Inflatable bed with cushion cells

Abstract

An inflatable bed assembly having a plurality of inflatable cushion cells disposed on the top of the inflatable bed. Each cushion cell has a vent fluidly interconnecting the interior volume of the cushion cell with a main air chamber of the bed. When the bed is inflated, the cushion cells inflate and form raised projections on the top of the bed. The cushion cells provide a pressure sensitive surface which molds to the user's body for increased comfort. The vents are sized to allow the cushion cells to inflate upon inflation of the main air chamber, partially deflate when pressure is applied, and re-inflate when the pressure is removed. The size of the vents dampens the rate that air passes through the vent. The controlled inflation and deflation of the cells softens the impact caused by application of a body thereon and simulates the dampened response of “memory-foam”.

Description

RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60 / 980,181, filed Oct. 16, 2007.FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0002]The invention pertains to the field of inflatable beds.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0003]Inflatable beds are popular because they are portable and have a relatively low cost compared to beds with traditional mattresses. While improvements in inflatable beds have given them a comfort level comparable with traditional mattresses, inflatable beds still do not offer many of the features of traditional mattresses. For instance, traditional mattresses constructed out of memory foam have become very popular because they offer a pressure sensitive surface that molds to the contours of a user's body in a dampened manner, while still providing firm support. Prior inflatable beds have not offered such a pressure sensitive surface.[0004]Another disadvantage of prior inflatable beds is that they do not offer a comfortable landing for the use...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0013]When the cushion cells are fully inflated, the exterior panels form raised projections on the top of the inflatable bed and provide increased support for the user. The vents are sized so that when the user places their body on the inflatable bed, air from the cushion cells in contact with the user's body slowly exits the cushion cells and travels into the main air chamber, in a dampened manner. The rate of deflation of the cushion cells is dependent on the amount of pressure placed on the exterior panel of the cushion cell and the size (area) of the vent. The cushion cells will normally partially or fully deflate when a person rests their body thereon. When the weight is removed from the cushion cells, the vents allow the cushion cells to re-inflate with air from the main chamber.

[0014]The inflation and deflation of the cushion cells causes the projecting exterior panels to depress in portions bearing the user's weight and to maintain their inflation in areas not bearing the user's weight. Therefore, the cushion cells act as a pressure sensitive surface which molds to the contours of the user's body for increased comfort. When a user changes their position on the inflatable bed, the cushion cells will adapt, in a dampened manner, to provide a continual contoured surface. When the user removes their body from the bed, the cushion cells re-inflate, again, in a dampened manner. This pressure sensitive surface allows the cushion cells to simulate the advantages offered by memory foam on a traditional mattresses.

[0015]The size of the vents affects the rate at which air flows in and out of the cushion cell. The sizing of the vent preferably substantially restricts the rate that the air may pass through the vent, such that the vent will prevent air from rapidly leaving or entering the cushion cell. The controlled deflation (and re-inflation) of the cushion cells serves to simulate the dampened response of a “memory-foam” surface of a traditional bed, to cushion the impact caused by application of the user's body on the bed, and provide a soft landing to the user.

Problems solved by technology

While improvements in inflatable beds have given them a comfort level comparable with traditional mattresses, inflatable beds still do not offer many of the features of traditional mattresses.

Prior inflatable beds have not offered such a pressure sensitive surface.

Another disadvantage of prior inflatable beds is that they do not offer a comfortable landing for the user's body.

When a user places their body on a prior inflatable bed, there is a significant impact on the top of the inflatable bed which causes it to depress considerably thereby failing to cushion the person or provide a soft landing.

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