...that the Eveready Battery began as an invention called the "electric flowerpot," which was a tube with a battery and light bulb inside? The idea was to fasten this gizmo to the side of a flowerpot so it would illuminate the flowers from the bottom. The idea died on the vine and the businessman who licensed the flower pot, Conrad Huber, was left with a pile of useless tubes -- until he found a way to market them as batteries to light the world!
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| Number | Title | Issue Date |
| 8151390 | Inflatable bed having air chambers inflatable individually by an electric air pump unit An inflatable bed includes a bedstead assembly, a mattress assembly, and an electrical air pump unit. The mattress assembly is disposed on and above the bedstead assembly, and includes a top sheet, a bottom sheet disposed under the top sheet, and a plurality of surr... | 04/10/2012 |
| 8104125 | Self-contained gatching, rotating and adjustable foot section mattress A self-contained gatching mattress is provided having a gatching mattress sleep deck, a first air bladder cushion, a second cushion material, a control box having an air pump system and a manifold, a conduit distribution unit, a sliding bridge, and a cushion materia... | 01/31/2012 |
| 7904979 | Mattress with patient transport apparatus incorporated therein A mattress having a storage compartment is provided. The storage compartment is used to hold items that are useful in the transport of a patient located on the mattress, such as a patient restraint that can be used to secure the patient to the mattress during transp... | 03/15/2011 |
| 7703160 | Inflatable mattress An inflatable mattress has a body and a coverlet. The body is hollow, is inflatable and has a top, a sidewall and at least one first engaging member attached to the sidewall of the body. The coverlet is mounted detachably on and covers the body and has at least one ... | 04/27/2010 |
| 7426766 | Tufted air mattress and method of making same A tufted air mattress including a first printed sheet and a second sheet. The first printed sheet is printed over a selected area with an ink containing a fluoropolymer. The portion of the printed sheet with the ink defines a coated area. The first printed sheet att... | 09/23/2008 |
| 7424761 | Shape matching cushion A cushion comprising an array of individual suspension elements arranged in a pattern wherein one embodiment the longitudinal axis of each suspension element in the array is positioned at a right angle or parallel to the longitudinal axes of the adjacent suspension ... | 09/16/2008 |
| 7412738 | Fluidic chambers fluidly connected by one way valve and method for use The present invention is directed to an inflatable device or a body support device, and, specifically, to an inflatable device including two or more fluid chambers. One embodiment of the device includes a first fluid chamber comprising a first outlet, and a second f... | 08/19/2008 |
| 7406723 | Inflatable mattress and method for positioning a patient An inflatable mattress having an inflated torso support pad, a first leg extending out from a first portion of the inflated torso support pad, and a second leg spaced from the first leg and extending out from a second portion of the inflated torso support pad. The f... | 08/05/2008 |
| 7406735 | Air-inflated mattress An air-inflated mattress, comprising a top layer, an outer shroud band, a plurality of anchor separators and a bottom layer, wherein said shroud band connects the top and bottom layers together to form an inflatable bladder; further comprising a middle layer below s... | 08/05/2008 |
| 7401370 | Self-storing airbed An airbed with an integral sleeve. After deflation of the airbed, the airbed is rolled or folded into a tight formation, and the sleeve is extended around the airbed for storage. The sleeve may be a flat fabric material that is attached to a seam of the airbed, for ... | 07/22/2008 |
| 7380300 | Air mattress with pillow top An air mattress includes a first inflatable compartment having a length and width, when inflated, sufficient to support a human body. The first compartment having a top, a bottom, and sides and is composed of at least two layers of vinyl, one layer of vinyl forming ... | 06/03/2008 |
| 7370380 | Mattress with removable top A mattress is constructed from a mattress body having an upper and a lower deck, which is preferably pervious to moisture and air. A removable panel, which includes a top layer of breathable fabric, a bottom layer of a fabric that forms a moisture barrier, and a bat... | 05/13/2008 |
| 7367073 | Air mattress with pillow top An air mattress includes a first inflatable compartment having a length and width, when inflated, sufficient to support a human body. The first compartment is composed of at least two layers of vinyl, one layer of vinyl forming the top of the compartment and the sec... | 05/06/2008 |
| 7357625 | Push rod in an electrical pump adapted for use with a piston rod in an air nozzle An electrical pump adapted for use with a piston rod in an air nozzle has an electromagnetic valve board with an electromagnetic valve thereon. A Z-shaped push rod is provided to be adapted to be driven by the electromagnetic valve so as to drive the piston rod to m... | 04/15/2008 |
| 7353555 | Inflatable mattress assembly An inflatable mattress assembly having a peripheral frame disposed around an upper periphery of the mattress forming an upper tubular periphery that provides a contiguous support surface. The peripheral frame is secured along two seams so that it is flat, smooth, an... | 04/08/2008 |
| 7346950 | Inflatable product provided with electric air pump An inflatable product includes a first chamber, a pack, and a fan and motor received in the pack. The pack has an air intake connected to the outside of the first chamber and a first air outlet connected to the inside of the first chamber. A first valve for opening ... | 03/25/2008 |
| 7340785 | Sanitary liner for a patient transfer mattress A patient transfer device includes an inflatable mattress and a liner releasably attached to the inflatable mattress. The inflatable mattress includes a top sheet having opposite side edges and a bottom sheet defining a plurality of holes to create a cushion of esca... | 03/11/2008 |
| 7331074 | Inflatable pad assembly An inflatable pad assembly includes a connecting unit for interconnecting pivotally and detachably first and second inflatable pads such that the second inflatable pad is operable so as to pivot relative to the first inflatable pad between a first position, where on... | 02/19/2008 |
| 7328472 | Configurable inflatable support devices A configurable, adjustable inflatable device including one or more inflatable bladders and a shape-defining membrane that combines with the inflatable bladders such that an overall shape of the configurable inflatable device is at least partially controlled by the s... | 02/12/2008 |
| 7322064 | Inflatable bed An inflatable bed includes bottom and top sheet layers, a surrounding sheet that interconnects the peripheral ends of the bottom and top sheet layers and that cooperates with the bottom and top sheet layers to form a bed body which defines an air chamber, a pluralit... | 01/29/2008 |
| 7318244 | Fluid-inflatable pillow A pillow for supporting at least one user's head and neck, the pillow having fluid-inflatable first and second chambers disposed about corresponding portions of the perimeter of the pillow. The first chamber has a maximum cross-sectional dimension when inflated that... | 01/15/2008 |
| 7313837 | Inflatable product provided with electric air pump An inflatable product that includes a chamber and an electric air pump for inflating the chamber. The air pump has an air intake and an air outlet. The air intake is connected to the outside of the chamber and the air outlet is connected to the inside of the chamber... | 01/01/2008 |
| 7306694 | Method for producing plastic products with reinforced heat sealed joints A plastic product is fabricated from plastic sheets by heat sealing the plastic sheets to form an enclosure member. In order to strengthen the heat-sealed joints of the plastic sheets, the plastic sheets are thickened at portions where the heat-sealed joints are to ... | 12/11/2007 |
| 7299513 | Bladder support system A bladder support system for reducing the stresses placed upon a bladder unit. The bladder support system includes a bladder unit fillable with a fluid, a base member comprised of a sheet structure, wherein the base member is positioned adjacent to the bladder unit ... | 11/27/2007 |
| 7296314 | Patient support surface A support surface (10) is disclosed which includes a foam perimeter (18), a truncated-triangular shaped core (19), a foam topper (21), and a coverlet (22). The foam perimeter includes an interior well (25) defined by a floor... | 11/20/2007 |
| 7293311 | Method of making a multilayered mattress component A method of making a mattress component includes providing a first layer of a first material. Mating patterns are shaped in a surface of the first layer in areas corresponding to a position where hips and shoulders of the user will rest on a mattress. The mating pat... | 11/13/2007 |
| 7287290 | Mattress having an air pressure indicator A mattress including an air pressure indicator configured to indicate the pressure of the mattress. ... | 10/30/2007 |
| 7284291 | Inflatable product with an integrated pump An inflatable product includes an inflatable body with a recess. A pump matching the recess is installed in the recess. Whereby, the inflatable body and pump are integrated together, and it is very convenient to use and carry. Furthermore, the pump is concealed in t... | 10/23/2007 |
| 7269866 | Air bed with stable supporting structure An air bed with a stable supporting structure comprises a periphery sheet, a top sheet, and a bottom sheet. A middle sheet separates the air bed into an upper air-chamber and a lower air-chamber, an outer extending strip separates the upper air-chamber into a periph... | 09/18/2007 |
| 7270317 | Fluid suspension member having grooved inlet A fluid suspension member having a flexible wall at least partially defining a fluid chamber and having a passage formed therethrough. A connector fitting is received within the passage, and a groove extends into the flexible wall adjacent the passage. A method is a... | 09/18/2007 |
| 7263734 | Magnetically retained CPR dump The present invention involves a patient support system. The support system has a fluid bladder and a container. The container has an air pump, a manifold and a CPR dump system. The CPR dump system has a manifold aperture, a plug positioned in the manifold's apertur... | 09/04/2007 |
| 7260860 | Mattress system for a hospital bed A mattress system for a hospital bed including a mattress and a control system. The mattress system may include a mattress including a core bladder, a width bladder and a vacuum device to apply a vacuum to the width bladder. The mattress is adapted to support a heav... | 08/28/2007 |
| 7246393 | Inflatable mattress An inflatable mattress for storage within and use in combination with a furniture member includes a main body portion having a lower surface supportable on a surface such as a floor and an upper surface. An extending end of the mattress includes an extension of the ... | 07/24/2007 |
| 7244483 | Bladder with inverted edge seam and method of making the bladder The invention is a bladder formed of multiple layers of barrier film to provide multiple pressurized layers of cushioning fluid or gas when the bladder is filled. The sidewalls of the bladder can be constructed with an inverted seam construction to eliminate finishi... | 07/17/2007 |
| 7234183 | Multiple chamber fluid pressurizable mattress The present invention comprises a fluid pressurizable multiple chamber mattress wherein each chamber is capable of operably receiving and releasing a fluid, comprising a first covering sheet, at least two fabric layers positioned upon the inner surface of the first ... | 06/26/2007 |
| 7228579 | Portable patient support device and method of preparing patient for prostate brachytherapy A portable patient support includes a platform having a rigid platform received in an interior of an end cap. Elongated rails attached to side walls of the end cap receive accessories, such as stirrups for elevating a patient's legs during insertion of brachytherapy... | 06/12/2007 |
| 7219380 | Multicompartmented air mattress A system and method for controlling the flow of fluid for an inflatable mattress having multiple, non-interconnected inflatable chambers. Each inflatable chamber can be selectively inflated and deflated to vary the pressure exerted from the mattress surface to selec... | 05/22/2007 |
| 7210176 | Patient transfer device having inclined upper surface A patient transfer device includes a top sheet inclined in a head end portion such that a patient's torso is elevated with respect to the feet. The mattress may include relatively narrow chambers in an intermediate portion for increased strength and stability. The m... | 05/01/2007 |
| 7191480 | Mattress or cushion structure An apparatus is configured to support at least a portion of a body thereon. The apparatus includes a base portion and a three dimensional engineered material, the three dimensional engineered material and the base cooperate to provide support for the body. ... | 03/20/2007 |
| 7188379 | Combination air and spring mattress for a sofa sleeper This invention is directed to a mattress assembly for use in a sofa sleeper. The mattress assembly has an outer shell and an inner support received within the outer shell. The shell includes a lower panel, a sidewall, and a cover that fit together to form a cavity t... | 03/13/2007 |