Pneumatic system for adjustable support

Abstract

A pneumatic adjustment system attachable to a support panel of a bed including a plurality of pneumatic adjustment modules having at least one inflatable chamber, an inflation manifold, and a controller. The inflation manifold may be in pneumatic communication with each of the plurality of pneumatic adjustment modules. The inflation manifold may have a pump and a plurality of regulating valves. The controller may be in communication with the inflation manifold and arranged to control the operation of the pump and the plurality of regulating valves to selectively inflate at least one inflatable chamber of each of the plurality of pneumatic adjustment modules.

1 . A pneumatic adjustment system attachable to a support panel of a bed, the system comprising:
 a plurality of pneumatic adjustment modules each having one or more inflatable chambers;   an inflation manifold in pneumatic communication with each of the plurality of pneumatic adjustment modules, the inflation manifold comprising a pump and a plurality of regulating valves; and   a controller in communication with the inflation manifold and arranged to control an operation of the pump and the plurality of regulating valves to selectively inflate the one or more inflatable chambers in each of the plurality of pneumatic adjustment modules.   
     
     
         2 . The pneumatic adjustment system of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of pneumatic adjustment modules includes a first set of pneumatic adjustment modules attachable on a first side of the support panel and a second set of pneumatic adjustment modules attachable on a second side of the support panel. 
     
     
         3 . The pneumatic adjustment system of  claim 2 , wherein the first set of pneumatic adjustment modules is in pneumatic communication with a first inflation manifold and the second set of pneumatic adjustment modules is in pneumatic communication with a second inflation manifold. 
     
     
         4 . The pneumatic adjustment system of  claim 3 , wherein the first inflation manifold and the second inflation manifold are in communication with the controller and are controlled independently. 
     
     
         5 . The pneumatic adjustment system of  claim 4 , wherein the controller is arranged for simultaneous selective inflation of the first set and the second set of pneumatic adjustment modules. 
     
     
         6 . The pneumatic adjustment system of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of pneumatic adjustment modules includes at least one of a head pneumatic adjustment module and a lumbar pneumatic adjustment module. 
     
     
         7 . The pneumatic adjustment system of  claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of regulating valves is pneumatically connected to a respective one of the pneumatic adjustment modules. 
     
     
         8 . The pneumatic adjustment system of  claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of pneumatic adjustment modules includes a base that is selectively positioned along the support panel. 
     
     
         9 . The pneumatic adjustment system of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of pneumatic adjustment modules is arranged to selectively deflate when an exhaust valve is opened. 
     
     
         10 . The pneumatic adjustment system of  claim 9 , wherein selectively deflating the plurality of pneumatic adjustment modules includes a biasing force urging in a direction of a deflated condition. 
     
     
         11 . A bed system comprising:
 a mattress;   a support panel supporting the mattress;   a frame supporting the support panel; and   a modular pneumatic adjustment system, comprising:
 a plurality of pneumatic adjustment modules adjustably positioned on the support panel and disposed between the mattress and the support panel, each of the pneumatic adjustment modules comprising a base and a bladder; 
 an inflation manifold comprising a pneumatic pump and a plurality of regulating valves, the pneumatic pump connected to provide pressurized air to the plurality of regulating valves; 
 a flexible conduit interconnecting each respective one of the plurality of regulating valves to the bladder of each respective one of the plurality of pneumatic adjustment modules; and 
 a controller operably connected to the pneumatic pump and the plurality of regulating valves, the controller configured to provide open and close commands to each of the regulating valves for providing a flow of pressurized air from the pneumatic pump to the respective bladders. 
   
     
     
         12 . The bed system of  claim 11 , further comprising sensors in electronic communication with the controller, the sensors arranged to generate a signal representative of an inflation condition of each of the plurality of pneumatic adjustment modules. 
     
     
         13 . The bed system of  claim 12 , wherein the sensors are configured to generate a signal representative of a condition of a user on the mattress. 
     
     
         14 . The bed system of  claim 13 , wherein the controller is configured to adjust the inflation condition of each of the plurality of pneumatic adjustment modules based on the condition of the user on the mattress. 
     
     
         15 . The bed system of  claim 11 , wherein the base of each of the plurality of pneumatic adjustment modules is movable. 
     
     
         16 . The bed system of  claim 11 , wherein the controller is operable to inflate the plurality of pneumatic adjustment modules to incline selective portions of the mattress relative to the support panel. 
     
     
         17 . The bed system of  claim 11 , wherein the controller is in electrical communication with a first set of pneumatic adjustment modules and a second set of pneumatic adjustment modules. 
     
     
         18 . The bed system of  claim 17 , wherein the controller is configured for selective simultaneous inflation of the first set and the second set of pneumatic adjustment modules. 
     
     
         19 . The bed system of  claim 18 , wherein the controller is configured for selective independent inflation of the first set and the second set of pneumatic adjustment modules. 
     
     
         20 . The bed system of  claim 11 , further comprising a sheath disposed over the plurality of pneumatic adjustment modules.