JP2002238707A - Cushion - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent the feel of bottoming and to impart a soft contact feel approximate to that of a water bed relating to a cushion of a structure erected in parallel with partitions to an approximately grid form in plane view. SOLUTION: This cushion B made of elastomer is integrally molded with the partitions b1, b2, and b3 erected in parallel to the approximately grid form in plane view. The thicknesses of the respective partitions b1, b2, and b3 are thinner at the upper side edges than at the lower side of the partitions. The upper edges are lithely and elasticity deformed before the partitions b1, b2, and b3 buckle. The soft feel of use approximate to that of the water bed is exhibited by the good feel of touch and the cushion properties free of the feel of bottoming.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a bed for preventing floor rubbing, and a cushion used for ordinary beds, chairs, sofas and the like.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in a cushion used for a bed or the like, thin partition walls are arranged side by side in a substantially lattice shape in plan view.
There is a cushion in which a partition wall is made of a semi-hard material (Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 52-15307). Since the partition wall is made of semi-rigid material, it has a cushioning property by tilting the partition wall to the side, so it lacks softness when lying down and is inferior to soft buffering capacity corresponding to small loads. there were. In particular, the repulsive force felt when the user's body touches the partition wall constituting the cushion and starts to compress has a hardness. Further, four partition walls are concentrated at the intersection of the partition walls arranged in a grid to form a cross. For this reason, the flexibility is impaired at the center of each intersection of the cushion, and a repulsive force that partially protrudes is generated, so that when the user lies down on the contact surface of the cushion, the user may feel uncomfortable.

On the other hand, the applicant of the present application has made a new proposal for the cushion having the above-described configuration in order to solve the above-mentioned problem of the cushion (Japanese Patent Application No. 2000-2000).
244554). As described above, this cushion has a structure in which thin vertically long partition walls are arranged side by side in a lattice shape in a plan view, and the partition walls are formed by using an elastomer such as a thermoplastic elastomer or rubber. In this case, there is no feeling of bottoming out, and good buffering properties can be maintained for a long period of time. Although the above-mentioned cushion has good cushioning properties, it exhibits a cushioning property by the buckling of the loaded partition walls, so that it is compared with a cushion containing a liquid or gel-like material such as a water bed. Then, the initial contact feeling that the user feels when lying down is different, and it is difficult to obtain a soft contact feeling like a water bed.

[0004] As described above, the present invention relates to a cushion having a structure in which thin-walled partitions are arranged side by side in a substantially lattice shape in plan view.
It is an object of the present invention to provide not only a feeling of bottoming but also a soft contact feeling similar to a water bed.

[0005]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, a cushion according to the present invention is a cushion having a structure in which thin partition walls having elasticity are integrally formed side by side in a lattice shape in a plan view. The thickness of the partition wall is made thinner at the upper edge portion than at the lower side of the partition wall. Thereby, it is possible to provide the upper edge portion of each partition, which is the contact surface of the cushion, with flexible deformability like a brush tip. It should be noted that claims 2 to 4 will be described together in embodiments.

[0006]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS One embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. Cushion B shown in FIGS. 1 and 2
Is formed integrally using an elastomer. The partition wall b2 and the partition wall b1, which are thin and long, are arranged side by side in a lattice shape in a plan view, and are further formed so as to surround the outer periphery thereof with the partition wall b3. It is. The above-described cushion B is integrally molded using a mold a as shown in FIG.

The molding die a includes a lower die 1 and an upper die 2 and a mold frame 3.
It consists of: The lower die 1 has a predetermined number of middle protrusions 1b integrally formed on the upper surface of the base 1a so as to protrude in the vertical and horizontal directions via a space serving as an insertion portion 1c. The above-mentioned middle convex portions 1b and the insertion portions 1c are arranged in a staggered pattern in a plan view (FIG. 3). On the other hand, upper mold 2
Has a predetermined number of projections 2b formed integrally on the lower surface of the base 2a in the vertical and horizontal directions via insertion spaces 2c. In addition, a spacer protrusion 2d that projects relatively small from the lower surface of the base 2a in each of the above-described insertion spaces 2c is integrally formed so as to protrude. The respective protrusions 2d and the protrusions 2b formed in the insertion space 2c are arranged in a staggered manner like a checkerboard pattern in plan view, and are inserted into the respective insertion portions 1c of the lower mold 1 at the time of mold matching. Each is configured to be inserted. In addition, each of the intermediate convex portions 1b of the lower molding die 1 is inserted into each of the insertion spaces 2c of the upper molding die 2, and the leading end surfaces thereof are brought into contact with the end surfaces 2d 'of the retaining protrusions 2d in a shape-matching manner. It is configured in.

In a state where the upper and lower molding dies 1 and 2 are put together, the molding dies a are pressed with the molding frames 3 constituting the molding frame 3 against the four surfaces around the bases 1a and 2a to form a square shape in plan view. The mold 3 is constituted. Therefore, as described above, when the upper and lower molding dies 1 and 2 and the mold frame 3 are matched, each joined body of the middle convex portion 1b of the lower molding die 1 and the holding convex portion 2d of the upper molding die 2, A gap, that is, a cavity 4 for forming a lattice-shaped cushion B, which is a product, is formed between each protrusion 2b of the upper mold 2 (FIG. 4).

After the molds are matched as described above, the cavity 4 is filled with a material made of a thermoplastic elastomer. Although the elastomer for forming the cushion of the present invention will be described in detail later, a thermoplastic elastomer is particularly preferable from the viewpoint of recyclability and processability. Specifically, an elastomer such as styrene, polyurethane, polyolefin, polyvinyl chloride, polyester, or polyamide is used.

As described above, the thermoplastic elastomer cushion B molded by using the molding die a is used as a cushion for a bed, a chair, a sofa or the like. A large bed or the like is shown in FIG. In addition, the cushions B can be used as a bed cushion by integrating the cushions B side by side in a vertical and horizontal manner by bonding or stapling. The cushion B formed in a substantially lattice shape in plan view is
It is constituted by partition walls b1, b2, b3 of vertical, horizontal and outer periphery. Also, the partition walls b1, b2, b3 arranged in a grid pattern
Functions as a highly elastic cushion by buckling when the weight of the user is added.

That is, the above-mentioned partitions b1, b2, b3 are:
Each partition b1, b2 serving as a contact surface of the cushion B is formed to have a tapered cross section so that the thickness of the upper edge portion of the partition is smaller than the thickness of the lower edge side (FIG. 2). The flexibility of b3 gradually weakens from the lower side toward the upper edge, and the upper edge shows good deformability. Therefore, the above-mentioned partition b1,
In the initial state in which the user comes into contact with the contact surface, the cushion B made of b2 and b3 first elastically bends and deforms the softest upper edge to exhibit a soft feeling of contact, and furthermore, the weight of the user. , B1, b2, b3
Near the center of the buckle and is elastically deformed moderately, exhibiting good cushioning properties without a feeling of bottoming or partial protrusion (FIG. 5). In addition, the partition walls b1, b2, and b3 that constitute the cushion B of the above-described embodiment include a central convex portion 1b and a protective convex portion 2d.
Although the surface on the side where is inserted is made substantially perpendicular and the surface on the side where the projection 2b is inserted is slightly tapered, the partition wall is tapered as shown in FIG. Like b1 ', it may be formed by attaching the same angle to both surfaces.

Next, the cushion B2 shown in FIG. 7 will be described. The thin cushion B2 having elasticity is an elastomeric cushion in which, similarly to the cushion B described above, thin partition walls b1, b2, and b3 having elasticity are integrally formed side by side in a lattice shape in a plan view. Partition b
1, b2, b3 are tapered at the upper edge B10.

That is, the cushion B2 is composed of partition walls b1, b
2, b3 have a substantially constant thickness except for the upper edge B10,
The thickness is tapered in the vicinity of the upper edge B10 (FIG. 7A). Therefore, the partition walls b1, b2, b3
In the initial state in which the user comes into contact with the contact surface, the upper edge portion B10 having a relatively strong taper is partially and flexibly bent and deformed to exhibit a softer touch feeling (FIG. 7-b). Then, as the load of the user increases, the vicinity of the center of each of the partition walls b1, b2, and b3 bends into a rectangular shape or an S shape, and is moderately elastically deformed (indicated by a phantom line), giving a feeling of bottoming. It exhibits good cushioning properties without the feeling of protrusion caused by the intersections of the partition walls. This feeling of contact and cushioning is very soft, similar to that of a water bed. Note that the height and the taper ratio of the thickness of the upper edge portion of the partition wall, which tapers the thickness as described above, may be appropriately changed in accordance with the elastic force and the thickness of the elastomer.

Next, the cushion B3 shown in FIG. The cushion B3 is, like the cushion B2 described above, a thin partition wall b1, b having elasticity.
2 and b3 are elastomer cushions integrally molded in parallel in a lattice shape in plan view.
The thickness of the upper edge b11 is tapered stepwise by forming a plurality of steps 10 near the upper edge b11. In the present embodiment, two steps 10 are formed in the tapered portion, and the thickness of the taper is formed in three steps, but may be two steps or four or more steps. Also, by forming a plurality of steps as described above, when tapering the thickness of the diaphragm, the height of the upper edge portion to be tapered may be increased or decreased, for example, from the lower edge portion of the partition to the upper edge. An appropriate number of steps may be formed on the entire surface of the edge to form a taper like the cushion B over the entire height of the diaphragm.

The cushion B3 is tapered by forming a step 10 along the vicinity of the upper edges of the partitions b1, b2 and b3 in the same manner as the cushion B2. Has excellent cushioning properties. In addition, since the steps 10 are formed in the tapered portions of the partition walls b1, b2, and b3, the portions bent by the load and the bent form (buckling form) can be set relatively easily, so that the elasticity of each partition wall can be improved. The repulsive force is made uniform, and the cushioning property on the contact surface can be equalized at each part.

Next, a bed cushion B shown in FIG.
40 will be described. The cushion B40 is used as a cushion for a normal bed or a bed for preventing floor rubbing, and the cushion B (or B
2, B3), a cushion body B41 in which cushions B constructed in the same manner as those of the cushion body B
And a frame B42 for holding the frame 41. The cushion body B41 has the cushions B arranged side by side in the vertical and horizontal directions on the same plane, and the outer peripheral partition walls b3 are fixed to each other using a stapler or an adhesive, so that the floor surface of the bed is secured. It is configured as a one-piece cushion approximately the same size as.

The cushion body B4 constructed as described above
1 is to fit into a frame B42 formed by using a wooden board or the like, and to attach a partition b3 on the outer peripheral portion of the cushion body B41 to the inner peripheral surface of the frame B42 or to use a fastening means such as a stapler 45 or the like. The entire circumference of the cushion body B41 is held by the frame body B42 by being attached and fixed by using. The cushion B40 configured as described above is preferably covered with a cloth cover 44 or the like. And cushion B4
No. 0 is used by being placed on the floor C1 of the bed. That is, the cushion B40 is the same as the cushions B to B3 described above.
As well as having good cushioning properties, it has a soft touch similar to a water bed. Further, since the weight of the user can be received in a form in which the outer peripheral portion of the cushion body B41 is hung by the frame body B42, for example, even when the user turns over and a load is applied to the vicinity of the outer periphery of the cushion B40. In addition, it is possible to prevent a problem that the outer peripheral portion of the cushion body B41 is crushed and the floor is attached.

Incidentally, the partition walls b1, b2, b3 constituting the cushion B40 of this embodiment have a height of 10 to 300 m.
m and a width of about 5 to 200 mm. When the cushion B is used as a normal bed or a bed for preventing bedsore, the partition walls b1, b2 and b3 are the ratio of the partition wall b1 arranged in the vertical direction of the bed to the partition wall b2 arranged in the horizontal direction of the bed. Should match the ratio of the bed length and width.

Incidentally, the elastomer used in the present invention is a thermoplastic elastomer or rubber. Thermoplastic elastomers behave as rubber-like elastics at room temperature,
It is a substance that plastically deforms when the temperature rises. As the thermoplastic elastomer, styrene-based thermoplastic elastomer, polyolefin-based thermoplastic elastomer, polyvinyl chloride-based thermoplastic elastomer, polyester-based thermoplastic elastomer, polyurethane-based thermoplastic elastomer, polyamide-based thermoplastic elastomer, 1,2-polybutadiene-based Examples include thermoplastic elastomers, fluororubber-based thermoplastic elastomers, chlorinated polyethylene-based thermoplastic elastomers, and dynamically crosslinked thermoplastic elastomers.

The styrene-based thermoplastic elastomer is a block copolymer using polystyrene as a hard segment in a molecule and polydiene such as polybutadiene or polyisoprene as a soft segment. For example,
Styrene-butadiene-styrene block copolymer (SBS), styrene-isoprene-styrene block copolymer (SIS), styrene-ethylene-butylene-styrene block copolymer (SEBS), styrene-ethylene-propylene-styrene block copolymer (SEPS), etc. And a mixture of a hydrogenated styrene-butadiene block copolymer and polypropylene.

Examples of the polyolefin-based thermoplastic elastomer include EPDM, a mechanical blend (blend type) of an olefin-based rubber such as isobutylene-isoprene rubber and a polyolefin resin, and a mixture of an olefin-based rubber and a polyolefin resin in the presence of an organic peroxide. Blends in which a rubber phase is partially cross-linked by kneading (partially cross-linked blend type), a composite in which polypropylene is a continuous phase and cross-linked EPDM is a dispersed phase (completely cross-linked blend type), and the like are used. Examples of the polyvinyl chloride-based thermoplastic elastomer include a blend of polyvinyl chloride and a nitrile rubber or a partially cross-linked nitrile rubber.

Examples of the polyester-based thermoplastic elastomer include, for example, polyester / polyether type produced by subjecting dimethyl terephthalate / 1,4-butanediol and polytetramethylene ether glycol to a transesterification / polycondensation reaction. A polyester / polyester type elastomer produced by subjecting an elastomer, dimethyl terephthalate, 1,4-butanediol and ε-caprolactone as raw materials to a transesterification reaction and a ring reaction is exemplified. Examples of the polyurethane-based thermoplastic elastomer include an elastomer obtained by reacting a long-chain diol having a terminal active hydrogen, a short-chain diol, and diisocyanate to form a hard segment and a soft segment.
Examples of the polyamide-based thermoplastic elastomer include, for example, an elastomer produced by a ring-opening reaction and a condensation reaction using lauryl lactam, dicarboxylic acid, and polyether diol as raw materials.

As the rubber, natural rubber and synthetic rubber are used. Examples of the synthetic rubber include butadiene rubber, chloroprene rubber, isoprene rubber, styrene butadiene rubber, acrylic rubber, isobutylene isoprene rubber, silicone rubber, fluorine rubber, urethane rubber, and the like.

As the elastomer used in the present invention, a styrene-based thermoplastic elastomer is particularly preferable because of its high flexibility.
Since the durability is good, a cushion having good characteristics can be formed. The elastomer used in the present invention has a Shore A hardness.
15 to 40, preferably 15 to 35. When an elastomer having the above hardness is used for a partition of a head cushion having a structure in which thin vertically long partitions are arranged side by side in a lattice, the partition deforms so as to buckle when a load is applied. Therefore, when used, there is no feeling of bottoming out, it is flexible, and it has good cushioning even with a small load. further,
It is also very durable.

As described above, styrene, polyurethane, polyolefin, polyvinyl chloride, polyester, polyamide and the like are used as the elastomer used in the present invention. The hardness may be adjusted by adding an agent.
In order to implement this, since there is a possibility that the cushion may be set or sticky, the addition amount of the oil is preferably in the range of 0 to 30 parts by weight based on 100 parts by weight of the elastomer.

[0026]

As described above, the molding die for a cushion of the present invention is an elastomer cushion in which thin partition walls having elasticity are integrally formed in parallel with each other in a lattice shape in a plan view. The thickness of the upper edge portion is smaller than that of the lower portion of the partition wall. This allows
The upper edge of each partition, which is a contact surface of the cushion, can be provided with a flexible deformability like a brush tip. And
In the initial state in which the user comes into contact with the contact surface of the cushion, as described above, the upper edge portion is elastically deformed flexibly before the buckling of the partition wall, and exhibits a soft contact feeling similar to a water bed. In addition, even when the user turns over during use, it is possible to prevent the feeling of bottoming out by utilizing the deformation characteristics when the partition wall made of the elastomer buckles, and to effectively prevent the feeling of partial protrusion. .

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the cushion of the first aspect, the thickness of the partition wall is formed in a tapered cross section near the upper edge portion, so that a user comes into contact with the cushion. In the initial stage of the operation, the vicinity of the upper edge portion having a relatively strong taper in the wall thickness is supplely deformed like a brush tip to exhibit a very soft feel. In addition, it is possible to effectively prevent a sense of protrusion that easily occurs at the intersection of the lattices. Furthermore, as the load from the user increases, the central portion of each partition wall made of the elastomer is elastically bent and deformed to buckle, thereby providing good cushioning without a feeling of bottoming or a feeling of protrusion at the intersection. Demonstrate. As described above, the tactile sensation when the load gradually increases from the initial stage of contact is very soft, and its cushioning property is close to the feeling of use of a water bed, making it softer than ever.

In the cushion according to the third aspect, the thickness of the partition wall according to the first or second aspect is tapered in a stepwise manner. Since it bends and deforms in the same way as the one and the step portion is formed in the same tapered portion, it is possible to relatively easily set the portion to be bent by the load and the deformation mode, and as a result, the deformation mode of each partition wall It is possible to unify and equalize cushion characteristics. Further, since the taper of the partition wall is formed in a stepwise manner, the processing of the molding die for molding the cushion is simplified, and the manufacturing cost can be reduced.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, the cushion according to any one of the first to third aspects is arranged in a vertical and horizontal direction, and adjacent cushions are connected to form an integral cushion body. It is. Then, the cushion body is fitted in a frame body having an outer shape substantially the same, for example, and a partition wall on the outer periphery of the cushion body is fixed along the frame body, and the outer periphery of the cushion body is attached to the frame. It is configured to be suspended by the body. Therefore, the cushion of the present invention can provide a cushioning effect and a soft touch similar to those of the cushions described in the above-described claims 1 to 3, and can be used by the user by suspending the outer peripheral portion of the cushion body by the frame. Because, for example, when the user rolls over and a load is applied near the outer periphery of the cushion body, the outer peripheral portion of the cushion body may be crushed and become attached to the floor. Can be prevented. Further, since the upper edge portion of the partition wall is flexibly deformed at the contact portion with the user, the weight of the user can be supported in a wide contact range, and is particularly suitable as a bed cushion for preventing floor rubbing. .

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a cushion of the present invention with a part cut away.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along line II-II in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a state in which the molding die of the cushion is disassembled.

FIG. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a state where the molds are combined.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view showing a deformed state of the diaphragm when a load is applied to the cushion.

FIG. 6 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a state in which a load is applied to the bed cushion.

FIG. 7A is a longitudinal sectional view of a cushion including a partition wall having a tapered upper edge, and FIG. 7B is a sectional view showing a state where the upper edge of the cushion is bent.

8 (a) is a longitudinal sectional view showing a partition wall having a taper on the left and right sides, and FIG. 8 (b) shows a cushion provided with an upper edge portion of a diaphragm in which the thickness of the tapered portion is formed stepwise. Sectional view.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing a bed in which cushions are arranged vertically and horizontally.

[Explanation of symbols]

 B, B2, B3 Cushion B10 Upper edge B11 Upper edge B42 Frame b1, b2, b3 Partition wall 1 First mold 2 Second molding die 3 ... mold

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor Hirotoshi Kubota 1 Kobe, Yoshida-cho, Haibara-gun, Shizuoka Okamoto Co., Ltd. Shizuoka Plant (72) Inventor Masao Sasaki 1 Kobe, Yoshida-cho, Haibara-gun, Shizuoka Okamoto Co., Ltd. In-plant F-term (reference) 3B096 AB02 AD07 4C040 AA01 CC10 GG03

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. An elastomer cushion in which thin partition walls having elasticity are integrally formed in parallel with each other in a lattice shape in a plan view, wherein an upper edge portion of the partition wall has a thickness larger than a lower edge side of the partition wall. Cushion made of thin wall. 2. The cushion according to claim 1, wherein the thickness of the partition wall is formed in a tapered cross section near the upper edge. 3. The cushion according to claim 1, wherein the thickness of the partition wall is gradually tapered. 4. A cushion body according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the cushions are arranged in parallel in the vertical and horizontal directions on the same plane, and adjacent cushions are connected to form an integral cushion main body. This cushion body is fitted in a frame of a predetermined shape, and a partition on the outer periphery of the cushion body is fixed along the frame to secure the cushion for a bed.