BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a first preferred embodiment of an air bed in accordance with the present invention;
FIG. 2A is a perspective view of a second preferred embodiment of the inventive air bed;
FIG. 2B is a view showing the air bed of FIG. 2A in store after deflation;
FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a third preferred embodiment of the inventive air bed;
FIG. 4A is a perspective view of a fourth preferred embodiment of the inventive air bed in a configuration as a flat bed;
FIG. 4B is a perspective view showing the air bed of FIG. 4A in a configuration as a sofa; and
FIG. 5 is a perspective view of an air bed of prior art.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Referring to FIG. 1, there is shown a first preferred embodiment of an air bed 1 in accordance with the present invention. The air bed 1 includes an inflatable body 11 and an cabinet 12. In the preferred embodiment, the air bed comprising the inflatable body 11 and the cabinet 12 is formed integrally and has a L-shaped configuration. The cabinet 12 includes at least one recess 22 for receiving an air pump 13 and other articles, which a user desires to place therein. The air pump 13 is preferably an electric pump capable of being energized either by at least one battery 20 or by an external power supply. Wherein the external power supply, such as an automobile cigarette lighter or an external power receptacle, is connected to a jack 17 of the air pump 13 through a power cord or a vehicle lighter adapter 19.
Additionally, the cabinet 12 includes a valve (not shown) normally connected to the air pump 13 for inflating the cabinet 12, and even the whole bed 1 if the inflatable body 11 and the cabinet 12 are formed integrally. This valve is also used for deflating the cabinet 12 and even the whole bed 1 after disconnected from the air pump 13.
Additionally, the cabinet 12 is provided with a pair of speakers 16, which is electrically connected to the air pump 13 so as to share a common power supply. The speakers 16 have an audio cable ending in a plug (not shown) adapted to be plugged into a jack of a personal audio device, such as a radio receiver, a personal CD player or an MP3. The cabinet 12 is further provided with a set of LED (light emitting diode) lamps 18 arranged thereon, and preferably the LED lamps 18 are supplied with an electric energy transformed from mechanical energy or the LED lamps 18 are electrically connected to the air pump 13 so as to share a common power supply.
Referring to FIG. 2A, a second preferred embodiment of the inventive air bed 1 is similar to the above-mentioned first embodiment except that the air bed 1 now has a flat configuration instead of the L-shaped configuration. In addition, the cabinet 12 here has an additional recess for receiving a drawer 21, in which the air bed 1 can be held after deflated, as shown in FIG. 2B. Preferably, the drawer 21 has a cover attachable thereto; such as by means of a zip fastener, and thereby securely confines the deflated air bed 1 within the drawer 21.
Referring to FIG. 3, there is shown a third preferred embodiment of the inventive air bed 1. In this embodiment, however, the inflatable body 11 and the cabinet 12 are made separately and have at least one fastener 15, such as a magic tape, to detachably connect them together in such a manner that the air bed 1 is configured into a L-shaped bed. The fastener 15 here may have various configurations; it may also be selected from cord, buckle, zip fastener, clasp, or the like, though the magic tape is illustrated.
In this embodiment, the air pump 13 is fixed to the cabinet 12 or removable from the cabinet 12 in order to inflate the inflatable body 11 more easily through a valve 14 of the inflatable body 11.
Referring to FIG. 4A, there is shown a fourth preferred embodiment of the inventive air bed 1. In the embodiment here, the inflatable body 11 includes a first inflatable portion 111 and a second inflatable portion 112 which are made separately from each other, as well as separately from the cabinet 12. These inflatable portions 111 and 112, together with the cabinet 12, have a plurality of fasteners 15, such as magic tapes, to detachably connect them together in such a manner that the air bed 1 may be configured either as a flat bed, as shown in FIG. 4A, or as a sofa, as shown in FIG. 4B.
Referring back to FIG. 1, the inventive air bed 1 can be inflated by turning on the air pump 13, which is energized by at least one battery 20 or a external power supply. Wherein the external power supply, such as an automobile cigarette lighter or an external power receptacle, is connected to a jack 17 of the air pump 13 through a power cord or a vehicle lighter adapter 19. The air pump 13 placed in the recess 22 will pump air into the interior of the air bed 1 and make both the inflatable body 11 and the cabinet 12 swell to a desired extend. Since then, the user may lie on the inflated body 11 and place articles in the recess 22 of the cabinet 12. The inventive air bed 1 can also be deflated and stored in the drawer 21, as shown in FIG. 2B.
A separated storage case of a drawer, bag or box may be further provided for holding or storing the air bed after deflation, and the separated storage case may be received in the at least one recess of the cabinet.
Although embodiments together with structures and functions of the present invention have been described in detail, many modifications and variations may be made from the teachings disclosed hereinabove. Therefore, it should be understood by those skilled in the art that any modification and variation equivalent to the spirit of the present invention be regarded to fall into the scope coved by the appended claims.
Patent Application
20070283500
