Abstract:
A multiple air passages applied to air mattress includes a plurality of transverse bladders, in particular, the bladders are longitudinally compressed to define air passages, and cavities are formed between the air passages and some specific bladders for communicating the air passages with an interior of the aforementioned bladders. The air passages of the present invention can apply to an alternating air mattress or to one with multiple zones. By means of the air passages conducive to an air-crossing transmission and a designated distribution, the present invention preferably omits a complex distribution and attains a neat appearance, lower costs, and a mass production.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    The present invention relates to a technique of an air transmission for used in air mattresses, in particular to one achieved via a manner without external-connected pipes. 
         [0003]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0004]    Patients who have difficulty in freely ambulating as a result of illness are generally laid on the bed for a long-term time. Whereas, the part where the patient&#39;s body, like muscle and skin, keeps in touch with the bed is readily subjected to a poor circulation due to a long-term compression by the weight, with the result that the patient would gently contract a bedsore. The frequency of such symptom occurred to those who have to lie in bed for long time is a nature. In connection with patient having the bedsore, he or she inevitably becomes uncomfortable in view of the fester and sore impinging on the skin and even suffers from the possibility of septicemia and amputation. Accordingly, a precaution against the bedsore is a sorely significant issue for the long-term patient in bed. To prevent the bedsore, it is efficient to lay and prostrate the patients on an alternating air mattress. Such air mattress can be specialized in having bladders capable of mutually inflating and deflating so as to bring the patient an alternate pressure relief without temporary contacts with the bed and decrease the occurrence of bedsore. 
         [0005]    Until now, various mattresses have been commonly developed to respectively use odd bladders in communication and redundant even bladders in communication for the purpose of alternately inflating and deflating. Generally, for ensuring the mutual connection of bladders in the same group, the present manufactures tend to connect a side of the bladder with an exposed inlet pipe, whereby the even bladders share one inlet pipe and the odd ones share the other inlet pipe. The aforementioned air mattress in such pipe-distributed manner may however have shortcomings as described below:
   1. The pipe externally mounted at the side of the air mattress would result of a complex pipe distribution while in production, consume lots of working time and labors, and increase manufacturing costs.   2. The exposure of the pipes to the air mattress substantially gets a bad appearance and may drop the joint of the pipes off when users incautiously stumble on the pipes, which adversely affects the operation of the air mattress.   
 
         [0008]    Thus, the applicant of the present invention dedicates himself to the improvement of the typical air mattresses and designs one with a newly invention. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0009]    A primary object of the present invention is to provide a multiple air passages applied to air mattress which applies a series of unique air passages in the air mattress. The subject air passages are particularly embedded in the mattress during the producing process. Accordingly, the present invention keeps the subject air mattress from a complicate pipe distribution and adapts to a mass production for economically reducing manufacturing costs. Furthermore, the air mattress without the exposure of the inlet pipes would facilitate a neat appearance and prevent the pipes from dropping off. 
         [0010]    To obtain afore objects, a multiple air passages applied to air mattress in accordance with the present invention comprises a plurality of parallel and transverse bladders. Especially, the bladders are longitudinally compressed to define air passages and form cavities between the air passages and some specific bladders so as to communicate the air passages with an interior of the specific bladders for feeding air. When applying the arrangement of the above air passages to either an alternating or a multi-zone air mattress, the air passages could respectively proceed an effect of air-crossing transmission and a designated distribution. For example, the present invention preferably disposes two air passages and defines cavities between odd bladders of the air mattress and a first air passage, so that the first air passage supplies air to the odd bladders without pumping the even ones air. Similarly, the present invention also defines cavities between even bladders and a second air passage, so that the second air passage merely supplies air to the even bladders but omits inflating the odd ones. 
         [0011]    From above, the present invention conduces to a manufacture without pipe distribution, a neat appearance, lower costs, and a mass production. 
         [0012]    Preferably, the air mattress includes a first body superimposed on a second body by compressing borders thereof, and the first and second bodies are formed into a plurality of lateral bladders by dividing or supplementing a joint unit. The air passage as mentioned above is defined by the bladders longitudinally compressing the passage body, namely the passage body is squashed at an interior border of the second body so as to form the air passage therebetween. 
         [0013]    Preferably, a quantity of the air passages could be varied in pursuant to the module or function of the air mattress. For example, should the air mattress has an arrangement of alternate odd and even bladders or of two changeable sets of bladders, two air passages are accordingly set. Similarly, in case of three changeable sets of bladders, three air passages are accordingly arranged. In addition, if the air mattress is performed in a manner that the bladders are formed into multiple action zones, the quantity of the air passages preferably equals to the quantity of the action zones. 
         [0014]    Preferably, the compression of the borders of the first and the second bodies mainly adopts a high-frequency compression welding. Other sections of the air mattress required to be squashed can also be furnished by the high-frequency compression welding. 
         [0015]    Preferably, the bladders are longitudinally proceeded by the high-frequency compression welding to dispose the passage body, and the air passage is further defined via disposing a release paper between the bladders and the passage body in advance. The release paper has a smaller surface area and a narrower width than the passage body. Therefore, a perimeter of the passage bodies is subjected to a squash unlike an interior thereof subjected to a non-squash condition for promoting a circulation of the air passage after proceeding the compression. 
         [0016]    Preferably, either the air passages or any one of the bladders disposes an inlet and an inlet pipe connected thereto. The inlet pipe joints to an air pump. Each air passage should at least communicate with the inlet. 
         [0017]    Preferably, a supporting portion is permissibly disposed in the air passage to keep the normality in the air circulation and prevent from unexpectedly blocking the cavities. 
         [0018]    Preferably, the air mattress further includes a head bladder able to keep inflating for supporting the human head while lying in bed. Furthermore, the air mattress has a one-way valve disposed in the air passage. The one-way valve serves to avoid the countercurrent of the air after passing and has a supporting portion in appropriate length disposed inside the air passage. The supporting portion assists the air in entering by a single direction. The supporting portion is not arranged at the end of the one-way valve, so that the barometric pressure at the outer end thereof can be blocked by using a blocking unit to automatically shut the air passage off. 
         [0019]    Preferably, a CPR deflation valve could be disposed at an edge of the head bladder. The operation of the emergent deflation valve would immediately deflate the interior of the air mattress so that medical personnel are allowed giving the patient a first aid and CPR. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0020]      FIG. 1  is an exploded view showing the present invention; 
           [0021]      FIG. 2  is a schematic view showing the present invention; 
           [0022]      FIG. 3  is a schematic view showing the first bladder in inflation; 
           [0023]      FIG. 4  is a schematic view showing the second bladder in inflation; 
           [0024]      FIG. 5  is a schematic view showing both the first and the second bladders in inflation; 
           [0025]      FIG. 6  is a schematic view showing the present invention applied to an alternating air mattress with three bladders; 
           [0026]      FIG. 7  is a schematic view showing the present invention applied to an air mattress with multiple action zones; 
           [0027]      FIG. 8  is a schematic view showing a circulation of the one-way valve; and 
           [0028]      FIG. 9  is a schematic view showing the one-way valve in a blocking state. 
       
    
    
       [0029]      
         [0000]    
       
         
               
             
               
               
               
               
             
           
               
                   
               
               
                 DESCRIPTION OF THE REFERENCE NUMERALS 
               
               
                   
               
             
             
               
                   
               
             
          
           
               
                 1 
                 first body 
                 2 
                 second body 
               
               
                 31 
                 border 
                 32 
                 score line 
               
               
                 41 
                 first bladder 
                 412 
                 first inlet 
               
               
                 42 
                 second bladder 
                 422 
                 second inlet 
               
               
                 43 
                 third bladder 
                 44 
                 head bladder 
               
               
                 51 
                 first passage body 
                 511 
                 first cavity 
               
               
                 52 
                 second passage body 
                 521 
                 second cavity 
               
               
                 531 
                 third cavity 
                 54 
                 one-way valve 
               
               
                 541 
                 blocking unit 
                 542 
                 supporting portion 
               
               
                 61 
                 first air passage 
                 62 
                 second air passage 
               
               
                 63 
                 third air passage 
                 71 
                 A action zone 
               
               
                 711 
                 A air passage 
                 712 
                 A cavity 
               
               
                 72 
                 B action zone 
                 721 
                 B air passage 
               
               
                 722 
                 B cavity 
                 73 
                 C action zone 
               
               
                 731 
                 C air passage 
                 732 
                 C cavity 
               
               
                 74 
                 D action zone 
                 741 
                 D air passage 
               
               
                 742  
                 D cavity 
                 8 
                 joint unit 
               
               
                 91 
                 first inlet pipe 
                 92 
                 second inlet pipe 
               
               
                 93 
                 third inlet pipe 
                 94 
                 fourth inlet pipe 
               
               
                 95 
                 emergent deflation valve 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0030]      FIGS. 1 and 2  present one preferred embodiment of a multiple air passages applied to air mattress of the present invention. The air mattress includes a first body  1  superimposed on a second body  2  by compressing borders  31  thereof; wherein, the air mattress is divided into a plurality of first bladders  41  and second bladders  42 . In this preferred embodiment, the mattress is configured by two alternating bladders, and the first bladders  41  and the second bladders  42  are incessantly spaced. The joints of the adjacent first bladders  41  and the second bladders  42  are interrupted without communication by score lines  32 . A plurality of head bladders  44  are disposed among the air mattress. 
         [0031]    At an interior side surface of the second body  2 , a first passage body  51  is longitudinally compressed. The first passage body  51  includes one or above first cavity  511  correspondingly located with respect to each of the first bladders  41 . By means of a release paper (not shown in the figures), merely the perimeter of the first passage body  51  is squashed when compressing the first passage body  51  to the second body  2 , with the result that the interior of the first passage body  51  is not squashed. Accordingly, a first air passage  61  is preferably defined between the first passage body  51  and the second body  2 . The first air passage  61  cooperates with every first cavity  511  so that the interior of every first bladder  41  substantially communicates with the first air passage  61 . In addition, any one of the first bladders  41  defines a first inlet  412  that further equips with a first inlet pipe  91 . 
         [0032]    Similarly, on a position of the second body  2  without overlapping the first passage body  51 , a second passage body  52  is longitudinally compressed. The second passage body  52  includes one or above second cavity  521  correspondingly located with respect to each of the second bladders  42 . The method in connection with the compression of the second passage body  52  to the second body  2  is identical to the aforementioned. Accordingly, a second air passage  62  is preferably defined between the second passage body  52  and the second body  2 . The second air passage  62  cooperates with every second cavity  521  so that the interior of every second bladder  42  substantially communicates with the second air passage  62 . In addition, any one of the second bladders  42  defines a second inlet  422  that further equips with a second inlet pipe  92 . 
         [0033]    The above first inlet pipe  91  and the second inlet pipe  92  provide the front sides thereof attached to an air pump (not shown) for controlling the inflation and deflation. 
         [0034]    Referring to  FIG. 3  presents that the present invention fills all the first bladders  41  with air but fails to inflate the second bladders  42  for sending the air from the first inlet pipe  91 . The air travels through the first inlet  412 , enters into the first bladder  41  at the edge, and diffuses the first air passage  61  through the first cavities  511  so as to fill the first bladders  41  with air. Concurrently, the present invention does not pump the air to the second inlet pipe  92 , with the result that the second bladders  42  are not inflated. 
         [0035]    Referring to  FIG. 4  presents that the present invention fills all the second bladders  42  with air but fails to inflate the first bladders  41  for sending the air from the second inlet pipe  92 . The air travels through the second inlet  422 , enters into the second bladder  42  at the edge, and diffuses the second air passage  62  through the second cavities  521  so as to fill the second bladders  42  with air. Concurrently, the present invention does not send the air to the first inlet pipe  91 , therefore the first bladders  41  are not inflated. 
         [0036]    Concerning  FIGS. 2 and 5 , it presents that the present invention fills both the first bladders  41  and the second bladders  42  with air for sending the air from the first inlet pipe  91  and the second inlet pipe  92 , respectively. In light to aforementioned operation, the air is permissively circulated among the first air passage  61  and the second air passage  62  through the first cavities  511  and the second cavities  521 , so as to inflate both the first bladders  41  and the second bladders  42 . 
         [0037]    Should there is a need for separately deflating the first bladders  41  or the second bladders  42 , the present invention can inversely furnish the air mattress with the deflation according to the aforementioned path of the air circulation. 
         [0038]    From above, in addition to giving the deflation, the present invention also applies the embedded first air passage  61  and the second air passage  62  that cooperates with the first cavities  511  and the second cavities  521  to input the air to the required first bladders  41  or the second bladders  42 . Such integral air passages adapted to the air mattress not only facilitates a designated transmission but also possesses an air-crossing property, which is not believed to be disclosed by the conventional inventions. 
         [0039]    Referring to  FIG. 6  shows a further preferred embodiment of the present invention adapted to another air mattress. The air mattress includes first bladders  41 , second bladders  42  and third bladders  43 . Concerning to the alternating mattress with three series of bladders, the manufacture merely needs to replenish a third inlet pipe  93 , third cavities  531 , and a third air passage  63  for satisfying requirements of respectively inflating the three bladders. 
         [0040]    Referring to  FIG. 7  shows a further preferred embodiment of the present invention adapted to another air mattress with multiple zones. The air mattress includes an A action zone  71 , a B action zone  72 , a C action zone  73 , and a D action zone  74 . Wherein, the A action zone  71  proceeds the inflation upon the aid of an A air passage  711  and A cavities  712 . The B action zone  72  proceeds the inflation upon the aid of a B air passage  721  and B cavities  722 . The C action zone  73  proceeds the inflation upon the aid of a C air passage  731  and C cavities  732 . The D action zone  74  proceeds the inflation upon the aid of a D air passage  741  and D cavities  742 . 
         [0041]    The air mattress in use requires keeping an inflation of the head bladder  44  for supporting the human head while lying in bed. As illustrated in  FIGS. 1 ,  8 , and  9 , a one-way valve  54  is disposed at a joint where the second air passage  62  meets the head bladder  44  and the second bladder  42 . The one-way valve  54  only permits the air to pass by a single direction and behaves an anti-reflux of the air after the air passes. The one-way valve  54  has a supporting portion  542  in appropriate length disposed inside the second air passage  62 . Preferably, the end of the supporting portion  542  does not extend to the end of the one-way valve  62  for cooperating with a blocking unit  541 . As plainly shown in  FIG. 8 , the supporting portion  542  assists the air in smoothly entering the head bladder  44  by one-way direction. Further referring to  FIG. 9 , in view of the end of the one-way valve  54  lacks the structure of the supporting portion  542 , the barometric pressure in the head bladder  44  renders the blocking unit  541  able to automatically shut the second air passage  62  off when the head bladder  44  is not inflated in the second air passage  62 . 
         [0042]    The air passages in the present invention can entirely dispose a supporting portion  542  in the interior thereof for satisfying users&#39; demands, thereby expanding the air passages to maintain the normality in the air transmission and avoiding the specialized cavities to be unexpectedly closed. 
         [0043]    As shown in  FIG. 9 , the air mattress of the present invention has a joint unit  8  disposed between the first body  1  and the second body  2 .