US 4,991,244 · Granted 1991-02-12
The Foam Border That Turned Airbeds Into Actual Beds
Imagine an air mattress that doesn't feel like you're floating on a giant balloon—this patent adds a cushioned border around airbeds so your body doesn't sag into gaps or feel unsupported. It uses two layers of foam with different firmness levels, held together with Velcro, so the bed stays comfortable and the mattresses don't shift around.
The plain-English version
What it protects
The claim covers a border system designed to contain and support air mattresses within a rectangular frame. What's protected here is the specific combination of a fabric case holding dual-density foam layers (a softer top layer for comfort and a firmer bottom layer for structural support), plus the use of Velcro fasteners to join the border walls together. Anyone making an airbed border with this exact sandwich structure and assembly method would be infringing.
Why it matters
Before this design, airbeds were notoriously uncomfortable because sleepers would sink into gaps between the mattresses or feel the hard floor beneath. This patent solved a real consumer pain point by creating a cushioned perimeter that cradles the mattresses and distributes weight more evenly. For manufacturers, it meant airbeds could compete with traditional beds on comfort without changing the core inflatable technology—a practical improvement that likely helped airbeds become a mainstream furniture category.
Real-world use
When you lie on a modern airbed and notice the edges feel padded and supportive rather than sharp or saggy, you're benefiting from innovations like this border design.
Original USPTO abstract
An air bed has side-by-side air mattresses confined within the perimeter of a rectangular border. The border has a plurality of border walls each located within a fabric case. The case accommodates upper and lower foam members of different density. The upper foam member has a density so as to be sufficiently resilient reducing discomfort to a resting person. The lower foam member has a density so as to be sufficiently rigid to retain the air mattresses within the perimeter of the border. Velcro fasteners are used to normally join the border walls. The bed is equipped with a cover having a releasable fastener so that the cover may be readily removed from the air mattresses and border.
Patent details
- Publication number
- US 4,991,244
- Filing date
- 1990-01-05
- Grant date
- 1991-02-12
- Assignee
- Walker Robert A
- Inventor(s)
- WALKER; ROBERT A.
- CPC class
- A47C27/082
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