US2006143832A1PendingUtilityA1

Inflatable device with recessed fluid controller and modified adjustment device

49
Individually held — no corporate assignee on recordPriority: May 17, 2000Filed: Mar 7, 2006Published: Jul 6, 2006
Est. expiryMay 17, 2020(expired)· nominal 20-yr term from priority
Inventors:Robert B. Chaffee
Y10T137/3584A47C 27/08Y10T137/86035F04D 29/602A47C 27/083F04D 25/084A47C 27/082
49
PatentIndex Score
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Claims

Abstract

An inflatable device comprising a substantially fluid impermeable bladder is disclosed. The fluid controller comprises an electrically powered pump positioned at least partially within a profile of the bladder. The fluid controller is coupled to the inflatable bladder and is adapted to permit air to exit the bladder through the fluid controller and to be provided to the bladder through the fluid controller.

Claims

exact text as granted — not AI-modified
1 . An inflatable device, comprising: 
 a substantially fluid impermeable bladder; and    a fluid controller comprising an electrically powered pump, the pump being positioned at least partially within a profile of the bladder, and the fluid controller being coupled to the inflatable bladder in a position, and in the position the fluid controller being adapted to permit air to exit the bladder through the fluid controller and to be provided to the bladder through the fluid controller.    
     
     
         2 . The inflatable device of  claim 1 , wherein the fluid controller is constructed and arranged such that a majority of the fluid controller is positioned within the profile of the bladder.  
     
     
         3 . The inflatable device of  claim 2 , wherein the fluid controller is constructed and arranged such that substantially all of the fluid controller is positioned within the profile of the bladder.  
     
     
         4 . The inflatable device of  claim 1 , wherein the fluid controller comprises a housing.  
     
     
         5 . The inflatable device of  claim 1 , wherein the fluid controller comprises a flange impermeably connected to the bladder.  
     
     
         6 . The inflatable device of  claim 5 , wherein the flange comprises a fluid impermeable wall that connects to a housing of the inflatable device.  
     
     
         7 . The inflatable device of  claim 6 , wherein the flange is in contact with the housing at an outlet of the housing.  
     
     
         8 . The inflatable device of  claim 5 , wherein a remainder of the fluid controller is constructed and arranged to be removable from the flange.  
     
     
         9 . The inflatable device of  claim 1 , further comprising an adjustment device, including: 
 a first switch electrically connected to the pump and a power source such that the first switch may selectively energize the pump; and    a second switch electrically connected to a power source and electro-mechanically connected to a valve of the fluid controller such that it may selectively open the valve.    
     
     
         10 . The inflatable device of  claim 9 , wherein the electro-mechanical connection comprises a solenoid.  
     
     
         11 . The inflatable device of  claim 1 , wherein the fluid controller comprises a valve and a member connected to the valve that moves the valve between an open and a closed position.  
     
     
         12 . The inflatable device of  claim 11 , wherein the member is adapted to be actuated by a switch on an adjustment device.  
     
     
         13 . The inflatable device of  claim 1 , wherein a recess is formed in a wall of the bladder.  
     
     
         14 . The inflatable device of  claim 13 , wherein the pump is at least partially positioned within a recess in the wall of the bladder.  
     
     
         15 . The inflatable device of  claim 1 , wherein the pump is externally accessible.  
     
     
         16 . The inflatable device of  claim 1 , further comprising a flange impermeably connected to the bladder, the flange forming a recess, wherein the pump is at least partially positioned within the recess.  
     
     
         17 . The inflatable device of  claim 1 , wherein the bladder is shaped as sized so as to form a mattress.  
     
     
         18 . The inflatable device of  claim 1 , wherein the fluid controller comprises a valve through which the air exits the bladder.  
     
     
         19 . An inflatable system, comprising: 
 a substantially fluid impermeable bladder; and    a fluid controller comprising: 
 a pump in fluid communication with the bladder through a valve and comprising a first locking mechanism; and  
 an adjustment device including a first switch mechanically connected to the valve and adapted to mechanically actuate the valve, and a second locking mechanism sized and adapted to mate with the first locking mechanism.  
   
     
     
         20 . The inflatable system of  claim 19 , wherein the adjustment device further comprises: 
 a second switch having a first position and a second position and electrically connected to the pump and a power source.    
     
     
         21 . The inflatable system of  claim 19 , wherein the pump is an electrically powered pump and the fluid controller is at least partly positioned within the profile of the bladder.  
     
     
         22 . The inflatable system of  claim 21 , wherein a majority of the fluid controller is positioned within the profile of the bladder.  
     
     
         23 . The inflatable system of  claim 22 , wherein substantially all of the fluid controller is positioned within the profile of the bladder.  
     
     
         24 . The inflatable system of  claim 21  wherein the bladder includes a recess sized and configured to accommodate at least a portion of the fluid controller.  
     
     
         25 . The inflatable system of  claim 21 , wherein the fluid controller includes a housing and the housing includes a flange that connects to the bladder.  
     
     
         26 . The inflatable system of  claim 19 , wherein the bladder is sized and shaped so as to form a mattress.  
     
     
         27 . An inflatable device, comprising: 
 a substantially fluid impermeable bladder; and    a fluid controller comprising an electrically powered pump;    wherein the fluid controller is connected to the bladder in a position such that the pump is located partially within a profile of the bladder, and when in the position, the fluid controller is adapted to permit air to exit the bladder through the fluid controller and be provided to the bladder through the fluid controller.    
     
     
         28 . The inflatable device of  claim 27 , wherein a majority of the fluid controller is positioned within the profile of the bladder.  
     
     
         29 . The inflatable device of  claim 27 , wherein the fluid controller comprises a housing having a flange that connects to the bladder.  
     
     
         30 . The inflatable device of  claim 27 , wherein the bladder is shaped and sized so as to form a mattress.  
     
     
         31 . The inflatable device of  claim 27 , wherein the fluid controller comprises a valve through which the air exits the bladder.

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