US4945588A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Air/water mattress and inflation apparatus
Assignee: Gaymar Industries Inc
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Filing: 1989-09-06
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Granted: 1990-08-07
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Expires: 2009-09-06
Abstract
Abstract An inflation system for a mattress having a lower, water chamber and a coextensive upper, air chamber includes a pair of opposed blowers, a solenoid air valve, both manual and pressure activated switches and control circuitry for activating and deactivating the blowers in response to pressure within the air chamber sensed by the pressure switch or manual commands. The air/water mattress and inflation system of the present invention is suitable for long term care bedridden patients which have a tendency to develop decubitus ulcers and further facilitates entry, repositioning and egress from the water mattress when the air chamber is inflated.
Inventors
- 👤 Daniel G. Cassidy
- 👤 Roger J. Koch
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 02:55
CPC Classifications
A; A47; A47C; A47C27/00; A47C27/08; A47C27/081; A47C27/082; A47C27/085
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
93 words
In a mattress defining a first, lower chamber for water and a second, upper chamber for air, the improvement comprising, an apparatus for filling and exhausting air from said upper chamber, said apparatus including a housing, a pair of motor and blower assemblies disposed in opposed juxtaposition within said housing, control means for alternately and exclusively energizing one of said pair of motor and blower assemblies, said control means including a first, inflate switch, a second, deflate switch, and a pressure switch for sensing the pressure of air within said second, upper chamber.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
93 words
In a mattress defining a first, lower chamber for water and a second, upper chamber for air, the improvement comprising, an apparatus for filling and exhausting air from said upper chamber, said apparatus including a housing, a pair of motor and blower assemblies disposed in opposed juxtaposition within said housing, control means for alternately and exclusively energizing one of said pair of motor and blower assemblies, said control means including a first, inflate switch, a second, deflate switch, and a pressure switch for sensing the pressure of air within said second, upper chamber.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
15 words
The improvement of claim 1 wherein said first, inflate switch is a maintained contact type.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
14 words
The improvement of claim 1 wherein said second, deflate switch is momentary contact type.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
22 words
The improvement of claim 1 further including a time delay means for terminating deflation of said air chamber after approximately one minute.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
22 words
The improvement of claim 1 wherein said control means includes a stepdown transformer having a low voltage secondary of about 24 V.A.C.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
22 words
The improvement of claim 1 wherein said pair of motor and blower assemblies deliver air at a pressure of about 1 p.s.i.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
19 words
The improvement of claim 1 further including filter means disposed in said housing for filtering air entering said housing.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
27 words
The improvement of claim 1 further including a solenoid operated valve disposed between said pair of motor and blower assemblies and said second, upper chamber for air.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
123 words
An apparatus for supporting human beings comprising, in combination, a mattress having a lower, water chamber, an upper, air chamber and a selectively removable closure for gaining access to said water chamber, a fluid conduit communicating with said air chamber, a blower assembly including a housing, a pair of blowers disposed in opposed juxtaposition within said housing, and a control assembly including an inflate switch, a deflate switch, a pressure switch for sensing the pressure of air within said air chamber and terminating operation of one of said blowers when the air pressure within said air chamber reaches a preselected air pressure and a time delay means for terminating operation of the other of said blower assemblies after a predetermined period of time.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
123 words
An apparatus for supporting human beings comprising, in combination, a mattress having a lower, water chamber, an upper, air chamber and a selectively removable closure for gaining access to said water chamber, a fluid conduit communicating with said air chamber, a blower assembly including a housing, a pair of blowers disposed in opposed juxtaposition within said housing, and a control assembly including an inflate switch, a deflate switch, a pressure switch for sensing the pressure of air within said air chamber and terminating operation of one of said blowers when the air pressure within said air chamber reaches a preselected air pressure and a time delay means for terminating operation of the other of said blower assemblies after a predetermined period of time.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
18 words
The apparatus of claim 9 wherein said fluid conduit provides communication between said air chamber and said housing.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
15 words
The apparatus of claim 9 wherein said air chamber is coextensive with said water chamber.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
15 words
The apparatus of claim 9 wherein said inflate switch is a maintained contact type switch.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
15 words
The apparatus of claim 9 wherein said deflate switch is a momentary contact type switch.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
21 words
The apparatus of claim 9 wherein said air chamber is divided into a plurality of smaller transverse chambers by transverse seals.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
37 words
The apparatus of claim 9 wherein said air chamber is divided by a plurality of transverse seals into air tubes, said air tubes having an inflated volume related to the weight of the human being supported thereby.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
19 words
The apparatus of claim 9 wherein said air chamber includes a plurality of transverse seals having enlarged terminal portions.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
27 words
The apparatus of claim 9 further including a solenoid operated valve disposed between said pair of motor and blower assemblies and said second, upper chamber for air.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
142 words
An apparatus for supporting human beings in a prone position, comprising, in combination, a mattress having a lower, water chamber, a coextensive upper, air chamber and a selectively removable closure for gaining access to said water chamber, a fluid conduit communicating with said air chamber, a blower assembly including a housing, a pair of blowers disposed in opposed juxtaposition within said housing, a control assembly including an inflate switch, a deflate switch, a pressure switch for sensing the pressure of air within said air chamber and terminating operation of one of said blowers when the air pressure within said air chamber reaches a preselected air pressure and a time delay means for terminating operation of the other of said blower assemblies after a predetermined period of time; and a solenoid operated valve between the interior of said housing and said fluid conduit.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
142 words
An apparatus for supporting human beings in a prone position, comprising, in combination, a mattress having a lower, water chamber, a coextensive upper, air chamber and a selectively removable closure for gaining access to said water chamber, a fluid conduit communicating with said air chamber, a blower assembly including a housing, a pair of blowers disposed in opposed juxtaposition within said housing, a control assembly including an inflate switch, a deflate switch, a pressure switch for sensing the pressure of air within said air chamber and terminating operation of one of said blowers when the air pressure within said air chamber reaches a preselected air pressure and a time delay means for terminating operation of the other of said blower assemblies after a predetermined period of time; and a solenoid operated valve between the interior of said housing and said fluid conduit.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
37 words
The apparatus of claim 18 wherein said air chamber is divided by a plurality of transverse seals into air tubes, said air tubes having an inflated volume related to the weight of the human being supported thereby.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1993-08-06 | 1994-02-05 | 1994-08-07 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1997-08-06 | 1998-02-05 | 1998-08-07 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2001-08-06 | 2002-02-05 | 2002-08-07 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |