US 5,509,154 · Granted 1996-04-23
The Remote-Control Air Bed Patent That Launched Select Comfort's Sleep Empire
Imagine a bed where you can wirelessly adjust how firm or soft each side feels—using a remote control. This patent covers the automatic system that lets two people independently pump up or deflate their own side of an air mattress without getting out of bed, all while keeping the motor quiet.
The plain-English version
What it protects
The claim covers an automatic air mattress control system that includes a motorized pump, a wireless remote control, and a receiver that talks to a control unit. What's protected here is the combination of independent bladder control (meaning each side of the bed can be adjusted separately), the wireless remote signaling between hand unit and control box, and the specially designed pump that reduces motor noise transmission into the room. Someone making an unlicensed air bed with these exact features—remote-controlled dual-chamber firmness adjustment with a quiet pump—would be infringing.
Why it matters
This patent became foundational for Select Comfort Corporation's Sleep Number brand, which pioneered the premium adjustable air mattress market. By securing independent control of both sides of a bed and wireless remote operation, the patent created a significant barrier to competitors copying the core user experience. The noise-reduction feature also addressed a real consumer pain point—air pumps are loud, and reducing that made the product much more appealing for shared bedrooms.
Real-world use
When you adjust one side of a Sleep Number bed using the remote while your partner sleeps undisturbed on their firmness setting, you're using the exact system this 1996 patent protected.
Original USPTO abstract
An automatic control system for controlling the firmness of a fluid supported mattress of a bed assembly. The control system includes a motorized fluid pump, a control unit for operating the pump to adjust the firmness of the air mattress, a hand held remote control unit for actuating the control unit, and a transceiver system for transmitting information signals between the hand held unit and the control unit. The air control system provides for independent control of both bladders in a two bladder air mattress from a single unit, and allows a user to consistently set the firmness of each mattress air bladder to a desired value. The air control system includes an air pump specially designed to minimize transmission of motor noise into the environment.
Patent details
- Publication number
- US 5,509,154
- Filing date
- 1994-11-01
- Grant date
- 1996-04-23
- Assignee
- Select Comfort Corporation
- Inventor(s)
- SHAFER; DAVID C., DUVAL; EUGENE F.
- CPC class
- A47C27/083
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