Inflatable cushion valve and attachment apparatus

Abstract

An attachment apparatus for attachment to the air conduits of a zoned air cell cushion or mattress to an associated valve. The attachment apparatus comprises a connector assembly with connectors secured in the ends of air conduits secured in a conduit constraint. Each air conduit is in fluid communication with a separate inflation zone of the cushion or mattress. The also connectors are in fluid cooperation with a valve that places normally isolated zones into fluid communication and vice versa. The connector assembly may functions as a base for any one of a number of valves.

1 . A valve for use with an inflatable mattress or cushion having a base and an array of upstanding fluid filled cells on one side of the base, said array of cells being divided into a plurality of inflation zones, each inflation zone having a fluid conduit with first end in fluid communication with the inflation zone and a second end, an apparatus for attachment of a valve to the mattress or cushion and into fluid communication with the plurality of inflation zones, the valve operable to place the plurality of inflation zones into or out of fluid communication with each other, the valve comprising:
 a base for securing the second ends of the conduits;   at least one valve seat on a top surface of the base, said valve seat having an opening in fluid communication with a second end of a conduit;   a housing on the base defining a longitudinal bore and at least one of opening in a bottom surface of the housing;   a valve tube rotatingly positioned in the longitudinal bore of the housing, said valve tube defining a longitudinal bore and at least one opening in fluid communication with the valve tube longitudinal bore, said at least one opening in the valve in alignment with the at least one opening in the bottom surface of the housing and in alignment with a valve seat; and   a handle operatively associated with the valve tube to effect rotation of the valve tube in the housing bore around its longitudinal axis from a first position wherein the at least one opening in the valve tube is out of alignment with the opening in the at least one valve seat to a second position wherein the at least one opening in the valve tube and the valve tube bore are in fluid communication with the opening in the valve seats.   
     
     
         2 . The valve of  claim 1  wherein the base comprises a conduit constraint having at a plurality of openings therein, each opening configured to secure a second end of a conduit and a connector assembly having a plurality of depending connectors, each said depending connector defining a bore with an open first end in fluid communication with a valve and an open second end inserted into a second end of the conduit secured in the conduit constraint, said connector impinging said open end of the conduit between itself and the opening in the conduit constraint so as to form a tight seal and to secure the connector within the second end of the conduit; 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 2  wherein the valve housing defines a cylindrical bore; the valve tube has a plurality of linearly aligned openings therein in fluid communication with the inner bore of the valve tube; and the handle is attached to the valve tube whereby the valve tube can be rotated about its longitudinal axis within the bore of the housing to the first position where the openings in the valve tube are in fluid communication with the open upper ends of the connectors thereby opening air flow between the inflation zones through the inner bore of the tube, and rotated about its longitudinal axis to the second position such that said openings in the valve tube are out of fluid communication with the open upper ends of the connectors thereby closing the valve. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the at least one valve seat has a concave surface for seating of the valve tube. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 4  further comprising a plurality of radial sealing gaskets around the surface of the valve tube. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 5  wherein the sealing gaskets are comprised of a material having a low coefficient of friction to allow rotation of the valve tube in the housing, said sealing gaskets positioned to keep the rotating tube centered in the longitudinal bore of the housing. 
     
     
         7 . In an inflatable mattress or cushion having a base and an array of upstanding fluid filled cells on one side of the base, said array of cells being divided into a plurality of inflation zones, each zone having a fluid conduit with one end in fluid communication with the zone and a second end, a valve used to place the plurality of inflation zones in or out of fluid communication with each other, the valve comprising:
 an elongated housing defining an inner longitudinal bore;   an elongated shutoff valve rotatingly engaged within the housing bore, said shutoff valve comprising a wall defining a longitudinal bore, and plurality openings through the wall in fluid communication with the shutoff valve longitudinal bore;   a plurality of connectors, each having an inner bore, an open first end and an open second end;   a conduit constraint having a plurality of openings therein, each opening configured to secure the second end of a conduit, said open second end of each of said connectors being engaged in a second end of the conduit secured in the conduit restraint, said connector impinging said open end of the conduit between itself and the opening in the conduit constraint so as to form a tight seal and to secure the connector within the open end of the conduit;   an actuator secured to said shut off valve to effect axial rotation of the shutoff valve within the valve housing;   wherein axial rotation of said shutoff valve to a first position places said openings in the shutoff valve wall in fluid communication with the open upper ends of the connectors thereby opening the valve to allow air flow between the inflation zones through the shutoff valve bore, and axial rotation to a second position takes said openings in the shutoff wall out of fluid communication with the open upper ends of the connectors thereby closing the valve.   
     
     
         8 . The valve of  claim 7  further comprising a bottom plate position below the base of the mattress or cushion and secured to the valve housing to secure the apparatus to the mattress or cushion. 
     
     
         9 . The valve of  claim 7  wherein the actuator is a handle spanning the axial length of the shutoff valve. 
     
     
         10 . The valve of  claim 7  wherein the shutoff valve further comprises a plurality of circumferential seals. 
     
     
         11 . The valve of  claim 7  further comprising a plurality of linearly aligned shutoff valve seats, each seat defining an opening, one each of said shutoff valve seats being in alignment with an opening in the shutoff valve wall and also being in fluid communication with a second end of a conduit. 
     
     
         12 . The valve of  claim 11  wherein each shutoff valve seat further comprises a concave surface. 
     
     
         13 . The valve of  claim 11  wherein each shutoff valve seat further comprises a sealing gasket. 
     
     
         14 . In an inflatable mattress or cushion having a base and an array of upstanding fluid filled cells on one side of the base, said array of cells being divided into a plurality of inflation zones, each zone having a fluid conduit with one end in fluid communication with the zone and an opposite open end, a method of attaching a valve to the inflatable cushion used to place the plurality of inflation zones in or out of fluid communication with each other, the method comprising:
 positioning the open end of each the fluid conduits into a bore of a conduit constraint, said conduit constraint comprising a plurality of bores configured and sized to allow the open ends of the conduits to seat therein with the open ends of the conduits exposed; and   inserting connectors into the exposed open ends of the conduits, each said connector defining an inner bore with a first open end for insertion into the conduit and a second open end such that each inserted connector is in fluid communication with a cushion inflation zone through the conduit and connector bore, said second open ends of the connectors being in fluid communication with an associated valve, whereby opening the valve allows the individual inflation zones to be in fluid communication with each other through the conduits, the inserted connectors and though the valve while closing the valve blocks fluid communication between the zones.