Device for supporting a person
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing support devices for persons, such as those used in the transport sector and for medical applications, lack the ability to accurately adjust the shape and distribution of forces on the support surface, leading to discomfort and potential issues like decubitus ulcers, and are not compact enough to optimize space usage.
Innovation Solution
A support device with a main surface and auxiliary elements that include elastically bendable plates connected to adjustment means, such as stepper motors, and monitoring sensors, allowing for precise adjustment of the support surface shape and force distribution through a programmable control unit, ensuring even loading and minimizing vertical occupation space.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If traditional support devices are used, then the basic support function is provided, but the ability to accurately adjust the shape and force distribution of the support surface is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The support device is divided into multiple independent support elements, each with its own electromotor and bending plate. This segmentation allows localized adjustment of different regions of the support surface, enabling precise control of shape and force distribution without requiring a complex centralized mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
The bending plates are designed to be elastically deformable, allowing dynamic adjustment of the support surface shape. The electromotors enable real-time modification of the support surface configuration to adapt to different user needs and body positions, achieving high adjustment precision through dynamic rather than static mechanisms.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple adjustment mechanisms are added to improve support surface adjustability, then the support functionality is enhanced, but the vertical space occupation increases
Solution Approach 1:
The electromotor is positioned within the concave side of the bending plate, effectively nesting the motor inside the structural element it controls. This nested arrangement allows the adjustment mechanism to be integrated into the support element itself, minimizing additional vertical space requirements while maintaining full adjustability functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The bending plate operates by changing its curvature in the vertical dimension, allowing the support surface to be adjusted up and down without requiring lateral expansion. This vertical dimension utilization enables compact design while achieving comprehensive support surface adjustability.
3Ease of operation
If the support surface shape is fixed, then the device structure is simple, but the comfort and medical effectiveness for different users and positions is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
Monitoring means are integrated into each support element to detect the force exerted by the user on that element. This feedback information is sent to the control unit, which automatically adjusts the electromotors to optimize the support surface shape and force distribution, enhancing comfort and medical effectiveness without requiring complex manual control from the user.
Solution Approach 2:
The control unit automatically processes the feedback from monitoring means and independently controls the electromotors to adjust the support surface. This self-service capability allows the device to adapt to different users and positions automatically, improving ease of operation while the automated control system manages the complexity internally.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The device enables accurate local adjustment of the support surface shape and force distribution, reducing discomfort and the risk of decubitus ulcers while maintaining a compact design, effectively addressing the limitations of existing technologies.
Implementation Method 1
The adjustment means each comprise an electromotor that is situated on the concave side of the bending plate
Implementation Method 2
the support elements each comprise an elastically bendable plate (bending plate) that is connected to the adjustment means so as to be influenced thereby in its extent of bending
Implementation Method 3
monitoring means for each sub-support surface for monitoring the height of the respective sub-support surface relative to the reference plane and/or the force exerted on the respective sub-support surface by the person
Data Source
AI summary
A support device has a main support surface for a person's body, including an auxiliary device influencing the main support surface shape. The auxiliary device includes: a group of supports supporting the main support surface, positioned on the side of the main support surface facing away from the body-supporting side, the supports each including a sub-support surface; an adjuster for each sub-support surface influencing the height of each sub-support surface. The device also includes a monitor for each sub-support surface monitoring the height of the respective sub-support surface; and a programmable control unit controlling the adjuster. The supports include an elastically bendable plate connected to the adjuster. The bending plate is connected to the sub-support surface to influence its height depending on the extent of bending imposed by the adjuster. The adjuster includes an electromotor on the concave side of the bending plate.