Patent ID: 11950702
Assignee: SLEEP NUMBER CORPORATION
Field: Mechanical elements (Mechanical engineering)
Classification: CPC A  F | IPC A  F

Claim 0:
1. An air bed system comprising:
a mattress having at least one inflatable air chamber;
an air pump; and
a valve in fluid connection between the air pump and the inflatable air chamber so as to selectively regulate fluid communication between the air pump and the at least one inflatable air chamber, wherein the valve comprises:
a solenoid coil;
a plunger having a core configured to respond to a magnetic field generated by the solenoid coil;
a valve disc positioned at a head of the core and configured to cushion impact when the valve is closed, the valve disc defining a forward-facing surface and a rear-facing surface, wherein the valve disc defines a receptacle, wherein the head of the core is positioned in the receptacle, and wherein a front surface of the head of the core and an opposing surface in the receptacle of the valve disc are shaped to space at least part of the front surface from the opposing surface; and
a projection attached to the rear-facing surface of the valve disc and extending in a rearward direction from the rear-facing surface away from the forward-facing surface, wherein the projection is sized and positioned to cushion impact when the valve is opened, wherein the projection extends from the rear-facing surface of the valve disc at a position that is adjacent to and along an outer surface of the core, wherein the projection is a plurality of projections.