Inflatable seat cushion assembly
First Claim
1. An inflatable seat cushion assembly, comprising:
- a seat cushion having a plurality of inflatable compartments;
a manifold block having integrally formed therewith;
a connector conduit for each of said compartments, a first end of each connector conduit in fluid communication with an associated one of said compartments and each connector conduit having a second end,said connector conduits formed by grooves in the exterior surface of said manifold block and a first cover plate disposed to cover said connector conduit grooves sealingly, said covered connector conduit grooves forming said connector conduits,a pressure manifold with a common pressure inlet having means for connection to a pressurized fluid source and said pressure manifold having a lateral pressure outlet for each compartment, each lateral pressure outlet establishing fluid communication between said common pressure inlet and an associated one of said connector conduit second ends,an exhaust manifold with exhaust outlet means for the common exhaust of spent fluid from said compartments and a lateral exhaust inlet for each said compartment, each lateral exhaust inlet establishing fluid communication between an associated one of said connector conduit second ends and said exhaust outlet means, said exhaust manifold being separate from said pressure manifold,said lateral pressure outlets of said pressure manifold and said lateral exhaust inlets of said exhaust manifold formed by grooves in the exterior surface of said manifold block and a second cover plate disposed to cover said grooves sealingly, forming manifold conduits between said grooves and said second cover plate,a fluid communication juncture formed at each of said connector conduit second ends between associated ones of said lateral pressure outlets, said lateral exhaust inlets and said connector conduits, anda recess between each of said lateral outlets and its corresponding lateral inlet;
a control valve at each of said junctures and seated within said recess, wherein each control valve is selectively adjustable among an inflation position, an exhaust position and a closed position, where in said inflation positions said associated compartment communicates with said corresponding lateral pressure outlet through an associated connector conduit for inflating said compartment, where in said exhaust position said associated compartment communicates with said corresponding lateral exhaust inlet through an associated connector conduit for deflating said compartment through said exhaust outlet means, and where in said closed position fluid communication is prevented between said associated compartment and both the pressure source and said exhaust; and
each said control valve having an actuator, and and aperture provided through one of said cover plates for each of said control valves through which said valve actuator passes for selectively adjusting said control valve.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An inflatable seat cushion assembly includes a seat cushion having a plurality of inflatable compartments and a manifold block having integrally formed therewith a pressure manifold with a common inlet for connecting to a source of pressurized fluid and a plurality of lateral outlets, each for establishing fluid communication between the fluid source and one of the compartments through one of the inlets. An exhaust manifold is also integrally formed with the manifold block. The exhaust manifold has a common outlet for exhaust of spent fluid from the compartment and a plurality of lateral inlets, each for establishing fluid communication between the compartments and the common outlet. The exhaust manifold is separate from the pressure manifold. Control valves are positioned between each lateral inlet and a corresponding lateral outlet. Each control valve is selectively adjustable among positions where its associated compartment communicates with the lateral inlet for inflating the compartment; where the associated compartment communicates with the corresponding lateral outlet for deflating the associated compartment through the exhaust manifold; and where the associated compartment communicates with neither the pressure source nor the exhaust for maintaining the associated compartment at the desired pressure.
110 Citations
11 Claims
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1. An inflatable seat cushion assembly, comprising:
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a seat cushion having a plurality of inflatable compartments; a manifold block having integrally formed therewith; a connector conduit for each of said compartments, a first end of each connector conduit in fluid communication with an associated one of said compartments and each connector conduit having a second end, said connector conduits formed by grooves in the exterior surface of said manifold block and a first cover plate disposed to cover said connector conduit grooves sealingly, said covered connector conduit grooves forming said connector conduits, a pressure manifold with a common pressure inlet having means for connection to a pressurized fluid source and said pressure manifold having a lateral pressure outlet for each compartment, each lateral pressure outlet establishing fluid communication between said common pressure inlet and an associated one of said connector conduit second ends, an exhaust manifold with exhaust outlet means for the common exhaust of spent fluid from said compartments and a lateral exhaust inlet for each said compartment, each lateral exhaust inlet establishing fluid communication between an associated one of said connector conduit second ends and said exhaust outlet means, said exhaust manifold being separate from said pressure manifold, said lateral pressure outlets of said pressure manifold and said lateral exhaust inlets of said exhaust manifold formed by grooves in the exterior surface of said manifold block and a second cover plate disposed to cover said grooves sealingly, forming manifold conduits between said grooves and said second cover plate, a fluid communication juncture formed at each of said connector conduit second ends between associated ones of said lateral pressure outlets, said lateral exhaust inlets and said connector conduits, and a recess between each of said lateral outlets and its corresponding lateral inlet; a control valve at each of said junctures and seated within said recess, wherein each control valve is selectively adjustable among an inflation position, an exhaust position and a closed position, where in said inflation positions said associated compartment communicates with said corresponding lateral pressure outlet through an associated connector conduit for inflating said compartment, where in said exhaust position said associated compartment communicates with said corresponding lateral exhaust inlet through an associated connector conduit for deflating said compartment through said exhaust outlet means, and where in said closed position fluid communication is prevented between said associated compartment and both the pressure source and said exhaust; and each said control valve having an actuator, and and aperture provided through one of said cover plates for each of said control valves through which said valve actuator passes for selectively adjusting said control valve. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. An inflatable seat cushion assembly, comprising:
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a seat cushion having a plurality of inflatable compartments; a manifold block having integrally formed therewith; a connector conduit for each of said compartments, a first end of each connector conduit in fluid communication with an associated one of said compartments and each connector conduit having a second end, a pressure manifold with a common pressure inlet having means for connection to a pressurized fluid source and said pressure manifold having a lateral pressure outlet for each compartment, each lateral pressure outlet establishing fluid communication between said common pressure inlet and an associated one of said connector conduit second ends, an exhaust manifold with exhaust outlet means for the common exhaust of spent fluid from said compartments and a lateral exhaust inlet for each said compartment, each lateral exhaust inlet establishing fluid communication between an associated one of said connector conduit second ends and said exhaust outlet means, said exhaust manifold being separate from said pressure manifold, said lateral pressure outlets of said pressure manifold and said lateral exhaust inlets of said exhaust manifold formed by grooves in the exterior surface of said manifold block and a cover plate disposed to cover said grooves sealingly, forming manifold conduits between said grooves and said cover plate, a fluid communication juncture formed at each of said connector conduit second ends between associated ones of said lateral pressure outlets, said lateral exhaust inlets and said connector conduits, and a recess between each of said lateral outlets and its corresponding lateral inlet; a control valve at each of said junctures and seated within said recess, wherein each control valve is selectively adjustable among an inflation position, an exhaust position and a closed position, where in said inflation position said associated compartment communicates with said corresponding lateral pressure outlet through an associated connector conduit for inflating said compartment, where in said exhaust position said associated compartment communicates with said corresponding lateral exhaust inlet through an associated connector conduit for deflating said compartment through said exhaust outlet means, and where in said closed position fluid communication is prevented between said associated compartment and both the pressure source and said exhaust; and each said control valve having an actuator, and an aperture provided through one of said cover plates for each of said control valves through which said valve actuator passes for selectively adjusting said control valve.
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Specification