FI125738B

FI125738B - Sälekiinnikejärjestely

Info

Publication number: FI125738B
Application number: FI20126097A
Authority: FI
Inventors: Webjørn Jarnes
Original assignee: Ekornes Asa
Priority date: 2011-10-24
Filing date: 2012-10-24
Publication date: 2016-01-29
Also published as: SE537701C2; DE102012219402A1; FI20126097A; DK178453B1; DK201270651A; NO336611B1; NO20111439A1; SE1251201A1

Description

Slat holder array

The present invention relates to slat holders for beds.

Since many hours are spent in bed, primarily for relaxing, it is important that the bed is as comfortable and ergonomic as possible. Many beds are provided with one or more mattresses supported by slats. The slats may rest on sills mounted on the inside of the bed frame.

Adjustable beds are commonly provided with adjustable flaps that rise and lower parts of the mattress. In such a bed, the slats may not be laid loosely on a sill. Other ways of supporting the slats must be devised. A common solution is to use slat holders, e.g. made in a plastic material, which are mounted onto the bed frame or the adjustable flaps, allowing the slaps to be fastened in a number of slat holders distributed along the length of the bed.

In FR 2736251 A1 is disclosed a slidable rail where a number of slats are held in a continuous horizontal slit and comprises slat holder elements with resilient spacers.

The primary object of the present slat holders is to hold at least one slat in its position under a mattress and possibly to give a springy mounting of the slat. However, it is a steady desire to improve the comfort of beds and thus it is an object of the present invention to provide a slat holder that apart from holding a number of slats in their correct position also contributes to increasing the comfort of a bed and in particular to increase the comfort in adjustable beds.

According to this object, a slat holder arrangement is disclosed including two slat holder arrays wherein the slat holder arrays include a number of slat holder elements. The slat holder elements include a slat fastening part for holding an end part of a slat, a resilient spacer which will be located between the slat fastening part and the bed or bed frame, and connection elements between the slat holder elements. Then, movements in a slat holder element will influence adjacent elements. The slat holder elements may also be provided with connection means for connecting the element to a bed frame and in particular for achieving a sliding connection to the bed frame.

In such a slat holder arrangement, the slat holders will not only hold the slats, but provide a particular springy action. The resilient spacers will provide a particular springy effect to the slat holder arrays which will be explained in detail below.

The slat holder arrangement is particularly advantageous as it may be utilized in both fixed (i.e. not adjustable) and adjustable beds and will provide a substantial improvement in spring properties to any bed and a substantially improved comfort for the user.

The scope of the invention appears from the appended claims.

The slat holder arrangement will now be described in detail in an embodiment thereof illustrated in the appended drawings, in which:

Fig. 1-3 shows the inventive slat holder arrangement,

Fig. 4 shows a detail of the slat holder arrangement in Fig. 1-3,

Fig. 5 shows the slat holder arrangement when loaded,

Fig. 6 is a principle sketch of an imagined spring situation,

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the slat holder arrangement of Fig. 1-3 seen from below and top, respectively,

Fig. 8-10 are sectional views of a slat holder arrangement according to the invention,

Fig. 11-15 shows an adjustable bed with a slat holder arrangement according to the invention,

Fig. 16-18 shows a fixed bed with a slat holder arrangement according to the invention.

A slat holder arrangement according to the invention is designed as to slat holder arrays wherein each slat holder array includes a number of slat holder elements. In use, each slat holder element will hold the end parts of a number of parallel slats.

Fig. 1 shows an embodiment of such an inventive slat holder array 1 from below. Fig. 2 shows the slat holder array 1 in side view, while Fig. 3 shows the slat holder array in top view.

The slat holder array 1 includes a number of slat holder elements with resilient spacers 2 connected to each other with connecting elements 3. The resilient spacers are designed to hold the slats in a flexible distance above the bed frame and preferably also hold the slat holder elements in an elastic sideways distance from each other. The resilient spacers 2 are also provided with connection means 4 suited for slidable connection with a bed frame or a frame element on a bed. These components may be seen more clearly from Fig. 4.

The connection means 4 are small, i.e. they protrude only slightly from the spacers they are mounted upon, compared with the dimensions of the resilient spacers 2. This means that a user of the bed will not notice if the individual connection means are lying upon the bed frame or slidable mounted therein, which means that some spacers of a slat holder array may be laying onto the frame, while others are mounted into the frame with the connection means.

Further, the resilient spacers are provided with slat fasteners 5. The slat fasteners 5 may take at least one slat, in such a way that the slat will be lying flat in the surface of a bed base or a bed. In the embodiment shown slats may be mounted in pairs in pockets 6 in the slat fasteners 5. These pockets have an internal shape corresponding to the cross section of the slats to be held by the slat holder. It should be noted that the slats may lie in the slat fasteners 5 without being fastened therein. Thus, individual slats may easily be released from the slat holder arrangement. This may be useful if slats have to be replaced, e.g. in case they are broken.

Fig. 5 shows an example of the movement pattern of a section of a slat holder array when loaded. The figure illustrates in detail the effect of the cushioning and the elastic properties of the slat holder array. In the illustrated example, the slat holder elements are designed in such a way that when the resilient spacer 2 is depressed the spacer will be pushed outward and broadening. The connection elements 3 of the depressed slat holder element will become pushed outward by the spacer causing the adjacent slat holder elements to be pushed upward. If the adjacent slat holder elements are not allowed to be pushed upward, the movement will propagate along the slat holder array.

Fig. 6 is a principle view of how the slat holder elements with resilient spacers 2 are meant to function as a springy buffer between the slat pairs 10, optional profiled flaps and the bed frame (not shown). The figure shows how a bed base is affected by being loaded. The bed base consists of resilient slat holder arrays according to the invention holding a number of slat pairs 10 in a distance above the bed frame and optionally also above profiled adjustable flaps 12. In Fig. 6 it is illustrated how the slat holder array may be affected by loading. When a user lies down on the mattress on a bed base wherein the slats are held in such a springy way, the bed base will adapt its shape to the load points on the user's body 13. A more even distribution of weight and a more even loading of the body is achieved.

The slat holder arrays may be produced in any resilient material, but it is advantageous to produce them in a polymer material, in particular a polymer or plastic material suited for casting, e.g. polyethylene, polypropylene and polystyrene, polyamide, polycarbonate or polyether-ether-ketone (PEEK). The slat holder array in the illustrated embodiment is suited for manufacturing by injection moulding. A continuous array of resilient spacers connected by connection elements may be moulded and then divide desired lengths of slat holder arrays from the injection moulded array of spacers. It should be noted that the illustrated embodiments have a random selection of spacers, which should be perceived as an illustration only of how such an array may appear. Obviously, the number of spacers in an array may be increased or decreased to adapt the array to the size of the bed it is intended to be used for.

Fig. 8-10 show cross sections of the spacers in the illustrated embodiment in three different positions. The connection means 4 is designed to be pushed into a track in a bed frame. In particular, the connection means may be pushed into a hollow bed frame provided with a track on one of the sides. The connection means 4 includes a stem 7 with flanges 8. The stem 7 may slide in tracks in the bed frame while the flanges 8 will hold the spacer in the bed frame.

Fig. 11 shows a bed provided with a slat arrangement according to the invention, in side view, while Fig. 12 shows the bed in top view.

A number of slats 9 are arranged in pairs 10 and held by slat fasteners 5 on resilient spacers 2, the slats lying on the bed frame 11 of the bed. The spacers 2 are connected to the bed frame 11 by means of connection means in the slat holder array 1. At least some of the connection means slide in tracks or slots on the upper side of the bed frame, see Fig. 13 and 14. The frame may in one embodiment be made from extruded aluminium profiles, wherein tracks or slots are extruded into the profile.

As mentioned above, the slat holders in such a slat holder arrangement will not only hold the slats, but will have an additional springy effect. The resilient spacers provide the slat holder arrays with a unique characteristic cushioning. If a slat holder element is depressed, the adjacent element or elements will rise. This is a double effect from the cushioning - a spring travel may be created which is not initially present. A larger degree of comfort may be achieved without increasing the spring travel of the construction or increasing the thickness of the mattress. When one or more slats are depressed, the associated slat holder elements will be compressed and accordingly exert forces sideways against adjacent slat holder elements which will then be pushed upward. If there is no room for pushing these upward, the movement will propagate further along the array. In this way the slat holder system will give maximum support.

As shown in Fig. 4, the connection elements 3 are designed with bracing flanges 15, 16 in the vertical and horizontal plane, respectively. This design with bracing flanges is important in order to let movements in the slat holder array propagate in the correct way along the array, i.e. to let the slat holders slide along the track or slot in the bed frame. Otherwise, the slats may tend to warp and prevent the array from sliding properly along the bed frame.

In the embodiment shown, the resilient spacers acting as cushioning means are open, i.e. they include an open core or opening and resilient sidewalls 15. To adjust the stiffness of the resilient spacers, the open cores or openings may be filled with plastic foam or other suitable resilient materials, such as air cushions. By filling some of the spacers in this way, firmer areas in the bed or mattress may be obtained which may improve the experienced comfort. Such stiffening or bracing may also be used to provide a sitting area in the bed, e.g. at a foot of the bed.

The inventive slat holder arrangement is eminently suitable for use in adjustable beds, wherein one or more flaps or profile frames 12 may be adjusted up or down in relation to the bed frame 11. On the upper side of each slate 9 there is preferably a slit of Velcro®. A corresponding layer of Velcro® textile is fastened to the underside of the mattress to be laid onto the slats. When the mattress is laid onto the slats, it will stick and be attached to the bed base. Movements occurring in the mattress when the bed is adjusted will be absorbed by the slat holders sliding in relation to the bed frame.

In Fig. 11 to 15 it may be seen how the slats 9 are supported by the resilient spacers 2 along the sides. When the profile frames 12 rise up to the slats 9, they will unload the resilient spacers 2 and in this way "disconnect" the cushioning.

With the bed in a flat position, the slats 9 will rest on the slat holder array 1/bed frame 11. The slats are resilient and held in a resilient slat holder arrangement and may therefore provide the advantage of a thinner mattress without compromising the comfort. When the profile frames 12 rise and lift the slats 9 from the slat holders/bed frame 1, the bed base becomes stiffer as there is less distance between the points supporting the slats.

Fig. 11 shows how the profiled frames or flaps in this embodiment of the invention lie at least partly over the bed frame 11. The slat holder array 1 includes resilient spacers 2 lifting the slats from the bed frame 11 and profile frames 12, the bed forming a flat surface when the profile frames 12 are lowered and the bed is not loaded. The mattress, which lying on the bed base consisting of pairs of slats 10, will also be level, as on any ordinary bed. When a user is lying on the bed, the mattress will be loaded unevenly and depress the resilient spacers mainly where the profile frames 12 are not protruding above the frame, as shown in Fig. 16.

When the profile frames rise from the lowered position, initially only some of the slats 9 will be lifted, but as the angle of the profile frames 12 over the bed base 11 is increasing, most of the slats will be lifted correspondingly to the curvature of the profile frames 12.

Dependent on the design of the bed frame in which the slat holder arrangement is used, it may be advantageous if only a part of the resilient spacers 2 are connected with the bed frame. The spacers lying above a profile frame 12 should rest on the bed frame 11 in such a way that they are unbound from the bed frame and may be lifted when the profile frame 12 is lifted. When these unbound spacers 2 are lifted from the profile frame 12, the spacers that are connected with the bed frame will slide in a track so that the pairs of slats 10 will always maintain a mainly constant distance between them.

Fig. 12 shows the bed with a slat holder arrangement according to the invention, in top view. The slats 9 are combined in pairs lying with a mainly even distance between the slats along the length of the bed. Fig. 15 is a perspective view of the bed of Fig. 12 wherein the organizing of the slats 9 in pairs 10 may be better seen, and how the slat holders are arranged over a slot 14 in the bed frame 11.

The slat holder array 1 may be moulded of a polymer material in one piece. Alternatively, the slat holder may be composed of two different polymer materials, as there are different requirements to the polymer material in the resilient upper part and the sliding lower part.

When an adjustable bed with a slat arrangement according to the invention is to be adjusted, from an initially flat position, the profile frames 12 will be pushed against the underside of the slats 9 and lift them. This movement is gradual, the lifting normally starting at the head end. Then, the profile frame 12 will lift the mattress on the slats 9 around the lumbar area of the user, before the movement propagates to the whole back area. The back and foot parts may be adjusted individually, but the movement may also be connected.

At the head end of the bed some of the spacers 2 may bring with them a part of the bed frame using the connection means, as far as this part is hinged to the rest of the bed frame. At the foot end where this movement is smaller, the spacers 2 may be stretched and partly lifted from the bed frame. When the flaps or profile frames 12 rise, the mattress will be felt to become harder, both due to the spacers 2 with slat fasteners 5 being lifted from the support, and due to the flaps or profile frames 12 now supporting the slats more towards the middle of the slats.

Velcro® textiles have some elasticity, and this elasticity provides for each slat to cushion individually. On an adjustable bed, the slat system should preferably slide freely along the bed frame, possibly by means of a track or slot in the frame and in this way allow the bed to adapt to the user.

It should be noted that the slat holder arrangement according to the invention is well suited also for normal fixed beds. It is particularly advantageous to use such a slat holder arrangement on such beds, as the bed will obtain large spring travel even when the overall height is small. On a fixed bed, a progressive pressure relief and the possibility of providing comfort zones by mounting softer or harder materials in one or more of the resilient spacers may be achieved, as explained above.

Fig. 16-18 shows an example of a fixed bed frame 11 with slat holder array 1 and slats 9. In the illustrated example, the bed frame is produced from hollow profiles, at least in the longitudinal direction, the profiles being provided with a track or slot for the slat holder array 1. One or more of the connection means 4 in the slat holder array 1 is pushed into the track. In a fixed bed frame, all connection means should preferably be pushed into the track of the frame profile. In this way the slat holder array will achieve support sideways by the connection means along the edges of the track, while the slat holder may also be pushed sideways in case of external influence. A cushioning characteristic is obtained corresponding to that described above. Fig. 18 shows how the slats 9 will lie with a distance above the bed frame 11, the slats not being hampered in their spring travel by the upper edge of the bed frame.

The mattress positioned on the bed with a slat arrangement as described above and with the inventive two-way resilient slat system, will provide an optimal support of the user's body.

It is also beneficial if the mattress in a bed with the inventive slat arrangement is covered with a textile in a movable stretch material. The textile surface may then follow the movements of the bed avoiding wrinkles and creases in the surface of the mattress.

The resilient spacers in the inventive slat holder array will have progressive pressure relieving properties. Further, the slim design of the spacers allows them to be stretched into double height, which means that the possibility of fracturing is low. The hardness of the spacers may also be adjusted with addition of foam, springs, air bags or the like, meaning that the slat holder arrangement may be adapted to beds of different hardness or softness, also in beds without adjustable flaps.

As in adjustable beds, it is also possible with fixed beds with a bed frame wherein at least the longitudinal sides are hollow and provided with tracks or slots wherein the connection means of the slat holder elements may be accepted. However, the elements may also be employed on bed frames without such tracks by the slat holder arrays sliding on the bed frame without being connected into it. When used in this way, it will be optional to provide the slat holder elements with connection means situated between the resilient spacers and the bed frame.

Claims

1. Sälekiinnikejärjestely (1), joka sisältää lukumäärän sälekiinnikkeitä (5), jotka on sovitettu pitämään vähintään yhtä säleen (9) päätä, sälekiinnikkeiden (5) ollessa asennettuna joustaville välikappaleille (2), jotka välikappaleet sisältävät liitosvälineet (4), sovitettuna yhdistettäväksi uraan tai loveen (14) ja liukuvaksi urassa tai lovessa (14) sängynrungossa (11), joka sälekiinnikejärjestely (1) sisältää lukumäärän sälekiinnike-elementtejä, joissa on joustavat välikappaleet (2), tunnettu siitä, että sälekiinnike-elementit ovat yhdistetyt toisiinsa liitoselementeillä (3).A loose fastener arrangement (1) comprising a plurality of loose fasteners (5) adapted to hold at least one end of a slat (9), the loose fasteners (5) being mounted on flexible spacers (2) comprising connecting means (4) arranged to be connected to a groove. or a notch (14) and slidable in a groove or notch (14) in the bed frame (11), comprising a plurality of veneer fastener elements having flexible spacers (2), characterized in that the veneer fastener elements are interconnected by connecting elements (3). ).

2. Patenttivaatimuksen 1 mukainen sälekiinnikejärjestely (1), jossa säleet ovat asennetut pareina taskuihin (6) sälekiinnikkeissä (5).Venetian fastener arrangement (1) according to claim 1, wherein the slats are mounted in pairs on the pockets (6) in the Venetian fasteners (5).

3. Patenttivaatimuksen 1 tai 2 mukainen sälekiinnikejärjestely (1), jossa kukin liitosväline (4) sisältää varren (7) varustettuna reunuksilla (8), jotka sopivat mainittuun uraan tai loveen (14).Venetian fastener arrangement (1) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein each connecting means (4) includes a shaft (7) provided with edges (8) which fit into said groove or notch (14).

4. Jonkin patenttivaatimuksen 1-3 mukainen sälekiinnikejärjestely (1), liitoselementtien (3) sisältäessä pystysuuntaiset ja vaakasuuntaiset jäykistelaipat (15, 16).Venetian fastener arrangement (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the connecting elements (3) comprise vertical and horizontal stiffening flanges (15, 16).

5. Jonkin patenttivaatimuksen 1-4 mukainen sälekiinnikejärjestely (1), jossa järjestely on valettu polymeerimateriaalista yhtenä jatkuvana kappaleena.Venetian fastener assembly (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the assembly is molded from a polymeric material in one continuous piece.

6. Patenttivaatimuksen 5 mukainen sälekiinnikejärjestely (1), jossa järjestely on valettu polyetyleenistä, polypropyleenistä ja polystyreenistä, polyamidista, polykarbonaatista tai polyeetteri- eetteri-ketonista tai niiden yhdistelmästä.Venetian fastener arrangement (1) according to claim 5, wherein the arrangement is molded from polyethylene, polypropylene and polystyrene, polyamide, polycarbonate or polyetheretherketone or a combination thereof.

7. Jonkin patenttivaatimuksen 1-6 mukainen sälekiinnikejärjestely (1), jossa liitoselementit ja järjestelyn muut osat on valettu eri polymeerimateriaalista.Venetian fastener assembly (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the connecting elements and other parts of the assembly are molded from a different polymeric material.