Sleeping equipment

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12035813-B2
Application number	US-202117525965-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 15, 2021
Priority date	Nov 30, 2020
Publication date	Jul 16, 2024
Grant date	Jul 16, 2024

Abstract

Sleeping equipment includes a mat body and a plurality of air bags. The mat body includes a middle support portion, an upper support portion, and a lower support portion. The mat body is configured to switch between a bed mode and a chair mode. The air bags are arranged in the mat body in a mat length direction from the upper support portion toward the lower support portion. At least a part of the air bags is divided into right and left bag portions in a mat width direction, and the right bag portion and the left bag portion are configured to be independently inflated and deflated.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. Sleeping equipment, comprising:
a mat body including a middle support portion configured to support buttocks and thighs of a user, an upper support portion configured to support a back and head of the user, and a lower support portion configured to support lower legs of the user, the mat body being configured to switch between a bed mode and a chair mode, the bed mode being a mode in which the mat body supports the user lying on a user's back on the mat body, and the chair mode being a mode in which the mat body supports the user sitting on the mat body;
a plurality of air bags arranged in the mat body in a mat length direction from the upper support portion toward the lower support portion, each of the plurality of air bags being in an elongated shape that is long in a mat width direction;
a bladder disposed below the mat body; and
one or more sensors configured to determine a status of the user,
wherein
at least a part of the plurality of air bags is divided into right and left bag portions in the mat width direction, and the right bag portion and the left bag portion are configured to be independently inflated and deflated,
the bladder is configured to be inflated in response to the mat body being switched from the bed mode to the chair mode,
the mat body is configured to switch between the bed mode and the chair mode in response to a signal from the one or more sensors,
the one or more sensors include a camera or a body pressure sensor configured to determine whether the user is sitting in a sideways sitting posture,
the plurality of air bags is configured to be inflated in response to a signal indicating that the user is sitting in the sideways sitting posture from the camera or the body pressure sensor,
the mat body is configured to be disposed in a cabin of a vehicle including an entrance and exit, and
the plurality of air bags is configured to be inflated in response to the user sitting sideways facing the entrance and exit in conjunction with (i) opening and closing of a door for the entrance and exit or (ii) unlocking and locking a lock mechanism for the door.

2. The sleeping equipment according to claim 1 , wherein in at least the part of the plurality of air bags, the right bag portion and the left bag portion are configured to be alternately inflated and deflated.

3. The sleeping equipment according to claim 1 , wherein the plurality of air bags is configured to be inflated and deflated according to desired distribution rates, the desired distribution rates being desired values of loads applied to the middle support portion, the upper support portion, and the lower support portion of the mat body as expressed in percentage to weight of the user.

4. The sleeping equipment according to claim 1 , wherein the plurality of air bags is configured to inflate and deflate according to a shape of a curve of a spine of the user.

5. The sleeping equipment according to claim 1 , wherein
the plurality of air bags includes a first air bag disposed in the middle support portion and divided into a first right bag portion and a second left bag portion in the mat width direction, and
the first air bag is configured in such a manner that, when the user sits in a sideways sitting posture on one side in the mat width direction of the middle support portion, either the first right bag portion or the first left bag portion that is located on the one side on which the user is sitting is inflated.

6. The sleeping equipment according to claim 5 , wherein
the mat body is configured to be disposed in a cabin of a vehicle including an entrance and exit at least on one side in a lateral direction of the vehicle in such a manner that the mat width direction matches the lateral direction of the vehicle, and
at least the first air bag disposed in the middle support portion is configured in such a manner that, when the user sits in the sideways sitting posture facing the entrance and exit on the one side of the middle support portion, either the first right bag portion or the first left bag portion that is located on the one side on which the user is sitting is inflated.

7. The sleeping equipment according to claim 1 , wherein all the plurality of air bags are divided into the right and left bag portions in the mat width direction.

8. The sleeping equipment according to claim 1 , wherein the right and left bag portions of one of the plurality of air bags are in direct contact with the corresponding right and left bag portions of another one of the plurality of air bags adjacent to said one of the plurality of air bags in the mat length direction.

9. The sleeping equipment according to claim 1 , wherein
the one or more sensors include an alertness level sensor disposed in the mat body and configured to determine a heartbeat of the user, and
the mat body is configured to switch between the bed mode and the chair mode in response to a signal indicating the heartbeat of the user from the alertness level sensor.

10. The sleeping equipment according to claim 1 , further comprising a processor configured to control inflation and deflation of the right and left bag portions, wherein
the one or more sensors include an alertness level sensor disposed in the mat body and configured to determine a heartbeat of the user, and
the processor is configured to determine that the user has fallen asleep based on the heartbeat of the user, and
in response to the mat body being in the bed mode and the user having fallen asleep, cause the right and left bag portions alternately and repeatedly inflate and deflate.

11. Sleeping equipment, comprising:
a mat body including a middle support portion configured to support buttocks and thighs of a user, an upper support portion configured to support a back and head of the user, and a lower support portion configured to support lower legs of the user, the mat body being configured to switch between a bed mode and a chair mode, the bed mode being a mode in which the mat body supports the user lying on a user's back on the mat body, and the chair mode being a mode in which the mat body supports the user sitting on the mat body;
a plurality of air bags arranged in the mat body in a mat length direction from the upper support portion toward the lower support portion, each of the plurality of air bags being in an elongated shape that is long in a mat width direction;
a bladder disposed below the mat body; and
one or more sensors configured to determine a status of the user,
wherein
at least a part of the plurality of air bags is divided into right and left bag portions in the mat width direction, and the right bag portion and the left bag portion are configured to be independently inflated and deflated,
the bladder is configured to be inflated in response to the mat body being switched from the bed mode to the chair mode,
the mat body is configured to switch between the bed mode and the chair mode in response to a signal from the one or more sensors,
the one or more sensors include
a camera or a body pressure sensor configured to determine whether the user is sitting in a sideways sitting posture; and
an alertness level sensor disposed in the mat body and configured to determine a heartbeat of the user,

the plurality of air bags is configured to be inflated in response to a signal indicating that the user is sitting in the sideways sitting posture from the camera or the body pressure sensor,
the mat body is configured to be disposed in a cabin of a vehicle including an entrance and exit,
the plurality of air bags is configured to be inflated in response to the user sitting sideways facing the entrance and exit in conjunction with (i) openin

Assignees

• Toyota Motor Co Ltd
• Toyota Boshoku Kk

Inventors

• Fukuyama Gen
• Inoue Mikio
• Yamamato Reiko
• Wakatsuki Hayato
• Hanase Tsutomu
• Tanaka Shigeki

Classifications

• A47C17/04

  {Seating furniture, e.g.} sofas, couches, settees, or the like, with movable parts {changeable to beds}; Chair beds · CPC title

• A47C17/80

  adapted to be used in or connected to vehicles · CPC title

• A47C27/10 Primary

  with two or more independently-fillable chambers · CPC title

• A61M21/02

  for inducing sleep or relaxation, e.g. by direct nerve stimulation, hypnosis, analgesia (for massage A61H; electrotherapy A61N, e.g. applying alternating or intermittent electric currents for producing anaesthesia A61N1/36021) · CPC title

• B60N2/34

  into a bed · CPC title