Abstract: A fluid controller comprising a housing separating an interior of the housing from an inflatable bladder is disclosed, the fluid controller including a plurality of valves fluidly coupling the interior of the housing to the inflatable bladder through a respective opening in the housing, a pump located at least partly within an interior of the housing, wherein the plurality of valves and respective orifices are configured to provide a fluid path between the interior of the housing and the inflatable bladder during inflation of the inflatable bladder, and wherein a valve and respective orifice is biased open to provide a fluid path between the interior of the housing and the inflatable bladder for fluid release.

Abstract: A valve for an inflatable device is disclosed. The valve includes a base configured to seal to a fluid impermeable wall of a bladder of the inflatable device, a cap including a rim, and a seal. The bases defines an orifice for exhausting fluid from an interior of the inflatable device and a sealing surface. The rim can include a generally circular peripheral region including at least one rib located about an underside of the peripheral region and a cavity defined in part by at least one wall located radially inward of the rib. The seal can include a first end region secured to the cap within the cavity between the at least one wall and the at least one rib and a second end region configured to move with the at least one first end region secured to the cap.

Abstract: A fluid controller comprising a self sealing valve is disclosed. The fluid controller includes a rim that defines a fluid passage for a flow of fluid inflation and deflation of an inflatable bladder. A diaphragm is configured to seal the fluid passage, and the self sealing valve also includes at least one extension configured to extend over the diaphragm to limit a deflection of the diaphragm in a direction away from the interior of the inflatable bladder to maintain a substantially fluid-tight seal between the diaphragm and the rim under increased pressure within the inflatable bladder.

Abstract: A configurable, adjustable inflatable device including one or more inflatable bladders and a shape-defining member that combines with the inflatable bladders such that an overall shape of the configurable inflatable device is at least partially controlled by the shape-defining member.

Abstract: A system includes a fluid controller coupled to an inflatable bladder and configured to add fluid to and remove fluid from the inflatable bladder, a control unit configured to provide information used by the fluid controller to adjust the pressurization of the inflatable bladder, the control unit including a user interface configured to display a plurality of indicia corresponding to a range of pressure levels in which the inflatable bladder is employed by a user, where each of the plurality of indicia is associated with a different level of pressure of the inflatable bladder, respectively. In one embodiment, the fluid controller is configured to adjust the pressurization, in response to a user input at the user interface, to a pressure level selected by the user based on a current pressure level of the inflatable bladder, the pressure level selected by the user and an operating time of the fluid controller.

Abstract: The invention relates to an assembly comprising an electromechanical device and a self-sealing valve, and in particular, to any inflatable device that includes the assembly. In one embodiment, the assembly comprises a valve housing defining an opening through which fluid can be provided to the inflatable device, a flexible diaphragm assembly that is configured to self-seal the opening with sufficient fluid pressure in the inflatable device and to open under sufficient fluid pressure from a fluid moving device, to provide fluid through the opening to and seal the inflatable device. The assembly further comprises an electromechanical device including an actuating arm, having a first position in which the actuating arm urges open the self-sealing valve and a second position in which the actuating arm does not act upon the self-sealing valve, so as to regulate an amount of fluid within the inflatable device. With this arrangement, a small, low power, low duty cycle electromechanical device can be used.

Abstract: In one aspect, a pump for moving air includes an inlet, an outlet, an outer housing adapted to couple to an inflatable device, and an inner housing located within the outer housing, an electromechanically-controlled valve assembly, and electrical switches. An air conduit is defined between the inner housing and the outer housing. A motor is at least partly positioned within the inner housing, and a plurality of vanes is positioned within the air conduit. The pump can be connected to an inflatable device bladder via a socket.

Abstract: A valve for an inflatable device is disclosed. The valve includes a base configured to seal to a fluid impermeable wall of a bladder of the inflatable device, a cap including a rim, and a seal. The bases defines an orifice for exhausting fluid from an interior of the inflatable device and a sealing surface. The rim can include a generally circular peripheral region including at least one rib located about an underside of the peripheral region and a cavity defined in part by at least one wall located radially inward of the rib. The seal can include a first end region secured to the cap within the cavity between the at least one wall and the at least one rib and a second end region configured to move with the at least one first end region secured to the cap.

Abstract: A fluid controller comprising a self sealing valve is disclosed. The fluid controller includes a rim that defines a fluid passage for a flow of fluid inflation and deflation of an inflatable bladder. A diaphragm is configured to seal the fluid passage, and the self sealing valve also includes at least one extension configured to extend over the diaphragm to limit a deflection of the diaphragm in a direction away from the interior of the inflatable bladder to maintain a substantially fluid-tight seal between the diaphragm and the rim under increased pressure within the inflatable bladder.

Abstract: A self-sealing valve comprises a valve housing having a fluid conduit, a valve seat, a diaphragm and an attachment member. The valve housing is configured to pass fluid through the fluid conduit. The diaphragm provides a seal of the fluid conduit. The attachment member is configured to attach portion of the diaphragm to the valve housing. The attachment member and diaphragm are configured to position the flexible diaphragm against the valve seat to seal the fluid conduit in a closed position of the self-sealing valve, and to facilitate pivotal movement of the diaphragm under a bias in a first direction away from the valve seat to an open position.

Abstract: A valve for an inflatable device includes a first region configured to seal to a fluid impermeable wall of a bladder of the inflatable device, a cap including a rim, and a seal. The base includes a second region that defines an orifice for exhausting fluid from an interior of the inflatable device, the second region configured to provide a sealing surface. Further, the rim can include a generally circular peripheral region including at least one rib located about an underside of the peripheral region and a cavity defined in part by at least one wall located radially inward of the rib. The seal can include a first end region secured to the cap within the cavity between the at least one wall and the at least one rib and a second end region configured to freely move with the at least one first end region secured to the cap.

Abstract: In one aspect, a pump for moving air includes an inlet, an outlet, an outer housing adapted to couple to an inflatable device, and an inner housing located within the outer housing. An air conduit is defined between the inner housing and the outer housing. A motor is at least partly positioned within the inner housing, and a plurality of vanes are positioned within the air conduit.

Abstract: In one aspect, the invention provides a method for a user to adjust a pressure in an inflatable device. The method includes acts of adjusting the pressure in the inflatable device with a control device to a pressure preferred by the user, where the pressure preferred by the user has a first value, and establishing a first setting corresponding to the pressure preferred by the user with the control device, and automatically establishing a second setting corresponding to a second pressure having a second value once the first setting is established, where the second value differs from the first value by a predetermined amount.

Abstract: The invention relates to an inflatable device comprising an electromechanical device and a self-sealing valve, and in particular, to any inflatable device that includes the assembly. In some embodiments, at least a portion of a fluid controller is coupled to and supported by an inflatable bladder of an inflatable device. The fluid controller may be located in a compartment, and the compartment may be within the profile of the bladder. The inflatable device may be a single bladder mattress or a dual bladder mattress. The inflatable device may include a heater or an articulation device. The inflatable device may be multi-positional device or have a storage compartment. The inflatable device may be configurable using one or more members such as a membrane or fasteners.

Abstract: A fluid controller comprising a housing separating an interior of the housing from an inflatable bladder is disclosed, the fluid controller including a plurality of valves fluidly coupling the interior of the housing to the inflatable bladder through a respective opening in the housing, a pump located at least partly within an interior of the housing, wherein the plurality of valves and respective orifices are configured to provide a fluid path between the interior of the housing and the inflatable bladder during inflation of the inflatable bladder, and wherein a valve and respective orifice is biased open to provide a fluid path between the interior of the housing and the inflatable bladder for fluid release.

Abstract: In one aspect, a pump for moving air includes an inlet, an outlet, an outer housing adapted to couple to an inflatable device, and an inner housing located within the outer housing. An air conduit is defined between the inner housing and the outer housing. A motor is at least partly positioned within the inner housing, and a plurality of vanes are positioned within the air conduit.

Abstract: The present invention is related to inflatable devices, and, more specifically, to inflatable devices in combination with rigid surfaces and a method for deflating an inflatable device. According to one embodiment of the present invention an inflatable device is provided. The inflatable device includes a substantially fluid impermeable bladder and an outlet in the bladder. The inflatable device also includes a first substantially rigid surface in contact with a first surface of the fluid impermeable bladder and a second substantially rigid surface in contact with the first surface of the fluid impermeable bladder. In this embodiment, the first and second substantially rigid surfaces collectively are in contact with more than half of the first surface of the fluid impermeable barrier. According to another embodiment of the present invention, a method of deflating an inflatable device is provided.

Abstract: A self-sealing valve comprises a valve housing having a fluid conduit, a valve seat, and a retaining member, the valve housing being configured to pass fluid through the fluid conduit, and a flexible diaphragm comprising a flexible material having resiliency, wherein the retaining member and the flexible diaphragm are configured so that the retaining member retains a portion of the flexible diaphragm so as to use the resiliency of the flexible material to bias the flexible diaphragm against the valve seat to a closed position of the self-sealing valve to provide a self-seal of the fluid conduit, and to facilitate movement of the flexible diaphragm under a fluid bias against a first side of the flexible diaphragm in a first direction away from the valve seat to an open position, and wherein the retaining member and the flexible diaphragm are configured so that the self-sealing valve can be contacted to move a portion of the flexible diaphragm away from the valve seat to the open position.

Abstract: A configurable, adjustable inflatable device including one or more inflatable bladders and a shape-defining member that combines with the inflatable bladders such that an overall shape of the configurable inflatable device is at least partially controlled by the shape-defining member.

Abstract: A system includes a fluid controller coupled to an inflatable bladder and configured to add fluid to and remove fluid from the inflatable bladder, a control unit configured to provide information used by the fluid controller to adjust the pressurization of the inflatable bladder, the control unit including a user interface configured to display a plurality of indicia corresponding to a range of pressure levels in which the inflatable bladder is employed by a user, where each of the plurality of indicia is associated with a different level of pressure of the inflatable bladder, respectively. In one embodiment, the fluid controller is configured to adjust the pressurization, in response to a user input at the user interface, to a pressure level selected by the user based on a current pressure level of the inflatable bladder, the pressure level selected by the user and an operating time of the fluid controller.