Patents by Inventor Lawrence E. Luff

Lawrence E. Luff 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).

  • Hand-held controller for bed and mattress assembly
    Patent number: 6396224
    Abstract: A hand-held controller is used to control an apparatus that supports a person. The hand-held controller includes a display that displays graphical images pertaining to functions of the apparatus. An illustrative apparatus comprises a frame and a mattress supported by the frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2002
    Assignee: Hill-Rom Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Lawrence E. Luff, Ryan A. Reeder
  • Bed assembly with an air mattress and controller
    Patent number: 6311348
    Abstract: A method of upgrading a bed assembly from (a) a first configuration in which the bed assembly includes a foam mattress, an articulating frame for supporting the foam mattress, and a drive system for moving at least one section of the articulated frame, to (b) a second configuration in which the bed assembly includes an air mattress, the articulating frame, and the drive system, is disclosed. The method includes the steps of removing the foam mattress from the articulating frame, placing an air mattress that includes at least one air bladder on the articulating frame, coupling an air control module pneumatically to the at least one air bladder, and coupling the air control module electrically to the drive system so that command signals received by the drive system to adjust pressure of the at least one air bladder are routed from the drive system to the air control module to operate the air control module to adjust pressure of the at least one air bladder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2001
    Assignee: Hill-Rom Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Lawrence E. Luff, Steven R. Westerfeld, Ryan A. Reeder
  • Bed assembly with an air mattress and controller
    Patent number: 6079065
    Abstract: A bed assembly has a frame with at least one articulated frame section and a drive system for moving the articulated frame section. The drive system includes a first electrical circuit and a remote control unit that sends command signals to the first electrical circuit. The bed further includes a mattress having at least one air bladder and a controller including a compressor fluidly coupled to the at least one air bladder. The controller includes a second electrical circuit that couples to the first electric circuit so that at least one of the command signals received from the remote control unit is communicated to the second electrical circuit via the first electrical circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2000
    Assignee: PaTMarK Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Lawrence E. Luff, Steven R. Westerfeld, Ryan A. Reeder
  • Hand-held controller for bed and mattress assembly
    Patent number: 6008598
    Abstract: A hand-held controller is provided for controlling at least one function of a bed and mattress assembly. The hand-held controller includes a button engageable to control the at least one function of the bed and mattress assembly, and a display configured to provide feedback to a user regarding the at least one function. The display simultaneously displays a graphical image and numerical data when the button is engaged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 28, 1999
    Assignee: PaTMarK Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Lawrence E. Luff, Ryan A. Reeder