EP0910975B1 - Air bed system - Google Patents

Air bed system Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0910975B1
EP0910975B1 EP98630058A EP98630058A EP0910975B1 EP 0910975 B1 EP0910975 B1 EP 0910975B1 EP 98630058 A EP98630058 A EP 98630058A EP 98630058 A EP98630058 A EP 98630058A EP 0910975 B1 EP0910975 B1 EP 0910975B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
air
segment
set forth
segments
air bed
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
EP98630058A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP0910975A2 (en
EP0910975A3 (en
Inventor
Dennis Boyd
Jeffrey J. Luchonok
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Boyd Flotation Inc
Original Assignee
Boyd Flotation Inc
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Boyd Flotation Inc filed Critical Boyd Flotation Inc
Publication of EP0910975A2 publication Critical patent/EP0910975A2/en
Publication of EP0910975A3 publication Critical patent/EP0910975A3/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP0910975B1 publication Critical patent/EP0910975B1/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
    • A47C—CHAIRS; SOFAS; BEDS
    • A47C27/00—Spring, stuffed or fluid mattresses or cushions specially adapted for chairs, beds or sofas
    • A47C27/08—Fluid mattresses
    • A47C27/081—Fluid mattresses of pneumatic type
    • A47C27/082—Fluid mattresses of pneumatic type with non-manual inflation, e.g. with electric pumps
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
    • A47C—CHAIRS; SOFAS; BEDS
    • A47C27/00—Spring, stuffed or fluid mattresses or cushions specially adapted for chairs, beds or sofas
    • A47C27/08—Fluid mattresses
    • A47C27/10—Fluid mattresses with two or more independently-fillable chambers

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to air beds generally, and more particularly, to an improved air bed system with independently inflatable sections for providing varying degrees of support over a sleeper's body.
  • Air beds having independently inflatable mattresses for separate sleepers are known from NL 7 906 927 A, but they could be improved.
  • currently available air mattresses may "bottom out” when the weight thereon is too high, resulting in an uncomfortable mattress.
  • Single mattresses or pairs of independently inflatable mattresses connected together for separate sleepers may also create a rolling effect when one person lays down on the bed. resulting in the other person being jostled.
  • the support for the sleeper's body in many conventional air mattresses is not always satisfactory.
  • additional support is needed in the lumbar region.
  • increasing the inflation pressure to provide the needed lumbar support results in a mattress which is then uncomfortable for the sleepers head and leg positions. Failure to provide adequate lumbar support may result in the sleeper sinking into a "valley" as the mattress compresses in the lumbar region and expand under the sleeper's head and feet due to the reduced weight distribution in those areas.
  • an air bed system of the present invention comprises three separate airtight segments secured together in a linear fashion to form an air mattress sized to fit a standard twin-sized bed.
  • Each segment of the air mattress is independently inflatable, allowing sleeper to adjust the level of support provided by altering the air pressure within each segment.
  • a full, queen, or king sized bed may be formed for two separate sleepers by placing two air mattresses of the present invention side by side, allowing each sleeper to retaining individual support level and comfort adjustments.
  • a standard air mattress 10 is shown formed from a single air-tight bladder 12. Support is provided by air introduced into the air-tight bladder 12 through a suitable valve 14, preferably a double valve with a reverse flow inhibitor. It is well known in the art that these valves (sometimes known as Boston valves) simplify the inflation of air mattresses and avoid undesired releases of air from the air-tight bladder 12.
  • the air mattress 10 additionally has a plurality of internal partitions 16 extending across its width. The partitions 16 are internally secured to both the top 18 and bottom 20 surfaces of the bladder 12 by means of continuous seams 22. The partitions 16 define a plurality of interconnected chambers 24 therebetween and their structure substantially strengthens the air mattress 10, increasing support after inflation.
  • a second air-mattress substantially identical in size is positioned adjacent the first mattress 10.
  • FIG. 2 he segments comprising an air mattress 26 of the present invention are shown disassembled in a linear arrangement.
  • a head segment 28 is positioned adjacent one end of a lumbar segment 30.
  • a foot segment 32 is positioned on the opposite side of the lumbar segment 30 from the head segment 28.
  • a suitable valve 34, 36, and 38 of the type describe above for adjusting the internal air-pressure is incorporated within each segment.
  • An additional layer of a quilting material may be provided to cover the upper surface of the lumber segment 30.
  • Each segment contains several double-walled internal partitions 40 (Fig. 3) which extend across the segment width, creating interconnected chambers 42 and providing additional support upon inflation.
  • each partition 40 is hollow, with openings 44 at the ends and openings 46 in the middle which allow air to flow from chamber to chamber as weight is applied to the segment.
  • Each partition 40 is preferably welded at its top 48 and its bottom 50 to the corresponding top and bottom surfaces of the segment (28, 30, or 32 as applicable). This welded seam runs horizontally and is preferably about 1 ⁇ 2" in width for each partition 40.
  • This partition design provides greater seam surface area and two partition walls (52 and 54) for added air containment and strength.
  • the number of partitions 40 per segment varies depending upon the desired size and strength of the air mattress 26.
  • an assembled air mattress 26 is formed by securing the head segment 28 to the adjacent side of the lumbar segment 30, and the foot segment 32 to the adjacent side of the lumbar segment 30, opposite the head segment 28.
  • the preferred method for securing the individual segments together is by means of matching hook and loop fastener strips 56a, 56b, such as those sold under the trade name Velcro, arrayed along the adjacent upper edges 57 and lower edges 58 of each of the segments as seen in Figs. 2 and 2a.
  • the air mattress 26 is preferably placed on a foundation 60 (Fig. 5) consisting of form perimeter rails 62 covered in a textured vinyl material.
  • the valves 34, 36, and 38 are then connected to two or more pneumatic pumps 64, 66, housed within the foundation 60 to keep operational noise levels to a minimum.
  • Separate controls 68 operate the pneumatic pumps 64, 66, permitting an individual using the air mattress 26 to separately inflate or deflate the head segment 28, the lumbar segment 30, and/or the foot segment 32, or to simultaneously adjust both the head and foot segments separate from the lumbar segment.
  • a second air mattress is employed (Fig. 6).
  • the second mattress is a mirror image of the first, having a second set of identical pneumatic pumps and separate controls placed within the foundation 60.
  • an individual sleeper may adjust the second portion of the air bed system to his or her individual comfort levels without affecting the comfort of a first sleeper on the first air mattress.

Landscapes

  • Mattresses And Other Support Structures For Chairs And Beds (AREA)
EP98630058A 1997-10-14 1998-10-09 Air bed system Expired - Lifetime EP0910975B1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US95035797A 1997-10-14 1997-10-14
US950357 1997-10-14

Publications (3)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0910975A2 EP0910975A2 (en) 1999-04-28
EP0910975A3 EP0910975A3 (en) 2000-08-09
EP0910975B1 true EP0910975B1 (en) 2004-03-17

Family

ID=25490335

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP98630058A Expired - Lifetime EP0910975B1 (en) 1997-10-14 1998-10-09 Air bed system

Country Status (5)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0910975B1 (da)
JP (1) JPH11187953A (da)
AT (1) ATE261687T1 (da)
DE (2) DE69822394T2 (da)
DK (1) DK0910975T3 (da)

Families Citing this family (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US6321404B1 (en) * 1998-07-15 2001-11-27 Jen Hsiu Tsai Built-up air cushion
DE60211696T2 (de) * 2001-07-10 2007-05-16 Robert B. Boston Chaffee Konfigurierbare aufblasbare unterstützvorrichtung
KR100764082B1 (ko) 2005-11-11 2007-10-09 주식회사 동서산업 에어 베드용 에어 매트리스
FR2922427B1 (fr) * 2007-10-18 2013-03-29 Hill Rom Ind Sa Cellule gonflable, procede de fabrication et dispositif de support en comportant
JP6546510B2 (ja) * 2015-10-30 2019-07-17 住友理工株式会社 マットレス
WO2018135004A1 (ja) * 2017-01-23 2018-07-26 株式会社 ハイビックス エアマット
WO2019230998A1 (ko) * 2018-05-28 2019-12-05 유도썬스(주) 맞춤식 욕창방지용 매트리스
CN111920257B (zh) * 2020-03-31 2025-07-08 明达光电(厦门)有限公司 一种与床架一体设置的充气床垫

Family Cites Families (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3391414A (en) * 1966-07-18 1968-07-09 Gordon & Roth Co Inc Athlete's pneumatic landing pit cushion
NL7906927A (nl) * 1979-09-18 1981-03-20 Albert Sebe Schmidt Handelende Opblaasbaar kussenelement, alsmede zulke elementen bevattende luchtmatras en slaapzak, en werkwijze voor het vervaardigen van het kussenelement.
FR2548585B1 (fr) * 1983-07-04 1986-03-14 Sevylor International Objet gonflable comportant au moins une feuille plastique revetue localement d'une feuille textile et procede pour sa fabrication
US4991244A (en) * 1990-01-05 1991-02-12 Walker Robert A Border for air bed

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
EP0910975A2 (en) 1999-04-28
JPH11187953A (ja) 1999-07-13
DK0910975T3 (da) 2004-07-26
EP0910975A3 (en) 2000-08-09
DE69822394D1 (de) 2004-04-22
ATE261687T1 (de) 2004-04-15
DE69822394T2 (de) 2005-02-24
DE910975T1 (de) 1999-12-09

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