Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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CONTROLLABLE BEDS
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] The present application claims priority to U.S.
Provisional Patent Application
Serial No. 62/965,775, filed on January 24, 2020, the disclosure of which is
incorporated herein
by reference in its entirety.
TECHNICAL FIELD
100021 Embodiments of the technology relate, in general, to
controllable beds, including
without limitation beds that incorporate inflatable bladders.
BACKGROUND
[0003] Beds having mattresses having inflatable bladders for the
support of a prone human
body can aid in better sleep conditions However, providing for effective
bladder inflation control
while also minimizing noise and vibration, can be challenging.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0004] It is believed that certain embodiments will be better
understood from the following
description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like
references
indicate similar elements and in which:
[0005] FIG. 1 is a schematic side elevation representation of an
embodiment of a support
structure;
[0006] FIG. 2 is a schematic side elevation representation of an
embodiment of another
support structure;
[0007] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an embodiment of an air
pressure controller;
[0008] FIG. 4 is a bottom perspective view of the air pressure
controller of FIG. 3;
[0009] FIG. 5 is a right-rear perspective view of the air
pressure controller of FIG. 3;
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[0010] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the air pressure
controller of FIG. 3 with the upper
housing portion removed;
[0011] FIG. 7 is a plan view of the air pressure controller of
FIG. 3 with the upper housing
portion removed;
[0012] FIG. 8 is a cross sectional view of the air pressure
controller taken along line 8-8
of FIG. 6;
[0013] FIG. 9 is a rear elevation sectional view of the air
pressure controller taken along
line 9-9 of FIG. 7;
[0014] FIG. 10 is a partial perspective cross sectional view of
an embodiment of an air
pressure controller of FIG. 3 with the rear panel removed and showing a
representative foot,
[0015] FIG. 11 is a partial perspective view of an embodiment of
the air pressure controller
of FIG. 3 showing alternative feet;
[0016] FIG. 12 is another partial perspective view of an
embodiment of the air pressure
controller of FIG. 3 showing alternative feet;
[0017] FIG. 13 is another partial perspective view of an
embodiment of the air pressure
controller of FIG. 3 showing alternative feet;
100181 FIG. 14 depicts an embodiment of the air pressure
controller of FIG. 3 showing
representative dimensions in centimeters;
[0019] FIG. 15 is a perspective view of a manifold of the air
pressure controllers shown
and disclosed herein;
[0020] FIG. 16 is a bottom-left perspective view of the manifold
of FIG. 15;
[0021] FIG. 17 is a plan view of the manifold of FIG. 15;
[0022] FIG. 18 is rear view of the manifold of FIG. 15;
[0023] FIG. 19 is a rotated right side view of the manifold of
FIG. 15;
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[0024] FIG. 20 is a cross sectional view of the manifold taken
along Section A-A of FIG.
19;
[0025] FIG. 21 is a schematic depiction of an embodiment of a
system of the present
disclosure;
[0026] FIG. 22 is a schematic depiction of an embodiment of a
system of the present
disclosure;
[0027] FIG. 23 is a schematic depiction of an embodiment of a
system of the present
disclosure;
[0028] FIG. 24 is a schematic depiction of an embodiment of a
system of the present
disclosure;
[0029] FIG. 25 is a schematic depiction of an embodiment of a
system of the present
disclosure;
[0030] FIG. 26 is a schematic depiction of an embodiment of a
support structure,
[0031] FIG. 27 is a schematic depiction of an embodiment of a
support structure, and
[0032] FIG. 28 is a schematic depiction of an embodiment of a
support structure.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0033] Various non-limiting embodiments of the present disclosure
will now be described
to provide an overall understanding of the principles of the structure,
function, and use of the
apparatuses, systems, methods, and processes disclosed herein. One or more
examples of these
non-limiting embodiments are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Those
of ordinary skill
in the art will understand that systems and methods specifically described
herein and illustrated in
the accompanying drawings are non-limiting embodiments. The features
illustrated or described
in connection with one non-limiting embodiment may be combined with the
features of other non-
limiting embodiments. Such modifications and variations are intended to be
included within the
scope of the present disclosure.
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[0034] Reference throughout the specification to "various
embodiments," "some
embodiments," "one embodiment," "some example embodiments," "one example
embodiment,"
or "an embodiment" means that a particular feature, structure, or
characteristic described in
connection with any embodiment is included in at least one embodiment. Thus,
appearances of
the phrases "in various embodiments," "in some embodiments," "in one
embodiment," "some
example embodiments," "one example embodiment, or "in an embodiment" in places
throughout
the specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment.
Furthermore, the
particular features, structures or characteristics may be combined in any
suitable manner in one or
more embodiments.
[0035] The examples discussed herein are examples only and are
provided to assist in the
explanation of the apparatuses, devices, systems and methods described herein.
None of the
features or components shown in the drawings or discussed below should be
taken as mandatory
for any specific implementation of any of the apparatuses, devices, systems or
methods unless
specifically designated as mandatory. For ease of reading and clarity, certain
components,
modules, or methods may be described solely in connection with a specific
figure. Any failure to
specifically describe a combination or sub-combination of components should
not be understood
as an indication that any combination or sub-combination is not possible.
Also, for any methods
described, regardless of whether the method is described in conjunction with a
flow diagram, it
should be understood that unless otherwise specified or required by context,
any explicit or implicit
ordering of steps performed in the execution of a method does not imply that
those steps must be
performed in the order presented but instead may be performed in a different
order or in parallel.
[0036] Solutions to the problems associated with effective
control of bladder inflation and
control in bed components can be achieved with embodiments of the bladder
control apparatuses,
methods, and systems disclosed here in. In general, the apparatuses, methods,
and systems of the
present disclosure provide for relatively fast, quiet, and adaptable
inflation, deflation, and inflation
control of one or more bladders incorporated in a support structure, such as a
mattress for a bed.
The bladder control apparatus of the present disclosure will be described in
the context of a
mattress for bed, but it is understood that the structure, features, and
benefits described herein can
be applied to other bladder control contexts.
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[0037] Referring now to FIG. 1, there is shown a schematic side
elevation representation
of an embodiment of a support structure 10, which can include a mattress for a
bed 20 on which a
person 30 can lay down. The support structure 10 can incorporate one or more
air bladder cells
22, such as air bladder cells 22A-22F, each of which function as an adaptive
cushion, being
adaptable for changing conditions and control instructions. The support
structure 10 can be of an
appropriate size and shape for use on a standard single bed, double bed, queen
size bed, king size
bed, or hospital bed. However, the size and shape of the support structure 10
can be varied to suit
different applications, such as for use on a fixed chair or wheel chair. Of
course, it should be
appreciated that the support structure 10 can also be sized and shaped for use
on any type of bed,
platform, or furniture.
[0038] The support structure 10 can adjust to body force
concentrations on a body of a
person 30 lying on the bed by adjusting the pressure of one or more air
bladder cells 22. Each air
bladder cell 22 can be sealingly joined at edges thereof to form a
hermetically sealed body. Each
air bladder cell 22 can be a laterally elongated, rectangular shape and can be
made of a thin sheet
of a flexible, elastomeric material such as neoprene rubber or polyurethane,
having a thickness of
about 0.014 inch. The side and end panels of each air bladder cell 22 can be
sealingly joined at
edges thereof to form a hermetically sealed body which has a hollow interior
space. Optionally,
each air bladder cell 22 may be fabricated from a tubular preform in which
each end panel is
sealingly joined to opposite transverse ends of the tubular preform. In either
embodiment, adjacent
panels of an individual air bladder cell 22 can be sealingly joined by a
suitable method such as
ultrasonic bonding, RF-welding or adhesive bonding.
[0039] The number, size, shape, thickness, relative positioning
and spacing of air bladder
cells 22 of can be varied as desired. As depicted in FIG. 1, the air bladder
cells 22 22A-22E can
be placed for support of one or more of the legs, hips, lumbar, shoulder, and
head regions of a
person 30, respectively, as indicated.
[0040] The support structure 10 can provide support to a person
in discrete support zones,
with each zone being associated with a targeted portion of the person's body.
In an example, a
support structure 10 can provide for adjustable support in one or more of a
head zone, a shoulder
zone, a lumbar zone (upper and/or lower), a hip zone, and a foot zone. Each
column of air bladder
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cells 22 can span a plurality of zones. For example, from three to six zones
can be arranged,
corresponding to locations along the major curvature of a longitudinally
disposed medial section
of a typical human body. As depicted in an example embodiment, as shown in
FIG. 1, a support
structure 10 can be a bed 20 having six air bladder cells 22 and four support
zones 50, e.g., a
combined head and leg support zone 50A that includes air bladder cells 22A,
22B and 22F, a
shoulder support zone 50B including air bladder cell 22E, a lumbar support
zone 50C including
air bladder cell 22D, and a hip support zone 50D including air bladder cell
22C. Thus, in the
embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the support structure 10 has six air bladder cells
22 and four support
zones 50, but, in general, the support structure can have more than six air
bladder cells, and equal
or fewer support zones than air bladder cells. In an embodiment, the air
bladder cells 22 can be
arranged closely together in both front and rear and side by side directions,
with minimum
longitudinal and lateral spacings, respectively, that are vanishingly small so
that adjacent bladder
cells physically contact each other
100411 In another representative embodiment, as depicted in FIG.
2, the support structure
can include a combination of air bladders cells 22 and cushion members 42,
which can be non-
inflated cushions such as foam cushions. In the embodiment illustrated, two
cushion members 42
are provided, a leg zone cushion 42A placed in a leg support zone 50E, and a
head zone cushion
42B placed in a head support zone 50F. Further with reference to FIG. 2, in an
embodiment, the
support structure 10 can have three support zones, a first support zone 50G
that can be hip support
zone, a second support zone 50H that can be a lumbar support zone, and a third
support zone 501
that can be a shoulder support zone, with each support zone having one or more
air bladder cells.
It should be appreciated that the support structure may include any number of
air bladder cells 22
and/or support zones 50, or combination of support zones 50 and air bladder
cells 22.
100421 One or more of the air bladder cells 22, including at
least one air bladder cell 22
per support zone 50, can be provided with an air inlet port 24 which can
protrude through a side
wall, e.g., a left or right side wall, and provides for fluid communication
with a hollow interior
space within the air bladder cell 22. Air admitted into or exhausted from
hollow interior space
through an air inlet port 24 of an air bladder cell 22 enables the air bladder
cell to be inflated or
deflated to a selected, predetermined, or adaptively changed pressure.
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[0043] Although the shape of each air bladder cell 22 of can be
that of a rectangular block,
or parallelepiped, the air bladder cells 22 may optionally have different
shapes, such as convex
hemispheres protruding upwards from the base of the cushion.
[0044] Referring now to FIG. 3, there is shown an example air
pressure controller 100 for
controlling the air pressure in one or more air bladder cells 22.
[0045] Each air inlet port 24 of an air bladder cell 22 can be
operatively connected to the
air pressure controller 100, which can provide fluid, e.g., air, communication
into the air bladder
cells 22 via one or more inlet tubes 110, such as inlet tubes 110A-110D shown
in FIG. 3. In an
embodiment, the air bladder cell(s) 22 for a single zone can be connected to a
single inlet tube 110.
Thus, in an embodiment a single inlet tube 110 may provide for air passage to
more than one air
bladder cell 22. Each inlet tube 110 can have a connector 118, which can be a
quick disconnect
connector, that connects to a mating feature on the air inlet port 24 or to an
extension tube (not
shown) connected to the air inlet port 24. Each inlet tube 110 exits the
housing 112 of the air
pressure controller 100, which can include an upper housing portion 112A and a
matingly
connectable lower housing portion 112B. Power to the air pressure controller
100 can be provided
by a power cord 170, shown in an example embodiment in FIG. 21, which can,
plug into a power
connection 142, such as the barrel connector shown in FIG. 5. A Universal
Serial Bus (USB) cable
115 can be connected to the air pressure controller 100 at a USB port 146, as
shown in FIGS. 3
and 5. The USB cable 115 can be routed from the air pressure controller 100 to
one or more of a
plurality of sensors on the support structure, and can transmit data from the
one or more of a
plurality of pressure sensors for controlling the air pressure in the air
bladder cells, described herein
below. It should be appreciated that power can be provided via any other
suitable mechanism for
providing power to the air pressure controller 100 (e.g, PoE, busbar, wire and
conduit, external
power storage unit, etc.).
[0046] Referring now to FIG. 4, the lower side of the air
pressure controller 100 can
include one or more feet 114 for floor-mounted or surface-mounted
configurations. In general,
the feet 114 can be made of a relatively soft and non-slip material (or
combination of materials),
such as rubber or neoprene, and can serve to reduce the transmission of
vibrations from the air
pressure controller 100 to or from a mounting surface, such as the floor of a
user's bedroom or on
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a table or nightstand. Air vents 116 permit air to enter the housing 112 for
eventual transmission
to or from the air bladder cells 22 via one or more air pumps 120, which are
described below in
connection with FIG. 6. One or more channels 117 can provide for securing
cords, such as the
USB cable 115 and/or the USB cable 115 for secure, strain-relieved operation.
[0047] Referring now to FIG. 5, the air pressure controller 100
can include a control panel
portion, such as an end or rear panel opposite the inlet tubes 110. For
example, an end panel can
include a connection and control panel 140, which may include connections for
various control
components, as well as user input components (e.g., toggle switches,
touchscreens, buttons, etc.)
and/or indicators (e.g., LED lights, display panels, etc.) for providing users
with visual signals
showing operational status, selected options, and/or user-specific preferences
or data. For
example, the connection and control panel 140 can include a power connection
142, an on/off
switch, a power status indicator 144, a USB port 146, Wi-Fi and/or BLUETOOTH
connection
status indicator 148, a reset button, and the like.
[0048] Referring now to FIG. 6, there is shown a perspective view
of the representative air
pressure controller 100 with the upper housing portion 112A removed to show
various example
components and features. In general, the air pressure controller 100 can
include a plurality of air
pumps 120, each of which can be operatively connected to a pliable manifold
122, through which
air from the air pumps 120 can flow to a plurality of solenoid valves 124,
each of which is
connected to an inlet tube 110. In an example, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the
pliable manifold can
be connected by a suitable connection to a first solenoid valve 124 of an
interconnected plurality
of solenoids 124, with the interconnection including a closed path for the air
flow to continue
through the first solenoid valve to the last solenoid valve 124. Thus, air
from one or more of the
plurality of air pumps 120 can flow to a first solenoid valve 124, and then
through one or more of
the remaining solenoid valves 124 to provide air flow to any or all of the
solenoid valves 124. The
pliable manifold 122 is pliable relative to manifolds made of rigid materials
such as rigid polymers,
metal, composites, and the like. In an embodiment, the pliable manifold
comprises silicone. The
air pumps 120 can be low voltage DC powered, such as 24-VDC or 12-VDC pumps.
In operation,
air can be selectively pumped from outside the air pressure controller 100 by
one or more of the
air pumps 120, each of which supply to and through the pliable manifold 122,
and selectively
through one or more of the solenoid valves 124 and then through an inlet tube
110 and into one or
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more air bladder cells 22 of a support zone 50. The operation of the pumps,
solenoids, and other
operation components can be selectively and individually controlled via
various components of an
electronic control board 126, which can be or include a multifunction
processor. The electronic
control board 126 can include a RS-232 connection for serial communication of
data, a CAN bus,
Ethernet capability, connectivity for USB, Bluetooth connections, multichannel
Wi-Fi, and I/0
functionality for receiving, analyzing, reporting, or otherwise handling data
from pressure inputs
from one or more sensors in one or more zones. The electronic control board
126 is operationally
connected to the features of the control panel 140 in a manner as is known in
the field of controls.
100491 Referring now to FIG. 7, in a plan view of the air
pressure controller 100 with the
upper housing portion 112A removed, one example embodiment is illustrated in
which there are
four air pumps 120, each of which can pump air, either singly or in
combination with one or more
other air pumps, into the pliable manifold 122. The pliable manifold 122
directs air flow to, in the
illustrated embodiment, four solenoid valves 124. A fifth solenoid valve 124A
can be actuated as
a vent to release air from one or more of the air bladder cells 22. In
general, any number of air
pumps 120 and any number of solenoid valves 124 can be selectively utilized.
Each solenoid valve
124 can have a return hose 132 that provides fluid communication to a
corresponding pressure
transducer 134, which can utilize pressure feedback from a zone to facilitate
proper pressure
control in the zone's associated air bladder cell(s) 22. In operation, manual
or programmed signals
from the control board 126 can selectively actuate one or more air pumps 120
depending on the
amount and rate of air flow desired into one or more air bladder cells 22. In
an embodiment, for
example, if minimal air flow is desired or required for a relatively small
volumetric change in an
air bladder cell 22, one air pump 120 can be activated. However, if maximum
air flow is desired,
for example, for initial filling of one or all of the air bladder cells 22,
all four air pumps 120 can
be activated. As certain of the air bladder cells 22 fill to the desired
pressure, their respective
solenoids 124 can be selectively activated to shut off air flow, while air
flow remains to the other
air bladder cells 22.
100501 Thus, as can be understood from the description herein, a
bed utilizing the systems
and apparatuses of the support structure 10 of the present disclosure can
include a support structure
having a plurality of zones 50 of support, the zones being associated with
portions of the human
body, such as the head, shoulders, lumbar, hips, and feet. The number of zones
50 can be, for
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example, between two and ten, or between three and six. Each zone 50 can have
associated
therewith one or more air bladder cells 22. In an embodiment, all the air
bladder cells for a single
zone 50 are operationally connected to the air pressure controller 110 by an
inlet tube 110. Thus,
in general, there can be one inlet tube 110 for each zone 50. In an
embodiment, a bed of the present
disclosure can have five air bladder cells 22 and four zones 50; or ten air
bladder cells 22 and six
zones 50.
100511 Referring now to FIG. 8, which is a cut-away perspective
view of the air pressure
controller 100, various example mounting features are shown. Each of the air
pumps 120 can be
mounted in secure placement by being clamped between the upper housing portion
112A and the
lower housing portion 112B. In an embodiment, a cushioning member 128 is
disposed between
the outer housing of the air pump 120 and the housing 112 components to dampen
noise and
vibration. Each air pump 120 can be electrically powered through electrical
connectors 130, as
shown in FIG. 9.
100521 Referring now to FIG. 10, a representative design of one
of the feet 114 is shown.
FIGS. 11-13 illustrate other non-limiting design examples of feet 114.
100531 FIG. 14 shows a representative air pressure controller 100
with representative
dimensions in centimeters. By way of example, the air pressure controller 100
can have a width
dimension W of between about 150 cm and 350 cm, and can be about 210 cm. The
air pressure
controller 100 can have a length L of between about 150 cm and about 350 cm,
an can be about
218 cm. The air pressure controller 100 can have a height dimension H of
between about 50 cm
and about 150 cm, and can be about 91 cm. It should be appreciated that the
air pressure controller
110 can have any other dimensions depending on the specific application (e.g.,
controlling air
bladders in a single bed vs a king sized bed or embodiments in which
additional air bladder cells
need to be controlled).
100541 The pliable manifold 122 is shown in more detail in FIGS.
15-20. FIGS. 15 and 16
show a top and bottom perspective views, respectively, of the pliable manifold
122. FIG. 17 shows
a top plan view, and FIG. 18 shows a rear elevation view of the pliable
manifold 122. FIG. 19
shows a rotated right side elevation view, and FIG. 20 shows the cross-section
A-A of FIG. 19.
The various features will be described with respect to FIGS. 14 and 15, with
like features being
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evident in FIGS. 16-19. As shown, the pliable manifold 122 can have a
generally L-shape, with a
primary tube portion 150 that feeds into a secondary tube portion 152. A first
end portion 154 can
be plugged in operation, while a second end portion 156 can be operationally
connected to the
solenoid valves. A third end portion 158 can have an emergency relief valve
integrated therein, or
joined thereto, as described above. Each of the air pumps 120, as described
above, can be joined
to a manifold inlet tube 160 that can have a flange portion 162 that aids in
making a leakless joint
with the air pump. Webbing 164 between the inlet tubes 160 can provide for
dimensional stability,
and, as well, can have portions defining holes 166 that can be used to connect
or secure the pliable
manifold in position.
100551 As can be understood from the above description, a support
structure 10 can benefit
from the features and components of the air pressure controller 100, which
provide for effective
air bladder cell inflation while also minimizing noise and vibration. By
"ganging" a plurality of
air pumps 120 into a single manifold, for example, an effective amount of air
(measured, for
example, in cubic feet per minute) through pliable manifold 122 to solenoid
valves 124, can be
moved in a variable, quiet manner. When initially filling the air bladder
cells 22, for example, all
of the plurality of air pumps 120 can be energized and utilized. During use,
less than all of the
plurality of air pumps 120, including one air pump 120, can be utilized to
maintain, change, or
otherwise alter the pressure in any given air bladder cell 22. Because each
air pump 120 feeds into
a single pliable manifold 122, any or all of the air pumps 120 can be used to
provide air to any of
the solenoid valves 124. Using low voltage DC air pumps reduces noise and
vibration as well as
increases safety to a user. Further, noise and vibration can be reduced due to
the variably reduced
use of air pumps 120, as well as the noise and vibration isolation mounting
when integrated into
the housing 112, as described above. Additionally, by essentially "cross-
connecting" each of the
air pumps 120 to any of the solenoid valves 124, air flow to any or all of the
inlet tubes 110, and
eventually the air bladder cells 22 can be optimized and/or maximized.
100561 The pliable manifold 122 offers numerous advantages to the
operation of the air
pressure controller 100. In an embodiment, the pliable manifold 122 can be
made of rubber,
flexible plastic, and/or silicone. The pliable manifold 122 reduces noise,
reduces vibration,
minimizes or eliminates water or chemical damage, and can reduce costs to make
and use. The
pliable manifold 122 can have incorporated therein or thereon a pressure
relief valve 136. The
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pressure relief valve can be a safety feature that can serve as an emergency
relief valve in the event
of an over-pressure condition. The pressure relief valve 136 can be a Venturi
valve that, in addition
to permitting air release there through, also provides an audible signal, such
as a whistling sound,
upon activation or operation.
[0057] In some embodiments, the air pressure controller 100 can
be attached or otherwise
positioned proximate to a foot or distal portion of the support structure 10.
However, it should be
appreciated that the air pressure controller 100 can be attached or positioned
in other locations
relative to the support structure 10 (e.g., a side, a head portion of the
support structure 10, the floor,
attached to a wall, etc.). The air pressure controller 100 can be encapsulated
with foam or other
dampening material. In some embodiments, the air pressure controller 100 can
selectively pump
air to (and in some embodiments from) one or more air bladder cells 22 on a
single side of the
support structure 10 or multiple sides of the support structure 10. For
instance, in embodiments
(not shown) in which a first air pressure controller 100 selectively pumps air
to air bladders cells
22 located in a first side of the support structure 10, a second air pressure
controller 100 can be
utilized to selectively pump air to air bladder cells 22 located in a second
side of the support
structure 10.
[0058] In an embodiment, a support structure 10 in the form of a
bed can be configured as
described with reference to FIG. 21. In addition to the various features and
benefits described
above with reference to FIG. 2 in which all the previously described members
can be present, in
an example configuration the air pressure controller 100 can be located inside
the support structure
10, for example, inside a cushion member 42, such as inside the in the leg
zone cushion 42A. One
or more cables, such as the USB cable 115 can be operatively connected to one
or more sensors,
for example a matrix of sensors 192, two of which are schematically indicated
in a sensing layer
190 that can extend on all or a portion of the surface of the support
structure 10. In an embodiment,
a plurality of sensors 192, for example, from 50 to 5000 sensors 192, can be
incorporated into a
fabric extending over the surface of the bed. The plurality of sensors 192 can
be resistive elements
or capacitive elements evenly distributed in the sensing layer 190 to detect
pressure in one or more
of the zones, which pressure data can be utilized to cause one or more air
pumps 120 in the air
pressure controller 100 to pump air into one or more of the zones 50, or,
alternatively, permit air
out of one or more of the zones 50 via the respective air bladder cell(s) 22
contained therein. In
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an embodiment, one or more of the plurality of sensors 192 can be set or
adjusted for sensitivity,
such that pressure changes can have threshold values or reference values that
trigger a pressure
adjustment. In an embodiment, the air pressure controller 100 can be housed
and supported by a
controller housing (not shown), that is itself configured inside a cushion
member 42. The
controller housing can be, for example, a multi-piece member configured in one
or more pieces,
such as molded foam pieces, that cooperate to fit around and hold the air
pressure controller 100
securely in place, as well as to provide for openings for adequate air
circulation and cable access.
100591 The plurality of sensors 192 can detect localized
pressure, and transmit the localized
pressure data to the control board of the air pressure controller to respond,
if necessary by
executing instructions to vary the amount of air in one or more air bladder
cells in the zone of the
detected localized pressure. In an embodiment, a person 30 can predetermine,
such as by pre-
programming, one or more desired pressure profiles for the support structure
10. A pressure profile
can be set for each of various sleeping positions, such as on the back or on
the side. By the system
disclosed, real-time, feedback-controlled response of the air pressure
controller to increase or
decrease the amount of air in one or more air bladder cells 22 can
redistribute the air pressure to
reshape the bed in response to, for example, a person turning from her back to
her side. For
example, it may be that more inflation of the air bladder cells 22 in the back
zone 50 is desirable,
and less inflation of the air bladder cells 22 in each of the hip zone 50 and
shoulder zone 50, when
a person rolls onto her side from her back. Such redistribution of inflation
of air bladder cells 22
can be achieved by suitably linking the plurality of sensors 192 with control
components of the air
pressure controller 100 to sense, respond, and provide feedback in a loop that
operates to provide
for the pre-determined inflation levels. The distribution of inflation of air
bladder cells 22 can thus
be constantly monitored for each zone, with adjustments automatically made
while the person 30
sleeps.
100601 The air pressure controller 100 can draw in air from
outside the bed through any
suitable pathway, including, by example, through an air duct 119 having an
opening outside of the
bed, including any foam padding. Likewise, the air pressure controller 100 can
be placed such
that the control panel 140 faces exteriorly to the bed, as indicated in FIG.
21. The air pressure
controller 100 can have one or more inlet tubes 110 going to each of a
plurality of air bladder cells
22, as described above (one of which is representatively shown in FIG. 21).
The air pressure
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controller 100 can be powered by AC power, for example, from a 120 VAC wall
outlet via power
cord 170 and plug 174. Power can be transformed by transformer 172 from, for
example, 120
VAC to 12VDC to power the air pumps. In an embodiment, the transformer 172 can
be located
outside of the support stnicture 10, such as on a floor on which the support
structure 10 rests. In
this configuration, all relatively high voltage, and all AC voltage, is
decoupled from the support
structure 10, and, therefore, physically separated from a person 30 laying on
the support structure
10.
100611 As can be understood from the example embodiment of FIG.
21, several beneficial
advantages can be achieved in the support structure 10. The low voltage, DC
motors provide for
safe power that can be placed unobtrusively in a place where it is near to,
but invisible, to the
person 30 and undisturbed from inadvertent impact from outside influences.
Additionally, the
foam cushion can serve to dampen vibrations and sound, providing for quiet,
non-vibratory
operation. Finally, the transformer 172 is safely externally disposed with
respect to the support
structure 10, with only one cord being externally disposed.
100621 In an example embodiment described with reference to FIGS.
22-24, the support
structure 10, such as in the form of a bed, can be communicatively coupled to
any number of other
electronic devices (e.g., smart devices, IoT devices, computers, smartphones,
etc.) via one or more
wired and/or wireless communication channels. For example, as illustratively
shown in FIG. 22,
a support structure 10 can be in wireless communication with smartphone 200,
executing a
connected -app" from which various controls and settings can be managed, as
well as various data
received and analyzed. Likewise, as illustratively shown in FIGS. 23 and 24,
the support structure
can be in wireless communication with any number of electronic devices
240¨either local or
remotely located¨via one or more wireless communication channels (e.g., WiFi
communication
channels, BLUETOOTH communication channels, or any other wireless
communication channel).
In an example, a system of the present disclosure can include a support
structure 10 wirelessly
connected in a controlling relationship with devices 240 such as virtual
assistants (e.g., ALEXA,
GOOGLE), noise generators (e.g., speakers), tactile feedback generator (e.g.,
vibratory devices),
noise cancelling speakers, lighting, window coverings, doors, including garage
doors, alarm
systems, smart thermostats, and other devices impacting the environment of the
support structure
10. Further, as depicted in FIG. 25, biometric monitoring can be utilized to
monitor such
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parameters as movement and breathing, and can be analyzed to record, analyze,
and/or, report on
sleep quality, respiration, movement, and/or tissue pressure distribution and
management.
Biometric data can be displayed on devices such as laptops, tablets,
smartphones, and the like. In
embodiments in which the connection and control panel 140 includes a display
screen, such
biometric data can be displayed to a user on the air pressure controller 100
itself.
100631 In addition to the components and features described
above, the air pressure
controller 100 can be operationally configured to generate, gather, and/or
transmit data and reports
related to sleep time, sleep comfort, and sleep quality. For example, data
related to sleep activity
can be gathered and stored in cloud based storage. Such data can include, for
example, data related
to sleep comfort, sleep cycle, pressure distribution, respiration, heart rate,
body temperature, and
the like. Likewise, other data related to the sleep environment can be
gathered, analyzed, and/or
transmitted, including, for example, room lighting, room temperature, bed
temperature, noise
levels, and the like. In some embodiments, such data can be processed and
reports can be generated
locally by the air pressure controller 100 and then transmitted to a user's
connected device for
display. In other embodiments, data processing and report generation can be
performed by one or
more remote computing devices (e.g., remote servers, etc.) or remote computing
services (e.g.,
cloud services) and delivered to the user's connected device for display. In
such embodiments, the
air pressure controller 100 can be configured to transmit sensor data and
operational data to the
remote computing devices/services for analysis and report generation. It
should be appreciated
that portions of data processing and report generation can also be performed
by a combination of
the air pressure controller 100 and a remote computing device/service, in some
embodiments.
100641 Referring now to FIGS. 26-28, in an embodiment, the
support structure 10 can
feature left and right (e.g., side-by-side) columns of zones 50 of air bladder
cells (not shown), each
column 12 being arranged, for example, on a left side or right side of a bed,
such that a person 30
lay on one column of zones 50. As shown in FIGS. 26-28, a support structure 10
can include a
left column 12A of zones 50, shown as Li, L2, and L3, as well as a right
column 12B of zones 50,
designated as R1, R2, and R3. A single air pressure controller 100 can
selectively supply air to
one or more air bladder cells in one or more select zones 50 in either or both
of the columns 12.
The air pressure controller can selectively supply air from any combination of
air pumps 120 to
any combination of solenoid valves (as described above) as well as to any
combination of zones
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50. By way of example as shown in FIG. 26, the air pressure controller 100 can
selectively supply
air from four of six solenoid valves to four zones 50 indicated as Li and L2
for a person (not
shown) lying on the left side of the bed, and to two zones 50 indicated as R2
and R3 for a person
(not shown) lying on the right side of the bed. Likewise, as indicated in FIG.
27, the air pressure
controller 100 can selectively supply air from five of six solenoids to five
zones 50 indicated as
Li and L3 for a person (not shown) lying on the left side of the bed, and to
zones 50 indicated as
R1, R2 and R3 for a person (not shown) lying on the right side of the bed.
Likewise, as indicated
in FIG. 28, the air pressure controller 100 can selectively supply air from
two of six solenoid valves
to two zones 50 indicated as L3 for a person (not shown) lying on the left
side of the bed, and to
R2 for a person (not shown) lying on the right side of the bed. Any
combination of air supply can
be determined, including pre-determined, and the air pressure controller 100
components can
adjust the air pressure in any and all air bladder cells as needed. In an
embodiment, selective
adjustment of air in select zones can be manually adjusted. In an embodiment,
selective adjustment
of air in select zones can be automatically adjusted based on user-preferences
and/or other system
settings, and sensed need and/or feedback from the plurality of sensors 92,
including in feedback-
based, dynamic adjustment. In an embodiment, a multi-column configuration of
support structure
as described in FIGS. 26-28 can be supplied by two or more air pressure
controllers. In an
embodiment, a multi-column configuration of support structure 10 as described
in FIGS. 26-28
can have any number and placement of zones and air bladder cells, as well as
any number and
placement of cushions, such as the foot cushion 42A and/or the head cushion
42B shown in FIGS.
26-28.
100651 The foregoing description of embodiments and examples has
been presented for
purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive
or limiting to the forms
described. Numerous modifications are possible in light of the above
teachings. Some of those
modifications have been discussed, and others will be understood by those
skilled in the art. The
embodiments were chosen and described in order to best illustrate principles
of various
embodiments as are suited to particular uses contemplated. The scope is, of
course, not limited to
the examples set forth herein, but can be employed in any number of
applications and equivalent
devices by those of ordinary skill in the art. Rather it is hereby intended
the scope of the disclosure
to be defined by the claims appended hereto.
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