Mattress support

Abstract

 Mattress support consisting of a slatted base (7), on which a resilient layer (8) is fitted, which resilient layer is composed of a foam layer with an open-cell structure into which an endless wire spring (9) is foamed. A layer (12) of wadding felt is fitted on the foam layer. A cover (18) is fitted around the resilient layer and the compressible layer, which cover is fixed to the underside of the slatted base by means of fastening means (19), for example staples. A synthetic fleece (17) is fitted between the air-permeable, resilient layer. The slatted base and the foam layer lying on the slatted base lie recessed in a frame. The foam layer is provided with an edge part (13) at the side edges, which edge part comprises at the top side a first recess, in which the side edges of the layer of wadding felt lie recessed, and a second recess, in which the side edges of the frame are accommodated.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a mattress support, in particular for sitting or lying surfaces, consisting of a base, for example a slatted base, on which a resilient layer is fitted.

[0002] Such a mattress support serves to support a mattress of, for example, a bed, and is known, for example, from European Patent Application EP-A,653,174. In the case of this known mattress support the resilient layer consists of a large number of separate plastic spring elements with a hollow cross-section, arranged in the form of a matrix.

[0003] This known mattress support has the disadvantage that it comprises a large number of separate spring elements, each of which has to be manufactured and fitted separately, with the result that the mattress support can be manufactured only at high cost. Dirt and dust can easily accumulate in the uncovered hollow plastic elements, which are difficult to reach and therefore difficult to clean. The spring characteristics of the plastic decrease as time passes. If a plastic spring element breaks or sags permanently, it is difficult to replace. Each of the resilient elements comprises a head plate on which the mattress is supported. The underside of the mattress is largely covered by the large number of head plates, with the result that condensation which accumulates in the underside of the mattress during use, as a result of, inter alia, perspiration, cannot escape.

[0004] The object of the invention is a mattress support which does not have these disadvantages, in which no dirt and dust can accumulate, and which permits good ventilation of both the mattress and its own parts.

[0005] This object of the invention is achieved by a mattress support of the type mentioned in the preamble, in which the resilient layer is composed of a layer of air-permeable material, in which one or more resilient elements are accommodated.

[0006] This measure ensures that no dirt and dust can accumulate between the resilient elements. Owing to the fact that the resilient elements are accommodated in a layer of airpermeable material, the underside of the mattress to be supported is not covered by the resilient elements in an airtight manner, and optimum ventilation of the underside of the mattress - and consequently good discharge of moisture - is possible. The air-permeable layer of material also provides for good heat insulation on the underside of the mattress to be supported.

[0007] In a preferred embodiment of the mattress support according to the invention, the resilient element consists of an endless wire spring. An endless wire spring consists of a large number of spiral-shaped spring elements, in which the end of the bottom or top coil runs on into the bottom or top coil respectively of an adjacent spiral-shaped spring part. Such an endless spring is easy to fit in one go and can easily be foamed in, in which case the resilience is virtually uniform.

[0008] In a further preferred embodiment the air-permeable, resilient layer consists of a layer of foam with an open-cell structure, for example polyurethane foam, into which the resilient element is foamed. The spring element is simple to foam in after it has been placed in a mould. The opencell structure ensures good air-permeability, and moisture and dirt are readily removed. The use of foam means that an air-permeable layer in which the material is uniformly distributed, even around and in the spring elements, can be obtained. Moreover, a foam layer gives good heat insulation.

[0009] A compressible, air-permeable layer, for example a layer of wadding felt, is preferably fitted on the air-permeable, resilient layer. This means that the resilience is better distributed over the underside of the mattress to be supported, owing to the fact that the springs are not pressing directly against the underside of the mattress. The additional layer can be removed separately for, for example, cleaning or replacement.

[0010] A cover is preferably fitted around the resilient layer and the compressible layer. This produces a sort of bellows action, so that when, for example, a user moves on the mattress air is moved into and out of the mattress support. By means of this bellows action, moisture and dust are removed from the foam layer and the layer of wadding felt.

[0011] Moreover, the cover is preferably fixed to the underside of the slatted base by means of fastening means, for example staples, so that the different layers are firmly connected to one another and to the slatted base, without being able to shift relative to each other.

[0012] A synthetic fleece is preferably fitted between the airpermeable layer and the slatted base, which prevents dirt or dust from being able to penetrate from the underside into the foam layer.

[0013] In a further preferred embodiment the slatted base and the resilient air-permeable layer lying on the slatted base lie recessed in a frame or framework. This means that the mattress support is protected and can be supported by way of the frame by the bed frame. The frame also has a decorative function.

[0014] The foam layer is preferably provided with an edge part at the side edges, which edge part at the top side comprises a first recess, which extends in the lengthwise direction of the mattress support and in which the side edges of the layer of wadding felt lie recessed, and which edge part at the side facing away from the foam layer comprises a second recess, which extends in the lengthwise direction of the mattress support and in which the side edges of the frame are accommodated. This means that the different layers are held well in place relative to each other and relative to the frame.

[0015] The mattress support is preferably composed of two or more parts which can pivot relative to each other about an axis which is at right angles to the lengthwise direction of the mattress support. A mattress support according to the invention can be made relatively thin, so that in a simple manner it can be made adjustable, in such a way that the mattress support can be adjusted between a lying position, a sitting position and possibly one or more intermediate positions. Owing to the fact that the mattress support according to the invention has a limited thickness, the overall height is low and an auxiliary motor can be used for adjusting the mattress support.

[0016] The invention will be explained in greater detail with reference to the drawing, in which:

Figure 1 shows partially cut away in perspective a mattress support according to the invention;

Figure 2 shows in cross-section the mattress support shown in Figure 1;

Figure 3 shows a spring element of a mattress support according to the invention;

Figure 4 shows in cross-section a mattress support according to the invention in the adjusted state.

[0017] Figure 1 shows a partially cut-away drawing of a mattress support 1 according to the invention. The mattress support 1 consists of a rectangular frame 2 with two long sides 3 and two short sides 4, which form the head end and the foot end respectively. Slats 5, for example of wood, preferably five-ply beechwood, are fitted in the frame 2 parallel to the short sides 4, which slats have a certain resilience. The slats are recessed in the frame and are suitably inserted into recesses 6 provided on the inside of the long sides 3 near the underside of the frame 2, as shown in Figure 2. The slats 5 together form a slatted base 7, on which a resilient, air-permeable layer 8 is fitted. Said layer 8 comprises an endless spring 9, consisting of a large number of interconnected coil springs 10, as shown in Figure 3. The longitudinal axis of the coil springs 10 extends in a direction which is substantially at right angles to the layer 8. The endless spring 9 is embedded in or foamed into a layer of foam 11 with an open-cell structure, for example a polyurethane foam. This open-cell structure gives the foam good air permeability and enables it to discharge moisture readily. A layer 12 of air-permeable material, for example wadding felt, is fitted on top of the foam layer 11 in which the endless spring 9 is accommodated or into which it is foamed. In order to hold the different layers in position relative to each other and relative to the frame 2, profiled strips or edge parts 13 made of, for example, foam are fitted on the side edges 3, 4 of the frame 2, a recess 14 being provided in one of the corners of the sides running in the lengthwise direction, in which recess a side edge 3, 4 of the frame 2 can be accommodated in a recessed manner, while in the opposite corner 15 a recess 16 is provided, in which recess the layer of wadding felt 12 lies recessed. A synthetic fleece 17 is provided between the foam layer 8 and the profiled foam strip 13, on the one hand, and the frame 2, on the other hand, which synthetic fleece protects the foam layer 8 from the penetration of dirt, moisture and dust. A cover 18 made of an air-permeable woven fabric is fitted over the layer of wadding felt 12. The cover 18 is fixed to the frame 2 by means of fixing means 19, for example staples.

[0018] Figure 3 shows in side view in a partially cut- away foam layer 11 a part of the endless spring 9, consisting of a large number of spiral-shaped spring elements 10, in which the end of the bottom or top coils always runs on into the bottom or top coil respectively of an adjacent spiralshaped spring element 10. In this way, all coil springs are interconnected to form a single endless spring 9 which is simple to place in a mould for the purpose of foaming it in.

[0019] Figure 4 shows in cross-section an adjustable mattress support 1 according to the invention, consisting of a slatted base 6, a resilient foam layer 8, a layer of wadding felt 12 and a cover 18, which in the case of this exemplary embodiment is fitted on the underside of the slatted base 6. The mattress support 1 consists of three segments which are adjustable relative to each other about two pivot axes or bending axes which are parallel to the short sides of the mattress support. The two bending axes divide the mattress support 1 into a first segment 20, which serves to support the upper part of the body and the trunk of a user, a second segment 21, which serves to support the thighs of the user, and a third segment 22, which serves to support the lower legs of the user. The mattress support 1 can be adjusted, for example, by hand or by means of a small electric motor which is placed under the mattress support 1. The mattress support 1 is placed inside a bed frame 23.

Claims

1. Mattress support, in particular for sitting or lying surfaces, consisting of a base, for example a slatted base, on which a resilient layer is fitted, characterized in that the resilient layer is composed of a layer of air-permeable material, in which one or more resilient elements are accommodated.

2. Mattress support according to Claim 1, characterized in that the resilient element consists of an endless wire spring.

3. Mattress support according to Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the air-permeable, resilient layer consists of a layer of foam with an open-cell structure into which the resilient element is foamed.

4. Mattress support according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a compressible, air-permeable layer, for example a layer of wadding felt, is fitted on the air-permeable, resilient layer.

5. Mattress support according to Claim 4, characterized in that a cover is fitted around the resilient layer and the compressible layer.

6. Mattress support according to Claim 5, characterized in that the cover is fixed to the underside of the slatted base by means of fastening means, for example staples.

7. Mattress support according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a synthetic fleece is fitted between the air-permeable, resilient layer.

8. Mattress support according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the slatted base and the resilient, air-permeable layer lying on the slatted base lie recessed in a frame or framework.

9. Mattress support according to Claim 8, characterized in that the foam layer is provided with an edge part at the side edges, which edge part at the top side comprises a first recess, which extends in the lengthwise direction of the mattress support and in which the side edges of the layer of wadding felt lie recessed, and which edge part at the side facing away from the foam layer comprises a second recess, which extends in the lengthwise direction of the mattress support and in which the side edges of the frame are accommodated.

10. Mattress support according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the mattress support is composed of two or more parts which can pivot relative to each other about an axis which is at right angles to the lengthwise direction of the mattress support.

Drawing