Method and Device for Eliminating Air From Water Bed Mattresses

1. Field

The invention is concerned with water bed mattresses and provides both a method and a device for eliminating entrained air and in-situ-generated gas from the water in such mattresses.

2. State of the Art

A water bed mattress is customarily provided with a filling spout through which water is introduced into the mattress and air entrained in the water as bubbles is removed from the mattress immediately after filling. The spout is plugged and capped after the filling and air removal operations, but, after the water has remained in the mattress for some time, gas is generated by algae or other organic matter in the water and must be eliminated in the same way the air bubbles were removed after the filling operation.

Filling of the water bed mattress with water is conveniently accomplished by use of a commercially available filler tube of a rigid plastic material, which tube has a lower end portion tapered for frictionally fitting into the filling spout of the mattress in a fluid-tight manner and has an upper end portion formed as a connector for a water hose.

After the filling operation is completed, the filler tube is removed, and the mattress is manipulated to work air bubbles toward the spout for elimination therethrough. The plug and cap are replaced following elimination of the air.

In accordance with the invention, a tube advantageously similar to the commercial filler tube and whether or not provided with a water hose connection at its upper end, so as to be used as a filler tube, is formed with a check valve interiorly thereof between its open lower and open upper ends. The check valve preferably comprises a ball of a type which will be raised by water but not by air or other gas rising in the tube. It is positioned for free movement between an upper ball seat provided within the tube and a lower, fluid-passing, ball retainer also provided within the tube.

The method of the invention involves the removal of the usual sealing plug and closure cap from the filling spout of the water bed mattress, the fitting of the lower end portion of the device of the invention in the filling spout fluid tight, and, if the mattress is already filled with water, the manipulating of the mattress to move air or other gas entrained in the water toward the filling spout and through the check valve, the removing of the device of the invention from the filling spout, and the replacing of the plug and cap on the filling spout. If the mattress is not already filled with water, the usual commercial filler tube may be employed for the purpose immediately prior to insertion of the device of the invention into the filling spout, or the form of the device of the invention which includes a water hose connection may be used, first, for filling the mattress with water, and, then, for eliminating air entrained as bubbles in the water.

In the drawings, which illustrate the best mode presently contemplated of carrying out the invention in actual practice:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary, exploded, pictorial view of a portion of a water bed mattress which includes the usual filling spout, such spout being conventional and shown with sealing plug and closure cap removed in preparation for filling in the usual manner;

FIG. 2, a similar view showing the filling spout with conventional filler tube fitted therein and water hose connected and filling the mattress with water, a part of the filling spout and mattress in the foreground being broken away;

FIG. 3, a view similar to that of FIG. 2 but showing an embodiment of the device of the invention replacing the usual filler tube;

FIG. 4, an axial vertical section through the replugged and recapped filling spout of the water bed mattress after air has been eliminated in accordance with the invention, the mattress being in its usual condition for use;

FIG. 5, an axial vertical section through the device of the invention as shown in FIG. 3, the device being shown per se; and

FIG. 6, a view corresponding to that of FIG. 5 but showing an embodiment of the device of the invention equipped for filling the mattress with water as well as for eliminating air or other gas therefrom.

The filling spout 10 of a water bed mattress 11 is shown in FIG. 1 with the usual sealing plug 12 and closure cap 13 removed ready for insertion thereinto of a filler tube 14, FIG. 2, of a type which is often used for the purpose. Such filler tube 14 is molded to shape from a substantially rigid plastic material to provide a lower portion 14a which is inserted into the filling spout 10 of the mattress. The upper end 14b is formed as a connection fitting for a water hose 15, and a captive cap 14c swivels on a retainer ring 14d so it can screw onto the upper threaded end 10a of filling spout 10 to hold the tube in place during filling.

After the water bed mattress 11 is filled with water, for example as shown in FIG. 2, and the usual filler tube 14 is removed from the filling spout 10, air entrained in the water as bubbles and any free air superficially of the water in the mattress is eliminated by fitting into the filling spout 10 the device of the invention shown per se in FIG. 5. This comprises an open-ended tube 16 having a cylindrical lower end portion 16a which is tapered downwardly for frictionally fitting into filling spout 10 of the mattress, fluid tight, as is the lower end 14a of filler tube 14. The upper end portion 16b of tube 16 and ribbed or knurled intermediate portion 16c are adapted to be grasped by the user for inserting the device in and removing it from filling spout 10. They project from the filling spout after insertion of lower end portion 16a in such filling spout as shown in FIG. 3.

Within the tube 16 is a check valve provided by a ball 17, FIG. 5, freely movable between an upper ball seat 18 and a lower, fluid-passing, ball retainer 19, the latter being provided in this instance by a tube section formed separately from the tube proper and fitted into the open lower end of tube portion 16a to provide the lower end of the tube. Ball retainer 19 is provided with an annular series of mutually spaced, short, post members 19a, which receive and support ball 17 when it is at rest, as in FIG. 5, and which permit the passage of water or air through the spaces between such members.

For eliminating air from the mattress at such time after the filling operation as entrained bubbles have risen and joined together to form one or more large bodies of air superficially of the water in the mattress, ordinarily within an hour or so, or for eliminating gas generated in situ during use of the mattress, the mattress is manipulated as by moving a broom handle or the like under pressure across the surface thereof toward the filling spout 10 to move the air toward the filling spout and into and through the tube 16 to atmosphere.

Air or other gas passes through the spaces between members 19a, around ball 17 substantially without disturbing it, upwardly through tube 16, and out to atmosphere through open upper end 20 of the check valve device of the invention.

Ball 17 is of a type that will not be lifted by escaping air or gas, but will be lifted by water which may tend to escape also. As such, it may be a solid ball of a polyethylene plastic material, such as Type 955 produced by Dow Chemical Co. If lifted by water surging into tube 16, ball 17 will be carried upwardly with the water and will seat firmly against its seat 18, thereby sealing against escape of the water.

After the air or other gas is eliminated from the mattress, the check valve device 16 of the invention is removed from filling spout 10 of the mattress by grasping the ribbed or knurled member 16c and upper end 16b thereof and pulling upwardly while twisting tube 16 slightly in the filling spout. Thereafter, plug 12 is reinserted in the open end of filling spout 10 and cap 13 is screwed tightly thereover in conventional manner.

If it is desired to utilize the check valve device of the invention as a filler tube as well as to eliminate air from the mattress after filling it with water, such device, see 21, FIG. 6, is formed with a connection fitting 21a at its upper end for a water hose. This fitting 21a may be ribbed or knurled if desired to serve the purpose of member 16c and the latter eliminated as indicated in FIG. 6. Otherwise, the device is the same as shown in FIG. 5, having a check valve ball 22, a ball retainer section 23, and an upper ball seal 24.

Both embodiments of the device are advantageously molded entirely from the same type of substantially rigid plastic material as are the balls 17 and 22, namely the polyethylene plastic previously indicated.

Whereas this invention is here illustrated and described with specific reference to an embodiment thereof presently contemplated as the best mode of carrying out such invention in actual practice, it is to be understood that various changes may be made in adapting the invention to different embodiments without departing from the broader inventive concepts disclosed herein and comprehended by the claims that follow.