Inflatable bed with cushion cells

Abstract

An inflatable bed assembly having a plurality of inflatable cushion cells disposed on the top of the inflatable bed. Each cushion cell has a vent fluidly interconnecting the interior volume of the cushion cell with a main air chamber of the bed. When the bed is inflated, the cushion cells inflate and form raised projections on the top of the bed. The cushion cells provide a pressure sensitive surface which molds to the user's body for increased comfort. The vents are sized to allow the cushion cells to inflate upon inflation of the main air chamber, partially deflate when pressure is applied, and re-inflate when the pressure is removed. The size of the vents dampens the rate that air passes through the vent. The controlled inflation and deflation of the cells softens the impact caused by application of a body thereon and simulates the dampened response of “memory-foam”.

1 . An inflatable bed for supporting a body of a person, comprising:
 a top and a bottom;   a main air chamber;   an inflation valve in fluid communication with said main air chamber;   a plurality of inflatable cushion cells disposed on said top, each inflatable cushion cell having an exterior panel and an interior panel;   retaining means connected to said interior panel of each cushion cell, said retaining means retaining said interior panel within a predetermined distance from said bottom when said inflatable bed is inflated;   each exterior panel being impermeable to air and each interior panel having means to fluidly interconnect an interior of an associated cushion cell with said main air chamber;   said fluid interconnection means being operable to permit:
 inflation of said associated cushion cell upon inflation of said main air chamber, 
 deflation of said associated cushion cell by displacement of air therethrough upon application of a body of a person on said associated cushion cell, and 
 re-inflation of said associated cushion cell upon removal of said body therefrom; and 
   said interior of each cushion cell having a fully-inflated volume that is substantially less than a fully-inflated volume of said main air chamber.   
   
   
       2 . The inflatable bed as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein said fluid interconnection means further comprises means to substantially dampen air flow between said interior of said cushion cell and said main air chamber. 
   
   
       3 . The inflatable bed as set forth in  claim 2 , wherein said fluid interconnection means and said dampening means comprise one or more vent holes in each interior panel. 
   
   
       4 . The inflatable bed as set forth in  claim 3 , wherein said interior panel, aside from said one or more vent holes, is substantially impermeable to air. 
   
   
       5 . The inflatable bed as set forth in  claim 3 , wherein a ratio of an aggregate area of said one or more vent holes to said interior volume of each said cushion cell is about 1 mm 2 /48 cc to about 1 mm 2 /24 cc. 
   
   
       6 . The inflatable bed as set forth in  claim 5 , wherein said fully-inflated volume of said cushion is about 480 cc to about 700 cc and the area of said vents is from about 10 mm 2  to about 20 mm 2 . 
   
   
       7 . The inflatable bed as set forth in  claim 1  wherein said retaining means comprises a string connected to said interior panel of each cushion cell. 
   
   
       8 . The inflatable bed as set forth in  claim 1  wherein said retaining means comprises a beam connected to said interior panel of each cushion cell. 
   
   
       9 . The inflatable bed as set forth in  claim 1  wherein said retaining means is attached to said bottom of said inflatable bed. 
   
   
       10 . The inflatable bed as set forth in  claim 1  wherein said retaining means comprises discrete retaining members attached to each interior panel. 
   
   
       11 . The inflatable bed as set forth in  claim 10  wherein said retaining means further comprises:
 a retaining receptacle affixed to each interior panel and a plurality of retaining receptacles affixed to a portion of said inflatable bed positioned closer to the bottom than said interior panels; and   said retaining receptacles having an aperture to receive a string, said string extending through said aperture on a first retaining receptacle on said interior panel and extending through an aperture on a second retaining receptacle closer to the bottom than said interior panels to retain said interior panel within a predetermined distance from said bottom when said inflatable bed is inflated.   
   
   
       12 . The inflatable bed as set forth in  claim 1  wherein said top comprises an internal sheet and an external sheet, both extending substantially an entire length and width of said top, said internal and external sheet having a plurality of weld lines therebetween forming said plurality of cushion cells. 
   
   
       13 . The inflatable bed as set forth in  claim 1  wherein said top comprises a first sheet extending substantially an entire length and width of said top and a plurality of separate panels attached thereto forming said plurality of cushion cells.