Beds – Vehicle attached
Reexamination Certificate
1999-02-26
2001-08-07
Trettel, Michael F. (Department: 3628)
Beds
Vehicle attached
C005S422000, C005S672000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06269497
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a waterbed and water mattress system for recreational vehicles and, in particular, to a waterbed system for a recreational vehicle preferably having a cabin or sleeping area, which includes a waterbed mattress and means for transporting water or other liquid to and into the waterbed mattress from an internal or external water or other liquid source.
BROAD DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
An object of the invention is to achieve the advantages of a waterbed mattress in providing cool sleeping accommodations in a warm climate without an air conditioning system or warm sleeping accommodations in a cold climate while overcoming the disadvantages and problems of using permanently installed waterbeds and water mattresses in recreational vehicles. For example, prior to this invention, to have cool sleeping accommodations in warm climates, recreational vehicles required expensive, noisy, vibrating air conditioning unit(s) and generator(s) to power them. The utility of recreational vehicles without cool sleeping accommodations is severely limited in the warmest months. If one were to use a waterbed or a water mattress in a recreational vehicle, the water filled bed or mattress would be too heavy to transport without major structural and performance questions, including, among others, stability, economy, stopping, acceleration, handling, safety issues. Also, unless one would employ , water before moving the vehicle, the water filled mattress would also take up valuable space in the vehicle. In contrast, the waterbed and water mattress system of the instant invention can be emptied each morning and re-filled after one has traveled to one's new destination, or at the same campground or camping area. Also, without the weight of the water in the waterbed mattress, a recreational vehicle retains its original handling characteristics, stability and inherent safety features. Both self-propelled and towed recreational vehicles can achieve greater travel speed than with a filled waterbed mattress. Also, a recreational vehicle with a drained waterbed can achieve greater fuel efficiency while traveling somewhere.
Other objects and advantages of the invention are set out herein or are obvious therefrom to one skilled in the art.
The objects and advantages of the invention are achieved by the waterbed and water mattress system of the invention.
A waterbed is a mattress-shaped bag filled with water and placed on a bedframe or bunk, for making the surface conform to the user's or the sleeper's body in any position.
The invention waterbed mattress system includes a waterbed mattress (preferably having an upper layer, a lower layer and an inner layer and numerous longitudinal and transverse vertical layers creating many small cells or compartments, which each have at least several and, preferably, numerous holes in them) and means for transporting water or another liquid to and into the waterbed mattress from a source of water external to the vehicle, or from a water supply internal to the vehicle from a source so located as to minimize the effects of the water on the stability and handling of the vehicle. This water transportation means can be also used for transporting the water or other liquid from the waterbed mattress to the outside of the vehicle or back to its internal source. The waterbed mattress system can also include separate means for heating the water or other liquid being transported to and into the waterbed mattress from the internal or external supply. The waterbed mattress system can also include separate means for transporting the water from the waterbed mattress to the internal or external supply. The various valves used in the waterbed mattress system can be operated manually or automatically, preferably automatically by electronic remote control systems.
The various pumps used in the waterbed mattress system can be manual, mechanical or gravity powered, preferably with automatic pressure shut-off systems.
As used herein, the term “tubes” includes pipes, hoses and other similar hollow conduits through which water or other liquid can flow. Preferably, the fixed tubes are made of materials, such as, stainless steel, bronze or rigid quality plastic. The tubes connected to the waterbed mattress are of a flexible material, preferably a high quality flexible plastic or rubber.
If the vehicle is of sufficient size, two or more waterbeds or mattresses can be present, in which case the water inlet and outlet systems preferably are branched so as to be parallel to one another, are entirely different systems or are a hybrid of a parallel/series arrangement.
The waterbed mattress can be used alone or on a bedstead or other bed frame. Also, the waterbed mattress(es) can be used in a bunk bed(s).
As used herein, the term vehicle(s) includes powered and unpowered mobile land vehicles. The vehicle containing a water mattress or bed can be propelled or towed by, for example, any power source (for example, by a diesel or a gasoline engine, electric motor or other source of movement). The invention waterbed mattress system is particularly useful in self-propelled recreational vehicles, personalized vans, pickups with camper bodies, civilian, military or commercial trucks and buses, station-wagons, trailers, campers, etc. That is, the invention waterbed mattress system is useful in either pleasure recreational vehicles, commercial recreational vehicles or military recreational vehicles.
The structure of the vehicle can be made of any suitable material such as fiberglass, steel, aluminum, wood, alloys and/or composite materials, etc.
The invention also includes a combination of a recreational vehicle with the invention waterbed mattress system.
Modifications and changes made to the waterbed mattress system can be effected without departing from the scope or spirit of the present invention. For example, whereas the waterbed probably usually will be used in a cabin or sleeping space of a recreational vehicle, it can be used on a trailer, flatbed, pickup truck bed, or other space available in or on a vehicle.
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Article entitled “Waterbeds on Wheels”, Waterbed Magazine, Feb. 1986, p. 28.
Fisher Christen & Sabol
Renfro William L.
Trettel Michael F.
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