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 massage motor is suspended from a mounting plate
resting on a mattress pad or base supported by an articulated 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;
a mattress pad overlaying said center and second support sections;
a mounting plate located above the mattress pad, a massage motor
suspended from the mounting plate.
2. The adjustable bed of claim 1 wherein the mattress pad has a
thickness of approximately one inch.
3. The adjustable bed of claim 1 wherein the mattress pad has a
thickness in the range of from approximately 0.500 inch to approximately
3 inches.
4. The adjustable bed of claim 1 wherein the mounting plate is
mounted to the massage motor without contacting the support sections.
5. The adjustable bed of claim 1 wherein the mounting plate is
flexible.
6. The adjustable bed of claim 1 wherein the mattress pad is made
of fiber.
7. The adjustable bed of claim 1 wherein the mattress pad is made
of foam.
8. The adjustable bed of claim 1 wherein the second support section
has an opening therethrough for receiving the massage motor suspended
from the mounting plate.
9. 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 foot support section has
an opening therethrough for receiving the massage motor suspended
from the mounting plate.
10. The adjustable bed of claim 1 wherein the second support section
is a head support section and the head support section has an opening
therethrough for receiving the massage motor suspended from the
mounting plate.
11. 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 mounting plate located
above the third support section; and a second massage motor suspended
from the second mounting plate.
12. The adjustable bed of claim 11 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.
13. 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 opening therethrough; a mattress
pad overlaying said center and second support sections; a mounting
plate resting on said mattress pad; a massage motor mounted to the
mounting plate and extending through the opening in the second support
section.
14. The adjustable bed of claim 13 wherein the mattress pad has
a thickness of approximately one inch.
15. The adjustable bed of claim 13 wherein the mounting plate contacts
a mattress laying on the mattress pad.
16. The adjustable bed of claim 13 wherein the mattress pad is
made of foam.
17. The adjustable bed of claim 13 wherein the mattress pad is
made of fiber.
18. An adjustable bed comprising: a bed frame; an articulated support
platform supported by the bed frame; a mattress pad overlaying said
support platform; a mounting plate located above the mattress pad;
and a massage motor suspended from the mounting plate.
19. The adjustable bed of claim 18 wherein said mounting plate
is not secured to said support platform.
Description FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates generally to adjustable beds and more particularly,
to improvements to adjustable 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 an adjustable bed having an improved
massage capability, thereby increasing the satisfaction of the user
with the bed. The adjustable bed of the present invention is especially
useful when multiple massage motors are incorporated into the bed.
According to the principles of the present invention and in accordance
with one embodiment, the adjustable bed of the present invention
has a bed frame and a support section supported by the bed frame
and adapted to support a mattress and a user laying on such mattress.
The bed further has a mounting plate located on an upper surface
of a mattress pad or base, and a massage motor mounted to and suspended
by the mounting plate. This massage motor mounting structure greatly
improves the transmission of vibrations created by the massage motor
to a user laying on a mattress resting on the mattress pad or base.
In accordance with one aspect of the invention, the adjustable
bed has a mattress base or pad having a thickness of approximately
one inch for covering the support section. The mattress base may
be made of any suitable material but is usually made of foam or
fiber. In accordance with another aspect of the invention, the mounting
plate is supported by the mattress base on the upper surface thereof;
and the massage motor is suspended therefrom. Thus, the mounting
plate is mounted such that vibrations from the massage motor are
transmitted directly to the mounting plate and on to the mattress.
The mounting mechanism reduces or eliminates any transfer of vibration
to the adjustable bed frame or support platform.
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.
FIG. 3 is a disassembled perspective view of the adjustable bed
of FIG. 1.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Referring to FIG. 1 an adjustable bed 18 includes a bed frame
20 comprised 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 28 respectively, and left and right side rails 30 31
respectively. The rails 26 31 are joined at their ends to form a
generally rectangular lower frame 22. The lower frame 22 at the
head end is joined to a head board 102. See FIG. 1. A plurality
of caster brackets 29 are secured to and extend down from the end
rails 26 28 of the lower frame 22. A plurality of casters 32 each
having a stem (not shown) are received inside the caster brackets
29 for supporting the adjustable bed 18 on the floor and enabling
the adjustable bed 18 to be rolled from location to location.
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.
As best illustrated in FIG. 3 an articulated mattress support
platform 100 comprises a center support board or section 40 connected
to the upper frame 24 and a head support board or section 42 pivotally
connected to a head end of the center supporting section 40 with
hinges 41. A thigh support board or section 44 is pivotally connected
to a foot end of the center support section 40 by hinges 41; and
a foot supporting board or section 46 is pivotally connected to
a foot end of the thigh supporting section 42 by hinges 41. The
supporting sections 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 OSB material. The supporting sections 40 46
are normally 0.625 inch thick but may be other thicknesses as is
required.
A mattress base or pad 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 pad 48 are
enclosed within a covering (not shown). As shown in FIGS. 1 and
2 a mattress 50 is then laid over the mattress pad 48.
As shown in FIG. 1 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 FIGS. 2 and 3 a mounting plate 74 rests on top of
the mattress base 48. The mounting plate 74 has four holes 75 therethrough
for receiving fasteners 76. A massage motor 70 having base plates
72 is rigidly connected to the mounting plate 74 with fasteners
76 and suspended from the mounting plate 74. The mounting plate
74 has a lower surface 82 which contacts the upper surface 78 of
the mattress pad 48.
The mounting plate 74 may be made of any suitable material to which
the massage motor 70 may be attached, for example, semi-flexible
plastic. The mounting plate 74 resides on an upper surface 78 of
the mattress pad 48. If desired, washers (not shown) may be located
between the mounting plate 74 and the base plates 72 of the massage
motor 70. As best seen in FIG. 3 fasteners 76 extend through holes
75 in the mounting platform 74 holes 81 formed in the mattress
pad 48 and base plates 72 of the massage motor 70 before being secured
with a nut 76. The fasteners 76 may be any suitable fastener, for
example, a threaded screw or bolt and a mating nut 76. See FIGS.
2 and 3.
The massage motor 70 suspended from the mounting plate 74 with
fasteners 76 extends through an opening 86 within the foot section
46 of the articulated platform 100. The mattress pad 48 is placed
over the upper surface 77 of the articulated platform section 100.
When the message motor 70 is turned on, it transfers its vibrations
to the mounting plate 74 and ultimately to the mattress 50. Since
the mounting plate 74 is not rigidly fixed to the articulated platform
100 or any section thereof, the mounting plate 74 is relatively
free to oscillate or vibrate as necessary based on the action of
the massage motor 70 The mounting plate 74 supplies a substantially
greater vibration to the mattress 50 than would otherwise be possible
if the mounting plate 74 were rigidly connected to the articulated
platform 100. Any contact between the mounting plate 74 and the
articulated platform 100 may result in an undesirable and distracting
vibrating noise.
The mattress pad 48 simply lays over the upper surface 77 of the
support platform 46. The mattress pad 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 pad 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 FIGS. 2 and
3 the vibrations of the massage motor 70 are more effectively transferred
to a user resting on the mattress 50 than has heretofore been possible.
In FIGS. 2 and 3 the mounting of the motor 70 was described with
respect to the foot section 46 of the articulated platform 100.
As will be appreciated, the mounting of massage motor 90 (FIG. 1)
with respect to the head section 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 this invention
is described with respect to a "wallhugger" adjustable
bed. As will be appreciated, the same massage motor mounting 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 may be applied
to nonadjustable bed designs.
In the described embodiment with respect to FIG. 1 massage motors
are attached to the head section 42 and the foot section 46 as
will be appreciated, the massage motor mounting of FIG. 3 may be
used with massage motors mounted to the thigh section 44 or the
center section 40 of the articulated platform 100.
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. |