Waterbed mattress with functionally nonredundant inner bladder means for wave attenuation

Claim 2

An improved waterbed mattress with provision for wave absorption, said mattress comprising: an outer water-fillable bag-like enclosure having a longitudinal dimension and a lateral dimension, and having water-filling means particularly adapted for introducing water into the enclosure after manufacture of the mattress is complete; at least one bladder disposed within said outer enclosure and filled or partially filled with liquid, and having liquid-filling means particularly adapted for use in: filling or partially filling the bladder with liquid after manufacture of the mattress is complete, and draining liquid from the bladder when the mattress is to be moved; said bladder being substantially smaller in longitudinal and lateral extent than the enclosure; and means for preventing collapse of the bladder and twisting of the bladder around its liquid-filling means during draining, said means comprising a quantity of fibrous material disposed within said bladder; and the mattress and the liquid-containing bladder therein are not necessarily full or partially full of liquid at the time of sale, the filling or partial filling of the mattress and bladder with liquid instead possibly occurring thereafter.

Claim 3

The waterbed mattress of claim 1 wherein said bladder is capable of lateral and vertical movement with respect to said outer enclosure.

Claim 4

The waterbed mattress of claim 2 wherein no substantial part of said bladder is directly attached to said outer enclosure.

Claim 5

An improved waterbed mattress for ordinary residential use in sleeping, and having provision for wave absorption, comprising: an outer water-fillable bag-like enclosure having a longitudinal dimension and a lateral dimension, and having water-filling means means particularly adapted for introducing water into the enclosure after manufacture of the mattress is complete, whereby: the enclosure can be drained and refilled, as when moving from one residence to another, and the individual comfort preferences of residential users can be implemented by adjustment of the quantity of liquid within the enclosure; and a wave-absorbing liquid-containing bladder that is: disposed within said outer enclosure, adapted to absorb the energy of waves within the outer enclosure by means of substantial longitudinal and lateral movement of the bladder within the outer enclosure in response to such waves, said bladder being substantially smaller in longitudinal and lateral extent than the enclosure and thereby being capable of substantial lateral and longitudinal movement with respect to said outer enclosure, as well as vertical deformation, filled or partially filled with liquid, whereby the weight, inertia, and mobility of the liquid are employed in absorbing the energy of such waves, and provided with liquid-filling means particularly adapted for use by a purchaser in draining and in filling or partially filling the bladder with liquid after manufacture of the mattress is complete; whereby the mattress with the bladder therein can be drained and refilled, as when moving from one residence to another, and whereby the individual comfort preferences of users can be implemented by adjustment of the quantity of liquid within the bladder; and the mattress and the liquid-containing bladder therein are not necessarily full or partially full of liquid at the time of sale, the filling or partial filling of the mattress and bladder with liquid instead possibly occurring thereafter.

Claim 6

An improved waterbed mattress for ordinary residential use in sleeping, and having provision for wave absorption, comprising: an outer water-fillable bag-like enclosure having a longitudinal dimension and a lateral dimension, and having water-filling means means particularly adapted for introducing water into the enclosure after manufacture of the mattress is complete, whereby: the enclosure can be drained and refilled, as when moving from one residence to another, and the individual comfort preferences of residential users can be implemented by adjustment of the quantity of liquid within the enclosure; and a wave-absorbing liquid-containing bladder that is: disposed within said outer enclosure, adapted to absorb the energy of waves within the outer enclosure by means of substantial longitudinal and lateral movement of the bladder within the outer enclosure in response to such waves, said bladder being substantially smaller in longitudinal and lateral extent than the enclosure and thereby being capable of substantial lateral and longitudinal movement with respect to said outer enclosure, as well as vertical deformation, filled or partially filled with liquid, whereby the weight, inertia, and mobility of the liquid are employed in absorbing the energy of such waves, and provided with liquid-filling means particularly adapted for use by a purchaser in draining and in filling or partially filling the bladder with liquid after manufacture of the mattress is complete; whereby the mattress with the bladder therein can be drained and refilled, as when moving from one residence to another, and whereby the individual comfort preferences of users can be implemented by adjustment of the quantity of liquid within the bladder; and the mattress and the liquid-containing bladder therein are not necessarily full or partially full of liquid at the time of sale, the filling or partial filling of the mattress and bladder with liquid instead possibly occurring thereafter.

Claim 7

The waterbed mattress of claim 4 wherein said bladder is highly deformable.

Claim 8

The waterbed mattress of claim 5 wherein no substantial part of said bladder is directly attached to said outer enclosure.

Claim 9

The waterbed mattress of claim 4, further comprising means for preventing collapse of the bladder and twisting of the bladder around its liquid-filling means during draining, said means comprising a quantity of fibrous material disposed within said bladder.

Claim 10

The waterbed mattress of claim 7 wherein no substantial part of said bladder is directly attached to said outer enclosure.

Claim 11

The waterbed mattress of claim 6 wherein said bladder is only partially filled with liquid.

Claim 12

The waterbed mattress of claim 6 wherein said bladder is highly deformable.

Claim 13

The waterbed mattress of claim 6 wherein no substantial portions of said bladder are directly connected to said outer enclosure.

Claim 14

An improved waterbed mattress with wave absorption, said mattress comprising: an outer water-fillable bag-like enclosure provided with a water-filling means; and a wave absorber including at least one wave-absorbing water bladder partially filled with water to maintain it in a limp condition, said bladder being provided with a water-filling means and at least one tuft, each tuft having a slit to provide escape for air from one side of said bladder to the other, and said wave absorber being disposed within said outer water-fillable bag-like enclosure; and the mattress and the liquid-containing bladder therein are not necessarily full or partially full of liquid at the time of sale, the filling or partial filling of the mattress and bladder with liquid instead possibly occurring thereafter.

Claim 15

An improved waterbed mattress with wave absorption, said mattress comprising: an outer water-fillable bag-like enclosure provided with a water-filling means; and a wave absorber including at least one wave-absorbing water bladder partially filled with water to maintain it in a limp condition, said bladder being provided with a water-filling means and at least one tuft, each tuft having a slit to provide escape for air from one side of said bladder to the other, and said wave absorber being disposed within said outer water-fillable bag-like enclosure; and the mattress and the liquid-containing bladder therein are not necessarily full or partially full of liquid at the time of sale, the filling or partial filling of the mattress and bladder with liquid instead possibly occurring thereafter.

Claim 16

The waterbed mattress of claim 12 further comprising a fibrous material disposed within said water bladder.

Claim 17

An improved waterbed mattress with provision for wave absorption, said mattress comprising: an outer water-fillable bag-like enclosure having a longitudinal dimension and a lateral dimension; at least one liquid-filled or partially liquid-filled bladder disposed within said outer enclosure, and having liquid-flow means particularly adapted for use in draining liquid from the bladder when the mattress is to be moved; said bladder being substantially smaller in longitudinal and lateral extent than the enclosure; and a quantity of fibrous material disposed within said bladder; whereby collapse of the bladder during draining is prevented; and the mattress and the liquid-containing bladder therein are not necessarily full or partially full of liquid at the time of sale, the filling or partial filling of the mattress and bladder with liquid instead possibly occurring thereafter.

Claim 18

An improved waterbed mattress with provision for wave absorption, said mattress comprising: an outer water-fillable bag-like enclosure having a longitudinal dimension and a lateral dimension; at least one liquid-filled or partially liquid-filled bladder disposed within said outer enclosure, and having liquid-flow means particularly adapted for use in draining liquid from the bladder when the mattress is to be moved; said bladder being substantially smaller in longitudinal and lateral extent than the enclosure; and a quantity of fibrous material disposed within said bladder; whereby collapse of the bladder during draining is prevented; and the mattress and the liquid-containing bladder therein are not necessarily full or partially full of liquid at the time of sale, the filling or partial filling of the mattress and bladder with liquid instead possibly occurring thereafter.

Claim 19

An improved waterbed mattress for ordinary residential use in sleeping, and having provision for wave absorption, said mattress comprising: an outer water-fillable bag-like enclosure; and a wave-absorbing liquid-containing inner bladder that is: disposed within said outer enclosure, a unitary chamber having no internal walls or partial internal walls, adapted to absorb the energy of waves within the outer enclosure, functionally nonredundant in regard to such wave-energy absorption, relative to the outer enclosure, filled or partially filled with liquid, whereby the weight, inertia, and mobility of the liquid are employed in absorbing the energy of such waves, and provided with liquid-filling means particularly adapted for use in draining and filling or partially filling the bladder with liquid after manufacture of the mattress is complete; whereby the mattress with the bladder therein can be drained and refilled, as when moving from one residence to another, and whereby the individual comfort preferences of residential users can be implemented by adjustment of the quantity of liquid within the bladder; and the mattress and the liquid-containing bladder therein are not necessarily full or partially full of liquid at the time of sale, the filling or partial filling of the mattress and bladder with liquid instead possibly occurring thereafter.

Claim 20

An improved waterbed mattress for ordinary residential use in sleeping, and having provision for wave absorption, said mattress comprising: an outer water-fillable bag-like enclosure; and a wave-absorbing liquid-containing inner bladder that is: disposed within said outer enclosure, a unitary chamber having no internal walls or partial internal walls, adapted to absorb the energy of waves within the outer enclosure, functionally nonredundant in regard to such wave-energy absorption, relative to the outer enclosure, filled or partially filled with liquid, whereby the weight, inertia, and mobility of the liquid are employed in absorbing the energy of such waves, and provided with liquid-filling means particularly adapted for use in draining and filling or partially filling the bladder with liquid after manufacture of the mattress is complete; whereby the mattress with the bladder therein can be drained and refilled, as when moving from one residence to another, and whereby the individual comfort preferences of residential users can be implemented by adjustment of the quantity of liquid within the bladder; and the mattress and the liquid-containing bladder therein are not necessarily full or partially full of liquid at the time of sale, the filling or partial filling of the mattress and bladder with liquid instead possibly occurring thereafter.

Claim 21

An improved waterbed mattress for ordinary residential use in sleeping; said mattress providing wave inhibition, and comprising: an outer water-fillable bag-like enclosure suitable for installation in a conventional waterbed frame, and sized appropriately for supporting the entire body of at least one adult in a sleeping position; and wave-absorbing inner bladder means, disposed within said outer enclosure, that are: adapted to absorb the energy of waves within the outer enclosure, filled or partially filled with liquid, whereby the weight, inertia, and mobility of the liquid are employed in absorbing the energy of such waves, provided with liquid-filling means particularly adapted for use in draining and filling or partially filling the bladder means with liquid after manufacture of the mattress is complete, and functionally nonredundant in regard to such wave-energy absorption, relative to the outer enclosure; whereby the mattress and the bladder means therein can be filled, as in initial installation of the mattress, and can be drained and refilled, as in moving from one residence to another; and whereby the individual comfort preferences of residential users can be implemented by adjustment of the quantity of liquid within the bladder means; and the mattress and the liquid-containing bladder therein are not necessarily full or partially full of liquid at the time of sale, the filling or partial filling of the mattress and bladder with liquid instead possibly occurring thereafter.

Claim 22

An improved waterbed mattress for ordinary residential use in sleeping; said mattress providing wave inhibition, and comprising: an outer water-fillable bag-like enclosure suitable for installation in a conventional waterbed frame, and sized appropriately for supporting the entire body of at least one adult in a sleeping position; and wave-absorbing inner bladder means, disposed within said outer enclosure, that are: adapted to absorb the energy of waves within the outer enclosure, filled or partially filled with liquid, whereby the weight, inertia, and mobility of the liquid are employed in absorbing the energy of such waves, provided with liquid-filling means particularly adapted for use in draining and filling or partially filling the bladder means with liquid after manufacture of the mattress is complete, and functionally nonredundant in regard to such wave-energy absorption, relative to the outer enclosure; whereby the mattress and the bladder means therein can be filled, as in initial installation of the mattress, and can be drained and refilled, as in moving from one residence to another; and whereby the individual comfort preferences of residential users can be implemented by adjustment of the quantity of liquid within the bladder means; and the mattress and the liquid-containing bladder therein are not necessarily full or partially full of liquid at the time of sale, the filling or partial filling of the mattress and bladder with liquid instead possibly occurring thereafter.

Claim 23

An improved waterbed mattress comprising: an outer water-fillable bag-like enclosure; liquid-filled or partially-filled inner bladder means, disposed within and significantly movable both longitudinally and laterally with respect to said outer enclosure, for retarding wave motion in the outer enclosure; and liquid-flow means particularly adapted for adjusting the relationship of liquid volume between the outer enclosure and the inner wave-retarding bladder means; whereby the wave-retarding effect of the inner bladder means may be adjusted independently of the total water volume; and the mattress and the liquid-containing bladder therein are not necessarily full or partially full of liquid at the time of sale, the filling or partial filling of the mattress and bladder with liquid instead possibly occurring thereafter.

Claim 24

An improved waterbed mattress comprising: an outer water-fillable bag-like enclosure; liquid-filled or partially-filled inner bladder means, disposed within and significantly movable both longitudinally and laterally with respect to said outer enclosure, for retarding wave motion in the outer enclosure; and liquid-flow means particularly adapted for adjusting the relationship of liquid volume between the outer enclosure and the inner wave-retarding bladder means; whereby the wave-retarding effect of the inner bladder means may be adjusted independently of the total water volume; and the mattress and the liquid-containing bladder therein are not necessarily full or partially full of liquid at the time of sale, the filling or partial filling of the mattress and bladder with liquid instead possibly occurring thereafter.

Claim 25

The mattress of claim 17, further comprising: a quantity of fibrous material disposed within said inner wave-retarding bladder means.

Claim 26

An improved waterbed mattress comprising: an outer water-fillable bag-like enclosure; liquid-filled or partially-filled inner bladder means, disposed within and functionally nonredundant with respect to said outer enclosure, for retarding wave motion in the outer enclosure; and at least one tether interconnecting the inner bladder means with the inside of the outer enclosure; the length of the tether being sufficient to permit substantially uninhibited movement of the inner bladder in operation; and the mattress and the liquid-containing bladder therein are not necessarily full or partially full of liquid at the time of sale, the filling or partial filling of the mattress and bladder with liquid instead possibly occurring thereafter.

Claim 27

An improved waterbed mattress comprising: an outer water-fillable bag-like enclosure; liquid-filled or partially-filled inner bladder means, disposed within and functionally nonredundant with respect to said outer enclosure, for retarding wave motion in the outer enclosure; and at least one tether interconnecting the inner bladder means with the inside of the outer enclosure; the length of the tether being sufficient to permit substantially uninhibited movement of the inner bladder in operation; and the mattress and the liquid-containing bladder therein are not necessarily full or partially full of liquid at the time of sale, the filling or partial filling of the mattress and bladder with liquid instead possibly occurring thereafter.