US 5,311,625 AGranted

Portable, integrated, universally adjustable position control system

AssigneeTruman Products

InventorsDonald Barker, John Hamma

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Abstract

By providing position control means cooperatively associated with a support pad with said control means being constructed for arcuately moving the support pad in response to activation by the user, with the position control means and pad peripherally surrounded by a cover, a unique, portable, self-contained, unitary, movably adjustable support assembly is attained whereby individuals are able to position the support pad in any desired location or on any surface while also being able to automatically raise and/or lower the support pad to any position for comfort and support. In the preferred embodiment, the movably adjustable support assembly is constructed with expandable shroud means integrally connected with the cover in association with the position control means for expanding in response to the arcuate movement of the position control means while being automatically retracted into a folded configuration when the control means are returned to its original position. In addition, the present invention incorporates a single air flow control assembly which is capable of directly controlling two separate and independent movably adjustable support assemblies, each of which employ separate control means. In this way, individuals with queen or king sized beds are able to employ two separate and independent movably adjustable support assemblies on the single bed for separate and independent control, while employing a single air flow control assembly.

Claims33

Dependent claims

A portable, integrated, universally adjustable position controlling system for enabling users to position a back-supporting portion thereof into any one of a plurality of alternate positions, said position controlling system comprising:

A. a first, portable, self-contained, unitary, movably adjustable support assembly comprising
a. a support pad for comfortably supporting the user;
b. cover means peripherally surrounding and enveloping substantially the entire support pad;
c. position control means
1. securely mounted between the support pad and the cover means in movement controlling relationship with a portion of the support pad;
2. constructed for moving the support pad through an arcuate distance of about 80.degree. and securely supportingly maintaining the support pad in any position between 0.degree. and 80.degree., and
3. responsive to a control signal to arcuately move the support pad away from a portion of the cover means until a desired raised position is reached and maintain the support pad in the raised position;
d. shroud means cooperatively associated with the cover means in peripherally surrounding, enclosing, visually obscuring relationship with the support pad and at least a portion of the position control means maintaining the position control means in contact with the support pad throughout the entire arcuate movement thereof;
B. control means connected to an air flow control assembly for providing a control signal and transmitting the control signal to an air flow control assembly;
and
C. an air flow control assembly
a. constructed for drawing air from the ambient surroundings and delivering a continuous air flow to the position control means of the first support assembly for causing said position control means to arcuately pivot, and
b. incorporating valve means responsive to the control signal for selectively opening and closing air flow passageways incorporated therein for assuring the delivery of the air flow to the desired location;
whereby a completely integrated, portable, position-controlling system is attained which is capable of being easily transported to any desired location and placed on any desired support surface for providing the user with complete adjustable movement of the support assembly by employing the air flow control assembly connected therewith.

11 more elements

A portable, self-contained, unitary, movably adjustable support assembly for enabling users to position a back-supporting portion thereof and/or a leg-supporting portion thereof into any one of a plurality of alternate positions, said support assembly comprising:

A. a support pad for comfortably supporting the user;
B. cover means peripherally surrounding and enveloping substantially the entire support pad;
C. position control means
a. securely mounted between the support pad and the cover means in movement controlling relationship with a portion of the support pad;
b. constructed for moving the support pad through an arcuate distance of about 80.degree. and securely supportingly maintaining the support pad in any position between 0.degree. and 80.degree., and
c. responsive to a control signal to arcuately move the support pad away from a portion of the cover means until a desired raised position is reached and maintain the support pad in the raised position;
and
D. a shroud
a. securely affixed to the cover means in peripherally surrounding, enclosing, visually obscuring relationship with the support pad and the position control means;
b. expandable from a small, compact configuration to a fully extended, open, exposed position, peripherally surrounding and visually obscuring the position control means throughout its arcuate movement of the support pad, and
c. retractably collapsible from its fully extended position to its compact position when desired, as the position control means is moved into its original position,
whereby a completely portable, support assembly is achieved which is aesthetically pleasing, neat, and compact, while also being universally adjustable into any desired position in any desired location.

9 more elements

A. a support pad for comfortably supporting the user;
B. cover means peripherally surrounding and enveloping substantially the entire support pad;
C. position control means
a. securely mounted between the support pad and the cover means in movement controlling relationship with a portion of the support pad;
b. constructed for moving the support pad through an arcuate distance of about 80.degree. and securely supportingly maintaining the support pad in any position between 0.degree. and 80.degree., and
c. responsive to a control signal to arcuately move the support pad away from a portion of the cover means until a desired raised position is reached and maintain the support pad in the raised position;
and
D. a shroud
a. incorporating elastic material for continuously biasing the shroud into a small, compact configuration,
b. securely affixed to the cover means in peripherally surrounding, enclosing, visually obscuring relationship with the support pad and the position control means;
c. expandable from its small, completely compact configuration to a fully extended, open, exposed position, peripherally surrounding and visually obscuring the position control means throughout its entire arcuate movement of the support pad, and
d. automatically retracting from its fully extended position to its compact position when desired, with said elastic material causing the shroud and the peripherally surrounded and enclosed position control means to be moved into their original position,
whereby a completely portable, support assembly is achieved which is aesthetically pleasing, neat, and compact, while also being universally adjustable into any desired position in any desired location.

10 more elements

A portable, integrated, universally adjustable position controlling system comprising

A. at least one portable, self-contained, unitary, adjustable support assembly comprising
a. an elongated support pad for comfortably supporting the user;
b. cover means peripherally surrounding and enveloping substantially the entire support pad;
c. position control means
1. securely mounted between the support pad and the cover means in movement controlling relationship with a portion of the support pad;
2. constructed for moving the support pad through an arcuate distance of about 80.degree. and securely supportingly maintaining the support pad in any position between 0.degree. and 80.degree., and
3. responsive to a control signal to arcuately move the support pad away from a portion of the cover means until a desired raised position is reached and maintain the support pad in the raised position;
4. two U-shaped frame members constructed for nested interengagement with each other when pivotally interconnected at their respective terminating ends,
5. an air inflatable bladder
i. independently interconnected with each of said frame members on opposed surfaces thereof, and
ii. incorporating a sealed, air retaining zone formed therein,
6. a plurality of frame retaining sleeves affixed to opposed surfaces of the bladder and positioned for securely retaining and supportingly holding each of the frame members therein, assuring controlled independent movement of each of the frame members, while also preventing unwanted shifting of the bladder relative to the frame members, and
7. air receiving portal means interconnected at a first end thereof in one surface of the bladder for communicating with the sealed, air-retaining zone therein, with a second end of the portal means being constructed for interconnection with air delivery means,
d. a shroud
1. incorporating elastic material for continuously biasing the shroud into a small, compact configuration,
2. securely affixed to the cover means in peripherally surrounding, enclosing, visually obscuring relationship with the support pad and the position control means;
3. expandable from its small, completely compact configuration to a fully extended, open, exposed position, peripherally surrounding and visually obscuring the position control means throughout its entire arcuate movement of the support pad, and
4. automatically retracting from its fully extended position to its compact position when desired, with said elastic material causing the shroud and the inflatable bladder of the peripherally surrounded and enclosed position control means to be moved into their original position, and
e. an inflatable panel mounted between the support pad and the cover means at an end of the pad opposite from the position control means and comprising
1. two independent chambers in air communicating interengagement with each other and constructed for expanding upon being filled with air, and
2. conduit means mounted to each of said chambers for delivering air thereto;
B. an air flow control assembly comprising:
a. a motor assembly
1. constructed for drawing air from the ambient surroundings, and
2. delivering a continuous flow of air to an outlet portal associated therewith,
b. a first valve assembly,
1. comprising at least two portals, one of said portals being connected to the outlet portal of the motor assembly for receiving the air flow therefrom,
2. piston means
i. mounted in cooperating, sealing interengagement with the second portal,
ii. constructed for normally being biased into a portal closing position, and
iii. responsive to an actuation signal for moving the piston means from its normal portal closed position to a portal open position, thereby allowing air flow from the motor assembly to pass through said first valve assembly;
and
c. a second valve assembly
1. comprising at least two portals, one of said portals being connected to a third portal of the first valve assembly for receiving the air flow therefrom,
2. piston means
i. mounted in cooperating, sealing interengagement with a second of said portals,
ii. constructed for normally being biased into a portal closing position, and
iii. responsive to an actuation signal for moving the piston means from its normal portal closed position to a portal open position, thereby allowing air flow from the motor assembly to pass through said second valve assembly;
C. control means connected to the air flow control assembly for providing a control signal and transmitting the control signal to the air flow control assembly;
and
D. air flow conducting conduit means connected at one end to the second outlet portal of the first and second valve housings and connected at its opposed end to the air inflatable bladder and the conduit means of the panel,
thereby providing a fully integrated, position controlling system, whereby user activation of the control means causes air to flow directly to the bladder assembly and/or the panel member for raising the support assembly to the desired position.

39 more elements

A motor assembly constructed for minimizing the noise level associated with an operating motor, said assembly comprising

A. an electric motor incorporating an elongated rotationally driven shaft extending therefrom;
B. a pump fan blade assembly mounted to the shaft of the motor for being rotationally driven thereby;
C. housing means comprising
a. a motor housing portion peripherally surrounding and substantially enclosing the motor,
b. a fan blade housing portion peripherally surrounding and substantially enclosing the pump fan blade assembly, thereby reducing the noise generated from vibration, and
c. said two housing portions being further defined as securely mountable to each other to form a substantially integral configuration and said fan blade housing portion is further defined as comprising
1. an inlet portal formed therein for drawing air from the outside of the fan blade housing into the housing for use by the fan blade assembly, and
2. an outlet portal for directing the air flow exiting from the fan blade assembly and the housing to the desired location;
and
D. soft compressible cushioning material affixed to the housing and mounted in supporting holding engagement with the fan and motor assembly for supportingly holding and interconnecting the fan and motor assembly to the housing in a manner whereby vibration transmission to the housing is absorbed by the cushioning material, and unwanted noise is substantially eliminated.

7 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.