Mattress carrier |
|||||||
申请号 | EP06126061.8 | 申请日 | 2006-12-13 | 公开(公告)号 | EP1932454A1 | 公开(公告)日 | 2008-06-18 |
申请人 | De Bock, Frank; | 发明人 | De Bock, Frank; | ||||
摘要 | A mattress carrier (1) comprising a first part (3) which comprises a support surface (2) for supporting a mattress which is positioned on top of the support surface (2) and a second part (4) supporting the first part (3), the first part (3) being resilient in height direction and partially compressible when subjected to a load, characterised in that the first part (3) comprises a resilient insert (11) and in that the resilient insert (11) comprises at least one layer (18) of reversibly compressible spacer fabric (9) extending along at least part of a length, width and height of the first part (3), the at least one layer (18) of spacer fabric (9) comprising at least two spaced apart planes (16, 17) of fabric held together by a plurality of flexible fibres (8) extending between the spaced apart planes (16, 17) of fabric. | ||||||
权利要求 | |||||||
说明书全文 | The present invention relates to a mattress carrier as described in the preamble of the first claim. The mattress carrier disclosed in There is thus a need for a mattress carrier which at least comprises less metal components without deteriorating the offered support and the resilient properties for the mattress lying on top of it. This is achieved according to the present invention with a mattress carrier showing the technical features of the characterising portion of the first claim. Thereto, the mattress carrier of the present invention is characterised in that the first part comprises a resilient insert and in that the resilient insert comprises at least one layer of reversibly compressible spacer fabric extending along at least part of a length, width and height of the first part, the at least one layer of spacer fabric comprising at least two spaced apart planes of fabric held together by a plurality of flexible fibres extending between the spaced apart planes of fabric. The inventor has found that the resilient properties and the support or upward force offered by the mattress carrier are not adversely affected when at least part of the metal components are replaced by the at least one layer of spacer fabric. Apparently, the resilient properties of the spacer fabric are capable of compensating for the resiliency and support offered by the replaced metal components. Surprisingly, the metal components can even be completely replaced by the at least one layer of spacer fabric while maintaining both the desired resilient properties and support offered by the mattress carrier. The inventor has in addition found that since the number of metal components is reduced, the electromagnetic fields which are picked up, enhanced and transmitted or are even created by the metal components are decreased. The person occupying the mattress is therefore shielded from electromagnetic fields. When the metal components are completely replaced by the at least one layer of spacer fabric, the electromagnetic fields present around the mattress carrier can be reduced to a minimum, as a consequence of which the person occupying the mattress is shielded from electromagnetic fields in an improved manner. Besides that, the structure of the spacer fabric allows air currents passing through the spaced apart planes of fabric and along the flexible fibres extending between the spaced apart planes of fabric and provides improved aeration as compared to conventional boxsprings. Thus an easy removal of for example humidity from the mattress through the mattress carrier is provided. When using an insert comprising at least one layer of spacer fabric, the need for a layer of resilient material, such as for example latex, covering the metal parts is significantly reduced. The absence of a layer covering the metal parts allows more air to pass through the mattress carrier further increasing the removal of humidity from the mattress carrier. It is known from the state of the art, for example from The resilient properties and the support offered by the mattress carrier can be adapted to meet any specific desires and/or needs for a wide range of mattresses and/or persons occupying the mattress by for example using several spacer fabrics, possibly having different dimensions and/or geometries, located at a different position in the length, width and/or height direction of the first part of the mattress carrier from which all or some portray a different resiliency and/or offer a different support which depends on, for example, the flexibility of the fibres, the density of fibres extending between the two spaced apart planes, the length of the flexible fibres, the properties of the fabric of the spaced apart planes, the height between the spaced apart planes, etc. A preferred embodiment of this invention is characterised in that the insert is removably mounted within the first part. This presents the additional advantage that the mattress carrier can be easily decomposed and that the at least one layer of spacer fabric can be easily cleaned, for example by washing in for example a domestic washing machine. This improves hygiene, counteracts house dust mite and avoids allergic reactions. Another preferred embodiment of the invention is characterised in that the first part comprises at least two zones in the length direction of the first part, the zones being subjected to the load of different parts of the body of a person occupying the mattress, each zone having different resilient properties and offering a different support and at least one zone comprising at least one insert. By adapting the nature of at least one insert, the resiliency and support offered by it may be adapted to the load to which it is subjected. The mattress carrier therefore allows fine tuning of the resilient properties and the support offered by the mattress carrier taking the varying weight of different body parts into account. Yet another preferred embodiment of the invention is characterised in that the first part comprises at least two zones in the width direction of the first part, each zone being subjected to the load of a different person occupying the mattress, each zone having different resilient properties and offering a different support and at least one zone comprising at least one insert. The mattress carrier therefore allows fine tuning of the resilient properties and the support offered by the mattress carrier taking the varying needs and desires of different persons sleeping on a single mattress carrier into account. The invention is further elucidated in the figures attached to the present application and the figure description below. The mattress carrier 1 according to the invention comprises a first part 3 which comprises a support face 2 for supporting a mattress which is positioned on top of the support surface 2. The first part 3 comprises a second part 4 supporting the first part 3. The support surface 2 can be adapted to support any type of mattress known to the person skilled in the art such as round, oval, rectangular, hart-shaped, ... mattresses or twin, single, queen-sized, king-sized, ... mattresses. Preferably, the dimensions and shape of the support surface 2 are adapted to the dimensions and shape of the mattress positioned on top of the support surface 2. For example, a rectangular supporting surface 2 is preferably used for supporting a twin rectangular mattress. In this embodiment, the rectangular support surface 2 preferably is large enough to support the mattress positioned on top of the support surface 2. Preferably, the entire surface of the mattress positioned on the support surface 2 is supported by the support surface 2. This is however not critical to the invention and the support of the support surface 2 to the mattress can be determined by the person skilled in the art and the mattress can be only partly supported by the support surface 2. The dimensions and shape of support surfaces 2 for the mattresses for alternative dimensions and shapes can be determined by the person skilled in the art and are not critical to the invention. The support surface 2 preferably is substantially flat, providing a flat support for the mattress. The support surface 2 may however also be bent providing the mattress with a non-planar support surface 2. The thus created curves of the support surface 2 may be adapted to the desires of a person lying on top of the mattress. For example, the feet and leg area of the person lying on top of the mattress may be elevated with respect to the pelvis region, the knee region may be elevated with respect to the pelvis and feet region, the pelvis region may be lowered with respect to the back and upper leg region, the back region may be elevated with respect to the pelvis and upper leg region, etc. The curves of the support surface 2 preferably are individually adaptable to the different persons lying on top of the mattress so that when for example two persons occupy the mattress, the support surface 2 can be bent to the desired position of the mattress for each of the persons individually. The curves of the support surface 2 may be permanently present but preferably can be adapted by the person(s) lying on top of the mattress. The mattress carrier 1 thereto preferably comprises means for bending the support surface 2, therefore adapting the curves in the support surface 2. The means for bending the support surface 2 preferably also comprise means for altering the height of the support surface 2 with respect to the floor according to the desires of the person(s) occupying the mattress. Since these means are known to the person skilled in the art these means can be chosen by the person skilled in the art and are not critical to the invention. The support surface 2 can be covered by any material known to the person skilled in the art such as for example knitted, braided, woven and/or non-woven fabric, plastic, etc. The material used to cover the support surface 2 is not critical to the invention and can be determined by the person skilled in the art. The first part 3 of the mattress carrier 1 is resilient in height direction and partially compressible when subjected to a load. The first part 3 preferably is delimited by a plurality of upright circumferential walls 5 which more preferably run substantially perpendicular to the support surface 2. The first part 3 however can be delimited by any other means known to the person skilled in the art. The circumferential walls 5 of the first part 3 preferably are covered by a material which can be made of any material known to the person skilled in the art such as for example knitted, braided, woven and/or non-woven fabric, plastic, etc. The material used to cover the walls 5 is not critical to the invention and can be determined by the person skilled in the art but preferably the material covering the support surface extends over the walls 5 as can be seen in The first part 3 comprises at least one resilient insert 11. The resilient insert 11 comprises at least one layer 18 of reversibly compressible spacer fabric 9 extending along at least part of a length, width and height of the first part 3. The at least one layer 18 of spacer fabric 9 comprises at least two spaced apart planes 16, 17 of fabric held together by a plurality of flexible fibres 8 extending between the spaced apart planes 16, 17 of fabric. The number of spaced apart planes 16, 17 partly determines the resilient properties of the layer 18 of spacer fabric 9 but is not critical to the invention and can be determined by the person skilled in the art. The spaced apart planes 16, 17 preferably are substantially flat but may comprise elevations and lowerings to provide specific desired resilient properties. The two planes 16, 17 preferably are substantially parallel to each other providing a substantially uniform height between the two spaced apart planes 16, 17. It is however possible to bend the planes 16, 17 over some angle to provide a curved layer 18 of spacer fabric 9 according to the desires of the person lying on top of the mattress. The fabric of the spaced apart planes 16, 17 can be any fabric known to the person skilled in the art but preferably is knitted, braided, woven and/or non-woven fabric. The fabric of the spaced apart planes 16, 17 partially determines the resilient properties of the layer 18 of spacer fabric 9. The fabric of the spaced apart planes 16, 17 preferably comprises a structure which comprises openings which more preferably are polygonical, rectangular, square, diamond-shaped, hexagonal, etc. The structure of the spaced apart planes 16, 17 is not critical to the invention and can be determined by the person skilled in the art. The structure can for example be honey grate shaped. The dimensions and shape of the openings can be determined by the person skilled in the art and partially determine the resilient properties of the layer 18 of spacer fabric 9. The structure of the first plane 16 may be shifted with respect to the structure of the second plane 17. This however can be determined by the person skilled in the art and partially determines the resilient properties of the layer 18 of spacer fabric 9. In between the spaced apart planes 16, 17 a plurality of fibres 8 are provided which bridge the distance between the different spaced apart planes 16, 17. The bridging fibres 8 preferably are integral to the fabric of the planes 16, 17. For example, a fibre 8 of a first plane 16 at some point leaves the fabric of the first plane 16, bridges the distance between the spaced apart planes 16, 17 and re-enters an opposing second plane 17. This is easily achieved by a person skilled in the art of textile techniques. The fibres 8 extend between the spaced apart planes 16, 17 substantially straight. By this is meant that the fibres 8 are preferably not extensively curled on themselves but cross the distance along a relatively short path. It does not mean that fibres 8 may not show a curvature. The fibres 8 may cross each other at some angle, however they may also run more or less parallel to each other preferably substantially parallel to the spaced apart planes 16, 17. The average direction of the bridging fibres 8 may differ along the distance between the spaced apart planes 16, 17, may differ in the length direction from that in the width direction, may differ along the length direction and/or may differ along the width direction of the resilient insert 11. The fibre density of the fibres 8 can be chosen by the person skilled in the art, depending on the desired resilient properties of the spacer fabric 9. Preferred densities are between 10 and 300 fibres 8 per cm2. More preferred densities are between 20 and 30, between 40 and 50 or between 70 and 80 fibres 8 per cm2. Preferred densities are for example 23,4; 42 or 78 fibres 8 per cm2. These values of the density are however not critical for the invention. Layers 18 of spacer fabrics 9 made from all fibres 8 known in the art can be used. Although it is possible to use metallic fibres 8, if desired, preferred fibres 8 are natural, such as cotton for instance, and/or organic fibres 8. Organic fibres 8 are preferably used since interference with electromagnetic earth waves is negligible. Preferred organic fibres 8 include polyester, polyalkylene, such as polyethylene and polypropylene, and/or polyamid fibres 8. It is also possible to use elastic fibres 8. It is likewise possible to add specific additives to the fibre material, such as for instance flame retardants, antibacterial, colouring and/or anti-odorous additives. The fibres 8 can be mono- and/or multifilament, and may be textured. The number of fibres 8, the direction of the fibres 8, the distance between the spaced apart planes 16, 17, the angle of the crossing of the fibres 8, the length of the fibres 8, the thickness of the fibres 8, the curvature of the fibres 8 and the material of the fibres 8 partially determine the resilient properties of the layer 18 of spacer fabric 9. The resilient properties of the layer 18 of spacer fabric 9 can be anisotropic. The resilient properties in other words can be different in length direction (in a plane substantially parallel to the spaced apart planes 16, 17), in width direction (in a plane substantially parallel to the spaced apart planes 16, 17) and in an upwards direction. The resilient properties of the layer 18 of spacer fabric 9 can be chosen in function of the desired resilient properties of the resilient insert 11 by the person skilled in the art as will be discussed further on. In a preferred embodiment of the mattress carrier 1 according to the invention, the spaced apart planes 16, 17 preferably run substantially parallel to the supporting surface 2 and the fibres 8 extend substantially upwards with respect to the support surface 2 of the mattress. The fibres 8 then to great extend determine the resilient properties of the resilient insert 11. The layer 18 of spacer fabric 9 provides substantially higher volume than any comparable standard compound fabric (bonded fabrics), and thus an additional padding effect further improving sleeping comfort. It moreover has better respiratory activity than any comparative standard double fabrics due to its extremely high air permeability. Moreover the balanced thermal insulation behaviour supports comfortable sleeping temperature. The spacer fabric 9 reacts to any type of load and weight with particular high compression elasticity. After load changes, the fabric immediately regains its original position. The sleeper will benefit from this with a much more comfortable position. The compression elasticity feature equally boosts humidity transport and respiratory activity. The resilient properties of the resilient insert 11 at least partly depend from the resilient properties of the at least one layer 18 of spacer fabric 9 comprised in it and can be adapted to the desired resilient properties of the mattress carrier 1 by adapting the resilient properties of the at least one layer 18 of spacer fabric 9 and/or by adding more layers 18, 19, 20 of spacer fabric 9 to the resilient insert 11. The different layers of spacer fabric 9 may all have different orientations but preferably all layers of spacer fabric 9 are positioned so that their spaced apart planes 16, 17 are parallel to the support surface 2. The different layers 18, 19, 20 of spacer fabric 9 can be positioned on top of each other such as layers 18, 19 and 20, adjoining in length direction of the first part 3 and/or adjoining in width direction of the first part 3. The resilient insert 11 can for example comprise several layers 18 of spacer fabric 9 positioned next to each other in length and width direction of the first part 3 whereupon several layers of spacer fabric 9 are positioned lying next to each other in length and width direction of the first part 1 possibly overlapping several underlying layers of spacer fabric 9 as can be seen in Preferably, a substantial part of the support surface 2 is situated above the resilient insert 11, therefore providing as much of the support surface 2 with the benefits of the layers 18 of spacer fabric 9. This is however not critical to the invention and only a part of the support surface 2 may be situated above a resilient insert 11 which is embedded into the mattress carrier 5. The first part 3 may also comprise several resilient inserts 11 embedded on for example different locations in the first part 3. The position of the resilient insert(s) 11 depends on the desired resilient properties of the support surface 2 and of the mattress carrier 1. In a first preferred embodiment of the mattress carrier 1 according to the invention, the first part 3 comprises a single resilient insert 11 extending below a substantial part of the support surface 2 of the mattress carrier 1. The resilient insert 11 preferably is shaped according to the shape of the mattress carrier 1 such as oval, round, rectangular, square, hart-shaped, etc. and supports the mattress as much as possible. In a second preferred embodiment of the mattress carrier 1 according to the invention, the first part 3 comprises at least two zones 21, 22 in the length direction of the first part 3. The zones 21, 22 are subjected to the load of different parts of the body of a person occupying the mattress, each zone 21, 22 having different resilient properties and offering a different support. At least one zone 21, 22 comprises at least one insert 11, 12. Preferably, each zone 21, 22 comprises a resilient insert 11, 12. The first zone 21 therefore comprises a first resilient insert 11 and the second zone 22 comprises a second resilient insert 12. More preferably, the first part 3 comprises at least three zones 21, 22, 23 in length direction of the first part 3. The third zone 23 preferably comprises a third resilient insert 13. The three zones 21, 22, 23 can be seen in As can be seen on Even more preferably, the first part 3 comprises at least two zones 24, 25 in the width direction of the first part 3. Each zone 24, 25 is subjected to the load of a different person occupying the mattress. Each zone 24, 25 has different resilient properties and offers a different support. At least one zone 24, 25 comprises at least one insert 14, 15. Preferably, each zone 24, 25 comprises an insert 14, 15. The zones 24, 25 of The resilient insert 11, preferably is removably mounted into the mattress carrier 1. The resilient insert 11 can therefore be removed from the mattress carrier 1 to replace, repair and/or wash it. The possibility of washing the resilient insert 11 adds to the hygienic properties of the mattress carrier 1. In a preferred embodiment of the mattress carrier 1 according to the invention, the first part 3 comprises a resilient material 7 at least partially surrounding the resilient insert 11 giving the mattress carrier 1 specific resilient properties near the edge 26 for example to offer a more rigid or resilient edge 26 along the walls 5 of the mattress carrier 1 to offer a comfortable sitting place which for example allows a person to more easily leave the bed. This is particularly important when making mattress carriers 1 for older and/or physically challenged people. The resilient material preferably extends along the entire edge 26 of the mattress carrier 1. The resilient material 7 preferably comprises foamed rubber. The material for the resilient material 7 can however be chosen by the person skilled in the art and is not critical to the invention. At least one edge 26 surrounding the first part 3 preferably is elevated with respect to a central part 27 of the first part 3 providing a place for even more easily leaving the bed and/or better positioning the mattress on top of the mattress carrier 1. The second part 4 supporting the first part 3 can have any form shape deemed appropriate by the person skilled in the art such as oval, round, rectangular, square but preferably has the same shape as the first part 3. The second part 4 can have any dimensions deemed appropriate by the person skilled in the art but preferably has at least the same dimensions as the first part 3, more preferably the second part 4 has the same dimensions as the first part 3. The second part 4 preferably comprises a perforated board 6 supporting the first part 3. The perforated board 6 can be made of any material known to the person skilled in the art but preferably is made from a diamagnetic material such as wood, plastic or any other material known to the person skilled in the art. The perforated board allows air to pass, therefore improving the abduction of humidity in the mattress carrier 1. The resilient properties of the mattress carrier 1 may depend from different parameters such as height of the walls delimiting the support surface 2, material of the support surface 2, the material of the walls delimiting the support surface 2, the load to which it is subjected, the resilient properties of the resilient inserts 11, resilient properties of the perforated board 6, etc. The different parameters can be chosen in function of each other and the desired resilient properties of the mattress carrier 1 by the person skilled in the art. The second part 4 of the mattress carrier 1 preferably comprises a frame 10 supporting the perforated board 6 supporting the first part 3. The shape and dimensions are not critical to the invention and can be determined by the person skilled in the art. The material of the frame can be any material known to the person skilled in the art such as wood, metal, plastic, etc. The second part 4 preferably can be covered with any material known to the person skilled in the art but preferably is covered with the same material covering the support surface 2 and the walls 5 as indicated on In another preferred embodiment of the mattress carrier 1 according to the invention the mattress carrier 1 comprises means for heating the support surface 2, therefore warming the mattress positioned on top of it. |