Abstract: An alternating pressure pad including at least two sets of inflatable cells, each set being alternately inflated and deflated, wherein at least one cell in each cell set has for example, circumferential internal membranes or external straps, to accelerate the deflation of the at least one cell.

Abstract: An air mattress includes top sheet and bottom sheet which are disposed to be opposing. The mattress has a side sheet coupled to the top and bottom sheets. The mattress has plural threads coupled to the top and bottom sheets so that they are spaced each other with a certain distance when the air is inflated. The mattress has a foamed body filled in the inside of the mattress so that the foamed body is penetrated by the threads.

Abstract: An inflatable mattress topper including an inflatable chamber which may be formed out of polyvinyl chloride with or without lamination or flocking. The inflatable chamber is designed to rest upon a support system, namely a bed without additional securing devices or may be integrated within a conventional mattress. The inflatable chamber being inflated by air to an adjustable level to provide the desired support for its user through plastic tubing connected between a pump and an air inlet sealed to the polyvinyl chloride chamber. The inflatable mattress topper is easily set-up for continual use or removed for occasional use.

Abstract: An inflatable mattress topper including an inflatable chamber which may be formed out of polyvinyl chloride with or without lamination or flocking. The inflatable chamber is designed to rest upon a support system, namely a bed without additional securing devices or may be integrated within a conventional mattress. The inflatable chamber being inflated by air to an adjustable level to provide the desired support for its user through plastic tubing connected between a pump and an air inlet sealed to the polyvinyl chloride chamber. The inflatable mattress topper is easily set-up for continual use or removed for occasional use.

Abstract: An inflatable mattress comprises a flexible bottom layer, a top layer sealed to the bottom layer through a wall, wherein the bottom and top layers and the wall define an outer frame of the inflatable mattress, and a middle layer disposed between the top and bottom layers. The bottom surface of the middle layer is sealed to the bottom layer through a plurality of laterally disposed I-beam structures to form a lower chamber. The top surface is attached to the top layer through a plurality of X-beam structures to form an upper chamber. A peripheral edge of the middle layer may be sealed with the wall to prevent the upper and lower chambers from being in fluid communication with each other. Alternatively, the peripheral edge may be detached from the wall so that the upper and lower chambers are in fluid communication with each other.

Abstract: A multi-chamber airbed reduces the effect of weight movement by one or more persons sleeping or sitting on the airbed. In the multi-chambered airbed of the present invention, there are at least two chambers inside the airbed, each chamber having its own air valve and representing its own portion of the airbed. The chambers are completely sealed off from each other by a barrier or septum within the airbed. Thus, when one person shifts his or her weight on the portion of the airbed over one chamber, air does not flow to the other chamber or portion of the airbed.

Abstract: A multi-chamber airbed reduces the effect of weight movement by one or more persons sleeping or sitting on the airbed. In the multi-chambered airbed of the present invention, there are at least two chambers inside the airbed, each chamber having its own air valve and representing its own portion of the airbed. The chambers are completely sealed off from each other by a barrier or septum within the airbed. Thus, when one person shifts his or her weight on the portion of the airbed over one chamber, air does not flow to the other chamber or portion of the airbed.

Abstract: An air inflatable support element includes: (a) two identical circular outer sections, one being an upper outer section and the other being a lower outer section; and (b) two or more circular middle sections, each middle section being affixed at its periphery to the adjacent middle section, each middle section being identical to the other middle sections, each middle section being affixed to an outer section; wherein the outer sections are parallel, but not affixed, to one another; the outer and middle sections each include an identically sized central aperture, the central aperture extending through the center of the support element; and the support element includes a flexible, nonmetallic material. Also included is an air support surface containing the support elements.

Abstract: An inflatable mattress comprises a flexible bottom layer, a top layer sealed to the bottom layer through a wall, wherein the bottom and top layers and the wall define an outer frame of the inflatable mattress, and a middle layer disposed between the top and bottom layers. The bottom surface of the middle layer is sealed to the bottom layer through a plurality of laterally disposed I-beam structures to form a lower chamber. The top surface is attached to the top layer through a plurality of X-beam structures to form an upper chamber. A peripheral edge of the middle layer may be sealed with the wall to prevent the upper and lower chambers from being in fluid communication with each other. Alternatively, the peripheral edge may be detached from the wall so that the upper and lower chambers are in fluid communication with each other.

Abstract: A cushion is provided for use on a foot section of an articulating deck of a bed to support the legs of a person on the bed. The foot section of the deck is movable from a generally horizontal bed position to a generally vertical chair position. The cushion includes an air bladder configured to be inflated when the deck is in its horizontal bed position and deflated when the deck is in its generally vertical chair position, a cover surrounding the air bladder, and an elastic cord coupled to the cover. The elastic cord is configured to gather the cover and the air bladder toward the foot section of the deck as the air bladder is deflated.

Abstract: A support sac for a patient support mattress comprises an elongate sac formed of a pressure retaining flexible material adapted to be fluid filled under pressure. The sac has a body contact portion (10) remote from a support surface portion (22), the body contact portion being provided with a plurality of pleats or ruffles whereby said contact portion has a surface area per unit length significantly greater than the surface area per unit length of the support surface portion thereby to alleviate hammocking effects.

Abstract: An alternately inflated/deflated air bed being made by an arrangement of many air bag sets, each of them provided therein with a first air bag which is further provided therein with a second air bag. The first air bag thus is divided into two air chambers. An air pipe is provided on the first air bag for air intake and discharge. The second air bag is constantly kept inflated. The air bag sets are arranged in series. When the air bag sets of the odd and of the even numbers are alternately inflated/deflated by simultaneous discharge or intake of the two air chambers, the first air bags are inflated/deflated twice as much, so that a patient lying on the air bed obtains adequate ventilation by alternately changing contact points of his body with the air bed. When there is a power loss or machine failure which causes the first air bags to discharge, the second air bags support the patient to still feel comfortable.

Abstract: A bladder for containing a cushioning medium. The bladder includes open compartments which are created by welding or otherwise fastening a first bladder wall against a second bladder wall. The periphery of the bladder walls are welded or otherwise sealed together so that the bladder will contain a cushioning medium without leaking. The bladder is partially filled with cushioning medium so that it will be able to conform to the shape of a cushioned object and create a desired hammocking effect. The bladder is otherwise permanently attached to a base that is smaller than the bladder in at least one direction, resulting in a bladder which has loose skin and which has numerous random folds and creases on its skin. The base is a substantially non-stretchable fabric or other attachable non-stretch material. The cushioning medium is preferred to be lightly lubricated microspheres.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for controlling outward movement of flexible walls defining an enclosed chamber of a device inflatable by air or other compressible fluid, the outward movement occurring in response to application of an external force over portions of a flexible wall to decrease the volume and increase the internal pressure of the chamber. Spring-like couplings, preferably in the form of elastic members such as "rubber bands," are attached at spaced points to portions of the flexible, relatively moveable walls inside and/or outside the chamber. The couplings are so attached as to be expanded or stretched by relative movement of the flexible wall portions as the external force is applied, whereby the members exert a force resiliently opposing movement of the flexible walls in response to the increase in internal pressure caused by application of the external force.

Abstract: Disclosed is an air mattress apparatus. The apparatus includes a pump contained within an inflatable chamber. The pump is in fluid communication with the inflatable chamber via intake and exhaust ports. One-way valves positioned on the intake and exhaust ports of the pump control the flow of air from the pump to the inflatable chamber of the air mattress. The pump contains a resilient, closed-cell foam pump material. The mattress is inflated by repeatedly compressing the pump material and then permitting it to expand and fill with air.

Abstract: A self-inflating air mattress includes an air chamber and a foam panel therein. The air chamber is defined by top and bottom sheet panels and a valve allowing air passage into and out of the air chamber. The foam panel includes apertures therethrough, and the top and bottom sheet panels are mechanically coupled directly together via the apertures in the foam panel. As a result, the foam panel need not be mechanically connected to the top and bottom sheet panels and improved air flow within the chamber results. Furthermore, by virtue of the direct mechanical coupling between top and bottom sheet panels distributed throughout the air mattress, the top and bottom sheet panels are limited in their relative spacing and the air mattress tends to better support any weight placed thereon, there being no pillowing of the air mattress in response to weight placed thereon.

Abstract: An inflatable object, especially an air mattress, with a part acting as a pump and a part inflatable thereby. In the pump part there is a device for spreading its walls making it unnecessary initially to provide air via the user's mouth or a bellows. A particulate propellant material, which may also take the form of waste, is used. A propellant material is a material which can be compressed and which on decompression, with the introduction of air, increases its volume. To prevent propellant material particles from penetrating into the valve between the pump and the inflatable parts, an air-permeable wall is fitted in front of the valve.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for controlling outward movement of flexible walls defining an enclosed chamber of a device inflatable by air or other compressible fluid, the outward movement occurring in response to application of an external force over portions of a flexible wall to decrease the volume and increase the internal pressure of the chamber. Spring-like couplings, preferably in the form of elastic members such as "rubber bands," are attached at spaced points to portions of the flexible, relatively moveable walls inside and/or outside the chamber. The couplings are so attached as to be expanded or stretched by relative movement of the flexible wall portions as the external force is applied, whereby the members exert a force resiliently opposing movement of the flexible walls in response to the increase in internal pressure caused by application of the external force.

Abstract: An inflatable air bed. The air bed includes an inflatable lower chamber and an inflatable upper chamber overlying and attached to the lower chamber. Each chamber includes at least one valve for inflating and deflating the chamber. The lower chamber provides support for the upper chamber, which can be independently adjusted for user comfort.

Abstract: The mat disclosed has an air-tight flexible envelope closable by means of a valve and filled with a granular filling material. The filling material is lodged in a fabric sack made from a spacing fabric. The filling material is a composite body composed of at least two materials having different mechanical properties.