Patent Abstract:
A mattress includes an inflatable lumbar support spanning across a top surface of the mattress in a position corresponding to the lumbar back area of a user when in a sleeping position. The apparatus further utilizes an electrical pump to inflate the tube to a desired firmness. A means to heat the tube for additional comfort and therapeutic benefit is also provided. The means to heat the tube as well as the inflatable connection are capable of being removable to enable repositioning or portability of the tube and means to heat the tube.

Full Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     The present invention is a Continuation-in-part and claims the benefit of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/298,011, filed on Nov. 16, 2011, which claimed the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/414,049 filed on Nov. 16, 2010, the entire disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to an inflatable mattress, and in particular, to a mattress comprising an inflatable lumbar support section. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Mattresses are utilized for rest or sleeping purposes. Many people who utilize mattresses have back problems which require additional support. Various devices to support the back when lying on a mattress are known. 
     A common problem with theses devices is the lack of adjustability with the support. Furthermore with all the devices, a soothing feature is not utilized. 
     Various attempts have been made to provide mattresses with lumbar support. Examples of these attempts can be seen by reference to several U.S. patents. U.S. Pat. No. 4,837,879, issued in the name of Parnham, describes a mattress having lumbar support. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,876,756, issued in the name of Vaccaro, describes an air mattress with posture support. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,819,348, issued in the name of Ryan, describes a maternity mattress with inflatable abdominal support. 
     While these devices fulfill their respective, particular objectives, each of these references suffer from one or more disadvantages. Many are not suited to provide an adjustable and soothing support. Accordingly, there exists a need for a mattress without the disadvantages as described above. The development of the present invention substantially departs from the conventional solutions and in doing so fulfills this need. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The inventor has recognized the aforementioned inherent problems and lack in the art and observed that there is a need for a mattress with lumbar support. 
     Accordingly, it is an object of the present embodiments of the invention to solve at least one (1) of these problems. The inventor has addressed this need by developing a mattress with lumbar support which also offers soothing features. 
     To achieve the above objectives, it is an object of the present invention to provide a mattress with enhanced integral lumbar support. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide a mattress assembly. 
     Yet still another object of the present invention is to provide the mattress assembly with an inflatable tube to provide lumbar or lower spine support. The inflatable tube in another embodiment is capable of being removably positioned within the mattress assembly. 
     Yet still another object of the present invention is to provide a vent valve to release air or prohibit air from escaping. 
     Yet still another object of the present invention is to provide a control module. 
     Yet still another object of the present invention is to provide the control module with an air pump control panel and an electric blanket control panel. 
     Yet still another object of the present invention is to provide an electrical air pump to inflate the inflatable tube. In another embodiment, the inflatable tube is removably connected to said electrical air pump. 
     Yet still another object of the present invention is to provide the control panel further comprises an air switch, a pressure display, and a vent valve. 
     Yet still another object of the present invention is to provide power via a power plug. 
     Yet still another object of the present invention is to provide an electric blanket panel further providing heating elements to warm the lumbar region. In another embodiment, the electric blanket panel is capable of being removably positioned within the mattress assembly. 
     Yet still another object of the present invention is to provide an electric blanket control panel to control the heating elements. The electric blanket panel is capable of being removably connected to said electric blanket control panel. 
     Yet still another object of the present invention is to provide a method of utilizing the device that provides a unique means of positioning the mattress, inserting the power plug, closing the vent valve, inflating the inflatable tube, activating the electric blanket panel, and resting or sleeping upon the mattress. 
     Further objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from a consideration of the drawings and ensuing description. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The advantages and features of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following more detailed description and claims taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like elements are identified with like symbols, and in which: 
         FIG. 1  depicts a perspective view of a mattress with inflatable lumbar support  10 , according to a preferred embodiment; 
         FIG. 2  depicts a partial cut-away view of the mattress with inflatable lumbar support  10  depicting an inflatable tube portion  30 , according to the preferred embodiment; 
         FIG. 3  depicts a section view of the mattress with inflatable lumbar support  10  taken along section line A-A (see  FIG. 1 ), according to the preferred embodiment; 
         FIG. 4  depicts a close-up view of a control module portion  50  of the mattress with inflatable lumbar support  10 , according to the preferred embodiment; 
         FIG. 5  depicts an electrical block diagram of the control module portion  50  of the mattress with inflatable lumbar support  10 , according to the preferred embodiment; 
         FIG. 6  depicts a perspective view of a portable inflatable tube embodiment  130 , according to an alternate embodiment; 
         FIG. 7  depicts an environmental view of the portable inflatable tube embodiment  130 , according to an alternate embodiment; and, 
         FIG. 8  depicts a sectional view of the portable inflatable tube embodiment  130 , according to an alternate embodiment. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTIVE KEY 
     
         
         
           
               10  mattress with inflatable lumber support 
               11  pillow 
               20  mattress assembly 
               21  top padding 
               22  inner padding 
               25  top fabric panel 
               26  bottom fabric panel 
               30  inflatable tube 
               33  manual air pump 
               38  electric blanket panel 
               39  heating element 
               50  control module 
               51  air pump 
               52  air pump control panel 
               54  air switch 
               55  digital display 
               56  relief valve 
               57  pressure sensor 
               60  electric blanket control panel 
               62  electric blanket switch 
               64  temperature dial 
               66  power plug 
               70  air tube 
               72  wire 
               100  user 
               125  fabric cover 
               130  portable inflatable tube 
               132   a  first hook-and-loop section 
               132   b  second hook-and-loop section 
               134   a  first quick disconnect plug 
               134   b  second quick disconnect plug 
           
         
       
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     The best mode for carrying out the invention is presented in terms of its preferred embodiment, herein depicted within  FIGS. 1 through 5  and in terms of an alternate portable embodiment  130 , herein depicted within  FIGS. 6 through 8 . However, the invention is not limited to the described embodiment and a person skilled in the art will appreciate that many other embodiments of the invention are possible without deviating from the basic concept of the invention, and that any such work around will also fall under scope of this invention. It is envisioned that other styles and configurations of the present invention can be easily incorporated into the teachings of the present invention, and only one particular configuration shall be shown and described for purposes of clarity and disclosure and not by way of limitation of scope. 
     The terms “a” and “an” herein do not denote a limitation of quantity, but rather denote the presence of at least one of the referenced items. 
     Having recognized the abovementioned problems, the inventor observed there remains a need for a mattress  20  which provides adjustable lumbar support for a user&#39;s back. The development of a mattress with inflatable lumbar support (herein referred to as an apparatus)  10  solves these problems and fulfills this need. The apparatus  10  provides a mattress  20  with enhanced integral lumbar support  30 . The apparatus  10  provides relief to individuals who suffer from lumbar or lower spine back problems. 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , perspective and cut-away views of the apparatus  10 , according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, are disclosed. The apparatus  10  comprises a mattress assembly  20  comprising conventional internal construction which provides an integral lateral inflatable tube  30  onto which an occupant may lay his/her lower back area upon for resting or sleeping. The mattress assembly  20  may retain various blankets, pillows  11 , or the like in a conventional manner to provide comfort to the user. The mattress  20  comprises standard sizes such as single, double, queen, and king sizes and may be placed upon a bed frame, the floor, or the like to accommodate an individual&#39;s needs and capacities (also see  FIG. 3 ). 
     The inflatable tube  30  provides lumbar or lower spine support to individuals whom utilize the apparatus  10  and is to be positioned between an upper fabric panel  25  and top padding  21  portions of the mattress assembly  20 . Said inflatable tube  30  is to be oriented across a width of said mattress assembly  20  at a position which corresponds to the lumbar region of the occupant. When inflated, said inflatable tube  30  comprises an ovular or semi-circular cross-sectional shape so as to apply pressure to the lumbar region of an occupant. When deflated, said inflatable tube  30  comprises a flat and level shape allowing the mattress assembly  20  to be utilized in like manner as a standard mattress. 
     The mattress assembly  20  provides an attachment means to a control module  50  along a side surface being adjacent to a head portion of said mattress assembly  20 . 
     Said control module  50  further comprises an air pump control panel  52  and an electric blanket control panel  60  along a front surface. The inflatable tube  30  is inflated via an integral electrical air pump  51  mounted within the control module  50 , or may be alternately inflated using a manual air pump  33  when desired, or during periods when electrical power is not available. Compressed air from the air pump  51  is in turn conveyed to an end portion of the inflatable tube  30  via an interconnecting air tube  70 . Said air pump control panel  52  further comprises an air switch  54 , a pressure display  55 , and a vent valve  56  (also see  FIG. 4 ). Electrical power is supplied to the air pump  51  via a power plug  66  which is plugged into an AC household outlet, yet other means of supplying current may be utilized without limiting the scope of the apparatus  10 . 
     The mattress assembly  20  further comprises a rectangularly-shaped electric blanket panel  38  being positioned directly above the inflatable tube  30  further comprising a plurality of heating elements  39  being arranged in a conventional parallel manner to selectively provide warmth to the lumbar region of the user&#39;s back when desired. The heating elements  39  are to be activated and deactivated via an electric blanket control panel  60  which is location upon the front surface of the control module  50  (see  FIG. 4 ). 
     Referring now to  FIG. 3 , a section view of the apparatus  10  taken along section line A-A (see  FIG. 1 ), according to the preferred embodiment, is disclosed. The inflatable tube  30  is integrated into a top surface of the mattress assembly  20  to form a laminated construction comprising, from top down, a top fabric panel  25 , an electric blanket panel  38 , the inflatable tube  30 , a layer of top mattress padding  21 , a layer of inner mattress padding  22 , and a bottom fabric panel  26 . The top  21  and inner  22  padding portion of the mattress assembly  20  are envisioned to be filled with various natural fibers, cushion-type materials, springs, or the like to provide a desired firmnesses for the occupant. The upper panel  25  and electric blanket panel  38  cover the inflatable tube  30  and are envisioned to be attached to an upper surface portion of said inflatable tube  30  via adhesives and/or conventional sewing techniques, yet other attachment methods may be utilized without limiting the scope of the apparatus  10 . The top  25  and bottom fabric panels enclose the mattress assembly  20  in a conventional manner and are envisioned to be fabricated from common flame retardant synthetic or natural materials. 
     The inflatable tube  30  is envisioned to be fabricated from a rugged flexible inflatable material such as vinyl or rubber, yet other materials may be utilized without limiting the scope of the apparatus  10 . 
     The electric blanket panel  38  is to be positioned between the top fabric panel  25  and said inflatable tube  30 , and comprises a plurality of resistance wire heating elements  39  being entrapped within a fabric or synthetic blanket layer and arranged in a conventional parallel manner to provide a localized heating means. 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 4 and 5 , a close-up view and an electrical block diagram of a control module portion  50  of the apparatus  10 , according to the preferred embodiment, are disclosed. Said control module  50  comprises a unitary plastic enclosure being recessed into a side surface of the mattress assembly  20  being adjacent to the head portion. Said control module  50  provides both a housing means and a mounting means to air and power portions of the air pump  51  and the electric blanket panel  38  via respective air pump control panel  52  and electric blanket control panel  60  portions. The electric air pump  51  is to be discretely housed within the control module  50 . The air pump control panel  52  further comprises a two-position air switch  54  to selectively activate and deactivate said air pump  51 , a digital air pressure display  55 , and a vent valve  56 . Said control module  50  further houses various electrical and electronic equipment necessary to operate the air pump  51  and also includes a pressure sensor  57  located downstream of the air pump  51  which provides a signal to said air pump control panel  52  which is in turn displayed upon the digital display portion  55 , thereby enabling a user to inflate the inflatable tube  30  to a desired pressure in an accurate manner (see  FIG. 5 ). The air switch  54  is illustrated here depicting a two-position sliding-type device; however, other switching devices may be provided with equal benefit such as a toggle switch, a rotary dial, or the like. 
     A length of common air tubing  70  interconnects the air pump  51  to the inflatable tube  30  being routed along a side surface of the mattress assembly  20  (see  FIG. 1 ). The air pump  51  comprises a miniature AC powered fan-type blower or low-pressure vibratory compressor unit being similar to those commonly used to inflate air mattresses. The apparatus  10  comprises a manual air pump  33  which enables an alternate means to manually inflate the inflatable tube  30 . Said manual air pump  33  comprises a spherical or bellows-type pumping device being pneumatically connected to the air tube  70  at an intermediate location, thereby providing air to said inflatable tube  30 . The vent valve  56  comprises a hand-operated rotary knob and needle-valve device allowing a user to easily deflate the inflatable tube  30 . Said vent valve  56  further provides a safety pressure relief function via a secondary pneumatic circuit having a spring-seated valving member to avoid possible damage to the inflatable tube  30  due to over inflation. 
     The control module  50  further provides an enclosure means to the electric blanket control panel  60  which further comprises an electric blanket switch  62  which provides a means to selectively activate and deactivate electric current to the heating element portions  39  within the electric blanket panel  38 . Said electric blanket control panel  60  also provides a means to control an actual temperature of said electric blanket panel  38  via a rheostat-type temperature dial  64 . Said electric blanket control panel  60  is envisioned to provide similar construction and functions as a conventional electric blanket controller. Electrical power from said electric blanket control panel  60  is conveyed to said electric blanket panel  38  via a wire  72  (also see  FIG. 1 ). 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 6 through 8 , perspective, environmental, and sectional views of a portable inflatable tube embodiment  130 , according to an alternate embodiment, are disclosed. The portable inflatable tube embodiment  130  comprises a detached portable inflatable tube portion  130  for enhanced use by a user  100 . The portable inflatable tube  130  is a physically separate part and therefore may be removed from the mattress assembly  20  and be wrapped around various body areas of the user  100  such as waist, chest, legs, and the like, for therapeutic purposes. The portable inflatable tube  130  includes an encompassing fabric cover  125  which provides similar materials and function as the top fabric panel portion  25  of the preferred embodiment  10 . The fabric cover  125  includes first hook-and-loop  132   a  and a second hook-and-loop  132   b  portions being sewn to, or otherwise affixed thereto end portions. The hook-and-loop portions  132   a ,  132   b  allow the portable inflatable tube portion  130  to be wrapped around the user  100  and selectively secured to itself to provide a desired fit. Additionally, the portable inflatable tube  130  includes a first quick disconnect plug  134   a  capable of providing a temporary means of detachment from the heating wire  72 . A second quick disconnect plug  134   b  is capable of providing a temporary detachment from the inflating air tube  70  while isolating the air within the portable inflatable tube portion  130  when disconnected. These features allow a user  100  to move about freely while wearing the portable inflatable tube  130  allowing the user  100  to performing various duties as needed. Following the performance of one&#39;s duties, the quick disconnect plugs  134   a ,  134   b  may be reconnected to resume normal pneumatic and electrical functions as previously described above for the preferred embodiment  10 . 
     It is envisioned that other styles and configurations of the present invention can be easily incorporated into the teachings of the present invention, and only one particular configuration shall be shown and described for purposes of clarity and disclosure and not by way of limitation of scope. 
     The preferred embodiment of the present invention can be utilized by the common user in a simple and effortless manner with little or no training. After initial purchase or acquisition of the apparatus  10 , it would be installed as indicated in  FIGS. 1 and 2 . 
     The method of utilizing the apparatus  10  can be achieved by performing the following steps: acquiring the apparatus  10 ; positioning the apparatus  10  on a level surface, a bed frame, or other suitable surface for a mattress; inserting the power plug  66  into a household outlet; closing the vent valve  56  by rotating in a clockwise direction, if not previously closed; reclining upon the mattress assembly  20  with one&#39;s lower back area aligned with the inflatable tube  30 ; inflating the inflatable tube  30  by moving the air switch  54  to the “ON” position; allowing the pump  51  to run for a period of time until obtaining a desired firmness of the inflatable tube  30  against one&#39;s back or until the display  55  indicates a desired air pressure; stopping the air pump  51  by moving the air switch  54  to the “OFF” position; activating the electric blanket panel  38 , if heated support is desired, by moving the electric blanket switch  62  to the “ON” position; adjusting the temperature of the electric blanket panel  38  by rotating the temperature dial  64  as needed to obtain a desired amount of heat within the inflatable tube  30 ; utilizing the apparatus  10  to sleep, rest, or to perform a therapeutic treatment to one&#39;s back area for a period of time; turning off the electric blanket panel portion  38  by moving the electric blanket switch  62  to the “OFF” position; deflating the inflatable tube  30  by rotating the vent valve  56  in a counter-clockwise direction; and, benefiting from improved heated or unheated lumbar support of one&#39;s lower back area afforded a user of the present invention  10 . 
     The inflatable tube  30  may be alternately inflated using the manual air pump  33  based upon a user&#39;s preference or during such times as when electrical power is unavailable, or to “fine-tune” the firmness of the inflatable tube  30 . 
     It is understood that the inflatable tube  30  may be deflated to a flattened state so as to allow the mattress assembly  20  to be utilized in an identical manner as that of a standard mattress when desired. 
     The method of utilizing the alternate portable inflatable tube embodiment  130  can be achieved by performing the following steps: procuring a model of the invention which includes the portable inflatable tube embodiment  130 ; lifting the portable inflatable tube portion  130  from the mattress assembly  20 ; wrapping the portable inflatable tube  130  around various body areas of the user  100  such as waist, chest, legs, and the like; securing the portable inflatable tube  130  in position by attaching the first hook-and-loop  132   a  and second hook-and-loop  132   b  portions together to obtain a desired fit; utilizing and controlling the pneumatic and heating functions of the invention as previously described; temporarily detaching the portable inflatable tube  130  from the inflating air tube  70  and heating wire  72 , if desired, using the respective disconnect plugs  134   a ,  134   b ; allowing the user  100  to move about freely while wearing the portable inflatable tube  130 ; allowing the user  100  to performing various duties as needed; and, reconnecting the quick disconnect plug  134  to reestablish the normal pneumatic and electrical functions of the present invention  10 . 
     The foregoing descriptions of specific embodiments of the present invention have been presented for purposes of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention and method of use to the precise forms disclosed. Obviously many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching. The embodiment was chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and its practical application, and to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the invention and various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. It is understood that various omissions or substitutions of equivalents are contemplated as circumstance may suggest or render expedient, but is intended to cover the application or implementation without departing from the spirit or scope of the claims of the present invention.

Technology Classification (CPC): 0