Portable pneumatic seating device
First Claim
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1. An inflatable seat cushion device for supporting an occupant above a horizontally disposed support surface, comprising:
- a power source;
at least one air compressor;
a distribution manifold configured to receive compressed air from the at least one air compressor, and to selectively distribute the compressed air to a plurality of ports;
a mechanism to selectively relieve a pressure at the plurality of ports;
a plurality of inflatable chambers, each having a flexible wall, a conduit communicating air with a respective port, each inflatable chamber having a pressure responsive to an amount of air within the respective inflatable chamber, the plurality of inflatable chambers comprising at least a pair of thigh support chambers, and at least one buttocks support chamber;
at least one auxiliary chamber having a flexible wall, configured, when inflated through the distribution manifold, to tension the flexible wall to cause at least one portion of the flexible wall to move upward to assume a position generally parallel to the horizontally disposed support surface, and generate a force sufficient to extend a knee of the occupant of the inflatable seat cushion device supported by the horizontally disposed support surface, and when deflated through the mechanism, to assume a position generally perpendicular to the horizontally disposed support surface and permit flexion of the knee of the occupant of the inflatable seat cushion device; and
a control device, configured to control at least the distribution manifold and the at least one air compressor, having a communication interface configured to receive control information for controlling an operation of at least the air compressor and distribution manifold over time and a memory configured to store at least the received control information.
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Abstract
A seating device has a portable pneumatic seating platform and at least one pneumatic pad module supporting the ability to pressurize and depressurize at least one pneumatic pad module with the ability to be operated by electrical power.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. An inflatable seat cushion device for supporting an occupant above a horizontally disposed support surface, comprising:
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a power source; at least one air compressor; a distribution manifold configured to receive compressed air from the at least one air compressor, and to selectively distribute the compressed air to a plurality of ports; a mechanism to selectively relieve a pressure at the plurality of ports; a plurality of inflatable chambers, each having a flexible wall, a conduit communicating air with a respective port, each inflatable chamber having a pressure responsive to an amount of air within the respective inflatable chamber, the plurality of inflatable chambers comprising at least a pair of thigh support chambers, and at least one buttocks support chamber; at least one auxiliary chamber having a flexible wall, configured, when inflated through the distribution manifold, to tension the flexible wall to cause at least one portion of the flexible wall to move upward to assume a position generally parallel to the horizontally disposed support surface, and generate a force sufficient to extend a knee of the occupant of the inflatable seat cushion device supported by the horizontally disposed support surface, and when deflated through the mechanism, to assume a position generally perpendicular to the horizontally disposed support surface and permit flexion of the knee of the occupant of the inflatable seat cushion device; and a control device, configured to control at least the distribution manifold and the at least one air compressor, having a communication interface configured to receive control information for controlling an operation of at least the air compressor and distribution manifold over time and a memory configured to store at least the received control information. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A method of operating an inflatable seat cushion device supporting an occupant above a horizontally disposed support surface, comprising:
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providing a plurality of inflatable chambers, each having a flexible wall, a conduit communicating air with a respective port, each inflatable chamber having a pressure responsive to an amount of air within the respective inflatable chamber, the plurality of inflatable chambers comprising at least a pair of thigh support chambers, and at least one buttocks support chamber; providing at least one auxiliary pneumatic device having a flexible wall, configured, when inflated, to tension the flexible wall to cause at least one portion of the flexible wall to move upward to assume a position generally parallel to the horizontally disposed support surface, and generate a force sufficient to extend a knee of the occupant of the inflatable seat cushion device supported by the horizontally disposed support surface, and when deflated, to assume a position generally perpendicular to the horizontally disposed support surface and permit flexion of the knee of the occupant of the inflatable seat cushion device; receiving compressed air from at least one air compressor, selectively distributing the compressed air to a plurality of respective ports, and relieving a pressure at a selected one of the plurality of ports, to thereby inflate and deflate the plurality of chambers and the at least one auxiliary pneumatic device; storing received control information in a memory; and controlling at least the at least one air compressor and at least one relief device over time with a control device to inflate and deflate the plurality of inflatable chambers and the at least one auxiliary pneumatic device. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A pneumatic lower extremity exercise device for a subject supported above a horizontally disposed support surface, comprising:
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a power source; at least one air compressor; a pressure relief mechanism; at least one pneumatic support cushion having a flexible wall, configured to rest on the horizontally disposed support surface and to be inflated to support the subject above the horizontally disposed support surface; at least one pneumatic device having a flexible wall, configured, when subject to air pressure from the at least one air compressor, to tension the flexible wall to cause at least one portion of the flexible wall to move upward to assume a position generally parallel to the horizontally disposed support surface, and generate a force sufficient to extend the knee of the subject, and when deflated, to assume a position generally perpendicular to the horizontally disposed support surface and permit flexion the knee of the subject; and a control device, configured to control at least the at least one air compressor and the relief mechanism, having a communication interface configured to receive and store control information for controlling at least an operation of the air compressor and the pressure relief mechanism over time and to separately control a pressure in the at least one pneumatic support cushion and the at least one pneumatic device. - View Dependent Claims (20)
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Specification