EP0629368B1 - Sommier pour lits ou divans - Google Patents

Sommier pour lits ou divans Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0629368B1
EP0629368B1 EP93304641A EP93304641A EP0629368B1 EP 0629368 B1 EP0629368 B1 EP 0629368B1 EP 93304641 A EP93304641 A EP 93304641A EP 93304641 A EP93304641 A EP 93304641A EP 0629368 B1 EP0629368 B1 EP 0629368B1
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EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
deck
members
support members
support
pivots
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
EP93304641A
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German (de)
English (en)
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EP0629368A1 (fr
Inventor
John E. Miller
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Individual
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Individual
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Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Individual filed Critical Individual
Priority to DE1993618827 priority Critical patent/DE69318827T2/de
Priority to CA002098438A priority patent/CA2098438C/fr
Priority to EP93304641A priority patent/EP0629368B1/fr
Priority to NZ247902A priority patent/NZ247902A/en
Publication of EP0629368A1 publication Critical patent/EP0629368A1/fr
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP0629368B1 publication Critical patent/EP0629368B1/fr
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
    • A47C—CHAIRS; SOFAS; BEDS
    • A47C23/00—Spring mattresses with rigid frame or forming part of the bedstead, e.g. box springs; Divan bases; Slatted bed bases
    • A47C23/12—Spring mattresses with rigid frame or forming part of the bedstead, e.g. box springs; Divan bases; Slatted bed bases using tensioned springs, e.g. flat type
    • A47C23/14—Spring mattresses with rigid frame or forming part of the bedstead, e.g. box springs; Divan bases; Slatted bed bases using tensioned springs, e.g. flat type forming nets; combined with nets
    • A47C23/155—Spring mattresses with rigid frame or forming part of the bedstead, e.g. box springs; Divan bases; Slatted bed bases using tensioned springs, e.g. flat type forming nets; combined with nets with combinations of flat springs or link chains with wound springs

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a deck for seating or bedding, and to a sofa bed including a deck (see for instance US-A-1353579). It may also relate to a method and apparatus for providing a support deck for a mattress or a seat.
  • the deck of the present invention is particularly suitable for use in sofa beds although the invention need not be limited thereto.
  • the term "Deck” connotes apparatus for supporting seating, bedding or the like.
  • sofa bed mattress decks have been made with link fabrics or polypropylene which are attached to an outside frame with hooks or helicals.
  • the link fabric decks have an inherent flaw because they are comprised of a grid of wires which are free to pivot or yield thus offering little resistance when a person sits or rests on the unfolded sofa bed; this effect is known in the industry as "hammocking".
  • the sofa bed decks made from polypropylene also suffer from the same inherent flaw in that they consist of a canvas-type material attached to a frame with hooks or helicals which simply are not resilient or strong enough to provide proper support for a person sitting or resting on the sofa bed.
  • the present invention involves the use of a unique interlocking grid system in a support deck in order to eliminate mattress "hammocking”, “crowning” and seat cushion “smiling” in sofa beds.
  • Another aim of the present invention is to provide a novel sofa bed mattress deck that eliminates the problem of "hammocking" identified above.
  • Another aim of the present invention is to provide a mattress deck that will also eliminate mattress “crowning” and cushion “smiling”.
  • a further aim of the present invention is to provide a sofa bed mattress deck that will achieve the above objects and yet is relatively inexpensive to manufacture.
  • the present invention provides a deck for seating or bedding including a plurality of support members arranged in a grid and extending generally in the same direction to form a support, said support members having adjacent ends connected to each other for movement relative to each other, characterised in that said deck comprises:
  • the present invention is embodied in a grid attached to a frame, the grid being formed by wire-like members joined together such that the grid when pushed or forced from one side resists and maintains its flat surface (i.e. it is in the locked position) but when pushed or forced from the other side yields.
  • a firm mattress is provided that contours to the user's body without excessive sagging.
  • the deck When folded and stored, the deck provides a flat surface upon which the sofa bed cushions can be placed without smiling or bulging upward. In this condition, the mattress is pushing upward and outward against the side of the del that is in a locked position which resists the force of the mattress.
  • the support provided for a person sitting on the sofa bed when in the sofa mode simulates that of a standard sofa that has a sprung seat, due to the fact that the deck grid while locked against upward movement wall yield in downward movement caused by the person's weight.
  • a sofa bed generally designated 10 incorporating a support deck generally designated 12 in accordance with the present invention for supporting a mattress 13 for movement between a bed position shown in Fig. 1 and a sofa position shown in Figs. 2 and 5.
  • Sofa bed 10 may have a conventional frame structure including a backrest frame 16 upstanding from a base frame supported on the floor by legs 18, and a front rail 14.
  • the aforementioned frame defines a cavity for receiving the sofa bed in the sofa position shown in Fig. 2 and for allowing the bed to be unfolded from the sofa position into the bed position shown in Fig. 1.
  • Any conventional sofa bed frame may be utilized in conjunction with the deck of the present invention.
  • the deck may be mounted to the frame by any suitable linkage shown for example at 22 and 24 for movement between the sofa and bed positions mentioned above.
  • a conventional leg arrangement such as shown at 26 and 27 may be employed to support the deck in the bed position shown in Fig. 1 and yet at the same time to be foldable with the deck into the sofa position shown in Fig. 2.
  • the mattress 13 itself may also be any conventional mattress although, as will be apparent after reading the description below, the deck of the present invention will allow mattresses of greater depths to be employed than have been heretofore possible.
  • Fig. 3 shows a conventional mattress 3 supported on a conventional deck 2 of the prior art and illustrates the problem of "hammocking" due to the fact that the deck 2 has insufficient strength to resist the weight of the mattress and an occupant of the mattress.
  • Fig. 4 discloses the same conventional deck 2 when the sofa bed is in the folded or sofa position, and it is seen that due to the inadequate strength of the deck 2, the mattress 3 bulges upwardly to form a crown with a convex plane or surface 2a. As noted above, the sofa bed cushions cannot lie flat on a crowned surface. This provides both an unsightly appearance and an uncomfortable seat.
  • the above problems are sought to be solved by the unique deck of the present invention which in the preferred embodiment may include any suitable perimeter frame 20 made from wood, tubular metal or any other suitable materials; the frame being shown as rectangular in Fig. 7.
  • the deck includes a plurality of wire or wire-like members 32 which in the shown embodiment have descrete lengths of about 51 ⁇ 4 inches (13cm) and are arranged in a grid which in the shown embodiment is a rectangular grid.
  • the adjacent ends of the wires 32 where their paths would intersect, if extended, are connected by or through means which allow the wires 32 to yield or pivot when loaded or forced from one side but which will prevent the wires from pivoting or yielding when forced or loaded from the opposite side.
  • the deck is arranged in the sofa bed such that when the sofa bed is in the bed position, the deck will not yield in a downward direction under the weight of the mattress or the occupant of the mattress but rather would provide a sturdy flat planar support structure. However, when the deck is moved into the sofa position and part of the deck at the remote end is folded with the mattress into the overlying position represented by 12a in Fig.
  • a force F is applied to the joints from the side opposite the force F1 described above, it will be seen that the wires 32 will be free to pivot relative to the connecting plates 36 and the retaining ring 40 to allow the joints arid the wires to yield, thus providing a soft comfortable seating surface when in the sofa position, shown for example in Fig. 5.
  • the upper top layer 12a of the deck shown in Fig. 2 will be free to yield downwardly to provide a soft seat while the lower layer of the deck will be unyieldable to provide a substantially rigid planar support.
  • a connecting plate 60 may be provided with upstanding portions 62 spaced from the plane of the plates 60 to provide apertures 64 which will receive the grid wires 70 with the hook portions 68 of the wires extending about the offset portions 62 as best shown in Fig. 13.
  • Connecting plate 60 would also be provided with a central aperture 66 through which the hooked wire portions 68 would extend.
  • other means may be employed including connecting the ends of the grid wires to each other directly.
  • the grid wires 32 may be made from spring wire.
  • the retaining rings 40 may have a diameter of about 5/8 of an inch (1.6cm).
  • Connecting plates 36 may be 1 1/2 inch (3.8cm) squares with slots 37 1 1/4 inches (3.2cm) in length. Obviously other sizes and shapes may also be employed.
  • the wire grid including the joints described above may extend throughout the length and width of the deck frame 20 or only a portion of the deck.
  • the deck support of the invention nay also be employed internally to form a support in a box spring. It may also be made without a foldable frame, that is, for a mattress or seat that does not fold as disclosed above.
  • a support deck constituting another preferred embodiment of the present invention including a plurality of elongated support members which may be wire-like or rod-like members 81 and 82 of any suitable material such as steel rod or spring steel.
  • the support members extend in the same general direction in a plurality of rows between the head and foot ends of the support frame 83 to which they are connected by any suitable means such as helical coil springs not shown.
  • links 85 received in a mounting bracket shown as a plate 84 fixed to the frame 83.
  • Bracket 84 has a series of apertures provided at predetermined locations several of which are offset from each other to control tension in the support members so that they are in uniform tension across the deck. Note from Fig. 15 that the apertures 86 in the central area of the bracket 84 are offset outwardly of the frame relative to the other apertures while the end apertures 87 adjacent the opposite sides of the frame are positioned inwardly of the intermediate apertures 88 which are positioned inwardly of central apertures 86. Links 85 have their opposite ends formed with hook portions, one being 89 received in an aperture of the bracket 84 and the other being 90 received about a pivot 91 of an outermost support member 81 or 82 as shown in Fig. 14.
  • the support members are provided in groups which are interconnected at joints generally designated J.
  • the group 81 and the group 82 of support members each includes a plurality of support members, the specific number of which may vary depending on the size of the deck and load to which it will be subjected.
  • Each of the joints J in this embodiment includes at least two pivots which in the embodiment of Fig. 16 is provided by separate pivot pins 91 and 92 and in the embodiment of Fig. 17 is provided by the opposite legs 93 and 94 of a U-shaped pivot member 95.
  • support members 81 are mounted on pivot 91 for pivotal movement about pivot 91 while support members 82 are mounted on pivot 92 for pivotal movement about pivot 92.
  • the opposite ends of the support members are each provided with an aperture shown as being formed by bending the opposite ends 81a and 82a of the support members 81 and 82 into loops.
  • Pivot pins 91 and 92 are received in the loops and retained therein by enlarged heads 96 and 97 formed on the opposite ends of the pivot pins as shown in Fig. 16.
  • the end loops 81a and 82a of each group are positioned between the end portions of the adjacent group 82 and 81 respectively with their pivot pins 91 and 92 located inwardly of the ends of the adjacent group such that the pivot pins of one group are captured by the support members of the adjacent group.
  • the pivot pins 91 and 92 of each joint lie in generally the same plane on one side of the straight body portions of the support members 81 and 82. It will thus be seen that although the support members 81 and 82 are free to pivot about their respective pivot pins when loaded in one direction as shown by the arrow 98 in Fig.
  • Fig. 18 there is shown another preferred embodiment of the present invention including a plurality of support members 100 extending in the same general direction between opposite end portions of the deck frame or border (not shown).
  • the support members are connected or linked together at joints such as by pivot pins 101.
  • a plurality of stops 103 are formed or otherwise fixed on the support members 100 intermediate their ends to be engageable with each other as shown in Fig. 18 when the support members are loaded in one direction.
  • Stops 103 may be made from wood, plastic or any other suitable material formed separate from or integral with the support members 100.
  • the support members 100 may be formed in any suitable manner.
  • Figs. 19 and 20 there is shown a preferred form of the invention wherein the support members 110 and 111 are linked together by pivot pins 112 in the opposite ends thereof which have recessed portions 113, 114 for accommodating the adjacent projecting end portion 115 and 116 of the neighboring support member.
  • the projecting end portions 115 and 116 are formed as a hinge barrel for receiving pivot pins 112 for pivotally linking the support members together.
  • Pins 112a are provided for receiving links 85 which connect to the frame 83 via bracket 84 described above.
  • the recessed end portions 113 and 114 terminate at a stop surface 117 which is engageable with a projecting stop surface 118 formed on the adjacent end portions 115, 116 to limit relative pivotal movement between the support members 110, 111 about pivot pin 112 in one angular direction when subjected to forces represented by the arrow 130 in Fig. 19.
  • the support members however 110, 111 are free to pivot relative to each other in the opposite angular direction as illustrated by the phantom lines in Fig. 19.
  • the cross-section of the recessed portions 113, 114 is arcuate as indicated at 132 to complement and provide a seat for the arcuate surface of the mating end portion 115, 116 of the adjacent support member.
  • the support members 110, 111 be extruded as an integral piece from a suitable plastic.
  • the support members have a generally flat elongated rectangular surface on one side 120 which will receive a seat cushion when the deck is folded in the sofa mode when in use in a sofa bed as shown in Fig. 19.
  • the underside of each support member is provided with an integral reinforcing rib 121 extending longitudinally along the axis from end to end as best shown in Fig. 20.
  • a substantially continuous planar surface 120 will be presented to the cushions of the associated sofa bed and yet the support members will be yieldable downwardly to provide comfort and unyieldable upwardly to prevent crowning.
  • the opposite ends of the support members are not bifurcated as shown in Fig. 20 but instead have a single recess 113 and a single projection on each end which receive a mating projection and recess on an adjacent end.
  • stop are provided to prevent or limit movement in the opposite or counter direction.
  • the stops are provided by the plates 36 including the retaining rings and the support wires engageable therewith.
  • the stops are provided by the pivot pins and the support members engageable therewith, while in the embodiment of Figs. 18-20, the stops are provided by engageable surfaces on the opposite ends of the support members.
  • the preferred embodiments of the invention relate to a support deck for a sofa bed having a plurality of support members interconnected at joints such that when a force is applied to one side of the deck the deck will yield but when a force is applied to the opposite side, the deck will be relatively unyieldable.

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  • Special Chairs (AREA)

Claims (19)

  1. Sommier (12) pour sièges ou couchages, comprenant une pluralité d'éléments de support (32;70; 81,82;100;110,111) agencés en une grille et s'étendant sensiblement dans la même direction pour former un support, lesdits éléments de support ayant des extrémités adjacentes (33,33a;68;81a,82a;115,116) connectées les unes aux autres pour un mouvement les unes par rapport aux autres, caractérisé en ce que ledit sommier comprend :
    des moyens incluant des butées (36;62;91,92,93, 94;103;117,118) prévus sur lesdits éléments (32;70;81, 82;100;110,111), agencés de sorte que, lors du mouvement des dits éléments dans une première direction, les butées (36;62;91,92,93,94;103;117,118) rencontrent un élément de support pour limiter le mouvement et, lors du mouvement des éléments (32;70;81,82;100;110,111) dans une direction opposée à ladite première direction, les butées s'éloignent de l'élément de support pour permettre un mouvement dans ladite direction opposée.
  2. Sommier (12) suivant la revendication 1, dans lequel lesdites butées (36;62;91,92;103;117,118) sont prévues entre les extrémités desdits éléments de support (32;70;81,82;100;110,111).
  3. Sommier (12) suivant la revendication 1, dans lequel lesdites butées (36;62;91,92;103,117,118) sont prévues aux extrémités opposées desdits éléments de support (32;70;81,82;100;110,111).
  4. Sommier (12) suivant la revendication 1, dans lequel lesdites butées comprennent des tiges de pivot (91,92;101;112) dans les extrémités desdits éléments de support (81,82;100;110,111).
  5. Sommier (12) suivant la revendication 3, dans lequel les extrémités opposées (115,116) de chaque élément de support (110,111) comportent des évidements et des saillies qui s'accouplent avec de évidements et des saillies sur des éléments de support adjacents.
  6. Sommier (12) suivant la revendication 5, dans lequel les extrémités opposées (115,116) de chacun des éléments de support (110,111) sont fourchues et reçoivent des parties d'extrémité fourchues complémentaires des éléments de support adjacents.
  7. Sommier (12) suivant la revendication 1, dans lequel lesdits éléments de support (110,111) présentent des surfaces planes sur un de leurs côtés.
  8. Sommier (12) suivant la revendication 7, dans lequel lesdits éléments de support (32;70;81,82;100; 110,111) sont fabriqués en matière plastique extrudée.
  9. Sommier (12) suivant la revendication 1, dans lequel lesdits moyens comprennent une paire de pivots latéralement espacés (91,92) recevant les extrémités des dits éléments (81,82).
  10. Sommier (12) suivant la revendication 9, dans lequel lesdits éléments sont agencés en deux groupes, chaque groupe d'éléments de support (81,82) comprenant quatre éléments en forme de câble dont les extrémités sont connectées par un desdits pivots (91,92).
  11. Sommier (12) suivant la revendication 9 ou 10, dans lequel lesdits pivots (91,92) font partie d'un élément sensiblement en forme de U (95) ayant des branches opposées (93,94) constituant lesdits pivots.
  12. Sommier (12) suivant la revendication 10, dans lequel lesdites extrémités des éléments en forme de câble (81,82) sont percées et reçoivent lesdits pivots (91,92).
  13. Sommier (12) suivant la revendication 10 ou 11, dans lequel lesdites extrémités des éléments en forme de câble (81,82) sont pliées en boucles (81a, 82a) définissant des trous de réception desdits pivots (91,92).
  14. Sommier (12) suivant la revendication 9,10,11 ou 13 , dans lequel lesdits pivots (91,92) empêchent le pivotement des éléments de support (81,82) autour desdits pivots (91,92) dans une direction mais permettent le pivotement desdits éléments de support (81,82) autour desdits pivots (91,92) dans une direction opposée.
  15. Sommier (12) suivant la revendication 10, dans lequel les extrémité des éléments d'un groupe (81) sont placées entre les extrémités des éléments de l'autre groupe (82).
  16. Sommier (12) suivant la revendication 10, 11,13 ou 14 , dans lequel lesdites extrémités des éléments d'un groupe (81) s'étendent en travers du pivot sur lequel sont montées les extrémités de l'autre groupe (82).
  17. Sommier (12) suivant une quelconque des revendications 1 à 16, comprenant un cadre d'entourage (83) ayant une série de trous (86,87,88) espacés le long du cadre, avec plusieurs trous décalés vers l'extérieur du cadre par rapport aux autres trous, et une pluralité de maillons (85) reçus dans lesdits trous (86,87,88) et reliés aux éléments de support (81, 82) pour suspendre les éléments de support (81,82) au cadre (83).
  18. Sommier (12) suivant la revendication 1, dans lequel chaque élément de support (110,111) comprend un corps ayant, sur chacune de ses extrémités opposées, une saillie (115) et un évidement pour recevoir un évidement complémentaire (113), un trou traversant ladite saillie et recevant une tige de pivot (112) pour relier le corps à un élément de support adjacent, et les dites butées (117,118) sont prévues sur des extrémités oposées du corps pour rencontrer des butées prévues sur un élément de support adjacent lorsque le corps est sensiblement dans un même plan par rapport à l'élément de support adjacent, ledit corps étant formé solidairement et ayant une surface sensiblement plane sur un de ses côtés.
  19. Canapé-lit comprenant un sommier (12) suivant une quelconque des revendications précédentes.
EP93304641A 1993-06-15 1993-06-15 Sommier pour lits ou divans Expired - Lifetime EP0629368B1 (fr)

Priority Applications (4)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
DE1993618827 DE69318827T2 (de) 1993-06-15 1993-06-15 Matratze für Sitzmöbel oder Betten
CA002098438A CA2098438C (fr) 1993-06-15 1993-06-15 Base d'appui pour matelas et fauteuils
EP93304641A EP0629368B1 (fr) 1993-06-15 1993-06-15 Sommier pour lits ou divans
NZ247902A NZ247902A (en) 1993-06-15 1993-06-16 Support for cushions of sofa/bed; support surface deflects in one direction only

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
CA002098438A CA2098438C (fr) 1993-06-15 1993-06-15 Base d'appui pour matelas et fauteuils
EP93304641A EP0629368B1 (fr) 1993-06-15 1993-06-15 Sommier pour lits ou divans
NZ247902A NZ247902A (en) 1993-06-15 1993-06-16 Support for cushions of sofa/bed; support surface deflects in one direction only

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0629368A1 EP0629368A1 (fr) 1994-12-21
EP0629368B1 true EP0629368B1 (fr) 1998-05-27

Family

ID=27169470

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP93304641A Expired - Lifetime EP0629368B1 (fr) 1993-06-15 1993-06-15 Sommier pour lits ou divans

Country Status (3)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0629368B1 (fr)
CA (1) CA2098438C (fr)
NZ (1) NZ247902A (fr)

Family Cites Families (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2742653A (en) * 1956-04-24 Bed bottoms and the like
US1353579A (en) * 1920-05-03 1920-09-21 Fuller Eugene Bed-bottom
US4815155A (en) * 1988-06-01 1989-03-28 Sommers Clayton L Portable underlying mattress stiffener
US4862537A (en) * 1989-01-27 1989-09-05 Riley Martin O Portable bed stiffener

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
NZ247902A (en) 1995-06-27
CA2098438C (fr) 1997-12-30
EP0629368A1 (fr) 1994-12-21
CA2098438A1 (fr) 1994-12-16

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