Body supporting system with adjustable firmness

Abstract

The present disclosure in general relates to body supporting systems and devices such as mattress, chair, car seat, etc., and their operating methods, and in particular to body supporting systems and devices with adjustable firmness, and related operating methods and firmness adjusting devices.

Description

BODY SUPPORTING SYSTEM WITH ADJUSTABLE FIRMNESSCROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application claims priority to U.S. provisional patent application No.63 / 754,825, entitled "BODY SUPPORTING SYSTEM WITH ADJUSTABLE FIRMNESS," filed on February 6, 2025. The content of this U.S. provisional patent application is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety for all purposes.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONField of the Invention

[0002] The present disclosure in general relates to body supporting systems and devices such as mattress, chair, car seat, etc., and their operating methods, and in particular to body supporting systems and devices with adjustable firmness, and related operating methods and firmness adjusting devices.Description of Related Art

[0003] Body supporting devices and systems such as mattress are employed to support at least part of a body e.g. a human body. As an example, a mattress is used for a user to sleep on and thus is configured to support the user's body when the user is sleeping on the mattress. In addition to mattress, there are numerous other types of body supporting devices and systems such as e.g. chairs, car seats, chair cushions, and etc. It is to be understood that the list of body supporting devices and systems identified above is not exhaustive and that these and other body supporting devices and systems can be used with the present disclosure and are within the scope of the present disclosure. It is also to be understood that a reference in this specification to any one such device or system, such as a "mattress" is to be taken to be a reference to any and all other suitable body supporting devices and systems including chairs, car seats and the like.

[0004] By way of example, with a user lying or sitting on, a mattress provides a support to counteract the weight or part of the weight of the user. In particular, the mattressdistributes the weight from the body of the user over a part of the surface of the mattress. Depending on how a mattress distributes the weight of the user and / or how much support a mattress provides, the mattress will be either soft or firm. The firmness of a mattress depends on e.g. the properties of the resilent or elastic elements in the mattress, such as the spring constant, and how the resilient or elastic elements are mounted in the mattress, such as the degree of clamping or pre-tensioning. Consequently, the firmness of a mattress is normally configured and / or set during its manufacturing. Similarly, the same applies to other body supporting devices and systems.

[0005] It is understood that, the perception and preference to firmness vary from one person to another. Also, it is understood that different body parts of a user who is lying or sitting or leaning on a body supporting device or system may require different support from the body supporting device or system and thus require diffferent firmness. It is further understood that body shape / outline varies from one person to another, which in turn requires different support and thus different firmness from different areas of the body supporting device or system. Further in consideration of the potential movement of a user on a body supporting device or system e.g. during sleep or sitting or leaning, it is desirable for an adjustable firmness of the body supporting device or system, in order for an optimal support and an optimal user experience.

[0006] Therefore, a need exists for body supporting devices and systems with adjustable firmness, and their operating methods and firmness adjusting devices.BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0007] Embodiments are presented herein of, inter alia, a body supporting system with adjustable firmness, and a firmness adjusting device.

[0008] This summary is intended to provide a brief overview of some of the subject matter described in this document. Accordingly, it will be appreciated that the abovedescribed features are merely examples and should not be construed to narrow thescope or spirit of the subject matter described herein in any way. Other features, aspects, and advantages of the subject matter described herein will become apparent from the following Detailed Description, Figures, and Claims.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0009] The various preferred embodiments of the present invention described herein can be better understood by those skilled in the art when the following detailed description is read with reference to the accompanying drawings. The components in the figures are not necessarily drawn to scale and any reference numeral identifying an element in one drawing will represent the same element throughout the drawings. The figures of the drawing are briefly described as follows.

[0010] Figure 1 schematically illustrate a perspective view of a mattress;

[0011] Figure 2 schematically illustrates a side cross section view of a mattress, showing its layered construction;

[0012] Figure 2A schematically illustrates compression / decompression of multiple layers of a mattress.

[0013] Figure 3 illustrates a user lying on his / her back on a mattress.

[0014] Figure 3' schematically depicts a user lying on her / his side on a mattress.

[0015] Figure 4 schematically illustrates several exemplary positions of a person lying on a mattress.

[0016] Figure 5 schematically illustrates an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0017] Figure 6 schematically illustrates a second embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0018] Figure 7 schematically illustrates a third embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0019] Figure 8 schematically illustrates a top plan view of a layer of a mattress in which a plurality of adjusting devices are provided.

[0020] While the features described herein are susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, specific embodiments thereof are shown by way of example in the drawings and are herein described in detail. It should be understood, however, that thedrawings and detailed description thereto are not intended to be limiting to the particular form disclosed, but on the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the subject matter as defined by the appended claims.DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0021] As an example of a body supporting device, a mattress is filled with resilient or elastic material such as foam, rubber, or an arrangement of coiled springs, and is used for the user to lie or sleep on. It is to be understood that a reference in this specification to a mattress is to be taken to be a reference to any and all possible appropriate types of body supporting devices or systems, and a reference in this specification to any type of mattress such as foam mattress is to be taken to be a reference to any and all possible appropriate types of mattresses.

[0022] When a user sleeps or sits on a mattress, the weight of the user applies a pressure over a part (an area) of the surface of the mattress, and therefore requires a support from the mattress.

[0023] Figure 1 schematically illustrates a perspective view of a mattress 100. As illustrated in Figure 1, the mattress 100 has a length L, a width W, and a height H.

[0024] Figure 2 schematically illustrates a side cross section view of a prior art mattress, showing its layered construction, wherein the cross section is taken along line A-A as illustrated in Figure 1. As illustrated in Figure 2, a conventional mattress 200 is primarily composed of three layers, e.g. three layers of foam, a support layer 220, a transition layer 240, and a comfort layer 260. These three layers are arranged one over another. In particular, the transition layer 240 is arranged over the support layer 220, while the comfort layer 260 is arranged over the transition layer 240. In general, the firmness / hardness of these three layers increases successively from top to bottom. That is, the comfort layer 260 is soft, the transition layer 240 is harder, and the support layer 220 is even harder. Thus, the comfort layer 260 is capable to compress more, the transition layer 240 is capable to compress less, and the support layer 220 is capable tocompress the least. It is appreciated that there might exists additional layer(s) in a mattress. While these three layers 220, 240, and 260 are illustrated in Figure 2 as being of the same thickness, it is possible that they have different thickness. As an example, the thickness of these three layers 220, 240, and 260 may also increase successively from top to bottom, in which case the support layer 220 is of a first thickness Tl, the transition layer 240 is of a second thickness T2 that is smaller than Tl, while the comfort layer 260 is of a third thickness T3 that is smaller than T2.

[0025] It is understood that when a force is applied on a mattress, the top surface of that mattress sags or is compressed / depressed at the area where the force is applied. It is also understood that the force applied on the top surface of the mattress does not only result in the compression / depression in the top layer (e.g. the comfort layer 260) of the mattress. Instead, under the force applied on the top surface of a mattress, all the layers (e.g. the support layer 220, the transition layer 240, and the comfort layer 260) of the mattress are compressed / depressed accordingly. In consideration of the different firmness of these layers, the compression / depression in each of these layers may be different. As an example, under a force applied on the top surface of a mattress, the comfort layer 260 of the mattress might be compressed to 2 / 3 of its height T3, the transition layer 240 of the mattress might be compressed to1 / 2 of its height T2, while the support layer 220 might be compressed to 1 / 3 of its height Tl, and thus the top surface of the mattress sags an amount of (2 / 3 of the comfort layer's height T3 +1 / 2 of the transition layer's height T2 + 1 / 3 of the support layer's height Tl) in the corresponding area, as illustrated in Figure 2A, since the firmness of the support layer is greater than that of the transition layer and the firmness of the transition layer is greater than that of the comfort layer. That is, under a force, the sag of the top surface of a mattress in the area where the force is applied corresponds to a respective depression / compression in each layer of the mattress in the corresponding area.

[0026] It is further appreciated that when a person is situated (e.g. lies or sits) on a mattress, her / his weight is applied onto the corresponding areas of the mattress, whichresults in the sag of the top surface of the mattress in those areas and also results in the respective compression / depression in each layer of the mattress in those areas.

[0027] Figure 3 schematically depicts a user 350 lying on her / his back on a mattress 300, in which case it is believed that her / his spine / backbone and neck is straight and stretched or the user 350 is instructed to stretch her / his spine / backbone and neck. By using sensors such as pressure sensors e.g. those embedded in the mattress, a pressure or depression profile / map on the mattress 300 (in the top surface or in a specific layer of the mattress) can be obtained when the user 350 is lying on her / his back on the mattress 300 e.g. with her / his spine / backbone and neck being straight and stretched, based on which it is possible to determine or assess the user's body shape or outline, e.g. the location and / or the width of the user's hip, shoulder, neck, etc., and / or the weight of the person.

[0028] It is understood that some persons prefer to sleep on her / his side, rather than on her / his back. And even for a person who prefers to sleep on her / his back, it is possible for her / him to roll to side when sleeping. Similarly to when lying on her / his back, it is desired to keep a person's spine / backbone and neck straight and stretched when she / he is lying on her / his side on a mattress. However, it is impossible to achieve this by using a mattress with fixed firmness, because the size of head, the width of shoulder, and / or the width of hip, etc. as well as their locations on the mattress varies from one person to another.

[0029] By using a mattress with adjustable firmness e.g. according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, such as that as described below and by adjusting the firmness / softness and / or the sag / height of certain area(s) of the top surface of the mattress (e.g. head area, shoulder area, hip area, etc. of the person lying on the mattress) based on the information derived from the pressure / depression profile as obtained / detected when the person is lying on her / his back e.g. with her / his spine / backbone and neck being straight and stretched, it is possible to keep her / his spine / backbone and neck straight and stretched, e.g. when she / he is in a position other than lying on her / his back (e.g. when she / he is lying on her / his side). Figure 3'schematically depicts a user 350' lying on her / his side on a mattress 300' according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0030] In an example e.g. as illustrated in Figure 3', it may be determined, from the pressure / depression profiles on the mattress e.g. obtained when the person is lying on her / his back and on her / his side on the mattress, how wide the person's hip and / or shoulder is and that a specific area e.g. 320' on the top surface of the mattress corresponds to the person's shoulder and a specific area e.g. 340' on the top surface of the mattress corresponds to her / his hip. Further, from the information (e.g. the width of hip, the width of shoulder, the weight of the person, etc.) derived from the pressure / depression profile e.g. obtained when the person is lying on her / his back on the mattress, it may be determined how soft these areas shall be and / or how much these areas shall sag, in order to keep the person's spine / backbone and neck straight and stretched when the person is lying on her / his side on that mattress. Therefore, by using a mattress according to an embodiment of the present disclosure such as that having the adjusting devices as described in the disclosure, based on the pressure profile detected when the person is lying on her / his back on the mattress, the firmness of the top surface of the mattress may be adjusted accordingly when the person changes her / his lying position e.g. lying on her / his side, so as to keep her / his backbone / spine straight.

[0031] Similarly, a pressure / depression profile may be obtained when a user is lying on her / his side on a mattress with her / his backbone / spine and neck straight and stretched, from which it is possible to determine or assess the user's body shape or outline, e.g. the thickness of the user's body. In an embodiment of the present disclosure, based on the pressure / depression profile obtained when a user is lying on her / his side on a mattress with her / his backbone / spine and neck straight and stretched, the firmness or sag of the top surface of the mattress may be adjusted when the user is lying on her / his back on the mattress, in order to accommodate the user's needs, e.g. in order to keep her / his backbone / spine and neck straight and stretched.

[0032] For both of the above-described adjustments, it is possible to further take into account the height of the pillow that the user is using. As an example, the height of the pillow may be input by the user.

[0033] In order to further improve the firmness adjustment of a mattress, pressure profiles on the mattress may be further detected when the person is lying on the mattress in positions other than her / his lying on back position, in an embodiment of the present disclosure. These pressure profiles as detected may be used as reference or baseline to assess or determine the actual position (e.g. tilt angle of the person, the location and position of her / his hip, shoulder, etc.) of the person on the mattress, based on which the firmness of the top surface of the mattress in certain area(s) is in turn adjusted accordingly so as to keep the person's backbone / spine straight.

[0034] In practice, a user may lie on her / his back on a mattress at first, which may be referred to as a "lying on back" position. Keeping lying on the mattress e.g. 300, the user may roll her / his body to a side (e.g. to left) consecutively and slowly, resulting in tilt positions. The user may continue to roll her / his body to that side until to a "lying on belly" position, in which the user lies on her / his belly on the mattress with her / his face being downwards toward the mattress and her / his back facing upwards.

[0035] Figure 4 schematically illustrates several exemplary positions of a person lying on a mattress. The position 410 as illustrated in Figure 3 represents a "lying on back" position of a person lying on a mattress 400, in which the person lies on her / his back on the mattress 400 and faces upward, wherein 462 represents the person's head, 464 represents the person's left shoulder, while 466 represents the person's right shoulder.

[0036] Figure 4 also illustrates a tilt position 420 of the person lying on the mattress 400, in which the person rolls her / his body, from her / his "lying on back" position, to left at a tilt angle al, resulting in at least her / his right half body (including her / his right shoulder) being at the tilt angle al from the plane of the top surface of the mattress 400. As an example, the tilt angle al may be 30 degrees.

[0037] The person may roll her / his body, from the tilt position 420, further to left to a tilt angle a2, resulting in at least her / his right half body (including her / his right shoulder)being at the tilt angle a2 from the plane of the top surface of the mattress 400, which position is referred to as a tilt position 430. As an example, the tilt angle a2 may be 60 degrees.

[0038] Furthermore, the person may continue to roll her / his body, from the tilt position 430, further to left to a tilt angle a3 e.g. 90 degree (referred to as a tilt position 440 in Figure 4), resulting in her / his body (including her / his left and right shoulders) being at the tilt angle a3 from (e.g. perpendicular to) the plane of the top surface of the mattress 400.

[0039] Also, the person may roll her / his body, from the tilt position 440, further to left to a tilt angle a4 (referred to as a tilt position 450 in Figure 4), resulting in her / his body (including her / his left and right shoulders) being at the tilt angle a4 from the plane of the top surface of the mattress 400, and the person facing downwards toward the mattress 400 and having her / his back facing upwards. As an example, the tilt angle a4 may be 150 degrees.

[0040] The person may even roll her / his body, from the tilt position 450, further to left to a tilt angle 180 degree, i.e. to a "lying on belly" position, in which the person lies on her / his belly on the mattress 400 with her / his face being towards the mattress 400 and her / his back facing upwards.

[0041] During the process when a person rolls on a mattress e.g. the mattress 400 as illustrated in Figure 4 her / his body from a "lying on back" position (e.g. "lying on back" position 410 as illustrated in Figure 4) to a "lying on belly" position, a plurality of pressure profiles may be detected or determined, e.g. by using pressure sensors, at the "lying on back" position e.g. 410 as illustrated in Figure 4 and at several tilt positions e.g. the tilt positions 420, 430, 440, and 450 as illustrated in Figure 4.

[0042] In an embodiment of the present disclosure, in addition to the pressure profile detected at "lying on back" position, the pressure profiles detected at several tilt positions may be used as reference or baseline in adjusting the firmness of the top surface of the mattress. In particular, when the user is lying on the mattress, her / his actual position may be assessed or determined by using the pressure profiles detected attilt positions and detected at "lying on back" position as reference or baseline, and then the firmness of the top surface of the mattress may be adjusted accordingly based on the user's actual position as assessed or determined, so as to keep her / his backbone / spine straight.

[0043] According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, in order to provide a mattress with adjustable firmness, e.g. in order to adjust the firmness or height of the top surface of a mattress, a plurality of adjusting devices may be provided in one of the bottom layers of the mattress, such as the support layer or the transition layer, e.g. the support layer 220 or transition layer 240 in Figure 2.

[0044] In one embodiment of the present disclosure as shown in Figure 5, a mattress 500 comprises multiple layers (for example the comfort layer 560, the transition layer 540 and the support layer 520, a rigid or semi-rigid board 510 under the support layer 520, and an adjusting device or actuator for providing adjustable firmness to the mattress. The adjusting device may comprise a motor 515, a bolt 503 with a nut 504 embedded or engraved in the board 510. Further, a string 502 is rotatably coupled to the bolt 503 on one end and connected to a rigid or semirigid plate 501 positioned in the bottom of the transition layer 540. In this embodiment, the motor 515 can be actuated to move the bolt 503 up or down, pulling the string 502 up or down, which results in the plate 501 being correspondingly moved up or down. As the motor is actuated to pull the bolt 503 down, it pulls the string 502 and plate 501 down, and creates a depression / compression in the support layer 560, transition layer 540 as well as the comfort layer 560. Such adjusting device is provided to adjust the height or depression / compression of one of the bottom layers of a mattress, e.g. the bottom layer of the mattress, thereby adjusting the firmness and height of the top surface of the mattress.

[0045] In another example embodiment, shown in Figure 5', the adjusting device may further comprise a bearing 505 to rotatably connect the string 502 with the bolt 503. In this embodiment, the bearing may rotate as the nut is moved up or down without rotating / twisting the string 502.

[0046] In particular, the plate is provided on top of the mattress layer to be adjusted (i.e. one of the bottom layer of a mattress, e.g. the bottom layer), and is configured to pull (depress or compress) the foam underneath it in that mattress layer down with it. The plate is semi-stiff and semi-flexible in order to spread the pulling force (depression or compression force) across a certain area. It is conceivable that multiple adjusting devices can be provided to adjust the firmness of the mattress at different places. For example, as shown in Fig. 5", multiple adjusting devices with motors 515 a, 515 b,... 515 n may be used to pull plates 501a, 501 b,...501 n and provide adjustable firmness to the mattress. It is also conceivable that a full layer of semi-stiff and semi-flexible sheet e.g. a plastic sheet may be provided on top of that mattress layer and a plurality of actuators are each configured to pull a respective area of that sheet by aid of their respective string, rather than providing an individual plate for each actuator. Further, a stiff layer e.g. a foam rubber layer may be provided underneath that mattress layer, in which multiple actuators can be embedded or provided.

[0047] In another primary embodiment of the present disclosure, as shown in Figure 6, a mattress 600 comprises multiple layers (for example the comfort layer 660, the transition layer 640 and the support layer 620, a rigid or semi-rigid board 610 under the support layer 620, and an adjusting device or actuator for providing adjustable firmness to the mattress. The adjusting device may comprise a motor 615, a bolt 603 with a nut 604 embedded or engraved in the board 610 and a connector 605. In this embodiment, the nut 604 is rotatably connected to the connector 605. The connector 605 is attached to a layer of the mattress 600 on one side (for example, layer 620 as shown in figure 6). According to this embodiment of the disclosure, the motor 615 may be actuated to drive the bolt 603 down or up, thereby pulling the connector 605 down or pushing the connector 605 up (into the mattress 600). In this embodiment, the downward pulling of the connector 605 creates a depression / compression in the support layer 660, transition layer 640 as well as the comfort layer 660. Such adjusting device is provided to adjust the height or depression / compression of one of the bottom layers of a mattress, e.g. the bottom layer of the mattress, thereby adjusting the firmness and height of the topsurface of the mattress. As an example, the connector may be composed of a rigid or semi-rigid body, for example made of plastic or metal.

[0048] In another embodiment of the present disclosure, as shown in figure 7, a mattress 700 comprises multiple layers (for example the comfort layer 760, the transition layer 740 and the support layer 720, a rigid or semi-rigid board 710 under the support layer 720, and an adjusting device or actuator for providing adjustable firmness to the mattress. The adjusting device may comprise a motor 715, a bolt 703 rotatably connected to the board 710 and threaded through a nut 704. In this embodiment, the nut 704 may be attached to the mattress 700, for example at the bottom of the support layer 720. According to this embodiment of the disclosure, the motor 715 may be actuated to drive the bolt 703 down or up, thereby pulling the nut 704 down or pushing the nut 704 up. As the nut 704 is attached to the mattress, the tightening of the bolt 703 by actuating the motor 715 pulls the nut 704 and the layer 720 downwards. Preferably, the mattress 700 may have holes or cavities where the bolt 703 may reside when the layer 720 is pulled down towards the board 710. In this embodiment, the downward pulling of the nut 704 creates a depression / compression in the support layer 720, transition layer 740 as well as the comfort layer 760. Such adjusting device is provided to adjust the height or depression / compression of one of the bottom layers of a mattress, e.g. the bottom layer of the mattress, thereby adjusting the firmness and height of the top surface of the mattress.

[0049] In another embodiment of the invention, bolt 703 can be interchanged with nut 704. According to this arrangement, the bolt 703 may be attached to the mattress 700, for example at the bottom of the support layer 720. The motor 715 may be actuated to drive the nut 704 down or up, thereby pulling the bolt 703 down or pushing the bolt 703 up. As bolt 703 is attached to the mattress, the tightening of the bolt 703 by actuating the motor 715 pulls the bolt 703 and the layer 720 downwards. In this embodiment, the downward pulling of the bolt 703 creates a depression / compression in the support layer 720, transition layer 740 as well as the comfort layer 760.

[0050] In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the adjusting devices of the mattress can control the nuts and bolts to selectively push the mattress up or pull the mattress down to create soft and hard spots on the mattress. The adjusting device can utilize the pressure / depression profile to determine the areas of softness and hardness on the mattress.

[0051] According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, a plurality of adjusting devices e.g. those as described above are provided in a mattress, in particular in a bottom layer such as its support layer or its transition layer or in a board below the bottom support layer, e.g. in matrix (or grid) arrangement. Figure 8 schematically illustrates a top plan view of a board 810 of a mattress 800 in which a plurality of adjusting devices 822 are provided.

[0052] Although the embodiments above have been described in considerable detail, numerous variations and modifications will become apparent to those skilled in the art once the above disclosure is fully appreciated. It is intended that the following claims be interpreted to embrace all such variations and modifications.

Claims

CLAIMSThe invention claimed is:

1. A mattress comprising:a plurality of layers; andat least one adjusting device for adjusting a firmness of the mattress wherein, the at least one adjusting device comprises a motor, a bolt and a nut embedded in a board, the adjusting device further comprises a string rotatably coupled to the bolt on one end and connected to a rigid or semirigid plate positioned in a layer of the mattress.

2. The mattress of claim 1 wherein the motor can be actuated to move the bolt up or down, pulling the string up or down, which results in the plate being correspondingly moved up or down.

3. The mattress of claim 1 wherein as the motor is actuated to pull the bolt down, it pulls the string and plate down, and creates a depression / compression in at least one layer of the mattress.

4. The mattress of claim 2 wherein as the motor is actuated to pull the bolt down, it pulls the string and plate down, and creates a depression / compression in at least one layer of the mattress.

5. A mattress comprising:a plurality of layers; andat least one adjusting device for adjusting a firmness of the mattress wherein, the at least one adjusting device comprises a motor, a bolt, a nut embedded in a board and a connector such that the nut is rotatably connected to the connector and the connector is attached to a layer of the mattress on one side.

6. The mattress of claim 5 wherein the motor may be actuated to drive the bolt down or up, thereby pulling the connector down or pushing the connector up.

7. The mattress of claim 5 wherein a downward pulling of the connector creates a depression / compression in at least one layer of the mattress.

8. The mattress of claim 6 wherein a downward pulling of the connector creates a depression / compression in at least one layer of the mattress.

9. A mattress comprising a plurality of layers and at least one adjusting device for adjusting a firmness of the mattress wherein, the at least one adjusting device comprises a motor, a bolt rotatably connected to a board and threaded through a nut attached to a layer of the mattress.

10. The mattress of claim 9 wherein the motor may be actuated to drive the bolt down or up, thereby pulling the nut down or pushing the nut up.

11. The mattress of claim 9 wherein the downward pulling of the nut creates a depression / compression in at least one layer of the mattress.

12. The mattress of claim 10 wherein the downward pulling of the nut creates a depression / compression in at least one layer of the mattress.

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