US 6,647,574 B2 · Coupled waveband suspension for bedding and seating units

Abstract

A coupled waveband (14, 21) suspension for bed underframes, seating, upholstery, and mattresses consists of several sinusoidal wavebands (14, 21) which run parallel and/or transversely to the longitudinal axis. Support elements (12, 35) are rigidly or moveably fixed to or ride on the crests or maxima of the wavebands (14, 21). The troughs or minima are supported by slide or roll bearing elements (17) affixed to the frame. A strong interactive coupling is achieved between the support elements (12, 35) causing a positive stroke of the less pressure-loaded segments and the appropriate support elements by the simultaneous lowering of the pressure-loaded waveband segments. The wavebands (14, 21) are manufactured out of higher quality, elastically flexible sold plastic or foam material, or of spring steel band or wire, duralumin, or out of formed laminated wood. In one embodiment, the suspension system includes crossed single or double storied wavebands (14, 14A, 21, 21A) affixed in pockets (90) or niches of the foam side construction of the mattress and which are freely moveable in most of the inner part of the core. In another embodiment, two crossed sets of wavebands (14, 14X, 21, 21X) are used with each crest of one set situated opposite to a trough of the other one thus providing a close support coverage of the surfaces.

Claims26

Dependent claims

A bedding or seating unit comprising:

a frame defining a plane;
at least one band extending generally within the frame and having a plurality of alternating crests and troughs when the unit is in an unloaded configuration;
a support element coupled to the crests of the band upon which a load applied to the unit is supported;
a bearing element coupled to each of the troughs of the band and mounted to the frame;
wherein when the load is applied the support element at selected crests, the selected crests move generally perpendicularly to the plane toward the adjacent troughs and the crests adjacent to the selected crests move generally perpendicularly to the plane away from the troughs adjacent thereto.

2 more elements

A bedding or seating unit comprising:

a frame defining a plane and having a plurality of interconnected peripheral frame elements and a lattice of interior frame elements coupled to the peripheral frame elements;
a plurality of bands extending generally parallel to one another in a first direction within the frame and each of the bands having a plurality of alternating crests and troughs when the unit is in an unloaded configuration;
a plurality of support elements each of which is coupled to one of the crests of one of the bands and upon which a load applied to the unit is supported;
a plurality of bearing elements each of which is coupled to one of the troughs of one of the bands and fixedly mounted relative to the frame so that a position of each bearing element is fixed relative to the frame, each of the bands being moveable relative to the associated bearing elements as the load is applied to and removed from the unit;
wherein when the load is applied the support element at selected crests, the selected crests move generally perpendicularly to the plane toward the adjacent troughs and the crests adjacent to the selected crests move generally perpendicularly to the plane away from the troughs adjacent thereto, wherein each of the support elements is generally parallel to the plane when the unit is unloaded and the support elements at the selected crests pivot relative to the plane in response to the load.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Coupled waveband suspension for bedding and seating units

Life of this patent

Coupled waveband suspension for bedding and seating units

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims26