Springlike couplings of flexible walls of inflatable body supports

United States Patent m

Gancy

mil in ii iiiiii ii iii iiiiiiiii Ii in! i!11 in

US005608931A [ii] Patent Number: 5,608,931 [45] Date of Patent: Mar. 11,1997

[54] SPRINGLIKE COUPLINGS OF FLEXIBLE WALLS OF INFLATABLE BODY SUPPORTS

[76] Inventor: Alan B. Gancy, 8810 Wandering Way, Baldwinsville, N.Y. 13027

[21] Appl. No.: 344,066

[22] Filed: Nov. 23, 1994

Related U.S. Application Data

[63] Continuation-in-part of Ser. No. 7,272, Jan. 21, 1993, abandoned.

[51] Int. CI.6 A47C 27/08

[52] U.S. CI 5/712; 5/711

[58] Field of Search 5/449-458, 644

[56] References Cited

U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS

272,116 1/1983 Blochman et al 5/458

1,627,835 5/1927 Combs 5/458

2,016,054 10/1935 Sentell 5/458

2,360,715 10/1944 Perry 5/458

2,390,955 12/1945 McDonnell 5/458

4,541,135 9/1985 Karpov 5/458

FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS

787421 12/1957 United Kingdom 5/457

Primary Examiner—Alexander Grosz
Attorney, Agent, or Firm—Charles S. McGuire

[57] ABSTRACT

Apparatus and method for controlling outward movement of flexible walls defining an enclosed chamber of a device inflatable by air or other compressible fluid, the outward movement occurring in response to application of an external force over portions of a flexible wall to decrease the volume and increase the internal pressure of the chamber. Spring-like couplings, preferably in the form of elastic members such as "rubber bands," are attached at spaced points to portions of the flexible, relatively moveable walls inside and/or outside the chamber. The couplings are so attached as to be expanded or stretched by relative movement of the flexible wall portions as the external force is applied, whereby the members exert a force resiliently opposing movement of the flexible walls in response to the increase in internal pressure caused by application of the external force. In a practical application, the enclosed chamber is an air mattress and the controlled movement of the flexible walls advantageously affects the tactile response of a user to the body-supporting upper wall of the mattress.