Abstract: Calf supporting device includes a U-shaped or O-shaped support and, within the support, and attached to its inner surface, sealed bags at least partly filled with cushioning material to suspend a user's heel. The device also includes a foot pad at the end from which a user's foot protrudes for placement against, and support of the sole of a user's protruding foot.

Abstract: An airbed mattress and support system includes an air reservoir and a device for controllably delivering air to the airbed mattress and for controlling and for maintaining, as the user desires, the air pressure in the airbed mattress.

Abstract: A waterbed mattress incorporates an array of individual tie structures each having an elastic element that is slightly stressed under nominal fill conditions of the mattress. The elastic element has a spring constant of about three pounds per inch. The tie structures determine the firmness characteristic of the mattress and accommodate to changing and/or shifting loads. Firmness no longer depends upon the degree of fill.

Abstract: In a water mattress, a series of interior bags or bladders are individually attached to the top and bottom layers in order to damp the movement of water. Each bag or bladder comprises a pair of disks or layers peripherally heat sealed together. Each of the layers of each of the bags or bladders are welded to the respective layers of the waterbed mattress, there being indentations on the inside of the bag or bladder layers, the outside of the mattress layers being substantially free of indentations, there being a bead formed between the welded layers which bead is extruded primarily from the bag or bladder layers.

Abstract: A bed frame, such as for hospital use, includes a part that may be upwardly inclined. A series of transverse slings suspend a series of individual elongated bag elements. The individual bag elements, when filled with water, merge to form a comfortable and conformable surface. A control system determines and maintains optimum pressure in each of the bag elements as well as in the main horizontal portion of the mattress bag.

Abstract: A waterbed mattress is provided with a series of unitary baffles each comprising a web joined at opposite ends to circular attachment flanges. A floating die of substantially cylindrical form surrounds the central web during the welding process in which substantially flat parts of the welding machine close about top and bottom mattress layers with the baffle and floating die in position. A narrow axially extending slit in the die allows the die to be removed after the baffle is attached. After all baffles are suitably positioned, the mattress layers are closed.

Abstract: Apparatus and method are disclosed which pertain to inflatable structures useful as air beds and the like. Shape and load control are facilitated by a plurality of bladders that are located within an inflatable chamber of the structure and are joined to opposed imperforate walls thereof. The bladders are provided with vents which lend to the interior of the chamber, and upon inflation of the structure and resultant separation of the opposed walls of the chamber, the bladders are caused to extend from a flattened state, become filled with the fluid used for inflating the structure, and assume a roughly cylindrical convoluted configuration. Being made of a flexible, substantially non-extensible material, such a vinyl plastics, there is a limit to which the bladders can extend, and further vertical separation or lateral shifting of the attached opposed walls is thereby restrained.

Abstract: In a water mattress, a series of interior bags or bladders are individually attached to the top and bottom layers in order to damp the movement of water. Each bag or bladder comprises a pair of disks peripherally heat sealed together. The disks are respectively heat sealed to the top and bottom layers. The improvement consists of a method of attachment of the bags or bladders to the top and bottom layers. A removable floating ring die is inserted between the companion disks. Large area dielectric plates close about the disks and ring die. Seals are achieved with very little distortion of the top and bottom mattress layers. The floating die is removed. The process is repeated until all the bags or bladders are attached. The strength of the top and bottom layers is not significantly impaired by the welding process, since no localized stress regions are created there. The hazard of leakage is largely eliminated.

Abstract: To achieve maximum strength and reliability, a bag for use as a waterbed mattress is formed entirely of lap welds, that is, without any butt welds. My U.S. Pat. No. 3,825,172 discloses a lap weld method in which a length of plastic material is rolled to form a tube, the ends being lapped and partially welded to leave an access opening to the inside of the bag. The tube is telescoped over a welding die having the cross sectional configuration of the mattress, but axially short. The tube is accordion folded about the thin form with the ends of the tube turned inwardly over the peripheral rims of the form. End pieces are then welded in place. The form is removed through the access opening and the partial weld completed by the aid of a separator stick removable through the fill hole.

Abstract: A nose cone for attachment to cargo trailers provides stability and fuel economy. In addition to these properties, the nose cone is inflatable and readily detachable so that it can be used in fleet operation without down time.

Abstract: The waterbed comprises a body supporting liquid filled bag or bladder and a freely expansible ballast chamber in unrestricted fluid communication with the body supporting bag or bladder. The fluid interchange operates to regulate and maintain at a comfortable low value, the surface stress of the bag or bladder.