Adjustable bed position control

• US 9,730,525 B2
• Filed: 11/07/2014
• Issued: 08/15/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 09/14/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Martin B. Rawls-Meehan
• Original Assignee: Martin B. Rawls-Meehan
• Inventors: Rawls-Meehan, Martin B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Laughlin, Nathan L
• Application Number:
  US14/535,843
• Publication Number:
  US 20150130586A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,012 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 20/041 by electric motors
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 21/003 Lighting, radio, telephone or the like connected to the bedstead
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 31/008 Use of remote controls
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 2203/12 Remote controls
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/002 having adjustable mattress frame
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/018 Control or drive mechanisms
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/0103 inflatable
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/0119 Support for the device
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/0134 Cushion or similar support
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/0138 incorporated in furniture
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/0142 Beds
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/0146 Mattresses
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/0149 Seat or chair
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/0176 By stopping operation
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/0192 Specific means for adjusting dimensions
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/1604 Head
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/1623 Back
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/1628 Pelvis
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/1635 Hand or arm, e.g. handle hand-held, A61H2201/0153; fore-arm support, A61H2003/006
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/164 Feet or leg, e.g. pedal
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/5012 : using the internet
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/5015 : using specific interfaces or standards, e.g. USB, serial, parallel
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/5035 : Several programs selectable
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/5038 : freely programmable by the user
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/5046 : Touch screens
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/5066 : Limit switches
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/5097 : wireless
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2203/0443 : substantially horizontal
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 23/0254 : with rotary motor
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 23/04 : with hydraulic or pneumatic drive hydraulic or Pneumatic massages, A61H9/00; underwater massages, A61H33/00
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 17/02 : using a radio link
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/30 : User interface
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/60 : Security, fault tolerance

Abstract

The present invention provides an adjustable bed handheld remote control that may include a handheld housing, a touch sensor on a front face of the handheld housing, a transmitter and the like. The touch sensor may be presented in a slider form and may be adapted to facilitate a user in adjusting a frame position of an adjustable bed. The transmitter may be electrically coupled to a processor and may receive input from the touch sensor, for communication control signals to the adjustable bed in accordance with the input received from the touch sensor.

Claims

1. A remote control for wirelessly controlling an adjustable parameter of an adjustable bed, the remote control comprising:

a processor;

a user interface operatively coupled to the processor; and

a wireless transceiver operatively coupled to the processor, the wireless transceiver being adapted to wirelessly communicate with a control box of an adjustable bed,

wherein the remote control is adapted to be communication matched with the control box of the adjustable bed with a code key permitting commands to be received from the remote control and executed by the control box of the adjustable bed, such that the processor of the remote control is configured to perform the steps of;

directing the wireless transceiver to transmit the code key to the control box, the code key indicating that the control box is permitted to receive and execute commands from the remote control;

receiving from the control box an indication that the code key has been received and accepted;

receiving user input on the user interface to change an adjustable parameter of the adjustable bed into a user-selected state; and

directing the wireless transceiver to transmit a control signal to the control box to change the adjustable parameter into accord with the user-selected state of the user input.

2. The remote control of claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to perform the steps of:

directing the transceiver to wirelessly receive current status information for the adjustable parameter from the control box; and

displaying the current status information for the adjustable parameter on the user interface.

3. The remote control of claim 2, wherein displaying the current status information comprises graphically displaying the current status information for the adjustable parameter on a touch screen user interface.

4. The remote control of claim 1, wherein the user interface comprises a touch screen.

5. The remote control of claim 4, wherein the touch screen is adapted to present a graphical display of an auxiliary system parameter associated with the adjustable bed to be adjusted by the remote control.

6. The remote control of claim 5, wherein the auxiliary system includes an audio visual system.

7. The remote control of claim 5, wherein the auxiliary system includes an audio system.

8. The remote control of claim 5, wherein the auxiliary system includes a computer system.

9. The remote control of claim 5, wherein the auxiliary system includes an HVAC system.

10. The remote control of claim 5, wherein the auxiliary system includes a kitchen appliance.

11. The remote control of claim 5, wherein the auxiliary system includes an alarm system.

12. The remote control of claim 1, wherein the adjustable parameter comprises a frame position for an adjustable bed section.

13. The remote control of claim 1, wherein the adjustable parameter comprises a massage motor setting for a massage motor associated with the adjustable bed.

14. The remote control of claim 1, wherein the user-selected state is a memory recall state for the adjustable parameter.

15. The remote control of claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to perform the steps of:

receiving error data from the control box indicating a difference between the user-selected state for the adjustable parameter and the current status information for the adjustable parameter; and

displaying the error data on the user interface.

16. The remote control of claim 1, wherein the wireless transceiver is adapted to wirelessly transmit data to and receive data communications from the control box via a receiver operatively coupled to the control box.

17. The remote control of claim 16, wherein the wireless transceiver and the receiver are configured to wirelessly communicate by radio frequency.

18. The remote control of claim 16, wherein the wireless transceiver and the receiver are configured to wirelessly communicate by radio frequency according to bluetooth protocol.

19. The remote control of claim 16, wherein the receiver and the control box are individual devices.

20. The remote control of claim 1, wherein the wireless transceiver is directed to transmit the code key to the control box as part of the control signal to change the adjustable parameter into accord with the user-selected state of the user input.

21. A method for wirelessly controlling an adjustable parameter of an adjustable bed, the method comprising:

wirelessly transmitting a code key to a control box of an adjustable bed via the wireless transceiver of the remote control of claim 1, the code key indicating that the control box is permitted to receive and execute commands from the remote control;

receiving an indication from the control box via the wireless transceiver that the code key has been received and accepted;

receiving user input on the user interface to change an adjustable parameter of the adjustable bed into a user-selected state; and

wirelessly transmitting a control signal via the wireless transceiver to the control box to change the adjustable parameter into accord with the user-selected state of the user input.

22. The method of claim 21, further comprising:

receiving current status information for the adjustable parameter from the control box via the wireless transceiver; and

displaying the current status information for the adjustable parameter on the user interface.