Disclosure of Invention
It is an object of the present invention to minimize or even eliminate the disadvantages encountered in the prior art. In particular, it is an object of the invention to improve the lying comfort of conventional beds or the seating comfort of conventional seating furniture and in particular to make them resemble box spring beds.
The above object is achieved by the subject matter of independent claim 1. Optional and/or preferred features of the invention are set out in the dependent claims 2 to 16.
According to the invention, there is provided a piece of furniture for sitting or lying, comprising a frame of a piece of bedding or a piece of seating furniture and a base for a mattress or a seat cushion, wherein the base spans a horizontal area and has a thickness extending in a vertical direction, and wherein the base is elastically coupled with the frame of the piece of bedding or the piece of seating furniture. The invention is characterized in that a guide element is provided which ensures that an external force acting in the vertical direction downwards on the base results in a guided downward movement of the base in the vertical direction relative to the frame of the piece of bedding or seating furniture.
Preferably, the guide element ensures a linearly guided movement.
More preferably, the guide element ensures that the guided downward movement in the vertical direction is performed over a predetermined length.
Furthermore, the elastic coupling preferably has a spring preload.
According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the resilient coupling is configured such that the base moves upwards in the vertical direction when the external force acting on the base is reduced, and wherein the guiding element ensures that the movement is guided upwards in the vertical direction and is performed over a predetermined length.
Advantageously, the guide element is a linear guide comprising a guide rail and a slide movably arranged in the guide rail, wherein the guide rail is fastened to the frame of the bedding or seating furniture and the slide is fastened to the base or vice versa.
Preferably, the guide element comprises an upper stop and a lower stop.
According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the spring band is connected on the one hand to the base and on the other hand to the frame of the piece of bedding or sitting furniture, wherein the spring band realizes an elastic coupling.
In addition, the spring band is preferably pretensioned.
More preferably, the pretension of the spring band is adjustable.
Particularly preferably, the base is divided into a plurality of segments spaced apart from each other and separated from each other, wherein at least a part of the plurality of segments is elastically coupled with the frame of the bedding or seating furniture such that an external force acting in a vertical direction downwards and on each of the part of the plurality of segments causes a guided downward movement of the segment in a vertical direction relative to the frame of the bedding or seating furniture.
Furthermore, it is advantageous if a part of the plurality of segments comprises a first part and a second part, wherein the resilient coupling of the frame of the bedding or seating furniture and the first part has a first spring constant, and wherein the resilient coupling of the frame of the bedding or seating furniture and the second part has a second spring constant, wherein the first spring constant is different from the second spring constant.
Preferably, at least a portion of the base has an inherent stiffness.
More preferably, the base comprises a first base element and a second base element, wherein only the first base element is elastically coupled with the frame of the bedding or seating, and wherein the second base element is arranged on the first base element.
It is particularly advantageous if the second base element comprises a plurality of helical springs which are arranged side by side over the entire surface area and whose spring force acts in the vertical direction.
Preferably, the furniture for sitting or lying is a bed or a divan or a sofa or a chair.
Detailed Description
Fig. 1 shows a schematic view of a bed according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. The present invention is not limited to a bed in a narrow sense but is applicable to any type of furniture for sitting or lying. Here, the sofa and the sofa bed are only exemplary.
The bed 100 comprises a frame means 110 (bed frame), a support means 130 (first mattress base) and a frame springing means 120 acting as an elastic coupling between the frame means 110 and the support means 130. Preferably, a support springing device 200 (second mattress base) is also provided. The support device 130 is configured to couple with the frame device 110. The frame springing device 120 is configured to provide a first spring action between the frame device 110 and the support device 130. The support springing device 200 is configured to provide a second spring action acting on the support device 130.
Fig. 2 shows a schematic view of a partial aspect of the bed shown in fig. 1, according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention.
Fig. 2 shows how the frame springing device 120 is fastened on the one hand to the upper surface of the bottom plate of the frame device 110 and on the other hand to the lower surface of the floating support device 130.
Fig. 3 shows a schematic view of an alternative partial aspect of the bed shown in fig. 1, according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention.
Fig. 3 shows how the frame springing device 130 is fastened on the one hand to the inner surface (side walls or beams) of the frame device 110 and on the other hand to the lower surface of the floating support device 130. This alternative type of fastening of the frame springing device 120 provides the advantage that the frame springing device 120 is not subjected to any friction, so that the spring travel can be longer (e.g. 12cm in the spring support base). Furthermore, the total area of the spring support base over the width of the lying down area is increased, which provides comfort advantages. In this configuration, a coil spring or a gas spring may be used instead of the spring band 120.
The mounting of the guide rails on the frame and the floating floor ensures a smooth sliding and is well suited to prevent vibrations. Furthermore, the guide rail may be provided with a stop for causing or limiting the maximum elongation of the spring. In most cases, about 7cm is advantageous.
Fig. 4 shows a schematic top view of a bed according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.
Fig. 4 shows that two or more frame springing devices 120 may be used on each side in order to secure the support device 130 to the frame device 110. Furthermore, fig. 4 shows a guide rail 150 allowing an optimal sliding of the support means 130.
Fig. 4 shows a support device 130 which is divided into a plurality, in this case 3, of support segments 130-1, 130-2, … …, 130-n. In the same manner, the frame springing device 120 includes a plurality of frame segment springing systems 120-1, 120-2, … …, 120-n. Support springing device 140 is also divided into a plurality of support springing segments 140-1, 140-2, … …, 140-n. Furthermore, in fig. 4, an intermediate guide belt is shown, which ensures additional stability as in the case of a slat frame.
When using a gas spring or a helical spring instead of the above-mentioned spring band, it is possible that two guide rails are used for guiding purposes and that one spring per side is sufficient to provide sufficient springing.
In summary, the following points can be explained:
a first combination of features relates to a furniture device 100 for furniture, comprising (i) a frame device 110; (ii) a support device 130 configured to couple with the frame device 110; (iii) a frame springing device 120 configured to provide a first spring action between the frame device 110 and the support device 130; and (iv) a support resilient means 140 configured to provide a second spring action acting on the support means 130.
The second combination of features relates to a furniture device 100 according to the first combination of features, wherein the support device 130 is adapted to be divided into a plurality of support sections 130-1, 130-2, … …, 130-n; and wherein the frame springing device 120 comprises a plurality of frame segment springing systems 120-1, 120-2, … …, 120-n; and wherein each frame segment spring system 120-n is associated with a support segment 130-n and is configured to provide its own associated first segment spring action for the respective support segment 130-n.
A third combination of features relates to furniture device 100 according to the first or second combination of features wherein support springing device 140 is adapted to be divided into a plurality of support springing segments 140-1, … …, 140-2, … …, 140-n; and wherein the support urging means 140 comprises a plurality of segmented urging systems; wherein each segment spring system is configured to provide its own second segment spring action for the respective support spring segment 140-n.
A fourth combination of features relates to a furniture device 100 according to any of the preceding combinations of features, wherein the frame springing device 120 is configured to provide the first spring action by a first elastic deformation in a first deformation direction; and wherein the support urging means 140 is configured to provide the second spring action by the second elastic deformation in the second deformation direction; and wherein the first deformation direction and the second deformation direction are oriented substantially in the same direction relative to one another with an angular deviation of less than 20 °, preferably less than 10 °, or particularly preferably less than 5 °.
A fifth feature combination relates to a furniture device 100 according to any of the preceding feature combinations, wherein the frame springing device 120 is a spring support base configured as an expanding band or a fiber band or a warp knitted fabric or a spring band or a gas spring or a helical spring or a spring.
A sixth feature combination relates to a furniture device 100 according to any of the preceding feature combinations, wherein the frame springing device 120 has a spring travel of up to 14cm or preferably up to 8cm or particularly preferably up to 6 cm.
A seventh characteristic combination relates to a furniture device 100 according to any of the preceding characteristic combinations, wherein the support spring device 140 has a spring travel of up to 14cm or preferably up to 8cm or particularly preferably up to 6 cm.
An eighth feature combination relates to a furniture device 100 according to any of the preceding feature combinations, wherein the frame springing device 120 and the support springing device 140 are configured to adapt the first spring action and the second spring action to each other.
A ninth feature combination relates to the furniture device 100 according to any of the preceding feature combinations, wherein the frame springing device 120 and the support springing device 140 are configured to adapt the spring travel of the frame springing device 120 and the spring travel of the support springing device 140 to each other.
A tenth feature combination relates to a furniture device 100 according to any of the preceding feature combinations, wherein the support springing device 140 comprises: a mattress springing device; or a pouched springing device; or a spring core; or at least a three-dimensional fabric; or at least a foam structure; or at least a wool structure; or at least an air cushion structure.
An eleventh combination of features relates to a furniture device 100 according to any of the preceding combinations of features, wherein the furniture device 100 is configured as a bed.
A twelfth feature combination relates to a furniture device 100 according to any of the preceding feature combinations, wherein the furniture device 100 is configured as a upholstered furniture for sitting or lying.
A thirteenth characteristic combination relates to a control system for a furniture device, wherein the control system is configured to adjust and adapt the first spring action and/or the second spring action, wherein preferably the control system is configured to adjust and adapt the first spring action and/or the second spring action of the respective support segment or the respective frame segment spring system or the respective support spring segment.
A fourteenth feature combination relates to a furniture device 100 for furniture, wherein the furniture device 100 comprises: a frame arrangement 110; a support device 130 configured to couple with the frame device 110; and a frame springing device 120 configured to provide a first spring action between the frame device 110 and the support device 130.
The arrangement of the bed according to the preferred embodiment of the invention, which is only schematically shown in fig. 1 to 4, will be described in detail below with reference to fig. 5 to 8.
The arrangement of bed 100 shown in fig. 5 corresponds to a preferred embodiment of the invention. According to this embodiment, the bed 100 comprises a bed frame 110 having a substantially rectangular shape. A wooden frame may be provided as a bed frame that is glued or screwed to and partially supported by the steel sections to give the bed frame 110 sufficient rigidity. The horizontal dimensions of the bed base 110 may correspond to those typical dimensions used in conventional beds on the market. The vertical height of the bedframe 110 is preferably 5 to 25cm, more preferably 7 to 15cm, and still more preferably only 8 cm.
Although not shown in fig. 5, bed 100 may also include legs or a base for placing bed frame 110 at a height that allows a user to comfortably climb into and out of bed 100. Likewise, the distance of bed frame 110 from the floor below allows ventilation of the entire bed 100 from below.
The bed 100 shown in fig. 5 additionally comprises a (first) mattress base 130, which may preferably be divided into a plurality of segments 130-1, 130-2, 130-3 and 130-4. Here, the division is preferably effected perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the bed base 110. Due to this division, various regions for lying are created which can support different parts of the user's body to different degrees. In each of the sections 130-1 to 130-4, the mattress base 130 includes ventilation slots 132-1 to 132-4 that ensure ventilation of the bed components located on the mattress base 130 from below. An example of such a bed component is a coil spring support 200 (fig. 1), which is considered to be another (second) portion of the mattress foundation 130 according to another preferred embodiment of the invention.
At least a portion of the mattress foundation 130 is resiliently coupled to the bed frame 110, preferably by means of spring straps 120. Thus, some of the segments 130-1 through 130-3 of the mattress foundation 130 are resiliently coupled to the bedframe 110 by the spring straps 120-1 through 120-3, respectively, independently of one another. Only section 130-4 is preferably not resiliently coupled to bed frame 110. Depending on the size of the segments 130-1 to 130-4 of the mattress base 130, one or two or more spring strips 120 may be provided on opposite sides as seen in the width direction of the bedframe 110. The spring bands 120-1 to 120-3 may have different spring constants. The spring constants of the spring bands 120-1 to 120-3 can preferably be varied in the individual segments 130-1 to 130-3 depending on the lying position (e.g. back position, side position or belly position) of the user and the desired lying comfort.
The spring band 120 within the meaning of the present invention is to be understood as any elastic holding element which ensures a downward movement of the mattress base 130 in the vertical direction when loaded by the weight of the user. Likewise, the spring straps 120 are designed to create a sufficiently strong restoring force so that the mattress base 130 returns to its original vertical position again once the load due to the user's weight is reduced. These spring bands or bands 120 have a high load-bearing capacity and may have different spring strengths (spring constants). Preferably, the spring travel of the spring band is 5 to 15cm, more preferably 5 to 10cm, particularly preferably 6 to 8 cm. Examples of spring tapes are warp knitted fabrics, fibrous tapes, e.g. from elastic synthetic fibres (e.g. Mygroflex) and rubber tapes.
The mattress base 130 is coupled with the bedframe 110 such that vertical downward, but preferably also upward, movement of the mattress base 130 relative to the bedframe 110 is guided. Such guidance is preferably ensured by a linear guide 150, which linear guide 150 is operatively connected on the one hand to the bed frame 110 and on the other hand to the mattress foundation 130. An example of the linear guide 150 is a slider 154 shown in fig. 6, which is arranged for linear movement in a guide 152a (guide rail). Preferably, the linear guide 150 has upper and lower stoppers so that the length of the vertical upward and downward movement of the mattress base 130 with respect to the frame 110 is limited.
As a safety measure, an anti-pinch protection device may be provided that covers any gap between the mattress base 130 and the bedframe 110. Particularly in the case of loading of the mattress base 130, vertical gaps may occur, so that there is a risk that an inadvertent person (e.g., a child) will place his or her fingers in the gaps. Any gaps between the sections 130-1 through 130-4 of the mattress base 130 may also be covered by an anti-pinch covering (e.g., an elastomeric band), such as a textile or mattress scrim (mattress drill), so that the gaps are inaccessible. Preferably, the anti-pinch covering is placed on the underside of the mattress foundation 130 such that any gaps between the sections 130-1 through 130-4 of the mattress foundation 130 are inaccessible or covered.
As can also be seen in fig. 6, the spring straps 120 are preferably fastened, preferably screwed, to the inside of the vertical side beams of the bed base 110 by means of metal straps 122. The opposite ends of the spring band 120 extend under the mattress base 130 and are fastened to the underside of the latter. The same applies to the linear guide 150, the slider 154 of which is fastened to the vertical side beam of the bed base 110, while the sliding guide 152a extends through a recess in the mattress base 130.
In fig. 7, it can be seen how an extension 152b protruding perpendicular to the vertically extending slide guide 152a extends below the mattress foundation 130. The extension 152b is preferably fastened to the lower surface of the mattress base 130 by a screw connection.
Alternatively, at least a portion of the spring band 120 may be fastened to the linear guide 150, preferably to the sliding guide 152a, rather than to the side rail of the bed frame 110.
In fig. 7, it is also shown how the spring band 120 is configured as a tension band. To this end, the spring band 120 comprises a rod 124 through which a pin 125 passes, the pin 125 being adapted to engage in a snap-in arrangement preferably comprising two parallel snap-in rails 126, 128.
According to fig. 8, the snap rails 126, 128 comprise recesses 126a, 128a arranged at regular intervals. By these recesses 126a, 128a, the pin 125 can be inserted into hollow spaces 126b, 128b provided below and opened on one side, as shown in fig. 8. These hollow spaces 126b, 128b have a cross-sectional area that extends parallel to the snap rails 126, 128 and is larger than the open area of the recesses 126a, 128 a. Due to the tensile strength of the spring band 120, the pin 125 moves into the portion of the hollow spaces 126b, 128b not exposed by the recesses 126a, 128 b. This portion is indicated by reference numeral 128c in fig. 8. By means of these engagement rails 126, 128, the pretension of the spring band 120 can be variably adjusted. Other mechanical or electrical types of pretensioning mechanisms are also conceivable in this connection.
The pretension of the spring band 120 and the fact that the linear guide 150 comprises an upper stop ensure that all segments 130-1 to 130-3 of the mattress base 130, which are elastically coupled to the bedframe 110, are at the same height in the unloaded state (i.e. without any external load acting on them), preferably at the height of the segment 130-4 of the mattress base 130, which is not elastically coupled to the bedframe 110. The down stop of the linear guide 150 ensures that the mattress base 130 does not move unrestrained vertically downward relative to the bedframe 110 due to external forces, but rather that movement is limited. This prevents any object or even a person temporarily under the mattress base 130 from being injured.
As shown in fig. 1, the mattress foundation 130 may preferably include two mattress foundation elements 130, 200. In this case, on the mattress base 130 shown in fig. 5 to 8 (which in this case is referred to as the first mattress base element 130 within the meaning of the present specification), a second mattress base element 200 is arranged, the second mattress base element 200 comprising a plurality of coil springs 220 arranged side by side over the entire surface area. Preferably, the second mattress base element 200 may rest loosely on the first mattress base element 130 or be coupled with the first mattress base element 130. Preferably, the helical spring 220 has a spring travel of 2 to 10cm, more preferably 2 to 7cm and particularly preferably 3 to 4 cm. Preferably, the second mattress base element 200 is a 5-section barrel-shaped pocket spring core, which may preferably additionally comprise a comfort foam having a thickness of 5mm, for example. For example, the second mattress base element 200 may be surrounded by a flexible mattress ticking. On this second mattress base element 200 is placed the actual mattress, on which the user lies for sleeping. In the case of a sitting furniture, the actual seat cushion on which the user is sitting is placed on the second base element 200.
For example, although the overall height of the bedframe 110 is only 8 centimeters, a spring travel of, for example, 6 to 8cm for the spring band 120 (which may be limited by the lower stop of the linear guide 150) and a spring travel of, for example, 3 to 4cm for the coil spring 220 of the second mattress base element 200 may total up to, for example, 12 cm. Likewise, by correspondingly selecting the spring constant of the spring band 120 and the spring constant of the helical spring 220 and possibly the variable pretension of the spring band 120, it is possible to achieve virtually any desired response characteristic (characteristic line) of a spring system consisting of two spring elements 120, 220 connected in series when an external force (for example the weight of a user) acts thereon. In addition, by correspondingly selecting the spring constants of the spring straps 120-1 to 120-3, various comfort zones 130-1 to 130-4 can be created in the mattress base 130, which comfort zones support, for example, to different extents, different body parts of the user, such as the buttocks, the waist and the shoulders, and thus allow these body parts to sink to different depths in an actual mattress.
Furthermore, the deformation direction of the spring band 120 and the deformation direction of the helical spring 220 are preferably oriented in substantially the same direction relative to one another with an angular deviation of less than 20 °, preferably less than 10 °, or particularly preferably less than 5 °.
Although the present invention has been described above based on preferred exemplary embodiments, the present invention is not limited thereto but may be modified in various ways. In particular, the present invention may be changed or modified in various ways without departing from the essence thereof. The described configurations and further modifications may be combined in any desired manner.
In addition, it should be noted that "comprising" and "comprises" do not exclude any other elements or steps, and "a" or "an" does not exclude a plurality.