DE20001616U1 - Bearing element for seating or lying areas - Google Patents

Abstract

Bearing element comprises a plate (4) with spring elements (7) protruding over the bearing surface (6) of the plate. The spring elements press a mattress (2) in a relaxed state using the bearing surface of the element. Preferred Features: The spring elements have a bearing surface (9) which are smaller than the bearing surface of the plate.

Description

PATENT ATTORNEYS ♦ * * * &iacgr; * ♦ * · * «&iacgr; * D-33330 Gütersloh, Vennstraße

*.* .1* 'ii'.i** ·*..*■* Telephone: (05241)13054

Fax: (0 52 41) 1 29 61

Dipl.-lng. Gustav Meldau

Dipl.Phys. Dr. Hans-Jochen Strauß Date: 31.01.00

Dipl.-lng. Hubert FlÖtOttO Our reference: F 752 llF

company

FROLI plastics factory
Heinrich Fromme OHG
Liemker Str. 27

D-33758 Schloss Holte-Stukenbrock

Bearing element for seating or lying surfaces.

The invention relates to a bearing element for sitting or lying surfaces, which is supported on a base provided in a frame, comprising a support plate with a spring element, wherein a plurality of such support plates with spring elements are arranged in particular in regular rows on the frame, and the support plates with the support surfaces form a cushion support, for example for a mattress.

Such bearing elements are known from the prior art, which have support plates with essentially square surfaces that form a support surface for the cushion base. It goes without saying that if, for example, a large number of such bearing elements are arranged in a bed frame,

• 4

F752

This creates a springy support surface for the mattress, which gives way to the resulting pressure loads. The disadvantage here is that when the mattress is placed on the individual support surfaces of the support plates, mattress impressions are formed in the support plates in the pressure areas of the bed that are subject to the most stress, which means that ventilation of the lower mattress surface is extremely limited.

This results in the object underlying the invention to further develop a bearing element for seating or lying surfaces in such a way that it ensures better ventilation of the mattress.

This object is achieved according to the invention in that additional spring elements are provided which protrude above the support surface of the support plate and which press the mattress from the support surface of the bearing element when the load is relieved. This design ensures that the mattress automatically lifts off the support surface of the support plate when the load is relieved, so that air can circulate between the base of the mattress and the surface of the support plate. This ensures that liquids absorbed by the mattress can escape from the mattress core more quickly, which ultimately also significantly extends the usability of a mattress.

According to an advantageous development of the invention, the additional spring element has a support surface that is significantly smaller than the support surface of the support plate. This causes the unloaded mattress to be raised at certain points, so that a sufficient flow area for circulating air can be formed.

In a suitable further development, the additional spring element extends and rises like a bridge over the support surface of the support plate. To fix the additional spring element to the bearing element, the invention proposes that the additional spring element be embedded in the support surface of the support plate with

F752

Another possibility, in particular to allow the additional spring element to act on the underside of the mattress, is when, for example, the additional spring element works together with the spring element of the support plate. In this case, the additional spring element protrudes through the surface of the support plate, for example, and thus causes the mattress surface to be raised at certain points above the support plates.

According to a particularly advantageous development, recesses for receiving and locking the spring element are arranged in the area of the support plate.

An embodiment of the invention is explained in more detail with reference to the following figures 1 - 7, which show:

Figure 01: A perspective view of a bearing element;

Figure 02: A sectioned side view according to Figure 1;

Figure 03: A sectional side view of a further embodiment of the invention;

Figure 04: A sectional side view of a further embodiment of the invention;

Figure 05: A sectional side view of a further embodiment of the invention;

Figure 06: A sectional side view of a further embodiment of the invention;

Figure 07: Another embodiment in sectional side view according to the invention.

F752

Figures 1 and 2 show an embodiment of a bearing element 1 for sitting or lying surfaces 2 which, as can be seen in Figure 1, is designed as a mattress lying surface. The bearing element 1 is supported on a base 3 provided in a frame (not shown in detail). The bearing element 1 essentially consists of a support plate 4 to which a spring element 5 can be either molded or clipped onto its underside, with a large number of such support plates 4 with corresponding spring elements 5 being arranged on the frame, in particular in regular rows. The resulting flexible, spring-loaded surface thus forms a support surface, for example for the mattress 2. Such a bearing element known from the prior art is further developed in that additional spring elements 7 are provided which protrude over the support surface 6 of the support plate 4 and which press the mattress 2 from the support surface 6 of the bearing element 1 in the unloaded state. It goes without saying that when the mattress 2 is relieved of pressure, the additional spring elements 7 rising from the support surface 6 of the support plate 4 are pressed out and bring the mattress 2 into a raised position. This forms a ventilation network underneath the mattress 2, which enables sufficient circulation of air between the support surface 6 and the underside 8 of the mattress 2.

The additional spring element 7 has a support surface 9 which is significantly smaller than the support surface 6 of the support plate 4. The additional spring element 7 is designed like a bridge and extends or rises above the support surface 6 of the support plate 4.

In an advantageous further development of the additional spring element 7 in particular, this is enclosed in the support surface 6 of the support plate 4. As can be seen from Figures 1 and 2, a groove 10 is curved in the area of the support surface 6, into which the additional spring elements 7 engage. The additional spring element 7 has locking elements 11 at the lower end, which engage in openings in the groove 10.

F752

Figure 3 shows a further variant according to Figures 1 and 2, wherein the additional spring element 7 is designed in a Z-like manner and the tapering legs 12 of the Z engage in locking slots 13. Figure 4 shows another variant, wherein the spring element 7 is designed in a quasi-triangular manner and one side is provided with locking elements 11, which in turn engage in the support surface 6 of the support plate 4. Figure 5 shows a further variant, which is characterized in that the spring element is W-shaped, wherein the individual legs of the W protrude through openings 14 in the support surface 6 for springy support of the mattress 2.

Figure 6 shows a further variant, in which the additional spring element 7 is machined or formed out of the support surface 6 and stands in the form of an arch above the support surface 6. In order to ensure a degressive spring travel, V-shaped recesses 15 are provided in the arch, which enable the flexibility of the arch. As a final variant, Figure 7 shows an additional spring element 7, which interacts with the spring element 5 of the support plate 4.

Claims (6)

1. Bearing element for sitting or lying surfaces, which is supported on a base provided in a frame, comprising a support plate with a spring element, wherein a plurality of such support plates with spring elements are arranged in particular in regular rows on the frame, and the support plates with the support surfaces form a cushion support, for example for a mattress, characterized in that additional spring elements ( 7 ) projecting over the support surface ( 6 ) of the support plate ( 4 ) are provided, which press the mattress ( 2 ) in the unloaded state from the support surface ( 6 ) of the bearing element ( 1 ). 2. Bearing element according to claim 1, characterized in that the additional spring element ( 7 ) has a support surface ( 9 ) which is substantially smaller than the support surface ( 6 ) of the support plate ( 4 ). 3. Bearing element according to claim 2, characterized in that the additional spring element ( 7 ) extends like a bridge over the support surface ( 6 ) of the support plate ( 4 ) and lifts it out. 4. Bearing element according to claim 3, characterized in that the additional spring element ( 7 ) is enclosed in the support surface ( 6 ) of the support plate ( 4 ). 5. Bearing element according to claim 3, characterized in that the additional spring element ( 7 ) cooperates with the spring element ( 5 ) of the support plate ( 4 ). 6. Bearing element according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that in the region of the support plate ( 4 ) recesses are arranged for receiving and locking the additional spring element ( 7 ).