Adjustable Width Mattress
An adjustable-width mattress includes a support surface that has a length dimension and a width dimension perpendicular to the length dimension. The width dimension of the support surface may be varied.
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This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/675,639, filed Jul. 25, 2012, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONThis invention relates in general to a mattress with an adjustable, variable width. More particularly, this invention relates to a mattress that provides a support surface suitable for use by an occupant wherein the width of the support surface may be changed.
Mattresses are used to provide a cushioned support for an occupant of a bed. Beds are typically provided in one of several standard widths to accommodate different sizes and different numbers of occupants. Beds are commonly used in the healthcare industry to support patients. Healthcare beds are typically provided in one of different standard widths. A standard width bed is used for most applications while a bariatric bed may be used for obese patients requiring a larger support surface. Beds of different sizes require corresponding mattresses of different sizes. It would be advantageous to have a single mattress that could be used on different size beds.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThis invention relates to an adjustable-width mattress. The adjustable-width mattress includes a support surface that has a length dimension and a width dimension perpendicular to the length dimension. The width dimension of the support surface may be varied.
This invention also relates to an adjustable-width mattress with a support surface having a length dimension and a width dimension perpendicular to the length dimension. The adjustable-width mattress includes a central portion that provides a portion of the support surface. The adjustable-width mattress includes an expansion portion that provides a portion of the support surface. An inward force applied to the expansion portion of the support surface in a direction parallel to the width dimension causes the expansion portion to collapse so that the width dimension of the support surface is decreased.
This invention also relates to an adjustable-width mattress with a support surface having a length dimension and a width dimension perpendicular to the length dimension. The adjustable-width mattress includes a first central portion that provides a portion of the support surface. The first central portion comprises an air cell containing a foam inflation structure. The adjustable-width mattress includes a second central portion that provides a portion of the support surface. The second central portion comprises an air cell containing a second foam inflation structure. The adjustable-width mattress includes first expansion portion that provides a portion of the support surface. The first expansion portion comprises an air cell containing a first expansion foam inflation structure. The adjustable-width mattress includes a second expansion portion that provides a portion of the support surface. The second expansion portion comprises an air cell containing a second expansion foam inflation structure. The first central portion is located between the second expansion portion and the second central portion, and is in fluid communication with the first expansion portion. The second central portion is located between the first expansion portion and the first central portion, and is in fluid communication with the second expansion portion.
Various aspects of this invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description of the disclosed embodiments, when read in light of the accompanying drawings.
Referring now to the drawings, there is illustrated in
The adjustable width mattress 10 includes a central portion 20. The central portion 20 provides at least a portion of the support surface 18. The adjustable width mattress 10 also includes a first expansion portion 22 and a second expansion portion 24. The first expansion portion 22 and the second expansion portion 24 each provide a portion of the support surface 18. The first expansion portion 22 and the second expansion portion 24 allow the width dimension 16 of the support surface 18 to be varied, as will be described in detail below. In the illustrated embodiment, the first expansion portion 22 and the second expansion portion 24 are located on opposed sides of the central portion 20, but this is not necessary, and the adjustable width mattress may have fewer or more expansion portions that the two illustrated, if desired.
Referring to
The first expansion portion 22 includes a first relatively air-impermeable envelope 32 that defines a first expansion space 34. The first expansion space includes a first expansion foam 36. The first expansion foam 36 is a self-inflating structure that expands when not loaded to return the first expansion portion 22 to an unloaded state, illustrated in
The adjustable width mattress 10 may be placed on a bed surface 44 for use. The bed includes side rails 46 and 48 that are attached to outer ends of the bed surface 44 and extend perpendicular to the bed surface 44. The illustrated bed surface 44 is capable of being adjusted in the width dimension 16 to provide the bed surface 44 with different widths. When the width of the bed surface 44 is changed, the side rails 46 and 48 are moved in an outward direction 50 or an inward direction 52. The illustrated bed surface 44 is configured so that the side rails 46 and 48 move simultaneously in either the outward direction 50 or the inward direction 52. When the side rails 46 and 48 are moved in the inward direction 52, the movement is resisted by the adjustable width mattress 10 and the side rails 46 and 48 apply a compressive force on the adjustable width mattress 10. The central portion 20 is more resistant to being compressed than the first expansion portion 22 and the second expansion portion 24. Therefore, the first expansion portion 22 and the second expansion portion 24 collapse, eventually reaching the disposition shown in
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Only one embodiment of fluid paths has been illustrated in
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It should be appreciated that
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When the adjustable width mattress 80 is in the narrow configuration shown in
When the adjustable width mattress 80 is in the configuration shown in
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The adjustable-width mattress 148 includes a mattress controller (not shown). The mattress controller may be connected to a position sensor (not shown). Limit switches may be used to sense the relative positions of the side rails 160 and 162 and provide that information to the mattress controller. The mattress controller is able to regulate the air pressure in the first expansion bladder 156 and the second expansion bladder 158. This allows the mattress controller to adjust the size of adjustable-width mattress 148 to correspond to the space between the side rails 160 and 162. The mattress controller may include a manual interface to allow the attendant to direct the mattress controller to pressurize or vent the first expansion bladder 156 and the second expansion bladder 158. This would be useful when the adjustable-width mattress 148 is installed on a bed frame that allows the width of the frame to be manually adjusted.
Referring to
Generally, the mattresses described above are 36 inches wide in their most narrowed configuration, and 42 inches wide in their most expanded configuration. It should be appreciated that the sizes and relative pressures described above refer only to the embodiments shown, and other sizes and relative dimensions may be used if desired. Also, it should be appreciated that side rails described in connection with the adjustable-width mattress 10 may be used with any of the other described mattresses in order to assist an attendant with adjusting the width of the mattress.
It should be appreciated that the mattresses described above may be paired with an adjustable-width bed so that the bed and mattress may both have their size adjusted. It is advantageous to be able to change the width of a bed. For example, a large bed may be narrowed to fit into a small space. Or a bed may be widened in order to accommodate a larger occupant. The mattresses described above allow the bed to be fitted with a single mattress that is usable with multiple different bed widths such as, for example, two or more bed widths, or any desired bed width between the maximum and the minimum mattress width.
Some of the embodiments described above allow the width of the mattress to be changed without the need for external power. Additionally, some of the embodiments allow the width of the mattress to be changed without removing the occupant from the support surface. Also, these mattresses allow a single attendant to change the width of the mattress when this may otherwise be problematic for an attendant who is attempting to change the width of a bed occupied by an obese occupant.
It should be appreciated that embodiments describe how to provide a variable width mattress, and that these embodiments may be modified to provide a variable length mattress, if desired.
The principle and mode of operation of this invention have been explained and illustrated in its preferred embodiments. However, it must be understood that this invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically explained and illustrated without departing from its spirit or scope.
Claims
1. An adjustable-width mattress comprising:
- a support surface having a length dimension and a width dimension perpendicular to the length dimension, wherein the width dimension of the support surface may be varied.
2. The adjustable width mattress of claim 1, wherein the support surface has a first width dimension when in an unloaded state, and has a second width dimension when the mattress is subject to an inward force applied in a direction parallel to the width dimension, the first width dimension being greater than the second width dimension.
3. The adjustable width mattress of claim 2, wherein the length dimension of the support surface when the support surface has the first width dimension is the same as the length dimension of the support surface when the support surface has the second width dimension.
4. The adjustable width mattress of claim 2, wherein the first width is approximately 42 inches and the second width is approximately 36 inches.
5. An adjustable-width mattress comprising:
- a support surface having a length dimension along a longitudinal axis and a width dimension that is perpendicular to the length dimension;
- a central portion that provides a portion of the support surface;
- an expansion portion that provides a portion of the support surface;
- wherein an inward force applied to the expansion portion in a direction parallel to the width dimension causes the expansion portion to collapse so that the width dimension of the support surface is decreased.
6. The adjustable-width mattress of claim 5, wherein when the inward force is removed the expansion portion expands to an unloaded state.
7. The adjustable width mattress of claim 5, the expansion portion comprising an air cell containing an expansion foam, wherein fluid is displaced from the expansion portion when the expansion portion collapses.
8. The adjustable width mattress of claim 7, the central portion comprising an air cell that is in fluid communication with the expansion portion, wherein fluid is displaced from the expansion portion into the central portion when the expansion portion collapses.
9. The adjustable-width mattress of claim 7, further comprising a second expansion portion that provides a portion of the support surface, the second expansion portion comprising an air cell containing a second expansion foam, wherein an inward force applied to the second expansion portion in a direction parallel to the width dimension causes the second expansion to collapse and air is displaced from the second expansion portion so that the width dimension of the support surface is decreased.
10. The adjustable-width mattress of claim 9, wherein the expansion portion and the second expansion portion are located on opposed sides of the central portion.
11. The adjustable-width mattress of claim 10, the central portion comprising an air cell that is in fluid communication with the expansion portion and in fluid communication with the second expansion portion;
- wherein fluid is displaced from the expansion portion into the central portion when the expansion portion collapses, and fluid is displaced from the second expansion portion into the central portion when the second expansion portion collapses
12. The adjustable-width mattress of claim 11, further comprising an air inlet that allows fluid from an external fluid reservoir into the central portion;
- an air outlet that allows fluid to flow from the central portion to the external fluid reservoir when the pressure in the central portion exceeds a target pressure.
13. An adjustable-width mattress comprising:
- a support surface having a length dimension along a longitudinal axis and a width dimension that is perpendicular to the length dimension;
- a first central portion that provides a portion of the support surface, the first central portion comprising an air cell containing a foam inflation structure;
- a second central portion that provides a portion of the support surface, the second central portion comprising an air cell containing a second foam inflation structure;
- a first expansion portion that provides a portion of the support surface, the first expansion portion comprising an air cell containing a first expansion foam inflation structure; and
- a second expansion portion that provides a portion of the support surface, the second expansion portion comprising an air cell containing a second expansion foam inflation structure;
- wherein the first central portion is located between the second expansion portion and the second central portion, and is in fluid communication with the first expansion portion; and
- the second central portion is located between the first expansion portion and the first central portion, and is in fluid communication with the second expansion portion.
14. The adjustable-width mattress of claim 13, wherein the first central portion is in fluid communication with an external fluid reservoir, the second central portion is in fluid communication with the external fluid reservoir, and the first central portion is not in fluid communication with the second central portion.
15. The adjustable-width mattress of claim 14, further comprising:
- a first air inlet that allows fluid from the external fluid reservoir into the first central portion;
- a first air outlet that allows fluid to flow from the first central portion to the external fluid reservoir when the pressure in the first central portion exceeds a target pressure;
- a second air inlet that allows fluid from the external fluid reservoir into the second central portion;
- a second air outlet that allows fluid to flow from the second central portion to the external fluid reservoir when the pressure in the second central portion exceeds a second target pressure;
16. The adjustable-width mattress of claim 15, wherein the target pressure has the same value as the second target pressure.
17. The adjustable-width mattress of claim 15, wherein in the first expansion portion comprises a first outer cell that encapsulates a foam element that occupies no more than half the cross-sectional space of the first outer cell and a first inner cell that encapsulates a foam element that occupies no more than half the cross-sectional space of the first inner cell.
18. The adjustable-width mattress of claim 17, wherein the first outer cell and the first inner cell are connected by a hinge that allows relative rotational movement between the first outer cell and the first inner cell.
19. The adjustable-width mattress of claim 18, wherein when the first outer cell is rotated about the hinge relative to the first inner cell, both the first outer cell and the first inner cell are at least partially collapsed.
20. The adjustable-width mattress of claim 19, wherein when the first outer cell and the first inner cell are at least partially collapsed air contained in the first inner cell and the first inner cell to travel to the first center air cell.
Type: Application
Filed: Jul 25, 2013
Publication Date: Jan 30, 2014
Applicant: Joerns Healthcare, LLC (Stevens Point, WI)
Inventor: Brian L. Guthrie (Pasadena, CA)
Application Number: 13/951,151
International Classification: A47C 27/08 (20060101);