Air-permeable mattress providing great lying comfort
The invention relates to a mattress, preferably used as a sleeping mattress, comprising a core (1) made of foam material, air-filled pressure cushions (5), and a top support area (3) and a bottom support area (4) made of particularly air-permeable material. Said mattress also comprises a plurality of through holes (6, 6a) that provide optimal air permeability and thus allow moisture which is secreted by the body to be conveyed away from the body and through the mattress. The inventive mattress also provides particularly great lying comfort while the pressure level thereof is adapted to the body zones and can be individually adjusted to the needs of the person lying thereupon even when said needs are subjected to individual variations and changes. Said mattress has a low weight and is free from metallic and electronic components. An integrated system encompassing pressure control valves and a pneumatic pump allows leakage losses to be compensated while increasing the pressure resistance. The pressure cushions can be embodied as hollow cylinders or solid cylinders or in several pieces consisting of superimposed toroidal segments. In a particular embodiment, the pressure cushion consists of an air-impermeable cover (5a) of the mattress core (1).
The invention relates to an air-permeable mattress with great lying comfort and low weight, comprising at least one air-filled pressure cushion, preferably used as a sleeping mattress, whose basic structure allows an especially favorable air circulation and thus a removal of humidity secreted by the person lying on the same and offers an especially great lying comfort, whose pressure hardness is adjusted to the body zones and can be adjusted individually to the requirements of the person lying on the same, even when the needs are subjected to individual fluctuations or changes such as in the case of being bedridden for a prolonged period after illness or accident, and which further has a low weight and is completely free from metallic components.
Numerous efforts have been made to increase the comfort of sleeping mattresses and to meet the new requirements.
Conventional “pocket-sprung mattresses” for example offer the highest possible degree of air permeability and thus the ability to convey humidity secreted by the human body during the sleep phase away from the body through the mattress, so that even at higher transpiration as a result of higher ambient temperatures the mattress surface in contact with the human body seems to be dry. The fact is regarded as a serious disadvantage for “pocket-sprung mattresses” that the spring elements are principally made up of metal wire. Current requirements demand a metal-free configuration. A further disadvantage is that the spring characteristic and thus the spring properties of the mattress can no longer be changed retroactively, which is why sleeping mattresses which are thus configured cannot be adjusted to the individual requirements of the sleeping person. Mattresses with different spring characteristics (mattress hardness) are available for the different weights of the persons.
New requirements are met by industry with new embodiments. They are capable however of always covering only individual requirements, but are unable to fulfill all relevant needs.
One measure for increasing the lying comfort and for considering different hardness zones was tried by providing a system of helical springs of glass fiber material which were inserted into tubular recesses, were aligned transversally to the body axis, and were arranged approximately in the center of the mattress thickness and assumed approximately the entire width of the mattress. The basic material of the mattress consists of foamed material and the diameter of the tubular recesses is approx. ⅓ to ½ of the thickness of the mattress. In this embodiment which is known as “aurora system”, there is a serious disadvantage in the respect that as a result of the closed foam core structure which does not allow sufficient air circulation in the direction of thickness of the mattress, the removal of humidity secreted by the lying person is insufficient. Moreover, the cushioning comfort cannot be changed retroactively in this embodiment.
Further embodiments replace metallic springs by a system of air chambers. Several air chambers are provided in such systems which are associated with the different mattress regions and thus allow achieving different hardness zones. These include, among others, the three-zone air bed of EP 0 992 206 A1 and an air-bed frame design of EP 1 093 739 A1 for a mattress system designated as “air bed” which is additionally equipped with electric and electronic components for air pressure monitoring and display and for air pressure generation by means of electric air pump. Further embodiments with six air chambers or with 10 air chambers such as the mattress system designated as “air touch” round off these mattress systems. The fundamental structure of the mattresses is principally disadvantageous in all these systems, which is characterized in that these air chambers assume in total virtually the entire lying area and thus an air circulation and a removal of secreted bodily humidity of the lying person is not possible through the mattress. A further disadvantage relates to the use of metallic components, electronics, electrically operated air pumps and display devices.
A further known embodiment of a mattress with air chambers consists of a single air chamber whose filling is achieved with a special manually actuated air pump integrated in the bordering of the mattress and is actuated under load as a result of a displacement of the body weight. The air pressure built up in the air chamber can be changed by means of a continuously adjustable valve. This embodiment makes do without any electronic components and without any metallic components, but comes with the known disadvantage of prevented air circulation and thus a prevented removal of secreted body humidity.
Further embodiments relate to foam core mattresses where it is tried, through a combination of different patterns and variants in the foamed materials with different degrees of hardness, to achieve different pressure resistances in the individual lying regions. Considering all possible imagination in the pattern configuration and choice of foamed materials, a sufficient air circulation and removal of secreted body humidity is only possible to an only very limited extent in closed foam core mattresses, and the lying comfort and the cushioning behavior cannot be changed.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,487,739 B1 shows a multi-layer mattress which comprises an air cushion layer with a plurality of so-called “air cells” according to
EP 0 453 363 A1 discloses a mattress with spring elements and air chamber elements which each extend over one half in the central region of a double-bed mattress. The two lying sides can be brought to a different filling pressure and the lying comfort can be adjusted individually. The mattress does not comprise a foam core however.
It is known from CH 687 806 A5 to provide a plurality of different individual chambers in a mattress, which chambers comprise at least one compensation chamber on the floor side. The carrier cells can be filled with a gaseous medium and communicate with the compensation chamber via through holes (cf. FIG. 3 of CH 687.806 A5). The mattress neither comprises a foam core nor the required airing which is directed from the upper side to the lower side of the mattress. As a result, there is no possibility whatsoever to remove humidity secreted by the body in a direction normal to the mattress surface. p A mattress is finally known from U.S. Pat. No. 5,907,878 A which consists of a plurality of air spring elements which are joined by means of an air-tight carrier layer. The air-tight carrier layers prevent air permeability transversally through the mattress. Moreover, there is no foam core which should exert a carrying and supporting function.
It is the object of the present invention to provide a mattress which offers the highest amount of lying comfort, allows a pressure hardness adjusted to the body zones and can be adjusted individually to the requirements of the person lying on the same, even when the needs are subjected to individual fluctuations or changes such as in the case of being bedridden for a prolonged period after illness or accident, allows an especially high amount of air circulation and thus the possibility to remove secreted bodily humidity of the lying person through the thickness of the mattress, and which further has a low weight and is completely free from metallic and electronic components.
This object is achieved in accordance with the invention in such a way that the mattress consists of a combination of a foam core and air-filled pressure cushion(s), which are either arranged in openings of the foam core or enclose the same, and that for removing humidity through holes are provided in the foam core and/or in the pressure cushions.
The mattress in accordance with the invention thus consists of a foam core which is provided with a plurality of bore holes which penetrate the thickness of the mattress, with said bore holes being filled with air chambers or pressure cushions which can again be configured as hollow bodies and can be joined with each other by means of transversal connections in such a way that air can be exchanged in an unhindered manner in this system of air chambers. These air chambers are joined with each other in zones (preferably three to seven zones), so that different pressures adjusted to the body zones can be built up. A special air valve is provided for each of the zones, with the help of which the pressure in the air chambers can be limited individually. A special apparatus is integrated which is configured as a pneumatic pump, with the help of which leakage losses by escaping air can be compensated and an increase in the pressure in the system can be made. A pressure relief valve prevents any bursting of the air chambers in the case of an inadvertent overloading of the system.
In an especially preferable embodiment, the entire surface of the basic body of the foamed material including the surface of the through holes is covered with a layer of air-impermeable material. An especially large air chamber is thus formed which is filled with foam material. The air chamber and the foam material are compressed under load, the volume in the air chamber is reduced and a higher pressure level is built up. After relaxing, the foam material assumes its original shape again. The volume in the air chamber is enlarged again and the increased pressure degrades. Any leaked air can automatically be refilled again (sucked in) by means of a special valve, which is configured as a non-return valve, when the air chamber assumes the maximum volume again and a negative pressure is produced in the interior as a result of a preceding air loss and ambient air with a higher pressure level flows through the valve into the interior until an approximate pressure balance is achieved.
The upper side of the mattress is provided with a support layer made of a material which can transport humidity especially well and is made of an antibacterial material. The bottom side of the mattress consists of a layer which is especially air-permeable. Side elements made of a foam material with a higher pressure hardness are provided on the side, so that persons are able to support themselves better on the side if necessary.
As a result of the continuous openings in the mattress body, an unhindered air circulation and a transport of secreted body humidity through the mattress are possible, even in the case of higher transpiration as a result of increased ambient temperatures.
The pressure behavior and the individual pressure distribution are relevant for the lying comfort, in addition to the capability of unhindered air circulation in the mattress.
A further advantage is obtained from the reduction of the share of material due to the continuous transverse holes, leading to a reduction in weight.
The excess system pressure in the pressure cushions 5 can be between 0.1 bar and 0.6 bar, preferably between 0.15 bar and 0.30 bar.
The invention is explained in closer detail by reference to the embodiments shown in the drawings.
An especially preferred embodiment of a mattress in accordance with the invention is shown by
The mattress according to the embodiment according to FIGS. 1 to 3 and FIGS. 10 to 13 has a length L, a width B and a total height H. The mattress according to
In a first embodiment according to
An air circulation is enabled by a tubular structured pressure cushion 5 according to
In a further embodiment of a pressure cushion according to
Several pressure cushions 5 are principally combined into a zone (e.g. A), with the lying surface of the mattress being divided in total into one single zone or several zones according to
The foam core 1 of the mattress is configured in an especially preferred embodiment in a manner consisting of several parts, preferably two parts. In accordance with the embodiment according to
A further especially preferred embodiment of a combined foam-material and pressure-cushion mattress is composed in its entirety of a single pressure cushion or air chamber 5, or of a pressure cushion or air chamber 5 for each zone. In this embodiment according to
It is provided for increasing the lying comfort to divide the lying surface into several zones, preferably three zones, which can be associated to the body zones and set different pressure resistances. Special metal-free pressure control valves are provided for this purpose which can be regulated in a continuous manner and are arranged on the side or the foot end of the mattress. A system pressure is preset with this pressure control valve which under load corresponds to the maximum pressure resistance. A mattress with a division into three zones A, B, C is shown in
The application thus substantially comprises the following main variants and sub-variants:
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- A mattress with a plurality of tubular air cushions 5 in a foam core mattress 1, with through holes 6 being formed in the tubular air cushions 5 (cf.
FIG. 3 for example). There is a sub-variant in connection with this in which the tubular air cushions are composed of toroidal individual rings (cf.FIG. 6 a for example). - A mattress with a plurality of cylindrical air cushions 5 which are arranged in openings of the foam core 1, with the through holes 6 in the foam core 1 being arranged adjacent to the air cushions 6 (cf. embodiment of
FIG. 10 for example). - A mattress in which the entire foam core 1 or partial regions thereof are arranged in the air cushion 5 (in the air-tight cover 10) and the through holes 6 are guided through the air cushion 5 and the foam core 1 arranged therein (cf.
FIG. 13 a for example). - A mattress with a plurality of cylindrical air cushions 5 in a foam core 1 which are arranged transversally to the longitudinal axis and parallel to the lying surface, with openings 6′ being provided which are arranged parallel to the lying surface and penetrate the width of the mattress.
- A mattress with a plurality of tubular air cushions 5 in a foam core mattress 1, with through holes 6 being formed in the tubular air cushions 5 (cf.
Double mattresses according to
Claims
1-29. (canceled)
30. An air-permeable mattress with great lying comfort and low weight, at last comprising a combination of a foam core and air-filled pressure cushions, which are either arranged in openings of the foam core or enclose the foam core, and having through holes, which are provided in the foam core and/or in the pressure cushions for removing humidity.
31. A mattress according to claim 30, wherein an upper support layer made of an especially air-permeable material is provided which rests on the foam core and/or the pressure cushion and supports the removal of secreted bodily humidity away from the body.
32. A mattress according to claim 30, wherein the foam core and/or the pressure cushions rest on a bottom support layer made of an air-permeable material.
33. A mattress according to claim 30, wherein the lying comfort is achieved by means of special pressure cushions which are configured as hollow cylinders.
34. A mattress according to claim 30, wherein the arrangement of the pressure cushions is adjusted to the body zones.
35. A mattress according to claim 30, wherein the pressure cushions are combined into zones and individual pressure resistances for each zone can be pre-selected.
36. A mattress according to claim 30, wherein the pressure cushion is configured as a solid cylinder.
37. A mattress according to claim 30, wherein additional openings are provided in the foam core outside of the pressure cushion which increase the air permeability.
38. A mattress according to claim 30, wherein the pressure cushions are composed of several segments which are arranged so as to lie one above the other, with a pressure compensation occurring by means of internal connecting openings.
39. A mattress according to claim 30, wherein the pressure cushions are arranged next to one another and are joined by means of connecting elements, so that a pressure compensation occurs via several mutually connected pressure cushions.
40. A mattress according to claim 30, wherein adjacent pressure cushions are mutually joined in a cross-wise manner by means of connecting elements, so that pressure compensation occurs via several pressure cushions combined into one zone.
41. A mattress according to claim 30, wherein the foam core consists of one layer.
42. A mattress according to claim 30, wherein the foam core is composed of at least two layers with different degrees of hardness.
43. A mattress according to claim 30, wherein several pressure cushions are combined into a zone and the pressure in said zone is adjustable in a continuous manner by means of a controllable valve.
44. A mattress according to claim 30, wherein the lying surface of said mattress is subdivided into several zones, preferably three or five zones, with the pressure cushions of each zone being mutually connected by means of connecting elements and are each associated with a control valve.
45. A mattress according to claims 30, wherein a system of pressure cushions is connected with an air pump composed of elastic elements and valves, which pump is arranged beneath the mattress, is integrated in the bottom support layer or arranged in the foam core, so that an air conveying process is enabled as a result of a shifting of weight of the person lying on the mattress.
46. A mattress according to claim 45, wherein the air pump cooperates with a pressure control device for compensating a pressure loss as a result of a leakage loss.
47. A mattress according to claim 45, wherein the air pump cooperates with a pressure control device for building up a purposeful increase in pressure in the pressure cushion.
48. A mattress according to claim 45, wherein the foam core with the walls of the through holes are covered entirely by an air-tight layer.
49. A mattress according to claim 48, wherein a special valve is provided which is configured as a controllable non-return valve in order to compensate leakage losses when, after a relief of the mattress, the foam material expands the mattress body back to its original form and a negative pressure arises in the interior.
50. A mattress according to claim 48, wherein the through holes with foam cylinders are filled with especially air-permeable foam material.
51. A mattress according to claim 48, wherein the pressure cushions are arranged in openings in the foam core transversally to the longitudinal axis and parallel to the lying surface.
52. A mattress according to claim 51, wherein at least one pressure cushion is arranged in a zone with high pressure hardness as lordosis support.
53. A mattress according to claim 51, wherein the lying surface of said mattress is subdivided into seven zones for achieving the highest amount of comfort.
54. A mattress according to claim 51, wherein openings are provided which are arranged parallel to the lying surface and penetrate the width of the mattress.
55. A mattress according to claim 54, wherein fresh air can be supplied for overall cooling and/or removal of humidity, or warm air for overall heating of the mattress through the openings which are arranged parallel to the lying surface and penetrate the width of the mattress.
56. A mattress according to claim 54, wherein a blower is provided for conveying the air.
57. A mattress according to claim 1, wherein sound-insulating material is provided in the inflow and outflow region of the pressure cushion for reducing the flow noises during a pressure compensation as a result of a change in the position of the person lying on the mattress.
58. A mattress according to claim 1, wherein the system overpressure in the pressure cushion lies between 0.1 bar and 0.6 bar.
59. A mattress according to claim 58, wherein said system overpressure is between 0.15 and 0.30 bar.
Type: Application
Filed: Jul 14, 2004
Publication Date: May 17, 2007
Inventors: Meinhard Schwaiger (Linz), Ariane Obertautsch (St. Michael Nr. 11), Andrea Schwaiger (Linz)
Application Number: 10/564,826
International Classification: A47C 27/10 (20060101); A47C 27/18 (20060101);