Support for reclining or sitting

Information

  • Patent Grant
  • 6286160
  • Patent Number
    6,286,160
  • Date Filed
    Friday, January 7, 2000
    24 years ago
  • Date Issued
    Tuesday, September 11, 2001
    23 years ago
Abstract
A support for reclining or sitting has two tubes extending in the longitudinal direction and filled with a liquid, transverse rods being guided on said tubes so as to be movable back and forth in the loading direction. A cushion is disposed on the transverse rods and extends over the tubes from one side of the support to the other.
Description




BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION




A bed is known from DE 32 32 123 A 1. The tubes are disposed in troughs and the transverse rods formed as boards resting with the broad side on the tubes. The ends of the boards are guided in slots on the inside of the troughs, being disposed below the upper edges of the troughs. The area of the transverse rods above the tubes can thus not be used as a rest for a mattress or similar cushion.




EP 0 161 392 A 1 discloses a support wherein a cover is fastened to the substructure on both long sides so as to encompass the tubes, transverse rods and cushion on the transverse rods to form one unit. With this support the area above the tubes can be used to recline on, but single parts can only be replaced if the cover is removed. This makes it difficult both to replace or turn over the cushion and to replace a broken transverse rod or leaky tube.




EP-A-0 378 469 discloses a bed support. The transverse rods are supported on the tube via a shaft with a piston. The tube is for this purpose disposed in a rectangular hollow section having high side walls for guiding the piston. This not only results in a high structure. Since the person's weight on the bed is transferred to the tube via the piston, the piston with the shaft must also be of elaborate stable design. In addition, the pistons must be pushed into the hollow section from one side and then awkwardly connected with the transverse rods.




SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION




The object of the invention is to provide such a support which permits unproblematic replacement of the cushion as well as the other parts while having a maximum reclining surface and simple structure.




In the inventive support the cushion, tubes, transverse rods and other parts can be replaced without any problem. To prevent the transverse rods from shifting when moved back and forth in the loading direction, they are guided. To permit their total length to be used as a rest for the cushion, the transverse rods are disposed according to the invention so as to protrude beyond the guide means.




Further, one guides the transverse rods by fastening guide rods to the transverse rods and providing guide members on the longitudinal bars of the substructure laterally beside the tubes, said guide rods being inserted in said guide members so that the guide rods are mounted displaceably in the guide members.




The guide member can be formed by a bore in the longitudinal bar. In a further preferred embodiment the guide rod is formed by a piston fastened to the transverse rods, and the guide member by a cylinder firmly connected with the longitudinal bar, said piston being mounted displaceably in said cylinder.




The tubes are preferably made of a nonexpandable material, in particular woven hose, i.e. pressure tubing like a fire hose. The weave can be embedded in a thermoplastic resin. The tubes can have a constant diameter over their total length. However, it is also possible to provide the tubes with constrictions or a widened diameter in certain areas.




The tubes are preferably filled with a liquid, in particular water, or pellets, but only partly, preferably less than four fifths and more than one quarter, in particular less than three quarters and more than one half. The nonexpandable tubes partly filled with liquid or pellets result in uniform distribution of pressure on the body and thus an essential improvement in reclining comfort.




The transverse rods are preferably formed by wooden laths or boards. The substructure is likewise preferably made of wood.




The inventive support can be formed in particular as a slatted base for a bedstead, in particular a bedding box.




The substructure is then supported on the mounting strips normally fastened to the inner sides of the two long sides of the bedding box.




However, the inventive support can also be provided on seating furniture, whereby it can form the seat but also the back rest.











BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS




In the following, several embodiments of a slatted base as embodiments of the inventive support will be explained in more detail with reference to the drawing, in which:





FIG. 1

shows a longitudinal section of an embodiment of the slatted base;





FIG. 2

shows a cross section corresponding to

FIG. 1

of the slatted base;





FIG. 3

shows a partial view of

FIG. 2

in an enlarged view;





FIG. 4

shows a cross section corresponding to

FIG. 2 through a

further embodiment of the slatted base; and





FIG. 5

shows a partial view of

FIG. 4

in an enlarged view.











DETAILED DESCRIPTION




According to

FIGS. 1 and 2

, slatted base


1


has transverse rods


2


formed by slats as a rest for a cushion not shown.




The transverse rods


2


are spaced apart at a distance corresponding approximately to their width. However, the distance of transverse rods


2


can also be smaller or greater, for example three or more times their width. This depends in particular on the thickness and solidity of the cushion resting on transverse rods


2


.




Longitudinal beams


9


, e.g. boards, are fastened to crossbeams


8


on each long side of slatted base


1


. On each longitudinal beam


9


on each long side of slatted base


1


there are tubes


10


on which transverse rods


2


rest. Tubes


10


are formed, for example, by pressure tubing two thirds filled with water.




The cushion


6


, shown in phantom, can extend over the total length of transverse rods


2


, i.e. also in the area of tubes


10


, so that the total width of slatted base


1


is available as a resting surface.




As evident in particular from

FIG. 3

, each longitudinal beam


9


consists of a board and two narrow side walls


20


, formed e.g. by boards. These boards are provided on their upper edges with strips


16


made, for example, of plastic. Tube


10


extends upwardly laterally above the upper edges of side walls


20


. Thus, no frictional noise can occur through tube


10


.




Side walls


20


are beveled inwardly and downwardly. They are also formed as low as possible in order not to hinder transverse rods


2


upon compression of tube


10


.




In order to limit the up-and-down motion, or in general reciprocal motion, of transverse rods


2


, two guide rods


21


are disposed a distance apart on each transverse rod


2


so that two rows of guide rods


21


extend along slatted base


1


.




Guide rods


21


are set at one end in blind bore


22


on the lower side of particular transverse rod


2


. For fastening guide rod


21


in blind bore


22


, one provides barblike projections


23


at the end of guide rod


21


facing transverse rod


2


. These projections


23


are formed so that the end of guide rod


21


can be inserted into blind bore


22


but not pulled out again.




For guiding each row of guide rods


21


, one provides bores


24


in longitudinal bars


25


which extend at a distance apart along slatted base


1


and are fastened to crossbeams


8


laterally beside one and the other tube rest


11


. Longitudinal bars


25


are thus firmly connected with substructure


19


. Guide rods


21


are guided in bores


24


in the loading direction, i.e. so as to be movable up and down in slatted base


1


shown.




Longitudinal bars


25


can consist of wooden laths. In order to reduce sliding friction and prevent sliding noise, one can provide sliding bushes


26


, made e.g. of plastic, in bores


24


. Longitudinal bars


25


can also be made completely of plastic.




To limit the up-and-down motion of guide rods


21


a stop is provided at least above longitudinal bar


25


or sliding bushes


26


.




For this purpose one provides a plurality of bores


27


along each guide rod


21


for insertion of cross pins


15


,


16


. Cross pin


15


inserted into bore


27


above longitudinal bar


25


limits the downward motion of transverse rod


2


, while cross pin


16


inserted into bore


27


below longitudinal bar


25


limits the upward motion of transverse rod


2


. To prevent guide rod


21


from being pulled out of bores


24


, guide rods


21


can additionally have at the lower end barb-shaped stop


28


which can be inserted through bore


24


from above but not pulled out of bore


24


again.




Guide rods


21


, including barblike projections


23


and


28


, can be made of plastic.




Through insertion of cross pins


15


,


16


into bores


27


in guide rods


21


at a suitable height one can adjust the maximum and minimum height of each transverse rod


2


individually upon use of the bed.




In order to improve comfort, tubes


10


can also have different diameters along slatted base


1


. By a greater diameter in certain areas one can achieve softer cushioning there.




To limit the up-and-down motion, or in general reciprocal motion, of transverse rods


2


, transverse rods


2


are connected in the embodiment according to

FIGS. 4 and 5

with substructure


19


, i.e. cross- and longitudinal beams


8


,


9


, by pistons


30


fastened to transverse rods


2


and mounted displaceably in cylinders


31


firmly connected with substructure


19


.




On each transverse rod


2


, two pistons


30


are disposed at a distance apart so that two rows of pistons


30


or cylinders


31


extend along the slatted base.




Cylinders


31


are set in bores


32


in longitudinal bars


33


disposed on crossbeams


8


. Each longitudinal bar


33


, together with side wall


20


and longitudinal beam


9


, forms a rest


11




a


for tube


10


.




Piston


30


closes cylinder space


34


in which air is compressed when piston


30


is pushed into cylinder


31


, and a vacuum is produced when piston


30


is drawn out of cylinder


31


.




This damps the motion of piston


30


and thus of transverse rods


2


, which results in reduced noise since it prevents transverse rod


2


from hitting parts when subjected to a sudden stronger load, for example when a person gets on the bed. In addition the damped motion suppresses sliding and frictional noise.




Piston


30


and cylinder


31


are preferably made of plastic. Piston


30


can also be of hollow design. At its end facing transverse rod


2


cylinder


31


has collar-shaped radial projection


35


which supports it on longitudinal bar


33


.




To limit the upward motion of transverse rod


2


, piston


30


is provided with longitudinal groove


36


which is engaged by projection


37


on cylinder


31


. Along piston


30


there are a plurality of cross bores


38


for insertion of a cross pin (not shown). This permits adjustment of the maximum depth of transverse rod


2


. For this purpose piston


30


is pulled out of cylinder


31


until cross bore


38


in which the cross pin (not shown) is inserted protrudes beyond collar-shaped projection


35


, said pin then determining as a stop the deepest position of transverse rod


2


.




Cylinder


31


has opening


39


in its circumferential wall. When the cross pin (now shown) is inserted in opening


39


and through one of cross bores


38


flush therewith, the motion of transverse rod


2


is completely blocked.




Limiting or blocking the motion of the transverse rod can be desirable for example in the head area of a bed.




Piston


30


is fastened to transverse rod


2


via ball joint


41


. This permits transverse rod


2


to be adapted better to the body. It also results in better distribution of forces, for example when one climbs onto the bed. In addition, no clamping forces occur in cylinder


31


which could cause frictional noise for example.




Ball joint


41


consists of spherical part


42


on piston


30


and ball socket


43


inserted into blind bore


44


in transverse rod


2


. Ball socket


43


is for this purpose provided on the outside with barb-shaped projections


45


so formed that ball socket


43


inserted into blind bore


44


cannot be pulled out again. Further, ball socket


43


has radial collar-shaped projection


46


disposed around blind bore


44


on the lower side of slat


2


. Ball socket


43


is likewise preferably made of plastic.



Claims
  • 1. A support for reclining or sitting, said support including:at least two parallel, spaced apart longitudinal beams; at least two parallel, spaced apart tubes, each said tube being at least partially filled with a medium and being seated on a separate one of said longitudinal beams; a plurality of transverse rods that extend between said longitudinal beams and over said tubes; a substructure for limiting movement of said transverse rods, rods, said substructure including: a plurality of longitudinal bars, each said longitudinal bar being located adjacent a side of one of said tubes so that said longitudinal bars are located below said transverse rods, each said longitudinal bar being formed with a plurality of holes, each hole being located under a separate one of said transverse rods; a plurality of guide rods, each said guide rod being slidably fitted in a separate one of the holes of said longitudinal bars and each said guide rod having a head end that is attached to said transverse rod located over the hole in which said guide rod is fitted and being shaped to have a plurality of longitudinally spaced apart bores that extend laterally through said guide rod; and a pair of opposed stops attached to each said guide rod, said stops being located on opposed sides said of said longitudinal bar in which said guide rod is fitted, each said stop being positioned to abut said longitudinal bar so as to limit movement of said guide rod, wherein at least one said stop is a pin that is removably fitted in one of the bores that is formed in said guide rod; and a cushion disposed over exposed surfaces of said transverse rods.
  • 2. The support of claim 1, wherein the medium that at least partially fills said tubes is a liquid.
  • 3. The support of claim 1, wherein:said transverse rods have opposed ends; and two said tubes are provided, each said tube being located under a separate one of the ends of said transverse rods.
  • 4. The support of claim 1, wherein both said stops associated with said guide rods are pins that are removably fitted in the bores formed in said guide rods.
  • 5. A support for reclining or sitting, said support including:at least two parallel, spaced apart longitudinal beams; at least two parallel, spaced apart tubes, each said tube being at least partially filled with a medium and being seated on a separate one of said longitudinal beams; a plurality of transverse rods that extend between said longitudinal beams and over said tubes; a substructure for limiting movement of the transverse rods, said substructure including: a plurality of longitudinal bars, each said longitudinal bar being located adjacent a side of one of said tubes so that said longitudinal bars are located below said transverse rods; and a plurality of piston assemblies, each said piston assembly including: a cylinder that is fixedly connected to said longitudinal bar, each said cylinder being located under one of said transverse rods; and a piston rod that is slidingly and sealing fitted in said cylinder, each said piston rod having a head end that is fitted to said transverse rod located over said cylinder; and a cushion disposed over exposed surfaces of said transverse rods.
  • 6. The support of claim 5, wherein:said longitudinal bars are formed with a plurality of holes, each said hole being located under a separate one of said transverse rods; and said cylinders are seated in the holes formed in said longitudinal bars.
  • 7. The support of claim 6, wherein each said cylinder is formed with a projection and said projection holds said cylinder to said longitudinal bar to which said cylinder is connected.
  • 8. The support of claim 5, wherein:said cylinder is formed with a projection that is directed towards said piston rod; and said piston rod has an outer surface and is formed to define an elongated groove that extends upwardly from a position above a bottom end of said piston rod and said piston rod is positioned in said cylinder so that said projection is seated in the groove.
  • 9. The support of claim 5, wherein said piston rod is formed with a plurality of longitudinally spaced apart bores so that a cross pin can be selectively fitted through said piston rod to lock said piston rod to limit movement of said piston rod.
  • 10. The support of claim 9, wherein said cylinder is provided with a bore so that a cross pin can be selectively fitted through said cylinder and said piston rod.
  • 11. The support of claim 5, wherein said piston rod head ends are moveably fitted into said transverse rods.
  • 12. The support of claim 11, wherein said piston rod head ends are fitted to said transverse rods by ball joints.
  • 13. The support of claim 5, wherein the medium that partially fills said tubes is a liquid.
  • 14. The support of claim 5, wherein:said transverse rods have opposed ends; and two said tubes are provided, each said tube being located under a separate one of the ends of said transverse rods.
  • 15. The support of claim 5, wherein each said longitudinal beam is formed to have a portion that defines an adjacent one of said longitudinal bars.
  • 16. The support of claim 15, wherein:said transverse rods have opposed ends; and two said tubes are provided, each said tube being located under a separate one of the ends of said transverse rods.
  • 17. The support of claim 16, wherein two rows of said piston assemblies are provided, each said row of pistons being located adjacent an outwardly directed surface of an adjacent said tube.
  • 18. The support of claim 16, wherein each said longitudinal beam is formed to have a portion that defines an adjacent one of said longitudinal bars.
Priority Claims (2)
Number Date Country Kind
198 01 362 Feb 1998 AU
198 11 854 Mar 1998 AU
PCT Information
Filing Document Filing Date Country Kind 102e Date 371c Date
PCT/EP98/03345 WO 00 1/8/2000 1/8/2000
Publishing Document Publishing Date Country Kind
WO99/02075 1/21/1999 WO A
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