Abstract: A pneumatic mattress having a plurality of pneumatic cells so connected that sets of them can be selectively and cyclically pressurized and exhausted in sequence to support a user, or permanently inflated. The mattress also including an air flow manifold within a cover around the cells for providing air flow to spaces between some of the pneumatic cells beneath of the cover. The cells are provided transversely of the mattress with longitudinal edge cells, and the air flow manifold is provided inwards of the longitudinal cells across the ends of the transverse cells. The cover is semi-permeable to allow moisture from the patient to be carried away by the air flow. Between the cells and the cover, a replaceable open weave or gauze layer of non-woven material is provided, allowing air flow from one inter-cell space to the next with the cover held from the cells by the gauze layer.

Abstract: A pneumatic mattress having a plurality of pneumatic cells so connected that sets of them can be selectively and cyclically pressurised and exhausted in sequence to support a user, or permanently inflated. The mattress also including an air flow manifold within a cover around the cells for providing air flow to spaces between some of the pneumatic cells beneath of the cover. The cells are provided transversely of the mattress with longitudinal edge cells, and the air flow manifold is provided inwards of the longitudinal cells across the ends of the transverse cells. The cover is semi-permeable to allow moisture from the patient to be carried away by the air flow. Between the cells and the cover, a replaceable open weave or gauze layer of non-woven material is provided, allowing air flow from one inter-cell space to the next with the cover held from the cells by the gauze layer.

Abstract: A connector has a valve that cycles air from a pump to outlet socket ducts that are complementary to inlet plug ducts. A button is atop a cover enclosing a ring. A spring biases the ring and button upwards. The cover and ring have an opening receiving a disc and a nose, with slots aligned with tabs. The plug is around a region of the opening. The disc has an upper latch lug engaging a rib integral with a plate atop the opening region. The bottom of the disc has a lower latch lug, which engages the bottom of the ring, comprises two parts separated by a slot. The ducts are in a resilient member between an outlet plate and a stator of the cycling valve. Bores terminate at tubes having deformable noses, which abut the disc to form a seal. The plug releases by depressing the button.

Abstract: A pneumatic multi-way connector has a cycling motor 1 and a cycling valve 2 for cycling pressure air from a non-shown pump to selected ducts 31, 32, 33, 34 in an outlet socket 3. The ducts are complementary to inlet ducts 41, 42, 43, 44 of an inlet plug 5. A ring cover encloses a rigid ring 16 which has a button 17 exposed at a top portion cover. A spring 18 biases the ring and the button upwards. The ring cover and the ring have a central opening 19 for receiving the disc 52 and the nose 55 of the cover 50 with the slots 56,57 aligned with the tabs 11,15. The plug is located radially around a peripheral engagement region 20 of the opening 19. The disc 52 has an upper latch lug 58, which engages behind a rib 59 integral with the plate 14. This is at the top of the peripheral engagement region 20. At the bottom of the zone, the disc has a lower latch lug 60, provided in two parts separated by the slot 56. This engages behind the bottom sector 61 of the ring 16.