Abstract: A device for reducing the wave motion in a waterbed mattress which provides optimum firm and conforming feel to the user, while not promoting fungi or algae growth and being capable of allowing the mattress to be substantially completely drained. The wave motion reducing device comprises at least one compartment including a top wall, a bottom wall, and a marginal perimeter wall interconnecting the top wall and the bottom wall to form an enclosed chamber. The bottom wall and the marginal perimeter wall respectively define at least one opening therethrough, the opening being of a dimension to enable a minimum fluid flow into and out of the chamber and inhibit transient fluid flow into and out of the chamber. A buoyant insert is operatively connected to the top wall to urge the compartment toward the top of such bladder. The buoyant insert includes a member having a plurality of uniformly sized air entrapping cells.

Abstract: An improved construction for an air perimeter support for the marginal perimeter of a waterbed mattress, and the method for manufacturing such improved air perimeter support. The improved air perimeter support includes a first sheet of flexible, substantially dimensionally stable material folded back on itself and joined together at a location spaced from the longitudinal marginal side edges thereof to form an elongated chamber, of substantially rectangular cross-section, intermediate the marginal side edges. One longitudinal marginal side edge is again folded back and joined to the chamber at the wall opposite the wall formed by the other longitudinal marginal side edge.

Abstract: Air encapsulating cellular material in which failure due to the rupture of individual ones of the cells thereof is substantially prevented. The material comprises a sheet defining a plurality of air encapsulating cells in a substantially uniform pattern. At least a pair of adjacent cells are in flow communication so that upon direct pressure to one of such cells, the air may be displaced and can flow to the adjacent cell. In this manner, air pressure build up in one cell which may otherwise have resulted in its rupture, is prevented.

Abstract: An improved air chamber for use with a marginal perimeter support adapted to surround and support a fluid-filled bladder of a floatation sleep system. The air chamber comprises an elongated cylinder closed at its ends to form an air-tight chamber. Opposing interior surfaces of the cylinder are interconnected by, for example, tie members extending in a longitudinal direction within said elongated cylinder for less than the full longitudinal dimension of such cylinder. The tie members divide the cylinder into at least three sections located one on top of another, with such sections being in flow intercommunication. Moreover, with this invention, the cross-sectional area of the upper- and lower-most sections may be substantially equal and greater than the cross-sectional area of any intermediate sections.

Abstract: A universal sleep system support which is readily collapsible for storage and transportation, and is easily assembled into a construction which can support any type and common size of sleep system. This universal sleep system support comprises a plurality of modules which when assembled are selectively locked together into a unitary construction. The modules each include readily assembled corner pieces and channel units. The corner pieces respectively have a planar surface and a leg structure extending substantially perpendicularly therefrom; and the channel units respectively have mating members slideably associated with one another for adjusting the length of the channel units. The channel units are selectively received by the corner pieces and adjusted to a preselected length to set the distance between such corner pieces. The assembled modules are selectively locked together into the unitary construction so that the channel units can support any type of sleep system of any common size.

Abstract: An improved floatation sleep system of the type including a liquid-containing bladder, an air chamber surrounding the marginal perimeter of the bladder, and a substantially planar sheet interconnecting opposed portions of the air chamber. By this invention, the exterior of the air chamber is maintained in a substantially rectilinear configuration to yield the desirable overall rectilinear appearance of conventional bedding. To provide overall rectilinearity of the air chamber, at least one tie member is secured at one end to the inside surface of the exterior wall of the air chamber. The opposite end of the tie member is secured to a portion of the wall of the air chamber coextensive with the plane of the interconnecting sheet.

Abstract: Deck construction for a floatation sleep system which gives the deck a high quality finished appearance and facilitates transportation and set up thereof. The deck includes a plurality of rigid members. Such members are separately encased as a unit, hingeable between the members. Several units may be secured together in a planar relationship to have an overall dimensional surface area substantially equal to the surface area of a particular size fluid-filled bladder. The encasing for the rigid members is of a decorative nature to enhance the appearance of the deck.

Abstract: A decorative cover, for use with a floatation sleep system, adapted to contain a fluid-filled bladder, and functional to establish and maintain a substantially rectilinear shape for such fluid-filled bladder. The decorative cover comprises first and second flexible, substantially rectangular, dimensionally stable sheets. The second dimensionally stable sheet has an opening defined therein adapted to have a floatation sleep system bladder inserted therethrough. The marginal edges of the first and second sheets are interconnected by a perimeter wall member member. A first dimensionally stable tie member joins the first sheet to the connecting wall member and is disposed interiorly of the interconnection between the first sheet and the connecting wall member; and a second dimensionally stable tie member joins the second sheet to the connecting wall member and is disposed interiorly of the interconnection between the second sheet and the connecting wall member.

Abstract: A floatation sleep system including an improved marginal perimeter support containment chamber of relatively simple construction assembled by a relatively inexpensive manufacturing process. The improved marginal perimeter support containment chamber comprises a flexible, dimensionally stable, sheet having a surface area of substantially rectangular shape with portions extending outwardly from the marginal edges of such surface area. The portions are folded back and joined to the surface area within the marginal edges thereof to form a cavity adapted to receive a bladder and a support mechanism for substantially the full perimeter of a bladder received within such cavity.

Abstract: An improved marginal perimeter support containment chamber of simplified construction, for use with a floatation sleep system including a liquid-containing bladder, wherein all areas of such chamber are accessible for repair. The improved chamber includes an elongated chamber adapted to contain a mechanism for supporting the marginal perimeter of a bladder. A flexible, dimensionally stable sheet is connected to the bottom surface of the elongated chamber. A plurality of strips of flexible, dimensionally stable material are provided, with the dimension of respective material strips between opposed longitudinal edges being substantially equal to one half the cross-sectional circumference of the elongated chamber. One longitudinal edge of the respective material strips is coupled to the sheet interiorly of the projection of the elongated chamber on such sheet.

Abstract: An improved floatation sleep system of universal type wherein the bladder may be readily replaced. Such system comprises a marginal perimeter support including a continuous elongated chamber. The chamber has a plurality of cells, the interior of which are respectively readily accessible to supply perimeter support means such as support material or pressurized air. A first flexible, dimensionally stable, fluid impervious sheet is connected to an upper portion of the elongated chamber. This sheet is of an overall dimension greater than the distance between opposed portions of such chamber, and less than the distance between opposed portions plus twice the vertical height of such chamber. A second flexible, dimensionally stable sheet extends between the opposed portions of such chamber.

Abstract: An improved floatation sleep system for supporting a body. The improved floatation sleep system has a first chamber adapted to contain a liquid and a second chamber adapted to contain pressurized air. The second chamber surrounds the perimeter of the first chamber to support the marginal edges of such first chamber. The improvement comprises dividing the second chamber into mutually independent cells. A plurality of valves associated with the independent cells respectively allow the cells to be individually filled with pressurized air. As an additional aspect of this invention, a flexible, dimensionally stable, fluid impervious sheet is connected to the second chamber and extends across the bottom of the first chamber in order to capture any fluid leaking from the first chamber.

Abstract: Mechanism for maintaining the shape of a floatation sleep system, such system including a bladder having flexible walls defining a chamber adapted to be filled with fluid and a marginal perimeter edge support for such bladder. The shape maintaining mechanism comprises a sheet of flexible, dimensionally stable material. The sheet is attached to the underside of the bladder along a substantial portion of opposed marginal edges so that it extends, in intimate contact, from one edge, around the adjacent marginal perimeter support, across the top portion of the bladder, around the opposite marginal perimeter support to the other edge. Such sheet is thus constrained to oppose the fluid forces on the marginal perimeter support and maintain the shape of the floatation sleep system.

Abstract: A body-support floatation system comprising a reversible gelatinizing agent added to water within a flexible bladder. Further, a fungicide is added to the gel to inhibit bacterial growth which otherwise would cause deterioration of the gel. As the gelatinizing agent is reacted with the water, the mixture is aspirated so as to carry the mixing of the gelatinizing agent and the water to completion and, to entrap air in the gel to reduce the amount of gel required to fill the bladder, with a proportionate reduction in weight.

Abstract: A self-contained compressible chamber for supporting the perimeter of the fluid-filled, flexible bladder of a waterbed mattress which provides improved structural rigidity. The chamber includes a compressible medium and an elongate, substantially rigid member extending therethrough. Individual chambers are retained in supporting engagement with the perimeter of the bladder. The ends of the rigid members of the individual chambers are fastened to adjacent rigid members, whereby the perimeter of the bladder is substantially completely supported with an improved degree of structural rigidity while retaining mattress edge comfort.

Abstract: A furniture drawer of knock-down construction. The furniture drawer comprises front, side, rear, and bottom panels. The front panel has vertical, spaced apart, grooves of female dove-tail configuration in the inner face adjacent and parallel to the vertical marginal edges, and a groove in its inner face adjacent and parallel to the lower marginal edge. A pair of side panels respectively have one marginal edge of male dove-tail construction adapted to be received in the respective vertical grooves of the front panel. The side panels additionally have a groove in their respective inner faces adjacent and parallel to the opposite vertical marginal edge and a groove adjacent and parallel to their lower marginal edge. The rear panel has a groove in the inner face adjacent and parallel to its lower marginal edge, and a pair of grooves in the inner face adjacent and parallel to its vertical marginal edges.

Abstract: Apparatus for securing a flexible sheet, particularly through an intermediate member, to the frame surrounding the fluid-filled bladder of a waterbed. The apparatus comprises a U-shaped member of resilient material having a web portion and opposed first and second legs of substantially equal length extending from the web portion. The first leg has a lip directed away from the second leg. A retention member is connected to the second leg at the end of the second leg opposite the web portion and extends across the space between the opposed legs for less than such space. The retention member has a lip directed toward the second leg, whereby a flexible sheet inserted between the first leg and the retention member is secured when the lip on the first leg is engaged by the lip of the retention member.

Abstract: An adjustable support for accommodating waterbed mattresses of a variety of sizes. The adjustable support comprises a pair of spaced apart upstanding side rails interconnected by an accordion type collapsible construction which enables the side rails to be variably positioned a desired distance apart depending upon the size of the mattress to be supported. The interconnecting construction which serves as the structural support for the mattress, is assembled to be collapsible in the non-loadbearing direction such that the spacing between the side rails may be varied.

Abstract: An improved perimeter support for a waterbed mattress. Sleeves are fixed to the liquid-containing bladder to be co-extensive with the marginal edge of the bladder. The sleeves are joined externally to the bladder so that the interconnecting seams are not adversely effected by action of, and reaction with, the liquid within the bladder. A self-contained chamber, filled with air or foam material, is slidably retained within each sleeve. The chamber provides sufficient lateral support for the bladder for effective body support; and if any one of the chambers is damaged, it can readily be replaced without having to replace the entire mattress.

Abstract: An improved floatation sleep system of universal type wherein the bladder may be readily replaced. Such system comprises a marginal perimeter support including .[.a continuous.]. .Iadd.an .Iaddend.elongated chamber. The chamber has a plurality of cells, the interior of which are respectively readily accessible to supply perimeter support means such as support material or pressurized air. A first flexible, dimensionally stable, fluid impervious sheet is connected to an upper portion of the elongated chamber. This sheet is of an overall dimension greater than the distance between opposed portions of such chamber, and less than the distance between opposed portions plus twice the vertical height of such chamber. A second flexible, dimensionally stable sheet extends between the opposed portions of such chamber.