The invention relates to a height-adjustable supple member for lying and/or sitting furniture, including one or more adjustable springs and a rotary part. Each adjustable spring is configured to change in height along a central axis under the effect of a radial stress relative to the central axis. The rotary part includes one or more rails each extending over an angular sector about the central axis, in a plane perpendicular to the central axis, from a first end to a second end more distant from the central axis than the first end. Each rail cooperates, in the radial direction relative to the central axis, with a corresponding adjustable spring among the one or more adjustable. The rotary part is able to rotate, about the central axis, so as to exert, through each rail, said radial stress on the corresponding adjustable spring.

The invention relates to a supple member with adjustable stiffness for lying and/or sitting furniture. This member includes one or more adjustable helical springs and a rotary part. The rotary part includes a hub able to rotate about the central axis and one or more elastically flexible fingers. Each finger extends from a first end secured to the hub of the rotary part, over an arc of circle about the central axis, to a second end, and cooperates with a corresponding end of one or more of the adjustable helical springs.

The invention relates to a flexible member with adjustable stiffness for lying and/or sitting furniture. This member includes one or more inner spring(s) oriented along a central axis, one or more pair(s) of outer helical springs about the central axis, and a rotating part able to rotate, about the central axis, between a blocking position and an unblocking position. Each pair of outer helical springs includes an upper outer helical spring and a lower outer helical spring, connected by a corresponding hinge, which has a pivot axis orthogonal to the central axis. In the blocking position, the rails engage the corresponding hinges of the pairs of the outer helical spring, so as to prevent radial displacement, relative to the central axis, of the corresponding hinges, while the unblocking position allows the radial displacement of each corresponding hinge.

An adjustable sleeping system. At least some of the example embodiments are an adjustable sleeping system comprising a plurality of spring modules arranged in a first column, each spring module defines a row within the first column. Each spring module may comprise a rail and a plurality of adjustable spring assembles coupled along the rail. Each adjustable spring assembly may comprise a motor coupled to the rail, a lead screw coupled to a rotor of the motor, a spring plate coupled to the lead screw, and a spring coupled to the spring plate. A bed controller is communicatively coupled to each spring module, and the bed controller is configured to selectively control a load carried by each spring assembly.

Spring modules for an adjustable sleeping system. At least some of the example embodiments are spring modules comprising: a spring rail, and a plurality of adjustable spring assemblies spaced along the length of the spring rail. Each adjustable spring assembly may comprise: a motor with a stator coupled to the spring rail, a lead screw coupled to the rotor of the motor, and the lead screw extending above an upper surface of the spring rail, a spring plate coupled to the lead screw, and a main spring coupled to the spring plate. Thus, the weight or force carried by each adjustable spring assembly along the spring rail is separately adjustable by a bed controller.

Adjustable sleeping system with force control. At least one example embodiment is a method of operating a sleeping system, the method including: sensing an area of a sleeping surface of the sleeping system, the area upon which a person resides, the sensing by a bed controller communicatively coupled to an array of adjustable spring assemblies arranged such that a top of each adjustable spring assembly defines an upper surface parallel to the sleeping surface; and driving a plurality of the adjustable spring assemblies being the adjustable spring assemblies beneath the area, the driving to control force distribution among the plurality of the adjustable spring assemblies.

Adjustable sleeping system with massage function. At least one example embodiment is a method of operating a sleeping system, the method including massaging a person residing on a sleeping surface of the sleeping system, the massaging by driving a plurality of adjustable spring assemblies, the plurality of adjustable spring assemblies part of an array of adjustable spring assemblies arranged such that a top of each adjustable spring assembly defines an upper surface parallel to the sleeping surface.

A support structure and vertical isolation structure may include a plurality of spring coils and a mesh network. Each spring coil of the plurality of spring coils includes a spring, a cap, and a floating connector. The cap is configured to engage the spring. The floating connector is disposed in a middle of the spring. The mesh network secures a first spring coil of the plurality of spring coils to a second spring coil of the plurality of spring coils by passing through the floating connector of each of the first spring coil and the second spring coil.

An electronically controlled slat bed includes a bed frame; slats together at least partially forming a base for a sleeping surface; struts coupled to the slats, and each strut coupled to said bed frame; jackscrews, each coupled to at least one strut to adjust the coupled strut; flexible apparatuses coupled to one of said jackscrews; a gantry coupled to said bed frame, the gantry having an electric motor; and a sensor; the motor is to engage and rotate the jackscrews; and said sensor is to provide a measurement of a deflection of the flexible apparatuses; and an electronic controller, having an input to receive signals from the sensor; and one or more outputs to control said electric motor; said electronic controller performs computations at least partially responsive to said measurement of the deflection of said flexible apparatuses and modifies the shape of said base for the sleeping surface by rotating one or more of the plurality of jackscrews; and the deflection of one of the flexible apparatuses is responsive to a weight load applied to one of the jackscrews coupled to one of the flexible apparatuses.

In one embodiment, the digital bed system is comprised of an array of support cells. Each support cell is capable of communicating with a controller and increasing and decreasing in firmness in response to commands issued by a controller. The support cells are operatively connected to a communication channel that is also connected to a controller. The controller is capable of receiving data from the support cells and is also capable of issuing commands to each of the support cells. The controller is programmed issue commands to increase or decrease the firmness of individual support cells within the support cells.