Beds – Bedsteads – Having bottom
Reexamination Certificate
1999-02-16
2001-07-10
Melius, Terry Lee (Department: 3628)
Beds
Bedsteads
Having bottom
C005S241000, C005S237000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06256815
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a spring bridge for a mattress base designed as a spring-bridge grille.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Spring-bridge grilles are used in a variety of different designs as underspringing for an upholstered support, for example a seat cushion or a mattress. In this case, the flexible mounting of the spring bridges has proven very successful, in particular for beds with a high degree of lying comfort which is optimum from health aspects.
According to the prior art, the flexibility of these spring bridges is achieved by elastic suspension of the individual spring strips on the frame, and different variants of special elastic supporting bodies for the spring strips have been disclosed for this purpose, these being described, interalia, in German Patents 25 36 898 and 28 42 038.
German Utility Model G 93 17114 has disclosed another type of spring bridge, in the case of which the flexibility is achieved by a plurality of the spring elements being arranged on a main, load-bearing bridge.
The abovementioned spring bridges can be used to construct spring-bridge grilles which—in conjunction with the mattress—adjust in optimum fashion to the body of the person lying thereon, the nature and lying position of which mean that the person's body exerts locally very different and constantly changing bearing forces.
However, these convincing advantages, in relation to the lying comfort, of the previously known constructions are paired with certain disadvantages in relation to the production costs. Thus, in particular the elastic supporting bodies or spring elements which are required in these types of spring-bridge grilles, and are usually produced from rubber and are of relatively complicated construction, constitute cost-intensive additional parts.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The main object of the present invention is thus to propose a spring-bridge construction which, on the one hand, permits cost-effective production of a spring-bridge grille and, on the other hand, nevertheless has the functions which are necessary for a high degree of lying comfort, in particular locally progressively adapting spring properties.
Accordingly, the spring bridge comprises a main, load-bearing bridge and at least one flexible supporting element, which is arranged thereon and is of sheet-like design. The main, load-bearing bridge may be fitted on the side parts of a mattress base and, ultimately, thus absorbs the load. The supporting element extends, in the lateral direction, transversely with respect to the longitudinal axis of the main, load-bearing bridge and, at least in some regions, extends upwards beyond the top side of the main, load-bearing bridge. It is designed such that it is more flexible and/or elastic than the main, load-bearing bridge itself.
The supporting element is preferably designed such that, when loaded by a bearing force (normally the locally acting weight of a mattress which has been positioned on top and of a person who is resting on said mattress), it is bent downwards, a region which is closer to the main, load-bearing bridge being rotated by not more than the same angle as a more remote region.
In a preferred embodiment, the supporting element is in the form of a wing-like lip which extends obliquely upwards from the main, load-bearing bridge. Expediently, in each case at least one supporting element is arranged on both longitudinal sides of the main, load-bearing bridge.
Since the flexibility of the supporting element is more yielding than that of the main, load-bearing bridge, said supporting element deforms even under a lightweight load, whereas, the main, load-bearing bridge only yields under a greater load. In other words, different, accumulative load-bearing forces, and thus progressively adapting spring properties, are obtained.
This achieves local elasticity or spring action, and in a certain sense also a capacity for articulation, of the spring bridge, to be precise without special, flexible suspension. Spring bridges designed according to the invention thus inherently have compliance and spring properties, which are necessary for lying comfortably, transversely with respect to the longitudinal axis of the spring bridge.
The flexibility or elasticity of the supporting element in relation to the main, load-bearing bridge can be suitably adjusted by an appropriate selection of material and cross-sectional dimensions. As tests have shown, it is usually appropriate for a mattress base of a bed for a person of normal weight if the supporting element can be pushed down onto the plane of the top side of the main, load-bearing bridge by a local bearing force of approximately 20 Newtons.
In the case of special embodiments, the supporting element may be divided up into a plurality of segments in the longitudinal direction of the spring bridge or it is possible for a plurality of supporting elements to be arranged in the manner of segments, this further improving the locally differently adaptable spring action.
Preferred embodiments of the supporting elements and of the main, load-bearing bridge are designed such that they can be assembled without tools and are suitable for self-assembly.
A further advantage of spring bridges according to the invention relates to the ventilation of a mattress which is located thereon. By virtue of the supporting elements extending upwards beyond the top side of the main, load-bearing bridge, the mattress, at least in the non-loaded or only partially loaded state, does not rest fully on the spring bridges; rather, there is an interspace by way of which the underside of the mattress is ventilated, even in the region of the spring bridges, and evaporation of the moisture arising in the mattress is facilitated. In addition, if a person who is resting on the mattress shifts, this results in a pumping effect in the interspaces, and this pumping effect further improves the ventilation. Since the ventilation problem, which, in the case of spring strips butting flat against the mattress, restricts the width of said spring strips to a certain maximum, is solved in this way, it is also possible for the spring bridges to be wider, so that a smaller number suffices for the purpose of forming a grille.
The abovementioned advantages are achieved extremely cost-effectively by the spring-bridge design according to the invention. Costly supporting bodies for the suspension of the spring bridges, as well as special devices for ventilating the mattress on the underside, are dispensed with. Furthermore, since it has been possible to dispense with special supporting bodies, the operation of assembling a spring-bridge grille is simplified to a considerable extent.
It is expedient and preferred for the main, load-bearing bridge and supporting element to be produced from plastic, either in one piece or as separate parts. Single-piece designs do away with additional fastening devices and assembly steps. On the other hand, separate parts make it possible to use different materials, for example materials with different degrees of elasticity or, for example, a glass-fiber reinforced plastic for the main, load-bearing bridge. Moreover, separate parts ensure straightforward separation of materials in the event of subsequent disposal.
A plurality of separate supporting elements may be provided on a main, load-bearing bridge. This advantageously makes it possible for the supporting elements to be arranged in a variable manner, for example for more to be arranged in the case of spring bridges in the regions of greater loading (for example where the person's bottom is located) than in the regions of lesser loading.
REFERENCES:
patent: T101501 (1982-02-01), Robinson
patent: 984001 (1911-02-01), Ingraham
patent: 1511815 (1924-10-01), Markow
patent: 3717886 (1973-02-01), Watts
patent: 5588165 (1996-12-01), Fromme
patent: 680337 (1992-08-01), None
patent: 2536898 (1976-04-01), None
patent: 2703199 (1977-12-01), None
patent: 2842038 (1985-03-01), None
patent: 2858243 (1986-03-01), None
patent: 9317114 (1995-01-01), None
patent:
Hewitt James M.
Melius Terry Lee
Selitto Behr & Kim
Thomas Beteiligungs-und Vermogens-GmbH & Co. KG
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