Controllable beds

Abstract

A support structure for supporting a human body. The support structure includes a plurality of zones, including a hip zone, a lumbar zone, and a shoulder zone. The support structure includes at least one air bladder cell being disposed in each of the plurality of zones, each of the at least one air bladder cell being a hermetically sealed body. An air pressure controller includes a plurality of air pumps being connected to a pliable manifold, the pliable manifold being connected to one or more of a plurality of solenoid valves. A plurality of inlet tubes can each be connected at a first end to one of the plurality of solenoid valves and at a second end to the inlet port of one of the at least one air bladder cell. The number of air bladder cells can be greater than the number of zones.

1 . A support structure for supporting a human body, the support structure comprising:
 a plurality of zones, each of the plurality of zones being adjacent another in a configuration to support at least a portion of the human body;   at least one air bladder cell being disposed in each of the plurality of zones, each of the at least one air bladder cell being a hermetically sealed body having a hollow interior space and an inlet port;   an air pressure controller, the air pressure controller comprising a plurality of air pumps, each of the plurality of air pumps being fluidly connected to a singular pliable manifold having a primary tube portion and a secondary tube portion, the singular pliable manifold being fluidly connected to one or more of a plurality of solenoid valves, the air pressure controller also comprising a plurality of inlet tubes, each of the plurality of inlet tubes being fluidly connected at a first end to one of the plurality of solenoid valves and at a second end to the inlet port of one of the at least one air bladder cell; and   a power supply connected to the air pressure controller.   
     
     
         2 . The support structure of  claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of zones comprises one of a hip zone, a lumbar zone, and a shoulder zone. 
     
     
         3 . The support structure of  claim 2 , wherein the lumbar zone further comprises an upper lumbar zone and a lower lumbar zone. 
     
     
         4 . The support structure of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of air pumps are DC powered. 
     
     
         5 . The support structure of  claim 1 , wherein the singular pliable manifold is L-shaped, and wherein the singular pliable manifold comprises silicone. 
     
     
         6 . The support structure of  claim 1 , wherein the air pressure controller is disposed in the support structure. 
     
     
         7 . The support structure of  claim 1 , wherein the power supply includes a voltage converter. 
     
     
         8 . The support structure of  claim 1 , wherein the air pressure controller further comprises an exhaust solenoid valve, the exhaust solenoid valve being in fluid communication with one or more of the at least one air bladder cell. 
     
     
         9 . The support structure of  claim 1 , wherein the air pressure controller further comprises an electronic control board to selectively control one or more of the plurality of air pumps and one or more of the plurality of solenoid valves. 
     
     
         10 . The support structure of  claim 9 , wherein the plurality of air pumps comprises a first air pump and a second air pump and the plurality of solenoid valves comprises a first solenoid valve and a second solenoid valve, the first solenoid valve is in fluid communication with a first air bladder cell disposed in a first zone of the plurality of zones and the second solenoid valve is in fluid communication with a second air bladder cell disposed in a second zone of the plurality of zones; and
 wherein the air pressure controller is to: (i) energize the first air pump and actuate the first solenoid valve in a first operational mode to direct air into the first air bladder cell in the first zone; and (ii) energize the first and second air pumps and actuate the first and second solenoid valves in a second operational mode to direct air into the first air bladder cell in the first zone and the second air bladder cell in the second zone.   
     
     
         11 . The support structure of  claim 1 , wherein a number of air bladder cells is greater than a number of zones. 
     
     
         12 . A support structure for supporting a human body, the support structure comprising:
 a plurality of zones, each of the plurality of zones being adjacent another in one of a plurality of side-by-side columns, each of the plurality of side-by-side columns configured to support at least a portion of a human body;   at least one air bladder cell being disposed in each of the plurality of zones, each of the at least one air bladder cell being a hermetically sealed body having a hollow interior space and an inlet port;   an air pressure controller, the air pressure controller comprising a plurality of air pumps, each of the plurality of air pumps being fluidly connected to a singular pliable manifold having a first tube portion and a second tube portion, the singular pliable manifold being fluidly connected to one or more of a plurality of solenoid valves, the air pressure controller further comprising a plurality of inlet tubes, each of the plurality of inlet tubes being fluidly connected at a first end to one of the plurality of solenoid valves and at a second end to the inlet port of one of the at least one air bladder cell;   an electronic control board for selective control of each air pump of the plurality of air pumps and each solenoid valve of the plurality of solenoid valves; and   a power supply connected to the air pressure controller.   
     
     
         13 . The support structure of  claim 12 , wherein a quantity of the at least one air bladder cell is greater than a quantity of the plurality of zones. 
     
     
         14 . The support structure of  claim 12 , wherein the electronic control board is housed in the air pressure controller. 
     
     
         15 . The support structure of  claim 14 , wherein the electronic control board comprises wireless communication circuitry, the wireless communication circuitry for establishing a communication channel between the support structure and one or more of a smart phone, a tablet, a virtual assistant, speakers, lighting, window coverings, and a remote computing server. 
     
     
         16 . The support structure of  claim 12 , wherein the plurality of air pumps comprises a first air pump and a second air pump and the plurality of solenoid valves comprises a first solenoid valve and a second solenoid valve, the first solenoid valve is in fluid communication with a first air bladder cell disposed in a first zone of the plurality of zones and the second solenoid valve is in fluid communication with a second air bladder cell disposed in a second zone of the plurality of zones; and
 wherein the air pressure controller is to: (i) energize the first air pump and actuate the first solenoid valve in a first operational mode to direct air into the first air bladder cell in the first zone; and (ii) energize the first and second air pumps and actuate the first and second solenoid valves in a second operational mode to direct air into the first air bladder cell in the first zone and the second air bladder cell in the second zone.   
     
     
         17 . The support structure of  claim 12 , wherein the first tube portion feeds into the second tube portion such that the single pliable manifold is L-shaped, and wherein the singular pliable manifold comprises silicone. 
     
     
         18 . The support structure of  claim 12 , wherein the air pressure controller is disposed in the support structure. 
     
     
         19 . The support structure of  claim 12 , wherein one or more of the plurality of air pumps are powered by DC voltage; and wherein the power supply comprises an AC-DC voltage converter. 
     
     
         20 . The support structure of  claim 12 , wherein the air pressure controller further comprises an exhaust solenoid valve, the exhaust solenoid valve being in fluid communication with one or more of the at least one air bladder cell. 
     
     
         21 . A support structure for supporting a human body, the support structure comprising:
 a plurality of zones, each of the plurality of zones being adjacent another in a configuration to support at least a portion of the human body, and each of the plurality of zones being one of a hip zone, a lumbar zone, and a shoulder zone;   at least one air bladder cell being disposed in each of the plurality of zones, of the at least one air bladder cell being a hermetically sealed body having a hollow interior space and an inlet port;   a head zone disposed at a proximal end of the support structure and a foot zone disposed at a distal end of the support structure, each of the head zone and the foot zone comprising a non-inflatable cushion;   an air pressure controller, the air pressure controller comprising a plurality of air pumps, each of the plurality of air pumps fluidly connected to one singular pliable manifold, the one singular pliable manifold being L-shaped and fluidly connected to one or more of a plurality of solenoid valves, the air pressure controller further comprising a plurality of inlet tubes, each of the plurality of inlet tubes being fluidly connected at a first end to one of the plurality of solenoid valves and at a second end to the inlet port of one of the at least one air bladder cell;   an electronic control board for selective control of each air pump of the plurality of air pumps and each solenoid valve of the plurality of solenoid valves; and   a power supply connected to the air pressure controller.   
     
     
         22 . The support structure of  claim 21 , wherein the one singular pliable manifold comprises silicone. 
     
     
         23 . The support structure of  claim 21 , wherein the air pressure controller is disposed in the support structure. 
     
     
         24 . The support structure of  claim 23 , wherein the air pressure controller is encapsulated in a dampening material. 
     
     
         25 . The support structure of  claim 23 , wherein the air pressure controller is disposed in the foot zone of the support structure. 
     
     
         26 . The support structure of  claim 21 , wherein the electronic control board comprises wireless communication circuitry, the wireless communication circuitry for establishing a communication channel between the support structure and one or more of a smart phone, a tablet, a virtual assistant, speakers, lighting, window coverings, and a remote computing server. 
     
     
         27 . The support structure of  claim 21 , wherein the air pressure controller further comprises an exhaust solenoid valve, the exhaust solenoid valve being in fluid communication with one or more of the at least one air bladder cell.