JP2007330527A - Body supporting device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a body supporting device where the irregular shape and tilting angle of a body support surface can deform partially freely. <P>SOLUTION: The body supporting device 1 comprises cushion structure 2 in which a plurality of cushion element units 4 constituted by interposing an air spring 7 between an upper structure 5 and a lower structure 6 are arranged flatly and a body support surface 3 for supporting the body with an enveloping surface in the upper part of the cushion element units 4 is formed. The body supporting device 1 also comprises a support surface changing means for adjusting the air amount of the air spring 7 of each cushion element unit 4, varying the height of each cushion element unit 4, and changing the shape of the body support surface 3. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a body support device that supports a body such as a bed, and more particularly, to a body support device for medical, welfare, and nursing care.

  Body support devices that support the body, such as a bed, can not only ensure a sleeping or resting posture, but also a semi-sitting posture that makes it easy to eat, etc., relieve pain or suppress the occurrence of pressure ulcer It is desired to change to a shape that can ensure the posture.

  Conventional care beds are of various types, such as those that change shape by folding at two or three places, those that tilt left and right around the long axis direction, and those that change into a sofa shape. Things have been developed and put into practical use.

  As disclosed in the patent document, a human body support device (patent document 1) configured with a connecting part that can be bent in parallel with a plurality of support members extending in the length direction in a direction orthogonal to the lateral length direction, A mattress composed of a cushion structure having a plurality of columnar spaces (columns) each having a shoulder cushion body, a waist cushion body, and a leg cushion body and partitioned by a cushion body wall (column wall) (Patent Document 2) )and so on.

However, beds and mattresses that can be transformed into shapes that allow the bedridden to take an optimal posture by freely deforming the shape of the top surface unevenness or by partially deforming the tilt angle are developed. It has not been.
JP-A-2005-270302 JP 2002-78569 A

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems of the prior art, and an object of the present invention is to provide a body support device in which the uneven shape and the inclination angle of the body support surface can be partially and freely deformed. is there.

  The above object of the present invention is achieved by the following means.

  (1) A body support surface in which a plurality of cushion element units configured by interposing an air spring between an upper structure and a lower structure are juxtaposed in a plane, and a body is supported by an upper envelope surface of the cushion element units. And a support surface changing means for adjusting the air amount of the air spring of the cushion element unit and changing the height of the cushion element unit to change the shape of the body support surface. Body support device characterized by.

(2) The supporting surface changing means is
A pressure source connected to the air spring of the cushion element unit through a conduit and a control valve; and the air amount of the air spring of the cushion element unit is adjusted by controlling the control valve; The body support device according to (1) above, characterized in that the body support device comprises a control device that changes the angle.

  (3) The body support device according to (1) or (2) above, wherein the air spring of the cushion element unit is formed of a stretchable hollow body.

  (4) The body support device according to (3), wherein the stretchable hollow body is made of an elastic material.

  (5) The body support device according to (3) or (4) above, wherein the air spring of the cushion element unit is formed of a hollow body that can be expanded and contracted in multiple stages.

  (6) The body support apparatus according to (5) above, wherein the multi-stage expandable hollow body is a combination of a hollow cylindrical body made of an elastic material and a hard material used for a part thereof.

  (7) The body support device according to any one of (3) to (6) above, wherein a coil spring is provided around the hollow body of the air spring.

  (8) The above-described (1), wherein a side support mechanism is provided between the upper structure and the lower structure in the at least one cushion element unit to prevent each cushion element unit from falling sideways. )-(7) The body support apparatus as described in any one of.

  (9) The upper structure is placed in a fixed direction with respect to the lower structure between the upper structure and the lower structure in the cushion element unit at a portion of the cushion element unit that requires inclination. The body support device according to any one of (1) to (8) above, wherein a side support mechanism that can be tilted only is provided.

  (10) The upper structure of the cushion element unit is composed of a multilayer structure in which a hard base material, an elastomer, a breathable cushioning material, and a breathable covering material are laminated in order from the bottom. The body support apparatus according to any one of (1) to (9) above.

  (11) The upper structure of the cushion element unit has a soft elastomer at the lowermost side, and the upper structure of the cushion element unit can tilt at the top of the air spring due to the presence of the lower soft elastomer. The body support device according to any one of (1) to (10) above, wherein

  (12) The lower structure of the cushion element unit is composed of a multilayer structure in which a hard base material, an elastomer, and a breathable coating material are laminated in order from the upper side. (11) The body support apparatus according to any one of (11).

  (13) The body support device according to any one of (1) to (12), wherein the air spring is an air spring in which a plurality of unit air springs are connected in the vertical direction.

  (14) The body support device according to (13), wherein an intermediate structure is provided between the plurality of unit air springs.

  (15) Body support in which a plurality of cushion element units configured by interposing a fluid spring between an upper structure and a lower structure are juxtaposed in a plane, and the body is supported by an envelope surface on the upper part of the cushion element units. A cushion structure having a surface, and a support surface changing means for adjusting the fluid amount of the fluid spring of the cushion element unit and changing the height of the cushion element unit to change the shape of the body support surface; A body support device characterized by comprising:

  (16) The body support device according to (15), wherein the fluid is a gas.

  (17) The body support device according to (15), wherein the fluid is a liquid.

  According to the body support apparatus of the present invention, the uneven shape and the inclination angle of the body support surface that supports the body can be partially and freely deformed, so that the bedridden person can be changed to a shape that can take an optimal body posture.

  For example, when the body support device of the present invention is applied to a bed, not only can it ensure a lying posture that is a sleeping / resting posture, but also a semi-sitting posture with an appropriate back-up angle that makes it easy to eat food, etc. It is possible to change to a shape that can ensure a posture to relieve or suppress the occurrence of pressure ulcers.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

<First Embodiment: FIGS. 1 to 8>
FIG. 1 shows a body support device as a bed according to a first embodiment of the present invention. (A) is a schematic perspective view showing a basic structure of the cushion structure 2 and (b) is a user's view. The schematic perspective view which shows the state which raised the height of the cushion structure body 2 so that it may fit seat height, (c) is the outline which shows the state which formed the recessed part 3a by denting the site | part of the vicinity where a sacrum hits for pressure sore measures, for example The perspective view, (d) is a schematic perspective view showing a state in which the portion 3b corresponding to the back portion is inclined so that a semi-sitting posture with an appropriate back-up angle can be taken, and (e) is a shape ergonomically easy to sleep. The schematic perspective view which shows the state which raised the part 3c, 3d corresponding to a head and a leg so that it may take, (f) raises the part 3e corresponding to a side part so that it can take a side position, and the part 3f inside it It is a schematic perspective view which shows the state which inclined.

  The body support device 1 according to the first embodiment has a cushion structure 2 shown in FIG. 1A as a basic structure. In this cushion structure 2, cushion element units 4 shown in FIG. 2 (a) are arranged in each of the virtual cells shown in a matrix in FIG. 1 (a), and those cushion element units are arranged. 4 has a structure in which a body support surface 3 that supports the body is formed by the upper envelope surface of 4.

  Thus, a plurality of cushion element units 4 are juxtaposed in a plane. In the present embodiment, 30 to 5000, preferably 100 to 1000, cushion element units 4 are used from the viewpoint of smoothing the upper envelope surface and preventing the structure from becoming complicated and expensive.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 (a) and 2 (b), the cushion element unit 4 includes an upper structure 5, a lower structure 6, and an air spring 7 interposed therebetween. As shown in 2 (c), the air spring 7 is elastically contracted and repelled. This air spring 7 is composed of a cylindrical hollow body 8 which can be stretched and made of an elastic material as shown in FIG. 6, more precisely, a hollow body 8 having an elliptical cross section. 10 and the bottom 11. The upper structure 5 and the lower structure 6 are configured as plates that cover the top portion 9 and the bottom portion 11 of the hollow body 8 and further extend planarly in the radial direction therefrom.

  The cushion element unit 4 is physically coupled to each other at least partially or has an integral structure. 3A shows a state in which the lower structure 6 is physically coupled to each other, and FIG. 3B shows a state in which the air spring 7 is physically coupled to each other.

  As shown in FIG. 4A, the upper structure 5 of the cushion element unit 4 includes a soft elastomer 12, a light metal or plastic hard base material 13, an elastomer 14, an air-permeable polyurethane foam or Visco Era, in order from the bottom. A cushioning material 15 such as a stick and a breathable coating material 16 such as a cloth or a stretch material are laminated. Here, as shown in FIG. 4B, the covering material 16 and the elastomer 14 are preferably provided so that the end portion covers the lower layer. The soft elastomer 12 is provided on the lowermost side because of the presence of the lower soft elastomer 12, the upper structure 5 of the cushion element unit 4 has an air spring 7 as shown in FIG. This is because the top 9 can be tilted. Elastomer is a flexible, high-molecular compound such as rubber or silicon compound that has the property of returning to its original shape when it is deformed by pressure and released from pressure. Say.

  As shown in FIG. 5 (a), the lower structure 6 of the cushion element unit 4 includes a light metal or plastic hard base material 17, an elastomer 18, an air-permeable covering material 19 such as a cloth or a stretch material in order from the upper side. Is composed of a multi-layered structure. Here, as shown in FIG. 5B, the covering material 19 and the elastomer 18 are preferably provided so that the end portion covers the upper layer.

  The body support device 1 has a support surface change in which the air amount of the air spring 7 of each cushion element unit 4 is independently adjusted, and the height of each cushion element unit 4 is changed to change the shape of the body support surface 3. Means are provided. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 7A, this support surface changing means is provided with a common conduit 20 (supply / exhaust pipe 20) in the air spring 7 of each cushion element unit 4, or FIG. ), A first conduit 21 (air supply pipe 21) and a second conduit 22 (exhaust pipe 22) are provided, and the common conduit 20 or the first conduit 21 is connected to a pipe 23 and an air supply control valve 24. And the common conduit 20 or the second conduit 22 is connected to the outside air through the pipe 26 and the exhaust control valve 27. The control device 28 controls the air supply control valve 24 and the exhaust control valve 27 to independently adjust the air amount of the air spring 7 of each cushion element unit 4. The angle is changed.

  FIG. 7A shows a configuration in which one common conduit 20 as the conduit is passed through the lower structure 6 from the outside, and the tip is inserted into the hollow body 8 of the air spring 7 from the bottom and opened. FIG. 7 (b) uses the first and second conduits 21 and 22 (the supply pipe 21 and the exhaust pipe 22), both of which are passed through the lower structure 6 from the opposite side, and the leading ends of the first and second conduits 21 and 22 from below. A configuration in which the air spring 7 is opened by being inserted into the hollow body 8 is shown. Either structure can be adopted. It is also possible to adopt a configuration in which the air supply pipe 21 and the exhaust pipe 22 are passed through the lower structure 6 from the same side, and the respective ends are inserted into the hollow body 8 of the air spring 7 from the lower side and opened.

  Moreover, it can replace with the structure which passes the conduit | pipe with respect to the air spring 7 to the lower structure 6, and can also be set as the structure which lets the upper structure 5 pass. That is, as shown in FIG. 8 (a), one air supply / exhaust pipe 20 is passed through the upper structure 5 and the tip is inserted into the hollow body 8 of the air spring 7 from the top to open the structure. As shown in (b), the supply pipe 21 and the exhaust pipe 22 are passed through the upper structure 5 from the opposite side, and the respective ends are inserted into the hollow body 8 of the air spring 7 from the upper side and opened. The trachea 21 and the exhaust pipe 22 can be passed through the upper structure 5 from the same side, and the respective ends can be inserted into the hollow body 8 of the air spring 7 from below and opened.

  Since it is configured as described above, the air amount of the air spring 7 of each cushion element unit 4 can be independently controlled by opening / closing the air supply control valve 24 and the exhaust control valve 27 under the control of the control device 28. It is possible to adjust and change the height of each cushion element unit 4, thereby changing the uneven shape or the inclination angle of the body support surface 3 of the cushion structure 2.

  9 (a) and 9 (b) show that the cushion element unit 4 at the low position shown in FIGS. 3 (a) and 3 (b) extends to the same height as the air is introduced into the air spring 7, and the high position. The state after the change is shown. 9 (c) and 9 (d) show a state after the cushion element units 4 are extended to different heights and changed to high positions because air is introduced into the air springs 7 in different amounts. .

  FIG. 10A shows that the air is introduced into the air spring 7 in different amounts, so that the cushion element unit 4 extends to a different height and changes to a high position, and the upper structure 5 is tilted. The state after becoming. 10B, the upper structures 5 of the cushion element units 4 adjacent to each other are connected to each other by a connecting portion 29, and the adjacent cushion element units 4 introduce air into the air springs 7 in different amounts. As a result, the state after extending to a different height and changing to a high position is shown.

  A plurality of the cushion element units 4 are juxtaposed in a plane, whereby the cushion structure 2 having the body support surface 3 that supports the body is configured by the upper envelope surface of the cushion element units 4. At the end where the cushion element unit 4 is juxtaposed, the upper structure 5 and the lower structure 6 can be connected by a connecting portion 29a as shown in FIG. FIG. 11B shows a state in which the air of the air spring 7 is removed and the cushion structure 2 is folded.

<Air spring 7>
The structure of the air spring 7 is not limited to that shown in FIG. The thing of the various structures as described in the following FIGS. 12-19 can be used.

  In FIG. 12, one or more hard material rings 30 are arranged at intervals in the middle of the body 10 of the hollow cylinder made of an elastic material, as shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 12 (b), it is configured as a hollow body 8 that can be expanded and contracted in multiple stages. The ring 30 made of a hard material can be provided on the inside, the outer surface, or the inner surface of the elastic material constituting the hollow cylinder.

  FIG. 13 shows a hinge body 31 made of a hard material that is long in the vertical direction and bent only in the middle direction, as shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 13B, one or more are provided and configured as a hollow body 8 that can be expanded and contracted in multiple stages. As shown in FIG. 14 (a), the hinge body 31 has a structure in which an upper member 31a and a lower member 31b made of the same synthetic resin are integrally connected by a thin portion, and as shown in FIG. 14 (b). In addition to the hinge that bends in the direction, as shown in FIG. 14C, an L-shaped corner 31e of the upper member 31d is located on the top of the lower member 31c, and is restricted by the L-shaped hanging portion 31f. The hinge may be bent only in the direction.

  FIG. 15 shows a structure in which a hard material ring 30 is disposed in the middle of the body 10 of the hollow cylinder made of the elastic material as shown in FIG. 15 (a), the body 10 of the hollow cylinder is provided with a hinge body 31 made of a hard material that is long and thin in the vertical direction and bent only outward in the middle. As shown to b), it is comprised as the hollow body 8 which can be expanded-contracted in multiple steps.

  As shown in FIGS. 12 to 15, the hollow body 8 includes a hollow cylinder made of an elastic material and a hard material used for a part thereof, so that deformation of the body portion 10 of the hollow cylinder can be controlled. .

  The air spring 7 may be configured such that a coil spring is provided around the hollow body 8. For example, a coil spring 33 is provided inside the hollow body 8 of the air spring 7 as shown in FIG. 16 (a) and can be expanded and contracted as shown in FIG. 16 (b), or as shown in FIG. 17 (a). A coil spring 33 can be provided outside the hollow body 8 of the air spring 7 so that it can be expanded and contracted as shown in FIG. As the coil spring 33 used at this time, a coil spring 33b made of a strip-shaped material having a flat cross section as shown in FIG. 18B can be used in addition to the coil spring 33a made of a coil having a circular cross section shown in FIG.

  Further, depending on the application, the air spring 7 is a soft plastic bellows having a top portion 9 and a bottom portion 11 and a body portion 10 as shown in a perspective view in FIG. 19A and in a side view in FIG. 19B. As shown in FIG. 19C, the structure can be configured to be extendable and contractible.

  In the above embodiment, the conduit for supplying or exhausting the inside of the hollow body 8 of the air spring 7 is passed through the lower structure or the upper structure 5. However, the conduit is provided directly in the hollow body 8 of the air spring 7. You can also. 20A shows an example in which a single common conduit 20 (supply / exhaust pipe 20) is provided directly on the hollow body 8 of the air spring 7. FIG. 20B shows an intake pipe 21 and an exhaust pipe 22 from the same side. FIG. 20C shows an example in which the intake pipe and the exhaust pipe 22 are provided from the opposite side. FIG. 20D is a configuration example in which only one common conduit 20 is provided and no pipe is connected. For example, it is applied to the air spring 7 at the center of three air springs 7 arranged, for example, air springs on both sides. This is used when the central air spring 7 is configured to follow the operation by performing an operation such as the contraction of the 7. As in this case, it is not always necessary to perform control for adjusting the air amount of all the air springs 7 and changing the height of the cushion element unit 4 to change the shape of the body support surface.

  In the above description, the hollow bodies 8 of the air springs 7 have been described as being independent of each other. However, depending on the place of use, the hollow bodies 8 of the air springs 7 may be locally located on the side as shown in FIG. Or a structure that connects the interior by connecting the tops 9 and the bottoms 11 together as shown in FIG. 21 (b). ).

<Side support mechanism>
In the cushion structure 2 in this embodiment, each cushion element unit 4 is provided with a side support mechanism in order to prevent the cushion element unit 4 from falling sideways.

  FIG. 22A shows an example in which one side support mechanism 35 is provided on one side with respect to one cushion element unit 4, and FIG. 22B shows adjacent sides of one cushion element unit 4. The example which provided the side support mechanism 35 in each part is shown.

  As shown in FIG. 23, the side support mechanism 35 includes a cross link mechanism 39 in which the center of two links including a first link 36 and a second link 37 is rotatably fixed by a pin 38. Provided between the upper frame 40 fixed to the body 5 and the lower frame 41 fixed to the lower structure 6, the end portions of the first link 36 and the second link 37 are respectively connected to the upper frame 40 and the lower frame 41. It has a structure that is engaged with a slide groove 42 provided in the end portion and is an end portion that can rotate and slide in the longitudinal direction. However, the right side (or left side) end portions of the first link 36 and the second link 37 are rotatably connected to the upper frame 40 and the lower frame 41, respectively, and slide in the longitudinal direction. It is also possible to adopt a configuration that cannot. The upper frame 40 and the lower frame 41 are not shown in the drawings as appropriate. Such a side support mechanism 35 can cause a lateral displacement only in the slide direction of the link, that is, in the left-right direction of the drawing in FIG. 23, and the lateral tilt in the direction orthogonal to that direction is prevented. That is, the side support mechanism 35 allows the upper structure 5 to be inclined only in a certain direction with respect to the lower structure 6. In FIG. 22B, the cushion element unit 4 is less likely to be laterally displaced in any direction.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 23 (b), the size (longitudinal length) of the lower ends 36a, 37a of the first link 36 and the second link 37 on the lower frame 41 side and the interval 43 generated therebetween are set. By setting, the height can be restricted or the side support mechanism 35 can be prevented from slipping. Similarly, as shown in FIG. 23C, by providing a stopper 44 in the slide groove 42 into which the lower end portion on the slide side is fitted, the same height restriction and side slip prevention function of the side support mechanism 35 are exhibited. Can be made.

  FIG. 24 shows a configuration in which a multi-stage cross link mechanism 45 having a multi-stage structure of cross link mechanisms in a magic hand is provided between an upper frame 40 fixed to the upper structure 5 and a lower frame 41 fixed to the lower structure 6. It is an example. The multi-stage cross link mechanism 45 can also make the cushion element unit 4 movable up and down and not tiltable. In addition to the structure of the side support mechanism 35 that allows the cushion element unit 4 to move up and down and cannot be tilted, as shown in FIG. 25A, small boxes are sequentially placed in large boxes, and FIG. As shown in (b), a multistage box structure 46 that can be expanded and contracted can also be used.

  In the above description, as the side support mechanism 35, the cross link mechanism 39 in which the center of the two links is rotatably fixed by the pin 38 is provided. However, as shown in FIG. 26 (a), the first link 36 and the second link 37 are each provided with a long groove 47 along the longitudinal direction, and the center thereof is rotatably and slidably fixed by a pin 38. A type cross link mechanism 48 is provided between an upper frame 40 fixed to the upper structure 5 and a lower frame 41 fixed to the lower structure 6, and the respective ends of the first link 36 and the second link 37. It is also possible to adopt a structure in which the part is engaged with a slide groove 42 provided in the upper frame 40 and the lower frame 41 to be an end that can rotate and slide in the longitudinal direction. However, the right side (or left side) end portions of the first link 36 and the second link 37 are rotatably connected to the upper frame 40 and the lower frame 41, respectively, and slide in the longitudinal direction. It is also possible to adopt a configuration that cannot. According to this sliding type cross link mechanism 48, it is possible to extend and contract in the vertical direction as shown in FIG. 26 (b), and to allow left and right tilt movements as shown in FIGS. 26 (c) and 26 (d). It becomes possible.

  Furthermore, as another structure of the tiltable side support mechanism, as shown in FIG. 27, the multistage box structure 46 described in FIG. 25 is used as a set, and the upper structure 5 is integrated in common, It is also possible to form a composite structure in which a rotation part 50 that allows the upper structure 5 to rotate around an axis 49 is provided on the top part 46 a of each multistage box structure 46. According to the side support mechanism 35 of this composite structure, the upper structure 5 can move up and down as shown in FIG. 28 (a), and the upper structure 5 as shown in FIGS. 28 (b) and 28 (c). It is also possible to allow left and right tilting movements.

  In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 22 to 26, the side support mechanism 35 is provided for each cushion element unit. However, depending on the portion to be used, as shown in FIG. The upper structure 5 and the lower structure 6 may be integrated, and a composite structure in which two side support mechanisms 35 are provided between them may be used.

  Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 29B, the upper structure 5 and the lower structure 6 of the three cushion element units 4 can be integrated, and one side support mechanism 35 can be provided therebetween. Further, as shown in FIG. 29 (c), the upper structure 5 and the lower structure 6 corresponding to the three cushion element units 4 are integrated, and only the cushion element units 4 on both sides are supported between them. A mechanism 35 may be provided, and the side support mechanism 35 may be omitted for the cushion element unit 4 in the middle.

<Modification: FIGS. 30 and 31>
In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the height of the body support surface 3 is raised to about twice the height of the bed, but a plurality of air springs 7 are arranged in the vertical direction and configured in multiple stages. By using the cushion element unit 4 having a large degree of expansion / contraction, the bed shown in FIG. 1 can be changed to a sofa 51 as shown in FIG.

  Further, by adding a vibration device (not shown) to each cushion element unit 4 or the cushion element unit 4 at an appropriate site, a bed 52 with vibration as shown in FIG. 31 can be configured.

<Second Embodiment: FIG. 32>
FIG. 32 shows a second embodiment in which the body support device 1 of the present invention is applied to a pressure ulcer prevention device.

  As shown in FIG. 32 (a), this pressure ulcer prevention device 53 has a circular second second part in the surface of the first cushion structure 55 constituting the pad-like support 54, here in the center. The cushion structure 56 is provided. The configuration of the first cushion structure 55 is the same as that of the cushion structure 2 described above, and as in the case of FIG. 1A, one virtual grid (not shown) shown in a matrix shape. One of them has a structure in which the cushion element units 4 are arranged, and the first body support surface 57 that supports the body is formed by the envelope surface of the upper part of the cushion element units 4.

  However, in the second cushion structure 56, the cushion element unit 4 described above is arranged in each of the virtual multi-ring cells shown as an annular arrangement in FIG. It has a structure in which a second body support surface 58 that supports, for example, the vicinity of the sacrum portion of the body is formed by the upper envelope surface of the cushion element unit 4. In this embodiment, the unit ring formed by arranging the cushion element units 4 in an annular shape is shown in three stages of an inner ring 59, an intermediate ring 60, and an outer ring 61. However, a multi-stage annular arrangement is used. It can also be configured.

  Thus, a plurality of cushion element units 4 are juxtaposed in a plane. In the present embodiment, 10 to 1000, preferably 30 to 100 cushion element units 4 are used from the viewpoint of smoothing the upper envelope surface and preventing the structure from becoming complicated and expensive.

  The cushion structure 2 adjusts the air amount of the air spring 7 of the cushion element unit 4 under the control of the control device 28 of the support surface changing means, so that the first body support surface 57 is adjusted to an appropriate height. While being raised, a part or all of the second body support surface 58 can be lowered to an appropriate depth to form a recess.

  In FIG. 32 (b), the first body support surface 57 is raised to an appropriate height, and only the inner ring 59 and the middle ring 60 of the multiple rings constituting the second body support surface 58 are lowered to form the recess 62. The formed state is shown. However, as shown in FIG. 32 (c), only the inner ring 59 of the multiple rings constituting the second body support surface 58 can be lowered to form a small recess 63. Further, as shown in FIG. 32 (d), all of the inner ring 59, the middle ring 60, and the outer ring 61 can be lowered to form a large recess 64. When performing these deformations, as shown in FIG. 32 (d), the first body support surface 57 can be kept in a low state.

<Third Embodiment: FIG. 33>
FIG. 33 shows a body support device 1 according to a third embodiment of the present invention. This assists the tiltable side support mechanism 35 shown in FIGS. 26 and 28 between the planar upper structure 65 and the planar lower structure 66 of the cushion structure 2 such as a bed or a cushion. Provided as a mechanism, pressure air is sent to the air springs 7 of the cushion element units 4 by the support surface changing means, and the cushion structure 2 shown in FIG. This is a configuration example in which the body 65 can be changed to an oblique state with respect to the planar lower structure 66.

<Fourth Embodiment: FIG. 34>
FIG. 34 shows a body support apparatus 1 according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention. This is possible to incline in the half region in the width direction between the planar upper structure 65 and the planar lower structure 66 of the cushion structure 2 such as a bed or a cushion as shown in FIGS. This is an example in which a side support mechanism 35 is provided as an auxiliary mechanism. Pressure is sent to the air spring 7 of each cushion element unit 4 by the support surface changing means, and the cushion structure 2 shown in FIG. The structure 65 can be changed obliquely with respect to the planar lower structure 66 (see FIGS. 34B and 34C).

  The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various changes and modifications can be made without departing from the technical concept of the present invention.

  For example, the present invention is particularly preferably applied to a body support device for medical, welfare, and care, but can also be applied to a body support device for a healthy person. The present invention is also applicable to animal body support devices.

  Moreover, in the said embodiment, although the cushion structure body mainly demonstrated the thing of the one layer in which the air spring was juxtaposed in multiple planes, this invention is not limited to this. That is, the air spring may be composed of an air spring in which a plurality of unit air springs are connected in the vertical direction and integrated. In this case, a plurality of layers in which a plurality of unit air springs are juxtaposed in a plane are formed, and as a result, a plurality of unit air springs are arranged three-dimensionally. Here, the unit air spring has the same configuration as the air spring 7 forming one hollow body 8 described in the above embodiment. It is also possible to provide an intermediate structure between the plurality of unit air springs. This intermediate structure can have the same configuration as the upper structure 5 or the lower structure 6.

  Moreover, although the said embodiment demonstrated the body support apparatus using the air spring 7 into which air can be introduce | transduced inside, this invention is not limited to this. The body support device of the present invention can also use a fluid spring into which another gas or a liquid such as water can be introduced.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The body support apparatus as a bed concerning 1st Embodiment of this invention is shown, (a) is the figure which showed the state which changed the basic structure and (b)-(f). FIG. 2A is a perspective view, FIG. 2B is a side view, and FIG. 3C is a diagram illustrating a shape when the body is contracted. It is the figure which showed the form which couple | bonds a cushion element unit physically mutually. The upper structure of the cushion element unit is shown, (a) is a sectional view, (b) is a sectional view showing an end structure, and (c) is a diagram showing a relationship with an air spring in an inclined state. is there. The lower structure of a cushion element unit is shown, (a) is sectional drawing, (b) is sectional drawing which shows an edge part structure. It is the figure which showed the simplest structure of the air spring which comprises the foundation of the body support apparatus of FIG. It is the figure which showed the means (support surface change means) which controls the air quantity of the air spring of a cushion element unit. It is the figure which showed the structure which lets the conduit | pipe with respect to an air spring pass to an upper structure. It is a figure which shows the state after the cushion element unit in which air was introduced into the air spring extended. It is the figure which showed the state in which the upper structure of the extended cushion element unit inclined. It is the figure which showed the form which connects an upper structure and a lower structure at an edge part. It is the figure which showed the other structural example of the air spring. It is the figure which showed other structural examples of the air spring. It is the figure which showed the structural example of the hinge used with the air spring of FIG. It is the figure which showed other structural examples of the air spring. It is the figure which showed other structural examples of the air spring. It is the figure which showed other structural examples of the air spring. It is the figure which showed the form of the spring used as the component of an air spring. It is the figure which showed other structural examples of the air spring. It is a figure which shows the structural example which provides a conduit | pipe directly in the hollow body of an air spring. It is a figure which shows the form which combined the hollow body of the adjacent air spring. It is the figure which showed the structural example which provided the side support mechanism for side-falling prevention in each cushion element unit. It is the figure which showed the structural example of the cross link mechanism used for a side support mechanism. It is the figure which showed the example which comprised the cross link mechanism in multistage. It is the figure which illustrated the side support mechanism of the multistage box structure. It is the figure which showed the structural example of the crossing link mechanism which can be tilted used for a side support mechanism. It is the figure which showed the side support mechanism which can be inclined which made two sets of multistage box structures one set. It is the figure which showed the form which the side support mechanism of FIG. It is the figure which showed the example of arrangement | positioning of the side support mechanism with respect to a cushion element unit. It is the figure which illustrated the form after changing from a bed to a sofa. It is the figure which illustrated the form of the bed with vibration. FIG. 2 shows a pressure ulcer prevention device according to a second embodiment of the present invention, in which (a) shows a basic structure and (b) to (d) show a state in which the shape has been changed. It is a figure which shows the body support apparatus which concerns on the 3rd Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the body support apparatus which concerns on the 4th Embodiment of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

1 body support device,
2 cushion structure,
3 body support surface,
4 Cushion element unit,
5 Superstructure,
6 Substructure,
7 Air spring,
8 hollow body,
9 Top,
10 torso,
11 Bottom,
12 Soft elastomer,
13 Hard base material,
14 Elastomer,
15 cushioning material,
16 Coating material,
17 Hard base material,
18 Elastomer,
19 Coating material,
20 Common conduit (supply and exhaust pipe),
21 first conduit (supply pipe),
22 second conduit (exhaust pipe),
23 Piping,
24 air supply control valve,
25 Pressure source,
26 Piping,
27 Exhaust control valve,
28 control device,
29 connecting parts,
30 rings,
31 hinge body,
32 Top,
33 Coil spring,
35 side support mechanism,
36 First link,
37 Second link,
38 pins,
39 Intersection link mechanism,
40 upper frame,
41 Bottom frame,
42 slide groove,
43 intervals,
44 stopper,
45 Multistage cross link mechanism,
46 Multi-stage box structure,
47 Long groove,
48 Sliding intersection link mechanism,
49 axes,
50 rotating part,
51 Sofa,
52 bed with vibration,
53 Pressure ulcer prevention device,
54 support,
55 first cushion structure,
56 second cushion structure,
57 first body support surface,
58 second body support surface,
59 inner ring,
60 Middle ring,
61 Outer ring,
62 recess,
63 small recess,
64 large recess,
65 planar superstructure,
66 Planar substructure.

Claims (17)

A plurality of cushion element units configured by interposing an air spring between the upper structure and the lower structure are juxtaposed in a plane, and a body support surface that supports the body is formed by the upper envelope surface of the cushion element units. A cushion structure;
A body support apparatus comprising: a support surface changing unit that adjusts an air amount of an air spring of the cushion element unit and changes a height of the cushion element unit to change a shape of the body support surface. The supporting surface changing means is
A pressure source connected through a conduit and a control valve to an air spring of the cushion element unit;
The control device is configured to control the control valve to adjust an air amount of an air spring of the cushion element unit to change an uneven shape or an inclination angle of the body support surface. The body support apparatus described in 1.   The body support device according to claim 1, wherein the air spring of the cushion element unit is made of a hollow body that can be expanded and contracted.   The body support apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the stretchable hollow body is made of an elastic material.   The body support device according to claim 3 or 4, wherein the air spring of the cushion element unit is formed of a hollow body that can expand and contract in multiple stages.   6. The body support device according to claim 5, wherein the multi-stage stretchable hollow body is formed of a combination of a hollow cylindrical body made of an elastic material and a hard material used for a part thereof.   The body support device according to claim 3, wherein a coil spring is provided around a hollow body of the air spring.   8. A side support mechanism for preventing the cushion element unit from falling sideways is provided between the upper structure and the lower structure in the at least one cushion element unit. The body support apparatus as described in any one.   The upper structure is inclined only in a certain direction with respect to the lower structure between the upper structure and the lower structure in the cushion element unit of the cushion element unit that needs to be inclined. A body support device according to any one of claims 1 to 8, further comprising a side support mechanism capable of supporting the body support.   The upper structure of the cushion element unit has a multilayer structure in which a hard base material, an elastomer, a breathable cushioning material, and a breathable covering material are laminated in order from the lower side. Item 10. The body support device according to any one of Items 1 to 9.   The upper structure of the cushion element unit has a soft elastomer at the lowermost side, and the upper structure of the cushion element unit can tilt at the top of the air spring due to the presence of the lower soft elastomer. The body support apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 10.   The lower structure of the cushion element unit has a multilayer structure in which a hard base material, an elastomer, and a breathable coating material are laminated in order from the upper side. The body support apparatus according to one.   The body support device according to any one of claims 1 to 12, wherein the air spring is an air spring in which a plurality of unit air springs are connected in the vertical direction.   The body support device according to claim 13, wherein an intermediate structure is provided between the plurality of unit air springs. A plurality of cushion element units configured by interposing a fluid spring between the upper structure and the lower structure are juxtaposed in a plane, and a body support surface that supports the body is formed by the upper envelope surface of these cushion element units. Cushion structure,
Body support comprising: a support surface changing means for adjusting a fluid amount of a fluid spring of the cushion element unit and changing the height of the cushion element unit to change the shape of the body support surface. apparatus.   The body support apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the fluid is a gas.   The body support apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the fluid is a liquid.

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