Multi-chamber inflatable device

• US 9,247,827 B2
• Filed: 01/16/2015
• Issued: 02/02/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 01/17/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Intex Marketing Ltd. (Intex Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Intex Recreation Corporation (Intex Corporation)
• Inventors: Lin, Hua Hsiang, Hsu, Yaw Yuan
• Primary Examiner(s): Trettel, Michael
• Application Number:
  US14/599,091
• Publication Number:
  US 20150201760A1
• Time in Patent Office: 382 Days
• Field of Search: 570/6, 5710-712, 573/9
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 27/081 of pneumatic type
• 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

A multi-chamber inflatable mattress includes a main air chamber, upper and lower peripheral air chambers, and an upper air chamber. The main air chamber includes internal tensioning structures which cooperate with a bottom mattress panel and a lower intermediate panel to provide a generally box-shaped, mattress-sized inflatable structure upon pressurization. A second, upper intermediate panel cooperates with a top mattress panel to define an upper air chamber which defines the sleeping surface. The main air chamber receives pressurized fluid directly from a valve, while the lower and upper peripheral air chambers are in direct fluid communication with the main air chamber but not the valve. The upper air chamber is in direct fluid communication with the upper peripheral air chamber, but not the main chamber or valve.

Claims

1. A multi-chamber inflatable mattress comprising:

a bottom panel;

a top panel spaced from the bottom panel and defining an upper sleeping surface of the mattress;

a peripheral panel bonded to the bottom panel and the top panel to define an internal mattress cavity;

an upper intermediate panel disposed between the top panel and the bottom panel;

a lower intermediate panel disposed between the bottom panel and the upper intermediate panel;

a valve in fluid communication with the internal mattress cavity such that the mattress can be inflated and deflated via the valve;

a main air chamber bounded by the bottom panel, the top panel and the peripheral panel, the main air chamber in direct fluid communication with an ambient atmosphere via the valve;

an upper peripheral air chamber disposed at a periphery of the top panel, the upper peripheral air chamber in direct fluid communication with the main air chamber and in secondary fluid communication with the ambient atmosphere; and

an upper air chamber disposed between the top panel and the upper intermediate panel, the upper air chamber in direct fluid communication with the upper peripheral air chamber, in secondary fluid communication with the main air chamber and in tertiary fluid communication with the ambient atmosphere.

2. The multi-chamber inflatable mattress of claim 1, wherein the upper air chamber is bounded by the top panel, the upper intermediate panel and a peripheral weld formed between the top panel and the upper intermediate panel, the peripheral weld having at least one interruption forming a fluid communication channel with the upper peripheral air chamber.

3. The multi-chamber inflatable mattress of claim 2, wherein the upper air chamber includes a plurality of zigzag welds formed between the top panel and the upper intermediate panel and within the boundary of the peripheral weld.

4. The multi-chamber inflatable mattress of claim 3, wherein the plurality of zigzag welds define alternating lateral and longitudinal sections joined by respective radiused transitions, such that neighboring pairs of the plurality of zigzag welds define air pockets within the upper air chamber.

5. The multi-chamber inflatable mattress of claim 4, wherein neighboring pairs of pockets formed by the neighboring pairs of zigzag welds are in fluid communication with one another via fluid communication channels formed between neighboring pairs of the radiused transitions.

6. The multi-chamber inflatable mattress of claim 1, wherein the upper peripheral air chamber is bounded by the top panel, the peripheral panel and the upper intermediate panel.

7. The multi-chamber inflatable mattress of claim 1, wherein the upper intermediate panel includes at least one fluid communication aperture positioned to allow fluid flow between the main air chamber and the upper peripheral air chamber.

8. The multi-chamber inflatable mattress of claim 1, further comprising a lower peripheral air chamber disposed at a periphery of the bottom panel, the lower peripheral air chamber in secondary fluid communication with the valve and direct fluid communication with the main air chamber.

9. The multi-chamber inflatable mattress of claim 8, further comprising a lower peripheral panel formed as a rectangular strip of material defining an inner periphery and an outer periphery, the inner periphery bonded to the bottom panel, the outer periphery bonded to the peripheral panel, wherein the lower peripheral air chamber is bounded by the bottom panel, the peripheral panel and the lower peripheral panel.

10. The multi-chamber inflatable mattress of claim 9, wherein the lower peripheral panel includes at least one fluid communication aperture positioned to allow fluid flow between the main air chamber and the lower peripheral air chamber, whereby air flowing through the valve is in direct fluid communication with the main air chamber and in secondary fluid communication with the lower peripheral air chamber via the aperture.

11. The multi-chamber inflatable mattress of claim 1, wherein the upper intermediate panel has an outer periphery defining a size and shape substantially the same as the top panel.

12. The multi-chamber inflatable mattress of claim 1, further comprising at least one tensioning assembly positioned within the internal mattress cavity and bonded to the bottom panel and the lower intermediate panel.

13. The multi-chamber inflatable mattress of claim 12, wherein the at least one tensioning assembly comprises:

a lower weld strip bonded to the bottom panel;

an upper weld strip bonded to the lower intermediate panel; and

a plurality of tension cords each having a lower end bonded to the lower weld strip and an upper end bonded to the upper weld strip.

14. A multi-chamber inflatable mattress comprising:

a main air chamber defined by a ground-contacting surface and a peripheral wall extending upwardly from the ground-contacting surface, the main air chamber in direct fluid communication with an ambient atmosphere via a valve disposed in the peripheral wall;

an upper air chamber disposed above the main air chamber with least two intermediate panels between the main air chamber and the upper air chamber, the upper air chamber defined by a sleeping surface; and

an upper peripheral air chamber disposed at a periphery of an upper edge of the peripheral wall of the main air chamber, the upper peripheral air chamber in direct fluid communication with the main air chamber and in secondary fluid communication with the ambient atmosphere,

the upper air chamber in direct fluid communication with the upper peripheral air chamber, in secondary fluid communication with the main air chamber and in tertiary fluid communication with the ambient atmosphere.

15. The multi-chamber inflatable mattress of claim 14, further comprising a lower peripheral air chamber disposed at a periphery of the ground-contacting surface, the lower peripheral air chamber in direct fluid communication with the main air chamber and secondary fluid communication with the ambient atmosphere.

16. The multi-chamber inflatable mattress of claim 14, wherein the upper air chamber includes a plurality of zigzag welds forming pockets in a quilted pattern.

17. The multi-chamber inflatable mattress of claim 14, further comprising a plurality of tensioners disposed in the main air chamber and operable to impart a box-shape to the inflatable mattress.

18. A multi-chamber inflatable mattress comprising:

a main air chamber;

an upper peripheral air chamber;

an upper air chamber;

first means for inflating and deflating the main air chamber, said first means placing the main air chamber in direct fluid communication with an ambient atmosphere;

second means for inflating and deflating the upper peripheral air chamber, said second means placing the upper peripheral air chamber in secondary fluid communication with the ambient atmosphere; and

third means for inflating and deflating the upper air chamber, said third means placing the upper air chamber in tertiary fluid communication with the ambient atmosphere.

19. The multi-chamber inflatable mattress of claim 18, further comprising:

a lower peripheral air chamber;

fourth means for inflating and deflating the lower peripheral air chamber, said fourth means placing the lower peripheral air chamber in secondary fluid communication with the ambient atmosphere.

20. The multi-chamber inflatable mattress of claim 18, further comprising tensioning means for imparting a box-shape to the inflatable mattress.