JP3560033B2 - Air mattress - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an air mattress used for bedding.
[0002]
[Prior art]
The conventional air mattress has the following problems (a) to (d).
(A) In a general air mattress, when the air pressure is increased, the sleeping comfort is deteriorated, and when the air pressure is reduced, the sleeping posture is deteriorated such as a fall in the waist.
Also, when two people sleep at the same time, the sleeping posture changes greatly depending on the neighbors going in and out.
(B) An air mattress that is divided into a number of small air chambers and connected between the air chambers by a narrow air passage has a static attitude similar to that of (a), although the attitude change speed is slow.
(C) An air mattress in which the air chambers are independently divided into a plurality of chambers and the thickness and air pressure of each air chamber are changed cannot cope with changes in the position and orientation of the body and individual differences.
(D) An air mattress that divides the air chamber into a plurality of sections and independently controls the air pressure of each chamber increases the cost of the control system.
[0003]
The compression elastic force due to the internal air pressure of a single-chamber air mattress is uniform regardless of the location, and even when partially compressed, the overall compressive elastic force is uniformly increased by increasing the internal air pressure. Become. However, since this change is determined by the ratio of the total volume and the deformation volume due to compression, the larger the total volume, the less the rise in air pressure due to partial compression. Therefore, if the area to which the load is applied is small, the area is suddenly deformed at the point when the compressive elastic force due to the initial air pressure is exceeded, that is, the bottom strikes. Further, if there is a load increasing portion and a load decreasing portion, the relationship between the magnitude of the compressive deformation and the compressive elastic force within the limited range has no meaning since the portions are offset.
For this reason, in order to prevent extreme deformation, it is necessary to increase the initial air pressure sufficiently, and it is difficult to obtain a soft sleeping comfort as well as to push up the buttocks as in the case of lying on a flat plate and to deteriorate the sleeping posture. Was.
[0004]
In addition, air mattresses have been devised to prevent sudden deformation by dividing the air chambers into many parts and connecting each air chamber with a narrow ventilation path, but in the steady state, the internal air pressure is equal to each air chamber, The size of does not change and the basic problem is not improved.
[0005]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
An object of the present invention is to enable anyone to obtain a soft sleeping comfort and an appropriate sleeping posture regardless of height, weight, and physique, and to prevent sudden deformation.
[0006]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
Two sheets of non-breathable sheets are stacked, and each side excluding the hexagonal vertices is sealed to the outer periphery of the sheet so that a large number of hexagons are connected to each other, and a large number of small pieces connected to each other through the unsealed portions of the vertices An air mattress consisting of air chambers was formed.
The sealing portion on each side is formed in an I-shape, and a waterdrop-shaped enlarged portion having a width wider than the center portion is formed at both ends of the sealing portion. Further, a slit is formed in the sealing portion.
A plurality of the air mattresses are stacked, and the air pressure of the lower mattress is higher than the air pressure of the upper mattress.
[0007]
[Action]
The air mattress of the present invention simulates the buoyancy of water. First, the characteristics of the buoyancy of water and the support characteristics of the air mattress will be described.
[0008]
It is said that the correct sleeping posture is seen when the patient lies on the surface of the water and floats. When viewed from the side, the spine draws a smooth S-shape, and is said to be almost straight when connecting the center points of the thickness of each body part. Everyone, from adults to children, floats horizontally on the water surface because the human body is almost equal to the specific gravity of water regardless of height, weight, and location, and the load on each part of the body and the buoyancy of water are balanced.
[0009]
In air mattresses, if only the parts in contact with the body are deformed in proportion to the load applied to them, the same sleeping posture should be obtained. As described in the section, since the compressive elastic force of each part does not act independently, it cannot be coped with by adjusting the air pressure or changing the material of the skin.
Therefore, the present invention has devised a structure capable of realizing a highly independent supporting force characteristic and a supporting force characteristic proportional to the vertical displacement. The operation of each structure will be described below.
[0010]
In order to increase the independence of each part, the skin needs to be stretched flexibly so that only the part where the load is applied is deformed, but the stretch elastic force of a general non-breathable sheet is extremely large, so even if a load is applied The surroundings are deformed due to dragging without stretching.
Therefore, in the present invention, a large number of small air chambers having a honeycomb pattern in which hexagons are connected are formed, and when the air chamber expands, the air chamber uniformly contracts in all horizontal directions. When a load is applied in this state, the material is easily extended by the amount of the contraction, so that an extremely small extension elastic force can be obtained.
In addition, the honeycomb pattern does not have long straight lines in any direction, and when the air chamber expands, each part has almost uniform rigidity in any direction against bending, twisting, and displacement, and maintains the planar shape of the entire air mattress Since the force is generated, there is also an effect that it is difficult for dragging and warping of the peripheral portion to occur.
[0011]
When each air chamber is filled with air, peeling stress is generated in the sealing part.If a ventilation path is provided in the middle of the sealing part, stress concentrates on the sealing ends on both sides and breaks from there. Cheap. Therefore, in the present invention, a ventilation path is formed at the top of the hexagonal air chamber.
Since the hexagonal air chamber receives much of the peeling stress at each side, the peeling stress at the apex portion is small, and if a ventilation path is provided there, the durability is improved. However, the end of the sealing portion is subjected to an R treatment to form a water droplet, and has an I-shape connected to a central straight line portion by a smooth curve, thereby avoiding stress concentration as much as possible.
[0012]
When the air mattress is inflated, its periphery shrinks in the horizontal direction around the sealing portion. Therefore, if the sealing portion has a long straight line, the shrinking direction is only in the width direction, and the shrinking degree increases as the straight line becomes longer. Further, if the sealing portion is in a lattice shape, the portions where the straight lines intersect with each other, the respective shrinkage overlap and the shrinkage is extremely likely to occur, and if a ventilation path is provided here, it becomes difficult to ventilate.
However, since the honeycomb pattern has neither long straight lines nor intersections, and the degree of shrinkage and the direction of shrinkage are small, even when a ventilation path is provided at the apex of the hexagon, it does not shrink too much and has an appropriate ventilation cross-sectional area. Can be secured. Furthermore, if the width of the sealing portion is reduced, the resistance to shrinkage in the longitudinal direction of the sealing portion is reduced, and the sealing portion can be shrunk more uniformly.
As a result, moderate ventilation resistance is obtained, and since all the vertices are ventilation paths, no matter how much load is applied, stable ventilation can be secured without clogging, preventing sudden bottoming and deformation. it can.
[0013]
On the other hand, in order to achieve the bearing force characteristic proportional to the vertical displacement, the compressive elastic force must increase according to the sinking depth, but since the internal air pressure does not change much in the single chamber type, the independent air A plurality of mattresses were laminated by changing the air pressure so that the compressive elastic force gradually increased from the upper layer to the lower layer, that is, the air pressure of the lower mattress was higher than that of the upper mattress.
[0014]
The thickness of a single air mattress can be increased as the size of the small air chamber increases, but the size of the small air chamber is preferably smaller in order to achieve a viscous feeling. The viscous feeling is greatly affected not only by the damping force for the vertical sinking but also for the inclination. In other words, it is necessary to be able to feel resistance against the force of tilting the palm or the sole of the foot when holding hands or stepping on the feet. Therefore, it is necessary to obtain a sense of resistance independently at least on the left and right sides of the width of the hand or foot. Therefore, the size of the small air chamber needs to be at least half the width of the hand or foot.
[0015]
In addition, the size of the small air chamber is the same shape and size on the entire surface of the air mattress, so that uniform compression elasticity can be achieved on the entire surface, and not only individual differences among users, but also differences in body orientation and position when supine However, constant support characteristics are always obtained.
[0016]
This air mattress has a very high heat retention because the air chamber itself is formed semi-independently in addition to the heat retention of the air itself, so that large convection of the internal air does not occur.
However, in summer, there is a disadvantage in that a slit is provided in the sealing part to allow air to flow between the front and back of the air mattress without leaking air from the air mattress. When the air mattress expands, the slit expands due to horizontal contraction, and a sufficient ventilation area can be obtained.
[0017]
【Example】
An embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 2 is a top view of the air mattress, and FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the air mattress. One layer of the air mattress is made of a resin film that is flexible and has excellent tensile strength. A stack of two such films is heat-sealed to form a regular hexagonal airbag with the same shape and the same dimensions so as to form a honeycomb pattern on the entire surface of the film. Forming a chamber.
[0018]
FIG. 4 is a dimensional view of the sealing pattern near the end of the air mattress.
Regarding the size of each air chamber, the length a of one side of a regular hexagon is 25 mm, the length b of the sealing portion 7 is 19 mm, and the remaining 3 mm portions at both ends are not sealed.
In the state filled with air, the unsealed portions 8 at the vertices are crushed by the contraction force in the horizontal direction, forming an orifice-shaped air passage having a narrow air cross-sectional area.
It is better that the width c of the sealing portion 7 is as narrow as possible as long as the durability is not reduced. In the prototype, when the slit 11 for front and back ventilation is not inserted, the width is about 1 mm, and when the slit is inserted, the width is about 2 mm, and the width is 1 mm. It is divided into left and right.
The width d at both ends of the sealing portion 7 has an I-shape bulging to 2 to 3 mm so that peeling stress is not concentrated, and is connected to the straight portion with a smooth curve.
Since the outer periphery of the air mattress is most susceptible to damage, it is sealed along a smooth curve 9 having a width (e) of 5 mm along each air chamber of the outer periphery, and further, a width (f) of about 15 mm is provided on the outside thereof. Ear 10 is left and reinforced.
[0019]
When the air mattress is filled with air, it shrinks uniformly in the horizontal direction, and the degree of shrinkage is about 18% for the low air pressure mattress in the uppermost layer and about 20% for the high air pressure mattress in the lowermost layer. Therefore, the original size is about 1220 mm x 2440 mm in the uppermost layer, about 1250 mm x 2500 mm in the lowermost layer, and the intermediate layer is gradually gradually filled with air so that the entire size becomes about 1000 mm x 2000 mm. The size has been changed. The thickness of one air mattress in the inflated state is about 16 to 18 mm, and six air mattresses are stacked to have a thickness of about 100 mm.
[0020]
The buoyancy of the air mattress can be freely adjusted by setting the air pressure, but in practice, it is preferably about 3 to 5 times the buoyancy of water in view of the balance between the feeling of being wrapped and the feeling of being buried.
The air pressure of each layer was determined by trial and error using an ornamental fish tank air pump and a distribution valve for trial production, but when commercializing the product, the air was automatically supplied to one location by an adjustment distribution valve or a decompression valve between each layer. It is desirable that the filling be performed at a predetermined pressure.
Once filled, there is no need to replenish other than the leakage, so a small air pump or a small carbon dioxide gas cylinder that is easily available can be used as the air supply source.
[0021]
By changing the size of the ventilation path 8 in FIG. 4, the strength of the viscous feeling when moving on the air mattress can be simulated from a free-flowing liquid such as water to a viscous clay-like viscosity.
Here, the dimensions of the air passage were set so as to obtain the same viscosity as that of the high-viscosity gel so as not to cause shaking, bouncing, and sudden changes in posture.
After covering the surface of this air mattress with a wool pad and putting it on a soft sheet so that the inside could not be seen, many subjects checked the feel, and the impression that `` I can only think that it contains gel '' Obtained from everyone.
[0022]
As a fixing method when the air mattress is laminated, it is preferable that the air mattress is put in a bed box sheet or the periphery is partially connected with a snap button, a belt, or the like so that strong interference does not occur between the air mat layers.
Bed pads are necessary to absorb moisture and prevent damage to the air mattress.However, any material that covers the surface of the mattress that comes into contact with the body should have excellent elasticity or be thin and loose. desirable.
[0023]
Utilizing the excellent air permeability of the present air mattress, if air is supplied or sucked from the lower part, it is possible to prevent stuffiness for a long time, and by providing the slit only in the central part of the mattress, it is possible to further enhance comfort.
Further, by partially closing the ventilation passage between the air chambers inside the single air mattress to form an air supply route and constantly supplying air, the heat insulation performance can be reduced entirely or partially.
[0024]
【The invention's effect】
With the mattress of the present invention, the following effects (a) to (k) were obtained.
(A) A correct sleeping posture and a soft sleeping comfort can be obtained irrespective of height, weight and physique.
(B) Even if two people sleep on the same mattress at the same time, a correct sleeping posture and a soft sleeping comfort can be obtained.
(C) A correct sleeping posture and a soft sleeping comfort can be always obtained even when the body is turned sideways or slanted with respect to the mattress.
(D) A stable sleeping comfort that is hard to shake even when a neighbor goes in and out or turns over is obtained.
(E) Since the outer peripheral portion has the same softness as the central portion, even when sitting on the edge, the waist does not bend greatly and it is easy to enter and exit.
(F) It is excellent in heat retention, and it is hard to get stuffy and a refreshing sleeping feeling can be obtained.
(G) It can be stored compactly when not in use.
(H) Adjustment of air pressure is easy, and replenishment is almost unnecessary.
(I) The manufacturing cost can be suppressed by a simple structure. (J) Since the air mattresses of the respective layers are not fixed, the air mattresses can be gently curved and are compatible with the reclining mechanism.
(K) Conventionally, when used as a sofa bed, the hardness in the bed form has been prioritized and the sitting comfort in the sofa form has been sacrificed, but this air mattress provides a soft sitting comfort even in the sofa form it can.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the vicinity of an end portion in a state where air mattresses are stacked. FIG. 2 is a top view of the entire air mattress. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA ′ in FIG. 2 FIG. Figure 5: Sealing pattern of air mattress without slit [Figure 6] Sealing pattern of air mattress with slit [Figure 7] Top view of air mattress without slit inflated [Figure 8] Air mattress with slit inflated Top view of the folded state
1 to 6 air mattresses of first to sixth layers, 7, 9 sealing part, 8 air passage,
10: outer peripheral reinforcing ears, 11: slits, 12: wrinkles caused by shrinkage 13: air valve

Claims (4)

By stacking two non-breathable sheets and sealing each side excluding the vertices of the hexagon and the outer periphery of the sheet so that a large number of hexagons are connected, a large number of interconnected parts are formed through the unsealed portions of the vertices An air mattress that forms a small air chamber. The sealing portion on each side is formed in an I-shape having a width of 1 to 2 mm at a central portion, and a water drop-shaped enlarged portion having a width wider than the central portion having a width of 2 to 3 mm is formed at both ends of the sealing portion. The air mattress according to claim 1, wherein: The air mattress according to claim 1 or 2, wherein a slit is formed in the sealing portion. The air mattress according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein a plurality of air mattresses are stacked, and the air pressure of the lower mattress is higher than the air pressure of the upper mattress.

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