Beds – Mattress – Having confined gas
Reexamination Certificate
1999-06-24
2001-06-12
Browne, Lynne H. (Department: 3628)
Beds
Mattress
Having confined gas
C005S654000, C005S655500, C005S909000, C005S935000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06243899
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is directed to a mattress, and, in particular, to a mattress in which the softness or hardness of the mattress can be changed or adjusted if desired.
2. Related Art
A typical conventional mattress of the type wherein an elasticity of the mattress depends on the property of a fluid which is sealed in a bag is disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Laid-open Print No.Sho.63(1988A.D.)-1451 or Japanese Patent Laid-open Print No.Hei.2(1990A.D.)-15 6906. In the conventional mattress, an amount of fluid is sealed in a bag on which a person lays. For adjusting the elasticity or firmness of the bag according to his/her taste, the amount of the fluid in the bag may be changed. In detail, if harder elasticity and softer elasticity are required, the fluid is supplied to and drained from the bag, respectively. Suppling fluid into the bag causes the bag to inflate to increase the elasticity of the bag, while draining fluid from the bag makes the bag deflate to decrease the elasticity of the bag.
In the foregoing conventional structure for adjusting the elasticity of the bag, the mattress includes an outside vessel that stores the fluid to be supplied to the bag or drained from the bag. In addition, the outside vessel has a meter or an instrument that indicates the quantity of fluid supplied to and drained from the bag. Moreover, sometimes a pump is needed to automatically transfer the fluid between the bag and the outside vessel.
However, the outside vessel, the meter or the instrument, and the pump provide a complex arrangement in the vicinity of the mattress. Particularly, if the outside vessel is positioned below the bag, the height of the resultant mattress becomes extremely high, thereby lowering the practically or utility of the mattress.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In light of the foregoing circumstances, a mattress is desired that is free from the foregoing drawbacks.
One aspect of the present invention pertains to a mattress having a sealed enclosure having an inner volume containing a fixed amount of fluid. An adjuster is provided exterior of the sealed enclosure for adjusting the firmness of the sealed enclosure without changing the fixed amount of fluid within the inner volume of the sealed enclosure.
According to a further aspect of the present invention, a mattress includes at least one sealed enclosure having an inner volume and containing an amount of fluid. An adjuster has a movable member that contacts and moves a surface of the enclosure to change a firmness of the mattress without changing the amount of fluid in the enclosure.
According to another aspect of the present invention, a mattress includes a sealed enclosure having an inner volume and containing a fixed amount of fluid. An adjusting device moves a portion of the enclosure with a member in contact with the enclosure to change a volume of the portion of the enclosure to change a firmness of the enclosure.
Another aspect of the present invention pertains to a mattress having a bag having an interior containing a fluid. An adjuster changes a firmness of the bag from a first firmness to a second firmness without supplying more fluid into the interior and without removing fluid from the interior. The adjuster also maintains the second firmness of the bag.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5547253 (1996-08-01), Schwartz et al.
patent: 5636395 (1997-06-01), Serda
patent: 5737788 (1998-04-01), Castellino et al.
patent: 5860705 (1999-06-01), Ridder
patent: 63-1451 (1988-01-01), None
patent: 2-156906 (1990-06-01), None
Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha
Browne Lynne H.
Burns Doane , Swecker, Mathis LLP
Conley Fredrick
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