Inflatable Patents (Class 4/588)
  • Patent number: 11959301
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a fluid container comprising: a base, having a bottom portion and a side portion, the bottom portion and the side portion being one unitary sheet, and a side wall joined to the base at the side portion and defining an interior volume of the fluid container, the side wall comprising: a first plastic material, an inner wall, an outer wall, at least one inflatable air chamber defined by a volume between the inner wall and the outer wall and substantially continuous throughout the side wall, and at least one air valve disposed on the outer wall and in fluid communication with the at least one inflatable air chamber. Also disclosed herein are methods of making and using the same.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: Belgravia Wood Limited
    Inventor: Jaime Ramos
  • Patent number: 11122938
    Abstract: A foldable bath tub includes a base, a rim, and a basin wall. The basin wall includes at least one circumferential crease. The basin wall is configured to be positioned in one of a folded condition and an extended condition. When in the extended condition, the basin wall defines opposing lateral sides, a first back rest adjacent a first end of the bath tub and a second back rest adjacent a second end of the bath tub. When in the extended condition, the first back rest extends at a first angle relative to an associated subjacent surface and the second back rest extends at a second larger angle, and respective ends of the opposing sides of the basin wall nearest to the first end of the bath tub are offset a greater width distance as compared to respective ends of the opposing sides of the basin wall nearest to the second end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2021
    Assignee: Helen of Troy Limited
    Inventors: Martin Mutch, Elizabeth Kaye Steenwyk, Sunny Kim, Thomas Chia Hanson
  • Patent number: 7454807
    Abstract: A massaging fluid filled bed. The massaging fluid filled bed comprises a bed having a top surface, a bottom surface, and a compartment disposed between the top surface and the bottom surface. A plurality of grippers is disposed on the bottom surface. A plurality of massaging elements is disposed beneath the top surface. The bed is further divided into a headrest section, a backrest section, a body section, and a footrest section. An insulation layer is affixed to the bottom surface. A filler fluidly is provided to fill the bed with a fluid. The plurality of massaging elements are attached to a base layer provided within the bed in a way that allows some movements for the massaging elements. The top surface of the body and the backrest section comprises a plurality of inverted U-shaped members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2008
    Inventors: Perdum Mardan, Mehri Mafi
  • Patent number: 7308989
    Abstract: Collapsible structures are provided that have an enclosed interior space that can be used to hold and contain water or other matter. The interior space is defined by an enclosing wall and a base that are both waterproof to prevent leakage of the water or matter contained in the interior space. None, one or more foldable frame members can be provided as part of the enclosing wall and the base, or a foldable frame member can be provided as part of a rim member. The frame members allow the resulting structure to be twisted and folded to reduce the overall size of the structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2007
    Assignee: Patent Category Corp.
    Inventor: Yu Zheng
  • Patent number: 7165280
    Abstract: A fluid-control medical mattress includes a platform and multiple supports mounted on the platform. Each support is a bladder for selectively receiving fluid to support a patient. A skirt is mounted to a periphery of the platform and surrounds the platform for retaining water with the platform for a nurse to conveniently clean the body of the patient who lies on the platform. The multiple supports respectively correspond to the head, neck, shoulder, pelvis and knee for supporting the patient who lies on the platform when the multiple supports are full of fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2007
    Inventor: Chao-Jan Wang
  • Patent number: 7032258
    Abstract: An inflatable hot tub kit that includes a self-supporting tub structure that can be used on ground or used in a body of water. The kit includes a thermostat and hoses designed to connect to an external fresh water supply system. The tub structure comprises three inflatable ring sections that form the sidewalls designed to hold warm or hot water. The upper ring section is octagonal-shaped when viewed in plan view. In cross-section, the upper ring section is circular and relatively large so that when the tub structure is placed in a body of water, the water edge is approximately 8 to 10 inches below the top surface of the upper section. The middle ring section is flat in cross-section and vertically aligned under the center axis of the upper ring section. The middle ring section provides buoyancy and supports the upper ring section when used on the ground or extends into the body of water to provide buoyancy. Attached to the middle ring section is an inflatable lower ring section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2006
    Inventor: Patrick O'Hanlon
  • Patent number: 6357061
    Abstract: The inflatable bath air mattress cushion includes an inflatable back cushion portion, an inflatable mat cushion portion connected to the inflatable back cushion portion, a pair of inflatable side cushion portions connected to opposing sides of the inflatable back cushion portion, and an inflatable upper pillow cushion portion connected to the inflatable back cushion portion at the head end of the bath air mattress cushion. The inflatable back cushion portion, mat cushion portion, side cushion portion and upper pillow cushion portion each have inflation valves and suction cups on the bottom side, and a top covering of a layer of fabric.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2002
    Inventor: Denise M. Gonzalez
  • Patent number: 6123217
    Abstract: An inflatable cooler having a tubular housing The housing includes an outer wall, a bottom wall and an open topped cooling chamber for receiving a standard sized beverage container. The outer wall supports, internally of the housing, a plurality of inflatable air chambers. An perimetric air chamber wraps around the periphery of the bottom wall and interconnects the air chambers. The air chambers are inflated by an air valve in the outer wall. When the air chambers are inflated, the cooler becomes self-supporting and relatively rigid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2000
    Assignee: Manumit, LLC
    Inventor: Michael J. Miller
  • Patent number: 5946744
    Abstract: An inflatable swimming pool construction that gives high resistance to deformation of the sidewall when filled with water. The pool includes a central ring with a circular cross-section, and attached top and bottom rings having a cresent-shaped cross-section. The central ring provides the majority of the overall vertical height of the pool sidewall, with the top and bottom rings providing a stable addition to the height.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 7, 1999
    Assignee: Sportstuff, Inc.
    Inventor: Leroy L. Peterson
  • Patent number: 5729840
    Abstract: An inflatable article made of impervious flexible material includes a top sheet, a bottom sheet, an inner sheet and an outer sheet that confine a looped air receiving space. The top sheet includes a seat portion sized to seat at least one person thereon. The inflatable article further includes at least one dividing wall disposed between the top sheet and the bottom sheet and dividing the air receiving space into at least two compartments, and at least two vertical partition walls disposed in each of the compartments immediately below the seat portion. Each of the vertical partition walls has a top edge sealed to one of the top sheet and the dividing sheet, and a bottom edge sealed to one of the dividing sheet and the bottom sheet. The vertical partition walls define at least one chamber that is in fluid communication with a corresponding one of the upper and lower compartments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 24, 1998
    Assignee: Bulton Enterprises Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hsin-Tsai Wu
  • Patent number: 5570480
    Abstract: An inflatable floating spa for use in water by a person to recline and rest therein that is formed from a resilient material and comprises an air chamber that provides support for suspended upper and lower water chambers which remain submerged and a sheet means that is interposed between the upper and lower water chambers forming a seat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 1995
    Date of Patent: November 5, 1996
    Assignee: Sunco Products, Inc.
    Inventor: Man F. Yeung
  • Patent number: 5345622
    Abstract: The method of forming an inflatable tub that includes shaping inner and outer plastic sheets to form tub upright side walls and end walls, and corners between the walls; bonding the sheets at each wall to form panels bonded together at certain locations, and introducing inflation fluid between the sheet to space them apart from one another at other locations about the panels by inflation pressure, whereby each wall defines upright inner and outer sides with substantially uniform maximum spacing between the inner and outer sides along the inflated walls between the corners; and providing the tub with a bottom wall defined by bottom plastic sheet structure connected to lowermost extents of the side and end walls and the corners.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 1993
    Date of Patent: September 13, 1994
    Inventor: Clifford Plone
  • Patent number: 5247712
    Abstract: A bathing device for use in a hospital or nursing home environment comprises a rectangular chamber surrounded on five sides by inflatable interconnected panels. An integral head and neck support are provided at one end of the rectangular chamber. A drain unit penetrates the chamber and is connected to a hose for drainage of the bathing device. Air is provided to the interconnected panels through a resealable inlet. Air is also provided to the head and neck support though a resealable inlet. The bathing device is designed to be utilized in a hospital bed. A sloped inflated bottom panel facilitates drainage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 1992
    Date of Patent: September 28, 1993
    Inventor: Prune P. Williams
  • Patent number: 5195192
    Abstract: A portable bathing apparatus comprising a body length container having an inflatable wall which forms a shallow tub for holding water for bathing a person, the wall has a valve for inflating the wall from a source of air, the container is provided with a rigid bottom portion with a fluid egress means including a control valve for draining water from the container and removable apertured cushion means resting on its bottom portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 1991
    Date of Patent: March 23, 1993
    Inventor: Patria P. Garde
  • Patent number: 5022102
    Abstract: A bathing device comprises an air inflatable bathtub and shampoo bowl of flexible material. When deflated, the bathing device lies flat for convenient storage and portability. When inflated, it expands to form a bathtub in which a person may sit, a sloped backrest against which the person may lean and a shampoo bowl behind the backrest for receiving water used to shampoo and person's hair. Drains are provided for draining water from the bathtub and shampoo bowl upon completion of bathing. A bathing device also comprises an air inflatable shampoo cap of flexible material, which when deflated folds flat. When inflated, the shampoo cap fits and seals with the head of a person to accommodate shampooing the person's hair while confining wash water to the cap. The shampoo cap may be used separately from or together with the shampoo bowl and bathtub, and if desired it may be an integral part of the same.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 1990
    Date of Patent: June 11, 1991
    Inventor: Maria Louvaris
  • Patent number: 4958389
    Abstract: A device for attachment to a hospital bed to facilitate the showering and/or bathing of bed-ridden patients is comprised of a compliant rectangular waterproof sheet whose perimeter has a multitude of tethers which secure the sheet tightly upon the mattress. A splash cuff is upraised from the upper surface of the sheet to retain water, and a drain port extends through the splash cuff to enable run-off water to be conveniently disposed of.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 1989
    Date of Patent: September 25, 1990
    Inventor: Rawlings H. Hammett
  • Patent number: 4858755
    Abstract: Disclosed is an inflatable container suitable for use as a portable aquarium. The inflatable container has an upper open end and side walls which are easily and economically constructed from a single sheet of flexible film material. The sheet is folded upon itself into substantially two overlapping half sections with portions of each half section being sealed together to form four side panels. The remaining portions of the overlapping half sections form an inflatable tubular, flexible framework including an upper and a lower tubular rim and at least four upstanding tubular columns which surround the side panels. The tubular framework and side panels are formed with only two sealed seams joining the longitudinal and lateral edges of the film sheet, one of which extends longitudinally along the surface of the lower tubular rim and the other of which extends laterally along the surface of one of the upstanding tubular columns.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 1988
    Date of Patent: August 22, 1989
    Inventor: Lawrence J. Kuivanen
  • Patent number: 4838967
    Abstract: This invention is concerned with inflatable plastic baby baths similar in shape to a rubber tire inner tube having an impervious web across the ring. The web is preferably midway between the top and the bottom of the inflatable tube or annulus, and by inflating the article while hot during manufacture a smooth and wrinkle-free appearance can be produced. Such a plastic bath can be made virtually immovable on a smooth surface by expelling air from under the web and causing a partial vacuum. The diameter of the inflated tube is sufficiently great relative to the width of the web to prevent the web touching the supporting surface in normal use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 1977
    Date of Patent: June 13, 1989
    Inventors: Vern L. Todd, James Edye
  • Patent number: 4756032
    Abstract: An inflatable pool comprises a base sheet and a hollow inflatable wall having its bottom end heat sealed to the edge of the base sheet. The wall includes a pair of first sheets sealed together at first seal seams forming a plurality of compartments, and a pair of second sheets sealed to the compartments at second seal means and also the top edges of the second sheets are sealed together forming the envelope of the wall. The construction of the wall of the inflatable pool is stronger and stiffer and the outer surfaces of the wall are flatter and smoother than that of conventional inflatable pools.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 1986
    Date of Patent: July 12, 1988
    Inventor: Cheng-Chung Wang
  • Patent number: 4744112
    Abstract: A collapsible, gas-inflatable hot tub which is for use in locations where hot water is not accessible or where hot baths are not available. The water of the hot tub is solar heated by making the walls of the water-holding receptacle black, and by providing an insulating cover for the water-holding receptacle that keeps the heat in until a bath is taken. The bottom of the receptacle is connected to a perforated hose for supplying forced air to the bottom of the receptacle in order to form air bubbles. The hot tub is reinforced by transverse ribs at the bottom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 1986
    Date of Patent: May 17, 1988
    Inventor: Wiley E. Keesling, Jr.
  • Patent number: 4651360
    Abstract: An inflatable pool which comprises a base sheet and a hollow-shaped inflatable wall having its bottom end heat-sealed to the edge of the base sheet. The wall is provided with outer heat seal seams and inner heat seal seams which are extending axially and dividing the wall into a plurality of elongated air compartments intercommunicated and structurally interconnected. The outer heat seal seams are staggered with respect to the inner heat seal seams and the upper portion of the wall is a continuous seal free portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 1985
    Date of Patent: March 24, 1987
    Inventor: Cheng C. Wang
  • Patent number: 4547919
    Abstract: An inflatable article, having a pair of gas impervious sheets which are heat welded together at their edges to form an envelope and are provided with parallelly spaced apart longitudinal first seams to define a plurality of air compartments between the pair of sheets, is provided with a reforming and reinforcing outer inflatable multiple-compartmented unit formed, on the wall of the envelope, by heat-sealing an additional outer sheet to one of the pair of gas impervious sheets at the edge portions and at the lines which lie between each two of the first longitudinal seams to form second seams whereby the article will achieve a stronger and stiffer construction and the acute fused edge portions thereof can be reformed by the expanded superimposed inflatable outer units adjacent to the edge portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 1983
    Date of Patent: October 22, 1985
    Inventor: Cheng-Chung Wang
  • Patent number: 4546505
    Abstract: A portable spa including a base platform sufficiently dimensioned to support one or more occupants and being of an inflatable structure capable of being expanded or collapsed for use or storage respectively. A containment wall is interconnected between the base platform and a support frame so as to define a contained space with the remaining components of the spa in which water may be circulated. Fluid directing jets are mounted on an exposed surface of the platform so as to provide a turbulent action within the water of the contained space. The support frame as well as other structural components of the spa may be collapsible so as to facilitate assembly and disassembly of the spa at any of a plurality of locations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 1984
    Date of Patent: October 15, 1985
    Inventor: John A. Wakenshaw
  • Patent number: 4335473
    Abstract: Water reservoir comprising a flexible bottom and side walls formed by at least one inflatable tubular element extending along a closed contour, said bottom and said tubular element resting on a support.The bottom is connected to the tubular element by a peripheral connection zone extending between a line of the bottom parallel to the tubular element and spaced therefrom and a generatrix of the tubular element situated between the lower horizontal tangency generatrix and the inner vertical tangency generatrix of the tubular element. A brace is provided between the bottom line and said generatrix.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 1980
    Date of Patent: June 22, 1982
    Assignee: Zodiac
    Inventor: Bernard de Pous