Patent ID: 8739338
Filing Date: 2014-06-03
Classification: A47C,A61G,F16K,Y10T

Abstract:
1. In an inflatable mattress or cushion having a base and an array of upstanding fluid filled cells on one side of the base, said array of cells being divided into a plurality of inflation zones, each zone having a fluid conduit with one end in fluid communication with the zone and a second end, a valve used to place the plurality of inflation zones in or out of fluid communication with each other, the valve comprising: a housing defining an inner bore; a valve shutoff rotatingly engaged within the housing bore, said rotating valve shutoff having a wall with a plurality of openings through the wall and interconnected within the shutoff; a plurality of connectors, each having an inner bore, an open first end and an open second end; a conduit constraint having a plurality of openings therein, each opening configured to secure the second end of a conduit, said open second end of each of said connectors being engaged in a second end of the conduit secured in the conduit constraint, said connector impinging said second end of the conduit between itself and the opening in the conduit constraint so as to form a tight seal and to secure the connector within the second end of the conduit; an actuator at the top of the housing and secured to said valve shutoff to effect axial rotation of the valve shutoff within the valve housing whereby axial rotation of said valve shutoff to a first position places said interconnected openings in the shutoff in fluid communication with the open first ends of the connectors thereby opening the valve to allow air flow between the inflation zones through the interconnected shutoff openings in the shutoff and axial rotation to a second position takes said openings in the valve shutoff out of fluid communication with the open first ends of the connectors thereby closing the valve.