AU2006222692A1

AU2006222692A1 - A bedding apparatus and an improved method of forming a bed

Info

Publication number: AU2006222692A1
Application number: AU2006222692A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Mario Cladinoro Piraino
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2003-09-26
Filing date: 2006-09-26
Publication date: 2006-10-19
Anticipated expiration: 2023-09-26
Also published as: CA2607034A1; AU2006222692B2; EP1949823A1

Description

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION Invention Title: A bedding apparatus and an improved method of forming a bed A bedding apparatus and an improved method of forming a bed Field of the Invention This invention relates to a bedding apparatus and in particular to a method of forming an improved bed. More particularly the invention relates to an adjustable configuration of a bed.

Background A bed ensemble is a combination of an upper mattress supported on a lower base and forms a typical bedding apparatus in common use as shown in Figure 1. The upper mattress can be of any type, composition or configuration to provide the necessary comfort and primary or secondary support for the user. The base foundation is used to elevate the mattress off the ground and to provide ventilation, but importantly to also provide controlled support for the upper mattress.

Macro support is important to give the mattress the correct and optimal overall support to suit the user's physique and orthopaedic requirements.

The fine tuning or micro support of a bed is generally confined to the upper mattress which can be supplied in a range of hardnesses to suit the user. In addition, the upper mattress can be tailored to suit individual requirements with the provision of hybrid components to suit dual occupancy.

The correct and careful selection and adjustment of both the macro and micro support of a mattress is vital to achieve the optimal bedding support to suit the variety of user requirements, which vary with the different physical and medical requirements of each individual.

To date, the ability of a bed base to provide adequate macro support has been limited by the crude systems available. Currently available base systems include innerspring bases and platform bases using transverse slats.

While innerspring bases give the user an impression of "comfort" by feeling soft, this system provides minimal controlled macro support and results in a "bouncy feel" rather than adequate overall support for an upper mattress.

Platform bases also provide macro support but have limited adjustment potential even with the incorporation of double slats and firmness adjusters which allow individual slats to be adjusted to provide various degrees of flex over the length of the slat. Such systems do little to provide the upper mattress with the necessary macro support to give the user's body optimal orthopaedic support. Double slats may provide variable flex giving rise to differential support but such slats only allow a deflection difference of up to about 15mm over a standard slat when under load. Adult human bodies may have shape differences between the shoulders and waist of up to perhaps 80 mm.

Accordingly, the potential deflection compensation available from double slats is quite insufficient to cater for such variations in the end user.

Furthermore, double slats do not provide an individual height adjustment for the slats but only an individual flex adjustment.

In order to provide a further level of macro adjustment, height adjustment of individual slats in a platform base would provide clear advantages. Whilst some prior art devices are known which provide slating adjustment for bed bases incorporating individual transverse slats, none of the known prior art devices provide a ready means of adjusting individual slats in a quantitative and calibrated manner so as to allow the user or a medical adviser a satisfactory means of making suitable adjustment to confidently meet an individual's particular requirements.

If such individual height adjustment could be provided and could be operated external to the bed base, a means of ready and convenient alteration of a bed's macro support would be achieved.

Since people have unique body shapes and weight distribution along the length of their bodies, mattress and bed ensembles need some means of variable support along the length of the mattress. In particular the adjustment is required from the shoulder down to the waist, lower back, hip, under the knees and ultimately at the lower leg and feet.

Of prime importance is the correct support of a person in a bed, particularly if a person is in bed for a long period such as in the case of incapacitated people or patients in hospitals. It is well recognized throughout the health fraternity that 'a person's bed plays a significant part in the person's health and well being'. Health experts tell us that for the human body to rest well, it needs to be supported in its natural shape. This natural/neutral posture imposes the least amount of stress on muscles, joints and the spinal/vertebral column. The user can get distortion from this position, stresses occur in muscles, nerves, joints and of course wedging occurs in the spinal disks.

A principal object of a bed mattress is to provide optimal support for the user commensurate with their physical and medical requirements. Such optimal support requires the mattress to conform substantially to the shape of the users body when resting on the mattress. Unfortunately, most available mattresses react proportionally to the weight distribution of the users body, compressing most where the body is heaviest and least where the body is lightest. This results in mattress conformation which does not reflect the actual physical shape of the users body, but rather reflects a shape imposed on the mattress by the weight distribution of the body. Accordingly, the users body adopts a shape, which results from the weight distribution of body segments, which does not reflect the actual body shape when resting on a standard mattress. The users skeleton is then twisted and distorted to fit the shape of the mattress as it has reacted to the users weight distribution.

The areas of greatest distortion are the shoulder and lumbar/hip regions. The shoulders are usually the widest part of the human body but occur at the lightest region of the torso. Accordingly the shoulders, when a user is resting on their side, do not push a mattress down much in accordance with the body shape resulting in a degree of twisting of the body when the user is sleeping on their side. In contrast to the shoulder and upper torso region, the hips and lumbar region of the torso are generally much heavier and this region of the users body will compress that part of a mattress disproportionately. In standard mattresses of uniform stiffness this results in the pelvis region being the lowest supported part of the body. Furthermore, the close proximity of the hip region to the waist region of the user tends to deprive the waist, and important lumbar region, of the user with adequate support as the mattress is highly compressed at the hip region and the adjoining area of the mattress leading into the lumbar region is also compressed where it should actually be providing support.

In order to provide optimal support a bed mattress should be able to react independently to the different regions of the users body and at least able to provide dedicated support for the upper, middle and lower torso regions, which all have quite distinct weight distribution and support requirements.

An analysis of these three regions designated Region for upper torso; Region "B" for middle torso; and Region for lower torso, highlights the different requirements needed to provide optimal support.

Given that the weight of the lower torso (pelvis region Wp is about 130% of the weight of the middle torso (Belly region Wb; and the weight of the upper torso (chest region Wc is about 50% of the weight of Wb. Then Wb Wp/1. 3 0. 77 Wp Wc 0.5Wb 0. 39 Wp If the mattress deflection at region B is minimal-say 15mm and the lumbar curve of a users spine is about 60mm then for a mattress of uniform stiffness or elasticity, deflection at region P and region C should be about 15 60mm =75mm. Such a deflection will require a spring stiffness Kb of (75/15) x[ 0/1.3) x Kp] 385% Kp The spring stiffness Kc at region C should be (0.5/1.3)x Kp 39% Kp In summary, in order to provide optimal support over the region C, B and P the following general variation in firmness of the support material would be desirable.

Upper Middle Lower Torso Kc Torso Kb Torso Kp 0.4 Kp 3.8 Kp Kp Kc 9.5 Kc 2.5 Kc 0.1 Kb Kb 0.26 Kb Such variation in firmness of the support material is not usually available in production mattresses. The high cost of producing a mattress with such degrees of variation in stiffness plus the differing height of the end user necessitating different placement of regions C, B and P has prohibited the manufacture and availability of mattresses with such performance characteristics to date.

It is therefore an object of the invention to provide an improved support mattress and an improved mattress support base system for a bed that allows better specific support for a range of users of beds.

It is also an object of the invention to provide an improved support mattress and base system for a bed that overcomes or at least ameliorates the problems of the beds of the prior art.

Brief Description of the Invention In accordance with the invention there is provided a bed system having support means with at least one part formed with an elongated resilient means, the support means including at least two longitudinally related sections able to be affected by a selection of voids, solid shapes or resilient inserts to locally alter the resilience of the at least two longitudinally related sections for selectively adjusting the support means along its length.

Preferably the support means is altered by the selection of voids, solid shapes or resilient inserts to alter locally when in use the compression and the profile of the at least two longitudinally related sections according to a predetermined requirement of the user to allow for natural or neutral sleeping position of the user.

"natural or neutral sleeping position of the user" means in this document a normal substantially neutral body position to allow substantially natural standing spine position.

In particular there are three predefined areas a first corresponding with the waist or lumbar, a second corresponding with the hip, and a third corresponding with the shoulders; wherein the assessed determined related zone firmness of the three predefined longitudinally related areas sections are according to: Ks= Ps Kw Pw and Kh= Ph Dw L S Dw Dw L With a vertical embedment at the waist =Dw, then the vertical displacement of the shoulder Dw L S and The total vertical displacement of the soulder a) produced by the mattress b) produced by the base.

The invention also provides a method of forming a bed system having a support base and a bed mattress which has at least two longitudinally related sections positioned to provide a waist lumbar support and another of the at least two longitudinally related sections positioned to provide a shoulder support for the user of the bed with at least one planar portion able to compress relative to an adjacent planar portion with a planar flexible continuous mattress able to extend over both the planar portion and the adjacent planar portion including the steps of: a. assessing a shape of a user; b. determining required relative dimensions of at least a hip area and a shoulder area according to the assessed shape of the user; c. assessing a determined related zone firmness of the at least two longitudinally related sections according to the determined required relative dimensions of at least a hip area and a shoulder area for the user to adjust the support means to provide a waist lumbar support and shoulder support means for the user; wherein the support base allows for adjustment to a predetermined supporting formation relative to a proposed user with the predetermined compressible support means providing localised support.

In one aspect the invention provides a bed mattress including an outer casing adapted to house one or a plurality of different supportive materials within said casing in a distinct region wherein said outer casing provides for the ready insertion, removal and/or replacement of one or more of said supportive materials without dismantling said mattress or said casing so as to allow a user to vary the supportive quality of said distinct region of said mattress.

The distinct region or regions may be orientated transversely along the length of the mattress to correspond with the different regions of the users body. In such embodiments, the supportive materials may be inserted through a side wall of the mattress.

N The supportive materials may be selected from any suitable products including inner spring segments, foam, latex, padding, rolled cotton, loose filling, water bladder (NI sections etc.

(NO

1 10 The outer casing provides the necessary housing for assembling the selection of ID supportive materials and may be formed of foam or soft fabric, having side edges, top and bottom edges and a top and bottom face.

Ports in the outer casing may provide access to regions of the mattress to allow modification of the in situ supporting material to increase or decrease local areas of stiffness.

In another aspect the invention provides a bed mattress including an outer casing adapted to house one or a plurality of different supportive materials within said casing in distinct transverse regions wherein fixed supportive materials are provided at the top and bottom regions of said mattress corresponding to the head and foot regions of a user; and an intermediate region so formed between is provided with a transverse array of fixed supportive materials having vacant regions between adjacent materials, wherein said outer casing has a plurality of ports corresponding to said vacant regions which are adapted to facilitate the ready insertion, removal and/or replacement of one or more auxiliary supportive materials so as to allow the user to vary the supportive quality of said intermediate region of said mattress.

The array of fixed supporting means may be a bank of inner springs formed in transverse rows, although any suitable supportive materials can be used.

The intermediate zone may be bordered by a foam edge having slot openings or apertures corresponding to the vacant spaces between rows to receive the supportive materials which can be slid in between said rows to provide additional support to the said intermediate zone.

The outer casing of the mattress may be provided with port openings on the side edges thereof corresponding to said intermediate zone.

In accordance with the invention there is provided a support base system for a bed mattress, the support base including a predetermined compressible support means for selectively adjusting a portion of the mattress relative to the longitudinal plane of extension of the adjacent remainder of the mattress.

The predetermined compressible support means can be used to selectively adjust a portion less than a quarter of the mattress. The predetermined compressible support means can be positioned so as to adjust an end portion of the mattress to provide a headrest or footrest for the user of the bed. However in another form the predetermined compressible support means can be positioned so as to adjust a middle portion of the mattress to provide a lower lumbar support or a shoulder part or a knee support for the user of the bed.

The operation of the predetermined compressible support means in conjunction with the remainder of the bed mattress or support can use inserts or voids to provide adjusting a portion of the mattress or support relative to an adjacent remainder of the mattress or support.

Also in accordance with the invention there is provided a support base for a bed mattress having at least two longitudinally related portions of a mattress or support for the mattress is defined relative to one another, and the construction of the support base further including a predetermined compressible support means able to adjust a portion of the mattress out of the plane of longitudinal extension of the adjacent remainder of the mattress.

The predetermined compressible support means can be able to selectively adjust a portion less than a quarter of the mattress. A secondary predetermined compressible support means can be positioned so as to adjust an end portion of the mattress to provide a headrest or footrest for the user of the bed. However primarily the predetermined compressible support means can be positioned so as to adjust a middle portion of the mattress to provide a lower lumbar support or hip support for the user of the bed.

The invention also provides a support base for a bed mattress which can have at least two planar portions with at least one planar portion able to compress relative an adjacent planar portion with a planar flexible continuous mattress able to extend over both the planar portion and the adjacent planar portion, and the support base further including an predetermined compressible support means at least partially mounted on the planar portion and selectively able to adjust a portion of the mattress resting on the planar portion out of the plane of extension of the adjacent remainder of the mattress wherein the support base allows for adjustment to a predetermined supporting formation relative to a proposed user with the predetermined compressible support means providing localised support.

Preferably there are three predefined areas a first corresponding with the waist or lumbar, a second corresponding with the hip, and a third corresponding with the shoulders.

The support base for a bed mattress can further include a differential displacement member connected to the at least one planar portion, said differential displacement member engaging said predetermined compressible support means so as to displace the predetermined compressible support means towards the a portion of the mattress resting on the planar portion such that compression of the at least one planar portion relative to said another causes adjustment of said portion of the mattress out of the plane of extension of the adjacent remainder of the mattress.

The differential displacement member can be connected to the planar portion and engages a fixed means so as to displace the predetermined compressible support means towards the a portion of the mattress resting on the planar portion such that compression of the at least one planar portion relative to said another causes adjustment of said portion of the mattress out of the plane of extension of the adjacent remainder of the mattress.

The differential displacement member is in one form an elongated member connected to the planar portion and engaging a fixed means so as to extend at an differing angle to the compressible planar portion such that compression of the compressible planar portion causes a differential movement of the differential displacement member to the compressible planar portion to displace the predetermined compressible support means towards the a portion of the mattress resting on the planar portion such that compression of the at least one planar portion relative to said another causes adjustment of said portion of the mattress out of the plane of extension of the adjacent remainder of the mattress.

The invention can have a support base for a bed mattress including a housing having a plurality of transverse at least two longitudinally related portions of a mattress or support for the mattress for supporting said mattress wherein one or more of said at least two longitudinally related portions of a mattress or support for the mattress are individually adjustable relative to said housing to provide calibrated positive or negative height adjustment for each at least two longitudinally related portions of a mattress or support for the mattress, characterised in that said height adjustment is provided by at least one predetermined compressible support means.

The predetermined compressible support means, which can cause relative height adjustment, can be insertable structures having predetermined compression factor positioned at either end of a given at least two longitudinally related portions of a mattress or support for the mattress, structures having voids to allow ready compressibility of adjacent supporting material; elongate insertable structures having predetermined compression factor supporting the length of each at least two longitudinally related portions of a mattress or support for the mattress, general height adjusting blocks, or height adjusting blocks calibrated to a height adjustment scale shared by other means for height adjustment, such as insertable structures having predetermined compression factor.

"humps and troughs like shapes" that are insertable between the underside of the mattress and the foundation or base surface to impart a desired vertical displacement +ve or -ve as required.

If the elongate insertable structures having predetermined compression factor are made of suitable diameter the at least two longitudinally related portions of a mattress or support for the mattress can be eliminated with the bed mattress supported directly on the insertable structures having predetermined compression factor, which function as at least two longitudinally related portions of a mattress or support for the mattress.

Accordingly, in another aspect the invention provides a support base for a bed mattress including a housing having a plurality of transverse elongate insertable structures having predetermined compression factor for supporting said mattress and an adjustment means for said insertable structures having predetermined compression factor wherein one or more of said insertable structures having predetermined compression factor are individually adjusted relative to said housing to provide height calibrated adjustment for said bed mattress.

Preferably said height adjustment means is provided by a means, which is inserted external to said housing. In this way the bed can be modified to the specific dimensional requirements of the purchaser.

The insertable structures having predetermined compression factor may be colour coded to determine different compressible rates such that measurements pf a purchaser can be assimilated with the predefined compressible insert which can be inserted into the housing to provide the required relative longitudinal height adjustment. The insertable structures having predetermined compression factor may also be provided with calibrations to provide quantitative data on the amount of adjustment occurring. Handles or other fittings may be attached to the insertable height adjustment means.

The adjustment can be either totally individual from one height adjustment means to the next, or may be coordinated between height adjustment means to provide compound adjustment.

The height adjustment may be achieved by "general" height adjusting blocks or may be faithfully duplicated by the use of height adjusting blocks corresponding to the calibrations.

Preferably there are three major predefined areas a first corresponding with the waist, a second corresponding with the hip depression of the lumbar (take out), and a third corresponding with the shoulders. The amount of height adjustment of the second or third zones is determined relative to the depression at the first zone.

With a vertical embedment at the waist =Dw, then the vertical displacement of the shoulder Dw L S and The total vertical displacement of the soulder a) produced by the mattress b) produced by the base.

The vertical or -ve displacement could be produced by transverse object supported on blocks, or an object placed transversely and movable towards head or foot of bed and part of supporting bed base underneath or independent of that.

Support material varies in height +ve or -ve from hip to lumbar to shoulder such variations from support material of the same or different constitution blocks supporting transverse object, giving +ve or -ve displacement transverse material of varying height transverse member to full or half cross mattress made from a type material able to bear weight different, similar or including materials used within the various comfort layers of a mattress.

The support base may be adapted for a range of bed sizes including single, double and larger sizes. The adjustment means can be coordinated for both sides of a multiple user bed or separate systems incorporated in either side.

In another aspect the invention provides a support base for a bed mattress wherein said support base housing has a hinged portion adapted for raising to support the user in a partially upright position wherein the raiseable portion of said housing incorporates one or more transverse at least two longitudinally related portions of a mattress or support for the mattress or transverse elongate insertable structures having predetermined compression factor for supporting said mattress wherein the at least 12 two longitudinally related portions of a mattress or support for the mattress or insertable structures having predetermined compression factor are individually adjusted relative to said housing to provide local adjustment of said mattress wherein said adjustment is provided by a predetermined compressible support means providing relative height adjustment along the length of the bed.

Brief Description of the Drawings In order that the invention is more readily understood embodiments of the invention will be described by way of illustration only with reference to the drawings wherein: Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view of a user of a bed system being supported in a natural or neutral sleeping position of the user; Figure 2 is a diagrammatic view of the components of a bed system; Figure 3 is a first form of structure for establishing a bed system in accordance with the invention for fulfilling the relative positioning of L and S of Figure 1; Figure 4 is a first form of structure for establishing a bed system in accordance with the invention for fulfilling the relative positioning of L and S of Figure 1; and Figure 5 is a first form of structure for establishing a bed system in accordance with the invention for fulfilling the relative positioning of L and S of Figure 1.

Tables 1IA and IB are tables of relative positional measurements of L and S of Figure 1 for a range of users in accordance with an embodiment of the invention; Detailed Description of embodiment of the Invention In order to provide a mattress or bed base or combination, which can be considered as a 'whole body support structure' in one embodiment, it is necessary to calculate the requirements it needs to fulfill in order to minimize distortion of the body being supported. There are three predefined areas a first corresponding with the waist and lumbar, a second corresponding with the hip, and a third corresponding with the shoulders.

The relative positions and distortions required for natural or neutral position can be designated as follows: i) the depression of the mattress at the waist/lumbar (or the correction needed at this zone) as Dw, the weight of a unit area at that part of the body as Pw, 13 ii) the depression of the mattress at the shoulders (or the correction needed at this zone) as Ds, the weight of a unit area at that part of the body as Ps, iii) the depression of the mattress at the hips (or the correction needed at this zone) Dh, the weight of a unit area at that part of the body as Ph, iv) the width differential (extra to the waist) or the lumbar curve depth as L and the extra width of the shoulders to that as S v) the stiffness/supportive ability of the mattress of a unit area at that part of the body as Ks (shoulder), Kw waist/lumbar), and Kh hips).

Calculations have been carried out for such range of values as: vi) L or lumbar curve 20, 35, 50, vii) Pw the weight /unit area at the Waist as being Double the weight that at the Shoulders and and the weight per unit area at the hips Ph as 2.5 times that at the shoulders (2.5*Ps) viii) The depression on the bed at the waist/lumbar: Dw as 1 to 30 mm, (calculate for Dw to 1, 5, 10, 20, ix) the shoulders to be wider than the hips by S which can be from 0 to 100 mm (calculate for S to 0, 25, 50, 75, 100) x) it should be noted that for stomach sleepers, L refers to the vertical difference between the compressed stomach and upper thighs, ans S as the vertical difference between the compressed stomach and the outer part of the body (usually the chest).

Since the depression Dn of the bed at a point is given by the equation Dn Pn Kn, conversely: Kn Pn Dn (Where Pn is the weight supported by the bed at point and Kn is the effective firmness of the bed at point Then the equation for firmness of the mattress at each of the 3 areas is: Ks Ps Dw L S Kw Pw Dw and Kh= Ph Dw L So Ks Kh Ps (Dw+L+S) X (Dw+L) Ph and Kw Kh Pw X (Dw+L) Dw Ph Kh x (Dw+L) Pw Dw Ph or Ks Kh x (Dw+L) x (Dw+L+S) Ps Kw Ph Tabulating values for these different combinations gives a picture of the values and inter-relationship between these factors. see Tables 3 4.

For a male, one not-so-extreme situation would be: Weight at stomach approx. 2 that at shoulders, Weight at hips and upper thighs approx. to weight at stomach so Pw 2*Ps, Ph Pw 2*Ps A Lumbar curve or hips wider than waist of say: 35 mm and shoulders wider than hips mm TOTAL VARATION 110mm This body shape is very common with athletes and tradesmen For a female, one not-so-extreme situation would be: Weight at stomach approx. 2.0 that at shoulders, Weight at hips and upper thighs approx. 15% extra to weight at stomach soPw=2*Ps, Ph 1.15*Pw=2.3*Ps A Lumbar curve or hips wider than waist of say: 65 mm and shoulders wider than hips mm TOTAL VARATION mm Here are 3 examples of how to shape the bed for each (male and female) on their own or on each respective side of the bed if they were a couple: Example Bed 1. (corrective shaping is affected fully within the mattress) The mattress for each is made with a hybrid of varying firmnesses along the bed such that the depression at the 3 key points are appropriate for each.

i) for the male, for a mattress on which the Dw (depression at waist) Ks,m Kh x (20+35)/(20+35+75) x 1/2 0.21 Kh and Kw,m Kh x (20+35)/20 X 1/1 2.75 Kh ii) for the female, for a mattress on which the Dw (depression at waist) Ks Kh x (20+65)/(20+65-15) x 1/2.3 0.53 Kh Kw=Khx (20+65)/(20) x 1/1.15 3.70 Kh The mattress is manufactured with the 3 important zones at theses calculated values and the areas in between are blended to smoothen the curves produced at the shoulders to waist to hips.

Example Bed 2. (corrective shaping is affected fully from means under the mattress) The mattress is entirely of uniform firmness for both the Male and the Female.

i) The Male compresses the mattress by 40mm at the waist and therefore only 40/2 20mm at the shoulders (Ps 1/2 Pw) which are now 20mm above the waist instead of 110 mm below, and compresses the mattress also 40mm at the Hips (Ph=Pw) which should be 35mm below the waist, so the base system (using blocks or some other means) or 'hump and through system' under the bottom surface of the mattress has to correct the vertical displacement the mattress top surface by a) -ve 10mm at the hips, (now -40-10 b) +ve 25mm at waist, (now -40+25=-1 5mm) net compression at waist, and +10 35mm above hips which is correct) c) -ve 105mm at the shoulders so they are (-20-105 +25= -110mm below waist) ii) The female also happens to compresses the mattress at the waist by but (because of her weight) only 40/2 20mm at the shoulders, and 40*1.15=46mm at the hips.- so the base system (using blocks or some other means) or 'hump and through system' under the bottom surface of the mattress has to correct the vertical displacement the mattress top surface by a) +ve 24mm at the waist (this is now a nett -40+24=-16mm depression at the waist) b) -ve 35mm at the hips (this is now 6+24+35=65mm below the waist) c) -ve 46mm at the shoulders (this is now -20+16-(-40) 24 =-50mm below the waist) Example Bed 3. (corrective shaping is affected fully by a hybrid of means: from i) within the mattress, ii) underneath the bottom surface of the mattress but above the top surface of the base, and iii) by shaping of the top surface of the base means under the mattress) The user canuse a full combination of Zoning (shaping) within the mattress and applying the nett applicable corrections by the mattress supportive system.

Using a zoned mattress with voids and other predetermined compressible support means such that its properties from Table 3 are as follows: Dw 20mm, L 35, Ks=0.2, Kw=2.2, S=25mm. (for Pw-2Ps and Then: i) The Male compresses the Mattresses at the waist by L=35*(2/2.5)=28mm, so hips are 28mm below the waist and S 25mm so the shoulders are 25mm below the waist So the base system (using blocks or some other means) or 'hump and through 17 system' under the bottom surface of the mattress is able to correct the vertical displacement the mattress top surface as follows: a) place a +ve 25mm shape (flat in this case) from below the shoulder area to the feet, this means that the shoulders are now -25-25=-50mm below the waist b) -ve 7mm vertical displacement of the hips (-28-7=-35mm) which aligns the hips correctly with the waist.

c) -ve 60mm vertical displacement at the shoulder area so shoulders are aligned, ii) The Female compresses the Mattresses at the waist by L=35*(1.15*2/2.5)=32mm, so hips are 32mm below the waist and S 25mm so the shoulders are 25mm below the waist So the base system (using blocks or some other means) or 'hump and through system' under the bottom surface of the mattress has to correct the vertical displacement the mattress top surface by a) place a +ve 25mm shape (flat in this case) from below the shoulder area to the feet, this means that the shoulders are now -25-25=-50mm below the waist which is correct, b) depress the hip area only by the base supportive surface by -ve 33mm this now makes the hips (-33-32=)-65mm below the waist which is correct Referring to Figures 3 to 5 there is shown three forms of structure that allow for selection of voids, solid shapes or resilient inserts to alter locally when in use the compression and the profile of the at least two longitudinally related sections according to a predetermined requirement of the user to allow for natural or neutral sleeping position of the user.

In Figure 3 there is a mattress and a base. The stiffness/supportive ability of the mattress of a unit area at that part of the body as Ks (shoulder), Kw (waist/lumbar), and Kh hips) is provided by a combination of base and mattress.

In the base there can be located voids to allow the mattress to sink into the base.

Further there can be calibrated blocks to allow upward distortion of the mattress.

Further in the mattress are linear top-level voids in the top layer of the mattress 18 and overlying deep voids or low-density material sections.

The combination at the hips in a longitudinal direction of the top layer void, deep internal void or low density void of the mattress and the void in the base allow the sufficient variation of depression with required compression relative to other sections to accommodate the persons differing weight along the length of the bed.

The section though is particularly shaped due to the variation at each section such as shaping or full void alongside low-density material.

At the shoulder area are a range of differing sized, shaped and variable highdensity material in the mattress overlying shaped calibrated blocks in the base to provide differing shaped support of the shoulders compared to the waist and hips.

In Figure 4 there is a bedding with differing top layers and in each section multiple central sections. The stiffness/supportive ability of the bedding at each part of the body defined as Ks (shoulder), Kw waist/lumbar), and Kh hips) is provided by Sm support comprising light supportive materials in shoulder area with a series of shaped voids and softer padding layers to decrease firmness and allow more compression thus making way for shoulder to fit in deeper into supportive shaped. At the waist to provide Kw there is Wm comprising firmest supportive material plus thicker and firmer padding layers to cause more firmness and less depression at the waist. At the hip there is Hm to provide Kh comprising medium firmness support, materials and padding layers with/without use of voids in order to allow the hips to depress into the mattress b the desired amount.

In Figure 5 there s a latex or core bedding which is able to have varying voids V alongside each other and above each other in one section with the voids able to receive various density foam or other material inserted therein to change the compression and depression of that section of he bedding. At another section can be chambers for receiving dumbbell shaped firmer density materials with varying heights placed within the core or latex bedding. The dumbbell shape controls the variation of compression while altering the depression in a shaped manner.

It should be understood that the above description is of preferred embodiments 19 and included as illustration only. It is not limiting of the invention. Clearly variations of the method of forming a bed system would be understood by a person skilled in the art without any inventiveness and such variations are included within the scope of this invention as defined in the following claims.

Claims

1. A bed system having support means with at least one part formed with an elongated resilient means, the support means including at least two longitudinally related sections able to be affected by a selection of voids, solid shapes or resilient inserts to locally alter the resilience of the at least two longitudinally related sections for selectively adjusting the support means along its length.

2. A bed system according to claim 1 wherein the support means includes a bed mattress and a bed base and the selection of voids, solid shapes or resilient inserts is located in one or more or between the bed mattress and the bed base.

3. A bed system according to claim 1 wherein the support means includes an outer casing adapted to house one or a plurality of different supportive materials within said casing in a distinct region wherein said outer casing provides for the ready insertion, removal and/or replacement of one or more of said supportive materials without dismantling said mattress or said casing so as to allow a user to vary the supportive quality of said distinct region of said mattress.

4. A bed system according to claim 1 wherein the support means is altered by the selection of voids, solid shapes or resilient inserts to alter locally when in use the compression of sections of the support means relative to a related adjacent section.

A bed system according to claim 1 wherein the support means is altered by the selection of voids, solid shapes or resilient inserts to alter locally when in use the profile of sections of the support means relative to a related adjacent section.

6. A bed system according to claim 1 wherein the support means is altered by the selection of voids, solid shapes or resilient inserts to alter locally when in use the compression and the profile of the at least two longitudinally related 21 sections according to a predetermined requirement of the user to allow for natural or neutral sleeping position of the user.

7. A bed system according to claim 6 wherein the locally altered resilience of the at least two longitudinally related sections is selected according to a determined requirement of the physical shape and weight of the user.

8. A bed system according to claim 1 wherein the predetermined compressible support means is used to selectively adjust the at least two longitudinally related sections being each less than a quarter of the support means.

9. A bed system according to claim I wherein the predetermined compressible support means is positioned so as to adjust an end portion of the support means to provide a headrest or footrest for the user of the bed.

A bed system according to claim 1 wherein one of the at least two longitudinally related sections is positioned so as to adjust a middle portion of the support means to provide a waist or lumbar support and another of the at least two longitudinally related sections is positioned so as to adjust a top portion to provide a shoulder support for the user of the bed.

11. A bed system according to claim 1 wherein the operation of the predetermined compressible support means in conjunction with the remainder of the bed mattress or support includes openings or areas able to receive inserts or voids to provide adjusting a portion of the mattress or support relative to an adjacent remainder of the mattress or support.

12. A bed system having an elongated resilient support means formed of a support base and a bed mattress wherein one or both of the base and mattress includes at least two longitudinally related portions of a mattress or support for the mattress defined relative to one another, and the construction of the support base further including one or more predetermined compressible inserts having differing resilience to the support means to adjust resilience of a portion of the mattress along longitudinal extension relative to the adjacent remainder of the 22 mattress.

13. A bed system according to claim 12 wherein the predetermined compressible support means with a selectively adjustable portion less than a quarter of the mattress.

14. A bed system according to claim 12 wherein there are three predefined areas a first corresponding with the waist or lumbar, a second corresponding with the hip, and a third corresponding with the shoulders; wherein the assessed determined related zone firmness of the three predefined longitudinally related areas sections are according to: Ks= Ps Kw= Pw and Kh= Ph Dw L S Dw Dw L with a vertical embedment at the waist =Dw, then the vertical displacement of the shoulder Dw L S and The total vertical displacement of the shoulder a) produced by the mattress b) produced by the base.

A bed system according to claim 12 including a secondary predetermined compressible support means able to be positioned so as to adjust an end portion of the mattress to provide a headrest or footrest for the user of the bed.

16. A bed system according to claim 12 wherein the predetermined compressible support means can be positioned so as to adjust a middle portion of the mattress to provide waist and lumbar support or a hip support for the user of the bed.

17. A method of forming a bed system having a support base and a bed mattress which.has at least two longitudinally related sections positioned to provide a waist lumbar support and another of the at least two longitudinally related sections positioned to provide a shoulder support for the user of the bed with at least one planar portion able to compress relative to an adjacent planar portion with a planar flexible continuous mattress able to extend over both the ND planar portion and the adjacent planar portion including the steps of: O a. assessing a shape of a user; b. determining required relative dimensions of at least a hip area and a 5 shoulder area according to the assessed shape of the user; IN c. assessing a determined related zone firmness of the at least two longitudinally related sections according to the determined required (NI relative dimensions of at least a hip area and a shoulder area for the NO user to adjust the support means to provide a waist lumbar support (N S 10 and shoulder support means for the user; IN wherein the support base allows for adjustment to a predetermined supporting formation relative to a proposed user with the predetermined compressible support means providing localised support.

18. The method of creating a bed system according to claim 17 including the step of adjustment of zone firmness of the at least two longitudinally related sections by selection of variable constructional elements including a selection of voids, shaped solids or resilient inserts to locally alter the resilience of the at. least two longitudinally related sections for selectively adjusting the support means along its length.

19. The method of creating a bed system according to claim 17 including the step of adjustment of zone firmness of the bed inserts to allow a difference of compression of the shoulder area to the lumbar to the hip area to provide waist and lumbar support or a hip support for the user to alter locally when in use the compression and the profile of the at least two longitudinally related sections to allow for natural or neutral sleeping position of the user.

The method of creating a bed system according to claim 17 wherein there are three predefined areas a first corresponding with the waist or lumbar, a second corresponding with the hip, and a third corresponding with the shoulders; wherein the assessed determined related zone firmness of the three predefined longitudinally related areas sections are according to: Ks= Ps Kw= Pw and Kh= Ph Dw+ L S Dw Dw L With a vertical embedment at the waist =Dw, then the vertical displacement of the shoulder Dw L S and The total vertical displacement of the shoulder a) produced by the mattress b) produced by the base.

21. The method of creating a bed system according to claim 17 in special cases such in the presence of Scoliosis wherein there are three predefined areas: a. the Vertical embedment at lumbar or waist Dw; b. the Total vertical correction required at the hips to alleviate distortion (affected by whatever and all means) at the Hips now L; c. the Total vertical correction required at the shoulders to alleviate distortion (affected by whatever and all means) at the Shoulders now S; d. the Total vertical correction required at the waist or lumbar to alleviate distortion (affected by whatever and all means) at the Waist or lumbar R; wherein the assessed determined related zone firmness of the three predefined longitudinally related areas sections are according to: Ks= Ps Kw= Pw Kh= Ph Dw L S Dw Dw L with a vertical embedment at the waist =Dw, then the vertical displacement of the shoulder Dw L S and The total vertical displacement of the shoulder a) produced by the mattress b) produced by the base.

22. The method of creating a bed system according to claim 17 wherein the support base for a bed mattress further includes a differential displacement member connected to the at least one planar portion, said differential displacement member engaging said predetermined compressible support means so as to displace the predetermined compressible support means towards the a portion of the mattress resting on the planar portion such that compression of the at least one planar portion relative to said another causes adjustment of said portion of the mattress out of the plane of extension of the adjacent remainder of the mattress.

23. The method of creating a bed system according to claim 17 wherein the differential displacement member is connected to the planar portion and engages a fixed means so as to displace the predetermined compressible support means towards the a portion of the mattress resting on the planar portion such that compression of the at least one planar portion relative to said another causes adjustment of said portion of the mattress out of the plane of extension of the adjacent remainder of the mattress.

24. The method of creating a bed system according to claim 17 wherein the differential displacement member is in one form an elongated member connected to the planar portion and engaging a fixed means so as to extend at an differing resilience to the compressible planar portion such that compression of the compressible planar portion causes a differential movement of the differential displacement member to the compressible planar portion to displace the predetermined compressible support means towards the a portion of the mattress resting on the planar portion such that compression of the at least one planar portion relative to said another causes adjustment of said portion of the mattress out of the plane of extension of the adjacent remainder of the mattress.

25. A bed system having a support base for a bed mattress including a housing having at least two longitudinally related portions of a mattress or support for supporting said mattress wherein one or more of said at least two longitudinally related portions of a mattress or support for the mattress are individually adjustable relative to said housing to provide calibrated positive or negative height adjustment for each at least two longitudinally related portions of a mattress or support for the mattress, characterised in that said height adjustment is provided by at least one predetermined compressible support means.

26. A bed system according to claim 25 wherein the predetermined compressible support means which cause height adjustment are insertable structures having predetermined compression factor positioned at either end of a given at least two longitudinally related portions of a mattress or support for the mattress.

27. A bed system according to claim 25 wherein the predetermined compressible support means which cause height adjustment are elongate insertable structures having predetermined compression factor supporting the length of each at least two longitudinally related portions of a mattress or support for the mattress,

28. A bed system according to claim 25 wherein the predetermined compressible support means, which cause height adjustment, are general height adjusting blocks.

29. A bed system according to claim 25 wherein the predetermined compressible support means which cause height adjustment are height adjusting blocks calibrated to a height adjustment scale shared by other means for height adjustment, such as insertable structures having predetermined compression factor.

A bed system according to claim 25 wherein there are three predefined areas a first corresponding with the waist, a second corresponding with the hip depression of the lumbar, and a third corresponding with the shoulders.

31. A bed system according to claim 30 wherein the amount of height adjustment of the second or third zones is determined relative to the depression at the first zone.

32. A bed system according to claim 31 wherein the vertical or -ve displacement is produced by transverse object supported on blocks, or an object placed transversely and movable towards head or foot of bed and part of supporting bed base underneath or independent of that.

33. A bed system according to claim 31 wherein support material varies in height +ve or -ve from hip to lumbar to shoulder such variations from support material of the same or different constitution blocks supporting transverse object, giving +ve or -ve displacement transverse material of varying height transverse member to full or half cross mattress made from a type material able to bear weight different, similar or including materials used within the various comfort layers of a mattress.

34. A bed system according to claim 33 wherein the support base is adapted for a range of bed sizes including single, double and larger sizes.

A bed system according to claim 25 wherein the adjustment means is separately coordinated for each side of a multiple user bed or separate systems incorporated in either side.

36. A bed system according to claim 6 including an outer casing adapted to house one or a plurality of different supportive materials within said casing in distinct regions wherein said outer casing provides for the ready insertion, removal and/or replacement of one or more of said supportive materials without dismantling said mattress or said casing so as to allow a user to vary the supportive quality of said distinct regions of said mattress.

37. A bed system according to claim 36 wherein said outer casing is compliant and formed around the edges of said mattress to define the boundary of said mattress and may incorporate one or more ports to provide access to one or more of said supportive materials so as to provide for the ready insertion, removal and/or replacement of said supportive materials.

38. A bed system according to claim 36 wherein said ports are provided along the side edges of said casing and said different supportive materials are delineated transversely across the width of said mattress.

39. A bed system according to claim 36 wherein said ports correspond to the regions of delineated supportive materials to facilitate insertion, removal 28 and/or replacement of said supportive materials. O O

40. A bed system according to claim 36 including an outer casing adapted to house one or a plurality of different supportive materials within said casing in 5 distinct transverse regions wherein fixed supportive materials are provided at Ithe top and bottom regions of said mattress corresponding to the head and foot regions of a user; and an intermediate region so formed between is provided cNI with a transverse assay of fixed supportive materials having vacant regions NO between adjacent materials, wherein said outer casing has a plurality of ports (N NI 10 corresponding to said vacant regions which are adapted to facilitate the ready IN insertion, removal and/or replacement of one or more auxiliary supportive materials so as to allow the user to vary the supportive quality of said intermediate region of said mattress.

41. A bed system according to claim 40, wherein the fixed supportive materials in said intermediate region are configured to provide the lowest support denominator expected for a given user, which support is readily increased by addition of said auxiliary supportive materials.

42. A bed system according to claim 40 wherein said supportive materials are selected from any one of a combination of known materials including inner spring segments, foam, latex, padding, rolled cotton, loose filling and water bladders.

43. A bed system according to claim 40 wherein the fixed supportive materials in said intermediate region are inner spring supports.

44. A bed system according to any one of claim 40 wherein said outer casing is formed of compliant material and said ports are formed as apertures in said casing.

A bed system according to any one of claim 40 wherein said outer casing is further provided with ports at the top and/or bottom edges of said mattress.

46. A bed system according to any one of claim 40 wherein said outer casing is further provided with top and bottom faces to fully enclose said supportive materials.

47. A bed system according to any one of claim 40 further including an outer cover having access to said ports.

48. A bed system according to claim 6 including a compliant outer casing having distinct transverse regions corresponding to the head, foot and intermediate regions of a users body for housing a plurality of different supportive materials within said casing wherein said head and foot regions are adapted for housing fixed supportive materials and said intermediate region is adapted for housing supportive material in the form of transverse rows of inner springs wherein the side edges of said casing corresponding to said intermediate regions are provided with a plurality of ports aligned between said rows of inner springs to allow ready insertion of an auxiliary supportive material between said springs so as to allow said user to vary the supportive quality of said intermediate region.