Methods and systems of mounting a vibration motor to an adjustable bed

• US 7,465,280 B2
• Filed: 04/26/2007
• Issued: 12/16/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 09/14/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Martin B. Rawls-Meehan
• Original Assignee: Martin B. Rawls-Meehan
• Inventors: Rawls-Meehan, Martin B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Douglas; Steven O
• Application Number:
  US11/740,491
• Publication Number:
  US 20080071200A1
• Time in Patent Office: 600 Days
• Field of Search: 601 46- 60, 601/84, 601/86, 601/89, 601/90, 561/7, 561/8, 569/4, 591/5, 593/3, 510/8, 510/9, 736/67
• US Class Current: 601/56
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 19/12 Folding bedsteads travelling or camp beds A47C17/64
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 20/041 by electric motors
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 20/08 with means for adjusting two or more rests simultaneously
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 21/003 Lighting, radio, telephone or the like connected to the bedstead
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 21/006 Oscillating, balancing or vibrating mechanisms connected to the bedstead for children's beds A47D9/02
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 21/04 Devices for ventilating, cooling or heating
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 27/081 of pneumatic type
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 27/082 with non-manual inflation, e.g. with electric pumps
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 31/008 Use of remote controls
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 2203/12 Remote controls
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 2203/34 for pressure
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/015 divided into different adjustable sections, e.g. for Gatch position
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/018 Control or drive mechanisms
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/05769 with inflatable chambers
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/0138 incorporated in furniture
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/0142 Beds
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/0149 Seat or chair
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/50 Control means thereof
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2203/0443 substantially horizontal
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 23/0263 using rotating unbalanced masses
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 15/02 : electric
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/80 : Services using short range communication, e.g. near-field communication [NFC], radio-frequency identification [RFID] or low energy communication

Abstract

Aspects of this invention relate to an adjustable bed that may include a motor, including a housing with a flange, an adjustable mattress support having a lateral surface, and an opening with a perimeter disposed within the lateral surface; at least one bracket coupled to the mattress support providing a lateral support surface inside the perimeter of the opening, the lateral support surface shaped and sized to laterally support the flange such that the motor is positioned to impart vibration to a mattress on the mattress support; and a resilient material disposed between the flange and the lateral support surface to provide mechanical insulation therebetween.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a motor including a housing with a flange;

an adjustable mattress support having a lateral surface and an opening with a perimeter disposed within the lateral surface;

at least one bracket spaced apart from and coupled to the mattress support, the at least one bracket extending between the housing and the flange of the motor and providing a lateral support surface inside the perimeter of the opening, the lateral support surface shaped and sized to laterally support the flange such that the motor is positioned to impart vibration to a mattress on the mattress support; and

a resilient material disposed between the flange and the lateral support surface to provide mechanical insulation therebetween.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the flange is supported by the resilient material, and the flange includes a surface for directly imparting vibration to the mattress.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the bracket extends beyond the perimeter of the opening of the mattress support and the resilient material provides positional support for the motor so that the flange imparts vibration to the mattress without contacting the mattress support.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one bracket is coupled to the mattress support using a removable coupling.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein removing the at least one bracket facilitates removing and servicing the motor.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the resilient material provides mechanical insulation between the flange and the perimeter of the opening in the mattress support.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the resilient material disposed between the flange and the lateral support surface of the at least one bracket further provides positional support for the motor housing.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one bracket provides support along a majority of the perimeter of the mattress support opening.

9. The system of claim 1, further comprising a second bracket coupled to the mattress support working cooperatively with the at least one bracket to laterally support the motor flange.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the at least one bracket laterally supports the flange on a first side of the motor and the second bracket laterally supports the flange on a second side of the motor.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the resilient material is disposed between the flange on the first side of the motor and the lateral support surface of the at least one bracket, and between the flange on the second side of the motor and the second bracket, to provide mechanical insulation therebetween.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one bracket is coupled to a bed structural portion, and the bed structural portion supports the mattress support.