Firmness controlling apparatus for a bed or seating arrangement

Abstract

A firmness controlling apparatus for use in a bed arrangement or a seating arrangement is disclosed. The apparatus comprises a rigid frame having two opposed sides, and at least one non-elastic flexible elongate element extending between the two opposed sides. Each end of the non-elastic flexible elongate element is directly or indirectly connected to one of the opposed sides, and at least one of the ends is indirectly connected via an elastic flexible elongate element. A plurality of elongate springs are provided and extend in a flat or curved plane, the ends of each elongate spring being attached to one of the at least one non-elastic flexible elongate elements at two separated connections. A retraction device is arranged to tighten and slack the non-elastic flexible elongate element(s) between the two separated connections, thereby adjusting the distance between the two separated connections of each non-elastic flexible elongate element, and thereby controlling the curvature and height of the elongate springs.

Claims

1. A firmness controlling apparatus for use in a bed arrangement or a seating arrangement, the firmness controlling apparatus comprising: a rigid frame having two opposed sides; at least one non-elastic flexible elongate element extending between the two opposed sides, each non-elastic flexible elongate element being provided with two ends, wherein each end of the non-elastic flexible elongate element is directly or indirectly connected to one of the opposed sides, and wherein at least one of the ends of each non-elastic flexible elongate element is indirectly connected to one of the opposed sides via an elastic flexible elongate element; a plurality of elongate springs extending in a flat or curved plane, each elongate spring having two ends, the ends of each elongate spring being attached to one of the at least one non-elastic flexible elongate elements at two separated connections; and a retraction device arranged to tighten and slack the non-elastic flexible elongate element(s) between said two separated connections, thereby adjusting the distance between the two separated connections of each non-elastic flexible elongate element, and thereby controlling the curvature and height of the elongate springs, wherein both ends of each non-elastic flexible elongate element are indirectly connected to one of the opposed sides via elastic flexible elongate elements.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the non-elastic flexible elongate element(s) is/are straps made of non-elastic flexible fabric.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the elastic flexible elongate element(s) is/are straps made of elastic flexible fabric.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the retraction device is arranged beneath a plane in which the non-elastic flexible elongate element(s) extend.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the retraction device is arranged essentially in a plane in which the non-elastic flexible elongate element(s) extend.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the retraction device is arranged to tighten the non-elastic flexible elongate element(s) by at least one of: rolling up the flexible elongate element(s) around an axle; and pulling the flexible elongate element(s).

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the retraction device is operated by at least one of an electric motor and an electric pump.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the elongate springs are at least one of: sinuous springs, no-sag springs, strip springs, and strip steel springs.

9. A bed or seating arrangement, comprising at least one firmness controlling apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein the arrangement further comprises a mattress, wherein the firmness controlling apparatus(es) is/are arranged underneath the mattress.

10. The bed or seating arrangement of claim 9, wherein the mattress is a pocket spring mattress, comprising a plurality of strings of a casing material, each string defining a plurality of pockets and each pocket comprising a coil spring.

11. The bed or seating arrangement of claim 9, wherein the mattress comprises at least one cut-out portion arranged overlying the firmness controlling apparatus.

12. The bed or seating arrangement of claim 11, further comprising a foam insert arranged within said at least one cut-out portion, and overlying the firmness controlling apparatus.

13. The bed or seating arrangement of claim 12, wherein the foam is provided with one or several concavely curved interior surfaces overlying the elongate springs of the firmness controlling apparatus.

14. The bed or seating arrangement of claim 9, further comprising at least two zones having variable firmness, and at least one firmness controlling apparatus provided at each zone.

15. The bed or seating arrangement of claim 9, wherein the firmness controlling apparatus has a width extension exceeding 50% of the width of the mattress, and a length extension being less than 50% of the length of the mattress.

16. The bed or seating arrangement of claim 9, wherein the firmness controlling apparatus has a width extension exceeding 75% of the width of the mattress.

17. The bed or seating arrangement of claim 9, wherein the firmness controlling apparatus has a length extension being less than 25% of the length of the mattress.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) For exemplifying purposes, the invention will be described in closer detail in the following with reference to embodiments thereof illustrated in the attached drawings, wherein:

(2) FIG. 1 shows a schematic perspective view of a firmness control apparatus in a relaxed state according to an embodiment of the present invention;

(3) FIG. 2 shows a schematic perspective view of the firmness control apparatus of FIG. 1 in a slightly contracted state;

(4) FIG. 3 shows a cross-sectional side view of the firmness control apparatus of FIG. 1 in a relaxed state;

(5) FIG. 4 shows a cross-sectional side view of the firmness control apparatus of FIG. 1 in a contracted state, with a retraction device arranged in the same plane as the non-elastic flexible elongate elements;

(6) FIG. 5 shows a cross-sectional side view of the firmness control apparatus of FIG. 1 in a contracted state, with a retraction device arranged beneath the non-elastic flexible elongate elements;

(7) FIG. 6 shows a schematic perspective view of another embodiment of a firmness control apparatus according to the present invention;

(8) FIG. 7 shows a schematic perspective view of the firmness control apparatus of FIG. 6 in a slightly contracted state;

(9) FIG. 8 shows a schematic exploded view in perspective, slightly from above, of a bed arrangement in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

(10) FIG. 9 shows a cross-sectional side view of the bed arrangement of FIG. 8 in a contracted state;

(11) FIG. 10 shows a top view of a bed arrangement in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

(12) FIG. 11 shows a top view of a bed arrangement in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention; and

(13) FIG. 12 shows a schematic exploded view in perspective from below of a bed arrangement in accordance with yet another embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(14) In the following detailed description preferred embodiments of the invention will be described. However, it is to be understood that features of the different embodiments are exchangeable between the embodiments and may be combined in different ways, unless anything else is specifically indicated. It may also be noted that, for the sake of clarity, the dimensions of certain components illustrated in the drawings may differ from the corresponding dimensions in real-life implementations of the invention, e.g. the length of the elongate springs, etc. Further, even though the specific embodiments to be discussed in the following are primarily related to bed arrangements, the firmness controlling apparatus, possibly with slightly different dimensions, may also be used for seating arrangements and the like.

(15) A first embodiment of a firmness controlling apparatus 1 is illustrated in FIGS. 1-4. The firmness controlling apparatus may be used in a bed arrangement or a seating arrangement, as will be discussed in further detail in the following. The firmness controlling apparatus 1 comprises a rigid frame 11 having two opposed sides 11a and 11b. The frame may e.g. be rectangular in shape, where the two opposing sides 11a and 11b may be the two sides along the length direction of the rectangle, or the two sides along the width direction. The frame may be made of metal, such as steel, but may alternatively be made of wood, plastic material, or the like.

(16) The firmness controlling apparatus further comprises a plurality of non-elastic flexible elongate elements 12 extending between the two opposed sides 11a and 11b. The non-elastic flexible elongate elements 12 may e.g. be in the form of non-elastic straps, having a width widely exceeding the thickness. Each non-elastic flexible elongate element 12 is provided with two ends 12a and 12b, and each of these ends 12a, 12b are directly or indirectly connected to one of the opposed sides 11a, 11b. At least one of the ends 12a, 12b of each non-elastic flexible elongate element 12 is indirectly connected to one of the opposed sides 11a, 11b via an elastic flexible elongate element 13. In the illustrative example, both ends 12a, 12b of each non-elastic flexible elongate element 12 are indirectly connected to one of the opposed sides 11a, 11b via such an elastic flexible elongate element 13. Thus, one end of each elastic flexible elongate elements is connected to the frame, whereas the other is connected to an end of a non-elastic flexible elongate element 12.

(17) The non-elastic flexible elongate elements 12 may be made of non-elastic fabric, but may alternatively be made wholly or partly of metal and the like. The non-elastic flexible elongate elements may be in the form of straps, i.e. having a tape-like form, as in the illustrative embodiment. However, they may alternatively be in the form of cords, wires and the like.

(18) The elastic flexible elongate elements 13 may be made of elastic fabric, such as stretch fabric, but may also be in the form of rubber bands, elastic ribbons, etc. Alternatively, the elastic flexible elongate elements 13 may comprise springs, such as elongate and preferably relatively thin coil springs, etc.

(19) A non-elastic flexible elongate element 12 may, at one or both ends, be connected to more than one elastic flexible elongate element 13, such as two elastic flexible elongate elements 13, preferably separated in the longitudinal direction of the opposing frame sides 11a, 11b. Similarly, an elastic flexible elongate element 13 may be connected to more than one non-elastic flexible elongate element 12, such as two non-elastic flexible elongate elements 12, preferably separated in the longitudinal direction of the opposing frame sides 11a, 11b. Such realizations are particularly useful in case the width of the elastic and non-elastic flexible elongate elements differ, such as when the non-elastic flexible elongate elements are in the form of straps and the elastic flexible elongate elements are in the form of cords, or vice versa.

(20) The firmness controlling apparatus further comprises a plurality of elongate springs 14 extending in a flat or curved plane. The elongate springs 14 are preferably sinuous springs, such as no-sag springs, as shown in the exemplary embodiment of FIGS. 1-4. However, the elongate springs may alternatively be realized in other ways, such as strip springs, such as strip steel springs. All the elongate springs are preferably of the same type. However, a combination of elongate springs of different types are also feasible.

(21) Each elongate spring 14 has two ends 14a and 14b, and each of the ends 14a, 14b is attached to one of the non-elastic flexible elongate elements at two separated connections. Preferably, the ends 14a are preferably connected at or in the vicinity of the ends 12a of the non-elastic flexible elongate elements, and the ends 14b are preferably connected at or in the vicinity of the ends 12b of the non-elastic flexible elongate elements. The remainder of the elongate springs, between the end points 14a and 14b are preferably unconnected to the non-elastic flexible elongate elements.

(22) The ends of the elongate springs can be connected to the non-elastic flexible elongate elements, by being inserted into loops formed therein, or in other ways, such as by sewing, adhesion, bolts, rivets, etc.

(23) A retraction device 15 is arranged to tighten and slack the non-elastic flexible elongate elements 12 between the two separated connections. In the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1-4, the retraction device 15 is arranged essentially in a plane in which the non-elastic flexible elongate elements extend. The retraction device here comprises a rotatable shaft 15a with an opening through which the non-elastic flexible elongate element 12 extends. By rotating the shaft, the non-elastic flexible elongate element is rolled up on the shaft, thereby decreasing the distance between the connections. Hereby, the ends 14a and 14b of the elongate springs are pulled together, whereby the elongate springs 14 protrudes in an arc upwards. The more the shaft 15a is rotated, the higher the arc becomes. If the shaft is rotated in the different direction, the height of the arc instead decreases. Thus, the height of the arc can easily be controlled by rotation of the shaft in either of the two directions. This is illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4, where FIG. 3 shows the elongate spring in a lowered, relaxed position, and FIG. 4 shows the elongate spring in a somewhat contracted, tensed position, in which the elongate spring forms an arc upwards.

(24) The shaft 15a can be controlled manually, e.g. by being operable by a crank or the like. However, it can also be operated by an automated drive unit 16, e.g. a pump, an electric motor, or the like.

(25) The non-elastic flexible elongate elements may also be retracted in other ways. One such alternative is illustrated in FIG. 5, where the non-elastic flexible elongate elements 12 are led downwards via two rollers 15b or sliding surfaces. The non-elastic flexible elongate elements may then be pulled downwardly by a plunger 15c or the like. The pulling may occur downwardly, but may also occur in the plane of the frame, e.g. by being led via a further roller 15d, as shown in the illustrative example. In this embodiment, the retraction device is arranged beneath the plane in which the non-elastic flexible elongate elements extend. The plunger may be operated manually or automatically, e.g. by being connected to an electrical pump.

(26) In FIGS. 6 and 7, another embodiment of the firmness controlling apparatus is illustrated. Here, the elongate springs are formed as strip springs, such as strip steel springs. Apart from this difference, the firmness controlling apparatus as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 is made essentially in the same way as the one discussed in relation to FIGS. 1-4, and operates in the same way. FIG. 6 shows the elongate springs in a relaxed, lowered position, and FIG. 7 shows the elongate springs in a somewhat tensed, contracted position, in which the elongate springs extends as an arc upwards.

(27) The retraction device when automated may e.g. be controlled by means of a remote control, which may be connected by wireless or wired connection to the drive unit.

(28) The firmness controlling apparatus may be used in combination with a mattress or cushion to form a bed or seating arrangement with variable firmness in one or several zones. The firmness controlling apparatus is hereby arranged beneath the mattress, e.g. on a bed bottom, or on a lower mattress arranged beneath an upper mattress. Some alternative embodiments of such bed arrangements will now be discussed in some detail, and it is to be appreciated by the skilled addressee that the same or similar arrangements may also be used for seating arrangements.

(29) The bed arrangement has an adaptive firmness, and more specifically comprises at least one zone having independently adjustable firmness. The bed arrangement may comprise a single zone, or two or more zones. Further, in case several zones are used, one or more zones may be variable. Further, one or more zones which are non-variable may also be used. For example, different zones with variable firmness may be provided at least for one of the the user's buttock and shoulder. Such zones may be provided also for the user's feet and head. In between and optionally surrounding these zones, zones being provided with a constant firmness may be provided.

(30) Preferably, the zone(s) having independently adjustable firmness extends over at least half of the width of the bed arrangement, and may e.g. extend over essentially the whole width of the bed arrangement.

(31) The mattress may be of various types, such as comprising resilient foam elements, resilient rubber, and the like. However, preferably the mattress comprises a plurality of coil springs, and preferably coil springs arranged in separate pockets of a cover material, to define a pocket spring mattress.

(32) In a pocket mattress realization of the present mattress, at least the parts of the mattress forming zones which do not have variable firmness, and optionally also partly or wholly the zone(s) having variable firmness, are formed as pocket spring mattress. The pocket spring mattress may form an entire, integrated mattress, or be formed be arranged as a separate pocket mattresses assembled together.

(33) With reference to e.g. FIGS. 8 and 9, the pocket mattress 2 preferably comprises a plurality of strings 21 interconnected side by side by means of a surface attachment, such as adhesive, welding, Velcro or the like. Each string comprises a plurality of continuous casings/pockets 22, formed by a continuous casing material and the pockets being separated from each other by means of transverse seams 23, such as welded seams. Each casing/pocket contains at least one, and preferably only one, helical coil spring 24. The springs may have a spiral turn with a diameter of approximately 2 to 10 cm, and preferably 6 cm.

(34) However, as discussed above, other types of mattresses are also possible to use in the above-discussed bed arrangement.

(35) In one embodiment, illustrated in FIGS. 8 and 9, the pocket mattress is an integrated, continuous mattress, extending over the entire width and length of the bed arrangement, and over both zones with variable firmness and zones without variable firmness.

(36) A firmness controlling apparatus 1 as discussed above is arranged beneath a zone of the mattress 2. The firmness controlling apparatus shown in FIGS. 8 and 9 is of the type discussed in relation to FIGS. 6 and 7, but any of the embodiments discussed in the foregoing may be used.

(37) The firmness controlling apparatus 1 may be loosely arranged on a bed bottom (not shown), and with the mattresses then being loosely arranged on top of the bed bottom and on the firmness controlling apparatus. However, the firmness controlling apparatus may alternatively be connected to the bed bottom, or other parts of the bed, and/or to the mattress. Connection to the bed bottom or bed frame can be made by adhesive, bolts, etc. Connection to the mattress may be realized by adhesive, sewing, etc.

(38) When the elongate springs of the firmness control apparatus are contracted, to extend upwards as arcs, as shown in FIG. 9, the springs in the mattress overlying the arcs will be compressed, and will consequently become firmer.

(39) In another embodiment, as shown in FIG. 10, the mattress comprises at least one cut-out portion 25 arranged overlying the firmness controlling apparatus. The cut-out portion is preferably entirely surrounded by the pocket spring mattress, so that at least one or more rows of pockets are arranged on each side of the cut-out portion in the width direction. The cavity formed by this cut-out portion may be filled by a mattress inlay 3. This mattress inlay may e.g. also be a pocket spring mattresses, but e.g. having different properties, such as being softer than the surrounding pocket spring mattress. However, preferably the mattress inlay is a different type of mattress, such as a foam mattress.

(40) In an alternative embodiment, as illustrated in FIG. 11, a plurality of cut-out portions 25′ are provided. Here, the cut-out portions are elongate, and arranged side-by-side, and arranged essentially only to overly the elongate springs of the underlying firmness controlling apparatus. The cut-out portions are preferably of a size corresponding to the width of one pocket, allowing the cut-out portions to be formed within single strings, and to be surrounded by adjacent neighbouring strings.

(41) In this embodiment, the cavities formed by the cut-out portions need not be filled. Thus, when the elongate springs of the firmness controlling apparatus is relaxed, the cavities of the pocket spring mattress will be empty. Hereby, the firmness of the mattress in the zone having variable firmness is only provided by the remaining pocketed springs arranged between the cut-out portions. Hence, this zone will in this state be softer than the other zones of the mattress. However, when the elongate springs of the firmness controlling apparatus are contracted, the arcs then formed will raise into the cavities formed cut-out portions, thereby partly or fully filling the cavities. The firmness will thereby gradually increase when the elongate springs are contracted, and the firmness of the variable zone will then be provided both by the elongate spring arcs and by the pocketed springs between the cut-out portions. In such a state of increased firmness, the variable zone may have greater or much greater firmness compared to the non-variable zones.

(42) A top layer of padding, fabric or the like may be arranged on top of the mattress, thereby making the cut-out portions invisible and less noticeable.

(43) However, in order to increase the smoothness of the surface of the mattress, it is also possible to provide mattress inlays 3′ also in these cut-out portions 25′, as shown in FIG. 12. The inlays may, as discussed above in relation to FIG. 10, e.g. also be a pocket spring mattresses, but e.g. having different properties, such as being softer than the surrounding pocket spring mattress. However, preferably the mattress inlay is a different type of mattress, such as a foam mattress.

(44) It is also preferred that the inlays 25′ are here provided with interior surfaces, facing the elongate springs of the underlying firmness controlling apparatus, which are concavely curved, so that the inlays are thicker at the ends thinner in the central part, and with a gradual, curved transition there between. The concave curvature preferably corresponds to the shape of the arc of the corresponding elongate spring, when raised to a corresponding height.

(45) The inlays make the upper mattress surface smoother and more even. In addition, the inlays also provide at least a slight increase of the firmness of this part of the mattress, and also distribute the increased firmness provided by the elongate springs, when raised to arcs.

(46) In the exemplary embodiment illustrated in FIG. 12, the inlays with curved interior surfaces are provided as elongate inlays, provided in the elongate cut-out portions 25′ formed between strings of the pocket spring mattress.

(47) However, it is also possible to provide the same type of concavely curved interior surface in a larger inlay 3, such as the one discussed in relation to FIG. 10. Thus, the inlay 3 may here have such an interior curvature extending over its entire width. However, alternatively, the interior curvature may be provided only at positions overlying the elongate springs of the firmness controlling apparatus, as in the FIG. 12 example, and with a planar, non-curved interior surface there between. Such an inlay may e.g. be provided by using a combination of inlay pieces having a curved interior surface and rectangular solid inlay pieces. Every other inlay piece may then be of the curved type, and every other of the rectangular solid type. The inlay pieces may then be connected together, e.g. by adhesive, to form the inlay.

(48) The person skilled in the art realizes that the present invention by no means is limited to the preferred embodiments described above. On the contrary, many modifications and variations are possible within the scope of the appended claims. For instance, alternative mattress elements are possible to use in the zones, such as resilient elements formed by foam, rubber, coil springs, pocketed coil springs, inflatable elements, and the like. Also, the firmness of the mattress may be controlled manually, or in an automated fashion, using an electrical pump, motor or the like. The bed or seating arrangement may also be fully automated, and be provided with a controller to control the firmness automatically, in dependence of pre-stored preferences and/or based on sensor data.