BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates in general to a self-inflating mattress to be inflated without using any additional tool.
2. Description of the Related Art
Referring to FIG. 1, a conventional self-inflating mattress having a cover is shown. The inside of the cover is divided into two isolated chambers 11, 12, wherein the chamber 11 has a foam 13 provided inside while the chamber 12 is empty. When storing the mattress, the user squeezes air out of the foam 13 and rolls up the mattress. When using the mattress, the user spreads out the mattress roll so that the foam 13 automatically expands by absorbing outside air via the inflation valve 14. Then, the user fills the chamber 12 with air through the inflation valve 15 by an air pump (not shown).
It is understood that the user needs to use a tool (air pump) to pump the chamber (pillow) 12 of the mattress. In other words, the user needs to always carry an air pump besides the mattress to places such as the beach, which is neither economical nor convenient for the user.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An object of the present invention is to modify the conventional self-inflating mattress so that inflating the mattress does not require any tool.
The self-inflating mattress of the present invention includes a first chamber, a second chamber, a first valve, a second valve, a foam, and a check valve. The foam is received inside the first chamber. The check valve is provided between the first chamber and the second chamber so that only air from the first chamber is allowed to flow to the second chamber. The first valve is attached to the first chamber for inflating and deflating the first chamber while the second valve is attached to the second chamber for deflating the second chamber.
To inflate the mattress, the user spreads out the mattress so that the foam inside the first chamber automatically expands by absorbing outside air via the first valve. Then, the user closes the first and the second valves and rolls up the first chamber, thereby pushing air in the foam into the second chamber via the check valve. Furthermore, the user spreads out the first chamber and re-opens the first valve so that the foam automatically expands again by absorbing outside air via the first valve. It is therefore understood that the inflation of the mattress according to the present invention does not require any tool.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The present invention can be more fully understood by the detailed description and examples described hereinafter with references made to the accompanying drawings, wherein:
FIG. 1 depicts a conventional self-inflating mattress;
FIG. 2 depicts a self-inflating mattress in accordance with the embodiment one of the present invention;
FIG. 3A is a sectional view of a check valve in accordance with a first example as disclosed in the embodiment one of the present invention;
FIG. 3B shows an operating principle of the check valve shown in FIG. 3A;
FIG. 4A is a sectional view of a check valve in accordance with a second example as disclosed in the embodiment one of the present invention;
FIG. 4B shows an operating principle of the check valve shown in FIG. 4A;
FIG. 5A is a perspective diagram of a check valve in accordance with a third example as disclosed in the embodiment one of the present invention;
FIG. 5B is a perspective diagram of the body of the check valve shown in FIG. 5A;
FIG. 5C is a sectional view of the body of the check valve along the line V—V as shown in FIG. 5B:
FIG. 6A depicts a check valve in accordance with a fourth example as disclosed in the embodiment one of the present invention;
FIG. 6B is a sectional view of the check valve along the line VI—VI as shown in FIG. 6A;
FIG. 7 depicts a self-inflating mattress in accordance with the embodiment two of the present invention;
FIG. 8 depicts a self-inflating mattress in accordance with the embodiment three of the present invention;
FIG. 9A depicts a closing device in accordance with a first example as disclosed in the embodiment three of the present invention;
FIG. 9B depicts the closing device shown in FIG. 9A mounted on the mattress in accordance with the embodiment three of the present invention;
FIG. 10 depicts a closing device in accordance with a second example as disclosed in the embodiment three of the present invention;
FIG. 11 depicts a closing device in accordance with a third example as disclosed in the embodiment three of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Embodiment one:
Referring to FIG. 2, a self-inflating mattress of the present invention includes a flexible cover. Wherein, the inner space of the cover is divided into a first chamber 21 and a second chamber 22. Two valves 24, 25 are provided on the cover for inflating and deflating the chambers 21, 22 respectively. The first chamber 21 has a foam 23 disposed inside while the second chamber 22 is empty. Furthermore, a check valve 26 is buried in the foam 23 of the first chamber 21 abutting the second chamber 22 to allow air to communicate between the two chambers 21, 22.
When storing the mattress, a user first opens the valves 24, 25, squeezes air out of the chambers 21, 22, and rolls up the mattress. The check valve 26 is protected by the surrounding foam 23 so that bending of the check valve 26 would not occur when the mattress is rolled, which prevents the check valve 26 from being damaged. When inflating the mattress, the user spreads out the mattress roll, which allows the foam 23 to expand automatically by absorbing outside air via the valve 24. Then, the user closes both of the valves 24, 25 and rolls up the first chamber 21 in direction A, thereby forcing the air inside the foam into the second chamber 22 via the check valve 26. Then, the user spreads out the first chamber 21 and opens the valve 24 again so that the foam 23 automatically expands again by absorbing outside air via the valve 24. Thereafter, the user closes the valve 24. It is therefore understood that inflation of the mattress according to the present invention does not require any tool.
FIG. 3A depicts a check valve in accordance with a first example of this embodiment, wherein the check valve includes an inner flange 306, a rod 301, a diaphragm 302, and a spring 303. In particular, an end 304 of the rod 301 is disk-shaped while the other end 305 is anchored to the check valve. The diaphragm 302 is movably installed on and guided by the rod 301 with the spring 303 pushing the diaphragm 302 against the disk-shaped end 304 of the rod 301. Normally, the diaphragm 302 is rested on the inner flange 306 of the check valve. When being operated, the diaphragm 302 is pushed away from the inner flange 306 by air pressure, which allows the air to flow through the check valve in a single direction as shown in FIG. 3B.
FIG. 4A depicts a check valve in accordance with a second example of this embodiment, wherein the check valve includes a flexible sleeve 401 made of, for example, plastic. In particular, an end 403 of the sleeve 401 is permanently sealed off by heat-sealing while a hole 402 is provided on the sleeve 401. The flexible sleeve 401 normally is flat but expands in operation, allowing the air to flow out from the hole 402 as shown in FIG. 4B.
FIG. 5A depicts a check valve in accordance with a third example of this embodiment, wherein the check valve includes a stiff dumbbell-shaped body 501 and a resilient ring 502 wrapped round the body 501. Further referring to FIGS. 5B and 5C, the valve body 501 has a longitudinal passage 503 formed inside and a lateral hole 504 connected to the passage 503. Thus, the resilient ring 502 wrapped around the body 501 can only allow air to flow out from the hole 504.
Referring to FIGS. 6A and 6B, a check valve in accordance with a fourth example of this embodiment includes a tube 601 and a diaphragm 605. The tube 601 has a pair of annular lips 602, 603 separately formed at opposite ends of the tube 601 to confine the diaphragm 605 inside the tube 601. Furthermore, a plurality of protrusions 604 are formed, e.g. equidistantly, on the inner surface of the annular lip 602. In operation, the diaphragm 605 is pushed against the protrusions 604 by air pressure, which causes a plurality of gaps to be temporarily formed between the diaphragm 605 and the lip 602 of the check valve that only allows air to flow through the check valve in a direction opposite to the arrow shown in FIG. 6A. In another word, the airflow cannot flow through the check valve in the direction of the arrow when the diaphragm 605 is pushed against the lip 603 by air pressure.
It is understood that a variety of check valves can be incorporated into the present invention to control and regulate an unidirectional airflow from the first chamber 21 to the second chamber 22.
Embodiment two:
Referring to FIG. 7, a self-inflating mattress of the present invention includes a flexible cover. Wherein, the inner space of the cover is divided into a first chamber 71 and a second chamber 72. Two valves 73, 74 are provided on the cover for inflating and deflating the chambers 71, 72 respectively. Both of the chambers 71, 72 have foams disposed inside. Furthermore, a check valve 75 is buried in the foam of the first chamber 71 abutting the second chamber 72 to allow air to communicate between the two chambers 71, 72.
When inflating the mattress, a user opens each of the valves 73, 74 so that the foams in the chambers 71, 72 are allowed to automatically expand by absorbing outside air. Then, the user closes both of the valves 73, 74 and rolls up the second chamber 72 in direction B, thereby forcing the air inside the foam of the second chamber 72 into the first chamber 71 via the check valve 75. Then, the user spreads out the second chamber 72 and opens the valve 74 again so that the foam in the second chamber 72 automatically expands again by absorbing outside air. Thereafter, the user closes the valve 74. In this way, the first chamber 71 can be filled with air sufficiently enough that the user can enjoy lying on the mattress comfortably. It is also understood that the inflation of the mattress according to the present invention does not require any tool.
Embodiment three:
Referring to FIG. 8, a self-inflating mattress of the present invention includes a flexible cover. Wherein, the inner space of the cover is divided into a first chamber 81, a second chamber 82 and a third chamber 83. Three valves 84, 85, 86 are provided on the cover for inflating and deflating the chambers 81, 82, 83 respectively. The second and the third chambers 82, 83 have foams disposed inside while the first chamber 81 is empty. Furthermore, a passage 88 is provided between the first and the second chambers 81, 82, wherein a closing device 89 is provided for controlling the closing and opening of the passage 88. Furthermore, a check valve 87 is buried in the foam of the second chamber 82 abutting the third chamber 83 to allow air to communicate between the second and the third chambers 82, 83.
When inflating the mattress, a user opens the valves 85 and closes the valve 84 so that the foam in the second chambers 82 is allowed to automatically expand by absorbing outside air via the valve 85. Then, the user closes the valve 85 and rolls up the second chamber 82 in direction C, thereby forcing the air inside the foam of the second chamber 82 into the first chamber 81 via the passage 88. Thus, the first chamber (i.e. the pillow) is filled with air. Then, the user closes the passage 88 by shutting the closing device 89. Then, the user spreads out the second chamber 82 again and opens the valves 85, 86 so that the foams in the second and third chambers 82, 83 automatically expand by absorbing outside air. Next, the user closes the valves 85, 86 and rolls up the third chamber 83 in direction C, thereby forcing the air inside the foam of the third chamber 83 into the second chamber 82 via the check valve 87. Then, the user opens the valve 86 only so that the foam in the third chamber 83 is allowed to automatically expand by absorbing outside air. Thereafter, the user closes the valve 86. In this way, the second chamber 82 can be filled with air sufficiently enough that the user can enjoy lying on the mattress comfortably. It is also understood that the inflation of the mattress according to the present invention does not require any tool.
Now referring to FIGS. 9A and 9B, the closing device according to a first example of this embodiment is a clip as shown. When the user pushes the slider 92 of the clip 91 in direction D, the passage 88 of the mattress between the first and second chambers 81, 82 is closed.
Referring to FIG. 10, the closing device according to a second example of this embodiment is also a clip. When the user pushes down the cantilever arm 94 of the clip 93 in direction E such that the cantilever arm 94 is engaged tightly with the protrusion 95 and that the passage of the mattress between the first and second chambers is closed.
Referring to FIG. 11, the closing device according to a third example of this embodiment is a bolt as shown. The bolt has an enlarged head 96 and a matching nut 97. In operation, the user twists the head 96 of the bolt in direction F so that the head 96 and the nut 97 can get close enough to close the passage of the mattress between the first and second chambers.
While the invention has been described by way of example and in terms of the preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments. 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.
Patent Grant
RE39408
