Inflatable cushioning device with manifold system

Abstract

A cushioning device for a body support such as a mattress, seat, sofa, or the like where support is obtained from a fluid. The cushioning device is self-inflating, self-adjusting, and provides a low interface pressure under the entire contact surface of a patient. Shear force scraping damage is prevented by a sleeve apparatus. A support system apparatus provides separately adjustable pressure support zones. For physical therapy, an alternating pressure system provides alternating lifting and lowering pressure zones under a patient.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A body support comprising:
 a plurality of fluid cells, wherein each fluid cell includes a reforming element; and 
 a non-powered manifold system including an exhaust conduit interconnecting at least two of the fluid cells. 
 
     
     
       2. The body support of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a separate controllable pressure relief valve operatively attached to the exhaust conduit. 
 
     
     
       3. A body support comprising:
 a plurality of self-inflating fluid cells, wherein each fluid cell includes a reforming element; 
 a manifold system including an exhaust conduit interconnecting at least two of the fluid cells; and 
 means, operatively attached to the exhaust conduit for adjusting the firmness or softness of all of the fluid cells. 
 
     
     
       4. A body support comprising:
 a plurality of self-inflating fluid cells; 
 a manifold system including an exhaust conduit interconnecting at least two of the fluid cells; 
 a pressure regulator attached to the exhaust conduit; and 
 a separate controllable pressure relief valve operatively attached to each said fluid cell. 
 
     
     
       5. The body support of  claim 4 , wherein each fluid cell includes a reforming element. 
     
     
       6. A body support comprising:
 a plurality of fluid cells; 
 a pressure regulator; and 
 a manifold system including an exhaust conduit interconnecting at least two of the fluid cells; wherein the fluid cells do not communicate with each other through the exhaust conduit and all fluid cells communicate with the pressure regulator through the exhaust conduit. 
 
     
     
       7. A method for supporting a body comprising:
 providing a plurality of non-powered self-inflating fluid cells interconnected with an exhaust conduit; 
 applying a body weight to the non-powered self-inflating fluid cells; and 
 allowing each of the non-powered self-inflating fluid cells to react to the body weight and adjust to an identical internal pressure through the exhaust conduit. 
 
     
     
       8. A cushioning device comprising:
 a plurality of envelopes containing a fluid for supporting a load; 
 a fluid supply reservoir; 
 a fluid exhaust reservoir; 
 an intake valve for each envelope, wherein the intake valve allows fluid to flow from the fluid supply reservoir into the envelope, and prevents fluid from flowing from the envelope to the fluid supply reservoir; 
 an exhaust valve for each envelope, wherein the exhaust valve in each envelope allows fluid to flow from each envelope into the fluid exhaust reservoir, and prevents fluid from flowing between envelopes, and wherein the exhaust valves are arranged into at least one group; 
 a separate controllable pressure relief valve connected to each group of exhaust valves for controlling fluid flowing from each group of exhaust valves to the fluid exhaust reservoir; and 
 a reforming element within each envelope for non-powered self-inflation of the envelope. 
 
     
     
       9. The cushioning device according to  claim 8 , wherein the fluid is atmospheric air. 
     
     
       10. The cushioning device according to  claim 8 , wherein the reforming element comprises a resilient material. 
     
     
       11. The cushioning device according to  claim 8 , wherein each pressure relief valve is user adjustable. 
     
     
       12. The cushioning device according to  claim 8 , wherein the cushioning device is in the form of a mattress for a bed. 
     
     
       13. The cushioning device according to  claim 8 , wherein the cushioning device is in the form of a seat for a chair. 
     
     
       14. The cushioning device of  claim 8 , further including a sleeve apparatus surrounding the envelopes to prevent the transmission of shear forces to a body contacting the sleeve apparatus. 
     
     
       15. The cushioning device of  claim 14 , further including a plurality of interconnected cell covers, wherein each cell cover surrounds one of the envelopes allowing the envelope to freely move within the cell cover. 
     
     
       16. The cushioning device of  claim 14 , further including a jacket containing the sleeve apparatus and the plurality of envelopes. 
     
     
       17. The cushioning device of  claim 8 , further including a topper positioned above the plurality of envelopes to provide further cushioning. 
     
     
       18. The cushioning device of  claim 8 , further including an outer cover having a low friction and low shear surface. 
     
     
       19. The cushioning device according to  claim 18 , wherein the outer cover further includes at least one stretchable panel to provide expansion space. 
     
     
       20. A body support comprising:
 a plurality of self-inflating fluid cells; 
 a manifold system including an exhaust conduit interconnecting at least two of the fluid cells; and 
 a pressure regulator attached to the exhaust conduit wherein the pressure of each fluid cell is independent of the pressure of each other fluid cell. 
 
     
     
       21. A body support comprising:
 at least three fluid cells, wherein each fluid cell includes a reforming element;   a non-powered manifold system includes a plurality of exhaust conduits that interconnects the at least three fluid cells.   
     
     
       22. The body support of claim 21, further comprising:
 a first set of at least two fluid cells;   a second set of at least two fluid cells; wherein a first exhaust conduit interconnects the first set; and   a second exhaust conduit interconnects the second set.   
     
     
       23. A body support comprising:
 at least three fluid cells, wherein each fluid cell includes a reforming element;   a non-powered manifold system that interconnects an internal fluid cell to an external fluid cell.   
     
     
       24. A body support comprising:
 a plurality of self-inflating fluid cells, wherein each fluid cell includes a reforming element;   a manifold system including an exhaust conduit interconnecting each of the fluid cells; and   means, operatively attached to the exhaust conduit for adjusting the firmness or softness of all of the fluid cells.   
     
     
       25. The body support of claim 24, wherein the plurality of self-inflating fluid cells are at least three. 
     
     
       26. A body support comprising:
 at least three fluid cells, wherein each said fluid cell includes a reforming element; and   a non-powered manifold system including an exhaust conduit that interconnects at least two fluid cells of the at least three fluid cells, wherein a first fluid cell of the at least two fluid cells is an interior fluid cell of the at least three fluid cells.   
     
     
       27. The body support of claim 26, wherein the exhaust conduit interconnects a minimum of three fluid cells of the at least three fluid cells. 
     
     
       28. The body support of claim 26, wherein two fluid cells of the at least two fluid cells are adjacent fluid cells. 
     
     
       29. The body support of claim 26, wherein the exhaust conduit does not directly interconnect two end cells of the at least three fluid cells to each other. 
     
     
       30. The body support of claim 26, further comprising a separate controllable pressure relief valve operatively attached to each said fluid cell. 
     
     
       31. A body support comprising:
 at least three self-inflating fluid cells, wherein each said fluid cell includes a reforming element;   a manifold system including an exhaust conduit that interconnects at least two fluid cells of the at least three fluid cells, wherein a first fluid cell of the at least two fluid cells is an interior fluid cell of the at least three fluid cells; and   means, operatively attached to the exhaust conduit for adjusting the firmness or softness of all of the at least three fluid cells.   
     
     
       32. The body support of claim 31, wherein the exhaust conduit interconnects a minimum of three fluid cells of the at least three fluid cells. 
     
     
       33. The body support of claim 31, wherein two fluid cells of the at least two fluid cells are adjacent fluid cells. 
     
     
       34. The body support of claim 31, wherein the exhaust conduit does not directly interconnect two end cells of the at least three fluid cells to each other. 
     
     
       35. The body support of claim 31, further comprising a separate controllable pressure relief valve operatively attached to each said fluid cell. 
     
     
       36. A body support comprising:
 at least three self-inflating fluid cells;   a manifold system including an exhaust conduit that interconnects at least two fluid cells of the at least three fluid cells, wherein a first fluid cell of the at least two fluid cells is an interior fluid cell of the at least three fluid cells;   a pressure regulator attached to the exhaust conduit; and   a separate controllable pressure relief valve operatively attached to each said fluid cell.   
     
     
       37. The body support of claim 36, wherein the exhaust conduit interconnects a minimum of three fluid cells of the at least three fluid cells. 
     
     
       38. The body support of claim 36, wherein two fluid cells of the at least two fluid cells are adjacent fluid cells. 
     
     
       39. The body support of claim 36, wherein the exhaust conduit does not directly interconnect two end cells of the at least three fluid cells to each other. 
     
     
       40. The body support of claim 36, wherein each said fluid cell includes a reforming element. 
     
     
       41. A body support comprising:
 at least three fluid cells;   a pressure regulator; and   a manifold system including an exhaust conduit that interconnects at least two fluid cells of the at least three fluid cells, wherein a first fluid cell of the at least two fluid cells is an interior fluid cell of the at least three fluid cells, and wherein the fluid cells do not communicate with each other through the exhaust conduit and all fluid cells communicate with the pressure regulator through the exhaust conduit.   
     
     
       42. The body support of claim 41, wherein the exhaust conduit interconnects a minimum of three fluid cells of the at least three fluid cells. 
     
     
       43. The body support of claim 41, wherein two fluid cells of the at least two fluid cells are adjacent fluid cells. 
     
     
       44. The body support of claim 41, wherein the exhaust conduit does not directly interconnect two end cells of the at least three fluid cells to each other. 
     
     
       45. A method for supporting a body comprising:
 providing at least three non-powered self-inflating fluid cells interconnected with an exhaust conduit;   applying a body weight to the non-powered self-inflating fluid cells; and   allowing each of the non-powered self-inflating fluid cells to react to the body weight and adjust to an identical internal pressure through the exhaust conduit.   
     
     
       46. The body support of claim 45, wherein a first fluid cell of the at least three fluid cells is an interior fluid cell of the at least three fluid cells. 
     
     
       47. The body support of claim 45, wherein two fluid cells of the at least three fluid cells are adjacent fluid cells. 
     
     
       48. The body support of claim 45, wherein the exhaust conduit does not directly interconnect two end cells of the at least three fluid cells to each other. 
     
     
       49. A cushioning device comprising:
 at least three envelopes containing a fluid for supporting a load;   fluid supply reservoir;   a fluid exhaust reservoir;   an intake valve for each envelope, wherein the intake valve allows fluid to flow from the fluid supply reservoir into the envelope, and prevents fluid from flowing from the envelope to the fluid supply reservoir;   an exhaust valve for each envelope, wherein the exhaust valve in each envelope allows fluid to flow from each envelope into the fluid exhaust reservoir, and prevents fluid from flowing between envelopes, wherein the exhaust valves are arranged into at least one group, and wherein an exhaust conduit does not directly interconnect two end envelopes of the at least three envelopes to each other;   a separate controllable pressure relief valve connected to each group of exhaust valves for controlling fluid flowing from each group of exhaust valves to the fluid exhaust reservoir; and   a reforming element within each envelope for non-powered self-inflation of the envelope.   
     
     
       50. The cushioning device of claim 49, wherein the fluid is atmospheric air. 
     
     
       51. The cushioning device of claim 49, wherein the reforming element comprises a resilient material. 
     
     
       52. The cushioning device of claim 49, wherein each pressure relief valve is user adjustable. 
     
     
       53. The cushioning device of claim 49, wherein the cushioning device is in the form of a mattress for a bed. 
     
     
       54. The cushioning device of claim 49, wherein the cushioning device is in the form of a seat for a chair. 
     
     
       55. The cushioning device of claim 49, further including a sleeve apparatus surrounding the envelopes to prevent the transmission of shear forces to a body contacting the sleeve apparatus. 
     
     
       56. The cushioning device of claim 55, further including a plurality of interconnected cell covers, wherein each cell cover surrounds one of the envelopes allowing the envelope to freely move within the cell cover. 
     
     
       57. The cushioning device of claim 55, further including a jacket containing the sleeve apparatus and the plurality of envelopes. 
     
     
       58. The cushioning device of claim 49, further including a topper positioned above the plurality of envelopes to provide further cushioning. 
     
     
       59. The cushioning device of claim 49, further including an outer cover having a low friction and low shear surface. 
     
     
       60. The cushioning device according to claim 59, wherein the outer cover further includes at least one stretchable panel to provide expansion space. 
     
     
       61. A body support comprising:
 at least three self-inflating fluid cells;   a manifold system including an exhaust conduit interconnecting at least two fluid cells of the at least three self-inflating fluid cells, wherein a first fluid cell of the at least two fluid cells is an interior fluid cell of the at least three self-inflating fluid cells; and   a pressure regulator attached to the exhaust conduit wherein the pressure of each fluid cell is independent of the pressure of each other fluid cell.   
     
     
       62. The body support of claim 61, wherein the exhaust conduit interconnects a minimum of three fluid cells of the at least three self-inflating fluid cells. 
     
     
       63. The body support of claim 61, wherein two fluid cells of the at least two fluid cells are adjacent fluid cells. 
     
     
       64. The body support of claim 61, wherein the exhaust conduit does not directly interconnect two end cells of the at least three self-inflating fluid cells to each other.