U.S. patent application number 10/963203 was filed with the patent office on 2005-04-21 for inflatable bed.
This patent application is currently assigned to Industex, S.L.. Invention is credited to Torres, D. Juan Ramon.
Application Number | 20050081299 10/963203 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 32187441 |
Filed Date | 2005-04-21 |
United States Patent
Application |
20050081299 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Torres, D. Juan Ramon |
April 21, 2005 |
Inflatable bed
Abstract
An inflatable bed having an inflatable top mattress portion and
an inflatable support structure portion having at least one ring
section. Each ring section of the support structure portion
includes a peripheral tubular member defining an exterior periphery
and a reinforcing member connected thereto.
Inventors: |
Torres, D. Juan Ramon;
(US) |
Correspondence
Address: |
PATENT DEPARTMENT
LARKIN, HOFFMAN, DALY & LINDGREN, LTD.
1500 WELLS FARGO PLAZA
7900 XERXES AVENUE SOUTH
BLOOMINGTON
MN
55431
US
|
Assignee: |
Industex, S.L.
Barcelona
ES
|
Family ID: |
32187441 |
Appl. No.: |
10/963203 |
Filed: |
October 11, 2004 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
5/710 ;
5/706 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47C 27/081 20130101;
A47C 27/10 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
005/710 ;
005/706 |
International
Class: |
A47C 027/10; A47C
027/08 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Oct 16, 2003 |
ES |
P200302409 |
Claims
1. An inflatable bed, comprising: an inflatable top mattress
portion having an exterior periphery; an inflatable support
structure portion having at least one ring section, each ring
section having at least one peripheral tubular member defining an
exterior periphery, each ring section further having at least one
reinforcing member.
2. The inflatable bed of claim 1 further comprising at least one
internal air passage fluidly connecting the top mattress portion
with the peripheral tubular member of the adjacent ring section of
the support structure portion such that the top mattress portion
and support structure portion can be inflated and deflated
together.
3. The inflatable bed of claim 1 wherein the exterior periphery of
the top mattress portion is substantially the same as the exterior
periphery of the support structure portion.
4. The inflatable bed of claim 3 wherein the exterior periphery of
the top mattress portion and the exterior periphery of the support
structure portion is substantially rectangular such that the
peripheral tubular members of the support structure have
substantially parallel opposing shorter sides and substantially
parallel opposing longer sides.
5. The inflatable bed of claim 1, wherein the top mattress portion
is at least partially connected to the support structure
portion.
6. The inflatable bed of claim 5, wherein the top mattress portion
is connected at intermittent spaced lengths disposed a distance
from an end of the top mattress portion so that the top mattress
portion can be lifted away from the support structure portion to
enable sheets to be tucked therebetween.
7. The inflatable bed of claim 1 wherein the at least one
reinforcing member has a first end and a second end, with each end
at least partially connected to opposing sides of the peripheral
tubular member of the ring section of the support structure
portion.
8. The inflatable bed of claim 7 wherein the at least one
reinforcing member is in fluid communication with the peripheral
tubular member of the ring section of the support structure
portion, such that the reinforcing member is inflatable and
deflatable together with the peripheral tubular member of the ring
section.
9. The inflatable bed of claim 1 wherein the support structure
portion includes at least two ring sections and wherein each of the
ring sections includes at least one internal air passage fluidly
connecting the peripheral tubular member of the adjacent ring
section such that the at least two ring sections can be inflated
and deflated together.
Description
BACKGROUND
[0001] The present invention relates to inflatable beds. Inflatable
beds are well known in the art. However, despite the multitude of
inflatable bed designs, there remains a need for a stable and
comfortable inflatable bed that minimizes material used to
manufacture the bed, which not only reduces the weight of the
inflatable bed, but also reduces the space required to store the
bed when it is deflated and folded.
SUMMARY
[0002] An inflatable bed having an inflatable top mattress portion
and an inflatable support structure portion. The top mattress
portion may be any type of inflatable mattress. The support
structure portion preferably includes at least one ring section,
but may include multiple ring sections depending on the desired
height of the top mattress portion. Each ring section comprises a
peripheral tubular member defining an exterior periphery. Each ring
section also includes at least one reinforcing member.
[0003] Preferably, although not required, at least one internal air
passageway fluidly connects the top mattress portion with the
peripheral tubular member of the adjacent ring section of the
support structure portion such that the top mattress portion and
support structure portion can be inflated and deflated
together.
[0004] The reinforcing member is preferably at least partially
connected to opposing sides of the peripheral tubular member,
whether in the longitudinal or transverse directions, or diagonally
or in any other direction. Preferably, although not required, the
reinforcing member is fluidly connected to the peripheral tubular
member of the ring section such that the reinforcing member and the
peripheral tubular member of the ring section can be inflated and
deflated together.
[0005] Preferably, the adjacently disposed peripheral members are
connected only along short spaced lengths so that a portion the top
mattress can be lifted up from the support structure portion to
enable sheets to be tucked therebetween.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES
[0006] FIG. 1 is a top perspective view of a preferred embodiment
of the inflatable bed of the present invention.
[0007] FIG. 2 is a bottom perspective view of the inflatable bed of
FIG. 1.
[0008] FIG. 3 is a top perspective view of the inflatable bed of
FIG. 1 in which the top mattress portion is shown slightly raised
to illustrate how a sheet can be tucked between the top mattress
portion and the support structure portion below.
[0009] FIG. 4 is a bottom plan view of the inflatable bed of FIG.
1.
[0010] FIG. 5 is a left side elevation view of the inflatable bed
of FIG. 1.
[0011] FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the inflatable bed of
FIG. 1 as viewed along lines 6-6 of FIG. 7.
[0012] FIG. 7 is a top plan view of the inflatable bed of FIG.
1.
[0013] FIG. 8 is a side elevation view of the inflatable bed of
FIG. 1.
[0014] FIGS. 9 is a bottom plan view of an alternative embodiment
of the inflatable bed of the present invention.
[0015] FIG. 10 is a bottom plan view of yet another alternative
embodiment of the inflatable bed of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0016] As shown in drawing FIGS. 1-8, the preferred embodiment of
the inflatable bed of the present invention is designated generally
by reference numeral (20) and comprises a top mattress portion (1)
and a support structure portion (40). In the preferred embodiment
of the bed (20) as shown in FIGS. 1-8, both the top mattress
portion (1) and the support structure portion (40) have a
substantially rectangular shape and have substantially the same
outer periphery. However, it should be understood that the top
mattress portion (1) and the support structure portion (40) may be
any desired size, shape or configuration.
[0017] In the preferred embodiment, a set of conventional controls
(2) for inflating and deflating the inflatable bed (20) is
preferably located on the top mattress portions (1) for ease of
access, but it should be appreciated that the controls (2) may be
located in any other location on the inflatable bed (20) as
desired.
[0018] In the preferred embodiment, the support structure portion
(40) includes two ring sections (42, 44). Each ring section (42,
44) preferably includes a peripheral tubular member (3, 4) that
defines an outer periphery that is preferably substantially the
same as the top mattress portion (1). The stacked peripheral
tubular members (3, 4) are preferably connected along their lengths
in any conventional manner. Additionally, the upper peripheral
tubular member (3) is preferably at least partially connected to
the top mattress portion (1) as described in detail later. The
result is a highly stable, comfortable "ring" structure that
provides considerable advantages compared to convention inflatable
air beds, particularly with regard to savings in the material used
to manufacture the inflatable bed (20), the saving in space once
the bed (20) is folded up and the reduced weight of the bed (20)
itself, which makes it easier to handle, especially when
folded.
[0019] It should be appreciated that the support structure portion
(40) may comprise one, two, three or any other number of ring
sections depending on the desired height of the inflatable bed (20)
and the height or diameter of the peripheral tubular members
comprising the ring sections.
[0020] The preferred embodiment of the support structure portion
(40) is best illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 6. As previously
identified, the preferred support structure portion (40) includes
two ring sections (42, 44) each having a peripheral tubular member
(3, 4) that defines the outer periphery of the support structure
portion (40). Also, as best illustrated in FIG. 6, for greater
stability, a reinforcing member (5, 6) (discussed in more detail
later) is preferably fluidly connected to the peripheral tubular
member (3, 4) of the respective ring sections (42, 44).
[0021] The top mattress portion (1) is preferably connected in any
conventional manner to the support structure portion (40). In a
preferred embodiment, the top mattress is intermittently connected
at spaced locations (7, 8) disposed a sufficient distance from any
ends, sides or corners of the bed so that the top mattress portion
(1) can be lifted away from the support structure portion (40) as
shown in FIG. 3, to enable a sheet to be tucked between the top
mattress (1) and the support structure (40) when making the
bed.
[0022] As identified above, each ring section (42, 44) may include
one or more reinforcing members. In the preferred embodiment
illustrated in FIG. 6, the reinforcing members (5, 6) of the
respective ring sections (42, 44) are disposed longitudinally and
in parallel relation to the peripheral tubular members (3, 4).
Additionally, as illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 4, the reinforcing
members (5, 6) are preferably connected to opposing sides of the
peripheral tubular members (3, 4) and are preferably in fluid
communication therewith. Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 9, the
reinforcement members (5, 6) may extend transversely, as shown in
FIG. 10, the reinforcement members (5, 6) may extend diagonally
from one corner of the peripheral tubular members (3, 4) of the
respective ring sections (42, 44) to the opposite corner of the
peripheral tubular member (3, 4) of the ring section (42, 44).
[0023] As illustrated in FIG. 8, a plurality of internal
passageways (50) are preferably provided to communicate air between
the top mattress portion (1) and the peripheral tubular member (3)
of the first ring section (42) of the support structure portion
(40). Additionally, a plurality of internally passageways (50) are
preferably provided to communicate air between the peripheral
tubular members (3, 4) of the ring sections (42, 44) of the support
structure portion (40) to enable the inflatable bed (20) to inflate
and deflate together.
[0024] The material used to manufacture the inflatable bed (20) may
vary, provided it is elastic, lightweight and can be folded. The
preferred materials may include PVC plastic or similar textiles
with plastic coatings, rubber materials or others recognized by
those skilled in the art.
[0025] An inflatable bed made in accordance herewith provides
considerable advantages compared to the state of the art, including
the reduction of the amount of material required to manufacture the
inflatable bed compared to currently known inflatable beds
consisting of various similar parts one on top of the other, and
the considerable reduction in weight and space taken up, which is
particularly important when the bed is folded up for storage and
shipping, etc.
[0026] Although only certain exemplary embodiments of the invention
have been described in detail above, those skilled in the art will
readily appreciate that many modifications are possible without
materially departing from the novel teachings and advantages of
this invention. Accordingly, all such modifications are intended to
be included within the scope of the claims appended hereto.
* * * * *