GB2311216A

GB2311216A - Water bed

Info

Publication number: GB2311216A
Application number: GB9605658A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Ming-Chun Chung; Andy Chow
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1996-03-18
Filing date: 1996-03-18
Publication date: 1997-09-24
Also published as: GB9605658D0

Abstract

A water bed includes preferably a bed frame, a lining mounted within the bed frame, a water bag unit mounted within the bed frame and carried on the lining, and, preferably, an electric heating device installed in the bed frame at the bottom side and controlled to heat the water bag unit. The water bag unit has an endless tunnel 12 around the border with a layer within the tunnel defining an air chamber 13. Two horizontal stretchers 20, 30 join opposed walls of the tunnel at different elevations to define, with the water bag unit 10, 103 upper, intermediate and lower water chambers. A plurality of vertical stretchers are mounted within the upper and lower chambers. At least one water valve permits water to be filled into the water chamber, and at least one air valve for permits air be driven into the air chamber.

Description

STRUCTURE OF WATER BED BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to water beds, and relates more particularly to such a water bed which is comfortable in use, and which has an electric heating device that can efficiently heat the water bag unit and, can be conveniently replaced.

Figure 1 shows the water bag for water bed according to the prior art. The water bag lOa comprises an inflatable frame lia around the border, and a plurality of water tubes 12a, 13a mounted within the water bag 10a and connected in parallel. The water tubes 12a, 13a have water holes respectively aligned so that water can flow from one water tube to another.

Because the water holes of the water'tubes 12a, 13a are respectively aligned, water flows between the water tubes 12a, 13a in a rush when the user lies on the water bag iCa. Therefore, the connecting portions between the inflatable frame ila and the water tubes 12a, 13a tend to be forced to break when the user lies on the water bag 10a, thereby causing water to leak in the inflatable frame lia. The bed frame for holding the water bag is generally comprised of a wooden frame structure and foamed plastics mounted in the wooden frame structure to hold the water bag on the inside. This structure of bed frame is heavy and inconvenient to delivery, and the user or the worker tends to be injured by the wooden frame structure of the bed frame during the use or the delivery of the water bed. Furthermore, regular water beds commonly equipped with an electric heating device controlled to heat water in the water bag. According to conventional water beds, the electric heating device is installed in the water bag and controlled to directly heat water in the water bag. This heating arrangement cannot prevent loss of heat energy through the bottom side of the bed frame, and therefore the electric heating device consumes much electric energy. In case the electric heating device is damaged, it cannot be conveniently ' replaced. When to remove the electric heating device from the water bag, the inflatable frame will be damaged. Therefore, the inflatable frame of the water bag must be repaired after the replacement of the electric heating device.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been accomplished to provide a water bed which eliminates the aforesaid drawbacks. According to one aspect of the present invention, the water bed is comprised of a bed frame, a lining mounted within the bed frame, a water bag unit mounted within the bed frame and carried on the lining, and an electric heating device installed in the bed frame at the bottom side and controlled to heat the water bag unit. The water bag unit has an endless tunnel on the inside around the border, an enclosed inside layer wrapped within the endless tunnel and defining an enclosed air chamber, two horizontal stretchers mounted within the endless tunnel at different elevations and defining with the water bag unit an upper water chamber, a bottom water chamber, and an intermediate water chamber, and a plurality of vertical stretchers respectively mounted within the upper water chamber and the bottom water chamber, at least one water valve for permitting water to be filled into the water chamber, and at least one air valve for permitting air be driven into the air chamber. ~The~~ horizontal stretchers and vertical stretchers having respective water holes for permitting water to flow from one water chamber to another. The water holes on one stretcher are not in alignment with that on another stretcher so that the water holes can buffer the movement of water when the user lies on the water bag unit or leaves from it.

According to another aspect of the present invention, the bed frame is made from foamed plastic, therefore the bed frame does not cause any hurt to the user when it is touched by the user.

According to another aspect of the present invention, the lining is fastened to the periphery of the bed frame by a tape of hook and loop material, therefore the lining pulls the periphery of the bed frame inwards toward the center of the water bed when the user lies on the water bag unit.

According to still another aspect of the present invention, the electric heating device is comprised of a metal plate disposed in contact with the lining, a heat insulative plate fastened to the metal plate at the bottom, a plurality of clamps fastened to the metal plate and the heat insulative plate to hold them together, and an electric heating plate jammed between the metal plate and the heat insulative plate.

The metal plate can be a stainless steel plate or an aluminum plate. The heat insulative plate can be a gypsum slate or a melamine plate. Because the electric heating plate is protected within the metal plate and the heat insulative plate, heat can be effectively transmitted through the metal plate to the water bag unit.

According to still another aspect of the present invention, the bed frame comprises a bottom opening, and a back plate fastened to the bottom opening to hold the electric heating device on the inside. Be disconnecting the back plate from the bed frame, the electric heating device can be conveniently removed from the water bed for a replacement.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Fig. 1 is a cutaway of a water bag for water bed according to the prior art; Fig. 2 is an elevational view of a water bed according to the present invention; Fig. 3 is a sectional elevation of the water bag unit of the water bed shown in Figure 2; Fig. 3A is an enlarged view of part A of Figure 3; Fig. 4 is an end view in section in an enlarged scale of the water bed shown in Figure 2; Fig. 4A is an enlarged view of part A of Figure 4; Fig. 4B is an enlarged view of part B of Figure 4; Fig. 4C is an enlarged view of part C of Figure 4; Fig. 5 is an exploded view of the water bed shown in Figure 2; Fig. SA is an enlarged view of part A (the clamp) of Figure 5; Fig. 6 is an end view in section of the water bed shown in Figure 2, showing the positioning of the electric heating device in the bed frame; Fig. 7 is similar to Figure 6 but showing the electric heating device installed in the bed frame; and Fig. 8 is a perspective view of the water bag unit of Figure 3, showing the air chamber divided into a plurality of air cells.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to Figures 2, 3 and 3A, the water bag unit, referenced by 10, comprises an endless tunnel 11 on the inside around the border, an enclosed inside layer 12 wrapped within the endless tunnel 11 and defining an enclosed air chamber 13, a first horizontal stretcher 20 and a second horizontal stretcher 30 mounted within the endless tunnel 11 at different elevations and defining with the water bag unit 10 an upper water chamber 101, a bottom water chamber 103, and an intermediate water chamber 102, a plurality of vertical stretchers 40 respectively mounted within the upper water chamber 101 and the bottom water chamber 103. The endless tunnel 11 has a plurality of through holes 111 which buffer the impact force of water. The horizontal stretchers 20, 30 and the vertical stretchers 40 have the same structure and are respectively made by sealing two flexible plastic sheets together, each of the stretchers comprised of a curved portion 21, 32, or 42 defining a tubular water passage 22, 33, or 43, two bearing portions 23, 31, or 41 respectively extending from the curved portion 21, 32, or 42 at two opposite sides, and two sealing portions 24, 34, or 44 at the ends of the bearing portions 23, 31, or 41 respectively sealed to the inside wall of the water bag unit 10 or the other stretchers. Water holes 211, 231, 311, 411 are respectively made on the curved portions 21, 32, 42 and the bearing portions 23, 31, 41. The water holes 231 of the bearing portions 23 of the first horizontal stretcher 20 are not in alignment with the water holes 311 of the bearing portions 31 of the second horizontal stretcher 30; the water holes 411 of the bearing portions 41 of one vertical stretcher 40 are not in alignment with the water holes 411a of the bearing portions 41a of an adjacent vertical stretcher 40a.

This design of the water holes 231, 411 prevent high impact of water pressure. Furthermore, air valves 105 and water valves 106 are respectively mounted on the water bag unit 10 for permitting air to be driven into the air chamber 13 and water to be filled into the water chambers 101, 102, 103.

Referring to Figures 4, 4A, 4B, and 4C, when the water bag unit 10 receives a pressure, water is forced to flow through the water holes 231, 311, 411 of the bearing portions 23, 31, 41 of the stretchers 20, 30, 40. Because the water holes 231, 311, 411 are not aligned, water pressure is buffered when the water bag unit 10 bears a pressure. When the user leaves from the water bed, water flows backwards to lift the top surface of the water bag unit 10, and at the same time the tubular water passages 22, 33, 43 buffer the reverse flow of water to prevent the stretchers 20, 30, 40 from being excessively stretched. Because the sealing portions 24, 34 of the first horizontal stretcher 20 and the second horizontal stretcher 30 are respectively sealed to the endless tunnel 11, the first horizontal stretcher 20 and the second horizontal stretcher 30 are forced to pull the endless tunnel 11 inwards when the user lies on the water bag unit 10. In case the endless tunnel 11 is excessively stretched and torn up, the air chamber 13 is still maintained intact without causing any leakage of water. Further, the vertical stretchers 40 in the upper water chamber 101 have a respective sealing portion 44 sealed to the top side of the water bag unit 10, and the sealing portion 44 will pull the top side of the water bag unit 10 downwards, when the water bag unit 10 is depressed, causing the top side of the water bag unit 10 to curve inwards.

Referring to Figure 8, the air chamber 13 has a plurality of transverse partition walls 131. The transverse partition walls 131 divide the air chamber 13 into a plurality of separate air cells 132. Each of the transverse partition walls 131 has at least one through hole 133, which permits air to flow from one air cell 132 to another. Because of the design of the transverse partition walls 131, the air chamber 13 is maintained in a particular shape when inflated.

Referring to Figures 5, 5A, and 6, the water bag unit 10 is carried on a lining 50 and mounted'inside a bed frame 60. The bed frame 60 defines a receiving chamber 62 for holding the lining 50 and the the water bag unit 10, and has an opening 621 at the bottom side.

An electric heating device 63 is installed in the opening 621 of the bed frame 60 and controlled to heat the water bag unit 10. The lining 50 is mounted in the receiving chamber 62 of the bed frame 60 and fastened to the periphery of the bed frame 60 by a tape of hook and loop material 61. The bed frame 60 is preferably molded from foamed plastic or suitable flexible material so that the user will not be hurt when touching the bed frame 60. The lining 50 is preferably made from synthetic fabric or rubber film so that it does not tear easily when the water bag unit 10 is loaded and filled up with water.

Referring to Figure 7, when the water bag unit 10 is filled up with water and loaded on the linking 50 inside the bed frame 60, the lining 50 is forced by the pressure of the water bag unit 10 to pull the periphery of the bed frame 60 inwards toward the center of the bed frame 60, and therefore the periphery of the bed frame 60 is pulled to closely abut against the periphery of the water bag unit 10, and prevented from being forced outwards by the pressure of the user who sits or lies on the water bag unit 10.

Referring to Figures 5 and 6 again, a tape of hook (loop) material 51 and a tape of loop (hook) material 14 may be respectively and fixedly fastened to the lining 50 and the water bag unit 10 at suitable locations so that the lining 50 can be firmly secured to the water bag unit 10 by fastening the tape of hook material 51 and the tape of loop material 14 together when the water bag unit 10 is loaded on the lining 50 in the receiving chamber 62 of the bed frame 60. The tape of hook material 51 and the tape of loop material 14 can be made in a strip or cut into pieces and respectively then fastened to the lining 50 and the water bag unit 10 by stitches. Alternatively, any other suitable fastening means may be used to fasten the lining 50 to the water bag unit 10. Because the lining 50 is secured to the water bag unit 10 by the tape of hook material 51 and the tape of loop material 14, it deforms with the water bag unit 10 when the user sits or lies on the water bag unit 10. When the user leaves from the water bag unit 10, the water bag unit 10 immediately returns to its former shape to pull the lining 50 back to its former shape.

Referring to Figures 5 and 5A again, the electric heating device 63 is comprised of a plurality of clamps 631, a metal plate 632, an electric heating plate 633, and a heat insulative plate 634. The metal plate 632 and the heat insulative plate 634 are fastened together by the clamps 631 with the electric heating plate 633 jammed therebetween. When the electric heating device 63 is installed in the opening 621 inside the receiving chamber 62 of the bed frame 60, the metal plate 632 is disposed at the top inside in contact with the lining 50, and a back plate 64 is fastened to the opening 621 of the bed frame 60 to hold the electric heating device 63 on the inside. The metal plate 632 can be a stainless steel plate or aluminum plate which receives heat from the electric heating plate 633 and transmits heat to the bottom side of the water bag unit 10 uniformly. Because the electric heating plate 633 is protected within the metal plate 632 and the heat insulative plate 624, the water bed will not be burnt when the electric heating plate 633 is electrically connected to produce heat. An electric heating wire or an equivalent electric heating element may be used instead of the electric heating plate 633, and closely connected between the metal plate 632 and the heat insulative plate 624. Because the electric heating plate 633 is protected by the metal plate 632, the water bed will not be damaged when the electric heating plate 633 is burned out. The heat insulative plate 634 can be a gypsum slate or a melamine plate which prevents heat from passing the bed frame 60. The clamps 631 fasten the metal board 632, the electric heating plate 633, and the heat insulative plate 634 together. When the electric heating plate 633 is damaged, the clamps 631 can be easily detached so that the damaged electric heating plate 633 can be replaced.

As indicated, the electric heating device 63 is installed in the opening 621 at the bottom side of the bed frame 60 and sealed by the back plate 64. If the electric heating device 63 is damaged, the back plate 64 can be disconnected from the bed frame 60 so that the electric heating device 63 can be removed out of the water bed for a replacement.

While only one embodiment of the present invention has been shown and described, it will be understood that various modifications and changes could be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention disclosed.

Claims

What the invention claimed is:

1. A water bed comprising a water bag unit on which one may sleep, said water bag unit comprising an endless tunnel on the inside around the border, an enclosed inside layer wrapped within said endless tunnel and defining an enclosed air chamber, two horizontal stretchers mounted within said endless tunnel at different elevations and defining with said water bag unit an upper water chamber, a bottom water chamber, and an intermediate water chamber, a plurality of vertical stretchers respectively mounted within said upper water chamber and said bottom water chamber, at least one water valve for permitting water to be filled into said water chambers, and at least one air valve for permitting air be driven into said air chamber.

2. The water bed of claim 1 wherein each of said horizontal stretchers and said vertical stretchers comprises a curved portion defining a tubular water passage, two bearing portions respectively extending from said curved portion at two opposite sides, and two sealing portions at ends of said bearing portions and respectively sealed to adjacent horizontal stretchers, said endless tunnel, and said water bag unit, said curved portion and said bearing portions being made with water holes for permitting water to flow between said upper water chamber, said intermediate water chamber, and said bottom water chamber.

3. The water bed of claim 2 wherein the water holes of the bearing portions of said horizontal stretchers are not aligned vertically.

4. The water bed of claim 2 wherein said curved portion has water holes for permitting water to pass in and out of the respective tubular water passage.

5. The water bed of claim 1 further comprising a bed frame and a lining, said bed frame defining a receiving chamber, said lining being fastened to said bed frame by fastening means to carry said water bag unit within the receiving chamber of said bed frame.

6. The water bed of claim 5 wherein said fastening means is a tap of hook and loop material.

7. The water bed of claim 5 wherein said fastening means is a double-sided adhesive tape.

8. The water bed of claim 5 wherein said bed frame is molded from foamed plastic.

9. The water bed of claim 5 wherein said lining is made from synthetic fabric.

10. The water bed of claim 5 further comprising an electric heating device installed in said bed frame and controlled to heat said water bag unit, said electric heating device, said electric heating device comprising a metal plate disposed in contact with said lining, a heat insulative plate fastened to said metal plate at a bottom side, a plurality of clamps fastened to said metal plate and said heat insulative plate to hold them together, and an electric heating plate jammed between said metal plate and said heat insulative plate.

11. The water bed of claim 10 wherein said bed frame comprises a bottom opening, and a back plate fastened to said bottom opening to hold said electric heating device on the inside.

12. The water bed of claim 1 wherein said air chamber is divided into a plurality of separate air cells by a plurality of transverse partition walls thereof, each of said transverse partition walls having at least one through hole, which permits air to flow from one air cell to another.

13. A water bed substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to, and as illustrated in Figs. 2 to 8 of the accompanying drawings.