US 5,170,522 AGranted

Air adjustable bed

AssigneeSelect Comfort Corporation

InventorRobert A. Walker

Life of this patent

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Abstract

A bed has a foundation for supporting an air mattress. The foundation has a plurality of pivotally connected transverse plates that are moved to bend the mattress to a desired contour and shape. Open top recesses in the foundation located below the plates accommodate bags have flexible walls. The bags are separately expandable and contractible to move the plates to selected elevated positions. The recesses hold the bags in lifting positions relative to the plates when the bags are inflated. The bags fit into the recesses when deflated to allow the plates to move to a horizontal position. The bed is equipped with a vibrator that is operable to vibrate the air mattress.

Claims18

Dependent claims

A bed for providing support for a body comprising:

a mattress, foundation means having a frame members, support means mounted on the frame member for supporting the mattress, said support means comprising a plurality of transverse plates including a first plate secured to a middle section of the frame ember, a second plate, first hinge means pivotally connecting the second plate to the first plate for movement between a horizontal position and an upward and forward inclined position, said second plate being supported on the frame member when in the horizontal position, a third plate, second hinge means pivotally connecting the third plate to the first plate for movement between a horizontal position and an upwardly and rearwardly inclined position, said third plate being supported on the frame member when in the horizontal position, and a fourth plate, third hinge means pivotally connecting the fourth plate to the third plate to maintain the fourth plate generally horizontally during pivotal movement of the third plate, said fourth plate being supported on the frame member when the third plate is in the horizontal position, lift means located below the support means expandable to elevate the support means, the frame member having a first box-shaped housing and a second box-shaped housing, each housing having a chamber and an open top located below the support means, said lift means comprising a first inflatable member located in the chamber of the first housing and engageable with the second plate and a second inflatable member located in the second housing and engageable with at least one of the third and fourth plates, and means for expanding and contracting the, first and second inflatable members to move the second plate between the horizontal positions and upward and forward inclined positions and to move the third plate between the horizontal positions and upward and rearward inclined positions thereby shaping the mattress to a selected contour and shape, the second inflatable member being a generally trapezoidal shaped air accommodating bag.

An adjustable bed for providing support for a body comprising:

a mattress, foundation means for supporting the mattress, the foundation means having a generally rectangular box-shaped frame with top support surfaces, a first plate secured to a middle portion of the frame, a second plate, first hinge means pivotally connecting the second plate to one end of the first plate, for movement between a first position and an upward and forward inclined second position, said second plate being supported on the top support surfaces of the frame when in its first position, a third plate, second hinge means pivotally connecting the third plate to an opposite end of the first plate for movement between a first position and an upward and rearward inclined second position, said third plate being supported on the top support surfaces of the frame when in its first position, a fourth plate, third hinge means pivotally connecting the fourth plate to the third plate for movement with the third plate, said fourth plate being supported on the top support surfaces of the frame when the third plate is in its first position, the frame having first housing means located below the second plate, first lift means located int eh first housing means, the first lift means expandable to elevate the second plate to its second position, second housing means located below the third and fourth plates, second lift means, comprising a generally trapezoidal shaped air accommodating bag having a base held within the second housing means when the bag is expanded, located in the second housing means, the second lift means expandable to elevate the third plate to its second position and to move the fourth plate to an elevated position, and means for expanding and contracting the first and second lift means whereby the mattress is shaped to a selected contour and shape.

An adjustable bed for providing support for a body comprising:

a mattress, foundation means for supporting the mattress having a generally rectangular box-shaped frame with top support surfaces, a first plate secured to a middle portion of the frame, a second plate, first hinge means pivotally connecting the second plate to one end of the first plate for movement between a first position and an upwardly and forwardly inclined second position, said second plate being supported on the top support surfaces of the frame when in its first position, third plate, second hinge means pivotally connecting the third plate to an opposite end of the first plate for movement between a first position and an upward and rearward inclined position, said third plate being supported on the top support surfaces of the frame when in its first position, first housing means located below the second plate, first lift means located in the first housing means expandable to pivot the second plate to its second position, second housing means located below the third plate, second lift means located in the second housing means below the third plate operable to expand and elevate the third plate to its second position, and means for expanding and contracting the first and second lift means whereby the mattress is shaped to a selected contour and shape, the second lift means comprising a generally trapezoidal shaped air accommodating bag having a base held within the second housing means when the bag is expanded, with the bag fitting in the second housing means when the bag is collapsed, whereby the third plate rests on at least one of the top surfaces of the frame in a horizontal position.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

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Abstract

A bed for providing support for a body comprising:

a mattress, foundation means having a frame members, support means mounted on the frame member for supporting the mattress, said support means comprising a plurality of transverse plates including a first plate secured to a middle section of the frame ember, a second plate, first hinge means pivotally connecting the second plate to the first plate for movement between a horizontal position and an upward and forward inclined position, said second plate being supported on the frame member when in the horizontal position, a third plate, second hinge means pivotally connecting the third plate to the first plate for movement between a horizontal position and an upwardly and rearwardly inclined position, said third plate being supported on the frame member when in the horizontal position, and a fourth plate, third hinge means pivotally connecting the fourth plate to the third plate to maintain the fourth plate generally horizontally during pivotal movement of the third plate, said fourth plate being supported on the frame member when the third plate is in the horizontal position, lift means located below the support means expandable to elevate the support means, the frame member having a first box-shaped housing and a second box-shaped housing, each housing having a chamber and an open top located below the support means, said lift means comprising a first inflatable member located in the chamber of the first housing and engageable with the second plate and a second inflatable member located in the second housing and engageable with at least one of the third and fourth plates, and means for expanding and contracting the, first and second inflatable members to move the second plate between the horizontal positions and upward and forward inclined positions and to move the third plate between the horizontal positions and upward and rearward inclined positions thereby shaping the mattress to a selected contour and shape, the second inflatable member being a generally trapezoidal shaped air accommodating bag.