EP2457469A1 - Paddle device for a bed frame supporting a mattress - Google Patents

Abstract

The device has a pallet (2) comprising an upper face extending in a plane, and defining a mattress installation surface with the pallets. The pallet is movable in translation on a fixation base (5) perpendicular to the plane against action of an elastic return unit i.e. spring (19), and in rotation around two distinct axes parallel to the plane. A ball and socket joint type connector allows rotation around the axes located in the plane. The ball and socket joint type connector comprises a hemispherical external face of a casing (8).

Description

The invention relates to a pallet device for bed base supporting a bed mattress, said pallet being intended to define with a plurality of pallets of juxtaposed devices, a laying surface for said mattress.

The invention further relates to a support bed with a plurality of pallet devices as mentioned above.

The present invention is in the field of mattress support bases. This is also the field of beds with a bed base. In the following will be used, in connection with a bed base, the term frame whose function is to connect the different devices of pallet pallet so that they form a set and can arrange said set for example at a height desired relative to the ground.

More particularly, it is common in the field of bedding to have a bed base on which can rest a mattress. The role of the bed base is to allow to support the mattress in all points of its surface. A simple board can act as a sommier. We then simply have openings in the board to allow the moisture of the mattress to escape. However, too much rigidity of the bed frame impairs the comfort of the bed user. Box springs are widely used. They consist of a frame on which are fixed springs distributed on the surface on which the mattress must be placed, all covered with a fabric. Metal bed bases consist of a set of crossed metal strips, attached to a frame. More recently appeared the slatted frames, composed of a frame and a plurality of slats each extending over the entire width of the bed. These slats are less rigid than a board, firmer than the metal bed bases and cheaper than the box springs, and offer an interesting alternative.

It is still known to fix such slats in a flexible manner to the frame of the bed base, giving these slats a few degrees of freedom in rotation at their ends. This further improves the overall quality of the bed base. Indeed the difference in stiffness between the edges and the middle of the slats is then less.

It is understood, however, that due to the extension of the slats from one end to the other of the width of the bed base, the possibilities to adjust the flexibility or the firmness of the bed base are limited. Indeed in the middle of a lath vertical movement is possible, while close to the ends it is not.

The document GB2 178,307 discloses a solution of pallet devices, wherein the pallet is rotatable about a sleeve, which sleeve is movable in vertical translation. This solution has the disadvantage that the forces applied to the sleeve, when it is inclined, tend to disrupt the translational movement, because these efforts are not collinear with the translational movement.

The primary object of the present invention is to design a pallet device that avoids at least in part these disadvantages, and improve the possibilities of choice of flexibility or firmness of a bed base.

It is within the framework of a first inventive step that it has been imagined to design a pallet device that is not only articulated, but also mobile in vertical translation, the latter movement being more particularly retained by a spring-like effect. .

In the context of a second inventive step it has been imagined to provide a possibility of adjusting the rigidity of the bed base over the entire surface of said bed.

Thus, through a choice adapted to the stiffness of the spring of each pallet device of a bed base support rigidity or flexibility in each point of the bed base can be adjusted.

Thus, the invention relates to a pallet device for bed base supporting a bed mattress, said pallet comprising an upper face extending in a plane, and being intended to define with a plurality of pallets of juxtaposed devices, a laying surface for said mattress. This device is particular in that it comprises a mounting base on which a sleeve is mounted to rotate about at least two distinct axes parallel to said plane, said pallet being mounted on said bushing, movable relative to said bushing. translation perpendicular to said plane, against the action of elastic return means.

Such an arrangement allows said biasing means to always exert its force perpendicular to the plane of the upper face of the pallet, even when the plane is inclined. This makes the pallet device more responsive and more flexible by reducing the risk of unwanted friction, as will be readily understood by those skilled in the art.

• ledit dispositif peut comporter une liaison de type rotule entre ladite douille et ladite embase de fixation, permettant la rotation autour de substantiellement tous les axes situés dans ledit plan,
• ladite douille peut comporter une face externe hémisphérique, coopérant avec une face interne hémisphérique de ladite embase de fixation, rendant ladite douille mobile en rotation par rapport à ladite embase de fixation,
• ledit dispositif peut comporter une tige, mobile en translation dans ladite douille, et lesdits moyens de rappel élastique peuvent être au moins un ressort,
• ladite tige peut être solidaire de ladite palette,

According to other characteristics:

• said device may comprise a ball-type connection between said socket and said fixing base, allowing rotation around substantially all the axes situated in said plane,
• said bushing may comprise a hemispherical outer face, cooperating with a hemispherical inner face of said fastening base, making said sleeve movable in rotation with respect to said fastening base,
• said device may comprise a rod movable in translation in said sleeve, and said elastic return means may be at least one spring,
• said rod can be integral with said pallet,

The invention also relates to a support bed provided with a plurality of pallet devices according to the invention.

If the pallet device is capable of adapting to the morphology of a user in all points of the bed base, the advantages which result from the present invention consist in that the rigidity or flexibility of the device can be further selected from an improved way in every point of the bed base according to this morphology and / or the needs of this user, by the choice of the stiffness of the springs. Precisely, the needs in this area being very variable depending on the size of the user, its build, according to the period of life, it is very useful to customize the bed base in correspondence with his needs of the moment.

Thus, such a bed base provides an increased personalization of the sommiers, thanks to new settings in each point of the bed base.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description relating to an exemplary embodiment given by way of indication and not limitation.

• la figure 1 représente une vue éclatée en perspective d'un dispositif à palette selon un mode de réalisation préféré de l'invention ;
• la figure 2 représente une vue de dessus du dispositif de la figure 1 ;
• la figure 3 est une vue en coupe selon la coupe A-A de la figure 2, du dispositif de la figure 1.

The understanding of this description will be facilitated by referring to the attached drawing in which:

• the figure 1 is an exploded perspective view of a pallet device according to a preferred embodiment of the invention;
• the figure 2 represents a top view of the device of the figure 1 ;
• the figure 3 is a sectional view according to the AA section of the figure 2 , of the device of the figure 1 .

As visible in the Figures 1 to 3 of the accompanying drawing, the present invention relates to a pallet device 1, intended to be mounted with a plurality of other pallet devices 1 on a frame 3, for example in the form of a board, provided with holes 4 in which the devices 1 are housed. The upper face 16 of these pallets 2 forms a laying surface for a mattress 17.

Thus, the device 1 comprises a mounting base in the form of a ring 5, provided to be housed in such a bore 4.

Very particularly and according to the invention, on this base 5 of attachment the pallet 2 is movably mounted, on the one hand, in translation perpendicular to its plane, against the action of elastic return means and, on the other hand, in rotation around at least two distinct axes parallel to the plane of said pallet 2.

Thus, according to a preferred embodiment, said pallet 2 is mounted on the end of a rod 10 slidably engaged along an axis 18 in a bush 8 which, it is mounted, by hinge means on the fixing base 5 under the aforementioned conditions.

According to an advantageous embodiment, these hinge means are similar to a ball joint, the sleeve 8 in which slides the rod 10 supporting the pallet 2, has a semi-spherical external surface 7, adjusted to the semi-spherical surface , similar to a bowl 6, defined internally to the ring designing the fixing base 5.

The rod 10 externally has a shoulder 12 in its upper part 11 with which is engaged a locking latch 13, again shaped as a ring, mounted on said rod 10 to prevent it from disengaging from the bushing 8, in particular under the impetus of the elastic return means 19 against the action of which the pallet 2 is movable.

Note that the latch 13 in the form of a ring comprises, substantially peripherally, locking members, such as notches or cutouts, adapted to cooperate with complementary locking members, for example cutouts or notches 14, that includes the socket 8 to, by interlocking or rotation, immobilize this latch 13 on said bushing 8 and consequently, form through the latch 13 a stop which in cooperation with said shoulder 12, limits the axial displacement amplitude of the rod 10 in the socket 8.

The hinge means 6, 7 in the form of a ball make it possible to rotate in all directions, allowing the pallet 2 to tilt, especially when the adjacent pallet 2 is sinking, to allow continuity of the surface. support mattress 17.

However, if the rotations around any horizontal axis are possible here, to obtain most of the comfort, it is enough that the rotations are possible around two distinct axes located in the horizontal plane. Here we mean by two distinct axes, two ideally perpendicular axes, but which may also have between them only a smaller angle, such as 60 °, or even 45 °. The horizontal plane is here to be understood as the plane formed by the upper face 16 of the pallets 2. In most cases, this plane will be the horizontal plane.

According to the invention and as already indicated above, the mobility in translation of the pallet 2 acts against the action of elastic return means. These elastic return means advantageously take the form of a preferably helical spring 19, placed in the bushing 8, resting on the bottom of the latter, on this spring 19 also bearing the rod 10 on the end of which is fixed the pallet 2.

According to a preferred embodiment, the rod 10 is itself hollow and partially serves as a housing for this spring 19. This spring 19 is therefore interposed, preferably prestressed between the bottom of the sleeve 8 and, in the embodiment shown in the drawings, a mounting end 21 of the pallet 2 on said rod 10.

Note also that a centralizer 20 for receiving said spring 19 can be placed at the bottom of the sleeve 8. Thus, in the case of translation of the pallet 2 downwards, the spring 19 is compressed and exerts a vertical force upwards. on this pallet 2, all the more important as the downward movement is wider.

By choosing the stiffness characteristics of the spring 19, one can choose the firmness or flexibility of each device 1 according to the invention. It thus becomes possible to choose the firmness or the flexibility of the bed base, device 1 by device 1, which opens enormous possibilities of choice.

Moreover the spring being prestressed in its housing, this allows the pallet 2 not to sink under the weight of the mattress 17 alone, and it also allows the spring 19 to exert sufficient effort from the beginning of the downward movement of the pallet 2, to allow sufficient resistance to the impact of a user who installs on the mattress 17. Furthermore the downward translational movement is limited either by the fact that the turns of the spring 19 become contiguous between the centralizer 20 and the lower part of the pallet 2, either by the abutment of the rod 10 at the bottom of the bushing 8, or by the abutment of the lower part of the pallet 2 on the bellows 15 and the latch 13. Similarly, the Rotation of the bushing 8 on the mounting base 5 is limited by the stop of the cylindrical portion 9 of this bushing 8 on the attachment base 5, in any direction of rotation.

Finally, at least one joint 22 team in its lower part 23 the rod 10 to prevent the infiltration of dirt and other dust in the sleeve 8.

The fixing base 5, the bushing 8, the rod 10 and the lock 13 are advantageously made of polyoxymethylene, which is a material having a low coefficient of friction and a very good resistance to abrasion. In addition, it has excellent fatigue resistance, which allows it to withstand a large number of stress cycles.

Pallet 2 is advantageously made of a polypropylene and a styrene ethylene butylene block copolymer, which gives it excellent aging characteristics. The bellows 15 is made of a styrene ethylene butylene block copolymer.

Essentially, the advantage of the present invention is that such a bed base provides increased customization by new settings in each point of the bed base.

Although the invention has been described with respect to a particular embodiment, it is understood that it is in no way limited and that various modifications of shapes, materials and combinations thereof can be made. various elements without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention.

Claims (7)

Device (1) with a pallet (2) for support bed of a mattress (17) bed, said pallet (2) having an upper face (16) extending in a plane, and being intended to define with a plurality of pallets (2) of devices (1) juxtaposed, a laying surface for said mattress (17), characterized in that it comprises a mounting base (5) on which a sleeve (8) is mounted for rotation around at least two distinct axes parallel to said plane, said pallet (2) being mounted on said sleeve (8), movable with respect to said sleeve in translation perpendicular to said plane, against the action of elastic return means (19). Device (1) according to the preceding claim comprising a ball-type connection (6, 7) between said sleeve (8) and said fixing base (5), allowing the rotation about substantially all the axes located in said plane. Device (1) according to the preceding claim, wherein said sleeve (8) comprises a hemispherical outer face (7), cooperating with a hemispherical inner face (6) of said fastening base (5), making said sleeve (8) movable in rotation with respect to said fixing base (5). Device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, comprising a rod (10) movable in translation in said sleeve (8), and said elastic return means are at least one spring (19). Device (1) according to the preceding claim wherein said rod (10) is integral with said pallet (2). Bed base comprising a plurality of devices (1) according to one of claims 1 to 5. Bed base comprising a plurality of devices (1) according to claim 4 or 5, wherein said springs (19) have adjustable mechanical characteristics by the choice of their stiffness, so as to give the bed frame characteristics variable flexibility depending on the location of the bed base where said devices (1) are arranged.

Images