Shelter bed
A shelter bed comprising: a mattress on which at least one user can lie down; a frame on which the mattress is set, and which comprises legs supporting the entire shelter bed on a floor and a buoyancy device generating buoyancy holding the entire shelter bed on a water surface; and a protective shell for protecting the user, the protective shell being movable between a first position in which the protective shell covers the user lying on the mattress and a second position in which access to the mattress is released to the user.
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a shelter bed, and in particular, to a shelter bed for protecting a user's body from falling objects in an event of disasters, and for allowing a user to urgently evacuate in an event of water-related disasters such as house flooding.
DESCRIPTION OF RELATED ARTJapanese Patent Application Laid-open Publication No. 8-294430 discloses an earthquake disaster shelter bed allowing a person to shelter oneself inside a bed frame thereof having loading capacity of 2 tons. A drawing container is provided in the shelter for containing emergency survival supplies such as water, foods and a flashlight.
Japanese Patent Application Laid-open Publication No. 2002-85197 discloses a bed for rescue and first-aid. The bed includes a mattress formed of a resin foam material and a roof wall member to be attached to the mattress. The roof wall member is normally folded, and, when unfolded, forms a shape surrounding the mattress, which has a pair of roof top portions and a pair of substantially triangular gable side portions respectively supporting both ends of the roof top portions. The mattress provides buoyancy large enough to float at least one user on a water surface. When houses are flooded in an event of water-related disasters, the mattress allows a sick or physically disabled individual to float on the water surface. In a prolonged life as evacuees, user's privacy can be secured by attaching the roof wall member to the mattress.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONAs for the former of the above-described beds, a user has to move to a shelter provided inside the bed frame so as to protect his/her body from falling objects such as rubble of houses in an event of earthquakes and the like. This movement is difficult for persons incapable of immediately moving their bodies, such as a physically disabled and sick individual.
As for the latter of the above-described beds, there is a problem that a user cannot protect his/her body from rubble falling onto the bed in the event of disasters such as earthquakes. Moreover, since the mattress has a flat shape, the mattress is unstable when floating on the water surface and causes large drag when moving on the water surface, which makes it difficult for a rescue worker to tow the mattress with a physically disabled or sick individual thereon while keeping his/her body on a water surface in the event of water-related disasters.
The present invention was made in the light of these problems. An object of the present invention is to provide a shelter bed which quickly protects the user lying on the shelter bed from falling objects in an event of earthquakes and the like, and achieves sufficient and stable buoyancy to have the user floated on a water surface and to make rescue work easier in the event of water-related disasters.
An aspect of the present invention is a shelter bed comprising: a mattress on which at least one user can lie down; a frame on which the mattress is set, and which comprises legs supporting the entire shelter bed on a floor and a buoyancy device generating buoyancy holding the entire shelter bed on a water surface; and a protective shell for protecting the user, the protective shell being movable between a first position in which the protective shell covers the user lying on the mattress and a second position in which access to the mattress is released to the user.
The invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein:
Embodiments of the present invention will be explained below with reference to the drawings, wherein like members are designated by like reference characters.
As shown in
The bed frame 3 includes a pair of legs 7 which supports the entire shelter bed 1 on the floor, and which extend in the longitudinal direction of the shelter bed 1 (from the head side to the hoot side) along right and left side edges of the shelter bed 1 (both ends in the width direction of the bed), and a buoyancy device 9 which is provided between the two legs 7 below the mattress 5, and which generates buoyancy to hold the entire shelter bed 1 (including the user laying on the mattress 5) on a water surface.
The leg 7 has a substantially rectangular shape in a plan view and in cross-section perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the bed. The buoyancy device 9 as a whole has a ship shape, and has a shape of a ship's bottom showing a substantially V-shape in the cross-section perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the bed. That is, in the cross-section perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the bed, the legs 7 and the buoyancy device 9 together form a substantially M shape.
Lower end portions 7a of the respective legs 7 are submerged in water when the shelter bed 1 floats on the water surface. As will be described later, protective shell housing portions 15 are provided inside the respective legs 7. Thus, the legs also form a part of the buoyancy device 9 to generate buoyancy when the shelter bed 1 floats on the water surface. The buoyancy generated by these legs 7 generates a moment to suppress the rolling movement around the axis of the longitudinal direction of the shelter bed 1, so that the shelter bed becomes stable on the water surface.
The buoyancy device 9 is formed of, for example, a resin foam material such as styrofoam, an air bag (a buoyancy bag), or the like.
The bed frame 3 is provided with a protective shell 11 for protecting a user. The protective shell 11 is provided above the mattress 5 in a way that the protective shell 11 is movable between a closed position (a first position) in which the protective shell 11 covers a user lying on the mattress 5 and an open position (a second position) in which access to the mattress 5 is released to the user.
In the first embodiment, the protective shell 11 is formed of a pair of flat plate members 13 forming a gable roof in the closed position. These flat plate members 13 are formed of, for example, a resin plate material such as a reinforced plastic or a metal plate material such as stainless material.
The protective shell housing portions 15 for housing the respective flat plate members 13 are provided inside the respective legs 7. In the upper portions of the respective protective shell housing portions 15, opening portions 17 into which the respective flat plate portions 13 are inserted are formed. The opening portions 17 extend in the longitudinal direction of the shelter bed 1 along right and left end edges of the shelter bed 1.
A flat headboard 19 and a flat footboard 21 are respectively provided to the head and foot sides of the shelter bed 1. Mountain-shaped guide grooves 23 are respectively provided to the sides of the headboard 19 and the footboard 21, the sides facing each other. Each of the guide grooves 23 guides a corresponding one of the flat plate members 13 which moves between the open position in which the flat plate member 13 is housed inside the corresponding protective shell housing portion 15 and the closed position in which the gable roof is formed above the mattress 5. Moreover, the flat plate members 13 support loads applied from above onto each flat plate member 13 in the closed position.
The headboard 19 and the footboard 21 each have space (not shown) inside their thicknesses. As shown by the chain double dashed line on the left side in
To upper end portions 13a of the side edges on the head and foot sides of the respective flat plate members 13, a connecting member 13b is attached with an unillustrated connecting shaft. Each flat plate member 13b is connected to the corresponding chain 29 of each protective shell driving device 25. Thus, the upper end portions 13a of the side edges on the head and foot sides of the respective flat plate members 13 move among the sprockets 27 along with the rotation of the chains 29. On the other hand, each of lower end portions 13c of side edges on the head and foot sides of the corresponding flat plate member 13 moves while being guided by the guide groove 23.
For example, when the chains 29 is rotated forward (clockwise rotation in
When the chains 29 are reversely rotated (anticlockwise rotation in
It is to be noted that the protective shell driving device 25 shown by the chain double dashed line on the left side in
In addition, the upper end edges respectively of the flat plate members 13 may be configured to be engageable with each other in the closed position. For example, a plurality of hooks are provided along the total length of the upper end portion of the flat plate member 13 on the left side of the shelter bed 1 and a plurality of engaging holes to engage with the hooks are provided respectively in positions corresponding to the plurality of hooks in the upper end portion of the flat plate member 13 on the right side of the shelter bed 1. In this case, rotation speed or the like of the rotation driving unit 28 of the corresponding protective shell driving device 25 is adjusted so that the flat plate member 13 on the right side of the shelter bed 1 would stop at a stop position before the flat plate member 13 on the left side stops.
The bed frame 3 includes, for example, a vibration detecting unit 30a for detecting vibrations or the like caused by P-waves of earthquakes and a control device 30b for controlling rotations of the rotation driving unit 28 of the corresponding protective shell driving device 25 on the bases of detected values obtained by the vibration detecting unit 30a. The vibration detecting unit 30a transmits data on detected vibrations or detected signals to the control device 30b in the event where P-wave vibrations or vibrations greater than vibrations set in advance on a seismic intensity scale occur. The control device 30b transmits the control signals to the rotation driving unit 28 of the corresponding protective shell driving device 25 on the bases of the received data or the detected signals. The rotation driving unit 28 rotates forward on the bases of the received control signals, and causes both of the flat plate members 13 to move to the closed position. Thus, the system is constituted in which the protective shell 11 is automatically operated to protect a user lying on the mattress 5 when the earthquake occurs. Incidentally, the vibration detecting device 30a and the control device 30b may be those which receive warnings from a wide-area seismic warning system, and which use the received signals for the above-described control. In addition, the devices may be those provided with functions to generate a SOS signal of which originating position can be identified, and to communicate in case of emergency.
A propulsive device is provided in the rear portion of a buoyancy device 9 (on the foot side of the shelter bed). The propulsive device propels the shelter bed 1 when the shelter bed 1 floats on the water surface with buoyancy generated by the buoyancy device 9. The propulsive device includes a screw 33 projected rearward from the rear surface of the buoyancy device 9; a rudder 35 which is placed in the rear of the screw 33, and which changes a direction of propulsion by changing a direction of slip stream of the screw 33; a motor M of which driving shaft is directly connected to the screw 33; and a storage battery 32 for supplying driving power to the motor M. The motor M and the storage battery 32 are built in a screw driving chamber 31 provided behind the buoyancy device 9. Incidentally, the number of revolutions of the motor M is controlled by another control device. An operation control panel 31a is provided in one section on the headboard 19 of the bed frame 3. The operation control panel 31a includes an operation switch and the like for operating the revolution speed of the screw 33 or of the motor M and the direction of the rudder 35. Using this control panel 31a, the user of the shelter bed 1 can operate the revolution speed of the screw 33 and the direction of the rudder 35 while lying on the mattress 5.
Operations of the shelter bed 1 of the first embodiment will be described below.
As shown in
In the event where p-wave vibrations or vibrations greater than vibrations set in advance on a seismic intensity scale occur, the vibration detecting device 30a automatically transmits detection data to the control device 30b so that the control unit 30b controls the rotation driving unit 28 of the corresponding protective shell driving device 25 to cause the rotation driving unit 28 to rotate forward. After that, the two flat plate members 13 move to the closed position to form the gable roof above the mattress 5. As a result, even persons unable to get up from the bed by themselves, such as the physically disabled or the sick individuals, can immediately protect their bodies from falling objects such as rubble of houses and the like in the event of earthquakes. Here, as described above, if the top edges of the flat plate members 13 are engaged with each other in the closed position, the two flat plate members 13 integrally form an angle section. Hence, the flat plate members 13 support significant weight applied from thereabove.
Furthermore, in the event of water-related disasters such as flood which floods houses, the shelter bed 1 immediately changes itself to a boat. That is, the shelter bed 1 can float on the water surface together with the user on the mattress 5 by receiving the buoyancy generated by the buoyancy device 9. This shelter bed 1 as a boat has such a bottom surface that the legs 7 on the respective right and left sides of the bed, and the buoyancy device 9 show a substantially M-shape in the cross-section perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the bed. Thereby, the shelter bed 1 is stable with suppressed rolling of the boat floating on the water surface. The propulsion device provided with the screw 33 capable of adjusting the number of revolutions and the rudder 35 capable of steering the bed is provided behind the buoyancy device 9. The user of the shelter bed 1 operates the operation control panel 31a while lying thereon, so that the user can easily escape to a safer place.
Next, a shelter bed 37 of a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. It is to be noted that only configurations different from those of the above-described shelter bed 1 according to the first embodiment will be described in detail. Components which are the same as those of the shelter bed 1 of the first embodiment will be denoted by the same reference numerals, and the detailed description of their configurations and operations will be omitted.
As shown in
Incidentally, this protective shell 39 may be configured to be opened and closed manually. However, the protective shell 39 may be configured to be opened and closed automatically with a following driving mechanism being provided. For example, a part of the protective shell 39 which rotationally moves around the hinge portion 41 may be connected to a motor cylinder and to a fluid cylinder of which crevice is fixed to the bed frame 3. By driving the cylinders, the protective shell 39 may be automatically driven to be rotated. The protective shell 39 may be configured in a way that a gear mechanism is directly connected to a rotating member of the hinge portion 41, and that the gear mechanism is rotationally driven by the motor or the like. Hence, the protective shell 39 is automatically driven to be rotated.
The description of an operating timing or the like of these driving mechanisms is similar to that of the protective shell 11 of the first embodiment. Accordingly, the description is omitted. The directions of opening or closing the protective shell 39 are not limited to those in the present embodiment. For example, the left side of the bed, the foot side, or the head side may be opened by respectively providing a hinge portion on the right side of the bed, the head side, or the foot side.
Next, a shelter bed 43 according to a third embodiment of the present invention will be described. Configurations different from those of the above-described shelter bed 1 according to the first embodiment will be described in detail. Components which are the same as those of the shelter bed 1 of the first embodiment will be denoted by the same reference numerals, and the detailed description of their configurations and operations will be omitted.
As shown in
The semi-cylindrical protective shell 45 is fit into the guide groove 51 on the side edges on the head and foot sides in a way that the protective shell 45 can slide. The protective shell 45 is rotatable around the central axis of the semicylinder thereof. The protective shell 45 is formed of a resin plate material such as a transparent or semi-transparent reinforced plastic.
Inside the end portions on the head and foot sides of the bed frame 3 of the shelter bed 43 is provided with a protective shell driving device 50 for driving the semi-cylindrical protective shell 45. As shown in
Next, a shelter bed 53 according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described. Configurations different from those of the above-described shelter bed 1 according to the first embodiment will be described in detail. Components which are the same as those of the shelter bed of the first embodiment will be denoted by the same reference numerals, and the detailed description of their configurations and operations will be omitted.
As shown in
On the upper surfaces of the side edge portions on the right and left of the bed frame 3 of the shelter bed 53, guide grooves 57 extending in the longitudinal direction of the bed are provided. The divided protective shells 55a, 55b, and 55c are fit in the guide grooves 57 respectively in both end edges in the width direction of the bed in a way that the protective shells 55a, 55b, and 55c can slide therein in the longitudinal direction of the bed. In addition, the divided protective shell 55a on the head side and the divided protective shell 55b in the middle are movable along with each other. Meanwhile, flanges or the like capable of being engaged with each another are provided to the end portion on the foot side of the divided protective shell 55a on the head side and the end portion on the head side of the divided protective shell 55b in the middle so that both of the protective shells are not separated from each other completely (a gap between the protective shells is not caused in a plan view). The divided protective shell 55c on the foot side and the divided protective shell 55b in the middle also have a similar configuration to that described above so that both of the protective shells would not be separated from each other completely. Each of the divided protective shells 55a, 55b, and 55c is formed of a resin plate material such as a transparent or semi-transparent reinforced plastic.
Inside the legs 7 of the bed frame 3 of the shelter bed 53 is provided with a protective shell driving device 60 for driving the protective shells 55a, 55b, and 55c. As shown in
The protective shell driving device 60 is one example. A device for driving each divided protective shell 55 is not limited to this, and may have another configuration. Although the number of divided protective shells is three in the above-described embodiment, it may be four or more. In addition, in the above-described embodiment, the open position is defined as a position where the divided protective shells are gathered on the foot side. However, the open position may be defined as a position where the protective shells are gathered on the head side. The shape of each divided protective shell is not limited to semi-cylindrical, and it may be a polygonal column shape.
The preferred embodiments described herein are illustrative and not restrictive, and the invention may be practiced or embodied in other ways without departing from the spirit or essential character thereof. For example, the size of the mattress is not limited to a single size, and it may be a double size, king size, queen size or the like. In addition, the timing of closing the protective shell may not only be at the time when the vibration detecting device detects vibrations, but also be any suitable timing after the user on the shelter bed falls asleep. The buoyancy device is not limited to a fixed type, and may be an air bag which is contained while being normally folded, and which automatically expands in case of emergency.
The scope of the invention being indicated by the claims, and combinations of all or any of the above-described embodiments, all variations and modifications which come within the meaning of claims are intended to be embraced herein.
The present disclosure relates to subject matter contained in Japanese Patent Application No. 2006-045734, filed on Feb. 22, 2006, the disclosure of which is expressly incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
Claims
1. A shelter bed comprising:
- a mattress on which at least one user can lie down;
- a frame on which the mattress is set, and which comprises legs supporting the entire shelter bed on a floor and a buoyancy device generating buoyancy holding the entire shelter bed on a water surface; and
- a protective shell for protecting the user, the protective shell being movable between a first position in which the protective shell covers the user lying on the mattress and a second position in which access to the mattress is released to the user.
2. The shelter bed according to claim 1, wherein the legs constitute a part of the buoyancy device.
3. The shelter bed according to claim 2, wherein the legs extend in a longitudinal direction of the shelter bed along both side edges in a width direction of the shelter bed.
4. The shelter bed according to claim 3, wherein the legs house the protective shell therein.
5. The shelter bed according to claim 1, wherein the protective shell is a pair of flat plate members housed in the legs, which form a gable roof in the first position.
6. The shelter bed according to claim 1, wherein one side edge of the protective shell is hinged to the frame.
7. The shelter bed according to claim 1, wherein the protective shell has a semi-cylindrical shape, and moves between the first and second positions while rotating about the central axis of the semi-cylindrical shape thereof.
8. The shelter bed according to claim 1, wherein the protective shell includes a semi-cylindrical shell movable in the longitudinal directions of the shelter bed.
9. The shelter bed according to claim 1, wherein the buoyancy device is provided with a propulsion device for propelling the shelter bed in an event where the shelter bed floats on the water surface.
Type: Application
Filed: Feb 12, 2007
Publication Date: Aug 23, 2007
Inventor: Miyoji Matoba (Wajima-shi)
Application Number: 11/704,975
International Classification: A47C 31/00 (20060101);