Mattress having three separate adjustable pressure relief zones

Abstract

A support having adjustable pressure relief zones comprising at least three pressure zones, each having an adjustable pressure relief valve operatively attached to each of the at least three pressure zones. There is at least one cell in a first zone having a first effective fluid volume and at least one cell in a second zone having a second effective fluid volume adjustable to greater than said first effective fluid volume. The greater effective fluid volume is associated with supporting a greater load associated with that said zone and the lower fluid volume is for greater responsiveness.

1 . A support having adjustable pressure relief zones comprising: 
 at least three pressure zones;    an adjustable pressure relief valve operatively attached to each of the at least three pressure zones;    at least one cell in a first zone having a first effective fluid volume; and    at least one cell in a second zone having a second effective fluid volume adjustable to greater than said first effective fluid volume, wherein the greater effective fluid volume is associated with supporting a greater load associated with that said zone.    
   
   
       2 . The support of  claim 1  further comprising: 
 a reforming element, wherein said element has a different volume in each of the at least three pressure zones to create the first effective fluid volume and the second effective fluid volumes.    
   
   
       3 . The support of  claim 1  wherein the reforming element has a different density within each pressure zone.  
   
   
       4 . The support of  claim 1  further comprising: 
 a reforming element positioned within each pressure zone, wherein said first pressure and said second pressure zone has an equal cell volume and wherein the pressure zone supporting more weight is configured to have the reforming element having a greater fluid displacement than the pressure zone configured for less weight.    
   
   
       5 . The support of  claim 1  further comprising: 
 an inlet valve on each of the pressure zones.    
   
   
       6 . The support of  claim 5  further comprising: 
 a check valve associated within each of the inlet valves.    
   
   
       7 . The support of  claim 1  further comprising: 
 a cover, wherein said cover surrounds the pressure zones.    
   
   
       8 . The support of  claim 1  further comprising: 
 a first density reforming element producing a first volume within one of the at least three pressure zones; and    a second density reforming element producing a second volume within one of the at least three pressure zones, wherein the second volume is greater than the first volume and wherein the greater volume is configured to support a greater weight.    
   
   
       9 . The support of  claim 1  further comprising: 
 a plurality of cells in each pressure zone; and    a plurality of reforming elements positioned within said plurality of cells, wherein said cells are interconnected and forms an average fluid volume in each pressure zone.    
   
   
       10 . A mattress comprising: 
 a first pressure zone having a first cell volume;    a second pressure zone having a second cell volume operatively positioned with respect to said first pressure zone;    a third pressure zone having a third cell volume operatively positioned with respect to said second pressure zone; and    a dial positioned on each of the pressure zones to adjust an individual zone pressure.    
   
   
       11 . The mattress of  claim 10  further comprising: 
 an intake check valve in each of the pressure zones.    
   
   
       12 . The mattress of  claim 10  further comprising: 
 a pressure relief valve attached to the dial to control the maximum pressure.    
   
   
       13 . The mattress of  claim 10  further comprising: 
 a support element positioned within the each pressure zone to compensate for different weights supported by each zone to create a support surface for the mattress that is responsive to the weight supported by the zone.    
   
   
       14 . The mattress of  claim 10  further comprising: 
 a cell reforming element positioned within the fluid cells.    
   
   
       15 . A mattress comprising: 
 a first zone having a first fluid volume;    a second zone having a second fluid volume operatively positioned with respect to said first zone;    a third zone having a third fluid volume operatively positioned with respect to said second zone;    an adjustable pressure valve in each of said zones;    a resilient border surrounding said zones; and    a cover encompassing said border and said zones.    
   
   
       16 . The mattress of  claim 15  further comprising: 
 a plurality of cells within each of the zones;    an intake manifold attached to each cell within each said zone; and    an exhaust manifold attached to each cell within each said zone, wherein the exhaust manifold in each cell is attached to the adjustable pressure valve.    
   
   
       17 . The mattress of  claim 16  further comprising: 
 a first plurality of cells within the first zone having a first size, wherein the first fluid volume is less than the second and third fluid volumes;    a second plurality of cells within the second zone having a second size; and    a third plurality of cells within the third zone having a third size, wherein the zone with the largest cells has the greatest fluid volume and bears the greatest weight.    
   
   
       18 . The mattress of  claim 17  further comprising: 
 a reforming element positioned in alternating cells within each zone.    
   
   
       19 . The mattress of  claim 18  further comprising: 
 a common intake manifold on all cells within each of the zones; and    a common exhaust manifold on all cells within each of the zones, wherein the exhaust manifold in each zone is attached to the adjustable pressure valve.    
   
   
       20 . A support surface comprising: 
 a first zone having a port on each cell, a conduit attached to said ports, said conduit operatively attached to an intake check valve and a pressure relief valve;    a second zone having an intake check valve on each cell, and an exhaust check valve on each cell that is attached to a common exhaust manifold, said exhaust manifold operatively attached to a pressure relief valve, wherein the second zone is operatively positioned with respect to said first zone;    a third zone having a port on each cell, a conduit attached to each said port, said conduit operatively attached to an intake check valve and a pressure relief valve, wherein the third zone is operatively positioned with respect to said second zone;    a first fluid cell volume associated with at least one of said zones; and    a second fluid cell volume associated with at least one of said zones, wherein said second fluid cell volume is greater than said first fluid volume and wherein second fluid volume supports a greater load per square inch of a surface of said zone.    
   
   
       21 . The support surface of  claim 20  further comprising: 
 a reforming element.    
   
   
       22 . The support surface of  claim 20  further comprising: 
 a knob attached to each said pressure relied valve.    
   
   
       23 . A support surface comprising: 
 a first zone having a single port on each cell, a first conduit attached to said ports, said first conduit operatively attached to an intake check valve and a pressure relief valve;    a second zone having an intake check valve on each cell, and a port on each cell that is attached to a second conduit, said second conduit operatively attached to a pressure relief valve, wherein the second zone is operatively positioned with respect to said first zone;    a third zone having a single port on each cell, a third conduit attached to each said port, said conduit operatively attached to an intake check valve and a pressure relief valve, wherein the third zone is operatively positioned with respect to said second zone; and    a conduit crossover check valve allowing one way flow from the third conduit to the second conduit, wherein crossover flow to the second conduit refills fluid cells if cell pressure is below a pressure relief set point of each of the pressure relief valves of the second and third conduit.    
   
   
       24 . The support surface of  claim 23  further comprising: 
 a reforming element positioned in each fluid cell, wherein said reforming element is configured to have at least two different fluid cell volumes, wherein the at least two different fluid cell volumes of the zone is proportional to the weight the fluid cell supports, wherein a greater weight is supported by a greater fluid cell volume.