WO2010003417A1

WO2010003417A1 - Air inflatable mattress

Info

Publication number: WO2010003417A1
Application number: PCT/DK2009/000165
Authority: WO
Inventors: Per KØLLE
Original assignee: Koelle Per
Priority date: 2008-07-05
Filing date: 2009-07-03
Publication date: 2010-01-14
Also published as: DK176841B1

Abstract

Air inflatable mattress in essence rectangular with bottom, sides, end. pieces and surface, and the hollow space between top and bottom connected with vertical pieces of rope which are placed in equivalent distance from each other all over the surface between top and bottom, and the track is equipped with a coupling unit for air compressor and is fitted with light tubes with extra enhanced rubber edges and said light tubes are mainly mounted to the vertical pieces of rope in the mattress and further the two light tubes are equipped with 1 power supply cable, said cable being split in an assembly box in the mattress, mainly positioned in one end of same • and the supply cable going out of the mattress is mounted to a control box which also controls the inlet of compressed air • the assembly box in the mattress is equipped with fittings for tensile relief of the cables • at the same time the cables are enhanced by being made of many thin threads and the cables are also mounted to a terminal pipe before the connectors are assembled inside the assembly box.

Description

Air inflatable mattress

The invention relates to an air inflatable mattress - in professional circles called an Air-Track, which is used for gymnastic exercises and which is equipped with special facilities.

In general, these air inflatable mattresses in essence are rectangular with bottom, sides, end pieces, and the hollow space between top and bottom preferably are connected with pieces of rope which are placed in equivalent distance from each other all over the surface between top and bottom, and the mattresses are equipped with a coupling unit for the air compressor. The use of an air inflatable mattress i.a. focuses on stimulation of the "entire" child with the objective intention of developing the motoric abilities, balance, coordination, timing, improved physical strength, fantasy - and all of these qualities are achieved while having fun. Beginners will quickly be familiar with new exercises.

Self confidence is developed during play and exercise. The mattress helps in the natural development against social and group related problems which children can experience in play. The construction of the mattress causes extraordinary acceleration of the body - normal actions as running and jumping will become a question of challenging body control. The whole concept of the mattress can be seen as a form of body experiment in which almost innumerable possibilities of experiments are given in challenging your body's ability to express itself and where you can find new limits for what your body is able to do - it creates physical and mental strength. And the inflatable mattress is the ultimate tool for building a gymnastic sequence in preparation for competitions and for a great variation in performances . All these advantages are well-known and therefore, these mattresses are very popular and very frequently used. With the new invention a new feature is introduced which will give a further application of the potential of the inflatable mattress for the spectator as well as the performer. Illuminated mattresses have not been seen before, and this illumination is the new feature extending the range of possibilities. Interior illumination with light tubes along the 2 long sides of the mattress and where these sides therefore are transparent and further the middle track of the mattress is equipped with a jump marking by means of a narrow track made of transparent canvas. The new invention hereby achieves that the mattress can be used in almost total darkness or in various degrees of darkness and that he spectator will have a better chance of seeing the performer or performers carrying out their exercises in a more holistic and aesthetic context. Smaller details will appear in a new and exciting way, and new and so far unknown exercises/movements which are related to the special physical situations will occur.

Experience, fascination and body learning will be key words in that context. These new features are not only related to the light effects but also to the choice of material, as especially the composition of the material of enhanced polyester canvases/PVC coated with polyester on top and transparent PVC canvases on the sides sown together and welded for strength will lead to an enhanced jump effect compared to the well-known mattresses .

Light in inflatable exercise tools has been seen before, e.g. in US 5,888,156. However, the application which according to US 5,888,156 is unique, is not possible to apply in the present in-vention, as the light installation should be able to tolerate frequent unrolling and rolling of mattress without harm to the light installation. This tremendous pressure on the light installation demands a well calculated installation model. In that respect light tubes (led) is part of a unique model which, however, cannot alone solve the problem. Light tubes (led) contain fibre optics and have the following advantages:

• High flexibility with the possibility of bending the material in all possible angles

• No shattering or breaking

• Low tension • 100 per cent water proof

• Low heat effect

• 100,000 hours of life expectancy and low maintenance costs

• Stable in a cold climate • Available in red, orange, yellow, green, blue and white

These features are considerably different from US 5,888,156. I. a. in said patent the power comes from a battery, and same energy supply principle is not practicable over time in the present invention, as the volume of the batteries would make it impossible to roll and unroll the mattress. The batteries will not be able to supply sufficient power to the light tubes which in this context are very long. Even if light tubes (led) were rather well-known, it is to be seen as well-known state of the art in a new application and in an unexpected new context. At the same time it should be underlined that light tubes (led) only are part of the solution. It is the combination with other measures which ascertain that it is possible to manufacture a mattress with interior lighting which can be rolled and unrolled and with the advantages which can be reached through this.

The 2 light tubes in the mattress are fitted with 1 supply cable split in an assembly box inside the mattress .

The box has fittings which give tensile relief to the cables at the entry point of the box so that there will be no tension on the individual parts in the box at the point of attachment. The plug at the power supply cord is of such a type that it will fit only to the control box.

The control box and the light tubes must only be powered by power connections which are protected by max. 13A fuses and HPFI (GFCI) breaker and PE- conductor (protective earth) .

The light tubes can have mainly the following data:

Type: light tubes (led) extra enhanced

Power Supply: 23 OVAC

Effect: 4,7W/m

No. of LED per m: 80 Min. bend radius: 4 cm

Execution: Double insulation

Storage temp.: -5 to +45gC

Density: IP 44 The power supply cables used for this task are multi chorded, i.e. each conductor consists of several thin threads which together function as the conductor of preferably 1.5 mm2.

The conductors are mounted to a terminal pipe before they are connected inside the assembly box. The terminal pipe is mounted with a special crimping tool at the end of the conductor . The reason for choosing this material is the fact that these cables have a higher flexibility and by using a terminal pipe, good electrical connection is secured with a good mechanical strength. Technically spoken: Inflatable mattress in essence rectangular with bottom, sides, end pieces and surface, and the hollow space between top and bottom connected with vertical pieces of rope which are placed in equivalent distance from each other all over the surface between top and bottom, and the track is equipped with a coupling unit for an air compressor and fitted with light tubes with extra enhanced rubber edges, and said light tubes are mounted mainly onto the vertical pieces of rope in the mattress which are positioned outer-most and parallel to each other on each of the

2 long sides.

• and further the 2 light tubes are fitted with 1 supply cable, split in an assembly box mainly positioned in one end of same inside the mattress • and the supply cable out of the mattress mounted onto a control box which also controls the intake of compressed air

• the control box inside the mattress has fittings for tensile relief of the cables at the entry of the box • at the same time the cables are enhanced by consisting of many thin threads and eventually, the cables are mounted to a terminal pipe before the conductors are connected inside the assembly box

The materials have been carefully chosen, as this composition gives several advantages -

1. transparent and clear PVC canvases on the sides give a greater transparency to the public and spreads the light which of course also is of importance for the performers

2. the combination with the top of sown and welded enhanced polyester canvases and the transparent and clear PVC canvases of the sides will give a better jump effect. The weight of the jumping performers will lead to a greater elasticity of the physical material .

ad. 2 - this is to be seen in comparison to the well-known material which normally is used for those mattresses where the sides as well as the top will be of a canvas plastic material

Technically expressed, as follows:

Air inflatable mattresses according to claim 1 where the top and end pieces consist of the following material: sown or welded enhanced polyester canvases/PVC enhanced polyester

The sides: transparent and clear PVC canvases

The bottom: Anti-skid PVC enhanced canvas

On the air inflatable mattress top and in the longitudinal direction hereof, as well as in the middle track of the mattress a jump marking is made in form of a narrow track of transparent PVC canvas material. The performers can target through this marking and the lighting will also make the movements more visible for the audience as well as for the performers .

Figures

Fig. 1 drawing of mattress - perspective view Fig. 2 photo of mattress - seen from the side

Fig. 3 photo "close up" - seen from the side

Fig. 4 assembly box closed

Fig. 5 assembly box open

Reference numbers

1. air inflatable mattress

2. top

3. long sides

4. bottom 5. end pieces

6. pieces of rope

7. light tubes

8. assembly box 9. tensile reliefs 10. connectors

11. power chord to/from light tubes

12. tube for inlet of compressed air

13. tube for measuring the air pressure

14. outgoing tube from assembly box to control box

15. control box/console

16. main chord to power supply (230 V)

17. transparent jump marking

Implementing examples Fig. 1 shows a drawing of the inflatable mattress (1) - transparent but with the transparent jumping mark (17) [OBS: der er ikke noget "17" pa nogen af tegningerne] indicated and with installation of the light tubes (7) and the pieces of rope (6) which will see to it that the mattress (1) keeps its span and elasticity and to avoid that the mattress (1) loses its shape when compressed air is let in. Eventually, the assembly box (8) is seen in one end with outlet for console (14) from which a cable/chord (15) leads to the main power supply and a tube for inlet of compressed air (12) into the mattress (1) and a tube to measure the air inlet (13) . Further, the transparent long sides (3) on Figs. 2 and 3, where the perspective is the mattress (1) seen from the side. Fig. 2 gives an idea of the format of the mattress - that it is long, and on Fig. 3 the pieces of rope (6) and the light tubes (7) clearly are seen. Further, the transparency of the clear PVC canvas is clearly illustrated and the sides (3) are also made hereof, whereas the top (2) is made of a PVC coated polyester material. On Fig. 4 the closed assembly box can be seen with tensile reliefs (9) and the power supplying chords to the light tubes (11) and the power supply chord (14) for control box/console (15) .

On Fig. 5 same assembly box is seen but this time it is open and the 2 cables (11) are seen which provide power to the light tubes, and it is illustrated that they come into the assembly box from left and right, respectively, where they are assembled correctly in connectors - a total of three, where the 3rd is connected to the cable (14) which comes out of the mattress (1) and leads to the control box/console (15) .

Claims

1. Air inflatable mattress in essence rectangular with bottom, sides, end pieces and surface, and the hollow space between top and bottom connected 'with vertical pieces of rope which are placed in equivalent distance from each other all over the surface between top and bottom, and the track is equipped with a coupling unit for air compressor c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that it is fitted with light tubes (led) (7) with extra enhanced rubber edges and said light tubes (7) are mainly mounted to the vertical pieces of rope (6) in the mattress (1) which are positioned outer-most and parallel to each other on each of the 2 long sides (3)

• and further there are 2 light tubes (7) fitted with 1 power supply cable (11) which is split in an assembly box (10) inside the mattress (1) mainly positioned in one end of same (1) • and the power supply cable (14) out of the mattress is mounted to a control box (15) which also controls the inlet of compressed air

• the assembly box (8) inside the mattress is equipped with fittings for tensile relief of the cables (11, 14) at the entry of the assembly box

(8),

• at the same time the cables are enhanced by consisting of many thin threads and finally a terminal pipe is mounted onto the cables before the conductors are connected inside the assembly box (8)

2. Air inflatable mattress according to claim 1 c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the material of the top (2) and end pieces (5) consist of sown and welded enhanced polyester canvases/PVC coated polyester material

the sides (3) are

Transparent and clear PVC canvases

the bottom (4) is anti-skid PVC enhanced canvas

3. Air inflatable mattress according to claim 2 c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the top of the mattress (1) and in the longitudinal direction hereof and in the middle track of the mattress a jump marking (17) is made in form of a narrow track of transparent PVC canvas material .