Self-inflating mattress
A self-inflating mattress which comprises a first chamber, a second chamber, a foam and a check valve, wherein, the foam is disposed inside the first chamber. The check valve is provided between the first chamber and the second chamber, and air is allowed to flow only from the first chamber to the second chamber.
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1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates in general to a self-inflating mattress to be inflated without using any additional tool.
2. Description of the Related Art
Referring to
It is understood that the user needs to use a tool (air pump) to pump the chamber (pillow) 12 of the mattress. In other words, the user needs to always carry an air pump besides the mattress to places such as the beach, which is neither economical nor convenient for the user.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONAn object of the present invention is to modify the conventional self-inflating mattress so that inflating the mattress does not require any tool.
The self-inflating mattress of the present invention includes a first chamber, a second chamber, a first valve, a second valve, a foam, and a check valve. The foam is received inside the first chamber. The check valve is provided between the first chamber and the second chamber so that only air from the first chamber is allowed to flow to the second chamber. The first valve is attached to the first chamber for inflating and deflating the first chamber while the second valve is attached to the second chamber for deflating the second chamber.
To inflate the mattress, the user spreads out the mattress so that the foam inside the first chamber automatically expands by absorbing outside air via the first valve. Then, the user closes the first and the second valves and rolls up the first chamber, thereby pushing air in the foam into the second chamber via the check valve. Furthermore, the user spreads out the first chamber and re-opens the first valve so that the foam automatically expands again by absorbing outside air via the first valve. It is therefore understood that the inflation of the mattress according to the present invention does not require any tool.
The present invention can be more fully understood by the detailed description and examples described hereinafter with references made to the accompanying drawings, wherein:
Embodiment one:
Referring to
When storing the mattress, a user first opens the valves 24, 25, squeezes air out of the chambers 21, 22, and rolls up the mattress. The check valve 26 is protected by the surrounding foam 23 so that bending of the check valve 26 would not occur when the mattress is rolled, which prevents the check valve 26 from being damaged. When inflating the mattress, the user spreads out the mattress roll, which allows the foam 23 to expand automatically by absorbing outside air via the valve 24. Then, the user closes both of the valves 24, 25 and rolls up the first chamber 21 in direction A, thereby forcing the air inside the foam into the second chamber 22 via the check valve 26. Then, the user spreads out the first chamber 21 and opens the valve 24 again so that the foam 23 automatically expands again by absorbing outside air via the valve 24. Thereafter, the user closes the valve 24. It is therefore understood that inflation of the mattress according to the present invention does not require any tool.
Referring to
It is understood that a variety of check valves can be incorporated into the present invention to control and regulate an unidirectional airflow from the first chamber 21 to the second chamber 22.
Embodiment two:
Referring to
When inflating the mattress, a user opens each of the valves 73, 74 so that the foams in the chambers 71, 72 are allowed to automatically expand by absorbing outside air. Then, the user closes both of the valves 73, 74 and rolls up the second chamber 72 in direction B, thereby forcing the air inside the foam of the second chamber 72 into the first chamber 71 via the check valve 75. Then, the user spreads out the second chamber 72 and opens the valve 74 again so that the foam in the second chamber 72 automatically expands again by absorbing outside air. Thereafter, the user closes the valve 74. In this way, the first chamber 71 can be filled with air sufficiently enough that the user can enjoy lying on the mattress comfortably. It is also understood that the inflation of the mattress according to the present invention does not require any tool.
Embodiment three:
Referring to
When inflating the mattress, a user opens the valves 85 and closes the valve 84 so that the foam in the second chambers 82 is allowed to automatically expand by absorbing outside air via the valve 85. Then, the user closes the valve 85 and rolls up the second chamber 82 in direction C, thereby forcing the air inside the foam of the second chamber 82 into the first chamber 81 via the passage 88. Thus, the first chamber (i.e. the pillow) is filled with air. Then, the user closes the passage 88 by shutting the closing device 89. Then, the user spreads out the second chamber 82 again and opens the valves 85, 86 so that the foams in the second and third chambers 82, 83 automatically expand by absorbing outside air. Next, the user closes the valves 85, 86 and rolls up the third chamber 83 in direction C, thereby forcing the air inside the foam of the third chamber 83 into the second chamber 82 via the check valve 87. Then, the user opens the valve 86 only so that the foam in the third chamber 83 is allowed to automatically expand by absorbing outside air. Thereafter, the user closes the valve 86. In this way, the second chamber 82 can be filled with air sufficiently enough that the user can enjoy lying on the mattress comfortably. It is also understood that the inflation of the mattress according to the present invention does not require any tool.
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While the invention has been described by way of example and in terms of the preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments. To the contrary, it is intended to cover various modifications and similar arrangements (as would be apparent to those skilled in the art). Therefore, the scope of the appended claims should be accorded the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and similar arrangements.
Claims
1. A self-inflating mattress including:
- a first chamber;
- a second chamber;
- a first foam received in the first chamber; and
- a check valve buried in the first foam to communicate the first chamber and the second chamber, only allowing air inside the first foam to flow from the first chamber to the second chamber when the first chamber is compressed.
2. A self-inflating mattress as claimed in claim 1, wherein the check valve comprises an inner flange, a rod, a diaphragm and a spring, wherein the spring surrounds the rod and biases the diaphragm against the flange, and wherein when sufficient air pressure is present, the diaphragm is pushed away from the flange thereby allowing air to flow through the check valve.
3. A self-inflating mattress as claimed in claim 1, wherein the check valve comprises a dumbbell-shaped body including an internal longitudinal passage open at a first longitudinal end of the body and a lateral hole opening a second end of the longitudinal passage, and a resilient ring wrapped around the body covering the lateral hole, whereby air can only flow out from the lateral hole.
4. A self-inflating mattress as claimed in claim 1, wherein the check valve comprises a tube and a diaphragm, the tube having (i) a pair of annular lips formed at opposite ends of the tube to confine the diaphragm inside the tube and (ii) a plurality of protrusions formed on an inner surface of one of the annular lips, whereby air can flow through the check valve when the diaphragm is pushed against the protrusions, but is precluded from flowing through the check valve when the diaphragm is pushed against the other one of the annular lips.
5. A self-inflating mattress including:
- a first chamber;
- a second chamber;
- a first foam received in the first chamber; and
- a second foam received in the second chamber;
- a check valve provided between the first chamber and the second chamber, only allowing air inside the first foam to flow from the first chamber to the second chamber when the first chamber is compressed.
6. A self-inflating mattress as claimed in claim 5, further including a third chamber, a passage communicating the first and third chambers, and a closing device for opening and closing the passing passage.
7. A self-inflating mattress as claimed in claim 6, further including a first valve attached to the first chamber for inflating and deflating the first chamber, a second valve attached to the second chamber for inflating and deflating the second chamber, and a third valve attached to the third chamber for inflating and deflating the third chamber.
8. A method of inflating a mattress, comprising the steps of:
- opening a first valve to a first chamber including foam and permitting the foam to expand;
- closing the first valve and a second valve to a second chamber;
- forcing air from the first chamber to the second chamber through a check valve buried in the foam of the first chamber;
- reopening the first valve to permit the foam to expand; and
- closing the first valve.
9. A method of inflating a mattress, comprising the steps of:
- opening a first valve to a first chamber including foam and opening a second valve to a second chamber including foam and permitting the foam in both chambers to automatically expand;
- closing the first valve and the second valve;
- forcing air from the second chamber into the first chamber through a check valve buried in the foam of the first chamber;
- reopening the second valve to permit the foam in the second chamber to expand; and
- closing the second valve.
10. A method of inflating a mattress having (i) first, second and third chambers and respective first, second and third valves, the second and third chambers having foam disposed therein, (ii) a passage, closeable via a closing device, connecting between the first and second chambers, and (iii) a check valve buried in the foam of the second chamber, the check valve allowing air to communicate between the second and third chambers, the method comprising the steps of:
- opening the second valve and closing the first valve;
- allowing the foam in the second chamber to expand;
- closing the second valve;
- forcing air from the second chamber into the first chamber via the passage;
- closing the closing device;
- opening the second and third valves and allowing the foam in those chambers to expand;
- closing the second and third valves;
- forcing air from the third chamber into the second chamber via the check valve;
- opening the third valve and allowing the foam therein to expand; and
- closing the third valve.
11. A method of inflating a mattress, comprising the steps of:
- providing a mattress with a first chamber and a second chamber, the first chamber having foam disposed therein; and
- forcing air from the first chamber into the second chamber through a check valve buried in the foam, the check valve only allowing air inside the first chamber to flow from the first chamber to the second chamber when the first chamber is compressed.
12. A method of inflating a mattress, comprising the steps of:
- opening a first valve to a first chamber including foam and permitting the foam to expand;
- closing the first valve and a second valve to a second chamber;
- forcing air from the first chamber to the second chamber through a passage provided between the first chamber and the second chamber;
- closing a closing device to prevent air from the second chamber from passing to the first chamber through the passage;
- reopening the first valve to permit the foam to expand; and
- closing the first valve.
13. A method of inflating a mattress having (i) first, second and third chambers and respective first, second and third valves, the second and third chambers having foam disposed therein, (ii) a passage, closeable via a closing device, connecting between the first and second chambers, and (iii) a check valve provided between the second chamber and the third chamber, allowing air to communicate between the second and third chambers, the method comprising the steps of:
- opening the second valve and closing the first valve;
- allowing the foam in the second chamber to expand;
- closing the second valve;
- forcing air from the second chamber into the first chamber via the passage;
- closing the closing device;
- opening the second and third valves and allowing the foam in those chambers to expand;
- closing the second and third valves;
- forcing air from the third chamber into the second chamber via the check valve;
- opening the third valve and allowing the foam therein to expand; and
- closing the third valve.
Type: Grant
Filed: Apr 22, 2003
Date of Patent: Nov 28, 2006
Assignee: Team Worldwide Corporation (Taipei)
Inventor: Kenneth Wang (Taipei)
Primary Examiner: Michael Trettel
Attorney: Quintero Law Office
Application Number: 10/420,163
International Classification: A47G 9/06 (20060101);