Body support surface comfort device
OwnerRobert B. Chaffeeinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An adjustable, inflatable surface comfort device to be used with shaped body support devices. The surface comfort device comprises an inflatable bladder having a shape and size to substantially cover at least one support surface of a shaped body support device so as to conform to and provide a comfort layer to the body support device. According to one embodiment, a self-sealing valve is coupled to a port of the inflatable bladder, and is constructed and arranged to enable all of inflation, deflation, and comfort control of the surface comfort device.
Claims38
An inflatable, surface comfort device comprising:
- an inflatable bladder having a first flexible surface and a second flexible surface opposite the first flexible surface, and having a port through which inflation of the inflatable bladder is accomplished, the inflatable bladder having a shape and size to conform to a surface of a body support device, the surface of the body support device configured such that it is contoured at least when in use,
- the inflatable bladder so sized and shaped such that (i) an area of the first flexible surface substantially completely covers the surface of the body support device, and (ii) the average, fully inflated thickness defined between the first flexible surface and the second flexible surface is less than substantially 2 inches, and
- whereby when the first flexible surface is operatively coupled to the surface of the body support device, the first flexible surface conforms to the surface of the body support device, and the shape of the surface of the body support device is substantially transferred to a user contacting the second flexible surface;
- and
- a valve coupled to the port of the inflatable bladder that is constructed and arranged to enable inflation, of the surface comfort device.
An adjustable, inflatable, surface comfort device comprising:
- an inflatable bladder having a first flexible surface and a second flexible surface opposite the first flexible surface, and having a shape and a size including an average, fully inflated thickness defined between the first flexible surface and the second flexible surface of less than substantially 2 inches, such that the first flexible surface is adapted to cover and conform to substantially all of at least one body support surface of a shaped body support device, whereby when the first flexible surface is in contact with the body support surface of the contoured body support device, the first flexible surface conforms to the surface of the shaped body support device, the surface of the contoured body support device being contoured at least when in use, and the shape of the surface is transferred to a user contacting the second flexible surface;
- and
- an adjustment mechanism that provides for inflation, deflation, and adjustment of an amount of fluid within the inflatable bladder to adjust a comfort and support provided by the surface comfort device.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.