Abstract: A waterbed mattress adapted to fit within a rigid frame comprises a water-containing main chamber and at least one supplemental chamber along the perimeter of the main chamber for containing a fluid giving structural rigidity to the perimeter, particularly along the upper boundary abutting the frame. The supplemental chamber is established by an imperforate flexible membrane internally spanning the mattress corner between the top panel and the adjacent side panel. The cross sectional length of the membrane is not greater than the dimension of the adjacent top and side panel segments which constitute the outer walls of the chamber.

Abstract: A fluid-filled bladder-type mattress includes a plurality of panels periodically disposed at oblique angles between upper and lower surface members of the bladder mattress for suppressing motion. In one preferred embodiment, a single bladder chamber is filled with a liquid fluid, and panels comprising a plurality of planar membrane members are bonded along angular lines alternately and at oblique angles to the upper and lower surface members of the bladder in a herringbone bonding pattern to provide an open inner structure promoting wave energy dispersion and dissipation. A mattress embodying the invention minimizes horizontal motion and fluid wave propagation.

Abstract: A waterbed is disclosed which has a frame with a self-supporting bulkhead forming a safety lining. The bulkhead comprises two connected wedge-shaped members which are made of pliant material, and are held in place by a resilient membrane. A base member is anchored to a rigid backing or baseboard. A unitary resilient nonporous membrane is fastened to the edges of the baseboard and drawn tautly across the baseboard over the base member. A lateral member rests upon the base member and is sealed to the underlying membrane at the inwardly disposed margin of the lateral member, which is outboard of the inner boundary of the base member. The lateral member comprises a polyvinylchloride or like nonporous thermoplastic tube enclosing a polyurethane or like pliant member. The waterbed mattress comprises a bladder having a wedge-shaped margin conforming with the inwardly disposed wedge-shaped edge of the frame bulkhead.

Abstract: A waterbed mattress adapted to fit within a rigid frame comprises a water-containing main chamber and at least one supplemental chamber along the perimeter of the main chamber for containing a fluid giving structural rigidity to the perimeter, particularly along the upper boundary abutting the frame. The supplemental chamber is established by an imperforate flexible membrane internally spanning the mattress corner between the top panel and the adjacent side panel. The cross sectional length of the membrane is not greater than the dimension of the adjacent top and side panel segments which constitute the outer walls of the chamber.