Patents by Inventor Paul A. Rickman
Paul A. Rickman has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
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Patent number: 8893338Abstract: A cushion or mattress comprising a base and a plurality of linearly aligned individual air cells across the base. Groups of individual air cells can be interconnected and in fluid cooperation with an inflation source, such as a pump. In one aspect of the invention, the inflation of adjacent cells is staggered, for example, in a checkerboard-like inflation pattern that helps diffuse load over a wider area.Type: GrantFiled: October 24, 2011Date of Patent: November 25, 2014Assignee: Roho, Inc.Inventors: J. David McCausland, Paul A. Rickman, Dennis L. Clapper
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Publication number: 20140259430Abstract: An attachment apparatus for attachment to the air conduits of a zoned air cell cushion or mattress to an associated valve. The attachment apparatus comprises a connector assembly with connectors secured in the ends of air conduits secured in a conduit constraint. Each air conduit is in fluid communication with a separate inflation zone of the cushion or mattress. The also connectors are in fluid cooperation with a valve that places normally isolated zones into fluid communication and vice versa. The connector assembly may functions as a base for any one of a number of valves.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 22, 2014Publication date: September 18, 2014Applicant: Roho, Inc.Inventors: Paul A. Rickman, Dennis L. Clapper
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Patent number: 8739338Abstract: An attachment apparatus (20) for attachment to the air conduits (6,8,10,12) of a zoned air cell cushion A or mattress to an associated valve. The attachment apparatus comprises a connector assembly (24) with connectors (26, 28, 30, 32) secured in the ends (N1, N2, N3, N4) of air conduits secured in a conduit constraint (38). Each air conduit is in fluid communication with a separate inflation zone (r,s,t,u) of the cushion or mattress. The connectors are in fluid cooperation with a valve (60) that places normally isolated zones into fluid communication and vice versa. The connector assembly may function as a base for any one of a number of valves (60, 103, 150, 200, 400, 500).Type: GrantFiled: September 2, 2009Date of Patent: June 3, 2014Assignee: Roho, Inc.Inventors: Paul A. Rickman, Dennis L. Clapper
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Publication number: 20140020158Abstract: Impact attenuating liner for headgear and headgear employing the liner, the liner positionable inside the headgear and comprising a cellular layer having an array of individual impact attenuating cells, each individual impact attenuating cells including an impact attenuating medium. The impact attenuating cells can comprise a gas, liquid, visco-elastic gel, foam, fiber or combinations thereof as well other impact attenuating medium. In another aspect, the impact attenuating liner has at least two layers, a cellular layer of and an impact attenuating layer under the cellular. The liner can include a cover. The liner can be removable from the headgear.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 12, 2012Publication date: January 23, 2014Applicant: ROHO, INC.Inventors: David K. Parsons, Anthony Eric Sprouse, II, Paul A. Rickman
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Publication number: 20120036646Abstract: A cushion or mattress comprising a base and a plurality of linearly aligned individual air cells across the base. Groups of individual air cells can be interconnected and in fluid cooperation with an inflation source, such as a pump. In one aspect of the invention, the inflation of adjacent cells is staggered, for example, in a checkerboard-like inflation pattern that helps diffuse load over a wider area.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 24, 2011Publication date: February 16, 2012Applicant: ROHO, INC.Inventors: J. David McCausland, Paul A. Rickman, Dennis L. Clapper
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Publication number: 20110258783Abstract: An attachment apparatus (20) for attachment to the air conduits (6,8,10,12) of a zoned air cell cushion A or mattress to an associated valve. The attachment apparatus comprises a connector assembly (24) with connectors (26, 28, 30, 32) secured in the ends (N1, N2, N3, N4) of air conduits secured in a conduit constraint (38). Each air conduit is in fluid communication with a separate inflation zone (r,s,t,u) of the cushion or mattress. The also connectors are in fluid cooperation with a valve (60) that places normally isolated zones into fluid communication and vice versa. The connector assembly may functions as a base for any one of a number of valves (60, 103, 150, 200, 400, 500).Type: ApplicationFiled: September 2, 2009Publication date: October 27, 2011Applicant: ROHO, INC.Inventors: Paul A. Rickman, Dennis L. Clapper
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Publication number: 20100205750Abstract: A cushion or mattress comprising a base and a plurality of linearly aligned individual air cells across the base. Groups of individual air cells can be interconnected and in fluid cooperation with an inflation source, such as a pump. In one aspect of the invention, the inflation of adjacent cells is staggered, for example, in a checkerboard-like inflation pattern that helps diffuse load over a wider area.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 10, 2008Publication date: August 19, 2010Applicant: ROHO, INC.Inventors: David McCausland, Paul A. Rickman, Dennis L. Clapper
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Patent number: 6687936Abstract: A valve for use with an inflatable cushion having individual inflation zones including a slide housing positioned between two outer casing halves. Each casing half has a plurality of nipple connector seats. Each nipple connector seat has at least one external detent. The slide housing has a series of nipple connectors along its length that are inserted into air conduits in the peripheral edge of the cushion, which, in turn, are connected to the individual inflation zones. Each nipple connector has at least one retainer groove in the surface. The casing half detents engage the cushion edge and the retainer grooves to retain the nipple in the air conduits. There is a movable slide inside the slide seat bore. The slide has a longitudinal inner bore and a number of openings along its length that communicate with the inner bore.Type: GrantFiled: September 26, 2002Date of Patent: February 10, 2004Assignee: Roho, Inc.Inventors: Robert W. Graebe, Robert Klotz, Paul A. Rickman, Dennis L. Clapper
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Publication number: 20030192125Abstract: A valve for use with an inflatable cushion having individual inflation zones including a slide housing positioned between two outer casing halves. Each casing half has a plurality of nipple connector seats. Each nipple connector seat has at least one external detent. The slide housing has a series of nipple connectors along its length that are inserted into air conduits in the peripheral edge of the cushion, which, in turn, are connected to the individual inflation zones. Each nipple connector has at least one retainer groove in the surface. The casing half detents engage the cushion edge and the retainer grooves to retain the nipple in the air conduits. There is a movable slide inside the slide seat bore. The slide has a longitudinal inner bore and a number of openings along its length that communicate with the inner bore.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 26, 2002Publication date: October 16, 2003Inventors: Robert W. Graebe, Robert Klotz, Paul A. Rickman, Dennis L. Clapper
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Patent number: 6564410Abstract: A valve for use with an inflatable cushion having individual inflation zones including a casing with an internal bore and a plurality of openings along the length of the casing connected to the individual inflation zones by air conduits and a movable slide within the casing bore. The slide has a number of openings along the its length that communicate with an inner bore. The valve is opened by aligning the slide openings with the casing openings to allow the inflation zones to communicate through the valve slide bore and is closed by moving the slide openings out of alignment with the casing openings to seal off the inflation zones.Type: GrantFiled: January 17, 2002Date of Patent: May 20, 2003Assignee: Roho, Inc.Inventors: Robert W. Graebe, Robert Klotz, Paul A. Rickman
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Publication number: 20020066143Abstract: A valve for use with an inflatable cushion having individual inflation zones including a casing with an internal bore and a plurality of openings along the length of the casing connected to the individual inflation zones by air conduits and a movable slide within the casing bore. The slide has a number of openings along the its length that communicate with an inner bore. The valve is opened by aligning the slide openings with the casing openings to allow the inflation zones to communicate through the valve slide bore and is closed by moving the slide openings out of alignment with the casing openings to seal off the inflation zones.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 17, 2002Publication date: June 6, 2002Applicant: Roho, Inc.Inventors: Robert W. Graebe, Robert Klotz, Paul A. Rickman
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Patent number: D663076Type: GrantFiled: March 12, 2012Date of Patent: July 3, 2012Assignee: Roho, Inc.Inventors: David K. Parsons, Anthony Eric Sprouse, II, Paul A. Rickman