Patent ID: 8397763

Claim:
A valve assembly for use with a system for supporting a body positioned on a support surface having at least one inflatable chamber, said valve assembly comprising: a valve housing having first conduit means and second conduit means, said first conduit means being configured to receive from and to supply fluid at a low pressure to exterior said valve housing and said second conduit means being configured for connection to said at least one inflatable chamber to receive therefrom and to supply thereto said fluid at a low pressure; valve means positioned in said valve housing, said valve means being connected to receive and supply said fluid at a low pressure from and to said first conduit means and being connected to receive and to supply said fluid at a low pressure from and to said second conduit means, said valve means being operable between an open position in which said fluid is flowable between said first conduit means and said second conduit means and a closed position in which flow of said fluid at a low pressure between said first conduit means and said second conduit means is inhibited, said valve means further comprising a valve seat with an aperture for said fluid to flow there through, said aperture in communication with said first conduit, said valve seat circular in projection and formed to have a circular edge; said valve means further comprising a valve stem sized to extend outwardly away from said edge of said valve seat to define an area on the outside valve stem when in said closed position sized to interact with the fluid in said chamber at a chamber pressure above said low pressure and to move down to open said valve to protect said chamber from an overpressure condition; and solenoid means positioned in said valve housing and connected to operate said valve means between said open position and said closed position, said solenoid means being connectable to a remote source of operating signals to cause said solenoid means to operate to move said valve means between said open position and said closed position.