Patent Publication Number: US-4651368-A

Title: Marginal perimeter support containment chamber for a floatation sleep system

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates generally to floatation sleep systems, and more particularly to an improved marginal perimeter support containment chamber for a floatation sleep system. 
     In my U.S. Pat. No 4,513,463, issued Apr. 30, 1985, I have disclosed an advancement in floatation sleep systems of the universal type where the bladder and the perimeter support are seperable, and wherein the bladder may be readily replaced without having to replace the entire sleep system. Such advanced floatation sleep system includes an accessible perimeter containment chamber containing a marginal perimeter support. A flexible, dimensionally stable sheet is connected to the upper portion of the perimeter chamber. The sheet forms a support chamber for a water-containing bladder. 
     Such support chamber is suspended from the perimeter containment chamber, whereby when a bladder is inserted in the support chamber, the weight of the bladder exerts a force through such chamber on the perimeter containment chamber to hold the marginal perimeter support in effective support relation to such bladder. Specifically, the sheet forming the support chamber is of an overall dimension greater than the distance between opposed portions of the perimeter containment chamber and less than the distance between such opposed portions plus twice the vertical height of such perimeter containment chamber. 
     While this patented advanced floatation sleep system provides the intended universality and adequately functions to retain the perimeter support in effective support relation with its contained bladder, it is of a relatively complicated construction. Further, if there is a breach in the perimeter containment chamber between such chamber and the sheet forming the bladder support chamber, such breach is not accessible for repair. Therefore, the entire marginal perimeter support containment chamber must be replaced. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention is directed to an improved marginal perimeter support containment chamber of simplified construction, for use with a floatation sleep system including a liquid-containing bladder, wherein all areas of such chamber are accessible for repair. The improved chamber includes an elongated chamber adapted to contain a mechanism for supporting the marginal perimeter of a bladder. A flexible, dimensionally stable sheet is connected to the bottom surface of the elongated chamber. A plurality of strips of flexible, dimensionally stable material are provided, with the dimension of respective material strips between opposed longitudinal edges being substantially equal to one half the cross-sectional circumference of the elongated chamber. One longitudinal edge of the respective material strips is coupled to the sheet interiorly of the projection of the elongated chamber on such sheet. The opposite longitudinal edge of the respective material strips is releasably connected to the upper surface of the elongated chamber such that the material strips and the sheet form a cavity for a bladder. Accordingly, a portion of a bladder received within such cavity overlies the material strips, with the weight of the bladder acting on such strips to hold the elongated chamber in effective marginal perimeter support relation with the bladder. The material strips are releasable from the elongated chamber to provide access to that portion of the chamber located between the strips and the sheet. Moreover, the upper surface of a bladder may be releasably connected to the elongated chamber to prevent separation of the bladder from the chamber. 
     The invention, and its objects and advantages, will become more apparent in the detailed description of the preferred embodiment presented below. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     In the detailed description of the preferred embodiment of the invention presented below, reference is made to the accompanying drawings, in which: 
     FIG. 1 is a view, in perspective, of an improved marginal perimeter support containment chamber for a floatation sleep system according to this invention, with portions broken away or removed to facilitate viewing; 
     FIG. 2 is an exploded end elevational view in cross-section, on an enlarged scale, of a portion of the structure of FIG. 1 taken along lines 2--2; and 
     FIG. 3 is an end elevational view, on an enlarged scale, of an exemplary hook and loop type fastener. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Referring now to the accompanying drawings, the floatation sleep system according to this invention is designated generally by the numeral 10. The floatation sleep system 10 includes a bladder 12 and a marginal perimeter support containment chamber 14 for such bladder. The bladder 12 is formed of a flexible, dimensionally stable, liquid impervious material, such as polyethylene or polypropylene for example. Such material is configured as a chamber with substantially rectangular cross-sectional dimensions. The bladder 12 includes a valve 12a communicating with the interior of the chamber to enable the bladder to be filled with a body-supporting liquid such as water. Of course, other chamber configurations are suitable for use with this invention and, other body-supporting liquids may be employed in the bladder. Moreover, the bladder chamber may utilize any of the various known wave-reducing mechanisms such as fiber fill or hydraulic baffles. 
     The chamber 16 if formed of flexible, dimensionally stable, liquid impervious material (such as used to form the bladder), and may be continuous or divided into independent chambers such as shown in my U.S. Pat. No. 4,501,036 issued Feb. 26, 1985. The interior of the chamber 16 is adapted to be filled with a perimeter support mechanism, such as pressurized air admitted through valve 18 for example. Of course, other perimeter support mechanisms such as foam are suitable for use in this invention. When viewed in plan, the chamber 16 is configured to surround the marginal perimeter of a bladder (e.g. for a rectangular bladder, the chamber 16 is substantially rectangular). A sheet 20 of material, similar to the material forming the PG,6 chamber 16 for example, is attached to the bottom surface 16a of the chamber, such as by heat sealing for example. 
     A cavity 22, adapted to receive the bladder 12, is formed by the sheet 20 and a plurality of elongated strips 24 respectively connected between the sheet and the elongated chamber 16. The strips 24 are formed of a material similar to the material forming the elongated chamber 16 for example. The strips 24 have opposed longitudinal marginal edges 24a and 24b, with the dimension between such edges being substantially equal to one-half the cross-sectional circumference of the elongated chamber 16. Respective edges 24a are connected to the sheet 20 at a location interiorly of the projection of the elongated chamber 16 on the sheet 20. While such connection may be effected by heat sealing, for example, it has been determined that an effective connection is provided by matable members 26a, 26b of a fastener, referred to as hook and loop fasteners. The member 26a and 26b are fixed respectively to the edges 24a and the sheet 20 at the location where connection is desired. Pressing the members 26a, 26b together then connects the strips 24 to the sheet 20. Similarly, the respective opposing edges 24b of the strips 24 are readily releasably connected to the upper surface 16b of the elongated chamber 16. That is, matable members 28a, 28b (of hook and loop fasteners) are respectively fixed to the upper surface 16b of the elongated chamber 16 and edges 24b of the strips 24. Pressing the members 28a, 28b together connects the strips 24 to the upper surface 16b of chamber 16. Release of the members 26a, 26b or members 28a, 28b is effected by merely pulling such members apart. 
     The particularly described dimension of the strips 24 and their points of connection to the elongated chamber 16 and sheet 20 is important in configuring the cavity 22 such that when a bladder is received in the cavity, a portion thereof overlies the strips 24. The weight of the bladder on the strips acts on the strips to hold the elongated chamber 16 in effective marginal perimeter support with the bladder in the manner shown in my aforementioned U.S. Pat. No. 4,513,463. Moreover, the releasable connection of the strips 24 to the elongated chamber 16, enables the portion of the elongated chamber between the strips and the sheet 20 to be readily accessible. That is, if for example a breach in the chamber 16 occurs between the strips 24 and the sheet 20, the strip adjacent to such breach is readily detached from the elongated chamber. The breach is then accessible for repair. This enables the elongated chamber 16 to be readily repaired without having to replace the entire marginal perimeter support containment chamber 14. 
     The above-described construction for enabling access to the elongated chamber 16 of the marginal perimeter support containment chamber 14 also provides a simplified mechanism for solving another problem peculiar to floatation sleep systems employing a bladder within such containment chamber; i.e., the propensity of the bladder to move away from the elongated chamber when sitting on the edge of such sleep system. Such problem is solved by making the fastener member 28a of a dimension whereby the connection of matable member 28b (fixed to the edges 24b of strip 24) is along an interior marginal edge thereof. The bladder 12 is provided with a member 12b extending outwardly from the upper surface 12c of the bladder. The member 12b has a matable fastener member 12d, connectable to the exterior marginal edge of the member 28a fixed thereto. In this manner, when the bladder 12 is in the chamber 14, the member 12d is pressed together with member 28a so that the upper surface of the bladder is secured to the elongated chamber 16 and cannot be forced away from such chamber when one sits on the edge of the sleep system. Of course the same effect is achieved with member 12b extending around the elongated chamber 16 and connected thereto at the bottom surface or to the bottom surface of sheet 20. 
     The invention has been described in detail with particular reference to a preferred embodiment thereof, but it will be understood that variations and modifications can be effected within the spirit and scope of the invention.