US4807313A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Inflatable inclined mattress support system
Assignee: Ryder International Corp
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Filing: 1987-07-10
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Granted: 1989-02-28
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Expires: 2007-07-10
Abstract
Abstract There is disclosed a system for selectively supporting a mattress at a predetermined angle of inclination with respect to a support surface, such as a box spring, or the like. The system comprises primarily an inflatable mattress support member which is connected to a selectively operable pneumatic pump via a combination check valve and release valve. In practice, the user or patient can inflate the mattress support member to provide the desired degree of inclination and when not in use the support member can be easily deflated to dispose the mattress in a relatively normal position. The mattress support member is provided by a plurality of adjacent interconnected inflatable cells, with the adjacent cells sharing a common wall portion having port means formed therein to pneumatically interconnect the respective cells. The cells are of declining size, starting at a first end of the inflatable mattress support member and progressing toward the opposite, second end thereof, and preferably ten or more cells are provided. The construction of the mattress support member is provided by a pair of sheet members which are bonded together about the periphery thereof, and are further bonded together at selected areas intermediate the ends thereof, which selected areas of bonding are spaced apart by varying distances and extend generally across the width of the mattress support member, except for those locations wherein the bonding is interrupted to provide openings or ports between the respective cells.
Inventors
- 👤 Francis E. Ryder
- 👤 Rowland W. Kanner
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 07:29
CPC Classifications
A; A47; A47C; A47C19/00; A47C19/04; A47C19/045
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
350 words
An inflatable mattress support assembly, for use with a bed having a bed frame, a supporting surface and a mattress, for disposition between said supporting surface and said mattress for positioning the mattress at an inclined angle with respect to said supporting surface, said inflatable mattress support assembly comprising: an inflatable mattress support member comprising a plurality of inflatable cells, said cells being interconnected to provide an integral elongate support member; air inlet means associated with at least one of said inflatable cells, port means provided between certain of said cells to provide for inflation and deflation thereof; the inflatable cell adjacent a first end of said integral elongate support member having a predetermined size and the size of each adjacent cell decreasing in the direction of a second, opposite end of said elongate support member, such that when said elongate support member is inflated and disposed between said support surface and said mattress in use, said mattress will be positioned at an inclined angle with respect to said support surface; and strap means for, in use, securing said inflatable mattress support member to said bed frame and said mattress, said strap means comprising first and second strap assemblies coupled with said inflatable mattress support member at longitudinally spaced locations thereon so as to secure the same substantially adjacent respective head and foot portions of said bed frame; each of said strap assemblies comprising first and second elongate strap members, a pair of complementary mating buckle members respectively secured to first ends of said first and second strap members for releasably buckling said ends together, respective first and second elongate intermediate strap members having first ends respectively coupled to mid-portions of said first and second strap members, frame engaging members coupled with second ends of selected ones of said first and second strap members and of said first and second intermediate strap members opposite said first ends thereof for engagement, in use, with said bed frame, and second ends other than said selected ones of said second ends being coupled with opposing lateral edges of said inflatable mattress support member.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
350 words
An inflatable mattress support assembly, for use with a bed having a bed frame, a supporting surface and a mattress, for disposition between said supporting surface and said mattress for positioning the mattress at an inclined angle with respect to said supporting surface, said inflatable mattress support assembly comprising: an inflatable mattress support member comprising a plurality of inflatable cells, said cells being interconnected to provide an integral elongate support member; air inlet means associated with at least one of said inflatable cells, port means provided between certain of said cells to provide for inflation and deflation thereof; the inflatable cell adjacent a first end of said integral elongate support member having a predetermined size and the size of each adjacent cell decreasing in the direction of a second, opposite end of said elongate support member, such that when said elongate support member is inflated and disposed between said support surface and said mattress in use, said mattress will be positioned at an inclined angle with respect to said support surface; and strap means for, in use, securing said inflatable mattress support member to said bed frame and said mattress, said strap means comprising first and second strap assemblies coupled with said inflatable mattress support member at longitudinally spaced locations thereon so as to secure the same substantially adjacent respective head and foot portions of said bed frame; each of said strap assemblies comprising first and second elongate strap members, a pair of complementary mating buckle members respectively secured to first ends of said first and second strap members for releasably buckling said ends together, respective first and second elongate intermediate strap members having first ends respectively coupled to mid-portions of said first and second strap members, frame engaging members coupled with second ends of selected ones of said first and second strap members and of said first and second intermediate strap members opposite said first ends thereof for engagement, in use, with said bed frame, and second ends other than said selected ones of said second ends being coupled with opposing lateral edges of said inflatable mattress support member.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
32 words
An assembly according to claim 1 and further including adjusting means on at least one of said complementary mating buckle members for adjusting the effective length of the strap member connected thereto.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
15 words
An assembly according to claim 1 wherein said frame engaging members comprise rigid, hook-like members.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
100 words
An assembly according to claim 1 wherein at least the one of said strap assemblies coupled most closely adjacent said first end of said integral elongate support member further comprises at least one elastic member spanning a predetermined portion of the length of one of said first and second elongate strap members thereof, said predetermined portion being of substantially greater length than the length of the spanning elastic member when the latter is in a relaxed condition, to thereby permit inflation of said inflatable mattress support member following the securing of the same to said bed with said strap means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
86 words
An assembly according to claim 1 wherein said integral elongate support member is substantially greater in length, in its deflated state, than the mattress to which it is to be secured in use, and wherein said strap members are secured to said inflatable mattress support member at positions thereon which are spaced apart longitudinally by a length at least as great as the length of the mattress with which the support member is to be secured in use when said member is in its deflated state.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
53 words
An assembly according to claim 1 wherein said inflatable mattress support member is, when in its inflated condition, wider than the mattress to which it is to be secured in use, so as to substantially discourage tilting of the same from side to side relative to the inflatable support member when in use.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
328 words
A system for selectively supporting a mattress at a predetermined angle of inclination with respect to a support surface, said system comprising: a selectively operable pneumatic pump, an inflatable mattress support member disposable between a support surface and the mattress, and valve means for controlling the inflation of said mattress support member, said inflatable mattress support member comprising a plurality of inflatable cells, means pneumatically interconnecting said cells, the cells being of declining size starting at a first end of the inflatable mattress support member and progressing towards the opposite, second end thereof whereby when inflated said mattress support member is adapted to position a mattress at an inclined angle with respect to its support surface, said valve means being operable to deflate said mattress support member so that the mattress can assume a normal, parallel position with respect to said support surface when the system is not in use; and strap means for, in use, securing said inflatable mattress support member to said bed frame and said mattress, said strap means comprising first and second strap assemblies coupled with said inflatable mattress support member at longitudinally spaced locations thereon so as to secure the same substantially adjacent respective head and foot portions of said bed frame; each of said strap assemblies comprising first and second elongate strap members, a pair of complementary mating buckle members respectively secured to first ends of said first and second strap members for releasably buckling said first together, respective first and second elongate intermediate strap members having first ends respectively coupled to mid-portions first of said first and second strap members, frame engaging members coupled with second ends of selected ones of said first and second strap members and first and second intermediate strap members opposite of said first ends thereof for engagement, in use, with said bed frame, and ends other than the selected ones of said second ends being coupled with opposing lateral edges of said inflatable mattress support member.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
328 words
A system for selectively supporting a mattress at a predetermined angle of inclination with respect to a support surface, said system comprising: a selectively operable pneumatic pump, an inflatable mattress support member disposable between a support surface and the mattress, and valve means for controlling the inflation of said mattress support member, said inflatable mattress support member comprising a plurality of inflatable cells, means pneumatically interconnecting said cells, the cells being of declining size starting at a first end of the inflatable mattress support member and progressing towards the opposite, second end thereof whereby when inflated said mattress support member is adapted to position a mattress at an inclined angle with respect to its support surface, said valve means being operable to deflate said mattress support member so that the mattress can assume a normal, parallel position with respect to said support surface when the system is not in use; and strap means for, in use, securing said inflatable mattress support member to said bed frame and said mattress, said strap means comprising first and second strap assemblies coupled with said inflatable mattress support member at longitudinally spaced locations thereon so as to secure the same substantially adjacent respective head and foot portions of said bed frame; each of said strap assemblies comprising first and second elongate strap members, a pair of complementary mating buckle members respectively secured to first ends of said first and second strap members for releasably buckling said first together, respective first and second elongate intermediate strap members having first ends respectively coupled to mid-portions first of said first and second strap members, frame engaging members coupled with second ends of selected ones of said first and second strap members and first and second intermediate strap members opposite of said first ends thereof for engagement, in use, with said bed frame, and ends other than the selected ones of said second ends being coupled with opposing lateral edges of said inflatable mattress support member.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
35 words
A system according to claim 7, wherein said valve means includes a check valve to prevent inadvertent deflation of said mattress support member, and a selectively operable valve means for deflating said mattress support member.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
281 words
An inflatable mattress support assembly, for use with a bed having a bed frame, a supporting surface and a mattress, for disposition between said supporting surface and said mattress for positioning the mattress at an inclined angle with respect to said supporting surface, said inflatable mattress support assembly comprising: an inflatable mattress support member comprising a plurality of inflatable cells, said cells being interconnected to provide an integral elongate support member; air inlet means associated with at least one of said inflatable cells, port means provided between certain of said cells to provide for inflation and deflation thereof; the inflatable cell adjacent a first end of said integral elongate support member having a predetermined size and the size of each adjacent cell decreasing in the direction of a second, opposite end of said elongate support member, such that when said elongate support member is inflated and disposed between said support surface and said mattress in use, said mattress will be positioned at an inclined angle with respect to said support surface; and strap means for, in use, securing said inflatable mattress support member to said bed frame and said mattress; wherein said integral elongate support member is substantially greater in length, in its deflated state, than the mattress to which it is to be secured in use, and wherein said strap means comprise a pair of strap assemblies which are secured to opposite lateral sides of said inflatable mattress support member at positions thereon which are spaced apart longitudinally by a length at least as great as the length of the mattress to which the support member is to be secured in use when said member is in its deflated state.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
281 words
An inflatable mattress support assembly, for use with a bed having a bed frame, a supporting surface and a mattress, for disposition between said supporting surface and said mattress for positioning the mattress at an inclined angle with respect to said supporting surface, said inflatable mattress support assembly comprising: an inflatable mattress support member comprising a plurality of inflatable cells, said cells being interconnected to provide an integral elongate support member; air inlet means associated with at least one of said inflatable cells, port means provided between certain of said cells to provide for inflation and deflation thereof; the inflatable cell adjacent a first end of said integral elongate support member having a predetermined size and the size of each adjacent cell decreasing in the direction of a second, opposite end of said elongate support member, such that when said elongate support member is inflated and disposed between said support surface and said mattress in use, said mattress will be positioned at an inclined angle with respect to said support surface; and strap means for, in use, securing said inflatable mattress support member to said bed frame and said mattress; wherein said integral elongate support member is substantially greater in length, in its deflated state, than the mattress to which it is to be secured in use, and wherein said strap means comprise a pair of strap assemblies which are secured to opposite lateral sides of said inflatable mattress support member at positions thereon which are spaced apart longitudinally by a length at least as great as the length of the mattress to which the support member is to be secured in use when said member is in its deflated state.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
53 words
An assembly according to claim 9 wherein said inflatable mattress support member is, when in its inflated condition, wider than the mattress to which it is to be secured in use, so as to substantially discourage tilting of the same from side to side relative to the inflatable support member when in use.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
243 words
An inflatable mattress support assembly, for use with a bed having a bed frame, a supporting surface and a mattress, for disposition between said supporting surface and said mattress for positioning the mattress at an inclined angle with respect to said supporting surface, said inflatable mattress support assembly comprising: an inflatable mattress support member comprising a plurality of inflatable cells, said cells being interconnected to provide an integral elongate support member; air inlet means associated with at least one of said inflatable cells, port means provided between certain of said cells to provide for inflation and deflation thereof; the inflatable cell adjacent a first end of said integral elongate support member having a predetermined size and the size of each adjacent cell decreasing in the direction of a second, opposite end of said elongate support member, such that when said elongate support member is inflated and disposed between said support surface and said mattress in use, said mattress will be positioned at an inclined angle with respect to said support surface; and strap means connected to said support member for, in use, securing said inflatable mattress support member to said bed frame and said said mattress; wherein said inflatable mattress support member is, when in its inflated condition, wider than the mattress to which it is to be secured in use, so as to substantially discourage tilting of the same from side to side relative to the inflatable support member when in use.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
243 words
An inflatable mattress support assembly, for use with a bed having a bed frame, a supporting surface and a mattress, for disposition between said supporting surface and said mattress for positioning the mattress at an inclined angle with respect to said supporting surface, said inflatable mattress support assembly comprising: an inflatable mattress support member comprising a plurality of inflatable cells, said cells being interconnected to provide an integral elongate support member; air inlet means associated with at least one of said inflatable cells, port means provided between certain of said cells to provide for inflation and deflation thereof; the inflatable cell adjacent a first end of said integral elongate support member having a predetermined size and the size of each adjacent cell decreasing in the direction of a second, opposite end of said elongate support member, such that when said elongate support member is inflated and disposed between said support surface and said mattress in use, said mattress will be positioned at an inclined angle with respect to said support surface; and strap means connected to said support member for, in use, securing said inflatable mattress support member to said bed frame and said said mattress; wherein said inflatable mattress support member is, when in its inflated condition, wider than the mattress to which it is to be secured in use, so as to substantially discourage tilting of the same from side to side relative to the inflatable support member when in use.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
280 words
In combination with a bed having a bed frame, a support surface and a mattress, an inflatable mattress support assembly for disposition between said supporting surface and said mattress for positioning the mattress at an inclined angle with respect to said support surface, said inflatable mattress support assembly comprising: an inflatable mattress support comprising a plurality of inflatable cells, said cells being interconnected to provide an integral elongate support member; air inlet means associated with at least one of said inflatable cells, port means provided between certain of said cells to provide for inflation and deflation thereof; the inflatable cell adjacent a first end of said integral elongate support member having a predetermined size and the size of each adjacent cell decreasing in the direction of a second, opposite end of said elongate support member, such that when said elongate support member is inflated and disposed between said support surface and said mattress in use, said mattress will be positioned at an inclined angle with respect to said support surface; and strap means for, in use, securing said inflatable mattress support member to said bed frame and said mattress; wherein said integral elongate support member is substantially greater in length, in its deflated state, than the mattress to which it is to be secured in use, and wherein said strap means comprise a pair of strap assemblies which are secured to opposite lateral sides of said inflatable mattress support member at positions thereon which are spaced apart longitudinally by a length at least as great as the length of the mattress to which the support member is to be secured in use when said member is in its deflated state.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
280 words
In combination with a bed having a bed frame, a support surface and a mattress, an inflatable mattress support assembly for disposition between said supporting surface and said mattress for positioning the mattress at an inclined angle with respect to said support surface, said inflatable mattress support assembly comprising: an inflatable mattress support comprising a plurality of inflatable cells, said cells being interconnected to provide an integral elongate support member; air inlet means associated with at least one of said inflatable cells, port means provided between certain of said cells to provide for inflation and deflation thereof; the inflatable cell adjacent a first end of said integral elongate support member having a predetermined size and the size of each adjacent cell decreasing in the direction of a second, opposite end of said elongate support member, such that when said elongate support member is inflated and disposed between said support surface and said mattress in use, said mattress will be positioned at an inclined angle with respect to said support surface; and strap means for, in use, securing said inflatable mattress support member to said bed frame and said mattress; wherein said integral elongate support member is substantially greater in length, in its deflated state, than the mattress to which it is to be secured in use, and wherein said strap means comprise a pair of strap assemblies which are secured to opposite lateral sides of said inflatable mattress support member at positions thereon which are spaced apart longitudinally by a length at least as great as the length of the mattress to which the support member is to be secured in use when said member is in its deflated state.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
53 words
The combination according to claim 13 wherein said inflatable mattress support member is, when in its inflated condition, wider than the mattress to which it is to be secured in use, so as to substantially discourage tilting of the same from side to side relative to the inflatable support member when in use.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
235 words
In combination with a bed having a bed frame, a supporting surface and a mattress, an inflatable mattress support assembly for disposition between said supporting surface and said mattress for positioning at an inclined angle with respect to said support surface, said inflatable mattress support assembly comprising: an inflatable mattress support member comprising a plurality of inflatable cells, said cells being interconnected to provide an integral elongate support member; air inlet means associated with at least one of said inflatable cells, port means provided between certain of said cells to provide for inflation and deflation thereof; the inflatable cell adjacent a first end of said integral elongate support member having a predetermined size and the size of each adjacent cell decreasing in the direction of a second, opposite end of said elongate support member, such that when said elongate support member is inflated and disposed between said support surface and said mattress in use, said mattress will be positioned at an inclined angle with respect to said support surface; and strap means for, in use, securing said inflatable mattress support member to said bed frame and said mattress; wherein said inflatable mattress support member is, when in its inflated condition, wider than the mattress to which it is to be secured in use, so as to substantially discourage tilting of the same from side to side relative to the inflatable support member when in use.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
235 words
In combination with a bed having a bed frame, a supporting surface and a mattress, an inflatable mattress support assembly for disposition between said supporting surface and said mattress for positioning at an inclined angle with respect to said support surface, said inflatable mattress support assembly comprising: an inflatable mattress support member comprising a plurality of inflatable cells, said cells being interconnected to provide an integral elongate support member; air inlet means associated with at least one of said inflatable cells, port means provided between certain of said cells to provide for inflation and deflation thereof; the inflatable cell adjacent a first end of said integral elongate support member having a predetermined size and the size of each adjacent cell decreasing in the direction of a second, opposite end of said elongate support member, such that when said elongate support member is inflated and disposed between said support surface and said mattress in use, said mattress will be positioned at an inclined angle with respect to said support surface; and strap means for, in use, securing said inflatable mattress support member to said bed frame and said mattress; wherein said inflatable mattress support member is, when in its inflated condition, wider than the mattress to which it is to be secured in use, so as to substantially discourage tilting of the same from side to side relative to the inflatable support member when in use.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1992-02-28 | 1992-08-29 | 1993-02-28 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1996-02-28 | 1996-08-29 | 1997-02-28 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2000-02-28 | 2000-08-29 | 2001-02-28 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |