EP3703536B1 - Mattress - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a mattress with a mattress core which has a plurality of elastically compressible core elements, at least some of which are adjustable in hardness, the core elements adjustable in hardness, an upper support part with an upper support surface, a lower support part with a have lower support surface and at least one pretensioned spring, the pretensioning force of which holds the upper and lower support parts at a mutual spacing, the pretensioning force of the spring being adjustable and at least one device for limiting the maximum distance between the upper support part and the lower support part being provided and wherein at least one inclined rod-shaped or plate-shaped connecting part is present, which is pivotably mounted with its upper end on the upper support part and is supported with its lower end on a support surface on which the lower end slides or rolls d is slidably mounted, or which is pivotably mounted with its lower end on the lower support part and is supported with its upper end on a support surface, along which the upper end is slidably or rollably mounted, the spring on the connecting part or one connected to it Part attacks.

Different designs of mattresses are known. For example, spring mattresses have a mattress core that has a plurality of coil springs. Padded layers, in particular made of foam, are provided above and below the spring core. A mattress cover forms the outer shell of the mattress.

In order to meet the needs of different users, mattresses of different firmness or hardness are offered. There are already approaches to adapting the hardness of a mattress.

So goes from the US 2003/009830 A1 a mattress with a plurality of foam elements assigned to different body regions, wherein the hardness of a foam element can be changed by letting in or sucking out air into an envelope surrounding the foam element in an airtight manner. One disadvantage here is that the height of the adjustable elements depends on the set hardness. If zones with different hardness are to be set, this leads to different heights of the foam elements. In addition, moisture accumulates in an airtight layer.

From the US 2010/064443 A1 shows a mattress with a plurality of transverse air-filled tube elements, the air pressure of the elements for setting the hardness of the mattress being variable by means of a pump or an electrically controllable valve. The suspension comfort of inflated tube elements is limited and there is a risk of moisture build-up.

From the U.S. 4,190,914 a mattress emerges which has no different zones, that is to say no mattress core which has a plurality of elastically compressible core elements, at least some of which are adjustable in terms of their hardness. The mattress shown there is adjustable in its overall hardness, with a plurality of springs being arranged on a lower support part, the upper end of which is supported on an elastic element, in particular a wire mesh, the lower support part being designed to be raised and lowered in order to to vary the pretension of the springs.

A mattress of the type mentioned is based on the U.S. 2,049,550 A emerged. In the embodiment according to Fig. 8-10 rod-shaped connecting parts are available which are pivotably mounted at their lower ends and are with support their upper ends against support surfaces. These rod-shaped connecting parts are engaged by springs whose pre-tensioning force is adjustable.

The object of the invention is to provide an advantageous mattress of the type mentioned at the beginning, the hardness of which can be easily adjusted and which can be designed with a high level of stability. According to the invention, this is achieved by a mattress with the features of claim 1.

The mattress according to the invention has a mattress core with core elements adjustable in hardness, each of which has an upper support part with an upper support surface and a lower support part with a lower support surface. In addition, the adjustable core elements each have at least one pretensioned spring, the pretensioning force of which keeps the upper and lower support parts at a mutual distance. To adjust the hardness of the mattress in the area of the respective adjustable core element, the pretensioning force of the at least one spring of the respective adjustable core element is adjustable.

In this way, a simple mechanical adjustability of core elements of the mattress can be made possible. In addition, advantageous spring properties of the core elements can be provided and the mattress can have a high long-term stability.

A cushion layer is advantageously provided above the upper support surface, which has an elastic material, for example a foam material and / or latex material. This can be designed in a conventional manner.

In an analogous manner, a cushion layer is advantageously provided below the lower support surface, which has an elastic material, for example a foam and / or latex. This can be designed in a conventional manner. The mattress can thus also be used in a turned arrangement (so that the upper support part is below and the lower support part is above) will. The upper and lower cushion layers can be designed with different properties, for example to provide a summer and a winter side of the mattress.

In the mattress according to the invention, there is at least one inclined rod-shaped or plate-shaped connecting part, which is pivotably mounted with its upper end on the upper support part and is supported with its lower end on a support surface on which the lower end is mounted in a sliding or rolling manner , or which is pivotably mounted with its lower end on the lower support part and is supported with its upper end on a support surface, along which the upper end is mounted in a sliding or rolling manner. The spring engages the connecting part or a part connected to it. If the upper support part is pressed in the direction of the lower support part, the connecting part is opposite to the support part on which it is pivotably mounted, for. B. relative to the upper support part, pivoted with an increase in its inclination, the remote end of the pivot axis, for. B. the lower end of the connecting part slides or rolls along the support surface. This pivoting of the connecting part takes place against the force of the spring biasing the connecting part.

In the unloaded state of the mattress, according to the invention, the connecting part is pulled by the spring against a stop (which thus limits the support surface). This limits the minimum inclination of the connecting part and thus the maximum distance between the upper support part and the lower support part.

A motorized adjusting element, for example an electric motor or an electric cylinder, can be present to adjust the preload of the spring. For example, the electric motor can drive a cable drum from which a pull cable connected to one end of the spring can be more or less wound up. A more or less strong tension of the spring, in particular via a pull rope, can also by means of a helical gear driven by the electric motor or directly with the electric cylinder already mentioned.

Instead, a manually operable adjusting element could also be present in order to adjust the preload of the spring. For example, a threaded spindle to which a tension cable engaging the spring is attached could be rotated by means of a handwheel or a hand crank in order to effect an axial adjustment with respect to a spindle nut.

The hardness of the adjustable core elements preferably run in the transverse direction of the mattress, particularly preferably over at least substantially the entire width of the mattress (possibly apart from a protruding area of the upholstery and the mattress cover). These core elements could thus also be referred to as "beam elements". Several such core elements are present in the longitudinal direction of the mattress.

In addition to core elements that can be adjusted in terms of their hardness, the mattress core can also have non-adjustable, elastically depressible core elements. These can be arranged at points that are less critical for sleeping comfort, for example in the area of the head and / or foot end of the mattress. Non-adjustable core elements can also be present between adjustable core elements.

• Fig. 1 einen schematischen Längsschnitt durch eine Ausführungsbeispiel einer Matratze gemäß der Erfindung;
• Fig. 2 eine Draufsicht auf den Matratzenkern;
• Fig. 3 eine Ansicht eines verstellbaren Kernelements (Blickrichtung A in Fig. 2);
• Fig. 4 eine Seitenansicht des elektrischen Stellmotors mit der Kabeltrommel;
• Fig. 5 ein verstellbares Kernelement gemäß einer zweiten Ausführungsform der Erfindung in einer Darstellung analog Fig. 3;
• Fig. 6 ein verstellbares Kernelement gemäß einer dritten Ausführungsform der Erfindung in einer Darstellung analog Fig. 3;
• Fig. 7 ein verstellbares Kernelement gemäß einer vierten Ausführungsform der Erfindung in einer Darstellung analog Fig. 3;
• Fig. 8 ein verstellbares Kernelement gemäß einer fünften Ausführungsform der Erfindung in einer Darstellung analog Fig. 3;
• Fig. 9 eine Seitenansicht der unteren Abschnitte der Verbindungsteile mit dem Zugseil.

Further advantages and details of the invention are explained below with reference to the accompanying drawing. In this show:

• Fig. 1 a schematic longitudinal section through an embodiment of a mattress according to the invention;
• Fig. 2 a top view of the mattress core;
• Fig. 3 a view of an adjustable core element (viewing direction A in Fig. 2 );
• Fig. 4 a side view of the electric servomotor with the cable drum;
• Fig. 5 an adjustable core element according to a second embodiment of the invention in a representation analogous Fig. 3 ;
• Fig. 6 an adjustable core element according to a third embodiment of the invention in a representation analogous Fig. 3 ;
• Fig. 7 an adjustable core element according to a fourth embodiment of the invention in a representation analogous Fig. 3 ;
• Fig. 8 an adjustable core element according to a fifth embodiment of the invention in an analog representation Fig. 3 ;
• Fig. 9 a side view of the lower portions of the connecting parts with the pull rope.

Fig. 1 shows a schematic representation of the principle of a mattress according to the invention in longitudinal section. The cut runs parallel to the in Fig. 2 line of sight A. The core elements 5, 6 are shown in Fig. 1 but only shown schematically as rectangles (like "black boxes").

The mattress has a mattress core 1 which is formed by the core elements 5, 6. A continuous upper padding layer 2 is located above the core elements 5, 6, and a continuous lower padding layer 3 is located below the core elements 5, 6.

The mattress core 1 and the cushion layer 2, 3 are covered by a mattress cover 4 which forms the outside of the mattress.

When "above" and "below" are used in the context of this document, this relates to a possible position of use of the mattress, in particular to the position of use shown in the figures. In the exemplary embodiment, however, the mattress can also be used in the upside-down position of use, "top" and "bottom" being interchanged.

In Fig. 2 the mattress core 1 is shown in plan view. It can be seen that the core elements 5, 6, which form the mattress core 1, all extend over the entire width of the mattress core 1. However, several or all of the core elements 5 and / or 6 could only extend over part of the width of the mattress, so that, based on the width of the mattress, two or more core elements 5 and / or 6 are arranged next to one another.

In the exemplary embodiment, the mattress core 1 has both core elements 5, the hardness of which is not adjustable, and core elements 6, the hardness of which is adjustable. However, only adjustable core elements 6 could also be present.

The formation of the adjustable core elements 6 is based on the Figs. 3 and 4 more precisely. The adjustable core elements 6 each have an inherently rigid upper support part 7 with an upper support surface 8 and an inherently rigid lower support part 9 with a lower support surface 10. The contact surfaces 8, 10 directed away from one another are flat and have rectangular shapes which are congruent when viewed from above.

The upper bearing surfaces 8 of the upper bearing parts 7 of all core elements 5, 6 of the mattress core 1 lie in a common plane. Likewise, the lower support surfaces 10 of the lower support parts 9 of all core elements 5, 6 lie in a common plane.

A first and a second connecting part 11, 12 are pivotably mounted on the upper support part 7. The pivot axes 13, 14 are parallel to the longitudinal extension of the mattress (that is, parallel to the direction of view A). The connecting parts 11, 12 can be rod-shaped or plate-shaped (with width extensions in the direction of the longitudinal extension of the mattress).

At their lower ends, the connecting parts 11, 12 have rollers 15, 16 with which they rest on a respective support surface 17, 18.

Instead of rollers, sliding parts would in principle, but less preferred, also be conceivable and possible, with which the connecting parts 11, 12 rest on the support surfaces 17, 18, which then form sliding surfaces.

In the exemplary embodiment, the support surfaces 17, 18 are formed by separate support parts 9b, 9c which are attached to a plate-shaped base part 9a of the lower support part 9.

It would also be conceivable and possible for separate support parts to be omitted and for the support surfaces 17, 18 to be formed directly by the surface of the base part 9a facing the upper support part 7.

The connecting parts 11, 12 are inclined, that is, they are inclined with respect to the vertical, specifically in opposite directions. The connecting parts 11, 12 exhibit the lowest inclinations in the unloaded state of the mattress, in which the upper and lower support parts 7, 9 have the greatest possible distance from one another. When the upper support part 7 is pressed in in the direction of the lower support part 9, the inclination of the connecting parts 11, 12 increases by pivoting about their respective pivot axis 13, 14 and rolling the respective roller 15, 16 along the respective support surface 17, 18.

In the unloaded state of the mattress, the connecting parts 11, 12 are preferably inclined at a respective angle 19, 20 relative to the vertical, which is in the range between 10 ° and 40 °.

In the unloaded state of the mattress, the lower ends of the connecting parts 11, 12, that is to say the rollers 15, 16 in the exemplary embodiment, rest against the stops 21, 22, which limit the support surfaces 17, 18. The lower ends of the connecting parts 11, 12 are pulled against the stops 21, 22 by means of springs 23, 24.

The springs 23, 24 are thus with one of their ends with the respective connecting part 11, 12 in connection (at a distance from the respective pivot axis 13, 14) and with their other end with an adjusting element 25, for example such as shown via pull cables 27, 28 with an actuating element 25 common to both connecting parts 11, 12.

In the exemplary embodiment, the actuating element is an electric motor, in particular a stepping motor. A cable drum 26 can be rotated by this electric motor in order to wind the pull cables 27, 28 more or less onto the cable drum 26 or to unwind them therefrom.

To illustrate the different biases of the springs 23, 24 is shown in Fig. 3 Above the springs 23, 24 a more highly pretensioned state of the springs 23, 24 is indicated with dotted lines.

A control for controlling the motorized adjusting element 25 is in the Figs. 3 and 4 not shown for the sake of simplicity. The control of the control element 25 can be wired or wireless.

However, through the use of sensors, the actuation of the actuating element 25 could also take place completely automatically.

The stops 21, 22 are at the ends of the support surfaces 17, 18 facing each other. At the ends of the support surfaces 17, 18 facing away from each other, there are further stops 31, 32, which the maximum inclination of the connecting parts 11, 12 and thus the maximum indentation of the Limit the upper support part 7 in the direction of the lower support part 9.

In the exemplary embodiment, the two connecting parts 11, 12 are inclined in opposite directions in such a way that their upper ends are closer to one another than their lower ends. Reversed inclinations in opposite directions, so that their upper ends are further apart than their lower ends (see also Fig. 5 ) are also possible.

In the area of the two side edges of the core elements 6, 8, compression springs 29, 30 are also arranged between the upper and lower support parts 7, 8. This achieves additional stability of the arrangement, for example against tilting to the side. The spring constants of the compression springs 29, 30 are, however, relatively soft in order not to significantly impair the adjustment possibilities of the core element 6.

In addition to adjustable core elements 6, the mattress core 1 in the exemplary embodiment, as already mentioned, also has non-adjustable core elements 5. For example, these can be designed in such a way that they have an upper and a lower plate-shaped support part and compression springs arranged between them.

The non-adjustable core elements 5 have according to the Figs. 1 and 2 larger widths than the adjustable core elements 6. Instead, the non-adjustable core elements 5 could also have the same widths or smaller widths than the adjustable core elements 6.

Corresponding Figs. 1 and 2 the adjustable core elements 6 all have the same width, as do the non-adjustable core elements 5. Instead, the adjustable core elements 6 and / or the non-adjustable core elements 5 could also have different widths.

The actuating element 25, designed in particular as an electric motor, could also be arranged on the upper support part 7.

If the mattress in the compared to Fig. 3 is arranged in the opposite position, the upper support part 7 thus becomes the lower support part and the lower support part 9 becomes the upper support part. The connecting parts 11, 12 are then pivotably mounted with their lower ends on the lower support part and are supported with their upper ends on a support surface 17, 18, along which the upper end is mounted such that it can slide or roll.

Such an interchange of “below” and “above” is also conceivable and possible in the further exemplary embodiments described below.

A second embodiment of an adjustable core element is shown in FIG Fig. 5 shown. Apart from the differences described below, the design corresponds to that of the first exemplary embodiment and the description of the first exemplary embodiment can be used analogously in this respect.

In this exemplary embodiment, the inclination of the two connecting parts 11, 12 in opposite directions is such that their upper ends are further apart than their lower ends. Accordingly, the stops 21, 22 lie on the ends of the support surfaces 17, 18 facing away from one another. The support surfaces are formed here by the surface of an individual support part 9b facing the upper support part 7. In the middle area there is a stop piece 9d which forms the stops 31, 32 to limit the maximum inclination of the connecting parts 11, 12.

The inclination of the connecting parts 11, 12 could, however, also be designed in accordance with that of the first exemplary embodiment.

The lower ends of the connecting parts 11, 12 are in turn pulled against the stops 21, 22 by the springs 23, 24. The other ends of the springs are in turn connected to an adjusting element 25. This is formed here by an electric cylinder (= electric lifting cylinder). A yoke 34 is attached to the lifting rod of this electric cylinder, on which the end of the spring 24 is attached directly. The end of the other spring 23 remote from the connecting part 11 is connected to the yoke 34 via a pull rope 27 which is guided over a deflection pulley 35 (or deflection drum).

By adjusting the electric cylinder, the pretension of the springs 23, 24 can be adjusted, whereby the hardness of the core element 6 can be adjusted.

A third embodiment of an adjustable core element is shown in FIG Fig. 6 shown. Apart from the differences described below, the design corresponds to that of the first exemplary embodiment and the description of the first exemplary embodiment can be used analogously in this respect.

In this exemplary embodiment, the ends of the springs 23, 24 remote from the connecting parts 11, 12 are connected via a pull rope 27 which engages on both springs 23, 24 and is guided via deflection pulleys 36, 37. An electric cylinder is arranged as an adjusting element 25 between the pulleys, the lifting rod of which can be adjusted at right angles to the straight connection between the two springs 23, 24 and the end of which the pulling cable 27 is guided. By adjusting the electric cylinder, the bias of the springs 23, 24 can in turn be changed.

A fourth embodiment of an adjustable core element is shown in FIG Fig. 7 shown. Apart from the differences described below, the design corresponds to that of the first exemplary embodiment and the description of the first exemplary embodiment can be used analogously in this respect.

In the fourth exemplary embodiment, an electric motor is again provided as the actuating element 25, but here it acts on the springs 23, 24 via a helical gear (= screw jack). The spindle 38 driven by the electric motor has a section 38a with a right-hand thread and a section 38b with a left-hand thread. On the threaded sections of the spindle nuts 39, 40 are arranged, which are secured against rotation, for example by using one of a Have guide rod 41 penetrated bore. The ends of the springs 23, 24 which are remote from the connecting parts 11, 12 are attached to the nuts 39, 40.

By rotating the spindle with the adjusting element 25, the preload of the springs 23, 24 can be changed.

In this exemplary embodiment, instead of the electric motor, a handwheel for manual adjustment of the hardness of the core element 6 could easily be provided as the adjusting element 25.

A fifth embodiment of an adjustable core element is shown in FIGS Figures 8 and 9 shown. Apart from the differences described below, the design corresponds to that of the first exemplary embodiment and the description of the first exemplary embodiment can be used analogously in this respect.

In this exemplary embodiment, the two connecting parts 11, 12 run in the view of FIG Fig. 8 seen crossed, but at a mutual distance from one another, cf. Fig. 9 .

The lower support part 9 is formed in one piece here (only from the base part 9a of the previous exemplary embodiments) and the inner surface of the lower support part 9 here directly forms the support surfaces 17, 18 for the connecting parts 11, 12.

In the unloaded state of the core element 6, the rollers 15, 16 are pulled by a single spring 23 against the stops 21, 22. For this purpose, a pull rope 27 is attached to the first connecting part 11 and runs over a pulley 42 (or pulley) which is attached to the other connecting part 12. The other end of the pull rope 27 is connected to one end of the spring 23, the other end of which is connected to the adjusting element 25, which is in turn formed, for example, by an electric cylinder.

The invention provides an inexpensive, effective and uncomplicated setting option for the rigidity of a mattress or a mattress core. The functionality is guaranteed over a long period of time with different settings and loads. Legend for the reference numbers: 1 Mattress core 25th Control element 2 Cushion storage 26th Rope drum 3 Cushion storage 27 Pull rope 4th Mattress cover 28 Pull rope 5 Core element, not adjustable 29 Compression spring 6th Core element, adjustable 30th Compression spring 7th upper support part 31 attack 8th upper support surface 32 attack 9 lower support part 34 yoke 9a Base part 35 Pulley 9b Support part 36 Pulley 9c Support part 37 Pulley 9d Stop piece 38 spindle 10 lower support surface 38a section 11 first connecting part 38b section 12th second connecting part 39 mother 13th Swivel axis 40 mother 14th Swivel axis 41 Management staff 15th role 42 Tail pulley 16 role 17th Support surface 18th Support surface 19th angle 20th angle 21 attack 22nd attack 23 feather 24 feather

Claims (8)

1. Mattress with a mattress core (1) which has a plurality of elastically compressible core elements (5, 6), of which at least some are adjustable in respect of the hardness thereof, wherein the core elements (6) which are adjustable in respect of the hardness thereof have an upper bearing part (7) with an upper bearing surface (8), a lower bearing part (9) with a lower bearing surface (10) and at least one pretensioned spring (23, 24), by the pretensioning force of which the upper and lower bearing part (7, 9) are held at a distance from one another, wherein the pretensioning force of the spring (23, 24) is adjustable and at least one device for limiting the maximum distance between the upper bearing part (7) and the lower bearing part (9) is provided and wherein at least one obliquely positioned, rod- or plate-shaped connecting part (11, 12) is present which is mounted pivotably with its upper end on the upper bearing part (7) and is supported with its lower end on a supporting surface (17, 18), on which the lower end is mounted so as to be displaceable in a sliding or rolling manner, or which is mounted pivotably with its lower end on the lower bearing part and is supported with its upper end on a supporting surface (17, 18), along from which the upper end is mounted displaceably in a sliding or rolling manner, wherein the spring (23, 24) engages on the connecting part (11, 12) or a part connected thereto, characterised in that the spring (23, 24) pulls the connecting part (11, 12), in the unloaded state of the mattress, against a stop (21, 22) which delimits the supporting surface (17, 18).
2. Mattress according to Claim 1, characterised in that the connecting part (11, 12), in the unloaded state, encloses an angle in the range between 10° and 40° with the vertical.
3. Mattress according to Claim 1 or 2, characterised in that there are present first and second connecting parts (11, 12) which are inclined in opposite directions, are rod- or plate-shaped, are acted upon by the at least one pretensioned spring (23, 24), are pivotably mounted in each case with their upper end on the upper bearing part (7) and are supported with their lower end on a respective supporting surface (17, 18), on which their lower end is mounted so as to be displaceable in a sliding or rolling manner, or which are mounted pivotably in each case with their lower end on the lower bearing part and are supported with their upper end on a respective supporting surface (17, 18), along from which their upper end is mounted displaceably in a sliding or rolling manner.
4. Mattress according to any one of Claims 1 to 3, characterised in that a motor-driven actuator (25) is present for adjustment of the pretensioning of the at least one spring (23, 24).
5. Mattress according to Claim 4, characterised in that the actuator (25) is an electric motor or an electric cylinder which is connected to one end of the at least one spring (23, 24).
6. Mattress according to Claim 4, characterised in that a manually actuable actuator (25) is present for adjustment of the pretensioning of the at least one spring (23, 24).
7. Mattress according to any one of Claims 1 to 6, characterised in that the upper and lower bearing surface of the upper and lower bearing part (7, 9) of a respectively adjustable core element (6) extend over the entire width of the mattress core (1).
8. Mattress according to any one of Claims 1 to 7, characterised in that the upper and the lower bearing part (7, 9) are rigid.

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