WO2008123640A1

WO2008123640A1 - Mattress for beds

Info

Publication number: WO2008123640A1
Application number: PCT/KR2007/003667
Authority: WO
Inventors: Hyeong Seub Kim; Yong Soo Kang
Original assignee: Hyeong Seub Kim; Yong Soo Kang
Priority date: 2007-04-05
Filing date: 2007-07-31
Publication date: 2008-10-16
Also published as: KR200437599Y1

Abstract

A mattress for beds is disclosed. In the mattress of the present invention, air, heated or cooled by a heat supply unit provided in the mattress, is guided by guide plates provided between cushion springs in the mattress, so that the mattress can be evenly heated or cooled even though a heat supply unit having a relatively small capacity is used. Therefore, heated or cooled air can be evenly dispersed in the mattress by convection, thus providing a warm or cool pleasant environment to a user. Furthermore, an existing mattress of a bed can be used with the present invention without changing the construction thereof, thus enhancing compatibility.

Description

MATTRESS FOR BEDS

Technical Field

[1] The present invention relates, in general, to mattresses for beds and, more particularly, to a mattress for beds in which air, heated by a heat supply unit provided in the mattress, is guided by guide plates provided between cushion springs in the mattress, so that the mattress can be evenly heated even though a heat supply unit having a relatively small capacity is used. Background Art

[2] Generally, as heating apparatuses, water heating type apparatuses and electric heating type apparatuses are widely used.

[3] In the case of the water heating type apparatuses, after a hot water pipe has been installed, hot water, heated by a boiler, is supplied into and circulates through the hot water pipe. In the case of the electric heating type apparatuses, after a heating pipe provided with a liquid thermal storage medium and a heating wire has been mounted in a support panel, the support panel is heated by supplying electric energy to the heating wire.

[4] However, such heating structures cannot be used in a bed. Therefore, there is a disadvantage in that, even when it is desired to heat only the bed, the entire room containing the bed must be heated.

[5] In an effort to overcome this problem, to separately heat the bed, a separate sheet- shaped electric heating device, such as an electric heating pad, an electric heating blanket or an electric heating mat, has been used on the bed, or an electric stone bed has been used, thus meeting the needs of users.

[6] However, in the method in which the sheet-shaped electric heating device is provided on the mattress of the bed, because the electric heating device consists of electric wires, there is the possibility of a safety hazard due to a short or disconnection attributable to excessive movement of the mattress of the bed.

[7] Furthermore, the electric heating device is not fastened to the mattress, and thus is inconvenient to the user. In addition, because the electric heating device must be provided separately from the mattress, it is inconvenient and uneconomical. As well, because the body of the user is in direct contact with the electric heating device, there is a problem in that the user is exposed to electromagnetic waves.

[8] Moreover, in the case of the electric heating device, such as the electric heating pad, because the electric heating device is directly heated by electricity in the state in which it is close to the body of the user, if the electric heating deviceis used for a long time, the user becomes uncomfortable. Furthermore, because the method of operating the electric heating device is not a method of heating air and circulating air by convection, there is a disadvantage in that the device cannot provide a pleasant feeling. Disclosure of Invention

Technical Problem

[9] Accordingly, the present invention has been made keeping in mind the above problems occurring in the prior art, and an object of the present invention is to provide a mattress for beds which is constructed such that heated or cooled air is evenly dispersed in the mattress by convection, thus providing a warm or cool and pleasant environment to a user.

[10] Another object of the present invention is to provide a mattress for beds which makes it possible to use an existing mattress of a bed without changing the construction thereof, thus enhancing the compatibility.

[11] A further object of the present invention is to provide a mattress for beds which is constructed such that hot or cool air can be efficiently guided to the upper surface of the mattress, thus making it possible to satisfactorily supply hot or cool air even though a heat supply unit or cooling unit having a relatively low capacity is used. Technical Solution

[12] In an aspect, the present invention provides a mattress for beds having therein a plurality of springs arranged in rows and in columns, including: at least one heat supply unit provided in the mattress; and a plurality of guide plates respectively provided between the adjacent springs in a lateral direction of the mattress, each of the guide plates being inclined such that one edge thereof is higher than an opposite edge thereof, so that heat generated from the heat supply unit is guided in a longitudinal direction of the mattress.

[13] In another aspect, the present invention provides a mattress for beds having therein a plurality of springs arranged in rows and in columns, including: at least one heat supply unit provided in the mattress; and a plurality of guide plates respectively provided between the adjacent springs in a longitudinal direction of the mattress, each of the guide plates being inclined such that an edge thereof is higher than an opposite edge thereof, so that heat generated from the heat supply unit is guided in a lateral direction of the mattress.

[14] Preferably, each of the guide plates may be made of noncombustible synthetic fiber.

[15] The mattress for beds may further include a heating unit provided on each of the guide plates.

[16] In addition, the heat supply unit may comprise a device for generating cool air, so that cool air generated from the heat supply unit is guided along the guide plates. Advantageous Effects

[17] In the mattress for beds, heated or cooled air can be evenly dispersed by convection into the mattress, particularly towards the upper surface thereof, thus providing a warm or cool pleasant environment to a user. Furthermore, an existing mattress of a bed can be used with the present invention without changing the construction thereof, thus enhancing compatibility.

[18] In addition, in the present invention, because hot or cool air can be efficiently guided to the upper surface of the mattress, a heat supply unit having a relatively low capacity can be used, thus reducing power consumption and decreasing the risk of fire. Brief Description of the Drawings

[19] FIG. 1 is a view showing the internal construction of a mattress according to the present invention;

[20] FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the mattress according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; and

[21] FIGS. 3 through 5 are views showing the construction of mattresses according to other respective embodiments of the present invention.

[22] <Description of the elements in the drawings>

[23] 10: spring

[24] 100: heat supply unit 200: guide plate

[25] 110: heating unit

[26] A: lateral direction of mattress B: longitudinal direction of mattress

Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[27] The present invention relates to a mattress for beds in which air, heated or cooled by a heat supply unit provided in the mattress, is guided by guide plates provided between cushion springs in the mattress, so that the mattress can be evenly heated or cooled.

[28] The mattress for beds according to the present invention includes a heat supply unit, which is provided in the mattress, and a plurality of guide plates, which are respectively provided between adjacent springs. The mattress is constructed such that air heated by the heat supply unit can be evenly dispersed in the mattress by the guide plates and, particularly, heat can be concentratedly transferred to the upper surface of the mattress.

[29] In particular, the present invention is characterized in that the direction in which heated or cooled air circulates in the mattress can be determined according to the installation arrangement of the guide plates.

[30] Furthermore, the guide plates can be used even in an existing mattress, which uses springs as a means for cushioning, thus preventing an increase in production costs. In addition, a heating unit may be provided on each guide plate to obtain further enhanced heating efficiency.

[31]

[32] Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the attached drawings.

[33] In the description of the present invention, explanation of well-known functions and constructions will be omitted so that the present invention can be described more clearly.

[34] Furthermore, if the description of elements or of relationships between the elements according to the preferred embodiments of the present invention is redundant, such description will be skipped.

[35]

[36] FIG. 1 is a view showing the internal construction of a mattress, according to the present invention. FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the mattress according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. FIGS. 3 through 5 are views showing the construction of mattresses according to other respective embodiments of the present invention.

[37]

[38] As shown in FIGS. 3 through 5, a mattress for beds according to the present invention includes a heat supply unit 100, which is provided in the mattress, and a plurality of guide plates 200, which are provided between a plurality of springs 10.

[39] Preferably, the heat supply unit 100 is disposed at a predetermined position in one end of the mattress and comprises a means for generating heat or hot air. In the present invention, it is sufficient if the heat supply unit 100 has a typical heating element and thus generates heat using electricity supplied from the outside.

[40] As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the heat supply unit 100 may be selectively disposed at the front end of the mattress or at one or both of the sides thereof. Furthermore, only one heat supply unit may be provided or, alternatively, two or more heat supply units may be provided.

[41] In FIG. 4 or 5, although only one heat supply unit 100 is provided at one side in the mattress, another heat supply unit may be further provided at the opposite side or at the front of the mattress.

[42] Particularly, as shown in FIG. 3, when determining the position of the heat supply unit 100, it is preferable that a position adjacent to the head of a user, who lies on the bed, be excluded, so as to prevent excessive heat, which would disturb the pleasant sleep of the user, from being transferred to the head of the user.

[43] More preferably, in the installation of the heat supply unit 100, an appropriate installation position thereof is determined depending on the arrangement of guide plates 200, as will be explained later herein. The installation and the installation position of the heat supply unit 100 will be explained in further detail later herein, along with the description of arrangement of the guide plates 200.

[44] Furthermore, preferably, the heat supply unit 100 includes a controller 110, which controls the temperature of generated heat and the operating time. It is sufficient if the controller 110 has the same construction as that of a temperature control device provided in a typical electric heating apparatus.

[45] As shown in FIG. 3 or 4, the controller 110, which constitutes the heat supply unit

100, may be disposed at the predetermined position in the mattress of the bed or, alternatively, may be separately provided on a power line, which extends outside the mattress.

[46] A more detailed description of the construction and operation of the controller 110, which is provided in the heat supply unit 100, will be skipped, because those are not the point of the present invention.

[47]

[48] Meanwhile, heat, which is generated by the heat supply unit 100, is evenly dispersed into the entire space in the mattress of the bed by the convection of air, thus being transferred to the user, who lies on the upper surface of the mattress.

[49] Here, the present invention is characterized in that several guide plates 200 are provided in the mattress, such that heat generated from the heat supply unit 100 can be efficiently and more evenly transferred to all of the space in the mattress and, particularly, to the upper surface of the mattress.

[50] As shown in FIG. 1 or 2, the guide plates 200 are disposed in the space between a plurality of cushion springs (hereinafter, referred to as springs) 10, which are typically provided in the mattress.

[51] Here, in the springs 10, which are arranged in the mattress in rows and columns, the term "the space between the springs 10" means the space between adjacent springs 10.

[52] In the description of the present invention, the space between the springs 10 will be classified into space in the lateral direction A of the mattress and space in the longitudinal direction B of the mattress.

[53] As shown in FIG. 1, preferably, each guide plate 200 is provided between adjacent springs 10 such that opposite edges of the guide plate 200 are inserted between corresponding coiled wires of the respective adjacent springs 10.

[54] As shown in the drawings, for the insertion of each edge of the guide plate 200 into the springs 10, no separate coupling means is required, but, as necessary, a locking member such as a hook may be provided to ensure further reliable coupling therebetween.

[55] As such, because no separate member is required to insert the guide plate 200 between the springs 10 and no separate structural change for the installation of the guide plate 200 between the springs 10 is necessary, the mattress of the present invention ensures superior compatibility in the manufacturing process.

[56] Meanwhile, in the installation of the guide plate 200, the guide plate 200 is inserted between the opposite springs 10 such that one edge of the guide plate 200 is inclined upwards to form an inclined structure. That is, in the present invention, the guide plates 200, each of which maintains the inclined structure, are provided in the mattress at positions spaced apart from each other at regular intervals.

[57] Thanks to this structure, when generated heat is transferred to space in the mattress by convection, the heat can be more efficiently transferred to the upper surface of the mattress, and can be guided such that it is effectively moved away from the heat supply unit.

[58] As such, in the case where heat is efficiently transferred to the upper surface of the mattress, heat loss, attributable to hot air transferred to the lower part of the mattress, can be minimized. Therefore, the capacity of the heat supply unit can be reduced. Particularly, there is an effect in that the reduction in the size of the heat supply unit, made possible by the minimization of heat loss, entails a reduction in power consumption.

[59] In addition, because a heat supply unit having a relatively small capacity can be used, the possibility of safety hazards such as fires, attributable to overheating of the heat supply unit, is markedly reduced, that is, stability is firmly ensured.

[60]

[61] Meanwhile, the material of the guide plate 200 is not limited to any special material, but it is preferable that the guide plate 200 be made of noncombustible synthetic fiber in order to enhance the efficiency of heat transfer and ensure the comfortable sleep of the user. Furthermore, in this case, there is an effect in that unpleasant noise is not generated when the guide plates 200, which are interposed between the springs 10, are moved by the movement of a user who lies on the mattress.

[62] As a representative example of the noncombustible synthetic fiber, there is felt. The felt is commonly known as a sheet formed by milling wool or other animal hair fiber. Furthermore, the felt is classified into press felt and weaving felt.

[63] The press felt is made of fiber, such as wool, noil or wool blend. Furthermore, the press felt is manufactured into the shape of a cloth by tangling and milling its fibers, having superior felting capacity, using steam at high heat and pressure. Such felt may be mixed with other synthetic fibers and used as soundproofing material, heat insulating material, etc.

[64]

[65] Hereinafter, the construction and arrangement of the guide plates 200 will be explained in detail with reference to several other embodiments.

[66] First, FIG. 3 illustrates an example in which each guide plate 200 is oriented in the lateral direction A of the mattress. In this case, the heat supply unit 100 is disposed at the front end of the mattress, and the controller 110 is integrally provided in the body of the heat supply unit 100 such that the controller 110 is exposed from the outer surface of the mattress.

[67] Heat, which is generated from the heat supply unit 100, is moved in the longitudinal direction of the bed under the guidance of the guide plates 200, as designated by the arrows of FIG. 3. In this case, it is preferable that the user lies in a direction such that his/her feet are adjacent to the heat supply unit 100.

[68] Next, FIGS. 4 and 5 illustrate examples in which each guide plate 200 is oriented in the longitudinal direction B of the mattress. In these cases, the heat supply unit 100 is provided at one side in the mattress, and the controller 110 is separately provided on the power line, which extends outside the heat supply unit 100.

[69] Particularly, in the embodiment of FIG. 4, the inclined guide plates 200 are arranged such that they symmetrically face each other based on the longitudinal center line of the mattress. That is, the guide plates 200 are inclined upwards towards the longitudinal center line of the mattress.

[70] Meanwhile, in the embodiment of FIG. 5, the guide plates 200, which are arranged in the mattress, are inclined in the same direction.

[71] In the embodiments of FIGS. 4 and 5, heat, which is generated from the heat supply unit 100, is moved in the lateral direction of the bed under the guidance of the guide plates 200, as designated by the arrows of the drawings.

[72]

[73] As another embodiment, the heat supply unit 100 may comprise a device for generating cool air. The heat supply unit 100, when used as the device for generating cool air, is not limited to any special device, as long as it is a cooling device, which is typically used for generating cool air.

[74] In the same manner as the above-mentioned several embodiments, cooled air generated by the heat supply unit 100 can also be effectively transferred to the upper surface of the mattress by the guide plates 200.

[75]

[76] Although the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been disclosed for illustrative purposes, the technical spirit of the present invention is not limited to these, and those skilled in the art will appreciate that the elements of the present invention can be variously modified, without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention, so long as they can achieve the intended purpose and effects.

Claims

[1] A mattress for beds having therein a plurality of springs arranged in rows and in columns, comprising: at least one heat supply unit provided in the mattress; and a plurality of guide plates respectively provided between the adjacent springs in a lateral direction of the mattress, each of the guide plates being inclined such that one edge thereof is higher than an opposite edge thereof, so that heat generated from the heat supply unit is guided in a longitudinal direction of the mattress.

[2] A mattress for beds having therein a plurality of springs arranged in rows and in columns, comprising: at least one heat supply unit provided in the mattress; and a plurality of guide plates respectively provided between the adjacent springs in a longitudinal direction of the mattress, each of the guide plates being inclined such that an edge thereof is higher than an opposite edge thereof, so that heat generated from the heat supply unit is guided in a lateral direction of the mattress.

[3] The mattress for beds according to any one of claims 1 and 2, wherein each of the guide plates is made of noncombustible synthetic fiber.

[4] The mattress for beds according to any one of claims 1 and 2, further comprising: a heating unit provided on each of the guide plates.

[5] The mattress for beds according to any one of claims 1 and 2, wherein the heat supply unit comprises a device for generating cool air, so that cool air generated from the heat supply unit is guided along the guide plates.