US3848282A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Light weight flotation mattress
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1973-01-18
•
Granted: 1974-11-19
•
Expires: 1993-01-18
Abstract
Abstract A light weight flotation mattress formed of upper and lower flexible plastic sheets sealed along their edges to form a flat water tight bag of generally quadrilateral outline. The bag has a stoppered filling opening, and the upper and lower sheets are connected together at a plurality of points along two side marginal portions of the bag by elongate flexible plastic tie strips which are strategically located and preferably all parallel to the longer sides of the mattress. The bag is also made shorter than a conventional mattress, by eliminating the pillow area. And, at both said marginal bag portions the tie strips are narrower than other strips which extend along central portions of the bag, whereby the spacing between the sheets when the bag is filled is non-uniform and substantially less along the sides. Thus, less water is contained in the side marginal portions (where the patient''s weight is less than at the central portions), and this makes for a total minimum amount of water needed, and for a much lighter weight mattress when filled. The tie strips maintain areas of uniformity in the mattress height, preventing the sheets from greatly bulging out, and enabling the patient to be completely supported by the water and out of contact with any under supports, even when in a sitting posture. The smaller quantity of water also greatly reduces the filling and emptying time. The bag preferably is provided with a thin, resilient and flexible plastic extension sheet attached to the head end, whereby it can be readily anchored at the head portion of a bed. The improved water mattress is adapted to be placed on and used over the conventional mattress of a bed.
Inventors
- 👤 E Viesturs
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 11:02
CPC Classifications
A; A47; A47C; A47C27/00; A47C27/08; A47C27/087; A47C27/085
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
188 words
A light-weight flotation mattress, comprising, in combination: a. a pair of thin, resilient and flexible synthetic plastic upper and lower sheets of substantially rectangular configuration, located in superposed relation and having their peripheral portions respectively joined to form a flat, closed and watertight bag of rectangular outline with oppositely disposed longitudinal side edges, b. said bag having a stoppered filling opening, and c. a plurality of elongate, resilient and flexible plastic tie strips in said bag and located intermediate the longitudinal side edges of the bag, said strips joining together the upper and lower sheets in spaced-apart relation, d. said tie strips being broadside to and spaced from one another, and disposed in substantially parallel rows, e. said rows extending longitudinally of the bag in spaced-apart relation and parallel to the opposite longitudinal side edges of the bag, f. those tie strips of the rows which are located adjacent the longitudinal edges of the bag being narrower than strips disposed nearer the center of the bag such that the sheets are held in closer spaced relation near the longitudinal side edges of the bag than at its center.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
188 words
A light-weight flotation mattress, comprising, in combination: a. a pair of thin, resilient and flexible synthetic plastic upper and lower sheets of substantially rectangular configuration, located in superposed relation and having their peripheral portions respectively joined to form a flat, closed and watertight bag of rectangular outline with oppositely disposed longitudinal side edges, b. said bag having a stoppered filling opening, and c. a plurality of elongate, resilient and flexible plastic tie strips in said bag and located intermediate the longitudinal side edges of the bag, said strips joining together the upper and lower sheets in spaced-apart relation, d. said tie strips being broadside to and spaced from one another, and disposed in substantially parallel rows, e. said rows extending longitudinally of the bag in spaced-apart relation and parallel to the opposite longitudinal side edges of the bag, f. those tie strips of the rows which are located adjacent the longitudinal edges of the bag being narrower than strips disposed nearer the center of the bag such that the sheets are held in closer spaced relation near the longitudinal side edges of the bag than at its center.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
58 words
A mattress as in claim 1, wherein: a. two rows of said tie strips extend closely adjacent said on pair of opposite edges of the bag, b. other rows of tie strips being interposed between said two rows, c. the tie strips of said other rows being of different width from the tie strips of said two rows.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
25 words
A mattress as in claim 2, wherein: a. the tie strips of said two rows are longer than the tie strips of said other rows.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
20 words
A mattress as in claim 2, wherein: the tie strips are of lesser thickness than the upper and lower sheets.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
29 words
A mattress as in claim 1, wherein: a. the upper and lower sheets and the tie strips are formed of plastic material of the type incorporating a bacteria-inhibiting agent.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
26 words
A mattress as in claim 1, and further including: a. a lifting tab attached to the bag at said filling opening, to facilitate the stoppering thereof.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
29 words
A mattress as in claim 1, and further including: a. means on one of said sheets, providing a transparent flat pocket, and b. a thermometer carried in said pocket.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
25 words
A mattress as in claim 7, and further including: a. a rigid, flat transparent case dispoSed in said pocket, in which the thermometer is disposed.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
35 words
A mattress as in claim 1, and further including: a. a thin, resilient and flexible plastic extension sheet attached to one edge of said bag, for anchoring said edge to a portion of a bed.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
175 words
A light-weight water flotation mattress comprising, in combination: a. a pair of thin, resilient and flexible synthetic plastic upper and lower sheets of substantially rectangular configuration, located in superposed relation and having their peripheral portions respectively joined to form a flat, closed and watertight bag of rectangular outline with oppositely disposed longitudinal side edges, b. said bag having a stoppered filling opening, and c. a plurality of elongate, resilient and flexible plastic tie strips in said bag and located intermediate the longitudinal side edges of the bag, said strips joining together the upper and lower sheets in spaced-apart relation, d. said tie strips being broadside to and spaced from one another and disposed in substantially parallel rows, e. said tie strips being elongate and having opposite ends, f. said ends each having two rounded projecting ears at their corners, respectively secured to the sheets to minimize high local tearing stresses which would normally occur at such ends, thus lessening the likelihood of the ends being torn under conditions of excessive weight applied to the bag.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
175 words
A light-weight water flotation mattress comprising, in combination: a. a pair of thin, resilient and flexible synthetic plastic upper and lower sheets of substantially rectangular configuration, located in superposed relation and having their peripheral portions respectively joined to form a flat, closed and watertight bag of rectangular outline with oppositely disposed longitudinal side edges, b. said bag having a stoppered filling opening, and c. a plurality of elongate, resilient and flexible plastic tie strips in said bag and located intermediate the longitudinal side edges of the bag, said strips joining together the upper and lower sheets in spaced-apart relation, d. said tie strips being broadside to and spaced from one another and disposed in substantially parallel rows, e. said tie strips being elongate and having opposite ends, f. said ends each having two rounded projecting ears at their corners, respectively secured to the sheets to minimize high local tearing stresses which would normally occur at such ends, thus lessening the likelihood of the ends being torn under conditions of excessive weight applied to the bag.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
23 words
A mattress as in claim 10, wherein: a. each end of the strip has a smooth and unbroken edge joining its two ears.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
114 words
An inflatable cushion adapted to carry a fluid and arranged for supporting living objects, comprising in combination: a. a pair of thin individual, resilient and flexible, synthetic, plastic superposed sheets bonded to each other to form a closed bag, and b. an elongate, resilient and flexible, thin plastic tie strip located in said bag intermediate the edges thereof, c. opposite longitudinal edge portions of the tie strip being bonded respectively to the said individual sheets, d. each of the ends of the tie strip having projecting ears at its corners joined together by a smooth unbroken edge, said ears being bonded to the sheets to minimize the likelihood of tearing of the strip ends.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
114 words
An inflatable cushion adapted to carry a fluid and arranged for supporting living objects, comprising in combination: a. a pair of thin individual, resilient and flexible, synthetic, plastic superposed sheets bonded to each other to form a closed bag, and b. an elongate, resilient and flexible, thin plastic tie strip located in said bag intermediate the edges thereof, c. opposite longitudinal edge portions of the tie strip being bonded respectively to the said individual sheets, d. each of the ends of the tie strip having projecting ears at its corners joined together by a smooth unbroken edge, said ears being bonded to the sheets to minimize the likelihood of tearing of the strip ends.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-11-18 | 1978-05-20 | 1978-11-19 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-11-18 | 1982-05-20 | 1982-11-19 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-11-18 | 1986-05-20 | 1986-11-19 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |