IP Library Granted Patent US 6,973,690
Granted Patent B2
US 6,973,690 · App. 10/196,887 · Granted Dec 13, 2005

Adjustable inflatable pillow

Assignee: Aero Products International, Inc.
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 6,973,690
App. No.
10/196,887
Granted
Dec 13, 2005
Kind
B2
Abstract

An inflatable pillow comprising a first layer comprising a top sheet of material and a bottom sheet of material welded together so as to form a plurality of chambers in fluid communication with each other. A second layer comprising a top sheet of material and a bottom sheet of material are also welded together so as to form a plurality of chambers in fluid communication with each other. The first and the second layers are welded together such that the first and the second layers are in fluid communication with each other at one or more openings in the first and the second layers.

Claims (49)

1. An inflatable pillow comprising:

a first layer comprising a top sheet of material and a bottom sheet of material, said top sheet of material and said bottom sheet of material welded together so as to form a plurality of chambers in fluid communication with each other;

a second layer comprising a top sheet of material and a bottom sheet of material, said top sheet of material and said bottom sheet of material welded together utilizing at least two types of parallel welds wherein said welds are all spaced apart from one another so as to form a plurality of chambers in fluid communication with each other; and

said first and said second layers being welded together such that said first and said second layers are in fluid communication with each other at one or more openings in said first and said second layers.

2. The inflatable pillow of claim 1 wherein said chambers further comprise a plurality of first chambers and second chambers.

3. The inflatable pillow of claim 2 , wherein said first chambers are arranged along the outer edges of two opposing sides of said first and said second layers.

4. The inflatable pillow of claim 3 , wherein said second chambers comprise all other chambers.

5. The inflatable pillow of claim 4 , wherein said first chambers have at least one fluid connection between each adjacent chamber.

6. The inflatable pillow of claim 5 , wherein said second chambers have at least one fluid connection between the chambers adjacent two opposite sides and are sealed off from the chambers on their other two opposite sides.

7. The inflatable pillow of claim 6 , further comprising a layer of material welded along the outer edge of said first and said second layers to connect said first and said second layers.

8. The inflatable pillow of claim 7 , wherein said one or more openings between said first and said second layers are defined in at least one chamber located in a corner of said first or said second layers.

9. The inflatable pillow of claim 8 , further comprising a valve defined in at least one of said chambers.

10. The inflatable pillow of claim 9 , wherein said valve is defined in a corner chamber.

11. The inflatable pillow of claim 10 , said first and second layers being welded together along sonic welds.

12. The inflatable pillow of claim 10 , said first and second layers being welded together along areas of said layers that have been melted together.

13. An inflatable pillow comprising:

a first layer, said first layer comprised of a first and a second sheet of material, said first and said second sheets of material having a generally rectangular shape;

said first and said second sheets of material having a plurality of large parallel welds connecting said first and second layers of material, said large welds extending nearly to the sides of said first and said second sheets of material, so as to leave an opening along each side of said first and said second sheets of material;

said first and said second sheets of material having a plurality of small parallel welds arranged perpendicular to said large welds, said small welds arranged so as to form generally evenly spaced chambers in fluid communication with each other;

said chambers having sealed walls formed by said large welds and open walls formed by said small welds, said open walls having openings to the adjacent chamber at a first end and a second end;

a second layer, said second layer comprised of a first and a second sheet of material;

said first and said second sheets of material having a generally rectangular shape;

said first and said second sheets of material having a plurality of large parallel welds connecting said first and second layers of material, said large welds extending nearly to the sides of said first and said second sheets of material, so as to leave an opening along each side of said first and said second sheets of material;

said first and said second sheets of material having a plurality of small parallel welds arranged perpendicular to said large welds, said small welds arranged so as to form evenly spaced chambers in fluid communication with each other at two openings;

said chambers having sealed walls formed by said large welds and open walls formed by said small welds, said open walls having openings to the adjacent chamber at a first end and a second end; and

said first and said second layers being connected by a layer of material welded around the outer edge of said first and said second layers.

14. The inflatable pillow of claim 13 , wherein at least one chamber has an opening defined therein so as to allow a fluid connection between said first and said second layers.

15. The inflatable pillow of claim 14 , wherein said opening is defined in a chamber in a corner of said first and said second layers.

16. The inflatable pillow of claim 15 , further comprising a valve defined in at least one chamber for inflation of said pillow.

17. The inflatable pillow of claim 16 , wherein said valve is defined in one of said corner chambers.

18. The inflatable pillow of claim 17 , wherein said welds are sonic welds.

19. The inflatable pillow of claim 17 , wherein said welds are areas of said layers that have been melted together.

20. An inflatable pillow, said pillow comprising:

a first layer of chambers, said first layer of chambers being formed from two generally rectangular layers of material welded together along an outer edge;

said first layer of chambers including chambers that are fluidly connected to each other, defined by a plurality of large parallel welds connecting said two layers of material and a plurality of small parallel welds connecting said two layers;

said small parallel welds being defined perpendicular to said large parallel welds;

a second layer of chambers, said second layer of chambers being formed from two generally rectangular layers of material welded together along an outer edge;

said second layer of chambers having chambers that are fluidly connected to each other, defined by a plurality of large parallel welds connecting said two layers and a plurality of small parallel welds connecting said two layers; and

said small parallel welds being defined perpendicular to said large parallel welds.

21. The inflatable pillow of claim 20 , further comprising a connecting layer connecting said first layer of chambers to said second layer of chambers.

22. The inflatable pillow of claim 21 , wherein said connecting layer is attached to the outer edge of said first and said second layers of chambers.

23. The inflatable pillow of claim 22 , wherein said chambers further comprise a first type of chamber and a second type of chamber, said first type of chamber being defined in a top and a bottom outside row of said first and said second layers, said second type of chamber being defined on all other locations.

24. The inflatable pillow of claim 23 , wherein said first type of chamber has at least one fluid connection to each adjacent chamber.

25. The inflatable pillow of claim 24 , wherein said second type of chamber has at least one fluid connection to the chambers adjacent two opposite sides and is sealed off from the chambers on its other two opposite sides by said large welds.

26. The inflatable pillow of claim 25 , wherein at least one chamber of said first and second layers of chambers has an opening defined therein to provide a fluid connection between said first and second layers of chambers.

27. The inflatable pillow of claim 26 , said at least one chamber having said openings is defined in said corners of said first and said second layers of chambers.

28. The inflatable pillow of claim 27 , further comprising a valve defined in at least one of said chambers of said first and second layers of chambers for inflation of said pillow.

29. The inflatable pillow of claim 28 , wherein said valve is defined in at least one corner chamber.

30. The inflatable pillow of claim 29 , wherein said welds are sonic welds.

Assignments (3)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Oct 1, 2010
From: GENERAL ELECTRIC CAPITAL CORPORATION
To: AERO PRODUCTS INTERNATIONAL, INC.
Reel/Frame 025077/0945 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Apr 6, 2007
From: AERO PRODUCTS INTERNATIONAL, INC.
To: GENERAL ELECTRIC CAPITAL CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 019122/0770 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 22, 2002
From: MUCI, FRANCISCO J.; BOSO, KAREN L.; CHING-CHIN, CHEN
To: AERO PRODUCTS INTERNATIONAL, INC.
Reel/Frame 013413/0838 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20040010853A1 · Jan 22, 2004