JP7748189B2 - Cushion body - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a cushion body that can be used in mattresses, etc.

Conventionally, cushion bodies for supporting users, such as mattresses and sofa cushion products, have been widely used. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a mattress that has a mattress cushion that can be divided into multiple cushion bodies in the longitudinal direction and a mattress cover that can accommodate the mattress cushion, on which a user can lie. In this case, a three-dimensional filament bonded body is used as the cushion body.

International Publication No. 2018/150815

For products using cushioning bodies such as those mentioned above, it is extremely important that they feel good to the touch when in use. While preferences vary from user to user, the feel generally preferred by many users is the soft feel of pressing against the air layer when the body is placed on a mattress or similar (the so-called fluffy feel).

In view of the above-mentioned problems, the present invention aims to provide a cushion that makes it easier for the user to feel a soft and fluffy sensation when they place their body on it.

The cushion body of the present invention is a cushion body that supports a user on the upper side, with an upper cushion unit and a lower cushion unit stacked one above the other, each formed to include a cushion member. An intermediate member is interposed between the upper surface of the lower cushion unit and the lower surface of the upper cushion unit so as to surround the central region of the upper cushion unit when viewed from above. This configuration makes it easier for the user to feel a soft and fluffy sensation when they place their body on it. Note that "surrounding the central region" here is not limited to a form that completely surrounds the central region with no gaps, but also includes a form that can be said to substantially surround the central region even though there are gaps.

More specifically, the intermediate member may extend along the outer edge of the upper cushion unit in a top view, surrounding the inside. Also more specifically, the above configuration may include an upper cover member that covers the upper cushion unit and a lower cover member that covers the lower cushion unit, and the intermediate member may be provided with a fastener that detachably connects the upper cover member and the lower cover member.

More specifically, the upper cushion unit may be configured by placing a pad member with a lower resilience than a first cushion member on top of a first cushion member that is a three-dimensional filament assembly obtained by three-dimensionally fusion-bonding filaments made of thermoplastic resin.

More specifically, the lower cushion unit may be configured by placing a pad member with a lower resilience than a second cushion member on top of a second cushion member that is a three-dimensional filament assembly obtained by three-dimensionally fusion-bonding filaments made of thermoplastic resin.

More specifically, the second cushion member may have an upper layer layered on top of a lower layer, with the upper layer having a lower resilience than the lower layer. The cushion body may also be a mattress.

The cushion body of the present invention makes it easier for the user to feel a soft and fluffy sensation when they place their body on it.

1 is a schematic side cross-sectional view of a mattress M1 according to this embodiment. 1 is a schematic structural diagram of the upper unit 1 of the mattress M1 viewed from below. 1 is a schematic diagram of the lower unit 2 of the mattress M1 viewed from above. FIG. A schematic side cross-sectional view of mattress M2. 1 is a schematic structural diagram of the upper unit 1 of the mattress M2 viewed from below. 1 is a schematic diagram of the lower unit 2 of the mattress M2 viewed from above. FIG.

An exemplary embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to the drawings. In the following description, the up-down, left-right, and front-to-back directions are as shown in Figure 1 and elsewhere. In this embodiment, the up-down direction corresponds to the vertical direction, the front-to-back direction corresponds to the height direction of a user lying supine on a mattress, and the left-to-right direction corresponds to the left-to-right direction as seen from the user's perspective.

Figure 1 is a schematic side cross-sectional view of a mattress M1 according to this embodiment. The mattress M1 is formed by connecting an upper unit 1 and a lower unit 2 disposed below it with a fastener 3, and is capable of supporting a user lying down on the upper side. Figure 2 is a schematic diagram of the upper unit 1 as viewed from below, and Figure 3 is a schematic diagram of the lower unit 2 as viewed from above.

The upper unit 1 has a first cushion member 11, a first pad member 12, and an upper cover member 13. The first cushion member 11 is a three-dimensional filament bonded body obtained by three-dimensionally fusing and bonding filaments made of thermoplastic resin, and is a cushion member formed into a plate-like shape that is rectangular when viewed from above and has a thickness extending from top to bottom.

The three-dimensional filament bonded body has good breathability and is easy to wash with water, making it excellent for hygienic use. Since the manufacturing method for three-dimensional filament bonded body is well known, a detailed explanation will be omitted here. In this embodiment, the thickness of the first cushion member 11 is approximately 3.5 cm.

The first pad member 12 is a plate-shaped member that is rectangular when viewed from above and has a thickness extending vertically, and is positioned above the first cushion member 11. The shape and dimensions of the first pad member 12 when viewed from above are the same as those of the first cushion member 11, and the positions of the outer edges of the first pad member 12 and the first cushion member 11 when viewed from above are generally the same. The first pad member 12 is made of, for example, a polyester material, and has a sufficiently lower resilience than the first cushion member 11, providing a very soft feel.

The upper cover member 13 is made of thin fabric and covers the first cushion member 11 and the first pad member 12 (hereinafter, these may be collectively referred to as the "upper cushion unit C1"). The upper cover member 13 completely covers the top surface and the front, rear, left and right sides of the upper cushion unit C1, and is formed to cover part of the underside of the upper cushion unit C1 (the underside of the first cushion member 11).

Explaining in more detail, as shown in Figure 2, the upper cover member 13 has an opening 13a that exposes most of the area of the underside of the first cushion member 11 near the center when viewed from above. As a result, the upper cover member 13 only covers the areas near the front, back, left and right outer edges of the underside of the first cushion member 11. Note that the upper cushion unit C1 can be inserted into or removed from the interior of the upper cover member 13 via the opening 13a.

A zipper 3 is provided around the edge of the opening 13a, extending almost around the entire circumference. The zipper 3 can also be seen as extending along the outer edge of the upper cushion unit C1 when viewed from above, surrounding the inside. The zipper 3 is made of a material such as metal or plastic, and is sufficiently hard compared to the other components of the mattress M1, including the upper cushion unit C1 and the lower cushion unit C2, which will be described later.

The lower unit 2 has a second cushion member 21, a second pad member 22, and a lower cover member 23. The second cushion member 21 consists of a front second cushion member 21a, a middle second cushion member 21a, and a rear second cushion member 21c arranged in the front-to-rear direction. Each of the second cushion members 21a-21c is a three-dimensional filament bonded body obtained by three-dimensionally fusion-bonding filaments made of thermoplastic resin. It is a plate-shaped cushion member with its thickness extending from top to bottom, and each is formed to the same shape and dimensions. In this embodiment, the thickness of each of the second cushion members 21a-21c is approximately 20 cm.

The front second cushion member 21a has an upper layer 21a2 stacked on top of a lower layer 21a1, with the upper layer 21a2 having a lower resilience than the lower layer 21a1. The middle second cushion member 21b has an upper layer 21b2 stacked on top of a lower layer 21b1, with the upper layer 21b2 having a lower resilience than the lower layer 21b1. The rear second cushion member 21c has an upper layer 21c2 stacked on top of a lower layer 21c1, with the upper layer 21c2 having a lower resilience than the lower layer 21c1. In this way, the second cushion member 21 has a configuration in which layers with different resilience are stacked one above the other.

Each of the second cushion members 21a-21c can be formed, for example, by forming the lower and upper layers separately and then bonding them together using adhesive or other means. However, each of the second cushion members 21a-21c may also be formed as an integrated body in which the lower and upper layers are integrated from the beginning. Such cushion members can be achieved, for example, by using a relatively thicker filament or increasing the bulk density of the filament in the area with the higher repulsive force during the manufacture of the integrated body (three-dimensional filament assembly).

The second pad member 22 is a plate-shaped member that is rectangular in top view and has a thickness direction extending vertically, and is disposed above the second cushion member 21. The shape and dimensions of the second pad member 22 in top view are the same as those of the second cushion member 21, and the positions of the outer edges of the second pad member 22 and the first cushion member 21 in top view generally coincide. The second pad member 22 is formed from, for example, a polyester material, and has a sufficiently lower resilience than the second cushion member 21 and an extremely soft feel.

The lower cover member 23 is made of thin fabric and covers the second cushion member 21 and the second pad member 22 (hereinafter, these may be collectively referred to as the "lower cushion unit C2"). The lower cover member 23 completely covers the lower surface and the front, rear, left, and right sides of the lower cushion unit C2, and is formed to cover part of the upper surface of the lower cushion unit C2 (the upper surface of the second pad member 22).

As shown in FIG. 3, the lower cover member 23 has an opening 23a that exposes most of the area of the upper surface of the second pad member 22 near the center when viewed from above. As a result, the lower cover member 23 only covers the areas near the front, rear, left, and right outer edges of the upper surface of the second pad member 22. The lower cushion unit C2 can be inserted into or removed from the interior of the lower cover member 23 via the opening 23a.

A zipper 3 is provided around the edge of the opening 23a, extending almost around the entire circumference. The zipper 3 can also be seen as extending along the outer edge of the lower cushion unit C2 when viewed from above, surrounding the inside. The zippers 3 provided on the upper cover member 13 and the lower cover member 23 overlap when viewed from above, and opening and closing the zipper 3 allows these cover members 13, 23 to be detachably connected.

By connecting these cover members 13, 23, the upper unit 1 and lower unit 2 are integrated to form the mattress M1. Furthermore, by opening the fasteners 3 and separating the upper unit 1 and lower unit 2, it becomes easier to carry and it also becomes possible to wash the cushion units C1, C2 and the cover members 13, 23 separately. The outer edges of the upper cushion unit C1 and the lower cushion unit C2 when viewed from above are roughly aligned, and the overall shape of the mattress M1 formed when the fasteners 3 are closed is roughly rectangular.

The mattress M1 described above takes advantage of the body pressure distribution provided by the first cushion member 11, which has relatively high resilience characteristics, while also being configured with a soft first pad member 12 on top of it. This allows the user to feel a softness as an initial sensation when they lay their body on the mattress M1.

Furthermore, in mattress M1, fasteners 3 (corresponding to the intermediate member of the present invention) are interposed between the upper surface of lower cushion unit C2 and the lower surface of upper cushion unit C1 so as to surround the central region of upper cushion unit C1 when viewed from above. As a result, a space SP (which can also be seen as an air layer) corresponding to the height (vertical dimension) of fasteners 3 is likely to form in the region surrounded by fasteners 3 between the upper surface of lower cushion unit C2 and the lower surface of upper cushion unit C1.

As a result, when a user places their body on the mattress M1, the upper cushion unit C1 and the lower cushion unit C2 come into contact with one cushion between them. This makes it easier for the user to feel a soft sensation (a so-called fluffy feeling) as if they are pressing against the air layer when they place their body on the mattress M1. In particular, in this embodiment, the fastener 3 extends along the outer edge of the upper cushion unit C1 when viewed from above, surrounding the inside, so that the space SP is formed over as wide an area as possible when viewed from above, making it possible to enjoy a fluffy feeling over a wide area.

When the user places their body on the mattress M1, the air in the space SP gradually leaks out through the gaps in the zipper 3 and the upper and lower cover members 13, 23. If the degree of sealing of the space SP is set so that the air leaks out slowly, the user can enjoy an even softer feeling.

Furthermore, the second cushion member 21 of the mattress M1 has a lower resilience in the upper layer, which is relatively closer to the user, giving it a soft feel, while the resilience of the lower layer is higher than that of the upper layer. This minimizes deterioration (sagging, etc.) of the mattress M1 over long periods of use. In this embodiment, the second cushion member 21 is formed by arranging multiple cushion members 21a-21c in a front-to-back fashion, but it may also be formed as a single cushion member.

Furthermore, in mattress M1, openings 13a and 23a are provided in the upper cover member 13 and the lower cover member 23, respectively, but one or both of these openings 13a and 23a may be omitted. Figure 4 is a schematic side cross-sectional view of mattress M2 in which neither of these openings 13a and 23a is provided.

Figure 5 is a schematic diagram of the upper unit 1 of mattress M2 viewed from below, and Figure 6 is a schematic diagram of the lower unit 2 of mattress M2 viewed from above. In mattress M2 without an opening, a separate opening for loading and unloading the upper cushion unit C1 is provided in the upper cover member 13, and a separate opening for loading and unloading the lower cushion unit C2 is provided in the lower cover member 23.

In mattress M2, as shown in Figure 5, the upper cover member 13 covers the entire underside of the upper cushion unit C1, and in this covered portion, the fasteners 3 extend along the outer edge of the upper cushion unit C1 as viewed from above, surrounding the inside. Also, as shown in Figure 6, the lower cover member 23 covers the entire upper surface of the lower cushion unit C2, and in this covered portion, the fasteners 3 are located in the same position as the fasteners 3 on the upper cover member 13 as viewed from above.

By closing the fastener 3, the upper cover member 13 and the lower cover member 23 can be connected to form mattress M2. As with mattress M1, the fastener 3 also helps to create space SP in mattress M2, making it easier for the user to feel a soft, fluffy sensation when they lay down on it.

As explained above, the mattress according to this embodiment is a cushion body that supports the upper user, with an upper cushion unit C1 and a lower cushion unit C2 stacked one on top of the other, each of which is formed to include a cushion member. An intermediate member is interposed between the upper surface of the lower cushion unit C2 and the lower surface of the upper cushion unit C1, surrounding the central region of the upper cushion unit C1 when viewed from above. This mattress therefore makes it easier for the user to feel a soft and fluffy sensation when they lay down on it.

In this embodiment, a fastener 3 is used as the intermediate member, but the specific form of the intermediate member is not particularly limited as long as it does not deviate from the spirit of the present invention. Furthermore, in this embodiment, a mattress is used as an example of a cushion body, but the cushion body of the present invention is not limited to this and can be used for various other cushion products.

Although the above describes an embodiment of the present invention, the configuration of the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. In other words, the above embodiment is illustrative in all respects and should be considered not to be limiting. The technical scope of the present invention is defined by the claims, not the description of the above embodiment, and should be understood to include all modifications that fall within the meaning and scope of the claims.

The present invention can be used for cushioning bodies used in mattresses, etc.

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 Upper unit 11 First cushion member 12 First pad member 13 Upper cover member 13a Opening 2 Lower unit 21 Second cushion member 21a Front second cushion member 21a1 Lower layer of front second cushion member 21a2 Upper layer of front second cushion member 21b Middle second cushion member 21b1 Lower layer of middle second cushion member 21b2 Upper layer of middle second cushion member 21c Rear second cushion member 21c1 Lower layer of rear second cushion member 21c2 Upper layer of rear second cushion member 22 Second pad member 23 Lower cover member 23a Opening 3 Fastener

Claims (7)

A cushion body in which an upper cushion unit formed to include a first cushion member and a lower cushion unit formed to include a second cushion member are stacked one on top of the other, and which supports a user on the upper side,
an intermediate member is interposed between an upper surface of the lower cushion unit and a lower surface of the upper cushion unit so as to surround a central region of the upper cushion unit when viewed from above,
The second cushion member is a plurality of cushion members arranged in the front-rear direction,
a lower cover member that covers the lower cushion unit, and the lower cushion unit can be removed from inside the lower cover member through an opening provided in the lower cover member ;
the lower cushion unit has the second cushion member and a second pad member disposed above the second cushion member,
The second cushion member has an upper layer portion stacked on top of a lower layer portion, and the upper layer portion has a lower resilience than the lower layer portion . The cushion body according to claim 1 , wherein the second pad member has a lower repulsive force than the second cushion member. 3. The cushion body according to claim 1, wherein the intermediate member extends along an outer edge of the upper cushion unit in a top view so as to surround the inside thereof. an upper cover member that covers the upper cushion unit;
The intermediate member is provided with a fastener that detachably connects the upper cover member and the lower cover member,
4. The cushion body according to claim 1, wherein the opening is provided on the upper surface of the lower cover member so as to be surrounded by the fastener. The upper cushion unit is
5. The cushion body according to claim 1, wherein the cushion body is formed by placing a pad member having a lower resilience than a first cushion member on the upper side of the first cushion member, the pad member being a three-dimensional filament bonded body obtained by three -dimensionally fusion-bonding filaments made of a thermoplastic resin. The lower cushion unit is
6. The cushion body according to claim 1, wherein the cushion body is formed by placing the second pad member, which has a lower resilience than the second cushion member, on the upper side of the second cushion member, which is a three -dimensional filament bonded body obtained by three- dimensionally fusion-bonding filaments made of thermoplastic resin. 7. The cushion body according to claim 1, wherein the cushion body is a mattress.