Abstract: A waterbed mattress comprises an inflatable container formed of a flexible plastic material with a generally planar top sleeping surface and a generally planar bottom. There are generally vertical side walls and a generally vertical head end wall and a generally vertical foot end wall. the head end wall has a greater vertical height than that of the foot end wall whereby the top sleeping surface slants from the head end to the foot end.

Abstract: A waterbed mattress has a baffle structure that comprises a horizontally extending pad of bouyant material with a plurality of chambers depending therefrom. The chambers can be hemi-spheroidal. The chamber walls having water metering holes therethrough.

Abstract: A waterbed mattress has a baffle structure that comprises a horizontally extending pad of buoyant material with a plurality of chambers depending therefrom. The chambers can be hemi-spheroidal. The chamber walls having water metering holes therethrough.

Abstract: A mattress or pad that contours and conforms to the body profile of a reclining individual. The preferred embodiments contain flexible, airtight chambers, at least two of which are interconnected to allow the transfer of air or liquid. Interconnected chambers are positioned and dimensioned to conform to and support the natural curves of a reclining body. The volume of fluid, e.g., air or liquid, within all of the chambers can be easily adjusted to allow comfortable resistance and conformity to a wide range of body lengths, weights, and shapes. Preferred embodiments have insulative, self inflating elements, comprising low-density, open-celled, flexible foam in a rectangular configuration, in a thin-walled cylindrical configuration, and in an arced configuration determined by an adhered heat-reflective plastic film.

Abstract: A low tension waterbed mattress has a top with a plurality of expandable folds molded therein so that the top wall stretches when a user lays on the mattress so that the user is not laying on a taut sleeping surface. The folds have an aesthetic appearance. The mattress is typically filled to a volume providing a depth at least 3 inches less than the capacity of the mattress. The top wall of the mattress has a surface area at least 3% larger than the surface area of the bottom wall of the mattress.

Abstract: A waterbed mattress has a baffle structure that comprises a horizontally extending pad of bouyant material with a plurality of chambers depending therefrom. The chambers can be hemi-spheroidal. The chamber walls having water metering holes therethrough.

Abstract: A waterbed mattress comprises an external envelope and is provided with an internal layer of viscous, polymeric sealing material for sealing punctures in the mattress. The polymeric material can be poly(ether)urethane, which is prevented from sticking to itself by a barrier layer of polyethylene. The mattress is formed from two sheets of polymeric material secured together where the sealing material and barrier are attached to the sheet that forms the top wall of the mattress before the sheets are secured together.

Abstract: A waterbed mattress has an internal horizontally-extending baffle for reducing wave-like motion of the water in the mattress. The baffle comprises at least two horizontally-extending layers secured together, a first layer denser than water and a second layer less dense than water. The first layer can be a porous mass of bound-together fibers and the second layer can be closed cell polymeric foam. The baffle, which floats spaced apart from the bottom wall of the mattress, is foldable and collapsible, so that the entire mattress can be folded for storage.

Abstract: A waterbed mattress has an internal horizontally extending baffle surface for reducing wave-like motion of the water in the mattress. The baffle surface is anchored within the mattress, and preferably between the top and bottom walls of the mattress. Preferably, the baffle surface is fabricated of a buoyant material and is anchored to the bottom wall of the mattress with no connection between the baffle surface and the top wall.

Abstract: Flexible self-sealing sheeting comprises a flexible, puncturable sheet of cloth or polymeric material, a layer of a self-adhering, water-resistant polyurethane sealing material, and an anti-tack barrier. The sheeting can be used to form a waterbed mattress, swimming pool, tent, inflatable boat, tarp, roof, and other self-sealing articles.

Abstract: A foldable, flexible container for heating water has first and second side walls. The first side wall is clear and the second side wall comprises an inner layer of dark plastic, an outer layer of reflective plastic, and a middle layer of flexible insulating foam sandwiched between the inner and outer layers.

Abstract: A waterbed mattress comprising an external envelope is provided with an internal layer of viscous, polymeric sealing material for sealing punctures in the mattress. The polymeric material can be polybutene filled with a particulate filler. The sealing material can be sandwiched between two layers of polyethylene to form an internal liner assembly that conforms generally to the shape of the external envelope of the waterbed mattress.

Abstract: A waterbed mattress has an internal horizontally-extending baffle for reducing wave-like motion of the water in the mattress. The baffle comprises at least two horizontally-extending layers secured together, a first layer denser than water and a second layer less dense than water. The first layer can be a porous mass of bound-together fibers and the second layer can be closed cell polymeric foam. The baffle, which floats spaced apart from the bottom wall of the mattress, is foldable and collapsible, so that the entire mattress can be folded for storage.

Abstract: A waterbed mattress has a baffle structure comprising a horizontally extending buoyant pad. The pad is anchored to an underlying anchor sheet that is not secured to the walls of the mattress. A porous mass of bound together fibers is positioned between the anchor sheet and the pad.

Abstract: An air bleeder valve for a waterbed mattress comprises a hollow tubular body sized to fit snugly into the fill spout of a waterbed mattress, a flap valve at one end of the body, and a porous, non-water absorbing water barrier in the tubular body for preventing water from splashing out of the mattress when bleeding air from the mattress.

Abstract: A coupling for filling and draining a waterbed comprises a tube for insertion into the male-threaded filler neck of a waterbed valve, and two female-threaded nuts rotatably mounted on the tube for connection to a garden hose and the male-threaded fill neck of the waterbed. There is a plurality of fill and drain openings through the wall of the portion of the tube inserted into the fill neck.

Abstract: A waterbed mattress comprising an external envelope is provided with an internal layer of viscous, polymeric sealing material for sealing punctures in the mattress. The polymeric material can be polybutene filled with a particulate filler. The sealing material can be sandwiched between two layers of polyethylene to form an internal liner assembly that conforms generally to the shape of the external envelope of the waterbed mattress.

Abstract: A waterbed mattress has an internal horizontally extending baffle surface for reducing wave-like motion of the water in the mattress. The baffle surface is anchored within the mattress, and preferably between the top and bottom walls of the mattress. Preferably, the baffle surface is fabricated of a buoyant material and is anchored to the bottom wall of the mattress with no connection between the baffle surface and the top wall.