GB2154445A

GB2154445A - Water beds

Info

Publication number: GB2154445A
Application number: GB08404751A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Paul Edward Smith
Original assignee: PRESSURE SEALED PLASTICS LIMIT
Current assignee: PRESSURE SEALED PLASTICS LIMIT
Priority date: 1984-02-23
Filing date: 1984-02-23
Publication date: 1985-09-11
Also published as: GB8404751D0

Abstract

A water bed suitable for temporary use comprises a rigid moulded plastics base (2) having a flat bottom surface and a concave upper surface, preferably of expanded polystyrene and a shaped water filled bag (13). The base may have a moulded in heater pad and controls. A fabric cover (4) extends over the top and side surfaces of the bed, and the entire bed may be located on a hospital bed frame when required for use. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Water Beds This invention relates to water beds, and in the preferred embodiment provides a relatively inexpensive lightweight water bed which can readily be moved and is thus suitable for temporary use.

Water beds consisting of a rigid base having a concave upper surface in which is supported a plastics bag filled with a liquid are known. However, existing water beds are intended for permanent installation at a particular site, and are very robustly made in order to withstand the substantial weight of the liquid filled bag and one or more occupants.

Further, the base of such beds is designed to locate the upper surface of the bed at conventional bed height when the base is standing on the floor, and accordingly the base tends to be bulky. The weight and size of such known water beds precludes easy movement of the bed from one site to another, and accordingly renders such beds unsuitable for temporary use at some particular location.

The present invention provides a relatively light and easily portable water bed which, whilst it may be used as a permanent bed, is particularly adapted to be used as a temporary bed, e.g., in a hospital.

According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a water bed comprising a rigid moulded plastics base having a flat bottom surface upon which the water bed may rest on a support and a concave upper surface; a liquid filled plastics bag located on the concave upper surface; and a cover extending over the upper surface of the bag and surrounding portions of the base.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention the base is of shell moulded expanded polystyrene, and incorporates an integral low voltage heater and heater controls. The upper surface of the base has a flat peripheral rim surrounding the concave portion of the upper surface, and the bag, when filled, is flush with the peripheral rim. A covering of suitable material, e.g. fleece material or quilted material or porous fabric extends over the upper surface of the bag and the peripheral rim, and down the sides of the base. In use, the base will normally rest on a conventional hospital or domestic bed frame, or can rest on any other suitable flat surface, e.g. a simple cuboid plinth. In general, the liquid fill will be water, and the water will be drained from the bag when it is desired to move the bed from one location to another.With the bag emptied, the entire bed is extremely light and can be readily moved or stored.

This renders the bed particularly suitable for temporary therapeutic use.

The above and further features and advantages of the invention will become clear from the following description of a preferred embodiment thereof, given by way of example only, reference being had to the accompanying drawing wherein: Figure lisa top plan view of a base for an embodiment of water bed according to the present invention; Figure 2 is a section along the lines Il-Il of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of an embodiment of water bed according to the invention ready for use; and Figures 4 and 5 are sketches illustrating methods of supporting the water bed of the preferred embodiment of the invention.

Referring to Figures 1-3 a water bed 1 comprises a base 2 of shell moulded expanded polystyrene; a shaped plastics bag 3; and a cover 4.

The base 2 has a flat lower surface 5 and an upper flat peripheral rim 6 surrounding a depression 7.

The depression 7 is in the form of an inverted truncated pyramid and includes a flat central region 8 and sloping side walls F12. A suitable heating element, e.g. a 24 volt rubber covered heating pad is secured to or moulded integrally with the base, and preferably controls associated with the heater are moulded integrally with the base, and are accessible from the outer surface of the base.

The shaped plastics bag is located within the depression 7 and, when filled with a suitable liquid 13, e.g. water, the upper surface 14 of the bag is flush with the surrounding peripheral rim 6 of the base. The cover 4 extends over the upper surface of the bag and the adjacent rim 6, and down the sides of the base to terminate adjacent the lower edge of the base. The cover may be of any suitable material, for example a fleece material, quilted material, or a micro-porous fabric.

In use, the base is located on any suitable support surface, e.g. a conventional hospital bed 16 as illustrated in Figure 4 or a single cuboid plinth 17 as illustrated in Figure 5 and the bag 3 is filled with water. The cover 4 is then placed over the base and bag and the bed is ready for use. When the bed is no longer required, the bag is emptied and the entire structure can then readily be moved or stored.

Whilst the above described water bed is particularly suitable for temporary therapeutic use in, for example, a hospital, it will be appreciated that it may also be used in a domestic environment, and may indeed be used as a permenant bed if provided with a simple base.

1. A water bed comprising: a rigid moulded plastics base having a flat bottom surface upon which the water bed may rest on a support and a concave upper surface; a liquid filled plastics bag located on the concave upper surface; and a cover extending over the upper surface of the bag and surrounding portions ofthe base.

2. A water bed according to claim 1, wherein the base is of moulded expanded polystyrene.

3. A water bed according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein a heater is permanently fixed to the base.

4. A water bed according to claim 3, wherein the heater and its associated controls are incorporated in the base during moulding thereof.

5. A water bed according to any preceding claim, wherein the upper surface of the base has a flat peripheral rim surrounding a concave portion of the upper surface, the bag being located in the concave portion with the upper surface thereof flush with the peripheral rim.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Water Beds This invention relates to water beds, and in the preferred embodiment provides a relatively inexpensive lightweight water bed which can readily be moved and is thus suitable for temporary use. Water beds consisting of a rigid base having a concave upper surface in which is supported a plastics bag filled with a liquid are known. However, existing water beds are intended for permanent installation at a particular site, and are very robustly made in order to withstand the substantial weight of the liquid filled bag and one or more occupants. Further, the base of such beds is designed to locate the upper surface of the bed at conventional bed height when the base is standing on the floor, and accordingly the base tends to be bulky. The weight and size of such known water beds precludes easy movement of the bed from one site to another, and accordingly renders such beds unsuitable for temporary use at some particular location. The present invention provides a relatively light and easily portable water bed which, whilst it may be used as a permanent bed, is particularly adapted to be used as a temporary bed, e.g., in a hospital. According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a water bed comprising a rigid moulded plastics base having a flat bottom surface upon which the water bed may rest on a support and a concave upper surface; a liquid filled plastics bag located on the concave upper surface; and a cover extending over the upper surface of the bag and surrounding portions of the base. In the preferred embodiment of the invention the base is of shell moulded expanded polystyrene, and incorporates an integral low voltage heater and heater controls. The upper surface of the base has a flat peripheral rim surrounding the concave portion of the upper surface, and the bag, when filled, is flush with the peripheral rim. A covering of suitable material, e.g. fleece material or quilted material or porous fabric extends over the upper surface of the bag and the peripheral rim, and down the sides of the base. In use, the base will normally rest on a conventional hospital or domestic bed frame, or can rest on any other suitable flat surface, e.g. a simple cuboid plinth. In general, the liquid fill will be water, and the water will be drained from the bag when it is desired to move the bed from one location to another.With the bag emptied, the entire bed is extremely light and can be readily moved or stored. This renders the bed particularly suitable for temporary therapeutic use. The above and further features and advantages of the invention will become clear from the following description of a preferred embodiment thereof, given by way of example only, reference being had to the accompanying drawing wherein: Figure lisa top plan view of a base for an embodiment of water bed according to the present invention; Figure 2 is a section along the lines Il-Il of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of an embodiment of water bed according to the invention ready for use; and Figures 4 and 5 are sketches illustrating methods of supporting the water bed of the preferred embodiment of the invention. Referring to Figures 1-3 a water bed 1 comprises a base 2 of shell moulded expanded polystyrene; a shaped plastics bag 3; and a cover 4. The base 2 has a flat lower surface 5 and an upper flat peripheral rim 6 surrounding a depression 7. The depression 7 is in the form of an inverted truncated pyramid and includes a flat central region 8 and sloping side walls F12. A suitable heating element, e.g. a 24 volt rubber covered heating pad is secured to or moulded integrally with the base, and preferably controls associated with the heater are moulded integrally with the base, and are accessible from the outer surface of the base. The shaped plastics bag is located within the depression 7 and, when filled with a suitable liquid 13, e.g. water, the upper surface 14 of the bag is flush with the surrounding peripheral rim 6 of the base. The cover 4 extends over the upper surface of the bag and the adjacent rim 6, and down the sides of the base to terminate adjacent the lower edge of the base. The cover may be of any suitable material, for example a fleece material, quilted material, or a micro-porous fabric. In use, the base is located on any suitable support surface, e.g. a conventional hospital bed 16 as illustrated in Figure 4 or a single cuboid plinth 17 as illustrated in Figure 5 and the bag 3 is filled with water. The cover 4 is then placed over the base and bag and the bed is ready for use. When the bed is no longer required, the bag is emptied and the entire structure can then readily be moved or stored. Whilst the above described water bed is particularly suitable for temporary therapeutic use in, for example, a hospital, it will be appreciated that it may also be used in a domestic environment, and may indeed be used as a permenant bed if provided with a simple base. CLAIMS

6. A water bed according to claim 5, wherein the cover extends over the upper surface of the bag, the peripheral rim, and down the outer surfaces of the base to adjacent the lower surface thereof.

7. A water bed substantially as herein described, with reference to the accompanying drawings.