Slat attaching device

Abstract

 Device (1) for attaching a slat (2) of a slatted bed base (3) to an edge (4) of the slatted bed base (3), wherein on a first member (5) means (26) are provided for the connection of the first member (5) to a lower end (8) of a second member (6), wherein the second member (6) comprises first flexible connecting means (11) for vertically flexibly connecting the upper and the lower end (8) of the second member (6), characterized in that the second flexible connecting means (12) substantially extend below the upper end (9).

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a slatted bed base according to the preamble of the first claim.

[0002] The present invention also relates to a slatted bed base comprising the device according to the present invention, a bed provided with such a slatted bed base, and the use of the bed.

[0003] Such a device is described, for example, by EP1013200 A1. EP1013200 A1 describes a device for attaching a slat of a slatted bed base to an edge of the slatted bed base. The device comprises a first member which is provided for attachment to the inner side of the edge of the slatted bed base. On the first member, means are provided for connecting the first member to a lower end of a second member. The second member extends between an upper end and the lower end. The second member comprises first flexible connecting means for vertically flexibly connecting the upper and the lower end of the second member. The upper end is connected to an end piece of the device with at least one slot in a holder of the end piece for receiving the end of at least one slat of the slatted bed base. The holder is flexibly connected to the upper end of the second member by second flexible connecting means, different from the first flexible connecting means. The second flexible connecting means thereby extend substantially above the upper end. However, if such a device is used for supporting a mattress in existing bed frames, there is an increased risk that the device becomes visible to an observer looking at the bed, even if a mattress is placed on the slatted bed base. Such a configuration, however, is aesthetically less desirable.

[0004] In order to reduce the visibility of the device, it is possible to provide a bed frame in which the bed frame extends in vertical direction to the upper end. However, for this purpose, existing bed frames have to be adapted to, for example, a new slatted bed base, by for example lowering the support of the slatted bed base, so that the bed frame protrudes higher with respect to the slatted bed base, which entails that the existing designs for bed frames have to be adapted, which is less desirable, or the boards of the bed frame should be widened, which entails significantly higher material costs besides modifying the existing designs.

[0005] It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a device for attaching a slat of a slatted bed base to an edge of the slatted bed base, wherein the risk that the device becomes visible to an observer looking at the bed, whether or not a mattress is placed on the slats, is reduced.

[0006] This is achieved with a device for attaching a slat of a slatted bed base to an edge of the slatted bed base which exhibits the technical characteristics of the characterizing part of the first claim.

[0007] To this end, the second flexible connecting means extend substantially below the upper end.

[0008] In such a configuration, it has been found that the height of the device can be limited, so that existing bed frames reach up closer to, or even against the upper end, and the risk that the device becomes visible to an observer looking at the bed, whether or not a mattress is placed on the slatted bed base, is reduced. Thereby a more aesthetic bed is obtained without, for example, having to adapt existing bed frames.

[0009] It has also been found that even though the configuration of the second flexible connecting means is adapted, this does not need to have consequences for the support of the mattress, and hence also for supporting a person lying on the mattress.

[0010] According to preferred embodiments of the present invention, the holder is located substantially at the level of the upper end, in order to further reduce the risk that the device becomes visible to an observer looking at the bed, whether or not a mattress is placed on the slatted bed base, since the height of the device in such an embodiment is relatively limited.

[0011] According to preferred embodiments of the present invention, the holder extends at least partially to below the upper end, so as to further reduce the risk that the device becomes visible to an observer looking at the bed, whether or not a mattress is placed on the slatted bed base, since the height of the device in such an embodiment is relatively limited.

[0012] According to preferred embodiments of the present invention, the second flexible connecting means flexibly connect the holder, flexing along a rotational direction around a rotation axis which is positioned in a longitudinal direction of the slat, to the upper end of the second member.

[0013] According to preferred embodiments of the present invention, the end piece comprises a top surface for supporting a mattress. Such a top surface indeed allows for not only the length of the slat to be used to support a mattress, but also the end piece, which allows a better use of the available space provided by the edges of the slatted bed base.

[0014] According to preferred embodiments of the present invention, the end piece comprises at least two holders, respectively provided with at least one slot, wherein the end piece comprises a supporting part which extends between the two holders. In such a configuration, increased support is provided to a mattress which is placed on the device. It has also been found that although the supporting member extends between the two holders, the freedom of movement still remains sufficient to allow the holders sufficient movement in order to provide a good support to the mattress, and to a user lying on the mattress.

[0015] According to further preferred embodiments of the present invention, there is, to further enable the flexible connection flexing along the rotational direction, a slit present between the supporting part which extends between the two holders and the respective holders. The slit is preferably dimensioned in such a way that on one hand a sufficiently flexible movement, flexing along the rotational direction, is enabled, but on the other hand it is prevented that the respective holders rotate too far in the direction of the supporting part.

[0016] According to preferred embodiments of the present invention, the slot extends beyond the edge of the slatted bed base.

[0017] According to preferred embodiments of the present invention, one or more of the following are detachably connected to each other: the first member, the second member, the end piece. Such detachable connections allow manufacturing of the device out of different types of materials which are connected to each other later on, for example during assembly of the device, or during assembly of the slatted bed base. In addition, such detachable connections make it possible to reduce the volume that the device occupies during, for example, transport.

[0018] According to further preferred embodiments of the present invention, the first and the second member are detachably connected to each other, and there are co-operating slots and protrusions provided on the lower end of the second member and the first member in vertical direction from the edge, for height adjustment of the slat. It has been found that such a connection enables a simple but reliable connection, which still enables to adjust the height of the slat.

[0019] According to further preferred embodiments of the present invention, the co-operating slots and protrusions comprise at least one pin provided at the lower end of the second member, and at least two holes, shifted in height with respect to each other, in the first member, for receiving the at least one pin, and the pin and holes slope towards the bottom of the second member.

[0020] According to preferred embodiments of the present invention, the first flexible connecting means comprise a flexible curved arm which connects the upper and the lower end of the second member to each other.

[0021] According to further preferred embodiments of the present invention, the device comprises a flexible connecting piece, separate from the arm, between the upper and the lower end of the second member.

[0022] The invention also relates to a slatted bed base comprising a device according to the present invention, wherein the first member is attached to the inner side of the slatted bed base.

[0023] The invention also relates to a bed provided with a slatted bed base according to the present invention.

[0024] According to preferred embodiments of the present invention, the bed comprises a mattress wherein the top surface of the end piece supports the mattress.

[0025] According to further preferred embodiments of the present invention, the bed comprises a bed frame which surrounds the slatted bed base, wherein the bed frame extends in vertical direction to the upper end, in order to reduce the risk that the device according to the present invention is visible to an observer looking at the bed, whether or not a mattress is placed on the slatted bed base.

[0026] The invention also relates to the use of a bed according to the invention for supporting a person lying on the mattress of the bed supported by the slatted bed base. It has been found that such a bed provides a good support to the person lying on the mattress, wherein the mattress is supported by the slatted bed base.

[0027] The invention will be further elucidated with reference to the included figures.

Figure 1 shows a device for attaching a slat of a slatted bed base to an edge of the slatted bed base in perspective.

Figure 2 shows a detail of the device according to Figure 1.

Figure 3 shows a front view of the device according to Figure 1.

Figure 4 shows a side view of the device according to Figure 1.

Figure 5 shows a side view of the device according to Figure 1 with a slat of the slatted bed base included.

Figure 6 shows an exploded view of the device according to Figure 1.

1. Device for attaching a slat

2. Slat

3. Slatted bed base

4. Edge of the slatted bed base

5. First member

6. Second member

7. Inner side of edge

8. Lower end of the second member

9. Upper end of the second member

10. End piece

11. First flexible connecting means

12. Second flexible connecting means

13. Slot for receiving the end of a slat

14. First holder

15. Second holder

16. End of slat

17. Rotation axis

18. Top surface for supporting the mattress

19. Slot

20. Supporting part

21. Co-operating slots and protrusions for height adjustment of the slat

22. Pin

23. Opening

24. Arm

25. Flexible connecting piece

26. Connecting means of first to second member

27. Tip

28. Slit

[0028] Figure 1 shows a device 1 for attaching a slat 2 of a slatted bed base 3 to an edge 4, for example a delimiting edge 4 of the slatted bed base 3, of the slatted bed base 3 in perspective. Figure 5 shows for example a side view of the device according to Figure 1 with a slat 2 of the slatted bed base 3.

[0029] The edge 4 of the slatted bed base 3, the slat 2 and the slatted bed base 3 as a whole are not fully shown. Each slatted bed base 3 and associated slat 2 and edge 4 deemed suitable by the person skilled in the art may however be used, depending on the configuration of the device for the attachment of the slat 2.

[0030] The device 1 comprises a first member 5 which is provided for attachment to the inner side 7 of the edge 4 of the slatted bed base 3. An overview of the first member 5 is for example shown in Figure 2. A view in which the first member is attached to the inner side 7 of the edge 4 is for instance shown in Figure 1. Although a number of such first members 5 may be used, preferably the first member according to EP1013200A1 is used.

[0031] On the first member 5, means 26 are provided for connecting the first member 5 to a lower end 8 of a second member 6.

[0032] The second member 6 is, inter alia, shown in Figures 2 and 4. The second member 6 extends between an upper end 9 and the lower end 8. This is, inter alia, shown in Figure 4.

[0033] The second member 6 comprises first flexible connecting means 11 for the vertically flexible connection between the upper 9 and the lower 8 end of the second member 6.

[0034] The flexible connecting means 11 are, inter alia, shown in Figure 4, and comprise a flexible curved arm 24 which connects the upper and the lower end of the second member to each other. Such an arm 24, is however not essential to the invention, and also other flexible connecting means 11 may be used to connect the two ends 8, 9 of the second member 6 to each other, such as for example connecting means based on metal springs.

[0035] As shown in Figure 4, the device 1 preferably also comprises a flexible connecting piece 25, separate from the arm 24, between the upper 9 and the lower end 8 of the second member 6. Such a flexible connecting piece 25 is however not essential and may be omitted or even replaced by other connecting pieces.

[0036] The arm 24 and the connecting piece 25 are for example further discussed in EP1013200A1. Although they are both not essential to the invention, it nevertheless has been found that they provide for improved support of the mattress, and ultimately of a person who will be lying on the mattress. In addition, it has been found that in particular with the present invention, improved support of the mattress, and ultimately of the person who will be lying on the mattress, is obtained.

[0037] As shown in the figures, for example in Figure 4, the upper end 9 is connected to an end piece 10 of the device 1. The end piece 10 has at least one holder 14 with therein at least one slot 13 for receiving the end 16 of the slat 2 of the slatted bed base 3.

[0038] Preferably, the holder 14 comprises a top surface 18 for supporting a mattress. Such a top surface 18 is for example shown in Figure 2. More preferably, the top surface 18 is adapted to receiving a mattress by, for example a ribbed part in the upper surface 18, in order to reduce the risk that the mattress slides across the top surface 18. Additionally, preferably, or as a replacement, there is a tip 27 of the top surface 18 which will receive or receives the edge of the mattress, if a mattress is present on the top surface. Such a tip is shown for example in Figure 4 and has the effect that the sliding off of the mattress of the top surface 18 is further reduced.

[0039] As shown in Figure 3, the holder 14 is preferably located substantially at the level of the upper end 9. However, this is not essential to the present invention, and the holder 14 may also be located higher, for example.

[0040] Preferably, the holder 14 extend to below the upper end 9, and the holder 14 is further preferably located substantially below the upper end 9, as shown for example in Figure 4. However, this is not essential to the present invention, and the holder 14 may also partially extend above the upper end 9.

[0041] As shown in Figure 3, the end piece 10 comprises preferably at least two, for example two, three, four, five, six, etc., holders 14, 15, provided respectively with at least one slot 13, 19 for receiving the end of a respective slat 2.

[0042] More preferably, though not necessarily, the end piece 10 comprises a supporting part 20 which extends between the two holders 14, 15. Such a supporting part 20 makes it possible to improve the support of the mattress and of a person who will eventually be lying on the mattress. In particular, a more stable support of the mattress is obtained, and it is for example avoided that the two holders 14, 15 deviate too much from their equilibrium position, so that an excessively pronounced difference in bending direction would be realized between the two holders 14, 15.

[0043] The end piece 10 is preferably made of a single piece, for example of plastic, so that the end piece 10 can be manufactured more easily. It has been found that such an end piece 10 also allows that the support offered by the various parts of the end piece 10, such as for example the support by two holders 14, 15, is more similar, so that improved support of a mattress, or a person who will be lying on the mattress, is obtained.

[0044] The slot 14, or if a plurality of slots 14, 15 is present, the slots 14, 15, preferably extend to beyond the edge 4 of the slatted bed base 3, whereby, if a mattress is placed on the end piece 10, an improved appearance is obtained, since the slatted bed base 3 is hidden better. However, this is not essential to the invention, and the slots 14, 15 may also just extend to within the framework bounded by the edge 4.

[0045] The holder 14 is connected by second flexible connecting means 12 different from the first flexible connecting means 11 flexibly connected to the upper end 9 of the second member 6, wherein the second flexible connecting means 12 extend substantially below the upper end 9. These second flexible connecting means 12 are shown for example in Figure 3.

[0046] The second flexible connecting means 12 flexibly connect the holder 14, flexing along a rotational direction around a rotation axis 17 which runs in the longitudinal direction of the slat 2, to the upper end 9 of the second member 6. To this end, the second flexible connecting means 12 extend for example, as shown in Figure 3, from a position at the bottom of the holder 14, which essentially corresponds to the center of the slot 13 and/or the center of the slat 2, if held by the slot 13, as measured along the transverse direction of the slat 2 or the slot 13.

[0047] The second flexible connecting means 12 are preferably a part of the end piece 10. Preferably, the second flexible connecting means 12 extend between, if present, the supporting part 20 and the holder 14, as shown in Figure 3. However, this is not essential to the present invention, and alternative configurations are also possible.

[0048] Preferably, the second flexible connecting means 12 flexibly connect the holder 14, flexing along an upward and downward direction, preferably in addition to the flexible connection, flexing along a rotational direction around the rotation axis 17. Although present, this upward and downward flexing connection is preferably less pronounced than the flexible connection flexing along the rotation axis 17. Preferably, the flexible upward and downward motion is substantially realized by the first flexible connecting means 11, and the flexible connection flexing along a rotational direction by the second flexible connecting means 12.

[0049] Preferably, the second flexible connecting means 12 are a part of the end piece 10, as for example shown in Figure 3.

[0050] Preferably, for further enabling the flexible connection flexing along a rotational direction along the second flexible connecting means 12, a slit 28 is present between the supporting part 20 which extends between the two holders 14, 15 and the respective holders 14, 15, to allow the flexible movement along the rotational direction over a certain angle. The slit 28 is preferably dimensioned in such a way that on one hand a sufficiently flexible movement along the rotational direction is enabled, yet on the other hand it is prevented that the respective holders 14, 15 rotate too far in the direction of the supporting part 20.

[0051] As shown in Figure 6, one or more of the following are detachably connected to each other: the first member 5, the second member 6, the end piece 10. However, this is not essential to the present invention, and the listed elements may also be non-detachably connected to each other by, for example, welding, adhering, etc., or even be made of a single piece.

[0052] Preferably, the first and the second member 6 are detachably connected to each other. More preferably, co-operating slots and protrusions 21 are provided on the lower end 8 of the second member 6 and the first member 5 in vertical direction from the edge 4, for height adjustment of the slat 2.

[0053] More preferably, the co-operating slots and protrusions 21 comprise at least one pin 22 provided at the lower end 8 of the second member 6, and at least two holes 23, shifted in height with respect to each other, in the first member 5, for receiving the at least one pin 22, and the pin and holes 23 slope towards the bottom of the second member 6. Such co-operating slots and protrusions 21 have also already been described in EP1013200A1. Although they accomplish a simple and effective connection between the first and the second member 5, 6, they are however not essential to the present invention, and they may be replaced by alternative systems, such as for example by a simpler click system.

Claims

1. Device (1) for attaching a slat (2) of a slatted bed base (3) to an edge (4) of the slatted bed base (3), wherein the device (1) comprises a first member (5) which is provided for attachment to the inner side (7) of the edge (4) of the slatted bed base (3), wherein on the first member (5) means (26) are provided for connecting the first member (5) to a lower end (8) of a second member (6), wherein the second member (6) extends between an upper end (9) and the lower end (8), wherein the second member (6) comprises first flexible connecting means (11) for vertically flexibly connecting the upper and the lower end (8) of the second member (6), wherein the upper end (9) is connected to an end piece (10) of the device (1) with at least one slot (13) in a holder (14) of the end piece (10) for receiving the end (16) of at least one slat (2) of the slatted bed base (3), wherein the holder (14) is flexibly connected by second flexible connecting means (12) different from the first flexible connecting means (11) to the upper end (9) of the second member (6), characterized in that the second flexible connecting means (12) substantially extend below the upper end (9).

2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the second flexible connecting means (12) flexibly connect the holder (14), flexing along a rotational direction around a rotation axis (17) which is positioned in a longitudinal direction of the slat (2), to the upper end (9) of the second member (6), that the end piece (10) comprises a top surface (18) for supporting a mattress, and that the end piece (10) comprises at least two holders (14, 15), respectively provided with at least one slot (13), and that the end piece (10) comprises a supporting part (20) which extends between the two holders (14, 15), wherein, to further enable the flexible connection along the rotational direction, a slit (28) is present between the supporting part (20) which extends between the two holders (14, 15) and the respective holders (14, 15).

3. Device (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the holder (14) is substantially located at the level of the upper end (9).

4. Device (1) according to any one of claims 1 - 3, characterized in that the holder (14) extends at least partially to below the upper end (9).

5. Device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the slot (13) extends beyond the edge (4) of the slatted bed base (3).

6. Device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that one or more of the following are detachably connected to each other: the first member (5), the second member (6), the end piece (10).

7. Device (1) according to claim 6, characterized in that the first and the second member (6) are detachably connected to each other, and wherein on the lower end (8) of the second member (6) and on the first member (5) in vertical direction from the edge (4), co-operating slots and protrusions (21) are provided for the height adjustment of the slat (2).

8. Device (1) according to claim 7, characterized in that the co-operating slots and protrusions (21) comprise at least one pin (22) provided at the lower end (8) of the second member (6) and at least two openings (23), shifted in height with respect to each other, in the first member (5) for receiving the at least one pin (22), and the pin (22) and openings (23) slope towards the bottom of the second member (6).

9. Device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the first flexible connecting means (11) comprise a flexible curved arm (24) which connects the upper and the lower end (9, 8) of the second member (6) to each other.

10. Device (1) according to claim 9, characterized in that the device (1) comprises a flexible connecting piece (25), separate from the arm (24), between the upper and the lower end (9, 8) of the second member (6).

11. Slatted bed base (3) comprising the device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the first member (5) is attached to the inner side (7) of the edge (4) of the slatted bed base (3).

12. Bed provided with a slatted bed base (3) according to claim 11.

13. Bed according to claim 12 at least in combination with claim 2, characterized in that the bed comprises a mattress, wherein the top surface (18) of the end piece (10) supports the mattress.

14. Bed according to claim 13, characterized in that the bed comprises a bed frame which surrounds the slatted bed base (3), wherein the bed frame extends in vertical direction to the upper end (9).

15. Use of a bed according to any one of claims 12 - 14 for supporting a person lying on the mattress of the bed supported by the slatted bed base (3).

Drawing