U.S. patent application number 12/210340 was filed with the patent office on 2010-03-18 for structure of automatic pressure adjustable air bed.
Invention is credited to Hao-Chen LEE.
Application Number | 20100064443 12/210340 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 42005906 |
Filed Date | 2010-03-18 |
United States Patent
Application |
20100064443 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
LEE; Hao-Chen |
March 18, 2010 |
STRUCTURE OF AUTOMATIC PRESSURE ADJUSTABLE AIR BED
Abstract
An improved structure of automatic pressure adjustable air bed
mainly includes an air mattress, an air pump, and air pipes
arranged therebetween, as well as a control system disposed on the
air bed. The control system includes multiple pressure sensors
disposed on the air mattress for acquiring pressure signals, and a
main control unit for controlling actions of the air pump or
electrical controlled valves thereon, thereby achieving the
automatic adjustment of firmness of the air mattress.
Inventors: |
LEE; Hao-Chen; (Taipei,
TW) |
Correspondence
Address: |
RABIN & Berdo, PC
1101 14TH STREET, NW, SUITE 500
WASHINGTON
DC
20005
US
|
Family ID: |
42005906 |
Appl. No.: |
12/210340 |
Filed: |
September 15, 2008 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
5/713 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A61G 2203/34 20130101;
A61G 7/05776 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
5/713 |
International
Class: |
A47C 27/10 20060101
A47C027/10 |
Claims
1. An improved structure of automatic pressure adjustable air bed,
mainly comprising an air mattress, an air pump, and air pipes
arranged therebetween, as well as a control system disposed on the
air bed, the control system at least comprising multiple pressure
sensors, a main control unit, an air pump, and multiple electrical
controlled valves; wherein: the pressure sensors are respectively
disposed on several air inflation areas of the air mattress, for
sensing air pressures of corresponding areas; the main control unit
is electrically connected to the pressure sensors, the air pump,
and the multiple electrical controlled valves, for receiving
signals transmitted from the pressure sensors, and then outputting
corresponding control signals to the corresponding air PUMP and
electrical controlled valves; the air pump is an air-charging
device for the air mattress, and receives the control signals of
the main control unit to implement an action of activating or
shutting down; the multiple electrical controlled valves are
disposed between an air inlet port of the air pump and the air
pipes for transmitting air, at least have air exhaust and locking
functions, and receive the control signals of the main control unit
to implement an action of activating or shutting down.
2. The improved structure of automatic pressure adjustable air bed
according to claim 1, wherein the electrical controlled valves are
three stage valves having air-charging, air exhaust, and locking
functions.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to an improved structure of
automatic pressure adjustable air bed, in particular, to an air bed
structure dedicated for bedridden patients, in which a control
system for automatically controlling the air-charging pressure of
the mattress is disposed, so as to achieve the automatic adjustment
of the firmness of the air mattress.
[0003] 2. Related Art
[0004] A conventional air bed structure mainly includes an air
mattress, an air pump, and an air pipe arranged therebetween. The
air mattress is divided into multiple air inflation areas, such as
three areas for head, body, and feet (or more areas). The air pump
is activated to charge air into and pressurize different areas of
the air mattress via the air pipe at the same time, so as to
achieve the purpose of air charging.
[0005] However, for the conventional air bed structure in use, the
air pump is controlled to activate or shut down manually. When the
pressure of the air mattress is overly high (too firm), the
deflation button or other air exhaust device on the air pipe is
operated by manual control method to relief the pressure of the air
mattress, so as to achieve the effect of adjusting the firmness of
the air bed. According to the above pressure control structure and
method, the pressure control is completed by human senses and
actions. In other words, the operator must directly touch the air
bed to perceive the firmness of the air mattress of the air bed, or
is told by the person lying on the air bed to implement the
adjustment control of the pressurization or pressure-relief of the
air bed.
[0006] The conventional firmness adjustment of the air bed has the
following disadvantages. It is difficult to use a single air pump
to charge multiple areas bearing different weights to achieve
proper air pressure in all areas, so other control devices or
structures must be used. In addition, bedridden patients mostly
lose their moving or speaking ability, and cannot operate the
pressure adjusting device or structure at will, so they need an
assistant. Therefore, in addition to the demands for human
resources and the cost, it is uneasy to make accurate adjustment to
achieve the proper firmness. Therefore, the above air bed pressure
adjustment structure and method are in need of improvement.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] In view of the conventional air bed pressure adjustment
structure and method, based on years' experience in manufacturing
and design, the inventor develops a novel improved structure of
automatic pressure adjustable air bed for solving the problem of
inconvenience and deficiencies in use and control.
[0008] The present invention is directed to an improved structure
of automatic pressure adjustable air bed, capable of automatically
detecting and adjusting the air pressure of an air mattress,
thereby reducing the labor burden and providing an air bed with
moderate firmness and more comfortable experience for users.
[0009] Accordingly, the present invention provides an improved
structure of automatic pressure adjustable air bed, which
incorporates a control system on the air bed. The system at least
includes multiple pressure sensors, a main control unit, an air
pump, and multiple electrical controlled valves disposed on the air
pump. The pressure sensors are respectively disposed on air
inflation areas of the air mattress, for sensing air pressures of
corresponding areas. The main control unit is electrically
connected to the pressure sensors, the air pump, and the electrical
controlled valves, so as to receive signals transmitted from the
pressure sensors, and then output corresponding control signals to
corresponding air pump and electrical controlled valves. The air
pump is an air-charging device for the air mattress, which receives
the control signals of the main control unit to perform action of
activating (pumping) or shutting down (stopping operating). The
electrical controlled valves are disposed between an air inlet port
of the air pump and air pipes for transmitting air, at least have
air exhaust and locking functions, and receive the control signals
of the main control unit to implement actions of activating (air
exhaust) or shutting down (locking).
[0010] Based on the above structure combination in use, if a person
is lying on the air mattress of the air bed, after the system is
powered on, the system senses the pressures by the use of the
pressure sensors disposed on the air inflation area of the air
mattress, and respectively generates a pressure signal transmitted
to the control unit. After receiving the signals, the main control
unit respectively generates corresponding control signals to the
air pump and/or multiple electrical controlled valves, so as to
activate the air pump and/or multiple electrical controlled valves
to charge air if the air-charging is needed or exhaust air if the
pressure-relief is required, thereby achieving the automatic
adjustment of the firmness of the air mattress.
[0011] Further scope of applicability of the present invention will
become apparent from the detailed description given hereinafter.
However, it should be understood that the detailed description and
specific examples, while indicating preferred embodiments of the
invention, are given by way of illustration only, since various
changes and modifications within the spirit and scope of the
invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from
this detailed description.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0012] The present invention will become more fully understood from
the detailed description given herein below for illustration only,
and thus are not limitative of the present invention, and
wherein:
[0013] FIG. 1 is a schematic three-dimensional combination view of
an embodiment of the present invention; and
[0014] FIG. 2 is a flow chart of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0015] To make the structure, device, and features of the present
invention more comprehensive, a preferred embodiment is illustrated
in details below in accompanying with drawings.
[0016] Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, in the improved structure of
automatic pressure adjustable air bed of the present invention, the
air bed 1 mainly includes an air mattress 11, an air pump 12, and
several air pipes 13 arranged therebetween. A control system 2 is
incorporated on the air bed 1 and at least includes multiple
pressure sensors 21, a main control unit 22, an air pump 12, and
multiple electrical controlled valves 23 disposed on the air pump
12. The pressure sensors 21 are respectively disposed on several
air inflation areas of the air mattress 11, for sensing air
pressures (or bearing pressures) of corresponding areas. The main
control unit 22 is electrically connected to the pressure sensors
21, the air pump 12, and the electrical controlled valves 23, so as
to receive pressure (resistance) signals transmitted from the
pressure sensors 21, and then output corresponding control signals
to the air pump and/or electrical controlled valves 23. The air
pump 12 is an air-charging device for the air mattress 11, which
may receive control signals of the main control unit 22 to
automatically implement actions of activating (pumping) or shutting
down (stopping operating). The electrical controlled valves 23 are
disposed between an air inlet port of the air pump 12 and the air
pipes 13 for transmitting air (may also be directed fixed on the
body of the air pump), at least have air exhaust and locking
functions, and receive control signals of the main control unit to
implement actions of activating (air exhaust) or shutting down
(locking). Moreover, the electrical controlled valves 23 in
practice may be three-stage valves each having air-charging, air
exhaust, and locking functions, or equivalent devices having the
same functions.
[0017] Based on the above structure combination in use (according
to the above description in combination with the flow chart of FIG.
2), if a person is lying on the air mattress 11 of the air bed 1,
after the power source 201 is activated, the control system 2
sustains pressure detection 202, i.e., senses and detects the
pressure by the use of pressure sensors 21 on the air inflation
areas of the air mattress 11, and generates pressure (i.e.,
resistance that decreases when the pressure becomes higher) signals
to the control unit 22. After receiving the above pressure signals,
the main control unit 23 compares the pressure signals with a
standard (resistance) value set in the main control unit 23, so as
to determine whether it is a proper pressure (comfort value) 203.
If so, no control signals will be output and the procedure returns
to the step of pressure detection 202 to continue detection. If
not, the procedure enters a next step for determining whether the
pressure is overly high (too firm) 204. If the determination result
shows that the pressure is overly high 204, a control signal is
output to a corresponding electrical controlled valve 23 to
activate the valve to enter the air exhaust state, so as to perform
a pressure-relief control 205 to reduce the air pressure. At the
same time, the procedure returns to the step of pressure detection
202 to continue detection until the proper pressure is detected. If
not, a control signal is output to a corresponding air pump 12 to
activate the air pump to enter the air-charging state, so as to
perform the pressurizing control 206 to pressurize the sensed air
inflation area of the air mattress 11. At the same time, the
procedure returns to the step of pressure detection 202 to continue
detection until the proper pressure is detected. In the course of
pressure detection of the present invention, the pressures
(resistances) obtained by the pressure sensors 21 may be input into
the main control unit 22 to make comparison, and thereafter
respectively generate corresponding control signals to the air pump
12 and/or multiple electrical controlled valves 23 so as to
activate them (if the electrical controlled valves are three-stage
valves, the electrical controlled valves are controlled to operate
in the air-charging state when the air pump operates) to charge air
if the air-charging is needed or exhaust air if the pressure-relief
is required, thereby achieving the automatic adjustment of the
firmness of the air mattress 11.
[0018] Additionally, in the implementation of the above structure,
the pressure sensors 21 may be used to sense the pressures of all
areas of the air mattress 11, so as to automatically detect whether
the air mattress 11 is bottom-out. That is, in the present
invention, the patient lies down to a level below the lowest
horizontal level supported by the air mattress 11, the pressure
sensors 21 detect and determine that the air-charging pressure of
the air mattress 11 is insufficient, which is referred to as the
"bottom-out." In this situation, the air pump 12 automatically
increases the level of the air-charging pressure until the signals
returned by the pressure sensors 21 show that the mattress leaves
the "bottom-out" state, so as to offer more comfortable experience
to the patient lying on the bed. Furthermore, the present invention
may automatically detect if the patient on air mattress 11 sits up.
This function is applicable to the cases that the patient must sit
up for meals or taking examinations. In these situations, the
pressure at the position of the air mattress 11 where the patient
sits is detected to be insufficient to support the sitting posture
of the patient, and the pressure sensors 21 may automatically
detect that the patient already sits up straight, and automatically
increases the essential air-charging pressure of air mattress 11 to
provide the convenience in use for the patient.
[0019] The above shape and structure disclosed in the above
embodiment are described by way of example, and are not intended to
limit the scope of the present invention. Therefore, those skilled
in the art would appreciate that the elements may be replaced by
the like or same elements without departing the scope of the
present invention.
[0020] To sum up, the improved structure of automatic pressure
adjustable air bed of the present invention is simple and
convenient in use, and does not need assistant or overcome the
deficiency that the most comfortable state cannot be easily
achieved. Moreover, no similar structures or techniques of the
present invention have been published or used by the public.
Therefore, the structure of the present invention is filed for a
utility model patent pursuant to the laws and regulations.
[0021] The invention being thus described, it will be obvious that
the same may be varied in many ways. Such variations are not to be
regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the invention,
and all such modifications as would be obvious to one skilled in
the art are intended to be included within the scope of the
following claims.
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