Fluid contour cushion for beds and seats

Abstract

A cushion for an air/water bed and the like includes several cushion segments. Pipes extend between the cushion segments and are inflated with a fluid from a reservoir. Interconnecting tubes provided fluid from a reservoir and allow the fluid to flow from one segment to another as a user is moving or shifting his body across the segments.

I claim: 
     
         1 . A cushion for a bed for other support member comprising:
 a plurality of cushion segments;   a flat element supporting said cushion segments;   a plurality of pipes extending upwardly from said flat element between said segments, said pipes including respective top sections arranged and constructed to support the user; a fluid reservoir; and a plurality of pipes arranged and constructed to provide fluid exchange between the pipes and the fluid reservoir in response of movement of the user on the tops.   
     
     
         2 . The cushion of  claim 1  further comprising a holder disposed on said flat element, said holder including a plurality of tubes, each tube supporting one of said pipes. 
     
     
         3 . The cushion of  claim 2  wherein said pipes have pipe tops extend above said holder. 
     
     
         4 . The cushion of  claim 1  wherein each segment has a set of said tubes. 
     
     
         5 . The cushion of  claim 1  wherein each set of tubes is connected to one of said pipes so that the tubes of said set are pressurized or depressurized simultaneously. 
     
     
         6 . The cushion of  claim 1  further comprising a plurality of valves, each valve controlling fluid flow to said pipes. 
     
     
         7 . The cushion of  claim 6  further comprising a controller selectively controlling said valves.