US20070028389A1

US20070028389A1 - Inflatable pad, and mattress assembly including the inflatable pad

Info

Publication number: US20070028389A1
Application number: US11/198,250
Authority: US
Inventors: Hsin-Tsai Wu
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2005-08-05
Filing date: 2005-08-05
Publication date: 2007-02-08

Abstract

An inflatable pad includes: a first pad piece formed with a plurality of first holes; a second pad piece stacked on the first pad piece and formed with a plurality of second holes; and a plurality of tension pieces, each of which is connected sealingly to hole edges of a respective first hole and a respective second hole so as to form an air passage extending through the tension piece, the respective first hole, and the respective second hole.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to an inflatable pad, more particularly to an inflatable pad that is formed with a plurality of air passages for venting purposes.
2. Description of the Related Art
As shown in FIG. 1, a conventional air-filled mattress 1 includes a mattress body 11 and an air valve 12 mounted on a lateral side of the mattress body 11 for inflating and deflating the mattress body 11. The air-filled mattress 1 is convenient to transport occupies a small space after deflation, and is suitable for outdoor recreation activities.
However, the mattress body 11 of the conventional air-filled mattress 1 is disadvantageous in that the user often feels uncomfortable after lying thereon for a period of time due to heat accumulated by the mattress body 11.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Therefore, the object of the present invention is to provide an inflatable pad that can overcome the aforesaid drawback of the prior art.
According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided an inflatable pad adapted to be placed on a mattress body. The inflatable pad comprises: a first pad piece having a first peripheral edge and formed with a plurality of first holes, each of which has a first hole edge; a second pad piece having a second peripheral edge, and formed with a plurality of second holes, the second pad piece being stacked on the first pad piece in such a manner that the first holes are aligned with the second holes, respectively, each of the second holes having a second hole edge; and a plurality of tension pieces disposed between the first and second pad pieces. Each of the tension pieces has opposite first and second open ends that respectively have first and second end edges aligned with a respective one of the first holes and a respective one of the second holes. The first end edge of the first open end of each of the tension pieces and the first hole edge of the respective one of the first holes are sealed together, and the second end edge of the second open end of each of the tension pieces and the second hole edge of the respective one of the second holes are sealed together so as to form an air passage extending through a respective one of the tension pieces, a respective one of the first holes, and a respective one of the second holes. The first and second peripheral edges are sealed together so as to form an enclosed space between the first and second pad pieces.
According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a mattress assembly that comprises: a mattress body; and an inflatable pad placed on the mattress body. The inflatable pad includes: a first pad piece having a first peripheral edge, and formed with a plurality of first holes, each of which has a first hole edge; a second pad piece having a second peripheral edge, and formed with a plurality of second holes, the second pad piece being stacked on the first pad piece in such a manner that the first holes are aligned with the second holes, respectively, each of the second holes having a second hole edge; and a plurality of tension pieces disposed between the first and second pad pieces. Each of the tension pieces has opposite first and second open ends that respectively have first and second end edges aligned with a respective one of the first holes and a respective one of the second holes. The first end edge of the first open end of each of the tension pieces and the first hole edge of the respective one of the first holes are sealed together, and the second end edge of the second open end of each of the tension pieces and the second hole edge of the respective one of the second holes are sealed together so as to form an air passage extending through a respective one of the tension pieces, a respective one of the first holes, and a respective one of the second holes. The first and second peripheral edges are sealed together so as to form an enclosed space between the first and second pad pieces.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent in the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which:
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a conventional air-filled mattress;
FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the first preferred embodiment of a mattress assembly with an inflatable pad according to the present invention;
FIG. 3 is a schematic side view of the first preferred embodiment;
FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the second preferred embodiment of a mattress assembly with an inflatable pad according to the present invention; and
FIG. 5 is a schematic side view-of the second preferred embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Before the present invention is described in greater detail with reference to the accompanying preferred embodiments, it should be noted herein that like elements are denoted by the same reference numerals throughout the disclosure.
Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, the first preferred embodiment of a mattress assembly 100 according to the present invention is shown to include a mattress body 2 and an inflatable pad 3 placed on the mattress body 2. The mattress body 2 and the inflatable pad 3 are made from a plastic material.
The mattress body 2 comprises a generally rectangular first mattress piece 21, a generally rectangular second mattress piece 22, and a peripheral wall 23 connected to peripheral edges of the first and second mattress pieces 21, 22 using high-frequency welding techniques. The peripheral wall 23 and the first and second mattress pieces 21, 22 cooperate to define an accommodation space 24 for receiving injected air therein. The mattress body 2 further includes an air valve 25 mounted on one side of the peripheral wall 23, and a plurality of tension members 26 which are columnar in shape, which are made from the same material of the first and second mattress pieces 21,22, and which are disposed in the accommodation space 24. The tension members 26 are connected to the first and second mattress pieces 21, 22 using high-frequency welding techniques for maintaining a desired distance between the first and second mattress pieces 21, 22 when the mattress body 2 is fully inflated.
The inflatable pad 3 includes: a first pad piece 31 having a first peripheral edge 317 and formed with a plurality of first holes 311, each of which has a first hole edge 312; a second pad piece 32 having a second peripheral edge 327, and formed with a plurality of second holes 321, the second pad piece 32 being stacked on the first pad piece 31 in such a manner that the first holes 311 are aligned with the second holes 321, respectively, each of the second holes 321 having a second hole edge 322; and a plurality of tension pieces 35 disposed between the first and second pad pieces 31, 32. Each of the tension pieces 35 has opposite first and second open ends that respectively have first and second end edges 351, 352 aligned with a respective one of the first holes 311 and a respective one of the second holes 321. The first end edge 351 of the first open end of each of the tension pieces 35 and the first hole edge 312 of the respective one of the first holes 311 are sealed together, and the second end edge 352 of the second open end of each of the tension pieces 35 and the second hole edge 322 of the respective one of the second holes 32 are sealed together so as to form an air passage 35′ extending through a respective one of the tension pieces 35, a respective one of the first holes 311, and a respective one of the second holes 321. The first and second peripheral edges 317, 327 are sealed together so as to form an enclosed space 36 between the first and second pad pieces 31, 32 and so as to form a sealing juncture 34 therebetween. The mattress body 22 has a peripheral edge that is sealingly connected to the sealing juncture 34 using high-frequency welding techniques.
The inflatable pad 3 further includes an air valve 33 mounted on the second pad piece 32 for pad inflation and deflation purposes.
After inflation, the first pad piece 31 is formed with a plurality of first recesses 313, each of which surrounds the first hole edge 312 of a respective one of the first holes 311, and a plurality of first bumps 314 alternately disposed with the first recesses 313, and the second pad piece 32 is formed with a plurality of second recesses 323, each of which surrounds the second hole edge 322 of a respective one of the second holes 321, and a plurality of second bumps 324 alternately disposed with the second recesses 323. The air passages 35 permit fluid communication with ambient air above the second pad piece 32 and below the first pad piece 31 so that ventilation of the ambient air under the user's body is allowed, thereby resulting in dissipation of heat generated by the user's body and accumulated by the inflatable pad 3.
Referring to FIGS. 4 and 5, the second preferred embodiment of this invention differs from the first preferred embodiment in that the second preferred embodiment of the inflatable pad 3 further includes a flexible pad skirt 37 that extends from a sealing juncture 34 between the first and second peripheral edges 317, 327 (see FIG. 2) for covering the peripheral wall 23 of the mattress body 2.
With the inclusion of the inflatable pad 3 in the mattress assembly of this invention, the aforesaid drawback associated with the prior art can be eliminated.
While the present invention has been described in connection with what is considered the most practical and preferred embodiments, it is understood that this invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments but is intended to cover various arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and equivalent arrangements.

Claims

1. An inflatable pad adapted to be placed on a mattress body, said inflatable pad comprising:

a first pad piece having a first peripheral edge and formed with a plurality of first holes, each of which has a first hole edge;

a second pad piece having a second peripheral edge, and formed with a plurality of second holes, said second pad piece being stacked on said first pad piece in such a manner that said first holes are aligned with said second holes, respectively, each of said second holes having a second hole edge; and

a plurality of tension pieces disposed between said first and second pad pieces, each of said tension pieces having opposite first and second open ends that respectively have first and second end edges aligned with a respective one of said first holes and a respective one of said second holes, said first end edge of said first open end of each of said tension pieces and said first hole edge of the respective one of said first holes being sealed together and said second end edge of said second open end of each of said tension pieces and said second hole edge of the respective one of said second holes being sealed together so as to form an air passage extending through a respective one of said tension pieces, a respective one of said first holes, and a respective one of said second holes;

wherein said first and second peripheral edges are sealed together so as to form an enclosed space between said first and second pad pieces.

2. The inflatable pad as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first pad piece is formed with a plurality of first recesses, each of which surrounds said first hole edge of a respective one of said first holes, and a plurality of first bumps alternately disposed with said first recesses, said second pad piece being formed with a plurality of second recesses, each of which surrounds said second hole edge of a respective one of said second holes, and a plurality of second bumps alternately disposed with said second recesses.

3. The inflatable pad as claimed in claim 2, further comprising a flexible pad skirt that extends from a sealing juncture between said first and second peripheral edges.

4. The inflatable pad as claimed in claim 1, further comprising an air valve mounted on a selected one of said first and second pad pieces.

5. A mattress assembly comprising:

a mattress body; and

an inflatable pad placed on said mattress body and including

a first pad piece having a first peripheral edge, and formed with a plurality of first holes, each of which has a first hole edge,

a second pad piece having a second peripheral edge, and formed with a plurality of second holes, said second pad piece being stacked on said first pad piece in such a manner that said first holes are aligned with said second holes, respectively, each of said second holes having a second hole edge, and

6. The mattress assembly as claimed in claim 5, wherein said mattress body has a peripheral edge that is sealingly connected to a sealing juncture between said first and second pad pieces.

7. The mattress assembly as claimed in claim 5, wherein said first pad piece is formed with a plurality of first recesses, each of which surrounds said first hole edge of a respective one of said first holes and each of which is spaced apart from said mattress body, and a plurality of first bumps alternately disposed with said first recesses and in contact with said mattress body.

8. The mattress assembly as claimed in claim 7, wherein said second pad piece is formed with a plurality of second recesses, each of which surrounds said second hole edge of a respective one of said second holes, and a plurality of second bumps alternately disposed with said second recesses, each of said first recesses being in fluid communication with a respective one of said second recesses through a respective one of said air passages.

9. The mattress assembly as claimed in claim 5, further comprising a flexible pad skirt that extends from a sealing juncture between said first and second peripheral edges.

10. The mattress assembly as claimed in claim 5, wherein said mattress body is inflatable and is provided with an air valve.

11. The mattress assembly as claimed in claim 5, further comprising an air valve mounted on a selected one of said first and second pad pieces.