Waterbed mattress construction

Abstract

Waterbed mattress construction having the size and appearance of a conventional innerspring mattress. An inner water mattress is supported laterally by a circumscribing framework, and an outer shell is removably mounted over the framework. The shell comprises a peripheral cushion and a padded covering which is tailored to have the appearance of a conventional mattress.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. In a mattress construction: a water mattress comprising a flexible bladder for holding a body of water, as rigid circumscribing framework defining a cavity for the mattress and providing lateral support of the body of water in the mattress, and an outer shell overlying the framework and cavity, said outer shell comprising a cushion of resilient padding extending along the top and outer sides of the framework and a flexible cover secured to the cushion and overlying the cavity and the top and outer sides of the cushion. 
     
     
       2. The mattress construction of claim 1 wherein the outer shell is removably mounted on the framework. 
     
     
       3. The mattress construction of claim 1 further including an insulative pad extending over the water mattress. 
     
     
       4. The mattress construction of claim 1 wherein the framework is open at the bottom and a water impervious liner extends over the outer sides and across the open bottom of the framework. 
     
     
       5. The mattress construction of claim 1 wherein the flexible cover is tailored to give the mattress construction the appearance of a conventional innerspring mattress. 
     
     
       6. The mattress construction of claim 1 wherein the flexible cover comprises two superposed sheets of fabric and a layer of insulative padding between the sheets, said sheets and layer being sewed together in a quilted pattern. 
     
     
       7. In a mattress construction: a water mattress, a rigid circumscribing framework exteriorly engaging the water mattress to provide lateral support for the water therein, said framework including a water impervious, flexible liner extending along the sides of the framework and beneath the water mattress, an insulative pad overlying the water mattress, a cushion of resilient padding extending along the top and outer sides of the framework, the upper surface of the cushion being generally level with the upper surface of the insulative pad, and a flexible cover comprising a top panel having two superposed sheets of fabric and an intermediate layer of insulative padding extending over the upper surfaces of the insulative pad and cushion, a side panel extending along the outer side of the cushion, and a bottom panel secured to the under side of the cushion, the side panel being joined to the top and bottom panels by binding tape and stitching along the upper and lower side edges of the cushion. 
     
     
       8. The mattress construction of claim 7 wherein the cushion and flexible cover are removable as a unitary structure from the framework and water mattress. 
     
     
       9. The mattress construction of claim 7 wherein the sheets of fabric and layer of padding forming the top panel of the cover are stitched together in a quilted pattern. .[.10. In a mattress construction: a water mattress, a rigid circumscribing framework providing lateral support for the water mattress, a cushion extending along the upper and outer sides of the framework, said cushion being of sufficient thickness above the framework to make the framework substantially imperceptible to a person sitting or lying on the lateral margins of the mattress, and a flexible cover overlying the cushion and the water mattress..]. .[.11. The mattress construction of claim 10 wherein the cover is secured to the cushion and the cover and cushion are removable as a unit from the framework and water mattress..]. .[.12. The mattress construction of claim 10 further including an insulative pad extending over the water mattress..]. .[.13. The mattress construction of claim 10 wherein the framework is open at the bottom and a water impervious liner extends over the outer sides and across the open bottom of the framework..]. .[.14. The mattress construction of claim 10 wherein the flexible cover is tailored to give the mattress construction the appearance of a conventional innerspring mattress..]. .[.15. The mattress construction of claim 10 wherein the flexible cover comprises two superposed sheets of fabric and a layer of insulative padding between the sheets, said sheets and layer being sewed together in a quilted pattern..]. .[.16. The mattress construction of claim 10 wherein the flexible cover comprises a top panel which extends over the tops of the water mattress and cushion, a side panel which extends along the outer side of the cushion, and a bottom panel which extends along the underside of the cushion, the side panel being joined to the top and bottom panels by binding tape and stitching along the upper 
     
     
        and lower side edges of the cushion..]. 17. In a mattress construction: a water mattress comprising a flexible bladder for holding a body of water, a rigid circumscribing framework defining a cavity for the mattress and providing lateral support for the body of water in the mattress, a cushion of resilient padding extending along the top and outer sides of the framework, and a flexible cover comprising a top panel which overlies the mattress cavity and cushion, a side panel which extends along the outer side of the cushion and a bottom panel which extends along the underside of the cushion, the side panel being joined to the top and bottom panels by binding tape and stitching along the upper and lower side edges of the cushion.Iadd., and the cushion and the cover being removable from the framework and the mattress.Iaddend.. .Iadd.18. In a mattress construction: a water mattress, a rigid circumscribing framework providing lateral support for the water mattress, a cushion extending along the upper and outer sides of the framework, said cushion being of sufficient thickness above the framework to make the framework substantially imperceptible to a person sitting or lying on the lateral margins of the mattress, and a flexible cover overlying the cushion and the water mattress, said cover and said cushion being removable from the framework and the water 
     
     
        mattress. .Iaddend. .Iadd.19.  The mattress construction of claim 18 wherein the cover is secured to the cushion and the cover and cushion are removable as a unit from the framework and water mattress. .Iaddend. .Iadd.20. The mattress construction of claim 18 further including an insulative pad extending over the water mattress. .Iaddend. .Iadd.21. The mattress construction of claim 18 wherein the framework is open at the bottom and a water impervious liner extends over the outer sides and across the open bottom of the framework. .Iaddend. .Iadd.22. The mattress construction of claim 18 wherein the flexible cover is tailored to give the mattress construction the appearance of a conventional innerspring mattress. .Iaddend. .Iadd.23. The mattress construction of claim 18 wherein the flexible cover comprises two superposed sheets of fabric and a layer of insulative padding between the sheets, said sheets and layer being sewed together in a quilted pattern. .Iaddend. .Iadd.24. The mattress construction of claim 18 wherein the flexible cover comprises a top panel which extends over the tops of the water mattress and cushion, a side panel which extends along the outer side of the cushion, and a bottom panel which extends along the underside of the cushion, the side panel being joined to the top and bottom panels by binding tape and stitching along the upper and lower side edges of the cushion. .Iaddend.