EP0481157B1 - Device for supporting the slats of a slat support - Google Patents

Abstract

Device permitting support of the slats (4) of a slat support arranged in relation to the frame of a bed, each slat (4) being supported by a rod (5) which is directly or indirectly under the influence of an element actuated hydraulically or pneumatically, which element can be displaced inside a chamber (6), all the chambers (6) being connected together according to the communicating-vessel principle, characterised in that at least a portion of the above-mentioned elements, which are each displaced through the action of the pressure exerted, is subject to the action of a counterpressure spring (16).

Description

This invention relates to an installation making it possible to support the slats of a box spring disposed with respect to the frame of a bed, each slat being supported by a rod which is directly under the influence of a hydraulically or pneumatically actuated element, which element can be moved inside a room, all rooms being interconnected according to the principle of communicating vessels.

An example of an embodiment of the present case is constituted by patent BE-A-806,241, as well as by PCT patent application WO 89/01749 as well as by patent GB-A- 2,178,307. According to these documents, several cylinders or chambers fulfilling an equivalent technical function are arranged on both sides of the slatted base and these cylinders or their equivalents are connected to one another by a pipe so that the various cylinders or chambers function as communicating vessels.

In one embodiment of the target species, the central part of the slatted base will sink completely to the lowest point when the user lies on it and this regardless of its position. This is due to the fact that the body is heaviest in its central part.

Finally, German patent DE-B-1 260 092 describes a slatted base in which each slat is supported on a piston which itself is supported on a roll-up membrane supported by the liquid contained in a cylinder. All the cylinders communicate with each other. This structure does not prevent in any way that extreme deviations or situations appear between close or even distant slats because nothing makes it possible to attenuate these extreme position deviations between neighboring or substantially neighboring slats, which creates uncomfortable situations for the user.

The invention aims to remedy this drawback and various others and to prescribe an installation which substantially improves the elastic support of such a slatted base.

To do this according to the invention. at least a part of the aforementioned elements, which are each moved under the action of the pressure exerted, are subjected to the action of a counter-pressure spring.

In a first possible embodiment, the hydraulically or pneumatically actuated element consists in a piston whose connecting rod corresponds to the aforementioned rod.

In another possible embodiment, the hydraulically or pneumatically movable element is a membrane to which the aforementioned link is connected.

In a remarkable embodiment preferably applied, the above-mentioned movable element is a roll-up membrane which acts on the rod guided in the aforementioned chamber.

Other particular embodiments according to the invention are indicated in claims 4,6,7.

Other details and advantages of the invention will emerge from the description given below of an installation making it possible to support the slats of a slatted base according to the invention. This description is given by way of example only and does not limit the scope of the invention. The reference notations refer to the attached figures.

FIG. 1 is a theoretical representation of the problem posed when a determined weight is supported on the slatted base.

FIG. 2 illustrates the distribution of the pressure on a slatted base not equipped with a counter-pressure spring.

Figure 3 illustrates the same distribution of pressure when back pressure springs are used.

FIG. 4 shows an embodiment with a wound membrane, in which an adjustable air pressure is used as a counter-pressure spring.

Figures 5, 6 and 7 show an embodiment in which use is made of a wound membrane and showing the back pressure spring in three successive positions.

Figures 8 and 9 show two possible arrangements of a back pressure spring between a fixed element and a movable element.

Figure 10 shows a possibility of arrangement of a rubber spring.

FIG. 11 represents a possibility of arrangement of an air spring.

Figure 12 shows a front view of an arrangement of a torsion spring.

FIG. 13 represents a side view of an arrangement of the torsion spring according to FIG. 12.

Figure 14 shows a front view of an arrangement of a leaf spring.

FIG. 15 represents a side view of an arrangement of the leaf spring according to FIG. 13.

Referring first to Figures 1 and 2, we see that the upward and downward movement of a slatted base is caused by the provision of a weight 1 on these slats. This causes an internal circulation of the liquid in the cylinders or chambers which will be described later in detail. Due to the fact that the liquid is not compressible, a displacement of the liquid must take place. If this does not take place, no movement is possible. Incidentally, it should be pointed out that in the description and the claims, the term "chamber" will be used because this designates a support which can be both hydraulic and pneumatic.

The envisaged movement of the slats which form the slatted base is slowed down by diaphragming, in a manner known per se, the outlet orifices of the chambers or cylinders. By the linear movement of a number of slats belonging to the slatted base, as shown in Figure 1, downward pressure is created so that the slats on which pressure is exerted are completely in their position the lowest. The other slats which do not support weight or pressure are positioned in the highest position. This situation develops on the assumption that, for a neutral rest position, all the rooms are half full.

A similar situation, derived from this theoretical situation, is represented in FIG. 2. In FIG. 2, the heaviest part of the body 3 rests in the middle of the slatted base, the medium considered in the direction of the length. In this schematic figure, the slatted base is represented by the reference 2. Figure 2 is a representation of a slatted base in which all the slats 4 rests on rods 5 which are either fully inserted where the body offers its heaviest weight, either found in their highest position, where no pressure or insignificant pressure is exerted on the slats.

In Figure 3 is illustrated schematically the example of the case in which the body 3 of the user is supported on slats 4 which are themselves supported on rods 5 which are subjected to the action of a spring back pressure according to one or other of the provisions described below. An ideal distribution of the slats is created here and there is a clearly visible intermediate position of these slats between a position in which they should normally have been fully inserted and a second position in which they could have been in the highest position. The way in which a counter-pressure spring can be inserted into a slatted base according to the invention is described with reference to a large number of examples.

According to FIGS. 4 to 7 inclusive, a rolled membrane 24 is applied in each of the chambers 6. The rolled membranes have a very flexible structure so that part of the rolled membrane rolls up and takes place between the wall inside of the chamber 6 and the outer wall of a piston 25 which is fixed to the base of the link 5. The piston 25 is guided relative to the chamber 6 by means of a small cylindrical part 26 which forms part of the chamber 6 , at the top and inside.

Here also we notice the throttles 8 and the pipes 9 which connect together all the rooms belonging to the same series.

In the embodiment according to FIG. 4, use is made as a counter-pressure spring of the hydraulic or pneumatic pressure adjustable in the chamber 6 above the roll-up membrane 24. To adjust this pressure, use is made of adjustable valves, for example small ball valves 27.

In the embodiment according to FIGS. 5, 6 and 7, which represent a single and same structure in three different active positions, use is made as a counter-pressure spring, of a spiral spring 28 which is arranged around rod 5 and can be compressed between the upper inner part of a chamber 6 and the internal bottom 25 ′ of the piston 25. The passage orifices 29 are provided at the top in each of the chambers 6 of the embodiment according to FIGS. 5, 6 and 7.

In FIG. 5, the space 7 in the chamber 6 determined by the roll-up membrane 24, is reduced to its minimum volume.

FIG. 6 shows an intermediate position in which the volume of the space 7 and the spiral spring 28 is or will be subjected to a start of compression between the bottom 25 'of the piston 25 and the upper edge of the chamber 6.

Figure 7 shows how the space 7 reaches maximum volume while the back pressure spring 28 is fully depressed.

The embodiments according to Figures 8 and 9 show special arrangements of a pressure spring (Figure 8) and a tension spring (Figure 9). According to FIG. 8, the counter-pressure spring is gripped between a stud 31 which moves with the link 5, until the stud 31 is fixed on a lateral arm 5 ′ of the link 5. The upper part of the counter spring pressure 30 fits in a cylindrical housing 32 which must be considered as a fixed element relative to the frame of the bed or the furniture.

The embodiment according to Figure 9 comprises an element 33 which is fixed relative to the frame of the bed. This element has at its base and laterally an arm 33 ′ equipped with a small pin 34 around which one end of the tension spring 35 is gripped. At the upper part, the spring 35 also ends with a hook 36 to which is welded a small pin 36 'which can be moved along the chamber 37 of the housing 38. The cylindrical housing 38 forms a whole with the link 5 which is itself connected to the batten 4. When the batten 4 is pressed down at the same time as the link 5, the housing 38 will descend over a distance which corresponds approximately to the length of the slot 37.

In the embodiment according to Figure 10, it is roughly mounted how it is possible, between a fixed element 39 (fixed relative to the bed frame) and a link 5, to tension a spring back pressure, preferably consisting by rubber or another elastomer, and represented by the reference 40, between the pins 41 and 42 belonging respectively to the fixed element 39 and to the link 5.

In the embodiment according to FIG. 11, the counter-pressure spring is formed by a cylinder 43. A piston 44 is then connected to the connecting rod 5, a piston whose base is fixedly connected to the lateral arm 5 ′ of the link 5. In this embodiment, an air spring is used to act as a counter-pressure spring.

The embodiment according to Figures 12 and 13 is the same. The link 5 here forms a whole with a plate 44 which can be moved in a guide 45 which must be considered as a fixed element relative to the frame of the bed. On the guide 45 is fixed a torsion spring 46 which presses by its arm 46 'against a small pin 47 which is fixed in the plate 44.

Finally, it is also possible to make use of a leaf spring as the counter-pressure spring as shown in FIGS. 14 and 15. The counter-pressure spring formed by the leaf spring 48 mounted between the small pins 49, on the one hand, and a stop 50, on the other hand, which is fixed on a support piece 51 which is fixed relative to the frame of the bed, exerts pressure on the plate 52 which is fixedly connected with the link 5.

It should be understood that in the description given above, no distinction is made between the various supports of a slat belonging to a slatted base. The presence of a counterpressure spring in all the elements which are subjected to the pressure exerted on the slats is not an absolute necessity.

For various medical reasons, the back pressure springs can be locally suppressed or modified.

Claims (7)

1. Installation making it possible to support the slats (4) of a bed base arranged with respect to the frame of a bed, each slat (4) being supported by a rod (5) which is directly under the influence of a hydraulically or pneumatically actuated element, which element may be moved inside a chamber (6), all the chambers (6) being joined together according to the communicating vessels principle, characterized in that at least one part of the abovementioned elements, which are each moved under the action of the pressure exerted, are subjected to the action of an opposing-pressure spring.
2. Installation according to Claim 1, characterized in that the hydraulically or pneumatically actuated element consists of a piston (25) the connecting rod of which corresponds to the aforementioned rod (5).
3. Installation according to Claim 1, characterized in that the hydraulically or pneumatically movable element is a membrane (10) with which the connecting rod (5) interacts.
4. Installation according to Claim 3, characterized in that the said membrane (10) acts directly on the said rod (5).
5. Installation according to Claim 1, characterized in that the hydraulically or pneumatically movable element is a rolling membrane (24) which acts on the rod (5) guided in the chamber (6).
6. Installation according to Claim 2, characterized in that the aforementioned opposing-pressure spring is a coil spring (28) wound around the rod (5).
7. Installation according to Claim 2, characterized in that the opposing-pressure spring is mounted outside the aforementioned chamber (6) between the aforementioned rod (5) and the frame of the bed, on an element fixed to the latter.

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