Valve for zoned cellular cushion

In a cushion having a base and an array of upstanding fluid filled cells on one side, said array of cells being divided into a plurality of inflation zones, each zone having a separate air conduit extending from the zone, a valve assembly attached to the separate air conduits for putting the generally isolated zones into and out of fluid connection, the valve assembly comprising:

• a slide housing having a longitudinal bore therein and comprising a plurality of connectors, each of said plurality of connectors having a bore in fluid communication with the slide housing bore, each connector being in fluid communication with one each of the separate air conduits extending from an inflation zone, each of said connectors having at least one retainer groove formed in the surface thereof;
• an outer casing having a first section on a first side of the slide housing and second section on an opposite side of the slide housing, said first casing section having a plurality of connector seats for seating said plurality of connectors, each said connector seat having at least one detent for engaging a connector retainer groove when said slide housing is positioned between said casing sections;
• and
• a slide within said slide housing bore, said slide having an internal bore and a plurality of spaced apart ports in fluid communication with said last slide bore, wherein movement of the slide within the slide housing bore to a first position places the plurality of ports in functional alignment with the plurality of said slide housing connectors thereby opening the valve and placing the inflation zones in communication, and the movement of the slide within the slide housing bore to a second position places the plurality of ports out of functional alignment with the plurality of slide housing connectors thereby closing the valve and isolating the inflation zones.

A cellular cushion comprising

• a flexible base having a peripheral edge;
• a plurality of flexible hollow air containing cells fixed to and projecting upwardly from the base, the cells being separated into independent pneumatic zones;
• an air conduit operatively connected to each of said independent pneumatic zones;
• and
• a valve for controlling air flow among said independent pneumatic zones, said valve comprising:
• a slide housing having a longitudinal bore therein and a plurality of connectors in fluid connection with the slide housing bore, one each of said connectors operatively associated with one each of said air conduits, each said connector having at least one retainer groove formed therein;
• an outer casing defining a longitudinal seat for the slide housing, said casing including a plurality of connector seats, each said connector seat having at least one detent for engaging a retainer groove when the slide housing and connectors are seated in said casing;
• and
• a slide within said slide housing bore, said slide having a longitudinal inner bore and ports along the length of the slide in fluid communication with said slide bore, one each of said ports being in functional alignment with one each of said connectors when said slide is in a first position within said slide housing bore, thereby allowing air flow among said pneumatic zones through said slide bore and said ports being out of functional alignment with said connectors when said slide is in a second position within said slide housing bore thereby blocking air flow among said pneumatic zones through said slide bore.

A method of attaching a valve to a cellular cushion comprising a flexible base having a peripheral edge, a plurality of flexible hollow air cells fixed to and projecting upwardly from the base, the cells being separated into independent pneumatic zones, and an air conduit operatively connected to each of said independent pneumatic zones and terminating adjacent the peripheral edge, comprising;

• introducing an adhesive into retainer grooves formed in an external surface of each of a plurality of conduit connectors on a valve slide housing;
• aligning one each of the connectors with an open end of one each of the cushion air conduits;
• inserting said connectors into the air conduits;
• positioning a first valve casing section on the peripheral edge of the cushion at a first side of the slide housing, said first valve casing section having a plurality of detents formed on an inner surface, one each of the detents positioned to align with a connector retainer groove;
• positioning a second valve casing section on the peripheral edge of the cushion at an opposite side of the slide housing, said second valve section having a plurality of detents formed on an inner surface, one each of the last said detents positioned to align a connector retainer groove;
• and
• securing the first valve casing section to the second valve casing section to impinge the peripheral edge of the cushion and the air conduits between the retainer grooves and the detents on the first and second valve casing sections and displace adhesive from the retainer grooves to form adhesive seals between the air conduits and the connectors.