AIR INLET FOR PATIENT SUPPORT DEVICE
First Claim
1. An inflatable patient support device comprising:
- a flexible body adapted to be inflated and deflated, said body including a top surface adapted to support a patient thereon; and
an air inlet coupled to said body, said air inlet including a plurality of resilient members positioned adjacent an opening defined in said air inlet, said resilient members adapted to bias said opening toward a flat orientation, said resilient members further adapted to flex away from each other toward a non-flat orientation when a compressive force is applied to said inlet substantially parallel to a longitudinal extent of said resilient members.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method and apparatus for coupling and decoupling an air supply hose to an inflatable device. The inflatable device may be adapted to support a patient, such as an air mattress or an inflatable patient transfer mat that rides on an air cushion. The method and apparatus utilize an air inlet that normally assumes a flat orientation. The air inlet includes resilient members that allow the air inlet to flex out of the flat orientation in response to a compressive force. The compressive force changes the air inlet'"'"'s orientation into a generally round orientation that is sized to accept an air supply hose. A collar on the air supply hose is able to frictionally engage an edge in the air inlet in order to prevent undesired removal of the hose from the inlet. Magnets may be used to help return the inlet to the flat orientation when not in use.
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Citations
23 Claims
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1. An inflatable patient support device comprising:
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a flexible body adapted to be inflated and deflated, said body including a top surface adapted to support a patient thereon; and an air inlet coupled to said body, said air inlet including a plurality of resilient members positioned adjacent an opening defined in said air inlet, said resilient members adapted to bias said opening toward a flat orientation, said resilient members further adapted to flex away from each other toward a non-flat orientation when a compressive force is applied to said inlet substantially parallel to a longitudinal extent of said resilient members. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. An air inlet for an inflatable patient transfer device having a flexible body adapted to be inflated and deflated, wherein said body includes a bottom surface and a top surface and said bottom surface has a plurality of air passages adapted to allow air from inside said body to escape to generate an air cushion underneath said flexible body and said top surface is adapted to support a patient thereon, said air inlet comprising:
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a first substantially planar surface; and a second substantially planar surface positioned opposite said first surface and having first and second sides, said first and second sides of said second surface coupled to first and second sides of said first surface, said first and second surfaces adapted to flex between a first position in which said first and second surfaces are substantially flat and parallel to each other and a second position in which said first and second surfaces form a curved shape sized to accept an air supply hose between said first and second surfaces. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A method of using an air inlet of an inflatable patient support device and an air supply hose, said method comprising:
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applying a compressive force to opposite sides of the air inlet until the air inlet flexes from a substantially flat shape into a curved shape having an opening sized to receive the air supply hose; inserting the air supply hose into the opening until a collar defined on the air supply hose moves past an edge defined in an interior of said inlet; and terminating said compressive force to allow said edge to engage a portion of said collar and to thereby resist removal of the air supply hose from the air inlet. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23)
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Specification