Conforming body support with air chamber and pump chamber

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Office for Industrial Property The Netherlands © 1007398 © C OCTROOI²⁰ © Patent application: 1007398 © Filed: 30.10.97 © Int.CI.⁶

A47C27 / 08

<td>© Priority: 07.08.97 NL 1006737</td><td>© Patent holder (s): Patrick Kloppenborg in Heerenveen.</td>

<td>(© Registered:</td><td>© Inventor (s):</td>

<td> 09.02.99</td><td>Patrick Kloppenborg in Heerenveen</td>

<td>© Date:</td><td>© Authorized representative:</td>

<td> 09.02.99</td><td>Mr. Drs. SU Ottevangers cs te 2508 DH Den</td>

<td>© Published: 01.04.99 IE 99/04</td><td>Hedge.</td>

(54) Conforming body support with air chamber and pump chamber.

Korte © Short designation: Body support with air chamber and pump chamber

Body support with an air core (2, 3; 52) and a bellows (6, 7; 56) integrated in a side edge section (4, 5) of a compliant filling material in an interior. The body support is further provided with passages (13, 14, 15; 63, 64, 65) connecting the bellows (6, 7; 56) to the air core (2, 3; 52) and the bellows (6, 7; 56 ) and connect the air core (2, 3; 52) to the environment, and fitted with shut-off valves (16, 17; 67, 70) for blocking airflow from the air core (2, 3; 52) in the rest position. Because the inner space of the bellows (6, 7; 56) in open state is in open communication with the environment, the compressibility of the bellows filled with filling material is well adapted to the compressibility of adjacent side edge parts which are also filled with filling material and the maximum load of the bellows limited.

NL C 1007398

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The contents of this patent correspond to the original filed description with claim (s) and any drawings.

Short designation: Conforming body support with air chamber and pump chamber

The invention relates to a conforming body support according to the preamble of claim 1.

Such a body support, in the form of a mattress, is known from the international patent application

WO 93/21803. With such mattresses, an air core is used in order to obtain good conformity to the body of a user lying on the mattress. However, this principle can also be applied to other body supports, such as seat and pillows.

Compared to, for example, a waterbed, the advantage is achieved here that the mattress is considerably lighter, does not need to be heated, less aftertint and that no water damage occurs in the event of leakage. In order to keep the air pressure in the air core - which in practice, like a pneumatic tire, is not absolutely airtight - at a constant level, the mattresses according to this document have the bellows coupled with a buffer reservoir. An adjustable pressure reducing valve is provided between the buffer reservoir and the air core, which allows air to pass from the buffer reservoir to the air core if the overpressure in the air core drops below a certain value relative to the surroundings. This means that the air core from the buffer reservoir is replenished depending on the pressure in the mattress in an unloaded state. In the loaded condition, the pressure in the air core is higher than in the unloaded condition. The pumping of air to the buffer reservoir is always automatic in use by pressing and springing back bellows incorporated in the side edge, when sitting on the edge of the mattress, for example when going to bed and getting up.

A drawback of this body support is that the buffer reservoir has to be inflated against an increased overpressure, so that the bellows form relatively stiff elements in the edge of the body support that feel unpleasant when one goes on the edge of the body support

Sitting and which also affect the lying or sitting comfort in the peripheral area of ​​the body support. Furthermore, the bellows and the buffer reservoir are subjected to heavy loads during rough use, for example by children who jump or dive on them, especially if the pressure in the buffer reservoir is high. A strong construction is therefore required to prevent damage to the bellows.

The overpressure in the air core is very low in the unloaded state and is influenced by objects lying on the bed such as blankets and / or duvets, as well as fitted sheets stretched around the mattress. The overpressure in the air core in an unloaded state is therefore difficult to regulate and due to said disturbances it is less suitable as a measure of the hardness of the mattress. Finally, with such a mattress, getting in and out of bed is often accompanied by additional noises as a result of air displacement from the bellows to the buffer chamber.

International patent application WO 95/09552 discloses another body support with an air core, which is designed as a mattress, wherein the bellows is formed by an angular region of the air core. The bellows communicates with the rest of the air core through a permanently open aeration opening. This aeration opening is so small that air flowing back through it does not substantially delay the inflation.

The suction passage for admitting air into the bellows is always closed during inflation by the user who places the body part with which the bellows is pressed in front of the suction opening. After inflation of the air core, the suction passage is hermetically sealed and a residual pressure difference between the bellows and the rest of the air core is equalized via the aeration passage.

Although the pressure in the bellow-shaped part of the air core in the rest position is in principle equal to the pressure in the rest of the air core, the spring characteristic of the bellow-shaped part of the air core differs considerably from the spring characteristic of the rest of the air core. Air is displaced when the rest of the air core is compressed. Air displacement would occur when the bellows section is pressed

-3 of the air core must pass through the aeration port and the inflation port. The aeration passage cannot play a significant role in the rapid displacement of air, because otherwise the air core would deflate too quickly during inflation. If the pump passage is small, air can hardly be displaced when the bellows section is loaded. The bellows part of the air core is then relatively hard and the bellows is heavily loaded under strong local compression. If, on the other hand, the pump passage is large, a reasonable volume of air is displaced, but after pressing the bellows it takes a long time before the shape is restored. After all, only a little air can flow to the bellows part via the ventilation opening per unit of time.

Furthermore, controlling the pressure of such mattresses is laborious, since the suction passage must be closed with a cap each time prior to the test lying.

The object of the invention is to provide a body support with an air core, in which the bellows in terms of compressibility under given loads is better adapted to the surrounding parts of the body support, wherein the bellows in extreme local force exertion on the body support in the region of the bellows is heavily taxed but quickly bounces back, and where less noise occurs with local loads that occur, for example, when getting in and out of bed and when sitting on a chair.

This object is achieved by providing the body support with an integrated inflation bellows in accordance with the characterizing part of claim 1.

Because the bellows is in open communication with the environment in the rest position, when the body support is pressed in the area of ​​the bellows without the intention of pumping up the body support, air can flow out of the bellows and back into the bellows flow when the bellows springs back. By choosing a suitable type and a suitable structure for the filling material in the bellows, the compressibility of the bellows can therefore be easily adjusted.

- Adapts to the compressibility of surrounding areas of the body support and, in particular, to the compressibility of adjacent side edge sections of compliant filling material. Because air can escape from the bellows into the environment in the event of a sudden strong compression of the bellows, the load on the bellows in the case of sudden compression is limited and the risk of damage to the bellows when jumping on the body support and the like is greatly reduced.

Since the communication between the inner space of the bellows and the environment can take place without objection via a large passage area, a large volume of air can be quickly displaced from the bellows to the surroundings and flow back into the surroundings with relatively low flow rates. to the bellows. Thus, noises when pressing the body support in the region of the bellows remain limited.

Special embodiments of the body support according to the invention are laid down in the dependent claims.

Next, further objects, embodiments, effects and advantages of the invention are described and elucidated on the basis of a presently most preferred embodiment and some variants, with reference to the drawing. Thereby shows:

fig. 1 shows a schematic perspective and cut-away view of an example of a mattress according to the invention, fig. 2 a schematic representation of an example of a mattress according to the invention and in particular of the inflation system thereof, fig. 3 a schematic representation of a second example of a mattress according to the invention and in particular of its inflation system, fig. 4 a cross-sectional view of an assembly of 35 valves and gates forming part of a mattress according to fig. 2,

-5fig. 5 is a sectional view of a bellows of a mattress according to the invention, and FIG. 6 is a schematic perspective and exploded view of a valve for use as a non-return valve in a suction passage opening into the bellows.

The invention will first be described in more detail with reference to a presently most preferred embodiment, which is formed by the mattress as shown in Fig. 1 and the embodiment of parts thereof as shown in Figs. 2, 4 and 5.

The mattress shown in Fig. 1 has a generally rectangular outer contour 1 and is designed as a double mattress. Naturally, the mattress can, as usual, be designed in different lengths and widths for use by one or two persons. A segmented version adapted to beds with a sitting position is also possible. Within the outer contour 1 of the mattress shown are two air cores 2, 3 (in use condition with air-filled chambers), side edge sections 4, 5 of a compliant filling material adjacent to the air cores 2, 3, and in the side edge sections 4 , 5 integrated, airtight from the air cores 2 and 2 in the rest position. 3 separate bellows 6, 7 with filling material 8 (see fig. 5), which are accommodated therein, for resetting the bellows 6, 7 after swelling.

The separate air cores 2, 3, each with inflation bellows 6, 7 belonging to one of the air cores 2, 3, make it possible to adapt the left and right half of the mattress to individual users.

Furthermore, the mattress is provided with a topping 9 made of polyether which ensures the removal of perspiration and which contributes to increasing comfort. Below the air cores 2, 3 there is a bottom 10 which serves as a heat insulation, a silencer (the air chambers form sound boxes), as a protection for the air cores 2, 3 and as a shield for the bed base in case of very local loading of the mattress (e.g. stand on the mattress). The outer layer of the contour 1 is formed by a mattress cover 11 which is removable, at 1007398

-6 to allow assembly of the mattress as well as cleaning and replacement of parts of the interior.

The air cores 2, 3 are provided with partitions 12 which prevent excessive bulging of other areas of the mattress when an area of ​​the mattress is loaded.

The mattress is further provided with systems of passages 13, 14, 15, which bellows 6, 7 with the associated air cores 2 and 15, respectively. 3 and which connect the bellows 6, 7 as well as the air cores 2, 3 to the environment. Figures 2 and 4 show one of these systems of passages 13, 14, 15 associated with one of the air cores. Valve systems 16, 17 for blocking air flow from air cores 2, 3 are accommodated in the systems of passages 13, 14, 15. The valves 16, 17 are urged by a spring 18 to the rest position shown in Figures 2, 4. In the rest condition shown, the inner space of each of the bellows 6, 7 communicates freely with the environment.

In the area of ​​one of the bellows 6, 7, the mattress feels little different than in other parts of the peripheral areas 4, 5, because the bellows 6, 7 are filled with a filling material 8, which in terms of compliance is adapted to the filling material from which the remainder are formed the side edge parts 4, 5 and because air can easily escape to the environment when the bellows 6, 7 are pressed in via the generously sized passages 13, 15. Since air can easily escape from the bellows when large, local forces are exerted on the bellows 6, 7, the overpressure which can arise in the bellows in such situations is limited. The maximum load of the bellows is thus limited. The bellows 6, 7 are also rigidly formed by a vinyl sleeve which is placed around a block of polyether and is sealed. Holes are cut out in the polyether 8 in order to increase the effective displacement volume of the bellows 6, 7.

In normal use, the flow rates in the passages 13, 15 between the bellows 6, 7 and the environment remain limited and air flows through these passages for only a very short time until a new equilibrium is reached. The occurrence of disturbing 0 7 3 9 8

-Ί10 ringing is thus limited under normal loading of the mattress.

At each of the bellows 6, 7, the associated suction passage 14, 15 forms both the connection between the bellows 6, 7 and the environment through which the bellows 6, 7 communicates with the environment in the rest state, as well as the connection between the bellows 6, 7 and the environment through which the bellows 6, 7 takes in air from the environment during pumping. It is thus always sufficient with only a connection between the bellows 6, 7 and the environment.

The suction passage through which air is sucked in from the environment during the inflation of the bellows and which must be closed off each time when the bellows is compressed need not be provided with a shut-off valve for closing the passage each time during the inflation. As is known per se from international patent application WO 95/09552, the suction passage during pumping can be closed each time when the bellows is compressed by the foot, hand or other object with which the bellows are compressed.

In the mattress according to Figures 1, 2, 4 and 5, however, the valve system is equipped with open valves 16 in the rest position for closing the open connection between the bellows 6, 7 and the environment when the relevant bellows 6, 7 is compressed when inflating the air core.

When the valve 16 is closed, the valve 17 is automatically opened to release the blockage of air flow to and from the associated air core 2, 3. By subsequently pressing the bellows 6, 7, air from the bellows 6, 7 is displaced the associated air chamber 2, 3. Just before releasing the bellows, also releasing the valve assembly 16, 17, the valves 16, 17 return to the position shown and air from the environment is drawn in by the bellows 6, 7. At the next pumping stroke, the valve system must now be returned to the position in which the outlet 14 is blocked to the environment and the passages 13, 15 between the bellows 6, 7 and the associated air core are opened. For adjusting the pressure in the oo

-810 corresponding air core 2, 3 it is sufficient to press the associated bellows 6, 7 once or several times. It is therefore no objection that the valve 16 has to be actuated each time to compress the associated bellows 6, 7 to close it and to be actuated to open it after the respective bellows 6, 7 has been compressed.

The single channels 13, 14 between each of the air cores 2, 3 and the environment each form both a pump passage and a blow-off passage, so that only one channel has to be connected to each of the air chambers 2, 3 during manufacture. The valve system 16, 17, in the rest position, closes only a single channel between each of the air cores 2, 3 and the environment in both passages, so that it is of simple construction.

In order to allow air to escape from one of the air cores 2, 3, the relevant valve system 16, 17 can be placed in an intermediate position, in which the valve 17 is opened in the channel section 13 leading to the air core 2, 3, but the valve 16 in the channel section 14 leading to the environment is not closed.

Because the shut-off valves 16, 17 in the pump passage 13, 14 also form the shut-off valves in the blow-off passage 13, 14 and each allow open air to flow in two opposite directions when opened, it is possible to blow air out of the air chambers 2, 3 no further operation is required and a simple design will suffice with regard to the valves 16, 17.

As can be seen in Fig. 4, the valves 16, 17 are contained in a T-piece 29 with three legs which form parts of the surrounding ducts, the associated bellows 6, 7 and the associated air chamber 2, 3 sections 13 , 14, 15 shapes. In the T-piece, a valve body 30 is suspended movable to and fro, which fulfills all valve functions of the mattress. The valve body 30 extends in the channel sections 13, 14 in the direction of the environment, respectively. in the direction of the associated air core 2, 3 and in the rest condition shown close the channel section 13 in the direction of

-9 the corresponding air core 2, 3 off. In an inflation position, in which the valve body 30 has been moved down and the spring 18 has been depressed, the valve body 30 closes the channel section 14 in the direction of the environment while the channel section 13 in the direction of the associated air core 2 , 3 has been released. In the blow-off position between said positions, the valve body 30 releases the channel sections 13, 14 in the directions of both the environment and the associated air core 2, 3.

The tee can be manufactured in small series and large sizes at an acceptable cost by mainly assembling it from standard PVC components used for water drainage. If the batch size is sufficient, more integrated, one-piece parts can of course also be used. The valve body 30 has an end 31, which is designed as a cap with passages 32. The passages 32, in the shown rest state, are located beyond the end of a wall 33 which defines the channel section 13 leading to the environment and overlaps that wall 33 in the compressed state. The channel section 14 can thus be closed by depressing the cap 31.

The other end of the valve body 30 includes a valve disc 34 which rests against a valve seat 35 in the rest state and is free from the valve seat 35 when the valve body 30 is depressed.

Thus, with a single, easy-to-operate valve body 30, a valve is obtained which, by operating a single operating member (the cap 31), can assume three operating states.

Fig. 3 shows a variant in which the bellows communicates with the environment via passages 64, 65 when a valve 67 is in a rest position. The bellows 56 is provided with a separate suction passage 69 in which a valve 70 is located. This valve is shown in more detail in Figure 6.

This valve 70 is built up from a support ring 71 with a flange 72 which can become a material of the bellows 6, 7

-10 welded. A valve housing consisting of a bottom part 73 and a cap part 74 that fits over the bottom part 73 and can be mounted in the ring 71 can be placed in the support ring 71. Enclosed in the housing is a closing plate 75 which is movable to and fro between an upper position in which a passage 76 is closed in the cap part 74 and a lower position in which the passage 76 as well as the passage 69 in the bottom part 73 is left free in that the plate 75 is provided with legs 76 which then rest on the bottom 77 of the bottom part 73. When the bellows 56 is quickly compressed, the plate 75 moves to the top position, so that the valve 70 is closed. When the bellows 56 is springed back, the plate 75 returns to the original, lower position, so that air can be drawn in via the passage 69.

In the rest position, air which is displaced when the bellows 56 is depressed sufficiently quickly to cause the valve 70 to close via the passages 64, 65 returns to the environment. When the valve 67 is held in the position where the air core 52 communicates with the bellows 56, the displaced air is moved to the air core 52. Since the overpressure in the empty air core 52 is rather small and the passage 69 is much larger than the channel section 63 which leads to the air core 2, the air from the bellows 56 is mainly drawn in from the environment. However, it is also possible to always release the valve 67 during the springback of the bellows 56, in order to prevent the escape of air from the air core 52 during the suction of air through the bellows 56. However, it is also possible to incorporate a non-return valve in the channel section 63 which prevents the backflow of air. In that case, however, provisions are still needed for draining air from air cores.

If it is desired to allow air to escape from the air chamber 52, the valve 67 can be brought into the position in which the air chamber 52 communicates with the bellows 56. Optionally supported by loading the air chamber 52, air can then be released from the air chamber 52 let go. A

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Such slow airflow is not sufficient to move the plate 75 to its uppermost position in which the valve 70 is closed.

The invention has been further described above with reference to examples in the form of mattresses. However, the examples mentioned, including the body support shown in Fig. 1, when suitably sized, can also be designed as another type of body support that adapts to the shape of the supported portion of the user's body, such as a cushion for a chair or for a sofa or as a pillow.

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