Dynamic support apparatus

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016184155-A1
Application number	US-201514811267-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jul 28, 2015
Priority date	Feb 6, 2007
Publication date	Jun 30, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A dynamic support apparatus. The dynamic support apparatus includes a cushion, at least one actuator wherein the at least one actuator defines an interior volume and wherein the interior volume may be configured to be at least partially filled with a fluid, and a support disposed in the interior volume wherein the support configured to support an occupant when the interior volume is not filled with the fluid such that the support is sufficient to support the occupant.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A dynamic support apparatus comprising:
a cushion; at least one actuator wherein the at least one actuator defines an interior volume and wherein the interior volume may be configured to be at least partially filled with a fluid; and a support disposed in the interior volume wherein the support configured to support an occupant when the interior volume is not filled with fluid sufficient to support the occupant.

2 . The dynamic support apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the support is a foam support

3 . The dynamic support apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the support includes a plurality of foam strata.

4 . The dynamic support apparatus of claim 3 , wherein each of the plurality of strata comprising foam with a different indentation force deflection value.

5 . The dynamic support apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the plurality of strata configured wherein they have progressively increasing indentation force deflection values.

6 . The dynamic support apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the at least one actuator comprising a clamshell.

7 . The dynamic support apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the actuator comprising a first face and an opposing bottom second face connected by a plurality of sides and the actuator includes a seam on at least one of the plurality of sides.

8 . The dynamic support apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the seam is located substantially at a midpoint between the first face and the second face.

9 . The dynamic support apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the at least one actuator is constructed of polyurethane.

10 . The dynamic support apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the dynamic support apparatus comprising two actuators.

11 . The dynamic support apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the dynamic support apparatus comprising a first actuator and second actuator separated by a divider.

12 . The dynamic support apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the cushion comprising a void adjacent the two actuators.

13 . The dynamic support apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the void is disposed along a plane of the divider.

14 . The dynamic support apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the at least one actuator comprising pleated walls.

15 . The dynamic support apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the at least one actuator comprising a baffle attached to an interior first face of the at least one actuator and an opposing interior second face of the at least one actuator.

16 . The dynamic support apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the at least one actuator includes a pressure relief valve.

17 . The dynamic support apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the at least one actuator includes a first side and opposing second side connected by a side wall, wherein the first side is thicker than the side wall.

18 . A dynamic support apparatus comprising:
a cushion; at least one actuator wherein the at least one actuator defines an interior volume and wherein the interior volume may be configured to be at least partially filled with a fluid and the at least one actuator includes an orifice in a wall of the at least one actuator; and a sensor assembly comprising:
a housing portion in which a sensor is disposed; and
a plug portion,
wherein the housing portion disposed within the interior of the at least one actuator and wherein the plug portion is coupled to the housing portion through the orifice whereby an airtight seal is formed.

19 . The dynamic support apparatus of claim 18 , wherein the housing comprising a housing flange and the plug portion comprising a plug flange and wherein when the housing and plug portion are coupled together the wall of the actuator is compressed between the housing flange and plug flange.

20 . The dynamic support apparatus of claim 19 , wherein at least one of the housing flange and plug flange comprising a channel, the channel sized for an o-ring to be seated therein.

21 . The dynamic support apparatus of claim 19 , wherein one of the housing and plug portion includes a groove and the other of the housing and plug portion includes a protuberance configured to pressure the wall of the at least one actuator into the groove.

22 . The dynamic support apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the sensor is a pressure sensor.

23 . The dynamic support apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the housing and plug portion are coupled together via a threaded coupling.

24 . The dynamic support apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the sensor is configured to sense the distance from a face of the at least one actuator to the sensor.

25 . A dynamic support apparatus comprising:
a cushion; at least one actuator wherein the at least one actuator defines an interior volume and wherein the interior volume may be configured to be at least partially filled with a fluid; and a manifold comprising:
a plurality of fluid pathways leading to a manifold port for each of the at least one actuators; and
at least one valve, at least one sensor for each manifold port;
a pump in fluid communication with the manifold; and a controller comprising a processor, the processor configured to monitor data samples from the at least one sensor and determine a pulse density modulation command for the pump based at least in part on the data samples from the at least one sensor for each of the at least one actuators, wherein the processor determines the pulse density modulation command by starting a pulse timer during a first pulse, computing a pulse time interval for each data sample, and commanding the pump to pump fluid when the pulse timer time is less than or equal to the pulse time interval.

26 . The dynamic support apparatus of claim 25 , wherein the at least one sensor is a pressure sensor.

27 . The dynamic support apparatus of claim 25 , wherein the at least one actuator includes an internal support for supporting a load when the interior volume is not filled with fluid sufficient to support the load.

28 . The dynamic support apparatus of claim 25 , wherein the data samples are subjected to a low pass filter.

29 . The dynamic support apparatus of claim 25 , wherein the data samples are subjected to a low pass filter having a band width of less than or equal to 0.1 Hz.

30 . The dynamic support apparatus of claim 25 , wherein the processor computing the pulse time interval comprises determining an error value based on a predetermined set point range and the data samples.

31 . The dynamic support apparatus of claim 30 , wherein the processor computing the pulse time interval comprises determining if the error value is above a predetermined maximum allowable error value and setting the pulse time interval to a predetermined minimum time value if the error value is above the maximum allowable error value.

32 . The dynamic support apparatus of claim 30 , wherein the processor computing the pulse time interval comprises increasing the pulse time interval as the error value decreases.

33 . The dynamic support apparatus of claim 30 , wherein if the error value is negative, the processor commands one of the at least one actuator to be vented.

34 . The dynamic support apparatus of claim 30 , wherein if the error value is negative, the processor suspends pumping of fluid until the error value is positive.

35 . The dy

Assignees

• Deka Products Lp

Inventors

• Streeter Alexander D
• Perry N Christopher

Classifications

• A61F2007/006

  of gas · CPC title

• A61F2007/0063

  for cooling · CPC title

• A61G2203/34

  for pressure · CPC title

• A61G7/05769 Primary

  with inflatable chambers · CPC title

• A61G7/05707

  with integral, body-bearing projections or protuberances · CPC title