Inflatable reinforcing chamber

• US 7,478,448 B2
• Filed: 12/22/2006
• Issued: 01/20/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 08/01/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Coleman Company Incorporated (Newell Brands Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Aero Products International Incorporated (Newell Brands Inc.)
• Inventors: Ching-Chin, Chen, Boso, Karen L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Trettel; Michael
• Application Number:
  US11/644,128
• Publication Number:
  US 20070169274A1
• Time in Patent Office: 760 Days
• Field of Search: 570/6, 5710-713, 573/9, 542/4, 573/2
• US Class Current: 5/739
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 27/081 of pneumatic type
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 27/082 with non-manual inflation, e.g. with electric pumps
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 27/087 with means for connecting opposite sides, e.g. internal ties or strips
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 27/10 with two or more independently-fillable chambers

Abstract

An inflatable mattress. 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 further comprises an inflatable reinforcing chamber disposed between the upper and lower inflatable support chambers and attached to the lower inflatable support chamber.

Claims

1. An inflatable mattress comprising:

a support system comprising an upper and a lower inflatable support chamber arranged in a substantially vertical manner, each inflatable support chamber comprising a top layer and a bottom layer; and

an inflatable reinforcing chamber disposed between said upper and lower inflatable support chambers and being attached to said lower inflatable support chamber, wherein said inflatable reinforcing chamber comprises a substantially tubular shape in cross section.

2. The inflatable mattress of claim 1, wherein said inflatable reinforcing chamber is attached to said top layer of said lower inflatable support chamber.

3. The inflatable mattress of claim 2 wherein said inflatable reinforcing chamber comprises an outer perimeter substantially matching the outer perimeters of said upper and said lower inflatable support chambers.

4. The inflatable mattress of claim 3, further comprising at least one opening defined in said inflatable reinforcing chamber and at least one opening defined in said lower inflatable support chamber, said openings being substantially aligned with each other and forming a channel providing fluid communication between said inflatable reinforcing chamber and said lower inflatable support chamber.

5. The inflatable mattress of claim 4, wherein a plurality of said openings are defined in said inflatable reinforcing chamber and a plurality of said openings are defined in said lower inflatable support chamber, said openings forming a plurality of said channels providing fluid communication between said inflatable reinforcing chamber and said lower inflatable support chamber.

6. The inflatable mattress of claim 1, wherein said inflatable reinforcing chamber is attached to said bottom layer of said upper inflatable support chamber.

7. The inflatable mattress of claim 6, wherein said upper inflatable support chamber, said lower inflatable support chamber and said inflatable reinforcing chamber are in fluid communication.

8. The inflatable mattress of claim 1, wherein said inflatable reinforcing chamber is of a height less than the height of said upper inflatable support chamber.

9. The inflatable mattress of claim 1, wherein said inflatable reinforcing chamber is of a height less than the height of said lower inflatable support chamber.

10. The inflatable mattress of claim 1, wherein said upper inflatable support chamber is attached to said lower inflatable support chamber.

11. The inflatable mattress of claim 10, further comprising at least one opening defined in said upper inflatable support chamber and at least one opening defined in said lower inflatable support chamber, said openings being substantially aligned with each other and forming a channel providing fluid communication between said upper inflatable support chamber and said lower inflatable support chamber.

12. The inflatable mattress of claim 11, wherein a plurality of said openings are defined in said upper inflatable support chamber and a plurality of said openings are defined in said lower inflatable support chamber, said openings forming a plurality of said channels providing fluid communication between said upper inflatable support chamber and said lower inflatable support chamber.

13. An inflatable mattress comprising:

a support system comprising an upper and a lower inflatable support chamber arranged in a substantially vertical manner, each inflatable support chamber comprising a top layer and a bottom layer; and

an inflatable reinforcing chamber disposed between said upper and lower inflatable support chambers and being attached to said upper inflatable support chamber, wherein portions of said inflatable reinforcing chamber are movable relative to at least one of said upper and said lower inflatable support chambers.

14. The inflatable mattress of claim 13, wherein said inflatable reinforcing chamber is attached to said bottom layer of said upper inflatable support chamber.

15. An inflatable mattress comprising:

a support system comprising an upper and a lower inflatable support chamber arranged in a substantially vertical manner, each inflatable support chamber comprising a top layer, a bottom layer and an outer perimeter; and

an inflatable reinforcing chamber disposed between said upper and lower inflatable support chambers, at least a portion of said outer perimeter of said bottom layer of said upper inflatable support chamber and at least a portion of said outer perimeter of said top layer of said lower inflatable support chambers being in contact with said inflatable reinforcing chamber; and

at least one substantially fluid impermeable channel defined between said lower inflatable support chamber and said inflatable reinforcing chamber to provide fluid communication between said lower inflatable support chamber and said inflatable reinforcing chamber.

16. The inflatable mattress of claim 15, wherein said inflatable reinforcing chamber is attached to said upper inflatable support chamber.

17. The inflatable mattress of claim 15 wherein said inflatable reinforcing chamber is attached to said lower inflatable support chamber.