WO2010015018A1

WO2010015018A1 - Collapsible foundation

Info

Publication number: WO2010015018A1
Application number: PCT/AU2009/000941
Authority: WO
Inventors: George Mantzis
Original assignee: Sleepeezee Bedding (Aust.) Pty Ltd
Priority date: 2008-08-05
Filing date: 2009-07-24
Publication date: 2010-02-11
Also published as: AU2009279361B2; AU2009279361A1

Abstract

A collapsible foundation for a bed, including a frame; and a support structure coupled to the frame by a plurality of resilient members, wherein the resilient members are operable to move the support structure with respect to the frame between collapsed and expanded conditions of use.

Description

COLLAPSIBLE FOUNDATION

Technical Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a collapsible foundation.

Background of the Invention

A bed is typically made up of a mattress seated on a foundation which is supported by a frame. There are three main types of foundations for mattresses:

a. Box spring foundations; b. Traditional wood foundations: are usually made of soft woods, such as pine, or hard woods. They usually consist of seven or eight support slats covered with cardboard or beaverboard. c. Grid foundations are a combination of steel and wood.

Box spring foundations, for example, typically include a hard sturdy wooden frame, covered in cloth, containing springs or some other resilient material. The box spring mattress serves three main purposes:

a. To raise the height of the bed, making it easier to get in and out of bed; b. To absorb shock and reduce wear on the mattress; and c. To create a perfectly flat and firm uniform structure for the mattress to lie upon.

Currently more and more box-springs are being made out of wood, then covered in fabrics. Wood makes a better support system for the newer memory foam and latex mattresses.

Manufacturers of box spring foundations may need to transport large numbers of foundations over great distances. For example, a manufacturer of box spring foundations in China may wish to regularly send box spring mattresses to Australia. A difficulty in doing so is that box spring foundations occupy a large volume of space. As such, only a limited number of foundations can be packed into a shipping container for transportation. It may be generally inefficient and not cost effective to transport box spring foundations in this manner.

In an attempt to obviate this problem, box spring foundations have been designed to fold in half. The folding box spring foundation is made of wood and springs, and covered in fabric which can fold in half. Notwithstanding that the folding box spring foundation increase efficiency in transportation and reduce costs, the resultant folded box spring foundation may still occupy a considerable amount of space in a shipping container.

It is generally desirable to overcome or ameliorate one or more of the above mentioned difficulties, or at least provide a useful alternative.

Summary of the Invention

In accordance with one aspect of the invention, there is provided a collapsible foundation for a bed, including a frame; and a support structure coupled to the frame by a plurality of resilient members, wherein the resilient members are operable to move the support structure with respect to the frame between collapsed and expanded conditions of use.

Preferably, the frame includes a plurality of support slats bridging opposed sides of the frame.

Preferably, common first ends of the resilient members are hingedly coupled to respective sections of the support slats.

Preferably, common second ends of the resilient members are hingedly coupled to respective sections of the support structure. Preferably, the support structure is arranged in the expanded condition of use when the resilient members extend substantially normally away from the frame.

Preferably, the support structure is arranged in the collapsed condition of use when the resilient members are generally parallel with the frame.

Preferably, the resilient members are struts for resisting longitudinal compression applied to the foundation when arranged in the expanded condition of use.

Preferably, the struts each include two elongate members extending in parallel between the frame and the upper support structure.

Preferably, the foundation includes a locking device for securing the support structure in the expanded condition of use.

In accordance with another aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of storing a foundation substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

In accordance with another aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of constructing a foundation substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Advantageously, in the collapsed condition of use, the foundation increases storage capacity of ship containers. As such, the foundation increases efficiency and reduces the cost of transporting foundations in bulk.

Brief Description of the Drawings

Preferred embodiments of the present invention are hereafter described, by way of non- limiting example only, with reference to the accompanying drawing in which: Figure l is a perspective view of a collapsible foundation;

Figure 2 is a top view of the foundation shown in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a bottom view of the foundation shown in Figure 1 ;

Figure 4 is an end view of the foundation shown in Figure 1 ;

Figure 5 is a side view of the foundation shown in Figure 1;

Figure 6 is another side view of foundation shown in Figure 1 arranged in a collapsed condition of use;

Figure 7 is a top view of the foundation shown in Figure 6;

Figure 8 is a bottom view of the foundation shown in Figure 7;

Figure 9 is perspective view of a corner of the foundation shown in Figure 1 ; and

Figure 10 is another perspective view of the corner of the foundation shown in Figure 9 arranged in another condition of use.

Detailed Description of Preferred Embodiments of the Invention

The collapsible foundation 10 shown in Figures 1 to 5 is used to support a mattress of a bed over a floor or ground surface. The foundation 10 includes a frame 12 and a support structure 14 coupled to the frame 12 by a plurality of resilient members 16. The resilient members 16 are operable to move the support structure 14 with respect to the frame 12 between expanded conditions of use shown in Figure 5 and the collapsed condition of use shown in Figure 6 to 8. In the collapsed condition of use, the foundation 10 increases storage capacity of shipping containers. As such, the foundation increases efficiency and reduces the cost of transporting foundations in bulk.

The frame 12 includes a nine support slats 18 bridging parallel opposed left and right sides 20a, 20b of the frame 12. The support slats 18 are arranged in spaced apart positions between the top and bottom ends 22a, 22b of the frame 12. The support slats are coupled to the frame with fasteners such as nails and or glue. The frame 12 also includes a central slat 24 bridging top and bottom ends 24a, 24b of the frame 12 for providing additional support to the slats 18. Alternative embodiments of the foundation include any suitable number of slats 18 coupled to the frame 12. Further, the foundation 10 is for a single bed, a double bed, or any other size of bed.

The support structure 14 is preferably a rectangular wire mesh of similar dimensions to that of the frame 12 so that the support structure 14 overlies the frame when arranged in the expanded condition of use shown in Figures 4 and 5. The mesh 14 includes a plurality of crossed elongate wire members 26. The mesh 14 acts to transfer any load, such as the weight of a person, applied to the foundation over a large area to multiple resilient members.

The resilient members 16 are struts for resisting longitudinal compression applied to the foundation 10 when arranged in the expanded condition of use. As particularly shown in Figures 9 and 10, the struts 16 each include a base member 30 coupled to a slat 18 of the frame 12 by a hinge 32, a cross member 34 coupled to a section of the support structure 14 by a hinge 36, and two elongate arm members 38a, 38b extending in parallel between respective ends of the base member 30 and the cross member 34. The struts 16 are preferably wire parallelograms. The struts 16 are arranged in spaced apart positions, side by side, across the slats 18 of the frame 12.

The support structure 14 is arranged in the expanded condition of use shown in Figure 1 when the resilient members 16 extend substantially normally away from the frame 12. The support structure 14 is arranged in the collapsed condition of use shown in Figure 6 when the resilient members 16 are generally parallel with the frame 12.

As particularly shown in Figures 2, 4, 5, 9 and 10, the foundation includes a locking device 40 for securing the support structure 14 in the expanded condition of use. The locking device 40 includes a first plurality of locking struts 40a coupled at a first angle θ between respective sections of the slats 18 of the frame 12 and respective sections of the support structure 14. The second plurality of locking struts 40b are coupled at a second angle α between respective sections of the slats 18 of the frame 12 and respective sections of the support structure 14. The first angle θ is preferably normal to the second angle α. Alternatively, the first angle θ is any suitable angle to the second angle α that inhibits lateral translation of the support structure 14 with respect to the frame 12

The locking struts 40a, 40b are releasably couplable respective sections of the support structure 14. A particularly shown in Figures 9 and 10, the locking struts 40a, 40b each include an elongate base member 42 coupled to a respective section of the slats 18 of the frame 12 by a hinge 44 and two elongate arms 46a, 46b extending from respective end sections of the base member 42 towards respective locking devices 48a, 48b of the support structure 14. The locking devices 48a, 48b are preferably hollow receptacles shaped to receive lugs 50a, 50b extending transversely outwardly from distal ends of the arms 46a, 46b. The arms 46a, 46b of each locking strut 40a, 40b are adapted to resiliently bend towards each other so that the lugs 50a, 50b are resiliently seated in respective locking devices 48a, 48b. In an alternative embodiment, the locking struts 40a, 40b are releasably couplable respective sections of the slats 18 of the frame 12.

The foundation 10 preferably includes a foam or rubber layer (not shown) overlying the support structure 14. The foundation 10 also preferably includes an outer peripheral layer of material (not shown).

While we have shown and described specific embodiments of the present invention, further modifications and improvements will occur to those skilled in the art. We desire it to be understood, therefore, that this invention is not limited to the particular forms shown and we intend in the append claims to cover all modifications that do not depart from the spirit and scope of this invention.

Throughout this specification, unless the context requires otherwise, the word "comprise", and variations such as "comprises" and "comprising", will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated integer or step or group of integers or steps but not the exclusion of any other integer or step or group of integers or steps.

The reference to any prior art in this specification is not, and should not be taken as, an acknowledgment or any form of suggestion that the prior art forms part of the common general knowledge in Australia.

Claims

Claims Defining the Invention

1. A collapsible foundation for a bed, including a frame; and a support structure coupled to the frame by a plurality of resilient members, wherein the resilient members are operable to move the support structure with respect to the frame between collapsed and expanded conditions of use.

2. The foundation claimed in claim 1, wherein the frame includes a plurality of support slats bridging opposed sides of the frame.

3. The foundation claimed in claim 2, wherein common first ends of the resilient members are hingedly coupled to respective sections of the support slats.

4. The foundation claimed in claim 3, wherein common second ends of the resilient members are hingedly coupled to respective sections of the support structure.

5. The foundation claimed in claim 4, wherein the support structure is arranged in the expanded condition of use when the resilient members extend substantially normally away from the frame.

6. The foundation claimed in claim 4 or claim 5, wherein the support structure is arranged in the collapsed condition of use when the resilient members are generally parallel with the frame.

7. The foundation claimed in any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein support structure is a wire mesh.

8. The foundation claimed in any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the resilient members are struts for resisting longitudinal compression applied to the foundation when arranged in the expanded condition of use.

9. The foundation claimed in claim 8, wherein the struts each include a base member hingedly coupled to a slat of the frame; a cross member hingedly coupled to a section of the support structure; and two elongate arm members extending in parallel between respective ends of the base member and the cross member.

10. The foundation claimed in claim 9, wherein the struts are wire parallelograms.

1 1. The foundation claimed in claim 10, wherein the struts are arranged in spaced apart positions, side by side, across the slats of the frame.

12. The foundation claimed in any one of claims 1 to 1 1 , including a locking device for securing the support structure in the expanded condition of use.

13. The foundation claimed in claim 12, wherein the locking device includes a first plurality of locking struts coupled at a first angle between respective sections of the slats of the frame and respective sections of the support structure; and a second plurality of locking struts coupled at a second angle between respective sections of the slats of the frame and respective sections of the support structure.

14. The foundation claimed in claim 13, wherein said first angle is substantially normal to said second angle.

15. The foundation claimed in claim 13 or claim 14, wherein the locking struts are releasably couplable said respective sections of the support structure.

16. The foundation claimed in any one of claims 13 to 15, wherein the locking struts each include an elongate base member hingedly coupled to a respective section of the slats of the frame and two elongate arms extending from respective end sections of the base member towards respective locking devices of the support structure.

17. The foundation claimed in claim 16, wherein the locking devices are hollow receptacles shaped to receive lugs extending transversely outwardly from distal ends of the arms.

18. The foundation claimed in claim 16 or 17, wherein the arms of each locking strut are adapted to resiliently bend towards each other so that the lugs are resiliently seated in respective locking devices.

19. The foundation claimed in claim 13 or claim 14, wherein the locking struts are releasably couplable said respective sections of the slats of the frame.

20. The foundation claimed in any one of claims 13 to 19, wherein the locking struts inhibit lateral translation of the support structure with respect to the frame 12.

21. The foundation claimed in any one of claims 1 to 20, wherein the foundation is a box spring foundation.

22. A method of storing the foundation claimed in any one of claims 1 to 21, including the step of arranging the foundation in a collapsed condition of use.

23. A method of constructing the foundation claimed in any one of claims 1 to 21, including the step of arranging the foundation in an expanded condition of use.

24. A collapsible foundation for a bed substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

25. A method of storing a foundation substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

26. A method of constructing a foundation substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.