Inflatable mattress systems and method of manufacture thereof

Information

  • Patent Grant
  • 6775868
  • Patent Number
    6,775,868
  • Date Filed
    Wednesday, May 3, 2000
    24 years ago
  • Date Issued
    Tuesday, August 17, 2004
    20 years ago
Abstract
An air mattress system is provided wherein longitudinal air supply tubes supply air to alternating laterally extending cross support tubes that extend between two longitudinal side rails. The side rails remain inflated despite failure of the pump or ruptures of the lateral support tubes. The structure of the air mattress is such that it can be produced as a continuous rolled product. A method for making the individual mattress of this construction is also set forth.
Description




FIELD OF THE INVENTION




This invention relates to inflatable devices for supporting a body. The invention is especially applicable in the field of disposable inflatable mattresses, mattress overlays, seat cushions, and back supports, particularly those used for home-care, long-term care and hospital use.




DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART




Inflatable mattresses for people to lie or sleep on are well known in the prior art.




Generally speaking, such mattresses and cushions, when used for medical applications, are used by immobilized patients. Various types of these mattresses purport to provide a reduced pressure on the body and/or relieve pressure in specific zones or on specific parts of the body. The materials of manufacture of these mattresses generally do not allow water vapor produced by the person's perspiration or condensation to escape from the vicinity of his body, thus requiring an additional item to be placed between the patient and the support surface.




In addition, inflatable mattresses of the prior art are generally configured so that their construction requires a large amount of labor, usually because the formation of individual air chambers that make up the entire mattress need to be connected in a way that allows the chambers to be filled with air at the time of inflation, and at the same time must be placed and configured to provide suitable support to the user. The prior art designs require a time consuming assembly and mechanical joining of material to make the mattress, and this labor intensive construction of the air mattresses makes the air mattresses expensive, and consequently unsuitable for disposable mattress applications, such as in a hospital environment where the mattress may be contaminated by contact with a patient.




It is also a problem in the prior art that if there is a rupture or loss of pressure in an inflatable mattress, the entire mattress will collapse. The result may be that, for instance, in a hospital bed, a patient might roll off the underlying bed or mattress system, or be dropped onto an uncomfortable surface below the deflated air mattress.




SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION




It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an inflatable mattress system which has an outer layer which permits the passage of water vapor but not fluid through it, overlying and working in conjunction with a fill or batting layer which rests on an inflatable mattress underneath. The outer layer is preferably attached to the inflatable mattress as is the fill layer.




It is also an object of the present invention to provide for an inflatable air mattress of a construction such that it can be readily manufactured without undue amounts of human labor. This is accomplished by providing a mattress construction which allows for continuous formation of the mattresses as a continuous rolled out product so that each individual mattress is formed by cutting the rolled stock, and then finished with a minimum amount of additional sealing. It is also an object of the present invention to provide a method of efficient manufacture of the mattresses from continuously rolled stock.




It is further an object of the present invention to provide for an inflatable air mattress having two lateral side rail tubes which do not deflate once inflated, even if the central portion of the mattress loses air pressure.




It is also an object of the present invention to provide an air mattress wherein, even if the central portion below the patient is punctured or loses pressure, a lower set of chambers of the air mattress nonetheless remain inflated and prevent the patient dropping onto the surface of a bed, a bedspring, or another mattress below the air mattress.




It is also an object of the present invention to provide a mattress having a series of laterally extending support tubes so that adjoining supply tubes can be alternately inflated and deflated, alternatively reducing interface pressure on the body of the user.




Other benefits and advantages of the present invention will become apparent in the specification hereof, and the scope of the invention will be expressed in the claims.











BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS





FIG. 1

shows a elevational view of a inflatable mattress system of the present invention in place on a bed;





FIG. 2

shows a partly cut away plan view of the mattress of

FIG. 1

;





FIG. 3

shows a sectional perspective view taken through line A—A of FIG.


2


.





FIG. 4

shows a cross sectional view of the mattress system of

FIG. 2

taken through line B—B.





FIG. 5

shows schematically a heat sealing process for the construction of an air mattress of the invention.





FIG. 6

shows a perspective view of an alternate embodiment of a mattress of the invention cutaway along both a longitudinal and lateral plane.





FIG. 7

shows schematically a heat sealing procedure for construction of the air mattress of FIG.


6


.





FIG. 8

is a longitudinal cross sectional view of an alternate embodiment of the mattress shown in FIG.


6


.





FIG. 9

is a longitudinal cross sectional view of a further alternative embodiment of the air mattress shown in FIG.


6


.





FIG. 10

is a perspective view of an alternate embodiment of air mattress according to the invention cutaway at longitudinal and lateral planes therethrough.





FIG. 11

is a longitudinal cross section taken through the mattress shown in FIG.


10


.





FIG. 12

is a schematic representation of the articulation provided by the mattress shown in FIGS.


10


and


11


.











DETAILED DISCLOSURE




As best seen in

FIG. 1

, the mattress system of the invention is generally indicated at


3


. The mattress system


3


is preferably supported on a mattress


5


of conventional design which is usually supported on a frame or other structure


7


. It will be understood, of course, that a variety of different bed frames can be used, particularly in the hospital or home care environment where this invention is especially useful.




The mattress system comprises an inflatable portion


9


which is connected by a plurality of hoses


11


to pump


13


, which supplies air through the hoses


11


to inflate the inflatable portion


9


.




As best seen in

FIG. 2

, the inflatable portion


9


includes an inflatable mattress generally indicated at


15


which has a laterally middle portion that comprises a plurality of laterally extending, longitudinally spaced support tubes


17


over the entire length of the mattress. The air mattress also comprises first and second laterally longitudinal extending side rail tubes


19


which extend the entire length of the mattress adjacent the lateral ends of the support tubes


17


on either lateral side of the middle portion. Each of the tubes


17


and


19


is generally cylindrical in shape, with a diameter of approximately 4 inches.




The inflatable mattress is of material suitable for containing air under sufficient pressure to support a person on the inflatable portion


9


. A variety of materials may be used effectively in this application, but the material is preferably a thermoplastic. Particularly preferred is polyethylene, such as the polyethylene material sold under the name “Metalecene” by Dow Chemical, Exxon or Mobil Corporation. The thickness of the polyethylene used may range from about 2 to about 25 mils, but particularly preferred is material of about 3 to 5 mils.




To provide for a breathable environment adjacent to the skin of a person lying on the inflatable portion


9


, the mattress


15


is covered by a fill or batting layer


21


which extends over substantially all of the upper surface of the mattress


15


and is either glued or thermally bonded in place to the material of mattress


15


. A top sheet or outer layer


23


covers the fill layer


21


and the entire upper surface of the mattress


15


, and is bonded to the perimeter thereof, preferably by a thermal seal.




The top sheet


23


is formed of a breathable material that permits the passage of water vapor therethrough, but which does not permit liquid water to pass and is preferably bacteria-proof. Materials of this type are known in the disposable diaper arts. Particularly effective for this purpose is micropore material such as a polyester non wovens or polypropylene saturate material. The top sheet


23


permits water vapor from the perspiration of the person on the mattress


9


to pass through it and enter into the fill layer


21


.




The main purpose of the fill layer


21


is to provide loft to create an air space between the top sheet


23


and the non-breathable material of the mattress


15


through which the user's water vapor can escape and then pass out of the system through the top layer


23


in a location where this will not cause discomfort to the user. Fill layer


21


is consequently of material that allows air and water vapor to pass therethrough fairly freely, and that resists retaining much moisture. Particularly preferred materials are polyester fill, and especially preferred is Dacron. Also, generally speaking, the mechanical nature of the fill layer material is such that it is less compressible than the underlying inflated mattress


15


, so that the tubes


17


and


19


compress before the fill layer


21


, and the loft thereof is maintained despite the weight of the patient pressing the fill layer


21


against mattress


15


.




The top sheet


23


is an integral structural part of the inflatable portion


9


. The fact that the top sheet


23


is bonded to the mattress substantially completely around its outer edge perimeter structurally ties the top sheet into the load bearing of supporting the user. The thickness of the top sheet


23


protects the mattress


15


, and allows thinner material to be used in the mattress because it is protected better against puncture by the top sheet


23


.




Also, as best seen in

FIG. 4

, the top sheet


23


and fill layer


21


overlie the support tubes


17


and depend between the adjacent peaks of the tubes


17


. When the user lies on the top sheet


23


, the top sheet


23


and fill layer


21


together act to “tent” between adjacent support tubes


17


, providing a more supportive flat surface on the top of the mattress portion


9


.




The mattress portion


9


is also provided with a protective bottom sheet


27


of a durable material, with heavy polyester non woven material being especially desirable. This bottom sheet


27


protects the air mattress from being punctured from below. The bottom sheet


27


, like the top sheet


23


, is bonded to the mattress


15


around virtually all of the outer perimeter edge of the mattress


15


, preferably in the same heat seal as is used to bond the top sheet


23


to the mattress


15


. Bottom sheet


27


also cooperates structurally with the mattress


15


to provide a flat and stable support surface of the mattress portion


9


for the user to lie on.




To inflate and maintain pressure in the mattress


15


, electrically powered pump


13


supplies air under pressure through hoses


11


, which air flows into mattress


15


and inflates the support tubes


17


and the side rail tubes


19


. The hoses


11


are connected with longitudinally extending air tubes


25


which define passages therein that communicate with support tubes


17


and transmit the air supplied by the pump


13


thereto.




In the preferred embodiment, as best seen in

FIGS. 3 and 4

, the passages in the air supply tubes


25


extend longitudinally through the mattress


15


but in one tube


25


apertures


29


are provided which communicate with the interior of a set of the support tubes


17


, and in the other tube


25


, apertures


29


are provided which communicate with the remaining support tubes


17


. In the embodiment shown in

FIG. 4

, one air supply tube supplies air to every other support tube


17


, and the other air supply tube


25


supplies air to the other support tubes


17


between them. Such an arrangement affords some degree of extra reliability, because, in the event that there is a failure of air supply or a tear in a support tube


17


of one of the sets of support tubes, the other set of support tubes


17


should still retain air pressure to support the user.




Alternatively, one air supply tube


25


may supply air to the first and last support tubes


17


, defining with the side rail tubes


19


a rectangular frame, while the remaining longitudinally inward support tubes


17


are supplied with air by the other air supply tube


25


. Also, if desired, additional air supply tubes


25


maybe added to the design to define other patterns of sets of support tubes


17


for special purposes.




In the most common application of the invention, the mattress is inflated fully and the user lies thereon, with the pump


13


activated only to the degree necessary to keep the air mattress


15


inflated. Increased comfort may be afforded to the user by forming small holes in the upper surface of the mattress


15


so that air pumped into the mattress can flow out through the upper sheet


33


of the support tubes


17


, and through the fill layer


21


, to better ventilate the points of contact of the user's body with the mattress


15


.




It is an alternative aspect of invention to provide for prevention of bed sores in patients who are required to stay in bed for long periods of time, and the arrangement wherein each air supply tube


25


supplies air to alternating support tubes


17


is especially appropriate for this purpose. In this application, pump


13


alternates supplying air to one of the hoses


11


with the other of the hoses


11


. By switching the supply of air from one hose


11


to the other periodically, the user is alternately supported by the “odd numbered” support tubes


17


and then the “even numbered” support tubes


17


. In such an application, it is preferable that the upper surface of the support tubes


17


be punctured to a small degree, e.g., in pinpricks, to allow the escape of air therethrough so that deflation occurs fairly readily in tubes that are not being sent air, and also to ventilate the locations under the patient. The resulting system allows for continuous variations in the location of support of the patient, which prevents the formation of bed sores.




As best seen in

FIGS. 3 and 4

, the air supply tubes


25


are on either side of the mattress


15


, each adjacent a respective side rail tube


19


. The passages in the air supply tubes


25


also deliver air to the adjacent side rail tube


19


. The air passes from the air supply tube through a flutter valve


31


formed by the ends of the air supply tube material (FIG.


3


). These ends are heat sealed together, but intermittently so that air can flow from the passage in air tubes


25


into the interior of the side rail


19


. The flutter valves


31


are one way valves, and do not permit the air to flow back in the reverse direction, i.e. from the side rail into the air tube


25


.




The flutter valves


31


retain pressure in the side rails


19


even if the pump completely fails or if the support tubes


17


in the lateral middle of the mattress


15


completely deflate. This is especially advantageous in a hospital situation, because the side rails


19


, while still inflated, will keep a patient from simply rolling out of bed in the event the mattress


15


partially deflates.




The method of fabrication of the air mattress


15


is also a particularly desirable aspect of the present invention because the mattress is constructed as a continuous sheet of bonded materials. The process of manufacture is schematically explained in FIG.


5


. It will be understood that, while one side rail construction is shown, an equivalent symmetrical construction is applied on the opposite lateral side of mattress


15


.




The first step in fabrication of the mattress


15


is that two sheets


33


and


35


, which will become the upper and lower halves of the support tubes


17


, are bonded together with the folded air tube sheet


37


, which will become the air supply tube


25


, by laterally extending heat seals. Sheet


37


is already provided with punched holes


29


therein before being sealed in place.




The heat seals are applied every 4 inches along sheet


37


, because that will be the diameter of the support tube


17


when inflated. However, the relative lengths of top and bottom tube sheets


33


and


35


bonded to a 4-inch length of the folded air tube sheet


37


is greater, because the support tubes will inflate to a larger diameter. Therefore, these heat seals are applied with pleats or gussets, folded into the sheets


33


and


35


to allow them to swell to a cylindrical shape without distorting the air supply tube


25


.




The heat seal bonds sheets


33


and


35


to the outside face of sheet


37


, but does not bond the inside faces of sheet


37


to each other. The interior passage defined by sheet


37


is kept open to allow air to flow down the resulting tube


25


. Heat sealing on the inside of the tube is prevented by the use of a Teflon or paper insert, which will not permit the sheet


37


to heat seal to itself. Alternatively, ink may be used on the inside of the folded sheet


37


, which will also prevent the heat seal from closing the interior of the tube


25


.




Once this basic structure is formed, the remaining heat seals are longitudinal, and are illustrated in FIG.


5


. First, heat seals A


1


and A


2


are applied, bonding support tube sheet


33


with part of air tube sheet


37


and a side rail top sheet


39


, and bonding support tube sheet


35


with another part of sheet


37


and side rail bottom sheet


41


. Second, heat seal B is applied to form the flutter valve on the air supply tube


25


. This seal B is not continuous, but has gaps therein which will allow air to flow through between the two parts of the sheet


37


into the side rail


19


. Thirdly, the outer edge of the side rail sheets


39


and


41


are heat sealed together by seal C, preferably also sealing the edge simultaneously with top sheet


23


and bottom cover sheet


27


. The fill layer


21


must be installed below top layer


23


before seal C, or, if the batting material is compatible, the fill layer


21


may also be heat sealed along the outer edge of the mattress


15


together with top sheet


23


.




This fabrication process produces a continuous roll of mattress material. To make an individual mattress therefrom, the manufacturer cuts the roll material in a lateral cut to a length suitable for a mattress. At one end of the cut material, the manufacturer heat in seals the open ends of the side rails


19


and the air supply tube


25


. At the other end, the manufacturer heat seals the open ends of the side rails


19


, but inserts hose fixtures


43


into the open ends of air supply tubes


25


to allow the tubes


11


to pump


13


to be attached thereto. The mattress is then ready to use.




An alternate embodiment of the mattress of the invention is shown in

FIG. 6

, which shares many features with the preferred embodiment. In the alternate embodiment, support tubes


45


are formed of a support tube top sheet


47


, a center sheet


49


, and a bottom sheet


51


. A longitudinally extending air supply tube structure


53


is provided adjacent each side rail


55


. This air supply tube


53


supplies air into the upper support tube interior indicated at


56


through aperture


57


and into side rail


55


through flutter valve


59


. The air supply tubes


53


preferably communicate with alternating support tubes as in the preferred embodiment.




Side rails


55


have apertures


61


therein which communicate with the lower support tube interior of all of the support tubes


45


, indicated at


63


. Because of one-way flutter valve


59


, the air in the lower interior


63


and in the side rails


55


remains pressurized even if the pump


13


fails or the top interior


56


deflates. In such an event, the lower half of the support tubes


45


continues to support the user above the mattress below.




Manufacture of such a mattress is similar to the process described above, with certain adjustments to allow for the presence of the center sheet


49


. Referring to

FIG. 7

, in fabrication, a longitudinal heat seal D is made sealing air supply structure


53


to center sheet


49


. Then lateral heat seals (not shown) are applied in a manner similar to that in the preferred embodiment, i.e., with the material of top and bottom sheets


47


and


51


gusseted to allow for inflation. Heat seals E


1


and E


2


join the support tube top sheet


47


with side rail top sheet


65


, and join support tube bottom sheet


51


with side rail bottom sheet


67


. Intermittent seal F is applied to create flutter valve


59


leading into side rail


55


. Side rail


55


is then closed by sealing the lateral outward edge thereof, together with top sheet


23


, bottom sheet


27


, and, optionally, fill layer


21


, which may be sealed in the same operation if the materials are compatible.




Both the preferred embodiment and the first alternate embodiment provide for an inflatable air mattress system about 4-inches thick, the radius of the support tubes


17


. Such an air mattress is suitable for use where there is another mattress on the bed, but if no mattress is available, the 4-inch thick arrangement may not be adequately comfortable for the user. Accordingly, it may be desired to increase the thickness of the mattress.




Increasing the thickness of the mattress is possible using the structure of the alternate embodiment having the center sheet


49


. As best seen in

FIG. 8

, a view showing a longitudinal cross-section of further alternate embodiment, the mattress may be thickened by providing underneath center sheet


49


enlarged support tubes


69


, which have a diameter approximately twice that of the upper support tubes


45


. The lower wall


68


of the side rail


55


is also extended to increase the dimension below the center sheet


49


. This design provides for an additional 2 inches of thickness in the mattress.





FIG. 9

shows an alternate embodiment wherein the upper and lower support tubes


45


are extended by producing longer amounts of material in the sheet


47


and


51


as gusseted, so that the inflated tube expands to a greater height. The side rails


55


are similarly provided with additional material for increased height of the mattress.




Where no mattress is provided for the bed, and all support of the user is to be provided by an inflated air mattress, it is generally preferred, particularly in hospital and home-care environments, that a mattress of at least 8 inches in height be provided.





FIGS. 10

to


12


show an alternate embodiment which provides an inflated mattress of appropriate height according to the present invention. Many aspects of this structure are similar to those of the embodiment shown in

FIGS. 6 and 7

, and similar parts are given the same reference characters.




The upper surface of the air mattress


71


comprises a series of laterally extending support tubes


45


having a diameter of approximately 8 inches. These support tubes


45


are formed of a sheet


47


secured to the upper surface of a center sheet


73


, which extends substantially the entire length and lateral width of the mattress


71


.




Air is supplied through air supply tubes defined by tube structure


53


, which is similar to that shown in the embodiment shown in FIG.


6


. An aperture or punch hole


57


in the structure


53


allows air pumped therein to enter into the upper support tube interior space indicated at


56


. A side rail


75


is provided on each lateral side of the mattress


71


. Flutter valve structure


77


permits air in the passage


53


to also pass into upper side rail interior space


79


.




Center sheet


73


extends below the upper side rail


75


to outer wall


81


of the air mattress


71


and is secured thereto. For distribution of air, center sheet


73


is provided in the region of the side rail


75


with a plurality of apertures or punch holes


83


through which air may pass from the interior space


79


of the side rail


75


down into a lower interior space generally indicated at


85


, in the air mattress


71


. The lower space


85


of the air mattress


71


is defined by the cover sheet


73


, the side wall


81


, a bottom enclosure sheet


87


. In order to support the upper surface tubes


45


of the mattress so that there is not an undue amount of lateral or longitudinal movement possible, a plurality of support panels


89


are provided linking the bottom closure sheet


87


with the center sheet


73


. At the longitudinal ends of the mattress the panel is extended to seal against the side wall


81


, to fully enclose the lower space.




In the event of a failure of the pump


13


, which supplies air to the air supply passage


53


, or in the event of a rupture of the upper surface of the mattress causing deflation of support tubes


45


, the side rail


75


remains inflated due to the one-way passage of air in flutter valve


77


, which prevents air in the side rail interior space


79


from passing back into the air supply passage


53


. Furthermore, because side rail space


79


communicates with the lower space


85


of the mattress through aperture


83


, air in the lower space


85


also is prevented from leaving.




As a consequence, in the event of a failure of the pump


13


or the upper support tubes


45


, the mattress


71


will still retain air therein, and the patient will lie on a flat surface defined by cover sheet


73


, supported on inflated lower space


85


, and between inflated side rails


75


which will also remain inflated. This of course is especially important where the inflatable mattress is used on a bare surface or bedspring, to prevent a rupture from dropping onto an uncomfortable surface below the mattress


71


.




Where the mattress


71


is used in an environment with a bed with some articulation, such as a hospital or home-care bed, the thickness of the mattress


71


does not admit to easy folding. Accordingly, as best shown in

FIGS. 11 and 12

, the bottom sheet


87


and the side walls


81


are interrupted in two locations to create an articulating recess generally indicated at


93


. At these recesses, the lower surface sheet


87


extends up to center sheet


73


, as a sloping bottom wall


95


on either side of the recess


93


, which allows substantial bending movement, as seen in FIG.


12


.




Construction of the mattress


71


of this alternate embodiment with respect to the top portion of the air mattress


71


, i.e., that portion that is above the center sheet


73


, is accomplished using methods similar to those described with respect to the embodiment shown in

FIGS. 6 and 7

. The lower portion, i.e., the side and bottom walls


81


,


87


and the support panels


89


and end walls


91


, are assembled by a process which should be apparent to those knowledgeable in the art.




The foregoing specification has been couched in terms which should be viewed as descriptive rather than limiting, as those with skill in the art, having this specification before them, will be able to make modifications and variations to the structure thereof without departing from the scope of the invention here disclosed.



Claims
  • 1. An inflatable mattress system comprising:an inflatable mattress of a material that is substantially impermeable to water vapor and can support the weight of a human being thereon by containment of air therein, said mattress having longitudinal and lateral ends defining a perimeter thereof; a breathable fill sheet overlying the mattress, said fill sheet permitting the passage of air and water vapor therethrough; a top sheet having a perimeter overlying the fill sheet, said top sheet being of a material that permits the passage of air or water vapor therethrough, but that blocks the passage of liquid water therethrough; at least a portion of said top sheet being permanently bonded to at least a portion of the perimeter of the mattress so that when a person lies on the mattress system, water vapor between the person and the top sheet can pass through the top sheet and through the fill sheet to a portion of the support mattress displaced from the person lying thereon.
  • 2. The mattress system of claim 1, andsaid top sheet being breathable micropore material.
  • 3. The mattress system of claim 2, andsaid top sheet being of polymer non-woven material or polypropylene saturate material.
  • 4. The mattress system of claim 1, andsaid fill sheet being of polyester fill.
  • 5. The mattress system of claim 1, andsaid mattress being of polyethylene.
  • 6. The mattress system of claim 1, andsaid top sheet and said mattress being bonded together around substantially all of the perimeter of said top sheet and the perimeter of said mattress.
  • 7. The mattress system of claim 1, andperimeters of said top sheet, said fill layer and said mattress being bonded together by a seal.
  • 8. The mattress system of claim 1, andthe mattress being configured and inflated, and the fill sheet being selected of such a material, such that the compressibility of the fill sheet is less than that of the mattress so that the weight of the person does not compress the fill sheet against the mattress and block the breathability of the fill sheet.
  • 9. The mattress system of claim 1, anda pump supplying air to the mattress.
  • 10. The mattress system of claim 9, andsaid mattress including an upper sheet, said upper sheet having perforations therein through which air in the mattress flows to pass through a portion of the fill layer for providing ventilation, said perforations being small enough that adequate pressure in the mattress is maintained to support a user thereon.
  • 11. The mattress system of claim 9, andsaid mattress having an upper and a lower sheet attached to each other so as to form a series of laterally extending inflated tubular structures, and a first air supply passage receiving air from said pump and transmitting said air to a set of said tubular structures for inflation thereof.
  • 12. The mattress system of claim 11, anda second air supply passage receiving air from the pump and transmitting the air to a second set of said tubular structures different from said first set.
  • 13. The mattress system of claim 12, andsaid pump alternately supplying air to one of the air supply passages and then to the other of the air supply passages.
  • 14. The mattress system of claim 1, andsaid mattress including a middle portion with two lateral sides and a pair of longitudinally extending side tubes, each on respective lateral sides of said middle portion, said side tubes receiving air from said middle portion for inflation thereof through a one-way airflow structure, so that in the event of a reduction of pressure in the middle portion, the side tubes remain inflated.
  • 15. The mattress system of claim 14, andsaid middle portion having an upper and a lower chamber therein, which are inflated when the mattress is inflated, said chambers communicating with each other via said one-way air flow structure so that one of the chambers can be ruptured or lose air pressure without causing immediate deflation of the other chamber.
  • 16. An inflatable mattress comprising:first and second sheets of polymeric material extending longitudinally and laterally and being secured together to form longitudinally spaced laterally extending support tubes; said support tubes being pneumatically enclosed so as to be able to contain air therein at a pressure sufficient to support a person lying on the mattress; said support tubes having lateral ends wherein the material of the tubes is gathered together in gussets and the sheets of polymeric material are bonded together, allowing the support tube to inflate to a generally cylindrical shape; first and second laterally spaced, longitudinally extending side tubes adjacent respective lateral ends of the support tubes, said side tubes being generally co-planar with said support tubes; said sheets having therebetween a first air passage communicating with a plurality of said support tubes so that air may be supplied to said support tubes through said air passage to inflate or maintain air pressure in said support tubes; said sheets having a second passage therebetween communicating with others of the support tubes and allowing delivery of air thereto; and said first and second passages communicating with alternating support tubes over the longitudinal length of the mattress.
  • 17. The mattress of claim 16, andsaid first passage communicating with the support tubes at longitudinal ends of the mattress, to provide an inflated head and foot of the mattress, and the second passage communicating with the support tubes therebetween.
  • 18. The mattress of claim 16, and further comprising:said side tubes each having an interior and each being connected with a respective set of the lateral ends of the support tubes.
  • 19. The mattress of claim 18, andside rail air flow structure connected with the sheets and defining passages communicating with the interiors of the side tubes so that air introduced between the sheets can pass into the side tubes.
  • 20. An inflatable mattress comprising:first and second sheets of polymeric material extending longitudinally and laterally and being secured together to form longitudinally spaced laterally extending support tubes; said support tubes being pneumatically enclosed so as to be able to contain air therein at a pressure sufficient to support a person lying on the mattress; said support tubes having lateral ends wherein the material of the tubes is gathered together in gussets and the sheets of polymeric material are bonded together, allowing the support tube to inflate to a generally cylindrical shape; and first and second laterally spaced, longitudinally extending side tubes adjacent respective lateral ends of the support tubes, said side tubes being generally co-planar with said support tubes; said side tubes each having an interior and each being connected with a respective set of the lateral ends of the support tubes; side rail air flow structure connected with the sheets and defining passages communicating with the interiors of the side tubes so that air introduced between the sheets can pass into the side tubes; and said side rail air flow structures being configured so that air can flow therethrough only into, and not out of, the interiors of the side tubes.
  • 21. The mattress of claim 20, andsaid side rail air flow structures including one-way flutter valve structures.
  • 22. An inflatable mattress comprising:first and second sheets of polymeric material extending longitudinally and laterally and being secured together to form longitudinally spaced laterally extending support tubes; said support tubes being pneumatically enclosed so as to be able to contain air therein at a pressure sufficient to support a person lying on the mattress; said support tubes having lateral ends wherein the material of the tubes is gathered together in gussets and the sheets of polymeric material are bonded together, allowing the support tube to inflate to a generally cylindrical shape; and first and second laterally spaced, longitudinally extending side tubes adjacent respective lateral ends of the support tubes, said side tubes being generally co-planar with said support tubes; and a center sheet bonded between the two sheets of polymeric material, said center sheet defining in each of the support tubes a lower tube interior and an upper tube interior.
  • 23. The mattress of claim 22 and further comprising:air flow means permitting passage of air in the upper tube interior into the lower tube interior.
  • 24. The mattress of claim 23, andsaid air flow means preventing passage of air in the lower tube interior into the upper tube interior so that, in the event of a loss of pressure in the upper tube interior, pressure is nonetheless maintained in the lower tube interior.
  • 25. An inflatable mattress comprising:first and second sheets of polymeric material extending longitudinally and laterally and being secured together to form longitudinally spaced laterally extending support tubes; said support tubes being pneumatically enclosed so as to be able to contain air therein at a pressure sufficient to support a person lying on the mattress; said support tubes having lateral ends wherein the material of the tubes is gathered together in gussets and the sheets of polymeric material are bonded together, allowing the support tube to inflate to a generally cylindrical shape; first and second laterally spaced, longitudinally extending side tubes adjacent respective lateral ends of the support tubes, said side tubes being generally co-planar with said support tubes; said sheets having therebetween a first air passage communicating with a plurality of said support tubes so that air may be supplied to said support tubes through said air passage to inflate or maintain air pressure in said support tubes; said sheets having a second passage therebetween communicating with others of the support tubes and allowing delivery of air thereto; said first passage communicating with the support tubes at longitudinal ends of the mattress, to provide an inflated head and foot of the mattress, and the second passage communicating with the support tubes therebetween; and an air flow structure forming a tube extending generally longitudinally between the first and second sheets and defining a passage therein communicating with some of the support tubes to permit supply of air thereto.
  • 26. The mattress of claim 25, anda second air flow structure forming a second tube extending generally longitudinally between the first and second sheets and defining therein a second passage communicating with others of the support tubes.
  • 27. The mattress of claim 26, andsaid first and second passages each communicating with a respective side tube for supplying air thereto.
  • 28. The mattress of claim 27, andone-way flow structures between the side tubes and the associated passages so that air can flow only from the passage into the associated side tube, and not in the opposite direction, so that said side tubes do not immediately deflate when pressure leaves the passage.
  • 29. The mattress of claim 28, and said flow structures including means defining apertures connecting the side tubes with the lower tube interiors so that the side tubes and the lower tube interiors remain inflated even when air is not supplied through the passages.
  • 30. An inflatable mattress comprising:first and second sheets of polymeric material extending longitudinally and laterally and being secured together to form longitudinally spaced laterally extending support tubes; said support tubes being pneumatically enclosed so as to be able to contain air therein at a pressure sufficient to support a person lying on the mattress; said support tubes having lateral ends wherein the material of the tubes is gathered together in gussets and the sheets of polymeric material are bonded together, allowing the support tube to inflate to a generally cylindrical shape; and first and second laterally spaced, longitudinally extending side tubes adjacent respective lateral ends of the support tubes, said side tubes being generally co-planar with said support tubes; and a fill layer of porous material overlying at least one of the first and second sheets of polymeric material, and a top sheet overlying the fill layer and being connected with the support tubes to remain in place thereon, said top sheet being of a material that prevents the passage of liquid water but allows the passage of water vapor, whereby water vapor for a user lying on the mattress can pass through the top layer, through the fill layer, and away from the user.
  • 31. The mattress of claim 30, andsaid fill layer and top sheet spanning areas between high points of the support tubes and providing support of the user therebetween.
  • 32. An inflatable mattress system comprisingan inflatable mattress; and a pump supplying air to the inflatable mattress for inflation thereof; the inflatable mattress comprising a middle portion receiving air from the pump and being inflated thereby, said middle portion having two lateral sides; a pair of side tubes each attached to a respective side of the middle portion; said middle portion including air flow structures transmitting air in the middle portion to the side tubes, said air flow structures blocking air flow therethrough from the side tubes to the middle portion so that, when the middle portion deflates or loses air pressure therein, the side tubes remain inflated.
  • 33. The mattress system of claim 32, andsaid middle portion defining therein an interior space, said middle portion including a center sheet dividing said interior space into one or more upper spaces and one or more lower spaces.
  • 34. The mattress system according to claim 33, andsaid middle portion comprising a bottom sheet defining said lower space or spaces therewith.
  • 35. The mattress system according to claim 34, andsaid bottom sheet being connected to a lower surface of said center sheet in a plurality of locations so as to form a plurality of laterally extending lower support tubes defining the lower spaces.
  • 36. The mattress system of claim 35, andsaid bottom sheet being connected to the center sheet so as to form downwardly disposed recesses extending laterally across the mattress so as to provide for easier bending of said mattress on an articulated bed frame.
  • 37. The mattress system according to claim 35, andsaid middle portion having an upper sheet connected to an upper surface of said center sheet in a plurality of locations so as to form a plurality of laterally extending upper support tubes defining the upper spaces.
  • 38. The mattress system according to claim 37, andthe upper sheet, the center sheet, and the bottom sheet all being bonded together in laterally extending seals so as to form a plurality of support tubes between said side tubes.
  • 39. The mattress system according to claim 37, andthe side tubes each having an interior communicating with the lower spaces of the lower support tubes so that air flows therebetween, and so that, if the upper support tubes lose air pressure, the lower support tubes and the side tubes remain inflated.
  • 40. The mattress system of claim 33, andsaid side tubes each having an interior communicating with the lower spaces so that, in the event of a loss of pressure in the upper spaces, the middle portion lower spaces and the side tubes remain inflated.
  • 41. A mattress system according to claim 37, and said mattress further comprising:a fill sheet of porous material overlying the support tubes; a top sheet overlying the fill layer and being connected with the support tubes to remain in place thereon, said top sheet being of a material that prevents the passage of liquid water but allows the passage of water vapor, whereby water vapor for a user lying on the mattress can pass through the top layer, through the fill layer, and away from the user.
  • 42. A mattress according to claim 41 andsaid fill layer and top sheet spanning areas between high points of the support tubes and providing support of the user therebetween.
  • 43. An inflatable mattress comprising:first and second sheets of polymeric material extending longitudinally and laterally and being secured together to form longitudinally spaced laterally extending support tubes; said support tubes being pneumatically enclosed so as to be able to contain air therein at a pressure sufficient to support a person lying on the mattress; said support tubes having lateral ends wherein the material of the tubes is gathered together in gussets and the sheets of polymeric material are bonded together, allowing the support tube to inflate to a generally cylindrical shape; and a center sheet bonded between the two sheets of polymeric material, said center sheet defining in each of the support tubes a lower tube interior and an upper tube interior.
  • 44. The mattress of claim 43 and further comprising:air flow means permitting passage of air in the upper tube interior into the lower tube interior.
  • 45. The mattress of claim 44, andsaid air flow means preventing passage of air in the lower tube interior into the upper tube interior so that, in the event of a loss of pressure in the upper tube interior, pressure is nonetheless maintained in the lower tube interior.
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