Valve enclosure assembly

An improved valve enclosure assembly for use with an air inflatable mattress having at least one air bladder inflated by compressed air, a pump fluidly coupled to the at least one air bladder for providing compressed air thereto, and a processor for providing commands to the improved valve enclosure assembly during an inflate/deflate cycle, the improved valve enclosure assembly being fluidly coupled intermediate the pump and the at least one air bladder for controlling the inflation of the at least one air bladder, comprising:

• an enclosure defining a substantially fluidly sealed air chamber and having at least one air inlet to the air chamber being fluidly coupled to the pump;
• at least one valve being disposed within the enclosure, the at least one valve being snap fit in an aperture defined in a wall of the enclosure;
• and
• pressure monitor means being operably coupled to the processor and being in fluid communication with the at least one bladder for continuously monitoring the pressure in the at least one bladder.

A method of effecting a desired pressure in a bladder of an air inflatable mattress, comprising the steps of:

• providing a commanded desired pressure of the bladder;
• opening a valve fluid coupled to the bladder;
• continuously monitoring the existing pressure in the bladder at a tap on a valve enclosure assembly;
• determining the differential between the existing pressure in the bladder and the desired pressure in the bladder;
• exhausting air from the bladder through the valve when the differential indicates that the existing pressure in the bladder is greater than the desired pressure;
• energizing a pump fluidly coupled to the valve for providing compressed air to the bladder when the differential indicates that the desired pressure in the bladder is greater than the existing pressure in the bladder to inflate the bladder;
• and
• closing said valve when the existing pressure in the bladder substantially equals the desired pressure in the bladder.

An improved valve enclosure assembly for use with an air inflatable mattress having at least one air bladder inflated by compressed air, a pump fluidly coupled to the at least one air bladder for providing compressed air thereto, and a processor for providing commands to the improved valve enclosure assembly during an inflate/deflate cycle, the improved valve enclosure assembly being fluidly coupled intermediate the pump and the at least one air bladder for controlling the inflation of the at least one air bladder, comprising:

• an enclosure defining a substantially fluidly sealed air chamber and having at least one air inlet to the air chamber being fluidly coupled to the pump;
• at least one valve operably coupled to the enclosure being in selective fluid communication with the air chamber and being in fluid communication with the at least one air bladder for selectively fluidly coupling the air chamber to at least one air bladder, the at least one valve having a valve housing, pressure monitor means being formed integral with said valve housing;
• and
• pressure monitor means being operably coupled to the processor and being in fluid communication with the at least one valve for monitoring the pressure in the at least one bladder.

An improved valve enclosure assembly for use with an air inflatable mattress having at least one air bladder inflated by compressed air, a pump fluidly coupled to the at least one air bladder for providing compressed air thereto, and a processor for providing commands to the improved valve enclosure assembly during an inflate/deflate cycle, the improved valve enclosure assembly being fluidly coupled intermediate the pump and the at least one air bladder for controlling the inflation of the at least one air bladder, comprising:

• an enclosure defining a substantially fluidly sealed air chamber and having at least one air inlet to the air chamber being fluidly coupled to the pump;
• at least one valve operably coupled to the enclosure being in selective fluid communication with the air chamber and being in fluid communication with the at least one air bladder for selectively fluidly coupling the air chamber to at least one air bladder, the at least one valve being fluidly sealingly disposed in a valve aperture defined in the enclosure by a snap-fit engagement therewith and being in fluid communication with both the exterior of the enclosure and with the air chamber;
• and
• pressure monitor means being operably coupled to the processor and being in fluid communication with the at least one valve for monitoring the pressure in the at least one bladder.

An improved valve enclosure assembly for use with an air inflatable mattress having at least one air bladder inflated by compressed air, a pump fluidly coupled to the at least one air bladder for providing compressed air thereto, and a processor for providing commands to the improved valve enclosure assembly during an inflate/deflate cycle, the improved valve enclosure assembly being fluidly coupled intermediate the pump and the at least one air bladder for controlling the inflation of the at least one air bladder, comprising:

• an enclosure defining a substantially fluidly sealed air chamber and having at least one air inlet to the air chamber being fluidly coupled to the pump, a plurality of guides and stops being disposed within the enclosure for correctly positioning components within the enclosure;
• at least one valve operably coupled to the enclosure being in selective fluid communication with the air chamber and being in fluid communication with the at least one air bladder for selectively fluidly coupling the air chamber to at least one air bladder;
• and
• pressure monitor means being operably coupled to the processor and being in fluid communication with the at least one valve for monitoring the pressure in the at least one bladder.

An improved valve enclosure assembly for use with an air inflatable mattress having at least one air bladder inflated by compressed air, a pump fluidly coupled to the at least one air bladder for providing compressed air thereto, and a processor for providing commands to the improved valve enclosure assembly during an inflate/deflate cycle, the improved valve enclosure assembly being fluidly coupled intermediate the pump and the at least one air bladder for controlling the inflation of the at least one air bladder, comprising:

• an enclosure defining a substantially fluidly sealed air chamber and having at least one air inlet to the air chamber being fluidly coupled to the pump, at least one valve being disposed within the enclosure, the at least one valve being snap fit in an aperture defined in a wall of the enclosure;
• at least one valve operably coupled to the enclosure being in selective fluid communication with the air chamber and being in fluid communication with the at least one air bladder for selectively fluidly coupling the air chamber to at least one air bladder;
• and
• pressure monitor means being operably coupled to the processor and being in fluid communication with the at least one valve for monitoring the pressure in the at least one bladder.

An improved valve enclosure assembly for use with an air inflatable mattress having at least one air bladder inflated by compressed air, a pump fluidly coupled to the at least one air bladder for providing compressed air thereto, and a processor for providing commands to the improved valve enclosure assembly during an inflate/deflate cycle, the improved valve enclosure assembly being fluidly coupled intermediate the pump and the at least one air bladder for controlling the inflation of the at least one air bladder, comprising:

• an enclosure defining a substantially fluidly sealed air chamber and having at least one air inlet to the air chamber being fluidly coupled to the pump, the enclosure being formed of an enclosure portion and a rear cover portion, a flexible seal being compressively interposed between the enclosure portion and a rear cover portion to effect a substantially fluid tight seal therebetween;
• at least one valve operably coupled to the enclosure being in selective fluid communication with the air chamber and being in fluid communication with the at least one air bladder for selectively fluidly coupling the air chamber to at least one air bladder;
• and
• pressure monitor means being operably coupled to the processor and being in fluid communication with the at least one valve for monitoring the pressure in the at least one bladder.