Claims
- 1. An inflatable positioning assembly comprising an inflatable pillow comprising a top panel and a bottom panel, said top and bottom panels having peripheral regions secured in face-to-face engagement with one another, said top and bottom panels further being connected to one another along a section extending continuously between spaced apart peripheral regions, wherein the inflatable pillow comprises an inflatable toroidal portion and an inflatable bar-shaped portion aligned substantially tangentially to the toroidal portion, the toroidal portion and the bar-shaped portion being separated from one another by a non-inflatable portion extending between the spaced apart peripheral locations, the inflatable pillow further comprising means for selectively directing air into and out of at least a selected one of said toroidal portion and said bar shaped portion.
- 2. The inflatable positioning assembly of claim 1, wherein portions of the top and bottom panel defining the toroidal portion of the inflatable pillow comprise inner edges registered with one another and secured in face-to-face engagement with one another.
- 3. The inflatable positioning assembly of claim 2, wherein the non-inflatable portion extends substantially linearly between the toroidal portion and the bar shaped portion.
- 4. The inflatable positioning assembly of claim 1, wherein the top and bottom panels each comprise a sheet of nylon fabric having a thickness in the range of 70-400 denier.
- 5. The inflatable positioning assembly of claim 4, wherein each of the top and bottom panels has an inwardly facing surface and an outwardly facing surface, the inwardly facing surface having a coating of a liquid and air impervious material thereon.
- 6. The inflatable positioning assembly of claim 5, wherein the coating on the inner surface of the top and bottom panels comprises a urethane.
- 7. The inflatable positioning assembly of claim 6, wherein the urethane coating on the inner surface of the top and bottom panels is approximately 3.5 mils thick.
- 8. The inflatable positioning assembly of claim 6, wherein the top and bottom panels each further have an outer surface, the outer surface of the top and bottom panels each having a kiss coating of urethane thereon for resisting moisture.
- 9. The inflatable positioning assembly of claim 1, wherein the means for directing air into the non-rectangular inflatable portion comprises a tube extending from the non-rectangular inflatable portion, a valve connected to the tube, the valve having an outlet and a valving member for selectively opening and closing the outlet, an adaptor having a first end releasably connected to the outlet of the valve and a second end releasably connected to a supply of compressed air.
- 10. An inflatable positioning assembly comprising a top panel and a bottom panel, said top and bottom panels having peripheral regions secured in face-to-face engagement with one another to define a non-rectangular inflatable section therebetween, at least one of said top and bottom panels extending from the inflatable region and defining at least one non-inflatable flap and means for selectively directing air into and out of said non-rectangular inflatable region of said inflatable positioning assembly, wherein said inflatable portion is substantially V-shaped with an inflatable connecting portion and a pair of inflatable arms diverging from said inflatable connecting portion, a non-inflatable strap extending between and connecting said inflatable arms at locations spaced from said inflatable connecting portion, and said non-inflatable flap extending from the inflatable connecting portion.
- 11. An inflatable positioning assembly comprising a top panel and a bottom panel, said top and bottom panels having peripheral regions secured in face-to-face engagement with one another to define a non-rectangular inflatable section therebetween, at least one of said top and bottom panels extending from the inflatable region and defining at least one non-inflatable flap and means for selectively directing air into and out of said non-rectangular inflatable region of said inflatable positioning assembly, wherein the inflatable portion is substantially U-shaped and comprises an inflatable connecting portion and a pair of substantially rectangular inflatable arms extending parallel to one another from said inflatable connecting portion, a non-inflatable connecting portion extending substantially continuously from the inflatable connection portion and between the inflatable arms.
Parent Case Info
[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Appl. No. 60/118,293 filed Feb. 2, 1999.
[0002] This application also is a divisional of appl. Ser. No. 09/495,596 now U.S. Pat. No. 6,327,724.
Provisional Applications (1)
|
Number |
Date |
Country |
|
60118293 |
Feb 1999 |
US |
Divisions (1)
|
Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
09495596 |
Feb 2000 |
US |
Child |
10011100 |
Dec 2001 |
US |