Abstract: An inflatable product can be inflated to a low pressure by a lower-power but high-volume electric pump, then “firmed” or fully inflated by an auxiliary pump. The auxiliary pump may be manually powered, such that the overall cost and complexity of the electric and auxiliary pumps are still lower than a high-power electric pump. The low power high volume electric pump can be easily powered by small batteries that will also provide an increased number of inflations compared to traditional high-power pumps for a given battery capacity. Using small batteries allows the pump to be very compact in size. The auxiliary pump may work through an auxiliary air chamber within the primary air chamber and fluidly connected thereto by a check valve. The electric pump may be reversible to provide for both inflation and deflation.

Abstract: Variable stiffness apparatuses using an interconnected dual layer fluid-filled cell array. One example of the present apparatuses comprises: a substrate having a first side and a second side; and a plurality of structures coupled to the substrate, where each structure comprises: a flexible first portion having a first end, a second end, and a sidewall extending between the first end and the second end, the first portion defining a first chamber; and a second portion having a first end, a second end, and a sidewall extending between the first end and the second end, the second portion defining a second chamber in fluid communication with the first chamber; where each of the plurality of structures is coupled to the substrate such that the first portion is disposed on the first side of the substrate, and the second chamber is disposed on the first side or the second side of the substrate.

Abstract: An air leak repair hose for inflatable air mattress, particularly when the hose or tubing system, or its fittings, break because of forceful handling, but can be repaired through the application of a supplemental hose to the remaining portion of any broke fitting, or glued in place within the opening into the air chamber of the mattress, with a new fitting applied to the opposite end of the segment of the supplemental hose, that can be connected with the air pump, in preparation for refilling of the air mattress(s) to the firmness desired by the user.

Abstract: An inflatable device for turning or positioning a person in a bed. The inflatable device includes an inflatable body formed by a top sheet and a bottom sheet disposed beneath the top sheet to define a cavity configured to be inflated such that the top sheet forms a top wall of the cavity and the bottom sheet forms a bottom wall of the cavity. The device further includes at least one port having a port opening in fluid communication with the cavity and configured to provide an air input for air for inflating the cavity, wherein the at least one port comprises an elastic member for adjusting a size of the port opening.

Abstract: An air support article of air inflatable furniture comprises an air inflation device. The air inflation device provides an openable and closable opening into the sack that forms the majority of the article. The air inflation device comprises at least one pliable flap attached to the sack. The flap acts as a partial check valve that allows the article to be inflated simply by rapidly opening and closing the opening.

Abstract: It is a feature of a porous body comprising a three-dimensional network of node points joined to one another by struts, and a void volume present between the struts, that the struts have an average length of ?200 ?m to ?50 mm, the struts have an average thickness of ?100 ?m to ?5 mm, and that the porous body has a compression hardness (40% compression, DIN EN ISO 3386-1: 2010-09) in at least one spatial direction of ?10 to ?100 kPa. The porous body according to the invention combines the advantages of a conventional mattress or cushion with ventilatability which results from its porous structure and is not achievable in conventional foams. The invention further relates to a method of producing such a porous body and to an apparatus comprising said body for supporting and/or bearing a person.

Abstract: Disclosed is an inflation valve enabling a user to quickly inflate and deflate an inflatable object. The inflation valve can include an inflation chamber that is an adequate size to capture a breath of air blown by a user from a distance away from an outside opening of the inflation chamber. This allows surrounding air into the area of low pressure created by the moving air, thereby greatly increasing the amount of air entering the inflatable object. To prevent air from escaping the inflatable object, the inflation valve can include a non-invertible one-way valve and/or an invertible one-way valve. Each valve can prevent air from escaping the inflation chamber until adequate pressure is applied from the outside opening of the inflation chamber, for example, as a result of a user blowing air into the inflation chamber. The invertible one-way valve can be inverted to reverse the properties of the valve.

Abstract: Embodiments typically might relate to pillows that are comfort customizable based on user preference. For example, embodiments might include an outer casing and a self-inflating inner core. A user might adjust the firmness and/or thickness of the pillow by altering the amount of fluid, such as air, within the inner core. Typically such adjustments might be performed without use of a pump, given the self-inflating nature of the inner core.

Abstract: An inflatable product includes an inflatable body and an electric pump for pumping the inflatable body. The electric pump includes a pump body and an air outlet, wherein the pump body is wholly or partially recessed into the inflatable body and permanently held by the inflatable body. Preferably, the electric pump includes a fan and a motor connected to the fan, and the fan is rotated by the motor in a first direction to pump the inflatable body or in a second direction opposite the first direction to deflate the inflatable body.

Abstract: A system, a device and a method for maintaining a consistent preset inflation of an air mattress inflated using a device having at least one sensor sensing relative humidity and temperature, and a controller activating a pump in response to a change in the ambient air condition, the sensor communicating to the controller, the controller selectively activating the pump in response to the change, the pump inflating the mattress to the preset inflation, maintaining consistent inflation of the air mattress. In one embodiment, the sensor communicates the ambient air condition to the controller wirelessly. The sensor is coupled to the controller and the controller is coupled to the pump operative to pump air into the mattress, the controller operative to activate the pump in response to the change in an ambient air condition, maintaining consistent inflation of the air mattress at the preset inflation chosen for comfort.

Abstract: An inflatable item includes a hollow body and a valve is connected to the hollow body. The valve is a bladder which has an inlet from which air is introduced in the bladder, and an outlet through which the air is introduced into the hollow body. A tubular insertion is engaged with the inlet and has a passage defined therethrough. A bouncing member is mounted to the tubular insertion so that the user compresses the bladder to push the air in the bladder into the hollow body and the bouncing member bounces the bladder back to original status. The hollow body can be inflated by repeatedly compressing the bladder. A cap removably seals the inlet after the inflatable item is inflated.

Abstract: An inflatable product includes a first chamber, a pack, and a fan and motor received in the pack. The pack has an air intake connected to the outside of the first chamber and a first air outlet connected to the inside of the first chamber. A first valve for opening and closing the first air outlet is received in the pack. Air is pumped by the fan and motor from the outside of the first chamber through the air intake and the first valve and then into the first chamber from the first air outlet.

Abstract: An inflatable item includes a hollow body and a valve is connected to the hollow body. The valve is a bladder which has an inlet from which air is introduced in the bladder, and an outlet through which the air is introduced into the hollow body. A tubular insertion is engaged with the inlet and has a passage defined therethrough. A bouncing member is mounted to the tubular insertion so that the user compresses the bladder to push the air in the bladder into the hollow body and the bouncing member bounces the bladder back to original status. The hollow body can be inflated by repeatedly compressing the bladder. A cap removably seals the inlet after the inflatable item is inflated.

Abstract: An inflatable product that includes a chamber and an electric air pump for inflating the chamber. The air pump has an air intake and an air outlet. The air intake is connected to the outside of the chamber and the air outlet is connected to the inside of the chamber when the air pump is moved to a first position. The air intake is connected to the inside of the chamber and the air outlet is connected to the outside of the chamber when the air pump is moved to a second position.

Abstract: An inflatable product includes an inflatable body, a fan and motor assembly for pumping air, a housing built into the inflatable body, and an air conduit disposed at least in part in the housing. The housing has an interior region. The air conduit is movable between a first position and a second position, the fan and motor inflating the inflatable body when the air conduit is in the first position, and deflating the inflatable body when the air conduit is in the second position. Air flows between the interior region of the housing and the inflatable body during inflation and deflation.

Abstract: An inflatable product that includes a chamber and an electric air pump for inflating the chamber. The air pump has an air intake and an air outlet. The air intake is connected to the outside of the chamber and the air outlet is connected to the inside of the chamber when the air pump is moved to a first position. The air intake is connected to the inside of the chamber and the air outlet is connected to the outside of the chamber when the air pump is moved to a second position.

Abstract: A tent assembly includes an awning including a plurality of tubular support members having rectilinear longitudinal lengths and a plurality of couplings for interchangeably conjoining the tubular support members such that the tubular support members define a rigid frame. The tent assembly further includes a mechanism for removably securing the frame to a support surface and a canvas removably positional over the frame for preventing undesirable foreign debris from entering beneath the frame. An inflatable mattress is sized and shaped for nesting on the flat bed of the flat bed truck. The tent assembly further includes a mechanism for selectively inflating the mattress such that a user can introduce and displace air from the mattress as needed during periodic use. The inflating mechanism is detachably engageable with the inlet port and includes one implement selected from the group including a manual air-pump and an electrically powered air-pump.

Abstract: An inflating/deflating device in combination with an inflatable mattress having multiple chambers includes a casing with an inlet and three outlets, a pump received in the inlet to provide inflation/deflation to the chambers of the inflatable mattress and multiple controllable valves respectively and movably mounted on the outlets such that the pump is able to inflate/deflate the chambers of the inflatable mattress simultaneously.

Abstract: An inflatable, disposable pillow which can be conveniently carried and stowed by users in a deflated state, and used as a comfortable, clean pillow in an inflated state. The inflatable pillow includes a single folded sheet or two sheets sealed together to form side walls. A flat self-sealing valve comprising two sheets of flexible material is placed between the sidewalls. The sheet or sheets may be comprised of multiple plies, with an outermost ply being an absorbent material. Alternatively, an absorbent cover may be attached to the outermost surface of at least one side of the pillow.

Abstract: An air pump having a minimum number of parts. The air pump is built in the inflatable body of an inflatable product. The air pump consists essentially of a pump body, an air inlet provided on the pump body for introducing air outside the inflatable body into the pump body, and an air outlet also provided on the pump body for introducing the air from the pump body into the inflatable body.

Abstract: The invention is drawn to an apparatus for supplying fluid, such as air, under pressure to a fluid accommodating means such as an air mattress and automatically adjusting the fluid pressure. The apparatus has a coupling device which attaches the apparatus to the air mattress. A housing encloses a motor, an impeller, a two-way valve and a solenoid. The solenoid opens the two-way valve to allow inflation or deflation of the air mattress. The motor is reversible and the impeller is used to force fluid into or out of the mattress. A controller is used to inflate and deflate the mattress. The controller can be attached to the apparatus or it can be a remote control.

Abstract: In a motor-driven air pump, a bottom wall and a surrounding barrier wall cooperatively confine a receiving space in which an impeller is mounted. The barrier wall is provided with angularly displaced first and second internal ports that communicate fluidly with first and second chambers, respectively. A first external port is disposed upstream of and communicates with one of the first and second chambers. A second external port is disposed downstream of and communicates with the other one of the first and second chambers.

Abstract: An improved air mattress includes an inflation air pouch located on one side of the air mattress for pumping air into the air mattress. The inflation air pouch is made from an air impermeable upper layer and an air impermeable lower layer bonded together on the periphery by high frequency fusion. There is a sponge layer located inside the inflation air pouch. A one way first check valve is located between the upper layer and the sponge layer. An one way second check valve is located on one side of the inflation air pouch. The second check valve has another end located in the air mattress. When to inflate the air mattress, an user compresses the inflation air pouch with hands on the first check valve. Air in the inflation air pouch is squeezed and flows towards the second check valve and through the air passage to enter the air mattress for inflation. By contrast, when user's hands release from the first check valve.

Abstract: A decubitus mattress includes an inflatable cell surrounded by foam with a built-in low-voltage (AC) air pump assembly for controlling the air cell's inflation. In some embodiments, a mattress includes a plurality of inflatable cells, one or more of which (particularly at the foot end of the mattress) can be selectively deflated with valves that are located along the side of the mattress, in corresponding positions.

Abstract: Support is provided to the foot of a shoe wearer by an air cushion that includes a support chamber surrounding a collapsible pump operable by the foot of the wearer for directing compressed air into the support chamber and varying the firmness of the chamber. The support chamber is of a preformed three-dimensional configuration of sufficient rigidity to provide stable support to the foot prior to receiving compressed air from the pump.

Abstract: An inflatable seating pad (10) consists of a hand operated pump (12) integrated within the top surface to inflate the pad with air. The pad (10) has a shut-off connector (6) at one corner which locates and is connected to a pressure relief valve (8). In use, the pad (10) is inflated by pushing upon the hand operated pump (12) to over inflate the pad. The shut-off connector (6) maintains the pressure in the pad (10). To set the pressure to a desired pressure the user actuates the pressure relief valve (pre-set to optimum pressure) to operate the shut-off connector (6) to allow air to exhaust through the pressure relief valve.

Abstract: A pump assembly is described for use in the field of workstation design. The pump assembly is described for use in combination with a chair back having an expandable fluid bladder for lumbar support. The pump assembly allows a person, while seated, to more easily inflate or deflate an expandable fluid bladder. An actuator for inflating and deflating the expandable fluid bladder is also described.

Abstract: An internal air pump for charging inflatables with air and method therefore is disclosed which is directed to an air pump mounted internal to an inflatable device for injecting air therein. The inventive air pump is a thin-walled, lightweight, highly elastic, flexible plastic construction which is easily packaged within the inflatable device and can be used to inflate the device to a desired air pressure. In its most fundamental embodiment, the internal air pump comprises a construction including an outer shell layer having a continuous sidewall, a roof layer and a floor layer for defining an enclosed inner pump chamber. An inner sandwich layer is positioned adjacent to the outer shell layer and includes a resilient component. At least one air intake valve is mounted within the roof layer for admitting air into the inner pump chamber. One or more exhaust ducts are mounted in the outer shell layer for discharging air from the inner pump chamber to an inflatable device.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: A pump is formed by a pair of sleeves 1,2 each of which is closed at one end. The end of sleeve 2 incorporates an inlet valve in the form of a membrane 11 which lifts to allow air to enter the pump through an opening 22 as the pump sleeves 1,2 are extended. When the sleeves 1,2 are closed against one another, the membrane 11 closes and a second membrane 12 lifts to allow air to pass through opening 15 communicating with a connection 16 for attachment to the inflation inlet 5 of an inflatable mattress 3. A pressure relief valve 17 prevents the mattress 3 from being over-inflated. The deflated mattress 3 can be stored in the space within the two sleeves 1,2.

Abstract: An air mattress includes an upper sheet with a tufted top surface, a lower sheet, and front and rear sheets. The front sheet has upper, lower and lateral edges. The upper edge of the front sheet is sealed to a front edge of the upper sheet, is longer than the front edge of the upper sheet, and has excess portions on two sides of the front edge of the upper sheet. The rear sheet has upper edge, lower and lateral edges. The upper edge of the rear sheet is sealed to a rear edge of the upper sheet, is longer than the rear edge of the upper sheet, and has excess portions on two sides of the rear edge of the upper sheet. The lower sheet has a front edge sealed to the lower edge, the lateral edges, and the excess portions of the upper edge of the front sheet. The lower sheet has a rear edge sealed to the lower edge, the lateral edges, and the excess portions of the upper edge of the rear sheet. The lower sheet further has lateral edges sealed to lateral edges of the upper sheet.

Abstract: A fully portable pillow-like device is provided, shaped for comfortable restrain of head movement, and including a sectioned inflatable bladder for shaping the support to conform to any particular user's requirements. The bladder is constructed in 3 independent zones, each separately inflatable to differing degrees of internal pressure and firmness. Inflation means is provided for each of the inflatable bladder zones, and in the preferred embodiment, the inflation means consists of independent pumps, one for each zone, which are fully contained within the perimeter of the bladder form. The pump means consists of a chamber enclosing a resilient volume of open cell foam rubber or other sponge-like material, which when pressed will draw air from an inlet valve and expel it via an outlet check valve into a connected inflatable chamber. A relief valve is also provided at each pump in order that the gas pressure in the inflatable chamber may be adjusted to the user's preference.

Abstract: An automatic air pump is built into an inflatable body. The automatic air pump includes a pump body, an air inlet and an air outlet. The pump body is automatically restorable and has an air chamber inside. The air outlet is provided on the pump body to introduce air into the inflatable body when the pump body is pressed. The air inlet is provided on the inflatable body to suck air outside the inflatable body into the pump body when the pump body is released.

Abstract: The cervical pillow of the present invention includes an elongated air tight casing with a resilient cushion mounted at one side thereof. An inlet valve in the casing permits air flow into the cushion portion. A conduit extending from the cushion portion into an air chamber in the remainder of the cervical pillow permits air flow into the air chamber. An electric pump is mounted within the cushion to pump air into the air chamber, and thereby pressurize the cervical pillow. A relief valve is mounted in one end of the air chamber to permit selective release of air from the air chamber. A cervical pillow is attached to a standard head support pillow along a longitudinal side of both pillows.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of producing an air mattress, which comprises a pump part and a part, which is to be pumped up. A propellant is disposed in the pump part and the wall, which separates the pump part from the part, which is to be pumped up, has a one-way valve and a small opening, through which air can flow back from the part, which is to be pumped up, into the pump part. An inlet opening is disposed in the pump part and an outlet opening is disposed in the part, which is to be pumped up. Pursuant to the invention, a metallic tool is used for welding the pump part wall between the upper and lower covering skins of the air mattress. The tool forms one part of a high-frequency welding machine, having two plates, which lie against the outside of the covering skins. The tool is removed before the edge seals of the air mattress are produced. When the pump part is disposed within the air mattress, a dividable tool is used.

Abstract: Disclosed is an air mattress apparatus. The apparatus includes a pump contained within an inflatable chamber. The pump is in fluid communication with the inflatable chamber via intake and exhaust ports. One-way valves positioned on the intake and exhaust ports of the pump control the flow of air from the pump to the inflatable chamber of the air mattress. The pump contains a resilient, closed-cell foam pump material. The mattress is inflated by repeatedly compressing the pump material and then permitting it to expand and fill with air.

Abstract: A support pillow combination comprises a support pillow having at least one bolster portion along one edge of the support pillow, and an inflatable under-pillow. The under-pillow comprises at least one row of a plurality of parallel inflatable air chambers. Each air chamber within a row is in fluid communication with each adjacent air chamber in the same row. Each of the rows are in fluid communication with a header and the header is connectable to an air source by a nozzle. Preferably the under-pillow has two rows of chambers, either in tube form or bubble form.

Abstract: An improved pad or liner for overlaying a mattress, including at least one panel having a flexible thermoplastic elastomeric honeycomb core encased within a permeable fabric covering. The honeycomb core is formed of undulated strips of resilient thermoplastic material, thermal compression bonded together to form cell walls defining a plurality of contiguous regularly shaped cells having an upper and a lower extremity. The cell walls of the core are formed with a plurality of perforations. The upper extremities of each cell wall are planarized and a perforated facing sheet is thermal compression bonded to the lower extremities of each cell wall. The planarized extremities and the facing sheet maintain and retain the cells of the honeycomb core in their expanded configuration so that the core can anisotropically flex to stabilize and spread the load exerted by a user of the mattress pad.

Abstract: An inflatable seating cushion provides intermeshed cell structures so that air pressure changes from one of the cell structures to the next provides for improved comfort during long sitting periods. A manual selection switch allows an inflation means to be interconnected with any one of the cell structures. An alternate inflation fixture provides a means for inflating all of the cell structures simultaneously.

Abstract: An inflatable object, especially an air mattress, with a part acting as a pump and a part inflatable thereby. In the pump part there is a device for spreading its walls making it unnecessary initially to provide air via the user's mouth or a bellows. A particulate propellant material, which may also take the form of waste, is used. A propellant material is a material which can be compressed and which on decompression, with the introduction of air, increases its volume. To prevent propellant material particles from penetrating into the valve between the pump and the inflatable parts, an air-permeable wall is fitted in front of the valve.

Abstract: A wrist rest is disclosed for use with a keyboard. The wrist rest includes a bladder for holding a fluid, a pump operatively connected to the bladder for selectively filling the bladder with fluid and a valve for selectively releasing fluid from the bladder. The bladder preferably includes two elongate lobes interconnected by an isthmus. The lobes are shaped so that the perimeter of a horizontal cross-section through one of the elongate lobes is substantially elliptical in shape.

Abstract: A mattress having an integral air system responding to a load pressure. Included are a pump body (1), an air reservoir (2), air pipes (7), one-way valves (3), a manually adjustable pressure regulating valve (5) provided with a scale (6) and an insulated air cell (4). The pressure is maintained in air cell (4) when air is being squeezed from pump bodies (1) and pushed into the unpressurized reservoir (2) by way of the one-way valves (3) when a user of the mattress creates a zone-wise load pressure. The compressed air in reservoir (2) remains as a reserve therein and equalizes the in air cell (4) dropping pressure having been lost due to diffusion. The equalization is controlled by a need adjustable pressure regulating valve (5) having an adjusting knob (15) and a scale (6) thereon. The thus manufactured mattresses are adjustable in their support capabilities from soft to hard. The mattress can thereby be matched to the needs of a user.

Abstract: A check valve provides a one-way fluid passage from without to within a fluid bladder formed by a pair of plastic sheets sealed together about their periphery. The check valve is formed by a pair of superimposed films of thermoplastic material, generally equal in length, thermally bonded together at predetermined areas to define the fluid passage throughout the length of the valve. The inlet end of the valve has a V-shape edge with the apex pointing in a direction opposite the one-way fluid flow. Each of the films, adjacent the V-shape edge of inlet end, is sealed to one of the outer sheets where the valve enters the bladder by a seal line of similar V-shape. Each of the films has a high-gloss, cohesive inner surface and a matted, non-cohesive outer surface.

Abstract: 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.