Adjustable foundation
View Patent ↗An adjustable foundation and process includes a mattress support surface including a head and back section hingedly connected to an intermediate section at one end and a leg and foot section hingedly connected to the intermediate section at another end, wherein the intermediate section includes a first portion and a second portion, wherein the first portion is hingedly connected to the head and back section and the second portion is hingedly connected to the leg and foot section. The intermediate or seat section is configured to increase in length upon articulation of the head and back section 18 and/or the leg and foot section 22 from a flat position or an increase in inclination of any section. Likewise, the intermediate or seat section 20 is configured to decrease in length upon articulation of the head and back section 18 and/or the leg and foot section 22 from an inclined position to a flat position or a decrease in length upon declination of any section. By doing so, a prone user does not have to shift his position on the mattress in order to accommodate the inclination or declination.
1. A process for operating an adjustable mattress assembly, the process comprising:
changing a head and back section of an adjustable mattress assembly, the adjustable mattress assembly comprising a mattress support surface including the head and back section hingedly connected to an intermediate seat section at one end and a leg and foot section hingedly connected to the intermediate seat section at another end, wherein the intermediate seat section includes a first portion and a second portion, wherein the first portion is hingedly connected to the head and back section and the second portion is hingedly connected to the leg and foot section, wherein the first portion of the intermediate seat section is rectangularly shaped and the second portion of the intermediate seat section is generally u-shaped, the adjustable mattress assembly further comprising a first actuator having an extending and retracting member operatively coupled to a linkage assembly to effect inclination or declination of the head and back section relative to the intermediate seat section and inclination or declination of the foot and leg section, wherein the first actuator is further operative to effect an increase or decrease in a length of the intermediate seat section by movement of the first portion relative to the second portion such that upon extension and retraction of the first actuator, the first portion of the intermediate seat section moves towards or away from an opening defined by the u-shaped second portion, thereby lengthening or shortening the intermediate seat section, wherein lengthening or shortening the intermediate seat section does not effect movement of the u-shaped portion; and
lengthening the intermediate seat section upon inclining the head and back section by moving the first portion away from the second portion; or
shortening the intermediate seat section upon declining the head and back section by moving the first portion towards the second portion,
wherein lengthening or shortening the intermediate seat section does not effect movement of the u-shaped portion.
2. The process of claim 1 , wherein changing the position of the head and back section relative to the intermediate seat section simultaneously changes a position of the leg and foot section relative to the intermediate seat section.
3. The process of claim 2 , wherein simultaneously changing the positions of the head and back section and the leg and foot section comprises actuating a single actuator operatively coupled and linked thereto.
4. The process of claim 1 , wherein changing the position of the head and back section relative to the intermediate seat section is independent from changing a position of the leg and foot section.
5. The process of claim 1 , wherein lengthening the intermediate seat section causes the head and back section to slide towards a head end of the adjustable mattress assembly.