WO2002043532A1

WO2002043532A1 - Bed

Info

Publication number: WO2002043532A1
Application number: PCT/NL2001/000867
Authority: WO
Inventors: Johannes Andreas Tertsch
Original assignee: Aqua Air
Priority date: 2000-11-30
Filing date: 2001-11-30
Publication date: 2002-06-06
Also published as: AU2002216471A1; NL1018987C1

Abstract

The invention relates to a bed provided with a mattress (1) and a mattress base (B). The mattress base for supporting the mattress comprises a gastight flexible enclosure (2) and, if appropriate, compression means (9) coupled to the flexible enclosure for supplying and/or discharging gas. This allows simple adjustments of the hardness and comfort of the bed.

Description

Bed

The invention relates to a bed according to the preamble of Claim 1. Beds of this type are generally known, the resilient elements comprising, for example, metal or wooden structural parts. The drawback of the known beds is that the comfort experienced by the user of the bed is determined to a considerable extent by the properties of the resilient element. The rigidity of the known resilient elements does not always give the comfort which is desired by the user.

It is an object of the bed according to the invention to avoid this drawback, to which end the bed is designed in accordance with the characterising clause of Claim 1. As a result, the bed acquires properties which are valued by users.

According to one embodiment, the bed is designed in accordance with Claim 2. This results in a stable mattress base on which the mattress can lie with good support.

According to a refinement, the bed is designed in accordance with Claim 3. This allows the comfort of the bed to be adapted to the wishes of the user in a simple way.

According to one improvement, the bed is designed in accordance with Claim 4. In this way, the edge of the mattress is supported, so that the user can occupy even the said edge.

According to a further improvement, the bed is designed in accordance with Claim 5. This ensures that the user does not slip off the mattress during use.

According to a refinement, the bed is designed in accordance with Claim 6. The fact that it is impossible for expansion to take place in the horizontal direction means that the flexible support provides additional support to the mattress in the vertical direction.

According to a further refinement, the bed is designed in accordance with Claim 7. This results in sturdy support for the mattress.

According to a further refinement, the bed is designed in accordance with Claim 8. This results, in a simple manner, in a lightweight and sturdy design of the mattress base.

According to a refinement, the bed is designed in accordance with Claim 9. This results in sturdy mattress support, with external dimensions which are limited in the horizontal plane, while there are no horizontal forces exerted on the supporting edge when a vertical load is applied to the flexible enclosure.

According to a further refinement, the bed is designed in accordance with Claim 10. This improves the removal of moisture caused by perspiration from the mattress.

According to a refinement, the bed is designed in accordance with Claim 11. This results in a further improvement in the removal of moisture caused by perspiration from the mattress.

According to a refinement, the bed is designed in accordance with Claim 12 or 13. This makes it easy for the user to adjust the gas pressure in the flexible enclosure and therefore to change the comfort of the bed.

According to a refinement, the bed is designed in accordance with Claim 14. In this way, the gas pressure in the flexible enclosure can automatically be kept above a set level. According to a refinement, the bed is designed in accordance with Claim 15. In this way, the compressor is prevented from being switched on at undesired times and/or during use.

The invention is explained below with reference to a number of exemplary embodiments and with the aid of a drawing, in which: Figure 1 shows a diagrammatic cross section through a first embodiment of a bed with mattress base and mattress,

Figure 2 shows a diagrammatic horizontal section through the mattress base shown in Figure 1. Figure 3 shows a diagrammatic cross section through part of a second embodiment of a mattress base, and

Figure 4 shows section IV-IV through the mattress base shown in Figure 3.

Figure 1 shows the cross section through a bed. The bed comprises a frame 6 with legs 7 which stand on the floor. A support plate 5 is arranged on the frame 6. The support plate 5 is preferably permeable to air, for example is a perforated plate, a mesh made from gauze or something similar. A mattress base B rests on the support plate 5, and a mattress 1 rests on the mattress base B. If appropriate, the support plate 5 and/or the frame 6 are combined to form a single unit with the mattress base B. The mattress 1 is of no specific type or material, and numerous embodiments are possible, for example a foam rubber mattress, a polyether mattress, an internally sprung mattress or, for example, a water- filled mattress or waterbed.

The mattress base B is composed of a bearing element 2 which is filled with air and is surrounded by a supporting edge 4. The supporting edge 4 is made from plastic and its rigidity is such that, under load, the bearing element 2 yields further and is therefore more elastic than the supporting edge 4. Consequently, when a load is applied to the mattress 1, the centre of the mattress 1 will yield further, while the edge of the mattress 1 remains at a higher level. Consequently, the user lying on the mattress 1 will not slide off the mattress 1.

The bearing element 2 is composed of a gastight sheet, such as vinyl, and has a flat topside and a flat underside. The bearing element 2 is provided, in a known way, with means which ensure that it retains it flat shape when it is being filled with gas, such as air, under pressure. These means are preferably vertical partitions, for example made from the same sheet as the outer wall of the bearing element 2, arranged in the interior of the bearing element 2. On the inside, these partitions are attached to the outer wall of the element 2, thus limiting the extent to which the bearing element can stretch and/or bulge out under the influence of the gas pressure. If appropriate, air circulation passages 11 are arranged running vertically through the bearing element 2, for the purpose of removing water vapour from the mattress 1.

To further improve the removal of water vapour from the mattress 1, there is an air circulation space 3 between the supporting edge 4 and the bearing element 2, the horizontal dimensions of which are limited by, for example, the abovementioned vertical partitions. It is also possible for a ventilation blanket 13 to be arranged on the bearing element.

If appropriate, a heating element (not shown) , which is used to heat the mattress, is arranged on the topside of the ventilation blanket 13. This can be employed in particular if the mattress is a waterbed. A cover 12 is arranged around the various components of the mattress base 12, so that the mattress base B can be removed from the bed in its entirety. In one embodiment, it is also possible for the cover 12 to be arranged around the mattress base B, the baseplate 5 and/or the frame 6, in which case, for example, only the legs 7 remain outside the cover 12.

Figure 2 shows the horizontal section through the mattress base B in diagrammatic form.

In order for the bearing element 2 to be filled with air, the bearing element 2 is coupled to a compressor 9 by means of an air port 10. The compressor 9 is provided with a mains connection and is operated by a remote control A. The compressor 9 is designed in such a manner that, in the normal state, it is impossible for air to be fed to and discharged from the bearing element 2. By operating the remote control A, it is possible to switch on the compressor, with the result that air is fed into the bearing element 2. The remote control A can also be used to open a small air passage, through which air can flow out of the bearing element 2.

In an improved embodiment of the compressor 9, the latter is provided with a control means which switches on the compressor 9 when the pressure in the bearing element 2 becomes too low, for example as a result of the air having leaked out through the sheet, which is generally slightly porous. For this purpose, the compressor 9 is provided with a sensor which detects that the air pressure in the bearing element 2 has become too low and with switching means which switch on the compressor 9 when the pressure is too low. The switching means comprise a time delay, so that the compressor 9 switches on after the pressure has been lower than the desired value for an adjustable time, such as two to four hours. Consequently, the compressor 9 is not switched on during or shortly after use, since during use, when someone is lying on the mattress, the pressure in the bearing element 2 is always higher than when no one is lying on the mattress. It is also possible for the switching means to be designed with a clock which ensures that the compressor 9 is automatically switched on at a specified time, for example during the day.

Instead of the compressor 9 which can be operated using the remote control A or automatically, it is also possible to use a simple air pump with a venting valve, so that the user can introduce air into and remove air from the bearing element 2 manually. Supplying air to the bearing element 2 means that the bearing element 2 is inflated until it is harder, or removing air from the bearing element 2 makes it softer, so that the user can change the hardness of the bed. In most embodiments, the bearing element 2 is also provided with a pressure-release valve, which prevents the bearing element 2 from being damaged by an excessively high pressure.

In another embodiment, the bearing element 2 may be made from special sheet which is non-porous and does not allow any leakage of air. In that case, the bearing element 2 is provided in the factory with a quantity of gas which is no longer adjusted during use.

The exemplary embodiment illustrated works on the basis of one bearing element 2 beneath the mattress 1, the mattress 1 being of the same size as the entire bed. It is also possible to use a plurality of smaller mattresses 1 and/or to use a plurality of bearing elements 2 beneath a mattress 1. In another embodiment, a plurality of bearing elements 2 are used in the mattress base B, in which case each bearing element 2 may be provided with a different hardness. It is also possible for the support plate 5 to be designed in parts which correspond to the various bearing elements 2, in which case the bearing elements 2 may be raised adjustably at the head end or the foot end. As an alternative to a plurality of bearing elements 2, it is also possible for the mattress base B to be designed with one bearing element 2 which has various air chambers, in which case it is possible to provide the different air chambers with a different hardness.

Figures 3 and 4 show a second exemplary embodiment of a mattress base with a bearing element 2.

The mattress base is composed of a baseplate 14, which is supported by legs (not shown) and to the outer periphery of which a fixed supporting edge 20 is fitted, which is composed of two vertical boards 17 which are connected at the top by an upper plate 28. The vertical boards 17 and the upper plate 18, together with the baseplate 14, form the box section running around the edge of the baseplate 14 and forming the fixed supporting edge 20. This supporting edge 20 may be provided with holes 15 for the purpose of ventilation and removing moisture. These holes 15 are shown in the upper plate 20 and in the baseplate 14 at the location of the supporting edge 20; they may also be arranged in one or both side faces 17.

The bearing element 2 rests on the baseplate 14, and if appropriate a vapour-permeable layer 16 may be arranged between the bearing element 2 and the baseplate 14, so that moisture is discharged via holes 15 arranged in the baseplate 14.

If appropriate, the bearing element 2 and the fixed supporting edge 20 'are covered by a layer of foam 19, and/or an air-permeable cover is arranged around them.

The supporting edge 20 is similar to the supporting edge 4 described in the first exemplary embodiment. The supporting edge 20 is composed of boards 17 which are attached to the baseplate 14 by glue and/or clamps and can also provide the bearing element 2 with support in the horizontal direction. This allows the bearing element 2 to provide more support to the mattress 1, so that the latter stays in place better.

Claims

1. Bed comprising a mattress base (B) and a mattress (1) which rests on the mattress base, the mattress base comprising a resilient element for supporting the mattress (1), characterized in that the resilient element comprises a gas-filled flexible enclosure (2) which supports the mattress over part of its underside.

2. Bed according to Claim 1, in which the flexible enclosure (2) is supported by a flat support plate (5; 14) .

3. Bed according to Claim 1 or 2, in which compression means (9) are coupled to the flexible enclosure (2) for the purpose of supplying and/or discharging gas.

4. Bed according to one of the preceding claims, in which the mattress base comprises a supporting edge (4;

20) for supporting the edge of the mattress.

5. Bed according to Claim 4, in which the supporting edge (4, 20) has a greater rigidity than the gas-filled flexible body.

6. Bed according to one of the preceding claims, in which there are delimiting means for limiting the extent to which the flexible enclosure (2) can stretch out in the horizontal direction.

7. Bed according to Claim 6, in which a support plate (5, 14) supports the flexible enclosure (2) and the limiting means comprise, inter alia, a supporting edge (20) which is attached to the support plate.

8. Bed according to Claim 7, in which the supporting edge (2) comprises a box profile.

9. Bed according to Claim 6, 7 or 8, in which the limiting means comprise reinforcement members arranged in the interior of the flexible enclosure.

10. Bed according to Claim 9, in which the mattress base is provided, between the gas-filled flexible enclosure (2) and the supporting edge (4; 20), with an air circulation space (3) .

11. Bed according to one of the preceding claims, in which the flexible enclosure (2) is provided with vertical air passages (11) .

12. Bed according to one of the preceding claims, in which the compression means comprise an electrically driven compressor (9) for feeding gas into the flexible enclosure (2) .

13. Bed according to one of the preceding claims, in which the compression means comprise an electrically actuated venting device for discharging gas from the flexible enclosure (2) .

14. Bed according to Claim 12 or 13, in which the compression means comprise a pressure sensor and switching means for automatically switching on the compressor (9) .

15. Bed according to Claim 14, in which the switching means comprise a time switch and/or a clock.