Abstract:
An inflatable bed assembly having an inflexible cover that has one or more inflatable body support enclosures to receive one or more inflatable mattresses in a fully or nearly fully deflated state through a slit. Each mattress has a valve which is aligned with valve openings of the inflatable body support enclosures allowing them to be inflated while they are within the cover. The cover has internal dimensions that is less than or substantially equal to the corresponding external dimensions of the maximally inflated mattresses to restrict the inflatable mattresses from expanding. The bed is enhanced by inserting padding in a removable mattress padding enclosure attached to the top of the first inflatable body support enclosure.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The invention pertains to the field of inflatable beds. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    Inflatable beds are popular because they are portable and have a relatively low cost compared to beds with traditional mattresses. However, prior inflatable beds are found by many people to be unsuitable for every day use because they fail to provide as much support and comfort as a bed with a traditional mattress. 
         [0003]    Inflatable beds and inflatable mattresses known in the art are typically made out of relatively thin vinyl or another elastic or semi-elastic material. The amount of support provided by a traditional air bed is a function of the amount of air (and air pressure) in the bed. However, overpressurization of a traditional air bed may cause warping or breakage of the panels or seams of the inflatable mattress. Therefore, the amount of support a traditional inflatable bed can provide is limited by the maximum amount of air pressure the bed can reliably withstand while maintaining the structural integrity of the inflatable bed. The result is that when a person places their weight on a prior art inflatable bed, the inflatable bed may sag an undesirable amount and fail to firmly support the person&#39;s body. The inability of an inflatable bed to provide firm support renders air mattresses unsuitable or undesirable for daily use. 
         [0004]    Therefore it is desired to provide an inflatable bed that provides firm support equal to the support provided by a traditional mattress. Furthermore, it is desired to provide an inflatable bed that is firm yet has a top portion that is soft in order to increase the comfort of the bed. 
         [0005]    Therefore, it is an object of the invention to provide an inflatable bed that has a firm level of support equal to the support provided by a traditional mattress. 
         [0006]    It is another object of the present invention to provide an inflatable bed that provides a firm level of support equal to the support provided by a traditional mattress that has a soft top for increased comfort. 
         [0007]    Yet another object of the present invention is to provide an inflatable bed that is suitable for everyday usage. 
         [0008]    Still a further object of the present invention is to provide an inflatable bed cover that is adapted to provide a firm level of support. 
         [0009]    Another object of the present invention is to provide a method for assembling an inflatable bed that provides a firm level of support equal to the support provided by a traditional mattress. 
         [0010]    It is another object of the present invention to provide an inflatable bed with a firmness that is equal to the support provided by a traditional mattress that is economical to manufacture. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0011]    The foregoing objects are met by the present invention directed to an improved inflatable bed. The improved inflatable bed features a cover having a first inflatable body support enclosure. The first inflatable body support enclosure has top and bottom panels, first and second opposed side panels, first and second opposed end panels, and a first inflation valve opening. 
         [0012]    The cover is adapted to receive one or more inflatable mattresses forming an inflatable body support. The inflatable mattresses have inflation valves to receive air, water or another fluid or gas. The first inflatable body support enclosure is adapted to receive one or more inflatable mattresses. A slit is formed on one of the panels of the first inflatable body support enclosure. The slit is elongated to permit the insertion and removal of inflatable mattresses. The inflatable bed in one embodiment has a first inflatable mattress which is inserted through the slit in the enclosure in a fully or nearly fully deflated state. 
         [0013]    In another embodiment, the first inflatable mattress is placed near the top of the cover and a second inflatable mattress is placed in the cover below the first mattress. Alternatively, the second inflatable mattress may be inserted into a second inflatable body support enclosure of the cover. The second inflatable body support enclosure has top and bottom panels, first and second opposed side panels, first and second opposed end panels, and a second inflation valve opening. The second inflatable body support enclosure also has a slit adapted to receive the second inflatable mattress in a fully or nearly fully deflated state on one of the panels. The first and second inflatable body support enclosures are releasably attached to each other. 
         [0014]    The inflation valves on the inflatable mattresses are aligned with inflation valve openings in the mattress cover in order to allow access to the inflatable mattress valves such that the mattresses may be inflated and deflated while they are within the mattress cover. Inflation valve opening covers connected to the cover are adapted to be placed over the inflation valve openings in order to protect the inflation valves, the inflatable mattresses, and the interior of the mattress cover from being damaged or soiled. 
         [0015]    The mattress cover is constructed out of inelastic materials such as textiles and/or inelastic polymers. It is particularly desirable that each of the internal dimensions (e.g., internal length, width, and height) of the cover is less than or substantially equal to the corresponding external dimensions of the maximally inflated mattresses. Therefore, the cover forms an inflatable body support confining volume which restricts the inflatable mattresses from expanding beyond the dimensions of the cover when the inflatable mattresses are inflated. The inflatable mattresses of the improved inflatable bed are able to receive a larger amount of air pressure than traditional (non-confined) airbeds and the airbed provides a firmness equivalent to that of a traditional mattress when the inflatable mattresses are fully inflated. 
         [0016]    In order to enhance the comfort level of the airbed, the cover has a mattress padding enclosure on the top portion of the cover for receiving a mattress padding. The mattress padding enclosure is releasably attached to the first inflatable body support enclosure. The mattress padding enclosure has a selectively closeable opening having a length suitable to permit insertion and removal of the mattress padding. 
         [0017]    The inflatable bed has a channel around a periphery of a side of the inflatable bed between the first and second inflatable body support enclosures. This channel allows a conventional fitted sheet to be securely placed over the first inflatable body enclosure and mattress padding enclosure. 
     
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0018]    The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of a preferred but, nonetheless, illustrative embodiment of the invention, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
           [0019]      FIG. 1  provides an exploded view of a first embodiment of the inflatable bed assembly; 
           [0020]      FIG. 2  provides a top perspective view of the inflatable bed assembly of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0021]      FIG. 3  provides a bottom perspective view of the inflatable bed assembly of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0022]      FIG. 4  provides a side elevation sectional view of the inflatable bed assembly of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0023]      FIG. 5  provides a front elevational view of the inflation valve opening covers on the mattress cover of the inflatable bed assembly of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0024]      FIG. 6  provides a side elevation sectional view of a second embodiment of the inflatable bed assembly; 
           [0025]      FIG. 7  provides a side elevation sectional view of the inflatable bed assembly of  FIG. 6  with a sheet placed over the first inflatable body support enclosure; and 
           [0026]      FIG. 8  provides a bottom perspective view of the second inflatable body support enclosure of the inflatable bed assembly of  FIG. 6 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0027]    With particular reference to the drawings, the present invention is directed to an improved inflatable bed assembly  2  and method therefor. Referring to  FIG. 1 , a first embodiment of the inflatable bed assembly  2  has a cover  4  and has first and second inflatable mattresses  6 ,  8  which form an inflatable body support within the cover  4 . 
         [0028]    The cover  4  has an inflatable body support enclosure  10  for receiving the inflatable mattresses  6 ,  8 . The inflatable body support enclosure  10  has a top  12  and bottom  14  panel, first and second side panels  18 , first and second opposed end panels  16 , and first and second inflation valve openings  20 ,  22 . 
         [0029]    As shown in  FIG. 3 , the inflatable body support enclosure  10  also has an elongated slit  24  on one of its panels. In the displayed embodiment, the slit  24  is on the bottom panel  14 . However, the slit  24  may be on any of the other panels of the inflatable body support enclosure  10 . The elongated slit  24  is long enough to permit the insertion and removal of the inflatable mattresses  6 ,  8  in a fully deflated or nearly fully deflated state. For example, the length of the elongated slit  24  may be 50-75% of the length of the inflatable mattresses  6 ,  8  (e.g., the longest dimension) to allow the inflatable mattresses to be easily inserted and removed from the inflatable body support enclosure  10 . 
         [0030]    The inflatable body support enclosure  10  is constructed of an inflexible material. Examples of a suitable material include textiles such as cotton or inflexible polymers. It is preferred that the material of the inflatable body support enclosure  10  is strong and able to resist a large amount of pressure or other force. While the side  18  and bottom  14  panels of the inflatable body support enclosure  10  are intended to be constructed out of a strong material, it is contemplated that the top panel  12  of the inflatable body support enclosure  10  may be constructed of a softer inflexible material for increased comfort. 
         [0031]    The first inflatable mattress  6  is placed near the top of the inflatable body support enclosure and the second Inflatable mattress  8  is placed near the bottom of the inflatable body support enclosure  10 . The second inflatable mattress  8  preferably has a length and width substantially similar to the length and width of the first inflatable mattress  6 . As illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 4 , the first and second inflatable mattresses  6 ,  8  are in an overlying abutting relationship to each other within the inflatable body support enclosure  10 . The inflatable body support enclosure  10  has first and second valve openings  20 ,  22  aligned with the first and second inflation valve  26 ,  28  on the first and second inflatable mattress  6 ,  8  to allow a user to access the second inflation valve when it is inside the cover  4 . 
         [0032]    The first and second inflatable mattresses  6 ,  8  each have a top  30 ,  32 , and bottom panel  34 ,  36 , four side panels,  38 ,  40  and a first and second inflation valve  26 ,  28 , which allow the mattresses to receive water, air or another gas or fluid from an inflation source. The inflatable mattresses  6 ,  8  are substantially rectilinear in shape when in an inflated state. The inflation valves  26 ,  28  of the mattresses are preferably on a side panel  38 ,  40  of the mattress. 
         [0033]    The interior volume of the inflatable body support enclosure  10  of the cover  4  is substantially equal to or smaller than a maximal combined unhindered inflated volume of the inflatable body support comprising the one or more inflatable mattresses  6 ,  8 . This causes the cover  4  to form an inflatable body confining volume which restricts expansion of the inflatable body support. The confining volume provided by the inflatable bed support enclosure  10  allows the inflatable mattresses to receive a large amount of air pressure when the mattresses  6 ,  8  are fully inflated, while maintaining their structural integrity. This causes the inflatable bed to provide a level of support that is more firm than if expansion of the inflatable body support was unhindered. 
         [0034]    As shown in  FIG. 4 , when the one or more mattresses  6 ,  8  are fully inflated inside the inflatable body support enclosure  10 , the opposite ends of the slit  24  separate and the slit becomes narrow and elongated, substantially closing the slit. The substantially closed elongated slit  24  protects the first and second mattresses  6 ,  8  and maintains their position inside the mattress cover  4 . In another embodiment, sealing means may be used along the elongated slit  24 , such as a zipper or hook-and-loop fastener, or another type of fastener, to provide further securing of the slit and protection of the mattresses  6 ,  8 . Further, the slit  24  may be located on a seam between two of the panels of the cover  4 . 
         [0035]    While the inflatable bed  2  preferably comprises two inflatable mattresses  6 ,  8 , it is contemplated that the inflatable body support may consist  10  of a single inflatable mattress disposed within the inflatable body support enclosure  10 , which single inflatable mattress has a single inflation valve aligned with a single inflation valve opening on the inflatable body support enclosure  10 . 
         [0036]    After the user is finished inflating the inflatable body support, the user may fasten covers  42  on the inflation valve openings  20 ,  22 . As shown in  FIG. 5 , the inflation valve opening covers  42  are preferably contoured to sufficiently protect the mattresses  6 ,  8 , from being damaged or soiled and to provide an attractive appearance for the inflatable bed  2 . 
         [0037]    In order to enhance the comfort level of the inflatable bed assembly  2 , it is preferred that a mattress padding enclosure  44 , is attached to the top panel  12  of the inflatable body support enclosure  10 . The mattress padding enclosure  44  holds padding  46  such as memory foam, an inflatable body, or cotton, down, polyester, or other materials known in the art. The mattress padding enclosure  44  has a top panel  48  and four side panels  50 , and has dimensions approximately equal to the top panel  12  of the inflatable body support enclosure. The mattress padding enclosure  44  may also have a bottom panel  52 . 
         [0038]    The mattress padding enclosure  44  has a selectively closeable opening  54  having a length suitable to permit insertion and removal of the padding  46 . In embodiments where the mattress padding enclosure  44  does not have a bottom panel  52 , it is preferable that the selectively closeable opening  54  extends around the entire circumference of the mattress padding enclosure  44  so that the selectively closeable opening releasably attaches the mattress padding enclosure to the first inflatable body support enclosure  10 . 
         [0039]    In embodiments where the mattress padding enclosure  44  has a bottom panel  52 , the bottom panel is releasably attached to the top panel  12  of the inflatable body support enclosure by fastening means. The fastening means may be a zipper, snap buttons, velcro, or other fasteners well known in the art. In this embodiment, it is preferable that the mattress padding enclosure  44  has a selectively closeable opening  54  at three edges to allow bulky mattress padding to be easily inserted and removed. 
         [0040]    The combination of the soft padding  46  on the top portion of the inflatable bed  2  with the firm support provided by the inflatable body support within the mattress cover  4  creates an extremely comfortable inflatable bed that provides firm support equal to the support provided by high quality traditional mattresses. The novel inflatable bed is suitable for everyday use and is more cost effective and portable as compared to other prior art beds. 
         [0041]    As shown in  FIG. 2 , the inflatable bed assembly also provides an attractive appearance similar to the aesthetics of a high quality traditional bed. The fastener  56  of the padding cover is preferably offset from the outermost periphery of the side panel  18  of the inflatable body support enclosure and the side panel of the padding cover  54  to create a circumferential indentation  58  or groove which provides the inflatable bed with the appearance of a two-layered, pillow-top construction on a traditional mattress. The inflation valve opening covers  42  increase the attractiveness of the inflatable bed  2  by hiding the inflation valve openings  20 ,  22  and conveying an impression of continuity along the mattress cover sides. 
         [0042]    Referring to  FIGS. 6-8 , in a second embodiment, the cover  4  has first and second inflatable body support enclosures  60 ,  62 , which are preferably releasably interconnected through fastening means well known in the art such as hook-and-loop fasteners, zippers, buttons, or snaps. The first and second inflatable mattresses  6 ,  8  are inserted into the first and second inflatable body support enclosures  60 ,  62 , respectively. The first and second inflatable body support enclosures each have a top  68 ,  70  and bottom  72 ,  74  panel, first and second side panels  76 ,  78 , first and second opposed end panels  80 ,  82 , and a first and second inflation valve opening  84 ,  86 . The first and second inflatable body support enclosures  60 ,  62  also each have an elongated slit  64 ,  66  on the bottom panel  72 ,  74  that is large enough to permit the insertion and removal of one or more inflatable mattresses in a fully deflated or nearly fully deflated state.  FIG. 8  shows the elongated slit  66  on the bottom panel of the second enclosure. 
         [0043]    The panels on the first and second inflatable body support enclosures  60 ,  62  are constructed of an inflexible material that is strong and able to resist a large amount of pressure or other force, such as the materials described above. The first and second inflation valves  26 ,  28  on the first and second inflatable mattresses  6 ,  8  are aligned with the first and second inflation valve opening  84 ,  86  to give the user access to the first and second inflation valve when the first and second inflatable mattresses  6 ,  8  are inside the cover  2 . 
         [0044]    The inflatable bed preferably has a channel  88  around a periphery of a side of the cover  4 . The channel  88  may be formed between the first and second inflatable body support enclosures  60 ,  62 . As shown in  FIG. 7 , the channel  88  permits a fitted sheet  90  with an opening and an elastic closure to be placed over the cover  4 , with the elastic closure disposed in the channel  88 . 
         [0045]    As described above, the interior volume of the first and second inflatable body support enclosures  60 ,  62  are each substantially equal to or smaller than an unhindered inflated volume of the first and second inflatable mattresses  6 ,  8 , respectively, which provides a firm level of support. 
         [0046]    Also, as above, opposite ends of the slits  64  and  66  of the first and second inflatable body support enclosures  60 ,  62  separate when the inflatable body support enclosures  60 ,  62  are inflated to substantially close the slits  64 ,  66 . 
         [0047]    Each of the first and second inflatable body support enclosures  60 ,  62  include a cover  42 , which may be placed over one of the first and second inflation valve openings. 
         [0048]    Further, a mattress padding enclosure  44  and padding  46  may be provided as described above, to provide increased comfort. Preferably, the mattress padding enclosure  44  is connected to the top panel of the first inflatable body enclosure  60 . 
         [0049]    As depicted, it is preferable that the (releasably interconnected) first and second inflatable body support enclosures  60 ,  62  each comprise six panels, with the bottom panel  72  of the first inflatable body support enclosure  60  and the top panel  70  of the second inflatable body support enclosure  62  interposed between the first and second inflatable mattresses  6 ,  8  in an adjacent and abutting relationship. However, it is contemplated that the bottom panel  72  of the first inflatable body support enclosure  60  or the top panel  70  of the second inflatable body support enclosure  62  can be omitted such that one of the first and second inflatable body support enclosures  60 ,  62  consists of five panels. In this construction, the panel interposed between the first and second mattresses  6 ,  8  provides structural support for both the first and second inflatable body support enclosures  60 ,  62 . It can be appreciated that the five-panel inflatable body support enclosure would be interconnected to the six-panel inflatable body support enclosure prior to full inflation of the inflatable mattress within the five-panel inflatable body support enclosure. 
         [0050]    While the embodiments above depict a plurality of two inflatable mattresses, it is contemplated that the inflatable body support can comprise more than two inflatable mattresses. Further, when a plurality of inflatable mattresses are used for the inflatable body support, the top inflatable mattress  6  preferably has support projections on its top surface for increased comfort, and the bottom inflatable mattress  8  may have I-beams or other support structures for stability. When the inflatable body support comprises a single inflatable mattress, the single inflatable mattress preferably combines the support and comfort provided by separate first and second mattresses  6 ,  8 . Alternatively or additionally, a plurality of inflatable mattresses may be arranged in a row, in a horizontally abutting relationship with each other. 
         [0051]    It should be understood, of course, that the specific form of the invention herein illustrated and described is intended to be representative only, as certain changes may be made therein without departing from the clear teachings of the disclosure. Accordingly, reference should be made to the following appended claims in determining the full scope of the invention.