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

• US 8,839,474 B2
• Filed: 04/23/2012
• Issued: 09/23/2014
• 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 LEWIS
• Application Number:
  US13/452,987
• Publication Number:
  US 20120204970A1
• Time in Patent Office: 883 Days
• Field of Search: 141/10, 141/94, 141/95, 141/114, 141/192, 141/198, 570/6, 571/3
• US Class Current: 5/713
• 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

In one aspect, the invention provides 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 system adapted to control a pressure in an inflatable device, the system comprising:

a pressure controller fluidly coupled to the inflatable device and configured to adjust the pressure in the inflatable device by adding and removing fluid from the inflatable device;

a control device including first, second, and third control elements, the control device being coupled to a microcontroller, which in combination are configured to allow a user to adjust the pressure in the inflatable device using the pressure controller; and

the microcontroller being configured to receive information from the control device concerning a first setting corresponding to a first pressure and automatically establish a second setting corresponding to a second pressure and a third setting corresponding to a third pressure based on the first setting;

wherein the first control element in combination with the microcontroller is configured to allow the user in a first operation to establish the first setting corresponding to the first pressure and in a second operation to adjust the pressure in the inflatable device to the first pressure from another pressure;

wherein the second control element in combination with the microcontroller is configured to allow the user to increase the pressure in the inflatable device from another pressure to the second pressure corresponding to the second setting; and

the third control element in combination with the microcontroller is adapted to allow the user to decrease the pressure in the inflatable device from another pressure to the third pressure corresponding to a third setting.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the first pressure has a first value, wherein the second pressure has a second value, and wherein a difference between the first value and the second value is established with the microcontroller before the first setting is established.

3. The system of claim 1, further comprising a memory configured to store the first setting.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of control elements are unmarked.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the control device includes a user interface, wherein the plurality of control elements are located in the user interface, wherein a location of each of the plurality of control elements is identified in the user interface.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the first control element is located substantially centrally in the user interface, and wherein others of the plurality of control elements are located radially outward of the first control element.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the system is adapted to allow the user to return the pressure in the inflatable device to the first pressure from another pressure when the first control element is selected subsequent to the first setting being established.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the control device is adapted to allow the user to establish the setting corresponding to the first pressure when the first control element is selected for at least a predetermined amount of time.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the control device is adapted to allow the user to return the pressure in the inflatable device to the first pressure from another pressure when the control element is selected for an amount of time less than the predetermined amount of time.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the control device is configured to wirelessly communicate the first setting from the control device to the pressure controller.

11. The system of claim 1, further comprising a pump adapted to add fluid to the inflatable device.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the pump is fluidly coupled to the pressure controller.

13. The system of claim 1, further comprising an inflatable device that includes a plurality of chambers and that is coupled to the pressure controller, and wherein the control device includes a selector adapted to allow the user to select a chamber from among the plurality of chambers.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the control device further includes a plurality of indicating lights associated with the plurality of chambers, wherein a first indicating light is illuminated when the first chamber is selected, and wherein a second indicating light is illuminated when the second chamber is selected.

15. The system of claim 1, wherein the pressure controller includes a pump, a valve and electronic circuitry.

16. The system of claim 1, further comprising an inflatable device and wherein the pressure controller is disposed within a profile of the inflatable device.

17. The system of claim 1, further comprising an inflatable device, including a lower chamber and an upper chamber located above and proximate to the lower chamber, wherein the pressure controller is fluidly coupled to the upper chamber and the upper chamber is fluidly coupled to the lower chamber.

18. The system of claim 1, wherein the pressure controller includes electronic circuitry including a memory, wherein the setting is communicated from the control device to the electronic circuitry, and wherein the first setting is stored in the memory.

19. The system of claim 1, wherein the control device includes a memory, and wherein the setting is stored in the memory.

20. The hand held control device of claim 1, further comprising a user interface wherein a location of the first control element, a location of the second control element, and a location of the third control element are identified, and wherein the first control element, the second control element and the third control element are otherwise unmarked.

21. The hand held control device of claim 20, wherein the user interface is adapted to allow the user to select one of the first control element, the second control element and the third control element by applying pressure to a location in the user interface corresponding to the selected control element.

22. The hand held control device of claim 21, wherein the hand held control device further comprises a transmitter, wherein the transmitter is adapted to communicate to the pressure controller information corresponding to a user-selected control element.

23. The hand held control device of claim 22, wherein the first control element is located substantially centrally in a user interface of the control device.

24. The hand held control device of claim 23, wherein the second and third control elements are located radially outward in the user interface relative to the first control element.

25. The hand held control device of claim 24, further comprising a light source that illuminates a region of the user interface.

26. The hand held control device of claim 25, wherein the light source is configured to periodically vary in intensity.