Mattress pad or insert

Abstract

Underlay or insert for a mattress or seat cushion, or mattress or seat cushion, characterized by that the base or insert for the mattress (1) or the seat cushion or the mattress (1) or the seat cushion has a plurality of liftable and / or lowerable elements (2), and that the liftable and / or lowerable elements (2) are controllable in such a way that each element (2) can be moved between a maximum lying level and a minimum lying level.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a base or insert for a mattress or a seat cushion or mattress or seat cushion.

[0002] The invention can therefore relate to a base or insert for installation in the mattress or seat cushion, or to the mattress or seat cushion itself. This base or insert should have several areas with individually or even point-adjustable properties.

[0003] Such a mattress is known from US Patent 6,691,354 B1. This patent describes an inflatable therapeutic mattress for supporting a reclining body and its various areas. These areas of the body can be addressed independently by individual elements of the mattress. These elements may be numerous and designed to function independently of one another. They can, for example, raise or lower all areas of the body, either selectively or completely, through the use of a pressure-generating medium, but not below the normal level of the mattress.

[0004] The invention is based on the objective of creating a support, insert, or mattress of the type mentioned above, which is designed not only to relieve pressure on the spine but is also adapted to smaller areas of the body. Furthermore, individual areas should be lowered significantly below the level of the mattress, thus allowing the affected joints to be moved and relieved in more than one direction.

[0005] This problem is solved by a base or insert for a mattress or seat cushion or mattress or seat cushion with the features of claim 1. Advantageous embodiments are described in the dependent claims.

[0006] In a base or insert for a mattress or seat cushion, it is essential to the invention that the base or insert for the mattress or seat cushion has a plurality of liftable and / or lowerable elements, and that the liftable and / or lowerable elements are controllable such that each element can be moved between a maximum lying level and a minimum lying level. In this way, the affected joints are not moved in only one direction. The improved joint movement can prevent morning stiffness. The individual elements can also be held in a position. Preferably, the liftable and / or lowerable elements are individually controllable.

[0007] In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the mattress consists entirely of elements that can be raised and / or lowered. Furthermore, it is advantageous that each element is movable between a main lying level, a raised lying level, and a minimum lying level. This allows different areas of the base or insert for a mattress or seat cushion, or the mattress or seat cushion itself, to be moved between a maximum raised level and a minimum lowered level. These levels also essentially correspond to the minimum and maximum lying levels. During movement, the base level of the mattress is traversed. This concept also applies to a mattress consisting of a plurality of individual sections or elements, each connected to one or more of the elements that can be raised and / or lowered.

[0008] This makes it possible to move the base or insert for a mattress or seat cushion in such a way that different areas of the body are raised and lowered, creating an active support that moves the spine and intervertebral joints up and down through their full range of motion and even lowers them below the level of the mattress itself. This is essential, for example, for hyperextension of a joint. In this way, the body is kept mobile, painful areas are relieved, and, in particular, osteoarthritis is prevented, while the joints are passively moved in a comprehensive manner. Ideally, each individual element is controllable. Furthermore, it is advantageous that each element can be moved between a main lying level, a raised lying level, and a lowered lying level. This simplifies the control process.The control system can be used, or programmed, to create a wave-like motion in the mattress. It is also possible to keep the mattress at a low or high level to allow for easy entry and exit, ideally adapted to the user's height.

[0009] Preferably, the multiple liftable and / or lowerable elements can be moved individually or collectively by motors. Alternatively, the multiple liftable and / or lowerable elements can be moved pneumatically. In a third embodiment, the multiple liftable and / or lowerable elements can be designed as hydraulic cylinders. Thus, there are several possibilities for designing and / or moving the liftable and / or lowerable elements.

[0010] When designing the liftable and / or lowerable elements as hydraulic cylinders, this can preferably be achieved in such a way that they are temperature-controllable. For this purpose, a substance that expands when heated is used. This is preferably a gas or wax. The gas or wax in these cylinders expands as the temperature increases and contracts again when the temperature decreases. For this purpose, individual heating elements are preferably assigned to the hydraulic cylinders, allowing for direct heating of the liftable and / or lowerable elements or pin-shaped elements. Either a single heating element per hydraulic cylinder could be provided, or the pin-shaped elements could be cooled directly or indirectly. The ambient room temperature could then also represent either the maximum extension or the maximum contraction of the cylinder, depending on whether heating or cooling is taking place.Fine adjustment between these maxima is also possible. As already mentioned, the liftable and / or lowerable elements are preferably pin-shaped.

[0011] In another preferred embodiment of the invention, these elements have resilient elements, in particular rubber elements, in their upper end regions. This allows for comfortable and injury-free direct contact of the body with the hydraulic cylinders. Damage to the padding material of the base or insert is also prevented.

[0012] Ideally, the base, insert, or mattress has a control device that allows the control of the numerous elements that can be raised and / or lowered, and / or even enables programmed movement.

[0013] Furthermore, it is preferred that the numerous individual liftable and / or lowerable elements can be controlled via the control unit in such a way that they are assigned to specific body areas. These specific body areas can be, for example, the thighs, hips, lumbar region, chest, shoulders, or other areas, even separated by side of the body. The control unit can also be designed to allow the numerous liftable and / or lowerable elements to be controlled in such a way that a uniform lying level can be set in the initial position of all elements and / or preset relative to each other.This ensures a return to a uniform lying level and also prevents wear and tear, namely by adjusting the base or mattress itself back to a uniform lying level or to the starting position when the padding material has naturally given way.

[0014] In another preferred embodiment of the invention, the control device is designed and configured to set the plurality of liftable and / or lowerable elements into a wave-like motion. This allows for further therapeutic measures to be carried out.

[0015] In another preferred embodiment of the invention, the mattress is equipped with a heating and / or cooling device with which the plurality of individual elements can be controlled independently of one another thermoelectrically by means of Peltier elements through thermal expansion or cooling. This can also be configured as a therapeutic device. Previously, temperature control of individual pin-shaped, in particular hydraulic, cylinders, which effect movement of the individual elements, had been described. However, a heating device is also possible with which individual elements or entire sections of elements can be controlled independently of one another, so that this primarily has a therapeutic effect.

[0016] In a completely different embodiment of the invention, the mattress or the base or insert for the mattress is equipped with a movable roller device that can be moved in the longitudinal direction of the mattress and thereby raises and / or lowers the mattress or the seat cushion.

[0017] Further embodiments of the invention are possible and encompassed by the basic idea of ​​the invention.

[0018] The invention will now be explained in more detail with reference to an embodiment illustrated in the drawing. Specifically, the schematic representations in: Fig. 1: A perspective view of a mattress with some of the previously described features; Fig. 2: a top view of a schematic representation of the functional elements of the mattress; Fig. 3: a side view of a mattress according to the invention with a functional illustration of some embodiments according to the invention; Fig. 4a-4d: four detailed views of differently controllable hydraulic cylinders and, additionally, a heating device; and Fig. 5: a cross-section through a mattress with elements that can be raised and lowered below the surrounding level in various positions.

[0019] In Fig. Figure 1 shows a mattress 1 in perspective view. The various elements 2 are shown as dotted lines, as they are located below the surface of the mattress 1. These elements 2 can be raised and / or lowered by compressed air, with air being supplied to or removed from the raising and / or lowering elements 2 via valves 7 on the sides. A roller mechanism 9 is also shown, which raises or lowers the mattress 1 and thus exerts additional therapeutic effects on the patient or user of the mattress 1.

[0020] In Fig. Figure 2 shows a top view of mattress 1 or the entire setup, where the explicit position of the support (which is in Fig. (Figure 1 is not shown). Here, the inflatable elements 6, which are movable upwards and / or downwards, are shown. Only some of the inflatable elements 6 are shown here. In the actual embodiment of the invention, a large number of such elements are arranged in the mattress 1 so that the greatest possible therapeutic effect is achieved. A control device 3 is schematically indicated here, by which the inflatable elements 6 are controlled, so that not all inflatable elements 6 have to be moved in the same direction simultaneously, but, for example, the inflatable elements 6 in the shoulder area are moved differently than the inflatable elements 6 in the lumbar region.

[0021] Furthermore, an air pump 4 is indicated here, with which the inflatable elements 6 are inflated accordingly and thereby raised or lowered.

[0022] The individual areas depicted can be assigned, for example, to the shoulder, chest, lumbar region, hip, thighs, and lower legs. The uppermost area corresponds to the head. The central area corresponds to the spinal axis.

[0023] In Fig. Figure 3 shows the retractable elements 2 with their integrated pneumatic cylinders, which are controlled by the control device 3. In parallel, a heating device 5 is provided in the mattress 1, which can be heated or cooled to different temperatures in the individual areas.

[0024] Pin-shaped elements 8 are shown within the inflatable elements 6, which can then be moved up or down. A control unit 3 is provided for this purpose, enabling the different areas to be controlled independently. It is also explicitly shown how each inflatable element 6 within the control unit 3 is assigned elements for supplying and releasing compressed air. Furthermore, each inflatable element 6 is assigned a valve 7 through which air can be released. In parallel, a heating device 5 is provided, allowing the different body areas to be heated or cooled independently.

[0025] In Fig. Figure 4a shows a pin-shaped element 8 that is operated by a linear motor 9.

[0026] In Fig. In an alternative embodiment, 4b, the pin-shaped cylinder 8 is pneumatically operated. Valves 7 for supplying and extracting air are associated with the inflatable element 6.

[0027] In Fig. Figure 4c shows a third variant. The pin-shaped element 8 is moved by Peltier elements 10, which have an electrical control 11. The pin-shaped elements 8 are moved by the Peltier element 10 through thermal expansion or, conversely, during cooling.

[0028] In Fig. Figure 4d shows an additional heating element 12, which can be used in each of the embodiments 4a-4c. This heating element 12 is preferably heated by an electric heater 13. This allows each element 8 to be individually controlled and heated. This results in a particularly good therapeutic effect.

[0029] In Fig. Figure 5 shows a cross-section through a mattress 1. A multitude of liftable and / or lowerable elements 2 are arranged within the mattress, some of which are visible in this cross-section. The elements 2 are attached to the base 18 of the mattress 1. The elements 2 can be moved up and down between a minimum lowering level 16 and a maximum lifting level 17. In doing so, they also exceed the base level 15 of the mattress.

[0030] In Fig.Figure 5 shows a cutaway side view of a mattress 1 with hydraulic cylinders and liftable and / or lowerable elements 2. This allows the mattress to be raised or lowered above its level. These elements are mounted in a mounting area 18. Reference numeral 15 denotes a base level of the mattress 1, reference numeral 16 denotes a minimum lowering level of the elements 2, and reference numeral 17 denotes a maximum level of the elements 2. The liftable and / or lowerable elements 2 are controllable such that each element can move between the maximum level 17 and the minimum level 16. This movement can be continuous across the base level 15. In other embodiments or time ranges, the elements 2 can, of course, remain at the base level 15 of the mattress 1 for a certain period of time and then be moved up and down between the maximum level 17 and the minimum level 16 over certain periods.In a preferred embodiment, movement only within a specific spatial area is also preferably possible. QUOTES INCLUDED IN THE DESCRIPTION

[0000] This list of documents cited by the applicant was automatically generated and is included solely for the reader's convenience. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA accepts no liability for any errors or omissions. Cited patent literature

[0000] US 6,691,354 B1

[0003]

Claims

[1] Underlay or pad for a mattress or seat cushion or mattress or seat cushion, characterized by , that the base or insert for the mattress (1) or the seat cushion or the mattress (1) or the seat cushion has a plurality of liftable and / or lowerable elements (2), and that the liftable and / or lowerable elements (2) are controllable in such a way that each element (2) can be moved between a maximum lying level and a minimum lying level. [2] Underlay or insert for a mattress or seat cushion or mattress or seat cushion according to claim 1, characterized by , that the liftable and / or lowerable elements (2) can be positioned in one position. [3] Underlay or insert for a mattress or seat cushion or mattress or seat cushion according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by , that the elements (2) that can be raised and / or lowered are individually controllable. [4] Underlay or insert for a mattress or seat cushion or mattress or seat cushion according to claims 1 to 3, characterized by , that the mattress (1) consists entirely of these liftable and / or lowerable elements (2) themselves. [5] Underlay or insert for a mattress or seat cushion or mattress or seat cushion according to claims 1 to 4, characterized by , that the multitude of elements (2) that can be raised and / or lowered are motor-movable. [6] Underlay or insert for a mattress or seat cushion or mattress or seat cushion according to claims 1 to 4, characterized by , that the multitude of elements (2) that can be raised and / or lowered can be moved by compressed air. [7] Underlay or insert for a mattress or seat cushion or mattress or seat cushion according to claims 1 to 4, characterized by , that the multitude of elements (2) that can be raised and / or lowered are designed as hydraulic cylinders. [8] Underlay or insert for a mattress or seat cushion or mattress or seat cushion according to claim 7, characterized by that the hydraulic cylinders are temperature-controllable. [9] Underlay or insert for a mattress or seat cushion or mattress or seat cushion according to one of claims 7 or 8, characterized by , that heating elements are assigned to the hydraulic cylinders. [10] Underlay or insert for a mattress or seat cushion or mattress or seat cushion according to claims 1 to 4, characterized by , that the multitude of liftable and / or lowerable elements (2) are liftable and lowerable by means of a substance which expands when heated in hydraulic cylinders, in particular wax or oil. [11] Underlay or insert for a mattress or seat cushion or mattress or seat cushion according to claims 1 to 4, characterized by, that the multitude of elements (2) that can be raised and / or lowered can be controlled using the Peltier effect. [12] A base or insert for a mattress or seat cushion or mattress or seat cushion according to any of the preceding claims, characterized by , that the multitude of liftable and / or lowerable elements (2) are designed as pin-shaped elements (8). [13] A base or insert for a mattress or seat cushion or mattress or seat cushion according to any of the preceding claims, characterized by , that the multitude of liftable and / or lowerable elements (2) are equipped with spring elements in their upper end regions. [14] A base or insert for a mattress or seat cushion or mattress or seat cushion according to any of the preceding claims, characterized by, that the mattress (1) is assigned a control device (3) for controlling and / or programmed movement of the plurality of liftable and / or lowerable elements (2). [15] Underlay or insert for a mattress or seat cushion or mattress or seat cushion according to claim 14, characterized by , that the multitude of individual liftable and / or lowerable elements (2) can be controlled via the control device (3) in such a way that they are assigned to specific body areas, for example the thighs, the hips, the lumbar region, the chest area or other areas. [16] Underlay or insert for a mattress or seat cushion or mattress or seat cushion according to claim 14 or 15, characterized by, that the control device (3) is controllable and / or programmable in such a way that the plurality of the liftable and / or lowerable elements (2) are controllable in such a way that a uniform lying level can be set in the initial position of all elements (2) and / or consumption position of all elements (2) relative to each other. [17] Underlay or insert for a mattress or seat cushion or mattress or seat cushion according to any one of claims 14 to 16, characterized by , that the control device (3) is designed and configured to set the plurality of liftable and / or lowerable elements (2) into a wave motion. [18] A base or insert for a mattress or seat cushion or mattress or seat cushion according to any of the preceding claims, characterized by that the mattress (1) has a heating device and / or a cooling device with which the multiple individual elements (2) can be temperature-controlled independently of one another. [19] A base or insert for a mattress or seat cushion or mattress or seat cushion according to any of the preceding claims, characterized by , that a movable roller device (9) is arranged below the mattress (1), which is movable in the longitudinal direction of the mattress (1) and thereby raises and / or lowers the mattress (1). [20] Underlay or insert for a mattress or seat cushion or mattress or seat cushion according to claim 19, characterized by , that the movable roller device (9) is segmented.

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