EP1500353B1 - Wasserbettmatratze - Google Patents

Wasserbettmatratze Download PDF

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Publication number
EP1500353B1
EP1500353B1 EP03447195A EP03447195A EP1500353B1 EP 1500353 B1 EP1500353 B1 EP 1500353B1 EP 03447195 A EP03447195 A EP 03447195A EP 03447195 A EP03447195 A EP 03447195A EP 1500353 B1 EP1500353 B1 EP 1500353B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
mattress
protrusions
elasticity
top wall
waterbed
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
EP03447195A
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English (en)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP1500353A1 (de
Inventor
Frank De Bock
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Sleeping Society
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Sleeping Society
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Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Sleeping Society filed Critical Sleeping Society
Priority to EP03447195A priority Critical patent/EP1500353B1/de
Priority to DE60312314T priority patent/DE60312314D1/de
Priority to AT03447195T priority patent/ATE355779T1/de
Publication of EP1500353A1 publication Critical patent/EP1500353A1/de
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP1500353B1 publication Critical patent/EP1500353B1/de
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
    • A47C—CHAIRS; SOFAS; BEDS
    • A47C27/00—Spring, stuffed or fluid mattresses or cushions specially adapted for chairs, beds or sofas
    • A47C27/08—Fluid mattresses or cushions
    • A47C27/088—Fluid mattresses or cushions incorporating elastic bodies, e.g. foam
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
    • A47C—CHAIRS; SOFAS; BEDS
    • A47C27/00—Spring, stuffed or fluid mattresses or cushions specially adapted for chairs, beds or sofas
    • A47C27/08—Fluid mattresses or cushions
    • A47C27/085—Fluid mattresses or cushions of liquid type, e.g. filled with water or gel

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a waterbed mattress as described in the preamble of the first claim.
  • Most waterbed mattress are made of an envelope having a top wall, a bottom wall and side walls formed of a polymeric material, for example polyvinylchloride or polyethylene, which enclose a central storage volume for receiving water.
  • the thickness of a waterbed mattress is often about 21 cm. Usually, virtually the entire central volume is filled with water, the filling degree affecting the firmness of the mattress.
  • a waterbed mattress is known, the envelope of which is made of a polymeric material.
  • the top wall of the waterbed mattress a plurality of expandable folds are formed to allow for a stretching of the top wall when a person lies on it.
  • the folds are oriented such that the stretch in width direction of the mattress is larger than the stretch in longitudinal direction.
  • the spacing between the folds and the size of the folds is varied. This is done to provide optimum accommodation of heavier as well as of lighter parts of the human body. This is also done to optimise comfort when the mattress is occupied by a lighter and a heavier person.
  • the folds are chosen such that the ratio of the surface area of the top wall when pulled taut, to the surface area when not charged, is between 1.03 and 1.3.
  • the folds are spaced apart from each other by a distance L from about 0.25 to 4 inch.
  • the ratio of the height of the folds to the distance between adjacent folds is between 1/16 and 1. It is alleged that the controlling of these parameters provides an improved lying comfort.
  • the folds are arranged in a regular pattern and may have the shape of circular bumps or raised portions. Other suitable shapes are curled looped, swirled, curlique, quilted, box, rectangular and triangular.
  • the waterbed mattress disclosed in US-A-5.210.892 presents the disadvantage that the lying comfort provided by it is still insufficient, in particular it does not provide optimum lying comfort to all body parts. There is thus a need to a waterbed mattress which provides for an optimum lying comfort for all body parts, in particular the wider head and shoulder portion, the heavier, but narrower back and hip portion and the leg portion.
  • a further waterbed mattress is disclosed in DE 37 23 775.
  • the waterbed mattress of the present invention comprises a top wall providing a laying surface, a bottom wall providing a support surface and a plurality of side walls, which together enclose a central storage volume for receiving the water.
  • the top wall is made of an elastic material.
  • a plurality of expandable folds is formed, such that several parts are created showing a different elasticity.
  • the top wall is divided in at least three parts:
  • the length of the head and shoulder portion of a human being occupying the first or head part of the mattress is mostly smaller than the length of the legs occupying the third or bottom part of the mattress, and as the length of the back and hip portion is usually in between these two, the length of the different parts of the mattress is chosen such that the first part has a length L1, the second part has a length L2 and the third part has a length L3, L1 being smaller than L2, which in turn is smaller than or equal to L3.
  • the elasticity of the top wall or in other words, the ability of the top wall to stretch is in the mattress of this invention provided by the presence of a plurality of protrusions having an elongated, preferably a substantially oval shape.
  • the head zone or first part of the top face of the mattress preferably comprises a plurality of first and second protrusions, the first protrusions extending in longitudinal direction of the mattress, the second protrusions extending in cross direction.
  • the inventor has observed that the mutual co-operation of the longitudinally and transversally extending protrusions provide the desired elasticity to the mattress and maximum comfort for the head and shoulders.
  • the third part comprises a plurality of third and fourth protrusions, the third protrusions having a larger length as compared the fourth protrusions and extending in width direction of the mattress, the fourth protrusions having a smaller length and preferably also a smaller width and extending in height direction of the mattress. In that way a reduced elasticity as compared to the first part of the mattress is obtained.
  • the central volume of the waterbed mattress preferably comprises at least at the position of the second part of the top face, an elastic insert comprising a plurality of side by side disposed collapsible elastic bodies, which extend and are collapsible in height direction of the mattress.
  • an upward pressure is generated at the position of back and hip part, as a consequence of which the hips receive an upward pressure and the vertebral column is supported so as to extend substantially horizontally in a sideways position of the human body.
  • the waterbed mattress shown in figure 1 comprises an envelope of a polymeric material, having
  • the waterbed mattress 1 shown in figure 2 comprises an elastic top wall 10.
  • the elasticity is at least partly provided by the presence of a plurality of expandable folds in the top wall 10.
  • the top wall 10 is divided in at least three parts 16, 17, 18 which run parallel to the transverse direction of the mattress, the three parts having a different elasticity.
  • An optimum comfort is provided when the vertebral column, in each laying position of the body, takes a substantially horizontal orientation.
  • a first part 16 of the top wall 10 corresponds to the surface part accommodating the head and shoulders of a person occupying the mattress.
  • This first part 16 is made of a material having the highest elasticity as the shoulders are the part which extends the most from the body when occupying the mattress in a sideways position. In the sideways position, the pressure exerted by the shoulders per surface area unit will be higher as compared to the position when the body is laying on the back or front side. A larger stretching of the first part 16 will occur, as compared to the back lay position. Because of the elasticity, the top wall will adapt itself automatically to laying position and the weight of the body occupying it.
  • the second part 17 corresponds to the surface part accommodating the back part of a person. As it is important that the vertebral column is supported in a substantially horizontal position when sleeping and supported over the entire length, this second part of the mattress is given a limited elasticity, which is substantially less than the elasticity of the first part 16.
  • the third part 18 corresponds to the foot-end of the mattress which is provided for accommodating the hips and legs of a body.
  • the elasticity of this part 18 is limited as compared to the elasticity of the first part 16. Some elasticity is required so as to keep the vertebral column in the correct, preferably substantially horizontal position, on the other hand the elasticity needs to be limited as the hip and leg part of the body have the largest weight.
  • the first part 16 has an elasticity of between 5-40 % preferably 10-40 %, more preferably 15-30 %, most preferably 20-30 %, which means that the length and width of the first part of the top wall can be increased with a maximum of 40 % when occupied by a body.
  • the third part 18 preferably has an elasticity of between 5-25 %, more preferably 10-20%.
  • the first part 16 of the waterbed mattress has a length L1
  • the second part 17 has a length L2
  • the third part 18 has a length L3, L1 ⁇ L2 ⁇ L3.
  • L1 mostly varies from 40-55 cm, preferably 45-50 cm
  • L2 varies from 45-55 cm, preferably from 50-55 cm
  • L3 varies from 50-100 cm.
  • At least part of the elasticity of the top wall 10 is provided by the presence of a plurality of expandable folds 3-6 (see figure 4) in the top wall.
  • Expandable folds can take any shape known to the man skilled in the art, but preferably have the shape of a rounded protrusion so as to provide uniform material strength along the folds combined with optimum elasticity.
  • the protrusions 3-6 may however also have an irregular shape if this contributes to providing the envisaged elasticity to the surface part involved.
  • the top wall 10 comprises a plurality of protrusions 3-6.
  • the protrusions 3-6 have an elongated shape as this allows gradually increasing the elasticity from the edge of the protrusion towards the centre, which contributes to providing an optimum elasticity to the top wall 10.
  • the elongated shape also allows achieving an overlapping elasticity between adjacent protrusions 3-6.
  • the dimensions of the protrusions 3-6 are not critical to the invention and will generally adapted by the man skilled in the art taking account of the envisaged elasticity of the part involved.
  • the shape of the protrusions 3-6 is substantially oval as this provides optimum elasticity.
  • the protrusions may however have any other suitable elongated, rounded shape known to the man skilled in the art.
  • the first part 16 comprises a plurality of first 3 and second 4 protrusions having approximately the same dimensions.
  • the first protrusions 3 extend in longitudinal direction of the mattress 1
  • the second protrusions 4 extend in a different direction, preferably in cross direction so as to provide uniform elasticity in longitudinal and transversal direction of the mattress 1.
  • the shape and dimension of both the first and second protrusions 3, 4 may be adapted taking into account the envisaged elasticity of the first part 16.
  • the third part or foot part 18 of the mattress comprises a plurality of third and fourth protrusions 5, 6, the third protrusions 5 extending in width direction of the mattress, the fourth protrusions 6 extending in longitudinal direction of the mattress 1, the third protrusions 5 having a larger length and width as compared to the fourth protrusions 6.
  • two fourth protrusions 6 correspond to one single third protrusion 5. This arrangement assists in limiting the elasticity of the third part 16.
  • the length of the first and second protrusions 3,4 will mostly vary from 30-40 mm, preferably 35-37 mm, at a width of 25-35 mm, preferably 30-33 mm.
  • the length of the fourth protrusions 6 will mostly be from 25-35 m, preferably 30-33 mm, at a with of 10-20 mm, preferably 15-17 mm.
  • the distance between adjacent protrusions 3-6 is not critical to the invention and will be adapted by the man skilled in the art depending on the required elasticity. In general however, the distance between adjacent protrusions will mostly be between 2-10 mm, preferably 5-7 mm.
  • a further control of the elasticity of the top wall 10 can be achieved by providing in the central volume 2 of the mattress 1 a spring insert as is shown in figure 5, the presence of which adds to increasing control of the local elasticity and improving the support provided by that specific part of the mattress 1.
  • a spring insert may be provided exclusively at the position of the second part 17 of the top wall 10, but also at the position of the first and third part 16, 18.
  • the elasticity of the mattress may be adapted so as to allow accommodating bodies with large weight difference, or bodies preferring a different firmness of the mattress.
  • the spring insert comprising a plurality of side by side disposed elastic bodies 7, 8, which are collapsible in height direction of the mattress 1.
  • the collapsible elastic body 7, 8 comprises a coil of polymeric material enclosing a central space 21 and having a plurality of superposed interconnected bulges 9, at least one of the bulges comprising a vent 19 through which the water contained in the mattress can be displaced, in view of facilitating collapse and stretching of the bodies.
  • the bodies 7, 8 should provide limited elasticity, most often the material thickness will be increased. Simultaneously however also the height of the coils may be increased.
  • either one single type of elastic bodies 7, 8 may be mounted having the same height, width, material thickness and elasticity. It is however also possible to insert two or more types of elastic bodies of which these properties take different values, or to have a superposition of two or more different types as shown in figure 6a and 6b. Furthermore, also the diameter of the coils may be varied in view of varying the elasticity.
  • the second part 17 of the mattress plastic coils may be provided having a material thickness of 0.04-0.08 inch, a height of 1.3-5 inch, an outer diameter of 3.05 inch, and a central hole with a diameter of 1.25 inch, the bulges having a height of 6.25 inch, the vent holes having a diameter of 0.25 inch which may however be smaller or larger.
  • coils may be provided having a height of between 0.75-2.5 inch, the other parameters remaining the same.
  • coils 7, 8 will be interconnected or received in corresponding recess in the internal volume 2 of the mattress to prevent them from floating.
  • the waterbed mattress of this invention may further comprise one or more sheets or layers of a fibrous material 20, which further assist in controlling the elasticity.
  • the fibrous material sheets 20 further function as a stabiliser to control water flow within the mattress.

Landscapes

  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Dispersion Chemistry (AREA)
  • Mattresses And Other Support Structures For Chairs And Beds (AREA)
  • Nonwoven Fabrics (AREA)

Claims (9)

  1. Wasserbettmatratze (1) umfassend eine obere Wand (10), die eine Liegefläche bietet, eine untere Wand (11), die eine Stützfläche bietet, und mehrere Seitenwände (12, 13,14, 15), die zusammen ein zentrales Speichervolumen (2) für die Aufnahme von Wasser umschließen, wobei die obere Wand (10) aus einem elastischen Material hergestellt ist, wobei die obere Wand (10) in der Breitenrichtung derselben in mindestens drei Teile (16, 17, 18) in Querrichtung der Matratze (1) geteilt ist, einen ersten Teil (16) für die Aufnahme des Kopf- und Schulterteils einer Person, die die Matratze belegt, einen dritten Teil (18) für die Aufnahme der Beinzone, wobei ein zweiter Teil (17) zwischen dem ersten (16) und dem dritten (18) Teil der Matratze (1) gelegen ist für die Aufnahme der Rücken- und Hüftenzone, wobei die drei Teile (16, 17, 18) eine andere Elastizität aufweisen, so dass der erste (16) und dritte (18) Teil elastischer sind als der zweite (17) Teil, wobei die obere Wand (10) mehrere Vorsprünge (3, 4, 5, 6) einer längsgezogenen Gestalt umfasst, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass der erste Teil (16) einem Oberflächenteil entspricht, der eine Elastizität zwischen 5 - 40 %, bevorzugt 15 - 30 aufweist, der dritte Teil (18) eine Elastizität zwischen 5 - 25 %, bevorzugt 10 - 20 % aufweist, wobei die Elastizität als der Unterschied zwischen der Breite der Matratze im gestreckten und ungestreckten Zustand, geteilt durch die Breite der Matratze im ungestreckten Zustand angegeben wird, dass der erste (16) und der dritte Teil (18) mehrere Paare von Vorsprüngen (3, 4, 5, 6) umfassen, wobei ein Vorsprung (3, 6) des Paars von Vorsprüngen (3, 4, 5, 6) sich in Längsrichtung der Matratze (1) erstreckt, wobei der andere Vorsprung des Paars von Vorsprüngen (3, 4, 5, 6) sich in Querrichtung (4, 5) erstreckt und dass die Elastizität von jedem der ersten (16), zweiten (17) und dritten (18) Teile so ausgewählt wird, dass ein Aufwärtsdruck, der durch die Wasserbettmatratze auf eine Person, die die Matratze belegt, aufgebracht wird, zwischen 10 - 24 mm Hg liegt.
  2. Wasserbettmatratze nach Anspruch 1, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass der erste Teil eine Länge L1, der zweite Teil eine Länge L2 und der dritte Teil eine Länge L3 aufweist, wobei L1<2≤L3 ist.
  3. Wasserbettmatratze nach Anspruch 1 oder 2, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die Vorsprünge (3, 4, 5, 6) im Wesentlichen oval sind.
  4. Wasserbettmatratze nach einem der Ansprüche 1 - 3, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass der erste Teil (16) mehrere erste und zweite Vorsprünge (3, 4) umfasst, die ungefähr die gleichen Dimensionen aufweisen, wobei die ersten Vorsprünge (3) sich in Längsrichtung der Matratze erstrecken, wobei die zweiten Vorsprünge (4) sich in Querrichtung erstrecken.
  5. Wasserbettmatratze nach einem der Ansprüche 1 - 4, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass der dritte Teil (18) mehrere der dritten und vierten Vorsprünge (5, 6) umfasst, wobei die dritten Vorsprünge (5) sich in Breitenrichtung der Matratze (1) erstrecken, wobei die vierten Vorsprünge (6) sich in Längsrichtung der Matratze (1) erstrecken, wobei die dritten Vorsprünge (5) eine größere Länge und Breite im Vergleich mit den vierten Vorsprüngen (6) aufweisen.
  6. Wasserbettmatratze nach einem der Ansprüche 1 - 5, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass das zentrale Speichervolumen (2) mindestens an der Position des zweiten Teils (17) der oberen Wand (10) einen Einsatz umfasst, der mehrere Seite an Seite liegende elastische Körper (7, 8) umfasst, die in Höhenrichtung der Matratze (1) reversibel zusammenklappbar sind.
  7. Wasserbettmatratze nach einem der Ansprüche 1 - 6, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass das zentrale Speichervolumen (2) an der Position des dritten Teils (18) der oberen Wand (10) mehrere Seite an Seite liegende elastische Körper (7, 8) umfasst, die in Höhenrichtung der Matratze (1) reversibel zusammenklappbar sind.
  8. Wasserbettmatratze nach Anspruch 7, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass der zusammenklappbare elastische Körper (7, 8) eine Spirale von polymerem Material umfasst, die mehrere übereinander gelagerte, mit einander verbundene Ausbuchtungen (9) aufweist, die ein zentrales Volumen (21) umschließen, wobei mindestes eine der Ausbuchtungen eine Entlüftung (19) umfasst.
  9. Wasserbettmatratze nach Anspruch 8, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass im zentralen Volumen (2) eine oder mehrere Platten eines faserigen Materials (20) auf oder unter den Spiralen (7, 8) oder beiden bereitgestellt wird bzw. werden.
EP03447195A 2003-07-23 2003-07-23 Wasserbettmatratze Expired - Lifetime EP1500353B1 (de)

Priority Applications (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP03447195A EP1500353B1 (de) 2003-07-23 2003-07-23 Wasserbettmatratze
DE60312314T DE60312314D1 (de) 2003-07-23 2003-07-23 Wasserbettmatratze
AT03447195T ATE355779T1 (de) 2003-07-23 2003-07-23 Wasserbettmatratze

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP03447195A EP1500353B1 (de) 2003-07-23 2003-07-23 Wasserbettmatratze

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP1500353A1 EP1500353A1 (de) 2005-01-26
EP1500353B1 true EP1500353B1 (de) 2007-03-07

Family

ID=33484105

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP03447195A Expired - Lifetime EP1500353B1 (de) 2003-07-23 2003-07-23 Wasserbettmatratze

Country Status (3)

Country Link
EP (1) EP1500353B1 (de)
AT (1) ATE355779T1 (de)
DE (1) DE60312314D1 (de)

Families Citing this family (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
BE1016076A3 (nl) * 2004-06-16 2006-02-07 Sleeping Soc Waterbed matras.
GB201017183D0 (en) 2010-10-12 2010-11-24 Katan Joseph M Body support platform

Family Cites Families (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5195196A (en) * 1984-03-19 1993-03-23 Land And Sky Manufacturing, Inc. Sculptured, stretchable waterbed mattress with aesthetic appearance
NO872745L (no) * 1986-08-19 1988-02-22 Lynn Duane Larson Dekklag for vannseng-madrass.
US5253377A (en) * 1992-03-11 1993-10-19 Larson Lynn D Waterbed mattress with bellows spring insert
US5159725A (en) * 1992-03-11 1992-11-03 Larson Lynn D Waterbed mattress with bellows spring insert
US5513401A (en) * 1993-01-15 1996-05-07 France Bed Co., Ltd. Watermattress apparatus

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
DE60312314D1 (de) 2007-04-19
ATE355779T1 (de) 2007-03-15
EP1500353A1 (de) 2005-01-26

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