Inflatable devices with flexible walls having spring-like couplings externally of and/or forming part of the walls

An inflatable device comprising:

• a) flexible wall means (12, 16', 18', 20) forming at least a portion of a gas-impervious chamber, said wall means forming the exterior of said chamber and being outwardly moveable over a predetermined range of movement in response to gas pressure acting uniformly over the interior of said chamber;
• b) a first portion (12, 20) of said wall means being of substantially inelastic material;
• c) a second portion (16', 18') of said wall means being of elastic material having maximum, unstretched dimensions;
• and
• d) means mutually connecting said first and second portions about peripheral portions thereof, whereby application of said gas pressure to the interior of said chamber exerts a force on said wall means and, when said force causes said second portions to exceed their fully extended, unstretched length, said second portions permit further outward movement of said wall means while exerting a resilient force opposing such further outward movement.

An air mattress, or the like, defining an inflatable chamber, said mattress comprising:

• a) top (12) and bottom (14) walls of substantially inelastic material relatively moveable away from one another in response to air pressure applied within said chamber;
• b) side (16', 18') and end (20, 22) walls at least a predetermined portion (16', 18') of which are of elastic material having predetermined, maximum, unstretched dimensions;
• and
• c) means connecting said top, bottom side and end walls so the application of gas pressure within said chamber to exert an outward force sufficient to stretch said predetermined portion beyond said unstretched dimensions exerts a resilient force opposing said movement of said top and bottom walls away from one another.