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EP 0 038 155 B1 |
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EUROPEAN PATENT SPECIFICATION |
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Mention of the grant of the patent: |
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25.07.1984 Bulletin 1984/30 |
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Date of filing: 06.04.1981 |
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An improved bed or the like
Bett oder dgl.
Lit ou analogue
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Designated Contracting States: |
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AT BE CH DE FR GB LI NL SE |
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Priority: |
11.04.1980 GB 8012121
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Date of publication of application: |
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21.10.1981 Bulletin 1981/42 |
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Applicant: Griffin, Gordon Douglas |
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North Pomfret, Vermont 05053, USA (US) |
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Inventor: |
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- Griffin, Gordon Douglas
North Pomfret, Vermont 05053, USA (US)
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Representative: Freed, Arthur Woolf et al |
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MARKS & CLERK,
57-60 Lincoln's Inn Fields London WC2A 3LS London WC2A 3LS (GB) |
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Note: Within nine months from the publication of the mention of the grant of the European
patent, any person may give notice to the European Patent Office of opposition to
the European patent
granted. Notice of opposition shall be filed in a written reasoned statement. It shall
not be deemed to
have been filed until the opposition fee has been paid. (Art. 99(1) European Patent
Convention).
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[0001] The present invention relates to support appliances such as beds, chairs or couches
designed to provide a high standard or comfort for all types of user, large or small,
heavy or light in weight, or to sufferers from back complaints. For the purpose of
this specification the term "bed or the like" will be used generally to describe all
such appliances.
[0002] Normally, persons suffering from back trouble require beds that furnish a large amount
of lumbar support, which the ordinary resilient mattress does not provide. A known
remedy is either to provide a special, hard mattress or to insert a rigid board between
the mattress and the sprung bed. It will be readily appreciated that, although this
treatment is effective, it is also somewhat uncomfortable as the increased support
is also applied to other parts of the body where no such support is required, and
where the additional support may even be undesirable.
[0003] DE-B-2621803 (EGGENWEILER) discloses a bed having spaced, longitudinally extending
rigid members each accommodating a closed elongate resilient tube which is pressurised
to meet the requirements of the person using the bed. The upper surface of each tube
has a plurality of spaced pockets vulcanised thereto with the pockets of one tube
all facing towards the pockets of the other tube. The body support surface of the
bed is formed by a plurality of transversely extending, laminated slats arranged parallel
to each other with their ends fixedly mounted in the tube pockets.
[0004] This prior art arrangement is complicated and costly due to the vulcanising of the
pockets to the tubes which, in addition, increases the possibility of failure at the
seams of each pocket.
[0005] FR-A-2407692 (INDUSTRIE DE TRANSFORMATION DU BOIS) discloses a bed having spaced,
longitudinally extending body elements each provided with a plurality of upstanding
longitudinally aligned elastomeric blocks. The body support surface of the bed is
formed by a plurality of transversely extending slats arranged parallel to each other
with their ends supported by the elastomeric blocks and slidably mounted in vertical
guides.
[0006] This known arrangement is extremely costly due to the necessity of providing a pair
of elastomeric blocks for each slat with the possibility of the blocks being of varying
heights and resilience.
[0007] It is an object of the present invention to provide a bed which provides adjustable
increased lumbar support without sacrificing resilience of the bed in the region of
the shoulders and the pelvis of the user.
[0008] Furthermore, present practice is for users to purchase beds having soft, medium or
hard mattresses and once purchased, there is no adjustment possible. Guests and casual
users may therefore experience some discomfort and even detrimental after effects
e.g. back complaints, for some time after use. Therefore, it is also an object of
this invention to provide a means whereby users of such beds, whether having back
troubles or not, have the ability to rapidly adjust the bed to the exact desired hardness
or softness required by the user. For example, in the case of a so-called double bed,
the user of one side might be light in weight and require a more resilient (softer)
surface to lie on, whereas the other user may be of heavier build and require a firmer
surface in order to compensate for the increased weight. The present invention enables
both parties to have equal comfort by setting the resilience of the surface beforehand
to their respective requirements, notwithstanding that each adjacent support surface
was identically produced. Previously the mattress used was a compromise hardness or
softness which was often not suitable for either user. Single or double beds manufactured
in a like, exact manner with final adjustment easily effected by the purchaser thus
substantially reduces manufacturing costs by standardisation of all the main components.
[0009] Accordingly, the present invention consists in a bed or the like comprising a frame
and a body support surface formed by a plurality of members extending transversely
of the frame, said members being guided for movement normal to the plane of the body
support surface with spaced portions of each member positioned, respectively, on opposite
sides of its centre and the portions of the members positioned on the same side of
the centre all resting on a common pressurised, flexible elongate tube such that,
in use, the support surface formed by the transversely extending members, when viewed
from the side of the bed, conforms substantially to the profile of a user's body supported
by said support surface, characterised in that said spaced portions of each member
rest on, without connection to, the associated elongate tubes.
[0010] In the accompanying drawings in which like reference numerals have been used throughout
the various Figures to designate similar or corresponding members:-
Fig. 1 is a plan view of a bed according to the present invention,
Fig. 2 is a cross-section, on an enlarged scale, taken along the line 2-2 of Fig.
1,
Fig. 3 is a view, similar to Fig. 2, but showing a slightly modified construction,
Fig. 4 is a cross-section of a second embodiment of a single bed according to the
present invention,
Fig. 5 is a cross-section similar to Fig. 4, but showing a double bed arrangement,
Fig. 6 is a plan view showing a portion of the body support surface, and
Fig. 7 is a cross-section, similar to Fig. 4, but showing a modified construction.
[0011] In carrying the invention into effect according to one convenient mode, by way of
example, there is provided a rectangular bed frame 10 having longitudinally extending
side members 12 and transverse end members 13. As shown in Fig. 2, each side member
12 has its lower portion of channel-shaped cross-section which is formed by an inwardly
directed flange 14 provided at its inner end with an upwardly directed flange 16,
spaced from, but parallel to the side member 12 with an elongate flexible tube 18
accommodated in the channel-shaped portion, the tube 18 having a filling valve 19
and containing air or liquid under pressure e.g. 1 to 5 Ibs/sq. inch depending on
the weight and configuration of the users.
[0012] A plurality of independent, transversely extending body support members or slats
20 extend between the side members 12 and are guided for vertical movement in guideways
22, conveniently formed by slots in the side members 12 which engage the respective
extremities of each slat 20. A downwardly depending support foot 21 is fixedly mounted
at each corner of the bed frame 10.
[0013] As shown in Fig. 3, the end portions of each slat 20 may be formed with a downwardly
extending portion 20a which engages with the respective pressurised tube 18 positioned
along each side member 12 as described above. To avoid chafing, the lower surface
20b of each downwardly projecting portion 20a may be arcuate, or part-spherical, whilst
the upper surface 20c of each slat 20 is preferably profiled to suit the user. In
general, the upper surfaces of all the slats 20 may be flat as shown in Fig. 2, or
concave as shown in Fig. 3 to form a longitudinally extending, concave, body support
surface, so that the user is directed towards the centre of the bed, but if necessary,
the upper surfaces of the slats 20 may collectively be formed to provide humps or
ridges (not shown) in order to provide varying degrees of lumbar support so that a
wide variety of users of different physique can receive the benefits of the bed construction
in a simple and economical manner.
[0014] It will be seen that when a user lies on the bed, the slats 20 enable the support
surface to conform accurately to the profile of the user's body in contact with the
support surface so that all parts are adequately supported i.e. the end portions of
slats 20 subjected to the greatest pressure are thrust downwardly onto the pressurised
tubes 18 to urge any non-pressurised slats upwardly into contact with the user's body.
[0015] If desired, a thin foam mattress 23 may be provided to overlie the slats 20 and the
bed may be provided with covers which are tailored to fit and provided with zips to
allow easy removal thereof for laundering.
[0016] In the embodiment of the invention shown in Figure 4, there is provided a rectangular
bed frame having longitudinally extending side members 12 and transverse end members
(not shown) as described with reference to the previous embodiment. Each side member
12 has at its lower portion an inwardly directed flange 14 provided at its inner end
with an upwardly directed member 16 having a plurality of aligned, vertical bores
24 extending therethrough. The member 16 is spaced from and parallel to the side member
12 with an elongate flexible tube 18 seated on the flange 14.
[0017] In this embodiment, the plurality of independent, transversely extending body support
members or slats 20 are positioned with their larger dimension horizontally disposed
and forming the body support surface. Each member 20 is guided for vertical movement
by means of spaced downwardly depending dowels 26 fixedly mounted on the underside
of the member 20 and slidable in the bores 24 in the respective upwardly directed
members 16. Thus, in this embodiment, it is not necessary to have the extremities
of the members 20 guided for vertical movement in the respective side members 12,
a similar guiding effect being provided by the dowels 26 sliding in their respective
bores 24 in the members 20, the respective end portions of which are supported by
the tubes 18. The side members 12 are mounted on longitudinally extending support
feet 28 positioned inwardly of the side members 12. A mattress or cover 23 may overlie
the body support surface formed by the members or slats 20.
[0018] As shown in Figures 5 and 6, the construction described with reference to Figure
4 is particularly advantageous for double or king size beds. Thus, in a double bed
construction, a central, longitudinally extending member 30 is positioned at a level
lower than the side members 12 and provides a common support for the adjacent flanges
14 and the associated upwardly extending flanges 16. It will be appreciated that this
arrangement obviates a central ridge extending longitudinally of the bed as would
be caused by the arrangement shown in Figs. 1 to 3 and as shown in Figure 6, enables
the respective adjacent inner portions 20d, 20f of the members 20 to be in juxtaposed
relationship and thus provide a "merging" of the two independent body support surfaces.
[0019] In Fig. 7 which shows a modification of the arrangement shown in Figure 4, the downwardly
depending dowels 26 are slidable in bearing bushes 32 fixedly mounted in a panel 34
interconnecting the respective inwardly directed flanges 14. In this construction,
the lower end of each downwardly depending dowel 26 is provided with a part-spherical
member 36 engaging the resilient tube 18 which, in this modified arrangement, is accommodated
in a base member 38. Abutment members 40 may be provided to limit the vertical movement
of the transversely extending members 20.
[0020] The slats 20 may be of wood or moulded from a synthetic resinous material.
[0021] A bed according to the present invention has the advantage that it is of normal shape,
as opposed to a number of previous designs of orthopaedic, or other types of bed which
tend to be of unusual shape, thus requiring special bed clothes and other covers.
[0022] Also, the basic frame and assembly may be utilised in place of a deep spring or other
mattress, on top of the existing base in order to conveniently convert existing beds
into the improved construction described above.
[0023] A further advantage is that beds made according to the present invention may conveniently
be supplied in kit form which facilitates transit. Such beds are provided with connector
members which simplifies re-assembly.
1. A bed or the like comprising a frame (10) and a body support surface formed by
a plurality of members (20) extending transversely of the frame (10), said members
(20) being guided for movement normal to the plane of the body support surface with
spaced portions of each member (20) positioned, respectively, on opposite sides of
its centre and the portions of the members (20) positioned on the same side of the
centre all resting on a common pressurised, flexible elongate tube (18) such that,
in use, the support surface formed by the transversely extending members (20), when
viewed from the side of the bed, conforms substantially to the profile of a user's
body supported by said support surface, characterised in that said spaced portions
of each member (20) rest on, without connection to, the associated elongate tubes.
2. A bed or the like as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that said elongate tubes
extend, respectively, along spaced members (12, 14, 16) forming the sides of said
frame.
3. A bed or the like as claimed in claim 2, characterised in that the lower portion
of each side member (12, 14, 16) is of channel-shaped configuration and said elongate
tube (18) is accommodated therein.
4. A bed or the like as claimed in claim 2 or 3, characterised in that the ends of
each of said transversely extending members (20) are, respectively, guided for movement
in a slot (22) formed in the adjacent side member (12).
5. A bed or the like as claimed in any of the preceding claims, characterised in that
the end portions of each transversely extending member (20) are provided, respectively,
with a downwardly extending portion (20a) which rests on the tube (18).
6. A bed or the like as claimed in claim 2, characterised in that each transversely
extending member (20) has spaced, downwardly depending guide members (26) slidably
mounted in bores (24) formed, respectively, in said side members (16).
7. A bed or the like as claimed in claim 6, characterised in that two independent
body support surfaces are provided, the adjacent inner portions (20d, 201) of the
transversely extending members (20) forming each support surface being in juxtaposed
relationship.
8. A bed or the like as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that each transversely
extending member (20) has spaced downwardly depending guide members (26) slidably
mounted in bearing bushes (32) fixedly mounted in a panel (34) interconnecting spaced
members (14) forming the sides of said frame (10).
9. A bed or the like as claimed in claim 8, characterised in that the lower extremities
of the guide members (26) rest on said common tube (18).
10. A bed or the like as claimed in any of the preceding claims, characterised in
that the upper surface (20c) of each of the transversely extending members (20) is
curved to provide a longitudinally extending, concave body support surface.
1. Ein Bett od.dgl. mit einem Rahmen (10) und einer Körperstützfläche, die von einer
Vielzahl von quer zum Rahmen verlaufenden Teilen (20) gebildet ist, welche normal
zur Ebene der Körperstützfläche beweglich gelagert sind, wobei voneinander distanzierte
Bereiche jedes Teiles (20) hinsichtlich deren Mitte einander gegenüberliegend angeordnet
sind und die auf derselben Seite der Mitte liegenden Bereiche der Teile (20) alle
auf einem gemeinsamen, unter Druck stehenden, flexiblen längsgerichteten Rohr (18)
aufruhen, sodaß im Gebrauch die von den querverlaufenden Teilen (10) gebildete Stützfläche
in Seitenansicht des Bettes im wesentlichen dem Körperprofil des von der Stützfläche
getragenen Benützers entspricht, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß die voneinander distanzierten
Bereiche jedes Teiles (20) auf den zugehörigen, längsgerichteten Röhen (18) aufliegen,
ohne mit diesen verbunden zu sein.
2. Ein Bett od.dgl. nach Anspruch 1, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß sich den längsgerichteten
Röhren entlang voneinander distanzierte Seitenteile (12, 14, 16) des Rahmens erstrecken.
3. Ein Bett od.dgl. nach Anspruch 2, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß der untere Bereich
jedes Seitenteiles (12, 14, 16) rinnenförmig ausgebildet und die längsgerichtete Röhre
(18) darin angeordnet ist.
4. Ein Bett od.dgl. nach Anspruch 2 oder 3, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß die Enden
des querverlaufenden Teiles (20) jeweils in einem Schlitz (22) im angrenzenden Seitenteil
(12) beweglich gelagert sind.
5. Ein Bett od.dgl. nach einem der vorangehenden Ansprüche, dadurch gekennzeichnet,
daß die Endbereiche jedes querverlaufenden Teiles (20) jeweils einen nach unten verlaufenden
Abschnitt (20a) aufweisen, welcher auf der Röhre (18) aufliegt.
6. Ein Bett od.dgl. nach Anspruch 2, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß jeder der querverlaufenden
Teile (20) in Abständen nach unten verlaufende Führungsglieder (26) aufweist, die
gleitend in Bohrungen (24) der Seitenteile (16) gelagert sind.
7. Ein Bett od.dgl. nach Anspruch 6, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß zwei unabhängige
Körperstützflächen vorgesehen sind, wobei die einander benachbarten inneren Bereiche
(20d, 20f) der querverlaufenden Teile (20), welche jede Stützfläche bilden, einander
überlappen.
8. Ein Bett od.dgl. nach Anspruch 1, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß jeder querverlaufende
Teil (20) in Abständen nach unten verlaufende Führungsglieder (26) aufweist, welche
gleitend in Lagerbuchsen (32) gelagert sind, welche fest in einer voneinander distanzierte
Seitenteile (14) des Rahmens verbindenden Platte (34) angeordnet sind.
9. Ein Bett od.dgl. nach Anspruch 8, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß die unteren Enden
der Führungsglieder (26) auf der gemeinsamen Röhre (18) aufliegen.
10. Ein Bett od.dgl. nach einem der vorangehenden Ansprüche, dadurch gekennzeichnet,
daß die obere Oberfläche (20c) jedes querverlaufenden Teiles (20) gekrümmt ist, um
eine konkave längsverlaufende Körperstützfläche zu bilden.
1. Lit ou analogue comprenant un cadre (10) et une surface d'appui pour le corps,
formée par une pluralité de pièces (20) s'étendant transversalement par rapport au
cadre (10), lesdites pièces (20) étant guidées en un mouvement normal au plan de la
surface d'appui pour le corps, des parties espacées de chaque pièce (20) étant positionnées
respectivement sur les côtés opposés par rapport à leur centre et les parties des
pièces (20) positionnées du même côté par rapport à leur centre reposant toutes sur
un tube flexible commun, allongé et sous- pression (18) de façon telle que lors de
l'usage, la surface d'appui formée par les pièces (20), s'étendant transversalement,
considérée à partir du bord du lit, se conforme substantiellement au profil du corps
de l'utilisateur supporté par ladite surface d'appui, caractérisé en ce que lesdites
parties espacées de chaque pièce (20) reposent sans aucune liaison, sur les tubes
allongés associés.
2. Lit ou analogue comme revendiqué dans la revendication 1, caractérisé en ce que
lesdits tubes allongés s'étendent respectivement le long de pièces espacées (12, 14,
16) formant les côtés dudit cadre.
3. Lit ou analogue comme revendiqué dans la revendication 2, caractérisé en ce que
la partie inférieure de chaque pièce de côté (12, 14, 16) a la configuration d'une
gouttière et que ledit tube allongé (18) s'adapte dans ladite gouttière.
4. Lit ou analogue comme revendiqué dans les revendications 2 ou 3, caractérisé en
ce que les extrémités de chacune des pièces (20) s'etendant transversalement sont
respectivement guidées dans leur mouvement par une fente (22) formée dans la pièce
de côté adjacente (12).
5. Lit ou analogue comme revendiqué dans l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes,
caractérisé en ce que les parties d'extrémité de chaque pièce (20) s'étendant transversalement
sont pourvues respectivement d'une partie (20a) s'étendant vers le bas qui reponse
sur le tube (18).
6. Lit ou analogue comme revendiqué dans la revendication 2, caractérisé en ce que
chaque pièce (20) s'étendant transversalement possède des pièces de guidage (26) dirigées
vers le bas montées coulissantes dans des trous (24) formés respectivement dans les
pièces de côté (16).
7. Lit ou analogue comme revendiqué dans la revendication 6, caractérisé en ce que
duex surfaces d'appui pour le corps indépendantes sont prévues, les parties intérieures
adjacentes (20d, 20f) des pièces (20) s'étendant transversalement formant chaque surface
d'appui pour le corps étant en relation de juxtaposition.
8. Lit ou analogue comme revendiqué dans la revendication 1, caractérisé en ce que
chaque pièce (20) s'étendant transversalement possède des pièces de guidage (26) espacées
dirigées vers le bas, montées coulissantes dans des bagues de support (32) montées
de façon fixe sur un panneau (34) interconnectant les pièces espacées (14) formant
les côtés duidt cadre (10).
9. Lit ou analogue comme revendiqué dans la revendication 8, caractérisé en ce que
les extrémités basses des pièces de guidage (26) reposent sur ledit tube commun (18).
10. Lit ou analogue comme revendiqué dans l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes,
caractérisé en ce que la surface supérieure (20c) de chacune des pièces (20) s'étendant
transversalement est incurvée pour présenter une surface d'appui pour le corps, concave
et s'étendant longitudinalement.