Furniture device with adjustable firmness via an elastic member with a compressible portion

Abstract

A furniture device configured to receive the weight of a being, said furniture device comprising a holding arrangement (20, 120) and at least one section (30, 30,130) comprising a base (2, 102), a movable plate element (4, 104), a moving mechanism (6, 10) and at least one elastic device (12, 112). The plate element (4, 104) is configured to interact with the at least one elastic device and to be moved by the moving mechanism in respect to the base in order to adjust the firmness of the at least one elastic device. The elastic device comprises a pocket (14, 114) made of a flexible sheet material, and an elastic member (18, 118). The holding arrangement comprises a holding member (22, 122), which is fixed in relation to the base (2, 102) or the plate element (4, 104) and a connecting portion (24, 24,124) which is arranged at the elastic device (12, 112) and which connects the holding member to the elastic member. The elastic member (18, 118) exhibits a first portion (18a, 118a) arranged proximal to the free end of the elastic member, a second portion (18b, 118b) being arranged distal to the free end of the elastic member and an intermediate portion (18c, 118c) arranged between the first and second portions. The holding member (22, 122) is, via the connecting portion (24, 24,124), connected to the intermediate portion (18c, 118c) of the elastic member, such that, during movement of the plate element (4, 104) relative to the base (2, 102), the elastic member (18, 118) is compressed and relaxed only over the second portion (18b, 118b).

Claims

1. A furniture device configured to receive the weight of a being, said furniture device comprising a holding arrangement and at least one section comprising a base, a movable plate element, a moving mechanism and at least one elastic device, the plate element being configured to interact with the at least one elastic device and to be moved by the moving mechanism in respect to the base in order to adjust the firmness of the at least one elastic device, the elastic device comprising a pocket made of a flexible sheet material, and an elastic member, the elastic member being arranged within said pocket, the pocket being attached to adjacent pockets whereby the attachment is formed so that adjacent elastic devices may move independently from one another along a distance, as measured from a free end of the elastic device and in a direction perpendicular to the plate element, the holding arrangement comprising a holding member, which is fixed in relation to the base or the plate element and a connecting portion which is arranged at the elastic device and which connects the holding member to the elastic member, wherein the holding member, at each connecting portion, is connected to only one or two elastic devices characterized in that the elastic member exhibits a first portion arranged proximal to the free end of the elastic member, a second portion being arranged distal to the free end of the elastic member and an intermediate portion arranged between the first and second portions, wherein the holding member, via the connecting portion is connected to the intermediate portion of the elastic member, such that, during movement of the plate element relative to the base, the elastic member is compressed and relaxed only over the second portion.

2. Furniture device according to claim 1, wherein the intermediate portion is arranged at a distance D from the free end of the elastic member, which distance D is between and of the axial length of the elastic member.

3. Furniture device according to claim 1, wherein the connecting portion is arranged at the intermediate portion of the elastic member.

4. Furniture device according to claim 1, wherein the connection portion is arranged at the pocket and wherein the pocket is connected to the intermediate portion of the elastic member.

5. Furniture device according to claim 4, wherein the pocket is connected to the intermediate portion of the elastic member by any means within the group consisting of a connecting member, sewing, knitting, lashing, adhesion and welding.

6. Furniture device according to claim 1, wherein the holding member is fixed relative to the base.

7. Furniture device according to claim 1, wherein the holding member is fixed relative to the plate element.

8. Furniture device according to claim 1, wherein the holding member is a rod or a stick or a flexible thread, string or wire.

9. Furniture device according to claim 1, wherein the holding member is connected directly to the pocket or the elastic member.

10. Furniture device according to claim 1, wherein the elastic members are helical springs.

11. Furniture device according to claim 1, the elastic device having a length, as measured perpendicular to the plate element, wherein the distance is larger or equal to 1/15 of the length and smaller or equal to of the length.

12. Furniture device according to claim 1, wherein the holding member connects to multiple connecting portions.

13. Furniture device according to claim 1, wherein the connecting portions are: passages in the pocket and/or welding seams between adjacent attached pockets and/or glued seams between adjacent attached pockets.

14. Furniture device according to claim 1, wherein the elastic device comprises more than one elastic member and correspondingly more than one pocket, the elastic member and corresponding pocket being arranged on top of each other.

15. Furniture device according to claim 1, wherein the pockets are welded together in one horizontal direction and glued together in another horizontal direction.

16. Furniture device according to claim 1, wherein the furniture device is a bed or a mattress comprising a plurality of sections.

17. Furniture device according to claim 1, wherein the pockets are attached to adjacent pockets in a manner so that they are not attached to one another along a distance as measured from the plate element in a direction perpendicular to the plate element and wherein the distance is bigger or equal to 1/15 of the length of the elastic device.

18. Furniture device according to claim 1, wherein each section comprises a singular elastic device.

19. Furniture device according to claim 1, wherein the section comprises a layout of 6 times 13 elastic devices.

20. Furniture device according to claim 1, wherein the holding member is weaving from one connecting portion through the plate element or base to the base or plate element, where it is attached and back through the plate element or base to another connecting portion and so on.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The invention is now described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

(2) FIG. 1a is a perspective view of a section of a furniture device illustrating an embodiment of the invention;

(3) FIG. 1b is a perspective view similar as FIG. 1 but with a plate element displaced;

(4) FIGS. 2a and 2b are perspective views corresponding to FIGS. 1a-c, with some elastic devices made transparent

(5) FIG. 3 is a top down view along of the section shown in FIG. 1a;

(6) FIG. 4 is a side view of the section shown in FIG. 1a;

(7) FIG. 5 is a rear view of the section shown in FIG. 1a;

(8) FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of the invention, and

(9) FIGS. 7a-b are perspective views corresponding to FIGS. 2a-b illustrating a third embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(10) The invention will now be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which certain embodiments of the invention are shown. This invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided by way of example so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art. Like numbers refer to like elements throughout the description.

(11) FIGS. 1a to 2b disclose a section 30 and a holding arrangement 20 of an embodiment of the invention. The section 30 may form a part of a furniture device such as a bed-mattress, a sofa or any other upholstered furniture device. The section 30 of the furniture device comprises a base 2, a movable plate element 4, a moving mechanism 6 and at least one elastic device 12, as illustrated in the FIGS. 1a to 5b. The movable plate element 4 carries and embeds a plurality of elastic devices 12. The amount of elastic devices 12 per section 30 can vary from 1 to a high amount such as for example 400 elastic devices 12 or even more. In the figures an embodiment with 53 (thus 15) elastic devices 12 per section and an embodiment with one elastic device 12 per section (FIGS. 5a and 5b) are illustrated.

(12) The section 30 is configured to receive the weight of being. The weight of being results in a force F, schematically indicated in FIGS. 1a, 1b and 6. FIG. 6 schematically illustrates how forces with different values F.sub.0, F.sub.1, F.sub.2, F.sub.3, F.sub.4, F.sub.5 and F.sub.6 affect the elastic devices 12. F.sub.0 has the value zero, thus illustrating the elastic device 12 in the state of rest.

(13) The elastic devices 12 may be fixed to the plate element 4 or arranged standing freely and being held only by the holding arrangement 20 on the plate element 4. The holding arrangement 20 is configured to hold the elastic devices 12 in place, thus it is not necessary to fix the elastic devices 12 to the plate element 4.

(14) The holding arrangement 20 comprises a holding member 22 and a connecting portion 24. The holding arrangement 20 holds each elastic device 12 in position and limits the vertical movement of the elastic device 12 when the plate element 4 is moved or displaced in a direction perpendicular to the base 2, such as illustrated in FIGS. 1b and 1b. When the plate element 4 is moved or displaced in respect to the base 2, the elastic devices 12 are pre-tensioned. Moving the plate element 4 thus allows adjusting and changing the firmness of the section 30. A displaced plate element 4, as illustrated in FIGS. 1b and 1b has the effect that the firmness is harder than when the plate element 4 is not displaced, thus when it is in the original position shown in FIG. 1a.

(15) The elastic devices 12 comprise a pocket 14 and, embedded in the pocket 14, an elastic member 18. The pocket 14 may be made of an flexible sheet material, e.g. a fabric such as cotton or preferably, a synthetic fabric that can be welded together by a suiting machine. The elastic member 18 is best illustrated in FIGS. 2a-3b. In the illustrated embodiments, the elastic member 18 is a helical spring 26, for example made of metal or plastic.

(16) The pockets 14 may be attached to adjacent pockets 14 by welding or gluing, thereby forming an attachment 32, 32 as best shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. In the shown embodiment, the pockets are welded together in one direction (Y) and glued together (X) in the other direction, as illustrated in FIGS. 4-6. It is possible and within the scope of the invention to use the same method for attaching the pockets 14 to one another in both directions. The attachment 32 between two pockets 14 may be used to connect the holding member 22 to the elastic device 12, however this is not mandatory. It is possible to connect the holding member 22 to the elastic device 12 separately from the attachment 32, as will be discussed below.

(17) As best seen in FIGS. 2a-b and 7a-b, the elastic members 18, 118 comprise a first portion 18a, 118a, which is arranged proximal to the upper, free end of the elastic members 18, 118. A second portion in, 118b is arranged distal to free end of the elastic members 18, 118. An intermediate portion 18c, 118c is arranged between the first 18a, 118a and second 18b, 118b portions.

(18) According to the invention, movement of the plate element 4, 104 relative to the base 2, 102, causes compression and relaxation only of the second portion 18b, 118b of the elastic member.

(19) At the embodiment shown in FIGS. 2a-6, this is accomplished in that the holding member 22 of the holding arrangement is connected to the pocket 14 which in turn is connected to the intermediate portion 18c of the elastic member 18. The connection between the pocket and the intermediate portion 18c is, in the shown example, achieved by means of a connecting member 15 in the form of an annular element which receives the intermediate portion 18c of the elastic member 18 and is fixed to the pocket 14. The shown annular element may be formed by a metallic or plastic ring which is fixed to the inside of the pocket 18 by sewing. However, the connection between the pocket and the intermediate portion 18c of the elastic member 18 may also be accomplished by other means. E.g. the intermediate portion may be directly fixed to the pocket by means of welding, adhesion, stitches, or lashing. The intermediate portion 18c may also or alternatively be indirectly fixed to the pocket by means of any other type of connecting member.

(20) In the example shown in FIGS. 2a-b, the holding member 22 is formed of a flexible string of cotton. The holding member may however be formed also of many other thread- or string like materials.

(21) The holding member 22 is connected to the base 2 with a first end 36 and then guided up through a recess 34 in the plate element 4 to the connecting portion 24, down through the next recess 34 to the base 2 and therefrom up through the same recess 34 to the next connecting portion 24 and so on, weaving from one connecting portion 24 to the next connecting portion 24 and so on, as best illustrated in FIG. 2b. The base 2 may comprise orifices or grommets (not shown) used to attach the holding member 22 to the base 2. The holding member 22 may be connected to the base 2 with a second end 38, as illustrated in FIG. 1b. At the first end 36 and the second end 38, the holding member 22 may be rigidly fixed to the base 2, which means that it cannot be moved along its longitudinal, whereas in between these first and second ends 36, 38 the holding member 22 may be loosely attached to the base 2, which means that the holding member 22 is connected to the base 2 so that it may move along its longitudinal direction, for example by using grommets or the like. Alternatively the holding member 22 may also be rigidly fixed to the base 2 in between the first and second ends 36, 38.

(22) At these embodiments, the connecting portions 24 are arranged at the pockets 14 such that the holding member is connected to the pockets at respective connecting portions 24. The connecting portions 24 and the holding member 22 are arranged such that the holding member 22 is connected to either one or two pockets at each connecting portion. For example, in FIGS. 2a and 2b, the holding member 22 arranged at an outer row of elastic devices 12 is, at each connecting portion 24, connected to only one pocket. On the other hand, the holding members, being arranged between adjacent rows of elastic devices are, at each connecting, portion connected to two adjacent pockets. At this embodiment, each elastic device is thus provided with two connecting portions. It is however also possible that each elastic device is provided with only one or several connecting portions

(23) When adjusting the firmness of the section illustrated in FIG. 2a, the plate element (4) is driven to be displaced upwards as seen in the figure, away from the base 2. This may be accomplished by means of a moving mechanism (not shown in FIG. 2a-b) such as mandrel driven by an electrical motor. However, the displacement of the plate element relative to the base may be accomplished also in many other ways, known per se.

(24) During upward displacement of the plate element 4, the holding members 22 will maintain the connecting portions 24 of the pockets 14 at a constant distance from the base 2, whereas the lower end of the elastic devices 12 will be displaced upwards, together with the plate element 4. Also the vertical distance between the connecting portions 24 and the connecting member 15, at each pocket will remain constant. By this means the second portion 18b being arranged below the intermediate portion 18c of the elastic member 18 will be compressed, whereas the first portion 18a arranged above the intermediate portion 18c, will remain unaffected. The adjustment of the firmness of the section thus results in that only the lower portions of the elastic devices achieves and increased firmness, whereas the upper portion of the elastic devices will maintain its original firmness or softness.

(25) When the desired firmness of the section has been achieved, the movement of the plate element is stopped and the section has then assumed the state of operation shown in FIG. 2b. When it is desired to decrease the firmness of the section, the plate element is displaced downwards towards the position shown in FIG. 2a, whereby the second portions 18b of the elastic members 18 are relaxed and eventually the section assumes its original firmness when the section again has assumed the state of operation shown in FIG. 2a.

(26) The moving mechanism 6 may comprise a mandrel 10 and drive combination, whereby the drive may be an electric motor connected to the 3o mandrel for example via a belt or chain or the like. The moving mechanism may comprise more than one mandrel 10 so that the plate element can be displaced symmetrically. The drive or electric motor may comprise a user interface configured to control the displacement of the plate element.

(27) At the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1a-6, the holding member 22 is a continuous string or thread connected to a plurality of connecting portions 24. As best seen in FIG. 3, the holding members 22 may extend along the X-direction and connect a plurality, in the present case five, of elastic devices 12 via the connecting portions 24. It is possible to have additional holding members 22 extending in the Y-direction thus having holding members 22 in the X- and Y-direction. Alternatively it is also possible to only have holding members 22 extending in the Y-direction. The connecting portion 24 may need to be arranged accordingly, so that they are arranged on a line D, which extends through the centres Z of the elastic devices 12.

(28) In case the connecting portions 24 are welded or glued, the holding member 22 may be guided around these weldings or gluings, as illustrated in the figures. In an alternative embodiment the connecting portions 24 may comprise passages in the pocket 14 and the holding member 22 may be guided through said passages (not shown). Various combinations of different types of connecting portions 24 may be used in one single section 30. The type of connecting portion 24 used may also depend on the manufacturing of the section 30.

(29) The attachment 32, 32 between pockets is best illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4. In the X-direction the pockets 14 may be attached differently to adjacent pockets 14 than in the Y-direction. FIG. 4 illustrates the attachment 32 in the Y-direction, this attachment 32 is done by welding two layers of fabric together and FIG. 4 illustrates the attachment 32 in the X-direction, which is done by gluing using adhesive or a glue or the like.

(30) Turning now to FIG. 4, it can be noted and seen that the attachment 32 is done in a mid-section of the elastic device 12. The attachment 32 may comprise a grommet or the like to securely guide the holding member 22. In order to ensure a proper functioning of the furniture device, the elastic devices 12 may not be attached to adjacent elastic devices 12 all the way, which means, that the elastic devices 12 are kept free and independent from adjacent elastic devices 12 in an upper end region, which extends from the free end of the elastic device 12. Each elastic device 12 is thus able to move freely and independently from adjacent elastic devices 12 along a distance A as measured from the free end of the elastic device 12 to the upper end of the attachment 32. Further, each elastic device 12 is also able to move freely and independently from adjacent elastic devices 12 along a distance B as measured from the plate element 4 towards a lower end of the attachment 32. The attachment 32 shown in FIG. 3 is preferably a welded attachment 32, whereby it is formed by welding two layers of fabric, used for forming and manufacturing the pockets 14, together. Keeping the elastic device 12 free from any attachment 32 along a distance B ensures that the firmness of two adjacent sections 30 of a furniture device can be adjusted independently from one another.

(31) The distance A may be larger or equal to 1/15 of the total length L of the elastic device 12 and smaller or equal to of the length L. The distance B may be larger or equal to 1/15 of the total length L of the elastic device 12 and preferably smaller or equal to of the total length.

(32) Distance C, as measured from the free end of the elastic device 12 to the upper end of the connecting portion 24, indicates where the connecting portion 24 is arranged, as illustrated in FIG. 3. C may be equal to or larger than zero and it does not necessarily need to correspond to the distance A, which is measured between the upper end of the attachment 32 and the free end of the elastic device 12. The holding member 22 may be connected to the elastic device 12 at a point or in a region that differs from the attachment 32, 32.

(33) FIG. 5 illustrates the attachment 32 in the X-direction. This attachment may be a glued attachment 32. The distances A and B correspond to the distances shown in FIG. 3, however they do not need to be the same, which means the distance A between the upper end of the glued attachment 32 and free end of the elastic device 12 and the distance A between the upper end of the welded attachment 32 and the free end can be and most likely will be different from one another. The same is valid for the distance B and B; the distance B between the lower end of the welded attachment 32 and the plate element 4 and the distance B between the lower end of the glued attachment 32 and the plate element 4 can be and most likely will be different from one another. Both distances A and A should be equal or larger than 1/15 and smaller or equal to of the length L of the elastic device and the distances B and B should be equal or larger than 1/15 of the length L.

(34) It is to be noted that the smallest distance of A and A determines the distance along which an elastic device 12 can be compressed independently from an adjacent elastic device 12, thus without influencing adjacent elastic devices 12, when the weight of a being is acting on the furniture device. Further, the smallest distance of B and B determines the how the displacement of the plate element 4 and a displacement of a plate element of an adjacent section may differ.

(35) FIGS. 4 and 5 illustrate that the elastic devices 12 and thus the pockets 14 and the elastic members 18 bulge in the middle. This may be advantageous for establishing the attachments 32, 32, however, the elastic devices 12 may be in the shape of a symmetrical cylinder or any other suitable shape and thus not bulging in the middle.

(36) The welded attachment 32 may be formed during the manufacturing of the elastic device 12. Thereby a plurality of elastic members 18 may be arranged on a comparably large fabric, then the fabric may be folded on top of the elastic members 18 in order to cover them and in a next step a welding machine or the like may be used to establish welding seams in between the elastic members 18 in order to enclose the said elastic members 18 in pockets 14. The welding machine may be configured to additionally separate the pockets from one another where it is needed in order to establish the free distances A and B as described above. A plurality of such welded rows of elastic devices 12 may then be glued together to form an array of elastic devices 12, which array may be used for and installed on a section 30.

(37) FIG. 6 illustrates a section 30 with a plurality of elastic devices 12 and therein integrated a section 30 comprising a singular elastic device 12. The distance B, B(not illustrated in FIG. 6) should in this case preferably be larger or at least equal to 1/15 of the length L of the elastic device 12 in order to enable the section 30 comprising the singular elastic device 12 to move independently from the section 30 comprising the plurality of elastic devices 12. The embodiment shown in FIG. 5 may comprise a moving mechanism comprising for example a gearing mechanism or multiple drives so that the section 30 may be displaced independently from the section 30. A mandrel may be used to displace the section 30 via the drive. The integrated section 30 may also be a row or column of a plurality of elastic devices 12. The section 30 may have any other shape. Integrating a section 30 in another section 30 may have the advantage to adjust the firmness of the furniture device in various areas for specific needs.

(38) At an alternative embodiment shown in FIGS. 7a-b. the holing member 122 is instead connected directly to the elastic members 118, via a connecting portion 124, which is arranged at the intermediate portion 118c of the elastic member 118. Here, the holding arrangement 120 comprises a plurality of holding members 122, each holding member being fixed in relation to the base 102. In the shown example each holding member 122 comprises a thin rod, e.g. of metal or plastic. However, the holding members may also in this embodiment be formed of strings, threads wires or the like, as long as they are able to withstand longitudinal stretching forces without exhibiting any substantive prolongation. The holding members 122 extend trough openings (not visible) in the plate element 104.

(39) At the upper end, being distal to the base 102, the holding members 122 exhibits an engagement portion 123 which engages the connecting portion 124 arranged at the intermediate portion 118c of the elastic member 118. At the shown example, the engaging portion 123 is formed as an annular member having essentially the same or a slightly greater diameter than the elastic member 118 at the intermediate portion 118c. The annular member is arranged in a plane which is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the elastic member 118. It further comprises a radial crossbar which is fixed to the upper end of the rod. By this means the engagement portion 123 of the holding member 122 may securely engage the intermediate portion 118c of the elastic member 18. The connection between the holding members and the intermediate portion of the elastic members may however be achieved in other ways. E.g. at a not shown example, the holding member may, at its upper end be provided with a loop or the like, which receives a wire or other connecting member which in turn is fixed to the intermediate portion of the elastic member. It may be desirable that the holding member is connected to several points of the intermediate portion. At such instances several, e.g. three, connecting members may at one respective end be fixed to respective points distributed along the circumference of the intermediate portion and by the other ends to a loop or the like at the upper end of the holding member.

(40) Also at this embodiment, the firmness of the section is increased by displacing the plate element 104 upwardly from the starting position shown in FIG. 3a. During such displacement, the lower ends of the elastic members 118 will follow the plate element 104 upwardly. The fixation of the holding members 122 to the base 102 and their engagement with the respective intermediate portions 118c of the elastic members 118 will maintain the intermediate portions 118c at a constant distance from the base 102. By this means, only the second, lower portions 118b of the elastic members 118 will be compressed, thereby increasing the firmness only of these portions.

(41) As illustrated in FIGS. 2a-b and 7a-b respectively, the intermediate portion 18c, 118c is arranged at a distance D from the upper, free end of the elastic member 18, 118. The corresponding first portion 18a, 118a extending along this distance D will thus remain unaffected also when the second portion in, 118b is compressed for increasing the firmness of the section. By this means, the upper portion of the section 30, 130 remains comparatively soft also when the overall firmness of the section is increased. This in turn allows for that that the thickness of a mattress topper may be reduced or that the mattress topper even may be dispensed with while still maintaining the load comfort of the furniture. It has proven that the distance D should preferably be between and of the total length L of the elastic member 18, 118 for achieving the desired independency of the upper portion while still allowing excellent adjustment of the overall firmness of the section.

(42) In an alternative embodiment (not shown) the plate element may be arranged below the base in respect to the ground and it may be configured to be displaced towards the ground. In such an alternative embodiment, the elastic devices may be embedded on the base and the base may comprise recesses through which the holding members may be guided to be connected to the plate element in this case. In such a solution the plate element may move the holding members, which then pre-tension the elastic devices, whereas the elastic devices are stationary and embedded on the base. In such an embodiment the holding member may be connected to the plate element with a first end and then be guided through the base to the connecting portion then back through the base to the plate element back through the base to the next connecting portion weaving from connecting portion to the next connecting portion and so on. Such an embodiment of the section may preferably be used for a bed or mattress comprising only one single section, since the displacement of the plate element actually causes a change of the level or height of the upper surface of the section and thus the mattress. In addition, it is possible with such an embodiment, to adjust the height of the upper surface of a furniture device, such as a mattress for example.

(43) The section 30, 30 may be installed in a mattress of a bed in a sofa or in a special medical device or medical bed. A furniture device may comprise one or more than one section 30 and it is also conceivable to combine a described embodiment of a section 30 with a conventional mattress so that a user may adapt and modify her/his furniture device, even after buying it.

(44) Further, the embodiments shown in the figures comprise one layer of elastic devices 12 per section 30, however a section may comprise two or more layers of elastic devices 12, whereby the elastic devices 12 are attached to one another via their respective front sides, for example by gluing. In such an embodiment the elastic devices 12 are arranged on top of one another.

(45) In another embodiment of the invention a pocket may comprise two or more elastic members, arranged on top of one another, but still embedded in the same pocket.

(46) The invention has mainly been described above with reference to a few embodiments. However, as is readily appreciated by a person skilled in the art, other embodiments than the ones disclosed above are equally possible within the scope of the invention, as defined by the appended patent claims.