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US 11,191,686 B2Granted
Pneumatic chair jack
AssigneeD.T. Davis Enterprises, Ltd.
InventorJason K. Werkheiser
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A multi-cell inflatable jack includes a plurality of jack elements. Each of the plurality of jack elements includes a body having a predetermined perimeter shape and defining a perimeter chamber and a central chamber. A valve is coupled to the body and configured to provide air flow to one of the perimeter chamber or the central chamber. A plurality of flow control stringers are located between the first chamber portion and the second chamber portion and are configured to control an air flow rate into each of the perimeter chamber and the central chamber. At least one fastener is formed on the body and configured to attach the jack element to at least one additional jack element in a multi-cell stack.
Claims16
A jack element, comprising
- a body having a predetermined perimeter shape and defining a perimeter chamber and a central chamber;
- a valve coupled to the body and configured to provide air flow to the perimeter chamber, and wherein the perimeter chamber is coupled to the central chamber;
- a plurality of flow control stringers located between the perimeter chamber and the central chamber, wherein the plurality of flow controlled stringers are configured to control an air flow rate into each of the perimeter chamber and the central chamber, wherein the plurality of flow control stringers comprise a perimeter stringer and a plurality of lateral flow control stringers positioned within an internal volume defined by the perimeter stringer, wherein the perimeter chamber is configured to substantially inflate prior to inflation of the central chamber when air flow from an air source is provided through the valve, and wherein the plurality of lateral flow control stringers are configured to provide inflation of a first portion of the central chamber prior to inflation of a second portion of the central chamber, and wherein each of the plurality of flow control stringers define at least one lengthwise slit;
- and
- at least one fastener formed on the body and configured to attach the jack element to at least one additional jack element in a multi-cell stack, and wherein the at least one additional jack element includes a body having a similar predetermined perimeter shape as the predetermined perimeter shape defined by the body.
2 more elements
A system, comprising:
- a first jack element;
- and
- a second jack element, wherein each of the first and second jack elements comprise:
- a body having a predetermined perimeter shape and defining a perimeter chamber and a central chamber;
- a valve coupled to the body and configured to provide air flow to the perimeter chamber;
- a plurality of flow control stringers located between the perimeter chamber portion and the central chamber portion, wherein the plurality of flow control stringers are configured to control an air flow rate into each of the perimeter chamber and the central chamber, wherein the plurality of flow control stringers comprise a perimeter stringer and a plurality of lateral flow control stringers positioned within an internal volume defined by the perimeter stringer, wherein the lateral flow control stringers are configured to provide inflation of a first portion of the central chamber prior to inflation of a second portion of the central chamber when air flow from an air source is provided through the valve, and wherein each of the plurality of flow control stringers define at least one lengthwise slit;
- and
- at least one fastener formed on the body,
- wherein the first jack element is coupled to the second jack element by the at least one fastener on each of the first jack element and the second jack element.
6 more elements
A method of raising a patient, comprising:
- positioning a multi-cell inflatable jack under a patient, wherein the multi-cell inflatable jack comprises a plurality of inflatable jack elements, wherein each of the plurality of inflatable jack elements comprises:
- a body having a predetermined perimeter shape and defining a perimeter chamber and a central chamber;
- a valve coupled to the body and configured to provide air flow to the perimeter chamber;
- a plurality of flow control stringers located between the perimeter chamber portion and the central chamber portion, wherein the plurality of flow control stringers are configured to control an air flow rate into each of the perimeter chamber and the central chamber, wherein the plurality of flow control stringers comprise a perimeter stringer and a plurality of lateral flow control stringers positioned within an internal volume defined by the perimeter stringer, wherein the lateral flow control stringers are configured to provide inflation of a first portion of the central chamber prior to inflation of a second portion of the central chamber when air flow from an air source is provided through the valve, and wherein each of the plurality of flow control stringers define at least one lengthwise slit;
- and
- at least one fastener formed on the body, wherein the first jack element is configured to be coupled to the second jack element by the at least one fastener on each of the first jack element and the second jack element;
- inflating a first of the plurality of inflatable jack elements to raise a patient from a seated position to a first height;
- and
- inflating a second of the plurality of inflatable jack elements to raise a patient from the first height to a second height, wherein the second height is configured to position the patient in a standing position.
6 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.