US20060154539A1

US20060154539A1 - Floating mattress

Info

Publication number: US20060154539A1
Application number: US11/030,073
Authority: US
Inventors: Min Chiang
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2005-01-07
Filing date: 2005-01-07
Publication date: 2006-07-13

Abstract

A floating mattress includes a base layer comprised of two longer sides and two shorter sides with all four sides alternatively abutted to one another, multiple plates made of soft foam materials and adhered to the base layer with each plate adhered to the base layer with the shorter sides in parallel to that of the base layer; and all plates being independent and abutted to one another at a given space.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

(a) Field of the Invention
The present invention is related to a floating mattress, and more particularly, to one used on surface of water for its user to enjoy cool back and prevented from slipping into the water.
(b) Description of the Prior Art
The floating mattress generally available in the market is made of foam material with excellent water absorption capacity. The foam material is first dipped in a vinyl polymer solution tank, and left dried to form a film thereon to provide a smooth waterproof surface for the foam material.
As illustrated in FIG. 8 of the accompanying drawings, the floating mattress of the prior art is made integrated into one piece. In the impregnation process, a larger dimension of the tank is required, thus the larger space to accommodate the tank; amount of the prepared vinyl polymer solution increases relatively; and the floating mattress 6 is usually come out of one single color as restricted by the impregnation technology.
However, when a user is lying on the floating mattress 6, he or she could easily slip off the mattress and fall into the water due to the smooth surface of the floating mattress 6. Furthermore, the back of the user may get uncomfortably muggy since there is no gap existing between the back of the user and the waterproof surface of the floating mattress 6.
The integrated piece of the floating mattress 6 also presents problem of developing permanent folding marks 61 due that the mattress 6 is not collapsible as illustrated in FIG. 9.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The primary purpose of the present invention is to provide a floating mattress that is comprised of multiple plates made of soft foaming material respectively adhered to a base layer. The present invention does not need larger space for the impregnation process and the individual plate may be dyed in a color different from other plates for the manufacturing of a colorful floating mattress.
Another purpose of the present invention is to provide a floating mattress that is comprised of multiple individual plates abutted to one another to become collapsible for storage without developing permanent folding marks and the volume of the mattress is reduced to accommodate smaller storage space.
Another purpose yet of the present invention is to provide a floating matters that is comprised of multiple plates not closely connected to one another so to allow change in height between any two abutted plates to cope with the weight of the individual user. The space deliberately left between any two abutted plates serves multiple functions including that the increased friction between the user and the floating mattress thanks to the change in the height among plates for minimizing the chance of the user to fall into the water; and that the space allows water flowing among plates thus to eliminate the muggy feeling.
To achieve those purposes described above, the present invention includes a rectangular base layer adhered with multiple plates made of soft foam material at a given space and with their shorter sides in parallel with the short side of the base layer.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a layout of a first preferred embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a magnified local part of the space between two abutted plates made of soft foam material of the first preferred embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a schematic view showing the relation between the soft foam material and a pillow plate of the first preferred embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a schematic view showing the first preferred embodiment of the present invention in use.
FIG. 5 is a schematic view showing that the first preferred embodiment of the present invention is folded in.
FIG. 6 is a schematic view showing a construction of a second preferred embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 7 is a schematic view showing a construction of a third preferred embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 8 is a schematic view of a floating mattress of the prior art.
FIG. 9 is a schematic view showing a local part of a permanent folding mark after the floating mattress of the prior art is folded.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring to FIGS. 1 through 7 for multiple preferred embodiments of the present invention, they are provided for better understanding of the present invention and by no means restrict the construction of the present invention.
As illustrated in FIG. 1 for a first preferred embodiment of the present invention, a floating mattress includes a rectangular base layer 1 having a pair of longer sides 11 in symmetric to each other and another pair of shorter sides 12 also in symmetric to each other with both longer sides 11 and both shorter sides 12 alternatively abutted to one another. The base layer may be related to a plastic film, mesh web, or EVA foam sheet. Multiple plates 2 made of soft foam material are adhered to the base layer 1. In the first preferred embodiment, the soft foam material may be related to EVA, PE, PVC or rubber. Each plate 2 is adhered with glue either by coating or by infusion to the base layer 1 in a direction in parallel with the shorter sides 12 of the base layer 1. All plates 2 are each independently adhered and abutted to one another at a given space as illustrated in FIG. 2. The first or the last on of those plates adhered to the base layer 1 is provided with multiple magic tape 3 for a pillow plate 4 to attach to that plate 2.
Since each plate 2 can be individually produced by using the impregnation method, the impregnation process does not require larger space. A surface layer 21 of each plate 2 may be made in a color different from any other plate 2 by having the vinyl polymer solution added with various colors of pigment before having multiple plates 2 adhered to the base layer 1 in a direction parallel with the shorter side of the base layer 1 or by spray coating on each of those multiple plates already attached to the base layer 1 in color as desired to create a colorful floating mattress.
As illustrated in FIG. 3, the pillow plate 4 is adhered to the first or the last plate 2 adhered to the base layer 1 by means of the magic tape 3 for the head of the user to rest upon it if desired.
In the use, the floating mattress is placed flat on the water surface for the user to lei upon it. Upon being subject to the weight of the user, the floating mattress undergoes fluctuating change depending on the build of the user as illustrated in FIG. 4. Each space defined by any two abutted plates 2 will create mild deformation when all those plates 2 are fluctuating to increase the friction between the floating mattress and its user to reduce the change for the user to fall into water. The space between any two abutted plates 2 admits the water to flow in for keeping a cool and refreshing sense to the back of the user to eliminate the muggy otherwise developed in longer time of use of the present invention.
When the use of the floating mattress is no longer required and the floating mattress is folded in for storage, no folding mark is developed and the collapsed volume is significantly reduced since each plate 2 is separately provided and abutted to one another as illustrated in FIG. 5.
The present invention provides the following advantages:

- 1. No folding marks when collapsed for storage;
- 2. Reduced volume when collapsed for storage;
- 3. Maintaining cool the back of the user;
- 4. Increased friction between the user and the floating mattress and minimized chance of falling into the water;
- 5. Lesser space required for the impregnation process;
- 6. Various colors for the floating mattress;

Alternatively as illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 7, a second and a third preferred embodiments are present in corrugated forms by changing the shape of the plate 2 or each plate 2 is made with a corrugated top to achieve the same purposes.

Claims

1. A floating mattress includes a base layer comprised of two longer sides and two shorter sides with all four sides alternatively abutted to one another, multiple plates made of soft foam materials and adhered to the base layer with each plate adhered to the base layer with the shorter sides in parallel to that of the base layer; and all plates being independent and abutted to one another at a given space.

2. The floating mattress of claim 1, wherein the first or the last plate is provided with multiple magic tapes for a pillow plate to be attached to thereon.

3. The floating mattress of claim 1, wherein the base layer is made of PVC film, mesh web or EVA foam sheet for multiple plates to be adhered to thereon.

4. The floating mattress of claim 1, wherein the soft foam material is related to EVA, PE, PVC or rubber and glued to the base layer either by coating or by infusion.

5. The floating mattress of claim 1, wherein those plates are adhered to the base layer in a fashion of a stripe.

6. The floating mattress of claim 1, wherein those plates are adhered to the base layer in a fashion of corrugation.