GB2424365A

GB2424365A - Air cell for a mattress

Info

Publication number: GB2424365A
Application number: GB0506024A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Po-Jen Hsueh
Original assignee: Apex Medical Corp
Current assignee: Wellell Inc
Priority date: 2005-03-23
Filing date: 2005-03-23
Publication date: 2006-09-27
Anticipated expiration: 2025-03-23
Also published as: GB2424365B; GB0506024D0

Abstract

An air cell for a mattress mainly has two independent air chambers that are manufactured by die-casting or welding to form the edge seal of the cell and partition seal dividing the cell into the chambers at the same time. One of the independent air chambers (15, Fig 4) is an adjustable air chamber, in which air can be alternately inputted and outputted through a inlet/outlet member 13 to have the effect of promoting blood circulation of a person. The other independent air chamber (16, Fig 4) is a supporting air chamber, which can support the body of the person with permanent air therein whenever the adjustable air chamber loses its function.

Description

AIR CELL PROVIDED FOR A MATTRESS

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an air cell provided for a mattress, and more particularly to an air mattress with the air cells that is able to promote the blood circulation of a patient to prevent decubitus wounds.

2. Description of Related Art

A patient having lain on a bed for a long time is likely to suffer from skin diseases resulting from lying on the bed without movement and that is why an air mattress is created to help blood circulation. A conventional air mattress has several interconnected air cells arranged on the mattress and an air pump for inflating the air cells.

FIG 1 is a perspective view of a conventional air mattress. The air mattress comprises a body (10'), multiple annular fixers (20'), and multiple air cells (30'). The annular fixers (20') are mounted on an upper surface of the body (10') and arranged symmetrically in two rows. Each air cell (30') is located under a pair of the annular fixers (20') and fixed on the body (10') by the annular fixers (20'). The multiple air cells (30') are connected to an air pump (not shown) to be inflated by the air pump. With the function of alternately charging and discharging air by the air pump, the air mattress has the massage effect on the patient lying on the bed and therefore skin diseases are avoided.

However, if there is a power failure or a malfunction of the machine parts, the air cells (30') can not support the weight of the patient's body due to lack of enough air within the air cells (30') so the patient inevitably has to lie on the uncomfortable body (10').

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The primary objective of the present invention is to provide an air cell having two independent air chambers. One of the air chambers is provided to promote the blood circulation of a patient and the other is provided to support the patient's body if a power failure or a malfunction of the machine parts happens.

A different objective of the present invention is that by using hot forming of the two independent air chambers at a time, the cost and time for producing an air cell can be reduced.

The air cell provided for the air mattress in accordance with the present invention includes a pad member and at least two pneumatic members disposed on the pad member. The pad member has an edge-welded seam and a parting welded seam wherein the edge-welded seam and the parting welded seam are formed simultaneously. The edge-welded seam is on the perimeter of the pad member and seams the opposite edge portions of the pad member together to define an enclosed space therein with the two pneumatic members which link up the enclosed space with the outside environment. The parting welded seam further divides the enclosed space into two independent air chambers, and the two pneumatic members are respectively disposed on each of the independent air chambers. One of the independent air chambers is an adjustable air chamber, in which air is alternately charged and discharged through the corresponding one of the pneumatic members by an air pump to result in a massage effect to the patient's skin. The other air chamber is a supporting air chamber, which maintains a certain amount of air therein permanently such that if a power failure or a malfunction of the machine parts happens to cause the adjustable air chamber not to work, the supporting air chamber is able to directly support the patient.

Other and further features, advantages and benefits of the invention will become apparent in the following description taken in conjunction with the following drawings. It is to be understood that the foregoing general description and following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory but are not to be restrictive of the invention. The accompanying drawings are incorporated in and constitute a part of this application and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention in general terms. Like numerals refer to like parts

throughout the disclosure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. I is a perspective view of a conventional air mattress; FIG 2 is a plane view of a first embodiment according to the present invention before processing; FIG. 3 is a plane view of the first embodiment after processing; FIG 4 is a traverse sectional view taken by line 4-4 in FIG 3; FIG. 5 is a plane view of a second embodiment according to the present invention; FIG. 6 is a plane view of a third embodiment according to the present invention; FIG. 7 is a plane view of a fourth embodiment according to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFFERED EMBODIMENT

With reference to FIG. I and FIG 2, the air cell in accordance with the present invention is mainly composed of a pad member (10) made of airproof material. After folding the pad member (10) into halves, the user is able to use a machine to weld the perimeters of the folded pad member (10) to define an enclosed space therein by an edge-welded seam (11). At the same time, the user is able to use the machine to weld the central region of the pad member (10) to divide the enclosed space into two independent air chambers by a parting welded seam (12). There are two pneumatic members (13,14) respectively disposed in the two independent air chambers, both of which are mounted on the predetermined positions on the pad member (10) before being welded by the machine. Thus, after the pad member (10) is welded, air can be charged or discharged from the independent air chambers by an air pump (not shown) through the pneumatic members (13,14).

With reference to FIG 4 that is a traverse sectional view of FIG. 3 taken by line 4-4 after being inflated, one of the independent air chambers is an adjustable air chamber (15) and the other is a supporting air chamber (16). The adjustable air chamber (15) is able to change its volume and shape by alternately charging and discharging air by the air pump such that the adjustable air chamber (15) has an effect of promoting the blood circulation of a patient to prevent skin diseases. After the supporting air chamber (16) is fully inflated, it does not exchange air therein with the ambient air. Preferably the pneumatic member (14) disposed on the supporting air chamber (16) is even to be closed by a plug (141) (as shown is FIG 3). If there is a power failure or a malfunction of the air pump, the adjustable air chamber (15) will be gradually reducing its volume due to a shortage of enough air provided by the air pump. However, the supporting air chamber (16) still maintains full of air therein since it does not exchange air with outside environment and thus, it can support the patient in comfortable state without having the patient directly lie on the hard bed beneath the pad member (10).

FIG. 5, FIG. 6 and FIG. 7 are respectively other different embodiments. All the parting welded seams (12) in the embodiments are able to respectively divide the pad members (10) into two independent air chambers with different patterns. All the embodiments have the same massage effect as described above and can be manufactured by hot forming simultaneously so as to reduce cost and time.

Although this invention has been disclosed and illustrated with reference to particular embodiments, the principles involved are susceptible for use in numerous other embodiments that will be apparent to persons skilled in the art. This invention is, therefore, to be limited oniy as indicated by the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS

I. An air cell provided for a mattress, the air cell comprising a pad member and at least two pneumatic members disposed in the pad member, the pad member having an edge-welded seam and a parting welded seam both of which are formed by hot forming, the edge-welded seam defining a enclosed space within the pad member, the pneumatic members linking the enclosed space with an outside environment, the parting welded seam further dividing the enclosed space into Iwo independent air chambers, and each pneumatic member being individually disposed on a corresponding one of the independent air chambers.
2. The air cell provided for a mattress according to claim 1, wherein one of the independent air chambers is an adjustable air chamber and the other is a supporting air chamber.
3. The air cell provided for a mattress according to claim 2, wherein the adjustable air chamber is able to change its volume by selectively charging and discharging air through the pneumatic member.
4. A method of forming an air cell provided for a mattress according to claim 2, wherein the inlet/outlet member disposed on the supporting air chamber further has a plug mounted at one end of the inlet/outlet member to prevent air leakage from the inlet/outlet member.

4. The air cell provided for a mattress according to claim 2, wherein the pneumatic member disposed on the supporting air chamber further has a leakproof element mounted at one end of the pneumatic member to prevent air leakage from the pneumatic member.

Amendments to the claims have been filed as follows 1. A method of forming an air cell provided for a mattress, the air cell comprising a sheet member and at least two inlet/outlet members disposed on the sheet member, the sheet member having an edge-welded seam and a partitional welded seam, the edge-welded seam defining an enclosed space within the sheet member, the inlet/outlet members linking the enclosed space with an outside environment, the partitional welded seam further dividing the enclosed space into two independent air chambers, and each inlet/outlet member being individually disposed on a corresponding one of the independent air chambers, wherein the edge welded seam and the partitional welded seam are formed simultaneously.

2. A method of forming an air cell provided for a mattress according to claim 1, wherein one of the independent air chambers is an adjustable air chamber and the other is a supporting air chamber.

3. A method of forming an air cell provided for a mattress according to claim 2, wherein the adjustable air chamber is able to change its volume by selectively charging and discharging air through the inlet/outlet member.