INFLATABLE MATTRESS AND METHOD OF OPERATING SAME
First Claim
1. A body support for supporting at least a portion of a user, the body support comprising:
- a first layer of foam defining a plurality of apertures;
a first plurality of cells at least partially filled with fluid;
a second plurality of cells at least partially filled with fluid, at least one cell of the second plurality of cells positioned between two cells of the first plurality of cells;
a second layer of foam covering the first and second plurality of cells; and
a control system operable to selectively inflate at least one of the cells in the first plurality of cells to the exclusion of at least one of the cells in the second plurality of cells, and to selectively inflate at least one of the cells in the second plurality of cells to the exclusion of at least one of the cells in the first plurality of cells, wherein inflation of a cell in either plurality of cells biases at least a portion of the second layer of foam with respect to the first layer of foam.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A body support having a number of fluid cells received within respective apertures in one or more layers of foam is described and illustrated. In some embodiments, the fluid cells are in two or more different groups, each of which can be selectively inflated and deflated to increase or decrease pressure against a user'"'"'s body at different locations across the body support. Each of the fluid cells in each group can be individually surrounded by foam, can be covered by a layer of foam, and can be separated from other fluid cells in the same group by one or more fluid cells from another group. Accordingly, in some embodiments, the cells of one group can be inflated and deflated while or after the cells of another group are deflated and inflated, respectively, to reduce the opportunity for pressure points to generate discomfort of the user.
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Citations
22 Claims
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1. A body support for supporting at least a portion of a user, the body support comprising:
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a first layer of foam defining a plurality of apertures; a first plurality of cells at least partially filled with fluid; a second plurality of cells at least partially filled with fluid, at least one cell of the second plurality of cells positioned between two cells of the first plurality of cells; a second layer of foam covering the first and second plurality of cells; and a control system operable to selectively inflate at least one of the cells in the first plurality of cells to the exclusion of at least one of the cells in the second plurality of cells, and to selectively inflate at least one of the cells in the second plurality of cells to the exclusion of at least one of the cells in the first plurality of cells, wherein inflation of a cell in either plurality of cells biases at least a portion of the second layer of foam with respect to the first layer of foam. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A body support for supporting at least a portion of a user, the body support comprising:
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a plurality of cells each having an upper surface and a lower surface, the plurality of cells including a first plurality of cells each individually covered and surrounded by foam and a second plurality of cells each individually covered and surrounded by foam, the first plurality of cells and the second plurality of cells positioned such that any two cells of the first plurality of cells are separated by at least one cell of the second plurality of cells; a pump; and a control system coupled to the pump and operable to inflate the first plurality of cells to the exclusion of the second plurality of cells, and to inflate the second plurality of cells to the exclusion of the first plurality of cells; wherein each cell defines a first height when deflated and a greater second height when inflated to lift and lower foam covering the cell and to thereby change the shape of a top surface of the body support. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A method of changing pressure points on a user'"'"'s body against a body support, the method comprising:
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inflating a first plurality of cells separated from the user'"'"'s body by a layer of foam and each individually surrounded by foam; lifting first areas of the layer of foam atop each of the first plurality of cells by inflating the first plurality of cells; increasing pressure exerted upon the user'"'"'s body by the body support at the first areas of the layer of foam by lifting the first areas of the layer of foam; deflating the first plurality of cells; lowering the first areas of the layer of foam by deflating the first plurality of cells; decreasing pressure exerted upon the user'"'"'s body by the body support at the first areas of the layer of foam by lowering the first areas of the layer of foam; inflating a second plurality of cells to at a time when the first plurality of cells are deflating or are deflated, each of the second plurality of cells individually surrounded by foam, separated from the user'"'"'s body by the layer of foam, and separated from adjacent cells of the second plurality of cells by at least one cell of the first plurality of cells; lifting second areas of the layer of foam atop each of the second plurality of cells by inflating the second plurality of cells; and increasing pressure exerted upon the user'"'"'s body by the body support at the second areas of the layer of foam by lifting the second areas of the layer of foam.
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Specification