Abstrict An adjustable bed having an upper frame mounted to translate with
respect to a lower frame. A center support is connected to the upper
frame and has a head support pivotally connected to one end thereof.
A thigh support is pivotally connected to the other end of the center
support and a foot support is connected to the other end of the
thigh support. The bed includes an improved mounting for a massage
motor in which a resonator board is mounted on resilient spacers
on an upper surface of a support platform.
Claims What is claimed is:
1. An adjustable bed comprising: a bed frame; a center support
section supported by the bed frame; a second support section having
one end pivotally attached to one end of the center support section,
the second support section having an upper side and a lower side;
a resonator board nonrigidly mounted to the upper side of the second
support section; a neoprene spacer mounted between the upper side
of the second support section and the resonator board; and a massage
motor mounted to the resonator board.
2. The adjustable bed of claim 1 further comprising a mattress
base having a thickness of approximately one inch covering the center
and second support sections.
3. The adjustable bed of claim 1 further comprising a mattress
base having a thickness in the range of from approximately 0.500
inch to approximately 3 inches.
4. The adjustable bed of claim 1 wherein the resonator board has
an upper side and a lower side and the massage motor is mounted
to a lower side of the resonator board.
5. The adjustable bed of claim 4 wherein the massage motor is nonrigidly
mounted to the resonator board.
6. The adjustable bed of claim 1 wherein the second support section
comprises: a thigh support section having one end pivotally connected
to the opposite end of the center support section; and a foot support
section having one end pivotally connected to an opposite end of
the thigh center support section and the massage motor is nonrigidly
mounted to the foot support section.
7. The adjustable bed of claim 1 wherein the second support section
is a head support section and the massage motor is nonrigidly mounted
to the head support section.
8. The adjustable bed of claim 1 further comprising: a third support
section having one end in mechanical communication with an opposite
end of the center support section; a second resonator board nonrigidly
mounted to the third support section; and a second massage motor
mounted to the second resonator board.
9. The adjustable bed of claim 8 further comprising a fourth support
section having one end pivotally connected to the opposite end of
the center support section and another end pivotally connected to
an end of the third support section.
10. An adjustable bed comprising: a bed frame; a center support
section supported by the bed frame; a second support section having
one end pivotally attached to one end of the center support section,
the second support section further having an opening therethrough,
a resonator board nonrigidly mounted to the second support section,
the resonator board having an upper side and a lower side; and a
massage motor nonrigidly mounted to the lower side of the resonator
board and extending through the opening in the second support section
from the lower side of the resonator board.
11. The adjustable bed of claim 10 wherein the second support section
has an upper side and a lower side and the resonator board is nonrigidly
mounted to the upper side.
12. The adjustable bed of claim 11 wherein the resonator board
is resiliently mounted to the upper side of the support section.
13. The adjustable bed of claim 10 further comprising a mattress
base having a thickness of approximately one inch covering the center
and second support sections.
14. The adjustable bed of claim 10 further comprising a mattress
base having a thickness in the range of from approximately 0.500
inch to approximately 3 inches.
15. The adjustable bed of claim 10 wherein the second support section
comprises: a thigh support section having one end pivotally connected
to the opposite end of the center support section; and a foot support
section having one end pivotally connected to an opposite end of
the thigh center support section and the massage motor is nonrigidly
mounted to the foot support section.
16. The adjustable bed of claim 10 wherein the second support section
is a head support section and the massage motor is nonrigidly mounted
to the head support section.
17. The adjustable bed of claim 10 further comprising: a third
support section having one end in mechanical communication with
an opposite end of the center support section; a second resonator
board nonrigidly mounted to the third support section; and a second
massage motor mounted to the second resonator board.
18. The adjustable bed of claim 17 further comprising a fourth
support section having one end pivotally connected to the opposite
end of, the center support section and another end pivotally connected
to an end of the third support section.
Description FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates generally to beds and more particularly,
to improvements to beds.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Adjustable beds have been used for many years to permit the user
to adjust the head and foot sections of the bed to different positions.
While originally only manually adjustable, more recently, the head
and foot sections are moved by motors operated by the user via a
remote control.
Adjustable beds were originally designed principally for use in
medical environments by patients who had to spend long periods of
time in bed for reasons of health, injury, etc. However, more recently,
adjustable beds are also being used in residential environments
by users who have no health or physical impairment. An increasing
number of people place televisions and other entertainment devices
in the bedroom, and more time is spent lounging in bed. Hence, the
bed, and in particular, an adjustable bed, is considered by many
users an alternative piece of leisure furniture. As the market for
leisure beds grows, there is continuing effort by suppliers to provide
leisure beds that are more comfortable, have more options, for example,
massage capabilities, more sophisticated controls, and are more
affordable.
One recent development in adjustable beds is the development of
a "wallhugger" adjustable bed. The wallhugger adjustable
bed maintains the user in the same position with respect to adjacent
appliances and furniture as the head portion of the bed is moved
between flat and elevated positions. To achieve that purpose, as
the head section pivots upward, an upper bed frame portion translates
toward the head end of the bed with respect to a stationary lower
bed frame section.
Almost all adjustable beds utilize one or more massage motors which
are controllable by a user to provide a massaging action while the
user is in the bed. In one embodiment, a massage motor is rigidly
connected to an underside of a rigid platform, for example, a head
board or a foot board, that is hinged to a center board or platform.
Further, the whole articulated platform normally supports a mattress
base, for example, a foam pad approximately 4 inches thick, over
which is placed beneath a mattress. Thus, any vibration applied
to the underside of the head board must vibrate the whole head board;
and further, the vibration is partially absorbed and attenuated
by the soft materials in the mattress base and the mattress. The
resulting or net vibration applied to a user lying on the mattress
is often substantially less than is desired. In other designs, the
massage motor is rigidly mounted to a resonator board that is inserted
into a centrally located slit and cutout portion of the mattress
base. The resonator board is then bonded to an interior surface
within the slit in the mattress base, and the massage motor extends
downward through the cutout in the mattress base and a contiguous
cutout in the platform supporting the mattress base and the mattress.
As with the former design, the vibrating action of the massage motor
is substantially attenuated by the thick foam mattress base.
Thus, there is a need for an improved bed structure for more effectively
transmitting massaging actions or vibrations from a massage motor
to a user lying on the bed.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides a bed having an improved massage
capability, thereby increasing the satisfaction of the user with
the bed. The bed of the present invention is especially useful when
used with an adjustable bed in which multiple massage motors are
used.
According to the principles of the present invention and in accordance
with one embodiment, the bed of the present invention has a bed
frame and a support section supported by the bed frame and adapted
to support a user. The bed further has a resonator board nonrigidly
mounted to an upper surface of the support section, and a massage
motor mounted to the resonator board. This massage mounting structure
greatly improves the transmission of vibrations created by the massage
motor to a user.
In accordance with one aspect of the invention, the bed has a mattress
base having a thickness of approximately one inch for covering the
support section. In accordance with another aspect of the invention,
the resonator board is resiliently mounted to the upper side of
the support section; and the massage motor is mounted to a lower
side of the resonator board. Thus, the resonator board is mounted
such that vibrations from the massage motor are transmitted to the
user with a minimum of attenuation by the foam mattress base and
the mattress.
These and other objects and advantages of the present invention
will become more readily apparent during the following detailed
description taken in conjunction with the drawings herein.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an adjustable bed with associated
mattress components in accordance with the principles of the present
invention.
FIG. 2 is a partial cross-sectional view taken along line 2--2
of FIG. 1 and illustrates a massage motor mounting in accordance
with the principles of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Referring to FIG. 1 an adjustable bed 18 includes a bed frame
24 compnised of a lower frame 22 and an upper frame 24 movably mounted
on the lower frame 22. The lower frame 22 has head and foot end
rails 26 283 respectively, and left and right side rails 30 31
respectively. The rails 26-31 are joined at their ends to form a
generally rectangular frame section. Each of the casters 32 includes
a caster bracket 29 for receiving the stem of the caster (not shown)
that supports the adjustable bed 18 on the floor. The upper frame
24 includes a head rail 33 a foot rail 34 and left and right side
rails 35 36 respectively. The rails 33-36 are rigidly connected
at their ends with fasteners to form the generally rectangular upper
frame 24. The upper frame side rails 35-36 are made of angle stock,
and the upper frame 24 is movably mounted on the lower frame 22
by four wheels 37 which are rotatably mounted to the ends of legs
38. The wheels 37 ride in C-shaped channels or tracks 39 forming
the left and right lower frame side rails 30 31 respectively.
In a known manner, a center support board or platform 40 is connected
to the upper frame 24 and a head support board or platform 42 is
pivotally connected to a head end of the center supporting platform
40 with hinges 41. A thigh support board or platform 44 is pivotally
connected to a foot end of the center support platform 40 by hinges
41; and a foot supporting board or platform 46 is pivotally connected
to a foot end of the thigh supporting platform 42 by hinges 41.
The supporting platforms 40-46 may be made from any desired material
that is capable of properly supporting a user on a mattress, for
example, a plywood or oriented strand board ("OSB") material.
The supporting platforms 40-46 are normally 0.625 inch thick but
may be other thicknesses as is required. A mattress base 48 for
example, a one inch foam pad, is mounted over and covers the head,
center, thigh and foot support boards 40-46. Normally, the boards
40-46 and mattress base 48 are enclosed within a covering (not shown).
A mattress 50 is then laid over the mattress base 48.
Head and thigh motors 52 54 respectively, are mounted to a drive
assembly 56 which mechanically couples the head and thigh motors
52 54 to respective head and thigh torque tubes 58 60 in a known
manner. Operating the head motor 52 rotates the torque tube 58 and
raises the head platform 42. With the bed of FIG. 1 as the head
platform 42 is raised, the upper frame 24 translates toward the
head end the bed; and the head platform 42 remains close to the
headboard 117. Operating the thigh motor 54 rotates the thigh torque
tube 60 and raises the junction of the thigh and foot platforms
44 46 respectively.
Referring to FIG. 2 a massage motor 70 has a base plate 72 that
is rigidly connected to a resonator board 74 by fasteners 76. The
resonator board 74 is any rigid structure to which the massage motor
70 may be attached, for example, 0.250 inch plywood or OSB. The
resonator board is mounted with respect to an upper surface 78 of
the foot platform 46. Resilient spacers 80 are located between the
upper surface 78 of the foot platform 46 and a lower surface 82
of the resonator board 74. Fasteners 84 extend through contiguous
holes in the foot platform 46 the spacers 80 and the resonator
board 74. The fasteners 84 may be any suitable fastener, for example,
a threaded screw or bolt and a mating nut. The massage motor 70
which is mounted on a lower surface 82 on the resonator board 74
extends through an opening 86 within the foot platform 46. The mattress
base 48 is placed over the upper surface 78 of the foot platform
46 as well as the upper surface 88 of the resonator board 74.
When the message motor 70 is turned on, it transfers its vibrations
to the resonator board 74. Since the resonator board is not rigidly
fixed to the foot platform 46 the resonator board 74 is relatively
free to oscillate or vibrate within the constraints permitted by
the resilient spacers 80. The resilient spacers 80 permit the resonator
board 74 to supply a substantially greater vibration to the mattress
base 48 than would otherwise be possible if the resonator board
74 were rigidly connected to the foot platform 46. The spacers 80
are flexible or soft enough to permit the resonator board 74 to
vibrate freely and minimize the transfer of vibrations from the
massage motor 70 to the foot platform 46. However, the spacers 80
are hard or rigid enough so that, when the bed is loaded to its
maximum limit, that is, with a large person, the resonator board
does not make contact with the foot platform 46. Any contact between
the resonator board 74 and the foot platform 46 results in an undesirable
and distracting vibrating noise. Typically, the spacers 80 are made
from a neoprene material and have a rating in the range of from
approximately 20 to approximately 30 using a Shore A durometer.
The mattress base 48 simply lays over the upper surface 78 of the
support platform 46 and the upper surface 88 of the resonator board
74. The mattress base functions to dampen the feeling of the irregularities
in the top surfaces 78 and the resonator board 74 caused by fasteners,
for example, fasteners 84 and the fasteners used to connect the
hinges 41 to the supporting platforms 40-46. The mattress base 48
can be made of any soft material such as a fiber or foam, for example,
a one inch thick urethane foam having a density of approximately
1.8 and an I.L.D. of from approximately 30 pounds to approximately
35 pounds. While the mattress base 48 in nominally 1 inch thick,
it can have a thickness in the range of from approximately 0.500
inch to approximately 3 inches.
Thus, with the massage motor mounting illustrated in FIG. 2 the
vibrations of the massage motor 70 are much less dampened by the
mattress base 48 and more effectively transferred to a user resting
on the mattress 50. In FIG. 2 the mounting of the motor 70 was
described with respect to the foot platform 46. As will be appreciated,
the mounting of massage motor 90 (FIG. 1) with respect to the head
platform 40 is identical to that described in FIG. 2. Thus, the
mounting of the massage motor 70 as illustrated in FIG. 2 may be
used with respect to any of the bed platform sections 40-46. The
bed 18 of the present invention provides a simpler and less expensive
construction that provides a more effective massage action.
While the invention has been illustrated by the description of
one embodiment and while the embodiment has been described in considerable
detail, there is no intention to restrict nor in any way limit the
scope of the appended claims to such detail. Additional advantages
and modifications will readily appear to those who are skilled in
the art. For example, the massage motor mounting of FIG. 2 and cover
92 of FIG. 1 are described with respect to a "wallhugger"
adjustable bed. As will be appreciated, the same massage motor mounting
and cover 92 may be applied to other adjustable bed designs which
are not of the "wallhugger" type. In addition, where appropriate,
for example, where a platform construction is used instead of a
box spring, the same massage motor mounting and cover 92 may be
applied to nonadjustable bed designs.
In the described embodiment with respect to FIG. 1 massage motors
are attached to the head platform 42 and the foot platform 46 as
will be appreciated, the massage motor mounting of FIG. 3 may be
used with massage motors mounted to the thigh platform 44 or the
center platform 40.
Further, the massage motor 70 is described as being rigidly mounted
to the resonator board, however, as will be appreciated, in some
applications, it may be desirable to nonrigidly mount the massage
motor 70 to the resonator board using a spacer made of a compressible
material. The massage motor 70 is also described as being mounted
to a lower side of the resonator board 74. As will be appreciated,
with other massage motors and/or applications, it may be desirable
to mount the massage motor 70 to the upper side of the resonator
board 74.
Therefore, the invention in its broadest aspects is not limited
to the specific detail shown and described. Consequently, departures
may be made from the details described herein without departing
from the spirit and scope of the claims which follow. |