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US 11,950,702 B2Granted
Noise reducing plunger
AssigneeSleep Number Corporation
InventorsAnthony John Shakal, Casey Carlson, Ryan Douglas
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A valve can include a solenoid coil, a plunger having a core configured to respond to a magnetic field generated by the solenoid coil, and a valve disc. The valve disc can be positioned at a head of the core and configured to cushion impact when the valve is closed. A projection can be positioned and configured to cushion impact when the valve is opened. The valve can be used in an air bed system in fluid connection between an air pump and an inflatable air chamber of a mattress.
Claims28
An air bed system comprising:
- a mattress having at least one inflatable air chamber;
- an air pump;
- and
- a valve in fluid connection between the air pump and the inflatable air chamber so as to selectively regulate fluid communication between the air pump and the at least one inflatable air chamber, wherein the valve comprises:
- a solenoid coil;
- a plunger having a core configured to respond to a magnetic field generated by the solenoid coil;
- a valve disc positioned at a head of the core and configured to cushion impact when the valve is closed, the valve disc defining a forward-facing surface and a rear-facing surface, wherein the valve disc defines a receptacle, wherein the head of the core is positioned in the receptacle, and wherein a front surface of the head of the core and an opposing surface in the receptacle of the valve disc are shaped to space at least part of the front surface from the opposing surface;
- and
- a projection attached to the rear-facing surface of the valve disc and extending in a rearward direction from the rear-facing surface away from the forward-facing surface, wherein the projection is sized and positioned to cushion impact when the valve is opened, wherein the projection extends from the rear-facing surface of the valve disc at a position that is adjacent to and along an outer surface of the core, wherein the projection is a plurality of projections.
6 more elements
An air bed system comprising:
- a mattress having at least one inflatable air chamber;
- an air pump;
- and
- a valve in fluid connection between the air pump and the at least one inflatable air chamber so as to selectively regulate fluid communication between the air pump and the inflatable air chamber, wherein the valve comprises:
- a solenoid coil;
- a plunger having a core configured to respond to a magnetic field generated by the solenoid coil;
- a valve disc positioned at a head of the core and configured to cushion impact when the valve is closed, the valve disc defining a forward-facing surface and a rear-facing surface, wherein the head of the core abuts an opposing surface of the valve disc at a center of the head and is spaced from the opposing surface near a rim of the head;
- and
- a projection attached to the rear-facing surface of the valve disc and extending in a rearward direction from the rear-facing surface away from the forward-facing surface, wherein the projection is sized and positioned to cushion impact when the valve is opened, wherein the projection extends from the rear-facing surface of the valve disc at a position that is adjacent to and along an outer surface of the core, wherein the projection is a plurality of projections.
6 more elements
An air bed system comprising:
- a mattress having at least one inflatable air chamber;
- an air pump;
- and
- a valve in fluid connection between the air pump and the at least one inflatable air chamber so as to selectively regulate fluid communication between the air pump and the inflatable air chamber, wherein the valve comprises:
- a solenoid coil;
- a plunger having a core configured to respond to a magnetic field generated by the solenoid coil;
- a valve disc positioned at a head of the core and configured to cushion impact when the valve is closed, the valve disc defining a forward-facing surface and a rear-facing surface;
- and
- a projection attached to the rear-facing surface of the valve disc and extending in a rearward direction from the rear-facing surface away from the forward-facing surface, wherein the projection is sized and positioned to cushion impact when the valve is opened, wherein the projection extends from the rear-facing surface of the valve disc at a position that is adjacent to and along an outer surface of the core,
- wherein the valve comprises a valve seat having a diameter larger than that of the head of the core and less than that of the valve disc, and
- wherein the valve is configured such that the valve disc bulges into a hole defined by the valve seat when the valve is closed.
8 more elements
A valve comprising:
- a solenoid coil;
- a plunger having a core configured to respond to a magnetic field generated by the solenoid coil, wherein the core defines a receptacle at a tail end of the core and wherein the receptacle includes an annular groove that has a larger diameter than portions of the receptacle forward and rearward of the annular groove;
- a valve disc positioned at a head of the core and configured to cushion impact when the valve is closed;
- and
- a projection positioned and configured to cushion impact when the valve is opened, wherein the projection comprises a bumper positioned partially within and fully retained within the receptacle and partially extending outside of the receptacle in a rearward direction, wherein a rearmost portion of the projection extends further rearward than a rearward-most portion of the core, wherein the bumper includes an annular rim positioned in the annular groove of the receptacle, wherein the annular groove of the receptacle is larger than the annular rim of the bumper and has a shape that differs from the annular rim of the bumper such that the annular groove defines space that is not filled by the annular rim, wherein the projection is configured to move in unison with the core, wherein the valve disc defines a receptacle, wherein the head of the core is positioned in the receptacle, and wherein a front surface of the head of the core and an opposing surface in the receptacle of the valve disc are shaped to space at least part of the front surface from the opposing surface.
2 more elements
An air bed system comprising:
- a mattress having at least one inflatable air chamber;
- an air pump;
- and
- a valve in fluid connection between the air pump and the at least one inflatable air chamber so as to selectively regulate fluid communication between the air pump and the inflatable air chamber, wherein the valve comprises:
- a solenoid coil;
- a plunger having a core configured to respond to a magnetic field generated by the solenoid coil;
- a valve disc positioned at a head of the core and configured to cushion impact when the valve is closed, the valve disc defining a forward-facing surface and a rear-facing surface;
- and
- a projection attached to the rear-facing surface of the valve disc and extending in a rearward direction from the rear-facing surface away from the forward-facing surface, wherein the projection is sized and positioned to cushion impact when the valve is opened, wherein the projection is at least two projections.
6 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.