Patent ID: 7617554

Claim:
A body support comprising: a plurality of fluid cells forming at least a first pressure zone and a second pressure zone; at least one manifold system connected to each pressure zone, and interconnected to said plurality of fluid cells; an equalizing pressure control system operatively attached to the at least one manifold system, said equalizing pressure control system including at least one flow restrictor operatively attached between each pressure zone, and a pressure relief valve that is operatively attached to all of the pressure zones, wherein said equalizing pressure control system allows the equalization of the fluid pressure between the first pressure zone including at least one fluid cell and the second pressure zone including at least one fluid cell, wherein a fluid may flow through said flow restrictor in both directions, and wherein the flow through said flow restrictor has a negligible effect on the differential pressure between the first pressure zone and the second pressure zone when pressurized fluid is being supplied to said fluid cells.