Bed
A bed is provided which orients a user in a multi-angled, prone position. The bed supports a downward positioning of a user's face to maintain an open airway to reduce or eliminate sleeping problems associated with gravity aggravated apnea. By positioning the user's head downward, gravity operates to maintain the user's airway open as opposed to forcing it closed. The bed is provided with a moisture absorbent covering which may be changed and laundered as desired.
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1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates in general to a bed and, more particularly, to a bed which allows a user to be inverted during sleep to reduce airway restrictions and increase sleep quality.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Beds are well known in the art. It is also well known in the art to provide beds with air-filled mattresses, water-filled mattresses, or resilient foam or springs to increase comfort. One drawback associated with prior art beds is the tendency of users to experience obstructive sleep apnea (cessation of breathing) during sleep. Although sleep apnea can arise from many circumstances, one type of sleep apnea, namely obstructive sleep apnea, typically occurs when the soft tissue collapses and blocks the airway during sleep. This causes the user to temporarily stop breathing, until the user awakes or otherwise begins breathing. This cycle can continue dozens of times during the night, preventing the user from attaining the deepest and most regenerative stages of sleep.
Obstructive sleep apnea occurs more frequently when sleeping on one's back. While it is known for a person to attempt to sleep on their side to reduce obstructive sleep apnea, this is not a complete solution as obstructive sleep apnea can occur when the user is on their side. Furthermore, even if a sleeper starts out on their side, they may tend to roll onto their back during the night. While it known to sleep on one's stomach in an attempt to reduce obstructive sleep apnea, this is an uncomfortable sleeping position for many, causing the sleeper to roll onto their side or back during the night. Sleeping on one's stomach may also lead to pain of the back or neck, due to the unnatural orientation of the spine, shoulders and head during face down sleeping.
Massage tables which position a user in a semi-prone position are also known in the art. Such tables, however, are typically not adjustable by the user during use. Furthermore, such tables are typically too flat to allow for a comfortable sleeping position. Such tables are also used by multiple people, necessitating the use of water repellant surfaces. While water repellant surfaces are acceptable for short term use, water repellant surfaces are uncomfortable for long term use associated with nighttime sleep. Massage tables have the additional drawback of placing a user's arms in an uncomfortable position and not allowing supported movement of the user's arms.
It would, therefore, be desirable to provide a bed which would allow the user to be supported in a face-down position, in a manner which allows unrestricted anatomical airway airflow, and which does not put undue pressure on the user's spine or neck. It would also be desirable to provide a bed which would absorb moisture and which would allow for user adjustment and movement during use. The difficulties in the prior art discussed hereinabove are substantially eliminated by the present invention.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONIn an advantage provided by this invention, a bed is provided which supports a user in a substantially face-down position.
Advantageously, this invention provides a bed which prevents airway resistance and increases airflow to a user when the user's head is in a face down position.
Advantageously, this invention facilitates movement of the diaphragm during respiration.
Advantageously, this invention provides a bed which provides for supported movement of a user's limbs during use.
Advantageously, this invention provides a bed which provides a moisture absorptive surface.
Advantageously, in a preferred embodiment of this invention, a bed is provided which supports a user in an angled, face-down orientation. The bed is provided with a moisture absorptive surface. Preferably the bed is provided with head, chest, thigh and shin supports.
The present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
An improved bed system according to this invention is shown generally as (10) in
As shown in
Arm supports (26) and (28) are hinged to wings (30) and (32) which are hinged to a collar (34). The collar (34) is slidably coupled to the vertical support (14) and held in place by a steel pin (36) passing through holes (38) in the vertical support (14). (
As shown in
As shown in
Another manually operable set screw (78) allows for the adjustment and locking of the face support (74) relative to the support finger (72). While the face support (74) may be of any desired design, preferably the face support (74) includes a forehead support (80) and cheek supports (82) and (84). The face support (74) is provided with a recess or opening (140) to receive a user's eyes (86), nose (88) and mouth (90).
As shown in the figures, the face support (74) is positioned below the body support (16) and angled downward relatively thereto. The head support system (18) is preferably designed to be adjusted and fixed at angles more than one hundred eighty and less than two hundred seventy degrees relative to the body support (16) as shown in the drawings. Similarly, the telescopic legs (40) and (42) may be extended and retracted as desired to change the angles between the body support (16), thigh support (22) and leg support (24).
While the telescopic legs (40) and (42) may be extended to make the body support (16), thigh support (22) and leg support (24) parallel to one another, the telescopic legs (40) and (42) are preferably adjusted to position the thigh support (22) at least one hundred eighty degrees and less than two hundred seventy degrees relative to the body support (16), more than ninety degrees and less than one hundred eighty degrees relative to the leg support (24), or whatever positioning is most preferable for the user (44). The leg support (24) is located rearward of and below the body support (16) to facilitate blood flow.
As shown in
While the supports (16), (22), (24) and (74) may be constructed of any suitable material known in the art, the supports (16), (22), (24) and (74) are preferably constructed of resilient foam pieces provided over steel plates (104), (106), (108) and (110). The supports (16), (22), (24) and (74) may, of course, may be constructed of air-filled or water-filled bladders, or of a “memory” or conforming foam, such as those known in the art. Alternatively, the supports (16), (22), (24) and (74) may be constructed of fabric covered springs, similar to standard spring mattresses secured to the plate. The supports (16), (22), (24) and (74) are provided with bolsters (112), (114), (116) and (118) to prevent the user from rolling off the bed (16).
As shown in
Similarly, the chest support (112) is provided with a sheet (120), the thigh support (22) is provided with a sheet (122), and the leg support (24) is provided with a sheet (124). The sheets (120), (122), (124) and (126) protect the body supports (16), (22), (24) and (74) from sweat and oil. Armrest sheets (130) and (132) are provided around the armrests (26) and (28). Alternatively, a single sheet (not shown) may be provided over all of the supports (16), (22), (24), (74), (26) and (28).
When it is desired to utilize the bed system (10) of the present invention, once a user (44) is diagnosed with obstructive sleep apnea, the sheets (120), (122), (124), (126), (130) and (132) are provided over the associated supports (16), (22), (24), (74), (26) and (28) of the bed system (10), and the user (44) adjusts the head support system (18) so that the user's face (134) rests with the user's forehead (136) on the forehead support (80), the cheeks (138) rest on the check rests (82) and (84), and the eyes (86), nose (88) and mouth (90) through the opening (140) of the face support (24). The opening (140) is preferably sized to allow the user's jaw (142) to hang freely, to further reduce any potential airway restriction and to facilitate more restful sleep. At this point, the user's chest (144) is resting on the body support (16). In a similar manner, the user's thighs (146) are positioned on the thigh support (22) and the user's shins (148) are positioned on the leg support (24). As shown in
The user (44) adjusts the arm supports (26) and (28) to the desired height using the motor (54) and screw (56). The user (44) adjusts the thigh supports (24) and (26) relative to the body support (20) and to one another using the motors (46) and (48) to adjust the desired heights of the telescopic legs (40) and (42).
The user then adjusts the head support system (18) as desired and rests on the bed system (10) as shown in
When the user (44) has finished sleeping, the sheets (120), (122), (124), (126), (130) and (132) may be removed, laundered and replaced as desired. Not only is the bed system (10) designed to limit the collapse of the soft tissue in the user's throat. The bed system (10) also angles the user's lower abdomen downward to make it easier for the user's abdominal muscles to pull down the diaphragm and expand the user's chest cavity for the inspiratory cycle. By reducing airway obstruction and restriction, the bed system (10) may be utilized to treat obstructive sleep apnea and facilitate sleep cycles. Other benefits include a reduction in snoring and an increase in the amount of REM sleep.
If desired, as shown in
In the even the bed system (10) is not placed on a level surface, or if it is desired to tilt the bed system (10), the user (44) may adjust any of the screw type leveler feet (160), (162), (164) and (166) secured to the frame (12). (
The foregoing description and drawings merely explain and illustrate the invention, and the invention is not limited thereto except insofar as the claims are so limited, as those skilled in the art, who have the disclosure before them will be able to make modifications and variations therein without departing from the scope of the invention. For example, the bed system (10) may be shortened or elongated and may be utilized with user's without sleep disorders.
Claims
1. A bed comprising:
- (a) a face support defining an airway;
- (b) a body support;
- (c) a leg support positioned below said face support and said body support; and
- (d) an arm support positioned below said face support.
2. The bed of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of said arm support is positioned forward of said head support and wherein said leg support is positioned rearward of said head support.
3. The bed of claim 2, further comprising a frame coupled to said body support and said leg support.
4. The bed of claim 3, wherein said face support is adjustable relative to said body support.
5. The bed of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of said arm support is positioned forward of said head support and wherein said leg support is positioned rearward of said head support.
6. The bed of claim 5, further comprising a thigh support located between said body support and said leg support.
7. The bed of claim 6, wherein said support is angled more than one hundred eighty degrees and less than two hundred seventy degrees relative to said body support.
8. The bed of claim 7, wherein said body support is angled more than ninety degrees and less than one hundred eighty degrees relative to said thigh support.
9. The bed of claim 8, wherein said thigh support is angled more one hundred eighty degrees and less than two hundred seventy degrees relative to said leg support.
10. The bed of claim 9, wherein said face support is adjustable relative to said body support.
11. The bed of claim 9, further comprising a moisture absorbent material positioned over said thigh support and said leg support.
12. The bed of claim 6, wherein said face support is adjustable relative to said body support.
13. The bed of claim 1, wherein said arm support is vertically adjustable relative to said head support.
14. The bed of claim 12, wherein said arm support is horizontally adjustable relative to said head support.
15. A bed comprising:
- (a) a head support defining an airway;
- (b) a body support coupled to said head support at an angle more than one hundred eighty degrees and less than two hundred seventy;
- (c) a thigh support coupled to said chest support at an angle more than one hundred eighty degrees and less than two hundred seventy degrees; and
- (d) a leg support coupled to said thigh support at an angle more than ninety degrees and less than one hundred eighty degrees.
16. The bed of claim 15, further comprising a moisture absorbent material positioned over said body.
17. The bed of claim 16, further comprising an arm support provided below said head support.
18. The bed of claim 16, wherein at least a portion of said arm support is positioned forward of said head support, wherein at least a portion of said body support is positioned rearward of said head support, and further comprising means for adjusting an angle of said face support relative to said chest support.
19. A method for treating a medical sleep disorder:
- (a) diagnosing a user with a medical sleep disorder;
- (b) providing a bed comprising: (i) a face support defining an airway; (ii) a body support; (iii) a leg support positioned below said face support and said body support; and (iv) an arm support positioned below said face support;
- (c) adjusting an angle of said face support relative to said body support to a first position;
- (d) positioning said user face down on said bed;
- (e) monitoring the medical sleep disorder of said user on said bed in said first position during a first sleep cycle;
- (f) adjusting an angle of said face support relative to said body support to a second position;
- (g) monitoring the medical sleep disorder of said user on said bed in said second position during a second sleep cycle; and
- (h) adjusting an angle of said face support relative to said body support in response to said monitoring to reduce an impact of the medical condition on said user.
20. The method for treating a medical sleep disorder of claim 19, wherein said bed further comprises a thigh support coupled to, and angled relative to, said body support, and a leg support coupled to, and angled relative to, said thigh support.
Type: Application
Filed: Aug 14, 2008
Publication Date: Feb 18, 2010
Applicant:
Inventor: Tom Wood (Waycross, GA)
Application Number: 12/228,604
International Classification: A47C 16/00 (20060101);