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An equalizing pressure control system for connection to at least two pressure zones of a body support. The equalizing pressure control system ensures that an object will be slowly and safely lowered to a static position in the event of a sudden failure of an external pump or a supply pressure to the

An equalizing pressure control system for connection to at least two pressure zones of a body support. The equalizing pressure control system ensures that an object will be slowly and safely lowered to a static position in the event of a sudden failure of an external pump or a supply pressure to the at least two pressure zones.

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The claims are as follows: 1. A body support comprising: a plurality of fluid cells forming at least a first pressure zone and a second pressure zone; at least one manifold system connected to each pressure zone, and interconnected to said plurality of fluid cells; an equalizing pressure control sy

The claims are as follows: 1. A body support comprising: a plurality of fluid cells forming at least a first pressure zone and a second pressure zone; at least one manifold system connected to each pressure zone, and interconnected to said plurality of fluid cells; an equalizing pressure control system operatively attached to the at least one manifold system, said equalizing pressure control system including at least one flow restrictor operatively attached between each pressure zone, and a pressure relief valve that is operatively attached to all of the pressure zones, wherein said equalizing pressure control system allows the equalization of the fluid pressure between the first pressure zone including at least one fluid cell and the second pressure zone including at least one fluid cell, wherein a fluid may flow through said flow restrictor in both directions, and wherein the flow through said flow restrictor has a negligible effect on the differential pressure between the first pressure zone and the second pressure zone when pressurized fluid is being supplied to said fluid cells. 2. The body support of claim 1, wherein at least one of said flow restrictors is an orifice. 3. The body support of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of manifold systems, each with an interconnected group of fluid cells. 4. The body support of claim 3, wherein the plurality of manifold systems further comprises: a plurality of conduits; a port connected to the plurality of conduits; and a shut off valve connecting the plurality of conduits to an alternating fluid pressure system. 5. The body support of claim 1, wherein the plurality of fluid cells further include an intake valve providing pressurized fluid from an intake control system, wherein the intake control system is connected to each of the plurality of fluid cells by at least one conduit. 6. The body support of claim 1, wherein at least one of said flow restrictors is a porous material. 7. An apparatus comprising: a set of fluid cells; at least two manifold systems each connected to non-adjacent cells, each manifold system with an interconnected set of fluid cells; a supply apparatus for supplying pressurized fluid to at least one interconnected set of fluid cells; and an equalizing pressure control system operatively connected with between the at least two manifold systems for equalizing the fluid pressure in each fluid cell, wherein the equalizing pressure control system includes a pressure relief valve operatively attached and adjacent to at least one flow restrictor, such that a fluid may flow through said flow restrictor in both directions, wherein the flow restrictor is positioned in a conduit that connects the at least two manifold systems together adjacent to the supply apparatus, wherein the flow through said flow restrictor has a negligible effect on the differential pressure between a first pressure zone and a second pressure zone when pressurized fluid is being supplied to said fluid cells, and wherein the pressure relief valve may be adjusted to select a level of fluid pressure in the manifold systems. 8. The body support of claim 7, wherein at least one of said flow restrictors is a porous material. 9. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the supply apparatus supplies pressurized fluid to each interconnected set of fluid cells. 10. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the supply apparatus further includes a device selected from the group consisting of a hand pump, a powered pump, a compressor, and a pressurized tank to provide pressurized fluid to each interconnected set of fluid cells. 11. The body support of claim 7, wherein at least one of said flow restrictors is an orifice. 12. A body support comprising: a plurality of fluid cells; at least one manifold system, interconnected to said plurality of fluid cells; an equalizing pressure control system operatively attached to the at least one manifold system, said equalizing pressure control system including at least one flow restrictor, said at least one manifold being operatively attached to a pressure relief valve, wherein said equalizing pressure control system allows the equalization of the fluid pressure between a first pressure zone including at least one fluid cell and a second pressure zone including at least one fluid cell, wherein a fluid may flow through said flow restrictor in both directions between pressure zones, and wherein the flow through said flow restrictor has a negligible effect on the differential pressure between the first pressure zone and the second pressure zone when pressurized fluid is being supplied to said fluid cells; and an alternating fluid pressure system applying alternating fluid pressure to the manifold system. 13. A body support comprising: a plurality of fluid cells; at least one manifold system, interconnected to said plurality of fluid cells; an equalizing pressure control system operatively attached to the at least one manifold system, said equalizing pressure control system including at least one flow restrictor operatively attached to a pressure relief valve, wherein said equalizing pressure control system allows the equalization of the fluid pressure between a first pressure zone including at least one fluid cell and a second pressure zone including at least one fluid cell, wherein a fluid may flow though said flow restrictor in both directions, and wherein the flow though said flow restrictor has a negligible effect on the differential pressure between the first pressure zone and the second pressure zone when pressurized fluid is being supplied to said fluid cells; a plurality of manifold systems, each with an interconnected group of fluid cells; a plurality of flow restrictors; a first flow restrictor connecting the plurality of manifold systems for restricting a flow of fluid between the plurality of manifold systems; a second flow restrictor connecting the first flow restrictor with the pressure relief valve, and wherein the second flow restrictor provides a greater flow resistance to the fluid than the first flow restrictor, and wherein the pressure relief valve selects a level of fluid pressure in the plurality of manifold systems. 14. An apparatus comprising: a first conduit operatively attached to a body support having a first pressure zone; a second conduit operatively attached to a body support having a second pressure zone; a third conduit, interconnecting the first conduit and the second conduit; a fluid supply for supplying pressurized fluid through the first conduit to the first pressure zone and through the second conduit to the second pressure zone, wherein said first pressure zone said second pressure zone have a pressure differential during operation; and a first flow restrictor, operatively attached to said third conduit, said flow restrictor being sized such that during operation of the fluid supply, fluid flow between the first pressure zone and the second pressure zone is negligible and when the fluid supply is shut off, fluid may flow between the first pressure zone and the second pressure zone to equalize the pressure differential between the first pressure zone and the second pressure zone; and a second flow restrictor connecting the first flow restrictor with a pressure relief valve and wherein the second flow restrictor provides a greater flow resistance to the fluid than the first flow restrictor. 15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the flow restrictor is sized to a diameter of about 0.016 inches. 16. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the flow restrictor is sized to a diameter of about 0.004 inches. 17. A body support comprising: a plurality of inflatable cushioning devices; an input for a supply of pressurized fluid, a single manifold operatively attached to each of said plurality of inflatable cushioning devices; a check valve positioned between said supply of pressurized fluid and each of said cushioning devices; and an equalizing pressure control system attached to at least one flow restrictor and said plurality of cushioning devices, such that a fluid may flow through said flow restrictor in both directions, wherein said equalizing pressure control system lowers a patient if the supply of pressurized fluid is turned off or fails. 18. A body support comprising: a plurality of bladders; a supply apparatus for supplying a pressurized fluid to each bladder; an equalizing pressure control system for controlling the pressurized fluid in the plurality of bladders when the supply apparatus is removed or shut off, wherein the equalizing pressure control system equalizes the fluid pressure in each bladder to a selected pressure level and includes a first flow restrictor connecting the plurality of bladders, and a second flow restrictor having a greater flow resistance than said first flow restrictor, wherein fluid may flow through said first and second flow restrictors in both directions, and wherein said second flow restrictor connects said first flow restrictor with a pressure relief valve, and wherein the pressure relief valve may be adjusted to select a level of fluid pressure in the plurality of bladders. 19. The body support of claim 18, wherein at least one of said first and second flow restrictors is a porous material. 20. The body support of claim 18, wherein the supply apparatus further includes a device selected from the group consisting of: a hand pump, a powered pump, a compressor, to provide pressurized fluid to the plurality of bladders. 21. The body support of claim 18, wherein the supply apparatus further includes a controller to selectively control the level of pressurized fluid provided to the plurality of bladders. 22. The body support of claim 18, wherein the pressurized fluid comprises a material selected from the group consisting of: water and nitrogen. 23. The body support of claim 18, wherein at least one of said first and second flow restrictors is an orifice. 24. A method comprising the steps of: providing a first fluid cell filled with a fluid at a first fluid pressure level; providing a second fluid cell filled with the fluid at a second fluid pressure level; providing a restrictor in a conduit between the first fluid cell and the second fluid cell; equalizing the fluid pressure between the first fluid cell and the second fluid cell to a third pressure level; and adjusting the third pressure level to a fourth pressure level. 25. The method of claim 24, wherein the step of equalizing the fluid pressure between the first and second fluid cell is accomplished using an equalizing pressure control system. 26. The method of claim 25, wherein the equalizing pressure control system includes a first flow restrictor connected between the first fluid cell and the second fluid cell. 27. The method of claim 24, wherein a pressure relief valve selects the fourth pressure level. 28. The method of claim 24, wherein the step of adjusting the third pressure level to the fourth pressure level is accomplished using a second flow restrictor. 29. A body support comprising: a plurality of fluid cells; a plurality of manifold systems, interconnected to said plurality of interconnected fluid cells; and an equalizing pressure control system operatively attached to the plurality of manifold systems, said equalizing pressure control system including at least two flow restrictors and a pressure relief valve, such that a fluid may flow through said flow restrictors in both directions, wherein a first flow restrictor allows the equalization of the fluid pressure between a first group of fluid cells and a second group of fluid cells, wherein a second flow restrictor connects the first flow restrictor with said pressure relief valve, and wherein the second flow restrictor provides a greater flow resistance to the fluid than the first flow restrictor, and wherein the pressure relief valve selects a level of fluid pressure in the plurality of manifold systems.