Patent · US Expired

Fluid filled flotation mattress

US5235713A · kind A · utility

96Cited by
61References
27Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateNov 5, 1991
Grant dateAug 17, 1993
Priority date
Expiry dateNov 5, 2011

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
  • CPC primaryA61G7/05769
  • WIPO fieldMedical technology
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

An air-filled mattress with virtually no air loss has a plurality of air-filled bags grouped into zones of uniform air pressure. A controller monitors the air pressure in each zone and activates a blower to adjust the pressure in any zone in which the measured pressure differs from the desired pressure by more than a threshold amount. The blower is otherwise deactivated. The bags are deflated by reversing the direction of flow from the bags to the blower. The bags are fastened to a mattress base using an attachment fitting that receives an elongated bead on the bag's bottom edge into a chamber along the mattress base fitting. The mattress base can be attached to any of a variety of different conventional bed frames. Tabs fastened to the mattress base having a hinge and a hand malleable aluminum plate can be bent to grasp a variety of different bed frames. A unique air manifold between the blower and the bags, a unique hose coupling between the blower and the manifold and a unique air coupling between the manifold and the bags are also described. The controller is incorporated into an independent housing with an adjustable handle, wheels and a movable keyboard and is operated accord…

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.