Patent Application
20250107631
The present invention relates in general to the field of adjustable beds to provide a bed that may be adjusted for seating with a backrest.
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Without limiting the scope of the invention, its background is described in connection with adjustable mattresses that are capable of converting into a supported seating area. Adjustable mattresses and adjustable mattress frames have been known in the art for some time. It is common for the adjustable bed to provide a mechanism so that the head portion of the bed and the foot portion of the bed can be raised or lowered independently as to allow the occupant to be in a more comfortable position. This allows the head portion to be raised to allow the occupant to be any more upright position while also raising the foot portion such that their feet are elevated. This type of bed is commonly seen in hospitals, nursing homes and to some extent in everyday homes where the adjustability aids to the comfort of the occupant; however, this is accomplished through the use of an adjustable frame with a flexible mattress.
For example, U.S. Pat. No. 3,644,946, entitled “Adjustable bed,” discloses an adjustable bed comprising a rectangular frame on which are mounted rigid bedboard sections supporting a coil spring directly thereon. The bedboard comprises a stationary seat section mounted on the frame, and head and thigh sections pivoted at fixed points relative to the frame and seat section and tiltable relative thereto. A foot section is pivoted to the thigh section for relative rotative movement therebetween. The foot section is connected to the frame by pivoted levers and the head and thigh sections have lever arms pivotally mounted thereon at one end and carrying rollers at their opposite ends mounted on trackways on the frame. Separate motor actuators individually rotate the arms pivotally mounted on the head and thigh bedboard sections to tilt them as the rollers ride on the trackways on the frame. The actuators are individually operated in opposite directions to adjust the bed by manual control.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,079,065 entitled, “Bed assembly with an air mattress controller,” discloses a bed assembly has a frame with at least one articulated frame section and a drive system for moving the articulated frame section. U.S. Pat. No. 6,961,971, entitled, “Motor adjustable support device for the upholstery of a seat and/or of reclining furniture,” discloses a device especially suited for a bed mattress, including a base body having rails, and one adjustable support element adjustable relative to the base body.
Multifunction adjustable beds are also known that can be converted from an adjustable hospital bed or gurney into a functioning wheelchair. This conversion between hospital bed and wheelchair is complex and results in many structural changes and safety mechanisms that must be used for the conversion. This allows a patient to rest or be moved in the hospital bed when necessary and the bed converted into a wheelchair without moving the patient to the wheelchair. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,272,702, entitled, “Multifunction bed,” discloses a multifunction bed that has a structure to allow its size to be reduced and that can be automatically changed between a bed form and a wheelchair form using very simple operations.
The present invention provides an adjustable mattress 10 comprising a top mattress layer 12 comprises a sleeping surface 16 opposite a top connecting surface, wherein the top mattress layer 12 comprises a top head portion 20 at a top head end 18 in communication with a top foot end 22 at a top foot portion 24; a bottom mattress layer 14 comprising a bottom connecting surface aligned with the top connecting surface, wherein the bottom mattress layer 14 comprises a bottom head end 32 that aligns with a top head end 18 and is in communication with a the bottom foot end 34 capable of aligning with the top foot end 22 at a bottom foot portion 36; an adjustable region 28 positioned in at least a portion of the top foot portion 24 to extend from a hinge 30 to the top foot end 22, wherein the adjustable region 28 is adjustable about the hinge 30 to between about 0 and 180 degrees relative to the bottom foot end 34. The adjustable mattress includes the top mattress layer 12, the bottom mattress layer 14 and the adjustable region 28 independently comprise a foam layer, a gel material layer, a spring layer, a supportive layer, a cushioning layer or a combination thereof. The adjustable mattress includes the adjustable region 28 is concurrent with the top foot portion 24. The adjustable mattress includes the adjustable region 28 comprises a first adjustable region independent of a second adjustable region and the first adjustable region and second adjustable region are concurrent with the top foot portion 24. The adjustable mattress further comprising a frame connected to the hinge to facilitate the movement of the adjustable region 28 and lock the adjustable region 28 in place. The adjustable mattress further comprising an actuator in communication with the hinge to actively adjust the position of the adjustable region 28. The adjustable mattress further comprising a support system in the adjustable region 28 to provide support. The adjustable mattress includes the adjustable region 28 comprises preset positions of selected angles. The adjustable mattress further comprising a connecting layer positioned between the top mattress layer 12 and the bottom mattress layer 14. The adjustable mattress includes the top mattress layer 12, the bottom mattress layer 14 and the adjustable region 28 independently comprise 2 or more layers. The adjustable mattress includes the top mattress layer 12, the bottom mattress layer 14 and the adjustable region 28 are formed from a single layer. The adjustable mattress includes the top mattress layer 12, the bottom mattress layer 14 and the adjustable region 28 where in each comprise at least a portion of a polyurethane foam. The adjustable mattress of claim 1 further comprising a frame positioned around the parameter of the top mattress layer 12. The adjustable mattress includes the adjustable mattress is a king mattress, a California king mattress, a queen mattress, a full mattress, a twin mattress, a twin xl mattress, a single mattress, a single xl mattress, a small double mattress, a double mattress, a king mattress, a grand king mattress, or a king single mattress.
The present invention provides a method of position an adjustable mattress 10 to form a backrest 40 comprising the steps of: providing an adjustable mattress system comprising a top mattress layer 12 comprises a sleeping surface 16 opposite a top connecting surface, wherein the top mattress layer 12 comprises a top head portion 20 at a top head end 18 in communication with a top foot end 22 at a top foot portion 24; a bottom mattress layer 14 comprising a bottom connecting surface aligned with the top connecting surface, wherein the bottom mattress layer 14 comprises a bottom head end 32 that aligns with a top head end 18 and is in communication with a the bottom foot end 34 capable of aligning with the top foot end 22 at a bottom foot portion 36; an adjustable region 28 positioned in at least a portion of the top foot portion 24 to extend from a hinge 30 to the top foot end 22, wherein the adjustable region 28 is adjustable about the hinge 30 to between about 0 and 180 degrees relative to the bottom foot end 34; moving the adjustable region 28 to between about 75 and 130 degrees relative to the bottom foot end 34 to form a backrest 40; and locking the backrest 40 into position. The top mattress layer 12, the bottom mattress layer 14 and the adjustable region 28 independently comprise a foam layer, a gel material layer, a spring layer or a combination thereof. The adjustable region 28 is concurrent with the top foot portion 24. The adjustable region 28 comprises a first adjustable region independent of a second adjustable region and the first adjustable region and second adjustable region are concurrent with the top foot portion 24. The adjustable region 28 is adjusted to between about 80 and 100 degrees relative to the bottom foot end 34. The method further comprising a frame connected to the hinge to facilitate the movement of the adjustable region 28 and lock the adjustable region 28 in place. The method further comprising an actuator in communication with the hinge to actively adjust the position of the adjustable region 28. The method further comprising a support system in the adjustable region 28 to provide support. The adjustable region 28 comprises preset positions of selected angles. The adjustable mattress is a king mattress, a California king mattress, a queen mattress, a full mattress, a twin mattress, a twin xl mattress, a single mattress, a single xl mattress, a small double mattress, a double mattress, a king mattress, a grand king mattress, or a king single mattress. The top mattress layer 12, the bottom mattress layer 14 and the adjustable region 28 comprise a polyurethane foam, a cotton, a nonwoven material, or any other material suitable for use in the making of the mattress.
For a more complete understanding of the features and advantages of the present invention, reference is now made to the detailed description of the invention along with the accompanying figures and in which:
While the making and using of various embodiments of the present invention are discussed in detail below, it should be appreciated that the present invention provides many applicable inventive concepts that can be embodied in a wide variety of specific contexts. The specific embodiments discussed herein are merely illustrative of specific ways to make and use the invention and do not delimit the scope of the invention.
To facilitate the understanding of this invention, a number of terms are defined below. Terms defined herein have meanings as commonly understood by a person of ordinary skill in the areas relevant to the present invention. Terms such as “a”, “an” and “the” are not intended to refer to only a singular entity but include the general class of which a specific example may be used for illustration. The terminology herein is used to describe specific embodiments of the invention, but their usage does not delimit the invention, except as outlined in the claims.
As used herein, terms such as ‘adjustable mattress’, ‘adjustable bed’, ‘adjustable bed facility’, ‘adjustable bed apparatus’, and the like are used interchangeably to refer generally to an apparatus including a sleeping or resting surface with one or more adjustable or moveable surfaces that can be positioned for a user's comfort and/or convenience, unless a specific meaning is explicitly provided or otherwise clear from the context. The term is used to denote any size mattress in any country. For example, the term mattress encompasses mattresses of all sizes including a king mattress, a California king mattress, a queen mattress, a full mattress, a twin mattress, a twin xl mattress, a single mattress, a single xl mattress, a small double mattress, a double mattress, a king mattress, a grand king mattress, and a king single mattress. In addition, the term mattress encompasses all mattress that have an equal or approximate size similar to a king mattress, a California king mattress, a queen mattress, a full mattress, a twin mattress, a twin xl mattress, a single mattress, a single xl mattress, a small double mattress, a double mattress, a king mattress, a grand king mattress, and a king single mattress.
The adjustability of the backrest angle 38 allows the adjustable region 28 to be positioned at any angle that is comfortable for the user. This allows in operation that the backrest angle 38 is positioned at about 90° to form a generally perpendicular backrest 40a. Similarly, the backrest angle 38 may be positioned to greater than 90° (about 100° to about 140°) to form a reclining backrest 40a. The adjustability of the back rest angle 38a allows you adjustable region 28a to be positioned at any angle that is comfortable for the user. This allows in operation than the backrest angle (not shown) is positioned at about 90° (as shown right side) to form a generally perpendicular backrest 40a. Similarly, the backrest angle (not shown) may be positioned to greater than 90° (about 100° to about 140°) to form a reclining backrest 40a. For the adjustable region 28b the hinge (not shown) allows the adjustable region 28b to be tilted such that the top foot end 22b is moved away from the bottom foot end 34. The adjustable region 28b forms a backrest (not shown) having a backrest angle (not shown) with the bottom foot portion 36. The backrest angle (not shown) is infinitely adjustable from a flat position (as shown left side), 0° to a 90° position and even extending to a 1800 position. The adjustability of the back rest angle (not shown) allows you adjustable region 28b to be positioned at any angle that is comfortable for the user. This allows in operation that the backrest angle (not shown) is positioned at about 90° to form a generally perpendicular backrest 40a. Similarly, the backrest angle (not shown) may be positioned to greater than 90° (about 100° to about 140°) to form a reclining backrest (not shown).
In another embodiment (not shown), the top foot portion may include an adjustable region flanked by a stationary region (as described in
In another embodiment (not shown), depending on the size of mattress, the top foot portion may include a right adjustable region and a left adjustable region (as described in
The thickness of the adjustable mattress may vary depending on the specific application. For example, the overall thickness of the adjustable mattress may be about 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18 inches or more. Similarly, the thickness of the adjustable region 28 may also vary depending on the specific application. For example, the overall thickness of the adjustable region 28 may be 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 inches or more. In addition, the adjustable region 28 may comprise a different material, may have a different density, may have internal supports, or a combination thereof to provide the necessary firmness and rigidness for support in the seating position. Similarly, the bottom foot portion 36 may comprise a different material, may have a different density, may have internal supports, or a combination thereof to provide the necessary firmness and rigidness for support in the seating position. The top head portion 20, the top middle portion 26, and the top foot portion 24 may each comprise a different material, may have a different density, may have internal supports, or a combination thereof to provide the necessary firmness and rigidness for support.
In one embodiment, the top mattress layer, the bottom mattress layer or both may include multiple foam layers which themselves provide a significant range of choices of firmness. For example, each of the multiple foam layers may have a different density and or may be made from a different material. In addition, each of the multiple foam layers may be in direct contact with the next foam layer or there may be an intermediate layer position between adjacent multiple foam layers to allow each of the multiple foam layers to operate independently. In some instances, the intermediate layer will be used to adhere the multiple foam layers together. The interfacing of foam layers is a consideration in developing the desired conditions, achievable in this mattress system, for example, a soft foam will be more responsive in its absorption quality if it is allowed freedom of complete flexibility. This absorption will be reduced if the intermediate layer is stuck to and therefore restricted by other foam layers. It will also assume a modicum of the characteristic of the foam to which it is adhering, i.e., a hard foam will have a penetrating firming influence on a soft foam if the two are stuck together. In the case of a hard foam on top of a soft foam, the desired effect is to provide firmness combined with shock type absorption and/or a bounce effect. If the foam layers are stuck together, the restriction will reduce the absorption and bounce qualities of the combination. As such, each foam mat element should be enabled to provide its maximum intended contribution by flexing and responding freely.
In one embodiment, the top mattress layer, the bottom mattress layer or both include a frame made from a relatively firm foam. The frame is positioned generally along the perimeter of the mattress layer, the bottom mattress layer or both. Use of a relatively firm foam provides support characteristics that aid users as they ingress and egress to and from an upwardly-facing sleeping surface of the mattress and that prevent the user from rolling off of the sleeping surface. In one embodiment, the top head portion, the top middle portion, the adjustable region, and the top foot portion may include multiple foam layers connected together which themselves provide a significant range of choices of firmness and/or may include a layer or part of a layer of foam having a specific firmness which can be varied and adjusted depending on the foam composition or the layers of foam used.
It is well known to provide foam support pads or mattresses for supporting a user reclining on the pad. For example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,879,776; 5,038,433; 5,077,849; 5,111,542; and 5,172,439, all to Farley, disclose mattress overlays and pads for supporting a user. In addition, U.S. Pat. No. 4,449,261 to Magnusson and U.S. Pat. No. 4,991,244 to Walker disclose mattress borders for receiving core mattresses, and U.S. Pat. No. 5,105,488 to Hutchinson et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 4,803,744 to Peck et al.; and U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,424,600 and 4,435,864 to Callaway, disclose supporting surfaces having selectively adjustable firmness. The entireties of each of which is incorporated herein by reference. In one embodiment the foam is a firm foam rubber such as a high resiliency, high density urethane foam. Polyurethane foams, viscoelastic foams and rigid high-density (HD) foam have become very popular not only for medical and orthopedic applications, but also for home use. Representative polyurethane foams include conventional polyether foams as well as high resiliency polyether foams. In another embodiment, the polymeric material is polyethylene foam. In one aspect of this embodiment, the polyethylene foam is “ETHAFOAM 4101” sold by the Dow Chemical Company of Midland, Mich. Representative fabric casing or ticking materials include: bilaminate nylon knit/polyurethane film, nylon taffeta, polyurethane film, bilaminate polyurethane film, polyester, and others. The adjustable mattress 10 may include a layer of upholstery, covering one or more layers of padding, that sit above the mattress foam.
The present invention provides a mattress comprising a ticking material or casing surrounding said combination. The mattress construction may include at least three layers of foams of varying density and thickness, characterized by a core foam layer disposed between a top foam layer and a bottom foam layer, said core foam layer having a substantially flat, uncut top surface and a bottom surface and oriented with its bottom surface away from a body-supporting surface of the mattress construction, wherein said core foam layer defines at least two spaced apart regions in the bottom surface from which foam material has been extracted to define multiple open cavities separated by inter-connected foam walls, wherein said open cavities each define in cross-section a geometric shape selected from the group consisting of: circular, oval, hexagonal, octagonal, square, triangular, and diamond, and wherein said open cavities extend partially through the thickness of the core foam layer.
In addition the mattress of the present invention may include a cover, a first filling material and a second filling material, the cover defining first and second oppositely facing sides, the first filling material oriented adjacent the first side, the second filling material oriented adjacent the second side, the first filling material having greater compressibility than the second filling material so that the mattress can be oriented with the first side facing upward when greater compressibility is desired, and can be oriented with the second side facing upward when less compressibility is desired. The cover may be quilted and include a textile material. The mattress may include a pillow top. Another aspect of the adjustable bed may be to provide a support structure to support the bed materials (e.g., mattress), motors, actuators, hinges between bed sections, and the like. The support structure may be a frame structure to provide the support yet remain lightweight. In some instances, the support structure may be a subframe which takes a general shape of the mattress or portion of the mattress and is covered in a material. The material may be a foam, a batting, a cotton, a wall, or any other material commonly used in mattresses, sofas or other furniture. In instances where a subframe is used a portion of the subframe may be used to support the backrest portion of the mattress with another portion of the subframe extending into the mattress for stability. These two portions will be joined by hinge or some other mechanism that allows the subframe to be moved into the desired position.
In one embodiment, the hinge may be a simple mechanism consisting of a strap (not shown) that attaches to the bottom mattress layer 14 and extends to the backrest 40a to limit the motion of the backrest to the desired position. In some embodiments, the strap (not shown) may be made of a material, a fabric, a plastic, a composite, a leather, a nylon, a synthetic material or any other material suitable for this purpose. In addition, the strap (not shown) may be adjustable such that may be altered as desired so that the backrest angle can be adjusted as necessary.
The hinge may include any mechanism that allows the movement from a horizontal plane (about 0 degrees) to a perpendicular plane (about 90 degrees) to a horizontal plane (about 180 degrees) and then be reset to the original horizontal plane (about 0 degrees). The hinge is connected to an adjustable region frame that is connected to the adjustable region to provide support and structure to the backrest and to a mattress frame that is connected to the top mattress layer, the bottom mattress layer, or both, e.g., the mattress frame may be positioned generally parallel to the top mattress layer; angled through a portion of the top mattress layer and a portion of the bottom mattress layer; a multi frame configuration with a first prong that extends generally parallel to the top mattress layer and a second prong that extends through the top mattress layer and the bottom mattress layer. In addition, the mattress frame may be connected to a separate framework in the top mattress layer, the bottom mattress layer or both to provide more rigidity. Although the range of motion in one embodiment is 0-180 degrees the range may be from horizontal to 90 degrees, horizontal to 100 degrees, horizontal to 110 degrees, horizontal to 115 degrees, horizontal to 120 degrees, horizontal to 125 degrees, horizontal to 130 degrees, horizontal to 135 degrees, horizontal to 140 degrees, horizontal to 145 degrees, horizontal to 150 degrees, horizontal to 155 degrees, horizontal to 160 degrees, horizontal to 165 degrees, horizontal to 170 degrees, horizontal to 175 degrees, horizontal to 180 degrees, horizontal to 185 degrees, or horizontal to 190 (and all incremental variations thereof). The hinge system may be as simple as a locking mechanism that can be released to set the angle and reengaged to lock the hinge at that angle. This locking and the motion to set the angle can be mechanical, electronic or a combination thereof. Another simple hinge mechanism includes a ratcheting mechanism the allows the hinge to go through the range of motion until it exceeds the end range at which point the hinge is reset. Similarly, a release lever or mechanism may be added to the hinge to disengage the lock to allow movement. One such system is seen in
In some embodiments the hinge mechanism will need an additional locking mechanism to secure the backrest in the desired position. In one embodiment this locking mechanism may be the ratcheting system described previously. In another embodiment the locking mechanism involves one portion rotating past a second portion where in the first portion includes inventions or holes that accept a protrusion on the second portion. These protrusions may be spring-loaded, movable, or fixed. In another embodiment the protrusions may be replaced with an insertable and removable pin to secure the backrest position. In yet another embodiment the backrest may be moved into position and a pen or other actuator moved into position to lock the back portion in place. In another embodiment the back portion may be hinged to another portion of the frame to allow the backrest to move to the desired position. A second locking rod may be connected to the subframe and a portion of the frame such that as the backrest is moved into position the second locking rod will also move to lock the backrest at that position thus keeping the backrest from reverting to the closed position and limiting the backward motion of the backrest.
It is contemplated that any embodiment discussed in this specification can be implemented with respect to any method, kit, reagent, or composition of the invention, and vice versa. Furthermore, compositions of the invention can be used to achieve methods of the invention.
It will be understood that particular embodiments described herein are shown by way of illustration and not as limitations of the invention. The principal features of this invention can be employed in various embodiments without departing from the scope of the invention. Those skilled in the art will recognize, or be able to ascertain using no more than routine experimentation, numerous equivalents to the specific procedures described herein. Such equivalents are considered to be within the scope of this invention and are covered by the claims.
All publications and patent applications mentioned in the specification are indicative of the level of skill of those skilled in the art to which this invention pertains. All publications and patent applications are herein incorporated by reference to the same extent as if each individual publication or patent application was specifically and individually indicated to be incorporated by reference.
The use of the word “a” or “an” when used in conjunction with the term “comprising” in the claims and/or the specification may mean “one,” but it is also consistent with the meaning of “one or more,” “at least one,” and “one or more than one.” The use of the term “or” in the claims is used to mean “and/or” unless explicitly indicated to refer to alternatives only or the alternatives are mutually exclusive, although the disclosure supports a definition that refers to only alternatives and “and/or.” Throughout this application, the term “about” is used to indicate that a value includes the inherent variation of error for the device, the method being employed to determine the value, or the variation that exists among the study subjects.
As used in this specification and claim(s), the words “comprising” (and any form of comprising, such as “comprise” and “comprises”), “having” (and any form of having, such as “have” and “has”), “including” (and any form of including, such as “includes” and “include”) or “containing” (and any form of containing, such as “contains” and “contain”) are inclusive or open-ended and do not exclude additional, unrecited elements or method steps.
The term “or combinations thereof” as used herein refers to all permutations and combinations of the listed items preceding the term. For example, “A, B, C, or combinations thereof” is intended to include at least one of: A, B, C, AB, AC, BC, or ABC, and if order is important in a particular context, also BA, CA, CB, CBA, BCA, ACB, BAC, or CAB. Continuing with this example, expressly included are combinations that contain repeats of one or more item or term, such as BB, AAA, MB, BBC, AAABCCCC, CBBAAA, CABABB, and so forth. The skilled artisan will understand that typically there is no limit on the number of items or terms in any combination, unless otherwise apparent from the context.
All of the compositions and/or methods disclosed and claimed herein can be made and executed without undue experimentation in light of the present disclosure. While the compositions and methods of this invention have been described in terms of preferred embodiments, it will be apparent to those of skill in the art that variations may be applied to the compositions and/or methods and in the steps or in the sequence of steps of the method described herein without departing from the concept, spirit and scope of the invention. All such similar substitutes and modifications apparent to those skilled in the art are deemed to be within the spirit, scope and concept of the invention as defined by the appended claims.
