Air flotation mattress

Claim 1

An air flotation, ventilated mattress apparatus comprising: means defining a lower, continuous, inflatable chamber having an air-permeable, flexible upper wall portion, said upper wall portion being constructed for substantially uniform airflow therethrough over substantially the entire plan surface area of said upper wall portion; air-permeable secondary wall means above said chamber upper wall portion and operably coupled with said chamber-defining means, said secondary wall means being constructed for substantially uniform passage of air therethrough over substantially the entire plan surface area of said secondary wall means, said secondary wall means and upper wall cooperatively defining therebetween an inflatable compartment above said chamber; and means for continuously introducing positive pressure air into said chamber in order to continuously maintain positive air pressure conditions throughout the entirety of said chamber during the entirety of operation of said mattress apparatus and to inflate both said chamber and compartment by passage of said air into said chamber and thence through said upper wall portion and thereby maintain positive air pressure conditions in said compartment, and to cause said continuous passage of air through said secondary wall means, said mattress apparatus being free of solid internal support structure for supporting a patient, said air introduction means, upper wall portion and secondary wall means being cooperatively configured and arranged for continuous passage of sufficient positive pressure airflow through the chamber, upper wall portion, compartment, and secondary wall means for even, substantially uniform flow of air from said mattress apparatus so that a person lying atop the secondary wall means is supported by said pressurized air without the presence of weight-supporting structure within said mattress apparatus.