WO2010149788A1

WO2010149788A1 - Bed systems

Info

Publication number: WO2010149788A1
Application number: PCT/EP2010/059108
Authority: WO
Inventors: Ljubomir Gnjatovic
Original assignee: Ljubomir Gnjatovic
Priority date: 2009-06-25
Filing date: 2010-06-25
Publication date: 2010-12-29
Also published as: GB2471401A; GB201010746D0; GB0911005D0

Abstract

A bed system supports a user in varying pre-selected or other configurations (A-D) in dependence on operation of the buttons (15-23) of a hand-held, main controller (14) by the bed-user. Adjustment of bed-configuration is by drive from an electric motor unit (8) to vary inclination angles of head and foot sections (4,5) of a base (2) of the bed. An auxiliary controller (25) separate from the main controller (14) is provided for operation by a third party in changing the bed-configuration especially for reduction of snoring by the bed-user. Change of orientation of the user's body on the bed between lying on their side and back are sensed by the consequential change in loading on air-pressure pads (29) under the user in a recess (30) in the bed-mattress (1).

Description

Bed Systems

This invention relates to bed systems.

The invention is particularly concerned with bed systems of a kind that include a bed having an adjustable configuration in the support of a person using the bed, and methods of motorised adjustment of bed-configuration.

According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a bed system that includes a bed having an adjustable configuration in its support of a user of the bed, and which also includes motor-controlling means that is operable to adjust the bed configuration, a main controller means that is operable to convey to the motor-controlling means a signal indicative of a selected bed-configuration or change of bed-configuration, the particular bed-configuration or change of bed-configuration indicated by the signal being dependent on manual selection from a plurality of optional bed-configurations or of changes of bed- configuration, and auxiliary controller means which is separate from the main controller means and which is operable to convey to the motor-controlling means a signal indicative of a desired bed- configuration or change of bed-configuration, the motor- controlling means being responsive to the signal received from the main controller means to adjust the bed-configuration in accordance with the selected bed-configuration or change of bed- configuration indicated by that signal, and being responsive to the signal received from the auxiliary controller means to adjust the bed to adopt the desired bed-configuration or change of bed- configuration indicated by the signal from the auxiliary controller means.

Although motorised adjustment of bed-configuration is known, it is normal for the user to have to initiate the adjustment made. The result is that the user must select a bed-configuration for sleep that is comfortable and otherwise appropriate to whatever body orientations he/she might adopt during sleep. Unless sleep is to be interrupted, the configuration chosen is to be comfortable throughout the period of sleep whether the user is at any time sleeping, for example, on his/her side or back. With the bed system and method of the present invention the difficulty of making a choice of this nature can be significantly reduced in that the bed-configuration may be adjusted automatically in dependence upon the body-orientation in which the user is at any time sleeping so as to afford the sleeper optimum comfort throughout. More particularly, the user may pre-select the bed- configurations that are to be effective for his/her respective body-orientations .

The bed may include load-sensing means for providing an output that varies in dependence upon change in load imposed upon a predetermined region of the bed and results from change of orientation of the user's body. In these circumstances, the motor-controlling means may be responsive to the output of the load-sensing means to adjust the configuration of the bed, for example from one to the other of two pre-set configurations) according to the load sensed. The adjustment made may be dependent on whether the change in load sensed exceeds a pre-set threshold, and may be made only in the event that the change persists for a predetermined interval of time; this is useful for avoiding unnecessary or premature adjustments of the bed- configuration. The bed may have a mattress that involves a recess for receiving a shoulder of the user, and in this case the load-sensing means may be located within the recess for responding to the condition in which the user is laying on either of his/her sides with a shoulder in the recess.

According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of motorised adjustment of the configuration of a bed in its support of a user of the bed, which includes operating a main controller means to convey to motor-controlling means a signal indicative of a selected bed-configuration or change of bed-configuration, the particular bed-configuration or change of bed-configuration indicated by the signal being dependent on manual selection from a plurality of optional bed- configurations or changes of bed-configuration, operating an auxiliary controller means which is separate from the main controller means to convey to the motor-controlling means a signal indicative of a desired bed-configuration or change of bed-configuration, the motor-controlling means being responsive to the signal received from the main controller means to adjust the bed-configuration in accordance with the configuration or change of configuration indicated by that signal, and being responsive to the signal received from the auxiliary controller means to adjust the bed to adopt the desired bed-configuration or change of bed-configuration indicated by the signal from the auxiliary controller means.

The main controller means of the bed system and the method of motorised adjustment may be operated by the user of the bed to adjust the configuration of the bed generally, or to adjust it to one or more pre-selected configurations. However, the auxiliary controller means may with advantage be used by a third party in the circumstances in which the user of the bed is asleep. More especially, where the pre-set configuration is one in which the head of the bed is elevated, it may be used in circumstances in which the user of the bed snores for the purpose of stopping or at least reducing the snoring. Provision may be made for returning the bed from the pre-set, elevated configuration after the elapse of a pre-set period of time.

According to an additional aspect of the invention there is provided a bed which includes vibrator means that is operable to vibrate the bed, and means responsive to the existence of an alarm condition to operate the vibrator means to vibrate the bed in warning to a user of the bed of the alarm condition. Also, in accordance with a further aspect of the invention there is provided a method of operating a bed which includes vibrator means that is operable to vibrate the bed, wherein the vibrator means is operated to vibrate the bed as warning to a user of the bed in the event of the existence of an alarm condition.

It is common for beds to incorporate vibrator means as part of a massaging system of the bed, and the present invention recognises in this further aspect, that vibration of the bed is an effective way, and can have significant advantage over conventional audible and visual alarm indicators, in conveying the existence of an alarm condition to a user of the bed. In particular, it has advantage when the user of the bed is asleep, for waking him/her to the alarm condition, and is of especial advantage in the circumstances in which the user, whether awake or asleep, has impaired sight and/or hearing.

A bed system and a method of operating it in accordance with the present invention, will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a sectional side-elevation of the bed system according to the invention, when in use;

Figure 2 shows the bed system of Figure 1 adjusted to a configuration for supporting the user when in a sitting, reclined attitude, and indicating in chain-dotted outline a configuration selected by the user for use for sleeping on his/her back;

Figure 3 shows the bed system of Figure 1 adjusted to a configuration selected by the user for supporting him/her when sleeping on either side; and

Figure 4 is illustrative of components of the bed system of the invention. Referring to Figure 1, the bed of the bed system has a mattress 1 that is supported on a slatted base 2 within a rectangular frame 3. The base 2 consists of four interlinked sections, namely, an upper or head section 4, a lower or foot section 5 and two intermediate sections 6 and 7 that are linked to one another and to the sections 4 and 5 respectively. The section 6 is fixed to the frame 3 and the linking of the sections 4 and 7 to it, and of the section 5 to the section 7, allows for adjustment of the configuration of the bed from the level support-state shown in Figure 1, to other states appropriate to the needs and comfort of the user of the bed. For example, the configuration of the bed may be adjusted from the level state shown in Figure 1 to the state shown in Figure 2 to provide support for the user in a reclined sitting attitude, or to the state shown in Figure 3 for sleep on the side as an alternative to the level state of Figure 1.

Adjustment of the configuration of the bed is carried out by means of motor drive to the head and foot sections 4 and 5 to incline them relative to the frame 3. The drive is from a motor unit 8 mounted beneath the frame 3, the head and foot sections 4 and 5 being coupled to individual electric motors (not shown) of the unit 8 via pivoting arms 9 and 10 respectively. The motor unit 8, which is powered via an electric cable 11 from a supply unit 12 plugged into the electrical mains supply, includes a motor-control box 13 for energising the motors in accordance with wireless command signals transmitted to it in dependence upon selections made by the user of the bed, as will now be described with reference to Figure 4.

Referring to Figure 4, the wireless command signals received by the box 13 are transmitted principally from a push-button hand^¬ held controller 14. The controller 14, which is battery-powered, has an ON/OFF button 15 and two pairs of UP-DOWN push-buttons 16 and 17, and 18 and 19. The two buttons 16 and 17 are for commanding up and down adjustments respectively of the head section 4 of the bed, whereas the buttons 18 and 19 command up and down adjustments respectively of the foot section 5, with the adjusting movement being maintained in the appropriate direction, up or down, in each case only so long as the relevant button is held depressed.

In addition to the manually-controlled operation achieved through selective operation of the buttons 16 to 19, the bed is operable by 'memory' push-buttons 20 to 23 of the controller 14 to adopt pre-selected configurations automatically. The control box 13 includes memory and a microprocessor for storing and processing data relating to pre-selected configurations, namely: a first which is activated by operation of the button 20 and which, corresponding to the configuration-state designated A in Figure 3, has been pre-selected by the user for sleep on his/her side; a second which is activated by operation of the button 21 and which, corresponding to the configuration-state designated B shown in chain-dotted outline in Figure 2, has been pre-selected by the user for sleep on his/her back; a third which is activated by operation of the button 22 and which, corresponding to the configuration-state designated C shown in full line in Figure 2, has been pre-selected by the user for sitting up (which position also serves to help prevent snoring) ; and a fourth which has been pre-selected by the user using the button 23, but which is activated by operation of a button 24 of an auxiliary unit 25. The unit 25 is separate from the controller 14, and is for wireless signal-transmission to the control box 13 upon operation of the button 24 to bring the bed to a configuration-state designated D for stopping snoring.

In the latter regard, configuration-state D can be pre-selected to be the same as configuration-state C in that the user when sitting up, is less likely either to begin or continue to snore. For the purposes of the present description it will be assumed that the same sitting-up configuration is pre-selected for state D as for C. Although the automatic modes of operation brought about in the two cases are somewhat similar they are intended to be used in different circumstances. More particularly, the control box 13 is responsive to operation of the button 22 to raise the bed to the generally-upright configuration-state C pre- selected by the user for comfort in reading and/or watching television and/or preventing snoring, and after a pre-selected period to lower him/her gently down to the configuration-state B. Operation of the button 24 of the auxiliary unit 25, on the other hand, is intended to be used by a third party to raise the sleeping, snoring bed-user to the configuration-state D in which snoring will likely cease, and after a period pre-selected by the user (as described later) , to lower him/her back to the configuration-state from which he/she was raised. In both instances the bed is able to raise the user to an angle of elevation of between twenty and ninety degrees, although it is to be expected that the angle of elevation set for configuration- state D will be considerably less than for configuration-state C; the preferred angle of elevation can be found by experiment.

The bed system of the invention will in the above respect have significant advantage for situations in which snoring by the user of the bed disturbs a third party, in that action to move the user to an orientation in which snoring is likely to be quelled can be taken simply by operation of the button 24 of the unit 25, without the need for access to the controller 14. In particular, the unit 25 may take a form comparable with that of a watch (as illustrated) for retention by a strap 26 on the wrist of the third party; in this way disturbance of the third party in operating the button 24 and bringing about relief from the snoring, can be kept to a minimum.

Adjustment of the bed directly to any one of the four pre-set configuration-states A to D can be achieved by the user, simply by depressing the relevant button 20 to 22 for configuration- states A to C and, for configuration-state D, by depressing either button 23 on the main controller 14 or button 24 on the separate, auxiliary unit 25.

The four configuration-states A to D are each pre-programmed with the aid of the button 15 and the buttons 20 to 23. The procedure for programming configuration-states A and B is described later, but in order to programme configuration-states C and D, the following process is followed. First the bed is manipulated into the desired configuration using the UP-DOWN buttons 16 and 17 for adjusting the head section 4 and the UP-DOWN buttons 18 and 19 for adjusting the foot section 5. Once the bed has been adjusted to the desired configuration, the button 15 is depressed rapidly three times followed immediately by depression of either button 22 (for configuration-state C) or button 23 (for configuration- state D) . Confirmation of successful programming is in the form of a short high-pitched sound emitted by the control box 13. To set the length of time for which the bed is to remain in said configuration, the appropriate button 22 or 23 is depressed twice to adjust the bed to the appropriate position. The time is set by means of a button 27 on the controller 14. When programming configuration-state C, button 27 is depressed once for thirty minutes, twice for sixty minutes and three times for ninety minutes; when programming configuration-state D it is depressed once for five minutes, twice for ten minutes and so on up to six times for thirty minutes. Upon expiration of this time the bed will return to its substantially-horizontal automatic mode, but it can be returned to this mode sooner by means of pressing either of buttons 20 or 21.

A button 28 of the hand-held controller 14 is used to initiate an automatic "sleep" mode in which the configuration of the bed is adjusted automatically according to the orientation of the user. More particularly, the bed-configuration is adjusted between the two "sleep" configuration-states A and B that are for the time being associated respectively with the buttons 20 and 21, namely those for sleep on the back and sleep on the side. As the user's body moves from one sleep orientation to the other, so the configuration of the bed is adjusted automatically to ensure optimum comfort throughout. Sensing of the changes in orientation of the user's body on the bed is achieved using a load sensor which is in the form of two air-pressure pads 29 that are coupled to a pressure sensor within the unit 13 and which responds to the change of the user's orientation between lying on their side and lying on their back.

Referring also again to Figures 1 to 3 , the mattress 1 is of an advantageous construction for ensuring comfort when sleeping on the side, and in this respect features a recess 30 for receiving the arm and shoulder on which the sleeper rests in that orientation; the use of the recess 30 in this way is effective to ensure that the sleeper's spine (as evident from Figure 1) is not unnaturally bent and the shoulder is not unduly loaded, and this applies generally even when the head section 4 of the base 2 is inclined slightly as with configuration-state A. The recess 30 is defined by the upper part of an aperture 31 through the mattress 1, and a block 32 (having an internal construction comparable with that of the mattress 1) that occupies the lower part of the aperture 31. The block 32, which has a thickness that is desirably two- or three-fifths the thickness of the mattress 1 depending upon the weight of the bed-user, supports a pedestal pillow 33 within the recess 30. The pressure pads 29 are located side-by-side within the body of the block 32 to occupy substantially the width of the mattress 1 within the recess 30 in the region in front of the pillow 33 so as to provide a pneumatic output dependent on the load imposed on either or both of them by the user. The pressure sensor within the control box 13 is responsive to this output, and from this the microprocessor of the box 13 determines whether the load is of a magnitude imposed by the user's shoulder and/or arm when sleeping on either of his/her sides, as distinct from the load imposed by the user when sleeping on his/her back. The mattress 1 is supplied with two blocks 32 and two pillows 33, one thick and the other thin in each case. The thick block 32 and thin pillow 33 are used where the user weighs no more than fifty-one kilograms, and the thin block 32 and the thick pillow 33 where he/she weighs more than that. The thick block 32 creates a shallower recess 30 for the lighter user which is important because they will not sink as far into the recess 30, and with the thinner pillow 33, will more readily maintain a straight spine when lying on the side. Conversely, the heavier user will require the thin block 32 and thick pillow 33 to maintain a straight spine. Use of the recess 30 may be avoided, if desired, by filling it with the two blocks 32 one upon the other. In these circumstances the pads 29 are located between the blocks 32, and the pillow used is chosen to ensure that the user remains with their shoulders located where the pads 29 will provide the desired response to body orientation.

If the load on the pads 29 exceeds a pre-set threshold, the pressure sensor in control box 13 commands the motor unit 8 to adjust the bed to the "sleep" configuration-state A (the preselected configuration stored in relation to the button 20) . On the other hand, if the load-threshold is not exceeded because the user is lying on his/her back, the motor unit 8 is commanded to adjust the bed to the "sleep" configuration-state B (the pre- selected configuration stored in relation to button 21) .

Accordingly, once the button 28 has been depressed to initiate the automatic "sleep" mode, the bed-configuration is adjusted automatically between the configuration-states A and B in conformity with the body-orientation adopted by the user. The system continues to operate in this mode until such time as one or other of the buttons 16 to 23 is next depressed.

For the system to operate in an optimum manner in the automatic "sleep" mode it is desirable that the pre-set threshold value of load should be related to the physical characteristics of the user when using the bed. In order to achieve this, the user first lies on his/her side and adjusts the head and foot sections 4 and 5 by means of buttons 16 to 19. He/she then presses button 15 three times in quick succession before pressing button 20 to register his/her side-lying preferences (configuration-state A) in the system. With the bed still in configuration-state A, the user then turns to lie on his/her back. He/she presses button 15 three times in quick succession, before pressing a button 34 on the controller 14 once to register his/her back-lying weight. He/she then adjusts the bed for optimum back-lying comfort by means of buttons 16 to 19, presses button 15 three times in quick succession, and then presses button 21 to register his/her preferred back-lying bed configuration (configuration-state B) . To complete the process, with the bed still in configuration- state B, he/she turns onto his/her side, presses button 15 three times in quick succession and then presses button 34 to record his/her side-lying weight. This procedure fully programmes the automatic "sleep" mode; this mode is activated by pressing button 28 for ten seconds until a short high-pitched sound is emitted by the control box 13.

Provision is made for delays in the response of the control system to changes of body-orientation in order to avoid as far as possible unnecessary or premature adjustments to the bed- configuration during the automatic "sleep" mode. Both delays are implemented to retard response of the system when the load sensed by the pads 29 changes through the threshold value set by the control 34; the delay in each case is effective to ensure that the relevant change persists for a predetermined interval of time before appropriate adjustment of configuration is begun. A first of the delays is effective to retard adjustment of the bed from configuration-state B to configuration-state A in response to increase of the sensed load through the threshold value (accompanying change of sleeping-orientation from back to side) . The other delay is effective to retard adjustment from configuration-state A to configuration-state B in response to decrease of the sensed load through the threshold value ⁽accompanying change of sleeping-orientation from side to back) . This latter delay is set to be longer than the first since the change in the user's orientation from lying on his/her side may only be transitional in an overall change from that side to the other; twenty-five seconds from side to back as opposed to ten seconds for back to side.

The system described above utilises pressure pads 29 for determining user-orientation. As an alternative, the system may be arranged to respond to signals received from a radio-frequency wireless transmitter or transponder attached to the user's back to respond to the user's sleeping position; infra-red signalling may be used instead. As a further alternative, a camera may be mounted on the headboard of the bed, to function in conjunction with feature-recognition software to track the user's movements throughout the night and provide control signals for bed- adjustment .

The auxiliary unit 25 may be modified to include two push-buttons additional to the button 24. This has application especially in those circumstances in which the third party is an occupant of a second bed according to the invention, in that the two additional buttons may then be used for control of this second bed with button 24 still being used for its stop-snoring function in relation to the first bed. The control exercised through a first of the two additional buttons is for adjusting the second bed to adopt the configuration applicable to sleep on the back (state A) whereas the other button is for adjusting the second bed to adopt the configuration applicable to sleep on the side (state B) . This enables the person using the modified controller to control their own bed for movement between the two configurations without the need to use separately a hand-held controller corresponding to the hand-held controller 14 for their respective bed.

_The bed system of the invention may have healthcare applications for patients that are susceptible to bed sores or other conditions requiring frequent change of position in bed. The bed system can be programmed to adjust bed-configuration automatically at intervals of, say, between five minutes and four hours .

The motor unit 8 makes the adjustments of bed-configuration, especially during the automatic "sleep" mode, gently and slowly with virtually imperceptible noise so as not to disturb the bed- user. A low-voltage system is used for the purposes of safety, and power to the unit 8 is switched off during periods of inactivity; more particularly, the power-supply unit 12 involves a power converter and a switch circuit that cuts off power to the cable 11 during such periods. However, while power is cut off, the control box 13 remains responsive under power supplied from a battery 35 to change in pressure detected by the pads 29 or to actuation of any one of the buttons on the hand-controller 14 or the auxiliary unit 25. Detection of change in pressure or actuation of any of the buttons on the units 14 or 25, activates the switch circuit of the unit 12 to restore the mains power supply to the motor unit 8 so that the system is again fully responsive .

An emergency levelling box (not shown) is included in the system to lower the bed to flat in case of a power cut or operation of an emergency button on the box. Other safety features include facility to ^vlock' and 'unlock' the hand-controller 14 by pressing the button 15 and holding it pressed for ten seconds. Furthermore, an emergency stop and reverse function operated by means of a low-voltage safety-tape (not shown) located on the edge of the bed frame 3 causes the motor unit 8 to stop and reverse in the event that, for example, fingers get trapped between the lowering mattress 1 and the frame 3.

A number of massage functions are provided in the system, all operated by hand-controller 14. A head massage can be operated at five different levels of intensity, selected by pressing button 36 of hand-controller 14 between one and five times, as appropriate. The massage will last for thirty minutes, unless ended prematurely by pressing button 15. A foot massage is operable in the same way by means of button 37. Three wave massage programmes are also available, wherein the head and foot motors increase and decrease ('wave') alternately or together, or will operate alternately at full power. The desired programme can be selected by pressing button 38 once, twice or three times as appropriate and the massage can be terminated either by pressing button 38 a fourth time or by pressing button 15.

Further to the safety features mentioned above, the bed may be linked to a smoke or other alarm system. When fire or other alarm condition is detected by the system, the massage facility is operated from the alarm system to vibrate the bed automatically to wake the user and enable them to evacuate the area. Particularly important for deaf users or in a healthcare environment, this feature ensures that the safety of the user is catered for. The main building alarm system may be linked to an alarm box (not shown) which controls all the beds in the establishment by means of radio frequency communication. Upon detection of a fire or other alarm condition, the alarm box causes the massage motors of the at-risk beds to run at maximum, thereby waking the sleepers and alerting them to the hazard.

In an alternative embodiment the hand-controller 14 may take the form of a touch-screen unit (such as is used in palm-top computers or some mobile telephones) . The hand-controller in this case may operate as a transceiver, thereby facilitating two- way communication with the control box 13 by which graphic or other guidance can be given to the user through the procedural steps required, and the settings entered confirmed.

The system as described above with reference to the drawings utilises mattress 1 with transverse recess 30, and a block 32 containing air-pressure pads 29 located within the recess 30. As an alternative, the mattress may have a pocket for accommodating the pads 29, positioned centrally of the mattress-width at shoulder level. The top of this mattress, including the open-top of the pocket, may be covered by a visco-elastic memory foam. It is desirable in these circumstances that side forces are not applied to the pads 29 by the user's head, so the central pillow- area of the mattress is covered by material of less flexibility than provided by the visco-elastic foam.

Claims

Claims :

1. A bed system that includes a bed having an adjustable configuration in its support of a user of the bed, and which also includes motor-controlling means that is operable to adjust the bed configuration, a main controller means that is operable to convey to the motor-controlling means a signal indicative of a selected bed-configuration or change of bed-configuration, the particular bed-configuration or change of bed-configuration indicated by the signal being dependent on manual selection from a plurality of optional bed-configurations or of changes of bed- configuration, and auxiliary controller means which is separate from the main controller means and which is operable to convey to the motor-controlling means a signal indicative of a desired bed- configuration or change of bed-configuration, the motor- controlling means being responsive to the signal received from the main controller means to adjust the bed-configuration in accordance with the selected bed-configuration or change of bed- configuration indicated by that signal, and being responsive to the signal received from the auxiliary controller means to adjust the bed to adopt the desired bed-configuration or change of bed- configuration indicated by the signal from the auxiliary controller means.

2. A bed system according to Claim 1 wherein the signal from the auxiliary controller means is indicative of a desired change of bed-configuration to an auxiliary pre-selected bed- configuration, and the motor-controlling means is responsive to this signal to adjust the bed to adopt the auxiliary pre-selected configuration.

3. A bed system according to Claim 2 wherein the auxiliary pre-selected configuration is a configuration pre-selected by entry into the main controller means through manual selection.

4. A bed system according to any one of Claim 1 to 3 wherein the bed includes load-sensing means for providing an output that varies in dependence upon change in load imposed upon a predetermined region of the bed and results from change of orientation of the user's body on the bed, and the motor- controlling means is responsive to the output of the load-sensing means to adjust the configuration of the bed from one to the other of two pre-set configurations according to the change of load sensed.

5. A bed system according to Claim 4 wherein the motor- controlling means adjusts the bed-configuration in response to the output of the load-sensing means only in the event that the load sensed exceeds a pre-set threshold.

6. A bed system according to Claim 4 or Claim 5 wherein the motor-controlling means adjusts the bed-configuration in response to the output of the load-sensing means only in the event that the change in load sensed persists for a predetermined interval of time.

7. A bed system according to any one of Claims 1 to 6 wherein the main controller means is a hand-held controller that is operable manually.

8. A bed system according to any one of Claims 1 to 7 wherein the auxiliary controller means is a device that is operable manually for wireless signal-transmission to the motor- controlling means.

9. A bed system according to any one of Claims 1 to 8 including vibrator means that is operable to vibrate the bed, and means responsive to existence of an alarm condition to operate the vibrator means to vibrate the bed in warning of the alarm condition to the user of the bed.

10. A method of motorised adjustment of the configuration of a bed in its support of a user of the bed, which includes operating a main controller means to convey to motor-controlling means a signal indicative of a selected bed-configuration or change of bed-configuration, the particular bed-configuration or change of bed-configuration indicated by the signal being dependent on manual selection from a plurality of optional bed-configurations or changes of bed-configuration, operating an auxiliary controller means which is separate from the main controller means to convey to the motor-controlling means a signal indicative of a desired bed-configuration or change of bed-configuration, the motor-controlling means being responsive to the signal received from the main controller means to adjust the bed-configuration in accordance with the configuration or change of configuration indicated by that signal, and being responsive to the signal received from the auxiliary controller means to adjust the bed to adopt the desired bed-configuration or change of bed- configuration indicated by the signal from the auxiliary controller means.

11. A method according to Claim 10 wherein the signal from the auxiliary controller means is indicative of a desired change of bed-configuration to an auxiliary pre-set configuration, and the motor-controlling means is responsive to this signal to adjust the bed to adopt the auxiliary pre-set configuration.

12. A method according to Claim 11 wherein the auxiliary preset configuration is a configuration pre-set into the system by entry into the main controller means through manual selection.

13. A method according to any one of Claims 10 to 12 wherein the bed includes load-sensing means for providing an output that varies in dependence upon change in load imposed upon a predetermined region of the bed and results from change of orientation of the user's body on the bed, and the motor- controlling means is responsive to the output of the load-sensing means to adjust the configuration of the bed from one to another of two pre-set configurations according to the change of load sensed.

14. A method according to Claim 13 wherein the motor- controlling means adjusts the bed-configuration in response to the output of the load-sensing means only in the event that the load sensed exceeds a pre-set threshold.

15. A method according to any one of Claims 13 or Claim 14 wherein the motor-controlling means adjusts the bed-configuration in response to the output of the load-sensing means only in the event that the change in load sensed persists for a predetermined interval of time.

16. A method according to any one of Claims 10 to 15 wherein the main controller means is a hand-held controller that is operated manually by the user of the bed.

17. A method according to any one of Claims 10 to 16 wherein the auxiliary controller means is a device that is operated manually for wireless signal-transmission to the motor- controlling means.

18. A method according to any one of Claims 10 to 17 wherein the bed is vibrated in response to the existence of an alarm condition to warn the user of the bed of the alarm condition.

19. A bed system including vibrator means that is operable to vibrate the bed, and means responsive to the existence of an alarm condition to operate the vibrator means to vibrate the bed in warning the user of the bed of the alarm condition.

20. A method of operating a bed which includes vibrator means that is operable to vibrate the bed, wherein the vibrator means is operated to vibrate the bed as warning to a user of the bed in the event of the existence of an alarm condition.