Insulated puncture resistant inflatable mattress

Claim 2

An inflatable enclosure having first and second broad surfaces connected at their edges to form the enclosure, the first surface being formed of a substantially air-impermeable resilient closed-cell foam wherein the thickness and density of the closed-cell foam has been selected to provide semi-rigid characteristics between adjacent points of support and the second surface being formed of material selected from an air-impermeable resilient closed-cell foams and a flexible air-impervious material, said first surface being connected around its edges to a flexible air-impervious material which is in turn attached around the edges of the second surface to form the enclosure, the enclosure having at least one closable means for admitting a fluid to and releasing fluid from the enclosure.

Claim 3

The enclosure of claim 1 in which the second surface is a substantially air-impermeable resilient closed-cell foam.

Claim 4

The enclosure of claim 1 in which the second surface is a flexible air-impervious material.

Claim 5

The enclosure of claim 3 in which the material attached around the edges of the first surface is the edges of the second surface.

Claim 6

The enclosure of claim 1 which comprises at least one chamber formed by a second enclosure made of a substantially air-impermeable flexible material within said enclosure; said second enclosure being capable of being filled with air and having closable means to exchange air with the ambient atmosphere.

Claim 7

An inflatable enclosure having first and second broad surfaces connected at their edges to form the enclosure the first surface being formed of a substantially air-impermeable resilient closed-cell foam wherein the thickness and density of the closed-cell foam has been selected to provide semi-rigid characteristics between adjacent points of support and the second surface being formed of material selected from an air-impermeable resilient closed-cell foam and a flexible air-impervious material, said first surface being connected around its edges to a flexible air-impervious material which is in turn attached around the edges of the second surface to form the enclosure, said enclosure containing a plurality of compressible resilient units attached to opposite points of the inside of the first surface and the inside of the second surface of the enclosure (a) to cause self-inflation of the enclosure when air or another fluid is admitted to the collapsed enclosure; and (b) to substantially reduce billowing when a weight is placed on the inflated enclosure; the enclosure having at least one closable means for admitting a fluid to and releasing fluid from the enclosure.

Claim 8

An inflatable enclosure having first and second broad surfaces connected at their edges to form the enclosure the first surface being formed of a substantially air-impermeable resilient closed-cell foam wherein the thickness and density of the closed-cell foam has been selected to provide semi-rigid characteristics between adjacent points of support and the second surface being formed of material selected from an air-impermeable resilient closed-cell foam and a flexible air-impervious material, said first surface being connected around its edges to a flexible air-impervious material which is in turn attached around the edges of the second surface to form the enclosure, said enclosure containing a plurality of compressible resilient units attached to opposite points of the inside of the first surface and the inside of the second surface of the enclosure (a) to cause self-inflation of the enclosure when air or another fluid is admitted to the collapsed enclosure; and (b) to substantially reduce billowing when a weight is placed on the inflated enclosure; the enclosure having at least one closable means for admitting a fluid to and releasing fluid from the enclosure.

Claim 9

The enclosure of claim 6 in which the second surface is formed of a substantially air-impermeable resilient closed-cell foam.

Claim 10

The enclosure of claim 6 in which the second surface is formed of a flexible air-impervious material.

Claim 11

The enclosure of claim 6 wherein at least one thin sheet of a flexible material is positioned within the enclosure in such a manner that any unattached surfaces of said sheet will be from about 0.1 inch to about 1 inch removed from the inner surface of the enclosure and from any additional such sheets when the enclosure is inflated.

Claim 12

The enclosure of claim 6 wherein the sheet of material is supported by the compressible resilient units which are bonded to the inner surfaces of the enclosure.

Claim 13

The enclosure of claim 6 which comprises at least one chamber formed by a second enclosure made of a substantially air-impermeable flexible material within said enclosure; said second enclosure being capable of being filled with air and having closable means to exchange air with the ambient atmosphere.

Claim 14

The enclosure of claim 6 wherein the compressible resilient units in a region of the enclosure are longer than other such units to form an elevated pillow area on the enclosure.