Waterbed mattress with a baffle

Claim 2

In a waterbed mattress having an enclosing structure comprising a horizontally extending top wall, a horizontally extending bottom wall, and side walls, the improvement comprising a horizontally extending baffle for reducing wave-like motion of water in the mattress disposed within the enclosing structure and vertically spaced apart from the bottom wall when the mattress is filled with water, the baffle having a horizontal extent corresponding generally to the sleeping surface of the mattress and permitting water to circulate between the top wall and the bottom wall.

Claim 3

The mattress of claim 1 wherein the baffle is positioned between the top and bottom walls when the mattress is filled with water.

Claim 4

The mattress of claim 2 wherein the baffle is positioned closer to the top wall than the bottom wall when the mattress is filled with water.

Claim 5

The mattress of claim 1 wherein the baffle is positioned a vertical distance above the bottom wall of from 1/2H to 15/16H, where H is the distance between the bottom wall and the top wall when the mattress is filled with water.

Claim 6

The mattress of claim 4 wherein the baffle is positioned a vertical distance above the bottom wall of from 2/3H to 3/4H.

Claim 7

The mattress of claim 1 wherein the baffle has a horizontal extent such that its surface area is at least about 2/3 of the surface area of the sleeping surface.

Claim 8

The mattress of claim 6 wherein the baffle has a horizontal extent such that its surface area is at least about 3/4 of the surface area of the sleeping surface.

Claim 9

The mattress of claim 1 including means for anchoring the baffle to the top wall of the enclosing structure, wherein the baffle constitutes a material that is denser than water.

Claim 10

The mattress of claim 1 or 8 wherein the baffle comprises a flexible sheet of plastic material.

Claim 11

The mattress of claim 1 including means for anchoring the baffle to the side walls of the enclosing structure.

Claim 12

The mattress of claim 1 including means for anchoring the baffle to the bottom wall of the enclosing structure.

Claim 13

In a waterbed mattress having an enclosing structure comprising side walls horizontally extending top and bottom walls, the improvement comprising (a) a pad of buoyant material disposed within the enclosing structure for reducing wave-like motion of water in the mattress, the pad having a horizontal extent such that its surface area is at least about 2/3 of the surface area of the sleeping surface of the mattress, and (b) means anchoring the pad to the bottom wall of the enclosing structure at a plurality of laterally spaced apart locations, wherein when the mattress is filled with water the pad is constrained by the anchoring means to float above the bottom wall and below the top wall at a vertical distance above the bottom wall of at least 1/2H, where H is the distance between the bottom wall and the top wall when the mattress is filled with water, the pad permitting water to circulate between the top wall and the bottom wall.

Claim 14

In a waterbed mattress having an enclosing structure comprising side walls horizontally extending top and bottom walls, the improvement comprising (a) a pad of buoyant material disposed within the enclosing structure for reducing wave-like motion of water in the mattress, the pad having a horizontal extent such that its surface area is at least about 2/3 of the surface area of the sleeping surface of the mattress, and (b) means anchoring the pad to the bottom wall of the enclosing structure at a plurality of laterally spaced apart locations, wherein when the mattress is filled with water the pad is constrained by the anchoring means to float above the bottom wall and below the top wall at a vertical distance above the bottom wall of at least 1/2H, where H is the distance between the bottom wall and the top wall when the mattress is filled with water, the pad permitting water to circulate between the top wall and the bottom wall.

Claim 15

In a waterbed mattress having an enclosing structure comprising a horizontally extending top wall, a horizontally extending bottom wall, and side walls, the improvement comprising (a) a horizontally extending buoyant baffle for reducing wave-like motion of water in the mattress disposed within the enclosing structure and vertically spaced apart from the bottom wall when the mattress is filled with water, the baffle having a horizontal extent corresponding generally to the sleeping surface of the mattress and permitting water to circulate between the top wall and the bottom wall, and (b) anchor means comprising a horizontally extending, flexible anchor sheet formed of a material denser than water and positioned below the buoyant baffle, the anchor sheet not being attached to the enclosing structure, and means for connecting the anchor sheet to the baffle.

Claim 16

In a waterbed mattress having an enclosing structure comprising a horizontally extending top wall, a horizontally extending bottom wall, and side walls, the improvement comprising (a) a horizontally extending buoyant baffle for reducing wave-like motion of water in the mattress disposed within the enclosing structure and vertically spaced apart from the bottom wall when the mattress is filled with water, the baffle having a horizontal extent corresponding generally to the sleeping surface of the mattress and permitting water to circulate between the top wall and the bottom wall, and (b) anchor means comprising a horizontally extending, flexible anchor sheet formed of a material denser than water and positioned below the buoyant baffle, the anchor sheet not being attached to the enclosing structure, and means for connecting the anchor sheet to the baffle.

Claim 17

The mattress of claim 13 wherein the baffle has a horizontal extent such that its surface area is at least about 2/3 of the surface area of the sleeping surface.

Claim 18

The mattress of claim 14 wherein the baffle has a horizontal extent such that its surface area is at least about 3/4 of the surface area of the sleeping surface.

Claim 19

The mattress of claim 13 wherein the anchoring means anchors the baffle to the anchor sheet at a plurality of spaced apart locations.

Claim 20

The mattress of claim 16 wherein the anchor means comprises a flexible sheet overlying the baffle and wherein the connecting means connects the flexible sheet to the anchor sheet through openings in the baffle.

Claim 21

The waterbed mattress of claim 17 wherein the connecting means comprises a plurality of flexible straps affixed to the flexible sheet and to the anchor sheet.

Claim 22

The waterbed mattress of claim 17 wherein the connecting means comprises a plurality of elongated tubular members affixed longitudinally to the anchor sheet and connected to the flexible sheet through the openings in the baffle.

Claim 23

The waterbed mattress of claim 13 wherein the anchor means comprises a flexible sheet overlying the baffle and an elongated tubular member affixed to the anchor sheet and secured to the flexible sheet at a plurality of spaced apart points through openings in the baffle.

Claim 24

The waterbed mattress of claim 20 wherein the tubular member has a plurality of vent openings in the side wall thereof.

Claim 25

The waterbed mattress of claim 13 wherein the baffle is fabricated of a closed-cell polyethylene foam.

Claim 26

In a waterbed mattress having an enclosing structure comprising a horizontally extending top wall, a horizontally extending bottom wall, and side walls, the improvement comprising a horizontally extending baffle for reducing wave-like motion of water in the mattress disposed within the enclosing structure and having a horizontal extent corresponding generally to the sleeping surface of the mattress, the baffle comprising a material denser than water and a buoyant material of sufficient mass so that the baffle floats vertically spaced apart from the bottom wall when the mattress is filled with water, the baffle permitting water to circulate between the top wall and the bottom wall.

Claim 27

In a waterbed mattress having an enclosing structure comprising a horizontally extending top wall, a horizontally extending bottom wall, and side walls, the improvement comprising a horizontally extending baffle for reducing wave-like motion of water in the mattress disposed within the enclosing structure and having a horizontal extent corresponding generally to the sleeping surface of the mattress, the baffle comprising a material denser than water and a buoyant material of sufficient mass so that the baffle floats vertically spaced apart from the bottom wall when the mattress is filled with water, the baffle permitting water to circulate between the top wall and the bottom wall.

Claim 28

The mattress of claim 22 or 23 wherein the baffle is vertically spaced apart from the top wall when the mattress is filled with water.

Claim 29

The mattress of claim 22 or 23 wherein the baffle is positioned a vertical distance above the bottom wall of from 1/2H to 15/16H, where H is the distance between the bottom wall and the top wall when the mattress is filled with water.

Claim 30

The mattress of claim 25 wherein the baffle is positioned a vertical distance above the bottom wall of from 2/3H to 3/4H.

Claim 31

The mattress of claim 22 or 23 wherein the baffle is positioned closer to the top wall than the bottom wall when the mattress is filled with water.

Claim 32

The waterbed mattress of claim 23 wherein the buoyant material is closed-cell polyethylene foam.

Claim 33

The waterbed mattress of claim 23 or 28 wherein the material denser than water comprises a sheet of plastic material.

Claim 34

In a waterbed mattress having an enclosing structure comprising side walls, a horizontally extending top wall and a horizontally bottom wall, the improvement comprising a horizontally extending baffle for reducing wave-like motion of water in the mattress disposed within the enclosing structure, the baffle having a horizontal extent such that its surface area is at least about 2/3 of the surface area of the sleeping surface, the baffle comprising material denser than water and a buoyant material of sufficient mass that the baffle floats vertically spaced apart from the bottom wall when the mattress is filled with water, the baffle permitting water to circulate between the top wall and the bottom wall, wherein the baffle is not secured to the enclosing structure.

Claim 35

In a waterbed mattress having an enclosing structure comprising side walls, a horizontally extending top wall and a horizontally bottom wall, the improvement comprising a horizontally extending baffle for reducing wave-like motion of water in the mattress disposed within the enclosing structure, the baffle having a horizontal extent such that its surface area is at least about 2/3 of the surface area of the sleeping surface, the baffle comprising material denser than water and a buoyant material of sufficient mass that the baffle floats vertically spaced apart from the bottom wall when the mattress is filled with water, the baffle permitting water to circulate between the top wall and the bottom wall, wherein the baffle is not secured to the enclosing structure.

Claim 36

The mattress of claim 30 wherein the baffle has a horizontal extent such that its surface area is at least 3/4 of the surface area of the sleeping surface.

Claim 37

The mattress of claim 30 wherein the baffle is vertically spaced apart from the top wall when the mattress is filled with water.