US3813713A - Bedstead with slats of different stiffness - Google Patents

Abstract

A bedstead with a reclining head-rest has a pair of longitudinal side members provided with spaced apart lateral pivots carrying swingable slat supports which are disposed opposite one another in pairs along the inner faces of the longitudinal members. Each pair of supports is provided with at least two angularly spaced slats of different stiffness so that either slat may be rotated into an operative position forming the support for the torso of the user.

Description

0 Elmted States Patent 1 91 1111 3,813,713 Kipfer June 4, 1974 [5 BEDSTEAD WITH SLATS OF DIFFERENT 2,349,839 5/1944 Apicella 5/237 STIFFNESS 3,176,323 4/1965 Degen.... 3,663,055 5/1972 Gale Inventor: Fritz p e st 1 8038 3,667,803 6/1972 Ford 297/2213 Zurich, Switzerland [22] Filed: Mal. 27 1972 Primary ExaminerFrancis K. Zugel Assistant Examiner-D. Marquette 1 1 pp NOJ 238,210 Attorney, Agent, or FirmKarl F. Ross; Herbert Dubno [30] Foreign Application Priority Data May 18, 1971 Switzerland 7263/71 [57] ABSTRACT A bedstead with a reclining head-rest has a pair of lon- [52] U.S. Cl 5/238, 5/191, 5/D1G. 2, gitudinal side members provided with spaced apart lat- 297/283 eral pivots carrying swingable slat supports which are [51 Int. Cl. A47c 23/06 disposed opposite one another in pairs along the inner [58] Field of Search 5/238, DIG. 2, 26 R, 26 B, faces of the longitudinal members. Each pair of sup- 5/237, 236, 191; 297/283 ports is provided with at least two angularly spaced slats of different stiffness so that either slat may be ro- [56] References Cited tated into an operative position forming the support UNITED STATES PATENTS for the torso 0f the user.

174,062 2/1876 Carter 5/237 2 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures BEDSTEAD WITH SLATS OF DIFFERENT STIFFNESS This invention relates to a bedstead with reclining head-rest, having elastically flexible transverse slats supported at their ends on bearing fasteners which are arranged in pairs. The fasteners are mounted for rotation about a common transverse axis which is fixed with respect to the longitudinal frame members.

The bedstead according to the invention differs from prior systems in that each of the pairs of bearing fasteners carries at least two transverse slats arranged in different planes but on the same turning circle, whereby one or the other may be brought into the effective plane, the different transverse slats carried in each pair of bearing fasteners differing in their elastic bending resistance.

The invention allows the body-supporting surface to be harder or softer throughout or only in certain zones as desired, by turning individual bearing fasteners and bringing stiffer or softer slats into the surface to lie on, thus adapting same to the anatomical or therapeutical requirements of the occupant.

The accompanying drawing shows by way of example an embodiment of the invention.

In the drawing:

FIG. I shows a diagrammatic view of the beadstead;

FIG. 2 represents a vertical section of six pairs of transverse slats with their bearing fasteners;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary top view of the bedstead,

FIG. 4 is a vertical section taken along the line IVIV of FIG. 2; and

FIG. is a detail view of a portion of the system of FIG. 2 wherein the means for locking the fastener can be seen more readily.

In the form shown, the reference characters la and 2a respectively designate the longitudinal side members of the basic frame 1 and the head-rest 2 of the bedstead. On the insides of the longitudinal side members la, bearing fasteners 3 are rotatable on horizontal pivot pins 4 and are oppositely disposed in pairs. On either side of the pivot pins 4 the bearing fasteners 3 are provided with recesses 5 open inwardly, into which the top and bottom slats 6 and 7 are inserted. As apparent from FIG. 2, the transverse slats 6 are wider than the slats 7.

Assuming that both sets of slats are made of the same material, the wider slats 6 will be stiffer and will feel harder when exposed to the weight of the occupant. Different stiffness may be obtained in the slats 6 and 7 in other ways, however, for example by adopting different slat thicknesses or employing different materials.

By turning the bearing fastener pairs 3 about their horizontal axes 4, the softer or harder slats can be brought into or out of the resting plane at the desired points as required. Locking devices, such as serrations, spring catches or the like can be conveniently fitted so that the bearing fasteners engage in the different positions for use.

For example, FIG. 5 shows that each fastener 3 is provided with internal serrations 4a which lock with the serrations 4b of the pivot 4 to prevent angular displacement inadvertently once the appropriate slat 6 has been positioned to form a supporting surface for the bedstead. Of course, by simply drawing the fastener 3 off the locking portion of the pivot, the fastener may be rotated to position the other slat in the supporting plane.

In the form illustrated, each pair or bearing fasteners carries two transverse slats of differing elastic bending resistance. Alternatively it is of course possible to have the bearing fastener pairs fitted with three or more transverse slats, each of different stiffness.

What I claim is: 1

l. A bedstead comprising a support, a pair of longitudinally extending frame members mounted on said support, respective pairs of pivots projecting inwardly from said frame members at corresponding locations therealong, respective fasteners mounted on said pivots and angularly displaceable relatively thereto about respective horizontal axes of each pair of pivots, and at least two slats spanning the fasteners of each pair of pivots and fixed thereto in angularly spaced relation wherein a selected slat bridging each pair of fasteners may be disposed at a supporting surface of the bedstead, the two slats of each pair of pivots and fasteners being of different stiffness.

2. The bedstead defined in claim 1 further comprising means for locking said fasteners against angular displacement with the selected slat in a position forming a supporting surface of the bedstead.

Claims (2)

1. A bedstead comprising a support, a pair of longitudinally extending frame members mounted on said support, respective pairs of pivots projecting inwardly from said frame members at corresponding locations therealong, respective fasteners mounted on said pivots and angularly displaceable relatively thereto about respective horizontal axes of each pair of pivots, and at least two slats spanning the fasteners of each pair of pivots and fixed thereto in angularly spaced relation wherein a selected slat bridging each pair of fasteners may be disposed at a supporting surface of the bedstead, the two slats of each pair of pivots and fasteners being of different stiffness.

2. The bedstead defined in claim 1 further comprising means for locking said fasteners against angular displacement with the selected slat in a position forming a supporting surface of the bedstead.

Images