC
20005
US
|
Family ID: |
34831645 |
Appl. No.: |
11/041889 |
Filed: |
January 25, 2005 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
5/655.3 ;
5/654 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47C 27/085 20130101;
B60N 2/4415 20130101; B60N 2/914 20180201 |
Class at
Publication: |
005/655.3 ;
005/654 |
International
Class: |
A47C 027/08 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jan 29, 2004 |
AU |
A 122/2004 |
Claims
1. A volume-flexible body that can be filled with fluid consisting
of sheets preferably welded along the circumferential edges made
preferably of synthetic material whereby said sheets form
additionally a hinged section along which the sheets are folded
forming at least two sections of the inflatable body lying
partially on top of one another, and whereby a conduit is formed
extending at least through the hinged area between the two sections
of the fillable body, characterized in that there is provided at
least one element (7, 9, 11) within the length of the conduit (4)
which keeps the sheets apart across at least a part of the width of
the conduit (4) in the deflated condition of the body (K).
2. A body according to claim 1, wherein the conduit (4) is
laterally defined by the welding beads (7) created during the
joining of the sheets and whereby said welding beads (7) maintain a
space between the sheets at least in the close vicinity (8)
thereof.
3. A body according to claim 2, wherein welding beads (7) are
formed in a thicker manner than needed for a secure bond between
the sheets lying on top of one another.
4. A body according to claim 3, wherein additional welding beads,
extending essentially in longitudinal direction of the conduit (4),
are provided between the existing welding beads (7) laterally
defining the conduit (4).
5. A body according to claim 1, wherein at least one spacer element
(9) is inserted into the conduit (4).
6. A body according to claim 5, wherein said spacer element can be
formed with an additional piece of sheeting (9) inserted between
the sheet sections forming the conduit (4) and whereby said piece
of sheeting has slots (10) or grooves extending in longitudinal
direction of said conduit.
7. A body according to claim 5, wherein a spacer element is formed
by a narrow body extending essentially in longitudinal direction of
the conduit (4).
8. A body according to claim 5, wherein at least one spacer element
made of permeable material is inserted into the conduit (4).
9. A body according to claim 1, wherein one sheet defining the body
(K), preferably the sheet lying at the outer side after the folding
of the body (K), is wider at least in the area of the conduit (4)
than the opposed sheet which forms one or a plurality of arches
(11) for the formation of one or all conduits (4, 4a).
10. A body according to claim 9, wherein additional welding beads
(7a) are provided between each pair of the multiple arches (11).
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The invention relates to a volume-flexible body that can be
filled with fluid including sheets preferably welded along the
circumferential edges made preferably of synthetic material whereby
the sheets form additionally a hinged section along which the
sheets are folded forming at least two sections of the inflatable
body lying partially on top of one another, and whereby a conduit
is formed extending at least through the hinged area between the
two sections of the fillable body.
THE PRIOR ART
[0002] A body of this type is exemplary disclosed in DE 203 07 1633
U1 as a support cushion for a motor vehicle seat. The described
support cushion includes two cushion elements which are connected
to one another at the edge by a common hinge and which are placed
on top of each other, at least partially, in their use. The hinge
can be made thereby of the sheet material forming the cushion
element whereby fluid communication can be provided between the two
cushion elements by means of the hinge or a connecting conduit
according to the invention. The connecting conduit can be formed by
the sheet section which additionally connects the two cushion
elements to the hinge.
[0003] In the area of the hinge and/or in the area of the separate
conduit, which is curved at a small radius in the same manner as
the hinge, there is created a tensile stress within the outer sheet
while a compressive strain is created within the inner sheet. This
has the result that the sheets are pressed against each other with
a relatively strong force. The connecting conduit has therefore a
high resistance relative to the flow of fluid, which represents a
very negative effect especially during filling or emptying via a
single fluid supply element as well as for pressure compensation
between the two cushion elements. The contact pressure of the
sheets can only be overcome with a specific interior pressure;
however, a relatively rapid and almost shock-like fluid exchange
takes place in this case. To this end, complete emptying of the
body is almost impossible since resistance of the connecting
conduit cannot be overcome below a certain residual pressure.
Proper functioning is thereby not guaranteed in such cases.
[0004] It was therefore the object of the invention to design a
body of the aforementioned type in such a manner that the flow
resistance between the sections of the body is reduced as much as
possible and whereby a simple and smooth fluid exchange is
guaranteed between the sections even at low pressure
differences.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] For the achievement of this object, the cushion body is
characterized in that there is provided at least one element within
the length of the conduit which keeps the sheets apart across at
least a part of the width of the conduit in the deflated condition
of the body. The fluid connection between the sections of the body
is always kept open thereby, even in the case of a highly curved or
buckled hinge or in the case of a separate conduit. A body designed
in this manner offers smooth pressure compensation and a smooth
fluid exchange between its sections and makes possible smooth and
even filling as well as complete emptying by means of only one
fluid supply element during the filling process and the complete
emptying process.
[0006] The body is additionally characterized according to the
invention in that the conduit is laterally defined by the welding
beads created during the joining of the sheets whereby the welding
beads maintain a space between the sheets at least in the close
vicinity thereof. A smooth fluid exchange can be guaranteed at any
time in a simple manner already during the course of manufacturing
of the body and its sections.
[0007] In case of sheet materials whereby only less distinctly
formed welding beads are created, it can be achieved through
special manufacturing steps that welding beads are formed in a
thicker manner than needed for a secure bond between the sheets
lying on top of one another.
[0008] To keep open even larger cross sections of the conduit for
the fluid exchange, according a further advantageous embodiment
additional welding beads, extending essentially in longitudinal
direction of the conduit, are provided between the existing welding
beads laterally defining the conduit.
[0009] In the case where there are no welding beads created, based
on the type of the employed material and/or based on the type of
manufacturing process, there is at least one spacer element
inserted into the conduit according to another inventive embodiment
of the fillable body to keep the conduit open in any condition for
the fluid exchange between the sections.
[0010] The spacer element can thereby be formed by an additional
piece of sheeting inserted between the sheet sections forming the
conduit whereby the piece of sheeting has slots or grooves
extending in longitudinal direction of the conduit and whereby its
edges keep the sheets at a distance apart from one another so that
fluid exchange is ensured thereby. Joining of the sides of the
slots or grooves to each other can be an advantage in manufacturing
and for the stability of the spacer element.
[0011] Another spacer element is proposed having a similar effect
as the welding bead extending in longitudinal direction of the
conduit, which is formed by a narrow piece extending essentially in
longitudinal direction of the conduit as well.
[0012] Alternatively thereto, at least one spacer element can be
inserted into the conduit whereby the spacer element is made of
permeable material according to an additional characteristic of the
invention. For example, conceivable would be elements made of foam,
porous materials, preferably synthetic materials, or woven or
interlaced material inserted between the plastic sheets.
[0013] It is proposed according to an additional advantageous
embodiment of the invention that one sheet defining the body,
preferably the sheet lying at the outer side after the folding of
the body, is wider at least in the area of the conduit than the
opposed sheet which forms one or a plurality of arches for the
formation of one or all conduits. The excess width of the wider
sheet material, as compared to the narrower sheet, can be
considered as the additional element. This difference in width
leads to the fact that the sheets are not pressed against one
another during folding or bending of the connecting area. The
formation of waves can possibly occur in the wider sheet--in this
case, a plurality of juxtaposed conduits are created remaining open
at all times. The formation of arches or waves in the wider sheets
can be enhanced through the careful use of a tool to manufacture
the body.
[0014] It can be proposed as an additional characteristic in the
case of wave formation of the wider sheet that additional welding
beads are provided between each pair of the multiple arches. The
arches improve the open position of the parallel conduits whereby
the arches keep the sheets at a distance apart at the vicinity of
the welding bead.
[0015] The invention is described in more detail in the following
description with the aid of embodiment examples illustrated in the
accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0016] FIG. 1 shows a support cushion for a vehicle seat consisting
of two folded sheets forming a bubble as an example of a body that
can be filled with fluid;
[0017] FIG. 2 is an illustration of the bubble made of plastic
sheeting of FIG. 1 in an unfolded condition;
[0018] FIG. 3 shows a detail of the curved conduit between the two
sections of a cushion body similar to the one in FIG. 1 and FIG.
2;
[0019] FIG. 4 shows a detail of a conduit in the unfolded
condition;
[0020] FIG. 5 is an illustration of the conduit of FIG. 4 in a
curved condition similar to FIG. 3; and
[0021] FIGS. 6a and 6b show cross sections in the region of the
conduit as an additional embodiment of the cushion body according
to the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0022] FIG. 1 shows a volume-flexible body K that can be filled
with fluid in the shape of a curved bubble or similar support
cushion for installation into vehicle seats whereby the body K
consists of two opposed sheets preferably welded together along the
circumferential edge and made preferably of synthetic material. The
sheets form two sections 2, 3 lying on top of one another of the
inflatable body K through folding along a hinged area 1 whereby a
transverse conduit 4 is formed by the sheets at least in the hinged
area 1 between the two sections 2, 3 of the fillable body K.
Additional straps 5 in the hinged area 1 can fix the position of
the sections 2, 3 against one another. The upper section 2 and also
the lower section 3 of the body together with its conduit 4 is
filled and emptied as well by means of a fluid supply element 6,
preferably one made for compressed air.
[0023] The joining of the sheets of body K lying on top of one
another is performed in the illustrated example by welding under
the formation of a circumferential welding bead 7, which also
laterally defines the conduit 4. The welding bead 7 is formed
through displacement of the sheet material.
[0024] The conduit 4 is highly curved in the position of the body K
shown in FIG. 1 so that the sheets are pressed against one another
with a relatively strong force based on the tensile stress within
the outer sheet and the compressive strain within the inner sheet.
The distance between the sheets increases with the formation of the
welding bead 7 at the edge of the conduit 4. The sheets are also
kept at a distance apart directly adjacent to the welding beads 7
and thereby across at least a part of the width of the conduit 4
whereby the cross sections 8 of the conduit 4 are also kept open
even in a buckled or highly curved condition. The fluid connection
between the sections 2, 3 of the body K is thereby always kept
open.
[0025] Welding beads 7 can possibly be formed thicker than needed
for a secure bond of the sheets lying on top of one another. This
can be performed by means of a suitable shaped tool or through
excessive pressure between the sheets to be bonded during the
welding process together with a distinctively tooled shape
immediately in front of the welding edge so that the sheets can
form here the open cross section 8 of the conduit 4.
[0026] Additional welding beads can possibly be provided disposed
essentially parallel to the welding beads 7 near the edge and
extending essentially in longitudinal direction of the conduit
4.
[0027] Another embodiment is illustrated in FIG. 4 and FIG. 5
wherein a piece of sheet material 9, serving as a spacer, is
inserted into the conduit 4. This spacer 9 is inserted between the
sheets forming the body K and it can be fixed in a traditional
manner. The piece of sheet 9 is provided with slots 10 extending in
longitudinal direction of the conduit 4 to improve the flow in the
conduit.
[0028] A design is schematically illustrated in a cross-sectional
view in FIG. 6a wherein the outer sheet if of greater width than
the lower sheet after folding of the body (K). This effect can be
achieved by using materials of different width from the beginning
or by pushing the material together during the welding process. The
wider sheet forms thereby a least one arch 11 and forms thereby
also the conduit 4, which is kept open even during complete folding
of the connection area of the sections 2, 3 of the body K.
[0029] The formation of a plurality of arches 1 or waves is
possible as it is shown in the example of FIG. 6b. Several parallel
conduits 4a are formed thereby between said arches 11 along the
width of the connection area defined by the welding beads 7.
Additional welding beads 7a can be provided between each pair of
arches 11 to fix the arches 11 and to securely keep the conduits 4a
open.
* * * * *