Inflatable cellular mattress with alternating zones of inflated cells
AssigneeRoho, Inc.
InventorsJ. David McCausland, Paul A. Rickman, Dennis L. Clapper
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A cushion or mattress comprising a base and a plurality of linearly aligned individual air cells across the base. Groups of individual air cells can be interconnected and in fluid cooperation with an inflation source, such as a pump. In one aspect of the invention, the inflation of adjacent cells is staggered, for example, in a checkerboard-like inflation pattern that helps diffuse load over a wider area.
Claims18
A method of alternating inflation of at least two groups of individual inflatable air cells in an air cell mattress or cushion comprising a plurality of inflatable air cells to form an alternating pattern of inflated cells wherein the alternating inflation and deflation of each group of cells results in a staggered checkerboard pattern of inflated and deflated cells for the relief of pressure points on the anatomy of a user of the mattress or cushion, the method comprising the steps of;
- Inflating a first group of cells;
- Inflating a second group of cells;
- deflating the first group of cells at a predetermined rate of deflation over a predetermined period of time, while the second group of cells remains inflated for the same said predetermined period of time;
- re-inflating said first group of cells at a predetermined rate of inflation over a predetermined period of time, while the second group of cells remains inflated;
- deflating the second group of cells at a predetermined rate of deflation over a predetermined period of time, while the first group of cells remains inflated for the same said predetermined period of time;
- re-inflating said second group of cells at a predetermined rate of inflation over a predetermined period of time, while the first group of cells remains inflated;
- and
- repeating said steps of deflating and re-inflating alternate groups of cells.
A method of alternating inflation of at least two groups of individual inflatable air cells in an air cell mattress or cushion comprising a plurality of inflatable air cells to form an alternating pattern of inflated cells wherein the alternating inflation and deflation of each group of cells results in a staggered checkerboard pattern of inflated and deflated cells for the relief of pressure points on the anatomy of a user of the mattress or cushion, the method comprising the steps of:
- Inflating all of the inflatable air cells to an interface pressure between the inflated cells and the user's anatomy of about 25 mmHg to about 200 mmHg;
- deflating a first group of cells at a predetermined rate of deflation over a predetermined period of time to an interface pressure between the inflated cells and the user's anatomy of about 16 mmHg, while a second group of cells remains inflated for the same said predetermined period of time;
- re-inflating said first group of cells at a predetermined rate of inflation over a predetermined period of time to an interface pressure between the inflated cells and the user's anatomy of about 25 mmHg to about 200 mmHg;
- while the second group of cells remains inflated for the same predetermined period of time;
- deflating the second group of cells at a predetermined rate of deflation over a predetermined period of time to an interface pressure between the inflated cells and the user's anatomy of about 16 mmHg, while the first group of cells remains inflated for the same said predetermined period of time;
- re-inflating said second group of cells at a predetermined rate of inflation over a predetermined period of time to an interface pressure between the inflated cells and the user's anatomy of about 25 mmHg to about 200 mmHg, while the first group of cells remains inflated;
- and
- repeating the aforestated steps of deflating and re-inflating the groups of cells.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.