Tensioning member for inflatable product, and inflatable product

Abstract

An inflatable product includes a top sheet and a bottom sheet at least partially defining an inflatable chamber. The inflatable product also includes a tensioning member which includes a first belt having a first top extension, a first bottom extension, and a first base extending between the first top extension and the first bottom extension. The tensioning member also includes a second belt having a second top extension, a second bottom extension, and a second base extending between the second top extension and the second bottom extension. The first top extension of the first belt and the second top extension of the second belt are attached to the top sheet, and the first bottom extension of the first belt and the second bottom extension of the second belt are attached to the bottom sheet. The first base and second base each have two side edges with arcuate-shaped recesses.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An inflatable product, comprising:
 a top sheet;   a bottom sheet disposed opposite the top sheet, the top sheet and the bottom sheet at least partially defining an inflatable chamber;   a tensioning member including:
 a first belt having a first top extension, a first bottom extension, and a first base extending between the first top extension and the first bottom extension; and 
 a second belt having a second top extension, a second bottom extension, and a second base extending between the second top extension and the second bottom extension; 
   wherein the first top extension of the first belt and the second top extension of the second belt are attached to the top sheet, and the first bottom extension of the first belt and the second bottom extension of the second belt are attached to the bottom sheet; and   wherein the first base and second base each have two side edges with arcuate-shaped recesses.   
     
     
         2 . The inflatable product of  claim 1 , wherein the first belt and the second belt are symmetrically arranged with respect to each other to define a quadrilateral-shaped cross-section. 
     
     
         3 . The inflatable product of  claim 1 , wherein the two side edges of each of the first base and the second base each extend between a respective one of the first top extension or the second top extension and a respective one of the first bottom extension or the second bottom extension. 
     
     
         4 . The inflatable product of  claim 1 , wherein the first top extension of the first belt is welded to the top sheet along a first seam, and the second top extension of the second belt is welded to the top sheet along a second seam. 
     
     
         5 . The inflatable product of  claim 4 , wherein the first top extension and the second top extension are connected to one another along a third seam. 
     
     
         6 . The inflatable product of  claim 5 , wherein the first seam of the first top extension and second seam of the second top extension are each arch-shaped. 
     
     
         7 . The inflatable product of  claim 6 , wherein there are two gaps between the first seam of the first top extension and the second seam of the second top extension, and wherein the third seam goes through the two gaps. 
     
     
         8 . The inflatable product of  claim 1 , wherein the first bottom extension of the first belt is welded to the bottom sheet along a fourth seam, and the second bottom extension of the second belt is welded to the bottom sheet along a fifth seam. 
     
     
         9 . The inflatable product of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first base or the second base includes a hole therethrough. 
     
     
         10 . The inflatable product of  claim 1 , wherein each of the first base and the second base includes a hole therethrough. 
     
     
         11 . The inflatable product of  claim 10 , wherein the hole through at least one of the first base or the second base has a circular shape or an oval shape. 
     
     
         12 . The inflatable product of  claim 1 , wherein the first bottom extension of the first belt and the second bottom extension of the second belt are integrally formed from a single contiguous piece of material. 
     
     
         13 . The inflatable product of  claim 1 , wherein the first belt and a second belt are made from one of a PVC material or a Tarpaulin material. 
     
     
         14 . The inflatable product of  claim 2 , wherein the tensioning member is one of a plurality of tensioning members, wherein each tensioning member has an axial length along an axis extending orthogonally through a center of the quadrilateral-shaped cross-section of the tensioning member;
 and wherein the axial length of each tensioning member is less than a height of the tensioning member between the top sheet and the bottom sheet.   
     
     
         15 . The inflatable product of  claim 2 , wherein the tensioning member extends along an axis extending orthogonally through a center of the quadrilateral-shaped cross-section of the tensioning member. 
     
     
         16 . The inflatable product of  claim 15 , wherein the tensioning member is one of a first plurality of tensioning members and the tensioning member is one of a second plurality of tensioning members; and
 wherein the inflatable product includes the first plurality of tensioning members each spaced apart from one another along the axis, and the inflatable product includes the second plurality of tensioning members each spaced apart from one another along a line extending orthogonally with respect to the axis.   
     
     
         17 . The inflatable product of  claim 1 , wherein the inflatable product is one of an inflatable mattress, an inflatable sofa, an inflatable pool, or an inflatable toy. 
     
     
         18 . An inflatable product, comprising:
 a top sheet;   a bottom sheet disposed opposite the top sheet, the top sheet and the bottom sheet at least partially defining an inflatable chamber;   a tensioning member including:
 a first belt having a first top extension, a first bottom extension, and a first base extending between the first top extension and the first bottom extension; and 
 a second belt having a second top extension, a second bottom extension, and a second base extending between the second top extension and the second bottom extension; 
   wherein the first top extension of the first belt and the second top extension of the second belt are attached to the top sheet, and the first bottom extension of the first belt and the second bottom extension of the second belt are attached to the bottom sheet; and   wherein the first belt and the second belt are symmetrically arranged with respect to each other to define a generally annular cross-section.   
     
     
         19 . The inflatable product of  claim 18 , wherein the first base and second base each have two side edges, with each of the two side edges defining an arcuate-shaped recess. 
     
     
         20 . The inflatable product of  claim 18 , wherein the generally annular cross-section is a quadrilateral-shaped cross-section. 
     
     
         21 . The inflatable product of  claim 18 , wherein the tensioning member extends along an axis extending orthogonally through a center of the generally annular cross-section of the tensioning member;
 wherein the tensioning member is one of a first plurality of tensioning members and the tensioning member is one of a second plurality of tensioning members; and   wherein the inflatable product includes the first plurality of tensioning members each spaced apart from one another along the axis, and the inflatable product includes the second plurality of tensioning members each spaced apart from one another along a line extending orthogonally with respect to the axis.   
     
     
         22 . The inflatable product of  claim 18 , wherein the inflatable product is one of an inflatable mattress, an inflatable sofa, an inflatable pool, or an inflatable toy.