NL1036131C - Visco-elastic body supporting device with improved comfort. - Google Patents
Visco-elastic body supporting device with improved comfort. Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- NL1036131C NL1036131C NL1036131A NL1036131A NL1036131C NL 1036131 C NL1036131 C NL 1036131C NL 1036131 A NL1036131 A NL 1036131A NL 1036131 A NL1036131 A NL 1036131A NL 1036131 C NL1036131 C NL 1036131C
- Authority
- NL
- Netherlands
- Prior art keywords
- visco
- support device
- elastic foam
- body support
- foam
- Prior art date
Links
Classifications
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- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
- A47C—CHAIRS; SOFAS; BEDS
- A47C27/00—Spring, stuffed or fluid mattresses or cushions specially adapted for chairs, beds or sofas
- A47C27/14—Spring, stuffed or fluid mattresses or cushions specially adapted for chairs, beds or sofas with foamed material inlays
- A47C27/16—Spring, stuffed or fluid mattresses or cushions specially adapted for chairs, beds or sofas with foamed material inlays reinforced with sheet-like or rigid elements, e.g. profiled
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- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
- A47C—CHAIRS; SOFAS; BEDS
- A47C27/00—Spring, stuffed or fluid mattresses or cushions specially adapted for chairs, beds or sofas
- A47C27/14—Spring, stuffed or fluid mattresses or cushions specially adapted for chairs, beds or sofas with foamed material inlays
- A47C27/142—Spring, stuffed or fluid mattresses or cushions specially adapted for chairs, beds or sofas with foamed material inlays with projections, depressions or cavities
- A47C27/144—Spring, stuffed or fluid mattresses or cushions specially adapted for chairs, beds or sofas with foamed material inlays with projections, depressions or cavities inside the mattress or cushion
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- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
- A47C—CHAIRS; SOFAS; BEDS
- A47C27/00—Spring, stuffed or fluid mattresses or cushions specially adapted for chairs, beds or sofas
- A47C27/14—Spring, stuffed or fluid mattresses or cushions specially adapted for chairs, beds or sofas with foamed material inlays
- A47C27/15—Spring, stuffed or fluid mattresses or cushions specially adapted for chairs, beds or sofas with foamed material inlays consisting of two or more layers
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- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
- A47C—CHAIRS; SOFAS; BEDS
- A47C27/00—Spring, stuffed or fluid mattresses or cushions specially adapted for chairs, beds or sofas
- A47C27/14—Spring, stuffed or fluid mattresses or cushions specially adapted for chairs, beds or sofas with foamed material inlays
- A47C27/20—Spring, stuffed or fluid mattresses or cushions specially adapted for chairs, beds or sofas with foamed material inlays with springs moulded in, or situated in cavities or openings in foamed material
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- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
- A47C—CHAIRS; SOFAS; BEDS
- A47C31/00—Details or accessories for chairs, beds, or the like, not provided for in other groups of this subclass, e.g. upholstery fasteners, mattress protectors, stretching devices for mattress nets
- A47C31/006—Use of three-dimensional fabrics
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- C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
- C08—ORGANIC MACROMOLECULAR COMPOUNDS; THEIR PREPARATION OR CHEMICAL WORKING-UP; COMPOSITIONS BASED THEREON
- C08L—COMPOSITIONS OF MACROMOLECULAR COMPOUNDS
- C08L2201/00—Properties
- C08L2201/12—Shape memory
Landscapes
- Mattresses And Other Support Structures For Chairs And Beds (AREA)
Description
Visco-elastic body supporting device with improved comfort
The present invention is related to a body supporting device, such as a mattress or a pillow.
5 Mattresses comprising visco-elastic foams are known in the art, e.g. mattresses from Tempur®. These mattresses are characterized in that they are deformable between a compressed and an uncompressed state and in that they have a pressure lowering effect on the body of a person lying on 10 the mattress. Under the influence of the warmth of the body the foam will become weak and will mould itself to the shape of the body. Consequently, the number and/or intensity of pressure points is reduced resulting in a high degree of comfort.
15 Recently, mattresses have been developed that are based on a 3-dimensional braided fabric, e.g. mattresses from Phi-ton®. The 3-dimensional fabric acts as a resilient member and comprises two extended parts arranged parallel in a spaced apart relationship, wherein both parts are connected 20 by a plurality of fibers. These mattresses demonstrate very good moisture transport and ventilation properties, mainly due to the openness of the structure.
It is also known to incorporate the 3-dimensional fabric in a visco-elastic foam based mattress, e.g. the AVS 25 Vivo Visco mattress from Auping®. This mattress comprises a visco-elastic foam which is supported by pocket springs. The 3-dimensional fabric is placed in between the pocket springs and the visco-elastic foam. The purpose of adding this layer is to improve the ventilation properties of the mattress due 30 to the open structure of the 3-dimensional fabric.
During the night, most persons will turn a considerable amount of times. A drawback of the abovementioned viscoelastic foam based mattresses is related to the fact that 1036131 2 the region to which a person wishes to turn or move is relatively cold. In addition, the foam will not regain its original uncompressed state directly after the person turns. By turning, a person will therefore leave behind a 5 compressed region in which the foam has not yet regained its original shape. As a result, the support to the body on this side is initially limited.
An objective of the present invention is to provide a body supporting device having a visco-elastic foam providing 10 a higher degree of comfort during and directly after turning than that which is offered by known devices.
A further objective of the present invention is to provide a body supporting device having a visco-elastic foam with improved ventilation.
15 A still further objective of the present invention is to provide a body supporting device having a visco-elastic foam with improved moisture transport properties.
At least one of these objectives is achieved by the body supporting device as defined in claim 1. According to 20 the invention, the body supporting device comprises a viscoelastic foam, which is deformable between an uncompressed state and a compressed state, and a covering member connected to this visco-elastic foam. The compressed state extends at least partly across the visco-elastic foam, such 25 as which is the case with a person lying on a mattress.
The device is characterized in that the covering member is at least partly fixedly connected to a body facing side of said visco-elastic foam for forming a top assembly. The covering member is arranged to exert a leveling force onto 30 the visco-elastic foam at least when the visco-elastic foam is in the compressed state to allow the visco-elastic foam to return to the uncompressed state.
3
If an external force is applied to the assembly, for instance because a person rests on the body supporting device, the top assembly, and more in particular the viso-elastic foam, will compress. At least when the external 5 force is removed, the covering member will exert a force onto the visco-elastic foam to regain the uncompressed form of the latter. Such a force will be referred to as a leveling force. This force can already be present when the external force is applied. The force accelerates the speed 10 at which the visco-elastic foam regains its original and/or uncompressed state. Consequently, more support on the body is obtained when it turns from one position to another position.
Preferably, the bending stiffness of the top assembly 15 is substantially higher than that of the visco-elastic foam. Not wishing to be bound by theory, it is argued that the fixed connection of the covering member to the foam in combination with the higher degree of bending stiffness, causes the foam to regain its original shape more quickly 20 for instance when the external force to the assembly is removed, e.g. when a person turns away from a specific region. The higher degree of bending stiffness can be obtained by using a covering member that is substantially more resilient than the visco-elastic foam.
25 The increase in bending stiffness and/or other properties that result in the above mentioned effect of a leveling force can also be achieved by the fixed connection itself. For instance, the covering member can be stressed prior to connection to the visco-elastic foam. In this way, 30 resiliency can be achieved by pre-stressing the covering member.
Another or further effect occurring in the covering member is related to the way forces are transferred in the 4 covering member when it is deformed, e.g. compressed or bent. The deformation will cause stresses to occur in the covering member. Due to the fixed connection, these forces are transferred to the visco-elastic foam. In this way, when 5 a force is applied to a specific region, pulling forces are exerted onto neighboring visco-elastic foam regions which may still be in a compressed state, for instance because a person just turned away from such region. The forces exerted by the covering member on these regions, for instance 10 pulling forces, accelerate the process of regaining the uncompressed form of the visco-elastic foam.
The general principle of the present invention is further illustrated in figure 1.
Figure 1 (top) illustrates a cross sectional view of a 15 person's head 1 lying on a mattress 2. Figure 1 (bottom) illustrates the same situation but shortly after the person has turned to the right. With known devices, the region 3 to left of the head 1 is still compressed as indicated by the solid line. With the device according to the invention, the 20 leveling force, for instance due to a higher degree of stiffness, ensures that the foam regains its shape faster, resulting in more support to the head from the left side, as indicated by the dotted line. Consequently, the person is supported better by this region compared to the situation in 25 which the covering member is not present, thereby increasing the comfort level for the person.
It should be noted that the covering member itself can have a higher degree of bending stiffness than that of the visco-elastic foam. However, it is also possible to achieve 30 the same effect by tensioning the covering member prior to and during fixation to the visco-elastic foam.
Preferably, the thickness of the covering member is substantially smaller than the thickness of the visco- 5 elastic foam. It should be noted that a balance exists between the achieved bending stiffness and the visco-elastic properties of the device as a whole. By having a relatively thin covering member, e.g. a thickness ratio of 1:5 or less, 5 preferably 1:10, between covering member and foam, sufficient heat transport from the body to the visco-elastic foam can be maintained, whereas the higher degree of stiffness improves the comfort level during turning.
To improve the ventilation properties of the device it 10 is advantageous if the covering member comprises a first and second extended part, wherein the extended parts are arranged parallel in a spaced apart relationship. The first part is fixedly connected to the visco-elastic foam and the second part faces the body. The first and second parts are 15 mutually connected by a plurality of spring elements. Here, the arrangement of the spring elements increases the stiffness of the covering member.
In a preferred embodiment, the spring elements comprise curved fibers that extend in a direction perpendicular to 20 said extended parts. If for instance the body supporting device has a spherical shape, the fibers will be directed radially outwards.
By having the first and second part each comprising a mesh structure, an open structure can be obtained with good 25 ventilation properties. As a result, the body of the person that is supported can be cooled more efficiently than with closed structures.
Preferably, the first part, second part, and the fibers comprise polyester. By using the above mentioned structure 30 and/or material it can be prevented that during normal use the covering member compresses such that moisture and heat transport deteriorate.
6
Surprisingly, the ventilation and moisture transport properties of the above mentioned device are comparable to devices that are entirely made of the covering member, such as mattresses from Phiton®. Compared to visco-elastic foam 5 only mattress however, significant improvements can be achieved. The result is surprising because only a very limited thickness of covering member is used. The realization that only a small separation between body and visco-elastic foam is needed to improve the ventilation and 10 moisture transport properties of the visco-elastic foam based mattress is an important aspect of the present invention.
Preferably, the covering member is fixedly connected to the visco-elastic foam by means of a hot melt technique.
15 This technique has the advantage that the melt is able to penetrate both the covering member and the visco-elastic foam to obtain a solid connection.
The most important examples of body supporting devices are mattresses and pillows. Other devices like chairs or 20 couches should not be excluded.
In a mattress according to the present invention, the visco-elastic foam has a body facing side and a supporting side. The mattress further comprises a supporting member abutted to the supporting side of the visco-elastic foam.
25 This supporting member could comprise cold foam and or a plurality of pocket springs.
The body supporting device according to the invention can further comprise a cover which comprises a covering member as previously described. Such a cover can be placed 30 on the outside of the device. Preferably, this cover can be removed for washing. Such a cover further improves the moisture transport and ventilation properties.
7
In the following, embodiments of the present invention will be described in more detail under reference to the accompanying drawings in which:
Figure 1 illustrates the general principle of the 5 invention;
Figure 2 shows a first mattress according to the invention having a cold foam supporting member;
Figure 3 shows a second mattress according to the invention having a plurality of pocket springs; and 10 Figures 4 shows a perspective view of the covering member according to the present invention.
The mattress 4 in figure 2 comprises a mattress core 5 which is surrounded by a tricot inner cover 6. Core 5 comprises a covering member 7 fixedly connected to a visco-15 elastic foam 8 having a thickness of 10 cm and a density of 82 kg/m3. Visco-elastic foam 8 is supported by 12 cm of HR foam (cold foam) 9 having a density of 35 kg/m3. A side of HR foam 9 facing the visco-elastic foam comprises a pyramid like structuring 10 to improve the ventilation properties.
20 Both the connection between HR foam 9 and visco-elastic foam 8 and the connection between visco-elastic foam 8 and covering member 7 is obtained by a hot melt technique.
The entire mattress 4 is provided with an outside cover 11 which comprises the same material as covering member 7.
25 Figure 3 shows mattress 12 similar to mattress 4, except that supporting HR foam 9 has been replaced by a plurality of pocket springs 13. The springs 13 differ in spring constant so that different comfort zones can be realized, better adjusting the damping force to the load by 30 the human body. Pocket springs 13 are provided with pressure dividing plates 14, 15 to divide the applied pressure. The pocket springs 13 are restrained sideways by a stabilization band 16 and pieces of HR cold foam 17, 18. On the bottom 8 side, 3 cm of HR cold foam 19 is provided as a stable platform.
Figure 4 illustrates a perspective view of the covering member according to the present invention. As shown, 5 resilient member 7 comprises two parallel spaced apart extended parts 20, 21, which have a mesh structure. Both parts 20, 21 are connected by a plurality of fibers 22. The entire structure is made from polyester, although a mixture of different materials is not excluded. The thickness of 10 covering member 7 is 10 mm. Polyester fibers 22 connecting both parts 20, 21 are bent in the uncompressed state to better allow bending instead of longitudinal compression. A covering member having the above mentioned structure does not compress during normal use. Consequently, the improved 15 heat and moisture transport properties remain.
In the description above, the present invention has been described using embodiments thereof. It should be appreciated by the skilled person that various modifications are possible without deviating from the scope of protection 20 that is defined by the appended claims.
25 1036131
Claims (15)
Priority Applications (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
NL1036131A NL1036131C (en) | 2008-10-30 | 2008-10-30 | Visco-elastic body supporting device with improved comfort. |
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
NL1036131 | 2008-10-30 | ||
NL1036131A NL1036131C (en) | 2008-10-30 | 2008-10-30 | Visco-elastic body supporting device with improved comfort. |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
NL1036131C true NL1036131C (en) | 2010-05-04 |
Family
ID=40677784
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
NL1036131A NL1036131C (en) | 2008-10-30 | 2008-10-30 | Visco-elastic body supporting device with improved comfort. |
Country Status (1)
Country | Link |
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NL (1) | NL1036131C (en) |
Cited By (1)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
WO2012131331A1 (en) * | 2011-03-25 | 2012-10-04 | Kit For Kids Limited | Mattresses |
Citations (4)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
WO2005046988A1 (en) * | 2003-11-12 | 2005-05-26 | Lancastria Limited | Laminated body support element |
WO2007065456A1 (en) * | 2005-12-06 | 2007-06-14 | HÄNSEL VERBUNDTECHNIK GmbH | Textile flat structure and method for its manufacture and its use |
WO2007092678A2 (en) * | 2006-02-02 | 2007-08-16 | Mmi-Ipco, Llc | Coverings for viscoelastic foam mattresses |
WO2008009712A1 (en) * | 2006-07-18 | 2008-01-24 | Lancastria Limited | A mattress |
-
2008
- 2008-10-30 NL NL1036131A patent/NL1036131C/en not_active IP Right Cessation
Patent Citations (4)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
WO2005046988A1 (en) * | 2003-11-12 | 2005-05-26 | Lancastria Limited | Laminated body support element |
WO2007065456A1 (en) * | 2005-12-06 | 2007-06-14 | HÄNSEL VERBUNDTECHNIK GmbH | Textile flat structure and method for its manufacture and its use |
WO2007092678A2 (en) * | 2006-02-02 | 2007-08-16 | Mmi-Ipco, Llc | Coverings for viscoelastic foam mattresses |
WO2008009712A1 (en) * | 2006-07-18 | 2008-01-24 | Lancastria Limited | A mattress |
Cited By (1)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
WO2012131331A1 (en) * | 2011-03-25 | 2012-10-04 | Kit For Kids Limited | Mattresses |
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Date | Code | Title | Description |
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V1 | Lapsed because of non-payment of the annual fee |
Effective date: 20150501 |