WO2008020259A1

WO2008020259A1 - Air mattress

Info

Publication number: WO2008020259A1
Application number: PCT/HU2007/000075
Authority: WO
Inventors: Attila Kovacs; Krisztián KOVACS
Original assignee: Attila Kovacs; Kovacs Krisztian
Priority date: 2006-08-18
Filing date: 2007-08-16
Publication date: 2008-02-21
Also published as: HU0600583D0; HUP0700536A2; HU0700536D0

Abstract

The object of the invention is an air mattress applicable for beds, seat and multipurpose furniture. The inventive air mattress is characterised by that it comprises a foam material (5, 10) covered and interworked with an air-impermeable layer (4, 9) and a pressure control valve (12, 15) for providing resilience and ensuring the dynamic operation of the foam material.

Description

Air mattress

Field of the invention

The object of the invention is an air mattress applicable for beds, seat and multipurpose furniture. Description of prior art

The advance of technology requires seat and bed surfaces with adjustable characteristics.

A common disadvantage of conventional mattresses applying Epeda or Bonnell springs and mattresses with foam inserts is that their elasticity is not adjustable and so they are unable to satisfy user expectations.

Solutions aimed at providing elasticity for seat and bed surfaces and an optimal support for the body include for instance waterbeds. Such a waterbed is disclosed in international patent application WO89/12414. Here the elastic and optionally heatable surface is provided by water. The disadvantage of the solution is that bed elasticity is not adjustable. It also has a proven health-damaging effect.

By the end of the twentieth century, the preferred solution for providing elasticity became the air mattress. An air mattress, applicable only as a bed surface, is disclosed in patent description US170522.

A previous patent description by the present applicants, EP999772, also relates to an air mattress.

Common disadvantages of known air mattresses are that they have complex configuration, can only be produced expensively, cannot be operated without proper technological background (which - e.g. the need for a pump or compressor - may in specific cases become a significant cost- raising factor), have limited scope of use, and, in case they are not properly inflated, may be subject to concerns regarding their aesthetic appearance.

Summary of the invention The objective of the present invention is providing a novel air mattress arrangement that eliminates the disadvantages of prior art air mattresses, has a wide range of application and conforms to user needs.

The present invention is based on the recognition that in case a resilient foam material is applied in the interior structure of the air mattress, the mattress will retain its shape, will become simpler to produce, and the

"elasticity" (the perceived firmness) of the bed or seat furniture piece will become adjustable to the user's needs.

The objectives of the present invention are realized by providing an air mattress applicable for seat and multipurpose furniture that is characterised by comprising a foam material covered and interworked with an air- impermeable layer and a pressure control valve for providing resilience and ensuring the dynamic operation of the foam material.

A preferred embodiment of the inventive air mattress comprises pre- foamed foam material and stiffeners having air-through holes disposed inside the air-impermeable layer, and also comprises an air intake connection attached to the pressure control valve.

In another preferred embodiment of the air mattress according to the invention the foam material is foamed directly into the air-impermeable layer, and the air mattress comprises an air intake connection attached to the pressure control valve.

A preferred embodiment of the inventive air mattress has a built-in or externally disposed pressure control valve for providing the dynamic operation of the mattress. In a further preferred embodiment of the inventive air mattress the pressure control valve is connected to the air intake connection of the air- impermeable layer and the pressure control valve has an outlet opening adapted for controlling the amount of air leaving the mattress during operation and includes a check valve for providing the dynamic operation of the mattress, where the check valve has an inlet opening. A preferred embodiment of the inventive air mattress comprises separately disposed air outlet (pressure limiting) and check valves, the latter being adapted for providing the dynamic operation of the mattress.

Another preferred embodiment of the inventive air mattress has either a spring-biased mechanical or an electromechanical pressure limiting valve for ensuring dynamic operation, and the foam material thereof is a conventional foamed plastic known per se, preferably open-cell polyurethane foam.

Brief description of the drawings Preferred embodiments of the inventive air mattress are explained in detail with reference to the attached drawings where

Fig. 1 shows the schematic view of a conventional air mattress in its loaded and unloaded (free) states,

Fig. 2 is the partial sectional view an embodiment of the air mattress according to the invention,

Fig. 3 shows the partial sectional view of another, foam-filled embodiment of the inventive air mattress,

Fig. 4 shows the air mattress shown in Fig. 3 equipped with a built-in control valve, Fig 5 shows the air mattress of Fig. 3 equipped with an externally disposed control valve,

Fig. 6 shows a further - multiple-chamber - embodiment of the inventive air mattress, and

Fig. 7 shows a conceivable way of installing the inventive air mattress.

Detailed description of the invention

Fig. 1 illustrates the similarities and the significant differences between conventional air mattresses (A) and the air mattress according to the invention (B). In case of both solutions an indentation 2 is produced under load in the surface of the air mattress.

The arrangement according to the invention results in a decisive difference between the two air mattress constructions. While in case of the conventional mattress A the indentation 2 remains there even when the mattress is no more under load, in case of the inventive air mattress the seat surface becomes flat again as the air mattress 1 recoils in the direction of the arrows 3 when not loaded.

Fig. 2 illustrates an embodiment of the inventive air mattress that is made of pre-foamed foam material 5. The air mattress 1 shown in the drawing has stiffeners 7 with air- through holes 6 disposed in the foam material 5, and the air mattress 1 is covered with an air-impermeable layer 4 in a manner that the air- impermeable layer 4 is fully interworked with - pasted/vulcanized/mounted to- the foam material 5. The air mattress 1 also comprises an air intake connection 8 disposed on the side surface thereof. A control valve adapted for controlling the amount of air flowing in and out of the air mattress 1 and thereby the perceived "firmness" of the air mattress 1 is connected to the air intake connection 8. By providing the bidirectional flow of air, the control valve - to be described in detail below - ensures the controlled and dynamic behaviour of the mattress surface under load.

It is very important that -as mentioned above- the foam material 5 and the air-impermeable layer 4 are interworked.

The inventive air mattress 1 aims at adjusting the resilience characteristics and mechanical loading of the foam material 5 to the user's needs.

This can only be achieved by the perfect cooperation of the foam material 5 and the air-impermeable layer 4. The foam material 5 and the air- impermeable layer can cooperate perfectly only in case they fully adhere together. In any other case air may get introduced between the foam material 5 and the air-impermeable layer, which may result results in "barrelling" and an uncontrolled sliding movement of the two surfaces along each other.

This may particularly occur in situations when compressed air is introduced into the closed inner space of the mattress to produce a firmer- than-average surface. Fig. 3 shows yet another embodiment of the inventive air mattress 1.

In this embodiment a foam material 10 is foamed directly into an existing, suitably configured air-impermeable layer 9 applying a chemical foaming method. In a manner known per se, the foaming method is chosen according to the characteristics - elasticity and density - of the applied foam material 10. The air mattress 1 comprises an air intake connection 11 also in this embodiment.

The operation of the inventive air mattress 1 is significantly different from they way conventional air mattresses work.

Conventional air mattresses are operated utilizing a mechanical pump (air transport device) or an electrically operated compressor.

Conversely, the air mattress 1 according to the invention is operated by means of a control valve assembly consisting of two mechanical valves.

The first valve controls the amount of air leaving the air mattress 1 during operation, and thereby provides that the surface firmness (the compressibility of the foam material) of the air mattress 1 may be adjusted to the user's needs. The second valve, on the other hand, is applied for introducing air into the foam material after the compressing force acting on the foam surface has ceased. Thus the foam material of the mattress "recoils" and regains its original unloaded state. The first valve is preferably a spring-biased mechanical or electromechanical pressure limiting valve, whereas the second valve is a conventional check valve known per se.

The control valve assembly mentioned above may be disposed inside the air mattress 1 or externally. In Fig. 4 a built-in pressure control valve 12 is shown. The valve assembly is built into the foam material 10 covered with air-impermeable layer 9 and includes the above mentioned check valve. During operation, air leaves the foam material 10 through the outlet opening 13a of the pressure control valve 12 in the direction of arrow 13, while in the unloaded state of the air mattress 1 air returns into the foam material 10 thereof through an inlet opening 14a in the direction of arrow 14 and thus the air mattress 1 returns into the original "unloaded" state.

In Fig. 5 an externally disposed pressure control valve 15 is shown connected to the air intake connection 11 of the air mattress 1. The pressure control valve 15 is configured and operated similarly to the pressure control valve 12 described in relation to Fig. 4. Air leaves the foam material 10 through outlet opening 16a in the direction of arrow 16, returning therein after load on the mattress has ceased through inlet opening 15a in the direction of arrow 17. It has to be noted, though, that the valves of the pressure control valves 12, 15 adapted respectively for letting air out of the foam material 10 and for providing the amount of air necessary for restoring the initial unloaded state may be disposed at alternative locations of the air mattress 1.

Multiple separate prefoamed foam materials or foam-filled air mattresses may be joined to form an integral unit. Such an arrangement is illustrated in Fig. 6 that shows an air mattress for two people consisting of two separate air chambers 19; 20 filled with foam material 21.

The configuration and the integral manner of application of the air mattresses is determined by the field of application. Fig. 7 shows an armchair with its seat portion 23 and back portion 24 being equipped with air mattresses according to the invention.

The seat portion 23 and back portion 24 of the armchair 24 shown in the drawing have different configuration. The shape of the air-impermeable layer of the air mattress 1 is chosen conforming to the shape of the seat portion 23 and back portion 24. The air-impermeable layer is filled with pre- foamed material or a foam material is directly foamed therein. The "firmness" or "elasticity" of the mattresses may be adjusted by means of the control valves.

The foamed plastic material is implemented as conventional open-cell polyurethane foam.

The air-impermeable layer may also be produced from different materials, the sole condition being the readability of perfect airtightness by hermetic sealing of the cover material e.g. by pasting, vulcanizing, or welding. The most important advantage of the inventive air mattress is that through providing a closed and controllable air mattress construction the mattress is subject to bottoming-out/hammocking only to a reduced extent. Surface elasticity may be greatly increased and the firmness of the mattress is adjustable. Due to their simple configuration the inventive mattresses may be produced easily.

A finished product may easily be obtained utilizing conventional upholstery products. A further advantage is that the invention has a wide scope of use. It may be applied for all purposes where the primary requirement is absorbing energy.

The third solution differs from the previously described two variants in that a suitable high elasticity steel spring (Bonnell or Epeda spring) is inserted into the foam material. By combining the springs with the foam in addition to the load support capabilities of air the operating life of elastic surfaces is further increased. List of reference numerals

1 air mattress

2 indentation

3 arrow

4 air-impermeable layer

5 foam material

6 air-through hole

7 stiffener

8 air intake connection

9 air-impermeable layer

10 foam material

11 air intake connection

12 pressure control valve adapted for ensuring dynamic operation

13 arrow

13a outlet opening

14 arrow

14a inlet opening

15 pressure control valve adapted for ensuring dynamic operation

16 arrow

16a inlet opening

17 arrow

17a outlet opening

18 air mattress

19 air chamber

20 air chamber

21 foam material

22 armchair

23 seat portion

24 back portion

25 spring

Claims

1. Air mattress applicable for seat and multipurpose furniture, characterised by that it comprises a foam material (5, 10) covered and interworked with an air-impermeable layer (4, 9) and a pressure control valve (12, 15) for providing resilience and ensuring the dynamic operation of the foam material.

2. The air mattress according to Claim 1 , characterised by that it comprises pre-foamed foam material (5) and stiffeners (7) having air-through holes disposed inside the air-impermeable layer (4), and also comprises an air intake connection (8) attached to the pressure control valve (12).

3. The air mattress according to Claim 1 , characterised by that the foam material (10) is foamed directly into the air-impermeable layer (9), and the air mattress comprises an air intake connection (11) attached to the pressure control valve (12).

4. The air mattress according to any one of Claims 1-3, characterised by that it has a built-in pressure control valve (12) for ensuring the dynamic operation of the mattress.

5. The air mattress according to any one of Claims 1-3, characterised by that it has an externally disposed pressure control valve (15) for ensuring the dynamic operation of the mattress.

6. The air mattress according to any one of Claims 1-5, characterised by that the pressure control valve (12, 15) is connected to the air intake connection (8, 11) of the air-impermeable layer (4, 9) and the pressure control valve has an outlet opening (13a, 16a) adapted for controlling the amount of air leaving the mattress during operation and includes a check valve adapted for providing the dynamic operation of the mattress, with the check valve having an inlet opening (14a, 17a).

7. The air mattress according to any one of Claims 1-5, characterised by that it has an air outlet valve and a check valve adapted for ensuring