JP2013027533A - Mattress - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a mattress with a new structure with which bedsore can be effectively prevented by reducing gathering at the top face of the mattress when the mattress is bent.SOLUTION: A base member 22 extending in a width direction of a bed 12 is provided. Connection members 24 are disposed at both ends of the base member 22 in the width direction. Between these connection members 24 in the width direction, a cushion body 26 is disposed on the base member 22, while a plurality of base members 22 are disposed to be aligned in a length direction perpendicular to the width direction. The connection members 24 attached to the base members 22 are disposed to be aligned in the length direction, while for at least one pair of connection members 24 adjacent in the length direction, connectors 46, 48 are disposed to connect these connection members 24 in a manner to be tiltable. The tilting axis of the connection members 24 connected with the connectors 46, 48 is positioned between the tip ends of adjacent members 24 and extends in the width direction.

Description

  The present invention relates to a mattress disposed on a human body support surface of a bed, and more particularly, to a mattress suitably used in combination with a bed having a back raising function such as a care bed.

  Conventionally, a mattress having a cushioning action has been adopted for a support portion of a human body in a nursing bed or the like, and the sleep comfort has been improved by elastically supporting the human body. The mattress is made of an elastic material such as urethane foam, for example.

  By the way, some nursing beds and the like have a back-up function that assists in raising the user's upper body for the purpose of facilitating nursing care. In other words, in a bed with a back-up function, the portion that supports the upper body of the user rises relatively inclined with respect to the portion that supports the lower body, thereby assisting the operation of raising the upper body of the user. It is like that. For example, it is described in Unexamined-Japanese-Patent No. 2010-51598 (patent document 1).

  However, as described in Patent Document 1, when a mattress having a cushion body such as urethane foam or air cell is placed on the support surface of the bed so as to overlap, the upper surface of the mattress is shifted at the bent portion of the bed when the back is raised. Gather together. As a result, there is a relative displacement in the surface direction between the user's body and the upper surface of the mattress, and shear force due to friction acts on the user's body, which may cause a pressure ulcer. there were. In addition, the mattress gathers near the bent portion, which may cause wrinkles or become hard.

  In particular, the bent part of the bed supports the buttocks where the body load tends to act intensively in the posture where the upper body is raised, so the relative deviation between the user's body and the mattress at the bent part of the bed. When this occurs, a large frictional force acts as a shearing force, and the occurrence of pressure ulcer is more likely to become a problem, and an effective solution has been desired.

JP 2010-51598 A

  The present invention has been made in the background of the above-mentioned circumstances, and the problem to be solved is that when the mattress is bent, gathering on the upper surface of the mattress is reduced, and the occurrence of pressure sores can be suppressed. It is to provide a mattress having a novel structure.

  According to a first aspect of the present invention, in the mattress having the cushion body disposed on the support surface of the bed, a base member extending in the width direction on the support surface of the bed is provided, and the width direction of the base member is increased. A connecting member is disposed at each end portion, and the cushion body is disposed on the base member between the connecting members in the width direction, while the plurality of base members are orthogonal to the width direction. The connecting members arranged side by side in the longitudinal direction and attached to the base members are arranged side by side in the length direction, and at least one set of the connecting members adjacent to each other in the length direction. Is provided with connecting means for connecting the connecting members so that the connecting members can be tilted, and the axis of tilting of the connecting members connected by the connecting means is positioned between the upper ends of the adjacent connecting members in the width direction. Extending , And features.

  According to the mattress having the structure according to the first aspect, the connecting members adjacent in the length direction are connected to each other so as to be relatively tiltable by the connecting means, and the axes of the tilting of the connecting members are It is located between the upper ends of the connecting members and extends in the width direction. Therefore, when the bed is raised, the adjacent connecting members are relatively tilted about the tilting axis, and the mattress is bent or curved in a concave shape following the deformation of the bed. Is realized.

  Furthermore, since the axis of tilting is located above the base member, it is possible to suppress the upper end of the cushion body from gathering close to the concave bent portion when the mattress is bent by raising the back or the like. In addition, problems such as loss of elasticity and wrinkles on the surface of the cushion body are prevented.

  In addition, by suppressing the upper end of the cushion body from gathering at the concave bent portion, the frictional force (shearing force) acting between the cushion body and the user's body when the mattress is bent is reduced, and pressure ulcers The effect which prevents generation | occurrence | production of can be exhibited. In particular, the portion of the mattress that is bent concavely supports a portion that protrudes toward the mattress side in the human body such as the buttocks, and since the user's body load acts intensively, pressure ulcer tends to be a problem. The occurrence of pressure sores is effectively suppressed by reducing the shearing force acting on the user's body in such a portion.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the mattress described in the first aspect, the connecting means includes a plurality of connecting strips arranged side by side in the width direction. An intermediate portion in the length direction of the belt-like body extends vertically between the connecting members adjacent in the length direction, and both end portions of at least one of the belt-like members are adjacent to each other in the length direction. It is attached to the upper surface of the connecting member and the lower surface of the other connecting member, and both end portions of the other connecting band are attached to the lower surface of the one connecting member and the upper surface of the other connecting member. It is what.

  According to the second aspect, the connecting member is connected so as to be tiltable with a simple structure using a plurality of connecting strips, and the mattress is tilted to deform the mattress into a concave shape (bending to be concave upward). ) And convex deformation (bending convex upward). That is, in the concave deformed portion of the mattress, the tilting axis is set so as to extend in the width direction between the upper ends of the adjacent connecting members, and the adjacent connecting member and the cushion body tilt around the tilting axis. It can cope with the concave deformation of the mattress. On the other hand, in the convex deformed portion of the mattress, the tilting axis is set so as to extend in the width direction between the lower ends of the adjacent connecting members, and the adjacent connecting member and the cushion body are tilted around the tilting axis. It can cope with the convex deformation of the mattress. Therefore, using a single structure in which adjacent connecting members are connected by a plurality of connecting strips, different bending modes for each bed model (concave deformation at the back-up portion, convex deformation at the knee support portion, etc. ), It is not necessary to change the bending position and bending direction according to the bed model.

  In addition, the deformation in the length direction of the connecting strip is limited, and the deformation (bending) in the thickness direction of the connecting strip is allowed, so that the adjacent connecting members are positioned relative to each other. While being held in a connected state, relative tilting is easily permitted. Therefore, it is desirable that the connecting band-like body has a small expansion / contraction deformation (distortion) in the length direction and can easily allow deformation (bending) in the thickness direction. Further, the connecting band-like body functions as a connecting means in the concave deformed portion of the mattress.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the mattress described in the second aspect, both end portions of the connection band-like body are detachably attached to the connection member with a surface fastener.

  According to the third aspect, since the connecting strip can be freely attached to and detached from the connecting member, the connecting strip, the connecting member, the cushion, the base member can be replaced by removing the connecting strip from the connecting member. It can be done easily. Moreover, the hook-and-loop fastener can be easily removed by applying a force in the direction perpendicular to the plane, but it is difficult to remove even if a force in the plane direction is applied. It is hard to come off with the applied force, and the connecting member is stably held in the connected state. In short, the use of hook-and-loop fasteners as attachment means for the connecting member of the connecting band-like member allows the direction of the force exerted when the connecting band-like member is attached to and detached from the connecting member, and the connecting band-like member and the connecting member when the mattress is bent. The direction of the force acting between them is different from each other, and both stability in use and easy attachment / detachment during maintenance are realized.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the mattress described in any one of the first to third aspects, the cushion body includes a bag-like cell having a fluid chamber therein. Is.

  According to the fourth aspect, since the cushion body is configured to include a cell whose elasticity and height can be adjusted by controlling the pressure of the fluid chamber, improvement of sleeping comfort, prevention of pressure ulcer, etc. Is realized. In addition, the connecting members disposed on both sides in the width direction of the cushion body are connected to cell control means (a conduit for supplying and discharging fluid to the fluid chamber, an electromagnetic valve for opening and closing the conduit, a control device for controlling the electromagnetic valve, etc. ) And the like can be saved.

  According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the mattress described in any one of the first to fourth aspects, a body pressure sensor is superimposed on the upper surface of the cushion body.

  According to the fifth aspect, the structure is such that the heel does not easily move toward the upper surface of the cushion body when the mattress is bent. Inconveniences such as the occurrence of various deformations are avoided, and changes (decrease) in detection accuracy by the body pressure sensor are prevented. Therefore, even when the mattress is bent by raising the back of the bed or the like, the measurement result of the body pressure of the user can be obtained with high accuracy, which can be used for preventing the occurrence of pressure ulcers.

  According to the present invention, the connecting members adjacent in the length direction are connected to each other in a state where the relative tilting is allowed by the connecting means, and the bed is raised by the relative tilting of the connecting members. Sometimes, mattress concave deformation is allowed. Moreover, since the axis of tilting of the adjacent connecting members is positioned between the upper ends of the connecting members and extends in the width direction and is set upward with respect to the base member, the tilting of the connecting members is accompanied. Thus, when the cushion body tilts, the upper end portion of the cushion body does not gather near the bent portion, and problems such as loss of elasticity or wrinkles on the upper surface of the cushion body are avoided. In addition, by preventing the cushion body from gathering due to the bending of the mattress, it is possible to prevent the upper surface of the cushion body from being displaced relative to the user's body in the surface direction, and the occurrence of pressure sores due to friction. Is suppressed.

The top view which shows the mattress as the 1st Embodiment of this invention. The right view of the mattress shown by FIG. III-III sectional drawing of FIG. The longitudinal cross-sectional view which expands and shows a cell in the mattress unit which comprises the mattress shown by FIG. The perspective view which shows some of the control boxes which comprise the mattress shown in FIG. 1 typically. FIG. 6 is a right side view of the control box shown in FIG. 5. The perspective view for demonstrating the relative tilting of the control box shown by FIG. The right view for demonstrating the concave-shaped deformation | transformation by tilting of the control box shown by FIG. The right view for demonstrating the convex-shaped deformation | transformation by tilting of the control box shown by FIG. The right view which shows the back raising state of the mattress shown by FIG. The perspective view which shows some of the control boxes which comprise the mattress as the 2nd Embodiment of this invention typically. FIG. 9 is a right side view representatively showing some of control boxes constituting a mattress as a third embodiment of the present invention, and showing a concave deformation state due to tilting of the control box.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

  1 to 3 show a mattress 10 as a first embodiment of the present invention. The mattress 10 has a structure in which a plurality of mattress units 18 and a surface mat 20 are disposed between a head-side block 14 and a leg-side block 16 disposed at both ends of the bed 12 in the length direction. ing. In the following description, in principle, the width direction is the left-right direction in FIG. 1, the length direction is the up-down direction in FIG. 1, and the height direction is the up-down direction in FIG. Say each. Further, in FIG. 1, the surface layer mat 20, a ceiling cushion layer 30 described later, and a body pressure sensor 44 described later are omitted in order to make it easier to see the arrangement of the control box 24 and the cells 32 described later.

  The head-side block 14 and the leg-side block 16 have substantially the same rectangular parallelepiped shape and extend in the width direction, and are formed of an elastic body such as urethane foam. Moreover, the head side block 14 and the leg part side block 16 are arrange | positioned at each edge part of the length direction of the bed 12, and are arrange | positioned at predetermined distances in the length direction.

  A plurality of mattress units 18 are arranged between the head side block 14 and the leg side block 16. The mattress unit 18 includes a base member 22 extending in the width direction, control boxes 24 a and 24 b as connecting members attached to both end portions of the base member 22 in the width direction, and a cushion attached to an intermediate portion of the base member 22 in the width direction. The body 26 is configured to be included.

  More specifically, the base member 22 is a hard member formed of synthetic resin, metal, or the like, and has a longitudinal plate shape extending in a substantially constant cross-sectional shape in the width direction. Further, the base member 22 of the present embodiment is a flat surface whose upper surface extends in the surface direction of the bed 12 and a curved surface whose downward projecting height increases as the lower surface goes to the center side in the length direction. In addition, it has a reverse saddle shape, and the mechanical strength is enhanced while suppressing an increase in weight.

  The control box 24 has a rectangular box shape made of a hard material, and a control box 24a is attached to one end of the base member 22 in the width direction as shown in FIG. A control box 24b is attached to the other end in the width direction. The control box 24a and the control box 24b have substantially the same structure except that the mounting position with respect to the base member 22 is different.

  Although not shown in the figure, the control box 24 includes a control device for controlling the pressure of the fluid chamber 38 of the cell 32 described later, and a part of a supply / exhaust conduit for supplying and discharging air to the fluid chamber 38. Furthermore, control means including an electromagnetic valve or the like for switching communication and blocking of the supply / exhaust pipe line is accommodated. In consideration of the maintainability of the control means, it is desirable that the control box 24 is provided with an opening / closing part (door part) at least at a part of the wall part. Further, although not shown, in the arrangement state of a plurality of mattress units 18 to be described later, supply / discharge fluid (air) and electric power between adjacent control boxes 24 or between the control boxes 24 and cells 32 to be described later. The control box 24 is provided with a socket for transmitting electricity, an external port for transmitting supply / exhaust fluid, and the like.

  A cushion body 26 is disposed between the pair of control boxes 24a, 24b in the width direction. The cushion body 26 has a structure in which a plurality of cells 32 are disposed between the bottom cushion layer 28 and the top cushion layer 30.

  The bottom cushion layer 28 is an elastic body (e.g., foaming urethane foam) that has a rectangular plate shape that is long in the width direction. The length of the bottom cushion layer 28 is substantially the same as that of the base member 22. The dimension is substantially the same as the distance between the opposing surfaces of the pair of control boxes 24a, 24b.

  The top cushion layer 30 is a plate-like elastic body (such as foaming urethane foam) extending in the width direction, and the length direction dimension and the width direction dimension are both substantially the same as the bottom cushion layer 28. ing. The top cushion layer 30 is disposed so as to face the bottom cushion layer 28 with a predetermined distance therebetween.

  In addition, a plurality of cells 32 are disposed between the bottom cushion layer 28 and the top cushion layer 30 that face each other in the vertical direction. As shown in FIG. 4, the cell 32 has a bag shape as a whole, and includes an upper bag-shaped portion 34 that opens downward and a lower bag-shaped portion 36 that opens upward. It has a structure that is fixed to each other. In the present embodiment, the upper bag-shaped portion 34 and the lower bag-shaped portion 36 are formed by stacking two sheets formed of a synthetic resin such as polyurethane and welding the outer peripheral ends of the sheets. The cells 32 are formed by welding the openings of the upper bag portion 34 and the lower bag portion 36 to each other.

  Further, a fluid chamber 38 sealed from the outside is formed inside the cell 32 and is connected to the supply / exhaust pipe line through a port 40 provided in the central portion of the bottom wall portion of the lower bag-like portion 36. Has been. The height of the cell 32 can be changed by supplying or discharging a fluid (which may be a liquid such as water, but air here) to the fluid chamber 38 through the supply / exhaust pipe and the port 40. Yes. The supply and discharge of fluid to and from the fluid chamber 38 is realized by a pump or the like (not shown) connected to the supply and discharge conduit. The cell 32 has elasticity based on the compressibility of the air in the fluid chamber 38 and the stretchability of the upper and lower bag-like portions 34 and 36.

  Further, the opening portions of the upper bag-shaped portion 34 and the lower bag-shaped portion 36 have outer diameters gradually decreasing toward the opening side, and the upper bag-shaped portion 34 and the lower bag in the cell 32 are gradually reduced. A constricted portion 42 having a partially reduced diameter is formed at the fixed portion of the shape portion 36. Thus, the cell 32 has a two-stage structure having an upper part composed of the upper bag-shaped part 34 and a lower part composed of the lower bag-shaped part 36, and the internal space of the upper part and the lower part The fluid chamber 38 is formed by the internal spaces of the portions communicating with each other through the communication portion 43.

  The cell 32 having such a structure is disposed between the bottom cushion layer 28 and the top cushion layer 30, and the bottom cushion layer 28 supports the central portion of the bottom surface, and the top portion of the top surface with respect to the top surface. A cushion body 26 is formed by overlapping the cushion layer 30. A plurality of cells 32 are arranged in the width direction of the bed 12. In the present embodiment, seven cells 32 are arranged in a line on the bottom cushion layer 28. The port 40 provided in the cell 32 is disposed so as to extend on the bottom cushion layer 28 or embedded in the bottom cushion layer 28. In the present embodiment, the upper surface of the bottom cushion layer 28 is provided. A recess (concave groove) is formed, and the port 40 is fitted into the recess. In addition, the top cushion layer 30 superimposed on the cell 32 is relatively close to / separated from the bottom cushion layer 28 by expansion and contraction of the cell 32.

  The cushion body 26 is attached to an intermediate portion of the base member 22 in the width direction. That is, the bottom cushion layer 28 is overlapped and fixed on the upper surface of the base member 22, whereby the cushion body 26 is disposed between the opposing surfaces in the width direction of the pair of control boxes 24 a and 24 b. Is supported by. Further, the height dimension of the control body 24a, 24b is the height dimension of the cushion body 26 (the height from the bottom surface of the bottom cushion layer 28 to the top surface of the top cushion layer 30) when the height dimension of the cell 32 is the largest. ) And almost the same. Further, seven cells 32 are arranged between the pair of control boxes 24a and 24b in the width direction, and are arranged in a line in the width direction. A port 40 provided in the cell 32 constituting the cushion body 26 is connected to an external port (not shown) for supply / exhaust provided in the control box 24 and communicated with the supply / exhaust pipe. . The pressure of the fluid chamber 38 is controlled by a control means (not shown) accommodated in the control box 24, whereby the elasticity, height dimension, etc. of the cell 32 are adjusted.

  The mattress unit 18 having such a structure is arranged such that the base member 22 extends in the width direction on the support surface (the upper surface on which the user lies) of the bed 12. In addition, a plurality of mattress units 18 are arranged adjacent to each other in the length direction of the bed 12, and a plurality of base members 22, control boxes 24a and 24b, and a cushion body 26 are arranged side by side in the length direction. Has been. As shown in FIG. 1, in this embodiment, 21 mattress units 18 are arranged side by side in the length direction of the bed 12.

  A surface mat 20 is overlaid on the plurality of mattress units 18 arranged in the length direction. The surface layer mat 20 is an elastic body such as urethane foam having a thin rectangular plate shape, and covers the upper surfaces of the control box 24 and the cushion body 26 between the head side block 14 and the leg side block 16. It is arranged.

  A body pressure sensor 44 is superimposed on the upper surface of the cushion body 26, and the body pressure sensor 44 is disposed between the surface mat 20 and the cushion body 26. As the body pressure sensor 44, a load cell using a strain gauge or a magnetostrictor can be adopted, but in the present embodiment, a sheet-like capacitive sensor is adopted. As such a capacitance type sensor, conventionally known ones (for example, those disclosed in Japanese Patent No. 4565359) can be adopted as appropriate, so only a brief description will be given here. That is, the body pressure sensor 44 has a belt-like and flexible first electrode film superimposed on one surface of a dielectric layer made of an elastomer such as urethane foam, and is substantially the same as the first electrode film on the other surface. A second electrode film having the same shape and having a different direction as a longitudinal direction is superposed, and a detection unit is configured at a portion facing the first and second electrode films. When an external force (body load) such as body pressure acts on the detection unit, the thickness of the dielectric layer (distance between the opposing surfaces of the first and second electrode films) changes, and the capacitor configured in the detection unit Therefore, the body pressure acting on the detection unit is detected based on the change in capacitance. In particular, the body pressure sensor 44 is desirably thin and flexible so as not to adversely affect sleeping comfort.

  In the present embodiment, the number of detection units of the body pressure sensor 44 is set in accordance with the number of cells 32, and the detection units are provided in a length of 21 × 7 and aligned with each cell 32. As a result, the load acting on 147 cells 32 can be measured. However, the number of detection units of the body pressure sensor 44 is not necessarily limited to the same number as the number of cells 32. For example, more detection units than the cells 32 are provided to detect body load with higher accuracy. It can also be done.

  Then, based on the measurement result of the body pressure of the user by the body pressure sensor 44, the pressure of the fluid chamber 38 of each cell 32 is adjusted, and the elasticity of the cell 32 is applied so that the body pressure is distributed over a wide range. By controlling the height, the occurrence of pressure ulcer is suppressed. More specifically, for example, in a portion where the body pressure measured by the body pressure sensor 44 is large, the fluid in the fluid chamber 38 is discharged, the height of the cell 32 is lowered, and the body pressure sensor 44 measures the fluid. In the portion where the body pressure is low, the fluid is supplied to the fluid chamber 38 and the height of the cell 32 is increased, so that the reaction force of the body pressure acts on the user's body over a wide range. It is like that.

  Each mattress unit 18 is connected to another mattress unit 18 adjacent in the length direction. That is, the control boxes 24a and 24a that are adjacent in the length direction are connected to each other, and the control boxes 24b and 24b that are adjacent to each other in the length direction are connected to each other. Are connected to each other.

  More specifically, the control boxes 24a and 24a and the control boxes 24b and 24b that are adjacent in the length direction are connected to each other by a first connection belt 46 and a second connection belt 48 as connection bands. The connecting structure of the mattress unit 18 will be described by extracting three control boxes 24a arranged in the length direction as shown in FIGS. In the following, the connection structure of the control boxes 24a and 24a attached to one end in the width direction of the base member 22 will be described. However, the control box 24b attached to the other end in the width direction of the base member 22 is described. 24b is similar to the connection structure of the control boxes 24a, 24a.

  Each of the first and second connecting belts 46 and 48 has a thin and narrow longitudinal belt shape, and is formed of synthetic resin, chemical fiber, synthetic leather, or the like. Further, it is desirable that the first and second connecting belts 46 and 48 are easily deformed in the thickness direction by the action of an external force and have a small distortion in the longitudinal direction (difficult to stretch and deform). In order to achieve positioning and tilting of the control boxes 24a, 24a in the length direction, which will be described later, the distortion in the longitudinal direction of the first and second connection belts 46, 48 is better as it is smaller. Distortion is allowed as long as the positioning action of the control box 24 is sufficiently obtained for the purpose of facilitating the attachment and detachment of the second connecting belts 46 and 48, piping such as the supply / exhaust conduit, and electric wires. May be.

  In addition, surface fasteners (not shown) are provided at both end portions of the first and second connection belts 46 and 48, respectively. More specifically, the first connection belt 46 is provided with a surface fastener on the upper surface of one end portion and a surface fastener on the lower surface of the other end portion, while the second connection belt 46. In 48, a surface fastener is provided on the lower surface of one end, and a surface fastener is provided on the upper surface of the other end.

  The first connecting belt 46 is attached to the outer end of the control box 24 in the width direction, and the second connecting belt 48 is attached to the end of the control box 24 in the width direction. One end in the length direction of the first connecting belt 46 is attached to the upper surface of the control box 24 located on the head side in a detachable manner using a hook-and-loop fastener, and the first connecting belt 46 is attached. Is attached to the lower surface of the control box 24 located on the leg side in a detachable state using a hook-and-loop fastener. Further, one end of the second connection belt 48 is attached to the lower surface of the control box 24 located on the head side in a detachable state using a surface fastener, and the other end of the second connection belt 48 is attached. An end is attached to the upper surface of the control box 24 located on the leg side in a detachable state using a hook-and-loop fastener. As is clear from the above, surface fasteners are fixed to the upper and lower surfaces of the control box 24 in advance at both ends in the width direction. However, the first and second connection belts 46 and 48 may be fixed to the control box 24 in a non-detachable state by means such as adhesion or welding.

  Moreover, the intermediate part of the length direction of the 1st, 2nd connection belts 46 and 48 is extended in the up-down direction between adjacent control boxes 24a and 24a. The intermediate portions of the first and second connecting belts 46 and 48 are arranged along the side surfaces in the length direction of the control boxes 24a and 24a, and approach the control boxes 24a and 24a without being restricted. And relative displacement such as separation is allowed. In the present embodiment, the first and second connection belts 46 and 48 are attached to both of the control boxes 24a and 24a attached to both ends of the base member 22 in the width direction, and are adjacent in the length direction. Control boxes 24a and 24a are connected to each other.

  As described above, the first and second connection belts 46 and 48 are attached to the control boxes 24a and 24a adjacent in the length direction, so that the control boxes 24a and 24a are extended by the first and second connection belts 46 and 48, respectively. They are connected to each other in the vertical direction. The external force that acts to separate the control boxes 24a, 24a in the length direction is in the plane direction with respect to the attachment portions (surface fasteners) of the first and second connection belts 46, 48 to the control boxes 24a, 24a. Since it acts as a force, the first and second connecting belts 46 and 48 are not detached from the control boxes 24a and 24a by the action of the external force, and the control boxes 24a and 24a are held in the connected state in the length direction. Is done.

  Further, since the first and second connection belts 46 and 48 are both prevented from expanding and contracting in the length direction, the control boxes 24a and 24a adjacent in the length direction can be controlled in the length direction and the height direction. Are positioned relative to each other with limited relative displacement. That is, in order for the control boxes 24a, 24a to be relatively displaced in the length direction or the height direction, at least one of the first and second connection belts 46, 48 needs to extend in the length direction. Since the first and second connection belts 46 and 48 are restricted from expansion and contraction in the length direction, the relative displacement in the length direction and height direction of the control boxes 24a and 24a is restricted.

On the other hand, the control boxes 24a and 24a adjacent to each other in the length direction are virtually extended between the upper end portions in the width direction in the connected state by the first and second connection belts 46 and 48, as shown in FIG. Relative tilting is allowed around a tilt axis (see FIG. 7). That is, the control boxes 24a and 24a are configured such that the relative inclination angle between one end portion in the length direction of the first connecting belt 46 and the intermediate portion and the other end portion in the length direction of the second connecting belt 48 and the intermediate portion. By changing the relative inclination angle (θ _{1 in} FIG. 8), relative inclination about the axis of inclination extending in the width direction between the upper ends of the control boxes 24a and 24a is allowed. In this case, since the first and second connection belts 46 and 48 are both thin and easily deformed in the thickness direction, the tilting of the control boxes 24a and 24a as described above due to the action of external force is allowed. . Thereby, in this embodiment, the connection means which connects a connection member (control box 24) so that tilting is possible is comprised by the 1st, 2nd connection belts 46 and 48. As shown in FIG.

Similarly, the control boxes 24a, 24a adjacent to each other in the length direction are virtually connected to each other in the width direction between the lower ends in the connected state by the first and second connection belts 46, 48 as shown in FIG. Relative tilting is allowed around a typical tilt axis (see FIG. 7). That is, the control boxes 24a and 24a are configured such that the relative inclination angle between the other end portion in the length direction of the first connecting belt 46 and the intermediate portion and the one end portion and the intermediate portion in the length direction of the second connecting belt 48 are By changing the relative inclination angle (θ _{2 in} FIG. 9), relative inclination about the axis of inclination extending in the width direction between the lower ends of the control boxes 24a, 24a is allowed. In this case, since the first and second connection belts 46 and 48 are both thin and easily deformed in the thickness direction, the tilting of the control boxes 24a and 24a as described above due to the action of external force is allowed. .

  The control boxes 24b and 24b adjacent in the length direction are connected by the first and second connection belts 46 and 48 in the same manner as the control boxes 24a and 24a, and are relatively in the length direction and the height direction. It is positioned. Further, the control boxes 24b and 24b are allowed to be relatively tilted around an axis of virtual tilt extending in the width direction between the upper ends, and are virtually tilted to extend in the width direction between the lower ends. Relative tilting is allowed around the axis.

  As described above, the control boxes 24a and 24b provided at both ends in the width direction of the base member 22 are allowed to be tilted relative to the other control boxes 24a and 24b adjacent in the length direction. The mattress unit 18 can be tilted relative to another adjacent mattress unit 18.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the mattress 10 having such a structure is disposed on the human body support surface of the bed 12 having a back raising mechanism, and the control box 24 has a width of the bed 12. The cushion body 26 is disposed at an intermediate portion in the width direction of the bed 12. In addition, the bed portion that flexibly supports the user's body when lying down is configured by the portion where the cushion body 26 is disposed, and the user sits down when the user gets up from the bed 12 due to the portion where the control box 24 is disposed. A stool portion having excellent shape stability is formed.

  Then, when the bed 12 is raised, as shown in FIG. 10, the adjacent control boxes 24a and 24a and the control boxes 24b and 24b are tilted relatively in the length direction, so that the adjacent mattress units 18 are tilted. , 18 tilt relative to each other so that the mattress 10 deforms following the bending of the bed 12.

  More specifically, when the bed 12 is raised up, the control box 24 disposed on the bent portion of the bed 12 tilts about the axis of tilt extending in the width direction between the upper ends, thereby cushioning the mattress unit 18. The body 26 tilts with the control box 24. Accordingly, the upper surface of the cushion body 26 is inclined so as to be substantially parallel to the surface of the bed 12, and a concave surface corresponding to the bending of the bed 12 is constituted by the upper surface of the cushion body 26. Thus, since the upper surface of the mattress 10 deformed into a concave shape is realized by tilting the cushion body 26, the length dimension of the upper surface of the mattress 10 after the concave deformation is the length dimension of the upper surface of the mattress 10 before the concave deformation. As it is, the upper end portion of the cushion body 26 can be prevented from gathering near the bent portion. Therefore, at the bent portion of the mattress 10, it is possible to prevent the elasticity of the cushion body 26 from being lost or causing distortions such as wrinkles.

  In order to maintain the length of the upper surface of the mattress 10 before the deformation when the mattress 10 is deformed in a concave shape, the length of the lower surface of the mattress 10 needs to be longer than that before the deformation. In order to realize this, in the mattress 10, when the control box 24 tilts around the tilting axis located above the base member 22, the base member 22 is tilted by the control box 24 and the upper surface of the bed 12 is moved. It is designed to be displaced along the length direction. Accordingly, a gap is formed between the base members 22 adjacent to each other in the length direction so that the substantial length of the lower surface of the mattress 10 is increased. In particular, in this embodiment, the lower surface of the base member 22 is configured by a downwardly convex curved surface, the contact area between the base member 22 and the upper surface of the bed 12 is reduced, and the base member 22 is attached to the bed 12. However, it is difficult to get caught when sliding. Therefore, the base member 22 slides smoothly along the upper surface of the bed 12, and the concave deformation of the mattress 10 is stably realized.

  Further, when the mattress 10 is deformed in a concave shape, a change in the length dimension of the upper surface of the mattress 10 is reduced or avoided, so that the upper surface of the mattress 10 is relatively displaced (displaced) in the length direction with respect to the user. Is prevented. Thereby, when the mattress 10 is deformed in a concave shape by raising the back of the bed 12 or the like, the action of frictional force (shearing force) is avoided between the upper surface of the mattress 10 and the user's body. Occurrence is suppressed. In particular, in the present embodiment, when the mattress 10 is deformed in a concave shape, the axis of tilting of the control box 24 is positioned at substantially the same height as the upper surface of the cushion body 26, so that the upper surface of the cushion body 26 is the body surface of the user. It is possible to more effectively suppress the displacement in the length direction.

  In addition, since the upper surface of the cushion body 26 is prevented from being distorted when the mattress 10 is deformed in a concave shape, even if the body pressure sensor 44 is disposed on the cushion body 26, the mattress 10 is curved. The wrinkles and the like of the body pressure sensor 44 are prevented. As a result, the detection accuracy of the body pressure sensor 44 is stably maintained, and even when the posture is sitting on the bed 12 with the back raised, the body pressure is the same as when lying on the bed 12 without raising the back. By adjusting the internal pressure or the like of the cell 32 based on the detection result of the sensor 44, the occurrence of pressure sores can be effectively prevented.

  On the other hand, the bed 12 of the present embodiment has a structure in which the knee supporting part is lifted (convexly deformed) so as to be convex upward when the back is raised, and the mattress 10 is formed only by the concave deformation of the bed 12. In addition, the structure can follow the convex deformation. That is, as shown in FIG. 9, the control box 24 positioned at the convex deformation portion of the bed 12 tilts around the tilt axis extending in the width direction between the lower end portions. Accordingly, the cushion body 26 disposed between the control boxes 24a and 24b in the width direction tilts around the same tilting axis, so that the upper surface of the tilted cushion body 26 forms an upwardly convex surface. . As shown in FIG. 10, the control boxes 24 and 24 and the cushion bodies 26 and 26 adjacent to each other in the length direction tilt to form a gap that gradually expands in the length direction upward. However, since the upper opening of the gap is covered with the surface mat 20, the corner portion abuts on the user's body, and pain is given, or a part of the body enters the gap and gives unpleasant feeling. No problem arises. Moreover, since the body pressure of the user who acts is small in the part which protrudes upwards, the influence on sleep comfort etc. by the presence of the said clearance gap does not become a problem.

Moreover, in this embodiment, by devising the connection structure of the control boxes 24 and 24 adjacent in the length direction, both the concave deformation and the convex deformation of the mattress 10 can be performed in the length direction by a single connection structure. Are allowed at any position. That is, the concave deformation of the mattress 10 is caused by the fact that the first and second connecting belts 46 and 48 are fixed to the upper surface of the control box 24 in the longitudinal direction, and the intermediate portion extending between the adjacent control boxes 24 and 24. The bending angle formed by: is realized by deforming in the thickness direction so that θ ₁ changes (increases). On the other hand, the convex deformation of the mattress 10 is caused by an intermediate portion in which the first and second connecting belts 46 and 48 are fixed to the lower surface of the control box 24 and between the adjacent control boxes 24 and 24. This is realized by deforming in the thickness direction such that the bending angle θ ₂ is changed (increased).

  As described above, all mattress units 18 are mutually connected by a single connection structure using the first and second connection belts 46 and 48, and concavely deformed at all connection portions. Any one of convex deformation and no deformation is selectively allowed. Therefore, the mattress 10 does not require special adjustment or replacement of parts, and the difference in bed deformation (back-up) such as the presence or absence of convex deformation at the portion that supports the leg, or the bed bending It is possible to respond freely to differences in position. In addition, a flexible connection structure is realized by an extremely simple structure using the first and second connection belts 46 and 48, which is easy to manufacture and has advantages in terms of reliability and weight reduction.

  Further, since the first and second connection belts 46 and 48 are detachably attached to the control box 24 with hook and loop fasteners, the first and second connection belts 46 and 48 are removed from the control box 24. Thus, the mattress unit 18 can be easily detached from the other mattress units 18. Therefore, the first and second connecting belts 46 and 48 can be easily replaced, and the base member 22, the control box 24, the cell 32, and the like constituting the mattress unit 18 can be easily replaced. . Therefore, it is possible to easily cope with damage or renewal of parts by replacing the parts.

  In FIG. 11, a plurality of control boxes 24 constituting a mattress as a second embodiment of the present invention are shown in a state where they are connected by a first connecting belt 46 and a second connecting belt 48. In the following description, members and parts that are substantially the same as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals in the drawings, and description thereof is omitted. Furthermore, since the parts not shown in the drawing are the same as those in the first embodiment, the description thereof is omitted.

  That is, in the present embodiment, the first connection belt 46 is attached to the central portion in the width direction with respect to the control boxes 24a and 24a as the connection members adjacent in the length direction, and at both end portions in the width direction. Are spaced apart from the first connecting belt 46 in the width direction, and a pair of second connecting belts 48 are attached. The first and second connecting belts 46 and 48 are attached to the control box 24a in the same manner as in the first embodiment, and the adjacent control boxes 24a and 24a are positioned in the length direction. They are connected to each other in a state where tilting between the upper end portions or the lower end portions is allowed. In the present embodiment, the connecting means is constituted by three connecting belts, that is, the first connecting belt 46 and the pair of second connecting belts 48 and 48.

  As described above, if the adjacent control boxes 24a, 24a are connected by the three connecting belts 46, 48, 48 spaced apart in the width direction, the mattresses adjacent in the length direction are used. In the unit 18, a more stable connection state is realized.

  In addition, the first connecting belt 46 is attached to the central portion in the width direction of the control box 24a, and a pair of second connecting belts 48, 48 having different attachment modes from the first connecting belt 46 are provided in the width of the control box 24a. Attached to both ends of the direction. Therefore, when the adjacent control boxes 24a, 24a are tilted relative to each other, the tension of the three connecting belts 46, 48, 48 is exerted in a balanced manner on the control boxes 24a, 24a, and the control boxes 24a, 24a are twisted. Relative displacement in a direction not intended, such as a direction, is prevented.

  Note that the first connecting belt 46 and the second connecting belt 48 may be used in combination, and the connecting means may be configured by four or more connecting belts. Thus, by increasing the number of connection belts, the connection state of the control boxes 24a, 24a adjacent in the length direction can be further stabilized.

  FIG. 12 shows a plurality of control boxes 24 constituting a mattress as a third embodiment of the present invention. More specifically, the control boxes 24a and 24a adjacent in the length direction are connected to each other by a hinge 50 at the upper end portion so as to be tiltable. The hinge 50 may be attached to the upper surface of the control box 24 or may be attached to the upper end of the surface of the control box 24 in the length direction.

  According to this, the control boxes 24a, 24a adjacent in the length direction are tilted with the pin 52 of the hinge 50 disposed between the upper ends of the control boxes 24a, 24a extending in the width direction as the axis of tilt. Since it is allowed, concave deformation is allowed without causing wrinkles or the like on the upper surface of the mattress. As described above, the connecting means other than the one using the connecting band (connecting belt) shown in the above embodiment can be adopted.

  As mentioned above, although embodiment of this invention was explained in full detail, this invention is not limited by the specific description. For example, in the above-described embodiment, the first and second connection belts 46 and 48 as the connection means are attached to all the connection members (control box 24) arranged in the length direction. May not be tiltably connected by the connecting means. That is, only the connecting member of the mattress unit arranged in the portion where the concave deformation is planned is connected to be tiltable using the connecting means, and the connecting members of the other mattress units are connected to the adjacent connecting members. It may be connected by being fixed so that it cannot tilt. Further, for example, some of the connecting members are tiltably connected by the connecting means so as to allow only the concave deformation, and the other part (all) of the connecting members allow only the convex deformation. It may be connected so that tilting is possible.

  Further, the structure of the connecting member is not limited to the rectangular box shape of the control box 24 shown in the embodiment. Specifically, for example, as the connecting member, a rectangular box-shaped control box 24 having a structure in which corners are rounded and configured by an R surface can be adopted. In this case, the tilting axis extending in the width direction between the upper ends of the connecting members adjacent in the length direction moves up and down as the connecting members relatively tilt. In this way, the position of the tilt axis does not necessarily have to be fixedly determined. Furthermore, the configuration in which the control means of the cell 32 is accommodated in the connecting member is desirable from the viewpoint of space efficiency and the like, but it is not essential. It may be a structure that cannot be arranged.

  In addition, the connecting belt-like body only needs to be attached in close contact with the upper and lower surfaces of the connecting member, and the specific fixing structure is such that both end portions of the connecting belts 46 and 48, as shown in the embodiment, It is not limited to the aspect fixed to the control boxes 24 and 24 with the hook-and-loop fastener over the whole. Specifically, for example, the portions of the connecting belts 46 and 48 that overlap the upper and lower surfaces of the control boxes 24a and 24a may be partially fixed by pins, snaps, hooks, or the like. Furthermore, for example, both end portions of the connecting belts 46 and 48 that connect the control boxes 24a and 24a adjacent in the length direction are outer surfaces on the opposite side to the opposing surfaces in the length direction of the control boxes 24a and 24a. And may be fixed to the outer surface. Even with such a fixing structure, the connecting belts 46 and 48 are maintained in an attached state in close contact with the upper and lower surfaces of the control boxes 24a and 24a by the tension of the connecting belts 46 and 48.

  The mattress 10 can be covered with a cover for the purpose of ensuring cleanliness by replacement. Furthermore, as a cover, in addition to a cover that covers only the upper portion of the mattress 10, a bag-shaped cover that covers substantially the entire mattress 10 may be employed. When such a cover that covers the entire surface is employed, the base member 22 does not slide on the cover with a small frictional resistance in order to realize a smooth bending of the mattress 10 when the bed 12 is raised up. It is desirable to be able to move. Specifically, for example, a material having a small friction coefficient (a fluororesin, a polyethylene resin, a polypropylene resin, a polyacetal resin, an acrylic resin, a polystyrene resin, or the like) is selected as a forming material of the base member 22, or a lower surface of the base member 22 is selected. It is conceivable to reduce the contact area between the base member 22 and the cover by providing a hemispherical support protrusion.

  Further, the cushion body is not necessarily limited to the one configured to include the cells 32, and for example, the entire cushion body may be configured from an elastic body such as porous urethane foam. Further, when the cells 32 are employed, the specific structure, arrangement mode (arrangement method, position, interval, etc.), the number of arrangements, etc. are arbitrary and are not limited.

10: mattress, 12: bed, 22: base member, 24: control box (connecting member), 26: cushion body, 32: cell, 44: body pressure sensor, 46: first connecting belt (connecting belt-like body), 48 : Second connecting belt (connecting belt)

Claims (5)

In the mattress having the cushion body disposed on the support surface of the bed,
A base member extending in the width direction on the support surface of the bed is provided, and connecting members are respectively disposed at both end portions in the width direction of the base member. While the cushion body is disposed on the member,
A plurality of the base members are arranged side by side in the length direction orthogonal to the width direction, and the connecting members attached to the base members are arranged side by side in the length direction, and in the length direction At least one pair of the adjacent connecting members is provided with connecting means for connecting the connecting members so as to be tiltable, and the axis of tilting of the connecting members connected by the connecting means is adjacent to the connecting members. A mattress that is located between upper end portions and extends in the width direction.   The connecting means is composed of a plurality of connecting strips arranged side by side in the width direction, and a middle portion in the length direction of the plurality of connecting strips is between the connecting members adjacent in the length direction. The both ends of at least one of the connecting strips are attached to the upper surface of one connecting member and the lower surface of the other connecting member that are adjacent in the length direction, and The mattress according to claim 1, wherein both end portions of the connecting strip are attached to the lower surface of the one connecting member and the upper surface of the other connecting member.   The mattress according to claim 2, wherein both end portions of the connection band are detachably attached to the connection member with a hook-and-loop fastener.   The mattress according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the cushion body includes a bag-shaped cell having a fluid chamber therein.   The mattress according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein a body pressure sensor is superimposed on an upper surface of the cushion body.

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