JP5391398B2 - Variable shape mat - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a mat such as a chair or a bed that supports a load of a human body or the like, and relates to a shape variable mat in which the shape of a holding surface with which the human body or the like contacts changes.

  For example, the shape of a surface for holding a human body, such as a chair or a car seat, is usually formed in accordance with a person having a standard body shape. However, since the user's body shape varies from person to person, it is not necessarily an ideal shape and may be uncomfortable. This unpleasant feeling cannot be easily eliminated by adjusting the resilience performance of a mat cushion or the like constituting the seat surface. For example, if the mat is set too softly, the body sinks and the body holding surface becomes too large, a portion having a weak holding force is generated, the function of stabilizing the posture is impaired, and the user feels uncomfortable.

  In addition, the bed used by a long-term bedridden person not only causes the same discomfort as described above, but if the person is bedridden with the same posture, the body part that is heavy is compressed and the peripheral blood vessels are blocked. There is also a problem of pressure sores that partially necroses and bedsores.

  As a mat for preventing such pressure sores and bedsores, for example, as disclosed in Patent Document 1, a so-called air mat bed is formed by a bag filled with air, thereby concentrating the pressure applied to the body. In addition, a mat with an acoustic vibration application function has been proposed in which vibration at a predetermined frequency is applied to the human body holding surface to alleviate the compressed state.

Further, as disclosed in Patent Document 2, a fluid bag in which a liquid such as paraffin wax is enclosed is contained in a bed mat, and the shape of the human body holding surface is controlled by controlling the temperature of the paraffin wax. There has been proposed a structure for preventing bed slip that changes the height of the floor. According to this structure, the paraffin wax becomes liquefied and soft when the melting point exceeds 40 ° C. by heating with a heater, and solidifies and maintains its shape when the temperature is lower than 40 ° C.
JP-A-11-76319 JP-A-8-308887

  However, in the mat with an acoustic vibration application function of Patent Document 1, when the bedridden tries to move the body spontaneously, the human mat holding surface of the air mat is deformed in an unstable manner. It was difficult to change. For this reason, even if there was an effect of preventing pressure ulcers, there was a problem that the motivation of the bedridden person itself decreased due to discomfort caused by instability.

  In addition, in the mat having the floor slip prevention structure of Patent Document 2, it is necessary to change the shape of the human body holding surface by changing the temperature of a large amount of liquid sealed in the fluid bag. However, since the liquid has a relatively large heat capacity, its temperature cannot be changed quickly, and the shape of the human body holding surface cannot be set to a desired shape in a short time. In addition, when used in a state where heating is stopped, the temperature of the liquid will drop to an ambient temperature such as room temperature, and the body temperature of the bedridden person will be taken away by a large amount of liquid. There was a problem that was necessary. Furthermore, the liquid such as paraffin wax cannot stop the deformation state of the fluid bag due to the load in an appropriate state, and the degree of sinking cannot be adjusted as appropriate.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described background art, and can form a holding surface having a shape optimal for a user's body shape in a short time, has good stability, and makes the pressure applied to the body uniform. An object of the present invention is to provide a shape-variable mat that has an effect of preventing pressure ulcers by reducing the concentration of pressure, and also has good sitting comfort and sleeping comfort.

This invention is a mat such as a seat or bed of a chair that receives a load of a supported body such as a human body, and has a powder or a granule, and is filled with a mixture in which a liquid is added in a predetermined ratio. And a vibrator for vibrating the bag, wherein the liquid is present in a mass ratio of 30% to 50% with respect to the powder or granule, and the bag is supported by the supported body The surface portion in contact with the body is hard to be deformed by the mixture even under the load of the supported body, and the mixture is formed according to the load and shape of the supported body by the vibration of the vibrator. The shape variable mat that is fluidized, deforms a surface portion in contact with the supported body, and can fix the shape of the surface portion by stopping the vibration. The mixture packed in the bag is a mixture of resin and liquid.

Further, the amount to the bag mixture which packed the state, and are not provided with a fluid refill bag to replenish the liquid, the liquid supply amount from the fluid refill bag is equal to the amount of liquid leakage from the bag Oozes out of the liquid supply bag. In particular, mixtures packed in the bag body state, and are a mixture of water to the granules of resin, the liquid seeps from the supply bag also is water. The liquid is contained in a mass ratio of 30% to 34% with respect to the powder or granule.

  It is preferable that the vibration exciter is attached to each part of the bag body, and the plurality of vibration exciters are controlled independently of the vibration and stop operations.

  The vibration exciter is composed of a support spring, a motor, and a weight attached to the rotating shaft of the motor. The vibration exciter may be a piezoelectric vibration device using a piezoelectric element.

  The bag body is a mat that is attached to a seat portion of a chair. Or the said bag is a mat for beds and consists of a several bag.

  Note that the mixing of powders and granules with a liquid has a resonance frequency that does not depend on the total mass or form of the mixture, depending on the type of powder, its particle size, and its distribution when the amount of liquid is appropriate. There is one. Furthermore, it was found that the frequency at which the mixture is most likely to fluidize is a frequency lower than its resonance frequency. This resonance frequency is determined only by the mass of particles having an average particle diameter and the wettability of the particles, and is presumed to be due to an attractive force derived from the cohesive force of water. From this property, the excitation frequency applied to the mixture of powder and liquid can be determined.

  According to the shape variable mat of the present invention, the holding surface of the mat such as the human body is fluidized by vibration of the mixture of the powder and liquid sealed in the bag body, and the load of the user's human body or the like is applied in the soft state. Since it supports, the holding surface shape suitable for the shape of what is mounted is formed. Further, if the holding surface is formed by such a method, the action of trying to hold the body etc. on a wider surface works due to the fluidization action of the mixture, the load is uniformly supported, and the specific surface The concentration of pressure on the part can be prevented. Furthermore, by applying vibration while the human body is placed and stopping when the human body sinks to an appropriate position, the holding surface is fixed at that position, and a desired holding surface can be formed and maintained. it can.

  In addition, since the mixture fluidizes in a short time when vibration is applied, it is optimally retained when the holding surface shape is first formed on a human body or when the holding surface shape is changed by changing the posture or body position. There is no need to wait for a long time before the surface shape changes. Therefore, the pain supported by an inappropriate support surface is not felt. At the same time, when the human body is placed, the vibration generated by the vibrator is also applied to the human body part pressed against the holding surface, and the human body part is decompressed to promote blood flow. Therefore, it is effective in preventing pressure ulcers or bedsores.

  Further, if the vibration exciter is stopped, the mixture is solidified in a short time, and the holding surface is fixed in an optimum shape. Therefore, for example, when applied to a mat on the seat surface of a chair, the weight of the body can be firmly supported by the optimal shape on which the user is seated, and the sitting comfort is good. In addition, if applied to a mat for a nursing bed, etc., since the holding surface shape is stable, it is easy for the bedridden to change their position, and there is no discomfort due to instability at that time. You can continue to have a willingness to exercise voluntarily.

They are a sectional side view (a) which shows 1st embodiment of the shape-variable mat | matte of this invention, and a perspective view (b) of a vibration exciter. It is a sectional side view explaining operation | movement of this 1st embodiment. It is the perspective view (a) of the experimental apparatus used for the verification experiment about the mixture of this 1st embodiment, and partial sectional drawing (b) and (c). It is a graph which shows the result of the verification experiment about the mixture of this 1st embodiment. It is the top view (a) which shows 2nd embodiment of the shape variable mat of this invention, and sectional drawing (b). It is a sectional side view (a) which shows 3rd embodiment of the shape-variable mat | matte of this invention, and a perspective view (b) of a vibration exciter. They are the top view (a) which shows 4th embodiment of the shape-variable mat | matte of this invention, and sectional drawing (b). It is a photograph which shows the Example of the shape variable mat of this invention. It is a pressure distribution of the seat part in the state in which the person sat down of the Example of the shape variable mat of this invention, Comprising: It is a graph which shows the pressure distribution before vibration. It is a pressure distribution of the seat part in the state which the person sat down of the Example of the shape-variable mat | matte of this invention, Comprising: It is a graph which shows the pressure distribution after vibration.

  A first embodiment of the shape variable mat of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. The shape variable mat 10 of the present embodiment is a seat portion of a chair, and as shown in FIG. 1A, a substantially square bag body 12 having a human body holding surface 12b on which a user sits, and a predetermined thickness, The bag body 12 is placed horizontally, and includes a vibration exciter 14 that applies vibration from the bottom surface 12 c side of the bag body 12, and a control device 28 that controls the vibration operation of the vibration exciter 14.

  The bag body 12 is formed in a substantially square shape, has a human body holding surface 12b on the upper side, and is formed of nylon, vinyl resin, a laminate of other resin and metal foil, or the like. Inside the bag body 12, polyester resin particles having a particle size of about 400 to 500 μm are placed, and a mixture 12 a in which about 30% to 50% of water is added to the resin particles in a mass ratio is enclosed. . Normally, the mixture 12a is solidified in the bag body 12, but when a predetermined vibration is applied, the mixture 12a is fluidized and can be easily changed in shape when a load is applied.

  The vibration exciter 14 has a base 16 in which support springs 18 made of stretchable coil springs are erected at four corners, and a vibration motor 22 is attached to a central portion, and is placed horizontally on the upper end of the support spring 18. A vibration plate 20 and a placement plate 26 that is attached above the vibration plate 20 and on which the bag body 12 is placed are provided. The base 16 is a square plate member having substantially the same outer shape as the bottom surface 12 c of the bag body 12, and a storage portion 16 a having substantially the same inner periphery as the support spring 18 is formed at four corners of the top surface. The lower end of is fitted.

  As shown in FIG. 1 (b), the diaphragm 20 is a square plate member having substantially the same outer shape as the bottom surface 12 c of the bag body 12, and faces the storage portion 16 a of the base 16 at the four corners of the lower surface. The storage portion 20b having the same shape is formed at the position, and the upper ends of the support springs 18 attached to the base 16 are respectively fitted. That is, since the vibration plate 20 is horizontally supported on the support spring 18 at the four corners of the lower surface, it can be vibrated at a predetermined frequency by the vibration motor 22 described later.

  A mounting hole 20 c for the vibration motor 22 is provided at the center of the diaphragm 20. The vibration motor 22 has a structure in which a weight 22c is eccentrically fixed to a rotating shaft 22b protruding from the center of the upper surface of the main body 22a. The rotating shaft 22b and the weight 22c are inserted into the mounting hole 20c of the diaphragm 20, the upper surface of the main body 22a is brought into contact with the peripheral edge of the mounting hole 20c, and is fixed by a fixing piece 22d formed on the upper end of the side surface of the main body 22a. Screwed to the diaphragm 20. Accordingly, when the vibration motor 22 rotates, the main body 22a vibrates due to the variation of the center of gravity by the eccentrically fixed weight 22c, and the vibration is transmitted to the diaphragm 20 to which the main body 22a is screwed. At this time, since the diaphragm 20 is supported on the support spring 18, the entire diaphragm 20 can swing at a predetermined frequency due to the number of rotations of the vibration motor 22 and the mass of the surrounding members.

  On the upper surface of the vibration plate 20, a mounting plate 26, which is a square plate member having substantially the same outer shape as the bottom surface 12c of the bag body 12 and on which the bag body 12 is mounted, is attached. The space between the vibration plate 20 and the mounting plate 26 is secured by a spacer 24 so that a space in which the weight 22c of the vibration motor 22 can freely rotate without contacting the mounting plate 26 is secured. Therefore, when the vibration plate 20 vibrates, the vibration is directly transmitted to the placement plate 26 via the spacer 24, and the placement plate 26 swings integrally with the vibration plate 20.

  The control device 28 is a device that controls the rotation operation of the vibration motor 22 by operating the controller 28a, and can turn on / off the drive, adjust the rotation speed, and the like.

  Next, the operation of the shape variable mat 10 will be described. First, the user operates the controller 28a before giving a command to change the shape of the bag body 12 before sitting on a seat such as a chair. Then, the control device 28 drives the vibration motor 22 so that the vibration plate 20 and the mounting plate 26 vibrate integrally. The vibration of the mounting plate 26 is transmitted to the bag body 12, and the mixture 12a enclosed in the bag body 12 vibrates. Then, the mixture 12a is fluidized by vibration and is transformed into a state in which the shape easily changes.

  Next, the user sits on the upper surface of the bag body 12 in which the vibration motor 22 vibrates and is in a state where the shape easily changes. Then, as shown in FIG. 2, the human body holding surface 12b of the bag body 12 is pushed down by the weight of the user and changes to the shape of the human body portion M1. At this time, the bag body 12 acts to hold the human body portion M1 on a wider surface, the pressure applied to the human body portion M1 is made uniform, and pressure concentration can be prevented. In addition, since the vibration generated by the vibration motor 22 is transmitted from the human body holding surface 12b to the compressed human body part M1, the human body part M1 is decompressed and has an effect of promoting blood flow. Note that after sitting, the controller 28a may be operated to vibrate the vibration motor 22.

  The user then issues a command to fix the shape of the bag 12 by operating the controller 28a when the human body holding surface 12b has a comfortable shape that matches his body shape. Then, the vibration motor 22 stops, the vibration of the mixture 12a enclosed in the bag body 12 stops, and the mixture 12a changes from the fluidized state to the solidified state and maintains that state. In this way, the human body holding surface 12b is maintained in an optimal shape, and the user's weight is firmly supported, so that it is comfortable to sit on.

  In addition, for example, when the user wants to reassemble the legs or change the sitting posture, the user operates the controller 28a again to issue a command to change the shape of the bag body 12, and repeats the above operation. The shape of the human body holding surface 12b can be changed.

  Here, the property of the mixture 12a enclosed in the bag body 12 will be described. As described above, the mixture 12a is obtained by adding about 30% to 50% of water in a mass ratio to the polyester resin powder having a particle size of about 400 to 500 μm. When vibration is not applied to the mixture 12a, there are many contact portions between adjacent particles, so even if an external pressure is applied from the outside of the bag body 12, the particles are difficult to move due to the action of static friction at the contact portion. When the body 12 is viewed as a whole, it shows a solidified property that hardly changes its shape. On the other hand, when a predetermined vibration is applied to the mixture 12a, the individual particles move, the water in the gaps between the particles flows, and a dynamic friction state is obtained, and the friction coefficient between the particles decreases. Therefore, when an external pressure is applied from the outside of the bag body 12, the particles can easily move, and the bag body 12 as a whole changes to a fluidized state in which the shape easily changes.

  The experimental result regarding the change of the property of this mixture is demonstrated based on FIG. 3, FIG. As shown in FIG. 3 (a), the experimental apparatus 30 has a container 30c attached to the protruding end of a support portion 30b protruding from the center of the upper surface of a cylindrical vibration generating portion 30a. It is an apparatus that can vibrate the container 30c at a predetermined frequency and speed as a power source.

  Five types of mixtures 32 were prepared by mixing water at a mass ratio of 26, 28, 30, 32, and 34% with respect to polyester resin powder having an average particle size of about 480 μm. As shown in FIG. 3 (b), first, 150 grams of the mixture 32 is put into the container 30c, and the brass ball 34 is gently placed on the upper surface of the mixture 32 before the container 30c is vibrated. Put. And as shown in FIG.3 (c), it performed by the procedure of measuring the time until the brass ball | bowl 34 fully sinks in the mixture 32 after starting an excitation. Brass balls are of two types, 1/2 inch and 1/4 inch in diameter, and the vibration conditions are vibrations with root mean square speeds of 30 mm / sec and 20 mm / sec, respectively. The frequency was set to 370 Hz which is relatively easy to fluidize.

  The experimental results are shown in FIG. In the mixture 32 having a mixing ratio of 26% and 28%, neither the brass ball 34 having a diameter of 1/2 inch nor a quarter inch was submerged even after being shaken for 10 minutes. In the mixture 32 having a mixing ratio of 30%, the brass ball 34 was submerged by about 60 seconds of vibration when the diameter was 1/2 inch, and about 40 seconds when the diameter of the inch was 1/4 inch. Furthermore, in the mixture 32 having a mixing ratio of 32% and 34%, both the brass balls 34 having a diameter of ½ inch and a ¼ inch were sunk by excitation for 5 seconds or less.

  As can be seen from FIG. 4, when the mixing ratio of water was 28% or less, the mixture 32 was not easily fluidized rapidly. This is because if the mixing ratio of water in the mixture 32 is too small, the polyester resin powder contains many bubbles between the particles, and vibrations are not transmitted to all the particles of the polyester powder, resulting in fluidization as a whole. It is thought that the main cause was difficulty. On the other hand, when the mixing ratio of water is too large, a layer of water is formed on the surface of the mixture 32 and becomes too soft even without vibration, and the brass sphere 34 cannot be supported. Therefore, when using a polyester resin powder having an average particle size of about 480 μm, it is desirable to mix water with a mass ratio of about 30%.

  As described above, the properties of the bag body 12 change within a short period of time from several seconds to one minute after the vibration is started or stopped. Therefore, compared to the conventional method of changing the temperature of the liquid sealed in the liquid bag, the shape variable mat 10 of the present embodiment can form the desired human body holding surface 12b in a significantly shorter time.

  Next, a second embodiment of the variable shape mat of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. Here, the same configurations as those of the shape variable mat 10 are denoted by the same reference numerals and description thereof is omitted. The shape-variable mat 40 of the present embodiment is a bed used by a long-term bedridden person, and has a human body holding surface 42b for holding the bedbed person's body as shown in FIG. The bag body 42 having a thickness and the plurality of vibrators 14 that are placed horizontally and that apply vibration from the bottom surface 42c side of the bag body 42 are provided. Furthermore, a control device 28 for controlling the vibration operation of the vibration exciter 14 is provided, and a thin urethane sheet 44 is laid on the human body holding surface 42 b of the bag body 42.

  The bag body 42 is provided with a human body holding surface 42b on the upper side and a bottom surface 42c on the lower side. The bag body 42 is a rectangle having a predetermined thickness, and, like the seat portion 10, has a particle size of about 400 to 500 μm inside. A mixture 12a in which water having a mass ratio of about 1/3 is added to the resin powder is enclosed. The urethane sheet 44 is laid to disperse the body pressure of the bedridden person, but is not always necessary.

  The vibration exciter 14 includes a base 16 in which support springs 18 that are extendable and contractible coil springs are erected at four corners, and a vibration motor 22 attached to a central portion, and a vibration that is horizontally placed on the upper end of the support spring 18. A plate 20 is provided. Above the vibration plate 20, a mounting plate 26 that supports a part of the bottom surface 42 c of the bag body 42 is provided.

  The variable shape mat 40 divides the surface of the bag body 42 into 15 areas, and arranges the 15 vibrators 14 in total in the longitudinal direction and 3 in the lateral direction, so that the entire bag body 42 is evenly arranged. I support it. Therefore, for example, when the vibration plate 20-1 of one vibrator 14-1 vibrates, the mounting plate 26-1 vibrates integrally with the vibration plate 20-1, and one of the bottom surfaces 42c of the bag body 42 is obtained. The vibration can be applied only to the portion of the bottom surface 42c-1.

  The control device 28 is a device that can independently control the operations of the vibration motors 22 of the fifteen shakers 14 by operating the controller 28a.

  Next, the operation of the shape variable mat 40 will be described. First, the bedridden operates the controller 28a before laying down and issues a command to change the shape of the bag body 42. Then, the control device 28 drives all the vibration motors 22 of the fifteen shakers 14, and the vibration plate 20 and the mounting plate 26 vibrate integrally. The vibrations of the fifteen mounting plates 26 are transmitted to the entire bag body 42, and the mixture 12a enclosed in the bag body 42 vibrates. The mixture 12a is fluidized by vibration, and the entire bag body 42 changes to a state in which the shape is likely to change.

  Next, the bedridden lays the body on the upper surface of the bag body 42 in a state where the shape is easily changed. Then, the human body holding surface 42b of the bag body 42 is pushed down by the weight of the bedridden person and is deformed according to the shape of the human body. At this time, the bag body 42 acts to hold the human body on a wider surface, the pressure applied to the human body is made uniform, and concentration of pressure can be prevented. In addition, since the vibration generated by the vibration motor 22 is transmitted from the human body holding surface 42b to the compressed human body part, the human body part is decompressed and has an effect of promoting blood flow.

  Then, when the human body holding surface 42b becomes a comfortable shape suitable for his / her body shape, the bedridden operates the controller 28a to issue a command to fix the shape of the bag body 42. Then, the control device 28 stops the vibration motors 22 of all the fifteen shakers 14, the vibration of the mixture 12a enclosed in the bag body 42 is stopped, and the mixture 12a changes from a fluidized state to a solidified state. To do. In this way, the human body holding surface 42b is fixed in an optimum shape, and the weight of the bedridden person is firmly supported, so that the sleeping comfort is good. Note that the bedridden may operate the controller 28a immediately after lying down to generate vibration.

  Further, when the bedridden wants to turn over or change the posture of lying down, he / she operates the controller 28a again to issue a command to change the shape of the bag body 42 and repeat the above operation. In addition, when it is desired to change the shape of the human body holding surface 42b in a specific area, or when it is desired to excite and decompress only a human body part that feels a sense of pressure, only the vibrator 14 arranged at the corresponding position is driven. Then, the corresponding part of the bag body 42 may be vibrated.

  The shape variable mat 40 of this embodiment can be changed to the human body holding surface 12b having a desired shape in a very short time, and the body temperature of the bedridden person is increased in a large amount of liquid enclosed in the liquid bag as in the conventional case. Since there is no fear of being taken away, a special device such as a heat insulator or a liquid heat insulation device is unnecessary.

  Next, a third embodiment of the variable shape mat of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. The same configurations as those of the shape variable mats 10 and 40 are denoted by the same reference numerals and description thereof is omitted. The shape variable mat 50 according to the present embodiment is a seat portion of a chair, and has a human body holding surface 12b on which a user sits as shown in FIG. A bag body 12 having a thickness of 5 mm is provided. Further, a base 52 on which the bag body 12 is horizontally placed, an exciter 53 that is embedded in the bag body 12 together with the mixture 12, and vibrates the mixture 12. And a control device 28 for controlling the operation. Since the bag body 12 and the control apparatus 28 are the same structures as the above, description is abbreviate | omitted.

  The vibration exciter 53 includes the vibration motor 22, a disk-shaped diaphragm 56, and a cover 54a. The rotation shaft 22b and the weight 22c of the vibration motor 22 are inserted into the mounting hole 56b formed in the central portion 56a of the diaphragm 56, and the upper surface of the main body 22a is locked to the mounting hole 20c, and the upper end of the side surface of the main body 22a It is screwed to the mounting hole 56b by a fixing piece 22d formed in the portion. In addition, the peripheral portion 56c of the diaphragm is formed with a large number of through holes in a mesh shape. The central portion 56a is provided with box-shaped covers 54a on both the front and back sides so that the rotation of the weight 22c is not hindered by the mixture 12a, and the vibration motor 22 is hermetically sealed. Further, the position of the diaphragm 56 is set inside the bag body 12 so that a ceiling plate 52a, which will be described later, does not come into contact, and the vibration of the diaphragm 56 does not come into contact with the ceiling plate 52a and is attenuated.

  The base 52 includes a top plate 52a on which the bag body 12 is placed, and four legs 52b that support the top plate 52a from the lower four corners, and stably supports the bag body 12 from below. Is.

  The shape variable mat 50 is a simplified structure of the shape variable mat 10 described above. That is, the shape variable mat 10 has a structure in which the vibration exciter 14 is disposed below the bag body 12 to apply vibration to the mixture 12b located near the bottom surface 12c of the bag body 12, whereas the shape variable mat 50 Then, the vibration exciter 53 is disposed in the bag body 12 and directly vibrates into the mixture 12b. In addition, a large number of through holes are formed in the peripheral portion 56c of the diaphragm 56 in a mesh shape to increase the contact area with the mixture 12a. Therefore, the vibration of the shaker 53 is efficiently transmitted to the individual particles of the mixture 12a, so that the solidification and fluidization of the mixture 12a can be controlled efficiently and steeply while the structure of the shaker is simple. Is possible.

  Next, a fourth embodiment of the variable shape mat according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. Here, the same configurations as those of the shape variable mat 10 are denoted by the same reference numerals and description thereof is omitted. The shape-variable mat 40 of the present embodiment is a bed used by a long-term bedridden person, and has a human body holding surface 42b for holding the bedbed person's body as shown in FIG. , A plurality of vibration exciters 14 for applying vibration from the bottom surface 42c side of the bag body 42, and a control for controlling the vibration operation of the vibration exciter 14. And a thin urethane sheet 44 is laid on the human body holding surface 42 b of the bag body 42.

  In the bag body 42, a rectangular body having a human body holding surface 42 b on the upper side and a bottom surface 42 c on the lower side and having a predetermined thickness, like the seat portion 10, a polyester having a particle size of about 400 to 500 μm is contained therein. A mixture 12a in which water having a mass ratio of about 30% to 50% is added to the resin powder is enclosed. The urethane sheet 44 is laid to disperse the body pressure of the bedridden person, but is not always necessary.

  A hydration bag 60 is provided in the bag body 42 to replenish moisture that evaporates or leaks out of the bag body 42 due to vibration or the like. This leakage of moisture is due to the slight exudation of moisture from the sealing portion of the bag body 42 due to the vibration of the vibrator 14 and the permeation of water molecules through the bag body 42. Therefore, a hydration bag 60 for hydration is built in the bag body 42 of this embodiment. The hydration bag 60 also leaks moisture from the surface or sealing portion of the hydration bag 60 due to the vibration of the shaker 14. The amount of hydration from the hydration bag 60 oozes out of the hydration bag 60 by an amount equal to the amount of moisture leakage from the bag body 42. Thereby, the leakage of moisture from the bag body 42 is compensated, for example, the fluctuation of the moisture content of the bag body 42 is suppressed to within 1 to 0.5%. Adjustment of the amount of water that comes out of the hydration bag 60 is made by making the thickness of the hydration bag 60 thinner than the bag body 42 to improve the permeability of water molecules, or to provide a moisture passage slit in the sealing portion of the sealing portion. It is performed by forming.

  Since the shape variable mat 40 of this embodiment compensates for the leakage of moisture with the moisture replenishment bag 60, the shape can be changed by vibration over a long period of time and the durability is improved. Moreover, this bag body 42 may be used for seat parts, such as a chair, and the use is not ask | required.

  Next, an embodiment of the shape variable mat of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. Here, the same configurations as those of the shape variable mat 10 are denoted by the same reference numerals and description thereof is omitted. The shape variable mat 62 of the present example was attached to the seat of the wheelchair 64, and the pressure in the seat before and after operating the vibration exciter was measured while a person was sitting.

  As shown in FIG. 9, the pressure distribution immediately after a person sits on the variable shape mat 62 with the flat surface receives the highest pressure at the center of the buttocks, and the pressure decreases as it goes to the periphery. is there. Thereafter, when the vibrator 14 in the shape variable mat 62 was vibrated for about 10 seconds, the pressure distribution in the heel portion was dispersed and averaged as shown in FIG.

  The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments and examples, and the material and particle size of the powder and granules constituting the mixture and the type of liquid are solidified when not vibrating and fluidized when vibrating. It is sufficient if it has the property to do. The vibration frequency and speed are also set appropriately in view of the application and size of the shape variable mat and the properties of the mixture.

  The liquid to be mixed with the powder or granule may be water or oil or gel, and the material can be appropriately set.

  Further, the structure of the vibration source in the vibrator is not particularly limited, and may be a piezoelectric element or other various actuators in addition to a motor equipped with an eccentric weight, a moving coil, a moving magnet, or the like. .

  Furthermore, the human body holding surface of the bag body in which the mixture is enclosed is not necessarily disposed horizontally, and may be disposed, for example, on a backrest portion of a chair whose angle can be changed. Further, a common shape-fixing type mat and the shape-variable mat of the present invention may be used in combination, and for example, a bed or the like may be configured by arranging the shape-variable mat only at a portion that holds a human body part where pressure ulcer is likely to occur.

10, 40, 50 Shape variable mat 12 Bag body 12a, 32 Mixture 12b Human body holding surface 14, 53 Vibrator 22 Vibration motor 28 Control device M1 Human body part

Claims (7)

In the mat to receive the load of the supported body,
A bag body filled with a mixture of resin powder or granules and a liquid added to the gap, and a vibrator for vibrating the bag body,
The liquid is present in a mass ratio of 30% to 50% with respect to the powder or granule,
The bag body is hard to be deformed by the mixture even if the surface portion in contact with the supported body is subjected to the load of the supported body, and the load of the supported body by the vibration of the shaker The shape-variable mat, wherein the mixture is fluidized according to the shape, the surface portion in contact with the support is deformed, and the shape of the surface portion can be fixed by stopping the excitation. A liquid replenishing bag for replenishing liquid is provided in the mixture packed in the bag, and the amount of liquid replenishing from the liquid replenishing bag oozes out of the liquid replenishing bag by an amount equal to the amount of liquid leakage. The variable shape mat according to claim 1, wherein the mat is variable. Mixture packed in the bag body state, and are a mixture of water to the granules of the resin, the deformable mat of claim 2 wherein the liquid seeps from the supply bag also is water. The shape-variable mat according to claim 3 , wherein the liquid has a mass ratio of 30% to 34% with respect to the powder or granule .   The shape variable mat according to claim 4, wherein the vibration exciter is attached to each part of the bag body, and the plurality of vibration exciters can independently control the vibration and stop operations.   The shape variable mat according to claim 4, wherein the bag body is a mat attached to a seat portion of a chair.   The variable shape mat according to claim 5, wherein the bag body is a mat for a bed and includes a plurality of bag bodies.