Abstract:
Supporting spring systems for mattresses or the like usually have slats which are mounted at their opposite ends on a frame by means of elastic bearing means. It is known to individually adapt the bearing means with regard to their spring properties to the individual lying thereon. However, this alone is not adequate for sick people. The supporting spring system according to the invention is designed in such a manner that at least individual slats can be individually raised and lowered in the regions of their bearing means. This enables the supporting spring system to execute any desired movements which are transferred via the mattress to the individual lying on it. These movements of the mattress enable, in particular, prevention or treatment of bed sores. In addition, these movements are also suitable for stimulating patients with certain clinical characteristics, in particular patients whose mobility is limited and thus suffer from lack of stimulus. The supporting spring system according to the invention may also be used in the treatment of pain.

Description:
STATEMENT OF RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]    This application is the US Chapter II National Phase of Patent Cooperation Treaty International Application No. PCT/EP02/10715, having an International Filing Date of 25 Sep. 2002, which designates the US, and which in turn claims priority on German Patent Application No. 101 48 569.7, having a filing date of 1 Oct. 2001. 
     
    
     
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    1. Technical Field  
           [0003]    The invention relates to a supporting spring system for mattresses or the like having slats which support the mattress or the like, and having bearing means which are assigned to opposite ends of the slats and are intended for elastically mounting the slats on a frame. The invention also relates to preferred uses of supporting spring systems of this type.  
           [0004]    2. Prior Art  
           [0005]    Supporting spring systems which are intended for mattresses or the like of furniture for sleeping on, lying on and/or sitting on and have resilient slats which are mounted elastically on a frame or other fixed objects by means of elastic bearing means are known. These slats run parallel to one another at fixed, usually equal distances apart. It is possible, by changing the elasticity of the bearing means, to adapt the spring properties of the supporting spring system to the needs of an individual lying on the mattress or the like.  
           [0006]    Individuals whose perceptive facility is limited or impaired, for example unconscious individuals, individuals whose mobility is severely limited, but also individuals at risk of bed sores and/or individuals suffering from chronic pain are exposed to various problems due to being confined to bed for a long period of time. These problems include, in particular, lack of stimulus, bed sores and pain caused by being in a lying position. Although known supporting spring systems for mattresses or the like can be adapted in their elasticity behaviour to the needs of the particular individual, they cannot or cannot in any case sufficiently solve the problems mentioned above in this way.  
         BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0007]    Starting from the above, the object of the invention is to provide supporting spring systems for mattresses, in particular, which make it possible to individually stimulate the individual lying on the mattress, and serve, in particular, for preventing and treating bed sores, for assisting in the treatment of pain and/or for preventing a lack of stimulus.  
           [0008]    A supporting spring system for achieving this object has the features of a supporting spring system for mattresses or the like, having slats which support the mattress or the like, and having bearing means which are assigned to opposite ends of the slats and are intended for elastically mounting the slats on a frame, characterized in that at least some of the slats can be moved up and down in a specifically controlled manner. Owing to the fact that at least some slats can be moved up and down in a specifically controlled manner, the supporting spring system according to the invention exerts movements on the underside of the mattress or the like, which are transferred to the individual lying on the mattress. On account of at least some slats being moved up and down in a specifically controlled manner, these slats can be individually raised, lowered and/or tilted. This enables the particular individual, in particular the patient, to be moved individually, specifically in accordance with his needs or requirements. The movements can be exactly proportioned and, if required, kept within narrow limits, which is important for assisting in the treatment of pain.  
           [0009]    The slats can preferably be moved up and down at their opposite ends. This movement can be controlled in such a manner that the ends of the particular slat are moved up and down to the same extent (synchronously), so that the slat does not change its inclination. However, if required the ends of at least some slats may also be raised to different extents or one end is raised and the other end is lowered, so that the inclination of the slat concerned changes.  
           [0010]    Corresponding, individual control of a plurality of slats, a plurality of groups of slats or even all of the slats enables any desired movements to be brought about, specifically undulatory movements, movements on an inclined plane or even a rotation. To this end, at least some slats can be moved up and down by means of lifting elements which are assigned to their opposite ends and are preferably designed in the manner of air springs.  
           [0011]    According to one preferred refinement of the invention, the lifting elements are arranged in the regions of the bearing means of the slats, and are preferably assigned to the bearing means. This enables the lifting elements to be accommodated in a space-saving manner at the ends of the slats and, if necessary, to be integrated in the bearing means. It is also possible for the lifting elements in the regions of the bearing means or even in the bearing means to be used to support or override the spring properties of the bearing means.  
           [0012]    The lifting elements are preferably designed as bellows-like hollow bodies. These can be moved up and down as desired, in particular in a specifically proportioned manner, with a fluid, it being possible for this to be a liquid or a gas. The hollow bodies are preferably moved up and down with a gas, in the simplest case air, the compressibility of the gas resulting in gentle, jerk-free movements of the individuals.  
           [0013]    A further supporting spring system for achieving the object mentioned at the beginning has the features of a supporting spring system for mattresses or the like, having slats which support the mattress or the like, and having bearing means which are assigned to opposite ends of the slats and are intended for elastically mounting the slats on a frame, characterized in that the bearing means have hollow bodies or the hollow bodies are assigned to the bearing means, the hollow bodies being connected to fluid lines for individually feeding the hollow bodies with a fluid and/or for individually conducting the fluid out of the hollow bodies. Owing to the fact that at least some of the hollow bodies or those hollow bodies which are assigned to the slats are connected to fluid lines which can be fed individually with a fluid, each hollow body can, if necessary, be individually and specifically supplied with a fluid and therefore pressurized, and also the pressure in the particular hollow body can be individually reduced. This enables any desired movements of the slats. In particular, the slats or the ends of the slats can obtain sensitive lifting movements, as a result of which the individual lying on the particular mattress can be stimulated in a specific manner. The movements can be controlled in a manner adapted to the clinical characteristics of the particular individual.  
           [0014]    The supporting spring system according to the invention is preferably designed in such a manner that the bearing means have spring elements for elastically mounting the ends of the slats, preferably all of the slats, and in addition the hollow bodies which are assigned to at least some slats change the elasticity of the mounting of these slats. Changes of the pressure in the hollow bodies enable the spring properties of the bearing means concerned to be changed in a specifically controlled manner. In addition, those ends of the slats to which hollow bodies are assigned can be moved individually, namely can execute lifting movements directed upward and downward. The hollow bodies are preferably designed in such a manner and assigned to the ends of the slats in such a manner that the lifting movement take place perpendicularly with respect to the longitudinal axis of the slats and therefore perpendicularly with respect to the plane of the mattress or the like. However, in the process the inclination of the mattress can also be changed by the lifting elements at opposite ends of at least one slat being involved to different extents in executing correspondingly controlled lifting movements. Moreover, in addition, specifically controlled lifting movements of the individual hollow bodies make possible changes in the surface of the mattress, specifically also dynamic changes in the surface by the latter following, for example, a continuous undulation and/or rotational movement. To this end, individual hollow bodies, in particular groups of hollow bodies, to which one or more slats are assigned, can be acted upon by different pressures.  
           [0015]    To individually change the pressures in the hollow bodies, each hollow body can preferably be fed with a fluid by a dedicated fluid line. The particular fluid line can be supplied with the desired pressure, and also vented, individually via a corresponding fluid supply device and/or a valve unit. The pressure in each desired hollow body can be controlled as required by a control device. The control device can be controlled both manually and also in accordance with predetermined programs. The programs of the control device can be selected with regard to the particular type of stimulation depending on the needs of the person resting in each case on the mattress or the like. In addition, the control device permits certain stimulation patterns, in which the upper side of the mattress is transferred into an undulatory movement, rotational movement, an inclined position or vibrating movements.  
           [0016]    The supporting spring systems described above are suitable in particular for treating and preventing bed sores, for promoting perception, for preventing lack of stimulus and/or for assisting in the treatment of pain. The supporting spring systems according to the invention cause a person lying on a mattress, in particular of a bed, to be stimulated. Various basal stimulations are possible here, specifically, for example, somatic, vestibular, vibratory, oral, auditory, tactile and haptic and/or visual stimulations. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0017]    A preferred exemplary embodiment of the supporting spring system according to the invention is explained in greater detail below with reference to the drawing, in which:  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 1 shows a plan view of a supporting spring system of which part is illustrated in simplified form.  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 2 shows a side view of a bearing means together with a mounting of a lateral end of a slat.  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of a lifting element in the region of one end of a spring slat together with part of a controlling means. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0021]    The supporting spring system shown here serves as a support for at least one mattress or other base of a bed, or a piece of furniture for lying on or sitting on.  
         [0022]    The supporting spring system has a plurality of elongate slats  10 . The slats  10 , which are preferably of identical design and in particular of equal length, are spaced apart parallel to one another in the direction transverse to the longitudinal direction  11  of the supporting spring system. The slats  10  are preferably at an equal distance from one another, but may also vary in distance from one another in some regions. The supporting spring system shown here also has two bar elements  12  which (in the present case) are of identical design and run in the longitudinal direction  11  of the supporting spring system, specifically parallel to each other. Elastic bar elements  12  of this type are known, for example, from DE 199 45 724 A1, to which reference is made in full in this respect. The bar elements  12 , which are of identical design, are assigned to opposite longitudinal edges of the supporting spring system and bound them. The bar elements  12  are supported on longitudinal struts (not shown) of a bed or of a frame. The slats  10  are connected in opposite end regions to the bar elements  12 . The bar elements  12  form elastic bearing means for the ends of the slats  10 . The bar elements  12  serve at the same time to hold and to guide the slats  10  at their opposite ends, so that the slats  10  essentially retain their relative arrangement with respect to one another.  
         [0023]    The invention is not restricted to the mounting shown here of the slats  10  on elastic bar elements  12 . On the contrary, it is also conceivable to assign any other desired bearing means to the ends of the slats  10  and, as a result, to mount the slats  10  in an elastically moveable manner on longitudinal struts of a frame, a bed or the like.  
         [0024]    In the exemplary embodiment shown, at least some slats  10  are assigned a plurality of supporting plates  13 . One slat  10  may have a plurality of supporting plates  13  which are preferably at uniform distances apart. The supporting plates  13  of adjacent slats  10  are offset in relation to one another in such a manner that the supporting plates  13  of adjacent slats  10  are staggered with respect to one another (FIG. 1).  
         [0025]    According to the invention, the supporting spring system has lifting elements  14  which are designed and operate in the manner of air springs. In the exemplary embodiment shown, each end of each slat  10  is assigned a lifting element  14 . As a result, each slat  10  has two lifting elements  14 . The lifting elements  14  are all of essentially identical design. It is conceivable for only certain slats  10  to be assigned lifting elements  14  at opposite ends. The remaining slats  10  are then mounted on the bar elements  12  in a manner known from DE 199 45 724 A1.  
         [0026]    In the exemplary embodiment of the invention that is shown here, the lifting elements  14  are arranged in regions of the bar elements  12 . The lifting elements  14  are situated between adjacent supporting legs  15 ,  16  of the bar elements  12 , namely in longitudinal grooves  17  between the two supporting legs  15  and  16  of the particular bar element  12 , which supporting legs run parallel at a distance from each other. For reasons of simplicity, FIG. 1 shows only two lifting elements  14  which are assigned to the opposite ends of a slat  10 . However, identical lifting elements  14  are also assigned to the remaining slats  10 .  
         [0027]    One of the lifting elements  14  of identical design is shown in FIG. 3. The upper side of this lifting element  14  has a clip head  18  which has a rigid, planar head plate  19  on the lower side. The clip head  18  is provided with an upper side of an elastic bellows  20  via the head plate  19 . The bellows  20  forms in its interior a cavity  21  which can be acted upon by a fluid, air in the exemplary embodiment shown. On the lower side, the bellows  20  is connected to a base plate  22  with which the lifting element  14  is supported on the bottom of the longitudinal groove  17  of the particular bar element  12  and therefore on or against the longitudinal strut, to which the bar element  12  concerned is assigned. The base plate  22  has an air connection (not shown in FIG. 3) which is connected to an air line which, in the exemplary embodiment shown, is arranged in the interior of a connecting component  23 . A free end of the connecting component  23  that protrudes out of the base plate  22  is assigned a valve unit  25  accommodated in a housing  24 . The valve unit  25  has a valve (not shown) which can be controlled electrically. The electric control lines (not shown in FIG. 3) can be connected releasably to the valve of the valve unit  25  via a connector  26 . The valve unit  25  is also connected to an air line (likewise not shown). It is conceivable to assign two air lines to the valve unit  25 , specifically a compressed air line and an outgoing air line.  
         [0028]    The electric control lines of the valve units  25  of all of the lifting elements  14  are connected to a common, central controlling means (not illustrated in the figures). Furthermore, at least the compressed-air lines of the valve units  25  of all of the lifting elements  14  are connected to a common air supply device, preferably a pump. In the simplest case, the pump maintains a certain predetermined air pressure in each compressed-air supply line. However, it is also conceivable to control the pump from the central control device and as a result in particular to predetermine the pressure of the pump in accordance with the requirements or else to change it.  
         [0029]    The controlling means, which is preferably a programmed controlling means, enables each valve unit  25  to be controlled individually. This makes it possible for each individual lifting element  14  to be individually supplied with compressed air, as a result of which the particular bellows  20  expands upward and therefore raises the clip head  18  of the lifting element  14 . Connecting the end of a slat  10  to the particular clip head  18  of the lifting element  14  concerned enables the lifting movement of the bellows  20  to be transferred to the relevant end of a slat  10  which is therefore raised at the end perpendicularly with respect to its longitudinal direction. In order to lower the relevant end of the slat  10 , the cavity  21  in the bellows  20  is completely or at least partially vented by the valve unit  25 , as a result of which the bellows collapses to the desired extent and the clip head  18  together with the end of the slat  10  that is fastened to it is thereby lowered.  
         [0030]    Different lifting movements of the mattress, or preferably of part of the same, are possible by means of appropriate programs of the control unit. In the simplest case, all of the lifting elements  14  are raised and lowered simultaneously (synchronously), as a result of which the entire mattress is moved up and down vertically and the shape of the surface of the mattresses does not change substantially. It is also conceivable, by means of an appropriate controlling means, for only all of the lifting elements  14  on one side of the mattress, i.e. all of the lifting elements  14  assigned to a lateral beam element  12 , to be raised or lowered simultaneously while the lifting elements  14  situated on the other side remain unactuated. This results in a sloping position of the mattress or in a tilting of the mattress about the longitudinal direction  11 . It is also conceivable to move all of the lifting elements  14  on the one side and at the same time to lower all of the lifting elements  14  on the other side. As a result, the mattress can be tilted about a maximum angle.  
         [0031]    Another movement program makes provision to simultaneously raise and lower the slats  10  gradually on both sides in the longitudinal direction  11 . For this purpose, the lifting elements  14  assigned to the two opposite sides of a slat  10  are in each case actuated simultaneously. Consecutive raising and/or lowering of the slats  10  in the longitudinal direction  11  of the supporting spring system enables a continuous undulatory movement to be produced on the mattress surface. A further possibility of moving the mattress involves first of all on one side, i.e. along a beam element  12 , raising and again lowering the lifting elements individually one after another in the longitudinal direction  11 . After the lifting movement along a bar element  12  on one side has taken place, it is continued by the opposite bar element, specifically counter to the longitudinal direction  11 . This enables the individual lying on the mattress to experience a type of rotational movement. The above-described types of movement of the mattress and of the individual lying on it can be expanded as desired and so the invention is not restricted to the movement possibilities described above. In particular, any desired combinations of the movements of individual lifting elements  14  are conceivable.  
         [0032]    It is also possible, as required, to switch off the automatic controlling means at least temporarily and to control the lifting elements  14  manually. This is preferably undertaken by an individual who is lying on the mattress and who can therefore control and influence the movements in a manner perceived to be the most pleasant. This applies in particular in the case of the supporting spring system according to the invention being used for the treatment of pain. The controlling means can also be used to individually control the lifting distances and/or the raising and lowering speed of the lifting elements  14 . It is also conceivable to arrange the lifting elements  14  or air springs having an identical effect as supporting and stimulating elements on the surface of the bed or even to assign them to the bed cover. It is furthermore possible to design the freely programmable controlling means of the lifting elements  14  in such a manner that they permit feedback. To this end, physiological data of the individual lying on the mattress, in particular his movements, are measured and the measured values are used by the controlling means to control the movements of the lifting elements  14  in a specific manner. The measurement for example of the movement of an individual lying on the mattress can take place by a determination of the internal pressure in the bellows  20  or in the air feed line to the bellows  20 . The controlling means makes it possible, by means of an appropriate selection of the program, for the lifting elements  14  to move the mattress both periodically and also regularly, in particular quasi-periodically. It is also possible, in addition to the abovementioned feedback values, for other signals to enter the controlling means, for example acoustic signals, specifically, in particular, music signals. Visual signals, for example color signals, can also be processed by the controlling means as required.  
         [0033]    The supporting spring system according to the invention, in particular the means of controlling the movements of the bed, furniture for lying on or sitting on that are brought about by the supporting spring system serve for stimulation purposes, in particular basal stimulating care of unconscious individuals, individuals on respirators, disorientated individuals, somnolent individuals, individuals with skull and brain trauma, patients with hypoxic brain damage, individuals with Alzheimer&#39;s, patients whose mobility is restricted, disabled individuals and/or premature babies. The stimulation may be somatic stimulation, vestibular stimulation, vibratory stimulation, oral stimulation, auditory stimulation, tactile and haptic stimulation, visual stimulation and combinations of the abovementioned types of stimulation. The effect of the stimulation is, in particular, the elimination of a lack of stimulus. The stimulation brought about by specific movement in particular of the mattress serves, in particular, for preventing and/or treating bed sores. In addition, the stimulations also serves to assist in the treatment of pain and/or to promote perception.  
         [0034]    List of Reference Numbers  
         [0035]    [0035] 10  Slat  
         [0036]    [0036] 11  Longitudinal direction  
         [0037]    [0037] 12  Beam element  
         [0038]    [0038] 13  Supporting plate  
         [0039]    [0039] 14  Lifting element  
         [0040]    [0040] 15  Supporting leg  
         [0041]    [0041] 16  Supporting leg  
         [0042]    [0042] 17  Longitudinal groove  
         [0043]    [0043] 18  Clip head  
         [0044]    [0044] 19  Head plate  
         [0045]    [0045] 20  Bellows  
         [0046]    [0046] 21  Cavity  
         [0047]    [0047] 22  Base plate  
         [0048]    [0048] 23  Connecting component  
         [0049]    [0049] 24  Housing  
         [0050]    [0050] 25  Valve unit