Air mattress internal support structure

Abstract

An air mattress having an internal support structure for stabilizing and resisting deformation of a sleep surface. The air mattress includes an air bladder defined by an upper sleep surface, a bottom surface, and an interconnecting side wall. A plurality of support columns interconnect the upper sleep surface to the bottom surface and segment an interior cavity of the air bladder into a plurality of air chambers for receiving air to support the upper sleep surface. A resilient member is carried within each of the air chambers to stabilize and resist deformation of the upper sleep surface resulting from changes in air pressure within the air bladder and from the shifting of weight on the upper sleep surface.

1 . An air mattress having an internal support structure for stabilizing and resisting deformation of a sleep surface, said air mattress comprising:
 an air bladder having an upper sleep surface, a bottom surface, and a side wall interconnecting said upper sleep surface to said bottom surface to define an interior cavity for receiving air to pressurize said air bladder;   a plurality of support columns disposed in said air bladder interconnecting said upper sleep surface to said bottom surface, wherein said support columns are aligned in a generally parallel arrangement to each other and extend generally across said interior cavity for resisting deformation of said upper sleep surface when said air bladder is pressurized;   a plurality of air chambers defined in said air bladder by said support columns for receiving air to support said upper sleep surface;   a perimeter airflow channel defined in said air bladder by a gap between a distal end of each of said support columns and said side wall, wherein said perimeter airflow channel interconnects each of said air chambers to allow for continuous airflow among said air chambers; and,   at least one resilient member disposed within each of said air chambers to stabilize and resist deformation of said upper sleep surface resulting from changes in air pressure within said air bladder and from the shifting of weight on said upper sleep surface.   
   
   
       2 . The air mattress of  claim 1  wherein said at least one resilient member traverses each of said air chambers so that uniform internal support is generally provided throughout said upper sleep surface. 
   
   
       3 . The air mattress of  claim 2  wherein said resilient member extends at least partially into said perimeter airflow channel to provide stability and support generally along a perimeter edge of said upper sleep surface. 
   
   
       4 . The air mattress of  claim 1  wherein said at least one resilient member comprises a series of coil springs. 
   
   
       5 . The air mattress of  claim 4  wherein said series of coil springs comprise individual pocketed coil springs. 
   
   
       6 . The air mattress of  claim 4  wherein said series of coil springs are arranged immediately adjacent each other throughout each of said air chambers so that there is generally no spacing among each series of coil springs traversing each of said air chambers. 
   
   
       7 . The air mattress of  claim 1  wherein said at least one resilient member comprises a continuous foam block traversing each of said air chambers. 
   
   
       8 . The air mattress of  claim 1  wherein said at least one resilient member comprises a series of individual foam blocks traversing each of said air chambers. 
   
   
       9 . The air mattress of  claim 8  wherein said series of individual foam blocks are arranged immediately adjacent each other throughout each of said air chambers so that there is generally no spacing among each series of individual foam blocks traversing each of said air chambers. 
   
   
       10 . The air mattress of  claim 1  wherein an interior side of said upper sleep surface along each of said air chambers is vertically spaced from a top side of said at least one resilient member when said air bladder is pressurized. 
   
   
       11 . An air mattress having an internal support structure for stabilizing and resisting deformation of a sleep surface, said air mattress comprising:
 an air bladder defined by an upper sleep surface, a bottom surface, and an interconnecting side wall;   a plurality of support columns interconnecting said upper sleep surface to said bottom surface and segmenting an interior cavity of said air bladder into a plurality of air chambers for receiving air to support said upper sleep surface; and,   a resilient member carried within each of said air chambers to stabilize and resist deformation of said upper sleep surface resulting from changes in air pressure within said air bladder and from the shifting of weight on said upper sleep surface.   
   
   
       12 . The air mattress of  claim 11  wherein said at least one resilient member traverses each of said air chambers for supporting said upper sleep surface. 
   
   
       13 . The air mattress of  claim 12  wherein said resilient member extends generally adjacent to said side wall for providing stability and support generally along a perimeter edge of said upper sleep surface. 
   
   
       14 . The air mattress of  claim 13  wherein said at least one resilient member comprises a series of coil springs arranged immediately adjacent each other throughout each of said air chambers so that there is generally no spacing among each series of coil springs traversing each of said air chambers. 
   
   
       15 . The air mattress of  claim 13  wherein said at least one resilient member comprises a series of individual foam blocks arranged immediately adjacent each other throughout each of said air chambers so that there is generally no spacing among each series of individual foam blocks traversing each of said air chambers. 
   
   
       16 . The air mattress of  claim 11  wherein an interior side of said upper sleep surface along each of said air chambers is vertically spaced from a top side of said at least one resilient member when said air bladder is pressurized. 
   
   
       17 . An air mattress having an internal support structure for stabilizing and resisting deformation of a sleep surface, said air mattress comprising:
 an air bladder defined by an upper sleep surface, a bottom surface, and an interconnecting side wall;   a plurality of support columns interconnecting said upper sleep surface to said bottom surface and segmenting an interior cavity of said air bladder into a plurality of air chambers for receiving air to support said upper sleep surface;   a series of individual pocketed coil springs carried within each of said air chambers, wherein said coil springs are arranged immediately adjacent each other throughout each of said air chambers; and,   an interior side of said upper sleep surface along each of said air chambers being vertically spaced from a top side of said coil springs when said air bladder is pressurized;   whereby said coil springs provide supplemental internal resilient support to stabilize and resist deformation of said upper sleep surface of said air bladder when said interior side of said upper sleep surface is compressed against said coil springs under the weight of a person.