04829616 is referenced by 80 patents and cites 56 patents.
An air supply and control apparatus has an air pump to supply air under pressure to air mattresses of an air bed. A hand control having a pair of valves functions to control the operation of the air pump to supply air to the air mattresses and vent air from the air mattresses. A second embodiment of the air supply and control apparatus has a motor driven impeller for supplying air under pressure to air mattresses. Solenoids having two coils operate valves to allow air to flow to the air mattress or vent air from the air mattress to adjust the firmness of the mattresses. A normally closed switch is opened when the solenoid opens the valve. The switch turns off one coil of the solenoid. The other coil remains energized to hold the valve open. Hand controls having switches are electrically coupled to the motor and solenoids to control the operation thereof. A third embodiment of the air control apparatus has air pump and valve assembly operable with a hand control to selectively direct air under pressure to an air mattress and vent air from the air mattress. The air mattress and air control apparatus is incorporated into a sofa bed.
