IP Library Granted Patent US 8,464,716
Granted Patent B2
US 8,464,716 · App. 12/778,747 · Granted Jun 18, 2013

Differential air pressure systems

Inventors: Eric Richard Kuehne (Los Gatos, CA); Mark Alan Shughart (Palo Alto, CA); Sean T. Whalen (Mountain View, CA); Douglas Frank Schwandt (Palo Alto, CA); Robert T. Whalen (Los Altos, CA)
Assignee: AlterG, Inc.
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,464,716
App. No.
12/778,747
Granted
Jun 18, 2013
Kind
B2
Abstract

Described herein are various embodiments of differential air pressure systems and methods of using such systems. The differential air pressure system may comprise a chamber configured to receive a portion of a user's lower body and to create an air pressure differential upon the user's body. The differential air pressure system may further comprise a user seal that seal the pressure chamber to the user's body. The height of the user seal may be adjusted to accommodate users with various body heights.

Claims (22)

1. A differential air pressure system, comprising:

a positive pressure chamber with a seal interface configured to receive a portion of a user's body and form a seal between the user's body and the chamber;

a height adjustment assembly attached to the chamber adjacent to the seal interface; and a control panel attached to the height adjustment assembly.

2. The system of claim l, wherein said positive pressure chamber comprises at least one transparent panel.

3. The system of claim 2 , wherein said positive pressure chamber comprises a plurality of transparent panels.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein said positive pressure chamber comprises a slip resistant panel.

5. The system of claim 4 , wherein said slip resistant panel is adjacent to the seal interface.

6. The system of claim 2 , wherein the height adjustment assembly comprises a horizontally actuated locking mechanism.

7. The system of claim 2 , wherein said height adjustment assembly comprises two movable ends located within two corresponding adjustment posts.

8. The system of claim 7 , wherein each movable end comprises at least two rollers.

9. The system of claim 8 , further comprising a first roller that is orthogonally oriented with respect to a second roller.

10. The system of claim 8 , wherein each movable end comprises at least one movable braking pad.

11. The system of claim 10 , wherein at least one movable braking pad may be actuated by tilting the height adjustment assembly.

12. The system of claim 11 , wherein said height adjustment mechanism further comprises a counterbalancing system configured to at least partially offset the weight of said movable assembly.

13. The system of claim 12 , wherein said counterbalancing system comprises a weight located at least one adjustment post.

14. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a platform attached to the chamber using a seal mechanism.

15. The system of claim 14 , wherein the seal mechanism is configured to increase sealing to the platform with increased pressure within chamber.

16. The system of claim 14 , wherein the sealable mechanism further comprises a foam member.

17. The system of claim 2 , further comprising a pin latch locking mechanism configured to lock the present position of said user seal.

18. A differential air pressure system, comprising:

a pressure chamber; and

a vertically adjustable cantilevered frame having a first movable configuration and a second locked configuration wherein the second locked configuration is actuated by the pressure chamber.

Assignments (9)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Oct 8, 2021
From: FWCU CAPITAL CORP.
To: ALTERG, INC.
Reel/Frame 057745/0192 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Oct 8, 2021
From: SIENA LENDING GROUP LLC
To: ALTERG, INC.
Reel/Frame 057745/0151 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Mar 27, 2020
From: ALTERG, INC.
To: SIENA LENDING GROUP LLC
Reel/Frame 052241/0980 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Oct 24, 2017
From: ALTERG, INC.
To: FWCU CAPITAL CORP
Reel/Frame 043939/0816 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Oct 24, 2017
From: SILICON VALLEY BANK
To: ALTERG, INC.
Reel/Frame 044284/0060 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded May 11, 2017
From: ALTERG, INC.
To: SILICON VALLEY BANK
Reel/Frame 042341/0579 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Apr 12, 2013
From: GENERAL ELECTRIC CAPITAL CORPORATION
To: ALTERG, INC.
Reel/Frame 030210/0035 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Apr 4, 2012
From: ALTERG, INC.
To: GENERAL ELECTRIC CAPITAL CORPORATION, AS AGENT
Reel/Frame 027991/0678 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 22, 2010
From: KUEHNE, ERIC R.; SHUGHART, MARK A.; WHALEN, SEAN T.; SCHWANDT, DOUGLAS F.; WHALEN, ROBERT T.
To: ALTERG, INC.
Reel/Frame 025550/0234 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 61178901 · May 15, 2009
Related Publication 20110120567A1 · May 26, 2011