Inflatable body support apparatus
AssigneesHarry E. Grover, Richard C. Ruppin
InventorNathan A. Randall
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A body support apparatus is disclosed as having alternatingly inflatable and deflatable cells and uninflated resilient body support material positioned between the cells. The cells are inflated by pressurized fluid such as air under the control of a control device utilizing diaphragm means responsive to the pressurized fluid to determine the inflation and deflation time periods and connect and disconnect the pressurized fluid to the cells. During the time period in which the cells are inflated, the support of a body will be provided by the uninflated support material. During the time that the cells are inflated above the support level of the uninflated support material, the cells will support the body.
Claims13
In a body support apparatus connected to a source of pressurized fluid, the combination comprising:
- a plurality of inflatable and deflatable cells providing support for a body while in an inflated condition;
- control means in communication with said cells and said source of pressurized fluid for alternatingly inflating said cells by connecting said source of pressurized fluid to the cells and deflating the cells;
- and
- a plurality of uninflated, spaced apart, support strips providing support for said body while said cells are in a deflated condition, said uninflated support strips each having first and second facing sides comprising side walls of one of said cells.
In a body support apparatus connected to a source of pressurized fluid, the combination comprising:
- a plurality of inflatable and deflatable cells providing support for a body while in an inflated condition, said cells being inflatable by the source of pressurized fluid;
- and
- control means communicating with said cells and said source of pressurized fluid and having diaphragm means for controlling the connection of the source of pressurized fluid to said cells, said diaphragm means being responsive to the pressurized fluid in said cells to connect the pressurized fluid source to the cells.
In a body support apparatus including a source of pressurized fluid, the combination comprising:
- a plurality of body support cells having an inflation mode and a deflation mode, said cells being in an inflation mode when connected to said source of pressurized fluid;
- control means connected to said source of pressurized fluid and to said cells, said control means being responsive to said pressurized fluid to move between a first condition in which said source of pressurized fluid and a portion of said plurality of cells are connected and a second condition in which the source of pressurized fluid and said portion of the plurality of cells are disconnected, said control means including,
- a first diaphragm positioned for alternating engagement and disengagement with said pressurized fluid, said first diaphragm being movable to first and second positions in response, respectively, to disengagement with the pressurized fluid and engagement with said pressurized fluid,
- a second diaphragm movable between a first position blocking said pressurized fluid from flowing into engagement with the first diaphragm and a second position permitting said pressurized fluid to flow into engagement with the first diaphragm, and
- a valve connected to the source of pressurized fluid and the plurality of cells, said valve engaging the first diaphragm and being movable between first and second positions with said first diaphragm, said valve connecting the source of pressurized fluid and the portion of the plurality of cells when in its first position and disconnecting the source of pressurized fluid and the portion of the plurality of cells when in its second position.
In a body support apparatus connected to a source of pressurized fluid, the combination comprising:
- a plurality of inflatable and deflatable cells providing support for a body while in an inflated condition, said cells being inflatable by the source of pressurized fluid and deflatable by venting the cells to the atmosphere;
- and
- control means communicating with said cells and said source of pressurized fluid and having diaphragm means for controlling the venting of said cells and the connection of the source of pressurized fluid to said cells, said control means including a pressurized fluid vent and a pressurized fluid passageway in communication with the vent and the diaphragm means.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.