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Air massaging device with a precise pressure control

  • US 5,307,791 A
  • Filed: 06/01/1992
  • Issued: 05/03/1994
  • Est. Priority Date: 05/30/1991
  • Status: Expired due to Term
First Claim
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1. An air massing device, comprising:

  • at least one inflatable air bag adapted to be laid against a portion of the human body;

    air pump means for generating a pressurized air;

    three-way distributor valve means connected between said air pump means and said air bag for providing an open position of feeding the pressurized air from said air pump means to a first of said at least one air bag and a closed position of allowing the pressurized air to be discharged from said first air bag to the atmosphere, in order to repeat inflating and deflating said first air bag;

    a single pressure sensor disposed upstream of said three-way distributor valve means to monitor a pressure level developed on a downstream side of said air pump means;

    selector means for entering a desired target pressure level to which said first air bag is intended to be inflated; and

    a control means which includes(a) for at least one initial inflation cycle,(1) means for activating said air pump means for a predetermined standard time period with said valve means in said open position for feeding the pressurized air to said first air bag,(2) means for maintaining said distributor valve means in said open position for a predetermined first open time interval after the elapse of said standard time period so as to keep said first air bag inflated, and(3) means for reading a first pressure level monitored by said pressure sensor within said first open time interval, and(b) for at least one subsequent inflation cycle,(1) means for activating said air pump means for a varying inflation time period which is defined as a function of (a) the time period of activating said air pump means in the immediately previous inflation cycle, (b) said target pressure level, and (c) the pressure level read during the immediately previous inflation cycle;

    (2) means for maintaining said distributor valve means in said open position for a predetermined second open time interval after the elapse of said varying inflation time period so as to keep said first air bag inflated; and

    (3) means for reading a second pressure level monitored by said pressure sensor within said second open time interval.

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