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
  • A47C23/06—Spring mattresses with rigid frame or forming part of the bedstead, e.g. box springs; Divan bases; Slatted bed bases using wooden springs, e.g. of slat type ; Slatted bed bases
  • A47C23/062—Slat supports
  • A47C23/068—Slat supports with additional supports between the ends of the slats

Definitions

• the invention relates to the field of mattress supports and in particular to mattress supports for beds, comprising a plurality of slats.
• Conventional mattress supports comprise a plurality of interconnected slats.
• the slats are either straight or curved.
• the slats are curved, they designed to be used with extremities being fixed to a rigid bed frame or resting on a rigid bed frame.
• the curve is in use located such that the middle of the slats is located higher than the extremities, i.e. the convex side of the slats is facing upwards.
• the mattress support provides resilience and with that, user comfort, in the middle of the mattress support.
• the slats are rigidly in contact with a bed frame, usually as they are resting on a ledge of the bed frame. This results in non optimal user comfort.
• the invention provides in first aspect a support for a mattress, comprising a first plurality of first flexible slats for supporting the mattress, the first slats being curved and having a connecting unit provided at or near the middle of at least part of the first slats for connecting the first slats to a bed frame such that in use, the concave side the first slats is facing upward.
• the slats By providing the slats with a connecting element at or near the middle of slats such that in use, the concave side of the slats is facing upward, the extremities of the slats are not rigidly in contact with a bed frame. In this way, also resilience is also provided at the sides of the mattress support. And in particular with a mattress having a relatively rigid underside, resilience is also provided in the middle of the mattress as pressure of for example a human body in the middle in the mattress would benefit from resilience of both extremities of the slats.
• the support further comprises a second plurality of second slats, connected to the first slats in parallel via the connecting unit, thus forming pairs of first slats and second slats, the second slats being curved and connected to the first slats such that in use, the convex side of the second slats is facing upward.
• a second plurality of slats additional resilience is provided.
• the support can be used on bed frames where conventional mattress support comprising slats can be used on.
• the connecting unit comprises for at least a part of the pairs of slats two connecting elements provided on both sides of the middle of the slats for rigidly spacing apart the first slats and the second slats, the connecting elements being movable along at least a part of the length of the pairs of slats.
• the slats comprise two first curves having substantially the same angle, each first curve being provided on either side of the middle of the slats and two second curves having substantially the same angle, each second curve being located between a closest first curves and a closest extremity of the slats, wherein the two first curves have directions that are opposite to directions of the second curves.
• the overall curved nature of the slats is preserved; the curve is further articulated.
• part of the slats between the first two curves and the second curves is longer, viewed from above. This is because this part is initially diagonal and is bent in a more horizontal way.
• a part of the slats between the second curves and the extremities is shorter, viewed from above. This is because these parts of the slats are bent in a more diagonal way than the initial position.
• Yet another embodiment of the support according to the invention comprises a web connecting opposite extremities of the first slats, the web being provided on the first slats.
• Yet a further embodiment of the support according to the invention comprises flexible web connecting elements provided at opposite extremities of the first slats, the web connecting elements connecting the web to the first slats. This provides more flexibility to the support and with that, increased user comfort.
• the invention provides in a second aspect a bed comprising the support as claimed by any of the claims 1 through 14.
• Figure 1 shows a cross section of an embodiment of the support according to the invention
• Figure 2 shows a top view of an embodiment of the support according to the invention
• Figure 3 shows a cross section of a further embodiment of the support according to the invention.
• Figure 4 A shows a cross section of another embodiment of the support according to the invention.
• Figure 4 B shows a cross section of another embodiment of the support according to the invention with pressure applied to it;
• Figure 4 C shows a top view of a pair of slat for another embodiment of the support according to the invention, including a connecting element; and
• Figure 4 D shows a three dimensional view of another embodiment of the support according to the invention.
• FIG. 1 shows a cross section bed system 190.
• the bed system 190 comprises a mattress 170, a bed frame comprising a bridging element 152 connecting at least two legs 154 and a mattress support comprising a multitude of slats 100 connected to a beam 150 by a connecting element 108.
• the connecting element 108 is provided such that the slats 100 can be connected to the beam 150 such that the concave side of the slats 100 is facing upward.
• the connecting element 108 can be embodied as a nut-and- bolt system, screws, nails, rivets, other connecting means or a combination thereof. This includes custom designed connection means like caps fitting over the slats 100 that are subsequently fitted in the beam 150.
• the beam 150 is connected to or part of the bed frame.
• sideboards 156 are provided on either side of the bed frame.
• the sideboards 156 are primarily provided for aesthetic purposes, though the sideboard 156 also provides support for tucking in sheets and blankets and for dust protection of the underside of the bed system 190.
• Figure 2 shows a top view of the mattress support; the slats 100 are connected on the beam 150 in parallel to one another.
• the slats 100 are connected to the beam 150in a substantial perpendicular orientation with respect to the beam 150.
• Figure 2 shows the slats 100 being connected to the beam 150 at equal distances between two slats 100.
• the spacing between the slats 100 may be varied depending on preferences of a user of the bed system 190. For example, where the torso of the user is intended to lie, the spacing between the slats 100 may be reduced to provide more support for this heavier part of the body. On the other hand, the spacing between the slats 100 may be increased where lighter parts of the body like legs are intended to lie.
• the slats 100 are made from a flexible and elastic or resilient material. Wood is a preferred material, though other materials like steel and various types of plastics or combinations thereof can be used as well.
• the slats 100 are curved such that the extremities of the slats 100 are in the bed system 190 located higher than the middle parts of the slats 100, meaning the concave side is facing upward.
• the mattress 170 is supported by the extremities of the slats 100. In this way, the slats 100 provide resilient support to the whole mattress 170 instead of only the centre. If the user of the bed system 190 is located on the left side of the mattress 170, the left side of the slats 100 will bend down by virtue of the resilient nature of the slats 100.
• a user of the bed system 190 is located on the right side of the mattress 170, primarily the right side of the slats 100 will bend down and provide resilient support. If the user is locate in the middle of the mattress 170, both sides of the slats 100 will bend down and provide resilient support. So by providing slats with upwardly curved extremities and only connecting the slats to the rest of the bed system in the middle of the slats 100, resilience and therefore comfort will be provided independent from the location of the user on the mattress 170.
• FIG. 3 shows another bed system 195.
• the bed system 195 comprises a mattress 170, a bed frame comprising a bridging element 152 connecting at least two legs 154 and a mattress support comprising a multitude of upper slats 102 and a multitude of lower slats 104.
• the upper slats 102 and the lower slats 104 are connected by a connecting element 106, forming pairs of upper slats 102 and lower slats 104.
• the connecting element 106 can be embodied in various ways, including, but not limited to nuts and bolts, nails, glue, screws, other or a combination thereof.
• the pairs of slats are connected to the bridging element 152 to provide a stable construction of the bed frame and the mattress support.
• Legs 154 are provided to support the bridging element 152.
• the bridging element 152 is connected to the legs 154 at mid-height of the legs 154.
• the pairs of slats are connected to the bed frame by connecting the lower slats 104 to the top side of the legs 154.
• the connection between the bed frame and mattress support can be embodied in various ways, including, but not limited to nuts and bolts, nails, glue, screws, rivets, other or a combination thereof.
• the pairs of upper slats 102 and lower slats 104 may for example be interconnected by sharing one and the same connecting element 106.
• the connecting element 106 may for this purpose be embodied as either a rigid or a flexible element and either elastic or non-elastic, depending on design preferences and requirements and user preferences.
• the upper slats 102 have extremities that are curved upwardly and the lower slats 104 are curved downwardly. In this way, additional resilience is provided by the mattress support that is formed by the pairs of upper slats 102 and lower slats 104, increasing comfort provided to a user of the bed system 195.
• Figure 4 A and Figure 4 B show a cross- section of a more enhanced bed system 400.
• Figure 4 C shows an upper view of a part of the bed system 400 and
• Figure 4 D shows a three-dimensional view of the bed system 400.
• Figure 4 A, Figure 4 B, Figure 4 C and Figure 4 D will be discussed in conjunction.
• the bed system 400 comprises at least one bridging element 152 to which on either side side beams 158 are connected.
• the bed system 400 may comprise multiple bridging elements 152 for connecting the side beams 158.
• the bridging elements 152 and the side beams 158 form a bed frame on which a support for a mattress is placed.
• the mattress support comprises a plurality of lower slats 404 and a plurality of upper slats 402, grouped in pairs comprising a lower slat 404 and an upper slat 402, thus forming pairs of slats.
• the upper slats 402 and the lower slats 404 are curved on multiple locations. At either side of the middle of the upper slats 402, first curves are provided, having an upward direction. Between the upward curves and the extremities of the upper slats 402, second curves are provided with a downward direction, so curves with a direction opposite to that of the first curves.
• the multitude of curves results in providing the upper slats 402 with a general curve or curvature with a concave side facing upward with the upper slats 402 connected to the bed frame.
• the multitude of curves results in providing the lower slats 404 with a general curve or curvature with a convex side facing upward with the lower slats 404 connected to the bed frame.
• first curves are provided, having a downward direction.
• second curves are provided with an upward direction, so curves with a direction opposite to that of the first curves.
• the outer dimensions of the mattress support do not change substantially when the extremities of the slats are bent to provide resilient support to a mattress support by the mattress support.
• the extremities With pressure being put on the extremities of the upper slat 402, the extremities will move downward. This will result in the diagonal parts of the upper slat 402 between the first curves and the second curves to have a more horizontal orientation, which means that these parts of the upper slat 402 will be longer, viewed from the top.
• the horizontal parts of the upper slat 402 between the second curves and the extremities of the upper slat 402 will have a more diagonal position.
• the magnitude of the first curves is substantially the same as that of the second curves.
• the broadening - viewed from the top - of the part between the two curves due to bending is compensated by narrowing - viewed from the top - of the part between the second curves and the extremities.
• the compensation may not be full; other magnitudes of the curves may be selected for optimal compensation.
• the lower slats 404 and the upper slats 402 are connected by a fixed connecting element 406 and two adjustable connecting elements 420.
• the fixed connecting element 406 provides a spacer between the upper slats 402 and the lower slats 404 and is preferably connected by means of a nut-and-bolt system 408.
• the adjustable connecting elements 420 are omitted.
• the fixed connecting element 406 is omitted and at least some functionality of the fixed connecting element is fulfilled by the adjustable connecting element 420.
• the connecting element 406 is provided on a per-pair basis.
• the connecting element 406 is shared by multiple pairs of upper slats 402 and lower slats 404.
• the connecting element 406 is provided as an elongated element.
• This elongated element may be rigid or flexible and elastic or non-elastic, depending on the function it needs to fulfil.
• a rigid element is required. If the elongated element is only required for holding the pairs of slats together without a need for rigidity, a flexible element may be used, for example comprising non-elastic textile.
• the adjustable connecting elements 420 each comprise a shaft 422 extending through slits 428 in the upper slats 402 and lower slats 403.
• the slits 428 in the upper slats 402 and the slits 428 in the lower slats 404 are aligned.
• the adjustable connecting elements 420 further comprise a spacing element 424 provided between the lower slats 404 and the upper slats 402 through which the shaft 422 protrudes.
• capping ends 426 are provided to keep the adjustable connecting elements 420 connected to the upper slats 402 and the lower slats 404.
• the capping ends can be embodied in several ways.
• the shafts 422 are provided with threaded ends and the capping ends 426 comprise nuts screwed on the threads of the shafts 422. Additionally, flanges may be applied on the shafts 422 as well.
• the capping ends 426 are omitted and the shafts 422 do not extend beyond the upper side of the upper slats 402 on one hand and do not extend beyond the lower side of the lower slats 404.
• the spacing element 424 inhibits bending of upper slat 402 and the lower slat 404 relative to one another.
• the upper slat 402 and the lower slat 404 are rigidly connected between the left connecting element 420 and the right connecting element.
• a relatively rigid part of the pair of slats is created.
• an adjustment rod 432 with a handling knob 434 is provided. Using the adjustment rod 432 to move the adjustable connecting element 420 towards or away from the fixed connecting element
• the user does not need to put his or her hand and arm between the upper slat 402 and the lower slat 404. This is not only more convenient, but also reduces the risk for injury in case of a hand getting stuck between the upper slats 402 and the lower slats 404.
• each pair of upper slats 402 and lower slats 404 is provided with a pair of adjustable connecting elements 420.
• the adjustable connecting elements 420 can be adjusted individually.
• multiple adjustable connecting elements 420 are coupled and can be actuated in a group with one adjustment rod 432. This enables controlling rigidity of the mattress support in zones, for example a head zone, an upper torso zone, a lower torso zone and a leg zone or other multiple zones.
• only rigidity of a specific zone can be adjusted by providing the adjustable connecting elements only on pairs of slats on that part of the mattress support.
• electromechanical actuating means may be provided for adjusting the position of the adjustable connecting elements 420.
• an electromotor driving a gear engaging with a rack may be used to electromechanically adjust the positions the adjustable connecting elements.
• FIG. 4 D provides a three dimensional view of the bed frame and the mattress support.
• Figure 4 D shows the bed frame in a slightly different configuration than Figure 4 A, with the side beams 158 supported by legs 154.
• the legs 154 are interconnected by bridging elements 152 parallel to the pairs of slats and lower beams 454 perpendicular to the pairs of slats.
• the pairs of slats are connected to the bed frame by providing slat connecting elements 442 at the end of the lower slats 404.
• the slat connecting elements 442 enable the lower slats 404 to be properly connected to the side beams 158.
• the slat connecting elements 442 are caps that are fit over the extremities of the lower slats 404.
• a protrusion 444 is provided to connect the connecting element 442 to the side beam
• the lower slats 404 rest on the side beams 158 via the protrusion 444.
• a mattress can be placed directly on top of the upper slat 402. However, if the mattress is not very rigid or has at least a bottom that is not very rigid, the mattress may bend and follow the curves of the upper slat 402. This would yield a bent instead of a straight mattress upper side, which does not contribute to the sleeping comfort of the user of the mattress and mattress support. Therefore, a velum 412 is provided, overspanning the upper slat 402 from the left extremity to the right extremity of the upper slat 402.
• the velum 412 is a web of flexible though not necessarily resilient material, provided in woven, knit or non-woven materials of any suitable material. By tightly spanning the velum 412 and by using a non-resilient material, the velum 412 will remain tightly spanned over the upper slat 402.
• the velum 412 is provided in a point-elastic resilient material that enables air and other fluids to easily pass through.
• the passing through of air and other fluids is preferred to a mattress supported by the mattress support breath and in particular to let any humidity building up in the mattress during sleep evaporate from the mattress.
• the velum 412 being point elastic is meant that applying a force on velum 412 at a small area will result in an indentation in the velum 412 at only a small area.
• the rest of the velum 412 will remain in the same position as before the force had been applied. Without a force applied, the velum 412 has a planar form
• the velum 412 is preferably provided as a sheet connecting multiple upper slats 402 in a parallel configuration, equivalent to the configuration depicted by Figure 2.
• multiple vela 412 are provided, providing one velum 412 per upper slat 402.
• one velum 412 connects a group of upper slats 402 such that a mattress support is provided comprising various groups of pairs of upper slats 402 and lower slats 404 that are connected by the velum 412 connected to the upper side of upper slats 402.
• Providing the velum 412 in non-resilient material is particularly suitable on top of the upper slats 402 with two pairs of curves because deformation of the upper slat 402 is compensated by providing two curves of opposite directions, as discussed before.
• velum connecting elements 414 are provided between the velum 412 and the upper slats 402.
• the velum connecting elements 414 are provided in a flexible material to compensate for any deformation of the upper slats 412 not compensated by the opposite curves and to compensate for suspension of the velum 412.
• the velum connecting elements 414 are provided in a triangular form as depicted by Figure 4.
• the base line of the triangular cross-section is parallel to the length of the upper slat 402.
• the top of the triangular cross-section is above the middle of the base, though this is all but essential.
• the triangular form ensures a relatively broad footprint for properly affixing the velum connecting elements 414 to the upper surface of the upper slats 402.
• the triangular form provides a relatively narrow top that due to the narrower form provides resilience to compensate for any deformations mentioned or other deformations.
• the velum connecting elements 414 are hollow, increasing resilience of the velum connecting elements 414.
• the velum connecting elements 414 can be formed also in other forms than a triangular form, like a rectangular, oblong, circular or other form.
• the velum connecting elements 414 can be provided in natural rubber, synthetic rubber like silicon rubber, other resilient and/or elastic materials or a combination thereof. So far, the application of the velum 412 to the mattress support has only been discussed in conjunction with the configuration as depicted by Figure 4 A. It is noted that the velum 412 may also be applied to the configuration as depicted by Figure 1.
• the invention may also be embodied with less components than provided in the embodiments described here, wherein one component carries out multiple functions.
• the invention may also be embodied using more elements than depicted in Figure 1 , wherein functions carried out by one component in the embodiment provided are distributed over multiple components.

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• Mattresses And Other Support Structures For Chairs And Beds (AREA)

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• 2010
  • 2010-12-21 NL NL2005885A patent/NL2005885C2/en not_active IP Right Cessation
• 2011
  • 2011-12-20 EP EP11811412.3A patent/EP2654513A1/de not_active Withdrawn
  • 2011-12-20 WO PCT/NL2011/050865 patent/WO2012087121A1/en active Application Filing

Non-Patent Citations (1)

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