TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present disclosure relates to an inflatable product and an object holding assembly applied in the inflatable product.

BACKGROUND

[0002] At present, most of the inflatable products on the market (such as inflatable swimming pools, etc.) are provided with an object holding assembly configured to hold a water cup or other objects. However, the mounting and manufacturing process of such object holding assembly is often complicated, especially when the inflatable product is formed by welding two or more inflatable airbags, it will be more difficult to manufacture the inflatable product and require more manufacturing cost and manufacturing time.

SUMMARY

[0003] Accordingly, it is necessary to provide an inflatable product and an object holding assembly applied in the inflatable product. The inflatable product and the object holding assembly applied in the inflatable product have a simple mounting and manufacturing process, and can greatly reduce the manufacturing cost and manufacturing time.

[0004] An object holding assembly applied in an inflatable product is provided. The inflatable product includes an inflatable sheet configured to enclose an inflatable cavity, and the inflatable sheet has a first fixing portion and a second fixing portion arranged opposite the first fixing portion. The object holding assembly includes an object holding cylinder and a locking mechanism.

[0005] The object holding cylinder has an object storage opening and an object storage cavity in communication with the object storage opening. An edge of the object storage opening is configured to be fixed to the first fixing portion.

[0006] The locking mechanism includes a first cooperation portion and a second cooperation portion that are cooperated and locked with each other. The first cooperation portion is arranged at an end of the object holding cylinder away from the object storage opening, and the second cooperation portion is arranged at the second fixing portion.

[0007] The aforementioned inflatable product has an inflatable sheet configured to enclose an inflatable cavity, and the inflatable sheet has a first fixing portion and a second fixing portion arranged opposite the first fixing portion. In the object holding assembly, a top portion of the object holding cylinder, that is, an edge of the object storage opening of the object holding cylinder, is fixed to the first fixing portion, and the object storage cavity of the support cylinder can be configured to hold a water cup, a mobile phone, a key or other objects. A bottom portion of the object holding cylinder, that is, an end of the object holding cylinder away from the object storage opening, is locked with the second fixing portion by the cooperation of the first cooperation portion and the second cooperation portion of the locking mechanism. As such, two ends of the object holding cylinder are respectively fixed to the first fixing portion and the second fixing portion, during the inflation and the use of the inflatable product, the object placed in the object holding cylinder will not be popped out from the object holding cylinder due to the change of the air pressure in the inflation cavity. The bottom portion of the object holding cylinder and the second fixing portion are fixed by the locking mechanism, and there is no need for the bottom portion of the object holding cylinder to be fixed to the second fixing portion by welding like the object holding cylinder in the conventional inflatable product. As such, in the processes of the mounting and manufacturing of the object holding assembly, the process of welding the bottom potion of the object holding cylinder and the second fixing portion can be omitted, thereby greatly simplifying the manufacturing process of the inflatable product, especially for the inflatable product with other inflatable airbags welded to the second fixing portion, which can greatly reduce the manufacturing cost and manufacturing time.

[0008] In one of the embodiments, the edge of the object storage opening is fixed to the first fixing portion by welding.

[0009] In one of the embodiments, the first cooperation portion is a male cooperation portion, and the second cooperation portion is a female cooperation portion.

[0010] In one of the embodiments, the first cooperation portion includes a plurality of first inserting portions, the plurality of first inserting portions are circumferentially spaced on an end of the object holding cylinder away from the object storage opening, the plurality of first inserting portions encloses an inserting groove, the second cooperation portion includes a plurality of second inserting portions, the plurality of second inserting portions are circumferentially spaced on the second fixing portion, and the plurality of second inserting portions can be inserted into the inserting grooves.

[0011] In one of the embodiments, an inner wall of each of the first inserting portions is provided with a first limiting rib, an outer wall of each of the second inserting portions is provided with a second limiting rib, and when the plurality of second inserting portions are inserted into the inserting groove, the first limiting rib and the second limiting rib abuts against a side of the second fixing portion close to the second fixing portion.

[0012] In one of the embodiments, the first cooperation portion is a snap-fit boss, the second cooperation portion is a snap-fit ring, a side of the snap-fit ring has a snap-fit gap, the snap-fit boss can be snapped in the snap-fit ring through the snap-fit gap.

[0013] In one of the embodiments, a side surface of the snap-fit boss is provided with a snap-fit rib circumferentially, an inner wall of the snap-fit ring is provided with a snap-fit groove circumferentially, and when the snap-fit boss is snapped in the snap-fit ring, the snap-fit rib is snapped in the snap-fit groove.

[0014] In one of the embodiments, the object holding assembly further includes a holding plate. The holding plate is arranged in the object holding cylinder to separate the object holding cylinder into a first cylinder portion and a second cylinder portion, and the first cylinder portion and the second cylinder portion are arranged along an axial direction of the object holding cylinder.

[0015] In one of the embodiments, the holding plate is provided with a ventilation hole, and the ventilation hole is in communication with the first cylinder portion and the second cylinder portion.

[0016] In one of the embodiments, a hardness of the holding plate is greater than a hardness of the object holding cylinder.

[0017] An inflatable product includes an inflatable sheet configured to enclose an inflatable cavity, and further includes the aforementioned object holding assembly applied in an inflatable product.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0018] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating an inflatable product according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0019] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating a part of the configuration shown in FIG. 1 according to an embodiment with the first cooperation portion and the second cooperation portion being not cooperated and locked together.

[0020] FIG. 3 is another schematic diagram illustrating the part of the configuration shown in FIG. 1 according to the embodiment with the first cooperation portion and the second cooperation portion being cooperated and locked together.

[0021] FIG. 4 is a top view of FIG. 3.

[0022] FIG. 5 is an A-A sectional view of FIG. 4.

[0023] FIG. 6 is an enlarged view of portion B of FIG. 5.

[0024] FIG. 7 is an enlarged view of a locking mechanism shown in FIG. 3.

[0025] FIG. 8 is a three-dimensional schematic view of FIG. 7.

[0026] FIG. 9 is an exploded view of FIG. 8.

[0027] FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram illustrating a part of the configuration shown in FIG. 1 according to another embodiment with the first cooperation portion and the second cooperation portion being not cooperated and locked together.

[0028] FIG. 11 is another schematic diagram illustrating the part of the configuration shown in FIG. 1 according to the another embodiment with the first cooperation portion and the second cooperation portion being cooperated and locked together.

[0029] FIG. 12 is a top view of FIG. 10.

[0030] FIG. 13 is an C-C sectional view of FIG. 12.

[0031] FIG. 14 is an enlarged view of portion D of FIG. 13.

[0032] FIG. 15 is an enlarged view of the locking mechanism shown in FIG. 11.

[0033] FIG. 16 is a three-dimensional schematic view of FIG. 15.

[0034] FIG. 17 is an exploded view of FIG. 16.

[0035] Description of reference numerals

[0036] 10: inflatable product, 100: inflatable airbag, 110: inflatable sheet, 111 : first fixing portion, 112: second fixing portion, 200: object holding assembly, 210: object holding cylinder, 211 : object storage opening, 212: object storage cavity, 213: first cylinder portion, 214: second cylinder portion, 220: locking mechanism, 221: first inserting member, 221a: first fixing ring, 221b: first inserting portion, 221c: first limiting rib, 221d: inserting groove, 222: second inserting groove, 222a: second fixing ring, 222c: second inserting portion, 222d: second limiting rib, 223: first snap-fit member, 223a: third fixing ring, 223b: snap-fit boss, 223c: snap-fit rib, 224: second snap-fit member, 224a: fourth fixing ring, 224b: snap-fit ring, 224c: snap-fit gap, 224d: snap-fit groove, 224e: clamping portion, 224f: boss portion, 230: holding plate, and 231 : ventilation hole.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

[0037] In order to make the purpose, technical solutions and advantages of the present disclosure more clearly understood, the present disclosure will be further described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and specific embodiments. It should be understood that the specific embodiments described herein are only used to explain the present disclosure, and do not limit the protection scope of the present disclosure.

[0038] It should be understood that when an element is defined as “fixed to” another element, it is either directly on an element or indirectly on an element with a mediating element. When an element is considered to be “connected to” another element, it can be directly connected to another element or indirectly connected to another element with a mediating element. The terms "vertical", "horizontal", "left", "right", and the like used herein are for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to be the only embodiment.

[0039] All technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by skilled person in the art to which the present disclosure belongs, unless otherwise defined. The terms used in the description of the present disclosure herein are only for the purpose of describing specific embodiments, and are not intended to limit the present disclosure. The term “and/or” used herein includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed objects.

[0040] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, an embodiment of the present disclosure provides an inflatable product 10, such as an inflatable swimming pool, which includes an inflatable airbag 100 and an object holding assembly 200 disposed in the inflatable airbag 100. The mounting and manufacturing process of the object holding assembly 200 of the inflatable product 10 is simple, and the manufacturing cost and manufacturing time thereof can be greatly reduced.

[0041] Specifically, as shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, the inflatable swimming pool in this embodiment may include three inflatable airbags 100, and the three inflatable airbags 100 are sequentially welded and stacked to form the inflatable swimming pool. The object holding assembly 200 is arranged on the inflatable airbag 100 located at the top portion, that is, the inflatable airbag 100 farthest from a bottom of the pool, so as to facilitate the user to place a water cup, a mobile phone, a key or other objects. The structures of the three inflatable airbags 100 are similar, and each includes an inflatable sheet 110 which encloses an inflatable cavity (not shown in the drawings). The three inflatable cavities can be inflated by an inflation device, such that the three inflatable airbags 100 are inflated and deployed, and the inflatable swimming pool is inflated and deployed as a whole for use. The gas in the three inflatable cavities can also be exhausted, such that the three inflatable airbags 100 are contracted and the inflatable swimming pool can be folded and stored. Optionally, the inflatable sheet 110 is made of a soft rubber material such as polyvinyl chloride (PVC). The inflatable airbag 100 located at the top portion includes a first fixing portion 111 and a second fixing portion 112 arranged opposite the first fixing portion 111, and the first fixing portion 111 and the second fixing portion 112 are respectively located on two sides of the inflatable cavity. Of course, in other embodiments, more than three or less than three inflatable airbags 100 may be provided as required. The inflatable product 10 may also be other inflatable products 10 such as an inflatable floating bed, an inflatable floating row, and the like.

[0042] Specifically, as shown in FIG. 2, the object holding assembly 200 includes an object holding cylinder 210, a locking mechanism 220 and a holding plate 230.

[0043] As shown in FIG. 2, the object holding cylinder 210 has a substantially cylindrical structure. The object holding cylinder 210 has an object storage opening 211 and an object storage cavity 212 in communication with the object storage opening 211. The object storage cavity 212 is configured to place an object such as a water cup. An edge of the object storage opening 211, that is, a top end of the object holding cylinder 210 is fixed to the first fixing portion 111 by welding. In other embodiments, an edge of the object storage opening 211 may also be fixed to the first fixing portion 111 by other means. Optionally, the object holding cylinder 210 is made of a soft material such as polyvinyl chloride. The conventional object holding cylinder 210 is generally made of a rigid material. The object holding cylinder 210 in this embodiment is made of a relatively soft chlorinated polyethylene material. On the one hand, when the inflatable product 10 is deflated and folded, the object holding cylinder 210 can be folded with the inflatable sheet 110, which can further save the storage space compared with the object holding cylinder 210 formed by a rigid material. On the other hand, if the object holding cylinder 210 made of a rigid material is adopted, after the object holding cylinder 210 is mounted on the inflatable sheet 110, since a certain space is existing between the first fixing portion 111 and the second fixing portion 112 of the inflatable sheet 110 even when the inflatable sheet 110 is not inflated, the subsequent manufacturing processes of the inflatable product 10 is complicated, and additional multiple pieces of equipment need to be used. While the object holding cylinder 210 made of a soft material is adopted, since the object holding cylinder 210 can be folded and stored, the first fixing portion 111 and the second fixing portion 112 of the inflatable sheet 110 can be folded and overlapped when the inflatable sheet 110 is not inflated, so there is no space between the first fixing portion 111 and the second fixing portion 112, such that the subsequent manufacturing process of the inflatable product 10 is relatively simple, and generally only requires another piece of equipment to complete, therefore the mounting time is short and the mounting cost is also low.

[0044] Specifically, as shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, the locking mechanism 220 includes a first cooperation portion and a second cooperation portion that are cooperated and locked with each other. The first cooperation portion is provided at an end of the object holding cylinder 210 away from the object storage opening 211, that is, a bottom end of the object holding cylinder 210, and the second cooperation portion is disposed on a surface of the second fixing portion 112 facing the inflatable cavity. As such, the bottom end of the object holding cylinder 210 is fixed to the second fixing portion 112 by the cooperation and locking of the first cooperation portion and the second cooperation portion of the locking mechanism 220, such that during the inflation and use of the inflatable product 10, the object in the object holding cylinder 210 will not be popped out from the object holding cylinder 210 due to the change of the air pressure in the inflation cavity. Further, the first cooperation portion may be a male cooperation portion, and the second cooperation portion may be a female cooperation portion. Of course, on the contrary, the first cooperation portion is a female cooperation portion, and the second cooperation portion is a male cooperation portion.

[0045] In one embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 2 to 9, the first cooperation portion may be a first inserting member 221. The first inserting member 221 includes a first fixing ring 221a, a first inserting portion 221b and a first limiting rib 221c. In this embodiment, the first inserting member 221 includes three first inserting portions 221b circumferentially spaced around the first fixing ring 221a, and the first fixing ring 221a is fixed to the end of the object holding cylinder 210 away from the object storage opening 211. The first limiting rib 221c is provided on the inner wall of each first inserting portion 221b. The three first inserting portions 221b enclose an inserting groove 22 Id.

[0046] As shown in FIG. 6 to FIG. 9, the second cooperation portion may be a second inserting member 222. The second inserting member 222 includes a second fixing ring 222a, a second inserting portion 222c and a second limiting rib 222d. In this embodiment, the second inserting member 222 includes three second inserting portions 222c, the three second inserting portions 222c are circumferentially spaced on the second fixing ring 222a, and the second fixing ring 222a is fixed to a surface of the second fixing ring 222a facing the inflatable cavity. A second limiting rib 222d is provided on an outer wall of each second inserting portion 222c.

[0047] Further, the three second inserting portions 222c can be inserted into the inserting groove 22 Id along a vertical direction shown in FIG. 9, and at this time, the first inserting portion 221b or the second inserting portion 222c has a certain elasticity deformed, so the first limiting rib 221c goes over the second limiting rib 222d and is located on a side of the second limiting rib 222d close to the second fixing portion 112, that is, below the second limiting rib 222d as shown in FIG. 6, and the first limiting rib 221c and the second limiting rib 222d abut against each other. As such, the cooperation and locking between the first inserting member 221 and the second inserting member 222 is achieved.

[0048] In this embodiment, the first inserting member 221 and the second inserting member 222 are both integrally formed. In other embodiments, the first inserting member 221 can also be formed by connecting the first fixing rings 221a, the first inserting portion 221b and the first limiting rib 221c which are independent from each other. The second inserting member 222 can also be formed by connecting the second fixing ring 222a, the second inserting portion 222c and the second limiting rib 222d which are independent from each other. Moreover, in other embodiments, a number of the first inserting portions 221b and the second inserting portions 222c can also be adjusted to more than three or less than three as required. Optionally, both the first inserting member 221 and the second inserting member 222 may be made of plastic or other materials with certain elastic deformation ability.

[0049] In another embodiment, as shown in FIG. 10 to FIG. 17, the first cooperation portion can also be a first snap-fit member 223, and the first snap-fit member 223 includes a third fixing ring 223a, a snap-fit boss 223b and a snap-fit rib 223c. The third fixing ring 223a is fixed to the end of the object holding cylinder 210 away from the object storage opening 211, the snap-fit boss 223b is provided on the third fixing ring 223a, and a side surface of the snap-fit boss 223b is provided with the snap-fit rib 223c circumferentially.

[0050] As shown in FIG. 14 to FIG. 17, the second cooperation portion may be a second snap-fit member 224. The second snap-fit member 224 includes a fourth fixing ring 224a and a snap-fit ring 224b. The fourth fixing ring 224a is fixed to a surface of the second fixing portion 112 facing the inflatable cavity, and the snap-fit ring 224b is disposed on the fourth fixing ring 224a. One side of the snap-fit ring 224b has a snap gap 224c. Specifically, the snap-fit ring 224b includes a clamping portion 224e and a boss portion 224f that are connected to each other, and a side of the boss portion 224f away from the clamping portion 224e is fixed to the fourth fixing ring 224a. The clamping portion 224e substantially has a structure of a two-thirds ring, and the boss portion 224f substantially has a structure of a half ring. An inner wall of the boss portion 224f is provided with a snap-fit groove 224d.

[0051] Further, the snap-fit boss 223b can be snapped in the snap-fit ring 224b through the snap-fit gap 224c along a horizontal direction shown in FIG. 17, at this time, the clamping portion 224e is elastically deformed to a certain extent to clamp the boss portion 224f, and when the snap-fit boss 223b is snapped in the snap-fit ring 224b, the snap-fit rib 223c is snapped in the snap-fit groove 224d. As such, the locking and fixing between the first cooperation portion and the second cooperation portion is achieved.

[0052] Optionally, both the first snap-fit member 223 and the second snap-fit member 224 may be made of plastic or other materials with certain elastic deformation ability. In this embodiment, the first snap-fit member 223 and the second snap-fit member 224 are both integrally formed. In other embodiments, the first snap-fit member 223 can also be formed by connecting the third fixing ring 223a, the snap-fit boss 223b and the snap-fit rib 223c which are independent from each other. The second snap-fit member 224 can also be formed by connecting the fourth fixing ring 224a and the snap-fit ring 224b which are independent from each other.

[0053] The aforementioned two embodiments are for reference only. In other embodiments, the first cooperation portion and the second cooperation portion can also be arranged in other forms, such as a hook and a loop that cooperate with each other, or a pin and a hole that cooperate with each other, respectively. In a word, as long as it is easy to achieve the cooperation and locking.

[0054] Further, the holding plate 230 is disposed in a substantially middle portion of the object holding cylinder 210 along a horizontal direction shown in FIG. 3, thereby dividing the object holding cylinder 210 into a first cylinder portion 213 and a second cylinder portion 214. The first cylinder portion 213 and the second cylinder portion 214 are arranged up and down along an axial direction of the object holding cylinder 210, that is, the first cylinder portion 213 is in communication with the object storage opening 211, and the second cylinder portion 214 is located at an end of the first cylinder portion 213 away from the object storage opening 211, as shown in FIG. 2. Optionally, the holding plate 230 is made of an acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene copolymer (ABS) material. The holding plate 230 is configured to support an object such as a water cup placed in the object holding cylinder 210. In an inflatable product 10 such as an inflatable swimming pool, a distance between the first fixing portion 111 and the second fixing portion 112 of the inflatable airbag 100 at the top portion is generally much larger than a height of the water cup or other objects, such that providing the support plate 230 configured to support the object in the substantially middle portion of the object holding cylinder is convenient for the user to pick up and place the object. Moreover, the object holding cylinder 210 is made of a relatively soft chlorinated polyethylene material, so a relatively large air pressure in the inflation cavity will flatten the object holding cylinder during inflation or use, such that the object storage cavity is deformed, and it is difficult for an object such as a cup to be placed in the object storage cavity. Therefore, the holding plate 230 made of the ABS material with relatively higher hardness can keep the object storage cavity in its original shape without being crushed and deformed, so as to facilitate the placement of an object such as a cup. In other embodiments, the holding plate 230 can also be made of a soft material such as polyvinyl chloride.

[0055] Further, as shown in FIG. 4, a circular ventilation hole 231 is provided at a substantially central position of the holding plate 230, and the ventilation hole 231 is in communication with the first cylinder portion 213 and the second cylinder portion 214. The ventilation hole 231 can prevent the inflatable product 10 from being folded to a minimum volume due to the gas remaining in the second cylinder portion 214 when it is folded and stored after being exhausted. In other embodiments, the number, the position and the shape of the ventilation holes 231 can also be adjusted as required.

[0056] During the mounting and manufacturing process of the object holding assembly 200, the edge of the object storage opening 211 of the object holding cylinder 210 is fixed to the first fixing portion 111 of the inflatable sheet 110 by welding, and then the end of the object holding cylinder 210 away from the object storage opening 211 is fixed to the second fixing portion 112 by the locking mechanism 220. In the conventional mounting process of the object holding assembly 200, the end of the object holding assembly 200 away from the object storage opening 211 is generally fixed to the second fixing portion 112 by welding, which makes the manufacturing process more complicated and the manufacturing time longer. On the other hand, if the inflatable product 10 has more than two inflatable airbags 100 stacked on each other, the second fixing portion 112 itself has already been welded with the inflatable sheets 110 of the other inflatable airbags 100, such that it is difficult for the existing welding equipment to inserter into the inflatable cavities of two adjacent inflatable airbags 100 to perform the welding operation to fix the end of the object holding assembly 200 away from the object storage opening 211 to the second fixing portion 112 by welding. Even if it can be achieved by more complex welding equipment, the manufacturing cost is relatively high and the manufacturing efficiency is relatively low. Therefore, according to the present disclosure, the end of the object holding cylinder 210 away from the object storage opening 211 and the second fixing portion 112 can be fixed by the locking mechanism 220 without welding and fixing, the mounting and manufacturing process is simple, and the manufacturing cost and manufacturing time can be greatly reduced.

[0057] The aforementioned inflatable product 10 and the object holding assembly 200 applied in the inflatable product 10 have at least the following technical effects.

[0058] The aforementioned inflatable product 10 has an inflatable sheet 110 for enclosing an inflatable cavity, and the inflatable sheet 110 has a first fixing portion 111 and a second fixing portion 112 arranged opposite the first fixing portion 111. In the object holding assembly 200, the top portion of the object holding cylinder 210, that is, an edge of the object storage opening 211 of the object holding cylinder 210, is fixed to the first fixing portion 111, and the object storage cavity 212 of the object holding cylinder 210 can be configured to place a water cup, a mobile phone, a key or other objects. The bottom portion of the object holding cylinder 210, that is, an end of the object holding cylinder 210 away from the object storage opening 211 is locked to the second fixing portion 112 by the cooperation of the first cooperation portion and the second cooperation portion of the locking mechanism 220. As such, two ends of the object holding cylinder 210 are respectively fixed to the first fixing portion 111 and the second fixing portion 112, such that during the inflation and use of the inflatable product 10, objects in the object holding cylinder 210 will not be popped out from the object holding cylinder 210 due to the change of the air pressure in the inflation cavity. The bottom portion of the object holding cylinder 210 and the second fixing portion 112 are fixed by the locking mechanism 220, and there is no need to fix the object holding cylinder 210 to the second fixing portion 112 by welding like the conventional inflatable product 10. As such, during the mounting and manufacturing process of the object holding assembly 200, the process of welding the bottom potion of the object holding cylinder 210 and the second fixing portion 112 can be omitted, thereby greatly simplifying the manufacturing process of the inflatable product 10, especially for the inflatable product 10 with other inflatable airbags 100 welded at the second fixing portion 112 thereof, and the manufacturing cost and manufacturing time can be greatly reduced.