U.S. patent application number 12/934856 was filed with the patent office on 2011-05-12 for assembly for adapting a support surface in a wave shape.
Invention is credited to Johannes Cornelis M. Neggers.
Application Number | 20110107520 12/934856 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 41114483 |
Filed Date | 2011-05-12 |
United States Patent
Application |
20110107520 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Neggers; Johannes Cornelis
M. |
May 12, 2011 |
Assembly for Adapting a Support Surface in a Wave Shape
Abstract
Assembly, comprising an element (2) defining a lying or support
surface, such as a foam layer forming a core of a mattress, and a
device (3) associated with the element (2) for adapting the form of
the lying or support surface in waves, wherein the device (2)
comprises at least one selectively expandable and/or compressible
body. The body (3) is further embedded in or arranged under a part
of the element (2) which is lower-lying during use and has above it
at least a greater part of the thickness of the element (2). The
body (3) acts on a wave part of the element (2) so as to
selectively bring about waves in the lying or support surface,
which wave part is connected via a hinged configuration to other
parts of the element (2).
Inventors: |
Neggers; Johannes Cornelis M.;
(Breda, NL) |
Family ID: |
41114483 |
Appl. No.: |
12/934856 |
Filed: |
December 4, 2008 |
PCT Filed: |
December 4, 2008 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/NL2008/000267 |
371 Date: |
December 16, 2010 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
5/706 ;
5/722 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47C 20/048
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
5/706 ;
5/722 |
International
Class: |
A47C 27/08 20060101
A47C027/08; A47C 20/04 20060101 A47C020/04 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Mar 28, 2008 |
NL |
1035218 |
Claims
1. Assembly, comprising: an element defining a lying or support
surface, such as a foam layer forming a core of a mattress, and a
device associated with the element for adapting the form of the
lying or support surface in waves, wherein: the device comprises at
least one selectively expandable and/or compressible body, the body
is embedded in or arranged under a part of the element which is
lower-lying during use and has above it at least a greater part of
the thickness of the element, the body acts on a wave part of the
element so as to selectively bring about waves in the lying or
support surface, which wave part is connected via a pivotable
configuration to other parts of the element.
2. Assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein a body is of
substantially wedge-shaped cross-section in a position of use.
3. Assembly as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein in the expanded
state of the body the wave part of the element forms in
cross-section an angle of between 5 and 45 degrees with the other
parts of the element.
4. Assembly as claimed in claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the body is
inflatable.
5. Assembly as claimed in at least one of the foregoing claims,
wherein the body comprises at least two individual part-bodies
along an edge of the element.
6. Assembly as claimed in claim 5, wherein the part-bodies are
further independently expandable and compressible in selective
manner.
7. Assembly as claimed in at least one of the foregoing claims,
further comprising a pump which is or can be connected to the body
and is controllable with a control, wherein the control comprises
an operating means to be actuated by a user.
8. Assembly as claimed in claim 7, wherein the operating means can
be hand-held and is in wireless contact with the pump during
use.
9. Assembly as claimed in claim 7 or 8, wherein the pump is
connected substantially fixedly to the body.
10. Assembly as claimed in at least claim 4, wherein a selectively
controllable outlet valve is connected to the body.
11. Assembly as claimed in at least one of the foregoing claims,
further comprising at least one second body along an additional
edge of the element.
12. Assembly as claimed in at least one of the foregoing claims,
wherein a sleeve or ticking layer is arranged round the assembly,
at least parts of which extending along side surfaces running
downward from the lying or support surface are elastic.
13. Assembly as claimed in at least one of the foregoing claims,
wherein the body comprises folding means for bringing the body into
a compact form in a compressed state thereof.
14. Assembly as claimed in claim 13, wherein the folding means
comprise tensioning cables.
15. Assembly as claimed in claim 14, wherein the tensioning cables
are elastic.
16. Assembly as claimed in at least one of the foregoing claims,
wherein the pivotable configuration of the element comprises at
least one incision extending upward from the device to a position
below the lying or support surface, and the element is adaptable
locally in the device to the form defined by the device.
17. Assembly as claimed in at least one of the foregoing claims,
wherein the pivotable configuration of the element comprises at
least one incision extending downward from the lying or support
surface, and the element is adaptable locally in the device to the
form defined by the device.
Description
[0001] The present invention relates to an assembly of an element
defining a lying or support surface, such as a foam layer forming a
core of a mattress, and a device associated with the element for
adapting the form of the lying or support surface in waves, wherein
the device comprises at least one selectively expandable and/or
compressible body.
[0002] In known mattresses a lying surface is defined on a
mattress. It is usually the intention that the support surface is
substantially level or two-dimensional. By way of exception a
pillow is provided only for the head of a user, although no
modification at all is hereby made to the form of the mattress.
[0003] A substantially completely flat support surface, as defined
by a mattress, is however in many cases undesirable or can have
adverse or even harmful effects. For instance in situations in
which the user has a condition such as kyphosis, stenosis, hernia
etc., a flat lying or support surface can exacerbate symptoms or in
any case result in irritation, bedsores as a result of prolonged
pressure load on limited numbers of points on a body of a user, and
so on.
[0004] It is known that determined mattresses can be manufactured
from selected materials, whereby the mattresses are given the
ability to adapt to the contour form of a user. This is therefore a
reactive adjustment, which has however not yet provided a
satisfactory solution for the users with one of the stated
conditions.
[0005] An assembly of the above defined type with a device for
adapting the lying or support surface, precisely for the purpose of
providing a more adequate solution herefor, is for instance known
from WO 88.01158. This known assembly comprises inflatable plastic
bags which are positioned on a mattress, with a thin, pliable
covering or lining layer thereover.
[0006] This known configuration has a number of drawbacks.
[0007] In a situation with empty (non-inflated) plastic bags--which
can be compared to elongate balloons for inflating--the plastic of
these bags lies separately on a part of the lying or support
surface defined on the mattress. The moisture-regulating action of
the core material of a mattress, which material is usually intended
specifically for this purpose, is impeded to just as great an
extent as the surface of the mattress core is covered by the empty
plastic bags. The edges of the empty bags can therefore be easily
discerned and felt in disruptive and irritating manner through the
thin, pliable cover layer, and this has a significant adverse
effect on the comfort.
[0008] It is also the case that, in an inflated state of the bags,
these bags are, or at least must be made, rigid and hard in order
to provide a desired measure of support. Due to the bags being
insufficiently inflated a user will otherwise simply subside onto
the lying or support surface defined by the conventional mattress
below the bags. The hardness of the inflatable bags is not damped
or made less noticeable by the thin, pliable cover layer. It will
thus be apparent that, when a person sits or lies thereon, the
hardness of these inflatable bags is high and the comfort low
during use thereof. In addition, when a user lies on a thus known
mattress and wishes to get off the bed, he or she has to clamber
over a considerable obstacle formed by the hard inflated bags in
order to get out of bed. These hard inflated bags do not yield,
precisely because they are highly inflated in order to provide some
measure of support, although at the same time an obstruction is
thus created to getting off the mattress in an acceptable
manner.
[0009] It is noted that an assembly is known from EP-A-1.541.109 in
which inflatable elements are placed beneath a thin mat which can
perhaps be designated as a mattress. However, in order to enable
setting of a wave shape with the inflatable bags under the mat and
to ensure that this wave shape is imparted to the lying or support
surface on the top of the mat, it will necessarily be given a very
thin form. As a result the comfort of this assembly with the device
in expanded or deflated state will always leave something to be
desired.
[0010] The present invention has for its object to enable
realization of a pro-active adaptation of a support surface, in
particular in combination with a mattress, which is usually
flat.
[0011] The objects of the present invention are achieved by means
of an assembly as defined in the main claim of the appended set of
claims. The hinge configuration ensures that the mattress core in
particular and the mattress in general adjusts itself to the wave
shape defined with the device or the body, so that a greater
thickness of the mattress core of the mattress is provided in order
to be able to continue to provide a desirable measure of comfort,
and moreover also a sufficient moisture regulation, despite the
presence of the added device, in precisely which respects the two
above cited disclosures show shortcomings.
[0012] This configuration can moreover provide a solution to
snoring by users. If they lie with their back against a folded-up
edge of the mattress when falling asleep, there is a limited chance
of them coming to lie on their back, a position which is known to
be conducive to snoring.
[0013] The device can be expanded and compressed cyclically or at
intervals. The recumbent position of a person on a thus designed
mattress with a device according to the invention is thus regularly
varied in forced manner, which can provide a very favourable
solution to bedsores. When devices are arranged along mutually
opposite edges of the element, a gentler or quicker reciprocal
rocking movement can even be realized in order to counter even
further the danger of bedsores.
[0014] This does not detract from the fact that users in whom
symptoms have not already manifested themselves can also benefit
from an assembly according to the invention, for instance if it is
made available to them in the form of a mattress. Even in a
preventive way the invention can already have a very favourable
effect.
[0015] According to the invention a considerable thickness of the
core layer of the mattress lies over or on the device with the
expandable body which may take the form of an inflatable device. As
a result of the thus achieved levelling action of this core layer
the operation of the assembly is not lost due to a (too) low
pressure in the inflatable device, and the intended wave shape can
also be formed at a pressure lower than a maximum pressure, this in
contrast to the known configurations. In addition, users can also
get off the mattress more easily since more yield occurs above the
device, which may be inflated to a greater or lesser extent, when
the user exerts a pressure thereon locally, for instance with
his/her backside or upper legs.
[0016] By applying in a preferred embodiment a body of
substantially wedge-shaped cross-section in a position of use it is
possible to realize an adaptation of a support surface with a
suitable choice of the wedge shape when the device is placed on or
under the support surface. It is thus possible to place the
wedge-shaped body under a mattress, or also on a mattress, but then
preferably with a suitable means for preventing displacement
relative to the mattress, such as a velcro fastening, wherein such
a fixation could also be applied in the case of positioning in or
under the mattress. Alternatively, the wedge-shaped body can also
be arranged between a supporting surface and the mattress, or even
be incorporated in the mattress.
[0017] Confidential tests have shown that it is not only people
with disorders who can benefit from the devices according to the
present invention. People without symptoms of a physical nature
also perceive the adaptation of the support surface of for instance
a mattress as a more comfortable improvement.
[0018] The present invention has various preferred embodiments,
several of which are defined in the dependent claims in the
appended set of claims. It is thus possible for the body to be
hollow. A hollow body has the advantage that little material need
be used. A hollow body can moreover be inflatable if suitable means
are connected thereto for inflating or deflating the device.
[0019] The wave part of the element with the body in expanded state
preferably forms in cross-section an angle of between 5 and 45
degrees with the other parts of the element. The angle to be
enclosed may depend on an inflation state or inflation pressure in
the interior of an in this case hollow body. The angle to be
enclosed can also be related to the distance over which the
wedge-shaped body extends under or in the mattress from an edge of
the mattress (or at some distance from this edge). By for instance
varying pressure in the hollow body it is thus possible to realize
the desired or required enclosed angle in order to provide a
comfortable adaptation of the support surface of for instance a
mattress.
[0020] Air or liquid can be applied for the purpose of inflating
the body, and even an embodiment with gel, particularly (though not
exclusively) if the wedge-shaped body does not come into contact
with a person lying on the mattress in a position of use. The
wedge-shaped body can here even be sub-divided into chambers or
compartments which can be brought individually or jointly to a
desired pressure or firmness for purposes of support.
[0021] Such part-bodies can also advantageously be utilized to
provide even more degrees of freedom in respect of waves in the
lying or support surface, for instance if the base of a bed can be
formed in a wave transversely of the longitudinal direction of a
succession of part-bodies, which in a singular embodiment with a
unitary body would result in the formation of a bend therein,
without producing the desired waves. In particular the part-bodies
are therefore individually expandable and/or compressible in order
to enable the greatest possible adaptability.
[0022] If the wedge-shaped body is inflatable, the device can
further comprise a pump to be selectively activated for the purpose
of inflating the body. Such a pump can be controlled by a control,
which can then for instance be operated by a user. For this purpose
the control can be provided with an operating means which can for
instance be hand-held and is in wireless contact with the pump,
optionally via a microcomputer or other similar element, via
antennas or the like. Infrared remote controls are also possible.
The user can thus indicate whether a device according to the
invention must be pumped up harder or, conversely, (partially)
deflated.
[0023] In a possible preferred embodiment the pump can be connected
substantially fixedly to the body. A structural unit is thus
obtained with a high measure of reliability. It is however noted
that the pump and the body can also be connected releasably to each
other and that, if a hollow body were to develop a leak or were to
deflate, the pump can simply be reconnected, optionally after a
repair, this within the scope of the present invention. If a
wedge-shaped body comprises compartments or chambers, each of the
compartments can be connected to the pump to enable selective
adjustment of the pressure in each of these chambers individually
or jointly to a momentary requirement or when it is initially taken
into use. It may also be desirable to be able to allow selective
(partial) deflation of the body. For this purpose a controllable
outlet valve can be connected to the body, which outlet valve can
then be controlled by the user of the device.
[0024] Particularly in an embodiment wherein the body extends along
an edge of for instance a mattress in order to define the support
surface, it may be desirable to also arrange (at least) one body on
an additional edge located opposite. A kind of cavity can thus be
defined between upright edges of the mattress, which are pressed
upward by the wedge-shaped bodies at that location, although the
wedge-shaped bodies can thus also be positioned on the mattress or
incorporated therein. The body or the bodies is or are therefore
possibly integrated into the mattress. It is even possible for the
bodies to form the mattress, particularly in an embodiment in which
the bodies are mutually connected. In this latter case a comfort
mattress can optionally be further arranged over the body or over
the bodies of the device in order to even out for a user as many
discontinuities as possible in the lying surface defined for him or
her, albeit in a curved wave shape, even though this is far from
being necessary in all embodiments, particularly when a connection
between the mutually connected bodies transposes slantwise or
gradually into the wedge shape of the body or the bodies. In an
embodiment with two selectively inflatable bodies, or at least
hollow bodies, both or more than two of the bodies can each be
connected to the pump or to their own pump. A valve or similar
means can then be provided in order to inflate or pump up one of
the two bodies or both bodies together. The same is possible when a
body is sub-divided into chambers or compartments, wherein these
chambers or compartments can be or are selectively or jointly
connected to a single or shared pump. It is noted in respect of the
outlet valve that it might be preferable to be able to allow
individual deflation of each of the inflatable bodies or
compartments thereof in the device, although this can also take
place via a control. The valve member for connecting the pump to at
least one of the bodies is preferably also placed into connection
with and controlled by the control, wherein it is once again
possible for the user to have within reach the final setting
options.
[0025] The assembly can comprise a sleeve or ticking layer which
can be arranged around the assembly. At least determined parts
thereof, which extend along side surfaces running downward from the
lying or support surface, are elastic. The change in shape
resulting when the body or the device is inflated or expanded can
thus be accommodated.
[0026] In yet another alternative or additional embodiment an
assembly according to the invention has the feature that the body
comprises folding means for bringing the body into a compact form
in a compressed state thereof. The folding means preferably
comprise tensioning cables, and these can be elastic. The devices
or bodies can thus be easily and neatly compressed or deflated
without irritating lumps of material having a noticeable influence
on comfort.
[0027] In possible embodiments the pivotable configuration of the
element comprises at least one incision extending upward from the
device to a position below the lying or support surface, and the
element is adaptable locally in the device to the form defined by
the device. Additionally or alternatively, the pivotable
configuration of the element can comprise at least one incision
extending downward from the lying or support surface, and the
element is adaptable locally in the device to the form defined by
the device. In these embodiments the mattress core, for instance of
foam material, is preferably provided with incisions in said
manner. An elegant and simple design of the hinge configuration can
thus be realized.
[0028] The present invention will be further elucidated hereinbelow
on the basis of the accompanying drawing, in which the same and
similar parts, components and features are designated with the same
reference numerals, and which shows an embodiment only by way of
example. In the drawing:
[0029] FIG. 1 shows an application option of a device according to
the present invention;
[0030] FIG. 2 shows a position of use of an alternative embodiment
according to the present invention relative to that shown in FIG.
1;
[0031] FIG. 3 shows an assembly of a device and a mattress, both
according to the present invention;
[0032] FIG. 4 shows another assembly of a device and a mattress,
both according to the present invention;
[0033] FIG. 5 shows a solid, single embodiment of the present
invention;
[0034] FIG. 6 shows an embodiment of a device in an assembly
according to the present invention with an elastic sleeve or
ticking layer;
[0035] FIG. 7 shows an embodiment of an assembly of a device and a
mattress according to the present invention with folding means;
[0036] FIG. 8 shows an assembly of a mattress and a device
according to the present invention, wherein the device is embedded
in the mattress;
[0037] FIG. 9 shows an embodiment of the invention wherein at least
one body or device is divided into independent part-bodies;
[0038] FIG. 10 shows a side view of a possible application of the
assembly according to the invention in FIG. 9;
[0039] FIG. 11 shows an alternative expandable device; and
[0040] FIG. 12 shows an assembly with another embodiment of folding
means.
[0041] FIG. 1 shows a device 1 according to the present invention.
This device is applied in combination with a mattress 2.
[0042] Device 1 comprises a body 3 which is of triangular
cross-section (in the direction transversely of arrow E) and which
in this embodiment is wedge-shaped and per se hollow. Body 3 is
inflatable, for which purpose a pump 4 can be selectively
activated. Pump 4 is connected to hollow wedge-shaped body 3 via a
conduit 5. Pump 4 can be selectively activated by means of a
microcomputer 6 as an embodiment of a control, which is equipped
with an antenna 7. Antenna 7 is connected wirelessly to hand-held
operating means 8, which is available to a user for selective
activation of pump 4.
[0043] In another embodiment a pressure gauge 9 can be applied for
measuring the pressure in the interior of the hollow wedge-shaped
body 3 in order to activate pump 4 automatically and selectively on
the basis of measurement signals and using microcomputer 6 for the
purpose of increasing the pressure in the interior of the hollow
wedge-shaped body 3.
[0044] A shut-off valve, tap or outlet valve 11 is arranged in
another conduit 10. Outlet valve 11 can also be actuated
selectively by microcomputer 6. Outlet valve 11 is intended for the
purpose of decreasing the pressure in the interior of the hollow
wedge-shaped body 3. Outlet valve 11 can also be arranged in
conduit 5 between pump 4 and the hollow wedge-shaped body 3.
[0045] The hollow wedge-shaped body 3 can be arranged under
mattress 2 in the direction of arrow A, preferably on a base 12.
The hollow wedge-shaped body 3 then comes to lie between base 12
and mattress 2.
[0046] Available and suitable around mattress 2 are various
locations where a hollow wedge-shaped body 3 can be placed on or
under mattress 2, as indicated with arrows B, C and D.
[0047] In a preferred embodiment hollow wedge-shaped bodies 3 are
in any case arranged at the long sides of the mattress indicated
with arrows A and C. This is the situation as shown in FIG. 2.
[0048] FIG. 2 shows an alternative to the wedge-shape of device 3
in FIG. 1, wherein device 3' is formed by an outward oriented
succession of, in this embodiment, three progressively thicker
tubular hollow bodies 27, 26 and 25.
[0049] Also arranged in FIG. 3 (as in FIG. 2) is a frame 13 with a
spring base 14, on which mattress 2 rests. On opposite sides of
mattress 2 two hollow wedge-shaped bodies 3 are placed on the upper
surface of the mattress.
[0050] In the embodiment of FIGS. 2 and 3 microcomputer 6 is
omitted, although pump 4 is here preferably also under the control
of microcomputer 6.
[0051] Pump 4 is connected via a valve 16 to each of the two hollow
wedge-shaped bodies 3 on either side of mattress 2. The valve means
can be used in combination with a control, embodied as
microcomputer 6 or in other manner, in order to select to which of
the two hollow wedge-shaped bodies 3 pump 4 must be connected. It
is of course also possible that valve member 16 provides the option
of connecting pump 4 to each of the two wedge-shaped hollow bodies
3. FIG. 1 shows a possible embodiment in which the shown
wedge-shaped body is divided into compartments by means of a
membrane or partition 17. Each of the compartments can be connected
to the pump via a valve 18 in similar manner as bodies 3 in FIG. 2
in order to enable adjustment of the firmness, support or hardness
in each of the thus separated compartments, both initially and
after a period of time during use.
[0052] FIG. 3 shows an assembly 18 of a mattress 2 and a device 3,
3 according to the invention with a hinge configuration. The device
comprises a wedge-shaped body 3 and a second wedge-shaped body 3
along opposite edges of mattress 2. Along the side edges of
assembly 18 the device is placed on a carrier such as a box-spring
17. In FIG. 4 box-spring 17 is replaced by a slat frame 20.
Mattress 2 comprises incisions 19 so that it bends more easily so
as to take on the form defined by wedge-shaped body 3 and second
wedge-shaped body 3, and to thus form the hinge configuration
according to the invention. Laterally situated wave parts 24 of
mattress 2 on the outer sides of incisions 19 can be fixedly
connected to mattress 2, for instance by means of stitching, or can
be connected thereto by means of for instance a velcro connection
(not shown). In FIG. 3 mattress 2 is a mattress with a foam core,
while FIG. 4 shows a spring mattress. It will be apparent that the
intended gap 21 can also be formed with incisions 19 in the case of
a spring mattress. Also shown in more detail on the left-hand side
in FIG. 4 is that recesses 29 are provided in top surface 28 in
order to facilitate bending of the thus formed hinge
configuration.
[0053] FIG. 4 further shows how a gap 21 adapting mattress 2 to the
shape of device 3, 3 results when device 3, 3 is arranged in the
direction of arrow A beneath mattress 2 with incisions 19. For this
purpose the outward situated wave part 24 of mattress 2 can simply
be lifted in the direction of arrow F so as to provide or make
space for body 3. It is noted that in FIG. 4 the gap or incisions
19 are arranged substantially over the greater part of the
thickness of mattress 2, but that they may also extend over the
whole thickness.
[0054] In the embodiment of FIG. 6 a ticking layer or sleeve 30 is
arranged round the assembly of mattress 2 and device 3. Ticking
layer 30 is at least flexible and preferably even elastic in order
to be able to accommodate the change (increase) in the dimensions
of side surface 31 in the direction of arrow G.
[0055] FIG. 7 shows schematically a possible embodiment of an
assembly according to the invention with folding means based on a
tensioning cable 32. Tensioning cable 32 runs from about halfway
along the height of side 33 of body 3 to the sloping side 34, and
is fastened thereto. From this fastening this or another cable
continues to lowest point 35 of wave part 24 of mattress 2. When
the body deflates and the air is released therefrom, tensioning
cable 32 ensures that the covering of hollow body 3 is folded onto
itself.
[0056] It is possible that the upward oriented point 37 of body 3
is arranged with a fastening 36 on the adjacent point 38 of wave
part 24 in order to improve the operation of the folding means
still further.
[0057] As a further addition or alternative, tensioning cable 32
can be elastic and then preferably be fastened to the bottom point
39 of stationary part 40 of mattress 2 (or at least the mattress
core of mattress 2). In addition to compact folding of body 3, an
inelastic or elastic cable 32 also achieves that side 33 thereof
does not bulge excessively. This is also prevented by the
elasticity of ticking layer 30 over side wall 31 of the assembly of
mattress 2 and device or body 3.
[0058] FIG. 8 shows an embodiment with the additional or
alternative feature that the body is embedded in foam core 2 of
mattress 2 beneath wave part 24. Extending beneath the device or
body 3 is a leg 41 of the material of mattress core 2, with a
locking protrusion 42 at the free outer end, which falls into a
receiving recess 43 in the wave part of core 2 of mattress 2 in the
unexpanded state of the device or body 3.
[0059] FIGS. 9 and 10 show that in a further embodiment the device
comprises various part-bodies 3, 44, 45, 46. The wave in the lying
or support surface of mattress 2 can thus be adjusted and regulated
even more finely when each of the part-bodies can be expanded and
compressed individually, for instance by means of individual
connections to a single pump or various pumps or with individual
valves in each of the part-bodies, in order to enable individual
deflation of each of the part-bodies in controlled manner after
reaching a fully inflated state of all part-bodies with for
instance a single pump and various branches to the individual
part-bodies. The sub-division of the device into the individual
part-bodies 3, 44, 45, 46 moreover allows the base below the
part-bodies to be able to take on an additional wave shape as is
shown in FIG. 10, which runs for instance in the longitudinal
direction of mattress 2. With a single body 3 this would result in
a bend instead of a gradual wave shape in this single body 3, as
shown for instance in the embodiment of FIG. 1. The divided
part-bodies then also enable a gradual wave shape of the lying or
support surface as in FIG. 3, even with a wave defined transversely
thereof in the base under mattress 2 such as that in FIG. 10.
[0060] FIG. 11 shows an embodiment with another embodiment 47 of
the expandable and compressible device. Device 47 has a stacked
structure with inflatable components 48, the contour form of which
becomes increasingly smaller in upward direction and an outer edge
of which is aligned in each case with components 48 thereabove and
thereunder. The need for folding means can hereby be made
unnecessary, since a configuration 47 of the device with components
48 will compress in neat and flat manner when the chambers in the
components deflate.
[0061] FIG. 12 shows an embodiment wherein the corner edge 38 of
wave part 24 is chamfered in order to bring about a more gradual
progression of the outer side of the assembly according to the
invention, where a relatively sharp corner would otherwise
occur.
[0062] A simplified embodiment of the folding means is further
incorporated in the view of the embodiment in FIG. 12. A tensioning
cable is here not arranged through the interior of the device, but
simply from the outer top corner of device 3 to corner 35 on wave
part 24 between the device and the wave part.
[0063] In the embodiments described above and shown in the figures
a covering can be arranged round at least wedge-shaped body 3. Such
a covering can take the form of a sleeve 23 which can be
detachable. Sleeve 23 can in particular be arranged fixedly on
device 3 and be removable, for instance be formed from a smooth or
at least sealing plastic, or be releasable to enable separate
cleaning thereof, for instance in a washing line or laundry of a
hospital.
[0064] After examination of the foregoing, many additional and
alternative embodiments will occur to the skilled person which must
all be deemed as embodiments of the present invention unless they
depart from the letter or spirit of that defined in the appended
claims, in particular the single independent claim. Diverse
possibilities have already been described in the foregoing as
alternative to those shown specifically in the drawing. It can
further also be noted here that when shorter hollow or solid or
filled wedge-shaped bodies are applied at the head or foot end of a
mattress, the feet of a user can be moved upward and/or the need
for a pillow can be reduced or even obviated. Repeated reference is
made in the foregoing to inflation of the bodies with air, but use
can of course also be made of other fluids, for instance water or
the like. Bodies 3 do not have to be hollow, let alone inflatable,
but can be solid and filled with a gel or other substance, or be
formed from foam or the like. FIG. 5 shows such an embodiment,
which is or can also be to some or considerable extent shorter than
the length of the bed and, in addition to use on the long side of
the bed, can also be applied on a short side. Bodies 3 can also
form integral parts of a regular bed or even a waterbed, for
instance in the form of compartments thereof lying on top of the
usual lying surface. The device according to the present invention
can also be applied in a manner other than solely in combination
with a mattress, for instance in combination with a seat, for
instance of a chair, etc.
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