Squeeze protecting arrangement for an adjustable bed

Abstract

 This invention relates to an arrangement for an adjustable bed (1). The arrangement comprises an inner support stand (4), a mattress support (3) for supporting a mattress (2), and an outer frame (5) laterally enclosing the support stand (4). The mattress support (3) is supported by and extends laterally outside the inner support stand (4). Further, the outer frame (5) is supported by the support stand (4) and is movable independently with respect to the mattress support (3) as well as the inner support stand (4). With the arrangement according to the invention, squeezing during operation of the adjustable bed (1) may be prevented.

Description

Technical field

[0001] The present invention generally relates to the field of adjustable beds and, in particular, to an arrangement for an adjustable bed having a mattress support and to an adjustable bed comprising such an arrangement.

Background of the invention

[0002] Adjustable beds have been known for a long while, in particular, for use in hospitals and nursing homes. However, in recent times the demand for adjustable beds has increased also in the residential market. These types of beds often comprise a mattress supporting structure having pivotable sections which enable adjustment of the mattress. For example, by folding some of the pivotable sections relatively the others, parts of the mattress may be raised or lowered, thereby increasing the comfort for the user. Further, the beds often comprise a bed stand which supports the mattress supporting structure from beneath. Moreover, mechanics enabling adjustment of the pivotable sections of the bed are typically mounted to the bed stand.

[0003] A problem with adjustable beds is that there is a risk of squeezing or even crushing hands and fingers between movable parts of the bed when it is adjusted. For example, a hand or a finger may be squeezed between the mattress supporting structure and the bed stand when the bed is adjusted from a raised to a lowered position. Moreover, there is a risk of injury if the user comes into contact with the mechanics under the bed.

[0004] US 7,484,254 discloses an adjustable bed arrangement which to some extent reduces the risks of squeezing hands and fingers. The bed arrangement comprises a support frame and an articulated mattress support. The support frame, to which the mechanics for adjusting the bed is mounted, supports the mattress support from beneath and has a smaller lateral dimension than the mattress support. Due to the difference in size between the mattress support and the support frame, the risk of squeezing a hand or a finger during adjustment of the arrangement is reduced according to US 7,484,254. Moreover, the arrangement comprises an outer frame which supports the support frame. The dimensions of the outer frame relatively the mattress support are such that the distance in a lateral direction from the outside of the mattress support to the outer frame is larger than the thickness of a finger. This is alleged to reduce the risk of squeezing a finger when adjusting the bed to a desired position.

[0005] However, although US 7,484,254 provides some measures for reducing the risk of squeezing hands and fingers in an adjustable bed, there is still room for improvement. For example, if a person who is using the bed holds his hand under the mattress support when the bed is downwardly adjusted there is a risk that his fingers become squeezed between the mattress support and the outer frame. Thus, there is a need for improved squeeze protection for adjustable beds.

Summary of the invention

[0006] In view of the above, an objective of the invention is to provide an arrangement for an adjustable bed providing an improved squeeze protection.

[0007] According to a first aspect, there is provided an arrangement for an adjustable bed, comprising:

an inner support stand,

a mattress support for supporting a mattress, the mattress support being supported by and extending laterally outside the inner support stand, and

an outer frame laterally enclosing the support stand, wherein the outer frame is supported by the inner support stand and is movable independently with respect to the mattress support as well as the inner support stand in order to prevent squeezing during operation of the adjustable bed.

[0008] By "extending laterally outside" is meant extending outside in an essentially horizontal direction. Typically, "extending laterally outside" is to be interpreted in the situation when the bed is in its lowered position, that is, when all support sections are in a substantially horizontal plane.

[0009] Likewise, by "laterally enclosing" is meant enclosing in an essentially horizontal plane. Typically, "laterally enclosing" is to be interpreted when the bed is in a lowered, substantially horizontal position.

[0010] With this arrangement, the outer frame is movable independently with respect to the mattress support as well as the inner support stand. In this way the risk of squeezing between the mattress support and the outer frame is reduced during operation of the adjustable bed. In particular, the risk of squeezing is reduced as the bed is downwardly adjusted. For example, if a finger is located between the mattress support and the outer frame when the bed is adjusted, the outer frame may move away from the mattress support and thereby squeezing of the finger may be avoided or at least reduced.

[0011] An advantage with the present invention is hence that it provides an improved squeeze protection for adjustable beds.

[0012] According to one embodiment, the outer frame is resiliently supported by the support stand. An advantage with this embodiment is that the resilient support provides a flexible way of making the outer frame independently movable with respect to the mattress support as well as the inner support stand. For example, as an object is about to be squeezed between the outer frame and the mattress support, the resilient support may allow the outer frame to move an appropriate distance away from the mattress support. As the object is then removed, the outer frame may self-adjust to its "normal" position without any intervention from a user. Moreover, by varying the stiffness of the resiliency, the squeeze protection may easily be adjusted to different sizes of objects that are to be protected from squeezing.

[0013] According to one embodiment, the outer frame is resiliently supported by the support stand at least in an upward direction. Thereby, the outer frame may be conveniently mounted to the support stand, for example by a suspension type of mounting.

[0014] According to one embodiment, the outer frame is resiliently supported at at least two locations by said inner support stand. In this way the stability of the outer frame is improved compared to if it is supported at only one location by the inner support stand.

[0015] According to one embodiment, the outer frame is resiliently supported at at least four locations by the inner support stand. Thereby, the stability and movability of the outer frame may be even more improved.

[0016] According to one embodiment, the inner support stand comprises an inner frame, wherein the outer frame is supported by the inner frame via one or more support beams, each of which is attached to opposite sides of the outer frame and extend under the inner frame and are movably attached to the inner frame at one or more locations.

[0017] By using support beams, an easy and flexible way of mounting the outer frame to the inner frame is obtained. More specifically, by provision of support beams, which are attached to opposite sides of the outer frame, it becomes possible to mount the outer frame to the inner frame although the outer frame typically has larger dimensions than the inner frame. As an alternative, individual mounting elements may be used for each one of the support locations of the outer frame, extending from the outer frame to the support stand.

[0018] According to one embodiment, the one or more support beams are resiliently attached to the inner frame of the inner support stand. Thereby, an easy and flexible way of allowing the outer frame to move independently with respect to the inner support stand as well as the mattress support may be obtained.

[0019] According to one embodiment, the bed presents a head end, a foot end and a mid-section there between, and wherein the one or more support beams comprises a transverse head-end beam and a transverse foot-end beam which are located between the mid-section and said head end and the foot end, respectively, and wherein each one of the support beams is resiliently attached to the inner frame at two locations. In this way the outer frame may be highly stable at the same time as it may have a high flexibility to move in different directions with respect to the inner frame of the support stand as well as the mattress support.

[0020] According to one embodiment, the mattress support extends at least partly over the outer frame. With this an arrangement the mattress support always covers at least parts of an upper side of the outer frame. In other words, the situation where the mattress support does not at all cover the upper side of the outer frame may be avoided. More specifically, the situation may be avoided where there is a gap between the mattress support and the outer frame outside of the mattress support in a lateral direction. As a consequence, the risk of squeezing in any such gap may in this way be reduced.

[0021] According to one embodiment, the outer frame is movable at least in a vertical direction. Thereby, objects, such as a finger, may be protected from being squeezed between the mattress support and the outer frame in the vertical direction.

[0022] According to one embodiment, the outer frame is supported by the inner support stand in such a way that it may perform a translational movement only or a combined translational and rotational movement. Thereby, the outer frame may move in a flexible way. This does in turn imply that the squeeze protection may be further improved as the outer frame in a flexible way may move away from an object being squeezed between the outer frame and the mattress support.

[0023] According to one embodiment, the outer frame is also movable in a horizontal direction. Thereby, objects, such as a finger, may be protected from being squeezed between the mattress support and the outer frame in a lateral direction.

[0024] According to a second aspect of the invention, there is provided an adjustable bed comprising an arrangement according to the first aspect and a mattress supported by the mattress support.

[0025] The advantages, features and embodiments of the first aspect generally apply to the second aspect.

[0026] According to one embodiment, the lateral dimensions of the mattress essentially match the lateral dimensions of the movable outer frame. In this way the risk of squeezing an object between the mattress and the outer frame may be further reduced since there are no gaps between the mattress and the outer frame in the lateral direction.

[0027] According to one embodiment, the mattress on its lateral sides is covered by a protective material and wherein the lateral sides of the movable outer frame are covered by the same protective material. Consequently, a matching mattress and outer frame may be provided at the same time as the risk of squeezing is prevented or reduced.

[0028] According to one embodiment, the outer frame is configured as an optional separate unit that may be separately attached and detached. The outer frame may in this way be separately manufactured and attached to the bed.

[0029] Other objectives, features and advantages of the present invention will appear from the following detailed disclosure, from the attached claims as well as from the drawings.

[0030] Generally, all terms used in the claims are to be interpreted according to their ordinary meaning in the technical field, unless explicitly defined otherwise herein. All references to "a/an/the [element, device, component, means, step, etc]" are to be interpreted openly as referring to at least one instance of said element, device, component, means, step, etc., unless explicitly stated otherwise. The steps of any method disclosed herein do not have to be performed in the exact order disclosed, unless explicitly stated.

Brief description of the drawings

[0031] The above, as well as additional objects, features and advantages of the present invention, will be better understood through the following illustrative and non-limiting detailed description of preferred embodiments of the present invention, with reference to the appended drawings, where the same reference numerals will be used for similar elements, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a partly exploded bottom perspective view of an embodiment of an adjustable bed when in a lowered position;

Fig. 2 is a bottom perspective view of the adjustable bed in Fig. 1 when in an upwardly adjusted position;

Fig. 3 is a bottom view of the adjustable bed in Fig. 1;

Figs 4a and 4b illustrate details of an embodiment of a supporting arrangement.

Figs 5a-c schematically illustrate some examples of how the outer frame can move in different squeezing-preventing scenarios, according to embodiments.

Fig. 6 is a bottom perspective view of an embodiment of an adjustable bed without an outer frame when in a lowered position.

Detailed description of embodiments

[0032] Fig. 1 discloses an adjustable bed 1 comprising a mattress 2 and an arrangement according to an embodiment of the invention. The arrangement comprises a mattress support 3, an inner support stand 4, and an outer frame 5. The bed is illustrated in a lowered position where the mattress support 3 is in an essentially horizontal position.

[0033] The mattress support 3 supports the mattress 2 from beneath. Typically, the lateral dimensions of the mattress 2 essentially match (as shown) or are larger than the lateral dimensions of the mattress support 3. The mattress support 3 is articulated. Specifically, the mattress support 3 comprises a number of support sections 3a-d which are hingedly interconnected, for example by hinges 18. In this example, the mattress support 3 comprises four support sections 3a-d; a head-end section 3a, two mid-sections 3b and 3c, and a foot-end section 3d. Adjacent interconnected support sections, such as support sections 3a and 3b, 3b and 3c, and 3c and 3d, may pivot relatively each other during operation of the bed 1 in such a way that the bed 1 may be adjusted to a desired position. In particular, some of the support sections 3a-d may be movable with respect to the support stand 4 and some of the support sections 3a-d may be stationary with respect to the support stand 4. Typically, at least the head-end section 3a and the foot-end section 3d are movable with respect to the support stand 4 and at least one of the mid-sections 3b and 3c, such as support section 3b, is stationary with respect to the support stand 4. In this example, only support section 3b is stationary while support sections 3a, 3c and 3d are movable with respect to the support stand 4. Further, the mattress support 3 is attached to the support stand 4 via the stationary support section 3b.

[0034] In the example, the support sections 3a-d are interconnected by hinges 18. However, other alternatives are also possible. For instance, the mattress support may be divided into stiff sections, corresponding to the support sections 3a-d, and flexible zones formed between and interconnecting the stiff sections. In this way the stiff sections may, due to the flexibility of the flexible zones, pivot relatively each other. Alternatively, the mattress support 3 may be formed by a single plate made from a flexible material, such as plastic, thereby allowing the mattress support to be adjusted.

[0035] The inner support stand 4 supports the mattress support 3. The support stand 4 may comprise stationary as well as movable parts. Specifically, the stationary parts of the support stand 4 may comprise an inner frame 7. The inner frame 7 may have an essentially rectangular shape. As illustrated in Fig. 1, the mattress support 3 typically extends laterally outside of the support stand 4, here meaning that the mattress support 3 extends laterally outside of the inner frame 7. Further, the stationary parts of the support stand 4 may comprise a plurality of legs 8 which support the inner frame 7. The legs 8 may for instance be attached to or integrated with the inner frame 7. In the illustrated example, the bed comprises four legs 8 which are attached to the essentially rectangular inner frame 7. It is to be noted that the legs are not attached to the outer frame 5, as opposed to many known adjustable beds. Instead of legs, the support stand 4 may for instance comprise runners supporting the inner frame 7. Alternatively, the support stand 4 may comprise an additional frame which supports the inner frame 7 and which may have a height such that the inner frame 7 is supported at a distance from the floor.

[0036] Further, the movable parts of the inner support stand 4 may comprise movable elements 9 for supporting the movable support sections 3a, 3c and 3d during adjustment of the bed. The movable elements 9 of the support stand will be disclosed in more detail below in connection to Fig. 2.

[0037] The arrangement further comprises an outer frame 5 which may have an essentially rectangular shape. As indicated in the figure, the outer frame 5 may be configured as an optional separate unit that may be separately attached and detached from the bed 1. When attached to the bed 1, for instance at support locations 12a-d on the inner frame 7, the outer frame 5 is supported by the support stand 4. Preferably, it is supported in such a way that it may move independently with respect to the mattress support 3 as well as the inner support stand 4. Specifically, the outer frame 5 may move away from the mattress support 3 in case an object, such as a hand or a finger, is about to be squeezed between the mattress support 3 and the outer frame 5. Further, the outer frame 5 may be resiliently supported by the support stand 4, preferably at least in an upward direction.

[0038] In principle, it is sufficient that the outer frame 5 is supported by the support stand 4 at one location. Preferably, however, the outer frame is supported by the support stand 4 at at least two locations, and more preferably at at least four locations. In the illustrated example the outer frame 5 is supported by the support stand 4 at four support locations 12a-d which are located at the inner frame 7.

[0039] Further, the outer frame 5 may be supported by the inner frame 7 of the support stand 4 via one or more support beams 13a and 13b. The support beams 13a and 13b may be attached to opposite sides of the outer frame 5. For example, the one or more support beams 13a and 13b may extend in a longitudinal direction of the outer frame 5 and/or in a latitudinal direction of the outer frame 5. In Fig. 1 there are two support beams 13a and 13b which are attached to the longitudinal sides of the outer frame 5. In this case, the support beams 13a and 13b extend under the inner frame 7 and are movably attached to the inner frame 7 from beneath at four locations 12a-d. The outer frame 5 may for example be attached to the support stand 4 by fastening means 14 which are attached to the support locations 12a-d via holes 19a-d in the support beams. Preferably, the support beams 13a and 13b are resiliently attached to the inner frame 7. The support beams 13a and b may be seen as a transverse head-end beam 13a and a transverse foot-end beam 13b which are located between a foot end and a mid-section of the bed and a head end and the mid-section of the bed, respectively.

[0040] Fig. 2 and Fig. 3 show the adjustable bed 1 of Fig. 1 with the outer frame 5 attached to the support stand 4 and with the mattress support 3 in an upwardly adjusted position and a lowered position, respectively.

[0041] The adjustable bed 1 may be adjusted to a desired position by operation of the movable elements 9 which are attached to the inner support frame 7. The movable elements 9 may comprise one or more arms 10a-d extending from the support stand 4. For example, the arms 10a-d may extend from one or more beams 11 which are attached to opposite sides of the inner frame 7. One end of the one or more arms 10a-d may further be attached to a movable support section 3a, 3c and 3d. In the illustrated example, the support arms 10c and 10d are attached to the movable foot-end section 3d. Alternatively one end of the one or more arms 10a-d may abut a movable support section 3a, 3c and 3d without being attached to it. Here, the arms 10a and 10b are abutting the movable head-end section 3a. More precisely, at the ends of the arms 10aand b there may be supporting wheels 17 which may roll or slide against the support section 3a during adjustment of the bed 1.

[0042] The support stand 4 may further comprise electrical drive means (not shown) for operating the movable elements 9 to adjust the bed 1. The electrical drive means may typically be supported by the inner frame 7 of the support stand 4 and be operatively connected to the beams 11.

[0043] As illustrated in Fig. 3, the mattress support 3 extends laterally outside of the inner support stand 4. In particular, the mattress support 3 extends laterally outside of the inner frame 7. Since the distance from the sides of the mattress support 3 to the inner support stand 4 in this way is increased, a user of the bed 1 is less likely to reach the inner support stand 4 and, in particular, the movable elements 9 of the inner support stand.

[0044] The outer frame 5 is attached to the support stand 4 in such a way that the outer frame 5 laterally encloses the inner support stand 4. This means for instance that the outer frame 5 is outside of the support stand 4 in a horizontal plane defined by the inner frame 7. As illustrated in Fig. 3, the outer frame 5 has larger lateral dimensions than the support stand 4, and, in particular, than the inner frame 7 of the support stand 4. With this arrangement, the outer frame 5 prevents or at least makes it more difficult for a user to reach the movable parts of the inner support stand 4 during adjustment of the bed 1.

[0045] In the illustrated example, the lateral dimensions of the mattress support 3 essentially match the lateral dimensions of the outer frame 5. However, in general, the lateral dimensions of the mattress support 3 relatively the outer frame 5 may vary. In one embodiment the mattress support 3 extends at least partly over the outer frame 5. This covers the situation where the lateral dimensions essentially matches, but also the situation where the mattress support 3 extends laterally outside of the outer frame 5, as well as the situation where the mattress support 3 does not fully extend over the outer frame 5.

[0046] Further, the lateral dimensions of the mattress may essentially match the lateral dimensions of the outer frame 5. In this way, there are no spaces or gaps where objects may be squeezed between the mattress 2 and the outer frame 5 in the lateral direction

[0047] Further, the mattress 2, on its lateral sides, may be covered by a protective material. Likewise, the outer frame 5 may be covered by the same protective material. In this way, the mattress and the outer frame 5 will have a similar appearance and from a distance it may look as if they were part of the same unit.

[0048] Figs 4a and 4b illustrate a supporting arrangement according to an embodiment. More precisely, Figs 4a and b are illustrations of how the outer frame 5 may be supported by the inner support stand 4.

[0049] As shown if Fig. 4a, the outer frame 5 is attached to the support stand 4 by fastening means 14 which allow the outer frame 5 to move independently with respect to the mattress support 3 as well as the inner support stand 4. The fastening means 14 comprises a screw 16 which is attached to the inner frame 7 from beneath via a hole in the support beam 13 of the outer frame 5. The screw 16 is attached in such a way that the head of the screw 16 is at a distance below the support beam 13.

[0050] In the example, the fastening means 14 are further resilient fastening means which allows the outer frame 5 to be resiliently attached to the support stand 4. Particularly, the fastening means 14 comprises a spring 15. The spring 15 is placed around the screw 16 and, when the screw is attached to the inner frame 7, the spring 15 is located between the head of the screw 16 and the support beam 13. The radial dimension of the spring 15 is smaller than the radial dimension of the head of the screw 16. In this way, the lower end of the spring 15 rests against the head of the screw 16, whereas the other end of the spring 15 is in abutment with the support beam 13. With such a construction, and as illustrated in Fig. 4b, the outer frame 5 may move away from the support stand 4 as well as the mattress support 3 when a force is applied to the outer frame 5. Such a force may for example originate from a finger or hand which is about to be squeezed between the mattress support 3 and the outer frame 5. As illustrated in Fig. 4b, the spring 15 is compressed as the outer frame 5 moves away from the mattress support 3. When a force is no longer applied to the outer frame 5, the spring 15 will go back to its equilibrium position, and the outer frame 5 may hence move back to its "normal" position, that is, to the position shown in Fig. 4a.

[0051] Since the outer frame 5 rests on the spring 15, the spring 15 carries the weight of the outer frame 5. Preferably, the stiffness of the spring 15 is large enough to support the outer frame 5 in such a way that an upper side of the outer frame 5 essentially abuts the mattress support 3. The spring 15 will become compressed as an additional force, such as a downwardly directed force, is applied to the outer frame 5. As a consequence, the outer frame 5 will move away from the mattress support 3 as well as the support stand 4 as shown in Fig. 4b.

[0052] The stiffness of the resiliency, that is, the stiffness of the spring 15, may further be adjusted in order to prevent squeezing of objects of different sizes. For example, the stiffness of the spring 15 may be adjusted so that the outer frame 5 may move away a distance from the mattress support 3. Preferably, the distance is at least the thickness of a finger. For instance, the distance may be at least 2.5 cm.

[0053] In general, the fastening means 14 may further comprise a guide having as a purpose to guide the outer frame 5 back to its "normal" position in a vertical and/or horizontal direction when a force is no longer applied to the outer frame 5. In the example, in addition to attaching the outer frame 5 to the support stand 4, the screw 16 serves the purpose of guiding the outer frame 5 back to its "normal" position when an applied force is released. In other words, the screw 16 acts as a guide. More specifically, the screw 16 restricts the motion of the outer frame 5 in a horizontal direction and will thereby guide the outer frame 5 back to its normal position after release of an applied force.

[0054] In Figs 4a and 4b one particualr example is shown of how the support stand 4 may support the outer frame 5. However, there are many possible variations within the scope of the invention. For example, instead of a spring 15, the fastening means 14 may comprise an arrangement which allows the outer frame 5 to move whenever a force which is larger than a certain threshold is applied to the outer frame 5. For example, as long as a force which is smaller than a threshold T is applied to the outer frame 5, the fastening means 14 may keep the outer frame 5 in its normal unadjusted position. However, as the force exceeds the threshold T, the fastening means 14 may allow the outer frame 5 to move away from the mattress support 3.

[0055] Further, although the screw 16 provides an easy way of attaching the outer frame 5 to the support stand 4, this is far from the only alternative. In principle, any connecting means known in the art which serves the purpose of attaching the outer frame 5 to the support stand 4 while still allowing the outer frame 5 to move with respect to the support stand 4 and the mattress support 3 could be used. For example, the outer frame 5 may be attached to the support stand 4 by a resilient butt hinge having one side attached to the inside of the outer frame 5 and the other side attached to the inner frame 7 of the support stand 4.

[0056] Further, in the illustrated example the fastening means 14 is provided as a common unit. However, in general, the fastening means 14 may be provided as as a plurality of units. For example, the spring 15 and the screw 16 may be mounted separately from each other.

[0057] Further, instead of screw 16, the guide may comprise a rail along which the outer frame 5 may run or any construction which restricts the motion of the outer frame 5 and guides it back to its normal position, such as a hopper-shaped construction. It is to be noted that the motion of the outer frame by no means has to be limited to motion in a vertical direction. On the contrary, the outer frame 5 may be attached to the support stand 4 in different ways which allow the outer frame 5 to move in different directions with respect to the support stand 4 as well as the mattress support 3. For example, the outer frame 5 may be attached to the support stand 4 in such a way that it may perform a horizontal motion and/or a translational motion and/or a rotational motion. This may for example be achieved by choosing different fastening means 14, including different guides.

[0058] Further, as an alternative to support bars 13, individual mounting elements may be used for each one of the support locations of the outer frame 5. Such individual mounting elements may for example extend from the outer frame 5 to the support stand 4.

[0059] There are certain squeezing risks associated with adjustable beds. For example, fingers may be squeezed between the mattress support 3 and the outer frame 5. In particular, such squeezing may occur when the bed is adjusted from an upwardly adjusted position (Fig. 2) towards a lowered position (Fig. 1). Embodiments of the present invention reduce these risks as described next in connection to Figs 5a-c and 4b.

[0060] Fig. 5a illustrates a hand which is about to be squeezed in the adjustable bed 1 shown in Figs. 1-3. More specifically, the hand is about to be squeezed between a longitudinal side of the outer frame 5 and the mattress support supporting the mattress 2 of the adjustable bed 1. This situation may for example occur when the bed 1 is downwardly adjusted. However, as described above, the outer frame 5 is movable with respect to the mattress support and hence the outer frame 5 may move away from the mattress support in order to protect the hand from being squeezed. Particularly, as the hand is about to be squeezed, it will exert a downwardly directed force on the outer frame 5. Due to the exerted force, the outer frame 5 will move in at least a vertical direction due to the way the outer frame 5 is supported by the support stand 4. For example, as shown in Fig. 4b, the spring 15 may be compressed as a downwardly directed force is applied to the outer frame 5, thereby allowing the outer frame to move away from the mattress support 3 in at least a vertical direction. In this way the hand is protected from being squeezed between the mattress support 3 and the outer frame 5.

[0061] Fig. 5b illustrates a hand which is about to be squeezed between a lateral side of the mattress 2 and the outer frame 5 of the adjustable bed 1. However, due to the fact that the outer frame 5 is movable with respect to the mattress support, the outer frame 5 may move away from the mattress support and thereby prevent squeezing of the hand. In particular, the outer frame 5 may be supported by the support stand in such a way that it is movable in a horizontal direction, thereby preventing squeezing of the hand.

[0062] Similarly to Figs 5a and 5b, Fig. 5c illustrates a hand which is about to be squeezed between a foot end or head end of the outer frame 5 and the mattress support supporting the mattress 2 of the adjustable bed 1. In order to prevent squeezing of the hand, the outer frame 5 may, as illustrated, move away from the mattress support by for example performing a translational movement only or a combined translational and rotational movement. More particularly, as the hand is about to be squeezed it will exert a force on the outer frame 5 which may result in a translational movement of the outer frame 5. However, the force may also result in a torque of the outer frame 5. Since the outer frame 5 is movable with respect to the mattress support as well as the support stand, the torque may result in a rotational movement of the outer frame 5 with respect to the mattress support and the support stand.

[0063] Fig. 6 shows an alternative embodiment of an adjustable bed which may be used as a complement to the bed shown in Figs 1-5 in order to further reduce the risk of squeezing. The bed 1 in Fig. 6 is shown without an outer frame. However, an outer frame may be attached to the bed 1 in the manner illustrated in Fig. 1. Similarly to the bed in Fig. 1, the bed 1 comprises a mattress support 3 having articulated support sections 3a-d which are hingedly interconnected by hinges 18. Likewise, the bed comprises an inner support stand 4 which in turn comprises an inner frame 7.

[0064] A difference between the bed of Fig. 1 and the bed of Fig. 6 is that in Fig. 6, squeeze-preventing spaces 20 are formed between adjacent interconnected support sections 3a-d. In the illustrated example, squeeze-preventing spaces 20a and 20b are for instance formed between adjacent support sections 3a and 3b. As the squeeze-preventing spaces 20 partly increase the mutual spacing between adjacent interconnected support sections 3a-d, the risk of squeezing is further reduced. More particularly, without the squeeze-preventing spaces there is a risk of squeezing between adjacent support sections as the bed is adjusted. The squeeze-preventing spaces 20 are formed at longitudinal sides 21a and 21 b of the mattress support 3. In this way, the risk of squeezing is reduced at the longitudinal sides 21 a and 21 b where the risk of squeezing is particularly high.

[0065] Further, due to the squeeze-preventing spaces 20, the mutual spacing between adjacent support sections is larger at the squeeze-preventing spaces and smaller at the locations 18 where the support sections 3a-d are hingedly interconnected. For example, the mutual spacing between adjacent support sections 3a and 3b is larger at the squeeze-preventing spaces 20a and 20b than at the hinging locations 18a and 18b. In this way, the squeeze-preventing spaces do not affect the mutual spacing at the locations 18 where the support sections are hingedly interconnected. This means for example that the strength of the hinges are not affected by the squeeze-preventing spaces. Moreover, this implies that the same connecting means may be used to interconnect the support sections regardless of whether there are squeeze-preventing spaces or not. In other words, the choice of connecting means is not affected by the existence of the squeeze-preventing spaces and, in particular, standard connecting means known in the art may be chosen.

[0066] The invention has mainly been described above with reference to a few embodiments. However, as is readily appreciated by a person skilled in the art, other embodiments than the ones disclosed above are equally possible within the scope of the invention, as defined by the appended patent claims.

Claims

1. An arrangement for an adjustable bed, comprising:

an inner support stand,

a mattress support for supporting a mattress, said mattress support being supported by and extending laterally outside said inner support stand, and

an outer frame laterally enclosing said support stand, wherein said outer frame is supported by the inner support stand and is movable independently with respect to the mattress support as well as the inner support stand in order to prevent squeezing during operation of the adjustable bed.

2. An arrangement according to claim 1, wherein said outer frame is resiliently supported by the support stand.

3. An arrangement according to claim 2, wherein said outer frame is resiliently supported by the support stand at least in an upward direction.

4. An arrangement according to claim 2 or 3, wherein said outer frame is resiliently supported at at least two locations on said inner support stand.

5. An arrangement according to claim 4, wherein said outer frame is resiliently supported at at least four locations by said inner support stand.

6. An arrangement according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the inner support stand comprises an inner frame and wherein the outer frame is supported by said inner frame via one or more support beams, each of which is attached to opposite sides of the outer frame and extend under the inner frame and are movably attached to the inner frame at one or more locations.

7. An arrangement according to claim 6 when dependent on any of claims 2 to 5, wherein said one or more support beams are resiliently attached to the inner frame of the inner support stand.

8. An arrangement according to claim 6 or 7, wherein said bed presents a head end, a foot end and a mid-section there between, and wherein said one or more support beams comprises a transverse head-end beam and a transverse foot-end beam which are located between said mid-section and said head end and said foot end, respectively, and wherein each one of said support beams is resiliently attached to the inner frame at two locations.

9. An arrangement according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said mattress support extends at least partly over the outer frame.

10. An arrangement according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said outer frame is movable at least in a vertical direction.

11. An arrangement according to claim 10, wherein said outer frame is supported by said inner support stand in such a way that it may perform a translational movement only or a combined translational and rotational movement.

12. An arrangement according to claim 10 or 11, wherein said outer frame is also movable in a horizontal direction.

13. An adjustable bed comprising an arrangement according to any of the preceding claims and a mattress supported by said mattress support.

14. An adjustable bed according to claim 13, wherein the lateral dimensions of said mattress essentially matches the lateral dimensions of the movable outer frame.

15. An adjustable bed according to any of claims 13-14, wherein said mattress on its lateral sides is covered by a protective material and wherein the lateral sides of the movable outer frame are covered by the same protective material.

Drawing