U.S. patent application number 10/564826 was filed with the patent office on 2007-05-17 for air-permeable mattress providing great lying comfort.
Invention is credited to Ariane Obertautsch, Andrea Schwaiger, Meinhard Schwaiger.
Application Number | 20070107133 10/564826 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 34085016 |
Filed Date | 2007-05-17 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070107133 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Schwaiger; Meinhard ; et
al. |
May 17, 2007 |
Air-permeable mattress providing great lying comfort
Abstract
The invention relates to a mattress, preferably used as a
sleeping mattress, comprising a core (1) made of foam material,
air-filled pressure cushions (5), and a top support area (3) and a
bottom support area (4) made of particularly air-permeable
material. Said mattress also comprises a plurality of through holes
(6, 6a) that provide optimal air permeability and thus allow
moisture which is secreted by the body to be conveyed away from the
body and through the mattress. The inventive mattress also provides
particularly great lying comfort while the pressure level thereof
is adapted to the body zones and can be individually adjusted to
the needs of the person lying thereupon even when said needs are
subjected to individual variations and changes. Said mattress has a
low weight and is free from metallic and electronic components. An
integrated system encompassing pressure control valves and a
pneumatic pump allows leakage losses to be compensated while
increasing the pressure resistance. The pressure cushions can be
embodied as hollow cylinders or solid cylinders or in several
pieces consisting of superimposed toroidal segments. In a
particular embodiment, the pressure cushion consists of an
air-impermeable cover (5a) of the mattress core (1).
Inventors: |
Schwaiger; Meinhard; (Linz,
AT) ; Obertautsch; Ariane; (St. Michael Nr. 11,
AT) ; Schwaiger; Andrea; (Linz, AT) |
Correspondence
Address: |
DYKEMA GOSSETT PLLC
FRANKLIN SQUARE, THIRD FLOOR WEST
1300 I STREET, NW
WASHINGTON
DC
20005
US
|
Family ID: |
34085016 |
Appl. No.: |
10/564826 |
Filed: |
July 14, 2004 |
PCT Filed: |
July 14, 2004 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/AT04/00255 |
371 Date: |
June 21, 2006 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
5/713 ;
5/710 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47C 27/10 20130101;
A47C 27/082 20130101; A47C 21/046 20130101; A47C 27/148 20130101;
A47C 27/18 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
005/713 ;
005/710 |
International
Class: |
A47C 27/10 20060101
A47C027/10; A47C 27/18 20060101 A47C027/18 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jul 25, 2003 |
AT |
A 1184/2003 |
Claims
1-29. (canceled)
30. An air-permeable mattress with great lying comfort and low
weight, at last comprising a combination of a foam core and
air-filled pressure cushions, which are either arranged in openings
of the foam core or enclose the foam core, and having through
holes, which are provided in the foam core and/or in the pressure
cushions for removing humidity.
31. A mattress according to claim 30, wherein an upper support
layer made of an especially air-permeable material is provided
which rests on the foam core and/or the pressure cushion and
supports the removal of secreted bodily humidity away from the
body.
32. A mattress according to claim 30, wherein the foam core and/or
the pressure cushions rest on a bottom support layer made of an
air-permeable material.
33. A mattress according to claim 30, wherein the lying comfort is
achieved by means of special pressure cushions which are configured
as hollow cylinders.
34. A mattress according to claim 30, wherein the arrangement of
the pressure cushions is adjusted to the body zones.
35. A mattress according to claim 30, wherein the pressure cushions
are combined into zones and individual pressure resistances for
each zone can be pre-selected.
36. A mattress according to claim 30, wherein the pressure cushion
is configured as a solid cylinder.
37. A mattress according to claim 30, wherein additional openings
are provided in the foam core outside of the pressure cushion which
increase the air permeability.
38. A mattress according to claim 30, wherein the pressure cushions
are composed of several segments which are arranged so as to lie
one above the other, with a pressure compensation occurring by
means of internal connecting openings.
39. A mattress according to claim 30, wherein the pressure cushions
are arranged next to one another and are joined by means of
connecting elements, so that a pressure compensation occurs via
several mutually connected pressure cushions.
40. A mattress according to claim 30, wherein adjacent pressure
cushions are mutually joined in a cross-wise manner by means of
connecting elements, so that pressure compensation occurs via
several pressure cushions combined into one zone.
41. A mattress according to claim 30, wherein the foam core
consists of one layer.
42. A mattress according to claim 30, wherein the foam core is
composed of at least two layers with different degrees of
hardness.
43. A mattress according to claim 30, wherein several pressure
cushions are combined into a zone and the pressure in said zone is
adjustable in a continuous manner by means of a controllable
valve.
44. A mattress according to claim 30, wherein the lying surface of
said mattress is subdivided into several zones, preferably three or
five zones, with the pressure cushions of each zone being mutually
connected by means of connecting elements and are each associated
with a control valve.
45. A mattress according to claims 30, wherein a system of pressure
cushions is connected with an air pump composed of elastic elements
and valves, which pump is arranged beneath the mattress, is
integrated in the bottom support layer or arranged in the foam
core, so that an air conveying process is enabled as a result of a
shifting of weight of the person lying on the mattress.
46. A mattress according to claim 45, wherein the air pump
cooperates with a pressure control device for compensating a
pressure loss as a result of a leakage loss.
47. A mattress according to claim 45, wherein the air pump
cooperates with a pressure control device for building up a
purposeful increase in pressure in the pressure cushion.
48. A mattress according to claim 45, wherein the foam core with
the walls of the through holes are covered entirely by an air-tight
layer.
49. A mattress according to claim 48, wherein a special valve is
provided which is configured as a controllable non-return valve in
order to compensate leakage losses when, after a relief of the
mattress, the foam material expands the mattress body back to its
original form and a negative pressure arises in the interior.
50. A mattress according to claim 48, wherein the through holes
with foam cylinders are filled with especially air-permeable foam
material.
51. A mattress according to claim 48, wherein the pressure cushions
are arranged in openings in the foam core transversally to the
longitudinal axis and parallel to the lying surface.
52. A mattress according to claim 51, wherein at least one pressure
cushion is arranged in a zone with high pressure hardness as
lordosis support.
53. A mattress according to claim 51, wherein the lying surface of
said mattress is subdivided into seven zones for achieving the
highest amount of comfort.
54. A mattress according to claim 51, wherein openings are provided
which are arranged parallel to the lying surface and penetrate the
width of the mattress.
55. A mattress according to claim 54, wherein fresh air can be
supplied for overall cooling and/or removal of humidity, or warm
air for overall heating of the mattress through the openings which
are arranged parallel to the lying surface and penetrate the width
of the mattress.
56. A mattress according to claim 54, wherein a blower is provided
for conveying the air.
57. A mattress according to claim 1, wherein sound-insulating
material is provided in the inflow and outflow region of the
pressure cushion for reducing the flow noises during a pressure
compensation as a result of a change in the position of the person
lying on the mattress.
58. A mattress according to claim 1, wherein the system
overpressure in the pressure cushion lies between 0.1 bar and 0.6
bar.
59. A mattress according to claim 58, wherein said system
overpressure is between 0.15 and 0.30 bar.
Description
[0001] The invention relates to an air-permeable mattress with
great lying comfort and low weight, comprising at least one
air-filled pressure cushion, preferably used as a sleeping
mattress, whose basic structure allows an especially favorable air
circulation and thus a removal of humidity secreted by the person
lying on the same and offers an especially great lying comfort,
whose pressure hardness is adjusted to the body zones and can be
adjusted individually to the requirements of the person lying on
the same, even when the needs are subjected to individual
fluctuations or changes such as in the case of being bedridden for
a prolonged period after illness or accident, and which further has
a low weight and is completely free from metallic components.
[0002] Numerous efforts have been made to increase the comfort of
sleeping mattresses and to meet the new requirements.
[0003] Conventional "pocket-sprung mattresses" for example offer
the highest possible degree of air permeability and thus the
ability to convey humidity secreted by the human body during the
sleep phase away from the body through the mattress, so that even
at higher transpiration as a result of higher ambient temperatures
the mattress surface in contact with the human body seems to be
dry. The fact is regarded as a serious disadvantage for
"pocket-sprung mattresses" that the spring elements are principally
made up of metal wire. Current requirements demand a metal-free
configuration. A further disadvantage is that the spring
characteristic and thus the spring properties of the mattress can
no longer be changed retroactively, which is why sleeping
mattresses which are thus configured cannot be adjusted to the
individual requirements of the sleeping person. Mattresses with
different spring characteristics (mattress hardness) are available
for the different weights of the persons.
[0004] New requirements are met by industry with new embodiments.
They are capable however of always covering only individual
requirements, but are unable to fulfill all relevant needs.
[0005] One measure for increasing the lying comfort and for
considering different hardness zones was tried by providing a
system of helical springs of glass fiber material which were
inserted into tubular recesses, were aligned transversally to the
body axis, and were arranged approximately in the center of the
mattress thickness and assumed approximately the entire width of
the mattress. The basic material of the mattress consists of foamed
material and the diameter of the tubular recesses is approx. 1/3 to
1/2 of the thickness of the mattress. In this embodiment which is
known as "aurora system", there is a serious disadvantage in the
respect that as a result of the closed foam core structure which
does not allow sufficient air circulation in the direction of
thickness of the mattress, the removal of humidity secreted by the
lying person is insufficient. Moreover, the cushioning comfort
cannot be changed retroactively in this embodiment.
[0006] Further embodiments replace metallic springs by a system of
air chambers. Several air chambers are provided in such systems
which are associated with the different mattress regions and thus
allow achieving different hardness zones. These include, among
others, the three-zone air bed of EP 0 992 206 A1 and an air-bed
frame design of EP 1 093 739 A1 for a mattress system designated as
"air bed" which is additionally equipped with electric and
electronic components for air pressure monitoring and display and
for air pressure generation by means of electric air pump. Further
embodiments with six air chambers or with 10 air chambers such as
the mattress system designated as "air touch" round off these
mattress systems. The fundamental structure of the mattresses is
principally disadvantageous in all these systems, which is
characterized in that these air chambers assume in total virtually
the entire lying area and thus an air circulation and a removal of
secreted bodily humidity of the lying person is not possible
through the mattress. A further disadvantage relates to the use of
metallic components, electronics, electrically operated air pumps
and display devices.
[0007] A further known embodiment of a mattress with air chambers
consists of a single air chamber whose filling is achieved with a
special manually actuated air pump integrated in the bordering of
the mattress and is actuated under load as a result of a
displacement of the body weight. The air pressure built up in the
air chamber can be changed by means of a continuously adjustable
valve. This embodiment makes do without any electronic components
and without any metallic components, but comes with the known
disadvantage of prevented air circulation and thus a prevented
removal of secreted body humidity.
[0008] Further embodiments relate to foam core mattresses where it
is tried, through a combination of different patterns and variants
in the foamed materials with different degrees of hardness, to
achieve different pressure resistances in the individual lying
regions. Considering all possible imagination in the pattern
configuration and choice of foamed materials, a sufficient air
circulation and removal of secreted body humidity is only possible
to an only very limited extent in closed foam core mattresses, and
the lying comfort and the cushioning behavior cannot be
changed.
[0009] U.S. Pat. No. 6,487,739 B1 shows a multi-layer mattress
which comprises an air cushion layer with a plurality of so-called
"air cells" according to FIG. 1 for example. The air circulation of
this mattress is produced with a special air pump and occurs via
the free intermediate spaces between the supporting air chambers.
However, an airing from the upper side to the lower side of the
mattress is missing because the same would be interrupted by layers
situated below in the embodiment according to U.S. Pat. No.
6,487,739 B1. Moreover, the mattress does not comprise a foam
core.
[0010] EP 0 453 363 A1 discloses a mattress with spring elements
and air chamber elements which each extend over one half in the
central region of a double-bed mattress. The two lying sides can be
brought to a different filling pressure and the lying comfort can
be adjusted individually. The mattress does not comprise a foam
core however.
[0011] It is known from CH 687 806 A5 to provide a plurality of
different individual chambers in a mattress, which chambers
comprise at least one compensation chamber on the floor side. The
carrier cells can be filled with a gaseous medium and communicate
with the compensation chamber via through holes (cf. FIG. 3 of CH
687.806 A5). The mattress neither comprises a foam core nor the
required airing which is directed from the upper side to the lower
side of the mattress. As a result, there is no possibility
whatsoever to remove humidity secreted by the body in a direction
normal to the mattress surface. p A mattress is finally known from
U.S. Pat. No. 5,907,878 A which consists of a plurality of air
spring elements which are joined by means of an air-tight carrier
layer. The air-tight carrier layers prevent air permeability
transversally through the mattress. Moreover, there is no foam core
which should exert a carrying and supporting function.
[0012] It is the object of the present invention to provide a
mattress which offers the highest amount of lying comfort, allows a
pressure hardness adjusted to the body zones and can be adjusted
individually to the requirements of the person lying on the same,
even when the needs are subjected to individual fluctuations or
changes such as in the case of being bedridden for a prolonged
period after illness or accident, allows an especially high amount
of air circulation and thus the possibility to remove secreted
bodily humidity of the lying person through the thickness of the
mattress, and which further has a low weight and is completely free
from metallic and electronic components.
[0013] This object is achieved in accordance with the invention in
such a way that the mattress consists of a combination of a foam
core and air-filled pressure cushion(s), which are either arranged
in openings of the foam core or enclose the same, and that for
removing humidity through holes are provided in the foam core
and/or in the pressure cushions.
[0014] The mattress in accordance with the invention thus consists
of a foam core which is provided with a plurality of bore holes
which penetrate the thickness of the mattress, with said bore holes
being filled with air chambers or pressure cushions which can again
be configured as hollow bodies and can be joined with each other by
means of transversal connections in such a way that air can be
exchanged in an unhindered manner in this system of air chambers.
These air chambers are joined with each other in zones (preferably
three to seven zones), so that different pressures adjusted to the
body zones can be built up. A special air valve is provided for
each of the zones, with the help of which the pressure in the air
chambers can be limited individually. A special apparatus is
integrated which is configured as a pneumatic pump, with the help
of which leakage losses by escaping air can be compensated and an
increase in the pressure in the system can be made. A pressure
relief valve prevents any bursting of the air chambers in the case
of an inadvertent overloading of the system.
[0015] In an especially preferable embodiment, the entire surface
of the basic body of the foamed material including the surface of
the through holes is covered with a layer of air-impermeable
material. An especially large air chamber is thus formed which is
filled with foam material. The air chamber and the foam material
are compressed under load, the volume in the air chamber is reduced
and a higher pressure level is built up. After relaxing, the foam
material assumes its original shape again. The volume in the air
chamber is enlarged again and the increased pressure degrades. Any
leaked air can automatically be refilled again (sucked in) by means
of a special valve, which is configured as a non-return valve, when
the air chamber assumes the maximum volume again and a negative
pressure is produced in the interior as a result of a preceding air
loss and ambient air with a higher pressure level flows through the
valve into the interior until an approximate pressure balance is
achieved.
[0016] The upper side of the mattress is provided with a support
layer made of a material which can transport humidity especially
well and is made of an antibacterial material. The bottom side of
the mattress consists of a layer which is especially air-permeable.
Side elements made of a foam material with a higher pressure
hardness are provided on the side, so that persons are able to
support themselves better on the side if necessary.
[0017] As a result of the continuous openings in the mattress body,
an unhindered air circulation and a transport of secreted body
humidity through the mattress are possible, even in the case of
higher transpiration as a result of increased ambient
temperatures.
[0018] The pressure behavior and the individual pressure
distribution are relevant for the lying comfort, in addition to the
capability of unhindered air circulation in the mattress.
[0019] A further advantage is obtained from the reduction of the
share of material due to the continuous transverse holes, leading
to a reduction in weight.
[0020] The excess system pressure in the pressure cushions 5 can be
between 0.1 bar and 0.6 bar, preferably between 0.15 bar and 0.30
bar.
[0021] The invention is explained in closer detail by reference to
the embodiments shown in the drawings.
[0022] FIG. 1 shows an embodiment in accordance with the invention
of a mattress with a foam core 1, side parts 2a, 2b and tubular air
chambers 5 and through holes 6, with the upper support layer 3
having been removed for the purpose of clearer illustration;
[0023] FIG. 2 shows a sectional view of the mattress according to
the embodiment of FIG. 1 along the line of intersection I-I;
[0024] FIG. 3 shows an oblique view in an exploded
representation.
[0025] FIG. 4 shows an embodiment of a pressure cushion or an air
chamber 5, configured as a tubular hollow body in an oblique
view.
[0026] FIG. 5 shows an embodiment of a pressure cushion or an air
chamber 5, configured as a solid cylinder in an oblique view. In
this embodiment, air circulation is only possible through
additional openings outside of the pressure cushion or air chamber
5.
[0027] FIG. 6 shows a further embodiment of a pressure cushion or
an air chamber 5 with an opening 6 for the air circulation, made up
of several superimposed, mutually joined segments of preferably
toroidal hollow bodies comprising inner connecting openings for
pressure compensation, in a projection;
[0028] FIG. 6a shows the same embodiment in a sectional view along
the line of intersection I-I according to FIG. 6;
[0029] FIG. 6b shows a detail X of the pressure body according to
FIG. 6a;
[0030] FIG. 7 shows the pressure cushions or air chambers 5
according to FIG. 4 with connecting elements in a row, preferably
configured as tubular connections 7 between the individual pressure
cushions or air chambers 5 which are combined to one zone each and
have a uniform pressure level, in an oblique view;
[0031] FIG. 8 shows the pressure cushions or air chambers 5
according to FIG. 4 with connecting elements 7, 8 which are
arranged in a cross-wise manner and are preferably configured as
tubular connections between the individual pressure cushions or air
chambers which are combined into a zone each and have a uniform
pressure level, in an oblique view;
[0032] FIG. 9 shows the pressure cushions or air chambers 5
according to FIG. 5 with connecting elements in a row, preferably
configured as tubular connections 7 between the individual pressure
cushions or air chambers which are combined into a zone each and
have a uniform pressure level, in an oblique view;
[0033] FIG. 10 shows a top view of an embodiment of a mattress core
1 with through holes for receiving the pressure cushion or air
chambers 5 and additional through holes 6 for a sufficient air
circulation;
[0034] FIG. 11 shows a top view of a preferred embodiment of a
mattress core 1, made up of two layers of foam material 1', 1''
with different degrees of hardness, with continuous openings for
receiving pressure cushions or air chambers 5;
[0035] FIG. 11a shows a sectional view of the mattress core along
the line of intersection II-II according to FIG. 11;
[0036] FIG. 12 shows an oblique view of an embodiment of a mattress
in accordance with the invention, configured to offer optimal lying
comfort. This embodiment is provided with additional devices which
allow an individual regulation of the lying comfort. Pressure
regulating devices are provided for this purpose which allow
individual pressure levels in the pressure cushions or pressure
chambers combined into a zone each. At least one zone is provided,
but preferably three zones, offering medium pressure resistance for
the body zones of head, neck and shoulders, high pressure
resistance for the trunk, and medium pressure resistance for lower
leg and foot, or five zones, offering medium pressure resistance
for the body zones of head and neck, lower pressure resistance for
the shoulders, high pressure resistance for the trunk, low pressure
resistance for the lower leg and medium pressure resistance for the
foot (see FIG. 12a).
[0037] An especially preferred embodiment of a mattress in
accordance with the invention is shown by FIG. 13 in a top view and
FIG. 13a in a sectional view along the line of intersection IV-IV
according to FIG. 13. In this embodiment, the entire mattress
surface including the surface of the continuous through holes is
covered with an air-impermeable layer 10. A favorable influence of
the cushioning behavior is given by additional cylindrical insert
bodies 11 which consists of especially large-pore foam material and
substantially fill the through holes 6 and is shown in FIG. 13b. A
sectional view along the line of intersection V-V of this
embodiment is shown in FIG. 13c.
[0038] FIG. 14 shows a further variant of a mattress in accordance
with the invention in a exploded view. In this embodiment, which is
configured for the highest possible lying comfort, the pressure
cushions or air chambers 5 consist of solid cylinders which are
arranged transversally to the longitudinal axis of the mattress in
openings 1d in the mattress core and lie parallel with respect to
each other.
[0039] FIG. 15 shows the preferred embodiment of a double mattress
in an oblique view.
[0040] The mattress according to the embodiment according to FIGS.
1 to 3 and FIGS. 10 to 13 has a length L, a width B and a total
height H. The mattress according to FIG. 15 (double mattress) has a
total width of 2.times.B. The mattresses are principally made up of
a core 1 made of foam material, the side parts 2a, 2b made of foam
material with a higher pressure hardness, an upper support layer 3
made of an especially air-permeable and hydrophobic material,
preferably with antibacterial properties, and a bottom support
layer 4 made of air-permeable material. A high air circulation is
enabled by means of a plurality of openings 6 which penetrate the
height of the core 1 of the mattress, which circulation ensures a
transport of secreted bodily humidity through the mattress. The
preferred direction of transport 6a of bodily humidity is directed
downwardly away from the body, through the mattress. For the
purpose of increasing the lying comfort, the pressure resistance
which the mattress exerts on the person lying on the same is
influenced by suitable measures in addition to air circulation. The
entire mattress is provided with a cover (not shown here in closer
detail), preferably made from a preferably antibacterial textile
material which provides the mattress, among other things, with the
required cohesion.
[0041] In a first embodiment according to FIG. 1 to FIG. 3, tubular
pressure cushions/air chambers 5 are provided for achieving a high
lying comfort, which cushions/chambers are incorporated in through
holes 1d in the mattress core 1 and comprise a free through hole 6
to ensure sufficient air circulation and removal of secreted bodily
humidity of the person lying on the mattress. The height of the
pressure cushion/air chamber corresponds to the height of the
mattress core, preferably in a range of 100 mm to 250 mm. The
outside diameter of the pressure cushions/air chambers corresponds
to the diameter of the openings 1d, preferably in a range of 30 mm
to 100 mm. Another relevant aspect for achieving a high lying
comfort is further the possibility to exert different pressure
resistances against the individual regions of the body. This is
achieved in such a way that the individual pressure cushions/air
chambers 5 are combined into zones and each zone can be associated
with an individual pressure hardness. Preferably, in the embodiment
with three zones, the zone A which corresponds to the head, neck
and shoulder region is associated with a lower pressure hardness,
the zone B which corresponds to the heavy trunk region is
associated with a higher pressure hardness, and the zone C which
corresponds to the lower leg and foot region is associated with a
lower pressure hardness. In the variant with five zones and three
pressure levels, zone A1 which corresponds to the head and neck
region is associated with a medium pressure hardness, zone C1 which
corresponds to the shoulder region is associated with a low
pressure hardness, zone B which corresponds to the trunk region is
associated with a high pressure hardness, the zone C2 which
corresponds to the lower leg region is associated with a low
pressure hardness, and zone A2 which corresponds to the foot region
is associated with a medium pressure hardness. Different pressure
hardness/pressure resistance can be achieved in different ways. In
the case of approximately equal pressure conditions in the pressure
cushions/air chambers 5, different distances of the pressure
chambers/ air cushions from one another cause a different pressure
resistance of the person lying on the same. A comparable result can
also be achieved when the pressure cushions/air chambers 5 are
associated with different pressures in a zone by zone manner. A
further possibility consists in the combination of the first two
variants.
[0042] An air circulation is enabled by a tubular structured
pressure cushion 5 according to FIG. 4 and FIGS. 6 to 6b. In the
embodiment according to FIG. 4, the pressure cushion 5 is made of
air-impermeable film material and consists of an outer cylinder and
an inner cylinder 6 and an upper and bottom sealing element. A
"tubular" pressure cushion is thus formed, once air is filled into
the chamber with a pressure level above atmospheric air pressure.
Air circulation 6a is enabled without any obstructions by the inner
opening 6. The height of the pressure cushion corresponds to the
height of the mattress core 1 and the outside diameter corresponds
to the diameter of the openings 1d in the mattress core. In the
embodiment according to FIG. 6 through FIG. 6b, the pressure
cushion is made of several, preferably 2 to 6 individual chambers
5a which are arranged above one another and are joined to each
other in such a way that as a result a pressure-tight pressure
cushion is formed, comprising inwardly situated openings 5b
allowing an air transport 5c from an individual chamber to the
other and thus a pressure compensation in the pressure cushion 5.
The outside diameter D corresponds to the diameter of the opening
1d in the mattress core 1. The inner opening 6 is provided for the
air circulation.
[0043] In a further embodiment of a pressure cushion according to
FIG. 5, additional openings 6 according to FIG. 10 are required for
the air circulation 6a in the mattress core. The pressure cushions
5 are configured as solid cylinders in this embodiment. The
diameter and the height correspond to the embodiments according to
FIG. 4 and FIG. 6.
[0044] Several pressure cushions 5 are principally combined into a
zone (e.g. A), with the lying surface of the mattress being divided
in total into one single zone or several zones according to FIG. 3,
preferably into three to five zones. The pressure cushions/air
chambers have a uniform pressure level within one zone. This is
achieved in such a way that the individual pressure cushions/air
chambers 5 according to FIGS. 7, 8 or 9 are joined to each other in
a linear or cross-wise manner by means of special connecting
elements in such a way that a transport of air from one pressure
cushion/air chamber 5 to the next is possible in an unhindered
manner and thus a pressure compensation is achieved within the
pressure cushions/air chambers 5 combined into a zone A, B, C.
These connecting elements 7, 8 are preferably arranged on the lower
side of the mattress, i.e. the side averted from the lying surface
3.
[0045] The foam core 1 of the mattress is configured in an
especially preferred embodiment in a manner consisting of several
parts, preferably two parts. In accordance with the embodiment
according to FIG. 11 and FIG. 11a, the mattress core consists of
two layers of foam material 1', 1'' of different hardness, with the
bottom layer 1'' preferably consisting of a foam material of higher
hardness. The cushioning properties and the lying comfort can thus
be further influenced in a positive manner.
[0046] A further especially preferred embodiment of a combined
foam-material and pressure-cushion mattress is composed in its
entirety of a single pressure cushion or air chamber 5, or of a
pressure cushion or air chamber 5 for each zone. In this embodiment
according to FIG. 13 and FIG. 13a, the mattress structure consists
of the mattress core 1 made of foam material which is provided with
a plurality of openings 6 for the air circulation 6a and an
air-tight cover 10 made of film material for example, with the
entire surface being covered in an air-tight manner with this
cover, which also includes the walls of the opening 6. The mattress
core must fulfill two tasks, on the one hand to support the overall
pressure resistance of the mattress and on the other hand to
compensate the deformation of the mattress again after a pressure
load and to bring the air-tight cover 10 back to its original shape
again at the same time and to increase the volume in this process.
Under the pressure load the volume of the air-tight cover forming a
pressure cushion or air chamber 5 is reduced and the internal
pressure is increased. In order to prevent that the inner wall of
the through holes 6 will bulge under the pressure load and that an
undefined low pressure state would occur, especially air-permeable
foam cylinders 11 are provided for a modified embodiment, which
cylinders are pushed into the through holes and fill a large part
of the volume of the through hole 6. Leakage losses are compensated
after the expansion of the mattress by means of a non-return valve.
A subdivision of the lying surface into individual zones or a zone
by zone adjustment of the pressure resistance is provided by means
of individual distances and magnitude of the through holes.
[0047] It is provided for increasing the lying comfort to divide
the lying surface into several zones, preferably three zones, which
can be associated to the body zones and set different pressure
resistances. Special metal-free pressure control valves are
provided for this purpose which can be regulated in a continuous
manner and are arranged on the side or the foot end of the
mattress. A system pressure is preset with this pressure control
valve which under load corresponds to the maximum pressure
resistance. A mattress with a division into three zones A, B, C is
shown in FIG. 12. A pressure control valve each is associated to
the three zones. FIG. 12a shows an embodiment with five zones A1,
C1, B, C2, A2 and three pressure control devices. Leakage losses
are compensated by means of an integrated air pump 12. This air
pump is preferably integrated in the base of the mattress and,
after a shift of weight of the person lying on the mattress, pumps
under load a compressed air volume from the pump body into the
pressure cushions or air chambers 5 up to the preset maximum
pressure via air lines 15 through pressure control valve 14a, 14b,
14c in the controller unit 13. A pressure relief valve prevents any
rupturing of the pressure cushions/air chambers as a result of
overload for example.
[0048] FIG. 14 shows a further embodiment of a mattress with an
especially high claim to lying comfort, by simultaneously offering
favorable aeration. Several pressure cushions/air chambers 5 are
arranged transversally to the longitudinal axis of the mattress and
parallel to the lying surface in openings 1d of the mattress core
1. They are configured as solid cylinders. There is a defined
intermediate space between adjacent pressure cushions/air chambers
5, which intermediate space allows an air circulation through the
thickness of the mattress. This air circulation is achieved on the
one hand by the air-permeable foam material of the mattress core
and can be supported by additional openings 6 which penetrate the
mattress through its thickness. The natural air circulation and the
transport of humidity are supported by additional openings 6a which
are arranged parallel to the lying surface and which penetrate the
width of the mattress. It is provided for alternatively that warm
air is transported for the purpose of heating the mattress or cold
air for the purpose of cooling the mattress during the hot seasons
by means of a blower device (not shown) through openings 6a
situated transversally to the same. The transversal pressure
cushions/air chambers 5 can be subjected to different pressures and
can be subdivided into several zones. Three, six or seven zones can
be appropriately distinguished depending on the subdivision. It has
proven to be especially appropriate to provide a middle zone D with
a higher pressure resistance as lordosis support, two especially
soft zones C1 and C2 for the shoulder and knee region, two zones of
medium hardness B1 and B2 for the trunk and pelvic region, and two
further zones A1 and A2 for the head and foot region. The
individual pressures can be adjusted individually by the lying
person by means of simple, preferably metal-free control valves.
The compensation of leakage losses and pressure increases are
possible by means of an air accumulator which is filled
automatically in case of any major shifting of weight.
[0049] The application thus substantially comprises the following
main variants and sub-variants: [0050] A mattress with a plurality
of tubular air cushions 5 in a foam core mattress 1, with through
holes 6 being formed in the tubular air cushions 5 (cf. FIG. 3 for
example). There is a sub-variant in connection with this in which
the tubular air cushions are composed of toroidal individual rings
(cf. FIG. 6a for example). [0051] A mattress with a plurality of
cylindrical air cushions 5 which are arranged in openings of the
foam core 1, with the through holes 6 in the foam core 1 being
arranged adjacent to the air cushions 6 (cf. embodiment of FIG. 10
for example). [0052] A mattress in which the entire foam core 1 or
partial regions thereof are arranged in the air cushion 5 (in the
air-tight cover 10) and the through holes 6 are guided through the
air cushion 5 and the foam core 1 arranged therein (cf. FIG. 13a
for example). [0053] A mattress with a plurality of cylindrical air
cushions 5 in a foam core 1 which are arranged transversally to the
longitudinal axis and parallel to the lying surface, with openings
6' being provided which are arranged parallel to the lying surface
and penetrate the width of the mattress.
[0054] Double mattresses according to FIG. 15 are principally
composed of individual mattresses 1 and glued together by means of
special connecting elements 15a, 15b, such that a glued connection
over a large surface with shearing strain is enabled and only a
small remaining surface remains as a blunt glued point 15c which
only needs to fulfill subordinate strength requirements. The main
stress forces during the transport or during a usual load are
absorbed by the connecting elements under shearing strain. The same
embodiments are provided for double mattresses as for single
mattresses. Individual lying comfort is guaranteed by means of
pressure control valves provided for each side of the mattress.
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