Inflatable spa

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9468583-B2
Application number	US-201615001512-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 20, 2016
Priority date	Jul 18, 2013
Publication date	Oct 18, 2016
Grant date	Oct 18, 2016

Abstract

An inflatable spa is disclosed having improved strength. The inflatable spa may include a plurality of tensioning structures located in an air chamber and coupled to first and second walls of the inflatable spa. Each tensioning structure may include a plurality of holes. A water cavity of the inflatable spa may receive massaging air bubbles and/or jetted water.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An inflatable product comprising:
a first wall;
a second wall;
an inflatable air chamber defined between the first and second walls; and
a plurality of discrete tensioning structures located in the air chamber and coupled to the first and second walls, each tensioning structure comprising a porous sheet and opposing attachment layers, the porous sheet including:
a first side;
a second side opposite the first side, wherein the opposing attachment layers are disposed against the first and second sides of the porous sheet such that the porous sheet is sandwiched between the opposing attachment layers;
a first plurality of holes arranged along a horizontal axis such that the horizontal axis intersects the first plurality of holes, the first plurality of holes extending through the porous sheet from the first side to the second side; and
a second plurality of holes arranged along a vertical axis such that the vertical axis intersects the second plurality of holes, the vertical axis extending between adjacent ones of the first plurality of holes without intersecting the first plurality of holes, the second plurality of holes extending through the porous sheet from the first side to the second side.

2. The inflatable product of claim 1 , wherein the first and second walls are perpendicular to the horizontal axis and parallel to the vertical axis.

3. The inflatable product of claim 1 , wherein the horizontal axis extends between adjacent ones of the second plurality of holes without intersecting the second plurality of holes.

4. The inflatable product of claim 1 , wherein the horizontal axis intersects the vertical axis at a location between adjacent ones of the first plurality of holes and between adjacent ones of the second plurality of holes.

5. The inflatable product of claim 1 , wherein the second plurality of holes is distinct from the first plurality of holes.

6. The inflatable product of claim 1 , wherein the first and second plurality of holes are the same size and shape.

7. The inflatable product of claim 1 , wherein the porous sheet is constructed of cloth.

8. The inflatable product of claim 1 , further comprising:
a first intermediate connecting layer coupled to each tensioning structure and welded to the first wall; and
a second intermediate connecting layer coupled to each tensioning structure and welded to the second wall.

9. The inflatable product of claim 1 , wherein the product is a spa, the first wall is an internal wall of the spa, and the second wall is an external wall of the spa, the spa further comprising a bottom wall that cooperates with the internal wall to define a water cavity.

10. An inflatable product comprising:
a first wall;
a second wall;
an inflatable air chamber defined between the first and second walls;
at least one air vent in communication with the air chamber to inflate and deflate the inflatable product, wherein the inflatable product is configured to be folded when deflated; and
a plurality of tensioning structures located in the air chamber and coupled to the first and second walls, each tensioning structure comprising a porous sheet sandwiched between opposing attachment layers, wherein when the inflatable product is inflated, the porous sheet includes:
first portions of material that extend diagonally between the first and second walls;
second portions of material that extend diagonally between the first and second walls and intersect the first portions of material; and
a plurality of holes defined between the first and second portions of material.

11. The inflatable product of claim 10 , wherein:
the first portions of material extend diagonally upward between the first and second walls; and
the second portions of material extend diagonally downward between the first and second walls.

12. The inflatable product of claim 10 , wherein the holes are generally diamond-shaped.

13. The inflatable product of claim 10 , wherein the first and second portions of material are cloth.

14. The inflatable product of claim 10 , further comprising:
a first intermediate connecting layer coupled to each tensioning structure and welded to the first wall; and
a second intermediate connecting layer coupled to each tensioning structure and welded to the second wall.

15. The inflatable product of claim 10 , wherein the product is a spa, the first wall is an internal wall of the spa, and the second wall is an external wall of the spa, the spa further comprising a bottom wall that cooperates with the internal wall to define a water cavity.

16. An inflatable product comprising:
a first wall;
a second wall;
an inflatable air chamber defined between the first and second walls; and
a plurality of tensioning structures located in the air chamber and coupled to the first and second walls, each tensioning structure comprising a porous sheet sandwiched between opposing attachment layers, the porous sheet including:
a first plurality of holes arranged in a first row parallel to the first and second walls, wherein the opposing attachment layers are coupled together through at least one of the first plurality of holes; and
a second plurality of holes arranged in a second row parallel to the first and second walls, wherein the second plurality of holes is offset from the first plurality of holes in a direction parallel to the first and second walls, wherein the opposing attachment layers are coupled together through at least one of the second plurality of holes.

17. The inflatable product of claim 16 , wherein the tensioning structure further comprises a third plurality of holes arranged in a third row parallel to the first and second walls, wherein the third plurality of holes is aligned with the first plurality of holes and offset from the second plurality of holes.

18. The inflatable product of claim 17 , wherein the second plurality of holes is located between the first and third plurality of holes.

19. The inflatable product of claim 16 , wherein the porous sheet is constructed of cloth.

20. The inflatable product of claim 16 , wherein the product is a spa, the first wall is an internal wall of the spa, and the second wall is an external wall of the spa, the spa further comprising a bottom wall that cooperates with the internal wall to define a water cavity.

21. The inflatable product of claim 1 , wherein the opposing attachment layers are coupled together through the first and second plurality of holes in the porous sheet.

22. The inflatable product of claim 1 , wherein an outer perimeter of the porous sheet further includes a plurality of open spaces.

23. The inflatable product of claim 10 , wherein the opposing attachment layers are coupled together through the plurality of holes defined between the first and second portions of material.

24. The inflatable product of claim 10 , wherein the first and second portions of material further define a plurality of open spaces along an outer perimeter of each tensioning structure.

25. The inflatable product of claim 16 , wherein an outer perimeter of the porous sheet further includes a plurality of open spaces.

26. The inflatable product of claim 1 , wherein the opposing attachment layers include:
a first attachment layer disposed on the first side of the porous sheet; and
a second attachment layer disposed on the second side of the porous sheet and contacting the first attachment la

Assignees

• Intex Recreation Corp
• Intex Marketing Ltd

Inventors

• Lin Hua Hsiang
• Hsu Yaw Yuan

Classifications

• Y10T29/49826

  Assembling or joining · CPC title

• A61H2033/023

  with means in the air supply lines to prevent back-feed of water, e.g. anti-backflow valves, draining devices · CPC title

• A61H33/028 Primary

  Means for producing a flow of gas, e.g. blowers, compressors · CPC title

• A47K3/06

  Collapsible baths {, e.g. inflatable; Movable baths} · CPC title

• A61H33/0087

  Therapeutic baths with agitated or circulated water · CPC title