Selectively inflatable air mattress

Abstract

An apparatus is disclosed for selectively adjusting the firmness of various surface regions of a mattress, including regions providing lumbar, thoracic, and pelvic support to a user. The mattress comprises a plurality of removable tubes filled with a variety of materials, which tubes are inflatable and deflatable by a compressor operating in accordance with the programming of a user. The user is supported on the mattress by, inter alia, the removable, subsurface, tubing which is pressurized by its hybrid material-air contents.

1 . An inflatable mattress comprising:
 a mattress body defining a plurality of cavities, the mattress body having longitudinal ends and lateral sides defining a perimeter thereof, the mattress body having a top and a bottom, the top comprising one or more of:
 viscoelastic foam, 
 foam, 
 polymer gel, 
 silicon gel, 
 water based gel, 
 feathers, and 
 metal springs; 
   a plurality of inflatable tubes with impermeable and flexible exterior surfaces, the inflatable tubes insertabley and removabley positioned within the plurality of cavities, the inflatable tubes having hollow cores interiorly isolated atmospherically from ambient air and filled with one or more of:
 viscoelastic polyurethane foam, 
 foam, 
 polymer gel, 
 silicone gel, 
 water gel, and 
 bed springs; 
 wherein the inflatable tubes are pneumatically connected with flexible or rigid, or combination of both, hosing to one or more air compressors; and 
   one or more air compressors connected with the hosing to the inflatable tubes.   
     
     
         2 . The inflatable mattress of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of cavities run laterally through, and across the width of, the mattress body. 
     
     
         3 . The inflatable mattress of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of cavities run longitudinally through, and across the length of, the mattress body. 
     
     
         4 . The inflatable mattress of  claim 1 , wherein two or more of the plurality of tubes are in fluid connection with one another. 
     
     
         5 . The inflatable mattress of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more air compressors are housed within the headboard of a bed. 
     
     
         6 . The inflatable mattress of  claim 1 , wherein one or more of the plurality of tubes are positioned in a lengthwise orientation in the mattress body that is orthogonal to the lengthwise orientation of one or more of the plurality of tubes. 
     
     
         7 . The inflatable mattress of  claim 1 , wherein one or more of the inflatable tubes are cubical in shape, comprising four elongated, planar sides, a top and a bottom. 
     
     
         8 . The inflatable mattress of  claim 1 , wherein the volume of one or more of the inflatable tubes varies from the volume of one or more of the other inflatable tubes. 
     
     
         9 . The inflatable mattress of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more air compressors are configured to automatically perform one or more of the following functions:
 inflate each of the inflatable tubes to an equal pressure after an irregularly shaped object is laid upon the mattress body;   inflate each inflatable tube to a pressure preselected for that inflatable tube, the pressure varying from one inflatable tube to another;   deflate each inflatable tube to a pressure preselected for that inflatable tube, the pressure varying from one inflatable tube to another;   randomly alternate the pressure of each inflatable tube at predefined intervals throughout a preselected period of time; and   cyclically alternate the pressure of each inflatable tube at predefined intervals throughout a preselected period of time in accordance with a predetermined schedule.   
     
     
         10 . An inflatable mattress for supporting two individuals comprising:
 a mattress body defining a plurality of elongated cavities, the mattress body having longitudinal ends and lateral sides defining a perimeter thereof, the mattress body comprising a top and a bottom, the top being comprised of one or more of:
 viscoelastic foam, 
 foam, 
 polymer gel, 
 water gel, 
 silicone gel, 
 feathers, and 
 metal springs; 
   a first set of inflatable tubes with impermeable and flexible exterior surfaces, the first set of inflatable tubes insertabley and removabley positioned within the plurality of elongated cavities, the first set of inflatable tubes having hollow cores interiorly isolated atmospherically from ambient air and filled with one or more of:
 viscoelastic foam, 
 foam, 
 polymer gel, 
 water gel, 
 silicone gel, 
 feathers, and 
 metal springs; 
 wherein the first set of inflatable tubes are pneumatically connected with flexible hosing to one or more air compressors, and wherein the first set of inflatable tubes laterally traverse only the left lateral side of the mattress body; 
   a second set of inflatable tubes with impermeable and flexible exterior surfaces, the second set of inflatable tubes insertabley and removabley positioned within the plurality of elongated cavities, the second set of inflatable tubes having hollow cores interiorly isolated atmospherically from ambient air and filled with one or more of:
 viscoelastic foam, foam, polymer gel, water gel and 
 silicone gel, feathers and metal springs; 
 wherein the second set of inflatable tubes are pneumatically connected with flexible hosing to one or more air compressors, and wherein the second set of inflatable tubes laterally traverse only the right lateral side of the mattress body; 
   one or more air compressors connected with the flexible hosing to the first set of inflatable tubes; and   one or more air compressors connected with the flexible hosing to the second set of inflatable tubes.   
     
     
         11 . The inflatable mattress of  claim 8 , wherein one or more of the first set of inflatable tubes and the second set of inflatable tubes are cubical in shape, comprising four elongated, planar sides. 
     
     
         12 . An inflatable mattress comprising:
 a rectangular upper mattress body having longitudinal ends and lateral sides defining a perimeter thereof;   an inflatable air bladder disposed underneath the upper mattress body which confronts and is connected to the upper mattress body;   a central mattress body disposed between the inflatable air bladder and a lower mattress body, connected to the upper mattress body and the lower mattress body, the central mattress body defining a plurality of cylindrical cavities, the central mattress body comprising one or more of:
 viscoelastic foam, 
 foam, 
 polymer gel, 
 water gel, 
 silicone gel, 
 feathers, and 
 metal springs; 
   a plurality of inflatable tubes with impermeable and flexible exterior surfaces, the inflatable tubes insertabley and removabley positioned within the plurality of cylindrical cavities, the inflatable tubes having hollow cores interiorly isolated atmospherically from ambient air and filled with one or more of:
 viscoelastic foam, 
 foam, 
 polymer gel, 
 water gel, 
 silicone gel, 
 feathers and 
 metal springs; 
 wherein the inflatable tubes are pneumatically connected with flexible hosing to one or more air compressors. 
   
     
     
         13 . The inflatable mattress of  claim 12 , further comprising a lower mattress body disposed beneath the upper mattress body and confronting the bottom of said central mattress body.