WO2005039360A1

WO2005039360A1 - Body support

Info

Publication number: WO2005039360A1
Application number: PCT/BE2003/000180
Authority: WO
Inventors: René Van Raemdonck
Original assignee: Dorsoo
Priority date: 2003-10-27
Filing date: 2003-10-27
Publication date: 2005-05-06
Also published as: AU2003280231A1

Abstract

A body support (1; 2; 3) comprising in longitudinal direction a plurality of blocks (21-23; 41-43; 61-63) in a compressible material for supporting a human body, the blocks alternating with spacers (31-33; 51-53; 71-72) which are provided for holding the blocs apart, each spacer forming a connection between two successive blocks, recesses (4-5; 12-13; 18-19) being provided in between the two blocks above and below the spacer in height direction of the body support, the spacer being connected to a first of the two blocks by means of a first pivotable joint (6; 14) which enables the spacer to pivot upwardly and downwardly in height direction with respect to the first block, and that the spacer is connected to the second of the two blocks by means of a second pivotable joint (7; 15) which enables the spacer to pivot upwardly and downwardly in height direction with respect to the second block, the first and second pivotable joints being spaced apart from each other.

Description

Body support

The present invention relates to a body support according to the preamble of the first claim. DE-U-89 00 165 describes a body support, more particularly a mattress for use on a slatted bed base with enhanced flexibility. The mattress comprises a body in a foamed material with a plurality of cut-outs extending in transverse direction of the mattress. These cut-outs are provided for increasing the pliability of the mattress, which makes it suitable for use on a bed base with pivotable sections. The cut-outs are triangular in cross-section and increase in width towards the centre of the mattress. They are distributed symmetrically over the top and bottom surfaces of the mattress. The body support known from DE-U-89 00 165 however has the disadvantage that its flexibility is still insufficient. It is an aim of the present invention to provide a body support with enhanced flexibility. This aim is achieved according to the invention with a body support showing the technical characteristics of the characterising part of the first claim. The body support of the invention comprises in its longitudinal direction a plurality of blocks alternating with spacers. The blocks are constructed in a compressible material, suitable for supporting a human body. The spacers are provided for holding the blocks apart, i.e. their rigidity is sufficient for maintaining a distance between successive blocks and avoiding frictional engagement between them. Each of the

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spacers forms a connection between two successive blocks and is located between recesses, which are provided above as well as below the spacer in height direction of the body support. According to the invention, the spacer is connected to each of the two blocks by means of a pivotable joint which enables the spacer to pivot upwardly and downwardly with respect to the block. These two pivotable joints are spaced apart from each other. As a result of the two spaced apart pivotable joints and the spacer's construction for holding the two blocks apart, an additional degree of freedom is presented to the blocks. Not only can each two successive blocks be pivoted with respect to each other, but also can they be moved in height direction with respect to each other. As a result, the body support of the invention has an enhanced flexibility with respect to the prior art. This added degree of freedom makes the body support of the invention extremely suitable for use on a slatted bed base on which the slats are movably mounted in height direction, such as is for example described in EP-A-481 157. This does however not mean that the body support of the invention is unsuitable for use on other types of slatted or other bed bases. In a preferred embodiment of the body support of the invention, the blocks and spacers are constructed as a uniform body in a compressible material, in which the recesses are provided by means of cut-outs. In this embodiment, the pivotable joints between spacers and blocks are the result of a predetermined shape of the cutouts. More particularly, the cut-outs are shaped such that the material of the body support becomes sufficiently pliable at the locations where the spacers and the blocks are connected, so that pivotable joints are created, while maintaining a sufficient rigidity for the spacer, so that it functions for holding the blocks apart. Due to the use of a single material, this embodiment has the advantage of low production cost. Alternatively, the blocks and spacers may be constructed in different materials. In such case, the pivotable joints may result from a suitable choice of material and dimensions for the spacer, a suitable shape of the recesses or a combination of both. A preferred shape for the recesses is Y- or T- shaped with rounded edges. This means that the recesses are narrow at the outer surface of the body support and have side extensions at the level of the spacers. These side extensions move the pivotable joints between the spacers and the blocks towards the inside of the blocks, so that there is a large distance between the two joints on both ends of the spacer and the capability to move one block in height direction with respect to the successive block is enhanced. The Y-shaped recesses further have the advantage that the spacers are thicker in the middle with respect to their ends, which improves the rigidity of the spacers and their capability to hold the blocks apart. The rounded edges serve to avoid tearing of the material of the body support. In order to avoid penetration of foreign materials into the recesses, such as for example a person's hand or elbow or a slat of a slatted bed base, and in order to maintain a comfortable body support it is desirable to keep the gaps in the outer surface of the body support as narrow as possible. To this end, the width of the gaps, which are formed by the recesses in between blocks at their top and bottom sides, is preferably substantially smaller than that of the top and bottom sides of the blocks. More preferably, their width is limited to at most a tenth of that of the top and bottom sides of the blocks. In view of enhancing the flexibility of the body support of the invention and simultaneously maintaining a given rigidity for the spacers, one or more of the following measures can be taken. The spacers preferably have a thickness in height direction of the body support which is at most 1/3 of that of the blocks. The spacers preferably have a length in longitudinal direction of the body support which is greater than their thickness in height direction of the body support. The distance between two successive spacers is preferably at least equal to the length of the spacers. In a preferred embodiment, the blocks comprise additional recesses which are located in between the recesses which separate successive blocks, the separating recesses and the additional recesses being located at regular distances from each other. These additional recesses enhance the flexibility of the edges of the blocks, so that these edges can be compressed to a certain extent. This can further improve the flexibility of the body support of the invention and its capacity of moving one block in height direction with respect to the successive block. The invention will be further elucidated by means of the following description and the appended figures. Figure 1 is a cross sectional view of a first preferred embodiment of the body support of the invention. Figure 2 is a cross sectional view of a second preferred embodiment of the body support of the invention. Figure 3 schematically illustrates the flexibility of the embodiment of figure 2. Figure 4 is a cross sectional view of a third embodiment of the body support of the invention. Figure 5 shows a detail of the embodiment of figure 2. The body support 1 of figure 1 comprises in longitudinal direction a plurality of blocks 21 , 22, 23 alternating with spacers 31 , 32, 33. The blocks 21 , 22, 23 are provided for supporting a human body, whereas the spacers 31 , 32, 33 are provided for holding the blocks apart. In between each pair of successive blocks 21 , 22, 23, recesses 4, 5 are provided above and below the spacers 31 , 32, 33. The spacers 31 , 32, 33 are connected to the blocks 21 , 22, 23 by means of pivotable joints 6, 7. The two joints 6, 7 connecting one spacer 31 to two successive blocks 21 , 22 are spaced apart from each other and enable the spacer 31 to pivot upwardly and downwardly with respect to each of the blocks 21 , 22. The body support 1 of figure 1 is constructed as a unitary body in a compressible material, in which the blocks 21 , 22, 23 and spacers 31 , 32, 33 are formed by means of T-shaped cut-outs 4, 5. These cut-outs 4, 5 form the recesses above and below the spacers 31 , 32, 33 and create the pivotal joints 6, 7 in the material of the body support 1. Each cut-out 4, 5 comprises a narrow gap 8 at the outer surface of the body support with side extensions 9 at the level of the spacers 31 , 32, 33, where the recess 4, 5 penetrates into the block 21 , 22, 23 towards its centre. The narrow gap 8 serves to reduce the risk that foreign material penetrates into the recess 4, 5, such as for example a person's hand or elbow or a slat of a slatted bed base, and to maintain a comfortable body support. The extensions 9 serve to enhance the flexibility of the body support 1. The cut-outs 4, 5 have rounded edges for avoiding tearing of the material of the body support 1. In figure 1 , the recesses 4 and 5 above and below the spacers 31 , 32, 33 have substantially equal dimensions. Their dimensions may however also differ, for example the depth of the upper recess 4 may be larger than that of the lower recess 5 or vice versa. The depth of the recesses 4, 5 on one side may also vary. The blocks 21 , 22, 23 of the body support 1 are further provided with additional recesses 10, which extend substantially parallel with the recesses 4, 5 above and below the spacers 31 , 32, 33 in transverse direction of the body support 1. These additional recesses 10 are also provided in the form of cut-outs and are located, together with the other recesses 4, 5, at regular distances on the outer surface of the body support 1. These additional recesses provide enhanced flexibility to the compartments 11 of the blocks 21 , 22, 23 which are enclosed between a recess 4, 5 and an additional recess 10. In figures 2, 3 and 5, the most preferred embodiment of the body support 2 according to the invention is shown. This embodiment differs from that of figure 1 by the shape of the recesses

12, 13 above and below the spacers 51 , 52, 53, which are Y-shaped in this embodiment. Like in the embodiment of figure 1 , the recesses 12, 13 have a narrow gap 1 6 at the outer surface of the body support 2 and extensions 17 towards the centre of the blocks 41 , 42, 43. In this embodiment however, the extensions 17 slant with respect to the longitudinal direction of the body support 1 , giving the spacers 51 , 52, 53 convex top and bottom surfaces. Again, these recesses or cut-outs 12, 13 create the pivotal joints 14, 15 between the spacer 51 and each of the two successive blocks 41 , 42 to which the spacer 51 is connected. Due to the convex top and bottom surfaces, the spacer 51 is thicker in the middle than at its ends, where it is connected to the blocks 41 , 42. This increased thickness makes the spacer 51 more rigid in the middle than at its ends, which can improve its function for holding the blocks 41 , 42 apart. In order to ensure a minimum flexibility of the body support 2 of figure 2, the body support 2 is constructed according to one or more the following dimensional constraints. As shown in figures 2 and 5, the thickness T of the spacers 51 , 52, 53 is at most 1/3 of the height H of the blocks 41 , 42, 43. The length L of the spacers 51 , 52, 53 is greater than their thickness T. Furthermore, the distance D between two successive spacers 51 , 52 is at least once the length L of a spacer. In order to reduce the risk that foreign materials penetrate into the recesses 12, 13 and in order to maintain a comfortable body support, the width G of the gap 1 6 between two successive blocks 41 , 42 is advantageously kept below one tenth of the width W of the blocks 41 , 42, 43. The body supports 1 and 2 are preferably constructed in one of the following materials: a foamed plastic material such as polyurethane foam or polyethylene foam, latex, or any other material known to the person skilled in the art. Figure 3 illustrates the enhanced flexibility and more particularly the additional degree of freedom of the body support 2 of figure 2. As a result of the suitably chosen shape of the recesses 12, 13, the block 42 can be moved in height direction with respect to the previous block 41 and the next block 43. Due to the particular shape of the spacers 51 , 52, the blocks 41 , 42, 43 are substantially not moved towards each other upon movement of the block 42 from its normal, unstressed position, which is shown in full lines, to its lifted position with respect to the blocks 41 and 43, which is shown in dotted lines on figure 3. The body support 3 of figure 4 also comprises a plurality of blocks 61 , 62, 63 alternating with spacers 71 , 72, which are enclosed above and below by recesses 18, 19. Again, these recesses are narrower at the outer surface of the body support 3 and wider at the spacers 71 , 72. However, in this embodiment the blocks 61 , 62, 63 and the spacers 71 , 72 are constructed in different materials. The flexibility of the body support 3 is therefore achieved not only by a suitable shape of the recesses 18, 19, but also by a suitable choice of materials for the spacers 71 , 72 and/or the blocks 61 , 62, 63. The blocks 61 , 62, 63 and the spacers 71 , 72 may be joined to each other in any way known to the person skilled in the art. The necessity of joining the spacers to the blocks depends on the construction of the body support. For example, when the spacers 71 , 72 are connected to each other at the longitudinal sides of the body support 3, so that the spacers in fact form a flat element with gaps for placing the blocks 61 , 62, 63 as inserts in between the spacers 71 , 72, each block is held in position between two spacers and there is no need to join the spacers 71 , 72 to the blocks 61 , 62, 63. The blocks 61 , 62, 63 of the body support 3 are preferably constructed in a foamed plastic material such as polyurethane foam or polyethylene foam, or in latex or any other material known to the person skilled in the art. The spacers 71 , 72 may be constructed in any material, provided that the rigidity is sufficient for maintaining the distance between the blocks. Suitable materials are for example hardened foams, hard rubbers or wood, or other materials with sufficient rigidity. When used as mattresses for beds, the body supports 1 , 2, 3 are preferably enclosed in a cover (not shown), which may be constructed in any suitable cover material known to the person skilled in the art.

Reference list

1 body support 2 body support 3 body support 4 recess 5 recess 6 pivotal joint 7 pivotal joint 8 gap 9 extension 10 additional recess 11 compartment 12 recess 13 recess 14 pivotal joint 15 pivotal joint 16 gap 17 extension 18 recess 19 recess 20 - 21 block 22 block 23 block 31 spacer 32 spacer 33 spacer 41 block 42 block 43 block 51 spacer

52 spacer

53 spacer

61 block

62 block

63 block

71 spacer

72 spacer

T thickness of spacer

H height of block

G width of gap

W width of block

L length of spacer

D distance

Claims

Claims 1. A body support (1 ; 2; 3) comprising in longitudinal direction a plurality of blocks (21-23; 41-43; 61-63) in a compressible material for supporting a human body, the blocks alternating with spacers (31-33; 51-53; 71-72) which are provided for holding the blocks apart, each spacer forming a connection between two successive blocks, recesses (4-5; 12-13; 18-19) being provided in between the two blocks above and below the spacer in height direction of the body support, characterised in that the spacer is connected to a first of the two blocks by means of a first pivotable joint (6; 14) which enables the spacer to pivot upwardly and downwardly in height direction with respect to the first block, and that the spacer is connected to the second of the two blocks by means of a second pivotable joint (7; 15) which enables the spacer to pivot upwardly and downwardly in height direction with respect to the second block, the first and second pivotable joints being spaced apart from each other. 2. A body support according to claim 1 , characterised in that the blocks (21 -23; 41 -43) and spacers (31-33; 51-53) are constructed as a unitary body in a compressible material in which the recesses are provided by means of cut-outs (4-5; 12-13), the pivotable joints (6-7; 14-15) resulting from a predetermined shape of the cut-outs. 3. A body support according to claim 1 , characterised in that the blocks (61 -63) and spacers (71-72) are constructed in different materials. 4. A body support according to any one of the previous claims, characterised in that the recesses (4-5; 12-13) are Y- or

T-shaped with rounded edges. 5. A body support according to any one of the previous claims, characterised in that the body support has an outer surface which is formed by top and bottom sides of the blocks (21-23; 41-

43; 61-63) and gaps (8; 16) between the top and bottom sides of successive blocks, the gaps being formed by the recesses (4-5; 12-13; 18- 19) above and below the spacers (31-33; 51-53; 71-72), the gaps having a width (G) in longitudinal direction of the body support which is substantially smaller than the width (W) of the top and bottom sides of the blocks. 6. A body support according to claim 4, characterised in that the width of the gaps (G) is at most a tenth of that (W) of the top and bottom sides of the blocks. 7. A body support according to any one of the previous claims, characterised in that the spacers (31-33; 51-53; 71 -72) have a thickness (T) in height direction of the body support which is at most 1/3 of the height (H) of the blocks (21-23; 41-43; 61 -63). 8. A body support according to any one of the previous claims, characterised in that the spacers (31-33; 51-53; 71-72) have a length (L) in longitudinal direction of the body support which is greater than their thickness (T) in height direction of the body support. 9. A body support according to any one of the previous claims, characterised in that each two successive spacers are spaced from each other by at least once the length (L) of a spacer. 10. A body support according to any one of the previous claims, characterised in that the blocks (21 -23; 41-43; 61 -63) comprise additional recesses (10) which are located in between the recesses (4-5; 12-13; 18-19) which separate successive blocks, the separating recesses and the additional recesses being located at regular distances from each other. 11. A body support according to any one of the previous claims, characterised in that the body support is a mattress, the recesses in between successive blocks extending over the entire width of the mattress.