A vacuum pump includes a hollow container that has a vacuum port and internal chamber walls. The vacuum port opens to an exterior of the container and the chamber walls define chambers that are in fluid communication with the vacuum port. There are flexible bladders disposed in the chambers. The flexible bladders include vents that open through the container to the exterior. A plunger in the container includes arms that extend into the chambers such that each of the flexible bladders is situated between one of the arms and one of the chamber walls. The plunger is moveable between a home position and an upstroke position to compress and deflate the flexible bladders via the vents and thereby change the volume of the flexible bladders. The change in the volume draws a vacuum through the vacuum port.

A method and system may include transmitting a signal to a pump of an air mattress to set the pressure of the air mattress to an initial pressure; receiving, at a central controller, a user preference condition for an automatic adjustment of the pressure in the air mattress; receiving, at the central controller, an indication that the air mattress is empty; and based on determining that the user preference condition has been met and receiving the indication: detecting a change in the pressure of the air mattress beyond a threshold value; and based on the detection, adjusting the pressure of the air mattress to the initial pressure.

A mattress can include one or more layers of foam material, an adjustable air layer including an air bladder, and a valve. The valve can be fluidically connected to the air bladder and configured to regulate pressure of the air bladder in response to actuation. Some embodiments can include a foam material positioned inside the air bladder.

An article of manufacture includes an inflatable body comprising a first core member cut from a single slab of core material and a second core member cut from the single slab of core material and coupled to the first core member.

An article of manufacture includes a first discrete inflatable body having a first core member cut from a single slab of core material and a first root portion, and further includes a second discrete inflatable body comprising a second core member cut from the single slab of core material and a second root portion. Each of the first and second core members includes a plurality of ribs, and the ribs extend laterally from the first and second root portions.

An article of manufacture includes a first discrete inflatable body having a first core member cut from a single slab of core material and a first root portion, and further includes a second discrete inflatable body comprising a second core member cut from the single slab of core material and a second root portion. Each of the first and second core members includes a plurality of ribs, and the ribs extend laterally from the first and second root portions.

A method and system may include transmitting a signal to a pump of an air mattress to set the pressure of the air mattress to an initial pressure; receiving, at a central controller, a user preference condition for an automatic adjustment of the pressure in the air mattress; receiving, at the central controller, an indication that the air mattress is empty; and based on determining that the user preference condition has been met and receiving the indication: detecting a change in the pressure of the air mattress beyond a threshold value; and based on the detection, adjusting the pressure of the air mattress to the initial pressure.

An article of manufacture includes an inflatable body comprising a first core member cut from a single slab of core material and a second core member cut from the single slab of core material and coupled to the first core member.

The invention relates to a method for using a cushion, in particular for a chair, said cushion having a first cushion element (6) that can be moved with an associated degree of freedom. In said method, a sensor (98a, 98b, 98c, 98d) integrated into the cushion is used to sense the position or the change in position relative to at least one first cushion element (6), with respect to at least one degree of freedom associated with said element. The sensor (98a, 38b, 98c, 98d) is coupled to an interface (93) for the wireless output of measured values. The sensor (98a, 98b, 98c, 98d) senses measured values and sends at least some of the measured values over the interface (93) to a device (70, 80) outside the cushion, said device (70, 80) receiving and evaluating the measured values and emitting an output signal.

An article of manufacture includes a first discrete inflatable body having a first core member cut from a single slab of core material and a first root portion, and further includes a second discrete inflatable body comprising a second core member cut from the single slab of core material and a second root portion. Each of the first and second core members includes a plurality of ribs, and the ribs extend laterally from the first and second root portions.