Abstract: An airbed system is provided. The airbed system includes: an air mattress having at least one air mattress chamber; a boundary-layer pump connected to the at least one air mattress, configured to fill the at least one air mattress with gas; and a control unit, configured to receive user input corresponding to increasing or decreasing the pressure in the at least one air mattress chamber and to control the boundary-layer pump based on the received user input. The boundary-layer pump includes: a pressure recovery chamber housing including a pressure recovery chamber, a pump inlet, and a pump outlet; a plurality of disks within the pressure recovery chamber; and a motor attached to the plurality of disks, configured to rotate the plurality of disks so as to expel gas passing through the pump inlet radially outwards along the disks and out through the pump outlet.

Abstract: A foam-air mattress includes a mattress housing, including a top layer and a bottom layer; a plurality of air chambers, disposed between the top layer and the bottom layer, wherein the plurality of air chambers are configured to be connected to a pumping system via a tubing assembly; and a plurality of compartments formed by the mattress housing and the plurality of air chambers, configured to accept foam inserts. The plurality of air chambers, when inflated by the pumping system, are configured to compress foam inserts disposed within the plurality of compartments so as to increase the density of the foam inserts. This arrangement has applications in both the consumer and medical airbed contexts, as well as in other support system contexts, such as seat cushions for chairs.

Abstract: A foam-air mattress includes a mattress housing, including a top layer and a bottom layer; a plurality of air chambers, disposed between the top layer and the bottom layer, wherein the plurality of air chambers are configured to be connected to a pumping system via a tubing assembly; and a plurality of compartments formed by the mattress housing and the plurality of air chambers, configured to accept foam inserts. The plurality of air chambers, when inflated by the pumping system, are configured to compress foam inserts disposed within the plurality of compartments so as to increase the density of the foam inserts. This arrangement has applications in both the consumer and medical airbed contexts, as well as in other support system contexts, such as seat cushions for chairs.

Abstract: A multiple configuration air mattress pump system is disclosed. The pump system includes a number of standard components with a few inexpensive varied components to allow for easy and less expensive use of the pump with mattresses having varying numbers of inflatable zones.

Abstract: Efficient systems and methods for inflating, deflating, or simultaneously inflating and deflating air mattress chambers using various pump and pump housing configurations are provided. Examples of the various pump and pump housing configurations include: boundary-layer pumps having single disk array or multiple disk array layouts, different disk geometries, different pressure recovery chamber geometries, adjustable components for switching between filling and powered dumping operations, and reversible and non-reversible motors; and pump housings having one or more dump channels for manifold-driven powered dumping, multiple sides or stages for pressure and/or flow compounding, various manifold chamber configurations for robust connectivity with air mattresses having multiple chambers, and various valve configurations for flexible control over filling, powered dumping, and simultaneous filling and powered dumping operations.

Abstract: An airbed system is provided. The airbed system includes: an air mattress having at least one air mattress chamber; a boundary-layer pump connected to the at least one air mattress, configured to fill the at least one air mattress with gas; and a control unit, configured to receive user input corresponding to increasing or decreasing the pressure in the at least one air mattress chamber and to control the boundary-layer pump based on the received user input. The boundary-layer pump includes: a pressure recovery chamber housing including a pressure recovery chamber, a pump inlet, and a pump outlet; a plurality of disks within the pressure recovery chamber; and a motor attached to the plurality of disks, configured to rotate the plurality of disks so as to expel gas passing through the pump inlet radially outwards along the disks and out through the pump outlet.

Abstract: A multiple configuration air mattress pump system is disclosed. The pump system includes a number of standard components with a few inexpensive varied components to allow for easy and less expensive use of the pump with mattresses having varying numbers of inflatable zones.

Abstract: The present invention comprises a fluid pressurizable multiple chamber mattress wherein each chamber is capable of operably receiving and releasing a fluid, comprising a first covering sheet, at least two fabric layers positioned upon the inner surface of the first covering sheet, the inner surfaces of the fabric layers being linked via a plurality of threads, a second covering sheet, a first dielectric weld forming a first and a second fluid pressurizable chamber defined between the outer surfaces of the fabric layers and the inner surfaces of the first and second covering sheets, a second dielectric weld, forming a third fluid pressurizable chamber defined between the inner surfaces of the first and second covering sheets and the inner surfaces of the fabric layers; and at least one fluid valve carried by at least one covering sheet for permitting the pressurization and depressurization of at least one fluid pressurizable chamber.