AIR MATTRESS

Abstract

An air mattress includes an inflatable chamber. The inflatable chamber defines a groove for fixing a fitted bed sheet. The fitted bed sheet has an elastic edge. The elastic edge of the fitted bed sheet is placed to engage the groove so as to keep the fitted bed sheet in place when the fitted bed sheet is stretched over the inflatable chamber.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the Invention

The invention relates to an air mattress, and more particularly to an air mattress having a circumferential groove to fix a fitted bed sheet.

Description of the Related Art

Air mattresses are a great solution when a user needs to offer guests a bed for the weekend or if the user's own bed is temporarily unavailable. When an air mattress is used, it is preferable that a bed sheet is laid on the air mattress to improve user's comfort.

A fitted bed sheet is a sheet with an elastic edge wrapped around the mattress to stretch the sheet and keep it in place even if people sleeping on it tend to toss and turn. However, an air mattress is generally made of plastic (for example Polyvinyl Chloride, PVC) and fails to provide sufficient frictions to fix a fitted bed sheet thereon.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention provides an air mattress to address the described problem. The air mattress in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the invention includes an inflatable chamber. The inflatable chamber defines a groove. A fitted bed sheet includes an elastic edge. The elastic edge engages the groove to keep the fitted bed sheet in place when the fitted bed sheet is stretched over the inflatable chamber.

In another exemplary embodiment, the groove of the inflatable chamber is a circumferential groove, and the elastic edge of the fitted bed sheet is wrapped around the inflatable chamber when engaging the circumferential groove.

In yet another exemplary embodiment, the inflatable chamber includes a top wall, a bottom wall, and a side wall connecting to the top wall and the bottom wall. The groove is formed by connecting a first supplemental sheet to the side wall and the bottom wall and connecting a second supplemental sheet to the first supplemental sheet and the side wall.

In another exemplary embodiment, the first supplemental sheet is angled with respect to the bottom wall.

In yet another exemplary embodiment, the second supplemental sheet is substantially parallel to the bottom wall.

In another exemplary embodiment, the inflatable chamber includes a top wall, a bottom wall, and a side wall connecting to the top wall and the bottom wall. The groove is formed by connecting a first supplemental sheet to the side wall and the top wall and connecting a second supplemental sheet to the first supplemental sheet and the side wall.

In yet another exemplary embodiment, the first supplemental sheet is angled with respect to the top wall.

In another exemplary embodiment, the second supplemental sheet is substantially parallel to the top wall.

In yet another exemplary embodiment, the inflatable chamber includes a top wall, a bottom wall, and a side wall connecting to the top wall and the bottom wall; the side wall includes an upper portion next to the top wall and a lower portion next to the bottom wall; and the upper wall and the lower portion are spaced by the groove.

In another exemplary embodiment, the air mattress further includes supplemental sheets connected to each other to form the groove.

The invention also provides a method of combining an air mattress and a fitted bed sheet. The method in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the invention includes providing an air mattress which includes an inflatable chamber with a groove formed thereon; providing a fitted bed sheet which has an elastic edge; and stretching the fitted bed sheet over the inflatable chamber with the elastic edge engaging the groove to keep the fitted bed sheet in place.

A detailed description is given in the following embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention can be more fully understood by reading the subsequent detailed description and examples with references made to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an air mattress in accordance with a first embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a local view of the air mattress of FIG. 1 with a part thereof removed.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the air mattress of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of an air mattress in accordance with a second embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view of an air mattress in accordance with a third embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view of an air mattress in accordance with a fourth embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an air mattress in accordance with a first embodiment of the invention, FIG. 2 is a local view of the air mattress of FIG. 1 with a part thereof removed, and FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the air mattress of FIG. 1. In the first embodiment, the air mattress 2 includes an inflatable chamber 21. The inflatable chamber 21 includes a top wall 211, a bottom wall 212 and a side wall 213. The top wall 211, the bottom wall 212 and the side wall 213 are connected to each other by fusion to form the inflatable chamber 21. In FIG. 3, dots 219 indicate where the fusion is.

The edges of the top wall 211 and the bottom wall 212 are covered by trim sheets 218 so that the air mattress of this embodiment can have an improved aesthetic appearance. Further, the trim sheets 218 and the edges of the top wall 211 and the side wall 213 are fixed together by sewing (reference numeral 220 indicates the sewing threads). The material of the top wall 211, the side wall 213 and the bottom wall 212 may be plastic (for example Polyvinyl Chloride, PVC). The material of the trim sheets 218 may be fabric. Alternatively, the material of the trim sheets 218 may be plastic, so that the trim sheets 218, the top wall 211, the side wall 213 and the bottom wall 212 have the same material.

A plurality of pulling elements (e.g. sleeves, straps and others) 214 are provided in the inflatable chamber 21 and are connected to the top wall 211 and the bottom wall 212 by fusion. When the inflatable chamber 21 is inflated to expand, the stretch of the top wall 211 and the bottom wall 212 is limited by the pulling elements 214 (under the pulling forces of the pulling elements 214), thereby controlling expansion of the inflatable chamber 21 to a desired shape.

It is noted that the inflatable chamber 21 has a circumferential groove 215 for fixing a fitted bed sheet (not shown). Specifically, a user can stretching the fitted bed sheet (not shown) over the air mattress 2 and wrap the elastic edge (not shown) of the fitted bed sheet (not shown) around the air mattress 2 with the elastic edge engaging the circumferential groove 215 to keep the fitted bed sheet in place. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the side wall 213 has an upper portion 2131 next to the top wall 211 and a lower portion 2133 next to the bottom wall 212. In the first embodiment, the circumferential groove 215 is formed by connecting a first supplemental sheet 216 to the bottom wall 212 and the upper portion 2131 of the side wall 213, and connecting a second supplemental sheet 217 to the first supplemental sheet 216 and the lower portion 2133 of the side wall 213, wherein the first supplemental sheet 216 is angled with respect to the bottom wall 212, and the second supplemental sheet 217 is substantially parallel to the bottom wall 212. When the inflatable chamber 21 is inflated, the first supplemental sheet 216 and the second supplemental sheet 217 sustain pulling forces for controlling stretch of the side wall 213.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of an air mattress in accordance with a second embodiment, wherein the air mattress 2 further includes an air permeable layer 28. Under the action of the pulling elements 214, the top wall 211 has a plurality of depressions 2111 formed thereon. In the second embodiment, the air permeable layer 28 is additionally provided on the top wall 211 to cover the depressions 2111 thereby improving the flatness of the air mattress 2 and user's comfort.

Under the consideration of air permeability, support ability and manufacturing cost, the air permeable layer 28 may be (for example) netting.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view of an air mattress in accordance with a third embodiment, wherein the circumferential groove 215′ is formed by connecting a first supplemental sheet 216′ to the top wall 211′ and the lower portion 2133′ of the side wall 213′, and connecting a second supplemental sheet 217′ to the first supplemental sheet 216′ and the top portion 2131′ of the side wall 213′, wherein the first supplemental sheet 216′ is angled with respect to the top wall 211′, and the second supplemental sheet 217′ is substantially parallel to the top wall 211′. When the air mattress 2′ is inflated, the first supplemental sheet 216′ and the second supplemental sheet 217′ sustain pulling forces for controlling stretch of the side wall 213′.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view of an air mattress in accordance with a fourth embodiment, wherein the air mattress 2′ further includes an air permeable layer 28′. Under the action of the pulling elements 214′, the top wall 211′ has a plurality of depressions 2111′ formed thereon. In the fourth embodiment, the air permeable layer 28′ is additionally provided on the top wall 211′ to cover the depressions 2111′ thereby improving the flatness of the air mattress 2 and user's comfort.

While the invention has been described by way of example and in terms of preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited thereto. To the contrary, it is intended to cover various modifications and similar arrangements (as would be apparent to those skilled in the art). Therefore, the scope of the appended claims should be accorded the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and similar arrangements.

Claims

1. An apparatus, comprising: a fitted bed sheet comprising an elastic edge; andan air mattress comprising an inflatable chamber;wherein the inflatable chamber defines a groove;wherein the elastic edge engages the groove to keep the fitted bed sheet in place when the fitted bed sheet is stretched over the inflatable chamber.

2. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the groove of the inflatable chamber is a circumferential groove, and the elastic edge of the fitted bed sheet is wrapped around the inflatable chamber when engaging the circumferential groove.

3. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a first supplemental sheet and a second supplemental sheet wherein: the inflatable chamber comprises a top wall, a bottom wall, and a side wall connecting to the top wall and the bottom wall;the first supplemental sheet is connected to the side wall and the bottom wall and the second supplemental sheet is connected to the first supplemental sheet and the side wall thereby forming the groove.

4. The apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein the first supplemental sheet is angled with respect to the bottom wall.

5. The apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein the second supplemental sheet is substantially parallel to the bottom wall.

6. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a first supplemental sheet and a second supplemental sheet wherein: the inflatable chamber comprises a top wall, a bottom wall, and a side wall connecting to the top wall and the bottom wall;the first supplemental sheet is connected to the side wall and the top wall and the second supplemental sheet is connected to the first supplemental sheet and the side wall thereby forming the groove.

7. The apparatus as claimed in claim 6, wherein the first supplemental sheet is angled with respect to the top wall.

8. The apparatus as claimed in claim 7, wherein the second supplemental sheet is substantially parallel to the top wall.

9. A method, comprising: providing an air mattress which comprises an inflatable chamber with a groove formed thereon;providing a fitted bed sheet which has an elastic edge;stretching the fitted bed sheet over the inflatable chamber with the elastic edge engaging the groove to keep the fitted bed sheet in place.

10. The method as claimed in claim 9, wherein the groove of the inflatable chamber is a circumferential groove, and the elastic edge of the fitted bed sheet is wrapped around the inflatable chamber when engaging the circumferential groove.

11. The method as claimed in claim 9, wherein: the inflatable chamber comprises a top wall, a bottom wall, and a side wall connecting to the top wall and the bottom wall;the groove is formed by connecting a first supplemental sheet to the side wall and the bottom wall, and connecting a second supplemental sheet to the first supplemental sheet and the side wall.

12. The method as claimed in claim 9, wherein: the inflatable chamber comprises a top wall, a bottom wall, and a side wall connecting to the top wall and the bottom wall;the groove is formed by connecting a first supplemental sheet to the side wall and the top wall and connecting a second supplemental sheet to the first supplemental sheet and the side wall.

13. An air mattress, comprising: an inflatable chamber;wherein the inflatable chamber defines a groove extending circumferentially thereon for engaging an elastic edge of a fitted bed sheet.

14. The air mattress as claimed in claim 13, further comprising a first supplemental sheet and a second supplemental sheet, wherein the inflatable chamber comprises a top wall, a bottom wall, and a side wall connecting to the top wall and the bottom wall, wherein the first supplemental sheet is connected to the side wall and the bottom wall and the second supplemental sheet is connected to the first supplemental sheet and the side wall thereby forming the groove.

15. The air mattress as claimed in claim 14, wherein the first supplemental sheet is angled with respect to the bottom wall.

16. The air mattress as claimed in claim 15, wherein the second supplemental sheet is substantially parallel to the bottom wall.

17. The air mattress as claimed in claim 13, further comprising a first supplemental sheet and a second supplemental sheet, wherein the inflatable chamber comprises a top wall, a bottom wall, and a side wall connecting to the top wall and the bottom wall, wherein the first supplemental sheet is connected to the side wall and the top wall and the second supplemental sheet is connected to the first supplemental sheet and the side wall thereby forming the groove.

18. The air mattress as claimed in claim 17, wherein the first supplemental sheet is angled with respect to the top wall.

19. The air mattress as claimed in claim 18, wherein the second supplemental sheet is substantially parallel to the top wall.

20. The air mattress as claimed in claim 13, wherein the inflatable chamber comprises a top wall, a bottom wall, and a side wall connecting to the top wall and the bottom wall; the side wall comprises an upper portion next to the top wall and a lower portion next to the bottom wall; and the upper wall and the lower portion are spaced by the groove.

21. The air mattress as claimed in claim 13, further comprising supplemental sheets connected to each other to form the groove.