Air mattress systems with adjustable inclination

Abstract

Air mattress systems and assemblies allowing adjustment between different portions to achieve a generally level sleeping surface. An air mattress may have a base chamber that, when inflated, has generally planar upper and lower boundaries. A lower angled chamber disposed above the base chamber may be formed as a generally elongated wedge extending the length of the mattress and has an angled upper boundary. An upper angled chamber may be disposed above the lower angled chamber and formed as a generally elongated wedge extending the length of the mattress and having a lower boundary defined by the upper boundary of the lower angled chamber and a generally planar upper boundary. The upper and lower angled chambers may be variably inflated to result in a generally level planar upper surface, where the base chamber is in contact with a sloped surface.

1 . An air mattress allowing adjustable inflation to achieve a generally level sleeping surface on sloped ground, comprising:
 a base chamber, the base chamber having a generally planar upper boundary and a generally planar lower boundary to define a generally rectangular block when inflated;   a lower angled chamber disposed above the base chamber, the lower angled chamber formed as a generally elongated wedge extending along a majority of a length of a long axis of the mattress and having a lower boundary defined by the upper boundary of the base chamber and an angled upper boundary beginning near the upper boundary of the base chamber nearer a first end of the mattress and disposed atop a side wall extending to a first distance above the upper boundary of the base chamber at a second end of the mattress when inflated; and   an upper angled chamber disposed above the lower angled chamber, the upper angled chamber formed as a generally elongated wedge extending the length of the long axis of the mattress and having a lower boundary defined at least in part by the upper boundary of the lower angled chamber and a generally planar upper boundary defining the upper sleeping surface when inflated.   
     
     
         2 . The air mattress of  claim 1 , wherein a slope of the upper boundary of the lower angled chamber at full inflation is from about 0.05 to about 0.09. 
     
     
         3 . The air mattress of  claim 2 , wherein a slope of the upper boundary of the lower angled chamber at full inflation is from about 0.06 to about 0.08. 
     
     
         4 . The air mattress of  claim 1 , wherein the lower angled chamber is formed as a generally elongated wedge extending along the entire length of long axis the mattress. 
     
     
         5 . The air mattress of  claim 1 , further comprising internal reinforcement disposed in at least one chamber. 
     
     
         6 . The air mattress of  claim 5 , wherein the internal reinforcement is disposed in the lower angled chamber and comprises a flexible structure joined to at least two boundaries of the lower angled chamber. 
     
     
         7 . The air mattress of  claim 6 , wherein the internal reinforcement comprises a series of internal folding walls or a series of columnar reinforcement members. 
     
     
         8 . The air mattress of  claim 6 , wherein the internal reinforcement comprises a loop of flexible material flexible joined to the upper and lower boundaries of the lower angled chamber. 
     
     
         9 . The air mattress of  claim 1 , wherein the lower angled chamber is separately inflatable through at least a first air flow valve. 
     
     
         10 . The air mattress of  claim 9 , wherein the base chamber is separately inflatable through at least a second air flow valve and the and the upper angled chamber is separately inflatable through at least a third air flow valve. 
     
     
         11 . The air mattress of  claim 1 , further comprising an encircling ridge surrounding the generally planar upper boundary defining the sleeping surface when inflated. 
     
     
         12 . A method of providing a level sleeping surface with an air mattress, the method comprising:
 providing an air mattress comprising
 an inflatable base chamber, that when inflated has a generally planar upper boundary and a generally planar lower boundary that define a generally rectangular block, 
 a lower angled chamber disposed above the base chamber, that when inflated defines a generally elongated wedge extending along a majority of a length of a long axis of the mattress and has a lower boundary defined by the upper boundary of the base chamber and an angled upper boundary beginning near the upper boundary of the base chamber nearer a first end of the mattress and disposed atop a side wall extending to a first distance above the upper boundary of the base chamber at a second end of the mattress, 
 an upper angled chamber disposed above the lower angled chamber, that when inflated defines a generally elongated wedge extending the length of the long axis of the mattress and having a lower boundary defined at least in part by the upper boundary of the lower angled chamber and a generally planar upper boundary defining the upper sleeping surface; 
   placing the air mattress on a surface for use;   inflating the base chamber;   inflating the upper angled chamber; and   selectively inflating the lower angled chamber to place the upper sleeping surface in a generally level position.   
     
     
         13 . The method according to  claim 12 , wherein selectively inflating the lower angled chamber to place the upper sleeping surface in a generally level position comprises fully inflating the lower angled chamber. 
     
     
         14 . The method according to  claim 12 , wherein selectively inflating the lower angled chamber to place the upper sleeping surface in a generally level position comprises leaving the lower angled chamber uninflated. 
     
     
         15 . The method according to  claim 12 , further comprising selectively inflating the upper angled chamber to place the upper sleeping surface in a generally level position. 
     
     
         16 . The method according to  claim 12 , wherein placing the air mattress on a surface for use comprises placing the base chamber in contact with a sloped ground surface. 
     
     
         17 . The method according to  claim 12 , wherein providing an air mattress comprises providing an air mattress where a slope of the upper boundary of the lower angled chamber at full inflation is from about 0.05 to about 0.09. 
     
     
         18 . The method according to  claim 17 , wherein providing an air mattress comprises providing an air mattress where a slope of the upper boundary of the lower angled chamber at full inflation is from about 0.06 to about 0.08. 
     
     
         19 . The method according to  claim 12 , wherein providing an air mattress comprises providing an air mattress where the lower angled chamber is formed as a generally elongated wedge extending along the entire length of long axis the mattress. 
     
     
         20 . The method according to  claim 12 , further comprising using a level disposed on the mattress to examine and adjust the inflation to achieve the desired level sleeping platform.