Bottom for bed apparatus
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional bed bottoms with flexing portions for height-adjusting operations are complex, heavy, and difficult to clean, leading to discomfort and poor transportability, especially in rental beds used in nursing homes.
Innovation Solution
A bed bottom with a flexing mechanism where the flexing bottom is slidably arranged over the back bottom, using a pin and slot system and a bellows-like structure of elongated bars, allowing for flexible movement without the need for expandable mechanisms, enhancing transportability and ease of cleaning.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the back bottom and hip bottom are configured to rotate on pivots to achieve flexed profile, then the bed can perform height-adjusting operations, but the mattress is compressed and the user feels pressure or discomfort around the belly
Solution Approach 1:
The bottom is divided into multiple independent sections (back bottom, hip bottom, leg bottom, foot bottom) that can flex relative to each other. The flexing bottom is further segmented into multiple strip-like members connected in series, allowing gradual curvature adjustment to fit the user's body contour and eliminate pressure points.
Solution Approach 2:
Different sections of the bottom have different flexibility characteristics. The flexing bottom between back and hip bottoms is designed with specific curvature to accommodate the user's belly area, while other sections maintain appropriate rigidity. Each strip-like member can create appropriate angles of flexure to provide localized comfort.
2Shape
If the flexing bottom uses stopper pieces and guide pieces to form curving shape, then the bed can achieve suitable curvature, but the structure becomes complicated and heavy
Solution Approach 1:
The flexing bottom is divided into multiple identical strip-like members connected in series. Each member has the same simple structure with stopper pieces and guide pieces, making the overall complex shape achievable through repetition of simple units rather than a single complex component.
Solution Approach 2:
The strip-like members are designed to be movable relative to each other, allowing the flexing bottom to dynamically adjust its curvature based on the user's body shape and position. The stopper pieces can shift between different indentations to create various curving profiles.
3Shape
If the flexing bottom uses stopper pieces and guide pieces to form curving shape, then the bed can achieve suitable curvature, but the structure becomes heavy reducing transportability
Solution Approach 1:
The flexing bottom is divided into multiple lightweight strip-like members instead of a single heavy component. This segmentation allows the use of thinner, lighter materials while maintaining the overall structural integrity and curvature-forming capability through the collective arrangement of multiple pieces.
4Shape
If the flexing bottom has extensible structure with stopper pieces and guide pieces, then the bed can achieve flexed profile, but it becomes difficult to clean
Solution Approach 1:
The flexing bottom is divided into multiple separate strip-like members that can be easily removed and cleaned individually. This segmentation allows for simple cleaning procedures compared to a single complex integrated structure, as each strip can be accessed and cleaned separately.
Data Source
AI summary
To provide a bottom for a bed apparatus that can relieve the sensation of being pressed and that at the same time is lightweight, easy to transport and can be cleaned easily. A bottom for a bed apparatus having a back-raising mechanism, includes a flexing bottom that is arranged between a back bottom and a hip bottom and can be flexed. In a back-raising operation, the flexing bottom flexes between the back bottom and the hip bottom while sliding downward over the surface of the uprising back bottom.