Adjustable Lumbar Support Mechanism for Articulating Beds
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Solution Overview
Problem
Articulating beds often cause lumbar strain due to inadequate lumbar support positioning, as existing systems struggle to adjust the lumbar support to match individual users' torso lengths and heights, leading to undesirable curvature.
Innovation Solution
An articulating bed system with dual actuation for lumbar support, featuring a torque tube with pivotally attached levers and rams, allowing the lumbar support element to extend and retract smoothly through the mattress with minimal deflection, and adjustable positioning across an arc to accommodate different user lengths.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If lumbar support element is extended to provide lumbar curvature, then lumbar support is improved, but mattress deflection increases causing interference
Solution Approach 1:
The lumbar support mechanism is segmented into multiple components: torque tube, angled lifter arms, levers, and lumbar support element. This segmentation allows independent control of support extension and mattress interaction, enabling lumbar curvature provision while minimizing mattress deflection through coordinated movement of discrete segments.
Solution Approach 2:
Angled lifter arms and levers serve as intermediaries between the torque tube actuation and the lumbar support element extension. These intermediary components transmit and transform the rotational motion into controlled linear extension, providing smooth movement while distributing forces to minimize mattress deflection.
2Adaptability or versatility
If lumbar support position is adjusted for different users, then adaptability is improved, but mechanism complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The torque tube mechanism serves multiple functions: it provides lumbar support extension, enables position adjustment along the vertical axis, and accommodates different user torso lengths through the angled lifter arm geometry. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate adjustment mechanisms for each user size.
Solution Approach 2:
The mechanism employs dynamic adjustment capability where the lumbar support element can be positioned at multiple heights along the vertical axis through torque tube rotation. The angled lifter arms provide dynamic range adjustment, allowing the system to adapt to different user anatomies without requiring multiple fixed-position mechanisms.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If lumbar support element is retracted to minimize mattress deflection, then mattress interference is reduced, but lumbar support effectiveness decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The system changes the parameter of lumbar support element position along the vertical axis to optimize performance. By adjusting the extension/retraction parameter, the system can minimize mattress deflection when retracted and provide effective lumbar support when extended, allowing parameter optimization based on user needs and mattress characteristics.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2A
Figure 2B
AI summary
An actuating mechanism for lumbar support in an articulating bed incorporates a support frame (10) for an articulating section having a seat section (14) and an upper body support section (18). An actuator (52) with a ram (54) is pivotally attached to the upper body support section with a bracket (53). A lumbar actuation Iever (56) is pivotally attached to the ram and extends from a torque tube (58) rotatable in bearing blocks (62) mounted to the upper body support section. A second actuator (70) is pivotally attached to the upper body support section with a second bracket (73) and includes a second ram (72). At least one angled lifter arm (64) extends from the torque tube and pivotally attaches to at least one Iever (65a, 65b, 65c) engaging a lumbar support element (30) through at least one aperture in the upper body support section.