CN87107987A

CN87107987A - Mat improvement

Info

Publication number: CN87107987A
Application number: CN87107987.9A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 库尔特·基莱恩
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1986-11-25
Filing date: 1987-11-24
Publication date: 1988-06-08
Also published as: AU8044587A; SU1526566A3; DE8717971U1; ES2008743A6; GB8727131D0; IT1198154B; GB2197785B; KR890003334A; IT8622441A0; DE3731828A1; AU594520B2; CA1285080C; CN1011854B; KR970001912B1; GB2197785A; IN168825B; IT8622441A1

Abstract

The mattress has an upper layer (14) moulded from a flexible deformable elastomeric material with upwardly but inclined transverse ribs (1) having flanges (2) which partially cover the spaces (3) between the ribs. The ribs (1) are inclined in different directions on both sides of the intermediate position (5) towards the respective terminal ends (4, 5). The spaces (3) between the ribs (1) are closed at their ends by side members (8). The component (8) is connected to a further layer (9) below the upper layer (14). The neck support (12) has a portion (13) which can be inserted into any space (3) between the ribs (1) to locate the member.

Description

Improvement of cushion

The present invention relates to cushions, and in particular to the surface structure on which a user lies or leans, although for convenience the technical requirements of the invention refer to a plain cushion, it should be clear that the same principles apply to the cushions of chairs or sofas.

More specifically, the invention discusses a mattress whose support surface is moulded from a durable, easily stretchable, elastomeric material and is provided with transverse ribs which are inclined in different directions according to their longitudinal position on the mattress, such a mattress being described in patent DE PS 3010122.

However, that type of mattress is not particularly comfortable, because the contact surface area provided by the cross-ribs is relatively small, the local pressure is high, and also when a person lies on it, the breathability is poor and the support position of the neck or cervical vertebrae is unstable.

The present invention aims to improve these characteristics.

According to the invention, the supporting layer of the pad is moulded from an elastic material which is easily stretchable and has two sets of transverse ribs projecting upwards and extending from a central position for supporting the waist to the two ends, each set of transverse ribs being inclined towards the connecting end thereof, the transverse ribs having in their upper part a flange which partially covers the spaces between the transverse ribs, the spaces being closed at both ends by elastic elements extending along the sides of the pad.

Preferably, the cross-ribs gradually change their thickness from an intermediate position that divides the pad length into about 2 to 3.

The support layer may be a composite structure consisting of several sections with different densities along the length, or may consist of just two sections, the density of which preferably ranges from 35 to 100.

The bottom surface of the support layer is typically joined to another layer of a resilient, easily stretchable material, which may be a composite structure having a central region of a density different from the rest of the structure, which is about 1/5 pad lengths.

This layer is itself attached to a third layer of easily stretchable elastomeric material underneath it, which can serve as a support surface when the mattress is turned over.

The height of the elastic elements on both sides of the pad is preferably equal to the total thickness of the layers, but is only connected to the intermediate and third layers, so as not to limit the movement of the transverse ribs.

A neck support may also be provided. Preferably, the cross-section is T-shaped or mushroom shaped, the stem being insertable between adjacent ribs, the upper end of the stem being fluted to receive the flanges of the ribs, but preferably both sides.

For a better understanding of the invention, an embodiment will now be described as an example, with reference to the following figures:

figure 1 is a top view of a mat,

figure 2 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the mat,

figure 3 is a cross-sectional view of the mat,

FIG. 4 is an enlarged partial cross-sectional view of the mat showing the cross-ribs and neck supports in longitudinal section.

The mattress is generally rectangular in plan, with an upper layer 14 of durable elastomeric material having transverse ribs 1 on which a user lies, and flanges 2 integrally moulded with the transverse ribs 1, on the upper part of the ribs, which partially cover the spaces 3 between the transverse ribs. As best seen in FIG. 4, the head of the pad is 4 and the foot is 5.

The flange can receive one or both sides of the cross-rib, since the space 3 is in fact bridged by the flange, which provides more surface area for contact with the body, and at the position marked "S" there is a dividing cross-rib with trapezoidal cross-section, whose parallel top end face is longer (in fact it is concave), and the cross-ribs 1 on each side of the dividing rib are inclined parallel to the nearest side of the dividing rib, the height of these cross-ribs being constant, but the thickness varies, increasing or decreasing from the position S. S is located at about 2/5 pad length from head 4, with the area centered on it for supporting the user' S waist.

For added comfort, the 6 sections of the layer 14, extending from the head 4 of the mat to 3/5 of the length of the mat, have a material density different from the 7 sections extending to the foot 5 of the mat, and may be selected to accommodate users of the mat, ranging from 35 to 100.

As can be seen from fig. 1 to 3, the cushion is surrounded on all sides by terminal and side parts 8, which are flush in height with the ribs 1, which mainly help to ventilate air, and they are also resilient, which when the ribs are bent create a bellows effect, the air in the space 3 cannot escape from both sides and thus flows upwards towards the lying person.

The upper layer 14 is joined to the intermediate layer 9 by a central support core 10 having a length of about pad length 1/5. the layer 9 is also made of a durable, resilient material and the core 10 may be denser than the remainder of the intermediate layer.

The next layer 11 is also a durable elastic material which is attached to the underside of the intermediate layer 9, and the layer 11 can lie down when the mat is turned over.

The terminal and side members 8 are as high as the mat and are joined to the

layers

9 and 11 at discrete points marked X in figures 1 and 3. When the two ends of the layer 14 are connected to the component 8, the two sides of the layer, in particular the two ends of the ribs 1, cannot be connected to the component 8, otherwise the bending of the transverse ribs will be limited or even arrested.

There is also provided a neck support 12 which can be mounted in an optional position to suit the user's length, in particular to accommodate different distances between the lumbar region and the cervical spine, the cross-section of the component 12 being generally T-shaped or mushroom-shaped, the stem of which can be inserted into any one of the spaces 3 between the transverse ribs, the thickness of the stem 13 being reduced in the transition region where the stem 13 joins the head of the neck support 12, forming slots 17, the flange 2 engaging exactly one of these slots. The clamping of the member 12, with flanges on both sides of the rib, will engage with both grooves 17, but even if the rib is a single flange, it is preferable to have two grooves 17, since it is not necessary to take care of which direction it should be when mounting the member 12.

For protection and comfort, the mattress is usually contained in an elastic or expandable cover 15, which is cotton fabric on top and which can be easily pulled on or replaced by a zipper 16.

Claims

1. A mat having a support layer, wherein the support layer of the mat is moulded from a flexible deformable elastomeric material and has two sets of upwardly projecting transverse ribs extending from a central location of the mat at the support waist to respective terminal ends, each set being inclined towards the attachment end. The upper part of the transverse rib is provided with a flange. Partially covering the spaces between the cross ribs, which spaces are closed at both ends by elastic members extending along the sides of the mat.

2. A mat as set forth in claim 1, wherein the thickness of the cross-ribs varies progressively from the intermediate position.

3. A mat as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein said intermediate positions divide the length of the mat by about 2 to 3.

4. A mat as claimed in claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein said support layer is a composite structure comprising a plurality of sections of different density along the length of the mat.

5. The mat of claim 4 wherein the mat has two such sections.

6. A mat as claimed in claim 4 or 5, wherein the density is in the range 35 to 100.

7. A pad according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the underside of the support layer is attached to a further layer of flexible resilient material.

8. The mat of claim 7 wherein said other layer is a composite structure having a central region of a different density than the other portions.

9. The mat of claim 8 wherein the central region is approximately 1/5 the length of the mat.

10. A mat as claimed in claim 7, 8 or 9. It is characterized in that the bottom surface of the other layer is connected with a third layer made of flexible and deformable elastic material, and the third layer can be used as a supporting layer when the mat is turned over.

11. A mat as set forth in claim 10, wherein said flexible side members have a height equal to the total height of said layers but only joined to said other layer and said third layer.

12. A mat as claimed in any preceding claim further comprising neck support means positionable in engagement with said cross-ribs.

13. A mat as set forth in claim 12, wherein said neck support members are generally T-shaped or mushroom-shaped in cross-section and the stems are insertable between adjacent cross-ribs.

14. The mat of claim 13 wherein the upper end of the stem has a groove for receiving the flange of the cross rib.

15. The mat of claim 14 wherein said stems have grooves on both sides.

16. A mat substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.