Information
-
Patent Grant
-
6286160
-
Patent Number
6,286,160
-
Date Filed
Friday, January 7, 200024 years ago
-
Date Issued
Tuesday, September 11, 200123 years ago
-
Inventors
-
Original Assignees
-
Examiners
- Browne; Lynne H.
- Santos; Robert G.
Agents
- Flynn, Thiel, Boutell & Tanis, P.C.
-
CPC
-
US Classifications
Field of Search
US
- 005 2361
- 005 238
- 005 239
- 005 241
- 005 244
- 005 934
-
International Classifications
-
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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Foreign Referenced Citations (12)
Number |
Date |
Country |
620 581 |
Dec 1980 |
CH |
2621803 |
Jun 1977 |
DE |
32 32 123 |
Mar 1984 |
DE |
34 13 156 |
Oct 1985 |
DE |
4321818 |
Jan 1994 |
DE |
0 038 155 |
Oct 1981 |
EP |
116237 |
Jul 1984 |
EP |
0 161 392 |
Nov 1985 |
EP |
0 378 469 |
Jul 1990 |
EP |
0 697 184 |
Feb 1996 |
EP |
8400147 |
Nov 1984 |
NL |
WO 9401024 |
Jan 1994 |
WO |