Waterbed 429437 221773408 2008-06-26T01:10:58Z Unschool 440983 Reverted edits by [[Special:Contributions/76.186.145.25|76.186.145.25]] ([[User talk:76.186.145.25|talk]]) to last version by Red Act A '''waterbed''' or '''water mattress''' is a [[bed (furniture)|bed]] or [[mattress]] filled with water. ==Construction== [[Image:Softside Waterbed Outside.JPG|thumb|Softside Waterbed 160 × 200 cm with dual heating]] Waterbeds primarily consist of two types, hard-sided beds and soft-sided beds. A hard-sided waterbed consists of a water-containing mattress inside a rectangular frame of wood resting on a [[plywood]] deck that sits on a platform. Platforms may incorporate drawer systems for storage. Frames may be decorative, with elaborate headboards or tall posts. A soft-sided waterbed consists of a water-containing mattress inside of a rectangular frame of sturdy foam, zippered inside of a fabric casing, which sits on a platform. The effect is to look like a conventional bed and is designed to fit into existing bedroom furniture. The platform usually looks like a conventional foundation or box spring, and sits atop a much-stronger-than-normal metal frame. Early waterbed mattresses and many inexpensive modern mattresses have only one water chamber. These mattresses are commonly described in the industry as "free flow" mattresses. When the water mass was disturbed, significant wave action could be felt. They needed some time to stabilize after a disturbance. Later types employed wave-reducing methods, including fiber batting and interconnected water chambers. More expensive "waveless" modern waterbeds have a mixture of air and water chambers, usually interconnected. [[Image:Softside Waterbed Inside.JPG|thumb|Softside Waterbed 160 × 200 cm with two waterchambers and flexible chamberisolation inside]] Water beds are normally heated. Temperature is controlled via a thermostat and set to personal preference, but is most commonly average skin temperature, 30 Degrees C or about 96 Degrees F. A typical [[heating pad]] consumes 150–400 watts of power. Depending on insulation, [[bedding]], temperature, use and other things, electricity usage may vary significantly. Waterbeds are usually constructed from [[vinyl]] or similar material. They can be repaired with nearly any vinyl repair kit. ==History== A form of waterbed was invented in the early 1800s by the Scottish physician [[Neil Arnott]]. ''Dr Arnott's Hydrostatic Bed'' was devised to prevent bedsores in invalids, and comprised a bath of water with a covering of rubber-impregnated canvas, on which lighter bedding was placed. Arnott did not patent it, permitting anyone to construct a bed to this design<ref>''An Encyclopaedia of Domestic Economy'' , Webster & Parkes, Harper & Brothers, NY, 1855 [http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=f5oDAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA309&dq=%22water+bed%22+mattress#PPA309,M1 Google Books]</ref><ref>Dr. Arnott's Hydrostatic Bed, ''London Medical and Surgical Journal'', Volume II, 1833 [http://books.google.co.uk/books?pg=PA165&dq=%22water+bed%22+mattress+invalid&lr=&id=UF9EToSeyO8C&output=html Google Books]</ref> The use of a waterbed for the ailing Mrs Hale is mentioned in [[Elizabeth Gaskell]]'s 1855 novel ''[[North and South (1855 novel)|North and South]]''.<ref>[http://www.randomhouse.co.uk/offthepage/guide.htm?command=Search&db=/catalog/main.txt&eqisbndata=0099511487 North and South], Random House: Reading Group Guide</ref> In 1871 a waterbed was in use in [[Elmira, NY]] for "invalids". It was briefly mentioned by [[Mark Twain]] in his article "[http://query.nytimes.com/mem/archive-free/pdf?res=9F0CE6D6103EEE34BC4B51DFB166838A669FDE A New Beecher Church]" which was published in ''[[The New York Times]]'' on [[1871-07-23]]. There Twain said that: ''"In the infirmary will be kept one or two water-beds (for invalids whose pains will not allow them to be on a less yielding substance) and half a dozen reclining invalid-chairs on wheels. The water-beds and invalid-chairs at present belonging to the church are always in demand, and never out of service."'' This article does not contain enough information to determine the form of the beds involved. Dr. William Hooper of Portsmouth, England, patented a waterbed in 1883. He devised it to relieve bed sore pains in his patients. Unable to contain the water and control its temperature, his invention was a market failure. The modern waterbed was created by [[Charles Hall]] in 1968, while he was a design student at [[San Francisco State University]] in [[California]]. Fellow SFSU students Paul Heckel and Evan Fawkes also contributed to the concept. Hall originally wanted to make an innovative chair. His first prototype was a vinyl bag with 300 pounds (136 kg) of cornstarch, but the result was uncomfortable. He next attempted to fill it with [[Jell-O]], but this too was a failure. Ultimately, he abandoned working on a chair, and settled on perfecting a bed. He succeeded. However, because a waterbed is described in the novels ''[[Beyond This Horizon]]'' (1942), ''[[Double Star]]'' (1956), and ''[[Stranger in a Strange Land]]'' (1961) by [[Robert A. Heinlein]], Hall was unable to obtain a patent on his creation. In 1980 Heinlein recalled in ''[[Expanded Universe (Heinlein)|Expanded Universe]]'' that: :''"I designed the waterbed during years as a bed patient in the middle thirties; a pump to control water level, side supports to permit one to float rather than simply lying on a not very soft water filled mattress. Thermostatic control of temperature, safety interfaces to avoid all possibility of electric shock, waterproof box to make a leak no more important than a leaky hot water bottle rather than a domestic disaster, calculation of floor loads (important!), internal rubber mattress and lighting, reading, and eating arrangements—an attempt to design the perfect hospital bed by one who had spent too damn much time in hospital beds."'' However, Heinlein made no attempt to build his invention. ==Advantages and disadvantages== Waterbeds have several advantages over traditional beds: *The bed can be heated, which makes it very comfortable in the winter. Falling asleep is easier, possibly assisted by lowered [[blood pressure]] that comes from resting on a warmer environment.{{Fact|date=June 2008}} The warmth of the water also helps muscles to relax resulting in improved blood circulation while alleviating soreness of stiff muscles and joints.{{Fact|date=June 2008}} *Excellent sleeping comfort{{Fact|date=February 2008}}. The bed shapes exactly to the body, thus minimizing pressure, especially around the joints. Waterbeds remove pressure from the [[Vertebral column|spine]] allowing the spinal muscles to fully relax, aiding in the treatment of backache. In paralytic or movement-impaired people they can reduce the risk of [[bedsores]]. *It is impossible for dirt and dead skin particles to penetrate the water mattress, which can then be wiped periodically with a cloth and vinyl cleaner. The cover over the mattress can be regularly washed — thus virtually eliminating [[house dust mite]]s in the bed. Dust mites can trigger [[asthma]], [[eczema]], and [[allergy|allergies]] in people sensitive to them. *A waterbed mattress has an average lifespan of over 12 years. {{Fact|date=February 2007}} But there are also disadvantages: *Heating a waterbed is costly. A waterbed consumes between 500 and 2000 kWh/year, depending on the climate, bed size, and other factors. Thus, a waterbed can easily consume more power than a refrigerator. The energy usage can be decreased by about 60% with the use of a foam mattress pad.<ref>[http://www.homeenergy.org/archive/hem.dis.anl.gov/eehem/94/940911.html Waterbed Heating: Uncovering Energy Savings in the Bedroom] Home Energy Magazine Online September/October 1994. Retrieved December 3, 2007.</ref> *Since some hard-sided waterbeds are of different sizes than other mattresses, [[bed sheet]]s are harder to find and are in fewer varieties. Soft-sided mattress are conventionally sized to avoid this problem. *Moving a waterbed is a more difficult process than a normal bed; the water must be drained and the frame disassembled, then reassembled, the mattress refilled with water, and heated for a period to get the water back to the correct temperature. *Occasionally, water mattresses may leak. Plastic liners can prevent this, but emptying, patching, refilling, and reheating it (and sleeping elsewhere until all this is completed) is certainly an inconvenience. Also, seen by some as an advantage and others as a disadvantage, due to its introduction to the masses during the height of the [[sexual revolution]], waterbeds are often thought of as having special sexual significance in popular culture, though this may be diminishing over time. Ironically, it should also be noted that "free flow" style mattresses are said by some couples to interfere with [[coitus]], due to the significant and prolonged wave action (though some couples can adapt, and modern chambered mattresses may not have this disadvantage). {{Fact|date=February 2007}} ==References== {{reflist}} ==External links== * {{US patent|3585356}} -- "''Liquid support for human bodies''" * [http://www.waterbed.org/faq.htm British Water Bed Association] * [http://www.badfads.com/pages/activities/waterbed.html Bad Fads Museum] [[Category:Beds]][[Category:Bedding]] [[da:Vandseng]] [[de:Wasserbett]] [[eo:Akvolito]] [[nl:Waterbed]] [[no:Vannseng]] [[sl:Vodna postelja]]