Patent ID: 8720120

Claim:
An inflatable device, comprising: a substantially fluid impermeable bladder having a first surface that is an outer surface of a wall of the bladder; an outlet in the bladder; and a frame configured to support the bladder when the inflatable device is in use, the frame including: a first substantially rigid surface including a first solid sheet of material, the first substantially rigid surface coupled to the first surface of the fluid impermeable bladder; a second substantially rigid surface formed of a second sheet of material, the second substantially rigid surface coupled to the first surface of the fluid impermeable bladder; and a hinge connecting the first and second substantially rigid surfaces and configured to adjust an angle between the first and second substantially rigid surfaces through a range of angles including 0 degrees and 180 degrees; wherein the first surface of the inflatable device and the first and second substantially rigid surfaces of the frame are configured in a U shaped configuration with the hinge at 0 degrees; wherein the inflatable bladder is substantially planar and the first substantially rigid surface and the second substantially rigid surface collectively support the first surface of the fluid impermeable bladder in the substantially planar configuration with the hinge at 180 degrees and remain substantially in contact with more than half of the first surface of the fluid impermeable bladder with the hinge at 180 degrees, and wherein the first substantially rigid surface and the second substantially rigid surface remain substantially in contact with the first surface of the fluid impermeable bladder when the angle is adjusted through the range of angles including 0 degrees and 180 degrees.