WO2008104687A2

WO2008104687A2 - Improvement to seating or lying structures having body support means with stress self balancing

Info

Publication number: WO2008104687A2
Application number: PCT/FR2008/050195
Authority: WO
Inventors: Marc Delahousse; Olivier Gregoire
Original assignee: Delahousse Et Fils
Priority date: 2007-02-08
Filing date: 2008-02-08
Publication date: 2008-09-04
Also published as: EP2117384A2; WO2008104687A3; FR2912299A1; EP2117384B1; FR2912299B1

Abstract

The invention relates to a seating or lying structure connected to a spring-mattress, seat, mattress or pillow structure, that comprises: bearing members for the body support means; and members supporting at least two of said bearing members associated so as to be connected together and so as to allow a mutual displacement thereof in a vertical or substantially vertical direction for the self-balancing of the resting stresses on said body support means. According to the invention, the connection members are each made in the form of a tilting member (4) mounted via a pivot (7) on the frame (6) of the structure, said tilting member (4) supporting said bearing members (3) for the body support means (2) through flexible or rigid linking members (5) operating in a traction mode, the two ends of each said linking members (5) being pivotally connected by a hinge (5') with the associated bearing member (3) and the associated tilting member (4), respectively.

Description

IMPROVEMENT TO SEAT OR SLEEPING STRUCTURES WHICH BODY SUPPORT MEANS TO BE BALANCED IN EFFORTS

The present invention relates to the general field of the furniture industry; it relates more particularly to an improvement to the structures of sitting or sleeping whose body support means (in the form of slats or support trays) tend to self-balance in efforts.

The documents WO-2005/004676 and CH-66 33 39 describe bedstead structures whose slat-shaped body support means are equipped with lateral pulleys which bear on flexible elements such as a rope, a cable , a band or a chain, themselves carried by fixed intermediate pulleys integral with the side rails.

Such a bed frame structure functions by transfer of loads and makes it possible to take advantage of the vertical support on some of the laths to tend to raise some other adjacent laths on which one exerts a lower support effort.

This provides a comfortable sleeping plan that adapts well to the shape of the body of the user and supports very evenly all body lines, regardless of the weights and depths of curves in the presence.

However, these bed frame structures generally have the disadvantage of a great complexity of manufacture, assembly and adjustment, resulting in a high cost to the installation, as well as risks of disruption to use.

In addition, these technical solutions are hardly compatible with the liftable bed bases, due to variations in distances between the movements of the various elements.

The present invention provides a new structure to overcome these disadvantages.

This seat or sleeping structure, integral with a bed frame structure, mattress, seat or pillow is therefore of the type comprising - body support means support elements, and - bodies that carry at least two of said support elements, so as to realize their connection and allow their movements relative to each other, in a vertical or substantially vertical direction, to tend to self-balance the support efforts on said body support means. According to the invention, said connecting members are each in the form of a tilting member pivotally mounted on the bed frame structure, mattress, seat or pillow, said tilting member carrying said support members of the body support means by means of flexible or rigid connecting elements acting in tension, the two ends of each of said connecting elements being pivotally secured by a hinge, respectively with said associated support member and said associated tilting member.

Such a structure makes it possible to limit the number of parts necessary for its realization, simplifies the assembly in the absence of voltage adjustments and makes it possible to absorb the variations of center distance generated by the movements of slatted bedsteads.

Its design makes it easy to add optional height adjustment and / or motion transfer systems to the opposite side.

The body support means may be in the form of parallel slats or juxtaposed trays. These support means are held in suspension by means of the tilting members associated with the connecting elements. When a large amount of force is applied to one of the support elements, the pivot-mounted rockers are lowered and pivoted by means of the articulated arms. The rotatably driven rockers pull the articulated arms and thereby lift the adjacent support members that are subjected to less force. The entire system self-balances and allows the suspension elements to fit well to the body shapes of the user, for better comfort. The body support elements carry a mattress or seat or pillow lining. At the ends of the bed base, seat or pillow, the articulated arms are preferably fixedly connected directly to the support frame, or by means of suitable fastening elements.

As indicated above, this seat or sleeping structure can be integral with a bed frame structure or integrated within a seat cushion, mattress or pillow.

According to a first possible embodiment, the body support means are in the form of trays and the tilting members are mounted on a ball joint secured to the frame of the structure, which tilting members are associated with four support members of said means of bodily support, each via a flexible or rigid connecting element, said support members of the body support means being themselves each associated with four tilting members. According to a second possible embodiment, the body support means are in the form of trays and the tilting members are articulated about a pivot axis on the frame of the structure; the tilting members are each associated with two support members of said body support means, each by means of a flexible or rigid connecting element, said support elements of the body support means being each associated with four tilting members, two first of said tilting members, located on either side of each support member being articulated about parallel axes, and the other two tilting members, located on either side of each support element, also being articulated around parallel axes but which are perpendicular to the axes of articulation of said two first tilting members.

According to a third embodiment, the body support means are in the form of parallel slats secured to a frame by means of support means arranged vis-à-vis, which support means comprise support elements for receiving ends of said slats, each interposed between two tilting members and each carried by said juxtaposed tilting members, by means of flexible or rigid connecting elements, said tilting members being rotatably mounted on said frame, around a axis parallel to the longitudinal axis of said slats. In this context, at least some facing tilting members are advantageously interconnected by a connecting element forming a torsion bar and ensuring the synchronization of their pivoting.

According to one feature of embodiment, the support elements of the body support means which are located at the ends or around the perimeter of the structure, as the case may be, are integral with the frame of the structure via at least one member of the body. fixed end associated with a flexible or rigid connection element.

In a particularly advantageous configuration, the tilting members each consist of a part whose lower end is provided with the pivot and whose upper end is associated with the joints of the connecting elements; on the other hand, the support elements of the body support means are each in the form of a part whose lower end is associated with the joints of said connecting elements, and whose upper end carries at least one support means body shaped slat or tray. Still according to an interesting characteristic, at rest, the joints associated with the support elements are located below the joints associated with the tilting members.

The invention will be further illustrated, without being limited in any way, by the following description of various possible embodiments, given solely by way of example and shown in the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic side view illustrating a first possible embodiment of the seat or sleeping structure according to the invention, the body support means (in the form of trays) being here in the rest position. ;

FIG. 2 shows the seat or sleeping structure of FIG. 1 in which the body support plates are activated by pressing on their upper surface;

FIG. 3 shows the seat or sleeping structure of FIGS. 1 and 2 seen from below;

FIG. 4 is a schematic view, from below, of a second possible embodiment of the seat or sleeping structure according to the invention;

FIG. 5 is a diagrammatic side view illustrating a third possible embodiment of the seat or sleeping structure according to the invention, the body support means (in the form of slats) being here in the rest position. ;

- Figure 6 shows the structure of Figure 5 with the body support means activated by pressing on their upper surface;

FIG. 7 is a side view of an embodiment of the rocker members and body support member support elements for the schematic structure of FIGS. 5 and 6.

The seat or sleeping structure 1 illustrated schematically in FIGS. 1 to 3 comprises body support means 2 in the form of horizontal plates fixed in a removable manner or not on support members 3, themselves carried by tilting members. 4, via articulated link arms 5.

The tilting members 4 are each mounted on the frame 6 of the structure by means of pivots 7 in the form of ball joints, arranged at their lower end.

The connecting arms 5 connect the upper end of the tilting members 4 and the lower end of the support members 3 by means of articulations 5 '. These link arms 5 may be made of flexible or rigid material. If they are made of rigid material (for example rigid plastic material), the end joints 5 'are in the form of thinned areas of material, or in the form of tenons or patches arranged on one of the parts, cooperating with adapted orifices arranged in the other room.

If they are made of flexible material (for example textile or wire plastic) the corresponding joints 5 'are obtained by the flexibility of the material itself.

At rest (FIG. 1) the articulations 5 'of the arms 5 on the support elements 3 are located below the articulations 5' associated with the tilting elements 4.

As shown in Figure 3, in this embodiment, each tilting member 4 is connected in cross to four support members 3 through, each time, a connecting arm 5; and each element 3 supporting body support means 2 is itself connected in cross to four tilting members 4. In addition, each support means 2 with its associated support member 3 is suspended mounted, carried by the four rocker members 4 associated, by means of arms 5 which extend upwardly from the base of each support member 3.

This organization is valid over the entire surface of the bed frame, seat, mattress or pillow, except on its periphery where the articulated arms 5 are connected to fixed end members 8 (visible Figures 1 and 2), integral with the frame 6.

This kind of structure allows the realization of a support plan constituted by the upper face of the different trays 2 juxtaposed.

The support plane defined by the juxtaposition of trays 2 can receive any mattress or lining (seat cushion or pillow ...).

As explained above, it is understood that if a large force is applied to one of the plates 2, this plate descends and rotates the peripheral rocker members 4 (around their pivoting pivot 7) by means of a pull on the associated arms 5. The rocking members 4 driven in rotation "pull" themselves on their other arms 5 and they thus raise the adjacent plates 2, if they are subjected to a less significant support effort.

This produces a system that self-balances and allows the support plates 2 to fit best to the body shapes.

It will be noted that the link arms 5 act permanently in traction and that they can therefore be made of flexible material, without this adversely affecting or affecting the correct operation of the structure. The embodiment of Figure 4 is a variant of that of Figures 1 to 3. The structure is here shown schematically (and partially), seen from below; for the sake of simplification, the elements identical to the previous embodiment retain the same references.

In this variant embodiment, the "internal" support plates 2 (that is to say those which are not located around the periphery of the structure), associated with their support elements 3, are each carried by four arms of link 5 integral with rocker members 4 'mounted on the frame 6, no longer on a ball but on a pivot axis 10.

Each rocker member 4 'is associated with two support members 3 via link arms 5, and each support member 3 is associated with four rocker members 4'.

The pivot axes 10 of the rocker members 4 'are oriented perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the link arms 5 associated. Thus, on the four tilting members 4 'associated with each support element 3, two of said first tilting members 4' located on either side of the support element 3 are articulated about parallel axes, and the two two other tilting members 4 ', located on either side of said support member 3, are also articulated about parallel axes, but which are perpendicular to the axes of articulation of said two first tilting members.

Between the longitudinal and transverse lines of plates 2, there are here longitudinal and transverse lines of rocker members 4 '; and on each of these longitudinal and transverse lines, the tilting members 4 'pivot about the same axis 10.

On the periphery of the structure, the elements 3 supporting the support plates 2 are secured, by connecting arms 5, members or fixed end pieces 8 mounted on the frame 6.

We obtain a support plan similar to that described above in relation to Figures 1 to 3 and which operates according to the same principle.

Here again, the flexible or rigid link arms 5 operate permanently by traction.

FIGS. 5 to 7 illustrate another possible embodiment of the seat or sleeping structure according to the invention, in which the body support means are in the form of parallel slats 2 'whose ends are carried by support means integral with two frame parts 6 vis-à-vis, for example bed frame spars.

In the corresponding figures, for the sake of simplification, the functional elements identical to the preceding embodiments retain the same references.

More precisely, the slats 2 'are carried by support elements 3' (in the form of slatted receiving tips), themselves carried by two lateral tilting members 4 ", via connecting arms 5. Each element support 3 'is carried by two tilting members 4 "juxtaposed and each rocker member 4" carries two support elements 3' juxtaposed.

The tilting members 4 "are pivotally mounted on the frame 6 about tilting axes 10 which extend parallel to the longitudinal axis of the slats 2 '.

The different juxtaposed slats 2 'are therefore connected to each other by rocker members 4 ", that at the two longitudinal members 6 vis-à-vis the bed frame equipped.

At the ends, the last slats 2 'are carried by fixed parts 8 (via an arm 5) identical or similar to those of the previous embodiments.

Again, the lower ends of the support members 3 'are connected to the upper parts of the rocker members 4 "by the connecting arms 5, while it is the lower part of the rocker members 4" which carries the hinge axis 10 .

The articulated arms 5 go up from the support members 3 'to the rocker members 4 "(and also to the end pieces 8), at rest (FIG. 5) the joints 5' associated with the support members 3 'are located below. joints 5 'associated with rocker members 4 ".

In this embodiment, in a complementary manner, some or all of the tilting members 4 "located opposite the longitudinal members 6 may be connected by torsion bars 1 1, extending parallel to the slats 2 ', for ensure the synchronization of their failover.

The operating principle of the structure, illustrated in FIG. 6, is identical to the embodiments described above. An important support on one of the slats 2 'assures the recovery of the adjacent slats 2' undergoing a lower support force (see the length of the support arrows on the slats 2 '), thanks to the different rocker assemblies 4 "/ arm 5. The juxtaposition of the suspended slats 2 'makes it possible to obtain an effective self-balancing of the support forces.

As for the previous embodiments, the connecting arms 5 are made of flexible or rigid material and they act permanently by traction.

A concrete example of embodiment of this structure is shown in Figure 7. Note here the support member 3 'extended upwards by a system of nozzles 12 for the reception of three parallel slats 2'.

The fixed end pieces 8 and the rocker members 4 "are provided with one-piece extensions 5 forming the rigid connecting arms, the joints 5 'being obtained by thinning material.

At their other end, the arms 5 comprise a one-piece stud 13 adapted to be fitted into a suitable orifice 14 formed in the support member 3 'to ensure the removable attachment of the two elements.

On the side of the pin 13, thinning material allows the realization of the associated joint 5 '.

Claims

- CLAIMS -

1. Seat or sleeping structure integral with a bed frame structure, seat, mattress or pillow, comprising - body support means support elements, and - bodies which carry at least two of said associated support elements, in order to achieve their connection and to allow their movements relative to each other, in a vertical or substantially vertical direction, to tend to self-balance the support forces on said body support means, characterized in that said connecting members are each in the form of a tilting member (4, 4 ', 4 ") pivotally mounted (7, 10) on said bed frame, seat, mattress or pillow, said tilting member (4, 4 ', 4 ") carrying said support members (3, 3') body support means (2, 2 ') via flexible or rigid connecting elements (5) acting in tension, the two ends of each of said connecting elements (5) being pivotably secured by a hinge (5 '), respectively with said associated support member (3, 3') and said tilting member (4, 4 ', 4 ") associated therewith.

2. Structure according to claim 1, characterized in that the body support means are in the form of trays (2) and in that it comprises tilting members (4) mounted on a joint (7) solidaire its chassis (6), which tilt members (4) are associated with four elements (3) supporting said body support means (2), each via a flexible or rigid connecting arm (5), said elements (3) supporting the body support means (2) being themselves each associated with four tilting members (4).

3. Structure according to claim 1, characterized in that the body support means are in the form of trays (2) and it comprises tilting members (4 ') articulated around a pivot axis (10) on its frame (6), which tilt members (4 ') are each associated with two elements (3) supports of said body support means (2), each via a connecting element (5). ) flexible or rigid, said elements (3) supporting the body support means (2) being each associated with four tilting members (4 '), two first of said tilting members (4'), located on either side each support element (3) being articulated about parallel axes (10) and the two other tilting members (4 '), located on either side of each support element (3), also being articulated around axes (10) parallel but which are perpendicular to the hinge pins (10) of said first tilting members (4 ').

4. Structure according to claim 1, characterized in that the body support means are in the form of parallel slats (2 ') integral with the frame (6) by means of support means arranged vis-à-vis , which support means comprise support elements (3 ') for receiving the ends of said slats (2'), each interposed between two tilting members (4 ") and each carried by said tilting members (4") juxtaposed by via flexible or rigid connecting elements (5), said tilting members (4 ") being rotatably mounted on said frame (6), about an axis (10) parallel to the longitudinal axis of said slats ( 2 ').

5. Structure according to claim 4, characterized in that at least some of the tilting members (4 ") facing are interconnected by a connecting element (1 1) forming a torsion bar and ensuring the synchronization of their tilting .

6. Structure according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the elements (3, 3 ') supports the body support means (2, 2') which are located at its ends or around its periphery, as the case may be, are secured to the frame (6) via at least one fixed end member (8) and a flexible or rigid connecting element (5).

7. Structure according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the tilting members (4, 4 ', 4 ") each consist of a part whose lower end is provided with the pivot (7, 10). ) and whose upper end is associated with the joints (5 ') of the connecting elements (5), and in that the elements (3, 3') supporting the body support means (2, 2 ') are each in the form of a part whose lower end is associated with the joints (5 ') of said connecting elements (5), and whose upper end carries at least one lath-shaped body support means (2') or tray (2).

8. Structure according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that, at rest, the joints (5 ') associated with the support elements (3, 3') are located below the joints (5 '). associated with tilting members (4, 4 ', 4 ").