Abstract:
A camping tent assembly having a removable inflatable mattress portion inserted into a floor portion, comprises a two-layered floor comprising a zippered edge which opens to receive the removable mattress, thereby allowing the mattress to occupy a space subjacent to the floor portion to provide a user with more interior space as compared to a conventional tent with a conventional air mattress placed above a floor portion. The mattress is inflated using a manual foot pump. The entire tent, including the deflated mattress, is simply folded or rolled up when breaking camp in much the same manner as a conventional tent. The mattress may be easily removed for repair or replacement as needed.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     The present invention was first described in and claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/309,462 filed Mar. 2, 2010, the entire disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to portable tents, and in particular, to a portable tent assembly including a removable, inflatable mattress. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Camping, hunting and other outdoor activities are among today&#39;s most popular leisure activities. While different types of camping and different types of people will have different items in their camping equipment collection, just about all of these collections will have a tent. The tent provides basic necessities of protection from the elements and a surface other than the ground upon which to sleep. 
     In addition to the tent, most people will utilize additional objects to provide comfort and padding while sleeping. While pillows and blankets are common, air mattresses are particularly ubiquitous for outdoors excursions due to the fact that they provide complete and portable cushioning, are relatively lightweight and compact, and can accommodate multiple persons. However, air mattresses suffer from the disadvantage that they take up a considerable amount of space inside the tent due to their height requirement. This is especially a factor in smaller tents where there is not a lot of vertical height to begin with. 
     Various attempts have been made to provide tents with cushioned or inflatable sleeping surfaces. Examples of these attempts can be seen by reference to several U.S. patents. U.S. Pat. No. 5,562,115, issued in the name of Sotelo, describes a combined tent and sleeping mat system including a cushioned mat along a bottom surface. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,615,521, issued in the name of Simerka, describes a tent flooring system including a support structure with two (2) separately inflatable bladder members fastenable to a bottom portion of a tent. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,632,291, issued in the name of Botbyl et al., describes a circular air mattress and tent including an air valve in a sidewall permitting pneumatic inflation of the mattress. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,660,197, issued in the name of Boe et al., describes a portable tent with an integrated inflatable mattress formed between a double cushioned floor portion of the tent. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,913,322, issued in the name of Gallant et al., describes a tent with a plurality of inflatable mattresses which can be secured to a base portion of the tent in a side-by-side orientation. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 6,167,898, issued in the name of Larga et al., describes a tent with an integral air mattress and a bottom surface including a series of intersecting grooves permitting air flow and water flow underneath the tent. 
     Additionally, ornamental designs for a tent with an inflatable floor exist, particularly U.S. Patent Nos. D 330,745 and D 546,914. However, none of these designs are similar to the present invention. 
     While these apparatuses fulfill their respective, particular objectives, each of these references suffer from one (1) or more of the aforementioned disadvantages. Many such apparatuses, when actuated or inflated, reduce the amount of usable space within the tent. Also, many such apparatuses are difficult to inflate. Furthermore, many such apparatuses do not enable separate use of the tent or mattress functions of the apparatus. Accordingly, there exists a need for a tent providing mattress cushioning features but 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 
     In view of the foregoing references, the inventor recognized the aforementioned inherent problems and observed that there is a need for a tent compatible with an air mattress which allows fully functional independent separate use of the tent and mattress but which does not inhibit the area within the tent during concurrent use. Thus, the object of the present invention is to solve the aforementioned disadvantages and provide for this need. 
     To achieve the above objectives, it is an object of the present invention to provide a tent assembly which receives an inflatable air mattress in an integral mattress cavity, thereby providing additional interior space during use as compared to simply placing an independent air mattress within a tent. The apparatus includes the tent assembly, the air mattress, and a foot pump. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide standard tent features including a peaked roof, side portions a frame, and a zippered flap opening which are fully functional without the use of the air mattress. The tent further includes the mattress cavity between a first and second floor portion which provides a snug fit of the air mattress when inflated. 
     Yet still another object of the present invention is to provide an integral inflating means for the air mattress. The foot pump is in fluid communication with the mattress via a length of hose and enables a user to inflate the mattress by repeatedly depressing a bellow chamber with their foot. 
     Yet still another object of the present invention is to provide convenient storage of the foot pump when the mattress is in use inside of an integral storage pocket recessed into a top surface of the air mattress. 
     Yet still another object of the present invention is to provide a fastener along the open end of the mattress cavity to secure and protect the inflated mattress during use. 
     Yet still another object of the present invention is to maintain the full measure of utilizable interior space within the tent even after the mattress is inflated and inserted therein by causing the mattress to lift the first floor panel and effectively raise the side and top portions of the tent. 
     Yet still another object of the present invention is to provide a method of utilizing the device that provides a unique means of acquiring the apparatus, assembling the tent in a desired location, utilizing the tent in a normal manner, inflating the mattress with the foot pump, placing the pump within the storage pocket, inserting the mattress into the mattress cavity and thereby raising the tent, closing the mattress inside the cavity, sleeping within the tent while enjoying a cushioned bottom surface, removing, deflating, and storing the deflated mattress as desired, and being able to utilize the mattress independently of the tent if desired. 
     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  is a perspective view of a tent with insertable mattress  10  depicting insertion of an air mattress portion  50 , according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2   a  is a perspective view of the tent with insertable mattress  10  depicting an in-use state, according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2   b  is a front view of the tent with insertable mattress  10 , according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 3  is a section view of the tent with insertable mattress  10  taken along section line A-A (see  FIG. 1 ), according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; and, 
         FIG. 4  is a section view of the tent with insertable mattress  10  taken along section line B-B (see  FIG. 2   b ), according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
       
         
           
                 
               
                 
                 
               
             
                 
                     
                 
                 
                   DESCRIPTIVE KEY 
                 
                 
                     
                 
               
               
                 
                     
                 
               
            
             
                 
                   10 
                   tent with insertable mattress 
                 
                 
                   15 
                   tent assembly 
                 
                 
                   20 
                   tent roof panel 
                 
                 
                   22 
                   tent side panel 
                 
                 
                   23 
                   tent rear panel 
                 
                 
                   24 
                   tent pole foot 
                 
                 
                   25 
                   tent pole 
                 
                 
                   26 
                   tent pole connector 
                 
                 
                   27 
                   flap opening 
                 
                 
                   29 
                   mattress cavity 
                 
                 
                   30 
                   first floor panel 
                 
                 
                   31 
                   second floor panel 
                 
                 
                   32 
                   floor panel opening 
                 
                 
                   34 
                   horizontal zipper 
                 
                 
                   35 
                   vertical zipper 
                 
                 
                   36 
                   zipper puller 
                 
                 
                   50 
                   air mattress 
                 
                 
                   55 
                   vent valve 
                 
                 
                   60 
                   foot pump 
                 
                 
                   62 
                   hose 
                 
                 
                   65 
                   storage pocket 
                 
                 
                   100 
                   ground surface 
                 
                 
                     
                 
               
            
           
         
       
     
    
    
     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 4 . 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. 
     The present invention describes a tent with an insertable mattress (herein described as the “apparatus”)  10 , which provides a camping tent assembly  15  comprising a removable inflatable air mattress  50  being removably inserted into a mattress cavity  29  formed between first floor panel  30  and subjacent second floor panel  31  portions of the tent assembly  15 . An open front seam of said floor panels  30 ,  31  receives said removable air mattress  50 , thereby positioning the air mattress  50  below the tent assembly  15  to provide a user with more interior space as compared to a conventional tent which utilizes a conventional air mattress being placed within an interior space. The air mattress  50  is inflated using a common pneumatic foot pump  60 . Following normal use, the air mattress  50  is deflated and the tent assembly  15  is simply folded or rolled up in a conventional manner. The air mattress  50  can be easily inserted or removed for repair or replacement by deploying a pair of horizontal zippers  34 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 1 , a perspective view of the apparatus  10  depicting insertion of an air mattress portion  50 , according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, is disclosed. The apparatus  10  comprises a camping tent assembly  15 , an air mattress  50 , and a foot pump  60 . The camping tent assembly  15  comprises a conventional rectangular enclosure made of a plurality of textile panels assembled using conventional methods such as sewing, adhesive bonding, or the like. The tent assembly  15  is envisioned being made using conventional waterproof textile materials such as, but not limited to: polyester, polyethylene, nylon, canvas, or the like. Said tent assembly  15  comprises standard features including a peaked-roof panel  20 , a pair of tent side panels  22 , a rear panel  23 , a tubular frame of poles  25  and connectors  26 , and a pair of accessible flap opening portions  27  arranged along a front portion. Said flap openings  27  further comprise respective horizontal zippers  34 , and a joining vertical zipper  35 , thereby providing mechanical attachment along forwardly exposed bottom and joining edges of the flap opening  27  and the subjacent second floor panel  31  to close the tent assembly  15  while coincidentally containing the air mattress  50  within said closed tent assembly  15 . 
     The tent poles  25  and connectors  26  are preferably fabricated from resilient, sturdy, and lightweight materials, such as metallic, plastic, or composite materials commonly associated with portable tent frame structures. 
     The tent assembly  15  is depicted here having a conventional rectangular “ridge-tent” design having an internal frame portion comprising a plurality of tent poles  25  tent pole connectors  26 , a peak roof panel  20 , and a zippered front flap opening portion  27 ; however, it is understood that the two-layer tent floor panels  30 ,  31  of the present invention  10  may be incorporated into various new tent models including tent designs such as, but not limited to: large multi-room family tents, dome tents, one-man “biker” tents, and the like. Furthermore, said tent designs are envisioned to comprise various features such as, but not limited to: other internal and external frame types, rain flies, supporting guy-wire systems, mesh windows, carrying containers, and the like, without deviating from the teaching of the invention  10  and as such should not be interpreted as a limiting factor of the apparatus  10 . Furthermore, the apparatus  10  is envisioned to be provided in a variety of internal and external colors and patterns based upon a user&#39;s preference. 
     The tent assembly  15  comprises side  22  and rear  23  panel portions which provide permanent attachment to the tent floor portions  30 ,  31  being affixed along side and rear perimeter edge regions using the aforementioned textile assembly techniques. Said first  30  and second  31  tent floor portions comprise parallel rectangular horizontal shapes defining a mattress cavity  29  between, being approximately six (6) to twelve (12) inches high. The aforementioned zipper portions  34  of the flap opening  27  and second floor panel  31  are sized to define a floor flap  37  for opening and closing said floor cavity  29  so as to allow sliding insertion of a dimensionally-matching air mattress  50  into said mattress cavity  29 . The air mattress  50  and tent floor portions  30 ,  31  comprise similar length and width dimensions, thereby providing a snug fit of the air mattress  50  when inserted between said tent floor panel portions  30 ,  31 . Said air mattress  50  and tent floor panels  30 ,  31  are envisioned to be introduced in a variety of standard bedding sizes such as twin, single, queen, and the like, thereby allowing use of standard bedding materials. 
     The mattress  50  comprises a foot pump  60  and a capped pop-out type vent valve  55  for quick deflation. The foot pump  60  is in fluid communication with the mattress  50  via a length of common rubber or plastic hose  62  and is envisioned to be of a similar construction as those commonly provided with other air mattresses having a bellows-shaped chamber, integral check valve, oval-shaped foot pad, and the like. The air mattress  50  provides a convenient storage means to the foot pump  60  and the hose  62  when not in use, via an integral storage pocket  65  recessed into a top surface of said air mattress  50  and positioned along a top corner area of said air mattress  50 . The foot pump  60  is envisioned to be extracted from the storage pocket  65  and utilized upon an adjacent ground surface  100  during filling. The air mattress  50  is envisioned to be made of polyvinylchloride (PVC) plastic, vulcanized rubber covered in canvas, polyurethane, or equivalent material, and incorporating features found on popular models of air mattresses such as, but not limited to: internal baffles affixed between top and bottom surfaces to maintain a consistent thickness of the mattress  50 . 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 2   a  through  4 , various views of the apparatus  10 , according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, are disclosed. In use, the air mattress  50  in an inflated state is inserted between the floor panels  30 ,  31 , and the horizontal zipper portions  34  are closed using respective zipper puller portions  36  to contain the mattress  50 . It is envisioned that the air mattress  50  be inflated to a sufficient internal pressure sufficient to cause said tent floor panels  30 ,  31  and included air mattress  50  to extend in a downward direction with respect to the tent assembly  15  as seen here, so as to not subtract from an interior space within said tent assembly  15 . 
     The tent frame further comprises a plurality of a tent foot members  24  each removably attached to terminal ends of each vertical member  25  of the tent frame. The vertical members  25  and the foot members  24  of the tent frame, which provide the sturdy support for the tent assembly  15 , are each routed through a tent floor opening  32  of the first floor panel  30 , thereby enabling contact of the foot members  24  to a ground surface  100  through the second floor panel  31 . Each tent floor opening  32  further comprises a flap  38  located at a perimeter interior edge of the first floor panel  30  adjacent to the side panels  22  and the rear panel  23 . This enables the mattress  50  to be conveniently inserted through the cavity  29  without interference with each vertical leg member  25  and foot member  26  of the tent frame. 
     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 installing and utilizing the apparatus  10  may be achieved by performing the following steps: procuring a model of the apparatus  10  having desired internal and external colors and patterns and a desired size air mattress  50 ; selecting a suitable ground surface  100  area on which to set up the apparatus  10 ; unrolling and laying the apparatus  10  upon said ground surface  100 ; partially extracting the air mattress  50  from the mattress cavity  29  by unzipping the horizontal zippers  34  to expose the storage pocket  65  and foot pump  60 ; removing and placing the foot pump  60  upon the adjacent ground surface  100 ; inflating the air mattress  50  by pressing the foot pump  60  in an expected manner until the mattress  50  obtains a desired internal pressure; inserting the air mattress  50  completely between the floor panels  30 ,  31 ; assembling the upper portions of the tent assembly  15  by assembling the tent poles  25  and tent pole connectors  26  within the tent assembly  15 ; closing the zippers  34 ,  35 ; utilizing the apparatus  10  in a normal manner for camping or similar activities; and, benefiting from added comfort of an air mattress  50  within a tent assembly  15  while maintaining a maximum interior space while using the present invention  10 . 
     During setting up of the apparatus  10 , initial inflation of the air mattress  50  serves to define a firm base portion of the tent assembly  15 , therefore aiding a user during assembly of the pole  25  and connector  26  portions, and the textile panel portions  20 ,  22 ,  23  of the tent assembly  15  which is especially useful in the event of a single individual setting up the apparatus  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.