Abstrict An improved, adjustable bed having body support sections movable
between an aligned, horizontal sleeping position and a tilted, sitting-up
position. The bed includes means forming a shallow depression for
comfortably receiving a person's buttocks when the bed is in its
tilted, sitting-up position.
Claims I claim:
1. A bed having: a frame; body support means; the body support
means having upper and lower body support sections; the body support
means being horizontal on the frame in a sleeping position to provide
a flat sleeping surface; the upper body support section selectively
movable relative to the frame from the sleeping position to a tilted
sitting-up position; two adjacent slats extending across the bed
between the upper and lower body support sections forming a buttock
receiving depression when the upper body support section is moved
from its sleeping position to a tilted sitting-up position; means
for maintaining the slats horizontal in the sleeping position and
means for moving the slats to a shallow V-position to form the depression
when the upper body section moves to a tilted sitting-up position,
the means maintaining the slats horizontal comprising a portion
of the upper body support section extending under the slats when
the body support means is in a sleeping position.
2. A bed as claimed in claim 1 wherein the means for moving the
slats to a shallow v-position include: frame means beneath the portion
of the upper body support section that extends under the slats,
said frame means defining a v-shaped depression, said portion of
the upper body support section movable below the frame means to
have the frame means support the slats in a shallow v-shape.
3. A bed as claimed in claim 1 including means for selectively
locking the bed in any position.
4. A bed having a frame; an upper body support section pivotally
mounted to the frame; a buttock support section on the frame and
pivotally mounted at one end to the upper body support section;
a lower body support section on the frame and pivotally mounted
at one end to the other end of the buttock support section; the
support sections movable relative to the frame between a sleeping
position and a sitting-up position; the buttock support section
having a frame and a pair of slats hingedly mounted on the frame
of the buttock support section; means on the upper body support
section for supporting the slats in the sleeping position of the
support sections; and means on the frame of the buttock support
section for supporting the slats to form a V-shaped buttock receiving
depression in the sitting-up position of the support sections.
5. A bed having: a frame; upper body, buttock and lower body support
sections mounted on the frame; means on each support section combining
to provide a flat sleeping surface in a sleeping position of the
support sections, means on the upper body support section for partly
supporting the sleeping surface means on the buttock support section
in the sleeping position; the support sections movable relative
to the frame to a sitting-up position where the sleeping surface
means on the buttock support section form a V-shaped buttock receiving
depression and are now completely supported by and rest on the buttock
support section.
6. A bed as claimed in claim 5 wherein the buttock support section
has a frame defining a V-shaped depression and the sleeping surface
means on the buttock support section include a slat hingedly mounted
to the frame on each side of the depression.
7. A bed having: a frame; upper body, buttock and lower body support
sections mounted on the frame, the support sections movable relative
to the frame between a sleeping position and a sitting-up position;
the buttock support section having a frame defining a V-shaped depression
and slat means hingedly mounted on the frame of the buttock support
section above the depression; the upper body support section having
means to support the slats above the depression in the sleeping
position of the support sections; the frame of the buttock support
section supporting the slats in the V-shaped depression in the sitting
up position of the support sections.
8. A bed as claimed in claim 7 including means pivotally connecting
the upper body support section to the frame; means pivotally connecting
the buttock support section to the upper body support section, and
means pivotally connecting the lower body support section to the
buttock support section.
9. A bed having: a frame; body support means; the body support
means having upper body, buttock and lower body support sections;
the body support means horizontal on the frame in a sleeping position
to provide a flat sleeping surface; the upper body support section
selectively movable relative to the frame from the sleeping position
to a tilted sitting-up position; means on the buttock support section
forming a buttock receiving depression when the upper body support
section is moved from its sleeping position to a tilted, sitting-up
position, said depression forming means including a frame on the
buttock support section defining a shallow V-shaped depression and
a pair of slats hingedly mounted on top of the frame, one on each
side of, and overlying the depression; and means for maintaining
the slats in a horizontal position above the depression when the
bed is in a sleeping position.
10. A bed as claimed in claim 9 wherein the means for maintaining
the slats in a horizontal position comprise a portion of the upper
body support section.
Description BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention is directed toward an improved bed.
The invention is more particularly directed toward an improved
bed of the type that is adjustable between a horizontal sleeping
position and a tilted, sitting-up position.
2. DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART
Adjustable beds that can be moved or tilted to a sitting-up position
are normally made with the body support means formed in sections.
Usually there are two or three body support sections hingedly or
pivotally connected together. The body support sections are mounted
on a bed frame and are movable relative to each other, and to the
frame, from a sleeping position, where they are all horizontal to
a sitting-up position where at least the first, or upper body support
section is tilted to provide a back rest. The other body support
sections usually move simultaneously with the upper body support
section when it is tilted to try to comfortably accommodate other
parts of a person's body in the sitting-up position.
The known adjustable beds have disadvantages however. They are
often quite complicated in construction and thus relatively expensive,
and prone to breakdowns. Also, a relatively sharp angle is formed
between the tilted upper body support section and the next adjacent
body support section. This sharp angle causes a separate, one-piece
mattress on the bed to fold or bunch in the area where the two body
support sections join creating a bulge. This bulge bears against
the lower back and/or buttocks of a person using the bed and can
be quite uncomfortable. This problem can be minimized by providing
a mattress made up of separate, individual mattress sections, each
mattress section sized to fit its respective body support section.
The mattress sections can be fixedly or removably mounted on the
body support sections. However multi-piece mattresses are more expensive
than one-piece mattresses; are hard to maintain in position when
removably mounted on the body support sections; and can be uncomfortable
in a sleeping position if there are wide gaps between the mattress
sections.
The known adjustable beds also do not conform comfortably to the
human anatomy when in a tilted, sitting-up position. A person's
buttocks are generally located in the area where the tilted upper
body support section connects to the next adjacent body support
section. The relatively sharp angle between the two adjacent, body
support sections provides a somewhat uncomfortable position for
the buttocks and in addition, the lower back and upper legs of a
person are not always properly supported.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is the purpose of the present invention to provide an adjustable
bed that is relatively simple in construction and operation. It
is another purpose of the present invention to provide an adjustable
bed that is more comfortable in any position of use.
In accordance with the present invention, an adjustable bed is
provided with means forming a shallow depression between the first
or upper body support section of the bed and the next adjacent body
support section when the upper body section is in a tilted, sitting-up
position. This depression, located generally in the middle of the
bed, comfortably receives a person's buttocks while in a sitting-up
position on the bed. With the buttocks comfortably received in the
depression, the upper legs and lower back are also more comfortably
supported by the adjacent body support sections. The depression
provides a transition area between the angled body support sections
that allows the bed to more closely conform to the body's contours.
The depression also minimizes folding and bunching of the mattress
allowing use of separate, single mattresses on the bed, and making
the bed more comfortable.
Preferably, the means forming the shallow depression includes at
least two slats forming part of the body support means of the bed.
The slats are adjacent to each other, and to the upper body support
section, and extend transversely across the bed. The slats are movable
between a first horizontal position where they are aligned with
the upper body support section when it is in the horizontal sleeping
position, and a second, shallow, v-shaped position forming a shallow
depression in the bed when the upper body support section is tilted
to a sitting-up position.
The depression forming means include first slat support means for
supporting the two slats in the first horizontal position. Second
slat support means support the slats in the second, v-shaped position.
The first slat support means are movable relative to the second
slat support means allowing the slats to be supported in either
of the two positions as will be described.
The two slats and the second slat support means preferably form
a central buttocks support section that is part of the body support
means of the bed. The buttocks support section is located between
the upper and lower body support sections. The second slat support
means in the buttocks support section consists of a frame defining
a shallow v-shaped depression. In the horizontal sleeping position
of the bed, the first slat support means, comprising a portion of
the upper body support section, maintains the slats horizontal and
out of the depression in the frame of the buttocks support section.
However when the upper body support section is tilted, the first
slat support means drops down and eventually moves below the frame
of the buttocks support section causing the slats to now be supported
on the frame and to form a shallow, v-shaped depression.
Lock means are provided on the bed extending between the upper
body support section and the buttocks support section to selectively
lock the sections in a horizontal sleeping position, or in any desired
sitting-up position.
The invention is particularly directed toward a bed having a frame
and body support means. The body support means has upper and lower
body support sections. The body support means is horizontal in a
sleeping position to provide a flat sleeping surface. The upper
body support section is selectively movable relative to the frame
from the sleeping position to a tilted, sitting-up position. Means
on the body support means form a buttock receiving depression when
the upper body support section is moved from its sleeping position
to a tilted, sitting up position.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The invention will now be described in detail having reference
to the accompanying drawings in which:
FIG. 1 is an exploded view of the bed showing the frame and the
body support means;
FIG. 2 is a top view of the bed;
FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the upper body support section
of the bed as seen from underneath;
FIG. 4 is a top view of the bed with the panels of the body support
means removed;
FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the lower body support section
as seen from underneath;
FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the buttock support section as
seen from underneath;
FIG. 7 is a detailed longitudinal cross-section view of the bed
taken across line 7--7 in FIG. 2; and
FIG. 8 is a view similar to FIG. 7 but taken with the bed in a
sitting-up position.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
The bed 1 of the present invention as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 has
a rigid frame 3. The frame 3 can have a horizontal top platform
consisting of parallel side frame members 7 9 and front and back
end frame members 11 13 joining the side frame members 7 9 together
at their ends. An intermediate cross-frame member 15 extends between
the side frame members 7 9 near, and parallel to, the back end
frame member 13. The top platform is rectangular defining the shape
and size of the bed and is supported at the proper height by vertical
legs 17 at or near the corners.
The bed as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 also has body support means 19
consisting of three body support section 21 23 25 mounted on
the frame 3. The body support means 19 supports a mattress (not
shown) on which a person sleeps. The first body support section
21 supports the upper body of a person on the bed. This first or
upper body support section 21 as shown in FIG. 3 has a support
frame 27 defined by a pair of parallel side support members 29 and
a cross-member 31. The cross-member 31 extends between the side
members 29 and is underneath them. The cross-member 31 is located
about one-third of the length of the side members 29 from their
back ends 33. A rectangular top panel 35 extends across the side
support members 29 and helps join them together. This top panel
35 extends from the front ends 37 of the side support members 29
to a position where its back edge 39 is spaced some distance from
the back ends 33 of the side support members 29 and close to the
cross-member 31. The top panel 35 can, if desired, be replaced by
a set of parallel, closely spaced slats extending between the side
support members 29.
The upper body support section 21 is pivotally connected to the
frame 3 for rotation about a horizontal axis 45 that is parallel
to the front and back end frame members 11 13 as shown in FIG.
4. A pair of pivot members 47 aligned on the pivot axis 45 connects
the upper body support section 21 via the side support members 29
of frame 27 to the side frame members 7 9 respectively of the frame
3. The side support members 29 are located just inside the side
frame members 7 9. The pivot members 47 are located on the frame
27 just to the front of the cross-members 31. The front end of the
upper body support section 21 as shown in FIG. 4 usually rests
via the side support members 29 on the front end frame member 11.
In this position, the upper body support section 21 is in a horizontal
sleeping position. The upper body support section 21 can be rotated
about the pivot members 47 from its sleeping position to a sitting-up
position to provide a sloping back and head rest as will be described.
The second body support section 23 supports the lower body. This
second or lower body support section 23 as shown in FIG. 5 has
a frame 53 defined by a pair of parallel side support members 55.
A rectangular top panel 59 extends across the side support members
55 and joins them together. The top panel 59 extends from the rear
ends 61 of the side support members 55 to a position close to their
front ends 65. The top panel 59 can be replaced with a set of parallel,
closely spaced slats.
The lower body support section 23 slidably rests on the back end
and cross frame members 13 15 of the bed frame 3 as shown in FIG.
4 in a horizontal sleeping position aligned with the upper body
support section 21 when it is in its horizontal sleeping position.
The side support members 55 are located just inside and adjacent
to the side frame members 7 9 of the bed frame 3.
The third body support section 25 is mounted between the upper
and lower body support sections 21 23 and supports the buttocks.
This third or buttock support section 25 as shown in FIG. 6 includes
a frame 71 defined by a pair of side support members 73 and a cross-member
75. Each side support member 73 has a straight, back section 77
a straight, middle section 79 that angles down from the back section
77 and a straight, front section 81 that angles up from the middle
section 79. The cross-member 75 extends across the middle sections
79 underneath them and close to the front sections 81. A fixed
slat 83 extends across the back sections 77 of the side support
members 73 helping to join them together.
The buttock support section 25 is pivotally connected at its back
end to the front end of the lower body support section 23 as shown
in FIG. 4. A pair of pivot members 87 connect the side support members
73 of the buttock support section 25 adjacent their rear ends 91
to the side support members 55 of rear body support section 23 adjacent
their front ends 65.
The buttock support section 25 is also pivotally connected at its
front end to the back end of the upper body support section 21.
A pair of pivot members 95 connect the side support members 73 of
the buttock support section 25 adjacent their front ends 99 to
the side support members 29 of the upper body support section 21
a short distance from their back ends 33. The pivot members 95 are
located adjacent the back edge 39 of the top panel 35 about midway
between the pivot axis 45 and the back ends 33 of the side support
members 29. With the upper body support section 21 in its horizontal
sleeping position, the back sections 77 of the side support members
73 of the buttock support section 25 are also horizontal, and fixed
slat 83 is aligned with top panel 35 of the upper body support section
21 and top panel 59 of the lower body support section 23.
The buttock support section 25 includes means for forming a shallow
depression therein for receiving the buttocks of a person on the
bed when the upper body support section 21 is tilted to a sitting-up
position. These depression-forming means, as shown in FIG. 7 include
the middle and front sections 79 81 of the side support members
73 of the buttock support section 25 which define a shallow v-shaped
depression 105 beneath the plane 107 defining the flat sleeping
surface formed by the top surfaces of slat 83 and top panels 35
59. The center 108 of this depression 105 is located just forwardly
of the back ends 33 of the side support members 29 of the upper
body support section 21.
The depression defining means includes a pair of movable slats
109 111. The movable slats 109 111 are mounted on the frame 71
of the buttock support section 25 just in front of the fixed slat
83. The movable slats 109 111 are parallel, closely spaced and
extend across the tops of the side support members 73. One of the
slats 109 is pivotally connected to the side support members 73
by hinges 113 along one side edge 115. The hinges 113 are connected
to the side support members 73 at the junction of sections 77 79.
The other slat 111 is pivotally connected to the side support members
73 by hinges 117 along one side 119. The hinges 117 are connected
to the side support members 73 adjacent the free end of section
81.
In the horizontal sleeping position of the bed, the rear portions
121 of the side support members 29 of the upper body support section
21 extend rearwardly of the front portion of the buttock support
section 25 to a position to underlie the front portion of the rearmost
movable slat 109 as shown in FIG. 7. At the same time the rear portions
121 also underlie the forward movable slat 111. The rear portions
121 of the side support members 29 maintain the slats 109 111 in
a horizontal position aligned with the fixed slat 83 and the panels
35 59 of the upper and lower body support sections 21 23 respectively.
Means 127 are provided for maintaining the body support sections
21 23 25 fixed relative to each other on the bed frame to maintain
the plane 107 defining the flat, horizontal sleeping surface. These
maintaining means 127 comprise an extendable, rigid, mechanically-operated
locking lever 129 connected between the buttock support section
25 and the upper body support section 21. The lever 129 is pivotally
connected at its front end by pivot means 131 to cross-member 31
extending between the side support members 29 of the upper body
support section 21. The lever 129 is also pivotally connected at
its rear end by pivot means 135 to cross-member 75 extending between
the side support members 73 of the buttock support section 25.
The lever 129 acts as a lock to hold the buttock support section
25 and upper body support section 21 fixed in the horizontal sleeping
position. A mechanical actuator 139 connected to the lever 129 can
be operated to unlock it allowing it to lengthen. This permits the
upper body support section 21 to tilt about the pivots 47 to a back
rest position. When the desired slope is obtained, the actuator
139 is operated to lock the lever 129 in its extended position and
to thus lock the upper body support section 21 in its desired back
rest position. Unlocking of the lever 129 allows the body support
sections to be moved to a horizontal sleeping position when desired.
The locking lever 129 can be of any well known type used in chairs
to adjust the angle of the back rest relative to the seat. Examples
of such locking levers are shown in Canadian Patent Nos. 1001965
and 1001966. While a mechanical locking lever 129 has been described,
the locking lever can also by hydraulically or electrically operated.
When it is desired to move the back support section 21 from the
horizontal sleeping position to a tilted, sitting-up position, as
shown in FIG. 8 the lever 129 is unlocked, and the person on the
bed applies downward body pressure on buttock support section 25.
This causes the upper body support section 21 to rotate about pivots
47 in a counter-clockwise manner as it moves to a back rest position
of any desired angle. As the upper body support section 21 rotates,
the rear portions 121 of its side support members 29 move down and
pass beneath the side support members 73 of the buttock section
25. As the rear portions 121 of the side support members 29 move
down, the slats 109 111 also move down, pivoting about hinges 113
117. As the rear portions 121 pass below the side support members
73 the slats 109 111 are picked up by the side support members
73 and supported by the middle and front sections 79 81 to form
a shallow, buttock receiving depression 143. This depression 143
accommodates any fold formed in the mattress on the bed as the upper
body support section 21 is tilted and also provides a shallow depression
to comfortably accommodate a human body's natural shape.
As the upper body support section 21 tilts, the buttock and lower
body support sections 25 23 are drawn slightly forwardly by their
pivot connection to the upper body support section. Once the desired
tilt position has been reached, the lever 129 is locked to retain
the body support sections in the selected position. The bed can
be returned to its normal horizontal position by unlocking the lever
129 and applying body pressure to the tilted upper body support
section 21 to move it to its horizontal position. As the rear portions
121 of the side support members 29 of the upper body support section
21 rise past the angled portions 79 81 of the buttock support section
25 they pick up slats 109 111 pivoting them about their hinges
113 117 to a horizontal position.
The buttock support section 25 can be constructed in different
ways. For example, the second movable slat 111 could be pivotally
mounted to the front end of the first movable slat 109. Alternatively,
the second movable slat 111 could be hingedly mounted on the rear
portion of the upper body support section instead of on the front
end of the buttock support section.
It will be noted that the buttock receiving depression 143 starts
to form as soon as the upper body support section begins tilting.
As the rear portions 121 of the side support members 29 begin to
move down, the slats 109 111 immediately move down with them, pivoting
about hinges 113 117 forming a deepening depression. The depression
143 is of maximum size once the side support members 29 move beneath
the side support members 73 of the buttock support section 25. These
side support sections 73 prevent further movement of the slats 109
111 and define the maximum depression size.
The frame 3 of the bed can also be constructed in different ways.
The frame can for example be mounted entirely beneath the body support
means with clearance provided for the central downward movement
of the adjacent portions of the upper body and buttock support sections
along with the lever.
Two bed units can be located side by side to provide a double bed.
Each unit operates independently of the other to provide each person
with freedom to control their side of the double bed without interfering
with the other person's side. |