Air Controller With Vibration Isolators

Abstract

An air controller can include an air pump, a flow control assembly, and vibration isolators. The vibration isolators can be positioned between the flow control assembly and supporting structures, such as supporting structures of a housing, to dampen vibration of the flow control assembly. The air controller can inflate and deflate an inflatable air chamber of a mattress of an air bed.

1 . An air bed system comprising:
 a mattress comprising a first inflatable air chamber; and   an air controller fluidly connected to the first inflatable air chamber of the mattress for inflating and deflating the first inflatable air chamber, the air controller comprising:
 an air pump; 
 a flow control assembly fluidly connected between the air pump and the first inflatable air chamber; and 
 first and second supporting structures, wherein the flow control assembly is supported by a plurality of vibration isolators between the first and second supporting structure and the air controller. 
   
     
     
         2 . The air bed system of  claim 1 , wherein the air controller comprises a housing having a housing top and a housing bottom, wherein the first supporting structure is part of the housing top and the second supporting structure is part of the housing bottom, and wherein the vibration isolators reduce transmission of vibration from the flow control assembly to the housing compared to the air controller being in direct contact with the first or second supporting structure. 
     
     
         3 . The air bed system of  claim 1 , wherein the flow control assembly comprises an air manifold and a plurality of valves connected to the air manifold. 
     
     
         4 . The air bed system of  claim 3 , wherein the air manifold comprises a first vertical post having a first post top and a first post bottom and a second vertical post having a second post top and a second post bottom, wherein the plurality of vibration isolators are positioned between the post ends and the supporting structures. 
     
     
         5 . The air bed system of  claim 4 , wherein the plurality of valves are rigidly mounted to the air manifold along a length of the air manifold between the first vertical post and the second vertical post. 
     
     
         6 . The air bed system of  claim 3 , wherein the valves comprise solenoid valves rigidly mounted to the air manifold and wherein the air pump comprises a positive displacement pump spaced from the air manifold and connected to the air manifold via a tube. 
     
     
         7 . The air bed system of  claim 1 , wherein the air controller comprises a housing having a housing top and a housing bottom, wherein the first supporting structure is part of the housing top and the second supporting structure is part of the housing bottom, wherein a threaded fastener extends through holes defined by the housing bottom, the plurality of vibration isolators, the flow control assembly, and the housing top to connect the housing top to the housing bottom and to retain the flow control assembly within the housing. 
     
     
         8 . The air bed system of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of vibration isolators each comprise a cylindrical portion extending substantially circumferentially about an axis and an annular portion extending substantially radially with respect to the axis and having an inner rim that defines a hole and an outer rim connected to an end of the cylindrical portion. 
     
     
         9 . The air bed system of  claim 8 , wherein the annular portion comprises a first set of projections extending from a first side of the annular portion and a second set of projections extending from a second side of the annular portion, wherein the second side is positioned opposite the first side. 
     
     
         10 . The air bed system of  claim 9 , wherein the first set of projections each extend radially from the inner rim to the outer rim and the second set of projections are shaped differently than the first set of projections. 
     
     
         11 . The air bed system of  claim 10 , wherein the second set of projections are positioned proximate to and spaced from an inner surface of the cylindrical portion. 
     
     
         12 . The air bed system of  claim 10 , wherein the flow control assembly comprises a first vertical post having a first post top and a first post bottom, wherein one of the plurality of vibration isolators is positioned between the first post top and the first supporting structure with the cylindrical portion wrapped around a circumferential portion of the first post top with the second set of projections abutting an end of the first post top, the first set of projections abutting the first supporting structure, and the inner rim abutting the first supporting structure. 
     
     
         13 . The air bed system of  claim 12 , wherein a second of the plurality of vibration isolators is positioned between the first post bottom and the second supporting structure with the cylindrical portion of the second of the plurality of vibration isolators wrapped around a circumferential portion of the first post bottom, with the second set of projections of the second supporting structure abutting an end of the first post bottom, the first set of projections of the second of the plurality of vibration isolators abutting a printed circuit board, and the inner rim of the second of the plurality of vibration isolators abutting the second supporting structure. 
     
     
         14 . The air bed system of  claim 9 , wherein the flow control assembly comprises a post having a post end, wherein one of the plurality of vibration isolators is positioned between the post end and the first supporting structure with the cylindrical portion wrapped around a circumferential portion of the post, with the second set of projections abutting the post end, with the first set of projections abutting the first supporting structure, and with the inner rim abutting the first supporting structure. 
     
     
         15 . The air bed system of  claim 8 , wherein the flow control assembly comprises a post having a post end, wherein one of the plurality of vibration isolators is positioned between the post end and the first supporting structure with the cylindrical portion wrapped around a circumferential portion of the post, with the annular portion abutting the post end and the first supporting structure. 
     
     
         16 . The air bed system of  claim 1 , wherein the vibrations isolators comprise an elastomer. 
     
     
         17 . An air controller comprising:
 an air pump;   a flow control assembly having an air manifold fluidly connected to the air pump and a plurality of valves mounted to the air manifold;   a housing comprising a housing top having a first supporting structure and a housing bottom having a second supporting structure, wherein the flow control assembly is supported between the first and second supporting structures; and   a plurality of vibration isolators positioned between the first or second supporting structure and the flow control assembly or air pump.   
     
     
         18 . The air controller of  claim 17 , wherein the each of the plurality of vibration isolators comprise a cylindrical portion extending substantially circumferentially about an axis and an annular portion extending substantially radially with respect to the axis and having an inner rim that defines a hole and an outer rim connected to an end of the cylindrical portion and wherein the annular portion comprises a first set of projections extending from a first side of the annular portion and a second set of projections extending from a second side of the annular portion, wherein the second side is positioned opposite the first side. 
     
     
         19 . An air controller comprising:
 an air pump;   a flow control assembly having an air manifold fluidly connected to the air pump and a plurality of valves mounted to the air manifold;   a housing comprising a first support structure and a second support structure; and   means for dampening transmission of vibration from the flow control assembly or air pump to the housing.   
     
     
         20 . The air controller of  claim 19 , wherein the manifold includes a first vertical post that extends along an axis and has a first post top and a first post bottom opposite to the first post top along the axis, the means positioned between and supported by the first supporting structure and the first post top. 
     
     
         21 . The air controller of  claim 20 , wherein the means for damping transmission of vibration is a first means for damping transmission of vibration, wherein the manifold includes a second vertical post that extends along an axis and has a second post top and a second post bottom opposite to the second post top along the axis, the air controller further comprising a second means for dampening transmission of vibration from the flow control assembly to the housing, the second means positioned between and supported by the second supporting structure and the second post top.