Patent ID: 8024830

Claim:
An inflatable bed comprising: a bedstead assembly; a mattress assembly having at least one air chamber; and an electric air pump unit in connection with said mattress assembly and including: a centrifugal pump device in fluid communication with said air chamber in said mattress assembly for inflating said air chamber, a first control valve operable to allow for and interrupt fluid communication between said centrifugal pump device and said air chamber, said first control valve being disposed between said centrifugal pump device and said air chamber, a diaphragm pump device in fluid communication with said air chamber fluidly separate from said first control valve for inflating said air chamber, an air pressure sensor in fluid communication with said air chamber, and a controller; said controller being configured to control said first control valve to allow for flow of fluid from said centrifugal pump device into said air chamber therethrough so that said centrifugal pump device is operable to perform initial inflation of said air chamber to a first pressure value; said air pressure sensor configured emit a signal indicating that the first pressure value has been reached; and said controller being configured to receive the signal from said air pressure sensor and accordingly control said first control valve to interrupt flow of fluid from said centrifugal pump device into said air chamber therethrough, deactivate the centrifugal pump, and activate the diaphragm pump so that said diaphragm pump device is operable to perform subsequent inflation of the air chamber from the first pressure value to a second pressure value.