WO2005053466A1

WO2005053466A1 - Sprung upholstered unit with inflatable member

Info

Publication number: WO2005053466A1
Application number: PCT/GB2004/005083
Authority: WO
Inventors: Simon Paul Spinks
Original assignee: A Harrison (Bedding) Limited
Priority date: 2003-12-02
Filing date: 2004-12-02
Publication date: 2005-06-16

Abstract

An upholstered unit such as a bed or mattress includes a plurality of pocketted springs and at least one inflatable member located above and/or below some at least of said pocketted springs, said at least one member being inflatable and deflatable so as to vary the firmness of said pocketted springs or some at least of said pocketted springs. The pocketted springs will preferably be double pocketted springs comprising of an inner pocketted spring and an outer pocketted spring. The inflatable member may extend across all of the pocketted springs or one, two or more rows or strings of the pocketted springs.

Description

SPRUNG UPHOLSTERED UNIT WITH INFLATABLE MEMBER

This invention relates to sprung units such as beds and mattresses and

other articles of upholstered furniture.

According to the present invention, there is provided an upholstered

unit, such as a bed or mattress, including a plurality of pocketted

springs and at least one inflatable member located above and/or

below some at least of said pocketed springs, said at least one member

being inflatable and deflatable so as to vary the firmness of said

pocketed springs or some at least of said pocketted springs.

Said pocketted springs will preferably be double pocketted springs,

i.e. an outer pocketted spring and an inner pocketted spring, said

springs being arranged in rows or strings, a plurality of said rows or

strings being arranged in contiguous relationship in said upholstered

unit.

In an embodiment of the invention, each row or string of springs will

have associated therewith an inflatable member. Alternatively, two contiguous rows or strings of springs will have a single inflatable

member associated therewith. Further, three or more contiguous rows

or strings of springs may have a single inflatable member associated

therewith

In a still further embodiment of the invention, the rows or strings of

springs may have a single inflatable member which can act on all of

the springs in said rows or strings of springs.

The or each inflatable member will be a closed member which is

inflatable by a suitable fluid pressure-operated pumping mechanism

or other suitable means so as to adjust the pressure within the or each

inflatable member and so adjust the firmness of the springs or some at

least of the springs in the rows or strings of springs.

In a first embodiment of the invention, the or each inflatable member

will be located below the row(s) or string(s) of springs, and the or

each inflatable member will be located in a housing secured to said row(s) or string(s), said housing or housings preferably being

composed of cloth or similar material.

In an alternative embodiment of the invention, the inflatable member

or members will be located within the pocket(s) of the outer

pocketted spring(s).

In a still further embodiment of the invention, the inflatable member

or member will be located between vertically-spaced rows or strings

of pocketted springs.

Embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of

example only, reference being made to the accompanying

diagrammatic drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is an end view of a single row or string of springs forming

part of an upholstered unit, such as a bed or mattress, in accordance

with the invention and showing the springs in a first condition;

Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure 1 but showing the springs in a second condition;

Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 1 but showing two contiguous

rows or strings of springs, the springs being shown in a first condition;

Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 3, but showing the springs in a

second condition;

Figure 5 shows one arrangement of a plurality of the rows or strings

of Figure 1;

Figure 6 shows one arrangement of a plurality of the rows or strings

of Figure 3;

Figure 7 is a view similar to Figure 1 but showing a variation thereof;

Figure 8 is a side view on Figure 7 showing the springs in a first

condition;

Figure 9 is a view similar to Figure 8 but showing the springs in a

second condition;

Figure 10 is a side view on part of a bed or mattress in accordance

with the invention and showing an alternative embodiment of the

invention; and

Figure 11 is a view similar to Figure 10 but showing some of the springs in a second condition;

Figure 12 shows an alternative embodiment of the invention;

Figure 13 shows yet a further alternative embodiment of the

invention; and

Figure 14 shows a still further alternative embodiment of the

invention.

Referring to the drawings and firstly to Figures 1 and 2, there is

shown a pocketted spring indicated generally by reference numeral 2

which comprises an outer pocketted spring 4 and an inner pocketted

spring 6. Secured to the pocket 4A of the outer pocketed spring 4,

through the intermediaries of glue spots 8 and 10, is a member or

housing 12 in which is located an inflatable member 14, preferably in

the form of an inflatable bladder. In Figure 1, the inflatable member

14 is in its deflated condition, whilst reference to Figure 2 will show

that the inflatable member 14 is in its inflated condition.

Figure 2 shows that with the inflatable member 14 in its inflated condition, the spring 4B of the outer pocketted spring 4 has been

compressed and that the inner pocketted spring 6 - of which the spring

is not visible - has\moved upwardly within the outer pocketted spring.

Referring now to Figures 3 and 4, these figures show a 'double'

version of the arrangement shown in Figures 1 and 2. Thus there is

shown two pocketted springs indicated generally be reference

numerals 20 and 40 comprising respectively outer pocketed springs

22 and 42 and inner pocketted springs 24 and 44. Secured to the

pockets 22A and 42A, through the intermediaries of glue areas 26

and 46, is a member or housing 30 in which is located an inflatable

member 32, again preferably in the form of an inflatable bladder, it

being noted that in Figures 3 and 4 the inflatable member 32 extends

across both pocketted springs 20 and 40. As with Figures 1 and 2,

Figures 3 and 4 respectively show the inflatable member 32 in the

deflated and inflated conditions.

In both the Figures 1 and 2 and the Figures 3 and 4 embodiments as described above, it will be appreciated that the inflatable members 14

and 32 extend across the whole or substantially the whole of the rows

or strings of springs, of which the pocketted spring 2 and the

pocketted springs 20 and 40 form part, respectively.

In each of the above-described embodiments, the members or

housings 12 and 30 containing the inflatable members will preferably

be composed of cloth or other similar material.

A suitable fluid pressure-operated pumping mechanism for inflating

and deflating the members 14 and 32 is indicated by reference

numeral 48.

Referring now to Figure 5, this shows a plurality of the units of

Figures 1 and 2 arranged so as to form a row or string 50 of pocketted

springs and inflatable members. It will be noted that in some

instances the inflatable member is at the lower end of the pocketted

spring and in other instances the inflatable member is located at the upper end of the pocketted spring.

Figure 6 is a view similar to Figure 5, but showing a plurality of the

units of Figures 3 and 4, it again being noted that in some instances

the inflatable member is located at the lower end of the pocketted

spring and in other instances at the upper end of the pocketted spring.

Figure 7 illustrates a variation of the invention. In the embodiment of

Figure 7, the inflatable member indicated by reference numeral 52 is

housed or located within the outer pocketted spring 60, i.e. within the

shroud or pocket of said pocketted spring. The inner pocketted spring

is indicated by reference numeral 62.

Figures 8 and 9 each show a plurality of the units of Figure 7 arranged

into a row or string 70, Figure 8 showing the inflatable member 52 in

a deflated condition and Figure 9 showing the inflatable member in an

inflated condition. In the embodiment of the invention shown in Figures 10 and 11, there

is shown a bed or mattress 80 comprising a plurality of pocketted

springs each consisting of an outer pocketted spring 84 and an

inner pocketted spring 86. The filling of the bed or mattress at either

side of the spring units is indicated by reference numerals 88 and 90.

Tufts and ties are shown at 92, such ties acting to secure the bed or

mattress as a one-piece unit.

Located between the ends of the pocketted springs and the upper (in

the drawing) end of the pocketted springs 82 is a plurality of members

being inflated as already mentioned in the earlier-described

embodiments.

Figure 10 shows the inflatable members 94 in a deflated condition,

whilst Figure 11 shows the members in an inflated condition.

The tufts and ties 92 ensure that as the members 94 are inflated, the pocketted springs alone or the pocketted springs and the fillings 88 are compressed until the desired firmness of the bed or mattress is

achieved.

Referring now to Figure 12, there is shown a sprung unit, indicated

generally by reference numeral 102 which includes spaced rows 104,

106, 108, and 110 of first springs, and rows 112, 114, 116, and 118 of

second springs located respectively in the spaces between the rows

104, 106, 108, and 110 of said first springs.

The springs 104A, 106A, 108A, and 110A of the rows 104, 106, 108,

and 110 are, as will be seen, pocketted springs and more specifically

double pocketted springs, in that each of the springs comprises an

outer pocketted spring, respectively referenced 104B, 106B, 108B,

and 110B, and an inner pocketed spring, respectively referenced

104C, 106C, 108C, and 110C, the arrangement being that the inner

and outer pocketted springs of each double pocketted spring may

move relative to one another. The springs 112A, 114A, 116A, and 118A of the rows 112, 114, 116,

and 118 are also, as will be seen double pocketted springs, in that each

of the springs comprises an outer pocketted spring and an inner

pocketted spring, these outer and inner pocketted springs being

referenced respectively 112B, 114B, 116B, 118B and 112C, 114C,

116C and 118C, the outer and inner springs being movable relative to

one another. Adjacent springs are connected as indicated at X.

It will be apparent from Figure 12 that each of the pocketted springs

104, 106, 108, and 110 are of a first length, and that the pocketted

springs 112, 114, 116, and 118 are of a second length which is less

than the first length.

The effect of the length difference between the springs 104, 106, 108,

110 and 112, 114, 116, 118 is to create between the rows of the

springs 104, 106, 108, and 110 a void or cavity, such voids or cavities

being referenced respectively 120, 122, 124, and 126 and each

containing an inflatable member 128, 130, 132, and 134 respectively. It will be appreciated that the inflatable members are shown in varying

degrees of inflation for the purposes of illustration only, the means of

inflation preferably being as referred to earlier.

The effect of having the inflatable members in their respective void or

cavity is that by partially or wholly inflating said members, the firm¬

ness of the unit may be varied. The variation in the firmness of the

unit will also be affected by the pocketted springs of the unit, it being

appreciated that the pocketted springs and the inflatable members may

be used in conjunction with each other to vary the firmness of the unit.

Referring now to Figure 13, the arrangement shown in this Figure

differs from the Figure 12 arrangement in that there are two rows of

second springs between the rows of first springs. The rows of first

springs are indicated by reference numerals 140, 142, 144, and 146,

and the two rows of second springs are indicated by reference

numerals 150, 152, 154, and 156, 158, 160 respectively. Again, the

springs in the Figure 13 arrangement will be pocketted springs as described with reference to Figure 12, the second sprmgs being

shorter than the first springs.

Voids or cavities 162, 164, and 166 formed between the rows of first

springs contain an inflatable member, such being referenced 168, 170

and 172 respectively. It will be seen in this arrangement, that the

inflatable members each span two rows of second springs. In all other

respects, the operation of the arrangement of Figure 13 is the same as

that described with reference to Figure 12.

Turning now to Figure 14, rows 180, 182, and 184 of first springs

have located therebetween two upper and two lower rows of second

springs, such that voids or cavities 250 and 252 are formed between

the upper and lower rows of second springs. The upper rows of second

springs are referenced 186, 190 and 194, 198, whilst the lower rows of

second springs are referenced 188, 192 and 196, 200. Each of the first

springs is a double pocketted spring in that each spring comprises an

outer pocketted spring, respectively referenced 202, 204, and 206, and an inner pocketted spring, respectively referenced 208, 210 and 212.

Each second spring is a double pocketted spring comprising

respectively outer pocketted springs 214 to 228 and inner pocketted

springs 230 to 244.

The voids or cavities 250 and 252 house or contain an inflatable

member - respectively referenced 254 and 256 - which will be as

previously described with reference to the Figures 12 and 13

arrangements. It will be seen from Figure 14 that the voids or cavities

- and hence the inflatable members 254 and 256 - are positioned in

the middle area of the unit, unlike the arrangements in Figure 12 and

Figure 13, where they are at or close to a surface of the unit. This

means that the firmness of the unit can be adjusted from either side,

and not just from one side as in the Figures 12 and 13 arrangements.

Having said this, and whilst the voids or cavities in the Figures 12 and

13 arrangements are located towards the lower surface (in the

drawing) of the unit, it is feasible that the unit could be turned over

such that the voids or cavities - and hence the inflatable members - are located at the upper surface of the unit.

It will be appreciated that only some of the rows of first springs may

have a row or rows of second springs therebetween, such that voids or

cavities would be formed in the corresponding positions. Where such

is the case and where no void or cavity is to be formed, then rows of

first springs would be located in closely adjacent relationship.

It will also be appreciated that there may be more than two rows of

second springs and more than two rows of upper and lower rows of

second springs.

It will be further appreciated that the springs as\hereinbefore described

and forming a part of the bed or mattress or other upholstered unit,

need not necessarily be double pocketted springs, since they may be

single pocketted springs, i.e. an open spring within an outer pocketted

spring or an inner pocketted spring wit n an open outer spring Further, pocketted springs having differing spring counts, thicknesses,

and other characteristics may be used in a unit in accordance with the

invention.

Whilst the means to inflate and deflate the members has only been

shown in Figures 1 to 4, it will be appreciated that such means will be

present in the other embodiments of the invention.

The invention thus provides a bed or mattress or other upholstered

unit in which the irrmness of the springs, or some at least of the

springs, can be varied so as to suit the bed or mattress or other

upholstered unit to individual requirements. Such variation can be

throughout the whole of the bed or mattress or other upholstered unit

or in selected areas only.

Claims

CLAIMS:

05 1. An upholstered unit, such as a bed or mattress, including a plurality of pocketted springs and at least one inflatable member located above and/or below some at least of said pocketted springs, said at least one member being inflatable and deflatable so as to vary the firmness of said pocketted springs or some at least of said

10 pocketted springs.

2. An upholstered unit according to Claim 1 , wherein said pocketted springs are double pocketed springs, each comprising an outer pocketted spring and an inner pocketted spring.

15

3. An upholstered unit according to Claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein said pocketted springs are arranged in rows or strings, a plurality of said rows or strings being arranged in contiguous relationship in said upholstered unit.

20.

4. An upholstered unit according to Claim 3, wherein each row or

string of springs has associated therewith an inflatable member.

5. An upholstered unit according to Claim 3, wherein two or more

rows or strings of springs have a single inflatable member associated

therewith.

6. An upholstered unit according to Claim 3, wherein all of the

springs have a single inflatable member associated therewith.

7. An upholstered unit according to Claim 4 or Claim 5, wherein

said inflatable members are located some above said rows or strings of

springs and some below said rows or strings of springs.

8. An upholstered unit according to Claim 4 or Claim 5, wherin

said inflatable members are located within the pocket of a respective,

pocketted spring.

9. An upholstered unit according to Claim 6, wherein the single

inflatable member is located below said rows or strmgs of

pocketted springs.

10. An upholstered unit according to any of Claims 1 to 3, wherein

there are upper and lower rows or strings of pocketted springs with

cavities between said upper and lower rows or strings, each of said

cavities housing or containing an inflatable member.

11. An upholstered unit according to Claim 10, including other

pocketted springs between said upper and lower rows or strings of

pocketted springs, said other pocketted springs being of a greater

length than the springs in said rows or strings.

12. An upholstered unit according to any of the preceding Claims,

wherein the inflatable member(s) is/are a closed member which is

inflatable by a suitable fluid pressure-operated pumping mechanism or

other suitable means so as to adjust the pressure within the or each inflatable member and so adjust the firmness of the springs or some at

least of said springs in said rows or strmgs.

13. An upholstered unit according to Claim 12, wherein said

mechanism or other means is located externally of said unit.

14. A bed or mattress including an upholstered unit according to

any of Claims 1 to 13.