Fluid Distributors and Foot Support Systems Including Fluid Movement Controllers and Adjustable Foot Support Pressure

Abstract

Foot support systems include a first foot support bladder, a fluid tank, and a fluid distributor. The fluid distributor's body may have: (a) first and second solenoid mounts, (b) a main fluid distribution channel in fluid communication with the first and second solenoid mounts, (c) a tank channel in fluid communication with the first solenoid mount, (d) a first foot support bladder channel in fluid communication with the second solenoid mount, (e) a first foot support connector connecting the first foot support bladder with the first foot support bladder channel, and (f) a tank connector connecting the fluid tank with the tank channel. First and second solenoids are engaged with the fluid distributor at the first and second solenoid mounts, respectively. In some examples, the fluid distributor may include a third solenoid mount and a second foot support connector for use with a second foot support bladder.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A fluid distributor for a foot support system, comprising:
 a first body portion that includes:
 (a) a first side having a first solenoid mount and a second solenoid mount, and 
 (b) a second side including a first surface having: (i) a first open channel that defines at least a portion of a main fluid distribution channel of the fluid distributor in the first surface, wherein the first open channel includes a first opening in fluid communication with the first solenoid mount and a second opening in fluid communication with the second solenoid mount, (ii) a second open channel that defines at least a portion of a tank channel of the fluid distributor in the first surface, wherein the second open channel includes a third opening in fluid communication with the first solenoid mount, and (iii) a third open channel that defines at least a portion of a first foot support bladder channel of the fluid distributor in the first surface, wherein the third open channel includes a fourth opening in fluid communication with the second solenoid mount; and 
   a second body portion engaged with the first surface, the second body portion closing the first open channel, the second open channel, and the third open channel at the first surface.   
     
     
         2 . The fluid distributor according to  claim 1 , wherein the second body portion includes a second surface that directly faces the first surface of the second side of the first body portion, wherein the second surface includes: (i) a main fluid distribution channel recess that defines a portion of the main fluid distribution channel of the fluid distributor, (ii) a tank channel recess that defines a portion of the tank channel of the fluid distributor, and (iii) a first foot support bladder channel recess that defines a portion of the first foot support bladder channel of the fluid distributor. 
     
     
         3 . The fluid distributor according to  claim 1 , wherein the second body portion includes a fluid supply inlet. 
     
     
         4 . The fluid distributor according to  claim 3 , further comprising: a filter that filters fluid before the fluid completely passes through the fluid supply inlet. 
     
     
         5 . The fluid distributor according to  claim 1 , wherein the second body portion defines an internal chamber, wherein incoming fluid enters the fluid distributor through the internal chamber. 
     
     
         6 . The fluid distributor according to  claim 1 , wherein the second body portion further includes: (a) a first connector port in fluid communication with a fluid supply inlet, (b) a second connector port in fluid communication with the main fluid distribution channel, (c) a third connector port in fluid communication with the tank channel, and (d) a fourth connector port in fluid communication with the first foot support bladder channel. 
     
     
         7 . The fluid distributor according to  claim 1 , wherein the second body portion further includes: (a) a first connector port in fluid communication with the main fluid distribution channel, (b) a second connector port in fluid communication with the tank channel, and (c) a third connector port in fluid communication with the first foot support bladder channel. 
     
     
         8 . The fluid distributor according to  claim 1 , wherein at the first surface, the main fluid distribution channel includes: (a) a base line, (b) a first arm extending from the base line toward the first solenoid mount, the first arm including the first opening, and (c) a second arm extending from the base line toward the second solenoid mount, the second arm including the second opening. 
     
     
         9 . The fluid distributor according to  claim 8 , wherein at the first surface, the tank channel is located between the first arm and the second arm. 
     
     
         10 . The fluid distributor according to  claim 8 , wherein at the first surface, the first foot support bladder channel is located between the first arm and the second arm. 
     
     
         11 . The fluid distributor according to  claim 1 , wherein the second body portion engages the first body portion to sealingly separate the main fluid distribution channel, the tank channel, and the first foot support bladder channel from one another at the first surface. 
     
     
         12 . The fluid distributor according to  claim 1 , wherein the first side of the first body portion further includes a third solenoid mount, wherein the first open channel further includes a fifth opening in fluid communication with the third solenoid mount, wherein the first surface of the second side of the first body portion further includes a fourth open channel that defines at least a portion of a second foot support bladder channel of the fluid distributor in the first surface, and wherein the fourth open channel includes a sixth opening in fluid communication with the third solenoid mount. 
     
     
         13 . A fluid distributor for a foot support system, comprising:
 a first body portion that includes:
 (a) a first side having a first solenoid mount and a second solenoid mount, and 
 (b) a second side including a first surface having: (i) a first open channel that defines at least a portion of a main fluid distribution channel of the fluid distributor in the first surface, wherein the first open channel includes a first opening in fluid communication with the first solenoid mount and a second opening in fluid communication with the second solenoid mount, (ii) a second open channel that defines at least a portion of a tank channel of the fluid distributor in the first surface, wherein the second open channel includes a third opening in fluid communication with the first solenoid mount, (iii) a third open channel that defines at least a portion of a first foot support bladder channel of the fluid distributor in the first surface, wherein the third open channel includes a fourth opening in fluid communication with the second solenoid mount, and (iv) a fourth open channel that defines at least a portion of a fluid release channel of the fluid distributor in the first surface, wherein the fourth open channel includes a fifth opening in fluid communication with the first solenoid mount; and 
   a second body portion engaged with the first surface, the second body portion closing the first open channel, the second open channel, the third open channel, and the fourth open channel at the first surface.   
     
     
         14 . The fluid distributor according to  claim 13 , wherein the first side of the first body portion further includes a third solenoid mount, wherein the first open channel further includes a sixth opening in fluid communication with the third solenoid mount, wherein the first surface of the second side of the first body portion further includes a fifth open channel that defines at least a portion of a second foot support bladder channel of the fluid distributor in the first surface, and wherein the fifth open channel includes a seventh opening in fluid communication with the third solenoid mount. 
     
     
         15 . The fluid distributor according to  claim 14 , wherein the second body portion includes a second surface that directly faces the first surface of the second side of the first body portion, wherein the second surface includes: (i) a main fluid distribution channel recess that defines a portion of the main fluid distribution channel of the fluid distributor, (ii) a tank channel recess that defines a portion of the tank channel of the fluid distributor, (iii) a first foot support bladder channel recess that defines a portion of the first foot support bladder channel of the fluid distributor, (iv) a fluid release channel recess that defines a portion of the fluid release channel of the fluid distributor, and (v) a second foot support bladder channel recess that defines a portion of the second foot support bladder channel of the fluid distributor. 
     
     
         16 . The fluid distributor according to  claim 14 , wherein the second body portion further includes a connector port in fluid communication with the second foot support bladder channel. 
     
     
         17 . The fluid distributor according to  claim 13 , wherein the second body portion includes a second surface that directly faces the first surface of the second side of the first body portion, wherein the second surface includes: (i) a main fluid distribution channel recess that defines a portion of the main fluid distribution channel of the fluid distributor, (ii) a tank channel recess that defines a portion of the tank channel of the fluid distributor, (iii) a first foot support bladder channel recess that defines a portion of the first foot support bladder channel of the fluid distributor, and (iv) a fluid release channel recess that defines a portion of the fluid release channel of the fluid distributor. 
     
     
         18 . The fluid distributor according to  claim 13 , wherein the second body portion defines an internal chamber, wherein incoming fluid enters the fluid distributor through the internal chamber and/or wherein the fluid release channel of the fluid distributor releases fluid into the internal chamber. 
     
     
         19 . The fluid distributor according to  claim 13 , wherein the second body portion engages the first body portion to sealingly separate the main fluid distribution channel, the tank channel, the first foot support bladder channel, and the fluid release channel from one another at the first surface. 
     
     
         20 . A fluid distributor for a foot support system, comprising:
 a first body portion that includes:
 (a) a first side having a first solenoid mount and a second solenoid mount, and 
 (b) a second side including a first surface having: (i) a first open channel that defines at least a portion of a main fluid distribution channel of the fluid distributor in the first surface, wherein the first open channel includes a first opening in fluid communication with the first solenoid mount and a second opening in fluid communication with the second solenoid mount, (ii) a second open channel that defines at least a portion of a first foot support bladder channel of the fluid distributor in the first surface, wherein the second open channel includes a third opening in fluid communication with the second solenoid mount, and (iii) a third open channel that defines at least a portion of a fluid release channel of the fluid distributor in the first surface, wherein the third open channel includes a fourth opening in fluid communication with the first solenoid mount; and 
   a second body portion engaged with the first surface, the second body portion closing the first open channel, the second open channel, and the third open channel at the first surface.