U.S. patent application number 11/198250 was filed with the patent office on 2007-02-08 for inflatable pad, and mattress assembly including the inflatable pad.
Invention is credited to Hsin-Tsai Wu.
Application Number | 20070028389 11/198250 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 37716276 |
Filed Date | 2007-02-08 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070028389 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Wu; Hsin-Tsai |
February 8, 2007 |
Inflatable pad, and mattress assembly including the inflatable
pad
Abstract
An inflatable pad includes: a first pad piece formed with a
plurality of first holes; a second pad piece stacked on the first
pad piece and formed with a plurality of second holes; and a
plurality of tension pieces, each of which is connected sealingly
to hole edges of a respective first hole and a respective second
hole so as to form an air passage extending through the tension
piece, the respective first hole, and the respective second
hole.
Inventors: |
Wu; Hsin-Tsai; (Taipei City,
TW) |
Correspondence
Address: |
TROP PRUNER & HU, PC
1616 S. VOSS ROAD, SUITE 750
HOUSTON
TX
77057-2631
US
|
Family ID: |
37716276 |
Appl. No.: |
11/198250 |
Filed: |
August 5, 2005 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
5/706 ;
5/691 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47C 27/081 20130101;
A47C 27/10 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
005/706 ;
005/691 |
International
Class: |
A47C 27/08 20060101
A47C027/08 |
Claims
1. An inflatable pad adapted to be placed on a mattress body, said
inflatable pad comprising: a first pad piece having a first
peripheral edge and formed with a plurality of first holes, each of
which has a first hole edge; a second pad piece having a second
peripheral edge, and formed with a plurality of second holes, said
second pad piece being stacked on said first pad piece in such a
manner that said first holes are aligned with said second holes,
respectively, each of said second holes having a second hole edge;
and a plurality of tension pieces disposed between said first and
second pad pieces, each of said tension pieces having opposite
first and second open ends that respectively have first and second
end edges aligned with a respective one of said first holes and a
respective one of said second holes, said first end edge of said
first open end of each of said tension pieces and said first hole
edge of the respective one of said first holes being sealed
together and said second end edge of said second open end of each
of said tension pieces and said second hole edge of the respective
one of said second holes being sealed together so as to form an air
passage extending through a respective one of said tension pieces,
a respective one of said first holes, and a respective one of said
second holes; wherein said first and second peripheral edges are
sealed together so as to form an enclosed space between said first
and second pad pieces.
2. The inflatable pad as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first pad
piece is formed with a plurality of first recesses, each of which
surrounds said first hole edge of a respective one of said first
holes, and a plurality of first bumps alternately disposed with
said first recesses, said second pad piece being formed with a
plurality of second recesses, each of which surrounds said second
hole edge of a respective one of said second holes, and a plurality
of second bumps alternately disposed with said second recesses.
3. The inflatable pad as claimed in claim 2, further comprising a
flexible pad skirt that extends from a sealing juncture between
said first and second peripheral edges.
4. The inflatable pad as claimed in claim 1, further comprising an
air valve mounted on a selected one of said first and second pad
pieces.
5. A mattress assembly comprising: a mattress body; and an
inflatable pad placed on said mattress body and including a first
pad piece having a first peripheral edge, and formed with a
plurality of first holes, each of which has a first hole edge, a
second pad piece having a second peripheral edge, and formed with a
plurality of second holes, said second pad piece being stacked on
said first pad piece in such a manner that said first holes are
aligned with said second holes, respectively, each of said second
holes having a second hole edge, and a plurality of tension pieces
disposed between said first and second pad pieces, each of said
tension pieces having opposite first and second open ends that
respectively have first and second end edges aligned with a
respective one of said first holes and a respective one of said
second holes, said first end edge of said first open end of each of
said tension pieces and said first hole edge of the respective one
of said first holes being sealed together and said second end edge
of said second open end of each of said tension pieces and said
second hole edge of the respective one of said second holes being
sealed together so as to form an air passage extending through a
respective one of said tension pieces, a respective one of said
first holes, and a respective one of said second holes; wherein
said first and second peripheral edges are sealed together so as to
form an enclosed space between said first and second pad
pieces.
6. The mattress assembly as claimed in claim 5, wherein said
mattress body has a peripheral edge that is sealingly connected to
a sealing juncture between said first and second pad pieces.
7. The mattress assembly as claimed in claim 5, wherein said first
pad piece is formed with a plurality of first recesses, each of
which surrounds said first hole edge of a respective one of said
first holes and each of which is spaced apart from said mattress
body, and a plurality of first bumps alternately disposed with said
first recesses and in contact with said mattress body.
8. The mattress assembly as claimed in claim 7, wherein said second
pad piece is formed with a plurality of second recesses, each of
which surrounds said second hole edge of a respective one of said
second holes, and a plurality of second bumps alternately disposed
with said second recesses, each of said first recesses being in
fluid communication with a respective one of said second recesses
through a respective one of said air passages.
9. The mattress assembly as claimed in claim 5, further comprising
a flexible pad skirt that extends from a sealing juncture between
said first and second peripheral edges.
10. The mattress assembly as claimed in claim 5, wherein said
mattress body is inflatable and is provided with an air valve.
11. The mattress assembly as claimed in claim 5, further comprising
an air valve mounted on a selected one of said first and second pad
pieces.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The invention relates to an inflatable pad, more
particularly to an inflatable pad that is formed with a plurality
of air passages for venting purposes.
[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0004] As shown in FIG. 1, a conventional air-filled mattress 1
includes a mattress body 11 and an air valve 12 mounted on a
lateral side of the mattress body 11 for inflating and deflating
the mattress body 11. The air-filled mattress 1 is convenient to
transport occupies a small space after deflation, and is suitable
for outdoor recreation activities.
[0005] However, the mattress body 11 of the conventional air-filled
mattress 1 is disadvantageous in that the user often feels
uncomfortable after lying thereon for a period of time due to heat
accumulated by the mattress body 11.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] Therefore, the object of the present invention is to provide
an inflatable pad that can overcome the aforesaid drawback of the
prior art.
[0007] According to one aspect of the present invention, there is
provided an inflatable pad adapted to be placed on a mattress body.
The inflatable pad comprises: a first pad piece having a first
peripheral edge and formed with a plurality of first holes, each of
which has a first hole edge; a second pad piece having a second
peripheral edge, and formed with a plurality of second holes, the
second pad piece being stacked on the first pad piece in such a
manner that the first holes are aligned with the second holes,
respectively, each of the second holes having a second hole edge;
and a plurality of tension pieces disposed between the first and
second pad pieces. Each of the tension pieces has opposite first
and second open ends that respectively have first and second end
edges aligned with a respective one of the first holes and a
respective one of the second holes. The first end edge of the first
open end of each of the tension pieces and the first hole edge of
the respective one of the first holes are sealed together, and the
second end edge of the second open end of each of the tension
pieces and the second hole edge of the respective one of the second
holes are sealed together so as to form an air passage extending
through a respective one of the tension pieces, a respective one of
the first holes, and a respective one of the second holes. The
first and second peripheral edges are sealed together so as to form
an enclosed space between the first and second pad pieces.
[0008] According to another aspect of the present invention, there
is provided a mattress assembly that comprises: a mattress body;
and an inflatable pad placed on the mattress body. The inflatable
pad includes: a first pad piece having a first peripheral edge, and
formed with a plurality of first holes, each of which has a first
hole edge; a second pad piece having a second peripheral edge, and
formed with a plurality of second holes, the second pad piece being
stacked on the first pad piece in such a manner that the first
holes are aligned with the second holes, respectively, each of the
second holes having a second hole edge; and a plurality of tension
pieces disposed between the first and second pad pieces. Each of
the tension pieces has opposite first and second open ends that
respectively have first and second end edges aligned with a
respective one of the first holes and a respective one of the
second holes. The first end edge of the first open end of each of
the tension pieces and the first hole edge of the respective one of
the first holes are sealed together, and the second end edge of the
second open end of each of the tension pieces and the second hole
edge of the respective one of the second holes are sealed together
so as to form an air passage extending through a respective one of
the tension pieces, a respective one of the first holes, and a
respective one of the second holes. The first and second peripheral
edges are sealed together so as to form an enclosed space between
the first and second pad pieces.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0009] Other features and advantages of the present invention will
become apparent in the following detailed description of the
preferred embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings,
of which:
[0010] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a conventional air-filled
mattress;
[0011] FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the first
preferred embodiment of a mattress assembly with an inflatable pad
according to the present invention;
[0012] FIG. 3 is a schematic side view of the first preferred
embodiment;
[0013] FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the second
preferred embodiment of a mattress assembly with an inflatable pad
according to the present invention; and
[0014] FIG. 5 is a schematic side view-of the second preferred
embodiment.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0015] Before the present invention is described in greater detail
with reference to the accompanying preferred embodiments, it should
be noted herein that like elements are denoted by the same
reference numerals throughout the disclosure.
[0016] Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, the first preferred embodiment
of a mattress assembly 100 according to the present invention is
shown to include a mattress body 2 and an inflatable pad 3 placed
on the mattress body 2. The mattress body 2 and the inflatable pad
3 are made from a plastic material.
[0017] The mattress body 2 comprises a generally rectangular first
mattress piece 21, a generally rectangular second mattress piece
22, and a peripheral wall 23 connected to peripheral edges of the
first and second mattress pieces 21, 22 using high-frequency
welding techniques. The peripheral wall 23 and the first and second
mattress pieces 21, 22 cooperate to define an accommodation space
24 for receiving injected air therein. The mattress body 2 further
includes an air valve 25 mounted on one side of the peripheral wall
23, and a plurality of tension members 26 which are columnar in
shape, which are made from the same material of the first and
second mattress pieces 21,22, and which are disposed in the
accommodation space 24. The tension members 26 are connected to the
first and second mattress pieces 21, 22 using high-frequency
welding techniques for maintaining a desired distance between the
first and second mattress pieces 21, 22 when the mattress body 2 is
fully inflated.
[0018] The inflatable pad 3 includes: a first pad piece 31 having a
first peripheral edge 317 and formed with a plurality of first
holes 311, each of which has a first hole edge 312; a second pad
piece 32 having a second peripheral edge 327, and formed with a
plurality of second holes 321, the second pad piece 32 being
stacked on the first pad piece 31 in such a manner that the first
holes 311 are aligned with the second holes 321, respectively, each
of the second holes 321 having a second hole edge 322; and a
plurality of tension pieces 35 disposed between the first and
second pad pieces 31, 32. Each of the tension pieces 35 has
opposite first and second open ends that respectively have first
and second end edges 351, 352 aligned with a respective one of the
first holes 311 and a respective one of the second holes 321. The
first end edge 351 of the first open end of each of the tension
pieces 35 and the first hole edge 312 of the respective one of the
first holes 311 are sealed together, and the second end edge 352 of
the second open end of each of the tension pieces 35 and the second
hole edge 322 of the respective one of the second holes 32 are
sealed together so as to form an air passage 35' extending through
a respective one of the tension pieces 35, a respective one of the
first holes 311, and a respective one of the second holes 321. The
first and second peripheral edges 317, 327 are sealed together so
as to form an enclosed space 36 between the first and second pad
pieces 31, 32 and so as to form a sealing juncture 34 therebetween.
The mattress body 22 has a peripheral edge that is sealingly
connected to the sealing juncture 34 using high-frequency welding
techniques.
[0019] The inflatable pad 3 further includes an air valve 33
mounted on the second pad piece 32 for pad inflation and deflation
purposes.
[0020] After inflation, the first pad piece 31 is formed with a
plurality of first recesses 313, each of which surrounds the first
hole edge 312 of a respective one of the first holes 311, and a
plurality of first bumps 314 alternately disposed with the first
recesses 313, and the second pad piece 32 is formed with a
plurality of second recesses 323, each of which surrounds the
second hole edge 322 of a respective one of the second holes 321,
and a plurality of second bumps 324 alternately disposed with the
second recesses 323. The air passages 35 permit fluid communication
with ambient air above the second pad piece 32 and below the first
pad piece 31 so that ventilation of the ambient air under the
user's body is allowed, thereby resulting in dissipation of heat
generated by the user's body and accumulated by the inflatable pad
3.
[0021] Referring to FIGS. 4 and 5, the second preferred embodiment
of this invention differs from the first preferred embodiment in
that the second preferred embodiment of the inflatable pad 3
further includes a flexible pad skirt 37 that extends from a
sealing juncture 34 between the first and second peripheral edges
317, 327 (see FIG. 2) for covering the peripheral wall 23 of the
mattress body 2.
[0022] With the inclusion of the inflatable pad 3 in the mattress
assembly of this invention, the aforesaid drawback associated with
the prior art can be eliminated.
[0023] While the present invention has been described in connection
with what is considered the most practical and preferred
embodiments, it is understood that this invention is not limited to
the disclosed embodiments but is intended to cover various
arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the broadest
interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and
equivalent arrangements.
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