Abstract:
A twist rolling bed, adapted for health care for use in a hospital, home, health club, etc, comprises a stationary bed frame longitudinally inclined by an inclining device having a support assembly thereon to roll a mattress support assembly, a saddle assembly providing a center support for the mattress support assembly, and a vibrating system with a motor to reciprocate the mattress support assembly which is has a motor crank assembly, a connecting rod assembly. The mattress support assembly is torsionally flexible and comprises of a plurality of pipes on a plane whose ends are rotatably, pivotally, and slidably inserted into holes on a central line of two rectangular bars. The pipes ride on the saddle assembly, whereas the two rectangular bars are carried by the support assembly. Alternatively, the mattress support assembly described above could be replaced by a rigid assembly.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention generally relates to rolling beds, chairs and twist rolling beds, and more particularly, to a twist rolling bed which provides a human body with physical twist and rolling exercises, and also enables the changing of sleeping posture for health care reasons in a room, hospital, or an office room. 
     Various beds and chairs that provide for the changing of sleeping or sitting positions statically are known. Beds or chairs, however, which provide the human body with dynamic and continuous rolling or twist rolling, or changing of position either during sleep or at other times, are not available. 
     For instance, the prior art includes Japanese Pat. Nos. 62-38970, 60-5292, and 60-57327; Utility Model Public Open Nos. 64-28152, 63-38862, 63-128848, 61-45852, 61-107350, and 62-11457; and U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,227,269 and 4,628,556 each of which statically change position or posture before sleep, but not during sleep. 
     My earlier invention, a rolling bed and chair, described in a Patent application filed on Jul. 9, 1990 in the Patent and Trademark Office of the Republic of Korea, has following disadvantages: 
     Its first disadvantage is that, because a crank arm is made of a single rod, a shearing force between the crank arm and the connecting rod could be hazardous to a baby who might crawl under the bed. Second, it has no energy saving device. Third, a stop position after rolling was not specified. Fourth, its operational time is not specified. Fifth, its amplitude of vibration is not adjustable. Sixth, its longitudinal inclining device is not attached. Finally, it has no capability for a twist rolling operation. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     An object of the present invention, is to provide a human body with forced rolling and massage exercises continuously, periodically and/or arbitrarily, as well as to provide various sleeping postures such as upright or inclined left or right. Another object is to provide the human body with forced twist rolling exercises and other things. These exercises will expedite blood circulation and digestion and thereby facilitate recovery and increase metabolism. This is accomplished by exercising the intestines and muscles, twisting backbones, and sliding bones relative to each other. Further, the blood circulation will be affected in various parts of the human body because of changing pressure caused by gravity since various parts will be released and placed under pressure by the various movements of the present invention. In other words, blood circulation will be expedited because various body parts will be pressurized or released from pressure continuously and periodically, which is preferable to a body condition in which parts are continuously pressured, even if the continuous pressure is less than peak pressure of the changing pressure. 
     Accordingly, it is the object of the invention is to provide a rolling bed and a rolling chair which can supply continuous periodic and arbitrary rolling exercises or twist rolling exercises to the human body, especially to the intestines for, health care. 
     A further object of the present invention is to substitute a circular crank plate of the motor crank assembly for the crank arm. 
     A still further object of the invention is to provide the rolling bed with an energy saving device. 
     Another object of the invention is to provide beds with the specific stop position at any time during operation. 
     An additional object of the invention is to provide these beds with longitudinal inclining devices. 
     An even further object of the present invention is to provide the beds and chairs with an easily adjustable crank arm assembly allowing for adjustment during operation. 
     A rolling bed, according to an aspect of the present invention, comprises: a mattress support; a bed frame; a support assembly attached to both ends of a central longitudinal axis of the bed frame supporting, longitudinally and rotatably, the mattress support; an inclining device having two bolts with one at each corner of one end of the bed frame, respectively; an energy saving device including springs attached to the four corners of the bed frame by spring housings; and a vibrating system including a connecting rod assembly, a motor crank assembly, and an electric control switch board, attached on a corner of the bed frame, for reciprocating a corner of the mattress support. 
     A rolling chair is similar to the rolling bed except that a chair is substituted for the mattress support. 
     A twist rolling bed is similar to a rolling bed except that the mattress support is replaced by a mattress support assembly. A saddle assembly is additionally included at a longitudinally middle part of the bed frame to allow the mattress support assembly to twist rollingly. The mattress support assembly is constructed of rectangular frame support bars which have pivotable shaft bearings in circular holes and a plurality of circular pipes having both ends inserted into the pivotable shaft bearings of the rectangular frame support bar. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a rolling bed embodying the present invention; 
     FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a electrical control switch board embodying the present invention; 
     FIG. 3 is an expanded front elevational view of a circular crank plate embodying the present invention; 
     FIG. 4 is an expanded rear elevational view of a circular crank plate embodying the present invention; 
     FIG. 5 is an expanded front elevational view of a motor stop circular switch embodying the present invention; 
     FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a connecting rod assembly embodying the present invention; 
     FIG. 7 is a perspective view of crank pin bolts and nuts embodying the present invention; 
     FIG. 8 is an elevational perspective view of an adjustable crank arm assembly embodying the present invention; 
     FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a rolling chair embodying the present invention; 
     FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a twist rolling bed embodying the present invention; and 
     FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a manual twist rolling bed embodying the present invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Referring FIG. 1, a rolling bed 1 provides a human body with rolling pleasure, massage, and posture change during sleeping, especially for health care, continuously or periodically or arbitrarily at any time. The rolling bed 1 comprises, a mattress support 15, a bed frame 3, a support assembly 12, a inclining device 14, an energy saving device 13, and a vibrating system 150. 
     The support assembly 12, see FIGS. 1 through 8, comprises bolts 5, post stands 7, posts 9 inserted into the post stands 7 and having bolt holes 11 with bolts 11&#39; therein, and bearing housings 17&#39; rotatably connected to the post holes 11 by bolts 11&#39; and its bearing holes (not shown). The support assembly is bolted firmly to both ends of a central longitudinal axis of the bed frame 3 and supports, longitudinally and rotatably, the mattress support 15. The mattress support 15 and bed frame 3 can be constructed of rigid plywood or a metal structure. The mattress support 15 supports a mattress 10. 
     The inclining device 14 is constructed of two bolts 89 bolted to each corner of one end of the bed frame 3. 
     The energy saving devices 13 are constructed of four coil springs 92 engaging corners of the mattress support 15 and freely inserted into the spring housings 90. The energy saving devices are firmly and perpendicularly attached at the corners of the bed frame 3. 
     The vibrating system 150 comprises connecting rod assembly 16, motor crank assembly 17, and electrical control switch board 18 of FIG. 2. 
     The connecting rod assembly 16, see FIGS. 1 and 6, is constructed of a connecting bolt 29 with one end connected to a rod bearing housing 25 having a female thread 36 and locked by a lock nut 27. The connecting rod assembly 16 also comprises a rod bearing 23 and rod bearing hole 35. The connecting bolt 29 is also connected to another rod bearing housing 25&#39; whose bearing hole 35 (not shown) is connected two side plates 31&#39; on both sides by their bolt holes 30 which rotatably connect the connecting rod flange 19 by their holes 33, 21 and a bolt and nut (not shown). Connecting rod flange 19 is finally connected to the under corner of the mattress support 15 by its holes 20 and bolts (not shown). 
     The bearing hole 35, shown in FIG. 6, is connected, by a bolt 37 shown in FIG. 7 and nuts 39, 41, respectively to one of the crank arm pin bolt holes 45A, B, C, or D of the circular crank plate 44 shown in FIGS. 3, 4, and 5, to adjust the radius of the crank arm and to reciprocate the connecting rod assembly 16. The motor crank assembly 17 is constructed by connecting the circular crank plate 44 to the roller cam 55 with fastening bolt 57. A variable speed motor 59 comprises a motor shaft 51 which is connected to crank flange 49 through shaft hole 50 with lock bolt 53. 
     Referring to FIG. 5, the motor stop circular switch plate 63 has motor stop position switches 65A, 65B and 65C and stop switch cam follower 66A, 66B and 66C mounted thereon. The motor stop circular switch plate 63 has a hole at its center for receiving the motor shaft 51 therethrough and is supported by the stays 61. Signals generated by the cam 55, cam follower 66 and switches 65 are received by the electric control switch board 18 through the signal receiving socket 75 and the signal sending plug 73. The motor 59 is controlled by sending electric power from the switch board 18 through the power source socket 67 and plug 69. The electric power is conveyed to the switch board 18 through a switch board power source plug 71. The switch board 18 comprises mattress support stop position selector switch 79, push-on/push-off switch 77, timer selector switch 81, twenty-four hour timer switch 83, operation timer switch 85, and stop timer switch 87. 
     The electric control switch board 18 can control the rolling bed 1 with five different operations. The first operation is a manual switch on-off operation. When the push-on/push-off switch 77 in FIG. 2 is &#34;on,&#34; the mattress support 15 starts to roll, and and when it is &#34;off&#34; it stops only at the horizontal position of the support 15 in response to signals generated by the motor stop position switch 65 A in FIG. 5 motivated by the stop position cam follower 66A which is pushed out by the roller cam 55 in FIG. 4. 
     The amplitude of the rolling of the mattress support 15 depends on the selection of the crank arm pin bolt hole 45, and its speed depends on a reduction gear (not shown) connected to the motor 59. The amplitude and speed of the rolling can be selected by the user. A motor brake (not shown) is installed in the motor 59 in order to hold the mattress support 15 horizontal when the motor is stopped. 
     A second operation employs a horizontal stop and automatic twenty-four hour operation cycling operation. When the push-on push-off switch 77 is &#34;off&#34;, the mattress support stop position selector switch 79 is at the &#34;A&#34; position, and the timer selector switch 81 is at &#34;24&#34;, the mattress support 15 will operate and stop according to the twenty-four hour timer switches 83 and stop only at the horizontal position. The specific hourly operation depends upon the setting of the twenty-four hour timer switches 83. For instance, if the twenty-four hour timer switches 83 are set for 15 minutes, then one every four unit switches 84 are &#34;on&#34; and rest are &#34;off&#34;. At this setting, the mattress support 15 will roll for fifteen minutes and stop for forty-five minutes at its horizontal position. More specifically, ninety-six fifteen-minute time unit switches 84 are disposed along the circular periphery of the timer switch 83. Therefore, the mattress support 15 could be rolled and stopped for any of the specific fifteen minute unit by setting the corresponding one of the fifteen-minute time unit switches 84. 
     A third operation employs a horizontal stop and automatic any rolling time period--any stop time period operation. In the third operation, the timer selector switch 81 is switched to &#34;120&#34; from &#34;24&#34;, the operation timer switch 85 is selected for its operation time period, for instance, 0-120 minutes, and the stop timer switch 87 is selected for its stop time period, for instance, 0-60 minutes. In this setting, the mattress support 15 will be rolling for the predetermined time period of the operation timer switch 85. and will stop at its horizontal position for the predetermined time period of the stop timer switch 87. 
     A fourth operation employs alternately stopping the automatic twenty-four hour operation cycling operation. Under this operation, motor 59 is driven selectively during the twenty-four hour period, but the mattress support stop position selector switch 79 is switched to &#34;ABC&#34; from &#34;A&#34;. This setting controls the mattress support 15 to stop alternately at the horizontal, leftward inclined, and rightward inclined position in turn, because the motor stop position switches, 65A for horizontal position, 65B, for leftward inclined position, and 65C, for rightward inclined position, alternately stop the mattress support 15. 
     A fifth operation employs alternative stops in conjunction with any rolling time period--any stop time period operation. According to the fifth operation, the selector switch 79 is switched to &#34;ABC&#34; position from the &#34;A&#34; position controlling the mattress support 15 to stop in the three possible. The mattress support 15, however, rolls as described in the third operation. 
     The inclining device 14 in FIG. 1 has 2 inclining adjustable bolts threaded at the side longitudinal end covers of the bed frame 3 which is inclined by turning the bolts 89. The degree of the inclination shall be determined by the user. 
     The four springs 92, each freely inserted into a different one of the four spring housings 90, are firmly and perpendicularly attached at the corners of the bed frame 3. When one side of the support 15 starts to come down, two side springs 92 are compressed, and then extended as the one side starts to come up. This action reduces peak energy consumption, thereby minimizing the motor&#39;s 59 capacity. 
     A second embodiment for the adjustable crank arm assembly 43 is shown in both FIG. 8, is different from the crank assembly of FIG. 3, and is infinitely adjustable. The crank arm assembly 43 has a rectangular groove 91 formed radially through the center of the circular crank plate 44. At both ends of the groove 91, two brackets 97 with bolt holes (not shown) and a shaft hole 93 are bolted to the crank plate 44 with bolts 99. A screw shaft 95 attached with a handle 101 passes rotatably through both shaft holes 93. A crank pin block 105 is screwed onto the screw shaft 95 between the bracket 97 and is slidable along the groove 91 when the handle 101 is rotated. Screwed crank pin 103 is perpendicularly attached for engaging the connecting rod assembly 16. Likewise the length of the crank arm is controlled. On the rear face of the crank plate 44 the roller cam 55 is fastened to the plate 44 by the roller cam fastening bolt 57. 
     The rolling chair 2 shown in the FIG. 9 is constructed similarly to the rolling bed 1 of FIG. 1, except that a chair 107 is substituted for the mattress support 15 and the mattress 10. Here, inclining device 14 and energy saving device 13 are excluded. 
     The twist rolling bed 3 shown in the FIG. 10 is similar to the rolling bed 1 of FIG. 1 except for two major differences. First, the mattress support assebmly 31 has a different structure from the mattress support 15 which it replaces. Second, the twist rolling bed 6 includes saddle assembly 33 to support a latitudinal axis of the mattress support assembly 31. 
     As shown in the FIG. 10, the mattress support assembly 31 comprises a plurality of mattress support pipes 113 constructed of metal or plastic. The mattress support pipes 113 are pivotally, rotatably, and longitudinally slidably, placed into circular holes 115 drilled along central line of rectangular frame support bars 111 and 112. Each end of the outermost pipes of the plurality of pipes 113 is are inserted slidably into the pivotable shaft bearing 117 and tightly inserted through the bigger outermost circular holes 115 and held in place by nuts (not shown). 
     The saddle assembly 33 comprises a round saddle support bar 119, elbows 121, posts 123, post strands 125, and bolts and nuts 127. The round saddle support bar 119 supports the middle of each of the mattress support circular pipes 113 but allows them to roll freely. The round saddle support bar 119 connects with the right angle elbows 121 by thread which in turn connect to posts 123 also with threads. The posts 123 are perpendicular to the bed frame 3 and tightly inserted to posts stands 127 which are firmly attached to the frame 3 by bolts and nuts 125. As shown in the FIG. 10, the mattress support assembly 31 freely rides on saddle assembly 33. Therefore, when an end of the frame support bar 111 is pulled down, the opposite end of frame support bar 111 comes up because of the pivoting point of the bolt hole 11. Further, the opposite fram support bar 112 responds oppositely to the frame support bar 111&#39;s movement. Consequently, the mattress support assembly 31 undergoes a twisting motion and making the human body twist with it. This twist rolling bed does not require the energy saving device 13 because of the saddle assembly 33. 
     Another embodiment of FIG. 11 is a manaul twist rolling bed obtained by replacing the vibrating system 150 of the twist rolling bed of FIG. 10 by a manual vibrating system 134. As shown in the FIG. 11, two post stands 125&#39; are bolted to the bed frame 3 near the post 9 and between the post 9 and the post 123. A &#34;U&#34; shaped manual lever bridge 129 was inserted into post 125&#39; that has a lever 131 with a hole formed therein. A lever 133 has two lever handlses 135 which are horizontal and perpendicular to it and rotatably pinned by a bracket pin 132. One end of the lever 133 is pivotally connected to a manual connecting rod 139 which is ringed to an outermost support circular pipes 113. The other end of level 133 could be secured to the manual lever bridge 129 by lever holder 141 holes by sliding forward and backward. While sleeping it is secured so that the mattress support assembly 31 may maintain its horizontal position. During exercise, it is released so that a patient can push and pull level 133 with lever handles 135 simultaneously and alternately with both hands making the mattress assembly 31 twist and roll. 
     The mechanism comprising the post stand 125&#39;, manual bridge 129, lever bracket 131, lever pin 132, lever 133, lever handle 135, lever pin 137, manual connecting rod 139, and lever holder 141 is called manual vibrating system 134. 
     For easier whole body twist exercises, the vibrating system and the manual vibrating system could simultaneously be operated. 
     For the simplicity of the drawings, the headboard and the footboard found in conventional beds have been eliminated. 
     Without further analysis, the forgoing will so fully reveal the gist of the present invention that others can, by applying current knowledge, readily adapt it for various applications without omitting features that, from the standpoint of prior art, constitute essential characteristics of the generic and specific aspects of my contribution to the art and, therefore such adaptions should and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalence of the claims.