Patent ID: 7735164

Claim:
A patient transfer mattress, comprising: a rectangular top sheet; a rectangular bottom sheet corresponding to said top sheet, the periphery of said bottom sheet being joined to the periphery of said top sheet, said bottom sheet having a plurality of holes configured to provide a continuous cushion of air under said mattress when said mattress is inflated; a plurality of internal baffles extending between said top sheet and said bottom sheet, each baffle being a rectangular sheet having first and second parallel edges, each baffle being joined to said top sheet along said first edge and to said bottom sheet along said second edge, said baffles being configured to divide the internal volume of said mattress into a plurality of connected chambers; a receptacle integrated into said top sheet, said receptacle configured to receive a connector for supplying air to inflate said mattress; and a strip of reinforcing material attached to both said top sheet and said bottom sheet at the periphery of said mattress where said top sheet and said bottom sheet are joined, said reinforcing material being continuous over the edge where said top sheet and said bottom sheet are joined; wherein said top sheet, said bottom sheet, and said baffles are comprised of fabric backed with a thermally weldable material, said thermally weldable material facing the interior of said mattress for facilitating thermal welding of said baffles to said top sheet and said bottom sheet.