Selectively inflatable air mattress

Abstract

An apparatus is disclosed for selectively adjusting the firmness of various surface regions of a mattress, including regions providing lumbar, thoracic, and pelvic support to a user. The mattress comprises a plurality of removable tubes filled with a variety of materials, which tubes are inflatable and deflatable by a compressor operating in accordance with the programming of a user. The user is supported on the mattress by, inter alia, the removable, subsurface, tubing which is pressurized by its hybrid material-air contents.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0001]1. Field of the Invention[0002]This invention relates to mattresses, and more particularly relates to mattresses comprised of air-inflatable zones mattresses comprising foams, bladders, gels, visco foams and the like.[0003]2. Description of the Related Art[0004]Air mattresses and airbeds are well-known to those of skill in the art. Both air mattresses and airbeds are inflated to support the weight of one or more users with pressurized air, and are usually made from reinforced urethane plastic, vinyl, rubber and the like. Air mattresses are inflated manually by blowing through a valve, or through use of a foot pump, an electric pump, and the like.[0005]Like spring mattresses, as users lay for long periods of time upon traditional air mattresses, irregularly shaped portions of their bodies bear greater amounts of body weight than otherly shaped portions of their bodies, causing discomfort and potentially causing bedsores, particularly with respect to p...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0010]From the foregoing discussion, it should be apparent that a need exists for a selectively inflatable mattress. Beneficially, such an apparatus would overcome many of the difficulties with prior art by providing a means to selectively inflate and deflate various regions of a foam mattress in order to achieve greater pressure relief and comfort.

Problems solved by technology

Like spring mattresses, as users lay for long periods of time upon traditional air mattresses, irregularly shaped portions of their bodies bear greater amounts of body weight than otherly shaped portions of their bodies, causing discomfort and potentially causing bedsores, particularly with respect to patients who are permanently bedridden and for whom bedsores can pose life-threatening risks.

However, even memory foam mattresses cause pressure on certain points on users' bodies more than others.

Users become fatigued and discomforted by pressure applied constantly to any portion of their bodies.

Mattresses currently available in the industry provide no effective means of temporarily altering the density or IFD ratings of particularized regions of a single mattress.

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