US4995124A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Constant pressure load bearing air chamber
Assignee: Sustena Inc
•
Filing: 1988-10-20
•
Granted: 1991-02-26
•
Expires: 2008-10-20
Abstract
Abstract The air chamber includes a control for manually selecting a desired pressure within the chamber. Means for sensing the air pressure within the chamber are provided as are pump means for adding air to the chamber and vent means for removing air from the chamber. Control circuitry adds or removes air from the chamber responsive to the sensed pressure to maintain the pressure within the chamber at the preset level. Structural means are provided within the chamber for supporting a portion of a load placed thereon and thus decreases air pressure within the chamber to avoid deflation.
Inventors
- 👤 Wilbur S. Wridge, Jr.
- 👤 Lloyd D. Everard
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 22:32
CPC Classifications
A; A47; A47C; A47C27/00; A47C27/08; A47C27/081; A47C27/083; A47C27/10; A47C27/14; A47C27/18
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 28
Claim 1
Independent Claim
185 words
An air mattress capable of supporting a load comprising: (a) an inflatable membrane defining a chamber having a chamber air pressure; (b) load supporting material disposed in said chamber; (c) a selectively actuatable air pump in fluid communication with said chamber to supply pressurized air thereto; (d) a selectively openable vent valve in fluid communication with said chamber; (e) a pressure sensor in fluid communication with said chamber for generating a sensed pressure signal representative of said chamber air pressure; (f) a pressure selector generating a desired pressure signal representative of a desired chamber air pressure; and (g) a control means connected to said air pump and said vent valve and receiving said sensed pressure signal and said desired pressure signal for maintaining said chamber at approximately said desired chamber air pressure whereby when the load on said membrane causes said chamber air pressure to rise above said desired air pressure, said vent valve is opened until at least a portion of the load is supported by said load supporting material so that said chamber air pressure falls to approximately said desired chamber air pressure.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
185 words
An air mattress capable of supporting a load comprising: (a) an inflatable membrane defining a chamber having a chamber air pressure; (b) load supporting material disposed in said chamber; (c) a selectively actuatable air pump in fluid communication with said chamber to supply pressurized air thereto; (d) a selectively openable vent valve in fluid communication with said chamber; (e) a pressure sensor in fluid communication with said chamber for generating a sensed pressure signal representative of said chamber air pressure; (f) a pressure selector generating a desired pressure signal representative of a desired chamber air pressure; and (g) a control means connected to said air pump and said vent valve and receiving said sensed pressure signal and said desired pressure signal for maintaining said chamber at approximately said desired chamber air pressure whereby when the load on said membrane causes said chamber air pressure to rise above said desired air pressure, said vent valve is opened until at least a portion of the load is supported by said load supporting material so that said chamber air pressure falls to approximately said desired chamber air pressure.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
54 words
The air mattress of claim 1 wherein said control means includes a comparator for receiving said sensed pressure signal and said desired pressure signal in response thereto generating a comparator signal and a control circuit for receiving said comparator signal and in response thereto, controlling said air pump actuation and said vent valve opening.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
28 words
The air mattress of claim 1 wherein said control means, in response to said chamber air pressure being below said desired chamber air pressure, actuates said air pump.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
20 words
The air mattress of claim 1 wherein said desired chamber air pressure is between two and ten inches of water.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
15 words
The air mattress of claim 1 wherein said load supporting material comprises a foam cushion.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
28 words
The air mattress of claim 5 wherein said foam load supporting material is of insufficient resiliency to provide sole support for a load normally supported by said mattress.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
31 words
The air mattress of claim 5 wherein said foam is dimensioned so that said foam is spaced away from the top portion of said membrane when said membrane is fully inflated.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
28 words
The air mattress of claim 1 wherein said load supporting material is of insufficient resiliency to provide the sole support for a load normally supported by said mattress.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
54 words
The air mattress of claim 8 wherein said control means includes a comparator for receiving said sensed pressure signal and said desired pressure signal in response thereto generating a comparator signal and a control circuit for receiving said comparator signal and in response thereto, controlling said air pump actuation and said vent valve opening.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
33 words
The air mattress of claim 1 wherein said load supporting material is dimensioned so that said material is spaced away from the top portion of said membrane when said membrane is fully inflated.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
54 words
The air mattress of claim 10 wherein said control means includes a comparator for receiving said sensed pressure signal and said desired pressure signal in response thereto generating a comparator signal and a control circuit for receiving said comparator signal and in response thereto, controlling said air pump actuation and said vent valve opening.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
62 words
The air mattress of claim 1 further including at least two said membranes each having a chamber, each of said chambers including load supporting material disposed therein, a pressure sensor connected thereto to measure said chamber air pressure, and said air pump and said vent valve connected thereto, and said control means maintaining said chambers at approximately said desired chamber air pressure.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
20 words
The load-supporting assembly of claim 1 wherein said desired chamber air pressure is between two and ten inches of water.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
199 words
A method of supporting a load on an inflatable air chamber including the steps of: (a) inflating an air chamber defined by an inflatable membrane to a desired chamber air pressure, said air chamber having associated therewith a pressure sensor to monitor said chamber air pressure, a control means responsive to said pressure sensor for maintaining said chamber air pressure by selectively supplying air to and venting air from said air chamber, and a load-supporting means inside said air chamber; (b) placing the load on said membrane so as to increase said chamber air pressure above said desired chamber air pressure so that said control means vents air from said air chamber; (c) venting air from said air chamber so that at least a portion of the load is supported by said load support means so that chamber air pressure falls to approximately said desired chamber air pressure; and (d) sensing decrease in said chamber air pressure to approximately said desired chamber air pressure by said pressure sensor and, in response to said sensed decrease, said control means ceasing venting air from said chamber so that said chamber air pressure is maintained at approximately said desired chamber air pressure.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
199 words
A method of supporting a load on an inflatable air chamber including the steps of: (a) inflating an air chamber defined by an inflatable membrane to a desired chamber air pressure, said air chamber having associated therewith a pressure sensor to monitor said chamber air pressure, a control means responsive to said pressure sensor for maintaining said chamber air pressure by selectively supplying air to and venting air from said air chamber, and a load-supporting means inside said air chamber; (b) placing the load on said membrane so as to increase said chamber air pressure above said desired chamber air pressure so that said control means vents air from said air chamber; (c) venting air from said air chamber so that at least a portion of the load is supported by said load support means so that chamber air pressure falls to approximately said desired chamber air pressure; and (d) sensing decrease in said chamber air pressure to approximately said desired chamber air pressure by said pressure sensor and, in response to said sensed decrease, said control means ceasing venting air from said chamber so that said chamber air pressure is maintained at approximately said desired chamber air pressure.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
41 words
The method of claim 14 further including the steps of said control means adding air into said air chamber to increase said chamber air pressure whenever chamber air pressure sensed by said pressure sensor is below said desired chamber air pressure.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 14 further including said control means obtaining said desired chamber pressure from a pressure select means electronically connected thereto.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
180 words
A pressurized, load-supporting assembly comprising: (a) an inflatable membrane defining a chamber having a chamber air pressure; (b) load supporting material disposed in said chamber; (c) a selectively actuatable air pump in fluid communication with said chamber to supply pressurized air thereto; (d) a selectively openable vent valve in fluid communication with said chamber; (e) a pressure sensor in fluid communication with said chamber for generating a sensed pressure signal representative of said chamber air pressure; (f) a pressure selector generating a desired pressure signal representative of a desired chamber air pressure; and (g) a control means connected to said air pump and said vent valve and receiving said sensed pressure signal and said desired pressure signal for maintaining said chamber at approximately said desired chamber air pressure whereby when a load on said membrane causes said chamber air pressure to rise above said desired air pressure, said vent valve is opened until at least a portion of the load is supported by said load supporting material so that said chamber air pressure falls to approximately said desired air pressure.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
180 words
A pressurized, load-supporting assembly comprising: (a) an inflatable membrane defining a chamber having a chamber air pressure; (b) load supporting material disposed in said chamber; (c) a selectively actuatable air pump in fluid communication with said chamber to supply pressurized air thereto; (d) a selectively openable vent valve in fluid communication with said chamber; (e) a pressure sensor in fluid communication with said chamber for generating a sensed pressure signal representative of said chamber air pressure; (f) a pressure selector generating a desired pressure signal representative of a desired chamber air pressure; and (g) a control means connected to said air pump and said vent valve and receiving said sensed pressure signal and said desired pressure signal for maintaining said chamber at approximately said desired chamber air pressure whereby when a load on said membrane causes said chamber air pressure to rise above said desired air pressure, said vent valve is opened until at least a portion of the load is supported by said load supporting material so that said chamber air pressure falls to approximately said desired air pressure.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
14 words
The load-supporting assembly of claim 17 wherein said load-supporting material is a plastic foam.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
15 words
The load-supporting assembly of claim 17 wherein said load-supporting material is an open-cell plastic foam.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
15 words
The load-supporting assembly of claim 17 wherein said load-supporting material comprises a resilient fibrous material.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
17 words
The load-supporting assembly of claim 17 wherein said load-supporting material comprises at least one metal spring means.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
27 words
The load-supporting assembly of claim 17 wherein said load-supporting material is of insufficient resiliency to provide the sole support for a load normally supported by said assembly.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
31 words
The load-supporting assembly of claim 17 wherein said load-supporting material is dimensioned so that said material is spaced away from the top of said membrane when said membrane is fully inflated.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
54 words
The load-supporting assembly of claim 17 wherein said control means includes a comparator for receiving said sensed pressure signal and said desired pressure signal in response thereto generating a comparator signal and a control circuit for receiving said comparator signal and in response thereto, controlling said air pump actuation and said vent valve opening.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
28 words
The load-supporting assembly of claim 17 wherein said control means, in response to said chamber air pressure being below said desired chamber air pressure, actuates said air pump.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US1332933A
Cited
US1218291A
Cited
US1271472A
Cited
US2751610A
Cited
US3042941A
Cited
US3303518A
Cited
US3872525A
Cited
US3864766A
Cited
US3877092A
Cited
US3959835A
Cited
US4078842A
Cited
US4224706A
Cited
US4306322A
Cited
NL7906927A
Cited
US4428087A
Cited
US4394784A
Cited
US4525886A
Cited
US4634179A
Cited
US4686722A
Cited
US4662012A
Cited
US4694515A
Cited
US4655505A
Cited
US4638519A
Cited
US4679264A
Cited
US4873737A
Cited
US4711275A
Cited
US4745647A
Cited
US4694520A
Cited
US4797962A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1994-02-25 | 1994-08-27 | 1995-02-26 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1998-02-25 | 1998-08-27 | 1999-02-26 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2002-02-25 | 2002-08-27 | 2003-02-26 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |