Abstract:
The present invention provides an air supply mattress control system for the release of air at a controlled pressure and temperature to a user. A mattress or support member is supplied with pressurized air and has a plurality of force activated nozzle valve assemblies positioned across the upper surface of the mattress. When the upper surface of the valves are forced downward, the valves can release air from a manifold within the mattress. The air can be conditioned and pressurized by a pump and an air conditioning unit. Operation controls can be conveniently positioned adjacent a bed frame for setting the operation conditions of the air mattress.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a mattress employing a jet of air to be used for preventing bedsores and a mattress control system. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     It would often happen that user of a mattress would suffer from bedsores when continuously lying on a bed utilizing a conventional mattress for a long time. Bedsores are mainly caused through friction between a user&#39;s skin and the bed sheet or through humidity. 
     Particularly humidity makes the skin of the user be sodden such that bacteria are apt to adhere to the sudden skin, and while it is considered that eliminating humidity is effective in preventing bedsores, it was actually impossible to effectively eliminate humidity from conventional mattresses. 
     The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and it is an object thereof to provide a mattress used for preventing bedsores or the like with which it is possible to effectively eliminate humidity. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     For achieving this object, the mattress used for preventing bedsores or the like according to the present invention is a mattress with a plurality of nozzle portions comprising valves being formed on an upper surface of the mattress, wherein the valves are opened only when pressure is applied on the nozzle portions from above for upwardly discharging air transmitted from an air supply device. 
     It is also possible to arrange the mattress used for preventing bedsores or the like according to the present invention with a plurality of nozzle portions comprising valves being formed on an upper surface of the mattress, wherein the valves are opened only when pressure is applied on the nozzle portions from above for upwardly discharging air transmitted from an air supply device, wherein each nozzle portion is comprised of a nozzle main body and a vertically moving body, the nozzle main body being of substantially a cylindrical shape including a valve seat in an interior thereof, and the vertically moving body being comprised of a valve body provided below the valve seat, a suspending body piercing through the valve seat and supporting the valve body from above, a peak portion for fixing an upper end of the suspending body to a lower surface thereof and including a plurality of pores, and a tubular body connected downward of the peak portion along a periphery thereof and guided by the nozzle main body. 
     It is alternatively possible to connect the air supply device and lower ends of the nozzle portions through tubes to enable a specification of nozzle portions to which air is to be supplied from the air supply device and nozzle portions to which air is not to be supplied, and to control timings for supplying air and temperatures of air to be supplied in accordance with positions for mounting the nozzle portions. 
     The mattress may also be an air mattress and the temperature of air to be supplied to the nozzle portions may be adjustable. 
     With the above arrangements, it is possible to provide a mattress used for preventing bedsores or the like with which it is possible to effectively eliminate humidity. 
     When using a modification of the mattresses as seats for vehicles such as automobiles, airplanes or trains, it is possible to eliminate stress (stuffiness, etc.) caused by continuously setting on seats, and users may spend the time during traveling in a convenient manner. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view schematically showing an arrangement of the bedsore-preventing mattress according to a first embodiment of the present invention. 
     FIG. 2 is a circuit view schematically showing an arrangement according to the above embodiment. 
     FIG. 3 is a partially enlarged perspective view schematically showing an arrangement according to the above embodiment. 
     FIG. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view schematically showing an arrangement of a main portion according to the above embodiment. 
     FIG.  5 (A) is a longitudinal sectional view schematically showing an arrangement of a main portion according to the above embodiment in which the valve is in a closed condition, and (B) is a longitudinal sectional view schematically showing an arrangement of a main portion according to the above embodiment in which the valve is in an open condition. 
     FIG. 6 is a longitudinal sectional view schematically showing a modified example of a main portion according to the above embodiment. 
     FIG.  7 (A) is a longitudinal sectional view schematically showing a modified example of the valve body according to the above embodiment, and (B) is a longitudinal sectional view schematically showing another modified example of the valve body according to the above embodiment. 
     FIGS.  8 (A), (B), (C) and (D) are longitudinal sectional views schematically showing modified examples of peak portions  20  according to the above embodiments, respectively. 
     FIG. 9 is a longitudinal sectional view schematically showing an arrangement of the bedsore-preventing mattress according to a second embodiment of the present invention. 
     FIG. 10 is a longitudinal sectional view schematically showing an arrangement of the mattress according to a third embodiment of the present invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Embodiments in accordance with the present invention will now be explained with reference to the drawings. 
     FIGS. 1 and 2 are a perspective view and a circuit view schematically showing an arrangement of the bedsore-preventing mattress D according to a first embodiment of the present invention. 
     A mattress  1  placed on a bed  2  is provided with a plurality of nozzle portions  3 ,  3  . . . on an upper surface thereof.  4  denotes a pump serving as an air supply device for transmitting air X to the nozzles  3 ,  3  . . . , and a operational unit  5  for operating the pump  4  is provided on a lateral side on a rear side of the bed  2 . Note that the pump  4  may be arbitrarily located when the pump does not oscillate or generate noise at the time of actuation and causes no danger when being approached or touched; otherwise, it is preferable to keep the pump away from a person using the bed  2  as far as possible. 
     The pump  4  is comprised of an air pump portion  6  and an air conditioning portion  7  connected to the air pump portion  6 , wherein the air pump portion  6  includes discharge outlets A, B and the air conditioning portion  7  includes a discharge outlet C. Air X discharged through the discharge outlets A and B is directly discharged from the air pump portion  6 , while air X discharged through the discharge outlet C is firstly transmitted from the air pump portion  6  to the air conditioning portion  7  to be adjusted in temperature in the air conditioning portion  7  before discharge. With this arrangement, operations for supplying and terminating air X from the discharge outlets A, B and C to the nozzle portions  3 ,  3  . . . can be performed by independently opening and closing the discharge outlets A, B and C so that it is possible to specify nozzle portions  3 ,  3  . . . to which air is to be supplied and nozzle portions  3 ,  3  . . . to which air is not to be supplied. 
     Note that the arrangement of the pump  4  is not limited to the above-described one, but may alternatively be arranged in that air X discharged through the discharge outlets A and B is once passed through the air conditioning portion  7  for temperature adjustment and returned to the air pump portion  6  to be discharged therefrom, or in that the air pump portion  6  and the air conditioning portion  7  are integrally formed, wherein temperatures, discharge speeds and discharge timings of air X to be discharged through the respective discharge outlets are independently controlled. It is further possible to employ an arrangement in which the discharge outlets A, B and C are closed or a power source for the pump  4  is switched OFF for terminating supply of air X upon detection of a specified pressure to thereby prevent inconveniences owing to excess supply of air X from the pump  4 . The number of discharge outlets A, B and C is not limited to three, and may be suitably varied depending on particular use. 
       8   a,    8   b  and  8   c  denote tubes or manifolds that are respectively connected to the discharge outlets A, B and C of the pump  4  at upstream sides thereof. Downstream sides of the respective tubes  8   a,    8   b  and  8   c  are multiply branched and downstream sides of the branched tubes are connected to the nozzle portions  3  provided on the upper surface of the mattress  1 . 
     FIG. 3 is a partial enlarged perspective view schematically showing the arrangement of the above embodiment. 
       9  denotes a net portion held by an outer frame  10  of the bed  2 , and the mattress  1  is placed on the upper side of the net portion  9  and the outer frame  10 . The mattress  1  is provided with a plurality of through holes  11 , wherein the branched tubes  8   a,    8   b  and  8   c  are inserted into these through holes  11  for connection with the nozzle portions  3 . It should be noted that  12  denotes a washer and  13  a sheet with breezing properties that is spread over the mattress  1 . 
     FIG. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view schematically showing the arrangement of the nozzle portions  3  of the above embodiment. 
     Each nozzle portion  3  is comprised of a nozzle main body  14  and a vertically moving body  15 , wherein the nozzle main body  14  is comprised of a substantially tubular large diameter portion  25  and a small diameter portion  26 , with a valve seat  16  being provided in an interior of the large diameter portion  25 . On the other hand, the vertically moving body  15  is comprised of a valve body  17  provided below the valve seat  16  of the nozzle main body  14 , a suspending body  18 , extending through a center of the valve seat  16  and supporting the valve body  17  from above, a peak portion or nozzle head  20  for fixing an upper end of the suspending and body  18  to a lower surface thereof and including a plurality of pores  19 ,  19  . . . , and a hollow cylendrical tubular body  21  connected downward of the peak portion  20  along a periphery thereof and guided along an inner side of an upper side of the large diameter portion  25  of the nozzle main body  14 . 
     The valve body  17  is configured to assume a tapered surface with an external surface becoming wider in approaching its lower side, and an external appearance of the peak portion  20  is configured to substantially assume a shape of a convex dome. A flange portion  25 ′ with an outer diameter larger than that of the large diameter portion  25  is provided on the upper end of the larger diameter portion  25 . 
     For connecting each nozzle portion  3  and tube  8  of the above arrangement, the small diameter portion  26  is inserted inward of a tip end of the tube  8  and connected through a suitable connecting means (e.g. clamping through a clamping tool or adhesion using adhesives). In this connected condition, air X may be supplied from the pump  4  to the nozzles  3 . 
     FIGS.  5 (A) and (B) are longitudinal cross sectional views schematically showing a closed condition and an open condition of one nozzle portion  3  of the above embodiment. 
     When no downward pressure is applied to the peak portion  20  formed on the top of the nozzle portion  3 , the valve body  17  is pushed upward through air pressure X from the upstream side as illustrated in FIG.  5 (A), such that the upper surface of the peak portion  20  is accordingly made to project upward from an upper end of the nozzle main body  14  while the valve seat  16  is closed by the valve body  17  to assume a closed condition of the valve. Thus, no discharge of air in the upward direction is performed through the nozzle portion. 
     When downward pressure P is applied to the peak portion  20  formed on the top of the nozzle portion  3 , the peak portion  20  will be pushed downward through pressure P while the valve body  17 , which closed the valve seat  16 , is simultaneously pushed downward as illustrated in FIG.  5 (B), such that a clearance  22  is formed between the valve seat  16  and the valve body  17  to assume an open condition of the valve. Thus, air X supplied from the pump  4  enters the tubular body  21  through the clearance  22  to pass through the pores  19 ,  19  . . . of the peak portion  20  and to be discharged upward of the nozzle portion  4 . 
     Referring to the above explanations more strictly, it is not that the valve assumes an open condition when downward pressure P is applied to the peak portion  20  and that the valve assumes a closed condition when no downward pressure P is applied to the peak portion  20 , but the valve assumes an open condition when the pressure P is larger than an applied pressure of air X pushing the valve body  17  upward, and the valve assumes a closed condition when this pressure is smaller than pressure P. 
     When the applied pressure of air X for pushing the valve body  17  upward is small (for instance, when air X is discharged just by spreading the sheet  13  on the upper surface of the mattress  1 ), it is possible to provide a spring  23  with suitable elasticity above the valve seat  16  as illustrated in FIG.  6 . 
     FIG.  7 (A) is a longitudinal sectional view schematically showing a modified example of the valve body  17  according to the above embodiment, and FIG.  7 (B) is a longitudinal sectional view schematically showing another modified example of the valve body  17  according to the above embodiment. 
     In FIG.  7 (A), the valve body  17  is formed to assume a flat shape and in FIG.  7 (B), the valve body  17  is formed to assume a dome-like shape. 
     FIGS.  8 (A), (B), (C) and (D) are longitudinal sectional views schematically showing modified examples of peak portions  20  according to the above embodiments, respectively. 
     In FIG.  8 (A), the peak portion  20  is formed to assume concave and convex shapes; in FIG.  8 (B), the peak portion  20  is formed to assume a flat shape; in FIG.  8 (C), the peak portion  20  is formed to assume a concave shape; and in FIG.  8 (D), the peak portion  20  is formed of a porous and elastic material (e.g. sponge). 
     FIG. 9 is a longitudinal sectional view schematically showing an arrangement of the bedsore-preventing mattress D 2  according to a second embodiment of the present invention. It should be noted that components that are identical to those of the first embodiment are marked with the same reference numerals and explanations thereof will be omitted. 
     The bedsore-preventing mattress D 2  is of a substantially identical arrangement as that of the first embodiment, the difference being the points that an air mattress  24  is used as the mattress  1 , that a single tube  8  is employed instead of the plurality of tubes  8   a,    8   b  and  8   c  wherein the tube  8  connects the pump  4  and the air mattress  24 , and that the nozzle portions  3  are replaced by nozzle portions  3 ′. 
     These nozzle portions  3 ′ are of substantially identical arrangement as the nozzle portions  3 , the only difference being that portions below the valve seat  16  of the nozzle main body  14  have been omitted. A male thread  14   a  is further formed around an outer periphery of the nozzle main body  14  of each nozzle portion  3 ′, and a packing  26  is provided between an upper side of the upper surface of the air mattress  24  and a lower surface of the flange portion  25 ′. By screwing a nut member  27  below the nozzle main body  14 , the nozzle portion  3 ′ is fastened to the air mattress  24 . 
     It should be noted that the second embodiment may be arranged in that temperature adjustments of air X supplied from the pump  4  are performed through the operating unit  5  or a similar arrangement. 
     FIG. 10 is a perspective view schematically showing an arrangement of the mattress D 3  according to a third embodiment of the present invention. 
     This mattress D 3  is of substantially an identical arrangement as that of the first embodiment, the differences being that the mattress is not used with a bed  2  but as a seat  28  for vehicles such as automobiles, airplanes or trains, and that the mattress  1  is used in a folded manner. Note that an air supply device (not shown) is provided on an upstream side of the tube  8  wherein this air supply device may not only be comprised of a pump but also of another suitable device (for instance, existing air supply devices for air conditioning purposes in case of airplanes). 
     With the above arrangements, stress (stuffiness, etc.) caused through continuously sitting on the seat  28  for a long time can be eliminated, and users may spend the time during traveling in a convenient manner. 
     According to the present invention of the above-described arrangement, it is made possible to provide a bedsore-preventing mattress for efficiently eliminating humidity. When this mattress is used as a seat in vehicles such as automobiles, airplanes, or trains, stress (stuffiness, etc.) caused through continuously sitting on the seat for a long time can be eliminated, and users may spend the time during traveling in a convenient manner.