US3441961A - Bedstead with spring steel bottom - Google Patents

Description

May 6, 1969 J. J. POERINK I 3,

BEDSTEFQD WITH SPRING STEEL BOTTOM Filed Jan 19, 1967 Sheet of 2 In v en t or: (/Ml/VES J. poEfl/VK ATTY I 6, 1969 J. .1. POERINK v 3,

BEDSTEAD WITH SPRING STEEL BOTTOM Filed Jan. 19, 1967 Sheet 2 of 2 ln ven for z/A NNES J Pa e/WK ATT'KS'.

United States Patent Int. Cl. A47c 23/65, 23/28, 23/26 US. Cl. 5-246 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE This invention provides a bedstead comprising a frame member and a spring steel gauze bottom member. The gauze bottom member includes a plurality of wires interlaced by several transverse wires which are arranged in pairs. A pair of the transverse wires is mounted within a hook means which is carried by the frame member at each end thereof. That is, in each hook portion there is an outermost transverse wire and an inner transverse wire engaged by each of the said hooks. The longitudinal wires have free ends passing between the said outermost transverse wire and inner transverse wire. These free ends are completely bent around the said outermost transverse wire to connect the said spring steel gauze member to the said frame member.

Background of the invention All of the hitherto known bedsteads are provided with frame parts the longitudinal and transverse sides of which are engaged by coil springs and wire bracings supporting a plurality of conical helical springs the tips of which are directed downwardly. The wires and springs are covcred by a protecting blanket consisting of sack-cloth, on which the spring-mattresses are placed.

The conventional beds and mattresses have a number of considerable disadvantages. The wires, coil springs and conical helical springs which form a flat surface in unloaded state arecompressed when loaded by the weight of the human body whereby depressions are formed in the places subjected to the highest load. These depressions cause a positioning of the body which is not in keeping with its anatomy which means that the person who is sleeping or resting on the bed has to occupy an unnatural position which prevents true relaxation.

Furthermore, it is disadvantageous that protecting blankets are necessary in order to prevent damage or soiling by the metal springs and Wires which might become rusty. The protecting blankets are made of sackcloth and fillers which cause considerable dust and dirt. Such blankets are unhygienic because they are seldom replaced and hardly ever cleaned. They often favor the accumulation of many bacteria. For this reason the conventional beds are completely unsuited for use in hospitals.

Summary of the invention It is the object of the present invention to provide a bed which permits a resting and sleeping in a natural, i.e. relaxed position which corresponds to the anatomy of the spinal cord and the physiology of the human being.

Another object of the invention is to provide a bed which meets the highest requirements in hygienic respect.

A further object is to provide a mattress which can be manufactured in a very simple manner by using only wire and which yet represents a highly resilient bed which is far superior to the conventional mattresses having conical helical springs.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a bed the spring tension of which can be adjusted in a simple manner according to the weight placed thereon.

To attain these objects, the invention provides a bedstead with a spring steel bottom, which comprises a spring steel gauze consisting of a plurality of longitudinal wires interlaced by several traverse wires arranged in pairs.

The distance between the individual longitudinal wires is relatvely small in comparison with the distance between the pairs of interlaced transverse wires. The longitudinal wires as well as the transverse wires are corrugated at least at their points of intersection, but are preferably provided with vertical corrugations over their entire lengths. The wires are provided with a sheathing made of synthetic plastics material.

According to a particular embodiment of the invention the ends of each longitudinal wire are bent through about 3'60 in the formof a complete loop around the outermost transverse wires in such a manner that the transverse wire adjacent the outermost transverse wire in the region of each loop is arranged on the same side of the wire gauze as the free end portion of the loop.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention several hooks engage around the two outermost transverse wires of the steel wire gauze, the hooks being connected to a flange of an angle piece the other flange of which is provided with several perforations which are engaged by screw bolts arranged on a crossbeam of a frame.

The crossbeams which constitute angle pieces and have a slightly convex curvature in upward direction connect the ends of a pair of longitudinal beams preferably having slightly U-shaped cross sections, whereby the frame is formed.

Horizontal sliding feet are arranged on the ends f the vertical flange of the angle piece which is adjustable on the screw bolts by means of tightening nuts, the sliding feet resting on the lower bent-off portions of the U- shaped longitudinal beams. Reinforcing plates are provided on the sliding feet, which connect the ends of the flanges with the sliding feet.

Brief description of drawings One embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a bedstead with a spring steel bottom according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a section of the spring steel gauze according to the invention;

FIG. 3 is a section through the spring steel bottom on the line III-III of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a section on the line IV-IV of FIG. 3, and

FIGS. 5 and 6 are elevational views, on an enlarged scale, of the suspension of the spring steel gauze in unloaded and in loaded state.

Description of specific embodiment The bedstead proposed by the invention consists of a frame 10 the-bototm side of which is provided with rigid supporting feet 11. At the end faces of the frame 10 parts 12 are arranged which limit the bedstead in longitudinal direction and may consist of plates made of wood or synthetic plastics material or cane work. The end faces of the frame 10 may, of course, also be provided with projections such as hooks, pins or the like which are insertable in corresponding recesses such as slots, holes or the like provided in the head and foot ends of a conventional bedstead.

The frame 10 itself consists of a pair of longitudinal beams 13 preferably of slightly U-shaped cross section and of a pair of crossbeams 14 having a slightly convex curvature in upward direction and connecting the longitudinal beams at the ends thereof. The crossbeams 14 are preferably of L-shaped cross section and consist of angle pieces such as angle irons. For reinforcing the frame 10 reinforcing elements 15 such as tubes, round irons, square irons, fiat irons or the like are arranged between the longitudinal beams 13 in the region of the crossbeams 14, the reinforcing elements being advantageously adapted for attaching thereto the supporting feet 11 of the bed.

To the crossbeams 14 a spring steel gauze is attached. This spring steel gauze is, however, not firmly connected to the longitudinal beams 13 of the frame 10 and does not rest on the reinforcing elements 15 no matter whether it is in unloaded or loaded state. The spring steel gauze consists of a plurality of spaced apart longitudinal wires 16 and of transverse wires 17 arranged in pairs at greater distances apart. The longitudinal and transverse wires 16 and 17 are corrugated at least at their points of intersection but preferably have vertical corrugations over their entire lengths. By keeping the distances between the longitudinal wires 16 relatively small and maintaining larger distances between the transverse wires 17, socalled long meshes are formed in longitudinal direction. The longitudinal and transverse wires 16 and 17 are provided with a sheating 18 of synthetic plastics material, as can be clearly seen from FIGS. and 6.

The spring steel gauze is designed in such a manner that at each of its sides facing the crossbeams 14 one pair of transverse wires 17 are arranged around which a plurality of hooks 19 engage. These hooks 19 are connected to a flange 20 of an angle piece 22 which has another flange 21 provided with a plurality of perforations through which screw bolts 23 arranged on the crossbeam 14 are passed. The angle piece 22, the hooks 19 of which are acted upon by the tensile stress caused by the spring steel gauze, is maintained in a certain position with the aid of tightening nuts screwed on to the screw bolts 23 which tightening nuts may be embodied in hexagon nuts 24 as shown in FIG. 4. The position of the angle piece 22 can, however, be changed by turning the nuts 24 on the screw bolts 23 whereby the tension in the spring steel gauze can be increased or decreased.

When using merely this combination of an angle piece 22 and screw bolts 23 with nuts 24 a canting of the angle piece 22 and possibly even a breaking of the screw bolts 23 out of the anchoring on the crossbeam 14 may be caused when the spring steel gauze is being loaded. For this reason the invention provides for attaching horizontal sliding feet 25 to the ends of the angle piece 22, which sliding feet rest on the lower bent-off portions of the longitudinal beams 13 of U-shaped cross section. For reinforcing the whole arrangement, plates 26, e.g. of triangular shape, are provided which extend from the sliding feet 25 so as to connect the same to the ends of the flange 21 or 20.

The pair of transverse wires 17 which are arranged at the opposite end of the spring steel gauze are engaged in a similar manner by hooks 27 which are connected to a flange of an angle piece 28. Also in this case the longitudinal wires 16 of the spring steel gauze are passed between the hooks 27. The angle piece 28 is fixed to the respective crossbeam 14, e.g. by riveting or welding.

It is self-evident that the longitudinal wires 16 are bent around the outermost transverse wires 17, or otherwise the two outermost pairs of transverse wires 17 engaged by the hooks 19 and 27, respectively, would slide out of the system of longitudinal wires 16 when the spring steel gauze is being loaded or tensioned. Experience has shown that merely bending the ends of the longitudinal wires e.g. through 180 around the transverse wires is not sufiicient to ensure safe fastening, for these ends are easily undone in the event of loading the spring steel gauze whereby a decrease of tension in the wire gauze is caused. Therefore, as can be seen from FIGS. 2 and 5, the invention further proposes to bend the end of each longitudinal wire 16 through about 360 in the form of a complete loop around the outermost transverse wire 17, the transverse wire next to the outermost transverse wire in the region of each loop being situated on the same side of the spring steel gauze as the free end portion of the wire loop. This has the essential advantage that the free end of the wire loop presses against the hook 19 when the spring steel gauze is being tensioned or loaded and thus undoing of the loop is prevented. Furthermore, it is of particular advantage that at the same time the transverse wire 17 next to the outermost transverse wire 17 is pulled in the direction of the outermost transverse wire 17 whereby necessarily a deformation of that part of the longitudinal wire 16 which is situated between the outermost transverse wire 17 and the adjacent transverse wire is caused in such a manner that, as shown in FIG. 6, the loops formed by the longitudinal wires 16 engage around the outermost transverse wire at increasing angles. Moreover, with increasing loading of the wire gauze the engagement of the outermost transverse wire 17 by the loops of the longitudinal wires 16 becomes stronger and safer. It is out of the question that the loops become undone.

The bedstead according to the invention having a spring steel bottom presents many advantages over the hitherto known embodiments of beds and mattresses. The invention proposes a bed meeting the anatomical and physiological requirements and having a slightly convex curvature in upward direction, which curvature depending on the tension of the wires and the weight placed thereon yields to a more or less great extent. Even if the weight is extremely high the person using the bed rests on a fiat surface free of depressions. The spring steel bottom proposed by the invention is extremely resilient due to the vertically corrugated wires extending in longitudinal direction, and it permits of an advantageous fiat resting position preventing the back from being bent through. This bed prevents injury to the interarticular disks because of a natural position of the spinal cord. Persons who already suffer from an injury to the interarticular disks will feel considerable relief when using this bed.

The bed proposed by the invention is extremely hygienic and above all particularly suited for hospitals, for the thin wires of the gauze which are provided with a sheathing of synthetic plastics material prevent an accumulation of dust. Further, it is very easy to clean them. It is to be emphasized that it is not required to use protecting blankets between the bottom of the bed and the mattresses because due to the sheathing of synthetic plastic material covering the wires, a contact of the mattresses with uncovered and rusty steel wires is prevented. Cumbersome spring-mattresses are no longer used as mattresses but thin mats of plastic foam such as foam rubber, polyurethane foam or the like are used which are very light, easy to clean, easy to replace and inexpensive to manufacture.

Another advantage resides in the use of spring steel wires when constructing the spring steel bottom of the bed instead of using the conventional conical helical springs and coil springs. By designing the steel wires in corrugated fashion the way the expansion takes place is favorably influenced and there is a considerable expansion reserve which always permits of re-tensioning the spring steel bottom. The re-tensioning itself is very simple and can be carried out by the buyer of the bed with a few manipulations.

Taken as a whole the new bedstead with the spring steel bottom is very simple in its construction and at the same time very sturdy and wear-resistant. The problem of suspending and mounting the wire gauze, in particular, is solved in a safe manner. This novel construction does not only have considerable advantages with respect to preventing bodily injuries and in hygienic respect but also involves a considerable technical progress in the field of bed production.

The invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof. The present embodiment is therefore to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the invention being indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description and all changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are therefore intended to be embraced therein.

I claim:

1. A bedstead comprising, in combination:

(a) a frame member including crossbeams carrying hook means across said frame member at each end thereof,

(b) a spring steel gauze bottom member including a plurality of longitudinal spring steel wires interlaced by several transverse spring steel wires arranged in pairs,

(0) a pair of said transverse wires being mounted within said hook means at each end of the said frame member to thereby have an outermost transverse wire and an inner transverse wire engaged around by said hook means at each end of said bedstead,

(d) said longitudinal wires having free ends passing between said outermost transverse wire and inner transverse wire and being completely bent around said outermost transverse wire to connect said spring steel gauze member to said frame member.

2. A bedstead as defined in claim 1 wherein said hook means includes an angle member carrying a plurality of hooks on a substantially horizontal portion and includes a substantially vertical portion, and further includes securing means to attach said angle member to said crossbeams at each end of said bedstead.

3. A bedstead as defined in claim 2 wherein said vertical portion includes perforations, and

said securing means includes screw bolts mounted on said crossbeams and located to project through said perforations.

4. A bedstead as defined in claim 3 wherein said spring steel wires include vertical corrugations at least at the intersection of said longitudinal and transverse wires.

5. A bedstead as defined in claim 4 wherein said spring steel wires includes a sheathing comprising a synthetic plastic material,

6. A bedstead as defined in clairn 4 wherein said crossbeams have a slightly convex curvature in an upward direction.

7. A bedstead as defined in claim 6 wherein said frame member includes longitudinal beams having U-shaped cross-sections, and

said crossbeams connect the ends of said longitudinal beams.

8. A bedstead as defined in claim 7 wherein said angle member includes horizontal sliding feet located at the ends of said vertical portion and resting on a lower portion of said U-shaped longitudinal beams.

9. A bedstead as defined in claim 8 wherein said angle member includes reinforcing elements mounted on said feet and being connected to at least one other portion of said angle member.

10. A bedstead as defined in claim 9 wherein said other connecting portion is the vertical portion of said angle member.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 185,245 12/1876 Le Row et al 5-225 251,630 12/1881 Palmer 5225 695,607 3/1902 Guay 5190 XR 1,163,905 12/1915 Frank 5190 1,245,060 10/1917 Stransky 5225 XR 2,784,773 3/1957 Rowland 5351 FOREIGN. PATENTS 16,208 10/ 1892 Great Britain,

ROY D. FRAZIER, Primary Examiner.

R. D. KRAUS, Assistant Examiner.

US. Cl. X.R.

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