The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Apr. 30, 2002
Filed:
Mar. 02, 1998
Robyn P. Washburn, Batesville, IN (US);
Ryan A. Reeder, Brookville, IN (US);
Larry E. Luff, Batesville, IN (US);
Ares Marasligiller, Villa Hills, KY (US);
James R. Stolpmann, Charleston, SC (US);
Roger D. Dalton, Monks Corner, SC (US);
Steven R. Westerfeld, Batesville, IN (US);
Steven E. Weigold, Hamilton, OH (US);
Hill-Rom Services, Inc., Batesville, IN (US);
Abstract
A variable firmness mattress structure includes a plurality of longitudinally spaced apart, transversely extending air bladders and an air supply for filling each bladder to a respective desired air pressure to support a user at a desired mattress firmness. A control system for the variable firmness mattress structure includes at air controller cooperating with the air supply for filling the air bladders to desired air pressures and a hand-held controller in communication with the air controller. The hand-held controller is configured to receive a first input from the user indicating that a first desired mattress firmness currently exists and to transmit to the air controller a first signal corresponding to the first input. The first desired mattress firmness corresponds to a first set of respective desired air pressures in the bladders. The hand-held controller is further configured to receive a second input from the user indicating a desire to restore the first desired mattress firmness and to transmit to the air controller a second signal corresponding to the second input. The air controller responds to the second signal by restoring the first set of respective desired air pressures in the bladders.