Inflatable Air Cushion with Pressure Indicator

Abstract

The present invention concerns an inflatable air cushion with at least one pressure indicator, the cushion including an outer side and at least one chamber, the at least one chamber made up of one or more films that are joined, thereby forming one or more airtight chambers, the cushion furthermore including a valve opening for connecting an air supply line, the valve opening being accessible from the surface of the cushion. The invention furthermore relates to a method of inflating such an inflatable cushion with pressure indicator. The new feature of a cushion according to the invention is that the pressure indicator of the cushion includes at least one strap with a first end and a second end, the at least one strap arranged in relation to the surface of the cushion, where the at least one strap is surrounding the cushion entirely or partially, and where the at least one strap is adapted such that the physical appearance of the strap is changed at a given pressure in the cushion, thus constituting a pressure indicator.

Claims

1. An inflatable air cushion with at least one pressure indicator, the cushion including an outer side and at least one chamber, the at least one chamber made up of one or more films that are joined, thereby forming one or more airtight chambers, the cushion furthermore including a valve opening for connecting an air supply line, the valve opening being accessible from the surface of the cushion, wherein the pressure indicator of the cushion includes at least one strap with a first end and a second end, the at least one strap arranged in relation to the surface of the cushion, where the at least one strap is surrounding the cushion entirely or partially, and where the at least one strap is adapted such that the physical appearance of the strap is changed at a given pressure in the cushion, thus constituting a pressure indicator.

2. Inflatable cushion according to claim 1, wherein the at least one strap is fixed at one end thereof to the surface of the cushion by a first fixation, that the at least one strap is fixed at a second end thereof to the surface of the cushion by a second fixation, where the strap between the first end and the second end includes a central part, the length of the surface of the cushion between the first and the second fixations being greater than the length of the central part of the strap.

3. Inflatable cushion according to claim 1, wherein at least one strap at one end thereof is fixed to second end of the strap, where the strap between the first end and the second end includes a central part, the length of the surface of the cushion under the strap being greater than the length of the central part of the strap.

4. Inflatable cushion according to claim 3, wherein a strap includes joining means at the ends for joining the ends.

5. Inflatable cushion according to claim 1, wherein a strap includes a well-defined breaking zone.

6. Inflatable cushion according to claim 1, wherein a strap includes a pressure-dependent change zone.

7. Inflatable cushion according to claim 1, wherein a strap is made of a flexible polymer-opal material.

8. A method for inflating an inflatable cushion with pressure indicator according to claim 1, wherein the method includes at least the following steps: connecting an air supply line to the valve opening of the cushion; visual localisation of the position of the pressure indicator; inflating the cushion until an indication from the pressure indicator appears.

9. Method according to claim 7, wherein the method further includes at least one of the following steps: regulating the amount of air in the cushion by supplying additional air; regulating the amount of air in the cushion by discharging previously supplied air.

Description

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

[0053] The invention will now be explained below with reference to the drawing, where:

[0054] FIG. 1 shows a cushion with a fully surrounding strap.

[0055] FIG. 2 shows a cushion with a partially surrounding strap.

[0056] FIG. 3 shows a cushion with a different type of partially surrounding strap.

[0057] FIG. 4 shows a partially inflated cushion where the strap is not broken.

[0058] FIG. 5 shows a partially inflated cushion where the strap is broken.

[0059] FIG. 6 shows an unfolded cushion after inflating.

[0060] FIG. 7 shows an inflated cushion with a strap with one type of change zone.

[0061] FIG. 8 shows an inflated cushion with a strap with another type of change zone.

[0062] FIG. 9 shows a partially inflated cushion with a strap with an unbroken label.

[0063] FIG. 10 shows a partially inflated cushion with a strap with a broken label.

[0064] In the explanation of the Figures, identical or corresponding elements will be provided with the same designations in different Figures. Therefore, no explanation of all details will be given in connection with each single Figure/embodiment.

LIST OF DESIGNATIONS

[0065] 1 cushion

[0066] 2 strap

[0067] 3 breaking zone

[0068] 4 notch

[0069] 5 one end of the strap

[0070] 6 surface of the cushion

[0071] 7 other end of the strap

[0072] 8 Opening in the cushion

[0073] 9 change zone

[0074] 10 marking on the cushion

[0075] 11 zone marking on strap

[0076] 12 central zone

[0077] 13 intermediate zone

[0078] 14 outer zone

[0079] 15 label/joining means

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

[0080] In FIG. 1 appears an inflatable cushion 1, here shown in non-inflated condition. The cushion 1 is shown in simple form, and it should be envisaged that it is made of one or more plastic film layers that are folded and joined, thus forming an airtight chamber with a not shown valve opening. The cushion 1 is seen here in folded condition where it is shown with a surrounding strap 2 mounted thereon surrounding the entire cushion 1. A well-defined breaking zone 3 appears at the centre of the strap 2, the zone 3 characterised by formation of a notch 4 from either side of the strap, weakening the strap 2.

[0081] In FIG. 2 is seen an inflatable cushion 1 as in FIG. 1, but here in another embodiment where the strap 2 at one end 5 is fixed to the surface 6 of the cushion, and at its other end 7 also fixed to the surface 6 of the cushion. The strap 2 is here only partially surrounding the cushion 1 as the cushion 1 is made with a given excess length under the strap 2, whereby the strap 2 will break when the tension in the surface 6 of the cushion becomes too great during inflation.

[0082] In FIG. 3 appears a further variant of an inflatable cushion 1, also here shown in non-inflated condition. By this variant of the invention, the strap 2 does not surround the entire cushion 1, but only a part of it as the strap 2 is passed through an opening 8 in the cushion 1. The effect is, however, the same, and when the predetermined pressure is attained, the strap 2 is broken at the breaking zone 3, here also indicated by a notch 4.

[0083] The strap 2 may advantageously be made in a colour that clearly differs from the surface of the cushion such that it is easily located.

[0084] In FIG. 4, the cushion 1 is seen during filling with air or other medium. The cushion 1 is filled via the not shown valve opening, and as it appears it will gradually unfold, thereby increasing the tension in the strap 2 as seen in this Figure.

[0085] In FIG. 5 the cushion 1 is seen where the strap 2 has just broken, thereby indicating that the cushion 1 is correctly inflated. The shown variant corresponds to the cushion seen in FIG. 1, but the principle is of course the same for the cushion variants shown in FIGS. 2 and 3.

[0086] In FIG. 6 is seen a correctly inflated cushion 1 where the strap 2 is removed and the cushion 1 is ready for use.

[0087] FIG. 7 shows a partially inflated cushion, where the strap 2 includes a change zone 9 which, as the name indicates, changes appearance as the pressure increases inside the cushion. The change zone 9 can, as mentioned above, show a deformation or a change in colour. In this case it is a change zone where it is the degree of deformation that indicates a given pressure in the cushion 1. At the surface 6 of the cushion markings 10 are provided such that the width of the strap can be compared with the markings 10.

[0088] In FIG. 8 appears a cushion 1 where the strap 2 also includes change zones 9, but here it is a strap that at least partially consists of an elastic polymer-opal material that changes colour as a function of being stretched. The strap 2 is here shown with zone markings 11 indicating a central zone 12, two intermediate zones 13, one at each side of the central zone 12, and with two outer zones 14, one at each side of the two intermediate zones 13. When the pressure in the cushion 1 is increased or reduced, the strap 2 will indicate this by changing colour to a degree adapted thereto.

[0089] FIG. 9 shows the cushion 1 during filling with air or another medium. The cushion 1 is filled via the not shown valve opening, and as it appears will gradually unfold, thereby increasing the tension in the strap 2 as seen in this Figure. In this variant, the strap 2 is joined in that the two strap ends 5, 7 are joined with a joining label 15. It is to be noted that a corresponding solution can be applied to a strap as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3.

[0090] In FIG. 10 appears the cushion 1 where the joining label 15 has just broken, thereby indicating that the cushion 1 is correctly inflated. The shown variant corresponds to the cushion seen in FIG. 9, but the principle can, as mentioned, be applied to the cushion variants shown in FIGS. 2 and 3.

[0091] In both of FIGS. 9 and 10 showing the same embodiment in various situations, the strap appears with the ends 5, 7 abutting against each other and joined by a label 15, but an overlap between the two strap ends 5, 7 may readily be used where the joint is provided with a label as well.