Abstract:
An air bed structure capable of alternate lying thereon on either of one&#39;s sides, wherein, the air bed is divided into an upper and a lower layer, each layer is divided into a right and a left part each being comprised of an air bladder. A U typed air bladder is provided between the upper and the lower layers. The air bladders are arranged to cooperate with two specific air valves, multiple pipe lines and a controlling electronic circuit to provide various aeration states including single air-bladder aeration on both sides of the air bed, single air-bladder aeration on one side of the air bed, both air-bladder aeration on one side of the air bed, single air-bladder aeration on the other side of the air bed and both air-bladder aeration on the other side of the air bed etc. Thereby a patient lying on the air bed can adjust the aeration state of the air bed in pursuance of requirement. The body of the patient can be raised to rotate rightward, leftward by making a small or big turning of his body. This is extremely ideal and convenient for patients and old people.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention is related to an air bed structure capable of alternate lying thereon on either of one&#39;s sides. And is especially related to an air bed structure of which the aeration functions, except that for lying on one&#39;s back, further include single air-bladder aeration on both sides of the air bed, single air-bladder aeration on one side of the air bed, both air-bladder aeration on one side of the air bed, single air-bladder aeration on the other side of the air bed and both air-bladder aeration on the other side of the air bed. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     A serious ill patient generally needs lying on a bed for several decades of days, several years or for the whole life long. Lying for years on a bed makes him contact the mattress with his back, buttocks, the skins on these areas will get decubitus by long pressing and bad aeration, and getting rotten skin is the worse. In view of this, the art of medical instrument has had studied and developed air beds which are capable of separate aeration and discharging, in order that time of being pressed of skins may be reduced as much as possible. However, conventional air beds only has too simple function to satisfy the patients&#39; requirement by virtue that an air bed is only divided into several air bladders which are alternately aerated and discharged. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In view of the non-ideally practical function of the conventional air beds, the inventor studied and develops the present invention to provide an ideal and practical air bed with its novel structure as well as effect for the patients lying long thereon. 
     The direct object of the present invention is to provide an air bed structure capable of alternate lying thereon on either of one&#39;s sides. Wherein, the air bed is divided into four parts, i.e., an upper left side, a lower left side, an upper right side and a lower right side part. In this way, two air valves with unique structural design and with unique piping arrangement as well as electronic control are provided to render the air bladders of the four parts to have various states of aeration and discharging. Thereby, with the present invention, an object of getting the single air-bladder aeration on both sides of the air bed, the single air-bladder aeration on one side of the air bed, both air-bladder aeration on one side of the air bed, the single air-bladder aeration on the other side of the air bed or both air-bladder aeration on the other side of the air bed to make a large turning or a small turning on the bed for lying on either of one&#39;s sides can be achieved for a patient. 
     The present invention will be apparent in its composition of structure and the effect created after reading the detailed description of the preferred embodiment thereof in reference to the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     In the drawings: 
     FIG. 1 is an analytic perspective view of two air valves of the present invention; 
     FIG. 2 is another analytic perspective view of two air valves of the present invention; 
     FIG. 3 is a schematic view showing connection of the two air valves and the air bed of the present invention; 
     FIG. 4 is a schematic view showing the state of the first air valve of the present invention in complete aeration; 
     FIG. 5 is a schematic view showing the first air valve of the present invention in a state with one side aerated and the other side thereof discharged; 
     FIG. 6 is a schematic view showing the first air valve of the present invention in a state with one side discharged and the other side thereof aerated; 
     FIG. 7 is a schematic view showing the state of the second air valve of the present invention in complete aeration; 
     FIG. 8 is a schematic view showing the state of the second air valve of the present invention in discharging; 
     FIG. 9 is a schematic view showing the second air valve of the present invention in a state with one side aerated and the other side thereof discharged; 
     FIG. 10 is a schematic view showing the second air valve of the present invention in a state with one side discharged and the other side thereof aerated; 
     FIG. 11 is a schematic view showing the state of the air bed in aeration of a single air-bladder on both sides of the air bed of the present invention; 
     FIG. 12 is a schematic view showing the state of the air bed in aeration of a single air-bladder on one side of the air bed of the present invention; 
     FIG. 13 is a schematic view showing the state of the air bed in aeration of both air-bladders on one side of the air bed of the present invention; 
     FIG. 14 is a schematic view showing the state of the air bed in aeration of a single air-bladder on the other side of the air bed of the present invention; 
     FIG. 15 is a schematic view showing the state of the air bed in aeration of both air-bladders on the other side of the air bed of the present invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Referring to FIGS. 1,  2  and  3 , the present invention is comprised mainly of a first air valve  1 , a second air valve  2  and an air bed  9 . By controlling aeration of the first air valve  1  and the second air valve  2 , various states of aeration and discharging of the air bed  9  can be provided. 
     Wherein, the first air valve  1  is comprised of an upper rotation lid  11  and a lower seat  12 , the upper rotation lid  11  is mounted on the lower seat  12 . The upper rotation lid  11  and the lower seat  12  are provided at the centers thereof respectively with a through hole  110  and a through hole  120 . A driving member  117  is provided on the top of the upper rotation lid  11 , thereby, an external motor (not shown) can drive the upper rotation lid  11  to rotate, while the lower seat  12  maintains unmoved. The top surface of the upper rotation lid  11  is a sealed surface; a big air chamber  115  and a small air chamber  116  are formed beneath the top surface. Area of the big air chamber  115  is larger than that of the small air chamber  116 ; a block  119  and a block  118  are provided between them. The top of the small air chamber  116  is provided with a plurality of discharge holes  1160 . The upper rotation lid  11  is provided on the external annular wall thereof with four lugs  111 ,  112 ,  113  and  114  separated one from another by an angle of about 90 degrees, the lugs  111 ,  112 ,  113  and  114  are not at the same level relatively. The lower seat  12  is in the form quite similar to the upper rotation lid  11 , it is provided appropriately on the wall of its peripheral side with a transverse main intake  121 . The lower seat  12  is provided centrally thereof with an annular air chamber  122  which is communicated with the transverse main intake  121 . A transverse central discharge pipe  123  is provided on the external wall of the lower seat  12  opposite to the transverse main intake  121  and is communicated with the annular air chamber  122 . In other words, the transverse main intake  121  is communicated with the transverse central discharge pipe  123 . The transverse central discharge pipe  123  is provided at both sides thereof respectively with an air pipe  1251  and an air pipe  1241 . While the annular air chamber  122  is provided at both sides thereof respectively with an air chamber  1252  and an air chamber  1242  which are opened on their tops. The air chamber  1252  and the air chamber  1242  are provided on the bottoms thereof respectively with a vertical lower air pipe  1253  and a vertical lower air pipe  1243  communicating respectively with the interiors of the air pipe  1251  and the air pipe  1241 . The air chambers  1252  and  1242  of the lower seat  12  are provided at the outer lateral sides thereof respectively with a receiving seat  126  and a receiving seat  127  for mounting therein two micro-switches  31 ,  32  as well as a micro-switch  33  and a pad  34  by a plurality of screws  39 . 
     The second air valve  2  is comprised of an upper rotation lid  21  and a lower seat  22 , the upper rotation lid  21  is mounted on the lower seat  22 . The upper rotation lid  21  and the lower seat  22  are provided at the centers thereof respectively with a through hole  210  and a through hole  220 . A driving member  218  is provided on the top of the upper rotation lid  21 , thereby, an external motor (not shown) can drive the upper rotation lid  21  to rotate, while the lower seat  22  maintains unmoved. The top surface of the upper rotation lid  21  is a sealed surface; a plurality of air chambers  2151 ,  2161 ,  2171  and air chambers  2152 ,  2162 ,  2172  symmetrically arranged relatively to the formers are formed beneath the top surface. The upper rotation lid  21  is provided on the external annular wall thereof with four lugs  211 ,  212 ,  213  and  214  separated one from another by an angle of about 90 degrees, the lugs  211 ,  212 ,  213  and  214  are not at the same level. The lower seat  22  is in the form quite similar to the upper rotation lid  21 ; the bottom thereof is a sealed surface. Above the bottom surface, there are a first air chamber  221 , a second air chamber  222 , a third air chamber  223 , a fourth air chamber  224 , a fifth air chamber  225  and a sixth air chamber  226 . The bottoms of the air chambers  223  and  226  are provided respectively with a plurality of discharge holes  2230  and  2260 . The bottoms of the air chambers  221 ,  222 ,  224  and  225  are provided respectively vertically with an air pipe  2210  ( 2220 ,  2240 ,  2250 ). The lower seat  22  is provided at the outer lateral sides thereof with a receiving seat  228  and a receiving seat  229  for mounting therein respectively a micro-switch  41  as well as a micro-switch  42  and a pad  43  by a plurality of screws  49 . In the present invention, any micro-switch ( 31 ,  32 ,  33 ; and  41 ,  42 ) contacting with a corresponding lug ( 111 ,  112 ,  113  and  114 ;  211 ,  212 ,  213  and  214 ) at the same level will make turning off of its corresponding motor to stop rotation of its corresponding upper rotation lid ( 11 ,  21 ). 
     The air bed  9  is comprised of a plurality of elongate air bladders  91 ,  92 ,  93 ,  94  and  95 . Wherein, the elongate air bladders  91  and  92  are provided on an upper layer, while the elongate air bladders  93  and  94  are provided on a lower layer. The elongate air bladder  95  is provided between the upper layer and the lower layer and extends to the two lateral sides of the elongate air bladders  91  and  92  to be used as a protection cushion. 
     Terminology of the functions of the air bed  9  is listed below in the first place: 
     aeration of a single air-bladder on both sides of the air bed: the air bladders  91 ,  92  and  95  are all aerated, while the air bladders  93  and  94  are discharged (as shown in FIG.  11 ). 
     aeration of a single air-bladder on one side of the air bed: the air bladders  91  and  95  are aerated, while the air bladders  92 ,  93  and  94  are discharged, now a person can lie on one side of him on the bed (as shown in FIG.  12 ). 
     aeration of both air-bladders on one side of the air bed: the air bladders  91 ,  93  and  95  are aerated, while the air bladders  92  and  94  are discharged, now a person can lie on one side of him on the bed by turning his body nearly 90 degrees (as shown in FIG.  13 ). 
     aeration of a single air-bladder on the other side of the air bed: the air bladders  92  and  95  are all aerated, while the air bladders  91 ,  93  and  94  are discharged, now a person can lie on the other side of him on the bed (as shown in FIG.  14 ). 
     aeration of both air-bladders on the other side of the air bed: the air bladders  92 ,  94  and  95  are aerated, while the air bladders  91  and  93  are discharged, now a person can lie on the other side of him on the bed by turning his body nearly 90 degrees (as shown in FIG.  15 ). 
     The above stated functions are described now referring to the connections shown in FIG. 3 of the drawings: The main intake  121  is connected to an external air supply pump (not shown); the central discharge pipe  123  is connected to the elongate air bladder  95  via a pipe line  51 ; the air pipe  1251  is connected to the air bladder  91  via a pipe line  52 ; the vertical lower air pipe  1253  is connected to the air pipe  2210  via a pipe line  54 ; the air pipe  1241  is connected to the air bladder  92  via a pipe line  53 ; the vertical lower air pipe  1243  is connected to the air pipe  2240  via a pipe line  55 ; the air pipe  2220  is connected to the air bladder  93  via a pipe line  56 ; and the air pipe  2250  is connected to the air bladder  94  via a pipe line  57 . 
     It shall be explained in the first place that, when the main intake  121  intakes air, air can be delivered to the central discharge pipe  123  to aerate the air bladder  95 . The air bladder  95  is always aerated in operation of the present invention. The present invention further includes external electronic circuit soft wares and hard wares to appropriately control rotation and rotating time of the upper rotation lids  11 ,  21 . 
     The functions of aeration as well as discharging of the two air valves in pursuance of their rotating positions are now described referring to the drawings: 
     Referring to FIG. 4 which shows the state of the first air valve  1  of the present invention in complete aeration: When the upper rotation lid  11  of the first air valve  1  is in the state shown in FIG. 4, the big air chamber  115  of the upper rotation lid  11  exactly covers the annular air chamber  122  of the lower seat  12  and the air chambers  1252  and  1242 . Therefore, air is taken in from the main intake  121 , and flows through the annular air chamber  122  into the big air chamber  115  and then gets into the air chambers  1252  and  1242 . Hence the air pipes  1251  and  1241 , the lower air pipes  1253  and  1243  are all filled with air. 
     Referring to FIG. 5 which shows the first air valve  1  of the present invention in a state with one side thereof aerated and the other side discharged: When the upper rotation lid  11  of the first air valve  1  is in the state shown in FIG. 5, the big air chamber  115  of the upper rotation lid  11  exactly covers the annular air chamber  122  of the lower seat  12  and the air chamber  1252 . The main intake  121  intakes air, air flows into the annular air chamber  122  and is led to the big air chamber  115 , then gets into the air chamber  1252  to supply air for the air pipe  1251  and the lower air pipe  1253 . The air chamber  1242  is covered exactly by the small air chamber  116  of the upper rotation lid  11 , so that the air chamber  1242  is communicated with the small air chamber  116 . The small air chamber  116  is provided on the top thereof with a plurality of discharge holes  1160 . Therefore, the air chamber  1242 , the air pipe  1241  and the lower air pipe  1243  will all be communicate with the outside through the small air chamber  116  and the discharge holes  1160 , thus air in the air pipe  1241  and the lower air pipe  1243  are discharged. 
     Referring to FIG. 6 which shows the first air valve of the present invention in a state with one side thereof discharged and the other side aerated: When the upper rotation lid  11  of the first air valve  1  is in the state shown in FIG. 6, the big air chamber  115  of the upper rotation lid  11  exactly covers the annular air chamber  122  of the lower seat  12  and the air chamber  1242 . Air is taken in from the main intake  121 , and flows through the annular air chamber  122  into the big air chamber  115  and then gets into the air chamber  1242 . So that the air pipe  1241  and the lower air pipe  1243  are filled with air. The air chamber  1252  is covered exactly by the small air chamber  116  of the upper rotation lid  11 , so that the air chamber  1252  is communicated with the small air chamber  116 . The small air chamber  116  is provided on the top thereof with the discharge holes  1160 . Therefore, the air chamber  1252 , the air pipe  1251  and the lower air pipe  1253  will all be communicated with the outside through the small air chamber  116  and the discharge holes  1160 , thus air in the air pipe  1251  and the lower air pipe  1253  are discharged. 
     Referring to FIG. 7 which shows the state of the second air valve of the present invention in complete aeration: When the upper rotation lid  21  of the second air valve  2  is in the state shown in FIG. 7, the air chamber  2151  of the upper rotation lid  21  exactly covers the air chambers  221  and  222  of the lower seat  22 . The air chamber  2152  of the upper rotation lid  21  exactly covers the air chamber  225  of the lower seat  22  and the air chamber  224 . The air pipe  2210  is communicated with the air pipe  2220  through the air chambers  221 , the air chamber  2151  and the air chamber  222 . While the air pipe  2240  is communicated with the air pipe  2250  through the air chamber  224 , the air chamber  2152  and the air chamber  225 . Now the air chambers  223 ,  226 ,  2161 ,  2171 ,  2162  and  2172  are inactive. 
     Referring to FIG. 8 which shows the state of the second air valve  2  of the present invention in slow discharging: When the upper rotation lid  21  of the first air valve  2  is in the state shown in FIG. 8, the air chambers  2151  and  2152  of the upper rotation lid  21  exactly cover the air chambers  226  and  223  of the lower seat  22  respectively. At this time, the air chambers  2151  and  2152  are inactive. Besides, the air chambers  2161  and  2162  cover the air chambers  221  and  224  of the lower seat  22  respectively. So that the air pipes  2210 ,  2240  keep in the state of non-aeration as well as non-discharging. The air chambers  222  and  225  of the lower seat  22  are covered by the air chambers  2171  and  2172  of the upper rotation lid  21 . So that the air chambers  222  and  225  are communicated with the air chambers  2171  and  2172 . By virtue that the areas of the air chambers  2171  and  2172  are larger respectively than those of the air chambers  222  and  225 , and the tip portions of the air chambers  2171  and  2172  exactly cover the air chambers  226  and  223  respectively. Therefore, air in the air chambers  222  and  225  will be sent to the air chambers  223  and  226  through the air chambers  2171  and  2172 , and is discharged from the discharge holes  2230  and  2260 . 
     After the operations of the two air valves are described, now the effect of the two air valves are explained as below: 
     Aeration of a single air-bladder on both sides of the air bed: When the air bed  9  of the present invention is to become the state of aeration for both sides for lying on one&#39;s back on the bed as is the case shown in FIG. 11, the first and the second air valves  1 ,  2  form the states shown in FIG. 4 and 8 respectively. FIG. 4 shows the state wherein the air pipes  1251  and  1241 , the lower air pipes  1253  and  1243  are all filled with air. The air pipes  1251  and  1241  supply air for the pipe lines  52  and  53 , so that the air bladders  91  and  92  are aerated. The air bladder  93  is communicated with the pipe line  56 , the air pipe  2220 , the air chamber  223  and the discharge hole  2230  and is filled with no air. The air bladder  94  is communicated with the pipe line  57 , the air pipe  2250 , the air chamber  226  and the discharge hole  2260  and is also filled with no air. 
     Aeration of a single air bladder on one side of the air bed: When the air bed  9  of the present invention is to become the state of aeration of a single air bladder on one side of the air bed for lying on one&#39;s side on the bed (with a small turning of one&#39;s body) as is the case shown in FIG. 12, the first and the second air valves  1 ,  2  form the states shown in FIGS. 5 and 8 respectively. FIG. 5 shows the state wherein the air pipe  1251  and the lower air pipe  1253  are filled with air, while the air pipe  1241  and the lower air pipe  1243  are not. The air pipe  1251  and the lower air pipe  1253  supply air for the pipe line  52 , so that the air bladder  91  is aerated. The air bladder  92  is communicated with the pipe line  53 , the air pipe  1241 , the small air chamber  116  and the discharge hole  1160  and is in a state of discharging. The air pipe  2240  is also in a state of discharging for being communicated with the pipe line  55 , the lower air pipe  1243 , the small air chamber  116  and the discharge hole  1160 . So that the air bladder  93  is discharged through the pipe line  56 , the air pipe  2220 , the air chamber  223  and the discharge hole  2230 . While the air bladder  94  is discharged through the pipe line  57 , the air pipe  2250 , the air chamber  226  and the discharge hole  2260 . 
     Aeration of both air bladders on one side of the air bed: The air bladders  91 ,  93  and  95  are all aerated, the air bladders  92  and  94  are not. Now a person can lie on one side of him on the bed as is the case shown in FIG. 13 (with a nearly 90-degree turning of one&#39;s body). The first and the second air valves  1 ,  2  form the states shown in FIGS. 5 and 9 respectively. FIG. 5 shows the state wherein the air pipe  1251  and the lower air pipe  1253  are filled with air, while the air pipe  1241  and the lower air pipe  1243  are not. The air pipe  1251  and the lower air pipe  1253  supply air for the pipe line  52 , so that the air bladder  91  is aerated. The lower air pipe  1253  delivers air to the air pipe  2210  of the second air valve  2  via the pipe line  54 . By virtue that the air pipes  2210  and  2220  of the second air valve  2  as shown in FIG. 9 are communicated with each other (and the air pipes  2240  and  2250  too), air getting into the air pipe  2210  is delivered to the air pipe  2220  to supply air for the pipe line  56  and the air bladder  93 . The air pipe  1241  and the lower air pipe  1243  are filled with no air, so that air is not in the pipe line  53 , the air bladder  92 , the pipe line  55 , the air pipe  2240 , the air chamber  224  and the air chamber  225 , nor is in the pipe line  57 , the air bladder  92  and the air bladder  94 . 
     Aeration of a single air-bladder on the other side of the air bed: The air bladders  92  and  95  are aerated, the air bladders  91 ,  93  and  94  are discharged. Now a person can lie on the other side of him on the bed as is the case shown in FIG.  14 . The first and the second air valves  1 ,  2  form the states shown in FIGS. 6 and 8 respectively. FIG. 6 shows the state wherein the air pipe  1241  and the lower air pipe  1243  are filled with air, while the air pipe  1251  and the lower air pipe  1253  are not. The air pipe  1241  and the lower air pipe  1243  supply air for the pipe line  53 , so that the air bladder  92  is aerated. The lower air pipe  1243  delivers air to the air pipe  2240  of the second air valve  2  via the pipe line  55 . By virtue that the air pipes  2210  and  2240  of the second air valve  2  as shown in FIG. 8 are discharged, so that no air is in the pipe lines  56 ,  57 , the air bladder  93  and the air bladder  94 . 
     Aeration of both air-bladders on the other side of the air bed: The air bladder  92 ,  94  and  95  are all aerated, the air bladders  91  and  93  are not. Now a person can lie on the other side of him on the bed as is the case shown in FIG. 15 (with a nearly 90-degree turning of his body). The first and the second air valves  1 ,  2  form the states shown in FIGS. 6 and 10 respectively. FIG. 6 shows the state wherein the air pipe  1241  and the lower air pipe  1243  are filled with air, while the air pipe  1251  and the lower air pipe  1253  are not. The air pipe  1241  supplies air for the pipe lines  53 ,  55 , so that the air bladder  92  is aerated. The lower air pipe  1243  delivers air to the air pipe  2240  of the second air valve  2  via the pipe line  55 . By virtue that the air pipes  2210  and  2220  of the second air valve  2  as shown in FIG. 10 are communicated with each other, air getting into the air pipe  2220  is delivered to the air pipe  2210  to supply air for the pipe line  57  and the air bladder  94 . 
     When in practice of the present invention, a user can use micro-switches taking advantage of the electronic circuits of the present invention depending on the states of contact of the lugs  111 ,  112 ,  113  and  114  as well as the lugs  211 ,  212 ,  213  and  214 , and the micro-switches  31 ,  32 ,  33  and the micro-switches  41 ,  42  to get a desired state of aeration and discharging by himself without observing the above described sequences of aeration and discharging. For example, he can make a design of at least one of the following two kinds of states which can be automatically changed over. 
     1. Aeration of a single air bladder on both sides of the air bed (as shown in FIG.  11 )□ Aeration of a single air bladder on one side of the air bed (as shown in FIG.  12 )□ Aeration of a single air bladder on both sides of the air bed (as shown in FIG.  11 )□ Aeration of a single air bladder on the other side of the air bed (as shown in FIG.  14 )□ Aeration of a single air bladder on both sides of the air bed (as shown in FIG.  11 ). (This is the small tuning procedures). 
     2. Aeration of a single air bladder on both sides of the air bed (as shown in FIG.  11 )□ Aeration of both air bladders on one side of the air bed (as shown in FIG.  13 )□ Aeration of a single air bladder on both sides of the air bed (as shown in FIG.  11 )□ Aeration of both air bladders on the other side of the air bed (as shown in FIG.  15 )□ Aeration of a single air bladder on both sides of the air bed (as shown in FIG.  11 ). (This is the big tuning procedures). 
     For the sake of safety, when in doing any change over of any bladder in the present invention, it is important that the air bed shall recover its state of aeration of a single air bladder on both sides of the air bed to avoid falling down of the patient lying thereon. 
     In conclusion, the air bed structure capable of alternate lying thereon on either of one&#39;s sides of the present invention is one which provides firstly and uniquely multiple functions of, in addition to allowing lying on one&#39;s back on the bed, making small turning to lie on one&#39;s side, big turning to lie on one&#39;s side and small (big) turning to lie on the other side of a person since such product of airbed has existed. It effectively solves the defects resided in the conventional air bed, and therefore is practical and improved. Such effect can not be achieved with any product existed in the markets. The product of the present invention has never disclosed in a document nor has existed in the markets and hence is outstanding.