Patent Publication Number: US-8535252-B1

Title: Therapeutic bed

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a therapeutic bed and more particularly, to a bed with a plurality of coil springs, at least one coil spring holder, a vibration longitudinal shaft member and at least one motor that provides a massaging function to a user. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     Therapeutic bed is well known in the art which uses air bags or water containers. However, since air or water is displaced when pressure due to the weight of the user is applied on such mattresses, the pressure force is generally not concentrated at the desired regions of the user&#39;s body such as joints, bones, or muscles that require therapeutic massaging to relieve stress. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,769,864 issued to the present inventor discloses a therapeutic bed including a plurality of parallel wires for defining a bed floor. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,958,627 also issued to the present inventor discloses an improved therapeutic bed including a plurality of parallel rubber wires placed on a bed frame, and a vibrating motor and an intermittent hitting plate operatively associated with the rubber wires for massaging the human body. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 6,723,059 also issued to the present inventor discloses an improved therapeutic bed including rope elements secured to an upper surface of the bed frame. 
     Although these therapeutic beds offer various benefits, they may have some limitations. Specifically, there is a limitation that the rope elements secured to an upper surface of the bed frame may lose their elasticity as times goes by, which can cause shortening of the lifespan of these therapeutic beds. Further, the elasticity of the rope elements may not adequately and efficiently transmit the vibration generated by the motors to the user of the bed. Therefore, there is a need for further improving the massaging effect and the durability of a therapeutic bed. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention provides a therapeutic bed having an improved massage capability and durability, which provides satisfaction to the user of the bed. 
     The present invention provides a therapeutic bed which addresses the limitations and disadvantages associated with the related art therapeutic beds. 
     According to the principles of the present invention and in accordance with one embodiment, the therapeutic bed according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a bed frame; at least one spring holder, each extending along a first direction of the bed frame and including a plurality of first channels provided at a top area of the at least one spring holder; a plurality of coil springs disposed respectively in the plurality of first channels of the at least one spring holder, each of the plurality of coil springs extending along a second direction of the bed frame between two sides of the bed frame; at least one vibration shaft member disposed below the at least one coil spring holder and extending along the first direction of the bed frame; and a motor configured to generate vibration to the at least one vibration shaft member, wherein the vibration is transferred from the at least one vibration shaft member to the plurality of coil springs through the at least one spring holder. 
     In accordance with another aspect of the invention, each of the at least one spring holder further includes at least one second channel provided at a bottom area of the each of the at one spring holder. 
     In accordance with another aspect of the invention, the at least one second channel includes a plurality of second channels provided at the bottom area of the each of the at least one spring holder, each of the plurality of second channels being disposed between two adjacent first channels among the plurality of first channels. 
     In accordance with another aspect of the invention, each of the at least one spring holder further includes a plurality of protruding portions for fixedly securing the each of the at least one spring holder to the at least one vibration shaft member. 
     In accordance with another aspect of the invention, each of the protruding portions of each of the at least one spring holder includes a plurality of thru holes for inserting therein fixing members for fixedly securing the corresponding protruding portion to the at least one vibration shaft member. 
     In accordance with another aspect of the invention, each of the plurality of first channels has a “C” shape. 
     In accordance with another aspect of the invention, the at least one spring holder includes a plurality of spring holders lined up against one another so as to form a line extending along the first direction of the bed frame. 
     In accordance with another aspect of the invention, the therapeutic bed further includes a plurality of supporting members respectively disposed below the plurality of coil springs, and connected to the two sides of the bed frame. 
     In accordance with another aspect of the invention, the therapeutic bed further includes a pair of tapered beams disposed on a top surface of each of the plurality of supporting members and below each of the plurality of coil springs, and extending along the second direction of the bed frame. 
     In accordance with another aspect of the invention, the first direction of the bed frame is substantially perpendicular to the second direction of the bed frame. 
     In accordance with another aspect of the invention, the plurality of coil springs are disposed substantially parallel to each other with certain intervals therebetween. 
     In accordance with another aspect of the invention, the plurality of coil springs substantially fill up a laying area of the therapeutic bed. 
     In accordance with another aspect of the invention, the therapeutic bed further includes pairs of connecting members fixed to inner parts of the bed frame and disposed at certain intervals along the two sides of the bed frame. 
     In accordance with another aspect of the invention, end parts of each of the plurality of coil springs are engaged with each pair of the connecting members. 
     In accordance with another aspect of the invention, the bed frame includes a pair of longitudinal frames, a pair of traverse frames connected to the pair of longitudinal frames, and a plurality of base legs connected at least one of the longitudinal frames and the traverse frames. 
     In accordance with another aspect of the invention, the motor is disposed below a middle area of the at least one vibration shaft member. 
     In accordance with another aspect of the invention, only one motor is provided in the therapeutic bed. 
     Other objects and further scope of applicability of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description given hereinafter. It should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating preferred embodiments of the invention, are given by way of illustration only, since various changes and modifications within the spirit and scope of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from this detailed description. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The present invention will become more fully understood from the detailed description given below and the accompanying drawings are given by way of illustration only and thus are not limitative of the present invention, and wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a therapeutic bed according to one embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a sectional view taken along line I-I′ of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a sectional view taken along line II-II′ of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view of one example of a coil spring holder of the therapeutic bed of  FIG. 1 ; and 
         FIG. 5  is a sectional view taken along line II-II′ of  FIG. 1  showing another example of a coil spring holder of the therapeutic bed according to one embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     For the purpose of illustrating the preferred embodiments of present invention, the drawings will be described in great detail. 
       FIG. 1  illustrates a perspective view of a therapeutic bed  100  according to one embodiment of the present invention. 
     As shown in  FIG. 1 , the therapeutic bed  100  includes a bed frame  1  having a plurality of base legs  2 , a pair of longitudinal frames  4  connected to the base legs  2  and extending along an X-direction, and a pair of traverse frames  6  connected to the base legs  2  and the longitudinal frames  4  and extending along a Y-direction. These components of the bed frame  1  can be fixedly attached using known attaching techniques or can be formed integrally. 
     Further, the therapeutic bed  100  includes a plurality of coil springs  30 , each extending along the Y-direction. Each coil spring  30  includes a coil spring part  30   a  and two end parts  30   b  disposed at the ends of the coil spring part  30   a . The coil spring part  30   a  is composed of a spring that is coiled and extending along the Y-direction. The two end parts  30   b  of each coil spring  30  are fixedly and respectively attached to the pair of longitudinal frames  4 . Preferably the coil springs  30  are lined up parallel or substantially parallel to each other with certain spaces therebetween, and are disposed along the entire length (X-direction) of the frame  1  so as to occupy the entire space (or substantial portion thereof) between the pair of traverse frames  6 . The coil springs  30  could be made of any materials that have good physical properties such as elasticity and tensile strength. 
     The therapeutic bed  100  further includes one or more coil spring holders  34  extending in the X-direction of the bed  100 , and one or more longitudinal shaft members  40  (see  FIG. 2 ) which are disposed below and connected to the coil spring holders  34  and extend in the same X-direction. Each coil spring holder  34  has a plurality of channels  36  (see  FIG. 4 ) for receiving therein the coil springs  30  respectively. The coil spring holder  34  will be described later in more detail referring to  FIGS. 3 and 4 . 
     The therapeutic bed  100  further includes at least one motor  50  (shown in  FIG. 3 ) which is connected to the longitudinal shaft members  40  connected to the coil spring holder(s)  34 . The motor  50  preferably is a vibrating motor or a motor that generates vibration. Thus, when the motor  50  is activated to generate vibration (e.g., when the user turns on a switch), this vibration is transferred to the longitudinal shaft member(s)  40  due to the connection between the motor(s)  50  and the shaft member(s)  40 . Then due to the connection between the shaft member(s)  40  and the coil spring holder(s)  34 , the vibration is further transferred from the shaft member(s)  40  to the coil spring holder(s)  34 , which in turn cause the coil springs  30  disposed on the coil spring holder(s)  34  to vibrate. 
     The vibration of the coil springs  30  provides a massaging effect to a user who lies on the therapeutic bed  100 . Preferably to provide cushion, some layer of cushion, pad, foam mattress, blanket, etc. is provided over the coil springs  30  so as to cover the entire laying area of the bed  100 . The user then can lie on the cushion layer of the bed  100  above the vibrating coil springs  30 , e.g., in the X-direction so as to enjoy the vibrating and massaging effects of the bed  100 . 
       FIG. 2  is a sectional view taken along line I-I′ of  FIG. 1  according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
     As shown in  FIG. 2 , under each coil spring  30 , a supporting member  8  extending in the Y-direction is disposed. The ends of the supporting members  8  are connected to the inner sides of the longitudinal frames  4  respectively. In one example, the plurality of the supporting members  8  are respectively positioned directly below the plurality of coil springs  30 . The supporting members  8  are lined up parallel with each other at certain intervals, along the entire length direction (X-direction) of the bed  100 , and are fixed to the longitudinal frames  4 . Further, a pair of tapered beams  10  is mounted on the top surface of each of the supporting members  8 . Thus, under each coil spring  30 , one pair of tapered beams  10  and the supporting member  8  may be provided. The thicker sides of the pair of tapered beams  10  are attached to the inner sides of the longitudinal frames  4 . The beams  10  are preferably tapered so as to create sufficient space in which the coil springs  30  can vibrate. 
     Thus, by providing the plurality of supporting members  8  that are disposed directly under the coil springs  30  and are fixed to the longitudinal frames  4 , the structural integrity and durability of the bed frame  1  is strengthened. Further, by providing the tapered beams  10  under each coil spring  30 , the structural stability and durability of the bed frame  1  is further improved while providing a sufficient area in which the coil springs  30  can vibrate, which is beneficial. 
     To securely fix the coil springs  30  to the longitudinal frames  4 , a plurality of connecting members  32  are mounted along the inner sides of the longitudinal frames  4 . The connecting members  32  can be hooks, loops, or any other known mechanism for securely fixing component to each other. In the example of  FIG. 2 , a row of the connecting members  32  is disposed along each of the two inner sides of the frames  4  so that the connecting members  32  can be engaged with the end parts  30   b  of the coil springs  30 . Particularly, a head  32   a  of each connecting member  32  is disposed within each slot  4   a  provided in each of the longitudinal frames  4  so that the connecting members  32  can be fixed to the longitudinal frames  4 . The connecting members  32  are further attached securely to the longitudinal frames  4  by a plurality of plates  4   b  and are fastened by one or more bolts  22  and nuts  24  or other fastening means to the bed frame  1 . As a result, the coil springs  30  are securely and operatively connected to the bed frame  1 . Since the coil springs  30  have great elasticity and durability compared to rubber wires or ropes of the related art, the bed  100  having such coil springs  30  according to the present invention greatly improves the transmission of vibration created by the motor  50  to the user lying on the therapeutic bed  100 . 
       FIG. 3  is a sectional view taken along line II-II′ of  FIG. 1  according to an embodiment of the present invention and  FIG. 4  is a perspective view of one example of the coil spring holder  34  of the therapeutic bed of  FIG. 1 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 3 , the therapeutic bed  100  includes one or more coil spring holder  34  for supporting the plurality of coil springs  30 . Each coil spring holder  34  includes a plurality of first channels (or grooves)  36  disposed on a top portion of the spring holder  34  for receiving the coil springs  30  therein. The shape of each of the first channels  36  can vary as long as it can securely hold the coil springs  30  therein. For instance, the first channels  36  can be in a shape of a partial or substantial cylinder such that each first channel  36  defines a shape of letter “C”. Further, each coil spring holder  34  includes a plurality of second channels  37  disposed on a bottom portion of the spring holder  34 , and a plurality of protruding portions  38  disposed on a bottom end portion of the spring holder  34  for securely fixing the spring holder  34  to the shaft member(s)  40  via bolts and nuts  42  and  44 . 
     Preferably, the second channels  37  could be made on the bottom portion of the spring holder  34  at respective positions between the first channels  36  formed on the top portion of the spring holder  34 . The length of the coil spring holder  34  can vary depending on the number of coil springs  30  needed for the entire bed frame  1 . The bed frame  1  can have a single coil spring holder  34  that extends along the entire length of the bed frame  1  (X-direction) to support the coil springs  30  therein, or can include a plurality of coil spring holders  34  aligned next to each other to extend along the entire length of the bed frame  1  as shown in  FIG. 3 .  FIG. 4  shows an example of a coil spring holder  34  having a fixed length and configuration, which can be used in the latter case. 
     For instance, as shown in  FIG. 4 , each coil spring holder  34  can have a fixed number of the first channels  36  (e.g., twelve first channels), a fixed number of the second channels  37  (e.g., nine second channels) disposed between the first channels  36 , a fixed number of the protruding portions  38  (e.g., two protruding portions). In this example, each of the protruding portions  38  has a pair of thru holes  38   a  for receiving the bolts  42  and nuts  44  (or other fasteners) used to securely fix the coil spring holder  34  to the shaft member(s)  40 . A plurality of the coil spring holders  34  of  FIG. 4  can then be disposed to abut against each other along the length direction (e.g., X-direction) of the bed frame  1  as shown in  FIG. 3 . These spring holders  34  can receive the coil springs  34  in their first channels  36 . In one example, about six or more of the spring holders  34  of  FIG. 4  can be lined up along the X-direction of the bed frame  1 . Preferably, the line of the spring holders  34  can cross a middle area of the bed frame  1  along the entire length direction of the bed frame  1 , so that the coil springs  30  are securely disposed in the bed  100 . In another example, multiple parallel lines of the spring holders  34  may cross the bed frame  1  along the entire length direction (X-direction 0  of the bed frame  1  to support the coil springs  30  therein at multiple locations. 
     The shape of the first channels  36  of the spring holders  34  functions to hold the coil springs  30  securely. In one example, since the shape of the first channels  36  is the letter “C” or the like, the coil springs  30  are securely disposed in the first channels  36  without being easily removable therefrom. The bottom surface configuration of the spring holder  34  having the second channels  37  allows the coil spring holder  34  (or a substantial portion thereof) to be separated from the portion of the vibration longitudinal shaft member(s)  40  so that a substantial part of the coil spring holder  34  can vibrate without contacting the vibration longitudinal shaft member  40 . At the same time, since the protruding portions  38  of the spring holder  34  are securely fixed to the portions of the shaft member  40 , the vibration of the shaft member  40  (due to the vibration of the motor  50 ) can be effectively transferred to the spring holder  34  for vibrating the coil springs  30 . 
     Therefore, the transmission of the vibration from at least one motor  50  to the user lying on the therapeutic bed  100  is improved efficiently and smoothly. In addition, since the coil spring holder(s)  34  securely hold the coil springs  30  for vibration, the balanced or uniform vibration can be generated by the coil springs  30 . Accordingly, by introducing the coil spring holder(s)  34  and the coil springs  30  in the therapeutic bed  100 , the present invention improves the transmission of vibration synergistically and efficiently along the entire bed  100  so that an improved and cost-effective therapeutic bed having a messaging function is created. 
     As shown in  FIG. 3 , the vibration longitudinal shaft member  40  is fixedly attached to the protruding portions  38  of the coil spring holder  34 . This fixing can occur using any known fixing technique, e.g., bolts  42  and nuts  44  or other known fasteners as discussed above. The vibration longitudinal shaft member  40  could be made of any material capable of transmitting the vibration of the motor to the spring holder  34 . One or more shaft members  40  can be disposed below the spring holders  34 , and can have any length and/or width to correspond with the length and/or width of the coil holder(s)  34  extending along the bed frame  1 . 
     The motor  50  is attached below the vibration longitudinal shaft member(s)  40 . Preferably, only one motor  50  is used for each therapeutic bed  100  since the transmission of the vibration from the motor  50  to the coil springs  30  is effectively made in the present invention. However, if desired, multiple motors  50  may be used. Further, due to the use of the one motor  50 , electric power used by the therapeutic bed  100  can be reduced, which can save the operation cost of the bed  100  for the user. The motor  50  can be disposed below the vibration longitudinal shaft member(s)  40  by using fasteners such as bolts  52  and nuts  54 . In this regard, other fastening members can be used. The motor  50  could be disposed anywhere below or adjacent to the vibration longitudinal shaft member(s)  40 . Preferably, the motor  50  may be disposed at a center area of the bed  100  below the vibration longitudinal shaft member(s)  40  for an effective transmission of the motor vibration to the entire therapeutic bed  100 . However, other locations are possible for the motor  50 . 
       FIG. 5  is a sectional view taken along line II-II′ of  FIG. 1  showing another example of the coil spring holder of the therapeutic bed according to one embodiment of the present invention. The coil spring holder of  FIG. 5  is the same as that of  FIG. 3 , except that the shape of the second channels  37  is different from that of  FIG. 3 . In  FIG. 5 , the second channels  37  have a trapezoidal shape. However, other shapes are possible, such as semi-circle, a rectangle, etc. In another example, the coil spring holder  34  can be without the second channels  37  such that it has a single flat bottom surface below the coil springs  30 . 
     Although the therapeutic bed  100  shown in  FIG. 1  is in a rectangular shape, the therapeutic bed  100  can be in any other shape such as a square, an oval, etc. Further, although the therapeutic bed  100  of  FIG. 1  has four base legs, the present invention is not limited thereto and can have other numbers depending on the shape, size and design of the bed. Moreover, any number of coil springs, coil spring holders, fasteners, first channels, second channels, protruding portions, motor, etc. can be used in the various embodiments of the present invention, and can have various shapes, sizes, and configurations as needed. 
     Therefore, the present invention provides an improved therapeutic bed. The transmission of the vibration and durability of the therapeutic bed is improved through introducing the coil springs  30  and the uniquely designed coil spring holder(s)  34  for the coil springs  30 . Consequently, the user can enjoy the improved therapeutic bed that has a better massaging effect and durability in a cost-effective manner. 
     The present invention is by no means restricted to the above-described preferred embodiments, but covers all variations that might be implemented by using equivalent functional elements or devices that would be apparent to a person skilled in the art, or modifications that fall within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.