US4999867A — Air mattress and method for adjusting it

Claim 1

Independent Claim 94 words

A mattress comprising: (a) an underlay; (b) a plurality of elongate, enclosed, inflatable first elements comprising first and second material webs, said elements being generally parallel to each other and transverse to the longitudinal axis of said mattress, said first elements fixed to said underlay at seam joints along the length of said first elements, such that areas of said first elements between said seam joints are directed away from said underlay; and (c) at least one separate elongate, resilient second element, disposed between said second web of said first element and said underlay.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 94 words

A mattress comprising: (a) an underlay; (b) a plurality of elongate, enclosed, inflatable first elements comprising first and second material webs, said elements being generally parallel to each other and transverse to the longitudinal axis of said mattress, said first elements fixed to said underlay at seam joints along the length of said first elements, such that areas of said first elements between said seam joints are directed away from said underlay; and (c) at least one separate elongate, resilient second element, disposed between said second web of said first element and said underlay.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 12 words

A mattress according to claim 1, wherein the second elements are inflatable.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 16 words

A mattress according to claim 1, wherein the second elements are made of solid resilient material.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 22 words

A mattress according to claim 1, wherein the first elements are connected to each other by means of said longitudinal seam joints.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 21 words

A mattress according to claim 4, wherein the first and second elements are connected to each other at the seam joints.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 84 words

A mattress according to claim 1, wherein the first elements are divided, in the direction of the lengthwise axis of the mattress, into at least three groups, the elements of each of these groups in fluid communication via conduits, through pressure sensors and controllable valves and through an adjusting device to a fluid supply so that the fluid pressure in the elements of each group can be measured and adjusted to be and maintained at the desired level when the mattress is being used.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 83 words

A mattress according to claim 2, wherein the second elements are divided, in the direction of the lengthwise axis of the mattress, into at least three groups, the elements of each of these groups in fluid communication via conduits, through pressure sensors and controllable valves and through an adjusting device to a fluid supply so that the fluid pressure and the elements of each group can be measured and adjusted to be maintained at the desired level when the mattress is being used.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 31 words

A mattress according to claim 6, wherein in the boundary area between the separate groups, the elements of two adjacent groups are in fluid communication with both of the said groups.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 50 words

A mattress according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the elements that the mattress is connected via a conduit and a cut-off valve to at least one of the elements located nearby, so that the cut-off valve closes the conduit when the fluid flow surpasses the predetermined value.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 143 words

A mattress according to claim 9, wherein said cut-off valve comprises a housing having an inlet channel and an outlet channel, a chamber inside said housing in fluid communication with said inlet and outlet channels, and a bobber with a smaller cross-sectional area than the respective surface area of the chamber, said bobber being disposed in said chamber between said inlet and outlet channels and movable between a first position and a second position in which the bobber closes the outlet channel preventing flow in the direction from said inlet channel toward said outlet channel, but allowing flow in the direction from the outlet channel toward the inlet channel, the movement of said bobber actuated by rate of fluid flow through said valve, such that said bobber is moved into said second position when said flow rate is greater than a predetermined rate.

Claim 12

Independent Claim 170 words

A method for adjusting a mattress including a plurality of elongate, enclosed, inflatable first elements comprising first and second material webs, said elements being generally parallel to each other and transverse to the longitudinal axis of the mattress, said first elements fixed to an underlay at a seam joint such that areas of said first elements between seam joints are directed away from the underlay and said mattress further including elongate, resilient second elements disposed between said second web of said first elements and said underlay, comprising the steps of: (a) partially filling the elements of the mattress with fluid, so that the fluid pressure corresponds to the pressure of the surroundings when the mattress elements are free of a weight load; laying a human body or part thereof on said elements of the mattress in a resting position; (c) adjusting the fluid pressure of the elements to within the range of about 15-20 cm H 2 O; (d) maintaining the fluid pressure of the elements within a predetermined range.

Claim 13

Independent Claim 170 words

A method for adjusting a mattress including a plurality of elongate, enclosed, inflatable first elements comprising first and second material webs, said elements being generally parallel to each other and transverse to the longitudinal axis of the mattress, said first elements fixed to an underlay at a seam joint such that areas of said first elements between seam joints are directed away from the underlay and said mattress further including elongate, resilient second elements disposed between said second web of said first elements and said underlay, comprising the steps of: (a) partially filling the elements of the mattress with fluid, so that the fluid pressure corresponds to the pressure of the surroundings when the mattress elements are free of a weight load; laying a human body or part thereof on said elements of the mattress in a resting position; (c) adjusting the fluid pressure of the elements to within the range of about 15-20 cm H 2 O; (d) maintaining the fluid pressure of the elements within a predetermined range.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 50 words

A method according to claim 11 for adjusting a mattress, wherein the fluid pressure of the first elements is set at a standard value, and the fluid pressure of the second elements is set within the range of about 15-20 cm H 2 O, when the mattress is in use.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 32 words

A method according to claim 11, further comprising the step of stopping fluid supply into the elements when the fluid pressure in the elements falls to about 10 cm H 2 O.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 24 words

A method according to claim 11 further including the step of maintaining the flow rate out of the elements below a predetermined flow rate.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 110 words

A mattress comprising: (a) an underlay having upper and lower surfaces; (b) a plurality of elongate, enclosed, inflatable first elements comprising first and second material webs, said elements being generally parallel to each other and transverse to the longitudinal axis of said mattress, said first elements having first and second longitudinal edges, said edges being fixed to said upper surface such that an elongated cavity is defined between said second web of each said first element and said upper surface of said underlay; and means for supporting said first elements such that said first elements are urged away from said upper surface, said supporting means being disposed within said cavities.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 110 words

A mattress comprising: (a) an underlay having upper and lower surfaces; (b) a plurality of elongate, enclosed, inflatable first elements comprising first and second material webs, said elements being generally parallel to each other and transverse to the longitudinal axis of said mattress, said first elements having first and second longitudinal edges, said edges being fixed to said upper surface such that an elongated cavity is defined between said second web of each said first element and said upper surface of said underlay; and means for supporting said first elements such that said first elements are urged away from said upper surface, said supporting means being disposed within said cavities.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 18 words

A mattress according to claim 15, wherein said supporting means includes at least one elongate, resilient, second element.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 35 words

A mattress according to claim 15, wherein said first elements are divided into three groups along the length of said mattress, said first elements in one said group being in fluid communication with one another.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 38 words

A mattress according to claim 15, wherein said mattress further includes: (d) means for maintaining fluid pressure within each said first element within a predetermined range, said pressure maintaining means being in fluid communication with said first elements.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 40 words

A mattress according to claim 15, wherein said mattress further includes: (e) means for preventing fluid from leaving said first elements at a rate higher than a predetermined rate, said preventing means being in fluid communication with said first elements.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 52 words

A mattress according to claim 19, wherein said preventing means includes at least one cut-off valve in fluid communication with one said first element, said valve being constructed and arranged to stop flow from said first element if fluid is flowing out of said element at a rate above a predetermined rate.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1994-03-18	1994-09-17	1995-03-19	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1998-03-18	1998-09-17	1999-03-19	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2002-03-18	2002-09-17	2003-03-19	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Air mattress and method for adjusting it

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