CA2311106A1

CA2311106A1 - Bed construction

Info

Publication number: CA2311106A1
Application number: CA 2311106
Authority: CA
Inventors: Bettina Waldraff; Frank Haverkate; Ralph Haverkate
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2000-06-08
Filing date: 2000-06-08
Publication date: 2001-12-08

Abstract

A bedding system has a multiple piece mattress supported by a frame. The mattress includes upper and lower sets of bendable slats separated by compressible material. The frame has a side edge frame part topped by an inwardly extending ledge which borders a large center open region of the frame. The ledge provides a peripheral seat for the mattress in which the upper set of slats are deflectable downwardly at the bottom set of slats and the bottom set of slates are deflectable downwardly into the open region of the frame when the mattress is under load.

Description

TITLE: BED CONSTRUCTION
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a bedding system.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Samina Inc., a European company, has successfully marketed, in Europe, a unique slatted mattress. More recently, this mattress has been introduced to the North American market by Samina North America.
It has now been discovered that Europeans use different types of bed frames than those typically found in North America. This has necessitated modifications to the standard North American bed frame to receive the Samina slatted mattress.
In addition, most North American's are accustomed to the look of a traditional mattress and are therefore hesitant to move to a mattress with a totally new look such as the Samina slatted mattress.

2 5 SL~ARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTIOrI' The present invention provides a bedding system more in tune with North American out looks than the existing Samina slatted bed. In particular, the bedding system of the present invention comprises a mattress formed by upper and lower sets of bendable slats separated by compressible material and a frame specifically adapted to receive the mattress. The frame comprises a side edge frame part topped by an inwardly extending ledge which borders a large center open region of the frame. The ledge provides a peripheral seat for the mattress in which the upper set of slats are deflectable downwardly at the lower sets of slats and the lower sets of slats are deflectable downwardly into the open region of the frame when the mattress is under load.
According to an aspect of the invention, the mattress itself includes a covering material wrapped around the slats and the compressible material giving the slatted mattress the appearance of a more traditional spring mattress typically throughout North America.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The above as well as other advantages and features of the present invention will be described in greater detail according to the preferred embodiments of the present invention in which;
Figure 1 is an exploded perspective view of a bedding system according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention;
Figure 2 is a sectional view through the bedding system of Figure 1 in an assembled condition;
Figure 3 is an enlarged view of one side of the bedding system of Figure 2 showing a further preferred feature of the bedding system;
Figure 4 is an enlarged perspective view of the major components of the bedding system of Figure 1 with the components being separated from one another and each of the components being shown in partial section.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION ACCORDING TO THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
OF THE PRESENT INVENTION IN WHICH:
Figure 1 shows a bedding system generally indicated at 1. This bedding system comprises a mattress 3 supported from beneath by a frame 5. In the embodiment shown, frame 5 is fitted with legs 7. However, these legs are only optional as indicated by the phantom lines in Figure 2 in as much as frame 5 can, if desired, sit directly on the supporting surface for the bed.
Again, in the embodiment shown the bedding system is completed with an upper flattened pillow 9 which would be covered by typical bed sheeting.
Referring now to Figure 4 of the drawings, mattress 3 comprises two sets of slats 11 and 11a extending across the mattress. These sets of slats are separated by bars of compressible material 13 to each side and to the center of the mattress.
In the preferred embodiment, slats 11 and 11a have a wooden, preferably ash, construction and bars of material 13 are made from a resilient foam material.
The slats are trapped with the resilient bars at pockets 15 and 15a to each side of the mattress. As will be seen in Figure 4, the pockets 15 and 15a are open ended which enables the slats to be slid in and out of the pockets for slat replacement purposes.
The slatted system described immediately above is sandwiched between two resilient panels 17. These panels, like the bars 13, are preferably made from a resilient foam material.
The mattress is completed by an upholstery covering material 19 wrapped completely around the mattress. This covering material includes a releasable side edge flap 21 normally secured in position by VELCROTM securing components 23 and 25, best seen in Figure 3 of the drawings. In addition, zippers or other fasteners can be used to releasably hold the flap.

Flap 21 when released to the Figure 3 position allows the slats from either set of slats to be removed from the internal core of the mattress.
In the embodiment shown, the set of slats 11a are the upper slats and the set of slats 11 are the lower slats in the mattress. However, it is to be understood that the mattress can easily be flipped over to reverse the positioning of the two sets of slats.
As best seen in Figure 1 of the drawings, mattress 3, when completed as described, takes on the appearance of a traditional coil spring mattress while having the internal construction of a slatted mattress. Furthermore, covering material 19 prevents any of the components of the slatted mattress from shifting out of position within the mattress.
Referring once again to Figure 4, it will be seen that frame 5, like the mattress, is essentially completely made from a wooden material and comprises a side edge frame part 31 topped by an inwardly extending ledge 33. Ledge 33 surrounds a center open region 34 in the frame. Spaced below ledge 33 is a horizontal platform 35 provided with air vents 37.
Platform 35 can easily be replaced by spaced apart cross beams which, like platform 35, would provide an internal stiffener for the frame at a weight reduced relative to the platform.
The frame is completed by an upholstery covering 39 having corner caps 41 which both decorate and reinforce the bottom corners of the frame.

As best seen in Figures 2 and 3 of the drawings, ledge 33 of frame 5, which is in the order of 4 to 6 inches across, provides a wide peripheral support for mattress 33.
Note that the mattress sits on the top of the frame rather than dropping down into the frame as is the case with a conventional mattress and frame combination. This makes it extremely easy to remove and replace the mattress atop the frame .
In order to assure that the mattress safely seats on the frame, the foam bars of the mattress, i.e. its edge seat, are typically between 4 and 6 inches wide and the upper ledge of the frame is at least this wide, as shown in the drawings. This provides a wide peripheral support for the mattress which remains in position under its own weight and the weight of anyone sleeping on it.
If, for some reason, the mattress should shift out of position a.nd tip interiorly of the frame, it will only fall as far as the interior platform which is spaced some 4 to 5 inches below the upper ledge.
Tnlhen the mattress is subjected to load, the upper set of slats deflect downwardly at the lower set of slats while the lower set of slats are in turn allowed to deflect downwardly into the open region 34 of the frame. The support platform 35 is spaced sufficiently below the lower set of slats so as not to inhibit their downward deflection. Accordingly, frame 3 has been specifically adapted to support without detracting from the flex characteristics of the slatted mattress.
Although various preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that variations may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

1. A bedding system comprising a multiple piece mattress supported by a frame, said mattress comprising upper and lower sets of bendable slats separated by compressible material, said frame comprising a side edge frame part topped by an inwardly extending ledge which borders a large center open region of said frame, said ledge providing a peripheral seat for said mattress with said upper set of slats being deflectable downwardly at said lower set of slats and said bottom set of slats being deflectable downwardly into said open region of said frame when said mattress is under load.

2. A bedding system as claimed in Claim 1, wherein said slats of said mattress have a wooden construction and wherein said frame is made essentially entirely from wooden material.

3. A bedding system as claimed in Claim 1, including an internal platform spaced below said ledge.

4. A bedding system as claimed in Claim 3, wherein said platform includes vent openings.

5. A bedding system as claimed in Claim 1, wherein said frame includes internal cross beams separated from one another and spaced below said ledge.

6. A bedding system as claimed in Claims 3 or 5 wherein said frame is wrapped in upholstery material.

7. A bedding system as claimed in Claim 1, including corner legs elevating said side edge frame part.

8. A bedding system as claimed in Claim 1, wherein said mattress includes foam panels to opposite sides thereof and is wrapped in a cloth covering material.

9. A bedding system as claimed in Claim 8, wherein said covering material is releasable along one side edge of said mattress to enable slat replacement within said mattress.

10. A bedding system as claimed in Claim 9, wherein said covering material is held in position by releasable securing means along said one side edge of said mattress.

11. A frame for receiving a slatted mattress, said frame comprising a side edge frame part topped by an inwardly extending ledge which borders a large center open region of said frame, said ledge providing a mattress edge seat.

12. A frame as claimed in Claim 11, consisting essentially completely of wooden material.

13. A frame as claimed in Clam 11, including internal stiffening means spaced below said ledge.

14. A frame as claimed in Claim 13, wherein said internal stiffening means comprises a vented platform.

15. A frame as claimed in Claim 13, wherein said internal stiffening means comprises a plurality of cross beams.

16. A multiple piece mattress comprising first and second sets of bendable slats extending across said mattress and separated from one another by bars of resilient compressible material at opposite sides of said mattress, said slats being held with said bars at pockets of material attached to said bars, said mattress being wrapped in a covering material to hold said slats within said pockets.

17. A multiple piece mattress as claimed in Claim 16, wherein said pockets are open sided along one side of said mattress.

18. A multiple piece mattress as claimed in Claim 17, wherein said covering material includes a releasable flap along said one side of said mattress to enable slat removal from said mattress.

19. A multiple piece mattress as claimed in Claim 16, including foam panels to opposite sides of said mattress contained within said covering material.