BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIGS. 1
a-c is a side plan view of a prior art bed illustrating conventional, air or water bladder mattress system.
FIG. 2 is a side plan view of the multimodal sleep system.
FIG. 3 is a plan view of the mattress along line A-A of FIG. 2.
FIG. 4 is a bottom plan view of mattress having slots for receiving massagers.
FIG. 5 is a portion of a cross-sectional view of the side of the sleep system powered foundation illustrating one set of massagers and its drive system of one embodiment.
FIG. 6 is a top plan view of the sleep system powered foundation having mechanically and independently adjustable support members.
FIG. 7 is a cut-way view of a messaging member cut along line A-A and B-B of the side view of the massager actuator.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The invention may be embodied in various forms; however, the invention is described with respect to the following embodiments.
Prior art bed systems typically use a mattress having some type of foam or other foam and cotton batting materials which may not provide adequate support for the user. FIG. 1C illustrates a foam or foam and cotton batting mattress that does not provide adequate support. The heaviest areas of the user compresses the foam more that the lighter areas. As illustrated in FIG. 1C, the user's spine is out of alignment placing pressure the user's shoulder, neck and lower back. In contrast, a mattress that is too stiff provides inadequate support of the contours of the user's body and places pressure on the user's shoulder, hip, knee and ankle as illustrated in FIG. 1B. The best possible posture for sleep is shown in FIG. 1C. The user's spine is in natural alignment and the mattress evenly supports the user's body
Turning to FIG. 2, one embodiment of sleep system 10 utilizes a visco-elastic foam mattress 12 and a powered foundation 14. In one embodiment, mattress 12 is composed of a mattress body 13 and mattress topper 15. Foam mattress body 13 contains slits 16 that appear like a thin cut in the foam mattress body 13. FIG. 3 illustrates the slits 16 that originate from the underside of mattress body 13 and mates with apparatus (not shown) contained in power foundation 14. Returning to FIG. 2, restraining member 17 is utilized to maintain a nearly flat surface on the top of mattress 12. Restraining member 17 may be composed of various cording material such nylon, wire, plastic, cotton or similar materials having rigidity. Mattress jacket (not shown) covers mattress 12 and encases mattress body 13 and mattress topper 15. An alignment guides in the form of pins 18 are used to ensure that mattress 12 is aligned with powered foundation 14 and is received in a corresponding hole in powered foundation 14.
Illustrated in FIG. 3 is a cutaway view along plane A-A of FIG. 2 of mattress 12 illustrating the slits 16 that transverse the thickness of foam mattress body 13 from the bottom of foam mattress body 13. Slit 16 opens when the massaging apparatus 21 (not shown) travels vertically from powered foundation 14 through slit 16 to mattress topper 15. Silt 16 is substantially closed at all times and is made by cutting a slit in foam mattress 12. In contrast, a slot, where foam is removed from the cut, cannot close and leave an interrupted surface. When force is applied to mattress topper 15 with a slotted submattress, that area of the mattress containing a cut, topper 15 sags in the areas above the slots. Therefore, slit 16 is a preferred method of cutting foam mattress 12. Also shown is restraining member 17. Multiple slits 16 may be used along foam mattress 12 to obtain the desired massaging travel pathways or similar function.
The bottom of foam mattress 12 is illustrated in FIG. 4. The opening of slits 16 are shown and various numbers of slits 16 may be used. Also seen in FIG. 4 are loop and hook fasteners 19, such as Velcro®. These provide an additional attachment point along with pins 18 to secure mattress 12 to powered foundation 14. However, various fastener systems may be used to secure mattress 12 to powered foundation 14. Slits 16 may be are lined with material containing polytetrafluoroethylene (Teflon®), silicon, tungsten disulfide or other low friction coating to allow the massaging members (not shown) to travel upward through slits 16 to mattress topper 15.
An alternative sleep system 10 is shown in FIG. 5. Mattress 12 sits on top of power foundation 14 as illustrated. Massage actuators 24 are received in mattress slits 16 (shown in FIG. 4) of foam mattress 12. Massager 26 is also received in slit 16 of foam mattress 12 and provides compressive massage as they move along mattress 12 in slits 16. As stated above, slits 16 may be are lined with a fabric containing a low friction coating or fabric impregnated with a low friction material. Foam mattress 12 is composed of open-cell, visco-elastic memory foam and may be composed of multiple layers such as 3 pound density foam submattress (the portion of mattress 12 containing slits 16) and a denser foam, 4 or 5 pound density, for mattress topper 15. As massaging apparatus 21 travels upward from powered foundation 14, massaging apparatus 21 splits open slit 16. Slits 16 are substantially closed when massaging apparatus 21 is retracted in powered foundation 14 or is passed by and foam mattress 12 appears to be a solid mattress. Furthermore, when fully retracted, the resistive compressive properties the slitted submattress of foam mattress 12 remains virtually identical to that of a non-slitted foam mattress of identical foam type and density. Vibrating motors 29 provides vibrating action to massager 26. Likewise, y-axis motor 27 provides massager actuator 24 with up and down massaging action. Mattress topper 15 is an uninterrupted surface and has sufficient foam above massager 26 to provide comfort to the user. Mattress topper 15 may also contain a low friction material or coating where slits 16 stop at mattress topper 15 to reduction wear of mattress topper 16 and reduce frictional heat.
FIG. 7 illustrates massaging apparatus 21 and a cross-sectional view of massage actuator 24. Massage actuator 24 has an aerodynamic cross-sectional shape as such as those shown in FIG. 7, view A-A and B-B. These shapes help assist in the opening of slits 16 as the massage actuator 24 travels to massage locations and close slit 16 behind it. Section B-B is shaped such that the leading and trailing edges are curved to open slit 16 and separates as the foam as it travels pasts the side of massage actuator 24 to progressively close. Low friction coatings may be added to massage actuator 24 to reduce friction and abrasion. Various designs of massage actuator 24 may be utilized. The section shown in B-B separates the slit with low friction and the side shapes, the angled and flat surfaces to minimize the high-pressure regions and therefore reduce the fatigue ear to slits 16. Slits 16 must remain substantially closed to keep the uniformity of foam mattress 12. If slits 16 are allowed to stay open, foam mattress 12 collapses.
In an embodiment shown in FIG. 6, motor 22 and cam 28 can be used to provide actuation power to drive shaft 28 which provides longitudinal positioning for massage actuators 24 and massager 26. Additional motors (not shown) perform other functions such driving massager 26 inboard or outboard or providing vibration. Motor (not shown) may be used to drive an elastic cable system (not shown) to drive mechanical actuator 24 and massager 26, drive shaft 28 and associated motor 22 to hoist this assembly vertically upward to mattress topper 15 and user and provide various compressive forces (massage). Alternative, this elastic cable system (not shown) may be used to lower the massaging assembly away from user, to reduce either gradually or abruptly reduce the massaging pressure. This elastic cable system allows the massaging assembly to follow the counter the user's body. Alternative, air controlled actuators may be alternatively utilized in place of mechanical actuator 24. Likewise, various massaging contacts may be utilized in lieu of massager 26.
One embodiment of an actively adjustable firmness sleep system is shown in FIG. 6 that illustrates powered foundation 14 with support members 20. A motor 22 actuates support members 20 via a camshaft 28. To adjust the firmness of foam mattress 12, a support member 20 is raised which locally compresses mattress body 13. A variety of support members 20 can be utilized along the length of foam mattress 12. Multiple motor 22 and cam systems may be utilized to provide support or softness along the foam mattress 12. Support members 20 may be composed of various materials such as wood, plastic, metal, fiberglass, carbon epoxy and other materials.
While the invention has been described with respect to specific examples including presently preferred modes of carrying out the invention, those skilled in the art will appreciate that there are numerous variations and permutations of the above described systems and techniques that fall within the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.
Patent Application
20080045869
