Body support and method of packing a body support

Abstract

A body support includes at least one self-inflating fluid cell. Each of the at least one self-inflating fluid cell contains a reforming element. The body support further includes a blow-off valve attached to the at least one self-inflating fluid cell or a manifold system interconnecting the at least one self-inflating fluid cells. The blow-off valve opens at a blow-off pressure that is higher than a maximum working pressure that occurs when the body support is supporting the maximum weight limit.

I claim: 
     
         1 . A body support configured to support a weight up to a maximum weight limit, the body support comprising:
 at least one self-inflating fluid cell, each of the at least one self-inflating fluid cell containing a reforming element;   a blow-off valve attached to the at least one self-inflating fluid cell or a manifold system interconnecting the at least one self-inflating fluid cells, wherein the blow-off valve opens at a blow-off pressure that is higher than a maximum working pressure that occurs when the body support is supporting the maximum weight limit.   
     
     
         2 . The body support of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one self-inflating fluid cells is a plurality of self-inflating fluid cells, wherein the body support further comprises a manifold system including an exhaust conduit interconnecting the plurality of self-inflating fluid cells. 
     
     
         3 . The body support of  claim 2 , further comprising at least one pressure relief valve operably attached to the exhaust conduit, the at least one pressure relief valve configured to be controllable to allow for a maximum operable pressure level to be maintained within the plurality of self-inflating fluid cells during body support use. 
     
     
         4 . The body support of  claim 3 , wherein the blow-off valve is located in the manifold such that fluid from the plurality of self-inflating fluid cells does not flow through the at least one pressure relief valve when the fluid leaves the body support from the blow-off valve. 
     
     
         5 . The body support of  claim 3 , wherein the blow-off valve is structured to provide a higher volume flow rate of airflow when opened than a volume flow rate of the at least one pressure relief valve at the same pressure level. 
     
     
         6 . The body support of  claim 5 , wherein the volume flow rate of the blow-off valve is at least three times the volume flow rate of the at least one pressure relief valve at the same pressure level. 
     
     
         7 . The body support of  claim 1 , wherein the blow-off valve is a first blow-off valve attached at a first end of the manifold, the body support further comprising a second blow-off valve attached at a second end of the manifold, wherein the second blow-off valve opens at the blow-off pressure. 
     
     
         8 . The body support of  claim 2 , further comprising a respective blow-off valve attached directly to each of the plurality of self-inflating fluid cells, wherein the blow-off valve is a first blow-off valve of the respective blow-off valves and is attached directly to a first of the plurality of self-inflating fluid cells. 
     
     
         9 . The body support of  claim 2 , wherein the plurality of fluid include a plurality of groups of self-inflating fluid cells, each of the plurality of groups of self-inflating fluid cells including a separate manifold portion. 
     
     
         10 . The body support of  claim 1 , wherein the reforming element comprises a resilient foam material. 
     
     
         11 . The body support of  claim 2 , wherein the reforming element comprises a helical pattern on an outer construct of each of the plurality of self-inflating fluid cells such that each of the plurality of self-inflating fluid cells collapse when loaded with force which is greater than the sum of the force of pressure inside the self-inflating fluid cell and the reforming force of the self-inflating fluid cell and inherently expand when the load is reduced. 
     
     
         12 . The body support of  claim 1 , wherein the blow-off pressure of the blow-off valve is adjustable. 
     
     
         13 . The body support of  claim 1 , wherein the blow-off valve is configured to be permanently deactivated after at least one opening sequence. 
     
     
         14 . A method of packing a body support configured to support a weight up to a maximum weight limit comprising:
 providing the body support, the body support including:   at least one self-inflating fluid cell, each of the at least one self-inflating fluid cell containing a reforming element;   a blow-off valve attached to the at least one self-inflating fluid cell or a manifold system interconnecting the at least one self-inflating fluid cell, wherein the blow-off valve opens at a blow-off pressure that is higher than a maximum working pressure that occurs when the body support is supporting the maximum weight limit;   compressing the body support with a compression machine to open the blow-off valve; and   removing fluid through the blow-off valve from the at least one self-inflating fluid cell during the compressing.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the at least one self-inflating fluid cell is a plurality of fluid cells, wherein the body support further includes a manifold system including an exhaust conduit interconnecting the plurality of self-inflating fluid cells. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the body support further comprises at least one pressure relief valve operably attached to the exhaust conduit, the at least one pressure relief valve configured to be controllable to allow for a maximum operable pressure level to be maintained within the plurality of self-inflating fluid cells during body support use. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising enveloping the body support with a polymeric bag before the compressing. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising sealing the polymeric covering material such that the body support remains enveloped within the polymeric covering material in an air-tight manner. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising rolling the body support with a roll packing process after the compressing. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising securing the body support in a rolled position after the rolling. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20 , further comprising packing the body support in a transportation vehicle after the securing. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising permanently deactivating operability of the blow-off valve after the compressing. 
     
     
         23 . A body support comprising:
 at least one self-inflating fluid cell containing a reforming element, each of the at least one self-inflating fluid cell containing a reforming element;   at least one pressure relief valve operably attached to the at least one self-inflating fluid cell or a manifold interconnecting the at least one self-inflating fluid cell, the at least one pressure relief valve configured to be controllable to allow for a maximum operable pressure level to be maintained within the at least one self-inflating fluid cell during body support use; and   a blow-off valve attached to the at least one self-inflating fluid cell or the manifold system, wherein the blow-off valve opens at a blow-off pressure that is higher than the maximum operable pressure level.