United States Patent (19)
`Wridge, Jr. et al.
`
`(54)
`
`(75)
`
`73
`21
`22)
`(51)
`(52)
`(58)
`
`CONSTANT PRESSURE LOAD BEARNG
`AIR CHAMBER
`Inventors: Wilbur S. Wridge, Jr., Portland,
`Oreg; Lloyd D. Everard, Kent,
`Wash.
`Assignee: Sustena, Inc., Kent, Wash.
`Appl. No.: 261,027
`Filed:
`Oct. 20, 1988
`Int. Cl. .............................................. A47C 27/08
`U.S.C. ............................................ 5/450; 5/453
`Field of Search ................... 5/449, 453, 450, 455;
`297/DIG. 3
`
`(56)
`
`References Cited
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`1,218,291 3/1917 Meinecke ............................ 5/455 X
`1,271,472 7/1918 Jakobson ...
`... 5/450
`1,332,933 3/1920 Sylvester.
`... 5/450
`2,751,610 6/1956 Griswold ..
`... 5/453
`3,042,941 7/1962 Marcus ......
`... 5/450
`3,303,518 2/1967 Ingram.
`... 5/349
`3,864,766 2/1975 Prete .........
`... 5/450
`3,872,525 3/1975 Lea et al. ..
`... 5/348
`3,877,092 4/1975 Gaiser .......
`... 5/343
`3,959,835 6/1976 Nos ......................................... 5/455
`4,078,842 3/1978 Zur .
`4,224,706 9/1980 Young et al. ........................... 5/449
`4,306,322 12/1981 Young et al. .....
`... 5/449
`4,394,784 7/1983 Swenson et al. .
`... 5/453
`4,428,087 1/1984 Horn .............
`... 5/455
`4,525,886 7/1985 Savenije .................................. 5/464
`4,634,179 1/1987 Hashimoto et al. .......... 297/DIG. 3
`
`11
`45
`
`Patent Number:
`Date of Patent:
`
`4,995,124
`Feb. 26, 1991
`
`4,638,519 l/1987 Hess ........................................ 5/455
`4,655,505 4/1987 Kashiwamura
`297/DIG. 3
`4,662,012 5/1987 Torbet ..................................... 5/455
`4,679,264 7/1987 Mollura ................................... 5/453
`4,686,722 8/1987 Swart ...................................... 5/453
`4,694,515 9/1987 Rogers .................................... 5/449
`4,694,520 9/1987 Paul et al. ...
`... 5/449 X
`4,711,275 12/1987 Ford et al. ..
`5/455 X
`4,745,647 5/1988 Goodwin ............................ 5/455 X
`4,797,962 l/1989 Goode ....
`5/455 X
`4,873,737 10/1989 Savenije .................................. 5/453
`FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS
`7906927A 3/1981 Netherlands .
`Primary Examiner-Gary L. Smith
`Assistant Examiner-Michael J. Milano
`Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Christensen, O'Connor,
`Johnson & Kindness
`(57)
`ABSTRACT
`The air chamber includes a control for manually select
`ing a desired pressure within the chamber. Means for
`sensing the air pressure within the chamber are pro
`vided as are pump means for adding air to the chamber
`and vent means for removing air from the chamber.
`Control circuitry adds or removes air from the chamber
`responsive to the sensed pressure to maintain the pres
`sure within the chamber at the preset level. Structural
`means are provided within the chamber for supporting
`a portion of a load placed thereon and thus decreases air
`pressure within the chamber to avoid deflation.
`
`25 Claims, 2 Drawing Sheets
`
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`arzazatzaraxarter/4-MAAC4-4T
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`Sleep Number Corp.
`EXHIBIT 2066
`IPR2019-00500
`Page 1
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`

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`U.S. Patenf
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`Feb. 26, 1991
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`Sheet 1 of2
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`»
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`4,995,124
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`Sleep Number Corp.
`EXHIBIT 2066
`|PR2019-00500
`
`Page 2
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`Sleep Number Corp.
`EXHIBIT 2066
`IPR2019-00500
`Page 2
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`U.S. Patent
`
`Feb. 26, 1991
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`Sheet 2 of 2
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`4,995,124
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`72 assa/6a
`sa/M526
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`Y azaza sa N
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`/27/77//6
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`2 1.
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`72 aassa/aaf
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`72 awa
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`24
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`Sleep Number Corp.
`EXHIBIT 2066
`IPR2019-00500
`Page 3
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`

`

`1
`
`CONSTANT. PRESSURE LOAD BEARNG AIR
`CHAMBER
`
`5
`
`10
`
`15
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`1. Field of the Invention
`The present invention relates broadly to air chambers
`adapted to support an external load and an apparatus for
`maintaining the air pressure within the chamber at a
`relatively constant preset level when the load is applied
`thereto. In particular, the invention relates to a constant
`pressure chamber suitable for use as an air mattress, seat
`cushion or other load bearing device.
`2. Description of Prior Art
`A long-standing problem in air mattress design in
`volves the ability to maintain constant pressure within
`the air mattress in spite of varying loads on the mattress
`as one or more users sit or lie on the bed, toss and turn
`during sleep or arise and return to bed. The "feel' of the
`mattress to the user is directly related to the amount of 20
`air pressure within the mattress. Thus, in an air mattress
`into which air is drawn to a certain pressure and then
`sealed, such as those shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,872,525
`and 3,877,092, the internal pressure increases when a
`user lies thereon and the mattress thus "feels' harder as
`25
`the load thereon increases.
`U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,224,706 and 4,306,322 disclose air
`mattress systems which allow the firmness of the mat
`tress to be controlled when a person is lying thereon
`through the use of a separate bladder which contains a
`quantity of air adapted to be transferred between the air
`mattress and the bladder responsive to changes in the
`volume of the bladder.
`Also known are manually operated systems, such as
`that shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,394,784, where air is
`supplied to a mattress by a blower or vented from the
`mattress through valves, both the blower and the valves
`being electronically controlled by hand-held control
`units. U.S. Pat. No. 4,078,842 discloses an inflatable
`auto seat wherein pressurized air is supplied by a manu
`ally operated compressor. U.S. Pat. No. 3,303,518 dis
`closes an inflatable mattress wherein air is supplied to
`compartments therein by hoses connected to a remotely
`located compressor/pump controlled by the user.
`U.S. Pat. No. 4,686,722 discloses a mattress formed
`45
`from a plurality of individual cushions interconnected
`by ducting to an air pressure source. The pressure in
`selected cushions may be controlled by computer.
`U.S. Pat. No. 4,694,520 discloses an air mattress
`which includes a sensor 170 positioned within the mat
`50
`tress which turns on an air compressor when the mat
`tress deflates to a point where a patient comes in contact
`therewith.
`U.S. Pat. No. 4,711,275 discloses a mattress including
`a rather complex system having a plurality of air com
`55
`pressors and pressure sensors to inflate and deflate por
`tions of the mattress in cycle to prevent bedsores on a
`bedridden patient.
`-
`U.S. Pat. No. 4,679,264 discloses a self-regulating air
`mattress including a reservoir and means for adding or
`removing air from the system. A sensing device is dis
`closed which is adapted to sense the pressure in the
`mattress and add or remove air therefrom to maintain a
`constant pressure. Experimentation has shown, how
`ever, that such a system, supposedly designed to main
`65
`tain pressure within a mattress at a predetermined level
`by sensing pressure and adding or removing air from
`the mattress in response to a change in pressure, simply
`
`4,995,124
`2
`do not work. The problem of such systems is that, as
`suming a preset pressure to be sensed and maintained,
`the pressure within the mattress is increased when a
`load is placed thereon. This increased pressure is sensed
`and air is vented from the mattress in response thereto.
`However, venting of air from the mattress does not
`decrease pressure within the mattress so long as the load
`remains thereon until the mattress is almost totally de
`flated.
`The present invention provides an air mattress or the
`like which can be maintained at a constant pressure
`even under load without deflating.
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`It is known that pressure is generated in the air cham
`bers of an air mattress by the force of the semielastic
`walls of the chambers upon the air captured there
`within. When a load, such as a person, is placed upon
`the mattress, the pressure within the mattress is pro
`duced both by the downward force exerted by the
`weight of the person and the forces generated by the
`semielastic mattress chamber walls. It has been found
`that if the size of the load placed on the mattress is
`relatively small, the increase in pressure normally
`caused by the load can be compensated for by the elas
`ticity of the air chamber walls. As the load increases,
`however, the ability of the chamber walls to absorb the
`increasing pressure load diminishes and the air pressure
`within the chamber increases. As a result, the firmness
`of the mattress is also increased. In known active sens
`ing mattress systems, the pressure sensor would, at this
`time, begin venting air from the mattress chambers to
`the atmosphere in an attempt to lower the pressure
`within the chambers. However, since the weight upon
`the mattress remains constant, and thus the pressure
`within the chambers remains at a constant high level,
`the venting of air to atmosphere does not reduce pres
`sure but rather merely deflates the mattress.
`In the present invention, applicants have solved this
`problem by providing a structure within the mattress
`chamber itself which is adapted to support a portion of
`a load placed upon the mattress to thereby reduce the
`air pressure within the mattress to a desired preset pres
`sure level such that the sensor stops venting air to the
`atmosphere and the mattress does not deflate. In a pre
`ferred form, a resilient open-cell foam cushion is placed
`within the mattress which, while typically not resilient
`enough to constitute a comfortable mattress by itself,
`has the ability to support a sufficient amount of the
`weight of a person to allow the pressure within the
`mattress to be reduced. The reduced pressure is sensed
`and venting of air to the atmosphere is stopped. In prac
`tice, it has been found that due to the lightweight nature
`of the foam cushion, the "feel' of the air mattress does
`not change even when a person's body bears upon the
`foam through the upper surface of the mattress.
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`The invention will be described more fully with ref
`erence to the preferred embodiment shown in the draw
`ings wherein:
`w
`FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of a plurality
`of tubes suitable for use as the air support chambers of
`an air mattress, including conduit means interconnect
`ing the tubes, connecting them to both a pressure sensor
`and pumping or venting means.
`
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`EXHIBIT 2066
`IPR2019-00500
`Page 4
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`4
`chamber 10' wherein lightweight fibrous material 25 is
`FIGS. 2a-2c are schematic side elevational views of
`provided as the fill material and FIG.2c depicts a ver
`the embodiments of the air chambers of FIG. 1 with
`portions of the sides broken away to show the position
`sion of still another alternative embodiment of the in
`ing of the support elements therein.
`vention wherein the metal springs 27 are disposed
`FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating the movement
`within the chamber 10' to serve as the support element.
`of air into and out of a chamber of the present invention,
`While softness and resiliency are desired for comfort
`including the electronic controls therefor.
`in a mattress, it will be understood that a nonresilient
`weight support means might be satisfactorily used to
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE
`again accomplish the goal of decreasing air pressure to
`INVENTION
`the extent necessary to cause the sensor to stop venting
`Referring initially to FIG. 1, a plurality of air cham
`air to the atmosphere when a load is placed upon the
`bers 10 are disclosed positioned side by side in the gen
`inflated chamber.
`eral form of a tube-shaped mattress core. In a preferred
`FIG. 2a also discloses the chamber covering foam
`embodiment, the chambers are defined by membranes
`pad 22 described above, as well as conventional fabric
`11 formed of polyvinyl chloride in a known manner
`cover 24 surrounding and overlying the air chambers.
`15
`although polyurethane or other suitable materials may
`Referring now to the block diagram shown in FIG. 3,
`the operation of the present invention will be described
`also be used. In use as a mattress, the membranes 11 are
`typically covered on at least their top and botton by a
`in detail. As illustrated, chamber 10 is shown to be
`light foam pad 22 and the entire unit encased within a
`connected by means of conduit 12 to pressure sensor 26.
`fabric cover 24 for sleeping comfort.
`In a preferred form, the pressure sensor is a conven
`20
`It has been found that in a preferred embodiment, the
`tional solid state device which is electronically compen
`membrane 11 may be sized so that four membranes
`sated for change in ambient air. It has been found that
`satisfactory pressures within chamber 10 range from
`placed side by side define a single bed of so-called "twin
`bed' size, while eight membranes provide a satisfactory
`between two inches to ten inches of gage water pres
`sure, which is approximately one-thirtieth of atmo
`double bed.
`spheric pressure. These small pressures place little stress
`As illustrated in FIG. 1, manifold means 12 intercon
`nect all of the chambers 10 so that a uniform pressure is
`upon the seams of the chamber 10, and thus the unit
`made according to the present invention has been found
`maintained in all of the chambers which, as indicated,
`to be long-lived.
`may be sensed by a pressure sensor to which manifold
`The output signal of pressure sensor 26 is led through
`12 is connected. Likewise, manifold 14 interconnects all
`of the tubes and is in turn connected to air pump or air
`a conventional amplifier means 28 to an electronic com
`parator 30 wherein the signal from the amplifier is com
`vent means in a manner which will be described in
`pared to a signal generated by pressure select control
`greater detail hereafter. Tubes 16 and 18 are shown
`connecting the individual chambers to the manifolds 12
`32, Elements 30 and 32 are conventional, off-the-shelf
`and 14 respectively, but it will be understood that the
`items, element 32 typically being of a type which allows
`35
`particular shape of the tubes, manifolds, and the connec
`a user to select the degree of mattress firmness, i.e.,
`pressure within the air chamber, by simply turning a
`tions therebetween may be varied, and FIG. 1 is meant
`to be illustrative only.
`dial to an indicated setting. Air pressure within the
`chamber may be changed by simply turning the dial to
`In particular, it has been found that a double bed
`mattress is preferably provided with dual sensing,
`a different setting. Electronic comparator 30 compares
`pumping and venting means so that persons lying side
`the selected pressure with the actual pressure within
`by side are able to separately control the air pressure
`chamber 10 as transmitted through amplifier 28. Com
`parator 30 produces an output signal that is forwarded
`within the chambers on their side of the mattress and
`the consequent firmness or "feel' of the mattress.
`to control electronics 34 that controls an air pump 36
`Referring additionally to FIG. 2a, a support element
`and a selectively open vent valve 38. The control elec
`45
`20 is shown positioned within the chamber 10 to act as
`tronics 34, in response to the comparator signal, either
`load support in a manner to be described in greater
`turns on electric air pump 36 or opens electric vent
`detail hereafter. Element 20 is preferably formed of a
`valve 38 to add or remove air from chamber 10. In a
`lightweight, open cell foam and it will be understood
`preferred embodiment, pump 36 is a diaphragm pump.
`that element 20 is positioned within chamber 10 during
`Control electronics 34 are conventional as are air pump
`construction of the chamber and that the foam element
`36 and vent valve 38.
`may be of any suitable shape and may be affixed to or
`In typical operation, a user selects a desired air pres
`allowed to move loosely within chamber 10. The foam
`sure within chamber 10 by adjusting the dial on the
`material 20 need not have a great crushing strength
`pressure select control 32. Assuming an initially de
`since the foam itself does not act as the major weight
`flated chamber, electric air pump 36 is activated to
`supporting element of the air mattress and, thus, in and
`pump air into chamber 10 until pressure sensor 26 senses
`the pressure within the chamber is substantially equal to
`of itself, need not be of a strength sufficient to be used as
`a satisfactory mattress. As depicted, the support ele
`the desired selected pressure. If the air pressure within
`ment 20 is dimensioned so that the top of the support
`chamber 10 should increase or decrease due, for exam
`ple, to a change in temperature or atmospheric pressure
`element is spaced away from the top portion of the
`inflatable membrane 11 when the membrane is fully
`of the ambient air within the room where the mattress is
`placed, the change in pressure will be sensed and either
`inflated.
`Besides the described foam material, a lightweight
`air pump 36 turned on to force air into chamber 10 or
`fibrous material or any other resilient material including
`vent valve 38 opened to bleed air from the chamber. In
`a metal spring may be satisfactorily used to accomplish
`this manner the preselected pressure is maintained.
`the function of supporting a portion of the user's weight
`When a person lies upon the mattress, the pressure
`to prevent total deflation of the mattress in the manner
`within chamber 10 is increased substantially. This in
`crease in pressure is sensed by sensor 26, thus causing
`described hereafter. FIG. 2b depicts a version of the
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`ported by said load supporting materialso that said
`vent valve 38 to be opened to vent air from the chamber
`10 in an attempt to decrease the pressure within the
`chamber air pressure falls to approximately said
`chamber. So long as the person remains on the mattress,
`desired chamber air pressure.
`however, simply bleeding air from the mattress will not
`2. The air mattress of claim 1 wherein said control
`decrease pressure within the chamber. In prior art mat
`means includes a comparator for receiving said sensed
`tresses, venting would be continued until such time as
`pressure signal and said desired pressure signal in re
`sponse thereto generating a comparator signal and a
`the mattress was near totally deflated and the user
`control circuit for receiving said comparator signal and
`found himself in contact with the mattress support or
`floor. In the present invention, however, as air is vented
`in response thereto, controlling said air pump actuation
`to the atmosphere, the person comes in contact with the
`and said vent valve opening.
`resilient means 20 within the air chamber 10 such that a
`3. The air mattress of claim 1 wherein said control
`portion of the user's weight begins to be supported
`means, in response to said chamber air pressure being
`thereby. Supporting of the user's weight, by the resilient
`below said desired chamber air pressure, actuates said
`foam, for example, causes a decrease in the air pressure
`air pump.
`within chamber 10 which decrease is sensed by pressure
`4. The air mattress of claim 1 wherein said desired
`sensor 26. When the decreased pressure equals the pres
`chamber air pressure is between two and ten inches of
`sure previously selected by the user at pressure set 32,
`Water.
`vent valve 38 is closed and the pressure within the mat
`5. The air mattress of claim 1 wherein said load sup
`tress is stabilized without total deflation occurring. In
`porting material comprises a foam cushion.
`practice, it has been found that the selection of a soft
`6. The air mattress of claim 5 wherein said foam load
`20
`resilient foam for placement within chamber 10 allows a
`supporting material is of insufficient resiliency to pro
`portion of the user's weight to be borne by the foam
`vide sole support for a load normally supported by said
`without the user experiencing any substantial change in
`mattress.
`the "feel' of the mattress.
`7. The air mattress of claim 5 wherein said foam is
`While the present embodiment has been disclosed as
`dimensioned so that said foam is spaced away from the
`embodying elongate, generally parallel, interconnected
`top portion of said membrane when said membrane is
`tubes, it will be understood that tubes of a variety of
`fully inflated.
`shapes and configurations may be employed in connec
`8. The air mattress of claim 1 wherein said load sup
`tion with individual pressure sensing and control means
`porting material is of insufficient resiliency to provide
`to create a mattress wherein portions of the surface may
`the sole support for a load normally supported by said
`30
`be separately controlled as to firmness. Such a mattress
`nattress.
`is particularly valuable for use in connection with pa
`9. The air mattress of claim 8 wherein said control
`tients suffering from burns, skin ulcers or other condi
`means includes a comparator for receiving said sensed
`tions wherein it is helpful to support a portion of the
`pressure signal and said desired pressure signal in re
`patient's body on a mattress of reduced firmness.
`sponse thereto generating a comparator signal and a
`While the preferred embodiments of the invention
`control circuit for receiving said comparator signal and
`in response thereto, controlling said air pump actuation
`have been illustrated and described, it will be under
`and said vent valve opening.
`stood that variations will occur to those skilled in the
`art. Accordingly, the invention is not to be limited to
`10. The air mattress of claim 1 wherein said load
`the specific embodiments illustrated and described, and
`supporting material is dimensioned so that said material
`the true scope and spirit of the invention are to be deter
`is spaced away from the top portion of said membrane
`mined by reference to the following claims.
`when said membrane is fully inflated.
`We claim:
`11. The air mattress of claim 10 wherein said control
`1. An air mattress capable of supporting a load com
`means includes a comparator for receiving said sensed
`prising:
`pressure signal and said desired pressure signal in re
`45
`sponse thereto generating a comparator signal and a
`(a) an inflatable membrane defining a chamber having
`a chamber air pressure;
`control circuit for receiving said comparator signal and
`(b) load supporting material disposed in said cham
`in response thereto, controlling said air pump actuation
`ber;
`and said vent valve opening.
`(c) a selectively actuatable air pump in fluid commu
`12. The air mattress of claim 1 further including at
`50
`nication with said chamber to supply pressurized
`least two said membranes each having a chamber, each
`air thereto;
`of said chambers including load supporting material
`(d) a selectively openable vent valve in fluid commu
`disposed therein, a pressure sensor connected thereto to
`nication with said chamber;
`measure said chamber air pressure, and said air pump
`(e) a pressure sensor in fluid communication with said
`and said vent valve connected thereto, and said control
`chamber for generating a sensed pressure signal
`means maintaining said chambers at approximately said
`representative of said chamber air pressure;
`desired chamber air pressure.
`(f) a pressure selector generating a desired pressure
`13. The load-supporting assembly of claim 1 wherein
`signal representative of a desired chamber air pres
`said desired chamber air pressure is between two and
`sure; and
`ten inches of water.
`60
`(g) a control means connected to said air pump and
`14. A method of supporting a load on an inflatable air
`said vent valve and receiving said sensed pressure
`chamber including the steps of:
`signal and said desired pressure signal for maintain
`(a) inflating an air chamber defined by an inflatable
`ing said chamber at approximately said desired
`membrane to a desired chamber air pressure, said
`chamber air pressure whereby when the load on
`air chamber having associated therewith a pressure
`said membrane causes said chamber air pressure to
`sensor to monitor said chamber air pressure, a con
`rise above said desired air pressure, said vent valve
`trol means responsive to said pressure sensor for
`is opened until at least a portion of the load is sup
`maintaining said chamber air pressure by selec
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`4,995,124
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`(f) a pressure selector generating a desired pressure
`tively supplying air to and venting air from said air
`chamber, and a load-supporting means inside said
`signal representative of a desired chamber air pres
`Sure; and
`air chamber;
`(g) a control means connected to said air pump and
`(b) placing the load on said membrane so as to in
`said vent valve and receiving said sensed pressure
`crease said chamber air pressure above said desired
`signal and said desired pressure signal for maintain
`chamber air pressure so that said control means
`ing said chamber at approximately said desired
`vents air from said air chamber;
`chamber air pressure whereby when a load on said
`(c) venting air from said air chamber so that at least a
`membrane causes said chamber air pressure to rise
`portion of the load is supported by said load sup
`above said desired air pressure, said vent valve is
`10
`port means so that chamber air pressure falls to
`opened until at least a portion of the load is sup
`approximately said desired chamber air pressure;
`ported by said load supporting material so that said
`and
`chamber air pressure falls to approximately said
`(d) sensing decrease in said chamber air pressure to
`desired air pressure.
`approximately said desired chamber air pressure by
`18. The load-supporting assembly of claim 17
`said pressure sensor and, in response to said sensed
`wherein said load-supporting material is a plastic foam.
`19. The load-supporting assembly of claim 17
`decrease, said control means ceasing venting air
`wherein said load-supporting material is an open-cell
`from said chamber so that said chamber air pres
`plastic foam.
`sure is maintained at approximately said desired
`20. The load-supporting assembly of claim 17
`20
`chamber air pressure.
`wherein said load-supporting material comprises a resil
`15. The method of claim 14 further including the
`ient fibrous material.
`steps of said control means adding air into said air cham
`21. The load-supporting assembly of claim 17
`ber to increase said chamber air pressure whenever
`wherein said load-supporting material comprises at least
`chamber air pressure sensed by said pressure sensor is
`one metal spring means.
`25
`below said desired chamber air pressure.
`22. The load-supporting assembly of claim 17
`16. The method of claim 14 further including said
`wherein said load-supporting material is of insufficient
`control means obtaining said desired chamber pressure
`resiliency to provide the sole support for a load nor
`from a pressure select means electronically connected
`mally supported by said assembly.
`thereto.
`23. The load-supporting assembly of claim 17
`30
`17. A pressurized, load-supporting assembly compris
`wherein said load-supporting material is dimensioned so
`ing:
`that said material is spaced away from the top of said
`membrane when said membrane is fully inflated.
`(a) an inflatable membrane defining a chamber having
`24. The load-supporting assembly of claim 17
`a chamber air pressure;
`wherein said control means includes a comparator for
`35
`(b) load supporting material disposed in said cham
`receiving said sensed pressure signal and said desired
`ber;
`pressure signal in response thereto generating a compar
`(c) a selectively actuatable air pump in fluid commu
`ator signal and a control circuit for receiving said com
`nication with said chamber to supply pressurized
`parator signal and in response thereto, controlling said
`air thereto;
`air pump actuation and said vent valve opening.
`(d) a selectively openable vent valve in fluid commu
`25. The load-supporting assembly of claim 17
`nication with said chamber;
`wherein said control means, in response to said chamber
`(e) a pressure sensor in fluid communication with said
`air pressure being below said desired chamber air pres
`chamber for generating a sensed pressure signal
`sure, actuates said air pump.
`representative of said chamber air pressure;
`
`k
`
`xk
`
`k
`
`k
`
`xk
`
`15
`
`45
`
`50
`
`55
`
`60
`
`65
`
`Sleep Number Corp.
`EXHIBIT 2066
`IPR2019-00500
`Page 7
`
`

`

`
`
`UNITED STATES PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE
`CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION
`PATENT NO. : 4,995,124
`DATED
`;
`February 26, 1991
`INVENTOR(S): Wridge, Jr. et al.
`It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent is hereby
`Corrected as shown below:
`-
`
`Page 1 of 3
`
`COLUMN LINE
`Drawings:
`
`ERROR
`Sheet 2 of 2, Delete entire sheet and substitute therefor the
`attached sheets
`
`Signed and Sealed this
`Ninth Day of March, 1993
`
`Attest:
`
`Attesting Officer
`
`Acting Commissioner of Patents and Trademarks
`
`STEPHEN G. KUNIN
`
`Sleep Number Corp.
`EXHIBIT 2066
`IPR2019-00500
`Page 8
`
`

`

`Pat. N0. 4,995,124
`
`Page 2 of 3
`
`
`
`70 ”6555465
`
`
`
`
`
`\47'0 FRESSUKE
`/4 >\
`SEA/50,?
`,
`'70 Pam/4 “3
`
`VIA/7746'
`
`- 1
`5
`
`,
`
`70 36555025
`552/502
`
`70 fl/MP
`°~“ VEN77/V6‘
`20
`
`
`W #1 . __ 7... __ __ fizgfiglzeefle‘ze'ez‘t’?
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`Sleep Number Corp.
`EXHIBIT 2066
`|PR2019-00500
`
`Page 9
`
`Sleep Number Corp.
`EXHIBIT 2066
`IPR2019-00500
`Page 9
`
`

`

`Pat. NO. 4,995, 124
`
`Page 3 of 3
`
`attarayaye a
`
`12
`
`sease
`
`
`
`Sleep Number Corp.
`EXHIBIT 2066
`IPR2019-00500
`Page 10
`
`