EP1927302B1 - Bearing element for supporting slats on the bed base longitudinal supports - Google Patents

Abstract

The component (1) has a spring element with spiral spring pairs (8, 9), which are formed by side pieces (10, 11) having outer and inner bends (12, 13), respectively. An adjusting unit adjusts rigidity of spring compression of the spring. The adjusting unit is formed by a distance piece e.g. wheel (14), with areas (21) of different widths. The distance piece is adjustably inserted between the bends and is adjusted by an operating element, which is formed as a pusher. The operating element is guided between supporting slats. The operating element and the wheel are made of plastic.

Description

Bearing element for the support of support slats on the longitudinal members of a bed base mattress, comprising pockets for receiving the end portions of the support slats, which are aligned transversely to the longitudinal members and serve as a support for a mattress, a bridge element whose two ends are formed as joints, which are attachable to pins, which are fastened to the longitudinal member, spring elements, by means of which the pockets and the bridge element are resiliently interconnected, consisting of two pairs of spiral spring, which are each secured with an end portion on the underside of the pockets and each by a first leg and a second leg are formed whose respective first leg and second leg are aligned away from each other, the first leg is provided with an outer bend and the second leg is provided with an inner bend, the first leg and the second leg after the respective bend aufei are aligned to each other and the other end portions of the first leg and the second leg of the two spiral spring pairs are connected to the bridge element, and means for adjusting the hardness of the deflection of the spring elements.

In order to improve the sleeping comfort with such bearing elements for the support of support bars equipped beds, it is known to design certain areas of the bed harder or less hard, so that lying on this bed body is optimally supported at the desired locations. For this purpose, for example, the support slats are designed so that their deflection can be different and possibly also adjustable. However, this only affects the central region of the support slats, where the compression travel is the largest, while the edge regions of the support slats are practically constant.

In order to improve the comfort of lying, bearing elements are used, in which the pockets for receiving the end portions of the support slats are resiliently supported. In the area of these spring elements support elements of different heights can be used, whereby the spring travel and thus the deflection of the bearing elements is restricted.

From the EP - A - 0519 321 an elastic support body for the support of transverse slats of a slatted base is known, which has a honeycomb-like bending spring cell structure, in which cells moldings can be used, with which the hardness of the elastic deflection is variable. The adjustment of the hardness but this is complicated and complicated.

The object of the present invention is therefore to provide a bearing element for the support of support slats on the longitudinal members of a mattress of a bed with means for adjusting the hardness of the deflection, which has an optimal mode of action, which can be conveniently manufactured, which in a simple manner can be mounted and in which the resilient support of the pockets is optimal, so that excessive tilting is avoided with one-sided load.

According to the invention, the solution of this object is achieved in that the means for adjusting the hardness of the deflection of a spacer body are formed with areas of different widths, which is inserted between the two inner bends of the two pairs of bending spring adjustable and an operator element, which is designed as a slide which is slidably guided between the pockets in the bearing element, is adjustable.

With this solution, an optimal support of the pockets, in which the end portions of the support slats are received, achieved an excessive tilting of the support slats can be avoided by adjusting the spacer with the areas of different widths between the two inner bends of the two pairs of spiral spring can the jounce hardness of the bearing element can be optimally adjusted, which can be done in a simple manner via the trained as a slide operator element which is slidably guided between the pockets in the bearing element.

Advantageously, the spacer body is designed as a wheel which is rotatable about an axis which is inserted transversely to the compression direction of the bearing element in the bearing element, and the areas with the different widths are distributed over at least part of the circumference. As a result, the deflection movement of the second legs of the spiral spring pairs can be influenced against one another, whereby the hardness of the deflection can also be influenced. It is conceivable that the wheel over the at least part of the circumference extending region has a continuously increasing width, whereby the hardness of the deflection could be adjusted continuously.

A further advantageous embodiment of the invention is that the wheel is rotatable about the slide about the axis, which slider is provided for this purpose with a transverse web which engages in a slot which is radially attached to the wheel, and the respective areas with different widths be brought between the inner bends of the spiral spring pairs. The adjustment of the hardness of the deflection can be carried out in a simple manner.

Advantageously, the slider is equipped with cams which engage in positioning grooves which are mounted in the bearing element. As a result, the slider can be brought into the correct position, this so adjusted position of the slider can be easily detected by the operator person.

Advantageously, markings are provided on the slide, by means of which can be displayed, which area with the corresponding width of the wheel between the inner bends of the spiral spring pairs is in use. This allows the operator to recognize in an optimal way at a glance, which degree of hardness is set.

A further advantageous embodiment of the invention is that the wheel is housed with the operator element in a slot box. As a result, the entire hardness adjustment device can be delivered in the preassembled state and into the respective bearing elements be used. This adjustment of the hardness can then be used only in the areas of a bed in the bearing elements, in which a hardness adjustment of the deflection is required.

In order to perform an insertion of the slide-in box in the bearing element in a simple manner, this is equipped with guides into which the insertion box can be inserted.

In order to keep the insertion box in the retracted position in the bearing element, are attached to this latching elements, which are engaged in recesses in the inserted state of the slide-in box in the bearing element.

Advantageously, the bearing element, the operator element and the wheel and optionally the insertion box are each made of a permanently elastic plastic, which simplifies the production of the respective elements and their installation.

An embodiment of the invention will be explained in more detail by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings.

• Fig. 1 eine Ansicht auf ein Lagerelement mit dem als Rad ausgebildeten Distanzkörper, welches sich in einer ersten Position befindet;
• Fig. 2 in räumlicher Darstellung ein Schnitt entlang Linie II-II durch das Lagerelement gemäss Fig. 1;
• Fig. 3 eine Schnittdarstellung des Lagerelementes gemäss Fig. 1 entlang Linie II-II;
• Fig. 4 eine Ansicht auf das Lagerelement mit dem als Rad ausgebildeten Distanzkörper, welches sich in einer zweiten Position befindet;
• Fig. 5 in räumlicher Darstellung ein Schnitt entlang Linie V-V durch das Lagerelement gemäss Fig. 4;
• Fig. 6 eine Schnittdarstellung des Lagerelementes gemäss Fig. 4 entlang Linie V-V;
• Fig. 7 eine Ansicht auf das Lagerelement mit dem als Rad ausgebildeten Distanzkörper, welches sich in einer dritten Position befindet;
• Fig. 8 in räumlicher Darstellung ein Schnitt entlang Linie VIII-VIII durch das Lagerelement gemäss Fig. 7;
• Fig. 9 eine Schnittdarstellung des Lagerelementes gemäss Fig. 7 entlang Linie VIII-VIII;
• Fig. 10 in räumliche Darstellung die Ansicht eines Lagerelementes mit herausgenommenen Einschubkästchen, in welchem das Rad mit dem Bedienerelement angeordnet ist;
• Fig. 11 eine Schnittdarstellung des in das Lagerelement eingesetzten Einschubkästchens; und
• Fig. 12 eine räumliche Darstellung mit Blick von oben in das Einschubkästchen.

It shows:

• Fig. 1 a view of a bearing element with the formed as a wheel spacer, which is in a first position;
• Fig. 2 in a spatial representation of a section along line II-II through the bearing element according to Fig. 1 ;
• Fig. 3 a sectional view of the bearing element according to Fig. 1 along line II-II;
• Fig. 4 a view of the bearing element with the formed as a wheel spacer, which is in a second position;
• Fig. 5 in a spatial representation of a section along line VV through the bearing element according to Fig. 4 ;
• Fig. 6 a sectional view of the bearing element according to Fig. 4 along line VV;
• Fig. 7 a view of the bearing element with the formed as a wheel spacer, which is located in a third position;
• Fig. 8 in a spatial representation of a section along line VIII-VIII through the bearing element according to Fig. 7 ;
• Fig. 9 a sectional view of the bearing element according to Fig. 7 along line VIII-VIII;
• Fig. 10 in a spatial representation of the view of a bearing element with removed plug-in box, in which the wheel is arranged with the operator element;
• Fig. 11 a sectional view of the insert box inserted into the bearing element; and
• Fig. 12 a spatial view with view from above into the insertion box.

In the Fig. 1 to 3 a bearing element 1 is shown as it is used for the support of support slats 2 on the longitudinal members, not shown, to form a lower mattress of a bed. This bearing element 1 has in known manner two pockets 3 and 4, in which also in a known manner, the end portions of the support slats 2 are inserted. Such bearing elements 1 are arranged symmetrically on both longitudinal members of the lower mattress, whereby the support slats 2 are mounted at both end regions. This bearing element 1 has a bridge element 5, whose two ends are formed as joints 6. These joints 6 are attached to pins 7, which are fastened to the longitudinal member, not shown. In this case, the attachment of the pin 7 on the longitudinal member, not shown, carried out in a solid manner, but the pin 7 can also in the longitudinal direction of the Longitudinal support be slidably disposed so that a deflection of the bridge element 5 is allowed.

On the undersides of the two pockets 3 and 4, two pairs of bending spring 8 and 9 are attached. Each of these spiral spring pairs is formed by a first leg 10 and a second leg 11. The first leg 10 and the second leg 11 are each secured to the corresponding pocket 3 or 4, that they are aligned running away from each other. The first leg 10 is then provided with an outer bend 12, while the second leg 11 is provided with an inner bend 13, so that the first leg 10 and the second leg 11 are again aligned with each other after the respective bend 12 and 13 respectively , The other end portions of the first leg 10 and the second leg 11 are fastened to the bridge element 5. The respective first leg 10 and the second leg 11 thus form in the bearing element 1, the two in the present embodiment, the shape of a Rombus having two pairs of spiral spring 8 and 9. By this arrangement, the pockets 3 and 4 optimally resiliently supported, a strong kinking of a support bar 2 with respect to the other is largely avoided.

When applying a load on the support slats 2 results in a compressive force on the pockets 3 and 4 on the spiral spring pairs 8 and 9, which are supported by the bridge element 5. Upon compression of these two pairs of spiral spring 8 and 9, the outer bend 12 and the inner bend 13 are moved away from each other, while the two opposite inner bends 13 of the spiral spring pairs 8 and 9 are moved towards each other.

Between the two support slats 2, the spacer body is inserted into correspondingly provided recesses in the bearing element 1, which is designed as a wheel 14. This wheel 14 is rotatable about an axis 15, which is arranged transversely to the compression direction of the bearing element 1. In known manner, this axis 15 can be clipped into provided on the bearing element 1 pockets, resulting in a simple assembly. The wheel 14 can be rotated via a slider 16, which acts as an operator element. This is this Slider 16 slidably guided in guides 20 in the bearing element 1, the slider 16 is provided with a slot-shaped recess 17 in which the wheel 14 engages. In the slot-shaped recess 17 designed as a cross bar pin 18 is used, whose longitudinal axis is aligned parallel to the axis 15 about which the wheel 14 is rotatable. This pin 18 engages in a slot 19 which is radially attached to the wheel 14. By moving the slider 16 along the guides 20, thus, the wheel 14 can be rotated by a certain range. As a result, areas of this wheel 14 can be brought between the inner bends 13 of the spiral spring pairs 8 and 9, which have different widths.

In the Fig. 1 to 3 the slider 16 is in the fully extended position. The region of the wheel 14, which is directed in this position against the inner bends 13 of the spiral spring pairs 8 and 9, forms the first region 21, which consists of a flattening. In this position, therefore, the gap between the inner bends 13 of the spiral spring pairs 8 and 9 is completely free, the bending springs can unrestricted spring, the movement of the inner bends 13 toward each other is not limited. This achieves a soft spring deflection.

In the 4 to 6 that show the same bearing element as the Fig. 1 to 3 , the situation is shown in which the slider 16 is in a middle position of its sliding path. The wheel here has to face the situation presented in the Fig. 1 to 3 rotated by an angle, between the inner bends 13 of the two pairs of spiral spring 8 and 9 is now a second portion 22 of the wheel 14, which second portion 22 has a width which corresponds to about half of the total width of the wheel 14. This ensures that at a compression of the bearing element 1 in a first area, the inner bends 13 can move freely towards each other, you still get a soft spring deflection, then push the inner bends 13 to the second portion 22 of the wheel 14, they can not go any further, which means that harder spring deflection is achieved from that point on.

In the Fig. 7 to 9 , which in turn show the same bearing element as the Fig. 1 to 3 , the position of the slider 16 and the wheel 14 is shown, in which the slider 16 is in the rearmost position. In this case, the wheel 14 has been further rotated, so that the third region 23 of the wheel 14 passes between the two inner bends 13 of the two spiral spring pairs 8 and 9. This third region 23 of the wheel 14 has the full width, this means that the gap between the inner bends 13 of the two pairs of spiral spring 8 and 9 is almost completely filled. In the deflection of the bearing element 1 is thus avoided here, that the inner bends 13 can move against each other. This means that the deflection of the bearing element 1 becomes hard. By this different positioning of the wheel 14 via the slider 16 thus the hardness of the deflection of the bearing element 1 can be adjusted.

As in particular from the Fig. 3 . 6 and 9 can be removed, the slider 16 is provided at its rear end with cams 24 which can engage in Positionierkerben 25, which are mounted on the bearing element 1, whereby the desired positions of the wheel 14 and the slider 16 are predetermined.

In the 10 to 12 an embodiment is shown in which the slider 16 and the wheel 14 are housed in a slot box 26. This plug-in box can be inserted into guides 27 which are mounted on the bearing element 1, as seen from Fig. 10 is apparent. By this configuration, the hardness adjustment can be made separately, this hardness adjustment can then be inserted into the appropriately equipped bearing elements 1, wherein in a bed only those bearing elements are equipped with such a mechanism in which the hardness must be adjusted.

In order to ensure the insertion of these insertion box in the guides 27 of the bearing elements 1 and in particular their holder, 26 latching elements 28 are mounted on the insertion box, which are used in the Condition of the slide-in box in the bearing element 1 in recesses 29, the in Fig. 11 are visible, can engage.

The operation of the slider 16 and the wheel 14 is identical to that of the Fig. 1 to 9 has been described. Also in this embodiment, the slider 16, as is made Fig. 12 can be seen, provided with cams 24, which can engage in positioning notches 25 which are mounted on the insertion box 26, so that the corresponding positions can be optimally adjusted. Like also out Fig. 12 can be seen, 16 markings 30 can be attached to the top of the slider, by means of which can be displayed, which area with the corresponding width of the wheel 14 between the inner bends 13 of the spiral spring pairs 8 and 9 is in use, which is the hardness adjustment of the deflection of the bearing element 1 facilitates. Such markings can also be attached to the slider 16, which is inserted directly into the bearing element, as shown in the Fig. 1 to 9 is shown.

How out Fig. 10 can be seen, a directed against the wheel 14, protruding nose 31 is attached to the bridge element. If the wheel 14 is brought into the position in which the deflection is hard, the wheel 14 is supported during compression of the bearing element 1 on this nose 31, the deflection is then even harder. For this purpose, an area 32 (FIG. Fig. 11 ), which protrudes beyond the normal peripheral area, whereby the support of the wheel 14 on the nose 31 during the compression travel takes place very early. This embodiment can of course also in the embodiment as shown in the Fig. 1 to 9 is shown attached.

The bearing elements and all other components can be prepared in a known manner from a permanently elastic plastic, for example, from under the name "Hytrel" offered by the company Dupon Luxembourg on the market thermoplastic polyester elastomer. As a result, a simple production of the individual elements is achieved, also the desired permanent elasticity is ensured.

With this solution according to the invention an optimum adjustment for the hardness of the deflection of bearing elements for supporting support slats on the longitudinal beams of a mattress of a bed is obtained. The deflection can be optimally adapted to a person using the bed, in particular at different weights, so that an optimum lying comfort is achieved.

Claims (9)

1. Bearing element for the holder of supporting slats (2) on the longitudinal supports of a supporting base of a bed, comprising pockets (3, 4) for receiving the end regions of the supporting slats (2), which are aligned transversely to the longitudinal supports and serve as support for a mattress, a bridge element (5), the two ends of which are designed as pivots (6), which are attachable on pins (7), which are attachable on the longitudinal support, spring elements (8, 9), by means of which the pockets (3, 4) and the bridge element (5) are resiliently connected to one another, consisting of two flexible spring pairs (8, 9), which are each attached by the end region to the underside of the pockets (3, 4) and which are each formed by a first arm (10) and a second arm (11), each respective first arm (10) and second arm (11) are aligned moving away from one another, the first arm (10) is provided with an outer bend (12) and the second arm (11) with an inner bend (13), the first arm (10) and the second arm (11) are aligned after the respective bend (12, 13) running toward one another, and the other end regions of the first arm (10) and the second arm (11) of the two flexible spring pairs (8, 9) are connected to the bridge element (5), and means for adjustment of the hardness of the spring deflection of the spring elements (8, 9), characterised in that the means of adjustment of the hardness of the spring deflection are made up of a distance piece (14) with regions (21, 22, 23) of differing widths, which is inserted in an adjustable way between the two inner bends (13) of the two flexible spring pairs (8, 9) and is adjustable via an operating element which is designed as pusher (16), which is led in a sliding way between the pockets (3, 4) in the bearing element (1).
2. Bearing element according to claim 1, characterised in that the distance piece is designed as a wheel (14), which is rotatable about a shaft (15), which is inserted in the bearing element (1) transversely to the direction of deflexion of the bearing element (1), and in that the regions (21, 22, 23) with the different widths are disposed distributed over at least a portion of the circumference.
3. Bearing element according to claim 2, characterised in that the wheel (14) is rotatable about the shaft (15) via the pusher (16), which pusher (16) is provided for this purpose with a crosspiece (18), which engages in a slot (19), which is made radially on the wheel (14), and the respective regions (21, 22, 23) with differing widths are able to be provided between the inner bends (13) of the flexible spring pairs (8, 9).
4. Bearing element according to one of the claims 1 to 4 <sic. 3>, characterised in that the pusher (16) is provided with a projection (24), which engages in positioning notches (25), which are provided in the bearing element (1).
5. Bearing element according to one of the claims 2 to 4, characterised in that markings (30) are provided on the pusher (16) by means of which it can be indicated which region (21, 22, 23) is inserted with the corresponding width of the wheel (14) between the inner bends (13) of the flexible spring pairs (8, 9).
6. Bearing element according to one of the claims 2 to 5, characterised in that the wheel (14) is accommodated with the operating element (16) in an insertion box (26).
7. Bearing element according to claim 6, characterised in that the bearing element (1) is provided with guides (27) for receiving the insertion box (26).
8. Bearing element according to claim 6 or 7, characterised in that provided on the insertion box (26) are click-in elements (28), which in the inserted state of the insertion box (26) in the bearing element (1) are engaged in recesses (29).
9. Bearing element according to one of the claims 2 to 8, characterised in that this bearing element, the operating element (16) and the wheel (14) are each produced from a permanently elastic synthetic material.

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