Patent ID: 7685662

Claim:
An apparatus for use in deflating pressurized air chambers of an air mattress, the apparatus comprising a first valve having a pressurization chamber and a diaphragm that flexes between a first position allowing the pressurized air chambers of the mattress to vent to atmosphere and a second position blocking pneumatic communication between the pressurized air chambers of the air mattress and atmosphere, a non-return valve coupled pneumatically to the first valve and configured to permit pressurized air to enter the pressurization chamber and prevent backflow of pressurized air out of the pressurization chamber, a compressor operable to pressurize the pressurization chamber of the first valve through the non-return valve to flex the diaphragm from the first position to the second position, and a drain cock coupled to the pressurization chamber and movable between an opened position in which the pressurization chamber is pneumatically coupled to atmosphere and a closed position in which pneumatic communication between the pressurization chamber and atmosphere is blocked, wherein, when the drain cock is in the closed position and the compressor is operated, the pressurization chamber is pressurizable by the compressor to cause the diaphragm to flex from the first position to the second position, wherein, when the compressor is no longer operating and the drain cock is in the closed position, pressure within the pressurization chamber is maintained due to the non-return valve and the drain cock preventing escape of pressurized air from the pressurization chamber, wherein, after the pressurization chamber has been pressurized and the compressor is no longer operating, the drain cock is movable from the closed position to the opened position to allow the pressurized air to escape to from the pressurization chamber thereby allowing the diaphragm to flex from the second position to the first position thereby allowing the pressurized air chambers of the mattress to vent to atmosphere.