U.S. patent number 3,736,604 [Application Number 05/119,706] was granted by the patent office on 1973-06-05 for fluid filled mattress.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Carson Manufacturing Co.. Invention is credited to Robert N. Carson, Jr..
United States Patent |
3,736,604 |
Carson, Jr. |
June 5, 1973 |
FLUID FILLED MATTRESS
Abstract
A fluid filled mattress surrounded by a protective sheet with a
fireproof sheet on the top held in place by a cover sheet, provided
with means to form a flexible framework adjustable to suitable
pressures of the fluid in the mattress; also provided with flap
means inside of the mattress dividing it into compartments, the
flap means being either perforated or freely swingable so as to
resist excessive motion of the body or fluid within the mattress
when displaced by weight thereon; also securing means to hold the
lining and cover in position in a box in which the fluid mattress
is confined.
Inventors: |
Carson, Jr.; Robert N. (San
Rafael, CA) |
Assignee: |
Carson Manufacturing Co. (San
Rafael, CA)
|
Family
ID: |
22385894 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/119,706 |
Filed: |
March 1, 1971 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
5/422; 5/671;
5/679; 5/678; 5/682 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47C
31/001 (20130101); A47C 21/048 (20130101); A47C
27/085 (20130101); A47C 27/087 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
A47C
21/04 (20060101); A47C 27/08 (20060101); A47C
21/00 (20060101); A47c 027/08 () |
Field of
Search: |
;5/348-350,336,335,348WB
;220/22,83,88,89,93 ;150/1 ;269/327 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Zugel; Francis K.
Assistant Examiner: Calvert; Andrew M.
Claims
I claim:
1. In a fluid filled mattress,
a bag made of pliant material,
means through which said bag is filled with fluid,
means to maintain the filled bag in the shape of a mattress and to
inhibit lateral expansion thereof,
waterproof protective covering around the bottom and sides of said
fluid filled bag to prevent accidental escape of fluid,
a plurality of baffle flaps extended from the top of said bag
inside toward the bottom of said bag and being swingable and being
capable to retard said movement of said fluid.
2. A mattress as specified in claim 1, and
weight means on each of said flaps to predetermine the degree of
resistance to fluid movement in said mattress.
3. In a fluid filled mattress,
a bag made of pliant material,
means through which said bag is filled with fluid,
means to maintain the filled bag in the shape of a mattress and to
inhibit lateral expansion thereof,
waterproof protective covering around the bottom and sides of said
fluid filled bag to prevent accidental escape of fluid,
said waterproof covering having a bottom, sides,
flexible strips along tops of the sides being adapted to be turned
over the top of said bag, and
fastening means to hold said strips in position on the top of said
bag.
4. A mattress as specified in claim 3, and
a protective pad on the top of said bag extended under and being
held by said flexible strips.
5. A mattress as specified in claim 3, and
said shape maintaining means including a band extending around the
sides of said bag and secured together to a predetermined size for
predetermining the stiffness of said mattress.
6. In a fluid filled mattress,
a bag made of pliant material,
means through which said bag is filled with fluid,
means to maintain the filled bag in the shape of a mattress and to
inhibit lateral expansion thereof,
waterproof protective covering around the bottom and sides of said
fluid filled bag to prevent accidental escape of fluid,
said shape maintaining means including a band extending around the
sides of said bag and secured together to a predetermined size for
predetermining the stiffness of said mattress.
7. In a fluid filled mattress,
a bag made of pliant material,
means through which said bag is filled with fluid,
means to maintain the filled bag in the shape of a mattress and to
inhibit lateral expansion thereof,
waterproof protective covering around the bottom and sides of said
fluid filled bag to prevent accidental escape of fluid,
said shape maintaining means including,
a stiffener element along each side of said bag and
a tightening element surrounding said bag and said stiffening
elements, and
means to hold said tightening elements secured at a predetermined
tightness thereby to predetermine the stiffness of said
mattress.
8. In a fluid filled mattress,
a bag made of pliant material,
means through which said bag is filled with fluid,
means to maintain the filled bag in the shape of a mattress and to
inhibit lateral expansion thereof,
waterproof protective covering around the bottom and sides of said
fluid filled bag to prevent accidental escape of fluid,
said shape maintaining means including a rigid frame surrounding
said bag,
said waterproof protective covering including a lining extended
over all the sides and the bottom of said frame,
a cover extended over the top of said bag secured to the frame,
and said frame and said lining and cover being of sufficient
looseness to permit the tucking of bedding around said
mattress.
9. A mattress as specified in claim 8, and
means for securing said cover and said lining to the sides of said
frame including rigid fastening elements overlying the edge
portions of said cover and lining along the top edge portion of the
sides of said frame, and
means to secure said fastening elements to the respective sides of
said frame.
10. A mattress as specified in claim 9, and
a portion of said fastening elements being removable to permit
access to the space between the cover and lining for filling or
emptying said bag.
11. A mattress as specified in claim 10,
heating means between said lining and said bag, and
heat insulating means between said heating means and said lining.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Fluid filled mattresses or beds, commonly referred to as water
beds, have many disadvantages in their present form, namely the
danger of being punctured and therefore flooding the environments,
the resultant short circuits in the electric heating system, the
excessive swaying as the water in the bed moves in waves when
pressed by the weight of a person thereon, the possibility of
burning a hole in the plastic bag on the top, the lack of
adjustability of the mattress to variable desired resiliency or
stiffness.
The primary object of this invention is to provide a fluid filled
mattress and a method of forming it into a bed or similar support
so as to eliminate the above mentioned and other disadvantages, and
create a fluid mattress which is safe, yet which is adjusted to the
desired resiliency or stiffness and which can be easily and quickly
assembled into a bed, sofa, settee, or the like furniture.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a perspective developed view of a fluid mattress adjusted
to suitable stiffness, the fireproof cover sheet and the lining or
cover to hold them together.
FIG. 2 is a fragmental sectional view of the above mentioned parts
assembled together.
FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the assembled bed.
FIG. 4 is a fragmental detail of the straps for adjusting the
stiffness of the mattress.
FIG. 5 is a perspective view of another form of mattress with
stiffeners on the sides.
FIG. 6 is a fragmental detail of the stiffener for the sides of the
mattress.
FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the mattress in the frame with
a cover sheet.
FIGS. 8 and 9 are details of illustration of stiffening the sides
of the mattress along the side seams.
FIG. 10 is another form of stiffening the seams along the sides of
the mattress.
FIG. 11 is a perspective view partly in section showing the flaps
or baffles inside of the mattress to dampen the movement of the
water in the mattress.
FIG. 12 is a fragmental cross-sectional view of said mattress with
the dampening flaps assembled in a rigid frame and showing the
cover sheet for the same.
FIG. 13 is a perspective view, partly in section, illustrating the
mounting of the liner and cover sheet relatively to the mattress in
a rigid bed frame.
FIG. 14 is a fragmental sectional view showing the securing of the
liner and the cover sheets to the rigid bed frame.
FIG. 15 is a cross-sectional view of the bed shown in FIG. 13.
FIG. 16 is a fragmental view of a corner showing the removable
inside corner for access to the means for filling the bag with
fluid.
FIG. 17 is a perspective view of a fluid mattress supported on an
air mattress.
FIG. 18 is a fragmental sectional view of said fluid mattress on
top of an air mattress assembled in a bed frame.
FIG. 19 is a perspective view of an air mattress for the above
purpose made in the form of a continuous tube.
FIG. 20 is a partly sectional perspective view of a fluid mattress
supported on a spring mattress.
FIG. 21 is a fragmental cross-sectional view of the fluid mattress
on the spring mattress assembled in a bed frame and showing the
lining and cover sheets.
FIG. 22 is a view showing the combining of two fluid mattresses
into a single bed.
FIG. 23 is a perspective view showing the use of super-imposed
fluid mattresses for a settee or the like.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
Referring to FIGS. 1 to 4 inclusive, a flexible heavy bag 1 is
adapted to be filled with a liquid such as water in the usual
manner, the sides of which are surrounded by a flexible tube such
as a canvas belt 2, which in this illustration is tubular and forms
a pair of sleeves 3 to accommodate suitable strapping such as metal
strapping 4. By pulling the metal strappings together at their free
ends 6 and securing them by the usual crimping of a collar 7
thereover, the stiffness or resiliency of the mattress is
predetermined.
The cover 8, preferably also made of flexible plastic, is so made
that it fits over the mattress placed therein, so that the top edge
portions 9, when folded over the mattress 1, as shown in FIGS. 2
and 3, can be suitably drawn together and form a tight cover. A
fireproof sheet such as a fiberglass sheet 11 placed on the top of
the mattress 1 and tucked under the top edge portions 9 is held
firmly in place by the tightly drawn top edge portions 9. The bed
is filled and also can be heated by means hereinafter
described.
Referring to FIGS. 5 and 6, another type of stiffener for the fluid
bed 12 is shown in the form of rigid strips, such as boards 13,
held in place by bands or metal strapping 14. The boards 13 are of
such length that when the strapping 14 is drawn together to its
limit, the boards do not abut but leave a corner space free for a
rounded shape. As shown in FIG. 6, the strapping 14 is provided at
its end with markings 16 spaced on a scale to indicate the degree
of stiffness to which the mattress is adjusted.
Referring to FIG. 7, the aforesaid mattress is shown in a bed frame
with a lining sheet 10 and cover sheet 15 secured over it. In this
form a heating element 17 is placed in a pocket 18 in the bottom of
the bed frame.
Referring to FIGS. 8 and 9, there is shown a reinforcement for the
seam of the bed along its sides. Each seam 19 of the fluid bed 12
has an outwardly projecting turned flap 21, the outer edges of
which are again united into an outer seam 22 and into the pocket 23
so formed is placed a stiffener such as a board 24. Then this is
turned upon itself as shown in FIG. 9 to form a reinforced seam,
and the reinforced seam is held by a suitable rigid sleeve 26 open
at one side thereof so that it can be slid on the turned seam
longitudinally along each side of the mattress.
As shown in FIG. 10, the reinforcing is accomplished by placing a
rod 27 inside of the mattress along the seam, then manipulating the
rod 27 in such a manner that is it alongside the seam and bulges
outwardly so as to permit the sliding over the seam and the rod 27
of a rigid tube 28 which is open on one side. In this manner the
strain on the seam is distributed over the adjacent portions of the
plastic bag.
Viewing FIGS. 11 and 12, baffles or flaps 31 are provided
lengthwise and also across the mattress in such a manner as to
divide the interior of the mattress into compartments. These flaps
31 are flexible and collapsible with a bag 32. The flaps are
preferably secured at the top edges 33 to the top of the bag 32 on
the inside so as to be freely swingable about the top edges as a
pivot. The resistance to the movement of the water in the water bag
can be predetermined by increasing the thickness of the free lower
edges 34 of the flaps, and if necessary by the insertion of some
weights 36 in said lower edges. Restricted communication between
the compartments can be also regulated by the size and number of
holes 37 in the respective collapsible flaps 31. This arrangement
inhibits extensive back and forth swaying of masses of water in the
bag when a person sits or lies on the mattress. As shown in FIG.
12, the mattress can be assembled in a box or bed 5 and be provided
with a protective lining 10 and protective cover 15. The
cross-flaps 31 are staggered and at their intersecting edge 38 are
tapered downwardly away from the adjacent longitudinal flap to
permit more freedom of movement.
FIGS. 13 to 16 inclusive illustrate in more detail the construction
and assembly of the fluid mattress of any of the types in the box
5. The box 5 has a shoulder 39 formed along each side thereof on
the inside. The lining sheet 10 has its edges along each side
placed over said shoulder and the adjacent vertical wall 41. The
cover sheet 15 also has its edges placed over the corresponding
portions of the lining 10 on the shoulder 39 and on the vertical
wall 41, and a retaining block 42 is then placed on the sheet edges
on the shoulder 39 and against the vertical wall 41 as shown in
still further detail in FIG. 14. In the vertical wall 41 is a
threaded tube 43 and the retaining block 42 has a hole 44
therethrough in registry with the tube 43 so that a screw 46 is
inserted through the hole 44 and is screwed into the tube 43. The
screw head 47 is a flat head recessed into the block 42 as shown.
In this manner the stress is taken off the edges of the sheets. The
space between the sides of the box 5 and the mattress is
exaggerated in this view to illustrate that the bag can be pushed
over toward the opposite sides of the box to provide a space 48 for
tucking under the bedding, for instance in the manner shown in FIG.
21.
The flexible tube 49 is normally concealed in the dotted lines
position. It can be pulled out into the full line position shown in
FIG. 15 by removing a corner block 51 shown in FIG. 16. The
retainer blocks 42 are cut away at said corner so as to accommodate
the insertion and fastening in place of the corner block 51 in the
manner shown in FIG. 14. In order to fill or collapse the fluid
bed, the corner block 51 is removed without disturbing the rest of
the assembly and the person can reach down between the cover sheet
15 and the lining 10 at that corner and pull the tube 49 out to
make it accessible for that operation. In FIG. 15 there is also
illustrated a fiberglass lining 52 along the bottom of the heating
element 17 which is used in all the heating elements herein so as
to prevent the burning of the cover sheet or the lining at the
bottom of the box as the case may be. In practice the fluid bed
itself is protected by controlling the temperature through the
usual rheostat circuit control 53 and a suitable fuse 54. If
necessary the rheostat may be in the form of a thermostat for
temperature control.
Viewing FIGS. 17, 18 and 19, the fluid mattress 56 is placed on a
pneumatic or air mattress 57. This arrangement will give the proper
height for the combined mattresses, and at the same time will
reduce the volume of liquid or water in the fluid mattress and
predetermines a combined desired resiliency. In this case, as
shown, the fluid mattress is filled through a check valve 58 which
is common to all the embodiments, and the air mattress is inflated
through a suitable check valve 59. This combined mattress can be
again assembled in a box 5 and a lining 10 and a cover sheet 15
protect the mattresses. The heating element 17 is placed at this
time between the fluid mattress 56 and air mattress 57 as shown in
FIG. 18.
As shown in FIG. 19, the air mattress 57' can be also made in a
continuous tube turned back and forth to cover the mattress
area.
Another modification shown in FIGS. 20 and 21 shows the mattress 56
resting on a spring mattress 61. In FIG. 21 there is also shown the
arrangement of the bedding 62 on top of the fluid mattress 56.
In FIG. 22 there is shown the arrangement of a pair of liquid
mattresses 63 combined together side by side. For instance, if each
of the pair of beds is made of the usual size of a single bed, such
as 21 by 72 inches, then the two mattresses can be drawn together
and will complement each other into a double bed size. In this
instance the belt 2 and the mattress strapping 4 surround the
outside periphery of the complementary pair of mattresses and are
tightened in the same manner as described in connection with FIG. 1
or FIG. 5 so as to shape the two mattresses into a single mattress.
Thereafter the fireproof foam or fiberglass sheet is placed on the
top and the cover 8 is tightened around the combined mattresses in
the manner heretofore described.
In the embodiment shown in FIG. 23 a combination of superimposed
mattresses 66 is illustrated. For outdoor use the pad 67 on the top
can be covered with a sun resistant material. Thus a combination of
mattresses may be used to produce a bed or settee of suitable
height, and by placing such super-imposed mattresses in sets side
by side, then full bed width could also be accomplished. Another
advantage of using superimposed mattresses to produce the desired
height is that heating element may be placed under the top mattress
and between the super-imposed mattresses, and thereby reduce the
volume of water or liquid to be heated whenever heat is
desired.
The method of making and assembling the herein mattresses includes
the following steps:
A flexible waterproof plastic bag is formed out of a sheet of
material, the seams of which may be reinforced in the manner shown
in FIGS. 9 and 10.
In forming the bed out of a sheet of material, the pivot edges 33
of the flaps 31 are welded to the part of the sheet which is to
form the top of the mattress, so that the longitudinal flaps 31
extend nearly the full length of the mattress. It is preferable
that each end of these longitudinal flaps 31 be spaced somewhat
from the adjacent end of the mattress when assembled. Then the
sheet is formed into a bag so as to enclose the flaps 31. The
filling tube 49 is suitably secured to one side of the bag.
The forming belts 2 or the boards 13 and strapping 14 are placed
around the mattress and the mattress is placed into the cover 8,
shown in FIG. 1, or into the box 5 shown in FIG. 7, as the case may
be, and is partly filled with liquid to such an extent only that it
is still sufficiently pliable to permit the tightening of the
strappings 6 or 14 respectively. At this stage the strappings are
pulled together to the required tightness and the collars 7 are
clipped thereon to hold them at the adjusted tightness.
Thereafter the mattress is completely filled with water or liquid.
After the mattress is so shaped and filled the pad 11 is placed
thereon and the cover is secured in position, either by drawing the
top edges of the cover from the attitude shown in FIG. 1 into the
overlapping attitude shown in FIG. 3 or by securing the cover sheet
15 in position as shown in FIGS. 7, 12 or 18.
Where heating of the liquid in the mattress is required, the
heating element 17 is placed in suitable position beneath the
mattress and is regulated in the usual manner.
In the form shown in FIG. 22, two individual mattresses are
partially filled and placed with the belt 2 surrounding both
mattresses into the liner or cover 8 side by side and after the pad
11 is placed on the top to cover both mattresses, the top edge of
the cover 8 is drawn together as heretofore described forming a
single mattress.
In the form shown in FIG. 23 narrower mattresses are placed one on
top of the other, each being handled the same way as heretofore
described and are placed either in a box or a flexible liner as
heretofore described with a pad on the top to combine them into a
single unit.
* * * * *