FR2461474A1 - WATER MATTRESS WITHOUT WAVE - Google Patents

Abstract

THE INVENTION RELATES TO A HOUSING CAPABLE OF SUPPORTING A BODY AND CAPABLE OF BEING FILLED WITH A LIQUID. ACCORDING TO THE INVENTION, IN THE HOUSING 10 IS PROVIDED AN OPEN-CELL FOAM PLATE 18, THIS FOAM EXTENDING SENSITIVELY ALONG THE HORIZONTAL DIMENSIONS OF THE HOUSING 10, AND MAY BE SENSITIVELY SUBMERGED WHILE BEING PARTIALLY SUSPENDED OVER THE LINK. WHEN THE HOUSING IS FILLED, SO AS TO CUSHION THE MOVEMENT OF WAVES IN THE FILLED HOUSING. THE INVENTION APPLIES IN PARTICULAR TO WATER MATTRESSES.

Description

The present invention relates to water mattresses.

  Since the end of the 1960s, when the first water mattresses were introduced, they have gained more and more interest. It has been recognized that waterbeds provide comfort and body support that can not be achieved with traditional spring or foam bedding systems. Waterbeds are also preferred for their therapeutic and other quality. However, water mattresses have a major disadvantage. This disadvantage is the tendency to create a wave motion in the waterbed. A wave movement in the waterbed can make it uncomfortable for the user and the fear of consumer vis-à-vis the "sea lnal" has impeded the general acceptance of

water mattress.

  So far, attempts have been made to produce a water mattress delaying or dampening the movement of waves. The June 1979 edition of California - Business, in an article by Bob Gilbert entitled "Taking the Plunge" (page 54) indicates on page 60, it is hoped that "hybrid" beds will be able to solve this problem of wave movement. A hybrid bed consists of a waterbed with a layer of foam placed over the mattress. Unfortunately, hybrid beds are as sensitive to wave movement as traditional waterbeds. In the same article is also indicated, also at page 60, that attempts to achieve immobility characteristics include placing plastic baffles inside the waterbed, and "floating a jelly on the top half of a mattress, separated from the A further recent attempt to reduce wave motion is the construction of baffle chambers in the mattress.

246 1474

  rooms are welded to the bottom sheet of the mattress.

  The tops of the chambers, connected to the upper edges of the side panels, are made of foam, and can float, free from contact with the mattress in an effort to form an internal breakwater. The attempts described above to reduce the

  Wave movement have met varying degrees of success.

  Unfortunately, whatever the degree of damping of the waves that is obtained by such systems, it has often been more than offset by the increase in the price and complexity of safablicaatLon. Moreover, such systems are often expensive to ship, and they present difficulties for the consumer who wants to empty, replace and fill water mattresses. From this point of view, water mattress systems requiring gels or special additives

  pose problems and bring additional expenses.

  In U.S. Patent Nos. 3,702,484 and 3,736,604 to R. Carson, Jr., and S. Tobonick and A. Saminoff, respectively, hybrid type waterbeds are disclosed. Mattresses comprising baffles for damping

  wave motion are disclosed in US Pat.

  No. 4,141,770 to C. Mollura and U.S. Patent No. 4,152,796 to I. Fogel. In U.S. Patent No. 3,349,953 to R. Conaway and J. Spindler there is disclosed a reservoir where a baffle system is inserted for

  prevent splashing of liquid in the tank.

  U.S. Patent No. 3,748,669 to F. Warner discloses a water mattress comprising cells

  impermeable to fluids which are distributed throughout the.

  mattress to replace the liquid that would otherwise fill the mattress, thereby reducing the total weight of the mattress. In U.S. Patent No. 3,787,908 to W. Beck and N. Sweeny, a mattress filled with water is also disclosed.

  with low density cellular particles in suspension

  in all the liquid, in order to reduce the weight of the charged particles. Cell particles improve

  also the isolation properties of the liquid filling.

2461.474

  Beck et al. Also teach the addition of a viscosity modifier in the liquid, to improve the dimensional stability characteristics of the waterbed. In US Pat. No. 3,058,50,356 to Hall, the production of an effect is disclosed. damping by placing a suitable solid material suspended in the fluid in the mattress. Hall teaches that styrene foam ground or reduced to pieces, to a volume mopûxt of the order of 1 to 3 with respect to water, produced

  a damping effect. He also teaches the replacement

  The addition of styrene foam by starch or other material suspended in the fluid. Hall also discloses another embodiment, where small blocks of a material such as styrene foam float over the entire surface of the styrene foam. fluid0 It indicates that the blocks rub against each other and that their reaction with the fluid provides independent support for all parts of a

body placed on the mattress.

  Do McGrew, in the U0S patent. No. 3.810.265, teaches the damping of wave motion by adding a water-soluble viscosity increasing agent in the fluid filling the mattress. McGrew also states that it is preferable that the waterbed is not attached to the frame, especially along the surface

  marginal upper mattress, to ensure a

  regular flotation and the prevention of a hammock effect producing shear. For this purpose, the upper surface of the mattress may have a certain clearance such as that formed by a number of pleats in the upper surface of the mattress. In addition, a soft rubber or other elastic pad may be placed floating on the upper surface of the mattress. to add comfort or to compensate for the temperature. The systems described in the above patents

  mentioned, have not achieved a satisfactory effect.

  cushioning the waves without compromising the expected qualities of a traditional waterbed. In addition, such systems have the disadvantages

  above indicated; that is, price increase.

  and complexity of manufacture, increase of the shipping price, increased difficulties to empty and fill,

and increased maintenance costs.

  The present invention relates to a waterbed matelaspour having an open cell foam plate, substantially submerged while being however partially suspended above the upper surface of the liquid filling the mattress. The mattress according to the invention retains the positive qualities of floating support and comfort of water mattresses. traditional, reducing unwanted wave movement often created in such mattresses. In other embodiments of the present invention, the waterbed comprises a large

  number of open-cell foam particles, sensi-

  submerged while partially suspended

  on the upper surface of the liquid filling the mattress, these particles being either enclosed in a bag in a kind of gas or free in the mattress. The present invention can be incorporated in water mattresses or other furniture supporting the body such as chairs and

  sofas where a liquid filling fluid is used.

  The invention will be better understood, and other purposes,

  characteristics, details and advantages of it appear-

  more clearly in the explanatory description

  which will follow with reference to the accompanying schematic drawings given solely by way of example illustrating several embodiments of the invention, and in which: - Figure 1 is a top view, partially broken away, of an embodiment; of the present invention;

  FIG. 2 is a side section of the present

  the invention, made along the line 2, _ 2 of Figure 1; - Figure 3 is a top view, partially broken away, of another embodiment of the invention; Fig. 4 is a sectional side view of the present invention taken along the line 4-4 of Fig. 3; Figure 5 is a top view, partially broken away, of another embodiment of the present invention; and FIG. 6 is a side section of the present invention taken along the line 6-6 of FIG.

  In the description that follows, the same references

  designate identical elements in all the drawings.

  For example, in Figures 1 to 6 which illustrate modes

  preferred embodiment of the invention, the upper sheets

  The top and bottom of the water bed mattress are designated, respectively, everywhere by markers 11 and 12. While

  that this description often refers to "water"

  as a liquid filling for the mattress of the waterbed according to the invention, it will be understood that other liquids are

  considered in the context of the invention, such as composi-

  aqueous solutions containing germicides, fungicides, viscosity modifiers and / or additives to improve

heat transfer.

  In the present invention are incorporated many elements of the traditional technology of water mattresses. Sheets 11 and 12 are typically vinyl sheets joined to each other by a heat seal 14 to form a fluid retaining compartment. The mattress has a standard valve 16 for filling and emptying the mattress. Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, there is shown

  the main features of the present invention.

  The water bed or bladder mattress 10 comprises an open cell foam plate 18. This plate is disposed between the sheets 11 and 12 before sealing them to one another. The foam plate is sized to occupy substantially the entire length and width of the water bed mattress. Foam plate 18 is preferably between 40 and 60% of the depth of the filled mattress. For example, if the filled mattress is 24 cm deep, the foam board 18 should preferably be about 6.1 to 9.1 cm thick for best results. Satisfactory results can also be obtained if the thickness of the plate

  18 is 20 to 100% of the depth of the filled mattress.

  From this point of view, individual tastes can be taken into account.

  duels by having waterbeds having different thicknesses of incorporated foam. The cells of the foam are interconnected. Thus, the water flows into the cells of the part of the foam that is submerged and fills them all. The plate 18, in addition to being able to be filled with water, is an elastic and soft material, able to bend under the weight of the body. The density of the foam is

  that it remains substantially submerged while being partial-

  suspended on the surface of the liquid when the mattress is filled (ie less than 1.0 for a mattress filled with water). It is these characteristics that impart, to the water bed mattress according to the invention, its superior qualities. When the foam plate is substantially saturated with water, its presence in the mattress is virtually undetectable. This is due to the fact that the plate 18 is soft, flexible and when it is substantially saturated, it is mainly composed of water. On the other hand, in the preferred embodiments, the plate can be shifted downwards over a substantial distance. In other words, the water flotation and the physical characteristics of the water bed according to the invention are almost

  identical to those of a traditional waterbed.

  While retaining the desirable qualities of traditional waterbed mattresses, the present invention virtually eliminates the attractive tendency of waterbeds to be sensitive to the creation of wave motion. occupying almost the upper half of the mattress, the water is free to move at the bottom of the mattress.A nL, the amplitude of any wave movement

  at the top surface of the mattress is greatly reduced.

  The operation of the sensitive foam plate

  saturated with water can be considered in another way. Since water "trapped" in the foam is substantially restricted in its movement and flow, the "viscosity" of the water in the upper half of the mattress can be considered to be effectively increased many times. While it is known that highly viscous water dampens the movement of waves, increasing the viscosity of liquid filling a waterbed is known to degrade the floatation of such a mattress and other physical properties. Moreover, in some cases, the increase in the viscosity of the introduced liquid can change the thermal conductivity of this liquid, thus preventing proper heating of the mattress. The present invention retains the positive qualities of waterbeds because the effective viscosity of the water is only changed in one region, one half of the water being unaffected. The thermal character of the waterbed according to the invention is superior to that of traditional waterbeds0 Condensation forms on the outer surface of traditional water-based mattresses due to the temperature difference between the cold water in the mattress and the relatively warm air outside the mattress. This problem is increased when hot bodies are

  arranged on the upper surface of the mattress. The condensation

  However, this effect derives its name from the phenomenon experienced by underwater divers wearing certain rubber diving suits, despite the fact that the water does not form in the present invention because of the "wet suit" effect. flees in such a suit, divers always stay warm even if they swim in very cold water. This is due to the fact that the water that enters the costume is virtually trapped between the body of the diver and his suit. This trapped water quickly reaches the body temperature of the diver and then forms a thermal barrier between him and the cold water around him. In the same way the water "trapped" in the foam-close to the surface of the mattress according to the invention is heated to the temperature of

  air or body on the other side of the mattress surface.

  As the movement and flow of water are prevented by the foam, no convective current is formed, the main means by which heat transfer is accomplished in the water. Thus, a thermal barrier is formed between the mattress surface and the colder water deep in the mattress. Therefore, condensation is eliminated because there is little or no difference in temperature between the two sides of the mattress surface. As described above, the foam plate 18 is made of foam. open cell can easily be filled with water (or other liquid used to fill the mattress), and at the same time, it can be partially suspended on the surface of the liquid. A preferred foam is polyurethane foam although foams of rubber, vinyl or neoprene are also satisfactory. The foam density for a water-filled mat is less than 1, and is preferably between 0.85. and However, foam of a different density may be required for heavier or lighter liquid filling than water. Of course, the density of the foam is of no importance at all.

  occupies 100% of the depth of the filled mattress.

  The polyurethane foam is calibrated for its softness by the foam manufacturing industry, on a scale known as the Indent Load Deflection Scale (hereinafter "ILD", and this means strain scale with imprint under a load). 0 On this scale, 8 is the softest foam and numbers in the order of 100 indicate virtually rigid foams. Polyurethane foam is normally produced with an ILD value of about 45%. of the

  traditional mattresses, has an ILD value of about 30.

  The foam used according to the present invention preferably has an ILD value in the range of 8 to 24, although satisfactory results can be obtained with a foam having an ILD value below 50. The density of the foam and its value of ILD

  can be modified by injecting polystyrene beads

expandable in the foam.

  The foam material placed in the mattress does not

  must not necessarily be in the form of a plate.

  For example, the mattress 30 illustrated in Figures 3 and 4, consists of a large number of pieces 32 of foam of different sizes. These pieces can be placed freely in the mattress or, as illustrated, be contained in a solid chamber 31 resembling gauze or other suitable materials. As in the embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 2, it is preferable for the foam to occupy on the order of 40 to 60% of the depth of the filled mattress

  Figures 5 and 6 illustrate a method of

  The mattress 50 contains many small foam particles 51 (typically less than 6.4 mm in diameter). As in the other embodiments, the foam particles preferably occupy about 40 to 60 percent by weight. the mattress filled. These particles may be "blown" into the mattress 50 using conventional techniques to fill enclosures with foam particles. Particles 51 are illustrated as not being enclosed in an inner envelope or separate enclosure. As the particles are not contained in a separate inner chamber, the valve 16 is provided with a screen 52 for preventing the particles from escaping during the filling or emptying of the mattress. If desired, the particles 51 may be contained in a suitable enclosure or enclosure of the same as in Figures 3 and 40 The mattresses shown in Figures 3 to 6 operate in substantially the same manner as the mattress containing the foam plate. However, the latter two embodiments provide the economic benefit of using foam waste that may otherwise be disposed of as industrial waste. Thus, these embodiments can

  be produced at a much lower price.

  The water mattress according to the invention is emptied and

  filled in the same way as a traditional water mattress.

  When filling the mattress, it is best to fill the water up to about 2.54 cm below the top of the mattress. When emptying the mattress, of course, the water in the foam may have to be expressed. However, tap water rather than a viscous fluid is normally used in the present invention. In addition, the present invention, allowing the mat to be folded or rolled, also allows it to be stored and shipped.

easier.

  Of course, the invention is in no way limited to the embodiments described and shown which have been given by way of example only. In particular, it comprises all the means constituting technical equivalents of the means described, as well as their combinations, if they are executed according to his spirit and put

  implemented in the context of protection as claimed.

Claims (5)

R E V E N D I C A T I 0 N S   A housing supporting a body and being filled with a liquid, characterized in that it contains an open cell foam disposed thereon, said foam extending substantially along the horizontal dimensions of said housing and being substantially submerged while being partially suspended on the surface of said liquid when said housing is filled, so as to dampen the   wave movement in said filled housing.   2. Housing according to claim 1, characterized in that the thickness of the aforementioned foam is 20 to 100% of the depth of said housing when it is filled. 3. Housing according to claim 1, characterized in that the aforementioned liquid is water and in that the aforementioned foam has a density between about 0.85 and 10 4. Housing according to claim 1, characterized in that the aforementioned foam is a vinyl foam open cell.   5. Housing according to claim 1, characterized in that the aforementioned foam is a polyurethane foam   with open cells having an ILD value of less than 55.   Housing according to claim 1, characterized in that the aforementioned foam is formed of a single plate foam.   Housing according to Claim 1, characterized in that the aforementioned foam consists of a number of pieces or foam particles. The housing according to Claim 7, characterized in that the various aforementioned pieces or foam particles are held in a chamber. internal housing according to claim 1, characterized in that the thickness of the aforementioned foam is about 100% of the depth of said housing when it is filled. Housing according to claim 1, characterized in that when it is filled and contains the layer   mentioned in open cells, it defines a mattress for - waterbed.