GB2430359A

GB2430359A - Airbag structure

Info

Publication number: GB2430359A
Application number: GB0519420A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Chun-Chu Chen Han
Original assignee: Apex Medical Corp
Current assignee: Wellell Inc
Priority date: 2005-09-23
Filing date: 2005-09-23
Publication date: 2007-03-28
Anticipated expiration: 2025-09-23
Also published as: GB0519420D0; GB2430359B

Abstract

An airbag structure for a mattress is disclosed comprising an airbag 10 with multiple straight walls defining a hermetic interior; a plurality of baffles 21-24 in the interior of the airbag and a plurality of valves 30 for communicating the interior with an air supply. Thus, contact area between the airbags and the human body is greater as compared with tubular airbags and the shape of the airbag structure of the mattress results in improved comfort for a patient.

Description

AIRBAG STRUCTURE

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an airbag structure, and more particularly to an airbag structure applied to a mattress for convenient use.

2. Description of Related Art

A bed patient is likely to suffer from skin diseases resulted from lying on the bed for a long time without movement therefore an air mattress is created to help blood circulation. A conventional air mattress has several interconnected airbags arranged upon the mattress and an air pump for inflating the air cells.

FIG I is a perspective view of a conventional air mattress. The air mattress comprises a pad body 10', a plurality of annular loops 20', and a plurality of airbags 30'. The annular loops 20' are mounted on an upper surface of the pad body (10') and arranged symmetrically in two rows. Each airbag 30' is located under a respective pair of the annular loops 20' and fixed on the pad body 10') by the annular loops 20'. The airbags 30' are connected to an air pump (not shown) to be inflated by the air pump. With the function of alternately inputting and outputting air by the air pump, the air mattress has the massage effect therefore skin diseases are avoided.

FIG 2 is a cross-sectional taken along line 2-2 in FIG 1 and it is quite clearly shown that both the contact area between the adjacent airbags 30' or the areas between the airbags 30' and a human body (not shown) are small according to the prior arts. However, the distance between the human body and the airbag 30' is still too large therefore the expected effect of the mattress is not achieved.

Based on the above-mentioned details, although the techniques according to the prior arts are successfully used to prevent skin diseases, the shape of the air structure of the mattress still results in patient discomfort. Accordingly, there is a long and unfulfilled need to overcome the foregoing problem.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The primary objective of the present invention is to provide an airbag for achieving a minimal crevice space between adjacent airbags, therefore avoiding patients easily sinking into the crevices and thus further avoiding discomfort from irregular positioning on the bed.

The present invention relates to an airbag structure comprising an airbag with multiple straight walls defining a hermetic interior; a plurality of baffles received in the interior of the airbag and a plurality of valves for communicating the interior with an air supply. Thus, contact area between the airbags and the human body is broad. Hence, the shape of the airbag structure of the mattress results in particularly good comfort for the patient.

However, other aspects and further features, advantages and benefits of the invention will become apparent in the following description taken in conjunction with the following drawings.

The accompanying drawings are incorporated in and constitute a part of this application and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention in general terms.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG 1 is a perspective view of a conventional air mattress; FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 2-2 in FIG 1; FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an airbag structure of the first embodiment of the present invention; FIG 4 is a side chart showing the airbag upon the pad body of the first embodiment of the present invention.

P1TAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFFERED EMBODIMENT

In the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments, reference is made to the accompanying drawings that form a part hereof, and in which are shown by way of the illustration specific embodiments in which the invention may be practiced. It is understood that other embodiments maybe utilized and structure changes maybe made without departing from the scope of the present invention.

With reference to FIG 3, an airbag structure 10 in accordance with the present invention includes an airbag 10. a belt set 20 and at least one valve 30. The airbag 10 is shaped substantially as a rectangular prism with four long contiguous walls, two opposed end walls and a hermetic interior. However, it is to be appreciated that other prismatic configurations are feasible though description thereof is omitted for the sake of brevity. The at least one valve 30 selectively communicates the interior with a compressed air supply (not shown). It is preferred that two of the valves 30 are provided whereby compressed air can enter and exit the airbag 10 in a pulsating manner to provide a massage effect to a patient. The belt set 20 can vary in configurations but in the preferred embodiment of FIG 3, four belts 21, 22, 23, 24 of equal size, shape and materials are joined together to construct a cruciform configuration when viewed from a distal end. That is, each belt is a substantially rectangular strip with two opposed long sides and two opposed short sides.

First long sides of the belts are securely joined together. Second long sides of the belts are secured to an inner periphery of a respective long wall of the airbag, and at a central axis of the respective long wall. Each short side is secured to an interior of the respective one of the end walls. A single route for an air supply to travel from an entrance to an exit is provided though more than one route is also practical.

It is to be appreciated that the belt structure attachment points within the airbag may be varied without departing from the structure as herein claimed. It is further to be appreciated that the belt structure may be formed as a single cruciform extrusion.

FIG 4 shows multiple airbag structures 10 arranged along a pad 40 whereby a mattress in accordance with the present invention is achieved.

According to the present invention, an airbag structure is provided. After the airbags are arranged in a row, not only are the airbags located upon the pad body stably, but also the patient is able to directly or indirectly lie down flat upon the airbag structure. The inconvenience of the prior art wherein irregular support caused the patient to sink into the crevices between the airbags is eliminated by the present invention.

It is understood that the above description is intended to be illustrative, and not restrictive.

Many other embodiments will be apparent to those of the skill in the art upon reviewing the above description. The scope of the invention should, therefore, be determined with reference the appended claims, along with the full scope of equivalents to which such claims are entitled.

Claims

What is claimed is: 1. An airbag structure comprises: an airbag with

multiple straight walls defining a hermetic interior; a plurality of baffles received in the interior of the airbag; and a plurality of valves for communicating the interior with an air supply.
2. The airbag structure as recited in claim 1, wherein the airbag is configured as a rectangular prism with four contiguous long side walls and two opposed end walls connected to respective ends of the long side walls.
3. The airbag structure as recited in claim 1, wherein the plurality of baffles comprise four belts each joined to the others along a longitudinal edge thereof.

3. The airbag structure as recited in claim 1, wherein the plurality of baffles are configured as a single jointed cruciform, extends along the interior of the airbag, and distal edges of the plurality of baffles are securely connected to an interior periphery of a respective one of the long side walls.

4. The airbag structure as recited in claim 3, wherein the plurality of baffles comprise four belts each joined to the others at a first long edge thereof.

Amendments to the claims have been filed as follows 1. An airbag structure consisting of: elongate side walls and two opposed end walls defining a heimetic prism shaped airbag; a plurality of internal baffles; and a plurality of inlet valves for communicating the interior of the airbag with an air supply; wherein the plurality of baffles are configured as a single jointed cruciform extending along the interior of the airbag, and the longitudinal edges of the baffles are connected to the side walls of the airbag.

2. The airbag structure as recited in claim 1, wherein the airbag is configured as a rectangular prism shape with four elongate side walls.