NZ720504B2 - Vibratory system for massage and audio generation in an articulating bed - Google Patents

Abstract

Existing articulating beds with massage function positioned under a mattress suffer from the vibration dampening effect of the mattress. The present application seeks to solve this problem by providing an articulating bed incorporating a frame employing a support member (12, 114) for a mattress secured to a frame for articulating motion. An upper body portion (13, 114) of the support member is rotatable through a range of motion from an aligned position with the frame to a fully elevated position angularly supporting the upper body portion in a raised position. A massage exciter (30) is affixed to a bottom surface of the support member and is operative to sonically engage the flexible support, where the flexible support member is formed as a sheet of fibre reinforced plastic and is maintained in contact with support arms via reciprocating shuttles. red to a frame for articulating motion. An upper body portion (13, 114) of the support member is rotatable through a range of motion from an aligned position with the frame to a fully elevated position angularly supporting the upper body portion in a raised position. A massage exciter (30) is affixed to a bottom surface of the support member and is operative to sonically engage the flexible support, where the flexible support member is formed as a sheet of fibre reinforced plastic and is maintained in contact with support arms via reciprocating shuttles.

Description

VIBRATGRY SYSTEM FQR MASSAGE ANl} AUBEG ’E‘lQN EN AN ARTICULATENG BED REFERENCE 1‘0 RELA'i‘ED APPLECA'E‘LlONS {Para l 3 This application claims priority ot‘US provisional. application serial no. 61/914,503 filed on 12/11/208 entitled ViBRA'l‘QRY SYSTEM FDR MASSAGE AND AUBEO GENERAEEGN EN AN ARTICULATING BED ‘WETH FLEXIBLE MATTRESS SEJE’PORT and having a common assignee, the disclosure ot‘which is incorporated herein by reterencc. This application is copending with US Application Serial No 13946970 filed on 07/20/20l 2 entitled AR’l‘ltlillJArl‘lNG lit {it} Wl'l‘ti LE MATTRESS SUPPQRT and having a common assignce with the t application, the disclosure 0. i’ which is incorporated herein by reierence, BACKGRQUND Field {Para 23 This invention relates generally to the field of adjustable beds and more paiticularly to a Vibratory system for massage and audio generation in a structure for an lating bed with a flexible ss support.

Description of the Related Art Ware 3} Articulating beds have long been used in hospital and healthcare facilities to allow positioning oi‘a patient in a reclining position, sitting position elevated leg position or combinations of these positions. l usage of articulating beds has been rapidly expanding due to the comfort and convenience ble from adjusting the bed to desired positions for reading, general relaxation or ng. e units have been added to articulating beds for creating vibratory stimulation in or through the mattress to provide a massaging action to the occupant of the bed.

{Para 4] lly massage units are installed in cutouts in mattress support elements on the articulating bed to operate on or against the mattress itself. ’l‘ransniission of the vibratory energy to the mattress may be significantly damped by the material ofthe mattress. Additionally, the cutout and massage inducer support structure adds complexity to the bed ure.

{Para 53 it is ore desirable to provide an articulating bed having a. vibratory e system which overcomes the shortcomings ofthe prior art.

SUMMARY {Para 5} The ments disclosed herein provide an articulating bed incorporating a frame having side frame s and a rigid cross frame member ing between the side li‘ame members. A tlexible support member is secured to the rigid cross frame member and support arms engage an upper body portion ofthe flexible support member. The support arms are rotatable through a range of motion from an aligned position with the side frame members to a fully elevated position angularly supporting the upper body portion in a raised position. At. least one massage exciter is affixed to a bottom surface otthe flexible support member intermediate the support arms.

The exciter is operative to sonically engage the flexible t member.

{Para 2?} E'Rllilli‘ RlP’l‘EON 0 F Til-HE BRAWENGS {Para 8} These and other leatures and advantages of the present invention will be better understood by reterence to the following detailed description of exemplary embodiments when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein: {Para $3 FlG. lA is a side View oi‘an adiustable led system having a flexible support with side supports removed for clarity and the flexible t member llat; {Para l Q} FlG. lB is a side View of an adjustable bed system having rigid support elements in an articulating structure and the articulating structure llat; {Para l l} is a ial View of an exemplary embodiment. employing the structure ot‘FlG. lA from under the bed with side supports removed for clarity and the flexible support member flat; EPara l 2} PEG. 2:8 is a pictorial View of an exemplary embodiment employing the structure of Fit}. lB liom under the bed and the articulating structure rigid support members flat; {Para l 3] Flt}. 3A. is a partial. bottom View ot‘the bed showing ment ot‘a massage exciter to the flexible support member in the upper body portion; EPara l 4} PEG. 3B is a partial bottom View ol‘the bed sltmving attachment ot‘two longitudinally d massage exciters to the flexible support member in the upper back and lower lumbar portions of the upper body portion; {Fara l 5} is a partial bottom View of the bed g attachment oftwo laterally aligned massage exciters to the flexible support member in the upper body portion; {Para l 5} PEG. 3D is a. partial bottom View of the bed Showing attachment ofboth longitudinally and laterally aligned massage exeiters to the flexible support member in the upper body portion; {Para l 1?] Flt}. 4A. is a bottom. View of the bed showing attachment of a massage exeiter to the flexible t member in the upper body portion and attachment ot‘a massage r to the tlexible support member in the thigh portion; {Para l 3} FlG. 4B is a partial bottom View of the bed showing attachment of a, massage exeiter to the llexible support member in the upper body portion and attachment of a massage r to the flexible support member in the lower leg portion; {Para l 9} Fth 4C is a bottom View ot‘the flexible support member showing attachment of laterally aligned massage exciters in the upper back, , thigh and lower leg portions; {Para 2%} Fit}. 5 is a block representation ot‘rnultiple massage rs connected to a control unit with an signal tor; {Para 2 l} Fth 6 is side View of the adjustable bed system with the upper body portion raised and the lelt side frame member and upper body support arm removed for clarity; {Para 223 Fit}. ’7 is a pictorial View of the bed with the head portion raised with the left side frame member and upper body support arm removed for clarity; {Fare 23} HQ 8 is aside View ot‘the bed with the head portion and leg portion raised; and, {Para 243 is a pietorial under View ot‘the bed with the head and leg portions raised BETA} {JED BESCRE P’l‘ltl‘h‘ {Para 2 S} Erribodirnehts shown in the drawings and described herein provide an articulating bed which ates the rigid individual support platforms and uses a eontinuous flexible support member for the mattress with direct inducement of vibration into the flexible support member for massage or audio generation. Referring to the drawings, Fle. EA show an exemplary adjustable bed system 16 which incorporates a flexible support or member 12 to support a mattress. The flexible support in an exemplary embodiment is a 1/8 inch sheet of fiber reintbrced plastic (FRP) which is tire resistant (FR). Side frame members 14 support a cross member 16 to which the flexible member 12 is secured using plates or discs 18 (best seen in with bolts extending through the FREE. Rotatable upper body support arms 21} support an upper body portion 13 ot‘the flexible t member 12 toward the upper end of the bed. The flexible support member 12 is lubriciously supported on the t arms 20 to reposition itself during motion of the support arms, in one example embodiment? shuttles 22 which are supported on the t arms 213 are attached to the flexible support member 12. A leg portion adjustment member 24 is positioned to contact the flexible support member at imately the irnee position 25 of a user between a thigh portion 15 and lower leg portion 19 ofthe e support member l2. The side frames may include insets which receive the edges of the flexible support member 12 in the flat condition.

{Fare 25} Corwentional adjustable bed structures such as shown in Fle. 113 having rigid support ts in the articulating structure are equally applicable for incorporation of the embodiments for massage exciters as sed. herein. The articulating bed incorporates a frame 1111 upon which an articulating support system 112 is mounted. The articulating support system 112 incorporates multiple rigid support sections for the body; an upper body section l 14, a seat section 116, a thigh section l l8 and. a lower leg section 120‘ in a fully unartieulated position, as shown in F161 1131 the upper body section 1.14, seat section .1 16, thigh section .1 18 and lower leg section 120 are aligned in a planar onship. in a fully articulated position the upper body section 114 articulated by an actuator ly 128 rotates about an articulation axis extending through hinges 'l ‘22 connecting the upper body section 114 to the seat section 116. The thigh section 118 articulated by a second actuator assembly 131) rotates about a second lation axis extending h hinges 124 connecting the thigh section 116 to the seat n 116; while Lower leg section 129 rotates about a third articulation axis extending through hinges 126 connecting the lower leg section 120 to the thigh section 118.

{Para 2?} As seen in Fig 2A, a massage r 30 is ed to the tlexible support member 12 in an upper body portion 13 as will be described in greater detail subsequently. Similarly as seen in FlG. 28,, a massage exciter 30 may be ed to the upper body section ll4 of the conventional articulating support systen't. For the embodiments described subsequently, application of massage exeiters to the upper body portion, thigh portion and lower leg portion ot‘tlie flexible support member l2 are equally able to an upper body section, thigh section and lower leg section in a rigid articulating system llZ.

Wars. 28} As best see in Fifi. 3A, at least one massage exeiter 30 is attired to the flexible t member 12 between the support arms 20 on the upper body portion l3 of the flexible t , The massage r 3t) interthees with the flexible member '2 which responds to the cxciter in a manner similar to a. speaker cone. in exemplary embodin’ients the e exciter 3t} incorporates an exeiter element St attach ed with ion arms 32 to the flexible member l2 Adhesive pads or other alternative fixing mechanism on the extension arms may be employed to secure the extension arms to the flexible member, The exciter element 3l sonically s the flexible member l2. The sonic engagement ofthe exciter t 31 allows the massage exeiter to directly inducing ion in the flexible support member 12 to provide the desired massage. An example massage exciter for the described embodiments is the DAEEXZS Sound Exciter by Dayton Audio, 705 Pleasant Valley Dr.,, Springboro, OH 45066. A second example massage exciter for the described embodiments is the AMStll BL base shalter by ADX 17835 Newhope St, Studio A Fountain Valley? CA 92708.

{Para 2%} The e exeiter 33 may be placed in position for targeted massage of the upper back and shoulders or the lower back and lumbar region. Multiple massage exciters may be oned in an aligned longitudinal pattern as shown in to provide massage ofboth the upper and lower back, together or individually. Additionally, multiple exciters may be positioned in an aligned lateral pattern as shown in FlG. SC to provide enhanced massage to the upper or lower back, or in single articulating double beds to provide separate massage units for two occupants in the bed, Laterally aligned and longitudinally aligned massage exoiters may be mounted to the flexible member l2 as Shown in Flt}. 3D.

{Para 3%} Massage exciters 33 may also be positioned on the thigh portion 14 or lower leg portion ll) otthe flexible support member for massaging the legs as shown in Fle. 4A and 48. An example n of massage exciters mounted to the flexible member l2 for upper back, lumbar, thigh and lower leg for two nts in a double bed arrangement is shown in {Para 3 l} A control unit 34 as shown in PEG. 5 ts to the massage exciters to provide an input signal. Separate control of multiple message exciters by the control unit allows separate tion of the various e locations desired by the nt. A signal. generator 36 provides the input signal. for the message exciters and may be selectable for various li'equeneies and amplitudes to sonically engage the tlexible member to create the desired massage. The signal generator 36 may be or may include an audio source generating music in addition to or as the massage excitation.

{Para 32} As seen in Fle. 6 and 7, the upper body portion 13 ot‘the flexible support member l2 may be raised by rotating the upper body support arms 26 about axles Zti extending to and supported by the side frame members 14. Actuation levers 2i on the support arms 20 may be attached to an actuator 23 for rotation. The shuttles 22 reciprocate along the support arms '20 to maintain the flexible support member 12 in contact with the t arms at desired points for proper shaping ofthe mattress. Direct connection ofthe massage exciters 33 to the tlexible support member l2 allows massage in any articulated. on of the upper body portion ot‘the bed. The small profile and light weight of the massage exciters 3t} avoids any additional structural ements in the articulation actuators or the structural support elements of the bed.

Wars 33} As shown in Ellis. 8 and 9, the leg portion adjustment member 24 may be rotated about axle 28 which raises the flexible t member l2 at the knee position of the user, The flexible support member l2 flexes over the rotated leg portion adiustnient member g a neutral position with the thigh portion 15 and lower leg portion l9 draped over the leg portion adjustment member 24. The flexible support. member l2 establishes a smooth curvature in both the upper body portion 13 and thigh and lower leg portions 15:, 19 ofthe bed based on natural flexing with the center of the member secured at. the rigid cross member 16, As with the lation. oi” the upper body portion 13, direct connection ofthe massage exciters 33 to the flexible support member ii? in the thigh portien 15 and/or lower leg pertien l9 allows massage in any articulated. pnsitien 0f the thigh and/0r lewei' leg portions ofthe bed. The small profile and light weight efthe massage exeitets 33 aveids any additional ural requirements in the articulatinn actuaters or the structural supper: ts ofthe bed.

Were 34} Having now described varieus embodiments ofthe invention in detail as required by the patent Statutes, those skilled in the art will recognize medifieatiens and subatitutions to the specific embediments disclesed herein. Such modifieatiens are within the scope and intent of the present ion as defined in the fellewing claims‘

Claims (5)

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS.
1. l. An articulating bed comprising: a frame having side frame members and a rigid cross frame member extending n the side frame members; a flexible support member to support a mattress, formed as a sheet of fiber reinforced plastic, overlaying and secured to the rigid cross frame member; support arms engaging an upper body portion of the flexible support member with at least one shuttle, said support arms rotatable h a range of motion from an aligned position with the side frame members to a fully elevated position angularly supporting the upper body portion in a raised position, said at least one shuttle reciprocating on the support arms to maintain the flexible support member in contact with the support arms at desired points for proper g of the mattress; and, at least one massage exciter d to a bottom surface of the flexible t member intermediate the support arms, said r operative to sonically engage the flexible support member.
2. 2. The articulating bed as defined in claim l further comprising: a leg portion adjustment member engaging the flexible support member at a knee on intermediate a thigh portion and a leg portion of the flexible support member, the leg portion adjustment member rotatable through a range of motion from an aligned position with the side frame members to a fully elevated position placing the knee position at an elevated location with angular positioning of the thigh portion and leg portion.
3. 3. The articulating bed as defined in claim 2 wherein the at least one e exciter comprises a first massage exciter d to the upper body portion and a second massage exciter affixed to the thigh portion of the flexible support member.
4. 4. The articulating bed as defined in claim l further comprising a control system ive connected to the at least one massage exciter to provide a desired ncy and amplitude for sonic engagement of the flexible support member.
5. 5. The articulating bed as defined in claim 4 wherein the at least one massage exciter comprises a plurality of massage exciters affixed to the flexible support member and said l system is operative to provide the desired frequency and amplitude to selected massage exciters. WO 89297 11'15