Inflatable pillow, compartmental pillow, and pillow dispenser
AssigneeThe United States Government as represented by the Department of Veterans Affairs
InventorsSuzanne M. Zwerin, David A. Parrott
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A plurality of inflatable pillows. Each pillow has at least one chamber. The chamber defines first and second edges oppositely disposed. Each pillow also has a valve providing fluid communication with the chamber for inflating and deflating the chamber. The first edge of one pillow is connect to a second edge of another pillow to form a continuous web. The pillows may form a continuous web and be dispensed from a device. Separation of the pillows one from another is enabled by perforations between edges of the pillows forming the web or tearing or cutting between edges of the pillows forming the web.
Claims16
A continuous web comprising a plurality of inflatable pillows secured edge to edge, each said pillow comprising:
- a first pillow edge and a second pillow edge oppositely disposed;
- at least two chambers each defining first and second chamber edges oppositely disposed;
- a first valve providing fluid communication with at least a first chamber of said at least two chambers for inflating and deflating at least said first chamber of said at least two chambers;
- a second valve providing fluid communication with at least a second chamber of said at least two chambers for inflating and deflating at least said second chamber of said at least two chambers;
- and
- at least one duct;
- wherein said at least one duct provides fluid communication between said first of said at least two chambers and another of said at least two chambers, said at least one duct permitting inflating and deflating said another of said at least two chambers through said first valve;
- wherein at least one of said at least two chambers may be inflated to a different level than another chamber of said at least two chambers;
- wherein said first pillow edge of at least one of said plurality of inflatable pillows is connected to said second pillow edge of another of said plurality of inflatable pillows.
An inflatable pillow comprising:
- a first pillow edge and a second pillow edge oppositely disposed, said inflatable pillow having a length extending from said first pillow edge to said second pillow edge;
- a plurality of support chambers overlying a base chamber, at least one of said support chambers comprising an intermediate chamber, said intermediate chamber being positioned between two of said support chambers along said length of said inflatable pillow;
- a first valve positioned in said intermediate chamber;
- a second valve positioned in one of said base chamber or said support chambers other than said intermediate chamber;
- and
- a plurality of ducts, each said duct providing fluid communication between said base chamber and a respective one of said support chambers other than said intermediate chamber, said ducts permitting inflating and deflating said base chamber and said support chambers through said second valve.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.