INFLATABLE TWO CHAMBER BED WITH RAISED HEADBOARD

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present application claims priority from a provisional application, U.S.

Patent Application No. 60/925,468, filed April 20, 2007 and entitled INFLATABLE

TWO CHAMBER BED WITH RAISED HEADBOARD.

[0002] The present invention relates generally to the field of inflatable support systems, which may include air mattresses and inflation controls thereof. More specifically, the present invention relates to an inflatable two-chamber air mattress with a raised inflatable headboard chamber.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0003] Most everyone has faced the need for an extra bed or mattress at some time in their lives. Air mattresses, originally introduced many years ago, have allowed homeowners and others to provide their guests with a surface more comfortable than sleeping on the floor, while not imposing the same storage requirements of traditional, large mattresses.

[0004] While air mattresses are a significant improvement over sleeping on the ground or curled up on a sofa, the mattresses still have some shortcomings. For example, air mattress designs were clunky and uncomfortable, the manufacturing techniques and materials used resulted in poor air retention, the inflation and deflation systems employed with such mattresses often required significant time and effort to completely inflate and deflate the mattresses, and the mattresses tended to provide only marginal support. [0005] Some issued patents, such as U.S. Patent No. 4,977,633, issued to Robert B. Chaffee on December 18, 1990 ("the Chaffee patent"), and U.S. Patent No. 5,960,495, issued to Yaw- Yuan Hsu, et al. on October 5, 1999 ("the Hsu patent"), have attempted to address some of these shortcomings. By way of example, the Chaffee patent teaches the use of a large, manually operated pressure release valve to speed deflation. The Chaffee patent also teaches the inclusion of a small cylinder around which a deflated bed can be rolled, further simplifying deflation. This same arrangement also allows the bed to automatically unroll while being inflated, which also simplifies the inflation process. The

Chaffee patent also illustrates the inclusion of an electric motor and pump, which speed the inflation process.

[0006] The Hsu patent attempts to address some of the comfort problems typically associated with air mattresses. The Hsu patent utilizes tube beams inside a mattress to provide additional lateral load support. These tube beams are structures that are added to the inside of the mattress and are attached to the upper and lower mattress surfaces through a sinusoidal sealing pattern in an attempt to provide further rigidity to the mattress.

[0007] A person sleeping on mattresses such as those described in the Chaffee and Hsu patents still may have the perception of sleeping on the floor. Furthermore, getting into and out of such a bed can be difficult, especially for an elderly or disabled person. [0008] A solution to this problem is to provide a mattress that approximates the dimensions of a traditional bed, such as height and width. But, such inflatable mattresses have a propensity to roll over. Rollovers are not only a problem with inflatable mattresses, but with all lightweight support surfaces, such as inflatable furniture. Some in the prior art, such as U.S. Patent No. 6,161,902, issued to Marvin S. Lieberman on December 19, 2000 (the Lieberman patent) and the ''Retro Air Chair" by Intex Recreation Corporation of Long Beach, CA, have used multiple inflatable cylindrical tubes to improve the stability of inflatable chairs.

[0009] While the stabilization methods employed in the prior art can improve overall chair stability, each has shortcomings, especially when applied to other support systems. For example, the Lieberman patent teaches the installation of a "U" shaped inflatable tube underneath the front of a chair and a small inflatable tube extending along and immovably attached to the rear base of the chair. Each of these tubes is also inflated separately from and to a higher pressure than the body of the chair. The increased pressure of these tubes strengthens the base of the chair, thus reducing the likelihood of rollover. While this approach has some merit, the introduction of separately inflatable tubes means added work for the consumer, who must move an inflation device from one valve to another until the chair is properly filled.

[0010] The Retro Air Chair applies an alternative stabilization technique. Two small inflatable stabilizer bars are attached to the base of the chair to increase the surface area

covered by the chair. These stabilizer bars are attached to the chair through narrow, short inflator tubes. The inflator tubes allow the stabilizer bars to be in fluid communication with the chair body and to fill with air as the chair is filled. The increased surface area created by the combination of the inflator tubes and the stabilizer bars provides more stability by distributing the weight over a larger area.

[0011] As with the Lieberman patent, the shape and position of the stabilizer bars employed on this chair also strengthens the chair body where the stabilizer bars contact the chair. However, such strengthening is only provided to areas adjacent to the tubes. While this may be practical for inflatable support systems with smaller weight bearing surfaces, such as chairs, a few, relatively short stabilizer bars will not provide stability for larger inflatable support systems, such as inflatable mattresses.

[0012] An additional problem faced by inflatable support systems of the prior art is structural stability of the sides of the support system. The shape of the sides tends to distort as weight is applied at or near the edge of the support system. Such distortion can cause instability in the top surface of the mattress near the edges. This problem becomes increasingly significant as the height of the support system is increased. A means of improving the structural stability of the side of the mattress is therefore preferable as height is increased.

[0013] Additionally, it is desirable to create an inflatable support system that has all of the comforts and amenities of a traditional mattress and frame or boxspring structure. Therefore, means of improving the comfort and end user familiarity with the support structure is preferable. One such inflatable support structure may include features that allow the end user to apply traditional mattress covering materials to the inflatable raised structure while providing the end user with a familiar headboard design.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0014] An inflatable mattress is provided. The inflatable mattress comprises a support system having upper and lower inflatable support chambers arranged in a substantially vertical manner. Each inflatable support chamber comprises a top layer and a bottom layer. The inflatable mattress may further comprise an inflatable reinforcing chamber disposed between the upper and lower inflatable support chambers and attached to the

lower inflatable support chamber. The inflatable mattress may also include an inflatable headboard chamber, disposed substantially perpendicularly to the upper and lower inflatable support chambers.

[0015] In an alternative embodiment, an inflatable mattress is provided. The inflatable mattress comprises a support system comprising upper and lower inflatable support chambers arranged in a substantially vertical manner, each inflatable support chamber comprising a top layer, a bottom layer and an outer perimeter. An inflatable reinforcing chamber may be disposed between the upper and lower inflatable support chambers. At least a portion of said outer perimeter of the bottom layer of the upper inflatable support chamber and at least a portion of the outer perimeter of the top layer of the lower inflatable support chambers may be contact with the inflatable reinforcing chamber. The inflatable mattress may also include an inflatable headboard chamber, disposed substantially perpendicularly to the outer perimeter of the upper and lower inflatable support chambers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0016] The accompanying drawings which are included to provide a further understanding of the invention and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, and illustrate embodiments of the invention and together with the description serve to explain the principles of the invention.

[0017] In the drawings:

[0018] Figure 1 is a side planar view of one embodiment of a two-chamber mattress;

[0019] Figure 2 is a side perspective view of the mattress embodiment of Figure 1 ;

[0020] Figure 3 is a front planar view of the mattress embodiment of Figure 1 ;

[0021] Figure 4 is a close up view of the mattress embodiment of Figure 1 showing the upper chamber separated from the inflatable lower chamber;

[0022] Figure 5 is a rear planar view of the mattress embodiment of Figure 1 ; and

[0023] Figure 6 is a side perspective view of an alternative embodiment of a two chamber mattress.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS [0024] Reference will now be made in detail to the preferred embodiments, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

[0025] Figures 1 and 2 are side planar view and side perspective views of the structure of one embodiment of an inflatable two chamber mattress. Figures 1 and 2 illustrate an embodiment comprising an inflatable support system including two support chambers 20, 21 , stacked vertically, and an inflatable headboard chamber. In this embodiment the upper support chamber 20 may be constructed with side gussets 32 approximately ten inches high, which connect to top 34 and bottom 36 layers. The lower support chamber 21 may be constructed from a top layer 38, a bottom layer 40 and a side gusset 42 that is approximately fifteen inches high. It should be clear to one skilled in the art that alternative support chamber constructions and optional side gusset heights and chamber arrangements could be substituted without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. The upper suppoπ chamber 20 may rest on iop of the iower support chamber 21 . The top layer 38 of the low-er support chamber 21 may be in contact with the bottom layer 36 of the upper support chamber 20.

[0026] λs Figure 3 illustrates, a motorized pump 10 is attached to upper support chamber 20. The pump 10 should be powerful enough to fill the entire support system with a gas or fluid, such as air, such that the upper support chamber 20 can provide comfortable support to a user. Inflation of the support system can begin by pressing a button 23 on or near the pump 10, as is illustrated in Figure 3. The pump 10 may automatically stop inflating the support system when the pressure within the support system reaches a limit selectable by a user. In addition, should a user desire to rapidly decrease the pressure within the support system, a user simply activates a dump valve 27. The pump 10 may also monitor support system air pressure and automatically add additional air if the pressure falls below a level selected by a user. [0027] Air entering the upper support chamber 20 may flow into the lower support chamber 21 through a series of reinforced openings, as shown in Figure 1. These openings 1 1 arc defined in the top layer 38 of the lower support chamber 21 and the

bottom layer 36 of the upper support chamber 20. The openings 1 1 are substantially aligned such that air may How between them.

[0028] Referring again to Figures 1 and 2, a reinforcing chamber 14 is included in the support system. This reinforcing chamber 14 runs circumferentially around the support system at the junction between the upper support chamber 20 and the lower support chamber 21 . The reinforcing chamber 14 may run around the entire circumference of the upper and lower support chambers 20 and 21 , or may be disposed only around the sides and proximal end of the chambers, in a U-shape. The reinforcing chamber 14 may be attached to the side gussets 32, 42 of the upper 20 and lower 21 inflatable support chambers, respectively. Alternatively, the reinforcing chamber 14, may be attached to the mattress by the side gusset 42 and top layer 38 of the lower reinforcing chamber 21 , or, optionally, no reinforcing chamber may be used at all.

[0029] Again referring to Figures 1 and 2, the upper support chamber 20, lower support chamber 21, inflatable headboard chamber 60 (described below), and reinforcing chamber 14 are preferably made from heavy weight (preferably 18 gauge) polyvinylchloride (PVC) or other watertight and airtight material. PVC may be attached to PVC or other material by electronically "welding" the PVC to the other material, although other attachment means, such as through a chemical bond or by stitching edges of each sheet together, may also be used. Such an attachment means may be used, for example, to join the top of a chamber with the side of a chamber or to add a layer of fabric, padding, flocking, or other material (collectively "fabric") to the PVC. [0030] Figure 3 is a front planar view of a mattress embodiment. As shown in Figure 3, within the upper support chamber 20 and the lower support chamber 21 , PVC strips 15 can be attached to the inner surface of the top layer 34, 38 and bottom layer 36, 40 of each chamber 20, 21 . Such PVC strips 15 create elongated parallel channels 44, which help to shape and structurally reinforce the upper support chamber 20 and the lower support chamber 21. It should be apparent to one skilled in the art that alternative chamber support architectures, such as the '"coil construction" technique known in the art. may be employed without departing from the spirit or scope of the present invention. One such alternative may include using a quadra coil design, known in the art (FIG. 6), U.S. Patent No. D5 13, 145 incorporated heiein by reference.

[0031] Although alternative inflation methods are contemplated, one example includes inflating the mattress by causing air to enter the support system at the pump 10 and travel through the channels 44 created by PVC strips 15 within the upper support chamber 20. The PVC strips 15 are preferably shaped such that air is able to How past the ends of the PVC strips 15, thereby allowing air to circulate within the upper support chamber 20 and the lower support chamber 21.

[0032] As the upper support chamber 20 inflates, air can enter the lower support chamber 21 through the openings 1 1. The embodiment shown uses four such openings 1 1 , each of which is approximately three quarters of an inch in diameter. Each opening 1 1 is substantially centered within a circular weld four inches in diameter, where such a weld can also serve to attach the upper support chamber 20 to the lower support chamber 21. It should be obvious to one skilled in the art that other opening arrangements, including, but not limited to, fewer openings of a larger size, or more openings of a smaller size, may also be used.

[0033] The reinforcing chamber 14 may be in fluid communication with the lower support chamber 21 through any number of openings 16 and runs circumfcrcntially around the support system, desirably in a U-shapc. As described below, the distal ends of the reinforcing chamber 14 and the lower inflatable support chamber 21 may be directly attached to a front gusset of the inflatable headboard chamber, negating the necessity that the reinforcing chamber extend the entire perimeter of the upper and lower inflatable chambers. In an alternative embodiment, the reinforcing chamber 14 may receive air from the upper support chamber 20. In still another embodiment, the reinforcing chamber 14 may be in fluid communication with both the upper support chamber 20 and the lower support chamber 21. In yet another embodiment, the reinforcing chamber 14 may be separately inflatable, thereby allowing the reinforcing chamber 14 to be inflated to a pressure greater than the pressure in the remaining support system. [0034] As best illustrated in Figure 4, when the chambers 14, 20, 21 are inflated, a space 50 is formed between the upper 20 and lower 21 inflatable support chambers in the middle section of the upper 20 and lower 21 inflatable support chambers. When a user sits or lies on the inflatable mattress, the middle sections of the upper 20 and lower 21 inflatable support chambers may come into substantial contact with each other.

Furthermore, in such an embodiment, the upper inflatable support chamber 20 is movable relative to at least the lower inflatable support chamber 21 and the inflatable reinforcing chamber 14. Figure 4 shows the inflatable reinforcing chamber 14 and the lower inflatable support chamber 21 separated from the upper inflatable support chamber 20. [0035J Referring again to Figure 1 , the inflatable mattress may also include an inflatable raised headboard chamber 60. The headboard may include a front 62, back 64, and opposite side gussets 66 and 68. The headboard 60 may be attached to the two- chambered mattress structure by attaching the distal perimeter edges of the lower inflatable support chamber 21 and the inflatable reinforcing chamber 14 to the front gusset 62 of the headboard, as shown in Figure 5. The distal perimeter edge may be defined by the distal leading edges of the side gussets 42, the top gusset 38, and the bottom gusset 40 of the lower inflatable chamber 21. The distal perimeter may also include the distal leading edges of the reinforcing chamber 14, as shown in Figure 5. The headboard chamber 60 may be attached substantially perpendicular to ihe inflatable support structure.

[0036] The bottom of the headboard chamber 60 may be substantially in alignment with the bottom layer of the lower inflatable support chamber 2 1 Moreover, the top of the headboard chamber 60 may extend above the top layer of the upper inflatable support chamber 20. The headboard chamber 60 may be substantially perpendicular to the upper and lower inflatable support chambers 20 and 21.

[0037] As discussed above with regard to the upper and lower inflatable support chambers 20 and 21 , the headboard 60 may similarly also include PVC strips 70 (FIG. 1 ) that support the shape of the headboard. It should be apparent to one skilled in the art that alternative chamber support architectures, such as the ''coil construction" technique known in the art, may be employed without departing from the spirit or scope of the present invention.

[0038] In one embodiment, the side gussets 62, 64, 66, and 68, and the PVC strips 70 in the upper portion of the headboard 60 may be formed in a P-shape. This shape allows the headboard 60 to extend out over the top layer 34 of the upper inflatable support chamber. This embodiment increases the comfort to the user, allowing them to easily

recline against the headboard. The headboard 60, however, may be formed of any suitable shape.

[0039| Figure 5 is a rear planar view of one embodiment of the inflatable mattress. As shown in Figure 5, the headboard 60 may be in fluid communication with the lower inflatable support chamber by creating at least one, and desirably two, openings 72 in the front gusset of the headboard 60. In this embodiment, the distal perimeter of the lower inflatable support chamber 21 and the reinforcing chamber 14 may be attached directly to the front gusset 62 of the headboard along the distal edges of side gussets 42, top gusset 38 and bottom gusset 40, eliminating the need for a corresponding rear gusset to contain the air within the mattress when inflated. Alternatively, the lower inflatable support chamber 21 and the reinforcing chamber may be constructed independently of the headboard, including rear gussets (not shown) and attached to the inflatable headboard chamber 60. Attaching the lower inflatable support chamber 21 and the reinforcing chamber 14 to the inflatable headboard chamber 60 may increase the stability of the inflatable headboard chamber 60. However, it is contemplated that the headboard 60 may be attached only to the lower inflatable support chamber 21. [0040] It should be noted that, preferably in the present embodiment, the upper inflatable support chamber 20 is not directly attached to the headboard chamber 60, allowing the user to use standard mattress covering material with the inflatable mattress. Of course, in other embodiments, other attachment means, including attachment to the upper inflatable support chamber 20. may be used.

[0041] In another embodiment of the two chambered mattress of the present invention, as shown in Figure 6, the top chamber 20 may include quadra coils 74, as disclosed in U.S. Patent No. D 5 13, 145, formed in the top layer 34. The quadra coil design provides added comfort and aesthetic features.

[0042] It should be noted that there could be a wide range of changes made to the present embodiments without departing from the scope of the claimed invention. For example, more support chambers could be added, the size of the chambers could be changed, and other types of inflation methods could be utilized. It is therefore intended that the foregoing detailed description be regarded as illustrative rather than limiting, and

that it be understood that it is the following claims, including all equivalents, that are intended to define the spirit and scope of this invention.