Mattress type support device including at least one solenoid valve for controlling fluid feed/vent to or from compartments of the mattress

Abstract

A support device of the mattress type ( 1 ), in particular for supporting the body of an individual, comprises a plurality of n compartments ( 2 ), preferably at least three compartments, more preferably three to 24 compartments suitable for being inflated with a fluid, in particular inflated with air, a plurality p of said compartments, where p is an integer in the range 2 to n, each having at least one fluid feed and/or vent orifice ( 4 - 1, 4 - 2 ) for said compartment and at least one solenoid valve ( 3 - 1, 3 - 2 ) serving to control the feed and/or vent of fluid to or from said compartments, the device being characterized in that said valves co-operate with or are integrated in said feed and/or vent orifices, each said valve ( 3 - 1, 3 - 2 ) being dedicated to filling and/or venting a single compartment.

1 . A mattress type support device ( 1 ) in particular for supporting the body of an individual, the device comprising a plurality of n compartments ( 2 ), preferably at least three compartments, more preferably three to 24 compartments suitable for being inflated by a fluid, in particular inflated with air, a plurality p of said compartments, where p is an integer lying in the range 2 to n, each having at least one fluid feed and/or vent orifice ( 4 - 1 ,  4 - 2 ,  4 - 3 ) for said compartment and at least one solenoid valve ( 3 - 1 ,  3 - 2 ,  3 - 3 ) enabling fluid feed and/or fluid vent to be controlled for said compartments, the device being characterized in that each said valve co-operates with or is integrated in one of said feed and/or vent orifices, each said valve ( 3 - 1 ,  3 - 2 ,  3 - 3 ) being dedicated to filling and/or emptying a single compartment, and said valve not co-operating with or not being integrated in a manifold type unit. 
   
   
       2 . A device according to  claim 1 , characterized in that each of said compartments has a fluid feed orifice ( 4 - 1 ) and a fluid vent orifice ( 4 - 2 ) and each said compartment in question has or co-operates with two valves, respectively a feed valve ( 3 - 1 ) and a vent valve ( 3 - 2 ), one serving to control fluid feed and the other to control fluid vent, said valves being integrated in or co-operating with said feed and vent orifices respectively, each said valve ( 3 - 1 ,  3 - 2 ) being dedicated respectively to filling or emptying a single compartment. 
   
   
       3 . A device according to  claim 1 , characterized in that each compartment concerned has a single feed and vent orifice ( 4 - 3 ) co-operating with or having integrated therein a single valve ( 3 - 3 ) through which said compartment is both fed and vented. 
   
   
       4 . A device according to  claim 1 , characterized in that has a single main feed pipe ( 5 ) with a plurality of branch connections ( 6 ) enabling connections to be made to a plurality of said valves co-operating directly with or integrated in said feed orifices of a plurality of compartments ( 2 ), said feed orifices ( 4 - 1 ,  4 - 3 ) being disposed on a common longitudinal side of the mattress type device and said main feed pipe ( 5 ) running along said longitudinal side, said main feed pipe being fed by a common fluid injection device ( 7 ). 
   
   
       5 . A device according to  claim 1 , characterized in that said valves ( 3 - 1 ,  3 - 2 ,  3 - 3 ) comprise at least:
 a first endpiece ( 13 - 1 ) of circular cross-section, said first endpiece being forced into a said feed or vent orifice ( 4 - 1 ,  4 - 3  or  4 - 2 ,  4 - 3 ) of resilient tubular shape, and said first endpiece closing a first cylindrical axial channel ( 14 - 1 ) for passing said fluid; and   a second endpiece ( 13 - 2 ) of circular cross-section, said second endpiece being forced into one end of a branch pipe ( 6 ) connected to a said main feed pipe ( 5 ) or connected to a vent pipe or open to the atmosphere, and said second endpiece containing a second cylindrical axial internal channel ( 14 - 2 ) for passing said fluid.   
   
   
       6 . A device according to  claim 5 , characterized in that each of said valves has two of said endpieces ( 13 - 1  and  13 - 2 ), namely a first endpiece and a second endpiece disposed symmetrically relative to a main body ( 10 ) defining an outside surface of rounded and cylindrical shape, said main body having the same longitudinal axis (X 1 X′ 1 ) as said first and second endpieces. 
   
   
       7 . A device according to  claim 5 , characterized in that said main body ( 10 ) has a cylindrical internal cavity ( 11 ) into which both of said first and second internal channels ( 14 - 1 ,  14 - 2 ) having the same longitudinal axis (X 1 X′ 1 ) open out, said internal cavity containing a longitudinal magnetic core ( 13 ) suitable for being moved in said axial longitudinal direction (X 1 X′ 1 ) of said valve, said magnetic core moving inside an induction coil ( 12 ) extending axially along the same said longitudinal axis (X 1 X′ 1 ), said core being capable of moving between firstly an open position in which the core is separated from the ends of both of said first and second internal channels ( 14 - 1 ,  14 - 2 ) on the same longitudinal axis (X 1 X′ 1 ) opening out into said internal cavity ( 11 ) so as to allow the fluid to pass through said valve between the ends of both of said first and second endpieces, and secondly a closed position in which said core closes the end of one of said first and second internal channels ( 14 - 1 ,  14 - 2 ) of the valve where it opens out into said internal cavity in such a manner as to prevent the fluid flowing through said valve between the ends of said first and second endpieces. 
   
   
       8 . A device according to  claim 7 , characterized in that in the absence of said core being electrically activated by said coil, said core is held in its closed position by a spring acting on the core so as to hold it against one of the two ends of said channels opening out into said cavity, and when the core is moved into the open position by electrically activating the coil, the core is moved so as to act against the spring and disengage the core from the said end of said internal channel in such a manner as to be spaced apart from both ends of said channels opening out into said cavity. 
   
   
       9 . A device according to  claims 3  and  7 , characterized in that said valve is a three-port valve ( 3 - 3 ) further including a third internal channel ( 14 - 3 ) enabling said internal cavity ( 11 ) to be put into communication with the outside, such that:
 in said open position in which the core is disengaged from the ends of said first and second internal channels ( 14 - 1 ,  14 - 2 ), said third internal channel ( 14 - 3 ) is closed ; and   in said closed position, said first internal channel communicating with only one orifice ( 4 - 3 ) of said compartment is open and said second internal channel ( 14 - 2 ) communicating with a said feed pipe is closed, and said third internal channel is open, enabling the fluid to be vented from said compartment to the atmosphere.   
   
   
       10 . A device according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the valves present a total length lying in the range 3 cm to 10 cm, and an outside surface of circular cross-section presenting a maximum diameter lying in the range 10 mm to 20 mm, said first endpieces presenting a circular cross-section with a diameter lying in the range 5 mm to 15 mm. 
   
   
       11 . A device according to  claim 1 , characterized in that said valves and said feed pipe are placed inside a protective cover of the mattress. 
   
   
       12 . A device according to  claim 1 , characterized in that said valves are controlled by an electronic control unit ( 8 ) making it possible to select between performing:
 a continuous mode, in which all of the compartments are inflated; and   various alternating pressure modes in which a fraction only of the compartments in at least one zone of the mattress are deflated, at least in part, and then reflated, said compartments for deflating/reflating being spaced apart regularly, by deflating and reflating in succession each compartment in said zone going from compartment to neighboring compartment in the longitudinal direction of said mattress in both the go and the return directions along said zone.   
   
   
       13 . A device according to  claim 1 , characterized in that said compartments form sausage-shaped tubes extending transversely relative to the axial longitudinal direction (XX′) of said mattress. 
   
   
       14 . A device according to  claim 5 , characterized in that said valves are compact solenoid valves disposed in line, each comprising a main body ( 10 ) with an internal cavity ( 11 ) containing a core ( 13 ) and an induction coil ( 12 ) having the same longitudinal axis (X 1 X′ 1 ), each of said first and second endpieces ( 13 - 1 ,  13 - 2 ) containing a said first or second internal channel ( 14 - 1 ,  14 - 2 ) and being disposed symmetrically relative to said main body and on the same longitudinal axis (X 1 X′ 1 ) as said main body, and said first and second endpieces are engaged in bent tubular orifices ( 4 - 1 ,  4 - 2 , and  4 - 3 ) of said mattress and respectively bent ends of branch pipes, and are offset longitudinally in the longitudinal direction of the mattress so as to enable said valves to be placed in alignment in said longitudinal direction XX′ of said feed pipe and of said mattress.