WO2016058615A1

WO2016058615A1 - A mattress with a lifting mechanism and a method for lifting a mattress

Info

Publication number: WO2016058615A1
Application number: PCT/DK2015/050316
Authority: WO
Inventors: Claus Hornstrup Dissing
Original assignee: Dissing A/S
Priority date: 2014-10-13
Filing date: 2015-10-13
Publication date: 2016-04-21

Abstract

A bed (18) which is comprising a mattress (19) on a support (20) and a device (1) for lifting the mattress relatively to the support (20), the device (1) comprising a plurality of inflatable air cushion members (2) in abutment with the mattress (19) on the support (20) and a method for lifting the mattress from the support.

Description

A mattress with a lifting mechanism and a method for lifting a mattress

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to mattresses and devices and methods for lifting a mat- tress.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

When bed sheets are changed on mattresses, it requires substantial force for lifting, especially for king size beds in which the mattress is heavy. In hotels and hospitals this puts a severe stress on personal, as the heavy lifting has to be performed many times per day under time pressure. It would therefore be desirable to have a system that eases the operation of changing bed sheets. General lifting of devices is described in various publications. However, there is a general reluctance against providing beds with electrical actuators or other electrical lifting equipment, as this increases costs for production of beds in general as well as for maintenance. Furthermore, safety aspects results in preference in beds without electrical connections.

In International patent application W095/13448, an auxiliary tool and a use of the tool is disclosed for adjusting the position of frames, for example doors and windows, in buildings by placing inflatable cushion members on either side of the frame within a corresponding opening in a wall. The cushion member is a flat bag with two layers of a tough and flexible but not readily stretchable material placed face to face and joined along edges made. It is in hose connection with a manually operable inflation balloon and a bleeding valve for inflating and deflating the bag for change its shape between flat and round shapes. If the system in W095/13448 is used under a broad frame two or more of the cushion members are used. Although, the system yields high flexibility for adjustments, precise adjustment of all the separate cushion members is difficult, especially, if the frame is heavy or bendable and needs more than two cushions on a side.

International patent application W099/15741 discloses alternative cushion members that comprise stiffening elements in the cushion members in order to facilitate positioning of the cushion members in locations that are not readily accessible or not easy visible. The stiffened cushion members are optionally provided as arrays of cushioning members in order to increase the length thereof such that positioning is made easier.

DESCRIPTION / SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is therefore an objective of the invention to provide a general improvement in the art. Especially, it is an objective to provide a device and a method for facilitating change of bed sheets around mattresses. These and further objectives are achieved with a method and device as described in the following.

The invention takes offset in the inflatable air cushion members as described in the introduction above and utilises these for lifting mattresses from a support in a bed.

The bed comprises a mattress on a support and a device for lifting the mattress relatively to the support. The device comprises a plurality of inflatable air cushion members in abutment with the mattress and the support; the air cushion members being of a flexible but non- stretchable air tight sheet material in hose-connection with an infla- tion tool for lifting the mattress when the air cushion member is inflated and for lowering the mattress when the air cushion member is deflated.

Each inflatable air cushion member is formed as a bag unit comprising opposite layers of said sheet material provided face to face and joined along an edge area to form a double layer edge. The bag unit is flat in deflated condition and attains increasing thickness in dependence of the air pressure in it. The air cushion members are in hose- connection with an inflation tool, the inflation tool comprising an air pump, for example a hand operated balloon, a bellows, for example foot-operated, or an electrical compressor pump. For example, air cushion members of the plurality of inflatable air cushion members are separate from each other such that the edge area of a first cushion member of the plurality of inflatable air cushion members is entirely disjoint from the edge area of a second cushion member of said a plurality of inflatable air cushion members. This is in contrast to the prior art as disclosed in W099/15741.

For example, there is provided one inflatable air cushion member under each of four corners of the mattress. Alternatively, the air cushion members are elongate with a length being a multiple of a width of the air cushion members, and the first air cushion member extends from a first corner of the mattress to a second corner, and the second air cushion member extends from a third corner to a fourth corner of the mattress.

In one elementary embodiment, the lifting of a mattress of a bed, for example hotel bed, is performed by placing a prior art air cushion member, such as from W095/13448 or W099/15741, under each corner of the mattress and pump each of the air cushion members by the corresponding hand operated air balloon pump as disclosed in W095/13448. However, this implies four pumps and requires from the user that four pumps are operated in order to lift the entire mattress up to a height sufficient for change of bed sheets and then lowering it again by deflating the four air cushion members by operating their four deflation valves. This is a rather tedious procedure, why in a further embodiment, a device is provided wherein simultaneous inflation of multiple air cushion members with a common air pump as part of the inflation tool. This results in an advantageous simplification of the handling during the lifting of the mattress and even implies the option of semi automation or full automation.

For example, the bed comprises a first air cushion member or a first group of air cushion members under the mattress near a first edge of the mattress and a second air cushion member or second group of air cushion members under the mattress near an opposite edge of the mattress. The edges of the mattress are either right and left side of the bed or head part and foot part.

For example, one side of the mattress is lifted first and the opposite side lifted subsequently. This can be performed with two separate pumps. Alternatively, it is performed with a common pump that is switching inflation for the two sides or which is connected to the corresponding groups of air cushions sequentially. For example, said first and second cushion member or group of air cushion members are connected through said hose-connection to a common air pump as part of the inflation tool, said common air pump being configured for inflation of said first and second cushion member or first and second group of air cushion members.

Optionally, the device is configured for inflation of said first and second cushion member or first and second group of air cushion members simultaneously by the common air pump. This way, the entire mattress is lifted off the support. Alternatively said inflation tool is configured for inflation of said first and second cushion member or group of air cushion members sequentially by the common air pump. For example, the device is configured for a sequence of inflation and deflation of the first air cushion member or first group of air cushion members followed by inflation and deflation of said second air cushion member or second group of air cushion members. This way, one side of an element is lifted and lowered first, after which the second side is lifted and lowered.

The objective is also achieved with the following method for lifting a mattress from a support as part of a bed with a device for positioning an element relatively to a sur- face. The device comprises a plurality of inflatable air cushion members of a flexible but non-stretchable air tight sheet material in hose-connection with an inflation tool; wherein each inflatable air cushion member is formed as a bag unit comprising opposite layers of said sheet material provided face to face and joined along an edge area to form a double layer edge; wherein the bag unit is flat in deflated condition; wherein the method comprises providing the first cushion member or first group of air cushion members under the mattress and in abutment of the mattress near a first edge of the mattress and providing the second air cushion member or second group of air cushion members under the mattress and in abutment of the mattress near an opposite edge of the mattress; connecting said first and second cushion member or group of air cushion members through said hose-connection to an air pump as part of the inflation tool and inflating said first and second cushion member or group of air cushion members to lift the mattress. In some embodiments, the first cushion member or first group of cushion members is inflated while the second cushion member or the second group of air cushion members is deflated. Thereby, a first side of the mattress is lifted. Then the first cushion member or the first group of air cushion members is deflated for lowering the first side of the mattress. Subsequently, the second cushion member or the second group of air cushion members is inflated while the first cushion member or the first group of air cushion members stays deflated, whereby the opposite side of the mattress is lifted. Finally, the second cushion member or the second group of air cushion members is deflated to a state where the first and the second cushion members group of air cush- ion members both are deflated. This embodiment is advantageous in that personnel can provide new bed sheets and wrap them around the first side, after which the side is lowered to hold the bed sheet while the opposite side is lifted for wrapping. As the first side holds the bed sheet in the lowered state, it can be stretched by the personnel during the second wrapping action, which is advantageous as compared to barely lift- ing the mattress for changing bed sheets. For example, a common air pump is used therefore.

In some embodiments, the plurality of air cushion members is provided integrated in a lower surface of the mattress in abutment with the support when the mattress is placed with its lower surface on the support and configured for lifting the mattress relatively to a support when the mattress is provided with its lower surface on the support and the air cushion members are inflated.

The inflation tool may additionally also comprise a valve arrangement for deflating the air cushion members. Optionally, the inflation tool is provided with a regulator to regulate whether the air cushion members are inflated all simultaneously, inflated individually or in groups according to a sequence.

SHORT DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will be explained in more detail with reference to the drawing, where FIG. 1 illustrates in exploded view a bed with a mattress that can be lifted by air cushions; FIG. 2 illustrates a mattress with incorporated air cushions.

FIG. 3 illustrates an air cushion member;

FIG. 4 illustrates a device with four air cushion members and a common pump;

FIG. 5 illustrates a device with four air cushion members that can be filled in two groups;

FIG. 6 illustrates various air pumps.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION / PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

FIG. 1 shows an exploded with of a bed 18 comprising a mattress 19 and a support 20 and a plurality of air cushion members 2 interconnected by a hose-connection 5. By inflating the air cushion members 2 that are placed under each corner, the mattress 19 is lifted relatively to the support 20. This lifting action eases the wrapping of new bed sheets around the edges of the mattress 19 and underneath the mattress 19. Once, the bed sheet is in place, the mattress 19 is lowered again onto the platform 20 so that the wrapped bed sheets are held in place by the weight of the mattress 19.

FIG. 2 illustrates a mattress 19' in a perspective view from below. A plurality of air cushion members 2 are integrated in the lower side of the mattress 19' for lifting the mattress 19' from the support 20. In order to inflate and deflate the air cushion members 2, an air connector 21 is provided at the side of the mattress 19'. Such air connector 21 can be provided for filling all of the air cushion members 2 at once. Alternatively, the air connector 21 on one side of the mattress 19' only fills the plurality of air cushion members 2 under the mattress 19'near the edge, for example two air cushion members 2, as illustrated, or more. In order to fill the plurality of air cushion members 2 near the opposite edge, the opposite side of the mattress is also provided with such an air connector 21. As a further alternative, the air connector 21 is part of a manifold with a valve system such that a single action for connecting a common air pump needs being performed, after which a first adjustment, for example manual adjustment, of the valve system lifts one side of the mattress only and a second adjustment, for example manual adjustment, of the valve system results in lowering the first side and lifting of the opposite side of the mattress. This lifting sequence is optionally performed fully automated by a controller, once the air pump has been connected to the air connector 21.

Fig. 3 illustrates an air cushion member 2 useful for the device 1 as described herein. The air cushion member 2 comprises a folded rectangular piece of a sheet material and has a form as a rectangle. The sheet material is joined along an edge area 13 such that the fold 12 constitutes one edge 13a of the rectangle and the edge area 13 constitutes three other edges 13b, 13c, 13d of the rectangle. The sheet material is easily flexible, but non-stretchable. For example, the sheet material is a plastic sheet, reinforced with fibers, optionally glass, polymer, or carbon fibers. At the fold 12, for example provided prior to the folding, there is provided a foot piece of an outwardly projecting, flexible first hose 5a for connection with the common air pump 6. Optionally, a deflation valve 9a is provided on the first hose 5a in the form of a bleeding valve with an actuator button 14. The bleeding valve 9a is for sake of illustration in the figure drawn as being close to the cushion member 2. However, it is optionally provided at a larger distance to the air cushion member 2, for example close to a common air pump.

Instead of the indicated four air cushion members 2 in FIG. 1 and 2, more air cushion members can be provided, for example a group of more than two air cushion members under the mattress near opposite edges. Alternatively, a first elongated air cushion member of the type as disclosed in W099/15741 is provided near one edge of the mattress 19, 19' and a second elongated air cushion member is provided near the opposite edge. FIG. 4 illustrates a device 1 as part of the bed with a first air cushion member 2a and a second air cushion member 2b interconnected by a hose-connection 5 including a first hose 5a and a second hose 5b and a T-piece 3, the T-piece connection 3 further connecting the first hose 5a and the second hose 5b with a third hose 5c that is connected to an air pump 6, which is a common air pump 6 as it is used to inflate both the first air cushion member 2a and the second air cushion member 2b. With a cross connection 10, two further air cushion members 2c, 2d are connected to the common air pump 6 as part of an inflation tool 4. As shown, all air cushion members are inflated simultaneously. FIG. 5 illustrates an alternative embodiment, where the inflation tool 4 is provided with a regulator unit 11 that is hose-connected to the common air pump 6. The regulator unit 11 comprises a valve arrangement for inflation and deflation of two groups of air cushion members 2a/2c and 2b/2d sequentially or simultaneously, dependent on the selection by the user, for example manually by a corresponding keypad and/or knobs 23. Alternatively or in addition, the inflation and deflation sequence of the air cushion members is regulated by a controller 8 that controls the regulator unit 11 and the air pump 6. The groups of air cushion members are optionally provided with three, four, five, more air cushion members, and more than two groups can be provided.

FIG. 6 illustrates various air pumps, namely a hand operated balloon 6', a bellows 6", for example foot-operated, or an electrical compressor pump 6' " .

Claims

1. A bed comprising a mattress on a support and a device for lifting the mattress rela- tively to the support, the device comprising a plurality of inflatable air cushion members in abutment with the mattress and the support; the air cushion members being of a flexible but non- stretchable air tight sheet material in hose-connection with an inflation tool for lifting the mattress when the air cushion member is inflated and for lowering the mattress when the air cushion member is deflated; wherein each inflatable air cushion member is formed as a bag unit comprising opposite layers of said sheet material provided face to face and joined along an edge area to form a double layer edge.

2. A bed according to claim 1, wherein there is provided one inflatable air cushion member under each of four corners of the mattress.

3. A bed according to claim 1, wherein the air cushion members are elongate with a length being a multiple of a width of the air cushion members, and the first air cushion member extends from a first corner of the mattress to a second corner, and the second air cushion member extends from a third corner to a fourth corner of the mattress.

4. A bed according to claim 1, wherein said device is configured for inflation of said plurality of air cushion members simultaneously by a common air pump as part of the inflation tool.

5. A bed according to claim 1, wherein the bed comprises a first air cushion member or a first group of air cushion members under the mattress near a first edge of the mattress and a second air cushion member or second a group of air cushion members under the mattress near an opposite edge of the mattress.

6. A bed according to claim 5, wherein said first and second cushion member or group of air cushion members are connected through said hose-connection to a com- mon air pump as part of the inflation tool, said common air pump being configured for inflation of said first and second cushion member or group of air cushion members.

7. A bed according to claim 6, wherein said device is configured for inflation of said first and second air cushion member or first and second group of air cushion members are inflated simultaneously by the common air pump.

8. A bed according to claim 6, wherein said inflation tool is configured for inflation of said first and second air cushion member or group of air cushion members followed by inflation and deflation of said second air cushion member or group of air cushion members.

9. A bed according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of air cushion members is provided integrated in a lower surface of the mattress and configured for lifting the mat- tress relatively to a support when the mattress is provided with its lower surface on the support and the air cushion members are inflated.

10. A mattress for a bed according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of air cushion members is provided integrated in a lower surface of the mattress and configured for lifting the mattress relatively to a support when the mattress is provided with its lower surface on the support and the air cushion members are inflated.

11. A method for lifting a mattress from a support as part of a bed with a device for positioning an element relatively to a surface, the device comprising a plurality of inflatable air cushion members of a flexible but non-stretchable air tight sheet material in hose-connection with an inflation tool; wherein each inflatable air cushion member is formed as a bag unit comprising opposite layers of said sheet material provided face to face and joined along an edge area to form a double layer edge; wherein the bag unit is flat in deflated condition; wherein the method comprises providing the first cushion member or group of air cushion members under the mattress and in abutment of the mattress near a first edge of the mattress and providing the second air cushion member or group of air cushion members under the mattress and in abutment of the mattress near an opposite edge of the mattress; connecting said first and second cushion member or group of air cushion members through said hose-connection to an air pump as part of the inflation tool and inflating said first and second cushion member to lift the mattress.

12. A method according to claim 11, wherein the air pump is a common air pump for inflation of all air cushion members.

13. A method according to claim 11, wherein the method comprises inflating the first cushion member or group of air cushion members while the second cushion member or group of air cushion members is deflated and thereby lifting a first edge of the mattress, and then deflating the first cushion member or group of air cushion members for lowering the edge side of the mattress; subsequently inflating the second cushion member or group of air cushion members while the first cushion member or group of air cushion members is deflated and thereby lifting the opposite edge of the mattress and then deflating the second cushion member or group of air cushion mem- bers to a state where the first and the second cushion members or groups of air cushion members both are deflated.

14. A method according to claim 11, wherein an air cushion member is provided under each of four corners of the mattress.

15. A method according to claim 14, wherein the air cushion members under each of the four corners are inflated simultaneously.