Patent ID: 7784130

Claim:
An alternating pressure mattress, including: a first set of cells, comprising a plurality of inflatable first central cells and a plurality of inflatable first side forming cells; a second set of cells, comprising a plurality of inflatable second central cells and a plurality of inflatable second side forming cells; said first and second sets of cells being selectably connectable to a gas supply such that said first set of cells and said second set of cells are inflatable and deflatable cyclically in a predetermined sequence; wherein: said first and second central cells are provided along a central region between a head end and a foot end of the mattress; a plurality of said first and second side forming cells are provided along a first side region of the mattress; a plurality of said first and second side forming cells are provided along a second side region of the mattress; said first set of cells includes a plurality of first cell groups wherein each said first cell group comprises a said first side forming cell located along said first side region and having a respective opening to two of said first central cells, only one of said two first central cells having an opening to a said first side forming cell located along said second side region; and said second set of cells includes a plurality of second cell groups wherein each said second cell group comprises a said second side forming cell located along said second side region and having a respective opening to two of said second central cells, only one of said two second central cells having an opening to a said second side forming cell located along said first side region.