Air mattress with single perimeter seam

• US 7,373,680 B2
• Filed: 11/29/2004
• Issued: 05/20/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 08/11/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: DT Davis Enterprises Limited (ETAC AB)
• Original Assignee: Woodlark Circle
• Inventors: Davis, David T.
• Primary Examiner(s): SAFAVI, MICHAEL
• Application Number:
  US10/998,768
• Publication Number:
  US 20050091751A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,268 Days
• Field of Search: 5 8/11.R, 570/6, 571/1, 571/2, 571/3, 571/4, 571/5, 573/1, 573/2, 565/4, 565/21, 565/22, 565/53, 562/5
• US Class Current: 5/711
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 2200/32 lying
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/05769 with inflatable chambers
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/1021 Inflatable cushions
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/1026 Sliding sheets or mats
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/1028 by a support moving on air cushion

Abstract

A transfer mattress is provided including a top sheet having a width, a length, and longitudinally oriented peripheral edges and a bottom sheet having the same width, the same length, longitudinally oriented peripheral edges and a plurality of perforations. The longitudinally oriented peripheral edges of the top and bottom sheets are sealingly fastened to one another often by heat sealing. A plurality of baffles, each having a width and a length, are attached to an inner surface of the top sheet and an inner surface of the bottom sheet so as to be transversely oriented between the top sheet and the bottom. The baffles along with the widths of the top and bottom sheets define a radially-outwardly curved perimeter wall that is disposed between an edge of the baffles and the sealed peripheral edges of the top and bottom sheets. The radially-outwardly curved perimeter wall has a width y that is determined by the following relationship:

$\frac{d\pi -x}{2}\le y$
where d comprises a height of the longitudinally extensive pontoon and x comprises the width of the baffles.

Claims

1. A transfer mattress comprising:

a top panel having a width, a length, and longitudinally oriented peripheral edges;

a bottom panel having said width, said length, and longitudinally oriented peripheral edges and a plurality of perforations wherein said longitudinally oriented peripheral edges of said top and bottom panels are sealingly fastened to one another; and

a plurality of baffles each having a width, a length, and spaced apart end edges, and being attached to an inner surface of said top panel and an inner surface of said bottom panel so as to be transversely oriented between said top panel and said bottom panel with said end edges disposed in spaced confronting relation to said sealingly fastened peripheral edges of said top and bottom panels, thereby defining a radially outwardly curved longitudinally extensive, substantially circularly curved pontoon forming a longitudinally extensive chamber between end edges of said baffles and said sealingly fastened peripheral edges of said top and bottom panels, said radially outwardly curved longitudinally extensive perimeter pontoon having a width y that is determined by the following relationship;

$\frac{d<br><br><br><br>\mathrm{\pi <br><br>}-x}{2}\le <br><br>y$

wherein d comprises a height of said longitudinally extensive pontoon, and x comprises said width of said baffles.

2. A transfer mattress according to claim 1 wherein said top and bottom panels are formed from a sheet of fabric that is coated on at least one surface with a fluid proof coating.

3. A transfer mattress according to claim 2 wherein said water proof coating comprises at least one of a polymeric and elastomeric compound that is impervious to semi-solids and liquids.

4. A transfer mattress according to claim 1 wherein said plurality of baffles each comprise a substantially rectangular sheet.

5. A transfer mattress according to claim 1 wherein said baffles are fastened transversely to a portion of an inner surface of said top panel and to a portion of an inner surface of said bottom panel.

6. A transfer mattress according to claim 1 wherein said longitudinally oriented peripheral edges of said top and bottom panels are heat sealed along their interface.

7. A transfer mattress according to claim 6 wherein said heat sealing comprises at least one of heat and ultra sonic energy deposited an interface longitudinally oriented peripheral edges of said top and bottom panels so as to form a re-solidified interface structure.

8. A transfer mattress comprising:

a coated top sheet having a width, a length, and longitudinally oriented peripheral edges;

a coated bottom sheet having said width, said length, and longitudinally oriented peripheral edges and a plurality of perforations wherein said longitudinally oriented peripheral edges of said top and bottom sheets are heat sealed one to another; and

a plurality of baffles each having a width, a length, and spaced apart end edges, and being attached to an inner surface of said top panel and an inner surface of said bottom panel so as to be transversely oriented between said top panel and said bottom panel with said end edges disposed in spaced confronting relation to said sealingly fastened peripheral edges of said top and bottom panels, thereby defining a radially outwardly curved longitudinally extensive, substantially circularly curved pontoon forming a longitudinally extensive chamber between end edges of said baffles and said sealingly fastened peripheral edges of said top and bottom panels, said radially outwardly curved perimeter wall having a width y that is determined by the following relationship;

$\frac{d<br><br><br><br>\mathrm{\pi <br><br>}-x}{2}\le <br><br>y$

wherein d comprises a height of said longitudinally extensive pontoon and x comprises said width of said baffles.