(19)
(11) EP 2 181 624 A2

(12) EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION

(43) Date of publication:
05.05.2010 Bulletin 2010/18

(21) Application number: 09174893.9

(22) Date of filing: 03.11.2009
(51) International Patent Classification (IPC): 
A47C 20/04(2006.01)
A47C 21/02(2006.01)
(84) Designated Contracting States:
AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HR HU IE IS IT LI LT LU LV MC MK MT NL NO PL PT RO SE SI SK SM TR
Designated Extension States:
AL BA RS

(30) Priority: 04.11.2008 NL 2002165

(71) Applicant: Kuperus B.V.
7602 CV Almelo (NL)

(72) Inventor:
  • Rollerman, Jan Willem
    7602 JJ, Almelo (NL)

(74) Representative: Mink-Lindenburg, Charlotte Hildegard 
Octrooibureau Mink B.V. Twentepoort Oost 61-25
7609 RG Almelo
7609 RG Almelo (NL)

   


(54) Mattress-bedbase attachment


(57) System (1) for an adjustable bed base (2) and a mattress (3). The system is provided with means (4,5,6) for attaching the mattress releasably to the bed base.
It also relates to a bed provided with a system according to above.




Description


[0001] The present invention relates to a system of an adjustable bed base and a mattress. An example of a bed base with mattress is the box spring combination, wherein the bed base takes a sprung form and is referred to as a box.

[0002] Many types of such systems are known in practice. There is a trend in this field toward freestanding placing of the known systems. The adjustable bed base then rests on a low support frame. In embodiments where a bed frame is present, the adjustable bed base protrudes in the adjusted position above the edge of the bed frame. It is necessary in the above stated systems to take measures to prevent the mattress sliding off the bed base during adjustment thereof.

[0003] A system of the type stated in the preamble is for instance known from the international patent application WO 2004/028306. The known system is provided with means for attaching the mattress releasably to the bed base as according to the preamble of claim 1. The attaching means are situated close to the only pivot point of the known system, which connects the back part to the seat part, and serve to hold the stiff mattress against the bed base in adjusted position. It is also necessary in the known system to take measures to prevent the mattress sliding off the bed base during adjustment thereof.

[0004] It is known in practice to place a bracket at the foot end of the bed base for the purpose of ensuring that the mattress does not slide off the bed base during adjustment of the bed base. Such a bracket is unsightly despite the fact that it can be given a form upholstered in the colours of the bed. The known bracket is moreover perceived as inconvenient by users who wish to be able to sit on the foot end of the bed.

[0005] The invention has for its object to provide a system of the type stated in the preamble which obviates these drawbacks. The system according to the invention has the feature that the attaching means are arranged at the foot end close to the end surface.

[0006] Through actual attachment of the mattress and the bed base to each other at the position of the end surface of the foot end, the known bracket becomes unnecessary. Applicant is of the opinion that attachment only on the end surface of the foot end of the bed suffices to prevent shifting of the mattress relative to the bed base, since the greatest shear forces occur in the area of the foot end of the bed during adjustment.

[0007] According to a further preferred embodiment, the attaching means extend over a considerable part of the width of the system. A robust attachment can be realized in effective manner by having the attaching means engage over the width of the bed base and the mattress.

[0008] In a further development the attaching means comprise an elongate element and attaching elements for releasable attachment of the elongate element. An elongate element covers a considerable part of the width of the bed base and the mattress in effective manner.

[0009] In yet another development the attaching means comprise a double-fold element for receiving the elongate element. A double-fold element can be integrated inconspicuously in the bed base or the mattress at relatively low production cost.

[0010] In a further preferred embodiment the double-fold element is arranged on the mattress and the attaching elements are arranged on the bed base.

[0011] In a practical embodiment the attaching elements comprise clamping brackets. In yet another practical embodiment the elongate element is rod-like. The attaching means of the system according to the invention can be realized at low cost by opting for a rod, clamping brackets and a double-fold element.

[0012] The invention will now be further elucidated with reference to the accompanying figures, in which

Figure 1 shows a schematic view of a preferred embodiment of the system according to the invention;

Figure 2 shows an exploded view of the system of figure 1;

Figure 3 shows a schematic view of a detail of the system of figure 1; and

Figure 4 shows the attaching means of figure 3 in more detail.



[0013] Figure 1 shows a schematic view of a system 1 according to the invention. Figure 2 shows an exploded view of system 1. System 1 comprises a bed base 2 with a mattress 3 thereon. Bed base 2 is electrically or manually adjustable. Bed base 2 has a considerable thickness, this being an indication that it is of superior form, for instance sprung. Mattress 3 also has a considerable thickness and also takes a superior form. The combination of a sprung bed base 2 with a superior mattress 3 is known in the field by the term box spring. By way of illustration the box spring is accommodated in a surround or bed frame 10.

[0014] According to the invention mattress 3 and bed base 2 are attached to each other in releasable manner. In the shown preferred embodiment mattress 3 is provided with a double-fold element 4. The double-fold element is sown in and is preferably manufactured from the same material as mattress 3. Double-fold element 4 is hereby integrated inconspicuously into mattress 3. An elongate object 5 is inserted into double-fold element 4. In the shown preferred embodiment the elongate object is a rod 5. Rod 5 can be attached releasably to bed base 2. Bed base 2 is provided for this purpose with two clamping brackets 6 in which rod 5 can be received. Other suitable attaching elements in the field for releasably attaching rod 5 can also be applied as alternative to clamping brackets 6. An example hereof are for instance bushes through which the outer end of rod 5 can be inserted.

[0015] Figure 3 shows in more detail the attaching means received in the foot end of the system according to the invention. Figure 4 shows an exploded view of the attaching means according to the invention.

[0016] According to the invention the mattress and the bed base are releasably attached to each other so as to thus prevent undesired shifting of the mattress relative to the bed base during adjustment of the bed base. The attaching means according to the invention are integrated inconspicuously into the mattress and the bed base so that they do not mar the design of the bed. The attaching means are embodied in elegant manner such that they can nevertheless provide a strong attachment. The attaching means are also particularly user-friendly, since they can be released in relatively simple matter by means of rapid actions. It is after all sufficient to remove the rod from the clamping brackets and optionally remove the rod from the double-fold element. The material of the double-fold element can also be adapted to the material of the mattress or the bed base.

[0017] The invention is expressly not limited to the shown and described preferred embodiment. Diverse variants can be envisaged by a skilled person in the field after reading of this text. The double-fold element can for instance be fixed to the bed base and the clamping brackets to the mattress. A double-fold element can also be arranged on both end surfaces of the system, i.e. on both the head end and the foot end. Instead of one double-fold element, two or more double-fold elements can be applied which together extend over a considerable part of the width of the system. These two or more double-fold elements can, if desired be arranged alternately on the bed base and on the mattress so that the double-fold elements form a threading system or "hinge" for the elongate object. It is even possible to envisage applying another type of releasable attaching means. Several non-limitative examples are: velcro tape, a zip, a threading system with a cord and loops or eyes and so on, or a combination thereof. The invention therefore extends to all embodiments falling within the protection of the appended claims as seen in the light of the description and the drawings.


Claims

1. System of an adjustable bed base and a mattress, which system is provided with means for attaching the mattress releasably to the bed base characterized in that the attaching means are arranged at the foot end close to the end surface.
 
2. System as claimed in claim 1, wherein the attaching means extend over a considerable part of the width of the system.
 
3. System as claimed in claim 2, wherein the attaching means comprise an elongate element and attaching elements for releasable attachment of the elongate element.
 
4. System as claimed in claim 3, wherein the attaching means comprise a double-fold element for receiving the elongate element.
 
5. System as claimed in claim 4, wherein the double-fold element is arranged on the mattress and wherein the attaching elements are arranged on the bed base.
 
6. System as claimed in claim 3, wherein the attaching elements comprise clamping brackets.
 
7. System as claimed in claim 3, wherein the elongate element is rod-like.
 
8. Bed provided with a system as claimed in any of the foregoing claims.
 




Drawing

















Cited references

REFERENCES CITED IN THE DESCRIPTION



This list of references cited by the applicant is for the reader's convenience only. It does not form part of the European patent document. Even though great care has been taken in compiling the references, errors or omissions cannot be excluded and the EPO disclaims all liability in this regard.

Patent documents cited in the description