EP3682765B1 - Mattress with lifting device - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a mattress with a lifting device. The invention also relates to a bed system that is equipped with such a mattress.

In the present context, a “bed system” is understood to mean an arrangement that includes at least one mattress and a matching base. When the bed system is in use, the underside of the mattress rests on the base base and forms a lying surface for at least one person on its upper side. In the present context, a “spring base” is understood to mean any arrangement for resilient support of the mattress. Usual suspension bases are designed, for example, as a grate. Such a frame can preferably be designed as a slatted frame, in which a support surface for placing the mattress is formed by a large number of individual slats, each of which extends transversely to a longitudinal direction of the mattress and which are arranged next to one another parallel to one another in the longitudinal direction of the mattress. Other grids can be equipped with individual springs instead of slats and can also be referred to as spring core bases. In particular, the base suspension can therefore also be designed as a box spring. Mattresses are also available in different configurations, for example with a spring core or with a foam core. The lying surface is located at the top of the mattress. In particular, the lying surface can be formed by a top side of a mattress cover, which envelops the respective core of the mattress. It is clear that in normal use a mattress cover is also used, which covers the mattress and in particular its mattress cover on the top so that the mattress cover covers the lying surface and the user of the bed lies on the mattress cover. This means that he lies on the lying surface, but is no longer in direct contact with it.

From an orthopedic point of view, for a restful sleep, a side position is recommended for the respective person, in which the person lies on one side of the lying surface. Furthermore, from an orthopedic point of view, a sleeping position is recommended in which the spine of the respective person is as straight as possible. From a physiognomic point of view, each person has a varying contour on their side, so that an uneven load is placed on the person's body when lying on their side. Areas that protrude further, such as the hips and shoulders, are put under greater strain. At the same time, this creates a curved shape for the person's spine, which can lead to problems in the long term.

To avoid these misalignments, it is known to design the mattress in sections with varying hardness in its longitudinal direction. For example, a shoulder zone and a pelvic zone can be made softer than, for example, a chest or stomach zone or as a thigh or lower leg zone. This allows the strain on the respective person's body to be homogenized. At the same time, the aim is to align the spine as straight as possible.

The lying surface of the bed system or the mattress has a longitudinal direction that extends from a foot end of the lying surface to a head end of the lying surface. Furthermore, the lying surface is divided into several lying surface zones in the longitudinal direction, with the respective lying surface zone in the longitudinal direction of the lying surface only extending over a part of the entire lying surface length of the lying surface and in a transverse direction of the lying surface running transversely to the longitudinal direction of the lying surface, it normally extends over the entire lying surface width of the lying surface.

Since the physiognomies of different people can differ greatly from one another, a large number of differently adapted mattresses would have to be provided in order to be able to offer an optimal mattress with a specially adapted hardness distribution for each person. Since this is too expensive, only a limited number of different variants are usually offered, so that for many people there is no optimal solution, but only a compromise.

Furthermore, the weight of the person in question also plays a decisive role in the alignment of the spine when lying on one's side. Here too, a certain level of compensation can be achieved by selecting a suitable degree of hardness. For this purpose, mattresses are often offered in different degrees of hardness. Furthermore, it is basically possible to offer different slats for a slatted frame that have different spring stiffnesses in order to be able to adapt the hardness to the contour and weight of the respective person. Another problem is that, on the one hand, bed systems or mattresses or bases are often purchased for a long period of time, typically more than 10 years, often more than 20 years, while on the other hand, a person's weight can change over time. This can lead to the fact that the hardness distribution, once set appropriately, no longer fits at a later point in time.

From the DE 42 05 179 A1 a bed system is known which has an upper mattress and a lower mattress which are arranged one above the other. A lifting device is integrated into the lower mattress. There is a mattress on the bottom Slatted frame on which the upper mattress lies. A cover covers both mattresses and the slatted frame. The lifting device has two hose-like lifting elements, each of which extends in the longitudinal direction of the bed and is inserted into recesses which are formed on the top of the lower mattress.

From the US 2013/0 174 347 A1 A lying system is known in which a lifting device is arranged between two spring core layers.

The DE 40 23 289 A1 , the DE 33 39 763 A1 and the DE 85 24 608 U1 reveal slatted frames with integrated lifting device.

The present invention deals with the problem of showing an improved or at least a different way of adapting the lying surface to the physiognomy of a person, which is characterized in particular by simple individual adaptability.

This problem is solved according to the invention by the subject matter of the independent claim. Advantageous embodiments are the subject of the dependent claims.

The invention is based on the general idea of adapting the lying surface to the physiognomy of the respective person not by directly adjusting the hardness of the lying surface, but by adjusting the height of the lying surface, which indirectly also leads to an adjustment of the hardness. For this purpose, a lifting device is provided, in particular a lying surface height adjustment device, for adjusting the height of at least one lying surface zone of a lying surface of a bed system. With the help of this lifting device, the height of the lying surface in the respective lying surface zone can be varied in order to determine the physiognomy via the height distribution in the longitudinal direction of the lying surface of the respective person must be taken into account in their page length. A pressure distribution can also be homogenized using the adjusted height distribution. Furthermore, a largely straight alignment of the spine can be achieved via the height distribution. It is not necessary to vary the hardness of the mattress and/or the base along its longitudinal direction. In particular, a mattress can be used that has a constant hardness along its longitudinal direction. A base suspension can also be used that has a constant spring stiffness along its longitudinal direction.

According to a first aspect of the invention, the lifting device has at least one lifting unit which is assigned to exactly one lying area zone and which has at least one pair of lifting elements with two hydraulic or pneumatic lifting elements which are connected to one another via at least one cross member. Furthermore, the lifting device comprises a control device which has at least one pump device for conveying a fluid and a valve device, a plurality of fluid lines for fluidly coupling the lifting elements with the control device and an actuating device for manually actuating the lifting device, which is coupled to the control device in a suitable manner for this purpose , for example wireless or wired. The actuating device is preferably a hand-held device with corresponding buttons or touch surfaces that can be operated manually by the respective user of the bed system or the mattress or the lifting device. An actuation for raising the respective lying area zone is carried out by inflating the lifting elements of the lifting unit assigned to this lying area zone, so that the lifting elements of the respective lifting element pair lift the associated cross member. Inevitably, the respective lying surface zone is also raised accordingly. An actuation for lowering the respective lying area zone is carried out by the lifting elements of this lying area zone assigned lifting unit can be relaxed so that the lifting elements of the respective lifting element pair lower the associated cross member. At the same time, the respective lying area zone is lowered.

The relaxation of the more or less inflated lifting elements can be done actively or passively. During active relaxation, the respective fluid is pumped out of the respective lifting element, for example into the environment or into a tank, using the respective pump device. During passive relaxation, at least gravity causes the respective lifting element to be compressed in order to supply the respective fluid, for example, to the environment or a tank. As a rule, this gravitational effect is supported by a weight, for example of the mattress or a person lying on the mattress. This weight is ultimately transmitted to the respective lifting elements via the respective cross member, whereby these are compressed in order to expel the respective fluid.

According to the first aspect, it can now be provided that such a lifting unit is provided for at least two different lying surface zones and that the actuating device and the control device are designed in such a way that the at least two lifting units can be controlled independently of one another for raising and lowering the respectively assigned lying surface zones . In other words, with the lifting device presented here, at least two separate lying surface zones can be varied in height independently of one another in order to carry out the desired adjustment to the physiognomy of the respective user. This independent adaptability of the different lying surface zones results in increased comfort. For the side position, the straight alignment of the spine is simplified.

According to an advantageous embodiment, at least two such lifting units can be provided, which differ from each other by a different number of pairs of lifting elements. As a result, lying surface zones, which extend over different sized longitudinal sections of the lying surface in the longitudinal direction of the lying surface, can be raised or lowered independently of one another, i.e. their height can be adjusted.

For example, at least one such lifting unit can be designed in such a way that it has only a single pair of lifting elements, whereby the associated lying surface zone can then be in particular a head zone or a lordosis zone or a knee zone. According to the invention, at least one such lifting unit is designed such that it has several pairs of lifting elements, the associated lying surface zone then being able to be in particular a pelvic zone or a shoulder zone.

The individual lying surface zones, each of which is assigned a lifting unit, can directly adjoin one another in the longitudinal direction of the lying surface or can be spaced apart from one another in the longitudinal direction of the lying surface, so that a lying surface zone is arranged in the longitudinal direction of the lying surface, which is not adjustable in height. As a result, adjustable and non-adjustable lying surface zones can follow one another in the longitudinal direction of the lying surface within the lying surface.

The adjustable lying surface zones, which are dimensioned differently in the longitudinal direction of the lying surface, and the non-adjustable lying surface zones that may be present enable a particularly sensitive adaptation to the physiognomy in order to achieve the most homogeneous possible pressure distribution in the longitudinal direction of the lying surface and an improved straight alignment of the spine.

The respective cross member can advantageously extend essentially over the entire width of the lying surface and have a left end section assigned to a left side of the lying surface and a right end section spaced therefrom and assigned to a right side of the lying surface. The wording “essentially” expresses that the respective cross member extends over at least 80%, preferably over at least 90%, of the entire lying surface width.

It can now expediently be provided that in the respective pair of lifting elements, one lifting element forms a left lifting element arranged on the left end section, while the other lifting element forms a right lifting element arranged on the right end section. The lifting elements of the respective pair of lifting elements are thus spaced apart from one another in the transverse direction of the lying surface and only interact with the cross member in the end sections. The cross member is preferably slat-shaped and has a certain spring effect. Furthermore, the lifting elements also expediently have a certain spring elasticity, especially in a pneumatic design.

According to an advantageous development, it can be provided that in the respective lifting unit, which has several pairs of lifting elements, all left lifting elements are fluidly connected to one another and are fluidly coupled to the control device via a common fluid line. Additionally or alternatively, in the respective lifting unit, which has several pairs of lifting elements, all right lifting elements can be fluidly connected to one another in a communicating manner and can be fluidically coupled to the control device via a common fluid line. On the one hand, this simplifies the simultaneous control of all lifting elements of the respective lifting unit on the same side of the lying surface, while on the other hand, the wiring effort is reduced.

In another embodiment, it can be provided that all lifting elements of the lifting device, which are assigned to a left side of the lying surface, each form a left lifting element, while all lifting elements of the lifting device, which are assigned to a right side of the lying surface, each form a right lifting element. The control device can now be equipped with two separate pump devices, namely with a left pump device for inflating all left lifting elements and with a right pump device for inflating all right lifting elements. The two pump devices allow the left and right lifting elements to be filled separately, which significantly reduces the time for filling the lifting elements or the time for raising the respective lying area zone.

Another embodiment suggests that the valve device is designed such that it selectively blocks the fluid lines fluidly connected to the lifting elements or fluidly connects them to the respective pump device or fluidly connects them to an environment. When the fluid line is blocked, the filling status of the respective lifting element is ensured. When the fluid line is connected to the pump device, the respective lifting element can be filled. When the lifting element is connected to the environment, the respective lifting element can be emptied. The control device or a control of the control device can now be designed so that in a rest state in which the lifting elements are neither inflated nor relaxed, it switches off the respective pump device or leaves it switched off and controls the valve device to block the fluid lines leading to the lifting elements. Furthermore, the control device or a control of the control device can be designed in such a way that it switches on the respective pump device to inflate the lifting elements and controls the valve device for connecting the respective pump device to the respective lifting elements. Unless there is one like this Connection with the environment is provided, air is preferably used as the fluid. To inflate the lifting elements, the air is sucked in from the environment. Finally, the control device or a control of the control device for the above-mentioned passive relaxation can expediently be designed in such a way that it switches off the respective pump device or leaves it switched off in order to relax the respective lifting elements and controls the valve device for connecting the respective lifting elements with the environment. The air can then escape from the respective lifting elements into the environment. Alternatively, the control device or a control of the control device for the above-mentioned active relaxation can expediently be designed in such a way that it switches on or leaves the respective pump device switched on to relax the respective lifting elements and controls the valve device for connecting the respective lifting elements with the environment. The air is then pumped from the respective lifting elements into the environment.

It is clear that the valve device for individually raising or lowering separate lying surface zones blocks the associated fluid lines that lead to the corresponding lifting elements, independently of other fluid lines that lead to other lifting elements of a different lying surface zone, or connects them to the pumping device or to the environment can.

Another embodiment provides that the control device also has at least one battery unit for powering the at least one pump device. This is of particular importance since the lifting device in this embodiment does not require a connection to a power network, so that no electromagnetic fields associated with such power connections occur in the area of the lifting device. Such a battery unit can conventional batteries that are not rechargeable or have rechargeable accumulators.

The control device can also have a protective cover in which the respective pump device and the valve device are accommodated. If a battery unit is also provided, it can also be provided that the battery unit can also be accommodated within the protective cover. The same applies to the control mentioned above.

A mattress according to the invention, which is intended for a bed system that has a lying surface, can be designed as a single mattress or as a double mattress and comprises a foam core which has a top core facing the lying surface and a core bottom facing away from the lying surface. Furthermore, the mattress comprises a lifting device of the type described above, in which at least one lifting unit has several pairs of lifting elements which are arranged next to one another in the longitudinal direction of the lying surface. Furthermore, a mattress cover is provided which encloses the foam core and the lifting device and which has the lying surface. The lifting device is therefore integrated into the mattress.

According to the invention, the foam core has a recess on its core underside for the respective pair of lifting elements, into which the respective pair of lifting elements is inserted so that it does not protrude beyond the underside of the core. As a result, the lifting device does not form a disruptive contour on the mattress, so that the mattress according to the invention with the mattress cover cannot be visually distinguished from a conventional mattress.

An embodiment is advantageous in which at least one channel is formed in the foam core, in which at least one of the fluid lines is arranged. This simplifies the integration of the lifting device into the mattress.

A receiving opening can also be formed in the foam core, for example in the area of the foot zone, into which the control device is inserted. This means that the entire lifting device can be accommodated in an integrated form within the foam core. As a result, the mattress according to the invention can be handled like a conventional mattress.

A slatted frame that is suitable for a bed system comprises several slats that run parallel to the transverse direction of the lying surface and are adjacent in the longitudinal direction of the lying surface. Furthermore, the slatted frame is equipped with a lifting device, with each cross member of the lifting device in the slatted frame forming a slat of the slatted frame. In this way, the lifting device is integrated into the slatted frame, so that the slatted frame can be used like a conventional slatted frame.

A bed system according to the invention has a lying surface, a mattress of the type described above, a base spring and a lifting device of the type described above.

For example, and not according to the invention, the lifting device can be designed separately with respect to the mattress and with respect to the base and can be arranged between the mattress and the base. In this case, the lifting device forms a separate intermediate layer that is arranged between the mattress and the base.

According to the invention, a mattress cover is provided which envelops the mattress and the lifting device and combines them into a unit that can be placed on the base. According to the invention, the lying surface is located on this mattress cover.

According to the invention, according to a second aspect, the lifting device is assigned to exactly one lying surface zone and has several pairs of lifting elements, the respective lifting element pair having exactly two hydraulic or pneumatic lifting elements and exactly one cross member which extends parallel to the lying surface transverse direction and which connects the two lifting elements to one another. In other words, the lifting device comprises at least one lifting unit, in which the respective pair of lifting elements is comparatively short in the longitudinal direction of the lying surface and has a modular character. To create larger lifting units, these simple pairs of lifting elements can be lined up in any number.

The cross member can expediently have a cross member width measured in the longitudinal direction of the lying surface, with the respective lifting element having an element length measured in the longitudinal direction of the lying surface and an element width measured in the transverse direction of the lying surface. The width of the cross member is useful smaller than the element length and smaller than the element width. In particular the element length and the element width are each less than three times the cross member width. This results in a particularly compact design for the respective pair of lifting elements.

An advantageous embodiment suggests choosing the element length to be the same size as the element width. In this way, a symmetrical structure can be realized in particular, which simplifies the production of the lifting elements.

In principle, the lifting elements can have any cross section in a plan view that runs parallel to a height direction that runs perpendicular to the lying surface. For example, any polygonal or round cross-sections are conceivable. It can preferably be a rectangular, in particular square, cross section. According to a particularly advantageous embodiment, the lifting elements can have a circular cross section in said top view. This circular cross section is characterized by a particularly favorable relationship between space requirements and achievable stroke in the height direction.

According to the invention, at least one such lifting unit has several pairs of lifting elements which are arranged next to one another in the longitudinal direction of the lying surface. A distance between adjacent cross members measured in the longitudinal direction of the lying surface can be smaller than an element length of the respective lifting element measured in the longitudinal direction of the lying surface. This measure also leads to a particularly compact design in the longitudinal direction of the lying surface.

Another advantageous embodiment suggests that for the respective pair of lifting elements, the two lifting elements are each at one end section of the cross member to be arranged, the cross member having a positioning opening in the respective end section. The respective lifting element can now be equipped with a pin which engages in the respective positioning opening in the respective end section in order to fix the lifting element on the cross member. This creates a positive positioning between the lifting element and the cross member. The pin and positioning opening can expediently be coordinated with one another in such a way that a frictional connection is created at the same time, which prevents the pin from automatically sliding out of the positioning opening. Such a frictional connection can be realized, for example, if the pin is designed to be elastic and is compressed radially when inserted into the positioning opening.

In this second aspect, too, the raising and lowering of the respective cross member is realized by inflating or actively or passively relaxing the respective lifting elements. With this embodiment of the lifting device according to the second aspect, a mattress according to the invention, a slatted frame and a bed system according to the invention can also be implemented as explained above for the first aspect.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, which also represents an advantageous embodiment of the first and second aspects, the lifting device comprises at least one lifting unit which is assigned to exactly one lying surface zone and which has a plurality of pairs of lifting elements, the respective pair of lifting elements comprising two hydraulic or pneumatic lifting elements and has a cross member which extends parallel to the transverse direction of the lying surface and which connects the two lifting elements to one another.

According to this third aspect, the respective lifting element can be equipped with an elastic bellows which, when inflated, expands in a vertical direction perpendicular to the lying surface and which yields in the vertical direction when relaxed. With the help of such a bellows, the respective lifting element can be implemented particularly easily and inexpensively, while at the same time a high level of reliability can be achieved.

The respective bellows can advantageously have an elastic bellows body which has an upper side of the body facing the cross member and supported on the cross member and an underside of the body facing away from the cross member, the upper side of the body and the underside of the body being firmly connected to one another along a body circumference. The bellows body can also expediently be designed in such a way that the upper side of the body rests flatly on the underside of the body within the body circumference when the respective lifting element is in a relaxed state. This results in a particularly flat configuration for the relaxed state, so that overall a comparatively large stroke in the height direction can be achieved with the respective lifting element. In the respective bellows, the bellows body encloses a cavity which is inflated to raise the cross member and which is relaxed to lower the cross member. This cavity is bounded above by the top of the body and bounded below by the bottom of the body. Along the circumference of the body, the top and bottom of the body are tightly connected to one another in order to delimit the cavity laterally or radially.

According to an advantageous embodiment, the bellows body can have a flat cross section parallel to the height direction in an inflated state of the respective lifting element. This means that the bellows body in the inflated state has a bellows height measured in the height direction, which is smaller than a bellows length measured in the longitudinal direction of the lying surface and is smaller as a bellows width measured in the transverse direction of the lying surface. The “inflated” state described here can in particular be the maximum inflated state of the respective lifting element. However, it is preferably any intermediate state between the maximally inflated state and the relaxed state in which the top of the body and the bottom of the body lie flat on top of each other. In the maximally inflated state, in another embodiment, the bellows body can have an elongated cross-section oriented in the height direction or can be essentially spherical.

A particularly advantageous embodiment suggests that the bellows body has two separate elastic web material sections, namely an upper web material section that forms the top of the body and a lower web material section that forms the bottom of the body, the two web material sections being attached to one another along the body circumference. This allows the respective bellows body to be manufactured particularly easily and inexpensively. The web material from which the web material sections are made can be an elastic plastic.

The two web material sections can expediently be attached to one another by lamination. During lamination, the web material sections are materially connected to one another along the body circumference. When laminating, depending on the joining process, the material bond can be achieved directly between the joining partners, i.e. without the use of an auxiliary material. Likewise, when laminating, the joining process can be implemented in conjunction with an auxiliary material, such as an adhesive. In the present case, lamination is preferred, in which the two web material sections are directly connected to one another in a materially bonded manner, for which purpose they are heated in the area of the body circumference and preferably also pressed together.

According to another advantageous embodiment, at least one such lifting unit can have at least two pairs of lifting elements which are arranged next to one another in the longitudinal direction of the lying surface, wherein at least in the case of two lifting elements which are arranged next to one another on the same side of the lying surface in the longitudinal direction of the lying surface, the associated bellows bodies have a continuous, common upper web material section , which forms the associated body tops, and a continuous common lower sheet material section which forms the associated body undersides. In this way, in a lifting unit that has several pairs of lifting elements, the lifting elements of the respective left and right sides can be manufactured particularly easily and inexpensively.

Another embodiment proposes that at least one such lifting unit has at least two pairs of lifting elements which are arranged next to one another in the longitudinal direction of the lying surface, with at least two lifting elements which are arranged next to one another in the longitudinal direction of the lying surface on the same side, i.e. on the left or right side of the lying surface , the associated bellows bodies are attached to one another in the area of their body circumferences via a connecting section. This stabilizes the arrangement of several lifting elements on the respective side of the lying surface.

According to a further development, adjacent lifting elements, whose bellows bodies are fastened to one another via such a connecting section, can be fluidically coupled to one another through the respective connecting section. This gives the connecting section a dual function, as it ensures, on the one hand, the mechanical connection between the adjacent bellows bodies and, on the other hand, the fluidic connection between the cavities enclosed by the bellows bodies.

It can expediently be provided that the respective connecting section is formed by the upper web material section and the lower web material section, with the web material sections also being fastened to one another in the area of the respective connecting section. This measure also simplifies the production of a group of adjacent lifting elements, since only one upper web material section and one lower web material section are required.

Another advantageous embodiment suggests that a separate tubular body is inserted into the respective connecting section, through which the fluidic coupling of the adjacent lifting elements takes place. This tubular body can in particular be enclosed by the connecting section. The tubular body is expediently provided with greater rigidity or stability than the web material with which the connecting section is formed. For example, the tubular body is made of a different plastic than the sheet material, which has a higher rigidity than the plastic of the elastic sheet material. The tubular body ensures that the fluidic connection between adjacent lifting elements is maintained even in the relaxed state. If the tubular body is missing, the upper and lower web material sections could lie flat on top of each other in the connecting section and thereby close the fluidic connection of the adjacent lifting elements, which hinders simultaneous inflation of the neighboring lifting elements of a group.

In this third aspect, too, the mattress, the slatted frame and the bed system can be implemented in the manner described above for the first aspect.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, a mattress for a bed system is proposed, in which a lifting device is integrated. Specifically, the mattress is suitable for a bed system, with the bed system having a lying surface. The mattress has a foam core which has a core top facing the lying surface and a core bottom facing away from the lying surface. The mattress is also equipped with a lifting device, in particular with a lying surface height adjustment device, which serves to adjust the height of at least one lying surface zone of the lying surface. The respective lying surface zone extends in a longitudinal direction of the lying surface only over a part of the entire lying surface length of the lying surface and in a transverse direction of the lying surface running transversely to the longitudinal direction of the lying surface over the entire lying surface width of the lying surface. Furthermore, the mattress is equipped with a mattress cover, which covers the foam core and the lifting device and which has the lying surface. The lifting device integrated into the mattress comprises at least one hydraulically or pneumatically operating lifting unit, a control device which has at least one pump device for conveying a fluid and a valve device, a plurality of fluid lines for fluidly coupling the lifting unit to the control device and an actuating device for manually actuating the lifting device. An actuation for raising the respective lying surface zone is carried out by inflating the respective lifting unit, while an actuation for lowering the respective lying surface zone takes place by relaxing the respective lifting unit. The lifting device can be designed in particular according to one of the above aspects. In principle, however, another lifting device can also be used.

According to the fourth aspect, at least one channel can now be formed in the foam core, in which at least one of the fluid lines is arranged. Through this The fluidic connection of the different components of the lifting device within the mattress is simplified. Furthermore, if the fluid lines run in a channel formed in the foam core, they do not form a disruptive contour on the outside of the foam core, which also reduces the risk of damage to the fluid lines during handling or use of the mattress.

In an advantageous embodiment, the respective channel within the foam core can extend at a distance from the top of the core, at a distance from the bottom of the core and at a distance from a longitudinal side edge of the foam core. The respective long side edge extends parallel to the longitudinal direction of the lying surface. The fluid lines running in the channel are therefore clearly arranged within the outer contour of the foam core, which reduces the risk of damage to the fluid lines.

The respective channel in the foam core can expediently have a channel cross-section that is completely enclosed by the foam material of the foam core. In other words, the respective channel is completely enclosed by the foam core in a channel cross section. As a result, the fluid lines running in the channel are completely surrounded and protected in the circumferential direction by the foam core.

The respective channel can expediently extend in the longitudinal direction of the lying surface over the entire length of the foam core and end axially open at its longitudinal ends on a transverse side edge of the foam core. This simplifies the production of the respective channel within the foam core. The respective transverse side edge extends parallel to the transverse direction of the lying surface.

According to an advantageous development, the foam core can be divided on one side of the respective channel, which faces the adjacent longitudinal side edge of the foam core, up to this longitudinal side edge in such a way that two areas of the foam core lie against one another in a separating surface, the foam core covering the respective channel in the Circumferential direction of the channel from the separating surface to the separating surface undivided. This measure makes it particularly easy to arrange the fluid lines in the channel. The channel is accessible via the separating surface because the foam material is flexible and can be bent open along the long side edge along the separating surface until the channel is visible and accessible. It is clear that the separating surface extends to the adjacent longitudinal side edge of the foam core.

According to the invention, the foam core has a recess on its core underside for the respective lifting unit or for the respective pair of lifting elements, into which the respective lifting unit or the respective pair of lifting elements is inserted so that it does not protrude beyond the underside of the core. In other words, the dimensions of the respective recess are matched to the respective lifting unit or the respective pair of lifting elements so that the lifting unit inserted into the recess or the pair of lifting elements inserted into the recess does not protrude beyond the underside of the core. In this way, the respective lifting unit or pair of lifting elements is integrated into the outer contour of the foam core. The lifting unit or the pair of lifting elements does not form a disruptive contour on the outside or underside of the foam core.

According to an advantageous development, the respective recess on the respective longitudinal side edge can be closed by a closure piece made of foam material. In particular, this closure piece can be on the respective long side edge flush with the foam core. This creates a uniform outer contour on the long side edge of the foam core. Particularly in conjunction with the mattress cover, the visual appearance of a conventional mattress can be achieved.

In another advantageous embodiment, a receiving opening into which the control device is inserted can be formed in the foam core. This means that the control device can also be easily accommodated in the foam core. The receiving opening can expediently be positioned, for example, in a foot area of the foam core.

According to a further development, the respective channel can now connect the receiving opening with the respective recess. The fluid lines can therefore be laid particularly easily from the control device to the respective lifting unit within the respective channel.

It can also be provided that the respective channel intersects the respective recess, so that a connection opening is created through which the respective channel is open to the respective recess. This simplifies the laying of the fluid lines within the foam core.

According to the invention, the respective lifting unit is assigned to exactly one lying surface zone and has several pairs of lifting elements, the respective lifting element pair having two hydraulic or pneumatic lifting elements and a cross member which extends parallel to the transverse direction of the lying surface and which connects the two lifting elements to one another. This gives the respective lifting unit a particularly simple structure with a modular character. In particular, in this way the lifting unit can be adapted to the length of the respective lying surface zone measured in the longitudinal direction of the lying surface adjust gradually, namely by the number of pairs of lifting elements used.

In a further development, one lifting element can form a left lifting element in the respective lifting element, which is arranged in the area of a left side of the lying surface, while the other lifting element forms a right lifting element, which is assigned to a right side of the lying surface. In this configuration, at least two channels are formed in the mattress, namely a left channel in which the respective fluid line for connecting the respective left lifting element is arranged with the control device, and a right channel in which the respective fluid line is arranged for connecting the respective right lifting element is arranged with the control device. This results in a particularly simple structure for the fluidic connection of the individual components of the lifting device within the mattress. At the same time, it is advantageous that all fluid-carrying and/or active components of the lifting device are arranged on the edge of the mattress and do not or only insignificantly affect the central lying surface that is mainly used by the respective user of the mattress.

According to the invention, an actuation for raising the respective lying surface zone takes place in that the lifting elements of the lifting unit assigned to this lying surface zone are inflated, so that the lifting elements of the lifting element pair lift the associated cross member. In contrast to this, an actuation for lowering the respective lying surface zone takes place in that the lifting elements of the lifting unit assigned to this lying surface zone are relaxed, so that the lifting elements of the respective lifting element pair lower the associated cross member. As a result, the lifting device has particularly simple kinematics and can be implemented comparatively inexpensively. It is clear that this Relaxation can also be achieved actively or passively in this fourth aspect, as described above for the first aspect.

Another embodiment suggests that the respective lifting element has an elastic bellows, which expands when inflated in a vertical direction perpendicular to the lying surface and which yields in the vertical direction when relaxed. This also leads to the lifting device being able to be implemented inexpensively.

The mattress presented here can also be used in a bed system with a lying surface and base, as described above for the first aspect.

Further important features and advantages of the invention emerge from the subclaims, from the drawings and from the associated description of the figures based on the drawings.

Preferred exemplary embodiments of the invention are shown in the drawings and are explained in more detail in the following description The same reference numbers refer to the same or similar or functionally the same components.

Fig. 1

eine Seitenansicht eines beispielhaften und nicht der Erfindung entsprechenden Bettsystems mit einer Hubeinrichtung,

Fig. 2

eine Seitenansicht eines beispielhaften und nicht der Erfindung entsprechenden Bettsystems mit der Hubeinrichtung,

Fig. 3

eine Seitenansicht des Bettsystems mit der Hubeinrichtung bei einer erfindungsgemäßen Ausführungsform,

Fig. 4

eine Seitenansicht wie in Fig. 3, jedoch bei einer Weiterbildung der erfindungsgemäßen Ausführungsform,

Fig. 5

eine Seitenansicht des Bettsystems zur Veranschaulichung der Funktion der Hubeinrichtung,

Fig. 6

eine schaltplanartige Prinzipdarstellung der Hubeinrichtung,

Fig. 7

ein horizontaler Längsschnitt einer Matratze des Bettsystems entsprechend Schnittlinien VII in Fig. 4,

Fig. 8

ein Querschnitt einer Hubeinheit im Bereich eines Hubelements in einem entspannten Zustand entsprechend Schnittlinien VIII in Fig. 10,

Fig. 9

ein Querschnitt der Hubeinheit wie in Fig. 8, jedoch in einem aufgepumpten Zustand,

Fig. 10

eine Draufsicht auf ein Hubelementpaar einer Hubeinheit der Hubeinrichtung,

Fig. 11

ein vertikaler Querschnitt der Matratze im Bereich eines Kanals entsprechend Schnittlinien XI in Fig. 7,

Fig. 12

ein Querschnitt wie in Fig. 11, jedoch in einem deformierten Zustand der Matratze,

Fig. 13

eine Draufsicht auf einen Bereich mehrerer Hubelemente einer Hubeinrichtung,

Fig. 14

ein Längsschnitt durch die Hubelemente entsprechend Schnittlinien XIV in Fig.13,

Fig. 15

ein vergrößertes Detail XV aus Fig. 14, jedoch bei einer anderen Ausführungsform.

It shows, schematically,

Fig. 1

a side view of an exemplary bed system not corresponding to the invention with a lifting device,

Fig. 2

a side view of an exemplary bed system not corresponding to the invention with the lifting device,

Fig. 3

a side view of the bed system with the lifting device in an embodiment according to the invention,

Fig. 4

a side view like in Fig. 3 , but in a further development of the embodiment according to the invention,

Fig. 5

a side view of the bed system to illustrate the function of the lifting device,

Fig. 6

a circuit diagram-like schematic representation of the lifting device,

Fig. 7

a horizontal longitudinal section of a mattress of the bed system according to section lines VII in Fig. 4 ,

Fig. 8

a cross section of a lifting unit in the area of a lifting element in a relaxed state according to section lines VIII in Fig. 10 ,

Fig. 9

a cross section of the lifting unit as in Fig. 8 , but in an inflated state,

Fig. 10

a top view of a pair of lifting elements of a lifting unit of the lifting device,

Fig. 11

a vertical cross section of the mattress in the area of a channel corresponding to cutting lines XI in Fig. 7 ,

Fig. 12

a cross section as in Fig. 11 , but in a deformed state of the mattress,

Fig. 13

a top view of an area of several lifting elements of a lifting device,

Fig. 14

a longitudinal section through the lifting elements according to section lines XIV in Fig.13 ,

Fig. 15

an enlarged detail XV Fig. 14 , but in a different embodiment.

According to the Figures 1 to 5 A bed system 1 includes a mattress 2, a base 3 and a lifting device 4. The bed system 1 also has a lying surface 5, which is usually formed on a mattress cover 6, which at least covers the mattress 2. The mattress cover 6 is in the Fig. 1 to 4 presented transparently. The lying surface 5 has a longitudinal direction X and a transverse direction Y running perpendicular to it, which is shown in the side views of the Figures 1 to 5 is perpendicular to the drawing plane. The lying surface 5 is usually divided into several lying surface zones 7, which are in the Figures 1 and 5 are indicated by curly brackets. Each of these lying surface zones 7 extends in the longitudinal direction X of the lying surface only over a part of the total lying surface length 8, which is in Fig. 7 is registered. In the transverse direction Y, the respective lying area zone 7 extends essentially over the entire lying area width 9, which is in Fig. 7 is registered. The individual lying surface zones 7 are assigned to different areas of the body of a user of the bed system 1 when the user lies on the lying surface 5. The mattress 2 is expediently designed as a single mattress. For example, the lying surface has 5 in the Figures 1 to 5 on the left a foot end 10 and on the right a head end 11. The individual lying surface zones 7 can, for example, form a foot zone 12, a knee zone 13, a pelvic zone 14, a lordosis zone 15, a shoulder zone 16 and a head zone 17.

In the exemplary embodiments shown here, the base spring 3 is always designed as a slatted frame 18, which has several slats 19 that run parallel to the transverse direction Y of the lying surface and are adjacent to one another in the longitudinal direction X of the lying surface. The slats 19 can be supported via holding elements 20 on longitudinal beams 21 of the slatted frame 18. Two such longitudinal beams 21 are expediently present, which extend parallel to the longitudinal direction X of the lying surface and each run on a left side or on a right side of the lying surface 5. It is clear that basically any type of base 3 can be considered.

The lifting device 4 is used to adjust the height of at least one of the lying surface zones 7 of the lying surface 5 of the bed system 1. In this respect, the lifting device 4 can also be referred to as a lying surface height adjustment device.

At the in Figure 1 In the example shown, the lifting device 4 is designed separately with respect to the mattress 2 and with respect to the base spring 3 and with respect to a height direction Z, which runs perpendicular to the lying surface 5, arranged between the mattress 2 and the base 3. In this case, the lifting device 4 essentially forms an intermediate layer between the mattress 2 and the base spring 3. The mattress cover 6 can be used as in Figure 1 the mattress 2 and the lifting device 4 envelop together. In addition, a pressure distribution layer 22 can be provided, on which the lifting device 4 rests and which is also covered by the mattress cover 6 in FIG. This pressure distribution layer 22 can be made, for example, from a nonwoven material.

At the in Figure 2 In the second example shown, the lifting device 4 is integrated into the base suspension 3. The base suspension 3 is designed as a slatted frame 18 for this purpose. The lifting device 4 has several cross members 23, which will be described in more detail below. In any case, in the case of the slatted frame 18 with an integrated lifting device 4, the cross members 23 of the lifting device 4 are arranged so that they each form a slat 19 of the slatted frame 18 within the slatted frame 18. The slats 19 of the slatted frame 18 can be made in a conventional manner from plastic or wood. The cross members 23 of the lifting device 4 can be designed as slats and can be made of plastic or wood.

Accordingly Figure 3 The lifting device 4 comprises at least one lifting unit 24. Each lifting unit 24 is assigned to exactly one lying surface zone 7. The lifting device 4 preferably has two or more lifting units 24. In the example of Figures 3 and 6 the lifting device 4 has exactly five lifting units 24. A possible assignment of the lifting units 24 to the individual lying surface zones 7 is in Figure 6 represented symbolically by curly brackets. Accordingly, in the example, the knee zone 13, the pelvic zone 14, the lordosis zone 15, the shoulder zone 16 and the head zone 17 are each assigned a lifting unit 24.

Each lifting unit 24 includes at least one pair of lifting elements 25. Each pair of lifting elements 25 has exactly two hydraulically or pneumatically operating lifting elements 26 as well as one of the cross members 23 already mentioned above, which mechanically connects the two lifting elements 26 to one another.

The lifting device 4 also has a control device 27, which has at least one pump device 28 for conveying a fluid, preferably air. Furthermore, the control device 27 includes a valve device 29. The control device 27 also includes a controller 30, which includes, for example, a microprocessor or the like. The lifting device 4 is further equipped with an actuating device 31 for manually actuating the lifting device 4. The actuating device 31 is preferably a hand-held device that is easy to handle and operate manually. The actuating device 31 can have a keypad 32 for raising, symbolized by an upward-pointing arrow, and for lowering, symbolized by a downward-pointing arrow, for each lying surface zone 7, the height of which should be adjustable. The actuating device 31 is connected in a suitable manner to the control device 27 or to the controller 30. A corresponding connection 33 can be wired or wireless. In the example of Figure 6 The control device 27 includes two separate pump devices 28 and a battery unit 34 for powering the pump devices 28, the controller 30 and the valve device 29. In the case of a wired connection 33 to the operating device 31, the actuating device 31 can also be supplied with electrical energy via the battery unit 34.

An actuation for lifting the respective lying surface zone 7 is carried out by the lifting elements 26 of the lifting unit assigned to this lying surface zone 7 24 are inflated so that the lifting elements 26 of the respective pair of lifting elements 25 lift the associated cross member 23. An actuation for lowering the respective lying surface zone 7 is preferably carried out in that the lifting elements 26 of the lifting unit 24 assigned to this lying surface zone 7 are relaxed, so that the lifting elements 26 of the respective lifting element pair 25 lower the associated cross member 23. The lifting elements 26 can be relaxed actively by pumping the fluid out of the lifting elements 26. Alternatively, the relaxation can also take place passively, so that the fluid escapes from the lifting elements 26 without pumping due to the weight of the lifting elements 26.

According to a first aspect, the actuating device 31 and the control device 27 can be designed such that the various lifting units 24 can be controlled independently of one another to raise and lower the respectively assigned lying surface zone 7. In Figure 5 is shown purely as an example and on an exaggerated scale, a state in which, with the help of the lifting device 4, the different lying surface zones 7, each of which is assigned a lifting unit 24, are set to different heights. The starting height is considered to be the height of the foot zone 12, which in the example is not assigned a lifting unit 24 and whose height is accordingly not adjustable. Purely as an example, it can therefore be as follows Figure 5 the knee zone 13 can be raised by a value H1. The pool zone 14 can be lowered by a value H2. The lordosis zone 15 can be raised by a value H3. The shoulder zone 16 can be lowered by a value H4 and the head zone 17 can be raised by a value H5. The individual values H1 to H5, by which the respective lying surface zone 7 is raised or lowered, are to be understood purely as examples and are intended to illustrate that the individual lifting units 24 of the lifting device 4 are independent of one another can be operated in order to be able to raise or lower the associated lying surface zone 7 independently of the other lying surface zones 7. The respective H1 to H5, by which the respective lying surface zone 7 can be raised or lowered, can also be selected virtually continuously.

According to a second aspect, it can be provided that the respective pair of lifting elements 25 has exactly two lifting elements 26 and exactly one cross member 23, with the cross member 23 connecting the two lifting elements 26 to one another. This creates a modular character for the lifting device 4. The respective pair of lifting elements 25 then represents a module, whereby the number of modules can be easily varied in order to define lifting units 24 of different sizes.

Figure 6 It can also be seen that the individual lifting units 24, which are assigned to the individual lying surface zones 7, are spaced apart from one another in the longitudinal direction X of the lying surface. It can also be seen that the cross members 23 of the lifting element pairs 25 each extend parallel to the transverse direction Y of the lying surface.

In the example of Figure 6 Two different variants of the lifting units 24 are provided, which differ from each other by a different number of lifting element pairs 25. The lifting units 24, which are assigned to the knee zone 13, the lordosis zone 15 and the head zone 17, each have only a single pair of lifting elements 25. In contrast, the lifting units 24 assigned to the pelvic zone 14 and the shoulder zone 16 each have several, in the example shown, exactly three pairs of lifting elements 25.

Furthermore, it is provided that the respective cross member 23 extends essentially over the entire width of the lying surface 9. In Figure 7 are also one Left side 35 and a right side 36 of the lying surface 5 are designated. According to Figure 6 the respective cross member 23 has a left end section 37 assigned to the left side 35 of the lying surface 5 and a spaced-apart right end section 38 assigned to the right side 36 of the lying surface 5. The lifting elements 26 of the respective lifting element pair 25 are therefore on the left end section 37 or on right end section 38, all of the lifting elements 26 assigned to the left side 35 of the lying surface 5, hereinafter also referred to as left lifting elements 26, while all of the lifting elements 26 assigned or facing the right side 36 of the lying surface 5 can also be referred to below as right lifting elements 26 can be designated. Accordingly, the left lifting elements 26 are each arranged on a left end section 37 of the cross member 23, while the right lifting elements 26 are each arranged on a right end section 38 of the respective cross member 23.

The lifting device 4 also includes a plurality of fluid lines 39, which bring about a fluid coupling of the lifting elements 26 with the control device 27. These are expediently flexible hoses.

In the case of the lifting units 24, which each have several pairs of lifting elements 25, i.e. here the lifting units 24 assigned to the pelvic zone 14 and the shoulder zone 16, all left lifting elements 26 can be fluidly connected to one another in a communicating manner and can be fluidly coupled to the control device 27 via a common fluid line 39. Analogously, all right-hand lifting elements 26 of this lifting unit 24 can also be fluidly connected to one another in a communicating manner and can be fluidly coupled to the control device 27 via a common fluid line 39. The within the respective lifting unit 24 in the longitudinal direction of the lying surface X adjacent lifting elements 26 are coupled to one another via a suitable fluidic connection, which is in Figure 6 shown in simplified form and designated 40.

In the lifting device 4 shown here, it is expediently provided that the two separate pump devices 28 are operated as a left pump device 28l and as a right pump device 28r. The left pump device 28l is used to inflate all left lifting elements 26, i.e. all lifting elements 26 that are assigned to the left lying surface side 35. The right pump device 28 is used to inflate all right lifting elements 28, i.e. all lifting elements 26, which are assigned to the right lying surface side 36. This doubles the pumping power of the control device 27, whereby the time for raising the respective lying surface zone 7 can be halved. If an active relaxation of the lifting elements 26 is carried out, the left lifting elements 26 can be pumped out with the left pump device 28l, while the right lifting elements 26 are pumped out at the same time with the right pump device 28r.

The valve device 29 is expediently designed in such a way that it can selectively block the fluid lines 39 which are fluidly connected to the lifting elements 26 or fluidly connect them to the respective pump device 28 or fluidly connect them to an environment 41. A connecting line leading to the environment 41 is in Figure 6 marked 42. The pump devices 28 expediently also suck in the respective fluid, preferably air, from the environment 41. Corresponding suction lines are in Figure 6 marked 43. It is clear that in principle a single ambient connection on the control device 27 is sufficient to be able to suck in or expel air. Instead of a connection to the environment 41, a tank can in principle also be provided, so that In principle, a liquid can also be used as a fluid. Furthermore, the connecting line 42 can be omitted if an active relaxation of the lifting elements 26 is to be realized by reversing the conveying direction of the pump devices 28.

The control device 27 or its controller 30 can now be designed in such a way that in a rest state in which the lifting elements 26 should neither be inflated nor relaxed, it switches off or leaves the respective pump device 28 switched off and the valve device 29 to block the Fluid lines 39 leading to lifting elements 26 are controlled. In this case, the air volume encompassed by the respective lifting element 26 is constant or included. Furthermore, the control device 27 or its controller 30 is expediently designed so that it switches on the respective pump device 28 to inflate the respective lifting elements 26 and controls the valve device 29 for connecting the respective pump device 28 to the respective lifting elements 26. If, for example, the head zone 17 is to be raised, the control device 27 switches on both pump devices 28 and only opens the fluid lines 39, which lead to the lifting elements 26 of the lifting unit 24, which is assigned to the head zone 17. All other fluid lines 39 remain closed.

Furthermore, the control device 27 or its controller 30 can expediently be designed in such a way that it switches off or leaves the respective pump device 28 switched off or leaves it switched off in order to passively relax the respective lifting elements 26 and controls the valve device 29 for connecting the respective lifting elements 26 with the environment 41. For example, to lower the pool zone 14, the fluid lines 39 are opened, which lead to the lifting elements 26 of the lifting unit 24, which is assigned to the pool zone 14. The pumping devices 28 do not have to be switched on for this purpose, since the weight of the person lying on the lying surface 5 is usually sufficient for the lifting elements 26 to relax. In the case of active relaxation, the pump devices 28 can be operated with the reverse conveying direction in order to suck the air out of the relevant lifting elements 26 and blow it out into the environment 41.

The control device 27 can be equipped with a protective cover 44, which can be designed, for example, as a bag or as a housing. The essential components of the control device 27 are housed in the protective cover 44, such as the pump devices 28, the valve device 29 and, if necessary, the control 30 and the battery unit 34.

Accordingly Figure 10 the respective cross member 23 has a cross member width 45, which is measured in the longitudinal direction X of the lying surface. The respective lifting element 26 has an element length 46 measured in the lying surface's longitudinal direction 46 and is smaller than the element width 47. The element length 46 and the element width 47 are expediently smaller than three times the cross member width 45. This applies in particular to the completely relaxed state of the lifting elements 26 and applies even more to a more or less inflated state of the Lifting elements 26. In the example shown, the element length 46 is the same size as the element width 47. Furthermore, the lifting elements 26 in the example in the top view, which are oriented parallel to the height direction Z and which are in the Figures 6 , 7 and 10 is perpendicular to the plane of the drawing, each having a circular cross section.

According to Figure 6 In the case of the lifting units 24, which have several pairs of lifting elements 25, here in the case of the lifting units 24 assigned to the pelvic zone 14 and the shoulder zone 16, it is provided that the pairs of lifting elements 25 are arranged next to one another in the longitudinal direction X of the lying surface, with a distance 48 measured in the longitudinal direction X of the lying surface Cross member 23 within the respective lifting unit 24 is, on the one hand, expediently constant and, on the other hand, is smaller than the element length 46 of the affected lifting elements 26 measured in the longitudinal direction X of the lying surface. This also applies in particular to the completely relaxed state of the lifting elements 26 and even more so for one more or less inflated state of the lifting elements 26.

As mentioned, according to the Fig. 6 and 8 to 10 In the respective pair of lifting elements 25, the two lifting elements 26 are each arranged on an end section 37 or 38 of the cross member 23. In the preferred embodiments shown here, the cross member 23 has at least one positioning opening 49 in the respective end section 37, 38, into which a pin 50, which is formed on the respective lifting element 26, engages in a form-fitting manner. This results in a fixation of the respective lifting element 26 on the associated cross member 23. This attachment is particularly clear in the sectional views of Figures 8 and 9 recognizable.

According to the Figures 8 and 9 and according to a third aspect, the respective lifting element 26 comprises an elastic bellows 51, which expands in the height direction Z when inflated and which yields in the height direction Z when it relaxes. In Figure 8 a completely relaxed state is shown for the respective lifting element 26 or for the bellows 51. In Figure 9 On the other hand, a, preferably maximally, inflated state is shown for the respective lifting element 26 or for the bellows 51. It can be seen that the lifting element 26 or the bellows 51 encloses a cavity 52 which is connected via the respective fluid line 39 can be inflated or relaxed. For this purpose, the respective fluid line 39 is connected to the bellows 51 in a suitable manner. The respective bellows 51 expediently has an elastic bellows body 53, which has an upper side of the body 54 facing the cross member 23 and supported on the cross member 23 and an underside of the body 55 facing away from the cross member 23. The top of the body 54 and the bottom of the body 55 are firmly connected to one another along a body circumference 56. According to Figure 8 the bellows body 53 is designed so that the top of the body 54 in the in Figure 8 shown relaxed state of the lifting element 26 rests flatly within the body circumference 56 on the underside of the body 55. In extreme cases, the cavity 52 can be virtually completely emptied.

According to Figure 9 In the inflated state of the lifting element 26, the bellows body 53 can have a flat cross section parallel to the height direction Z, so that an element height 57 measured parallel to the height direction Z is smaller than the element length 46 and is smaller than the element width 47. This can also be done in particular for the full inflated state of the lifting element 26 apply.

According to the Figures 8 and 9 The bellows body 53 expediently has two separate elastic web material sections, namely an upper web material section 58, which forms the body top 54, and a lower web material section 59, which forms the body bottom 55. The two web material sections 58, 59 are fastened to one another along the body circumference 56. The web material sections 58, 59 can expediently be attached to one another by lamination. A corresponding material connection is in the Figures 8 and 9 indicated and labeled 60. The material connection 60 runs along the body circumference 56, similar to a weld seam.

In a lifting unit 24, for example according to Fig. 13 and 14 has several pairs of lifting elements 25, for example in the case of the lifting units 24, which are assigned to the pelvic zone 14 or the shoulder zone 16, it can be provided that in the case of the lifting elements 26, which are arranged next to one another on the same lying surface side 35 or 36 in the longitudinal direction X of the lying surface, the associated bellows bodies 53 have a continuous, common upper web material section 58, which forms the associated body tops 54 of these lifting elements 26, and a continuous, common lower web material section 59, which forms the associated body undersides 55 of these lifting elements 26. In the example of Figure 13 Thus, with the help of a common upper web material section 58 and with the help of a common lower web material section 59, three adjacent bellows bodies 53 can be implemented as a quasi unit.

If in accordance with the Figures 13 and 14 If several lifting elements 26 are arranged next to one another in the longitudinal direction This can be achieved particularly easily using the above-mentioned continuous upper and lower web material sections 58, 59. The above-mentioned fluidic coupling 40 can now expediently take place through the respective connecting section 61, so that the bellows bodies 53 are fluidically coupled to one another through the respective connecting section 61. Accordingly, for the respective group of lifting elements 26 lying next to one another and fluidly coupled to one another, only one common fluid line 39 is required in order to synchronously inflate or depressurize all lifting elements 26 of this group.

According to Figure 15 A separate tubular body 62 can be inserted into the respective connecting section 61, through which the fluidic coupling 40 of the adjacent lifting elements 26 takes place inside the connecting section 61. This ensures a permanently open fluidic coupling 40 of the adjacent lifting elements 26 or bellows bodies 53.

The connecting sections 61 can be formed by the common upper web material section 58 and by the common lower web material section 59, the web material sections 58, 59 also being fastened to one another in the area of the respective connecting section 61. Accordingly, the continuous material connection 60 also extends through the connecting sections 61. In particular, the two web material sections 58, 59 lie against each other on both sides of the tubular body 62 and envelop it.

As already mentioned above with reference to the Figures 3 to 5 has been explained, the lifting device 4 can be integrated into the mattress 2. According to the Figures 1 to 5 and 7 The mattress 2 expediently has a foam core 63, which has an upper core side 64 facing the lying surface 5 and a core underside 65 facing away from the lying surface 5. As explained, the mattress 2 includes the lifting device 4 and a mattress cover 6, which encloses the foam core 63 and the lifting device 4. The mattress cover 6 has the lying surface 5.

According to a fourth aspect, it can now be provided that the foam core 63 according to Figure 7 has at least one channel 66, in which at least one of the fluid lines 39 is arranged. Figure 7 shows a horizontal longitudinal section, which is along section lines VII in Figure 4 extends above the lifting device 4 through the foam core 63. In Figure 7 A pair of lifting elements 25 is indicated purely as an example, which itself is shown in this sectional view is not visible, but is covered by the material of the foam core 63. This pair of lifting elements 25 is shown here visibly only for illustrative purposes in order to indicate the laying of the fluid lines 39 up to the lifting elements 26. It can be seen that the fluid lines 39 run largely within the respective channel 66. In particular, the respective channel 66 extends within the foam core 63 at a distance from the top side of the core 64, at a distance from the bottom side of the core 65 and also at a distance from a longitudinal side edge 67 of the foam core 63. The extends accordingly respective channel 66 inside the foam core 63. According to Figure 7 It can be provided that the respective channel 66 extends in the longitudinal direction X of the lying surface over the entire length of the foam core 63, which essentially corresponds to the length of the lying surface 8. In particular, the respective channel 66 can end axially open at a transverse side edge 68 of the foam core 63. The two transverse side edges 67 extend in the longitudinal direction X of the lying surface and are spaced apart from one another in the transverse direction Y of the lying surface. The transverse side edges 68 of the foam core 63 extend parallel to the transverse direction Y of the lying surface and are spaced apart from one another in the longitudinal direction X of the lying surface. Can be seen in the example Figure 7 exactly two channels 66 are provided, each of which is arranged in the area of one of the two longitudinal side edges 67, i.e. on the left side 35 of the lying surface 5 or on the right side 36 of the lying surface 5 and extends completely through the foam core 63 in the longitudinal direction X of the lying surface , so that they end open on both transverse side edges 68.

In a channel cross-section running transversely to the longitudinal direction of the respective channel 66, the respective channel 66 can expediently be completely enclosed by the foam core 63. This is in the section view of the Figure 11 reproduced. The channel 66 preferably extends parallel to the longitudinal direction X of the lying surface. The channel cross section expediently runs perpendicular to the longitudinal direction X of the lying surface, which is in Figure 11 runs perpendicular to the drawing plane. According to the in Figure 11 In the specific embodiment shown, it can be provided that the foam core 63 is divided on a side 69 of the respective channel 66, which faces the adjacent longitudinal side edge 67 of the foam core 63. This division of the foam core 63 extends continuously from the respective channel 66 to the adjacent longitudinal side edge 67. The division takes place in such a way that in the foam core 63 two foam core areas 70 and 71 rest against one another in a separating surface 72. For this purpose, the foam core 63 is divided in the area of this separating surface 72. Otherwise, the foam core 63 is undivided in the area of the respective channel 66. Accordingly, the foam core 63 encloses the respective channel 66 in the figure Figures 11 and 12 Circumferential direction 73 of the channel 66 indicated by a double arrow from the separating surface 72 to the separating surface 72, i.e. undivided over 360 °. This design makes it possible to introduce the respective fluid line 39 laterally, i.e. from the respective longitudinal side edge 67, into the channel 66. Since the foam core 63 consists of an elastic material, namely foam, the foam core 63 can be adjusted accordingly Figure 12 simply deform elastically, such that the core regions 70, 71 lift off the separating surface 72 and release a lateral opening 77 to the channel 66, through which the respective channel 66 is accessible.

According to Figure 7 A receiving opening 74 can also be formed in the foam core 63, into which the control device 27 is inserted. In particular, the control device 27 is inserted with its protective cover 44 into the receiving opening 74. The receiving opening 74 can be accessible, for example, on the transverse side edge 68, which is assigned to the foot zone 12, in order to be able to insert the control device 27 and remove it for maintenance purposes or to change the battery unit 34.

According to the Figures 3 and 4 The foam core 63 can be on the underside of the core 65 for the respective lifting unit 24 or for each pair of lifting elements 25 Have recess 75. The associated lifting unit 24 or the associated pair of lifting elements 25 is inserted into the respective recess 75. The recess 75 and the pair of lifting elements 25 are expediently coordinated with one another in such a way that the respective pair of lifting elements 25 does not protrude beyond the underside of the core 65.

According to Figure 4 It can also be provided that the respective recess 75 on the respective longitudinal side edge 67 is closed by a closure body 76. The closure body 76 expediently consists of the same foam material as the foam core 63. The respective closure body 76 is expediently arranged so that it is laterally flush with the longitudinal side edge 67. The channels 66 and the receiving openings 75 can expediently be coordinated with one another in terms of their positioning and dimensioning within the foam core 63 in such a way that the respective channel 66 intersects the recesses 75 in such a way that connecting openings are created between the respective channel 66 and the respective recess 75. Furthermore, the channels 66 in the foam core 63 can be arranged so that the receiving opening 74 is connected to the recesses 75 through the channels 66.

Claims (12)

1. Mattress (2) for a bed system (1) having a lying surface (5),

   - with a foam core (63) having a core upper side (64) facing the lying surface (5) and a core underside (65) facing away from the lying surface (5),

   - with a lifting device (4) for adjusting the height of at least one lying surface zone (7) of the lying surface (5) of the bed system (1), wherein the respective lying surface zone (7) extends in a longitudinal direction (X) of the lying surface (5) over only a part of the entire lying surface length (8) of the lying surface (5) and in a transverse direction (Y) of the lying surface (5) running perpendicular to the longitudinal direction (X) of the lying surface (5) over the entire lying surface width (9) of the lying surface (5),

   - with a mattress cover (11), which envelops the foam core (63) and the lifting device (4) and which has the lying surface (5),

   - wherein the lifting device (4) has at least one lifting unit (24), which is specifically assigned to a lying surface zone (7) and which has at least one lifting element pair (25), which has exactly two hydraulic or pneumatic lifting elements (26) and exactly one cross member (23), which extends parallel to the transverse direction of the lying surface (Y) and connects the two lifting elements (26) to one another,

   - wherein at least one such lifting unit (24) has a plurality of lifting element pairs (25), which are arranged next to one another in the longitudinal direction of the lying surface (X),

   - wherein the lifting device (4) has a control device (27), which has at least one pumping device (28) for conveying a fluid and a valve device (29),

   - wherein the lifting device (4) has a plurality of fluid lines (39) for fluidic coupling of the lifting elements (26) with the control device (27),

   - wherein the lifting device (4) has an actuating device (31) for manually actuating the lifting device (4),

   - wherein an actuation to raise the respective lying surface zone (7) is effected by the lifting elements (26) of the lifting unit (24) assigned to this lying surface zone (7) being inflated, such that the lifting elements (26) of the respective lifting element pair (25) raise the associated cross member (23),

   - wherein an actuation to lower the respective lying surface zone (7) is effected by the lifting elements (26) of the lifting unit (24) assigned to this lying surface zone (7) being deflated, such that the lifting elements (26) of the respective lifting element pair (25) lower the associated cross member (23),

   - wherein the foam core (63) has a recess (75) on its core underside (65) for the respective lifting element pair (25), into which the respective lifting element pair (25) is inserted such that it does not protrude beyond the core underside (65).
2. Mattress (2) according to claim 1,
   characterised in that
   the respective recess (75) is sealed on the respective longitudinal side edge (67) of the foam core (63) by a closure piece (76) made from a foam material.
3. Mattress (2) according to claim 1 or 2,
   characterised in that

   - at least one channel (66) is formed in the foam core (63), in which at least one of the fluid lines (39) is arranged.
4. Mattress (2) according to claim 1 to 3,
   characterised in that

   - a receiving opening (74) is formed in the foam core (63), in which the control device (27) is inserted.
5. Mattress (2) according to any of the preceding claims,
   characterised in that

   - the cross member (23) has a cross member width (45) measured in the longitudinal direction of the lying surface (X),

   - the respective lifting element (26) has an element length (46) measured in the longitudinal direction of the lying surface (X) and an element width (47) measured in the transverse direction of the lying surface (Y),

   - the element length (46) and the element width (47) are each smaller than three times the cross member width (45).
6. Mattress (2) according to claim 5,
   characterised in that
   the element length (46) is the same as the element width (47).
7. Mattress (2) according to any of the preceding claims,
   characterised in that
   the lifting elements (26) each have a circular cross-section in a plan view, which runs parallel to a vertical direction (Z) extending perpendicular to the lying surface (5).
8. Mattress (2) according to any of the preceding claims,
   characterised in that

   - for the lifting unit (24) having a plurality of lifting element pairs (25), a distance (48) between adjacent cross members (23) measured in the longitudinal direction of the lying surface (X) is smaller than an element length (46) measured in the longitudinal direction of the lying surface (X) of the respective lifting element (26).
9. Mattress (2) according to any of the preceding claims,
   characterised in that

   - for the respective lifting element pair (25), the two lifting elements (26) are each arranged in an end section (37, 38) of the cross member (23),

   - the cross member (23) has a positioning hole (49) in the respective end section (37, 38),

   - the respective lifting element (26) has a pin (50), which engages in the respective positioning hole (49) to fix the lifting element (26) to the cross member (23) in the respective end section (37, 38).
10. Mattress (2) according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that

    - one such lifting unit (24) is provided for at least two different lying surface zones (7),

    - the actuating device (31) and the control device (27) are configured such that the at least two lifting units (24) can be controlled independently of one another for raising and lowering the respective assigned lying surface zones (7).
11. Mattress (2) according to any of the preceding claims,
    characterised in that
    the respective lifting element (26) has an elastic bellows (51), which expands during inflation in a vertical direction (Z) extending perpendicular to the lying surface (5) and contracts in a vertical direction (Z) during deflation.
12. Bed system (1) with a lying surface (5),

    - with a mattress (2) according to any of the preceding claims, and

    - with a spring base (3).

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