Waterbed

Abstract

 The invention is related to a waterbed, the water mattress of which rests upon a base plate and is positioned with respect to this base plate by an edging, characterised in that the edging is subdivided along each of the four sides of the waterbed into separate components (4) while the base plate is divided into a same number of components (1).

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a waterbed, the water mattress of which rests upon a base plate and is positioned with respect to this base plate by an edging.

[0002] Waterbeds consist, as generally known, of a water mattress supported by a base plate, which base plate is supported in its turn by a socle.

[0003] It has already been proposed to receive the water mattress within an edging which consists of more or less flexible material. When a profile of any structure is incorporated in the edging, a rigid and cumbersome construction is formed which is not only difficult to handle but occupies a very large volume when being transported. In the waterbeds known hitherto, the base plate forms a unit the edging is connected to. Several embodiments are known wherein more or less satisfying solutions were proposed for making a so-called soft edging.

[0004] The invention has now as object to design a new waterbed concept which is not only easier to handle but which allows moreover a significant reduction of the weight of the base plate.

[0005] In order to enable this according to the invention, the edging is subdivided along each of the four sides of the waterbed in separate components while the base plate is divided into a same number of components.

[0006] In a preferred embodiment, the edging is subdivided into at least two components and said base plate is subdivided into at least two components.

[0007] Other details and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description of a waterbed according to the invention.

[0008] This description is only given by way of example and does not limit the invention. The reference numerals relate to the figures annexed hereto.

[0009] Figure 1 is a perspective view of the essential elements of a waterbed to which the invention relates.

[0010] Figures 2 to 6 show schematically some of the many possible embodiments of a waterbed according to the invention.

[0011] The waterbed, shown in these figures, comprises a base plate consisting of several components 1. In the example shown in figure 1, the base plate consists of four components 1 each of which is supported by usual socles 2. The four components 1 are mutually connected with usual means by profiles 3 to form together the entire base plate. In the different figures, the water mattress has not been shown for the sake of clarity of the essential elements.

[0012] On each of the four components 1 which constitute the base plate, a component 4 of an edging is fixed. An edging may consist of one or more mutually co-operating foam rails either in combination or not with non deformable elements, which generally consist of a profile.

[0013] By the expression "foam rail" are meant elongated resilient elements which pertain to a soft edging and which are made of a suitable foam material.

[0014] A surprisingly remarkable advantage of the invention has to be seen in the fact that the components forming the waterbed are easier to handle and can be stored and transported under better conditions.

[0015] From a pure structural point of view, the invention allows a reduction of the thickness of the material because, thanks to the reduced dimensions of the different base plates, the thickness determining the strength of these base plates can be reduced proportionally.

[0016] Although the most advantageous configuration of the base plate consisting of several components is the base plate subdivided in quarto, as shown in Figures 1 and 3, the principle of the invention can also be applied to waterbeds which are composed of two or more than four components. By components is then meant a base plate component including the components pertaining to the usual edging fixed thereon.

[0017] From the description, it appears thus very clearly that the invention and allows in each phase a substantially less cumbersome waterbed structure. The occupied storage space is therefore considerably reduced in an original manner.

Claims

1. A waterbed, the water mattress of which rests upon a base plate and is positioned with respect to this base plate by an edging, characterised in that the edging is subdivided along each of the four sides of the waterbed into separate components (4) while the base plate is divided into a same number of components (1).

2. A waterbed according to claim 1, characterised in that the edging is subdivided into at least two components (4).

3. A waterbed according to either one of the claims 1 and 2, characterised in that said base plate is subdivided into at least two components (1).

4. A waterbed according to any one of the claims 1 - 3, characterised in that the different components (4) of the subdivided edging are fixed onto the respective components (1) of the base plate.

5. A waterbed according to any one of the claims 1 - 4, characterised in that said edging consists of at least one profile.

6. A waterbed according to any one of the claims 1 - 5, characterised in that said edging consists of a profile and a foam rail.

Drawing