Method and apparatus for monitoring and controlling pressure in an inflatable device

• US 8,162,009 B2
• Filed: 04/04/2007
• Issued: 04/24/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 04/04/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Robert B. Chaffee
• Original Assignee: Robert B. Chaffee
• Inventors: Chaffee, Robert B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Maust, Timothy L
• Application Number:
  US11/696,656
• Publication Number:
  US 20070227594A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,847 Days
• Field of Search: 141/10, 141/94, 141/95, 141/192, 141/198, 570/6, 571/3
• US Class Current: 141/10
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 27/082 with non-manual inflation, e.g. with electric pumps
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 27/083 with pressure control, e.g. with pressure sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 31/008 Use of remote controls
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 16/208 using a combination of controlling means as defined in G05D16/2013 and G05D16/2066 G05D16/2073 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/36 With pressure-responsive pressure-control means

Abstract

A method for a user to adjust a pressure in an inflatable device. The method includes acts of adjusting the pressure in the inflatable device with a control device to a pressure preferred by the user, where the pressure preferred by the user has a first value, and establishing a first setting corresponding to the pressure preferred by the user with the control device, and automatically establishing a second setting corresponding to a second pressure having a second value once the first setting is established, where the second value differs from the first value by a predetermined amount.

Claims

1. A method by which a user may establish a plurality of pressure settings to adjust a pressure in an inflatable device which includes at least a first chamber, the method comprising acts of:

adjusting the pressure in the first chamber with a control device to a pressure preferred by the user, wherein the pressure preferred by the user has a first value;

establishing a first setting corresponding to the pressure preferred by the user with the control device;

establishing a second setting for the first chamber, the second setting corresponding to a second pressure having a second value, wherein the second value is less than the first value by a predetermined amount; and

establishing a third setting for the first chamber, the third setting corresponding to a third pressure having a third value, wherein the third value is greater than the first value by the predetermined amount,

wherein the second setting and the third setting are automatically established once the first setting is established.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the control device includes a first control element, a second control element and a third control element, and wherein the method further comprises acts of:

selecting the first control element to establish the first setting;

selecting the second control element to reach the second setting, once established; and

selecting the third control element to reach the third setting, once established.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein each of the first control element, the second control element, and the third control element do not include any indicia that identifies a function of the respective control element.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the first control element is substantially centrally located in a face of the control device, wherein the second control element is located in the face of the control device in a first direction radially outward from a center of the face, and wherein the third control element is located in the face of the control device radially outward from the center and in a second direction substantially opposite the first direction.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising an act of returning to the pressure preferred by the user from another pressure by selecting the first setting.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the act of establishing the first setting includes an act of establishing the first setting without knowledge of the pressure in the inflatable device, and without knowledge of the location of the first setting within a range of control settings corresponding to a range of pressures.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the inflatable device is an inflatable comfort device.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the inflatable device is a mattress.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising an act of wirelessly transmitting the first setting from the control device to a pressure controller adapted to adjust the pressure in the inflatable device.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising acts of:

controlling a level of inflation in the inflatable device with a pressure controller that includes a memory; and

storing the first setting in the memory.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising an act of storing the pre-determined amount in the memory.

12. The method of claim 10, the method further comprising an act of automatically establishing the second setting using the pressure controller.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the inflatable device includes a plurality of chambers, the method further comprising acts of selecting a chamber from among the plurality of chambers using the control device, and adjusting the pressure in the selected chamber with the control device.