Constant pressure load bearing air chamber
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An air mattress capable of supporting a load comprising:
- an inflatable membrane defining a chamber having a chamber air pressure;
load supporting material disposed in said chamber;
a reservoir containing a quantity of air and charged to a selected pressure in fluid communication with said chamber and having a valve associated therewith controlling airflow from said reservoir to said chamber;
a selectively openable vent valve in fluid communication with said chamber;
a pressure sensor in fluid communication with said chamber for generating a sensed pressure signal representative of said chamber air pressure;
a pressure selector generating a desired pressure signal representative of a desired chamber air pressure; and
a control means connected to said reservoir valve and said vent valve and receiving said sensed pressure signal and said desired pressure signal for maintaining said chamber at approximately said desired chamber air pressure whereby when the load on said membrane causes said chamber air pressure to rise above said desired air pressure, said vent valve is opened until at least a portion of the load is supported by said load supporting material so that said chamber air pressure falls to approximately said desired air pressure and, whereby when said chamber air pressure falls below said desired air pressure, said reservoir valve is opened until said chamber air pressure rises to approximately said desired chamber air pressure.
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Abstract
An air chamber including a control for manually selecting a desired pressure within the chamber. Means for sensing the air pressure within the chamber are provided as are pump means for adding air to the chamber and vent means for removing air from the chamber. Control circuitry adds or removes air from the chamber responsive to the sensed pressure to maintain the pressure within the chamber at the preset level. Structural means are provided within the chamber for supporting a portion of a load placed thereon and thus decreases air pressure within the chamber to avoid deflation.
103 Citations
14 Claims
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1. An air mattress capable of supporting a load comprising:
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an inflatable membrane defining a chamber having a chamber air pressure; load supporting material disposed in said chamber; a reservoir containing a quantity of air and charged to a selected pressure in fluid communication with said chamber and having a valve associated therewith controlling airflow from said reservoir to said chamber; a selectively openable vent valve in fluid communication with said chamber; a pressure sensor in fluid communication with said chamber for generating a sensed pressure signal representative of said chamber air pressure; a pressure selector generating a desired pressure signal representative of a desired chamber air pressure; and a control means connected to said reservoir valve and said vent valve and receiving said sensed pressure signal and said desired pressure signal for maintaining said chamber at approximately said desired chamber air pressure whereby when the load on said membrane causes said chamber air pressure to rise above said desired air pressure, said vent valve is opened until at least a portion of the load is supported by said load supporting material so that said chamber air pressure falls to approximately said desired air pressure and, whereby when said chamber air pressure falls below said desired air pressure, said reservoir valve is opened until said chamber air pressure rises to approximately said desired chamber air pressure. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. An air mattress capable of supporting a load comprising:
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an inflatable membrane defining a chamber having a chamber air pressure; load supporting material in the form of a plurality of pellets formed of resilient material disposed in said chamber; a selectively actuatable air pump in fluid communication with said chamber to supply pressurized air thereto; a selectively openable vent valve in fluid communication with said chamber; a pressure sensor in fluid communication with said chamber for generating a sensed pressure signal representative of said chamber air pressure; a pressure selector generating a desired pressure signal representative of a desired chamber air pressure; and a control means connected to said air pump and said vent valve and receiving said sensed pressure signal and said desired pressure signal for maintaining said chamber at approximately said desired chamber air pressure whereby when the load on said membrane causes said chamber air pressure to rise above said desired air pressure, said vent valve is opened until at least a portion of the load is supported by said load supporting material so that said chamber air pressure falls to approximately said desired air pressure and, whereby when said chamber air pressure falls below said desired air pressure, said reservoir valve is opened until said chamber air pressure rises to approximately said desired chamber air pressure.
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Specification