ELASTIC MODULE AND ELASTIC CUSHION

Abstract

An elastic module includes a tapered spring and a spring supporting frame. The spring supporting frame includes a base and an end cover, and two ends of the tapered spring are respectively fixed to the base and the end cover. The spring supporting frame includes a plurality of flexible straps, and the plurality of flexible straps are evenly spaced and arranged between the base and the end cover. The tapered spring is divided into a large end and a small end according to an area size. When the tapered spring is mounted between the base and the end cover, a part of the tapered spring defining the large end is located outside at least one of the plurality of flexible straps, and a spring wire of the tapered spring except the part of the tapered spring is located inside the plurality of flexible straps.

Claims

1. An elastic module, comprising: a tapered spring, and a spring supporting frame configured to hold and secure the tapered spring, wherein: the spring supporting frame comprises a base and an end cover arranged opposite to each other, two ends of the tapered spring are respectively fixed to the base and the end cover to be mounted between the base and the end cover, the spring supporting frame comprises a plurality of flexible straps, the plurality of flexible straps are evenly spaced and arranged between the base and the end cover, the tapered spring is divided into a large end and a small end according to an area size, and when the tapered spring is mounted between the base and the end cover: a part of the tapered spring defining the large end is located outside at least one of the plurality of flexible straps, and a spring wire of the tapered spring except the part of the tapered spring is located inside the plurality of flexible straps.

2. The elastic module according to claim 1, wherein: at least of the part of the tapered spring defining the large end is located outside the at least one of the plurality of flexible straps.

3. The elastic module according to claim 1, wherein: the plurality of flexible straps extend from an outer side surface of the base toward the end cover until the plurality of flexible straps extend to an inner side surface of the end cover, and the part of the tapered spring surrounds an outside of the at least one of the plurality of flexible straps to be fixedly connected to the end cover.

4. The elastic module according to claim 3, wherein: a spiral radius of the tapered spring gradually widens along an axial direction of the tapered spring, and when the tapered spring is mounted between the base and the end cover, a large-end portion of the spring wire with a largest spiral radius is located outside the at least one of the plurality of flexible straps.

5. The elastic module according to claim 3, wherein: the end cover has a first spring fixing member for fixing an end of the tapered spring, and the part of the tapered spring surrounds the outside of the at least one of the plurality of flexible straps to be connected to the first spring fixing member to be fixedly connected to the end cover.

6. The elastic module according to claim 5, wherein: an end of the part of the tapered spring is buckled to or abuts the first spring fixing member to enable the tapered spring to be fixedly connected to the end cover.

7. The elastic module according to claim 6, wherein: the inner side surface of the end cover between adjacent two of the plurality of flexible straps extends toward the base to form a first enclosure, the end cover extends toward the base on an outer side of the first enclosure to form a second enclosure, and an annular groove for fixing the tapered spring is formed between the first enclosure and the second enclosure as the first spring fixing member.

8. The elastic module according to claim 7, wherein: an end of the tapered spring abuts and is disposed in the annular groove.

9. The elastic module according to claim 1, wherein: the tapered spring abuts a side of the base facing the end cover or is buckled to the base to be fixedly connected to the base.

10. The elastic module according to claim 1, wherein: a first mounting structure is provided on the base, and the first mounting structure is configured to enable the elastic module to be mounted on a base plate of an elastic cushion.

11. The elastic module according to claim 10, wherein: the base extends toward the end cover to form a conical protruding cavity, a conical protrusion extends in a cavity of the conical protruding cavity in a direction away from the end cover as the first mounting structure, and an inner cavity surface of the conical protruding cavity and an outer surface of the conical protrusion form a double-conical self-locking structure configured to be self-locked with an insertion structure on the base plate of the elastic cushion.

12. The elastic module according to claim 11, wherein: an end of the tapered spring abuts between an outer side of the conical protruding cavity and the plurality of flexible straps.

13. The elastic module according to claim 12, wherein: a second mounting structure is provided on the end cover, and the second mounting structure is configured to enable the elastic module to be mounted on a cushion layer of the elastic cushion.

14. The elastic module according to claim 13, wherein: a plurality of protrusions are arranged at intervals on a side of the end cover facing the base as the second mounting structure, and the plurality of protrusions are configured to be connected to the cushion layer of the elastic cushion by insertion.

15. An elastic cushion, comprising the elastic module according to claim 1.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0025] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of an elastic module of the present disclosure.

[0026] FIG. 2 is a left view of the elastic module shown in FIG. 1.

[0027] FIG. 3 is a right view of the elastic module shown in FIG. 1.

[0028] FIG. 4 is a rear view of the elastic module shown in FIG. 1.

[0029] FIG. 5 is a front view of the elastic module shown in FIG. 1.

[0030] FIG. 6 is a bottom view of the elastic module shown in FIG. 1.

[0031] FIG. 7 is a top view of the elastic module shown in FIG. 1.

[0032] FIG. 8 is a perspective side view of the elastic module of the present disclosure.

[0033] FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of the elastic module of the present disclosure.

[0034] FIG. 10 is a left view of the elastic module shown in FIG. 9.

[0035] FIG. 11 is a rear view of the elastic module shown in FIG. 9.

[0036] FIG. 12 is a right view of the elastic module shown in FIG. 9.

[0037] FIG. 13 is a front view of the elastic module shown in FIG. 9.

[0038] FIG. 14 is a schematic diagram of a lower half of the elastic module.

[0039] FIG. 15 is a schematic diagram of an end cover of the elastic module.

[0040] FIG. 16 is a side view of an elastic cushion.

[0041] FIG. 17 is a schematic diagram of the elastic cushion.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

[0042] The technical solutions in the embodiments of the present disclosure will be clearly and completely described below in conjunction with the drawings in the embodiments of the present disclosure. It is obvious that the described embodiments are only part of the embodiments of the present disclosure, rather than all the embodiments, and all other embodiments obtained by ordinary technicians in this field based on the embodiments of the present disclosure without making creative work are within the scope of protection of the present disclosure.

[0043] In the description of the present disclosure, it should be noted that the terms upper, lower, inner, outer, top, bottom, and the like indicate positions or positional relationships based on the positions or positional relationships shown in the drawings, and are only for the convenience of describing the present disclosure and simplifying the description, rather than indicating or implying that the device or element referred to must have a specific position, or be constructed and operated in a specific position, and therefore should not be understood as limiting the present disclosure. In addition, the terms first and second are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be understood as indicating or implying relative importance.

[0044] In the description of the present disclosure, it should be noted that, unless otherwise clearly stipulated and limited, the terms installed, provided with, mounted, connected, etc. should be understood in a broad sense. For example, connection can be a wall-mounted connection, a detachable connection, or an integral connection. It can be a mechanical connection or an electrical connection. It can be a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium. It can be the internal connection of two components. For ordinary technicians in this field, the specific meanings of the above terms in the present disclosure can be understood according to specific circumstances.

[0045] Referring to FIGS. 1-17, the present embodiment provides an elastic module. As shown in the figures, the elastic module comprises a spring supporting frame 1 configured to hold and secure a tapered spring 2, and the tapered spring 2 is disposed in the spring supporting frame 1. The spring supporting frame 1 enables the elastic module to be detachably mounted between a base plate 3 and a cushion layer 4 of an elastic cushion, such as a mattress or a sofa cushion.

[0046] The spring supporting frame 1 comprises a base 11 and an end cover 12, and the base 11 and the end cover 12 are arranged opposite to each other. Two ends of the tapered spring 2 are respectively fixed to the base 11 and the end cover 12 to be mounted in a space between the base 11 and the end cover 12. The spring supporting frame 1 further comprises a plurality of flexible straps 13, and in a preferred embodiment, the plurality of flexible straps 13 are four flexible straps 13 evenly spaced and arranged between the base 11 and the end cover 12 on a periphery of the spring supporting frame 1. Alternatively, a number of the plurality of flexible straps 13 can be 2, 6, or other numbers. Specifically, at a center of the end cover 12 is an opening 120, and the plurality of flexible straps 13 extend from an outer side surface of the base 11 toward the end cover 12 until the plurality of flexible straps 13 extend to an inner side surface of the end cover 12, which is an edge of the opening 120 of the end cover 12. When the tapered spring 2 is mounted between the base 11 and the end cover 12 of the spring supporting frame 1, a part of a spring wire of the tapered spring 2 is fixed to the end cover 12 after being wrapped around an outer side of a first subset of the plurality of flexible straps 13, and each of a second subset of the plurality of flexible straps 13 on an outer side of the tapered spring 2 and a corresponding one of the first subset of the plurality of flexible straps 13 on an inner side of the tapered spring 2 are symmetrically arranged.

[0047] Furthermore, a spiral radius of the tapered spring 2 gradually widens along an axial direction of the tapered spring 2 to form a conical shape, and the spring wire of the tapered spring 2 is wound from a small-end portion 21 of the spring wire with a smallest spiral radius to a large-end portion 22 of the spring wire with a largest spiral radius. One end of the small-end portion 21 is fixedly connected to the base 11, and the large-end portion 22 is fixedly connected to the end cover 12. A radius of the base 11 is also smaller than a radius of the end cover 12, and the spring supporting frame 1 presents a conical structure. The one end of the small-end portion 21 of the tapered spring 2 is fixedly connected to the base 11, and a portion of the spring wire between the small-end portion 21 and the large-end portion 22 is entirely located on the inner side of the plurality of flexible straps 13. The large-end portion 22 with the largest spiral radius is wrapped around an outer side of two of the plurality of flexible straps 13 (i.e., the first subset of the plurality of flexible straps 13), and a remaining portion of the spring wire is located on an inner side of the plurality of flexible straps 13. An end 221 of the large-end portion 22 is fixed to the end cover 12 to form the elastic module of this embodiment. Half of the large-end portion is located on the outer side of the plurality of flexible straps 13, so that the other two of the plurality of flexible straps 13 on the outer side of the tapered spring 2 are symmetrically distributed with the two of the plurality of flexible straps 13 on the inner side of the tapered spring 2.

[0048] The elastic modules of this embodiment are mounted in an array on the base plate 3, and the cushion layer 4 is mounted on the elastic modules to form the elastic cushion. The existing elastic cushion also basically comprises a cushion layer, elastic modules arranged in an array, and a base plate. The tapered spring of the elastic module in the existing elastic cushion is completely located inside the plurality of flexible straps 13.

[0049] Therefore, when the user uses the elastic cushion and performs turning activities on the elastic cushion, a force applied to the elastic module is uneven when using the existing elastic cushion. At this time, the tapered spring in the elastic module will tilt due to the uneven force. When the tapered spring tilts, the plurality of flexible straps of the elastic module will give the tapered spring a restoring force in an opposite direction of the conical spring tilting to prevent the tapered spring from tilting. When the tapered spring is entirely located on the inner side of the plurality of flexible straps, only flexible straps of the plurality of flexible straps on one side of the tapered spring will work when the tapered spring tilts, giving the tapered spring a restoring force. When the user makes large movement or uses the elastic cushion for too long, a degree by which the tapered spring is prevented from tilting is limited due to only flexible straps of the plurality of flexible straps on one side of the tapered spring working when the tapered spring tilts.

[0050] With the elastic cushion formed by the elastic modules in this embodiment, when the tapered spring 2 tilts, each of the second subset of the plurality of flexible straps 13 on an outer side of the tapered spring 2 will give the tapered spring 2 a restoring force in an opposite direction of a direction in which the tapered spring 2 tilts. At the same time, the large-end portion 22 is located on the outer side of a symmetrical one of the first subset of the plurality of flexible straps 13, and the symmetrical one of the first subset of the plurality of flexible straps 13 here will also give the large-end portion 22 a blocking force in the opposite direction of the direction in which the tapered spring 2 tilts to prevent the tapered spring 2 from tilting. Under a simultaneous action of the restoring force of each of the second subset of the plurality of flexible straps 13 on the outer side of the tapered spring and the blocking force of the symmetrical one of the first subset of the plurality of flexible straps 13 on the inner side of the tapered spring 2, the tapered spring 2 can better maintain balance to prevent tilting, so that the tapered spring can be prevented from tipping over when compressed and rubbing against other tapered springs to generate noise, and the elastic cushion is more comfortable and has a longer service life.

[0051] In order to secure the tapered spring 2 on the end cover 12, the end cover 12 has a first spring fixing member for fixing the end 221 of the large-end portion 22 of the tapered spring 2. The large-end portion 22 is connected to the first spring fixing member after wrapping around the outer side of the two of the plurality of flexible straps 13 to be fixedly connected to the end cover 12.

[0052] Specifically, an inner side surface of the end cover 12 between adjacent two of the plurality of flexible straps 13 extends toward the base 11 to form a first enclosure 121, and the end cover 12 extends toward the base 11 on an outer side of the first enclosure 121 to form a second enclosure 122. An annular groove 123 for fixing the tapered spring 2 is formed between the first enclosure 121 and the second enclosure 122 as the first spring fixing member.

[0053] When the large-end portion 22 of the tapered spring 2 surrounds the outer side of the two of the plurality of flexible straps 13, the end 221 of the large-end portion 22 abuts and is disposed in the annular groove 123. Since the tapered spring 2 is in a compressed state when mounted in the spring supporting frame 1, an elastic restoring force of the tapered spring 2 in the compressed state causes the end 221 of the large-end portion 22 to firmly abut the annular groove 123, so that movement of the tapered spring 2 is inhibited in the axial direction of the tapered spring 2. At the same time, the first enclosure 121 and the second enclosure 122 on two sides of the annular groove 123 inhibit movement of the end 221 of the large-end portion 22 in a horizontal direction, so that one end of the tapered spring 2 is fixedly connected to the end cover 12.

[0054] The tapered spring 2 may be fixed to the end cover 12 in more than one manner by abutment, and other spring fixing methods may be used, such as bucking the end 221 of the large-end portion 22 with the first spring fixing member or other methods to secure the tapered spring 2 to the end cover 12.

[0055] In order to secure the tapered spring 2 on the base 11, in this embodiment, the tapered spring 2 abuts a side of the base 11 facing the end cover 12 or is fixedly buckled to the base 11. Specifically, an end 211 of the small-end portion 21 also abuts the base 11. As mentioned above, the tapered spring 2 is in the compressed state when mounted in the spring supporting frame 1. Therefore, the elastic restoring force of the tapered spring 2 in the compressed state makes the end 211 of the small-end portion 21 firmly abut the side of the base 11 facing the end cover 12.

[0056] More specifically, in this embodiment, the base 11 extends toward the end cover 12 to form a conical protruding cavity 111, and a space is formed between an outer side surface of the conical protruding cavity 111 and the plurality of flexible straps 13 on the outer side surface of the base 11 to receive the small-end portion 21. After the small-end portion 21 is inserted into the space, the end 211 of the small-end portion 21 abuts a surface of the base 11, thereby fixing the tapered spring 2 on the base 11.

[0057] Similarly, the tapered spring 2 may be fixedly connected to the base 11 in more than one manner by abutment, and other spring fixing methods may be used, such as buckling the end 211 of the small-end portion 21 to the base 11 or other methods to fix the tapered spring 2 to the base 11.

[0058] In order to detachably mount the elastic modules between the base plate 3 and the cushion layer 4 of the elastic cushion, such as the mattress or the sofa cushion, in this embodiment, a first mounting structure connected to the base plate 3 is provided on the base 11 of the spring supporting frame 1 so as to mount the elastic module on the base plate 3 of the elastic cushion. A second mounting structure connected to the cushion layer 4 is provided on the end cover 12 of the spring supporting frame 1.

[0059] Specifically, in this embodiment, the base 11 extends toward the end cover 12 to form the conical protruding cavity 111, and a conical protrusion 112 extends in a cavity of the conical protruding cavity 111 in a direction away from the end cover 12 as the first mounting structure. An inner cavity surface of the conical protruding cavity 111 and an outer surface of the conical protrusion 112 form a double-conical self-locking structure. When the elastic module is inserted into an insertion structure on the base plate 3 of the elastic cushion, the conical protrusion 112 on the base 11 can be self-locked with the insertion structure on the base plate 3 of the elastic cushion. The elastic module that is self-locked with the base plate 3 can be fixedly connected to the base plate 3 when there is no interference from external forces, and the elastic module can be pulled out by using external force, so that the elastic module can be detachably mounted on the base plate 3 of the elastic cushion.

[0060] Four protrusions 124 are arranged at intervals on a side of the end cover 12 facing the base 11 as a second mounting structure. In the present embodiment, a lower surface of the cushion layer 4 of the elastic cushion extends in a vertical downward direction to form a plurality of conical protrusions 41, and a distance between adjacent protrusions 41 of the plurality of conical protrusions 41 is equal to a distance between two symmetrical protrusions 124 of the four protrusions 124. The end cover 12 is disposed in a space surrounded by four symmetrically arranged conical protrusions 41 of the plurality of conical protrusions 41, and the four protrusions 124 are aligned with the four symmetrically arranged conical protrusions 41. Friction between the four protrusions 124 and the four symmetrically arranged conical protrusions 41 enables the elastic module to be firmly mounted on the cushion layer 4, thereby securing the cushion layer 4 and the elastic module together.

[0061] The above is only a preferred specific implementation of the present disclosure, but the design concept of the present disclosure is not limited to this. Any technician familiar with the technical field who uses this concept to make non-substantial changes to the present disclosure within the technical scope disclosed by the present disclosure shall be deemed to infringe the protection scope of the present disclosure.