Abstract:
An airbed with an integral sleeve. After deflation of the airbed, the airbed is rolled or folded into a tight formation, and the sleeve is extended around the airbed for storage. The sleeve may be a flat fabric material that is attached to a seam of the airbed, for example by welding. The sleeve includes drawstrings or cords for tying and tightening the sleeve around the airbed. A handle may also be provided for carrying the stored airbed once the sleeve is in place.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     The present invention is directed to inflatable products, and more specifically to airbeds.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     An airbed is a large rectangular rubber or plastic (e.g., vinyl) bag that is filled with air so that it may be used as a bed. Airbeds are well known in the art and have proven themselves to be very useful. On the one hand, an inflatable airbed may be deflated and folded to store the airbed in a closet or basement. On the other hand, when guests arrive or when the owner of the airbed takes a trip to a place where there is no bed, the airbed may be inflated and may be used as a bed.  
         [0003]     An air mat is similar in construction to an airbed, but is used as a float so that an individual may lie on the air mat in the water. Both products fall under the broad category of “inflatable” products. Other nonlimiting examples of inflatable products include rafts, inflatable furniture, inflatable pools, and inflatable boats.  
         [0004]     One problem often encountered with inflatable products such as airbeds is that they are difficult to store. For example, often, an airbed is shipped in a box, and storing the airbed in the box is difficult, if not impossible. When the airbed is shipped, there is almost no air at all in the airbed, and it is efficiently folded so as to fit in the box. A user may find it difficult to remove all air from the airbed, and/or replicate the folding pattern used in shipping of the product. Thus, the user typically folds the airbed as tightly as possible and extends it partly into the box, with a portion hanging out. Even if the user can get the airbed back into the box, the box may become crushed, torn, broken, or otherwise damaged with use. If a box is not used, the user must store the airbed in a different manner, such as in a separate bag or using ties.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0005]     The following presents a simplified summary of some embodiments of the invention in order to provide a basic understanding of the invention. This summary is not an extensive overview of the invention. It is not intended to identify key/critical elements of the invention or to delineate the scope of the invention. Its sole purpose is to present some embodiments of the invention in a simplified form as a prelude to the more detailed description that is presented later.  
         [0006]     In accordance with an embodiment, an airbed or inflatable product is provided with an integral sleeve. After deflation of the airbed, the airbed is rolled or folded into a tight formation, and the sleeve is extended around the airbed for storage.  
         [0007]     In accordance with an embodiment, the sleeve is a flat fabric material that is attached to a seam of the airbed, for example by welding.  
         [0008]     In accordance with an embodiment, the sleeve includes drawstrings or cords for tying and tightening the sleeve around the airbed. A handle may also be provided for carrying the stored airbed once the sleeve is in place.  
         [0009]     Other features of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the drawings, in which:  
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0010]      FIG. 1  is side perspective view of an airbed with the airbed stored in a sleeve in accordance with an embodiment of the invention;  
         [0011]      FIG. 2  is a side perspective view of the airbed of  FIG. 1 , with the airbed in a deployed position and the sleeve rolled out flat;  
         [0012]      FIG. 3  is a side perspective view of the sleeve for the airbed of  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0013]      FIG. 4  is an alternate embodiment of a sleeve that may be used to store an airbed, with the sleeve shown encasing an airbed; and  
         [0014]      FIG. 5  is a side perspective view of the sleeve of  FIG. 4 , with the sleeve partially rolled around the airbed.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0015]     In the following description, various embodiments of the present invention will be described. For purposes of explanation, specific configurations and details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the embodiments. However, it will also be apparent to one skilled in the art that the present invention may be practiced without the specific details. Furthermore, well-known features may be omitted or simplified in order not to obscure the embodiment being described.  
         [0016]     Referring now to the drawings, in which like reference numerals represent like parts throughout the several views,  FIG. 1  shows an airbed  20  encased by a sleeve  22  in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. Briefly described, the sleeve  22  is attached to the airbed  20  and is configured so that it may extend around and enclose the airbed  20  when air is deflated from the airbed and the airbed is rolled or folded into a tight configuration. In general, the present invention is directed to a sleeve, such as the sleeve  22 , for use an inflatable product such as the airbed  20 , but sleeves in accordance with the invention may be utilized with other inflatable products including, but not limited to, air mats, rafts, inflatable furniture, inflatable pools, inflatable boats, and other inflatable products.  
         [0017]      FIG. 2  shows the airbed  20  fully inflated. The airbed  20  includes a top wall  24 , a bottom wall  26 , and a side wall  28  joining the top wall and bottom wall. Together the top wall  24 , the bottom wall  26 , and the side wall  28  form an airtight mattress. The side wall  28  is connected to the bottom wall  26  at a lower seam  30 . This lower seam  30  may be, for example, a weld. Similarly, the top wall  24  is attached to the side wall  28  at an upper seam  32 .  
         [0018]     Details of the sleeve  22  are shown in  FIG. 3 . In the embodiment shown, a strip  34  attaches to the lower seam  30 . This strip  34  is preferably sewn or otherwise permanently affixed to the lower seam  30 . The strip  34  is preferably formed of a material so that it may be welded, heat-fused, or otherwise formed as a portion of the airbed  20 . Although shown as attached to the lower seam  30 , the strip  34  or other parts of the sleeve  22  may alternatively be attached to  
         [0019]     A rectangular fabric  36  is attached to the strip  34 . The rectangular fabric  36  is preferably wider than the strip  34 , and is of sufficient length to wrap around the airbed  20  when the airbed is folded or rolled into a storage configuration, such as is shown in  FIG. 1 .  
         [0020]     Cords  38 ,  40  extend along the side edges of the rectangular fabric  36  within channels  42 ,  44  formed in the fabric by sew lines  46 ,  48 . These cords  38 ,  40  are free to slide within the channels  42 ,  44 , but alternatively may be fixed in one position, such as by sewing a stitch through the rectangular fabric  36  into each cord  38  and  40 .  
         [0021]     In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 3 , a handle  50  is provided on the underside of the rectangular fabric  36  at a position near the strip  34 . This handle  50  is arranged on the outside of the sleeve  22  when the sleeve  22  encases the airbed  20 , as can be seen in  FIG. 1 .  
         [0022]     An alternate embodiment is shown in  FIG. 4 , wherein a sleeve  60  includes an opening  62  at its outer end. The sleeve in this embodiment is longer than the sleeve  22 , and wraps more than once around the rolled airbed  20 . When extended beyond the handle  50 , the opening  62  extends over and around the handle  50 . Thus, access to the handle  50  is still provided, and any pulling on the handle  50  is restrained from sliding the sleeve  60  by the opening  62  engaging the handle  50 .  
         [0023]     In use, the airbed  20  is deflated and then rolled or folded into a compressed state. In an embodiment, the airbed is rolled so that it forms a cylinder. The cylinder is preferably narrower than the width of the rectangular fabric  36 , and wider than the strip  34 .  
         [0024]     After the airbed  20  has been rolled or folded into a compressed configuration, the sleeve  22  or  60  is pulled upward around the rolled airbed and then extended around the airbed. An example of a rolled configuration of the airbed  20  is shown in  FIG. 5 . The sleeve  60  is shown partly extended around the rolled airbed  20  in  FIG. 5 .  
         [0025]     After the sleeve  22  is fully extended around the airbed  20 , the cords  38 ,  40  are pulled tight and the ends of each cord are tied together so as to tighten the sleeve  22  about the ends of and around the airbed. In alternate embodiments, the cords are replaced with snaps, hook and loop fasteners, clips, clasps, hooks, or other suitable fasteners or fastening structures.  
         [0026]     In a finished state, the sleeve  22  or  60  surrounds the airbed  20 , as is shown in  FIGS. 1 and 5 . The handle  50  is presented on the outside of the sleeve  22  and may be used for transporting the airbed  20 .  
         [0027]     Other variations are within the spirit of the present invention. Thus, while the invention is susceptible to various modifications and alternative constructions, a certain illustrated embodiment thereof is shown in the drawings and has been described above in detail. It should be understood, however, that there is no intention to limit the invention to the specific form or forms disclosed, but on the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, alternative constructions, and equivalents falling within the spirit and scope of the invention, as defined in the appended claims.  
         [0028]     All references, including publications, patent applications, and patents, cited herein are hereby incorporated by reference to the same extent as if each reference were individually and specifically indicated to be incorporated by reference and were set forth in its entirety herein.  
         [0029]     The use of the terms “a” and “an” and “the” and similar referents in the context of describing the invention (especially in the context of the following claims) are to be construed to cover both the singular and the plural, unless otherwise indicated herein or clearly contradicted by context. The terms “comprising,” “having,” “including,” and “containing” are to be construed as open-ended terms (i.e., meaning “including, but not limited to,”) unless otherwise noted. The term “connected” is to be construed as partly or wholly contained within, attached to, or joined together, even if there is something intervening. Recitation of ranges of values herein are merely intended to serve as a shorthand method of referring individually to each separate value falling within the range, unless otherwise indicated herein, and each separate value is incorporated into the specification as if it were individually recited herein. All methods described herein can be performed in any suitable order unless otherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context. The use of any and all examples, or exemplary language (e.g., “such as”) provided herein, is intended merely to better illuminate embodiments of the invention and does not pose a limitation on the scope of the invention unless otherwise claimed. No language in the specification should be construed as indicating any non-claimed element as essential to the practice of the invention.  
         [0030]     Preferred embodiments of this invention are described herein, including the best mode known to the inventors for carrying out the invention. Variations of those preferred embodiments may become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon reading the foregoing description. The inventors expect skilled artisans to employ such variations as appropriate, and the inventors intend for the invention to be practiced otherwise than as specifically described herein. Accordingly, this invention includes all modifications and equivalents of the subject matter recited in the claims appended hereto as permitted by applicable law. Moreover, any combination of the above-described elements in all possible variations thereof is encompassed by the invention unless otherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context.