EP0783856B1 - Slatted bed base - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a bed of the type said slatted, that is to say in which the bed base is consisting of slats arranged parallel to each other other.

There are generally slatted bases composed of flexible slats resting on each of their ends on a rigid frame thanks to a tip.

Document EP-A-0 680 715 describes a slatted base rigid connected at each of their ends to a frame rigid thanks to a bent tip comprising at its part lower two half portions of cogwheels which mesh with each other, said gear wheels each comprising an orifice in which is engaged a rigid rod. Said rigid rods each comprise from their end an elastic return spring allowing to return the rods to their initial position.

The advantage of such a device is to allow a flexibility of the bed base over its entire width without deformation wherever the load is, the rods rigid connecting the two ends cause their simultaneous deformation of the same magnitude.

However, in use, several drawbacks are appeared, in particular, after a certain number of deformation, the bent tip may wear at the place of its fold and end up breaking. In addition, the main disadvantage is related to the fact that when a charge too important is applied to the edge of the box spring, the spring elastic return arrives at the end of the stroke and does not allow more for the rods to return to their original position.

The object of the present invention is to overcome these various disadvantages while retaining flexibility distributed over the entire width of the bed whatever the place where the load is applied.

The present invention relates to a box spring bedding consisting of parallel transverse slats connected at each of their ends to a rigid frame, characterized by the fact that it comprises two sets of slats: a first set of rigid upper slats and a second set of flexible lower slats, and in that said rigid upper slats and flexible lower are connected by at least one return spacer which ensures the transmission of forces due to the load of the rigid upper slats to the slats flexible lower.

a/ Chaque groupe constitué des lattes supérieures et inférieures comporte au moins deux entretoises de renvoi disposées symétriquement par rapport à l'axe central longitudinal.

b/ L'ensemble desdites lattes supérieures rigides est constitué par des paires de lattes, chaque paire de lattes étant portée à chacune de ses extrémités par un support déformable, les deux supports étant munis de moyens assurant leur déformation identique simultanée et les supports des deux extrémités étant reliés l'un à l'autre par des moyens assurant la même déformation des supports.

c/ Les entretoises de renvoi sont en forme de T, la barre supérieure de chaque T étant sous les lattes rigides d'une paire de lattes et la barre verticale du T prenant appui par son extrémité inférieure sur une latte flexible ; l'écartement des dites entretoises de renvoi étant symétriquement variable par rapport à l'axe central longitudinal et leur mise en place assurée par au moins un picot placé sur la face inférieure de chaque entretoise de renvoi destiné à venir dans l'un des trous disposés symétriquement par rapport à l'axe central longitudinal sur les lattes inférieures.

d/ Les lattes flexibles sont reliées au support déformable par l'intermédiaire d'une pièce d'extrémité.

e/ Ladite pièce d'extrémité est de forme plate rectangulaire et comprend deux cylindres creux destinés à recevoir le support déformable et une avancée en forme de U évasé destinée à recevoir l'extrémité de la latte flexible.

The invention may also include the following characteristics:

a / Each group consisting of upper and lower slats comprises at least two return spacers arranged symmetrically with respect to the longitudinal central axis.

b / The set of said rigid upper slats consists of pairs of slats, each pair of slats being carried at each of its ends by a deformable support, the two supports being provided with means ensuring their identical simultaneous deformation and the supports of the two ends being connected to each other by means ensuring the same deformation of the supports.

c / The return spacers are T-shaped, the upper bar of each T being under the rigid slats of a pair of slats and the vertical bar of the T supported by its lower end on a flexible slat; the spacing of said return spacers being symmetrically variable with respect to the longitudinal central axis and their positioning ensured by at least one pin placed on the underside of each return spacer intended to come into one of the holes arranged symmetrically with respect to the longitudinal central axis on the lower slats.

d / The flexible slats are connected to the deformable support by means of an end piece.

e / Said end piece is of rectangular flat shape and comprises two hollow cylinders intended to receive the deformable support and a flared U-shaped projection intended to receive the end of the flexible batten.

La figure 1 est une vue schématique en perspective de l'ensemble du sommier ;

La figure 2 est une vue en perspective agrandie d'une extrémité d'un ensemble formé par des lattes supérieures et inférieures ;

La figure 3 est une vue en perspective de la pièce d'extrémité ;

La figure 4 est une vue en perspective d'un ensemble formé par des lattes supérieures et inférieures ;

La figure 5 est une vue de face de l'entretoise de renvoi.

The invention will be better understood thanks to the description which follows given by way of nonlimiting example with reference to the appended drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a schematic perspective view of the entire base;

Figure 2 is an enlarged perspective view of one end of an assembly formed by upper and lower slats;

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the end piece;

Figure 4 is a perspective view of an assembly formed by upper and lower slats;

Figure 5 is a front view of the return spacer.

Figure 1 shows a box spring 1 composed of at least at least two rigid upper slats 2 and at least one flexible lower slat 3, the upper slats and lower being connected by a return spacer 4 which ensures the transmission of effort. The slats are arranged two by two and spaced regularly and perpendicular to the axis longitudinal center 5; they each include their ends a deformable support 6 provided with means ensuring its deformation and ending at its part lower by two toothed half-wheels 7 which mesh one inside the other. Each toothed half-wheel 7 includes its center a rod 8 preferably of square section which fits into the end of a rigid bar 9 of preferably also of square section and which is integral in rotation with the toothed half-wheel 7, the so-called rigid rod connecting the deformable supports 6 to each other. The deformable supports 6 are connected to the slats lower 3 flexible through an end piece 10.

The box spring is thus made up of groups comprising two upper slats and a lower slat.

As shown in Figure 2, the deformable support 6 comprises at least two hollow parts 11 intended for receive two upper 2 rigid slats. He's from preferably semi-rigid plastic with strong memory elastic. Said deformable support 6 is composed of two upper branches 12, symmetrical with respect to the axis central tip, which are nested in two branches lower 13 thanks to a hinge 14 allowing the folding the support 6 to an extreme position without cause wear at the bend. Branches upper 12 and lower 13 make an angle between them 90 ° when the deformable support 6 is at rest. The lower branches 13 end with two half-wheels toothed 7 each comprising on their internal face a rod 8 preferably of square section which fits into a rigid bar 9 preferably also of square section. Said rigid bars 9 interconnect the supports deformable 6 and therefore the rigid upper slats 2; they are integral in rotation with said supports deformable 6 which implies that when a deformation is applied to one side of the bed base, the deformation drives the gear of the two toothed half-wheels 7 which transmit the movement on the side opposite the box spring by through the rigid bars 9.

Said toothed half-wheels 7 also include each in their center on their external face in the extension of the rods 8 a stud 15 preferably of round section intended to fit into a room end 10 making the connection between the lower batten flexible 3 and the deformable support 6.

In FIG. 3, it can be seen that said part end 10 of flat rectangular shape includes on its internal face two hollow cylinders 17 intended to receive the two studs 15 of the deformable support 6 and an advanced 18 in the shape of a flared U on which the end of the lower batten 3.

As seen in Figure 4, the upper slats rigid 2 and flexible lower 3 are connected by minus a return spacer 4 which has a general shape in T. This return spacer 4 is preferably in semi-rigid plastic. The top bar horizontal of the return spacer 4 is pressed against the upper slats of the group so as to transmit to the lower batten any effort undergone by these batten higher. In the embodiment shown in drawing, this support is produced by forming the part upper of the T in such a way that it includes for each upper slat of the group an opening in which this slat can be slidably positioned.

The return spacers 4 comprise in the example shown two holes 21 intended to enclose the upper slats 2 while letting them slide. Said return spacer is extended by a section flat arranged symmetrically and perpendicularly by relative to the two orifices 21 and comprising on its face lower pin 19 (see fig. 5) intended to be embedded in a hole 20 arranged for this purpose on the lower batten 3.

In the nonlimiting example shown in the drawing, the upper 2 and lower 3 slats of each group are connected by at least two return spacers 4 arranged symmetrically with respect to the central axis longitudinal 5 of the bed base 1.

The spacing of said spacers is symmetrically variable; for this purpose, a plurality of holes 20 on the lower batten 3. Said holes are evenly spaced from the axis longitudinal center 5, so that it is possible move the spacers 4 by sliding them on the upper slats 2 between the rigid bars 9, then to fix them in the desired location on the lower batten 3 thanks to the pin 19 placed on the underside of said spacer.

It appears from the present invention that if one applies a load to the side of the bed base 1, the support deformable 6 undergoes a deformation which causes the gear toothed half-wheels 7, this deformation is simultaneously transmitted to the opposite side of the box spring by the rigid bars 9; moreover, the elasticity of the box spring is ensured by the formation of groups combining slats rigid upper and a flexible lower slat connected by at least one return spacer 4. This combination not only allows the deformable support 6 to return to its initial position when the load is removed but also provides general elasticity and flexibility of the box spring not only longitudinally but also transversely, regardless of where the weight applied to the box spring thanks to the transmission of the effort provided by the return spacer between the slats rigid upper and flexible lower slat. He is at note that the variable spacing of said spacers return allows to obtain the desired flexibility according to the chosen place. Indeed, it is possible to reconcile symmetrically the spacers for example on the part corresponding to the kidneys and on the other hand to move them away the part corresponding to the nape of the neck. There is thus a very wide possibility of combination.

Finally, in the examples illustrated above, we have describes groups with two upper slats rigid for a flexible lower batten; this example is non-limiting, the number of slats in each group can vary as well as their width, it is the same for them rigid bars which are described in square section but which can be cylindrical or of section rectangular or crenellated round.

Claims (8)

1. A bed base formed of parallel transverse slats connected at each of their ends to a rigid frame, characterised by the fact that it comprises two sets of slats: a first set of rigid upper slats (2) and a second set of flexible lower slats (3), and in that said rigid upper slats (2) and flexible lower slats (3) are connected by a reversed spacer (4) that transmits the forces due to the load from the rigid upper slats (2) to the flexible lower slats (3).
2. A bed base according to Claim 1, characterised by the fact that it comprises at least two reversed spacers (4) arranged symmetrically to the longitudinal central axis (5) of the bed base.
3. A bed base according to Claim 1 or 2, characterised by the fact that the set of rigid upper slats (2) is formed by pairs of slats, each pair of slats being borne at each of its ends by a deformable support, the two supports being provided with means ensuring the simultaneous, identical deformation thereof and said supports of the two ends being connected to each other by means ensuring the same deformation of the supports.
4. A bed base according to Claim 3, in which the two reversed spacers (4) are T-shaped, the upper bar of each T bearing against the rigid slats (2) of a pair of slats and the vertical bar of the T bearing with its lower end on a flexible slat (3).
5. A bed base according to Claim 4, characterised by the fact that the spacing of said reversed spacers (4) is symmetrically variable relative to the central longitudinal axis (5).
6. A bed base according to Claim 5, characterised by the fact that the positioning of the reversed spacers (4) is ensured by at least one pin (19) placed on the lower face of said spacer and which is intended to enter one of the holes (20) arranged symmetrically to the longitudinal central axis on the lower slats (3).
7. A bed base according to Claim 6, characterised by the fact that the flexible slats (3) are connected to the deformable support (6) by means of an end piece (10).
8. A bed base according to Claim 7, characterised by the fact that the end piece (10) is of flat rectangular shape and comprises two hollow cylinders (17) intended to receive the deformable support (6) and a widened U-shaped projection intended to receive the end of the flexible slat (3).

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