EP2407060B1 - Spring element - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a spring element for supporting a sitting or lying surface having a base having a lower support surface, a support surface having an upper support part and arranged between the base and support member spring body with at least one connected to the base and extending to the support member spring arm, which does not overlap with the base when viewed in the spring direction, the base having an upper surface spaced a first distance from the lower support surface, the spring arms being spaced a second distance from the lower support surface at the base, and wherein the second distance is smaller or smaller is equal to the first distance.

Such spring elements are used for example as part of a lower mattress with a plurality of distributed over at least a portion of the lower mattress, arranged independently of each other such spring elements for supporting a mattress top or as a spring core of a mattress top. In sub-mattresses, they replace the conventional spring strips in the corresponding areas and have the advantage of enabling a virtually point-elastic support.

The DE 202 02 050 U 1 discloses a spring element according to the preamble of the independent claims. Further prior art is out EP 1 122 457 A1 known.

The invention has for its object to improve spring elements of the type mentioned.

This object is achieved by a spring element with the features of claim 1. Preferred embodiments and further developments of the invention are specified in the dependent claims.

By arranging the spring arms at a distance from the lower support surface on the base, the spring arms can spring down when loaded. So the spring travel does not end at the lower starting point of the spring arms at the base, but even deeper. The spring height of the spring element is thereby increased accordingly, without the spring element is unstable.

In the spring element according to claim 1, the distance between the spring arms to the lower support surface is at least about 10 mm. Thus, an increase in the spring travel over conventional spring elements of 50% and more can be achieved. Particularly preferably, the distance is about 15 to about 20 mm, whereby an increase of the spring travel can be achieved by about 100%.

Preferably, the distance between the spring arms to the lower support surface is approximately equal to the height of the spring body. Thereby, a spring travel can be achieved, which is about twice as large as the height of the spring body, since the height of the spring body is still the distance of the spring arms of the lower support surface added as a travel.

The spring arms are attached in particular laterally to the base. From there they can extend outwards, for example radially or tangentially. This results in a good and stable construction of the spring element without overlap between spring arms and base.

According to a further embodiment of the invention, the support part also does not overlap with the base when viewed in the spring direction. Thus, the support member can be moved past the base under load of the spring element, so that there is an even greater spring height.

Particularly preferably, the support part does not overlap with the spring arms. As a result, the support part can be lowered even further under load, which further increases the spring height.

The support member may be formed in particular one or more parts, preferably in the form of one or more separate cover plates, and releasably connected to the spring arms or be formed on this. This results in advantageous variation and design options.

A further preferred embodiment of the spring element is that the spring arms are bent or at least once angled, that they extend radially outwards and back again. As a result, it can be prevented, at least largely, that the support part shifts when the spring element is loaded transversely to the spring direction, that is to say laterally. Due to the invention springing of the spring body but can be dispensed with this return of the spring arms, since the side shift is directed above the approach point of the spring arms on the base opposite to the side shift below the approach point and therefore the maximum side shift is correspondingly lower. This allows a geometrically very simple spring element can be realized, which can also be produced inexpensively.

According to a preferred embodiment, each two spring arms are first in different directions radially outwards and upwards and then guided towards each other and connected to each other at their radially outer ends. As a result, a stabilization of the spring element is achieved.

The support member, in particular in each case a separate cover plate of the support member, may be fastened in each case to the radially outer, interconnected ends of the two spring arms. As a result, the stability of the spring element is further increased.

Particularly preferably, the support member, in particular in each case a separate cover plate of the support member, attached to a radially inwardly extending region which is integrally formed on the radially outer, interconnected ends of the two spring arms. As a result, the support part or the respective cover plate can be particularly well connected to the two spring arms, so that in turn an easily manufactured, particularly stable spring element can be realized.

In particular, a separate cover plate can be covered by the two interconnected spring arms in such a way that the cover plate, viewed in the spring direction, does not overlap with the two spring arms. As a result, the cover plate can be lowered past the two spring arms when the spring element is loaded, which in turn increases the spring height.

According to a further preferred embodiment, a spring-extending, non-resilient spacer is arranged on at least one spring arm between the base and the support part. By suitable dimensioning of the spacers spring elements can be realized, which have an increased height, without requiring an adjustment of the height of the spring body is required. The height of the spring element can be extended by this measure on the particular given by the material properties and the geometry of the spring body maximum height without the spring element is unstable. moreover can be easily and inexpensively realize without changing the spring arms by a suitable choice of the used spacers different height spring elements.

According to a further preferred embodiment of the invention, the spacer is designed and arranged so that it does not overlap in the spring direction with the base. Although the spring arms do not overlap with the base, it is possible for the spacer to deflect under load down the side of the base, so that the spring travel is extended by the height of the base. Thus, a spring element can be realized with a relatively large spring travel, but with relatively short spring arms, which on the one hand has a material and thus a cost savings result and on the other hand contributes to increasing the stability of the spring element.

A further enlargement of the spring travel results when the spacers are arranged and designed such that the spacers, viewed in the spring direction, do not overlap with the spring arms.

Preferably, the spacer is on its upper side with the support member, in particular with a cover plate, and at its lower side with the spring arm respectively releasably or firmly connected. This in turn results in advantageous variation and design options.

In particular, the spacer when using a detachable connection between the support member and spacer and between spacer and spring arm can be easily replaced by another spacer with a different height, which in turn the height of the spring element can be changed very easily and quickly.

On the other hand, a spring element, in which the spacer is firmly connected to the spring arm and / or with the support member, are made particularly simple and cost-efficient.

The spacer may be integrally formed with the spring arm and / or the support member, in particular a cover plate, in particular be integrally formed on the spring arm and / or the support member. Thus, the spring element can be particularly easily, for example. Made of plastic, produced by means of an injection molding.

The invention also relates to a slatted base, which is used in a known manner as a substructure to a mattress used. In this case, the slatted frame a particular rectangular frame for supporting a plurality of mutually parallel transverse slats, which can be arranged at different heights in a horizontal frame. In particular, the crossbars in the head and / or foot area can be higher than the crossbars in a central region of the slatted base. On the transverse slats can, in particular regularly spaced from each other, spring elements according to the invention preferably be arranged like a matrix. In this case, in turn, the height of each spring element can be selected in each case by suitable spacers so that the upper support surfaces of all unloaded spring elements have the same height for supporting the mattress.

If a spring element, for example by the mattress supported by the spring element, pressed so far that the support surface of a support member of the spring element is moved past the top of the base, then the mattress comes to rest on the top, causing the felt spring hardness changes abruptly. The spring element therefore has a nonlinear spring characteristic in this context.

The spring elements according to the invention can each be used as such as individual support elements for supporting a sitting or lying surface, for example by a plurality of inventive spring elements side by side, in particular matrix-like, as described above for a slatted frame, are arranged. In addition, the support members of the spring element according to the invention in turn can be formed by a respective spring element according to the invention by the base of the further spring elements is respectively connected to a spring arm of the first-mentioned spring element. As a result, even greater spring heights can be realized. In addition, there is an even greater number of individually springing support parts.

Fig. 1

eine perspektivische Ansicht eines erfindungsgemäßen Federelementes in unbelastetem Zustand,

Fig. 2

das Federelement von Fig. 1 in belastetem Zustand,

Fig. 3

eine Seitenansicht des unbelasteten Federelementes von Fig. 1,

Fig. 4

eine Seitenansicht des belasteten Federelements von Fig. 2,

Fig. 5

eine Draufsicht auf das Federelement von Fig. 1,

Fig. 6

eine perspektivische Ansicht einer anderen Variante eines erfindungsgemäßen Federelementes in unbelastetem Zustand,

Fig. 7

eine Seitenansicht des Federelementes von Fig. 6,

Fig. 8

eine Prinzipdarstellung einer weiteren Variante eines erfindungsgemäßen Federelementes in unbelastetem Zustand, und

Fig. 9

das Federelement von Fig. 8 in belastetem Zustand.

Embodiments of the invention are illustrated in the drawings and will be described below. They show, in each case in a schematic representation,

Fig. 1

a perspective view of a spring element according to the invention in the unloaded state,

Fig. 2

the spring element of Fig. 1 in a loaded condition,

Fig. 3

a side view of the unloaded spring element of Fig. 1 .

Fig. 4

a side view of the loaded spring element of Fig. 2 .

Fig. 5

a plan view of the spring element of Fig. 1 .

Fig. 6

a perspective view of another variant of a spring element according to the invention in the unloaded state,

Fig. 7

a side view of the spring element of Fig. 6 .

Fig. 8

a schematic representation of another variant of a spring element according to the invention in the unloaded state, and

Fig. 9

the spring element of Fig. 8 in loaded condition.

The illustrated spring elements comprise a base 2 forming a lower support surface 1, a support part 4 forming an upper support surface 3 and a spring body 5 arranged between the base 2 and the support part 4. The spring body 5 comprises a plurality of bases 2 connected to the support part 4 Spring arms 6, which viewed in the direction of spring I do not overlap with the base 2. The support part 4 is in several parts in the form of separate cover plates 4 ¹ to 4 ⁴ formed, which are in particular releasably connected to the spring arms 6.

In the in the Fig. 1 to 5 shown spring element, the spring arms 6 are attached to the top of the base 2 and formed bent upward. They extend radially from the base 2 to the outside. Respectively two spring arms 6 embrace in the spring direction I arcuately depending on a cover plate 4 ¹ to 4 ⁴ sections and are connected to each other at their radially outer ends. At each of these ends, a radially inwardly extending portion 11 is integrally formed (see. Fig. 2 ), on each of which a cover plate 4 ¹ to 4 ^{4 is} attached.

In contrast, the spring arms 6 in the in the Fig. 6 to 9 shown variants laterally attached to the base 2 and extend initially radially outward and then back towards the base 2. The spring arms 6 are therefore each formed once angled.

In the in the Fig. 1 to 5 shown cover overlaps the cover plates 4 ¹ to 4 ⁴ in the spring direction I on the one hand not with the base 2 and on the other hand not with the spring arms 6, so that the cover plates 4 ¹ to 4 ⁴ under load of the spring element both at the base 2 and the spring arms 6 can be lowered over. In the variant according to the 6 and 7 On the other hand, although the cover plates 4 ¹ to 4 ⁴ do not overlap with the base 2, but with the spring arms 6, the cover plates 4 ¹ to 4 ⁴ can also be moved past the base when the spring element is loaded.

How to particular in Fig. 3 and also in Fig. 7 recognizes, in the illustrated variants of the invention, the spring arms 6 are attached to the base 2 that they have a distance b to the lower support surface 1 of the base, wherein the distance b is greater than 0 and less than or equal to the distance a of the top 7 of Base 2 to the lower support surface 1. The distance b of the starting point of the spring arms 6 on the base 2 to the lower support surface 1 is preferably at least about 10 mm. It is particularly preferably about 15 to about 20 mm. With a usual spring body height h of about 35 to 40 mm, an increase in the spring travel of up to 50% can be achieved. By appropriate design of the base 2, the increase in the spring travel, as indicated above, even up to 100% and more.

In other words, it can spring travel of up to 50 mm and more can be achieved, what with conventional spring elements without risk stability is not possible. Alternatively, the height h of the spring body 5 can be reduced accordingly, which increases the stability of the spring element.

In the spring element according to the 6 and 7 takes place at its compression compensation of the radially outwardly extending movement of outgoing Federarmabschnitte through the radially inwardly recirculated Federarmabschnitte, so that the cover plates 4 ¹ to 4 ⁴ no or almost no lateral displacement transverse to the spring direction I experience, resulting in the use the spring element for supporting a sitting or lying surface proves to be advantageous.

In particular from the Fig. 1 to 4 shows that according to the invention, a spring element can be realized, which with a suitable choice of the second distance b, in particular if this is approximately equal to the height h of the spring body 5, a lying above the base top 7 spring travel, the same or almost the same size below the base top 7 lying spring travel. The spring height H of the spring element is characterized approximately twice as large as the height h of the spring body fifth

In addition to greater stability is advantageous to a spring body 5 with a relatively short spring body height h, that the cover plates 4 ¹ to 4 ⁴ starting from the in Fig. 1 shown unloaded state at a deflection of the spring element to the spring body height h laterally, ie transversely to the spring direction I, only slightly move outward. In addition, with complete deflection of the spring body 5 (see. Fig. 2 ) a backward shift and thus a compensation of the side shift, so that when in the Fig. 1 to 5 illustrated variant compensating elements, which in the variants according to the Fig. 6 to 9 of the can again be formed radially inwardly running Federarmabschnitten can be saved.

In the in the 8 and 9 the variant shown, the top 9 of a spacer 8 on the support member 4 and the bottom 10 of the spacer 8 at the upper end of the spring arm 6 is arranged. The spacer 8 is designed and arranged so that it does not overlap with the spring arm 6 and also with the base 2 when viewed in the spring direction I. As a result, the spring arm 6 together with the spacer 8 can spring over the starting point of the spring arm 6 on the base 2, as in FIG Fig. 9 is shown. Besides, how will out Fig. 8 it can be seen, the total height L of the spring element increased by the height d of the spacer. Therefore, a desired total height L for the spring element can be achieved by suitable choice of the height d of the spacer 8, without requiring an adjustment of the height h of the spring body 5 would be required. Accordingly, can be a spring element with a desired total height L without adjustment of the spring body height h and thus realize without or only with a small loss of stability.

A plurality of such spring elements can in particular be arranged in a matrix-like manner on a slatted frame or the like such that the support surfaces 3 of the support parts 4 form a bearing surface for a mattress or the like. If a single spring element pressed by the mattress, then the mattress base comes to rest on the top 7 of the base 2 of the spring element, that is, the spring arm 6 moves together with the spacer 8 and the support member 4 to the spring line s down and is then next to the base, cf. Fig. 9 , The aforementioned elements can be further pressed down until the bottom 10 of the spacer 8 strikes, for example, on a crossbar of the slatted grid, on which the spring element is supported. Since the mattress can then no longer be pressed in at this point, the felt spring stiffness of the spring element changes abruptly, so that the spring element in this context shows a non-linear characteristic.

The in the 8 and 9 As shown, the variant shown has the advantage that, by suitable choice of the height d of the spacer 8, a spring element with a desired height L can be realized without the spring arms 6 having to be changed. This allows different levels of spring elements made of standard parts, in particular using the same height spring bodies 5, are made particularly simple and inexpensive.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1

lower support surface

2

Base

3

upper support surface

4

supporting part

4 ¹ to 4 ⁴

cover plate

5

spring body

6

spring arm

7

Top of 2

8th

spacer

9

Top of 8

10

Bottom of 8

11

Area

I

spring direction

a

first distance

b

second distance

d

Height of 8

H

spring height

L

Height of the spring element

s

spring track

H

Height of the spring body

Claims (14)

1. A spring element for supporting a sitting surface or a reclining surface with a base (2) having a lower support surface (1), a rest part (4) having an upper support surface (3) and a spring body (5) which is arranged between the base (2) and the rest part (4) and has at least one spring arm (6) which is connected to the base (2), extends towards the rest part (4) and does not overlap with the base (2) viewed in the spring direction (I),
   wherein the base (2) has an upper side (7) which has a first spacing (a) from the lower support surface (1), wherein the spring arms (6) are arranged at the base (2) at a second spacing (b) from the lower support surface (1) and wherein the second spacing (b) is smaller than or equal to the first spacing (a),
   characterised in that
   the second spacing (b) amounts to at least approximately 10 mm, in particular approximately 15 to approximately 20 mm.
2. A spring element in accordance with claim 1,
   characterised in that
   the second spacing (b) is approximately equal to the height (h) of the spring body (5).
3. A spring element in accordance with one of the preceding claims,
   characterised in that
   the spring arms (6) are laterally attached to the base (2) or to the upper side (7) of the base (2).
4. A spring element in accordance with any one of the preceding claims,
   characterised in that
   the rest part (4) does not overlap with the base (2) viewed in the spring direction (I), with the rest part (4) preferably also not overlapping with the spring arms (6) viewed in the spring direction (I).
5. A spring element in accordance with any one of the preceding claims,
   characterised in that
   the rest part (4) is configured in one part or in multiple parts, in particular in the form of one or more separate cover plates (4¹ to 4⁴).
6. A spring element in accordance with any one of the preceding claims,
   characterised in that
   the spring arms (6) are curved, or are angled at least once, such that they extend radially outwardly and back again.
7. A spring element in accordance with any one of the claims 1 to 5,
   characterised in that
   a respective two spring arms (6) are led, starting from the base (2), in different directions radially outwardly and upwardly and then towards one another and are connected to one another at their radially outwardly disposed ends.
8. A spring element in accordance with claim 7,
   characterised in that
   the rest part (4), in particular a separate cover plate (4¹ to 4⁴) of the rest part (4), is respectively fastened to the radially outwardly disposed, mutually connected ends of the two spring arms (6).
9. A spring element in accordance with claim 8,
   characterised in that
   the rest part (4), in particular a respective separate cover plate (4¹ to 4⁴), is fastened to a region (11) which extends radially inwardly and is moulded at the radially outwardly disposed, mutually connected ends of the two spring arms (6).
10. A spring element in accordance with claim 8 or claim 9,
    characterised in that
    a respective separate cover plate (4⁴ to 4⁴) is encompassed by the two mutually connected spring arms (6) such that the cover plate (4¹ to 4⁴) does not overlap with the spring arms (6) viewed in the spring direction (I).
11. A spring element in accordance with any one of the preceding claims,
    characterised in that
    a spacer (8) which extends in the spring direction (I) and is not resilient is arranged at the spring arm (6) between the base (2) and the rest part (4).
12. A spring element in accordance with claim 11,
    characterised in that
    the spacer (8) is arranged and configured such that it does not overlap with the base (2) viewed in the spring direction (I) and/or in that the spacer (8) is arranged and configured such that it does not overlap with the spring arm (6) viewed in the spring direction (I).
13. A spring element in accordance with claim 11 or claim 12,
    characterised in that
    the spacer (8) is respectively releasably or fixedly connected to the rest part (4) or to a part (4¹ to 4⁴) of the rest part (4) at its upper side (9) and to the spring arm (6) at its lower side (10).
14. A spring element in accordance with any one of the claims 11 to 13,
    characterised in that
    the spacer is formed in one piece with the spring arm (6) and/or with the rest part (4) or with a part (4¹ to 4⁴) of the rest part and is preferably moulded to the spring arm (6) and/or to the rest part (4).

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