SPRING BED DEVICE WITH HEATING FUNCTION

Abstract

There is provided a bed device comprising: a support plate; a spring mattress provided on the support plate; a mat provided on the spring mattress; and a hot-air supply device for supplying hot air into the spring mattress, wherein the hot-air supply device is received in the spring mattress, wherein the hot-air supply device includes: a hot-air generation unit for generating hot-air; a hot-air discharge tube protruding from the hot-air generation unit by a predetermined length to discharge the hot-air generated in the hot-air generation unit into the spring mattress; and two hot-air guide members symmetrically disposed about the hot-air discharge tube, wherein the two air guide members are configured to guide the hot-air such that the hot air discharged from the hot-air discharge tube is distributed uniformly over an entire area of the spring mattress.

Claims

1. A bed device comprising: a support plate 10; a spring mattress 20 provided on the support plate; a mat 30 provided on the spring mattress 20; and a hot-air supply device for supplying hot air into the spring mattress, wherein the hot-air supply device is received in the spring mattress 20, wherein the hot-air supply device includes: a hot-air generation unit 40 for generating hot-air; a hot-air discharge tube 60 protruding from the hot-air generation unit 40 by a predetermined length to discharge the hot-air generated in the hot-air generation unit 40 into the spring mattress 20; and two hot-air guide members 70 symmetrically disposed about the hot-air discharge tube 60, wherein the two air guide members 70 are configured to guide the hot-air such that the hot air discharged from the hot-air discharge tube 60 is distributed uniformly over an entire area of the spring mattress 20, wherein the hot-air generation unit 40 includes: a body 400; air intake holes 42 defined in both sides of the body; an ultraviolet sterilizing lamp provided nearby the air intake holes 42; and control means configured to control functions of the hot-air generation unit 40, wherein the control means includes a sterilization control unit 445 for enabling sterilization of air sucked in the air intake holes 42 by controlling the ultraviolet sterilizing lamp.

2. The bed device of claim 1, wherein each of the two hot-air guide members 70 symmetrically disposed in the spring mattress 20 has an approximately L shape, wherein the combined shape of the two hot-air guide members 70 is approximately U-shaped to surround the hot-air discharge tube 60.

3. The bed device of claim 1, wherein the hot-air generation unit 40 includes: a water container 41 provided in the body for storing water removed from the air sucked through the air intake holes; a heater 43 provided in a front of the hot-air discharge tube 60; and upper and lower blowing fans 44 provided in front of the heater 43 to discharge the air heated by the heater 43 to the hot-air discharge tube 60.

4. The bed device of claim 3, wherein a fluid inflow hole 411 is provided in a rear portion of the container 41, wherein the fluid inflow hole 411 is covered with a dehumidification plate 45, wherein a heat conduction element 46 is mounted on the dehumidification plate 45, wherein a heat dissipation plate 47 is mounted on the heat conduction element 46.

5. The bed device of claim 3, wherein a filter is mounted in each of the air intake holes to purify circulated air in the spring mattress.

6. The bed device of claim 4, wherein the control means further comprises: a main control unit for receiving and processing signals from a remote control unit for remote control; a temperature control unit for controlling a temperature of the heater; a time control unit for controlling an operation time of the heater; a dehumidifying control unit for controlling an operation of the heat conductive element; a drying control unit for controlling a drying state of the air sucked in the air intake holes; and a blowing control unit for controlling a rotation speed and a rotation time of the blowing fans.

7. The bed device of claim 6, wherein the remote control unit includes: a display unit for displaying a state and an operation state of the control means; a plurality of operation buttons for instructing the control units to control the temperature, speed, time, sterilization, drying, and/or blowing; and an illumination LED module provided above the operation button to allow an user to easily recognize the operation button, wherein the LED module protrudes in a front direction.

8. The bed device of claim 1, wherein the mat is removably mounted to the spring mattress, wherein the mat has heating function, wherein the mat is configured: to be heated until, via supplying hot-air to an entire spring mattress by a operation of the hot-air supply device, the entire spring mattress reaches a predetermined temperature; and to stop the heating operation thereof when the entire spring mattress reaches the predetermined temperature.

9. The bed device of claim 1, wherein the mat is removably mounted to the spring mattress, wherein the mat has massaging function, wherein the mat is foldable, and the massage-enabling mat is provided with a plurality of roller massage units which operate independently.

10. The bed device of claim 1, wherein the support plate is disposed on four support legs, wherein each of the support legs includes: a support hollow frame; upper and lower support plates spacedly disposed in the support frame; a shock absorber disposed between the upper and lower support plates, wherein the shock absorber includes a shock absorber body beneath the upper plate, and a coil spring disposed between the shock absorber body and the lower support plate; and a bottom leg portion integrated with the lower support plate.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0030] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a spring mattress having a conventional heating function.

[0031] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a spring bed device with heating function according to the present invention.

[0032] FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing an internal structure of a spring mattress according to the present invention.

[0033] FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing an appearance of a hot-air generation unit shown in FIG. 3.

[0034] FIG. 5 is a sectional view showing an example of an internal state of a hot-air generation unit shown in FIG. 4.

[0035] FIG. 6 is a block diagram of a hot-air generation unit shown in FIG. 4.

[0036] FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a remote control unit for controlling a hot-air generation unit in a spring bed device with heating function according to the present invention.

[0037] FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a state in which a control example of a remote control unit shown in FIG. 7 is displayed on a display unit.

[0038] FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing an example of a configuration of a mat provided on a spring mattress according to the present invention.

[0039] FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing another example of a construction of a mat provided on a spring mattress according to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTIONS

[0040] These and other objects and novel features of the present invention will become more apparent from the description of the present specification and the accompanying drawings.

[0041] Spatially relative terms, such as “beneath,” “below,” “lower,” “under,” “above,” “upper,” and the like, may be used herein for ease of explanation to describe one element or feature's relationship to another element or feature as illustrated in the figures.

[0042] For example, if the device in the figures is turned over, elements described as “below” or “beneath” or “under” other elements or features would then be oriented “above” the other elements or features. It will be understood that the spatially relative terms are intended to encompass different orientations of the device in use or in operation, in addition to the orientation depicted in the figures.

[0043] Hereinafter, the configuration of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0044] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the spring bed device with heating function according to the present invention. FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating the internal structure of the spring mattress 20 according to the present invention.

[0045] As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the bed device according to the present invention includes the spring mattress 20 provided on a support plate 10, and a mat 30 provided on the spring mattress 20. In the spring mattress 20, a hot-air supply device for supplying hot air into the spring mattress is installed. The hot-air supply device includes a hot-air generation unit 40 for generating hot-air, a remote control unit 50 for remote controlling of the hot-air generation unit 40, a hot-air discharge tube 60 protruding from the hot-air generation unit 40 by a predetermined length to discharge the hot-air generated in the hot-air generation unit 40 into the spring mattress 20, and two symmetrical hot-air guide members 70 symmetrically provided at both sides of the hot-air discharge tube 60 respectively, wherein the two hot-air guide members 70 are configured to guide the hot-air such that the hot air discharged from the hot-air discharge tube 60 is distributed uniformly over an entire area of the spring mattress 20.

[0046] As shown in FIG. 2, the support plate 10 is disposed on four support legs 11. Each of the support legs 11 includes a steel support frame 111, upper and lower support plates 112 disposed in the support frame 111, a shock absorber 114 disposed between the upper and lower support plates 112, wherein the shock absorber 114 includes a shock absorber body beneath the upper plate 112, and a coil spring 115 disposed between the shock absorber body and the lower support plate 112, and a bottom leg portion 113 integrated with the lower support plate 112.

[0047] Thus, even when the spring mattress 20 is subjected to a heavy load, the shock absorber 114 may buffer the entire bed device, thereby preventing damage to the spring mattress 20.

[0048] As shown in FIG. 3, the spring mattress 20 according to the present invention has an array of springs spacedly arranged at regular intervals therein. The spring mattress 20 is configured to have a sealed space from the outside. In this way, hot air may be supplied between the springs and may be circulated therein.

[0049] Each of the two hot-air guide members 70 symmetrically disposed in the spring mattress 20 has an approximately L shape. Thus, the combined shape of the two hot-air guide members 70 is approximately U-shaped. In one embodiment, the combined shape of the two hot-air guide members 70 may be formed to surround the hot-air discharge tube 60. That is, the two hot-air guide members 70 may be symmetrically disposed about the hot-air discharge tube 60. As shown in FIG. 3, each of the hot-air guide members 70 has a transversal portion corresponding to about a quarter of the width of the spring mattress 20 and have a longitudinal portion smaller than an overall length of the spring mattress 20.

[0050] Thus, the hot-air discharged from the hot-air discharge tube 60 may be guided via the hot-air guide members 70 to the rear of the spring mattress 20, as indicated by arrows in FIG. 3. Then, the hot-air turns around the distal end of each of the hot-air guide members 70 and returns to the hot-air generation unit 40. By providing the hot-air guide members 70, the hot-air may be uniformly distributed and circulated over and within the entire area of the spring mattress 20.

[0051] The mat 30 is removably mounted to the spring mattress 20. In one embodiment, the mat 30 may be fabricated integrally with the spring mattress 20. In one embodiment, the mat 30 may be separately fabricated with the spring mattress 29 and subsequently and be operatively mounted on the spring mattress 20. The structure and function of the mat 30 will be described later.

[0052] As shown in FIG. 3, the hot-air discharge tube 60 may be formed in a rectangular shape so as to incorporate the hot-air generation unit 40 therein. In one example, the tube 60 may protrude by approximately 30 cm.

[0053] Next, the structure of the hot-air generation unit will be described with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5.

[0054] FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing an appearance of the hot-air generation unit 40 shown in FIG. 3. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing an example of the internal structure of the hot-air generation unit shown in FIG. 4.

[0055] As shown in FIG. 4, the hot-air generation unit 40 includes: a body 400 made of a metal material, a water container 41 provided at the front of the body for storing water removed from the air sucked through air intake holes, air intake holes 42 provided in both sides of the body, a heater 43 provided in the front of the hot-air discharge tube 60, a pair of blowing fans 44 provided in front of the heater 43 to discharge the air heated by the heater 43 to the hot-air discharge tube 60, and a control unit for controlling the respective functions of the hot-air generation unit 40.

[0056] The body 400 is formed in a box shape as shown in FIG. 5. Each of the components of the hot-air generation unit 40 described above is accommodated in the body 400. The body 400 is inserted into the hot-air discharge tube 60. In addition, the body 400 is fixed to the hot-air discharge tube 60 by fastening means such as bolts, as shown at the top and bottom in FIG. 5.

[0057] As shown in FIG. 4, a plurality of LED display units to indicate the operation state of the hot-air generation unit 40, a power supply and shutoff switch, a terminal for connecting a power line and a control line may be mounted on the front surface of the body 400.

[0058] The air intake holes 42 are provided on both sides of the body 400, as shown in FIG. 5. The air intake holes 42 suck hot-air which is discharged from the hot-air discharge tube 60 and then returns via the hot-air guide members 70 toward the hot-air generation unit 40. Further, a filter is mounted in the air intake holes 42 to clean the circulated air in the spring mattress 20. To this end, the hot-air discharge tube 60 is also provided with through-holes communicating with the air intake holes 42 respectively.

[0059] By providing the filter in the air intake holes 42, dust is removed from the circulated air in the spring mattress 20. As a result, it is possible to prevent dust from accumulating on the heater 43 and the blowing fans 44. This filter also acts as a mesh to collect mites present in the spring mattress 20. Thus, it is possible to prevent the occurrence of allergies and promote the health of the user.

[0060] On the front of the water container 41, a handle is provided as shown in FIG. 4. As shown in FIG. 5, a fluid inflow hole 411 is provided in the rear of the container 41. The fluid inflow hole 411 is covered with a dehumidification plate 45. The dehumidification plate 45 is provided with a heat conduction element 46, and the heat conduction element 46 is fitted with a heat dissipation plate 47. The dehumidification plate 45, the heat conduction element 46, and the heat dissipation plate 47 are provided as one module. The module is coupled to the body by a support 48 and is held within a substantially central portion of the body.

[0061] As described above, by providing the dehumidification plate 45, it is possible to remove moisture from the air supplied to the blowing fans 44. As a result, the efficiency of the heater 43 can be maximized. The moisture dehumidified by the dehumidification plate 45 is stored in the water container 41 through the fluid inflow hole 411.

[0062] In addition, by providing the pair of blowing fans 44, the hot air generated by the heater 43 can be optimally discharged to the hot-air discharge tube 60. In the present embodiment, hot air is supplied in an internal circulation manner. As a result, the air that reaches the blowing fans 44 again becomes hot-air. For this purpose, it is preferable that the blowing fans 44 are made of high strength synthetic resin or metallic material.

[0063] Next, control means provided in the hot-air generation unit 40 according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. 6 to FIG. 8.

[0064] FIG. 6 is a block diagram of a hot-air generation unit shown in FIG. 4. FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a remote control unit for controlling a hot-air generation unit in a spring bed device with heating function according to the present invention. FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a state in which a control example of a remote control unit shown in FIG. 7 is displayed on a display unit.

[0065] The control means comprises: a main control unit 440 for receiving and processing signals from the remote control unit 50 for remote control, a temperature control unit 441 for controlling the temperature of the heater 43, a power supply control unit 442 for adjusting the power supplied to the heater 43, a time control unit 443 for controlling the operation time of the heater 43, a dehumidifying control unit 444 for controlling the operation of the heat conductive element 46, a sterilization control unit 445 for controlling the sterilization of the air sucked in the air intake holes 42, a drying control unit 446 for controlling the drying state of the air sucked in the air intake holes 42, and a blowing control unit 447 for controlling the rotation speed and the rotation time of the pair of blowing fans 44.

[0066] The main control unit 440 controls the operation of a massage-enabling mat 31 or a heating unit 32 provided in the mat 30. To this end, the main control unit 440 includes a memory and a processor. The memory stores preset conditions for each component as described above. The processor receives and processes the settings stored in the memory and commands transmitted from the remote control unit 50.

[0067] Basically, the present bed device is assumed to be operated by the main control unit 400 in response to an operation command of the remote control unit 50. However, the present invention is not limited thereto. It is also possible to adopt a configuration in which an operation panel is provided on the front surface of the body 400 and the main control unit 441 is controlled by the operation panel.

[0068] The temperature control unit 441 senses the temperature of the surface of the spring mattress 20 and controls the temperature of the heater 43 based on the command value from the remote control unit 50. In one embodiment, the temperature may be adjusted from 0° C. up to 60° C. in 1 degree increments. The set temperature value is displayed on the display unit 51 of the remote control unit 50 as shown in FIG. 8. By this temperature setting, the intensities of the heater 43 and the blowing fans 44 may be controlled in an associated manner.

[0069] The power control unit 442 controls the rotation speed of the blowing fans 44 in response to the temperature controlled by the temperature control unit 441. Alternatively, the power supply control unit 442 controls the current applied to the heater 43 to control the hot-air generation temperature in the heater 43.

[0070] The time control unit 443 is inter-operated with the temperature control unit 441. The time control unit 443 enables the user to set the operation time of the heater 43. In this manner, the operation time of the heater 43 may be set such that the heater is continuously operated for example, for 10 hours, every 30 minutes under the control of the time control unit 443. The thus-set state is displayed on the display unit 51 of the remote control unit 50.

[0071] The dehumidification control unit 444 controls the operation of the heat conduction element 46. In addition, the control unit 444 allows the remote control unit 50 to be informed of a full status when the dehumidified water is full in the water container 41.

[0072] In one embodiment, an ultraviolet sterilizing lamp may be installed in the air intake holes 42 to sterilize the air sucked in the air intake holes 42 for a period of time. In this regard, when the ultraviolet sterilizing lamp is driven, the sterilizing control unit 445 adjusts the rotational speed of the blowing fans 44 to a high level, thereby sterilizing air circulating the spring mattress 20 for a predetermined time. In this embodiment, by providing the filter and the ultraviolet germicidal lamp in the air intake holes 42, mites and the like present in the spring mattress 20 can be collected and sterilized.

[0073] The drying control unit 446 controls the drying state of the air sucked in the air intake holes 42. In one embodiment, to optimize the air circulation within the spring mattress 20, it may be desirable to operate the blowing fans at a high level for a period of time, for example, for 60 minutes, to maintain the air at a constant temperature, for example 60° C. Thus, by operating the drying control unit 446, the circulating air in the spring mattress 20 may be kept in an optimal state during the humid season, for example during the summer rainy season.

[0074] The blowing control unit 447 may be cooperated with the sterilizing control unit 445, and the drying control unit 446. The blowing control unit 447 is provided to control the rotation speed and the rotation time of the pair of blowing fans 44. In an embodiment, for example, noise due to the operation of the blowing fans 44 is generated. To solve this problem, a speed level may be divided into eight degrees to control the speed of the blowing fans 44 based on a corresponding degree.

[0075] As shown in FIG. 7, the remote control unit 50 includes a display unit 51 for displaying the state and operation state of the control means, and a plurality of operation buttons 53 for controlling the temperature, speed, time, sterilization for the control units. An illumination LED module 52 is provided above the operation button 53 to easily recognize the operation button 53 by the user at night. As shown in FIG. 2, the LED module 52 protrudes in a front direction, and is turned on when any one of the operation buttons 53 is pressed.

[0076] By providing the LED module 52 in this way, the user may operate the operation button 53 easily without a separated illumination apparatus during nighttime sleep. In addition, the LED module 52 is provided for allowing the user to easily recognize the operation button 53. Therefore, the LED module 52 may be automatically turned on or off at an given interval, for example, an interval of 3 to 5 seconds, at which the user can recognize each of the operation button 53.

[0077] The control state by each control unit as shown in FIG. 6 is displayed on the display unit 51 as shown in FIG. 8. In addition, the display unit 51 is provided with a remaining battery level indicator that indicates the remaining battery level.

[0078] In addition, the remote control unit 50 may be provided with a speaker for outputting a warning sound that can be recognized by the user when an abnormality occurs in each control state. In addition, the remote control unit 50 may have a voice recognition function so that the user can easily recognize the position of the remote control unit 50 at night. In this way, a sound signal may be output in accordance with the user's voice.

[0079] Next, the massage-enabling mat 31 shown in FIG. 6 will be described with reference to FIG. 9.

[0080] FIG. 9 is a perspective view illustrating an example of the configuration of the mat provided on the spring mattress according to the present invention.

[0081] The massage-enabling mat 31 shown in FIG. 9 may be folded in four stages, for example. The mat 31 is detachably mounted to the spring mattress 20.

[0082] The massage-enabling mat 31 is provided with a plurality of roller massage units 312 which operate independently of a mat body 311.

[0083] The plurality of roller massage units 312 are independently controlled by the main control unit 440. Each massage unit is connected to an output shaft driven by independent motor so that the massage unit 312 is moved up and down by the rotation of the motor to exert a massage effect. A detailed operation of the message unit 312 is disclosed for example, in Korean Utility Model Registration No. 20-0414889. Thus, the detailed description thereof will be omitted.

[0084] Next, the mat 32 with heating function shown in FIG. 6 will be described with reference to FIG. 10.

[0085] FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing another example of the construction of the mat provided on the spring mattress according to the present invention.

[0086] The mat 32 with heating function shown in FIG. 10 is removably mounted to the spring mattress 20. The mat 32 with heating function is heated until, by supplying hot-air to the entire spring mattress by the operation of the hot-air supply device, the entire spring mattress reaches a predetermined temperature. When the spring mattress 20 reaches the predetermined temperature, the heating operation of the mat 32 is stopped. To this end, a sensor 321 is provided in the heating function with the mat 32.

[0087] As shown in FIG. 10, heater lines H1 and H2 and sensor sensing lines S1 and S2 are provided in the mat 32 with heating function. Each of the heater lines H1 and H2 includes a heater heat line 331, a silicon inner coat 332 covering the heater heat line 331, a silicon shielding portion 333 provided outside the silicon inner coat and formed in a net shape by a copper wire, and a silicon outer coat 334 covering the shielding portion 333. However, the present invention is not limited thereto. A silver-foil shield may be provided between the silicon inner coat 332 and the shielding portion 333.

[0088] Moreover, the mat 32 with the heating function may include a spark ignition preventing means to prevent spark due to the disconnection of the heater lines H1 and H2, heater overheat prevention means to prevent overheat due to sensor disconnection, a long-time overheating prevention means to prevent long-time overheating due to a timer failure, display means for digitally displaying the temperature setting and the current temperature, and a control unit for controlling the spark ignition preventing means, the heater overheating preventing means, and the long time overheating preventing means, respectively. The spark ignition preventing means, the heater overheating preventing means, and the long-time overheating preventing means may be simultaneously executed to realize the triple safety control. The spark ignition preventing means includes first and second triac elements, and first and second phototransistors optically coupled to the first and second triac elements, respectively. The first and second triac elements are respectively connected to a first heater line and a second heater line. The spark ignition preventing means may be configured such that, when a break occurs in any one of the heater lines H1 and H2, information on the disconnection state of the heater line is transmitted to the control unit via the first and second phototransistors. A power supply unit thereof may be provided with a fuse.

[0089] Although the present invention has been described in detail with reference to the above embodiments, it is needless to say that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.

INDUSTRIAL AVAILABILITY

[0090] By using the bed device according to the present invention, the hot-air may be uniformly distributed over the entire surface of the spring mattress.