Water mattress with internal float tube

Claim 2

An improved water mattress with edge support which is adapted to be confined in a rigid box-like waterbed frame comprising: a water inflatable bag-like enclosure having a top panel, a parallel, spaced-apart bottom panel and edge panels seaLingly interconnecting said top and bottom panels to form a watertight enclosure; a water filling and valve means in one of said panels having fluid communication with the interior of said bag-like enclosure; at least one float tube means hingedly connected at one edge internally within said enclosure adjacent to and along one edge panel thereof in a manner allowing it to move between said top and bottom panels independently of said one edge panel, said float tube means forming an internal, fluid-tight chamber within said bag-like enclosure; and an air filling and valve means located in one of said panels and having fluid communication with said fluid-tight internal chamber whereby said float tube means can be pneumatically inflated to provide edge support for said top panel along the top of said one edge panel through its buoyancy in relation to the fluid filling said bag-like enclosure.

Claim 3

The improved water mattress defined in claim 1 wherein said float tube means is mounted in a manner which allows it to move vertically within the bag-like enclosure when the latter is filled with water.

Claim 4

The improved water mattress defined in claim 2 wherein the float tube means is centrally connected on the one edge panel to allow movement thereof between the top and bottom panels.

Claim 5

The improved water mattress defined in claim 2 wherein the top and bottom panels are rectangular and the edge panels are composed of two side panels and two end panels.

Claim 6

The improved water mattress defined in claim 4 where a float tube means is connected adjacent to and along each side panel thereof and each float tube means extends substantially the full length of its associated side panel.

Claim 7

The improved water mattress defined in claim 4 wherein the float tube means rings the inner periphery of the bag-like enclosure so a portion thereof is adjacent and parallel to each of the side and end panels thereof.

Claim 8

The improved water mattress defined in claim 1 wherein the panels of the bag-like enclosure are formed from an elastomer membrane.

Claim 9

The improved water mattress defined in claim 1 wherein the diameter of the float tube means is less than two thirds the height of its adjacent edge panel.

Claim 10

The improved water mattress defined in claim 3 wherein said float tube means is hingedly connected centrally on the one edge panel to allow movement thereof between the top and bottom panels.

Claim 11

A waterbed frame having vertical side and end boards and joined to form a rigid box-like frame in combination with a water mattress, said water mattress comprising: a rectangular water inflatable bag-like enclosure sized to fit within the rigid box-like frame and having a top panel, a spaced-apart bottom panel and vertical end and side panels sealingly interconnecting said top and bottom panels to form a water-tight bag-like structure, said vertical end and side panels arranged to be supported respectively by said vertical end and side boards; a water filling and valve means located in one of said panels and having fluid communication with the interior of said bag-like enclosure; at least one float tube means hingedly mounted internally at one edge along one of said side panels, said float tube means forming an internal fluid-tight chamber within said bag-like enclosure and mounted to enable it to move vertically within said enclosure; and an air filling and valve means located in one of said panels and having fluid communication with said fluid-tight internal chamber whereby said float tube means can be pneumatically inflated to provide edge support along the top of said one side panel through its buoyancy when said bag-like enclosure is filled with water.

Claim 12

A waterbed frame having vertical side and end boards and joined to form a rigid box-like frame in combination with a water mattress, said water mattress comprising: a rectangular water inflatable bag-like enclosure sized to fit within the rigid box-like frame and having a top panel, a spaced-apart bottom panel and vertical end and side panels sealingly interconnecting said top and bottom panels to form a water-tight bag-like structure, said vertical end and side panels arranged to be supported respectively by said vertical end and side boards; a water filling and valve means located in one of said panels and having fluid communication with the interior of said bag-like enclosure; at least one float tube means hingedly mounted internally at one edge along one of said side panels, said float tube means forming an internal fluid-tight chamber within said bag-like enclosure and mounted to enable it to move vertically within said enclosure; and an air filling and valve means located in one of said panels and having fluid communication with said fluid-tight internal chamber whereby said float tube means can be pneumatically inflated to provide edge support along the top of said one side panel through its buoyancy when said bag-like enclosure is filled with water.