U.S. patent application number 10/085700 was filed with the patent office on 2003-08-28 for inflatable product.
Invention is credited to Hsu, Yaw-Yuan, Lin, Hua-Hsiang, Saputo, Richard.
Application Number | 20030159218 10/085700 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 27753703 |
Filed Date | 2003-08-28 |
United States Patent
Application |
20030159218 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Lin, Hua-Hsiang ; et
al. |
August 28, 2003 |
Inflatable product
Abstract
This invention is an inflatable product that includes a
plurality of chambers at least two of which are adjoining, with at
least one unidirectional valve connecting any pair of adjoining
chambers, an inlet port, and an exhaust port.
Inventors: |
Lin, Hua-Hsiang; (Fuzhou,
CN) ; Hsu, Yaw-Yuan; (Taipei, TW) ; Saputo,
Richard; (Tarzana, CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
David N. Makous, Esq.
Lewis, Brisbois, Bisgaard & Smith, LLP
Suite 1200
221 N. Figueroa Street
Los Angeles
CA
90012
US
|
Family ID: |
27753703 |
Appl. No.: |
10/085700 |
Filed: |
February 26, 2002 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
5/710 ;
5/655.3 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47C 27/10 20130101;
A47C 27/081 20130101; A47C 4/54 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
5/710 ;
5/655.3 |
International
Class: |
A47C 027/10 |
Claims
We claim:
1. An inflatable product comprising: a. a plurality of chambers; b.
at least two of said chambers adjoining one another in whole or in
part; c. at least one unidirectional valve connecting any pair of
adjoining chambers; d. an inlet port through which fluid can be
introduced into said inflatable product; and e. an exhaust port
through which fluid can exit said inflatable product.
2. The inflatable product of claim 1 wherein said unidirectional
valve is a spring loaded unidirectional valve.
3. The inflatable product of claim 1 wherein any pair of adjoining
chambers are joined together at an adjoining surface.
4. The inflatable product of claim 1 having an inlet port further
comprised of an unidirectional valve.
5. The inflatable product of claim 1 wherein the inlet port further
permits the exhausting of fluid from the chamber.
6. The inflatable product of claims 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5 further
comprising a means for introducing fluid into said inflatable
product.
7. The inflatable product of claim 6 wherein said means for
introducing fluid is mechanical, electrical, or
electro-mechanical.
8. The inflatable product of claim 6 wherein said means for
introducing fluid is assisted by the use of mechanical, electrical,
electro-mechanical, hand or foot power.
9. The product of claim 1 wherein the fluid is air.
10. The product of claim 1 wherein the fluid is liquid.
11. The product of claim 1 wherein the product is an air mattress.
Description
BACKGROUND OF INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to inflatable products, and
more particularly, to inflatable furniture such as mattresses,
chairs and the like, which are easily inflated and deflated.
[0003] 2. Discussion of Related Art
[0004] Inflatable furniture such as air mattresses and chairs have
enjoyed wide popularity for a number of reasons. When not is use,
such inflatable products occupy a small area in relation to their
inflated size and are thus easily stored and transported. When
inflated, a piece of inflatable furniture provides its user with a
high level of comfort as he or she is literally supported upon a
cushion of air isolating him or her from an uncomfortable resting
surface such as a floor or the uneven terrain often associated with
outdoor excursions.
[0005] Although inflatable furniture is relatively inexpensive and
enjoys the advantages recited above, such products have never
gained universal acceptance by the consuming public and are not
seen as entirely suitable replacements for conventional furniture.
One of the primary reasons for this lack of universal acceptance is
that inflatable furniture, at least to date, has not been capable
of fast and efficient inflation while at the same time providing
its user with a level, firm and stable supporting surface. This is
because conventional inflatable furniture tends to be constructed
such that all parts are in fluid communication which results in a
characteristic "give" caused by the redistribution of fluid which
occurs when the user applies a downward force on the furniture.
Even though certain structural methods have been used to reduce
this bulging effect, such as I-beam stabilization, such methods
only partially address the bulging problem because fluid
redistribution still occurs during use. When this redistribution
occurs, the resultant bulging and compressing of the inflatable
product can cause a loss of evenness and stability.
[0006] Attempts have been made to address this perceived
shortcoming in several different ways. For example, U.S. Pat. No.
3,705,429 discloses an inflatable mattress which uses a plurality
of individual inflatable beams, columns or chambers within an outer
inflatable chamber. Each beam or chamber is separately inflatable
and independent, having its own inlet/outlet port, without fluid
communication between contiguous chambers. Although this design may
prevent the redistribution of fluid between chambers during use, it
has another shortcoming. Each independent chamber must be inflated
and deflated through multiple inlet ports, thus the task of
inflating and deflating the mattress can prove lengthy or tedious
to the user.
[0007] Therefore, there is a need for an inflatable product that
allows for fluid communication between contiguous chambers during
inflation, thus allowing for easy inflation from a single inlet
port, while at the same time maintaining product firmness and
stability by preventing the bulging associated with the
redistribution of fluid during use. The present invention
accomplishes these goals and overcomes the inadequacies of the
prior art.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0008] It is the object of the present invention to provide an
inflatable product which characteristically maintains its firmness
and stability while not being overly complex to produce and
maintain.
[0009] A further object of the present invention is to provide an
inflatable product that demonstrates a firmness and stability
similar to that of conventional furniture.
[0010] It is a further object of this invention to provide an
inflatable product that can be readily inflated and deflated.
[0011] Additional features and advantages of the invention will be
set forth in the description which follows, and will be apparent
from the description, or may be learned by practice of the
invention. The objectives and other advantages of the invention
will be realized and attained by the structure particularly pointed
out in the written description and claims hereof as well as in the
drawings.
[0012] The present invention comprises an inflatable product having
a plurality of chambers with at least two of said chambers
adjoining one another in whole or in part, at least one
unidirectional valve connecting any pair of adjoining chambers, an
inlet port through which fluid can be introduced into said product,
and an exhaust port through which fluid can exit said inflatable
product.
[0013] It is to be understood that the foregoing general
description and the following detailed description are exemplary
and intended to provide a further explanation of the invention as
claimed.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0014] The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a
further understanding of the invention and are incorporated in and
constitute part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of
the invention and, together with the description, serve to explain
the principles of the invention.
[0015] FIG. 1 is a partial sectional view of the first embodiment
of an inflatable mattress with adjoining inner and outer chambers
having an interconnecting unidirectional valve.
[0016] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a second embodiment of
an inflatable mattress with stacked multiple chambers having an
interconnecting unidirectional valve.
[0017] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a unidirectional valve
suitable for use in the invention which is biased in a closed
position by a spring.
[0018] FIG. 4 is an exploded view of the unidirectional valve of
FIG. 3.
[0019] FIG. 5 is a top plan view of the unidirectional valve of
FIG. 3.
[0020] FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the unidirectional valve
of FIG. 5 taken along line 6-6.
[0021] FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the mounting boot for the
unidirectional valve of FIG. 3.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0022] FIG. 1 illustrates the first embodiment of the present
invention. In particular FIG. 1 illustrates a partial-sectional
view of an inflatable mattress 100, which comprises an inner
chamber 101 surrounded by an outer chamber 102. The outer chamber
102 is formed by the sealing or joining of the top layer 103 and
bottom layer 105 to the outer wall 104 along an upper outer wall
seam 106 and a lower outer wall seam 107. The inner chamber 101 is
formed by sealing or joining the top layer 103 and bottom layer 105
to the inner wall 108 along an upper inner wall seam 109 and a
lower inner wall seam 110. A tube 111 allows for the introduction
of fluid into the inner chamber 101. The tube 111 is sealed within
the outer wall 104 at a circular seam 112 about the periphery of
tube 111 and into the inner wall 108 by a second circular seam 113
about the periphery of tube 111.
[0023] In both the first and second embodiments the materials
forming the walls, layers and tube comprise a flexible and
resilient material such as polyvinyl chloride sheeting (or PVC),
thermoplastic impregnated cloth or other materials known to one
having ordinary skill in the art. The seals between the walls,
layers and tube are formed using radio frequency (RF) sealing or
other processes known to one having ordinary skill in the art.
[0024] According to the first embodiment of the inflatable mattress
100 shown in FIG. 1 the inner chamber 101 and outer chamber 102 are
inflated through a single inlet port 114 of the tube 111 using an
electro-mechanical pump 115 inserted into the edge of the tube 111.
The pump can be affixed to the outer edge of the mattress for use
as needed. Fluid is first introduced into the inner chamber 101
after which some fluid passes through an unidirectional valve 300
into the outer chamber 102. Once the inner chamber 101 and outer
chamber 102 are inflated, the unidirectional valve 300 prevents the
reverse flow of fluid from the outer chamber 102 back into the
inner chamber 101, as could occur for a number of reasons such as
by the application of force by a user's body on the mattress.
[0025] The air pressure in the inner chamber 101 can be adjusted
through a deflation valve contained in the electro-mechanical pump
115. In such usage when air is released from the inner chamber 101,
air pressure in the outer chamber 102 remains constant as the
unidirectional valve 300 prevents the back flow of air from the
outer chamber 102 into the inner chamber 101. Thus differentiated
pressures can be maintained in the inner and outer chambers.
[0026] Deflation of the entire air mattress 100 can be accomplished
by the opening of the exhaust port 116 which is sealed within the
outer wall 104. When the exhaust port 116 is opened, the pressure
in the outer chamber will decrease. The resulting air pressure
change will cause the unidirectional valve 300 to open allowing the
passage of air from the inner chamber 101 into the outer chamber
102 and out the exhaust port 116.
[0027] FIG. 2 represents a second embodiment of the invention.
Particularly FIG. 2 represents a cross-sectional view of an
inflatable mattress 200 wherein the multiple chambers of the air
mattress 200 are comprised of an upper chamber 201 and a lower
chamber 202. The upper chamber 201 and lower chamber 202 are formed
by first sealing a top layer 203 to an upper side wall 206 along a
seam 209. Next the middle layer 204 is sealed to both the upper
side wall 206 and the lower side wall 207 along a seam 210.
Finally, the bottom layer 205 is sealed to the lower side wall 207
along a seam 211. In addition, a tubular chamber 208 acts as a base
preventing lateral movement the mattress 200, and is in fluid
communication with the lower chamber 202.
[0028] The air mattress 200 can be inflated by introducing fluid
through the inlet port 212 using an electro-mechanical pump 213
attached to the upper chamber 201. As fluid is introduced, it will
pass into the upper chamber 201 through the unidirectional valve
300 into the lower chamber 202 and the tubular chamber 208. As with
the first embodiment, when all chambers are filled the
unidirectional valve 300 will prevent the reverse flow of fluid
from the lower chamber 202 into the upper chamber 201.
[0029] The upper chamber 201 of the air mattress 200 can also be
partially deflated by a valve incorporated within the
electro-mechanical pump 213. As in the first embodiment the partial
deflation of the upper chamber 201 will not affect the air pressure
of the lower chamber 202 due to the restriction of air flow by the
unidirectional valve 300.
[0030] Deflation of the mattress 200 can be accomplished by the
opening of the exhaust port 214 which is within the lower wall 207
resulting in the decrease of the pressure in the lower chamber. The
decreased fluid pressure in the lower chamber 202 will allow for
the opening of the unidirectional valve 300 which in turn will
allow for the passage of the fluid in the upper chamber 201 to pass
through to the lower chamber 202 and finally through the exhaust
port 214.
[0031] FIGS. 3-7 depict a valve suitable for use in the present
invention, a spring loaded unidirectional valve. The valve
comprises a movable valve element 301 and gasket 302. The gasket
can be made of rubber or other suitable gasket material known to
those having ordinary skill in the art. The movable valve element
301 is biased in a closed position against the valve seat 311 by a
partially compressed resilient coil spring 303. The spring 303 is
held in place about the shaft 305 of the movable valve element 301
by a retaining washer 304 affixed to said shaft.
[0032] The movable valve element 301 will move vertically with
respect to the valve seat 311 through the central sleeve 306
thereby opening the unidirectional valve 300 when sufficient
pressure is exerted on the movable valve element 301 to overcome
the biasing tension created by the partially compressed spring
303.
[0033] The central sleeve 306 is an integral part of the valve body
307 and is attached to the valve body 307 by three triangular
shaped support arms 308 which are integral with both the central
sleeve 306 and the valve body 307.
[0034] In the first embodiment, the unidirectional valve 300 is
mounted within the air mattress 100 such that it permits the
unidirectional flow of air between the inner chamber 101 and the
outer chamber 102. The mounting is accomplished by attaching a
standard mounting boot 400, as shown in FIG. 7, approximately
midway between the upper layer 103 and the lower layer 105 in the
inner wall 108. The mounting boot has a male-threaded portion 401
capable of being received by the complementary female thread 312 of
the unidirectional valve 300. The male threaded portion of said
mounting boot is sealed to the inner wall 108 forming a seal 402
tight enough to prevent fluid leakage.
[0035] Once the valve is attached to the inner wall 108 the inlet
side of the valve 309 will be in communication with the inner
chamber 101 while the outlet side of the valve 310 will be in
communication with the outer chamber 102.
[0036] In the second embodiment, the unidirectional valve 300 is
mounted in the same manner as in the first embodiment except that
the unidirectional valve 300 is mounted in between the upper
chamber 201 and the lower chamber 202. Thus, the inlet side of the
valve 309 will be in communication with the upper chamber 201 and
the outlet side of the valve 310 will be in communication with the
lower chamber 202.
[0037] It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various
modifications and variations can be made in the present invention
without departing form the spirit or scope of the invention. Thus,
it is intended that the present invention cover the modifications
and variations of this invention provided they come within the
scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.
* * * * *