Ventilating air mattress with an inflating quilted pad

• US 5,493,742 A
• Filed: 05/10/1994
• Issued: 02/27/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 05/10/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Therapy Concepts, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Lake Medical Products, Inc.
• Inventors: Klearman, Jeffrey D.
• Primary Examiner(s): TRETTEL, MICHAEL
• Application Number:
  US08/240,228
• Time in Patent Office: 658 Days
• Field of Search: 5/453, 5/468, 5/469, 5/470, 5/499, 5/500, 5/914, 5/423
• US Class Current: 5/423
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 27/082 with non-manual inflation, e.g. with electric pumps
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/05769 with inflatable chambers
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/05784 with ventilating means, e.g. mattress or cushion with ventilating holes or ventilators

Abstract

A ventilating air mattress includes a mattress cover having a down filled quilted upper portion overlying the upper surface of the mattress such that air escaping from the ventilating air mattress inflates the quilted portion. The differential air pressure drop across the upper and lower layers of the quilted portion of the mattress pad provides a pillowing or fluffing effect which increases the comfort for the user thereof. An air pump with remote control provides user adjustability of the firmness of the mattress. Alternate embodiments include a readily changeable mattress cover or sheet with quilting instead of the quilted mattress pad.

Claims

1. A mattress and cover combination comprising a ventilated air mattress having an upper portion which releases a flow of air therethrough, and a cover for overlying at least said air releasing upper portion of said ventilated air mattress, said cover having at least two separated layers of air permeable material so that said flow of air inflates said separated layers to create a pillowing effect in said separated layers over said upper portion.

2. The mattress and cover combination of claim 1 further comprising means for joining said separated layers at a plurality of spaced intervals across said upper portion.

3. The mattress and cover combination of claim 2 wherein said joining means comprises rows of stitching.

4. The mattress and cover combination of claim 3 wherein said rows of stitching are arranged in a substantially orthogonal pattern to thereby create a plurality of pockets in said cover.

5. The mattress and cover combination of claim 4 further comprising a layer of cushioning material located between said layers, said cushioning material thereby providing an increased pillowing effect at least when said air is not flowing.

6. The mattress and cover combination of claim 5 wherein said cover totally encloses said ventilated air mattress and thereby provides a semi-permanent covering therefor.

7. The mattress and cover combination of claim 5 wherein said cover is a removable mattress cover adapted for ready removal from said ventilated air mattress.

8. The mattress and cover combination of claim 7 wherein said cover is fitted to said ventilated air mattress.

9. The mattress and cover combination of claim 5 further comprising means for varying the rate of air flow to thereby vary the firmness of said ventilated air mattress.

10. A mattress and cover combination comprising:

a ventilated air mattress, and

a cover for said ventilated air mattress, said cover having a plurality of multi-layered pockets, said pockets being located on said cover so that air released from said ventilated air mattress inflates said pockets to thereby create a pillowing effect.

11. The mattress and cover combination of claim 10 wherein said pockets are made of air permeable material.

12. The mattress and cover combination of claim 11 further comprising a layer of cushioning material located in said cover to thereby provide an increased pillowing effect.

13. The mattress and cover combination of claim 12 wherein pockets are defined by rows of stitching through said cover.

14. The mattress and cover combination of claim 12 wherein said cover totally encloses said ventilated air mattress and thereby provides a semi-permanent covering therefor.

15. The mattress and cover combination of claim 12 wherein said cover is a removable mattress cover adapted for ready removal from said ventilated air mattress.

16. The mattress and cover combination of claim 12 further comprising means for varying the rate of air flow to thereby vary the firmness of said ventilated air mattress.

17. A mattress having an air inflatable, pillowed upper surface comprising a low air loss bladder, said bladder having a plurality of holes across its upper surface through which a flow of air escapes, and a mattress cover over at least a portion of said upper surface, said mattress cover having a plurality of air inflatable pillows, and means for inflating said air inflatable pillows.