# US 12,178,767 B2 · Multi-position airflow control assembly for an air cushion > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,178,767 B2 - Document ID: US12178767B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 18/497,151 - Filed: 2023-10-30 - Published: 2024-02-15 - Granted: 2024-12-31 - Earliest claimed: 2022-01-07 - Assignees: Permobil AB - Applicants: Permobil, Inc. - Inventors: David Hopp; Kevin Meier; Ross Peyton; Steven DuFresne - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12178767B2 ## CPC - A61G 5/1091: {Cushions, seats or abduction devices} - A61G 5/1045: {for the seat portion} - A61G 7/05776: {with at least two groups of alternately inflated chambers} - F16K 11/076: with sealing faces shaped as surfaces of solids of revolution - F16K 31/52483: {comprising a multiple-way sliding valve} - F16K 31/563: {for rotating or pivoting valves} - A47C 7/142: {by fluid means} - A61G: TRANSPORT, PERSONAL CONVEYANCES OR ACCOMMODATION SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR PATIENTS OR DISABLED PERSONS (appliances for aiding patients or disabled persons to walk A61H3/00); OPERATING TABLES OR CHAIRS; CHAIRS FOR DENTISTRY; FUNERAL DEVICES (embalming corpses A01N1/00) - F16K: VALVES; TAPS; COCKS; ACTUATING-FLOATS; DEVICES FOR VENTING OR AERATING {(devices for emptying and evacuating the excess liquid in valves or conduits F16L55/07)} - A47C: CHAIRS; SOFAS; BEDS ## Abstract A multi-position airflow control assembly includes a valve body fluidly connected to at least three inflation zones of a cushion, a control assembly partially received by the valve body, the control assembly including a seal member, and an actuation assembly operably connected to the seal member and configured to rotate the seal member relative to the valve body between at least a first position and a second position. In the first position, the seal member is configured to fluidly isolate the at least three inflation zones from each other. In the second position, the seal member is configured to group the at least three inflation zones into a first group of inflation zones being fluidly connected, and a second group of inflation zones being fluidly connected, the first group of inflation zones being fluidly isolated from the second group of inflation zones. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A multi-position airflow control assembly comprising: a valve body fluidly connected to at least three inflation zones of a cushion; a control assembly partially received by the valve body, the control assembly including: a seal member, and an actuation assembly operably connected to the seal member and configured to rotate the seal member relative to the valve body between at least a first position and a second position, wherein in the first position, the seal member is configured to fluidly isolate the at least three inflation zones from each other, and wherein in the second position, the seal member is configured to group the at least three inflation zones into a first group of inflation zones and a second group of inflation zones, the first group of inflation zones including a plurality of the at least three inflation zones and the second group of inflation zones including at least one of the at least three inflation zones, the first group of inflation zones being fluidly connected, the second group of inflation zones being fluidly connected, and the first group of inflation zones being fluidly isolated from the second group of inflation zones. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The multi-position airflow control assembly of claim 1, wherein the seal member is configured to rotate to a third position, wherein in the third position, the seal member is fluidly connected to the at least three inflation zones such that the at least three inflation zones are fluidly connected together. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The multi-position airflow control assembly of claim 1, wherein the control assembly includes an indicator member configured to rotate with the seal member. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The multi-position airflow control assembly of claim 3, wherein the indicator member includes a first indicia associated with the first position of the seal member and a second indicia associated with the second position of the seal member, wherein in response to the first position, the first indica is exposed, and wherein in response to the second position, the second indica is exposed. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The multi-position airflow control assembly of claim 1, further comprising a valve housing, the valve body received by the valve housing. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The multi-position airflow control assembly of claim 5, wherein the valve housing includes a first housing member and a second housing member, the first and second housing members configured to selectively fasten. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The multi-position airflow control assembly of claim 6, wherein the first and second housing members form a clamshell configuration. ### Claim 8 (depends on 6) The multi-position airflow control assembly of claim 6, wherein the first housing member defines a first portion of a valve body receiving portion, and the second housing member defines a second portion of the valve body receiving portion. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The multi-position airflow control assembly of claim 8, wherein the valve body receiving portion is configured to receive the valve body. ### Claim 10 (depends on 6) The multi-position airflow control assembly of claim 6, wherein the first and second housing members are connected by a hinge. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The multi-position airflow control assembly of claim 10, wherein the first housing member includes at least one fastener and the second housing member includes at least one aperture, the at least one fastener is configured to be received by the at least one aperture in response to movement of the first and second housing members relative to the hinge. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The multi-position airflow control assembly of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of connectors coupled to the valve body, each connector configured to fluidly connect to one of the at least three inflation zones of the cushion. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The multi-position airflow control assembly of claim 1, wherein the actuation assembly is configured to rotate the seal member relative to the valve body in response to lateral movement of a portion of the actuation assembly along an axis. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The multi-position airflow control assembly of claim 13, wherein the axis is parallel to the seal member. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The multi-position airflow control assembly of claim 1, wherein the control assembly includes a shaft, the seal member being carried by the shaft. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The multi-position airflow control assembly of claim 15, wherein the actuation assembly is coupled to a first end of the shaft. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The multi-position airflow control assembly of claim 16, wherein the actuation assembly is configured to rotate the shaft relative to the valve body, and in response the shaft is configured to rotate the seal member relative to the valve body. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The multi-position airflow control assembly of claim 16, wherein the actuation assembly is configured to rotate the shaft in response to lateral movement of a portion of the actuation assembly along an axis defined by the shaft. ### Claim 19 (depends on 16) The multi-position airflow control assembly of claim 16, wherein the actuation assembly includes an actuation member, a cam member slidably connected to the shaft, and a biasing member configured to apply a biasing force on the cam member, wherein in response to movement of the actuation member along an axis, the cam member slides relative to the shaft along the axis until the biasing force facilitates rotation of the cam member relative to the first actuation member, and wherein in response to rotation of the cam member, the shaft rotates relative to the valve body. ### Claim 20 (depends on 1) The multi-position airflow control assembly of claim 1, wherein the valve body defines a frustoconical shape, and the seal member defines a complimentary frustoconical shape.