The disclosed technology includes an internal support structure for providing structural stability to an inflated air mattress. The internal support structure can include a loop of material and attachment strips to attach the loop to the top and bottom panels. The internal support structure can also include attachment strips to attach the ends of the loop of material together to complete the loop. The air mattress can include a plurality of internal support structures.

A composite mattress includes a pressurizable layer and a top layer. A coiled spring layer may also be included in the composite mattress. The composite mattress may also include a base layer and/or an intermediate layer. A foundation, or rail, may laterally surround the pressurizable layer and the top layer. The composite mattress may include a cover, including a base panel, a periphery, and a top panel. The cover may encase the other components of the composite mattress. The composite mattress may include a separable top and bottom; these elements may be modular, enabling individuals or couples to customize a mattress by selecting one or more tops from a plurality of available tops for use with one or more bases from a plurality of available bases.

A mattress including air cells that are located on both sides of a user, in which the air cells each have a convex shape on a first side surface, and the air cells are arranged so that the convex shapes thereof are respectively located near shoulder blade outer edges of the user.

An inflatable seat cushion comprising a cushion assembly and a control assembly. The cushion assembly has a base and a bladder. The base has a top surface and a bottom surface and a controller cavity. The bladder has a chamber and is positionable on the top surface of the base. The chamber has an inlet. The control assembly is within the controller cavity and has a housing, a pump and a first valve assembly. The pump is positioned within the housing and has an outlet. The first valve assembly has an actuator, an inlet, a vent outlet and a bladder outlet. The inlet coupled to the outlet of the pump. The actuator can place the inlet into communication with the bladder outlet and the vent outlet into communication with the bladder outlet. The bladder outlet of the first valve assembly is in communication with the inlet of the bladder.

A mattress has a first support portion configure to receive and support a first user and a second support portion configured to receive and support a second user. The first support portion and the second support portion are adjacent to each other such that the first user is capable of rolling over from the first support portion to the second support portion while sleeping on the first support portion. A sensor is configured to sense first pressure in the first support portion and sense second pressure in the second support portion. The sensor is further configured to transmit data of the first pressure and the second pressure. The controller is configured to receive the data and from the data of the first pressure and the second pressure, determine if the first user has rolled over from the first support portion to the second support portion.

A patient immersion sensor includes a radio detection and ranging (RADAR) apparatus to determine a time of flight (TOF) of a RADAR pulse and a reflected signal that is reflected by a patient or by a portion of a patient support surface supporting the patient. The TOF is indicative of an immersion depth or a distance toward bottoming out of a patient supported on the patient support surface, such as a mattress or a pad. The RADAR apparatus emits pulses of very short duration so as to be able to detect objects, such as a patient or a portion of a mattress or pad, at very close distances. The RADAR apparatus may use time-of-flight (TOF) between transmission of the pulse and receipt of a reflected signal to determine a distance toward bottoming out by the patient, thereby to determine if the patient is properly immersed into the patient support surface. Adjustments to inflation or deflation of one or more bladders are made to achieve a desired immersion amount within a tolerance range between upper and lower TOF thresholds.

A bed may provide pneumatic effects. An array of pumps may be used in providing the pneumatic effects. In some embodiments less than all of the pumps may be operated to provide some of the pneumatic effects, and in some such embodiments no individual pump may be able to provide others of the pneumatic effects, and in some or other such embodiments all of the pumps may be required to provide at least one of the pneumatic effects.

A variable pressure device includes: a user support device including a plurality of inflatable sub-divisions; a pump or compressor; and a manifold assembly including a plurality of valves controlling output of the pump or compressor to selectively inflate and deflate each of the plurality of inflatable sub-divisions.

A three dimensional mattress system is provided which may be configured to provide three dimensional body support to a user. In some embodiments, the system may include a rigid frame, and a frame cavity, in which the frame cavity is open at its highest elevation. A plurality of pillows may be contained within the frame cavity. At least a portion of the plurality of pillows may be coverless, and at least a portion of the pillows in the plurality of pillows are not physically attached to one another and are substantially independent of one another such that they can move freely within the frame cavity. The plurality of pillows may form a first body support area for supporting a first portion of the user, and a support unit may form a second body support area for supporting a second portion of the user.

A composite mattress includes a pressurizable layer and a top layer. A coiled spring layer may also be included in the composite mattress. The composite mattress may also include a base layer and/or an intermediate layer. A foundation, or rail, may laterally surround the pressurizable layer and the top layer. The composite mattress may include a cover, including a base panel, a periphery, and a top panel. The cover may encase the other components of the composite mattress. The composite mattress may include a separable top and bottom; these elements may be modular, enabling individuals or couples customize a mattress by selecting one or more tops from a plurality of available for use with one or more bases from a plurality of available bases.