Abstract: Softsided waterbed having an interchangeable cover which is reversible and/or readily replaced with another cover. In the embodiment disclosed, the interchangeable cover has fill materials of different weights toward opposite sides thereof, and the bed has a different feel and/or visual appearance depending upon which side of the cover is facing up. The cover is releasably secured to the rest of the bed by fasteners such as buttons which permit the cover to be readily reversed or replaced.

Abstract: Waterbed having a plurality of cushioning bolsters extending peripherally of the mattress, with elongated reinforcing elements extending longitudinally of the bolsters. Adjacent ones of the reinforcing elements are connected together at the corners of the bed in a manner permitting the elements to move longitudinally of each other. A liner of water impervious material extends beneath the mattress and along inner sides of the bolsters, and a decorative cover having a layer of water impervious material extending along upper and outer sides of the bolsters is sealed to the liner at the top of the bolsters.

Abstract: Waterbed corner structure and method in which a cornerpiece is formed as a monolithic structure with a relatively thick base plate and relatively large ridges projecting from the front surface of the base plate. The base plate has a peripheral sealing area which is affixed by heat sealing to the walls of the mattress to form the corner, and the base plate is formed of a material which is pliant enough to conform to the contour of the mattress and tough enough to resist puncturing. The ridges help to keep bedsheets in place on the mattress.

Abstract: Waterbed mattress having an enclosure for holding a body of water for buoyantly supporting a person resting on the mattress, and a body of crumpled plastic netting within the enclosure for reducing wave action in the water and providing additional support for a person resting on the mattress. The crumpled plastic netting is enclosed within a casing of plastic netting. In one disclosed embodiment, hydraulic cells are positioned toward the head and foot ends of the mattress, and the crumpled netting is positioned between the cells to provide additional lumbar support for a person resting on the mattress. In another embodiment, the crumpled netting extends throughout the entire lateral extent of the mattress.

Abstract: Waterbed with supplemental support for providing different degrees of localized firmness or support in different areas of a mattress. The bed includes a water-filled mattress having a horizontally extending upper wall and a chamber containing a body of water for buoyantly supporting a person resting on the upper wall, a pocket on the upper wall, and a pad disposed in the pocket and extending across a portion of the upper wall for providing additional localized support for a person resting on the upper wall so that the person is supported by a combination of the water and the pad. The pocket is of greater horizontal extent than the pad, and the pad can be moved to different positions within the pocket to support different portions of the body of a person resting on the mattress. The pad can comprise either an air-filled cushion or a foam cushion, and the firmness or degree of support provided by the pad can be adjusted by adjusting the amount of air in an air-filled cushion or by changing the foam cushion.

Abstract: Waterbed mattress having a drain valve which is opened and closed by the insertion and removal of a hose connector to control the passage of water from the mattress. The valve is located in a cornerpiece at one corner of the mattress, and a hose is readily connected to the valve through an opening in the deck of the support structure on which the mattress rests.

Abstract: Waterbed mattress having a drain valve which is opened and closed by the insertion and removal of a hose connector to control the passage of water from the mattress. The valve is located in the bottom wall of the mattress above an opening in the deck of the supporting frame, and a hose is readily connected to the valve through this opening.

Abstract: Waterbed and frame assembly in which the frame rails are provided with cushioning pads and covered with a decorative fabric cover which is attached to the safety liner and to the lower portions of the rails to form an integrated liner, cover and rail structure. The cover is detachably connected to the liner and frame and is readily installed and removed for cleaning or to change the look of the bed. The tops of the pads on the side rails are substantially level with the top surface of the mattress, and the pads are thick enough to prevent discomfort to a person sitting on the edge of the bed from the relatively rigid rails. In one disclosed embodiment, the safety liner is attached to the outer sides of the rails, and in another it has self-standing side panels of a pliant material which yields with the pads when someone sits on the edge of the bed.

Abstract: Waterbed mattress having a baffle structure comprising a buoyant foam pad adapted to float within the mattress, and a plurality of hexagonal cells beneath the buoyant pad. The cells are arranged in a honeycomb array with the side walls of adjacent ones of the cells facing each other in a closely spaced parallel relationship. In some embodiments, the bottom portions of the cells are attached to a continuous lower sheet which serves as a lower baffle, and in others the cells have independent bottom walls. The structure with the upper and lower baffles is manufactured by feeding sheets of foam and flexible material past a row of heat sealing dies having spaced apart sealing surfaces movable between open and closed positions. Tubular lengths of flexible material are inserted into the dies with end portions of the tubular lengths being wrapped over the sealing surfaces.

Abstract: Waterbed and frame assembly in which the frame rails are provided with cushioning pads and covered with a decorative fabric cover which is attached to the safety liner and to the lower portions of the rails to form an integrated liner, cover and rail structure. The cover is detachably connected to the liner and frame and is readily installed and removed for cleaning or to change the look of the bed. The tops of the pads on the side rails are substantially level with the top surface of the mattress, and the pads are thick enough to prevent discomfort to a person sitting on the edge of the bed from the relatively rigid rails. In one disclosed embodiment, the safety liner is attached to the outer sides of the rails, and in another it has self-standing side panels of a pliant material which yields with the pads when someone sits on the edge of the bed.

Abstract: A mattress construction includes a water mattress and a resilient peripheral cushion extending about the water mattress. A flexible cover is positioned on the resilient cushion, with the resilient cushion including a peripheral inner rail and a peripheral outer rail, the interior surface of the inner rail providing peripheral support for the water mattress. The inner and outer rails are interengaged whereby the inner rail resists upward movement of the outer rail.

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 lies on the mattress so that the user is not lying 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 when pulled taut has a surface area at least 3% larger than the surface area of the bottom wall of the mattress.

Abstract: A waterbed mattress including an elongated top sheet having head and foot ends, a bottom sheet, and sidewalls defining a fluid-tight receptacle. The top sheet includes a plurality of elongated depressions and riser portions formed therein and arranged to impart extensibility to the top sheet. The depressions and riser portions are arranged in a non-uniform distribution across the surface of the top sheet so that the extensibility of the top sheet varies at different positions therealong.

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 when pulled taut has a surface area at least 3% larger than the surface area of the bottom wall of the mattess.

Abstract: Waterbed and mattress having a pair of elongated buoyant members are near the side edges of the mattress to provide additional support for a person resting near the edges of the bed. This additional support tends to equalize the support provided along the edge and toward the middle of the mattress so that a person resting near the edge remains in a level position. In the disclosed embodiments, the buoyant members are fabricated of a closed cell polyethylene foam and are attached to a wave reducing baffle structure which is also included in the mattress.

Abstract: Waterbed mattress having a baffle structure comprising a buoyant foam pad adapted to float within the mattress, and a plurality of hexagonal cells beneath the buoyant pad. The cells are arranged in a honeycomb array with the sides walls of adjacent ones of the cells facing each other in a closely spaced parallel relationship. In some embodiments, the bottom portions of the cells are attached to a continuous lower sheet which serves as a lower baffle, and in others the cells have independent bottom walls. The structure with the upper and lower baffles is manufactured by feeding sheets of foam and flexible material past a row of heat sealing dies having spaced apart sealing surfaces movable between open and closed positions. Tubular lengths of flexible material are inserted into the dies with end portions of the tubular lengths being wrapped over the sealing surfaces.

Abstract: Hose connector for use in filling and/or draining a waterbed mattress. The connector has a body with water and air passageways formed therein adapted to be mounted in the fill/drain opening of the mattress. The water passageway carries water between a hose connected to the connector and the interior of the mattress, and the air passageway permits trapped air to escape from the mattress while the mattress is being filled with water. A closure is provided for closing the air passageway when the mattress is in use and when it is being drained, and in some embodiments a water responsive valve closes the air passageway in the event that water enters the air passageway while the mattress is being filled.

Abstract: Corner structure for a waterbed mattress and liner in which a cornerpiece is formed as a monolithic structure with a relatively thick base plate and relatively large ridges or cleats projecting from the front surface of the base plate. The base plate has a peripheral sealing area which is affixed by heat sealing to the walls of the mattress or liner to form the corner, and the base plate is formed of a material which is pliant enough to conform to the contour of the mattress and tough enough to resist puncturing. The ridges or cleats help to keep bedsheets in place on the mattress.

Abstract: Waterbed mattress having a baffle structure comprising a buoyant pad of polypropylene foam adapted to float within the mattress, and a plurality of hexagonal cells having side and bottom walls of polypropylene depending from the buoyant pad. The cells are arranged in a honeycomb array with the side walls of adjacent ones of the cells facing each other in a closely spaced parallel relationship.