JP2008023236A - Bendable cushion - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To develop a cushion suited for stably supporting a user in a seated posture or a recumbent posture. <P>SOLUTION: This bendable cushion 1 comprises a bendable frame 2 formed by linking rod bodies 21, 22, 23, 24 and 25 having rigidity to one another via bending joints 26, 27, 28 and 29, and a cushion material 3 wrapping the frame 2, the frame 2 is formed by mutually rotatably assembling pairs of rotary arms connected to the linking rod bodies 21, 22, 23, 24 and 25 respectively and, only when a force exceeding an arm force resisting to assembling resistance is applied to one rotary arm, the cushion material 3 wrapping the frame 2 is bent by rotating one rotary arm relative to the other rotary arm and changing the mutual positional relation between the rod bodies 21, 22, 23, 24 and 25 connected to the respective rotary arms. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a bent cushion that can be bent freely.

  Although many cushion products have elasticity and flexibility, there are also products that support users in a sitting or lying position by suppressing flexibility and improving shape retention. When supporting a user in a sitting position or a lying position, a plurality of cushions are used, each corresponding to a backrest or an armrest. However, since the plurality of cushions are independent from each other, it is difficult to stably support a user in a sitting posture or a lying posture. From this, it is considered that a cushion bent corresponding to the backrest and armrest, that is, a C-shaped or L-shaped cushion may be used. However, the use of the cushion bent in advance is limited. Therefore, a cushion that can be deformed into a C shape or an L shape as required is desired.

  Since many cushions are highly flexible products, a cushion that can be deformed into a C-shape or an L-shape can be formed as needed without any particular ingenuity. However, in order to stably support a user in a sitting posture or a lying posture, the shape of the cushion must be maintained. From now on, in order to support the user in the sitting posture or the lying posture, the deformable cushion needs to be devised to maintain the deformed shape. Here, although different from a cushion, Patent Document 1 discloses a pillow that maintains a deformable and deformed shape. This body pillow incorporates a metal material such as stainless steel, copper or lead in a cushioning material (an intermediate material such as low-resilience urethane foam) as a bending member. From now on, it is considered to develop a deformable cushion with reference to Patent Document 1.

Utility Model Registration No. 3115580 ([Claim 1], [0007], [0009])

  Certainly, it is considered possible to support the user in the sitting posture or the lying posture by the deformable cushion with reference to Patent Document 1. However, the pillow of Patent Document 1 incorporates a bending member that can be freely deformed in the cushion material for the purpose of the user to hold it and deform it into an indefinite shape, so that it can be matched to a specific shape corresponding to the backrest and armrest. As a cushion that can be deformed freely, there is a problem that it is unnecessarily deformed, and it is considered that it is desirable to stably support a user in a sitting posture or a lying posture. Rather, there is a partition between a deformed portion and a non-deformed portion, and a cushion that is deformed into a specific shape such as a C shape or an L shape is ideal.

  Moreover, since the dakimakura of patent document 1 should just deform | transform into the shape which the user hugged as mentioned above, the degree of deformation | transformation from the linear shape which is a basic shape does not need to be so big, but a backrest and an armrest In the case of a cushion that can be deformed according to a specific shape corresponding to, it is necessary to bend up to 90 degrees. Considering such a case of large bending, it is difficult to make a deformable cushion by incorporating a bending member such as stainless steel, copper or lead as in Patent Document 1. This is because the bending member will be bent if it is bent too much. Therefore, we examined the development of a cushion suitable for stably supporting a user in a sitting or lying position.

  What was developed as a result of the study consists of a flexible frame in which rods with rigidity are connected via bending nodes, and a cushion material that wraps the frame, and the frame is connected to each of the connecting rods A pair of rotating arms are assembled together so that they can rotate with each other, and the one rotating arm rotates relative to the other rotating arm only when an arm force that resists the assembly resistance is applied to one rotating arm. By doing so, it is a bent cushion that changes the positional relationship between the rods connected to each of the rotating arms and bends the cushion material that wraps the framework.

  Here, “assembly resistance” means resistance when rotating the rotating arm, or resistance that maintains the shape of the cushion deformed against the restoring force of the cushion material. Examples include friction generated between the two and fitting of unevenness provided on one or both rotating arms. From this point, if the sum of the arm force applied to one or the other rotating arm or the arm force applied to both rotating arms is equal to or greater than the force resisting the assembly resistance, the bending node relatively rotates the pair of rotating arms. It is set as the structure made to do. The size of the arm strength varies by age, gender, and individual. For example, considering that the lowest arm strength of a 10-year-old man and woman is about 58.8 N (6 kgf) at the maximum, such a 10-year-old child has several N (several kgf). If the arm force is applied, it is desirable to have a bent node that can rotate the rotating arm against the assembly resistance. The number N is about one-tenth of the maximum 235N (24kgf) of the lowest arm strength of a general adult male, and about one-tenth of the maximum 137N (14kgf) of the lowest arm strength of a general adult female.

  The cushion material is preferably a conventionally known urethane foam, and more preferably covered with a cover that wraps the cushion material. The cross-sectional shape of the cushion material is not limited, but a circular cross-section centered on the skeleton is preferable from the viewpoint of making the distance from the cushion material surface to the skeleton constant. In this case, the thickness from the cushion material surface to the framework is such that the presence of the framework cannot be sensed from the outside, and has a size sufficient for the cushion. In addition, the surface of the cushion material is preferably covered with a material softer than the cushion material, such as cotton, in order to achieve a good feel. The bending node consists of a pair of rotating arms that form a pair of irregularities around the bending axis, and when the arm force that resists the assembling resistance is applied to one rotating arm, the engagement of the irregularities is released to rotate. A configuration in which the arm rotates can be exemplified.

  The cushion of the present invention has a built-in framework in which a bent node, which is a deforming portion, and a rod, which is a non-deforming portion, are connected to each other. As a result, the entire cushion bends in accordance with the rod whose positional relationship can be changed by the bending nodes. Here, the bending node does not rotate the pair of rotating arms relatively against the restoring force of the cushion material unless more than the arm force that resists the assembly resistance is applied to one rotating arm. The outer shape of the cushion can be maintained. The cushion material may be bonded to each rod so that the cushion does not shift relative to the rod when bent. The rod body may have either a square cross section or a circular cross section. For example, when the cushion material is bonded to the rod body as described above, if the rod body has a square cross section, the cushion material rotates around the axis around the rod body. Is suppressed, and the advantage that the integrity of the rod body and the cushioning material can be secured better is obtained.

  If the cushioning material has sufficient hardness to stably support a user in a sitting or lying position, and if the cushioning material has sufficient thickness as a cushion, the problem is that the inside of the bent body according to the framework only collapses. Although it does not occur, the cushion material extends excessively on the bent outer side, and a strong restoring force (tensile force) for returning the bent node to a straight line is generated, which is not preferable. Therefore, the cushion material is cut out in a wedge shape with a size less than or equal to the above-mentioned range in a point-symmetrical position where the rotating arm of the bending node relatively rotates, and an auxiliary that can be expanded and contracted to the notched portion. Cushion material should be filled. Here, “a point-symmetrical position in the range in which the rotating arm of the bending node rotates relatively” means, for example, an acute angle of 90 degrees formed by rotating the rotating arm in the case of a bending node where the rotating arm is bent at 90 degrees. It means the obtuse angle side (outside) with respect to the side (inside). The stretchable auxiliary cushion does not get in the way because it collapses at the wedge-shaped notch when the skeleton is straight. In addition, when the cushion material is bent according to the framework, the auxiliary cushion extends over a portion cut out in a wedge shape to make up the portion. Thereby, since the cushion material is covered with the cover as described above, it is felt that the continuity is not impaired even if the cushion material is linearly extended or bent.

  The cushion material may be integrated over the entire length of the skeleton, or may be composed of a cushion unit divided into skeleton rod units. In this case, if a gap is provided between the end surfaces of the adjacent cushion units, the bent inner space can be used as a clearance to collapse the end surface of the cushion unit when bent according to the framework. Even when the cushion material is configured with such a cushion unit, the cushion unit forms a wedge-shaped notch with a size equal to or less than the above range at a point-symmetrical position in a range in which the rotating arm of the bending node relatively rotates. The end surfaces to be abutted may be cut off, and an auxiliary cushion material that is extendable and retractable across the cut end surfaces may be interposed. Similarly to the above, this auxiliary cushion material also does not get in the way of being crushed by the wedge-shaped notch when the framework is straight, and when the cushion unit is bent according to the framework, it extends over the notched portion of the wedge, The above-mentioned part is made up to ensure the continuity of the cushion unit.

  The cushion of the present invention can be deformed into a specific shape such as a C-shape or an L-shape by using, for example, a framework in which 3 to 5 rods are connected to each other by bending nodes, and the deformed state can be maintained according to the framework. It has the effect that the user who is in a sitting posture or a lying posture can be stably supported. This effect is that the cushion material bends in accordance with the framework composed of the rod and the flexion node, and that the flexure is only performed when an arm force greater than the resistance against the assembly resistance is applied to one rotary arm of the flexure node. Brought about by. The rod body has rigidity and is not easily damaged. Further, since the bending node has a bending axis and rotates the rotating arm, there is no possibility of breakage. In this manner, a cushion that can stably support a user in a sitting posture or a lying posture for a long period of time without being damaged can be provided, although it cannot be freely deformed like the body pillow of Patent Document 1.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a state in which an example folded cushion 1 according to the present invention is placed on a stool 4, FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a state in which a cover 11 is removed from the folded cushion 1 of this example, and FIG. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the first cushion unit 31 showing a state in which the cover 11 is removed from the bent cushion 1 of FIG. 4, FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of the portion indicated by the arrow A in FIG. 6 is a plan view showing a state in which the bending node is linear, FIG. 7 is a plan view corresponding to FIG. 6 showing a state in which the second rotating arm 264 is started to rotate by applying an arm force against the assembly resistance, and FIG. FIG. 6 is a plan view corresponding to FIG. 6 showing a state in which the second rotating arm 264 is rotated 90 degrees with respect to the first rotating arm 261. FIG. 9 is a perspective view corresponding to FIG. FIG. 10 is a bent cushion of this example in which the framework 2 is L-shaped. FIG. 3 is a perspective view corresponding to FIG.

  For convenience of explanation, the rods 21, 22, 23, 24, 25 of the skeleton 2 in the folded cushion 1 of this example are the first rod 21, 21 from the left side in FIG. 1, FIG. 2, FIG. 9, and FIG. The two rod bodies 22, the third rod body 23, the fourth rod body 24, and the fifth rod body 25 are referred to as the bent nodes 26, 27, 28, and 29 on the left side in FIG. 1, FIG. 2, FIG. 9, and FIG. Therefore, they are referred to as a first bent node 26, a second bent node 27, a third bent node 28, and a fourth bent node 29. Further, the cushion unit constituting the cushion material 3 is a first cushion unit 31 corresponding to each of the rods 21, 22, 23, 24, 25 from the left side in FIG. 1, FIG. 2, FIG. 9 and FIG. They are referred to as a second cushion unit 32, a third cushion unit 33, a fourth cushion unit 34, and a fifth cushion unit 35. The auxiliary cushion materials 36, 37, 38, 39 correspond to the bent nodes 26, 27, 28, 29, respectively, and the first auxiliary cushion material 36, the second auxiliary cushion material 37, the third auxiliary cushion material 38, and the like. It is called a fourth auxiliary cushion material 39.

  The folding cushion 1 of the present invention constitutes a backrest and an armrest of the stool 4 by bending it in a C shape according to the framework 2 and placing it on the stool 4 as seen in FIG. The skeleton 2 is wrapped in the cushion units 31, 32, 33, 34, and 35 constituting the cushion material 3 and cannot be touched, and the cushion units 31, 32, 33, 34, and 35 are entirely covered by the cover 11. Since it is covered, the bent cushion 1 appears to be bent intermittently. In this example, the first cushion unit 31 and the fifth cushion unit 35 function as left and right armrests, and the third cushion unit 33 functions as a backrest.

  The first cushion unit 31 and the fifth cushion unit 35 corresponding to the armrests are the third cushion unit in which the first rod body 21 and the fifth rod body 25 respectively correspond to the backrest via the second rod body 22 and the fourth rod body 24. Since it is connected to the third rod body 23 of 33, the rod bodies 21, 22, 23, 24, 25 are mutually restrained so as not to be displaced. Thus, the folded cushion 1 bent in a C shape is seated on the stool 4 without the first cushion unit 31, the third cushion unit 33 and the fifth cushion unit 35 corresponding to the armrest and the backrest being displaced from each other. Support users in a stable manner.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the folded cushion 1 of this example is formed by first bending the first rod body 21, the second rod body 22, the third rod body 23, the fourth rod body 24, and the fifth rod body 25. A skeleton 2 connected by a joint 26, a second bent node 27, a third bent node 28, and a fourth bent node 29; a first cushion unit 31 that wraps the rod bodies 21, 22, 23, 24, 25; The first auxiliary cushion material 36 interposed between the cushion unit 32, the third cushion unit 33, the fourth cushion unit 34, the fifth cushion unit 35, and the end surfaces of the cushion units 31, 32, 33, 34, 35. The second auxiliary cushion material 37, the third auxiliary cushion material 38, and the fourth auxiliary cushion material 39. In this example, rods 21, 22, 23, 24, and 25 with a length of 300 mm and 20 mm square are connected to each other by bending nodes 26, 27, 28, and 29 to form a framework 2 having a total length of slightly more than 1500 mm. The folded cushion 1 is of a size wrapped with a 200 mm cushion material 3. The size of each part is free, but the size before and after the size is the standard size of the folded cushion 1 of the present invention. From this, for example, when there are few bends, the length of the rod body should be increased to a total length of around 1500 mm.

  As shown in FIG. 3, each of the rod bodies 21, 22, 23, 24, and 25 is made of a metal square pipe, and the conventionally known cushioning material centering on each of the rod bodies 21, 22, 23, 24, and 25. It is wrapped in cylindrical cushion units 31, 32, 33, 34, and 35 made of similar urethane foam. In this example, in order to improve the tactile sensation as the folded cushion 1, the entire cushion unit 31, 32, 33, 34, 35 is further wrapped with cotton 12, and the entire cushion unit 31, 32, 33, 34, 35 is Covered with a cover 11. In addition, each auxiliary cushion material 36, 37, 38, 39 that interposes a portion of the end face of each cushion unit 31, 32, 33, 34, 35 cut out in a wedge shape is each cushion in a state where the framework 2 is linear. Because it is necessary to fill between the end faces of the cushion units 31, 32, 33, 34, 35 that are crushed between the units 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, and that are separated while the frame 2 is bent to the maximum. Urethane foam that is softer than the cushion units 31, 32, 33, 34, and 35 and has excellent stretchability is used.

  Here, as described above, each of the bending nodes 26, 27, 28, 29 of the present example bends up to 90 degrees in the same plane and in the same direction, for example, each cushion unit 31, 32, 33, 34, The positional relationship of the skeleton 2 with respect to 35 is brought closer to the outer side (left side in FIG. 3) where each bending node 26, 27, 28, 29 is bent, or the vertical direction of the bending surface of the bending node (up and down direction in FIG. 3). It is also possible to shift to However, the bent cushion 1 with all the bent nodes 26, 27, 28, 29 in a straight line shape becomes a rod shape (see FIG. 9), and it is not known which surface of the cushion unit contacts the floor surface. Each cylindrical cushion unit 31 is provided so that each cushion unit 31, 32, 33, 34, 35 can provide a uniform tactile sensation in the circumferential direction with all the bent nodes 26, 27, 28, 29 stretched linearly. , 32, 33, 34, and 35 are preferably arranged in the center. This is the same even if each cushion unit 31, 32, 33, 34, 35 is prismatic.

  The bending cushion 1 of the present invention must be applied with less than the arm force that resists the assembly resistance by bending the frame 2 by changing the positional relationship between the rods by applying an arm force or more that resists the assembly resistance. Each of the bent nodes 26, 27, 28, and 29 maintains the bent state of the frame 2 without changing the positional relationship between the rods. For each of the bending nodes 26, 27, 28, 29, conventionally known various joints and the like can be used as long as they can be bent or not at a certain force. Here, if only the bent cushion 1 is bent, a universal joint (universal joint) or the like can be used as each of the bending nodes 26, 27, 28, 29, but it is necessary to maintain the bending state of the framework 2. The conventionally known various joints that can be used preferably have a configuration in which a pair of rotating arms 261 and 264 are integrated by a bending shaft 268.

  The structure will be described by taking the first bent node 26 as an example. 4 and 5, the first bent node 26 includes a pair of upper and lower metal plate first rotary arms 261 and a pair of upper and lower metal plate second rotary arms 264. The right end of the first rotating arm 261 and the left end of the second rotating arm 264 are integrated with each other via a bending shaft 268. In this example, upper and lower two-stage first rotating arms 261 are inserted into the first rod body 21, and upper and lower two-stage second rotating arms 264 are inserted into the second rod body 22 and connected by welding. The upper first rotating arm 261 is provided with eight first fitting projections 262 at equal intervals in the circumferential direction around the bending axis 268, and one stopper shaft 263 faces the second rotating arm 264. It is protruding. Further, the upper second rotating arm 264 is provided with a second fitting convex portion 265 in the same positional relationship as the first fitting convex portion 262, and a start end stopper rod 266 and a terminal stopper rod 265 engaged with the stopper shaft 263 are provided. 267 is formed at intervals of 90 degrees. The first rotating arm 261 and the second rotating arm 264 are integrated with each other via the bending shaft 268 by fitting the first fitting convex portion 262 and the second fitting convex portion 265.

  When the first rotating arm 261 and the second rotating arm 264 are arranged in a straight line, the start end stopper 266 of the second rotating arm 264 engages with the stopper shaft 263 of the first rotating arm 261 as seen in FIG. The state in which the first fitting convex portion 262 and the second fitting convex portion 265 are fitted is stably maintained. Here, when an arm force that resists the assembly resistance is applied to the second rotating arm 264, the second fitting convex portion 265 is detached from the first fitting convex portion 262, as shown in FIG. The rotating arm 264 can be rotated relative to the first rotating arm 261. As shown in FIG. 8, the second rotary arm 264 can be rotated until the terminal stopper 267 of the second rotary arm 264 is engaged with the stopper shaft 263 of the first rotary arm 261. Since the 1st rotation arm 261 and the 2nd rotation arm 264 have fitted the 1st fitting convex part 262 and the 2nd fitting convex part 265, it is the 2nd fitting convex part from the 1st fitting convex part 262. When the second rotating arm 264 rotates with the 265 disengaged, a certain force is required. Thus, if the force is set to be equal to or greater than the arm force that resists the assembly resistance, the rotation of the second rotating arm 264 can be suppressed and the state of the bent frame 2 can be maintained.

  Further, as in this example, by engaging the start end stopper rod 266 or the end stopper rod 267 of the second rotation arm 264 with the stopper shaft 263 provided on the first rotation arm 261, The rotation range and bending direction of the second rotating arm 264 are limited. As described above, a universal joint that does not limit the bending range and the bending direction can be used as the bending node, but in this case, it becomes difficult to maintain the bending state, and as a result, a user who is in a sitting posture or a lying posture It becomes difficult to stably support Thus, as in this example, the structure of each bending node 26, 27, 28, 29 that limits the bending range and the bending direction is practical and preferable. Here, the start stopper 266 and the end stopper 267 protrude from the second rotating arm 264, but the first bent node 26 is part of the skeleton 2 as the first cushion unit 31, the second cushion unit 32, and the second Since it is surrounded by the 1 auxiliary cushion material 36, it does not protrude so as to be felt from the outside of the folded cushion 1.

  In this way, the bent cushion 1 of this example allows the framework 2 to be bent by the first bent node 26 described above and the remaining three bent nodes 27, 28, 29 having the same structure as the first bent node 26. Can do. For example, if all the bent nodes 26, 27, 28, 29 are linear, the folded cushion 1 becomes linear (bar-shaped) as shown in FIG. 9, and has a single cylindrical appearance. In this case, if the folded cushion 1 is placed on the stool 4 and used as in the above example. A linear bent cushion 1 is placed on the stools 4 arranged near the wall, and a backrest continuous with each stool 4 is formed. Further, for example, only the second bent node 27 is bent 90 degrees, and the folded cushion 1 can be formed in an L shape as seen in FIG. In this case, an L-shaped backrest is formed along the stool 4 arranged along the corner of the wall.

It is a perspective view showing the state which mounted the example bending cushion based on this invention on the stool. It is a perspective view showing the state which removed the cover from the bending cushion of this example. It is sectional drawing of the 1st cushion unit showing the state which removed the cover from the bending cushion of this example. FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of a portion indicated by an arrow A in FIG. 2 representing a bending theory. It is a disassembled perspective view of a bending node. It is a top view showing the state which made the bending node linear. FIG. 7 is a plan view corresponding to FIG. 6 illustrating a state in which an arm force against an assembly resistance is applied to the second rotating arm and rotation is started. FIG. 7 is a plan view corresponding to FIG. 6 illustrating a state in which the second rotating arm is rotated 90 degrees with respect to the first rotating arm. It is a perspective view equivalent to FIG. 2 showing the folding cushion of this example which made the framework straight. FIG. 3 is a perspective view corresponding to FIG. 2 showing a folded cushion of the present example in which the framework is L-shaped.

Explanation of symbols

1 Bent cushion 2 Skeleton
21 First rod
22 Second rod
23 Third rod
24 4th rod
25 5th rod
26 First flexion node
27 Second flexion
28 3rd flexion node
29 4th bending joint 3 Cushion material
31 1st cushion unit
32 Second cushion unit
33 3rd cushion unit
34 4th cushion unit
35 5th cushion unit
36 1st auxiliary cushioning material
37 Second auxiliary cushion material
38 3rd auxiliary cushion material
39 Fourth auxiliary cushioning material

Claims (4)

It consists of a flexible frame in which rods with rigidity are connected via bending nodes and a cushion material that wraps the frame, and the frame rotates a pair of rotating arms connected to each of the connected rods Each of the rotating arms can be assembled by freely rotating the one rotating arm relative to the other rotating arm only when an arm force that resists the mounting resistance is applied to the one rotating arm. A bent cushion that changes the positional relationship between the rods connected to each other and bends the cushion material that wraps the frame. The cushion material is formed by notching a point-symmetrical position in a range in which the rotating arm of the bending node relatively rotates in a wedge shape with a size equal to or smaller than the range, and filling the notched portion with a stretchable auxiliary cushion material. The bent cushion according to claim 1. The folding cushion according to claim 1, wherein the cushion material is composed of a cushion unit that is divided into skeleton rod units. The cushion unit cuts the end face to be abutted so as to form a wedge-shaped notch with a size equal to or less than the above range at a point-symmetrical position in the range in which the rotating arm of the bending node relatively rotates, and extends over the cut end face. The bent cushion according to claim 3, which is provided with a stretchable auxiliary cushion material.

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