JP2019177101A - Air cell and air mattress - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide an air cell and the like, capable of preventing a phenomenon of hammock as well as reducing contact pressure at a bone protrusion part locally protruding from a body.SOLUTION: Air cells are to be provided in parallel and used in an air mattress, each air cell comprising: a cell that is formed by a flexible sheet material, includes a first and second side walls facing each other, and is to be expanded by filling air into the inside thereof; and means that is formed by a flexible material, connects the first and second side walls at a plurality of places from the inside of the cell, and prevents the air cell from sinking in a direction of applying a load on the air cell in a state in which the air cells are provided in parallel in the air mattress.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to an air cell and an air mattress used for an air mattress for preventing bedsores (decubitus).

  Bed sores (decubitus) is a local skin pressure ulcer that is often caused by ischemia caused by continued compression of local skin tissue such as a bone protrusion receiving weight. It is very important to prevent bedsores for people who are bedridden or have difficulty moving their bodies due to illness, injury, aging, or the like.

  As an air mattress for preventing bedsores, an air mattress in which air is sealed in a cylindrically shaped air cell and arranged in parallel in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the bed is known (see, for example, Patent Documents 1 to 3). ). In an air mattress for preventing bedsores, the air pressure in each air cell is normally maintained at a low pressure so that the user's body sinks, thereby reducing the contact pressure to the body and preventing bedsores.

  In Patent Literature 1, in an air mattress in which a plurality of elongate bag-shaped air cells are laid in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the bed and arranged in parallel along the longitudinal direction of the bed, each air cell is disposed in a bag-shaped internal space. It is disclosed that a partition plate that bisects the upper and lower sides is provided so as to span between the side walls up to the vicinity of both ends in the longitudinal direction.

  Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. H10-228561 discloses a technique for undulating air cells by dividing the air cells arranged in parallel into a plurality of systems and expanding and contracting the air cells in order for each system. An air mattress that sequentially changes the pressure in the air cell is called a pressure switching type, and an air mattress that does not change the pressure in the air cell during use is called a stationary type. The pressure-switching type air mattress is not a medical device but a welfare tool called a “bed slip prevention tool” to which care insurance is applied.

  Patent Document 3 discloses an inflatable mattress having an elongated planar shape, which is continuously arranged in a row extending along the longitudinal axis of the mattress, and each of the inflatable cells each having an elongated shape. An air mattress is provided.

JP 2005-6939 A JP 2011-160894 A US Pat. No. 5,704,084

  Pathological bone protrusion due to bone deformation and muscle atrophy associated with long-term bedridden life, or sarcopenia often found in elderly hospitalized patients and cancer patients (muscular mass decreases due to aging, etc.), Patients with relative bone protrusion due to loss of cushion tissue of the body, such as skeletal muscle and adipose tissue, due to cancer thinning (cachexia), sputum (decrease in fat), etc., develop bedsores Risk is very high.

  As a result of the follow-up of the patient using a pressure-switching mattress capable of maintaining a low pressure, the inventor has found that there are a considerable number of cases in which the recovery of the affected area is stagnant. In addition, there were patients who repeatedly developed pressure ulcers within the pressure ulcer (the occurrence of new pressure ulcers in the affected area of pressure ulcers). Therefore, the present inventor cannot cope with a patient with a remarkable bone protrusion with a conventional low pressure holding or pressure switching type mattress, and it is an urgent need to develop an air mattress suitable for such a high risk patient. I came to be convinced.

  Here, since the surface of a general air cell is a flat sheet, in an air mattress in which the internal pressure is maintained at a low pressure, if the body load concentrates on a part of the air mattress, the body becomes extremely in the air cell. The body sinks and the body is suspended by the sheet on the support surface of the air cell (the surface of the air cell that is in contact with the body). Such a state is called a hammock phenomenon. When the hammock phenomenon occurs, the contact pressure at the part of the body that is in contact with the support surface increases, and the risk of bed slippage increases. In addition, when there is a locally protruding portion such as the above-described pathological bone protrusion or relative bone protrusion, a partial hammock phenomenon may occur in the bone protruding portion.

  Regarding the hammock phenomenon, in Patent Document 3, a pleat is formed on the support surface of the air cell by fixing the inner sheet to the outer sheet by spot welding, and a margin for the body to sink deeply into the air mattress is created on the support surface by this pleat. Hammocking is to be avoided.

  However, Patent Document 3 only considers avoidance of the hammock phenomenon that may occur when the body is submerged deeply into the air mattress, such as the pathological bone protrusion and the relative bone protrusion described above. No consideration has been given to the reduction of contact pressure on local bone protrusions, particularly bone protrusions often seen in lean patients, and the hammock phenomenon in bone protrusions.

  In addition, when air cells are arranged side by side so as to be orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the air mattress, as in a general air mattress, the center portion in the longitudinal direction of the air cell is the most because each air cell is fixed at both ends. It becomes easy to sink. In other words, such an air mattress has a structure in which contact pressure to the central part of the back surface and the tailbone increases when the patient is suffering from contracture, bruise, and sarcopenia when the supine position is taken with the air mattress. It can be said that it has. Therefore, in a pressure-switching type air mattress, when the air cell is inflated, pressure is applied to the back surface around the spinal column, and when the air cell contracts, the central portion of the air cell sinks. The protruding portion is suspended from the sheet on the support surface. That is, the bone protrusion having a high risk of bed slipping receives force from the air cell when the air cell expands and contracts.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above, and an object of the present invention is to provide an air cell and an air mattress capable of reducing contact pressure and preventing a hammock phenomenon even in a bone protruding portion protruding locally from the body. .

  In order to solve the above-described problem, an air cell which is one embodiment of the present invention is an air cell that is used in parallel in an air mattress, and is formed of a flexible sheet material, and is opposed to each other. A cell that has a second side wall and expands by enclosing air therein, and a flexible material, and connects the first and second side walls from the inside of the cell at a plurality of locations. And means for suppressing subsidence of the air cell in a direction in which a load is applied to the air cell in a state of being arranged in parallel with the air mattress.

  In the above air cell, the means is a connecting member joined to each of the first and second side walls at a plurality of joints, and is provided on the first side wall among the plurality of joints. The first group of joints are arranged in two stages along the longitudinal direction of the cell, and the first-stage joint and the second-stage joint of the first group of joints are The first group of joints arranged in a staggered manner and provided on the second side wall among the plurality of joints are arranged in two stages along the longitudinal direction of the cell, and the second group The first-stage joints and the second-stage joints are alternately arranged, and the first-stage joints of the first group of joints and the second group The first-stage joints of the first joints are alternately arranged, and the second-stage joints of the first group of joints; Serial The second stage of the joint of the joint portion of the second group may be arranged alternately.

  In the air cell, the connection member may be formed in a sheet shape, and the plurality of joint portions may be provided on a main surface of the connection member.

  In the air cell, the second and third cells are formed of a flexible sheet material, and each expands in a cylindrical shape by enclosing air therein, and of the outer peripheral surfaces of the cells, You may further provide the 2nd and 3rd cell attached to the area | region used as the floor side in an air mattress so that it might become parallel to the longitudinal direction of the said cell.

  An air mattress which is another aspect of the present invention is a plurality of air cells including at least the air cell.

  An air mattress which is still another aspect of the present invention is provided with a back raising function and a knee raising function, and a first bottom which can be raised, and a second bottom which is disposed adjacent to the first bottom. An air mattress that is arranged adjacent to a second bottom and is used on a bed bottom provided with a third bottom that can be raised with the second bottom, and has flexibility. The first and second side walls are formed of a material, have first and second side walls facing each other, expand by enclosing air therein, and formed of a flexible material. And a means for suppressing subsidence of the air cell in a direction in which a load is applied to the air cell in a state in which the air cell is placed in parallel with the air mattress. The air mattress is formed of a plurality of first air cells arranged side by side in a direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the loess and a flexible sheet material, and expands into a cylindrical shape by enclosing air therein. A plurality of second air cells juxtaposed in a direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction, and a first bottom side region of a boundary between the first bottom and the second bottom At least one second air cell is disposed in a region, and at least one second air cell is arranged in parallel in a second region that is a region on both sides of the boundary between the second bottom and the third bottom. And two or more first air cells are arranged in parallel between at least the first region and the second region.

  In the air mattress, two or more first air cells may be juxtaposed in a region closer to the end portion of the third bottom than the second region.

  In the air mattress, two or more first air cells are disposed in an area closer to an end portion of the first bottom than the first area, and at least an area excluding an end portion of the first bottom. May be juxtaposed.

  According to the present invention, since the first and second side walls are connected at a plurality of locations from the inside of the cell and the means for suppressing subsidence is provided, the first and second side walls are connected when air is sealed in the air cell. The members are attracted to each other and the air cell expands in a bellows shape, and a ridge is formed on the support surface of the air cell. Therefore, the bone protrusion part which protrudes locally from a body is hold | maintained with a large area so that it may wrap with this heel, and the contact pressure to a bone protrusion part can be reduced. Even when the body is placed on the air cell, the above means prevents the body from sinking excessively into the air cell, so the bone protrusion is wrapped with the heel and the periphery of the bone protrusion is held by the air cell. It is possible to disperse the contact pressure from the air cell that tends to concentrate on the bone protrusion. Furthermore, since the increase in the tension of the air cell surface can be suppressed by suppressing the excessive sinking of the body into the air cell, it is possible to prevent the hammock phenomenon even at the local bone protrusion.

It is a front view which shows the external appearance of the air cell which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention. FIG. 2 is a top view of the air cell shown in FIG. 1 (air sealed). It is B1-B1 expanded sectional view (state which enclosed air) of the air cell shown in FIG. It is B2-B2 expanded sectional view (state which enclosed air) of the air cell shown in FIG. It is B3-B3 expanded sectional view (state which enclosed air) of the air cell shown in FIG. It is a front view which shows the external appearance of the air cell which concerns on the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a bottom view of the air cell shown in FIG. It is CC expanded sectional drawing of the air cell shown in FIG. 5 (state which has not applied load). It is CC expanded sectional drawing of the air cell shown in FIG. 5 (state which has applied the load). It is a schematic diagram for demonstrating the principle of the body pressure dispersion | distribution in the air cell shown in FIG. It is a top view which shows the air mattress which concerns on the 3rd Embodiment of this invention. It is sectional drawing which shows the air cell shown in FIG. It is a top view which shows the air mattress which concerns on the 4th Embodiment of this invention. FIG. 11B is a side view of the mattress shown in FIG. 11A.

  Hereinafter, an air cell and an air mattress according to embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In addition, this invention is not limited by the following embodiment. Moreover, in description of each drawing, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected and shown to the same part. The drawings referred to in the following description only schematically show shapes, sizes, ratios, and positional relationships so that the contents of the present invention can be understood. That is, the present invention is not limited only to the shape, size, ratio, and positional relationship exemplified in each drawing.

(First embodiment)
FIG. 1 is a front view showing an appearance of an air cell according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a top view of the air cell. FIG. 3A is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the air cell taken along B1-B1. FIG. 3B is a B2-B2 enlarged cross-sectional view of the same air cell. FIG. 4 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the air cell taken along B3-B3. Among these, FIG. 1 shows a state where air is not sealed in the air cell, and FIGS. 2 to 4 show a state where air is sealed in the air cell.

  In the following, among the surfaces of the air cell, when the air is sealed in the air cell and arranged side by side with the air mattress, the surface that is the upper side, that is, the surface that comes into contact with the body and supports the body is called the support surface, The surface opposite to the support surface is called the bottom surface. In the following, the upper side or upper direction of the air cell refers to the support surface side or the support surface direction, and the lower side or lower direction of the air cell refers to the bottom surface side or the bottom surface direction.

  The air cell according to the present embodiment is an air cell that constitutes an air mattress that is used by enclosing air therein. As shown in FIGS. 1-4, the air cell 2 which concerns on this embodiment has the 1st and 2nd side wall which mutually opposes, the cell 20 expanded by enclosing air inside, and the cell 20 And a connecting member 21 that is disposed inside and connects two side walls 20 a and 20 b facing each other of the cell 20. The connecting member 21 is a means for connecting the two opposing side walls 20a, 20b of the cell 20 and suppressing the sinking of the air cell 2 in the direction in which the load is applied to the air cell 2 in a state of being arranged in parallel with the air mattress. is there.

  The cell 20 is formed into a cylindrical shape by welding peripheral portions of flexible sheet materials such as urethane. At both ends of the cell 20, a closing portion 23 at the end of the sheet material protrudes, and a hook 24 for fixing the air cell 2 to the bed frame or connecting the air cells 2 is attached to the closing portion 23. It has been. In addition, an injection port 25 for injecting air into the air cell 2 is provided at the bottom of the cell 20 (a region on the floor side in the air mattress).

  The size of the air cell 2 is not particularly limited as long as it can be adapted to a bed frame using an air mattress. Further, the size of the air cell 2 may be determined in consideration of the body shape and physique of the user, the internal pressure of the air cell 2 during use, and the like. As an example, in a nursing bed, the length of the bed frame in the short direction is generally 850 mm or 950 mm. Therefore, in a state where air is sealed in the air cell 2 so as to conform to this, The width W2 in the short direction of the air cell 2 may be about 60 to 80 mm, and the thickness H2 may be about 80 to 130 mm.

  The connection member 21 is formed of a flexible sheet material such as urethane. Note that the material forming the cell 20 and the material forming the connection member 21 may be the same material or different materials.

  The connection member 21 is arranged so as to be substantially parallel to the opposing side walls 20a, 20b of the cell 20 in a state where the air cell 2 is not sealed with air (see FIG. 1). Therefore, in a state where air is sealed in the air cell 2 and disposed as a part of the air mattress, the connecting member 21 is in a posture to stand in the vertical direction (see FIG. 4).

  The connection member 21 is joined to two opposing side walls 20a and 20b of the cell 20 by welding at a plurality of locations on the main surface. The welded part (joint part) 22a between one side wall 20a and the connection member 21 and the welded part (joint part) 22b between the other side wall 20b and the connection member 21 do not face each other in front of each other. Has been placed.

  Specifically, when the connecting member 21 is arranged in a planar shape without enclosing air in the air cell 2 (see FIG. 1), a plurality of welded portions 22a are along the longitudinal direction of the air cell 2 on one side wall 20a. The first-stage welded portions 22a and the second-stage welded portions 22b are alternately arranged. Also, on the other side wall 20b, a plurality of welded portions 22b are arranged in two stages along the longitudinal direction of the air cell 2, and a first-stage welded portion 22b and a second-stage welded portion 22b are provided. They are staggered. Between the two side walls 20a and 20b, the first stage welds 22a of the side walls 20a and the first stage welds 22b of the side walls 20b are alternately arranged, and the second stage welds of the side walls 20a. The portions 22a and the second-stage welded portions 22b of the side walls 20b are alternately arranged.

  Moreover, the shape of each welding part 22a, 22b is circular so that two steps | paragraphs of arrangement | positioning are possible in each side wall 20a, 20b. Note that the shape of the welded portions 22a and 22b is not limited to a circular shape as long as two-stage arrangement is possible, and may be an elliptical shape, a square shape, a rectangular shape, other polygonal shapes, or the like.

  As for the arrangement of the welded portions 22a and 22b, as shown in FIG. 1, two welded portions 22a adjacent to each other on one side of one side wall (for example, the side wall 20a) and the other side are not sealed. It is preferable to determine that one welded part 22a adjacent to both of these two welded parts 22a in a step forms an isosceles triangle. Further, an isosceles triangle in which the distance d1 between two adjacent welded portions 22a in one step is longer than the distances d2 and d3 between each welded portion 22a and the adjacent welded portion 22a in the other step. It is more preferable to determine the arrangement so that In this manner, by arranging the welded portions 22a and 22b so as to form a flat isosceles triangle, it is possible to form a structure that can more easily maintain the shape against the load on the air cell 2. The distance d1 between the two adjacent welded portions 22a is preferably about 1/2 to 3/4 of the length in the short direction of the side wall 20a in a state where air is not sealed.

  When air is sealed in the air cell 2, the entire cell 20 expands, but the welded portions 22a and 22b of the side walls 20a and 20b are attracted to the connecting member 21, and the length of the cell 20 in the longitudinal direction is that air is sealed. It becomes a state contracted more than no state. And the convex part 26 which expanded and the recessed part (ridge | mouth) 27 narrowed in groove shape are formed in the support surface of the cell 20, and the unevenness | corrugation (pleat) like a bellows arises as a whole (refer FIG. 2). Since the unevenness can support the user's body in a wide area so as to wrap, the contact pressure with respect to each part of the body, in particular, the bone protrusion can be reduced, and bed slip can be prevented.

  The number of the welded portions 22a and 22b is not particularly limited, and may be appropriately determined according to the size of the air cell 2 and the size and size of the unevenness formed when air is sealed. For example, when the number of welded portions 22a and 22b is increased, many relatively fine irregularities are formed on the upper surface of the air cell 2. On the other hand, when the number of welded portions 22 a and 22 b is reduced, relatively large irregularities are formed on the upper surface of the air cell 1.

  As described above, when air is sealed in the air cell 2, the side walls 20a and 20b are attracted by the connecting member 21, the air cell 2 expands in a bellows shape, and irregularities are formed on the support surface of the air cell. When the user's body is placed on the air cell 2, the body is supported so as to be wrapped by the convex portion 26 and the concave portion 27. In other words, the body of the air cell 2 does not support the body in a plane like a general cylindrical air cell, but the sheet material of the air cell 2 follows the body loosely (so-called loose fit) due to the unevenness generated in the air cell 2. Can be supported over a wide area. Therefore, the contact pressure with respect to each part of the body can be reduced, and bed slip can be prevented. In particular, locally protruding bone protrusions can be individually supported so as to be wrapped by the recesses 27.

  Moreover, in the upper stage (refer FIG. 3A) and the lower stage (refer FIG. 3B) of the air cell 2, since the position of the welding part 22a by the side wall 20a and the position of the welding part 22b by the side wall 20b have shifted | deviated, it is lateral. The position of the convex portion 28 that expands in the same way also shifts between the upper and lower stages. That is, in the upper stage and the lower stage, the side wall 20a side and the side wall 20b side swell alternately, and the direction of the bellows is reversed (see FIGS. 3B and 4). As a result, a three-dimensional structure is formed in the air cell 2 so that the shape can be easily maintained with respect to the load from above. Therefore, even if the user's body is put on the air cell 2, excessive sinking of the body can be suppressed. Therefore, when the body is put on the air cell 2, the pressure from the support surface that tends to concentrate on the bone projecting portion while holding the periphery of the bone projecting portion with the air cell 2 while supporting the bone projecting portion by the recess 27. Can be dispersed around the bone protrusion.

  Further, by suppressing the sinking of the body into the air cell 2, it is possible to prevent bottoming without excessively increasing the thickness of the air cell 2. In addition, by suppressing the sinking of the body into the air cell 2, it is possible to maintain a state in which the recess 27 is sufficiently left on the support surface of the air cell 2, and to suppress an increase in tension on the support surface. Therefore, it is possible to prevent a local hammock phenomenon at the bone protrusion or the like.

  In the first embodiment, the connecting member 21 is welded to the side walls 20a and 20b of the cell 20, but the means for joining the connecting member 21 to the side walls 20a and 20b is not limited to welding. For example, an adhesive or sewing means may be used as long as air can be sealed in the air cell 2 and strength sufficient to resist deformation when a load is applied to the air cell 2 can be obtained. Moreover, it does not specifically limit about the welding method, Well-known methods, such as hot plate welding and high frequency welding, can be used.

(Second Embodiment)
FIG. 5 is a front view showing an appearance of an air cell according to the second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6 is a bottom view of the air cell. 7A and 7B are CC cross-sectional views of the air cell. Among these, FIG. 5 shows a state where air is not sealed in the air cell, and FIGS. 6 to 7B show a state where air is sealed in the air cell.

  As shown in FIG. 5 to FIG. 7B, the air cell 3 according to the present embodiment has the second and third portions with respect to the bottom of the air cell 2 according to the first embodiment (the region on the floor side of the air mattress). Cells (base cells 31, 32) are provided along the longitudinal direction.

  The base cells 31 and 32 are integrally formed by a single bag 30 made of a flexible sheet material such as urethane. A welding portion 33 is formed along the longitudinal direction at a substantially central portion of the bag body 30 in the short direction (see FIG. 6). The welding part 33 connects the sheet material which the bag body 30 opposes (refer FIG. 7A). Thereby, the bag 30 is separated into two base cells 31 and 32. Further, the bag 30 is connected to the bottom of the cell 20 in at least a part of the welded portion 33. The part which connects the bag body 30 and the bottom part of the cell 20 is not specifically limited, For example, only the both ends of the welding part 33 may be sufficient, and the whole welding part 33 may be sufficient. Or you may connect the bag body 30 and the bottom part of the cell 20 in multiple places with a hook, a button, etc. FIG.

  Further, the bag body 30 is provided with an inlet 34 for injecting air into the bag body 30. The bag body 30 is blocked from flowing air between the cells 20, and the base cells 31 and 32 expand in a cylindrical shape by sealing air from the inlet 34.

  A gap region 35 is provided between both longitudinal ends of the bag body 30 and the welded portion 33 and between the two welded portions 33. The gap region 35 allows air to flow between the two base cells 31 and 32. Therefore, even when air is supplied to the bag body 30 or the air cell 2 is pressed, the internal pressures in the base cells 31 and 32 are substantially equal, and the diameters of the base cells 31 and 32 are substantially the same. Maintained.

  In addition, in FIG. 6, although the welding part 33 is divided and formed in two places along the longitudinal direction of the bag body 30, the number of the welding parts 33 is not limited to this. For example, the welded portion 33 may be integrally formed along the longitudinal direction of the bag body 30. Or you may divide the welding part 33 further finely (for example, in 4-5 places). Here, when air is sealed in the cell 20, the side walls 20a and 20b partially swell laterally, so that the bottom portion is meandering. Therefore, in particular, when the bag 30 is connected to the bottom of the cell 20 in the entire welded portion 33, the welded portion 33 is divided into a plurality of locations, and “play” in which the cell 20 and the bag 30 are not welded is provided. Is preferred. Thereby, the bag body 30 can be maintained in a straight state, and the cells 20 can be stably held.

  The size of the air cell 3 is not particularly limited as long as it can be adapted to a bed frame using an air mattress. Further, the size of the air cell 3 may be determined in consideration of the body shape and physique of the user, the internal pressure of the air cell 3 during use, and the like. As an example, in a state where air is sealed in the air cell 3 (cell 20 and base cells 31 and 32), the thickness H3 is set to about 110 to 160 mm, and the diameter φ of the base cells 31 and 32 is set to about 30 to 50 mm. Good (see FIG. 7A). Preferably, the diameter φ of the base cells 31 and 32 is about 1/3 to 1/2 of the width W2 of the cell 20.

  As shown in FIG. 7A, in a state where no load is applied to the air cell 3, the base cells 31 and 32 swell in a substantially cylindrical shape. Since the cell 20 and the bag body 30 are connected to each other at least a part of the welded portion 33 in a generally linear shape rather than a wide surface, each base cell is connected to the cell 20 when no load is applied to the air cell 3. 31 and 32 are movable about the welded portion 33 as an axis.

  On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 7B, when a load is applied to the air cell 3, the cell 20 and the base cells 31 and 32 come into contact with each other in a planar shape. The cell 20 is supported by the two base cells 31 and 32 through two surfaces where each of the base cells 31 and 32 contacts the cell 20.

  FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram for explaining the principle of body pressure dispersion in the air cell 3. When an air mattress is constituted by the air cells 3, the air cells 3 are arranged side by side on the bed frame, and air is sealed in the cells 20 and the base cells 31 and 32 of each air cell 3. As shown in FIG. 8, when a load is applied to the air cell 3, a truss structure that supports one cell 20 is formed by the two base cells 31 and 32.

  The inside of the cell 20 is maintained at a pressure at which the body sinks somewhat in the cell 20 in order to reduce the contact pressure on the user's body. On the other hand, the internal pressures of the base cells 31 and 32 are maintained in a state where the air is filled almost completely. Thus, by maintaining the internal pressure of the base cells 31 and 32 at a predetermined pressure separately from the cell 20, even if a local pressure is applied to the cell 20, the entire air cell 3 is bottomed. Can be prevented.

  Further, when the user puts his / her body on the air cell 3, a load P1 is applied to the cell 20 in direct contact with the body. At this time, if the shape of the cell 20 is distorted by the load P1, a local contact pressure is normally applied to a portion (tip) where the body sinks most. However, in this embodiment, since the truss structure that supports one cell 20 is formed by the two base cells 31 and 32, the load P1 is in the direction of the two base cells 31 and 32 (see arrows P2 and P3). ). In other words, the body that sinks due to the reaction force received from the base cells 31 and 32 is widely supported, and the contact pressure to the local body is reduced. Thereby, the bedsore prevention effect can be enhanced.

  As described above, according to the second embodiment of the present invention, in addition to the effect of preventing the hammock phenomenon described in the first embodiment, a body pressure dispersion effect by the truss structure can be obtained, and the bed slip prevention effect can be obtained. Can be improved. Furthermore, since the air flow is blocked between the cell 20 and the base cells 31 and 32, the bottom of the air cell 3 as a whole can be prevented.

  By arranging the air cells according to the above-described first and second embodiments of the present invention side by side on the bed frame, an air mattress can be configured. When configuring the air mattress, any of the air cells according to the first and second embodiments may be used, or the air cells according to the first and second embodiments may be used in appropriate combination. good. Alternatively, the air mattress may be configured by combining other types of air cells in addition to the air cells according to the first and second embodiments. For example, one of the air cells according to the first and second embodiments of the present invention is juxtaposed in a region around the waist where the user's weight is likely to concentrate (near the center of the bed frame), and the other region In addition, a general cylindrical air cell may be provided in parallel.

  The air cells according to the first and second embodiments tend to concentrate by wrapping the bone protrusions and reducing the contact pressure due to the structure of the individual air cells, and by holding the periphery of the bone protrusions with the air cells. The effect of dispersing the pressure from the air cell around the bone protrusion and the effect of preventing the hammock phenomenon by suppressing the excessive sinking of the body into the air cell are exhibited. Therefore, the above effect can naturally be obtained even in an air mattress in which such air cells are arranged in parallel.

  In the following, an embodiment in which an air mattress is configured using the air cells according to the first and second embodiments will be described.

(Third embodiment)
FIG. 9 is a top view showing an air mattress according to the third embodiment of the present invention. The air mattress 6 shown in FIG. 9 is an air mattress that can also be used for a bed bottom having a back raising function and a knee raising function.

  Here, in the field of the bed frame on which the mattress is placed, in order to prevent the body from falling down when the back is lifted, the “back raising function” for raising the head side area of the bed bottom, There are models with a “knee-lifting function” that raises the bed bottom into a mountain shape. A bed bottom having a back raising function and a knee raising function generally includes a back bottom (first bottom) and a waist bottom (second bottom) disposed adjacent to the back bottom from the head side, It has at least three bottoms with a leg bottom (third bottom) arranged adjacent to the waist bottom. The back bottom can stand up the end on the head side with the boundary with the waist bottom as an axis. In addition, the waist bottom and the leg bottom can be raised with the boundary between them (generally, the part on which the knee rides) as a mountain. Of the air mattresses described below, the region generally disposed on the back bottom is defined as the back bottom region (first region), and the region generally disposed on the waist bottom is defined as the waist bottom region (second region). Region), a region generally disposed on the leg bottom is referred to as a leg bottom region (third region).

  As shown in FIG. 9, on the bed bottom 6a, the region from the head side end of the back bottom region to about half, both sides of the boundary between the waist bottom region and the leg bottom region, and the end of the leg bottom region A plurality of air cells 5 are arranged in parallel with each other. Among the remaining regions, a plurality of air cells 2A are arranged in parallel on the back bottom region and waist bottom region side, and a plurality of air cells 2B are arranged in parallel on the leg bottom region side. The structure of the air cells 2A and 2B is the same as that of the air cell 2 according to the first embodiment (see FIGS. 1 to 4), and only the regions arranged in parallel are different.

  FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view showing the air cell 5. As shown in FIG. 10, the air cell 5 is a general one-air chamber air cell including one bag body 51 as a whole. The size of the air cell 5 is not particularly limited as long as it can be aligned with the other air cells 2A and 2B arranged side by side. A film-like member (so-called suspension) 52 is provided on the inner peripheral surface of the bag body 51 so as to be in a direction substantially parallel to the floor surface of the air mattress. The film-like member 52 is welded at a position that is approximately half the thickness of the bag body 51, and connects regions of the inner peripheral surface that face each other. By providing such a film-like member 52, even when pressure is applied to the air cell 5, the air cell 5 is prevented from expanding laterally, and the amount of compression in the thickness direction of the air cell 5 can be suppressed. it can.

  The air mattress 6 is provided with four air supply systems. That is, a stationary system that does not change the internal pressure by blocking air intake and exhaust after supplying air until a predetermined internal pressure is reached, and a first to third system that sequentially changes the internal pressure of the air at a predetermined cycle. . Among the air cells arranged side by side, all the air cells 5 and the air cells 2B in the leg bottom region are connected to the stationary system, and the air cells 2A in the back bottom region and the waist bottom region are sequentially connected to the first system to the third system. .

  In this way, by placing so-called trunks such as the user's back, waist, and buttocks, and disposing the air cell 2A in a region where a large load is applied, excessive sinking of the body can be prevented. Further, even when the air cell 2A is in an expanded state, the body can be supported over a wide area so as to be wrapped by the bellows of the sheet, and even when the air cell 2B is in a contracted state, the body is similarly supported. It can prevent the hammock phenomenon caused by subduction.

  Further, by disposing the air cell 2B on the leg portion, it is possible to support the bone protruding portion protruding in various directions, such as a heel and a heel, so as to be wrapped by the bellows of the sheet.

  Here, in general pressure switching type air mattresses, there are many models that periodically switch the internal pressures of all the air cells. In this case, the user's head is also moved periodically, which may be similar to seasickness. On the other hand, in this embodiment, the air cell 5 arrange | positioned in the area | region where a head is mounted is connected to the stationary system. This can prevent the user from becoming seasick. Thus, by combining the stationary type and the pressure switching type, it is possible to realize an air mattress that can be used comfortably and safely for the user as well as preventing bed slips.

(Fourth embodiment)
FIG. 11A is a top view showing an air mattress according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 11B is a side view of the mattress. The air mattress 8 shown in FIGS. 11A and 11B is also an air mattress that can be used for a bed bottom having a back-raising function and a knee-raising function, as in the third embodiment.

  On the bed bottom 8a, the air cells 5 are arranged in parallel in a region from the head side end of the back bottom region to about half. Air cells 5A are arranged in parallel as anchor cells on both sides of the back bottom region near the boundary between the back bottom region and the waist bottom region and on both sides of the boundary between the waist bottom region and the leg bottom region. Of the remaining regions, the air cells 3A are arranged side by side on the back bottom region and waist bottom region side, and the air cells 3B are arranged on the leg bottom region side.

  The structure of the air cells 3A and 3B is substantially the same as that of the air cell 3 according to the second embodiment (see FIGS. 5 to 7B), but the air cell 3A has a cell 20 and a bag 30 (base cell 31, 32), and the air cell 3B is different in that air can be circulated between the cell 20 and the bag 30. The structures of the air cells 5 and 5A (see FIG. 10) are similar to each other, and only the regions arranged in parallel are different.

  The air mattress 8 is provided with five air supply systems. That is, after supplying air until a predetermined internal pressure is reached, the stationary system and the anchor / bottom stationary system that does not change the internal pressure by shutting off the intake and exhaust of air, and the first to first that sequentially change the internal pressure of the air in a predetermined cycle. The third system. Among these, the set value of the internal pressure differs between the stationary system and the anchor / bottom stationary system, and the anchor / bottom stationary system is set to have a higher internal pressure than the stationary system.

  The air cell 5 and the air cell 3B are connected to a stationary system. The internal pressure of the stationary system may be relatively low, and the user's body may be submerged and supported in the air cell 5 and the air cell 3B. It is possible to prevent seasickness by connecting the head air cell to the stationary system. Moreover, in the leg part below the knee, the cell 20 expanded in a bellows shape can be held in a wide area so as to wrap the body.

  Of the air cell 3A arranged mainly in the area where the user's trunk is placed, the cell 20 portion is connected in order to the first system to the third system. Thereby, the cell 20 is expanded while the body 20 is supported in a wide area so as to be wrapped by the bellows-like cell 20, and the bed slip prevention effect can be exhibited. Moreover, since the air cell 2 (refer FIG. 7A) itself which consists of the cell 20 and the connection member 21 has a structure which maintains its shape with respect to a load, when a big load is locally applied to the air cell 3A Even so, extreme sinking can be suppressed and the hammock phenomenon can be prevented. Moreover, since the sinking of the body is suppressed, the effect of reducing the burden of position change by the assistant can also be obtained.

  Of the air cell 3A, the portion of the bag 30 and the air cell 5A disposed in the vicinity of the boundary between the adjacent bottom regions are connected to the anchor / bottom stationary system. In the air cell 3A, by filling the bag body 30 with air of sufficient internal pressure, it is possible to prevent bottoming and obtain a body pressure dispersion effect by the truss structure (see FIG. 8). Further, the air cell 5A in the back bottom region is arranged in a region that becomes a valley when the back is raised, and the air cell 5A in the vicinity of the boundary between the waist bottom region and the leg bottom region is arranged in a region that becomes a mountain when the knee is raised. Therefore, by filling these air cells 5A with air having a sufficient internal pressure, it is possible to maintain the user's posture and obtain an effect of suppressing positional deviation (front deviation). Note that an air cell that is arranged to maintain the user's posture and suppress positional deviation is also called an anchor cell.

(Modification)
As a further modification, an overlay air mattress may be configured using the air cell according to the first or second embodiment or the air cell according to these modifications. An overlay air mattress is an air mattress that is used over a standard mattress. Specifically, the air cells according to the first or second embodiment or the air cells according to these modifications are arranged side by side so as to be in a direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the air mattress.

  Here, in the JIS standard (JIS 9254: 2009), from the viewpoint of safety (preventing falling from the bed), the height from the upper surface of the mattress to the highest part of the side rail or the bed grip is defined. . It is generally said that the total thickness of the standard mattress and the overlay mattress should be 16 cm or less in order to conform to this standard in the nursing bed currently in widespread use. Since the thickness of a general standard mattress is 7.5 to 8 cm, when configuring an overlay type air mattress, the thickness of the air cell according to the first or second embodiment or the air cell according to these modifications. The thickness may be 8 cm or less.

  As one modified example, an air cell (hereinafter, an air cell according to this modified example) in which the welded portion is reduced to one stage instead of two upper and lower stages may be used for the air cell 2 according to the first embodiment. Even when the welded portion is a single step, by setting the thickness of the air cell to 8 cm or less, excessive subsidence of the air cell can be suppressed and the hammock phenomenon can be prevented, and the bone protruding portion has a large area. It is possible to support the user's body including the contact pressure and reduce the contact pressure.

  Here, in a general overlay air mattress (that is, an air mattress in which simple cylindrical air cells are arranged side by side), the user's body sinks into the air mattress in order to keep the internal pressure low. There was a problem that it was difficult for the assistants to change their positions. On the other hand, in the air mattress according to the present embodiment, the air cell according to the first or second embodiment or the air cell itself according to these modifications suppresses excessive subsidence and maintains a shape to some extent. Therefore, the position change by the assistant is facilitated, and the burden on the assistant can be reduced.

  As a further effect of the air mattress in which the air cells according to the first and second embodiments are arranged side by side, it is suitable for use in a bed frame having an automatic posture change support function. The automatic posture change support function is that the bed bottom is divided into two or more along the longitudinal direction, and a part of the divided bed bottom rises along the longitudinal direction of the bed bottom. It is a function that assists in posture change.

  Here, when a general cylindrical air cell is bent in the longitudinal direction of the air cell, it tends to return to the original straight state due to the repulsive force. For this reason, if an air mattress with a general cylindrical air cell arranged in parallel with the short direction of the bed frame is used for a bed frame with an automatic posture change support function, the air mattress will Unable to follow the movement of the bed bottom, the air mattress will float or be displaced from the bed bottom. Therefore, conventionally, an air mattress cannot be used for a bed frame having an automatic posture change support function.

  On the other hand, the air cell according to the first and second embodiments can flexibly follow the bending in the longitudinal direction. This is because, in the air cells according to the first and second embodiments, bellows-like ridges are formed on the support surface and the opposite surface. In other words, when the air cell is bent toward one surface (for example, the support surface), the wrinkles contract on the surface and the wrinkles extend on the opposite surface, so that the bent state can be easily maintained. Therefore, when the air mattress in which the air cells according to the first and second embodiments are arranged side by side in the short direction of the bed bottom is used for a bed frame with an automatic posture change support function, even when the function is used, The air mattress flexibly responds to the movement of the bed bottom, and it is possible to use the air mattress comfortably and safely without causing floating or slippage.

  The present invention described above is not limited to the first to fourth embodiments described above, and various combinations can be made by appropriately combining a plurality of components disclosed in the first to fourth embodiments. An invention can be formed. For example, some components may be excluded from all the components shown in the first to fourth embodiments, or the components shown in the first to fourth embodiments may be appropriately changed. You may form combining.

2, 2A, 2B, 3, 3A, 3B, 5, 5A Air cell 6, 8 Air mattress 6a, 8a Bed bottom 20 Cell 20a, 20b Side wall 21 Connection member 22a, 22b, 33 Welded portion 23 Closed portion 24 Hook 25, 34 Inlet 26, 28 Convex part 27 Concave part 30 Bag body 31, 32 Base cell 35 Gap region 51 Bag body 52 Film-like member

Claims (8)

An air cell used side by side in an air mattress,
A cell formed of a flexible sheet material, having first and second side walls facing each other, and expanding by enclosing air therein;
The first side wall and the second side wall are connected to each other at a plurality of locations from the inside of the cell, and the air cell in a direction in which a load is applied to the air cell in a state of being arranged in parallel with the air mattress. Means for suppressing the sinking of the air cell;
An air cell. The means is a connecting member joined at a plurality of joints to each of the first and second side walls,
Of the plurality of joints, a first group of joints provided on the first side wall are arranged in two stages along the longitudinal direction of the cells, and the first group of joints The first stage joints and the second stage joints are arranged alternately,
Among the plurality of joints, a first group of joints provided on the second side wall is provided in two stages along the longitudinal direction of the cell, and the first group of joints of the second group The first stage joints and the second stage joints are arranged alternately,
The first stage joints of the first group joints and the first stage joints of the second group joints are alternately arranged,
2. The air cell according to claim 1, wherein the second-stage joint portion of the first group joint portion and the second-stage joint portion of the second group joint portion are alternately arranged. .   The air cell according to claim 2, wherein the connection member has a sheet shape, and the plurality of joint portions are provided on a main surface of the connection member.   A second cell and a third cell, each of which is formed of a flexible sheet material and expands in a cylindrical shape by enclosing air therein, and is a floor in the air mattress among the outer peripheral surfaces of the cells. The air cell according to any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising a second cell and a third cell attached to a side region so as to be parallel to a longitudinal direction of the cell.   An air mattress in which a plurality of air cells including at least the air cell according to any one of claims 1 to 4 are arranged in parallel. A back raising function and a knee raising function are provided; a first bottom capable of raising the back; a second bottom disposed adjacent to the first bottom; and a second bottom disposed adjacent to the first bottom; An air mattress used by being arranged on a bed bottom comprising a third bottom that can be raised with the second bottom,
Formed of a sheet material having flexibility, having first and second side walls opposed to each other, inflated by enclosing air therein, and formed of a flexible material, Means for connecting the first and second side walls at a plurality of locations from the inside of the cell, and for suppressing the sinking of the air cell in a direction in which the load is applied to the air cell while being arranged in parallel with the air mattress. And a plurality of first air cells arranged in parallel in a direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the air mattress;
A plurality of second air cells formed of a flexible sheet material, inflated in a cylindrical shape by enclosing air therein, and arranged in parallel in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the air mattress;
With
At least one second air cell is disposed in a first region that is a region on the first bottom side of a boundary between the first bottom and the second bottom;
At least one second air cell is juxtaposed in a second region that is a region on both sides of the boundary between the second bottom and the third bottom,
An air mattress in which two or more first air cells are arranged in parallel between at least the first region and the second region.   The air mattress according to claim 6, wherein two or more first air cells are juxtaposed in a region closer to the end of the third bottom than the second region. Two or more first air cells are juxtaposed in an area closer to the end of the first bottom than the first area, and at least excluding the end of the first bottom. The air mattress according to claim 6 or 7.

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