The invention relates to a bed frame having flexible slats which are adjustable in a horizontal plane, and a fitting suitable for this purpose for a lying surface formed from the bed frame.
According to the invention, the term “bed frame” is understood to mean any arrangement of a sitting or lying surface whose support surface is formed from flexible slats separated at a distance from one another. Accordingly, this also includes slatted frames having flexible slats which are elastically supported in the vertical direction, or also solid frames in which the flexible slats are inelastically situated.
For lying surfaces for beds, sofas, and seating furniture, there is a need for moving the flexible slats, which support the seat cushion or the mattress, in the horizontal direction.
Such a lying surface is already known, and relates to flexible slats which are adjustably fastened to a slatted frame so as to be displaceable in the horizontal direction over a short displacement range.
Accordingly, in a manner known per se, each flexible slat is supported on the end-face side in a bearing element which is fixedly and immovably mounted on the longitudinal beam of a bed frame or a slatted frame.
According to the prior art, it is known only to carry out a horizontal adjustment of the flexible slat in the bearing element itself; however, it is not known to move and fix the bearing element in the longitudinal direction with respect to the longitudinal beam.
Thus, in the known prior art, this results in the disadvantage that an adjustment path of the flexible slats of only around a range of 2 cm is provided. Therefore, it is possible to only slightly adjust the mutual distances between the flexible slats in a slatted frame or a bed frame.
The object of the invention, therefore, is to refine a horizontal adjustment and fixing of flexible slats in a slatted frame and/or bed frame of the type stated at the outset in such a way that an adjustment of the horizontal spacing between the flexible slats can take place in a significantly larger displacement range.
To achieve the stated object a bed frame is provided having flexible slats which are adjustable in a horizontal plane and having at least one bearing element for supporting one end of at least one flexible slat on a longitudinal beam of the bed frame, wherein the bearing element is movable over an arbitrary displacement path along the longitudinal beam, in that the bearing element comprises essentially a housing which accommodates the respective end of the flexible slat and in which at least one spring-loaded detent device, which is actuatable by hand, is situated and which engages with associated receiving profiles in the longitudinal direction of the longitudinal beam and is lockable at that location.
An essential feature of the invention is that the particular end face of the bearing element itself, accommodating the flexible slat, is movable and fixable along the longitudinal beam of the bed frame over an arbitrary displacement path in the horizontal direction.
The stated technical teaching provides the advantage that each flexible slat now has a design which is individually adjustable and fixable in relation to the adjacent flexible slat over any size of adjustment path along the longitudinal axis of the longitudinal beam of the bed frame, because the bearing element itself for accommodating the flexible slat forms the adjusting element.
It is thus provided according to the invention that all bearing elements which support the flexible slats are movably adjustable and fixable in the direction of the longitudinal beams of the bed frame and/or slatted frame over an arbitrary displacement path.
According to the present invention, a bearing element is understood to mean a complex bearing body having spring elements which may have an arbitrary design.
Spring elements of this type may be elastomer springs or elements suspended in some other way, which are able to elastically support the particular end face of the flexible slat in the vertical direction.
According to one refinement of the invention, however, in another embodiment it may also be provided that such spring elements are dispensed with entirely.
Furthermore, in another embodiment of the invention it may be provided that in each case an additional height adjustment device may also be situated on the bearing elements for accommodating the end faces of the flexible slats. In this case, it is provided that not only are the end faces of the flexible slats displaceable by moving the bearing elements in the horizontal direction, but also height adjustment devices are additionally present in the bearing element, so that also the height of the flexible slats is adjustable and fixable via the bearing element.
However, the invention is not dependent on such a height adjustment device, which may also be dispensed with.
It is important only that the flexible slats themselves have a design which is adjustable and fixable in an arbitrary adjustment path in the direction of the longitudinal beam of the particular slatted frame and/or bed frame, so that, for the first time, there is now the option for defining different lying areas on the lying surface by means of flexible slats having different spacings from one another.
In this way, an arrangement of such flexible slats in groups, for example, may be provided by freely moving flexible slats, in particular at the locations of the lying surface where maximum support of the body of a user lying thereon is necessary. For example, it is possible to push the flexible slats together in such a way that in the lumbar area there is a very high density of flexible slats at that location, while around the lumbar area (above and below), it is not necessary to arrange any flexible slats, or a different spacing is provided.
The division of the lying surface using differently grouped flexible slats which are freely movable and fixable along the longitudinal beam of the lying surface has not been known heretofore. For this reason, the invention provides a number of options for how such a displacement of flexible slats in the area of the lying surface can take place.
The term “lying surface” is understood to mean all lying surfaces of upholstered furniture, seating furniture, or bed furniture which are able to bear a cushion support. Accordingly, the invention is not dependent on the flexible slats being part of a slatted frame. The flexible slats with their bearing elements according to the invention may also engage directly on the longitudinal beams of a bed frame, in which case a slatted frame would be dispensed with.
In a preferred refinement of the present invention, it is provided that the bearing elements according to the invention for holding the flexible slats, which are adjustable and fixable in the longitudinal direction of the longitudinal beams, are lockable into an undercut groove in the longitudinal beam in the transverse direction with respect to the longitudinal axis, so that it is not necessary to successively insert these bearing elements in the direction of the longitudinal groove in the longitudinal beam; instead, they may clipped into the longitudinal groove in the direction perpendicular to the longitudinal groove.
Thus, there is the advantage that even with a fully assembled slatted frame or a bed frame, additional bearing elements which are suitable for accommodating additional flexible slats may still be subsequently clipped into the longitudinal groove in the longitudinal beam.
The flexible slat density, i.e., the number of flexible slats in the slatted frame or in the bed frame, may thus be easily increased or decreased. Thus, the bearing capacity of the slatted frame or of the bed frame may be arbitrarily changed, even subsequently for a fully assembled bed frame or slatted frame, by adding or taking away flexible slats and associated bearing elements.
In one preferred embodiment of the invention, it is provided that the bearing element according to the invention is made up essentially of a housing in which two locking bars facing in opposite directions are present which are in spring-loaded engagement with an associated locking rail, the locking rail being fastened in a longitudinal groove on the inner side of the longitudinal beam of the slatted frame.
For the sake of simplicity of description, in the following description, and accordingly also in the following description of the drawings, a slatted frame fitted with flexible slats is assumed, although the invention is not limited thereto.
As stated above, the slatted frame may also be dispensed with entirely, and the bearing elements according to the invention could be situated directly in the longitudinal beams of a bed frame. Solely for the sake of simplicity of description, a slatted frame fitted with flexible slats is assumed, although the invention is not limited thereto.
Accordingly, in one preferred embodiment of the invention it is provided that the locking bars necessary for longitudinal adjustment and fixing are in spring-loaded engagement with associated receiving profiles in the longitudinal direction of the longitudinal beam. In a first embodiment of the invention, it is provided that this receiving profile is designed as a locking rail which extends in the longitudinal direction over the entire length of the longitudinal beam and which has associated toothing.
In another embodiment of the invention, it may be provided that the locking rail is replaced by a perforated rail, and in a third embodiment of the invention it may be provided that the locking rail is not situated in an undercut groove in the hollow profile of the longitudinal beam, but instead is designed as an insertion rail.
In another embodiment, it may also be provided that the longitudinal beam is made of a deformable metal profile, in particular an aluminum profile, and that such a locking rail in the form of embossings is situated in the longitudinal direction of the longitudinal beam.
Instead of attaching toothing, perforated profiles may also be used which are either directly introduced into a profile of a longitudinal beam or subsequently inserted as an insertion rail.
In another embodiment, it may be provided that instead of two oppositely situated, spring-loaded locking bars, a locking comb is provided which bears a plurality of detent elements which may be brought into selective engagement with the counter profile in the longitudinal direction of the longitudinal beam.
Instead of a spring-loaded engagement of the above-described detent elements, detent devices may be used which operate, for example, according to the screw principle, the clamping principle, or other back-and-forth adjustment mechanisms.
In this regard, it may be provided that wedge profiles are used to achieve, instead of a toothing engagement, a clamping engagement between the bearing element and the associated profile on the beam side of the slatted frame.
It may thus be stated that instead of a locking engagement achieved by spring loading or mechanically by tensioning elements, a clamping engagement is also encompassed according to the invention.
The subject matter of the present invention results not only from the subject matter of the individual claims, but also from the combination of the individual claims with one another.
All information and features disclosed in the documents, including the abstract, in particular the spatial configuration illustrated in the drawings, are claimed as essential to the invention, provided that alone or in combination they are novel with respect to the prior art.
The invention is explained in greater detail below with reference to drawings which illustrate multiple design approaches. Further features and advantages of the invention which are essential to the invention result from the drawings and their description.
The drawings show the following:
In the exemplary embodiment shown, it is assumed that this is a slatted frame 3, which is insertable into a bed frame 2, not illustrated in greater detail.
It is apparent here that a number of flexible slats 4-7 are inserted into the slatted frame 3 with arbitrary spacings 18, and that the horizontal spacings between the flexible slats 4-7 in the arrow directions 11, 12 are arbitrarily adjustable and fixable relative to one another in an arbitrary range.
The slatted frame 3, in a manner known per se, is made up of two mutually parallel transverse beams 8 which are connected to one another by two mutually parallel longitudinal beams 9. The slatted frame may be made of any given material, for example a metal profile, a wood profile, a plastic profile, or the like.
It is important that the respective flexible slats 4-7 at their end faces are accommodated in bearing elements 20, and that these bearing elements 20 are movable and fixable in an associated longitudinal groove at the inner side of the longitudinal beams 9 in the arrow directions 11, 12.
As the first exemplary embodiment,
Equal displacement distances are provided on the left side of the longitudinal beam 9 and on the oppositely situated side of the longitudinal beam 9; thus, a scale is applied on the top side, for example, of each longitudinal beam 9, so that each bearing element 20 on each side may be set to the same displacement position on the respective longitudinal beam 9.
This is a scaling which as a scale is situated once on the bearing element, and which may be brought into a certain opposite position with respect to an associated scaling on the top side of the longitudinal beam 9.
As already stated in the general description section, this height adjustment 19 may also be dispensed with entirely, with the horizontal adjustment in the arrow directions 11, 12 remaining.
Another important feature of the invention is that the bearing elements may be clipped into an associated retaining groove in the area of the longitudinal beam 9 in the arrow directions 64, and at any time, even with a slatted frame 3 which is fully fitted with flexible slats, additional bearing elements 20, each facing the arrow directions 64, may be clipped into the longitudinal groove in the area of the longitudinal beam and fitted with additional flexible slats.
In this way, the number of flexible slats for each lying surface 1 may be established in an arbitrary manner.
It is schematically illustrated that only a small number of flexible slats is present in the head area 14, for example, while a smaller number of flexible slats 6 is provided in the shoulder area 15 and a larger number of flexible slats 5 is provided in the lumbar area 16 with a fairly small spacing, whereas in the foot area 17 a smaller number of flexible slats 4 with a fairly large spacing is provided.
The number of flexible slats 4-7 as well as their mutual spacing may thus be configured so that they are freely adjustable on the lying surface 1.
In a first preferred exemplary embodiment, the longitudinal beam 9 of the slatted frame 3 is made of a hollow aluminum profile 21 which on its inner side has an undercut receiving profile 22 into which the locking rail 10 is inserted (
The bearing element 26 is preferably made of a plastic housing 39 which has a hollow profile and which has spacers 31 that laterally protrude beyond the housing side walls, behind which spacers the associated locking bars 32 (not visible in
Each bearing element 20 may thus be clipped into the receiving profile 22 in the area of the longitudinal beam 9 in the arrow direction 64, but then can be removed from the receiving profile 22 only in the arrow direction 11 or 12.
The illustrations in
Each spring element 25 is made up of two spaced-apart spring bodies having identical designs, which at the bottom are integrally molded onto a plate via curved spring bodies 27, the plate forming receiving openings for two holding pins 30 situated one on top of the other in parallel.
The holding pins 30 are integrally molded onto a height adjustment plate 28, which may be inserted behind the locking plate 26 for the bearing element 20 in the manner of a vertically oriented insertion guide.
The height adjustment plate 28 is height-adjustably moved on a locking part 29 on the locking plate 26 of the bearing element 20 and fixed to the locking part 20.
As already described, the height adjustment in the arrow directions 19 for the flexible slats is not necessary for the invention, but may be additionally provided.
This clip lock 24 is formed by multiple spaced-apart detent hooks 23, having an elastic design, which engage with associated undercuts of the receiving profile 22, as illustrated in
In addition,
Disengagement takes place by actuating a handle 34 illustrated in
Thus, the fingers of a hand must activate the one handle 34 as well as the other handle in order to bring both locking bars 32 out of the spring-loaded engagement with the locking rail 10.
The mutually directed locking of the locking bars 32 serves to prevent the bearing element 20 from being inadvertently moved in the arrow direction 10 or 11 in the locked state.
However, if only one locking bar 32 is actuated by activating a handle 34, the bearing element 20 according to
The mutually facing spacers 31 are used to limit the stop of adjacently situated bearing elements 20. When adjacently situated bearing elements 20 are pushed close together, their spacers 31 contact one another, thus forming a displacement limitation.
It is also apparent from
The shaft 35 at the bottom side bears a bearing journal 36, and the entire element which includes the locking bar 32, the handle 34, and the shaft 35 is inserted into a cavity in the housing 39 of the bearing element 20, and a compression spring 38 situated in the housing engages in a receptacle 37 at the rear side of the handle 34 and pretensions the handle in a spring-loaded manner, so that the locking bar 32, which is thus connected in a rotationally fixed manner, comes into spring-loaded engagement with the toothing of the locking rail 10, and remains there as long as the handle 34 is not activated.
The pivoting of the shaft 35 thus takes place in the arrow direction 33.
Either both holding pins 30 engage in the superposed receiving spaces 40 on the spring element 25, or the spring element is set one step higher, so that only the top holding pin 30, for example, still engages in the bottom receiving space 40.
The shape of the holding pins 30 is selected in such a way that a positive-fit engagement in the associated receiving spaces 40 on the spring element 25 is ensured, so that the holding pins are supported on the bearing element 20 without tilting, and the top pin does not block the deflection of the spring element.
As a modification of the fastening of a separate locking rail 10 in an undercut receiving profile 22 of a longitudinal beam 9,
As a further embodiment,
If the locking comb 45 is lifted out of the toothing of the flat profile 44 in the arrow direction 46, the entire bearing element, which is connected to the locking comb 45, may then be moved along the longitudinal beam 9 in the arrow directions 11, 12. However, if the locking comb with its toothing 47 is brought into engagement with the toothing of the flat profile 44 in the arrow direction 46, locking in the arrow directions 11, 12 is then provided.
A modified embodiment is once again illustrated in
The locking plate 26 of the bearing element 20 in these figures is made up of two oppositely facing clamping jaws 54, each of which is movable and fixable on a longitudinal beam, the longitudinal beam being designed as a prismatic guide 51.
The clamping may be selectively established or discontinued using an actuator button 52. The actuator button may act on the clamping jaws 54 in a spring-loaded manner, but may also be designed as a screw spindle or the like.
It is also possible to use an eccentric clamp button instead of a screwable or pressable actuator button 52.
As a further exemplary embodiment,
The actuation of the activation button 60 may be provided either in a spring-loaded manner, or mechanically as a screw spindle or clamping element.
The rotation of the gearwheel 59 takes place in the rotational axis 62 according to
It is also apparent from
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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10 2014 018 363 | Dec 2014 | DE | national |
Number | Name | Date | Kind |
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9578974 | Kraeutle | Feb 2017 | B2 |
20160166075 | Kraeutle | Jun 2016 | A1 |
20160235208 | Kraeutle | Aug 2016 | A1 |
Number | Date | Country |
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8429877.4 | Feb 1985 | DE |
10111585 | Jul 2002 | DE |
202006008526 | Aug 2006 | DE |
202006019414 | Feb 2007 | DE |
202008010096 | Oct 2008 | DE |
0141260 | May 1985 | EP |
1066778 | Jan 2001 | EP |
Entry |
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European Examination Report/Search Report from EP15001826.5, dated Apr. 12, 2016. |
Number | Date | Country | |
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20160166075 A1 | Jun 2016 | US |