EP2014198B1 - Retractable bed base and bed including such a bed base - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a bedding bedding deployable and a bed comprising such a bed base.

In the fields of sport, recreation and relaxation at home, particularly for relaxation, but also in the medical field, beds are used comprising, in addition to a support, rolling or not, a bed base in several parts, including a central part - also called seat - is not generally reclining, but the other parts, that for the back and the head and usually also that for the legs, are reclining. While the back and head portion is generally tiltable to positions above the horizontal only, that is, it can only be raised from the horizontal and then back down horizontally, the leg section can often be tilted to positions both above and below the horizontal and then down or up towards the horizontal. Some of these beds are provided with separately tilting parts for the head and back and, similarly, for the thighs and legs.

The tilting parts are often individually driven using rotary drive means such as rotating electrical machines or with the aid of jacks. But there are also beds with complex mechanisms where the complexity results mainly from a reduction in the number of motor sources obtained at the cost of a presence of many connecting bars, coupling elements and / or elements. of transmission.

The support of such beds generally extends over the entire length of the bed base. Often, the support even surpasses the bed base and includes a frame surrounding the bed base on all four sides. This makes some manipulations of the bed and some gestures of use of this one difficult, even impossible.

Indeed, when it comes to change the position of the party for the back and, if necessary separately that for the head, only a bearing of one and / or the other of the two parts is possible. In addition, it is not necessary to expressly provide that a user of the bed wishes to access or exit, by the headboard portion. Consequently, the extent of the support of the bed and, where appropriate, the presence of a frame surrounding the bed base as well as the possible presence of a complex drive system under this part of the bed frame do not hinder the possibilities of use of the bed.

In contrast to this, on the side of the footboard, that is to say the part of the legs, plus the possibilities of variation of the inclination of the part for the legs and, if necessary separately also of that for the Thighs are large, plus the bed is comfortable and allows, in addition to adjustment in a large number of positions, including easy access and exit. However, this comfort is often limited by the presence of a complex mechanism limiting the variation of the inclination of the part for the legs and, where appropriate, also for the thighs. In addition, even if the bed can be placed in the so-called "chair" position, the user of the bed is nevertheless limited in the choice of positions if the support frame prevents him from accessing or leaving the bed. .

A bed having several parts and which is deployable in different positions is known from the document US-A-4,258,445 .

The object of the invention is to propose at least a bed base, or even a bed with a bed frame, deployable having a simple structure and being easy to handle, while ensuring a wide variation of inclinations of the part or parts for thighs and legs.

The object of the invention is achieved with a bedding bedding deployable comprising at least four parts including a non-reclining center portion and at least one tiltable portion for the back and head, a tilt portion for the thighs and a tilt portion for the legs, the tiltable portions being pivotally mounted about the transverse pivot axes, and at least driving means for tilting, on command, the recliners for thighs and legs.

According to the invention, the drive means for tilting the thigh and leg portions comprises a common drive source to which the thigh portion and the leg portion are connected so that the inclination of the part for the legs does not necessarily follow that of the part for the thighs and that the part for the legs can pass under a plane defined by the non-tilting central part, in order to be able to put the bed frame in chair position.

The drive means for tilting the leg portion is connected to an axis of rotation driven directly by the drive means for tilting the thigh portion.

The invention thus relates to the thighs and legs side of a deployable bed base and allows a user of a bed comprising such a bed base, using simple means, to tilt the legs, when they are at home. horizontal or above, to a lesser degree than the thighs so that you can rest or relax with knees slightly bent and yet fully supported without the need for cushions or other aids. The invention also makes it possible to incline the legs sharply downwards and with an inclination, taken in its absolute angular value, different from that of the thighs.

The inclination of the parts for the thighs and for the legs and in particular the difference in inclination between the part for the thighs and that for the legs is obtained, according to one embodiment of the invention, by connecting the driving source to the portion for the thighs by at least one articulated arm and connecting the driving source to the leg portion by at least one arm fixed or adjustable length.

With this arrangement of the invention, by raising, or inclining uphill, the part for the thighs by the motor source and by raising the leg portion by the thigh portion, it is formed approximately a variable geometry triangle of which only the side constituted by the articulated arm changes length as and when the change of the inclination of the part for the thighs.

The principle of the variable geometry of the training means of the parts for the thighs and the legs and the training of the part for the legs by the part for the thighs avoids loading the space below the bed base of a multitude of connecting rods, rods or other connecting elements and also allows, by placing the drive means directly on the bed base, to integrate the support of the bed on which the bed base rests, that in the measure where it possibly supports the common motor source.

The drive means may be electric motors or cylinders or a combination of an electric motor with a jack, to name only training means most suitable for this type of bed base.

• la partie pour les cuisses est reliée à l'axe de rotation par un bras articulé;
• la partie pour les cuisses est reliée à l'axe de rotation par un bras fixé sur l'axe de manière solidaire en rotation, l'extrémité libre du bras étant reliée à la partie pour les cuisses par une bielle articulée à ses deux extrémités opposées respectivement sur la partie pour les cuisses et sur le bras;
• le moyen d'entraînement destiné à agir sur la partie pour les jambes comporte un élément débrayable et à longueur réglable;
• les moyens d'entraînement sont conformés pour que, lorsque la partie pour les cuisses est inclinée à partir de la position horizontale, la partie pour les jambes semble d'abord suivre l'inclinaison de la partie pour les cuisses et prend progressivement du retard par rotation inverse autour de l'axe de pivotement transversal par lequel la partie pour les jambes est articulée sur la partie pour les cuisses;
• la partie pour les jambes est pourvue de moyens lui permettant, lors d'un contact avec un sol, de rouler sur le sol;
• la source motrice commune comporte un moteur électrique monté en position fixe par rapport à la partie centrale;
• le moyen d'entraînement pour incliner la partie pour les jambes comporte un vérin débrayable.

According to various embodiments of a bed base of the invention, it may have one or the other of the following characteristics, considered individually or in any technically possible combination:

• the part for the thighs is connected to the axis of rotation by an articulated arm;
• the part for the thighs is connected to the axis of rotation by an arm fixed to the axis integrally in rotation, the free end of the arm being connected to the thigh part by a rod articulated to its two opposite ends respectively on the part for the thighs and the arm;
• the drive means for acting on the leg portion comprises a disengageable member and adjustable length;
• the drive means are shaped so that when the thigh portion is inclined from the horizontal position, the leg portion appears to follow first the inclination of the thigh portion and is gradually falling behind. reverse rotation about the transverse pivot axis by which the leg portion is hinged to the thigh portion;
• the part for the legs is provided with means allowing it, when in contact with a ground, to roll on the ground;
• the common drive source comprises an electric motor mounted in a fixed position relative to the central portion;
• the drive means for tilting the leg portion comprises a disengageable jack.

The object of the invention is also achieved with a bed comprising a support by which the bed rests, rolling or stationary, on a floor and on which is mounted a bed base having the characteristics described above.

According to a preferred embodiment of the bed of the invention, the latter comprises a support having substantially the shape of a truncated frame on the side of the footboard.

According to the invention, the bed frame is cantilevered relative to the support, at least the portion for the legs protruding from the support.

• les figures 1 à 6 montrent schématiquement un sommier de l'invention sur un support avec différentes déclivités des parties inclinables du sommier,
• les figures 7 à 10 représentent le sommier de l'invention sur un support, avec différentes vues sur les moyens d'entraînement des parties inclinables,
• les figures 11 à 14 représentent différentes variantes de réalisation d'un socle pour un lit comportant le sommier de l'invention, et
• la figure 15 représente un meuble de literie comme application pour un sommier de l'invention.

Other features and advantages of the present invention will emerge from the following description of an embodiment of the invention. The description is made with reference to the drawings in which

• the Figures 1 to 6 schematically show a bed base of the invention on a support with different gradients of the tilting parts of the bed base,
• the Figures 7 to 10 represent the bed base of the invention on a support, with different views on the drive means of the tilting parts,
• the Figures 11 to 14 represent different variants of embodiment of a base for a bed comprising the bed base of the invention, and
• the figure 15 represents a piece of bedding as an application for a bed base of the invention.

As is very schematically represented in the Figures 1 to 6 , a deployable bed base 10 according to the present invention comprises at least four parts, namely a central non-tilting portion 11 and at least three tilting portions. The tilting parts are on the one hand a part 12, 13 for the back and the head and, on the other hand, a portion 14 for the thighs and a portion 15 for the legs. The parts 12, 13 may be pivotally mounted to each other and may also be individually connected to drive means so as to tilt them separately. The parts 14 and 15 respectively for the thighs and for the legs are connected together by hinges represented for example on the figure 8 .

The bed base of the invention 10 is mounted on a support 30 by which the bed thus formed rests on a floor 40. Advantageously, the portion 15 for the legs is provided with means 16 which allow it, when in contact with the ground 40, to roll on the ground. The means 16 may be in the form of rollers or in the form of side wheels and may be rigidly fixed to the leg portion 15, i.e. on a fixed axis, or to a leg of the leg. support giving some cushioning in support of the party 15 on the floor.

The figure 1 represents the bed base of the invention in its basic position, that is to say all parts, inclinable or not, being in a horizontal position.

The figure 2 represents the foundation of the invention with the portion 14 for the thighs and the portion 15 for the legs inclined relative to the horizontal. The figure 2 also shows that the tilting parts 12 to 15 are pivotally mounted about the transverse pivot axes P1 to P4 extending perpendicular to the plane of the figures.

The figure 2 shows also that, according to the invention, when the portion 14 for the thighs is raised, the portion 15 for the legs is raised at the same time, but with a desired delay explained below. Note only here that drive means represented by the force F1 with which they act on the parts 14, 15, give the part 14 an inclination D1 and that, at the same time, part of these drive means represented by the force F2 with which it acts on the part 15, gives the latter a resulting inclination D2 which is lower than the inclination D1 of the part 14.

As indicated above, the drive means for changing the inclination of the parts for the thighs and the legs comprise a common driving source 21 to which the portion 14 for the thighs is connected directly, for example by fixing this part on the axis of a rotating electrical machine forming the common driving source, and to which the leg portion 15 is indirectly connected, for example by fixing an element 22 of adjustable length on the axis of the rotating electrical machine and by articulation of this element on the part for the legs.

The Figures 3 and 4 show how this provision of the invention can be used to other tilting movements of the parts 14, 15 respectively for the thighs and for the legs.

When the two parts 14, 15 are inclined according to the figure 2 there are two possibilities for movement (other than a horizontal return) for them. The first movement is indicated in dotted lines. This is to lengthen the adjustable length member until the leg portion 15 has the same inclination as the portion 14 for the thighs.

The second movement is achieved by changing the length of the adjustable length member by applying a force F3 on the leg portion 15. The force F3 is generated by retracting the adjustable length member, which lowers the portion 15 towards the ground 40 until a reaction force F5 of the ground 40 stops it or until the end of the race. of Part 15.

The figure 4 more particularly represents the situation where the leg portion 15 is inclined so as to pass below the plane defined by the non-reclining central portion 11 and is in contact with the ground 40 and where the thigh portion 14 is moved back to the floor. horizontal by means of a force F4 developed by the drive means 21 for the part for the thighs.

The figure 5 represents, in a superimposed view, the parts 14, 15 respectively in non-inclined position, therefore horizontal, and in an inclined position. It will be noted more particularly that the length of the element 22 remains constant during the passage of the two parts 14, 15 from the horizontal to the inclined position and the return to the horizontal position.

The figure 6 represents a position of the bed base of the invention in which the portion 14 for the thighs is slightly raised while the portion 15 for the legs is strongly inclined towards the ground 40 and rests thereon. In addition, the part 13 for the head and the part 12 for the back are also raised. The bed base of the invention is then in the chair position.

The Figures 7 to 10 represent, in perspective, different views of an embodiment of the bed base of the invention.

The bed base 10 of the invention therefore comprises, for the purposes of the invention, a first drive means 21 for tilting the portion 14 for the thighs and a second drive means 22 for tilting the portion 15 for the legs. The originality of the provisions of the present invention lies firstly in the fact that these two drive means are shaped to raise, that is to say, incline uphill, the two parts 14, 15 respectively for the thighs and for the legs using a single driving source 21. The rotational force generated by this driving source 21 is transmitted on the portion 14 for the thighs by an axis of rotation 25 to which the portion 14 is connected by arms articulated 23, 24. The portion 14 then drives, by its movement, the portion 15 for the legs which is articulated on the portion 14 by means of the pivot axis P2.

The originality of the invention furthermore consists in the fact that the second drive means 22, whose length is adjustable and which is articulated on both the axis 25 and the part 15 for the legs, retains a constant length during this lifting parts 14, 15. With this arrangement of the invention, in combination with that described above, the parts 14, 15 and the second drive means 22 evolve together so that, seen from the side the two initially flat portions 14, 15 form two adjacent sides of a triangle whose upper corner, represented by the axis P2, rises more and more above the third side represented by the means 22. Thus, a single driving source is sufficient to tilt the two parts 14, 15 in a manner adapted to the possible movements of the legs of a user of the bed and in particular adapted to folding of this user's knees.

• Lorsque l'on actionne uniquement le moyen d'entraînement 21, celui-ci fait incliner la partie 14 pour les cuisses, ce qui fait incliner en même temps la partie 15 pour les jambes autour de l'axe de pivotement P1 de la partie 14 pour les cuisses. Toutefois, le moyen d'entraînement 22 étant réglé à une longueur fixe prédéterminée, le pivotement du moyen d'entraînement 22 autour de l'axe 25 a pour conséquence que la partie 15 pour les jambes est soumise à un pivotement inverse autour de l'axe de pivotement P2, comme cela est représenté sur la figure 2. A un moment donné du pivotement de la partie 14 pour les cuisses, cette partie présente un angle d'élévation D1 par rapport à un plan représentant l'étendue plate du sommier, alors que la partie 15 pour les jambes présente un angle d'élévation D2 inférieur à l'angle D1 de la partie 14. La figure 5 représente la position relevée des parties 14 et 15 et la position des moyens d'entraînement 21, 22 représentés par des flèches à double tête.
• Lorsque l'on actionne ensuite les moyens d'entraînement 22, celui-ci fait pivoter la partie 15 pour les jambes, qui est alors moins inclinée que la partie 14 pour les cuisses, dans un sens ou dans l'autre de manière à ce que l'inclinaison de la partie 15 augmente et s'approche de celle de la partie 14, ou devient même égale à celle-ci, ou dans laquelle l'inclinaison de la partie 15 diminue, c'est-à-dire la partie 15 s'approche de l'horizontale ou prend même une position horizontale, ou l'inclinaison devient même négative, c'est-à-dire la partie 15 pour les jambes est inclinée vers le sol 40. La figure 3 représente ces deux possibilités de la manière suivante : la position de la partie 15 où celle-ci a la même déclivité D2 que la partie 14 est dessinée en traits interrompus et la position de la partie 15 où celle-ci est inclinée vers le sol (déclivité négative D3) est dessinée en traits pleins.
• Lorsque la partie 14 pour les cuisses est relevée et la partie 15 pour les jambes est inclinée vers le sol, voire même en contact avec le sol, et lorsque l'on abaisse alors la partie 14, comme la flèche F4 l'indique sur la figure 4, le moyen d'entraînement 22 se débrayant, la réaction imposée par le sol 40, indiquée sur la figure 4 par la flèche montante F5, fait pivoter la partie 15 pour les jambes autour de l'axe de pivotement P2 par rapport à la partie 14 pour les cuisses de manière que la déclivité de la partie 15 diminue.

Thanks to the provisions of the invention, the following movements of the portion 14 for the thighs and the part 15 for the legs are possible by respectively actuating the driving source 21 alone and / or by actuating the element 22 with adjustable length or still under the effect of a clutch releasing element 22:

• When only the drive means 21 is actuated, the latter tilts the portion 14 for the thighs, which at the same time tilts the portion 15 for the legs around the pivot axis P1 of the portion 14. for the thighs. However, since the drive means 22 is set to a predetermined fixed length, the pivoting of the driving means 22 about the axis 25 has the consequence that the leg portion 15 is subjected to reverse pivoting around the pivot axis P2, as shown in FIG. figure 2 . At a given moment of the pivoting of the portion 14 for the thighs, this portion has an elevation angle D1 with respect to a plane representing the flat extent of the bed base, while the portion 15 for the legs has an elevation angle. D2 less than the angle D1 of part 14. The figure 5 represents the raised position of the parts 14 and 15 and the position of the drive means 21, 22 represented by double headed arrows.
• When the driving means 22 are then actuated, the latter pivots the portion 15 for the legs, which is then less inclined than the portion 14 for the thighs, in one direction or the other so that that the inclination of the portion 15 increases and approaches that of the portion 14, or becomes equal thereto, or in which the inclination of the portion 15 decreases, that is to say the portion 15 approaches the horizontal or even takes a horizontal position, or the inclination becomes even negative, that is to say the leg portion 15 is inclined towards the ground 40. figure 3 represents these two possibilities in the following way: the position of the part 15 where it has the same slope D2 as the part 14 is drawn in phantom and the position of the part 15 where it is inclined towards the ground ( negative slope D3) is drawn in solid lines.
• When the portion 14 for the thighs is raised and the portion 15 for the legs is inclined to the ground, or even in contact with the ground, and when is then lowered the portion 14, as the arrow F4 indicates on the figure 4 , the driving means 22 disengaging, the reaction imposed by the ground 40, indicated on the figure 4 by the rising boom F5, rotates the portion 15 for the legs around the pivot axis P2 relative to the portion 14 for the thighs so that the slope of the portion 15 decreases.

The Figures 7 to 10 represent an embodiment of a bed according to the invention comprising a bed base according to the invention, as described above.

The bed is represented on Figures 7 to 10 as a stationary bed with a support 30 formed essentially by two sections 31, 32 constituting longitudinal members of the support, as well as four adjustable feet 33 through which the support 30 rests on the ground 40.

To obtain the pivotal freedom required for the portion 14 for the thighs relative to the central portion 11, the portion 14 is hinged to the central portion 11 and is mounted, by means of two pairs of connecting rods 23, 24 on an axis 25 which is it is pivotally mounted in bearings 34 integral with the two longitudinal members 31, 32. The axis 25 is pivotally driven by the drive means 21, for example an electric motor, hydraulic or pneumatic.

When actuating the drive means 21, the shaft 25 starts to pivot and swivel with him the rods 24 on which are articulated the connecting rods 23 connected to the part 14 of the bed.

Furthermore, the drive means 22 for the part 15, made in the form of an electric jack, are mounted integral in rotation on the axis 25. The movable part of the jack 22 is attached, in an articulated manner, by a connecting rod 26, on the part 15 of the bed base of the invention.

Like the Figures 7 to 10 also represent, the cylinder 22 is hung both on the side of the portion 14 that the portion 15 by arcuate fasteners, so that the rod of the cylinder 22 is disposed in a plane substantially parallel to that which form the parts 14 and 15 when the bed extends flat. This substantially parallel arrangement allows, when only the drive means 21 is actuated, to rotate the leg portion 15 with a delay relative to the pivoting of the portion 14 for the thighs to obtain, for these two parts, inclinations ensuring not only a certain comfort for the user of the bed, but to ensure otherwise even a clinically necessary positioning, because it is necessary to avoid keeping the leg completely straight.

The fact that, when the parts 14 and 15 are raised, the part 15 is delayed relative to the part 14 as the inclination of the two parts increases, is obtained, thanks to the invention, with mechanical means and with very simple control means.

In addition, the provisions of the invention can transform the bed frame, and thus the bed, chair. For this purpose, the driving means is actuated so that the portion 15 for the legs is inclined towards the ground, the portion 14 for the thighs being raised or not, and the drive means are also actuated for the parts 12, 13 respectively for the back and for the head.

The arrangement of the drive means 21, 22 and their simple and space-saving structure make it possible to obtain, with the bed base of the invention, a bed offering great flexibility in the choice of different positions of the tilting parts of the bed base of the invention.

Furthermore, the design of the bed base of the invention and in particular the arrangement of the drive means of the two parts 14, 15 respectively for the thighs and the legs is also particularly suitable for producing a bed according to which the part 14 for the thighs and 15 for the legs are divided into two independent parts along the length of the bed in order to vary the position of the two parts 14, 15 individually for each of the two legs of a bed user.

The Figures 11 to 14 schematically represent a truncated support 30 to form a bed and the arrangement of the bed base 10 on this support.

The support 30 comprises a truncated frame 35 which comprises the longitudinal members 31, 32 interconnected by cross members and which is held at a predetermined height above the ground 40 by four adjustable feet 33 resting on a base 36. The base 36 is formed essentially by U-shaped profiles and extended in the direction of the footboard by a plate 37. The plate 37 essentially fulfills two roles. The first is to provide a means of stabilization or protection tilting of the bed in case someone sits on the bed frame 10 on the side of the footboard. For this purpose, the base 36 extends over at least the entire length of the bed base 10 and is preferably even longer than this.

The second role is that of presenting to a user of the bed an exit surface when he has turned the bed into a chair and wants to get out of the chair. The presence of a tray then prevents the user of the chair stumbles on profiles that would serve instead of the tray as bed stabilizer.

According to an alternative embodiment represented on the figure 12 , the edges of the plate 37 are advantageously made bevel.

According to a third embodiment variant represented on the figure 13 , the base 36 has no stabilizing plate, but is shaped to be fixed to the ground, for example by means of lag bolts 38, to the right of the headboard to take any tilting efforts in case someone sits on the footboard.

According to a fourth variant of embodiment represented on the figure 14 , the base includes a counterweight 39 to balance an overload acting at the foot of the bed when someone sits on the footboard.

The figure 15 represents finally, in a perspective view, an embodiment of a bedding furniture using the bed base 10 of the invention. The example shown is a convertible sofa with two places.

This sofa has two bed bases 10 allowing two people using this sofa to adjust the inclination of the parts 14, 15 respectively for the thighs and for the legs independently of one another, or even to transform only one of the sommiers in armchair.

It will be noted incidentally that the exit of this bed is in any case by the plateau, since the two bed bases are surrounded by a dressing both useful and decorative and covering at the same time the profiles of the base 35. In addition, the Tray can serve as a base for accessories such as a column stand for a TV receiver.

Claims (9)

1. A retractable bed base (10) comprising at least four parts including a non-tiltable central part (11) and at least one tiltable part (12, 13) for the back and the head, a tiltable part (14) for the thighs and a tiltable part (15) for the legs, the tiltable parts (12 to 15) being pivotably mounted around the transverse pivot axes (P1 to P4), and at least drive means (21, 22) intended to tilt, on command, the tiltable parts (14, 15) for the thighs and legs,
   the driving means (21, 22) for tilting the parts for the thighs (14) and the legs (15) comprising a shared motor source (21) to which the part for the thighs (14) and the part (15) for the legs are connected so that the tilt of the part for the legs does not necessarily follow that of the part (14) for the thighs and the part (15) for the legs can pass under a plane defined by the non-tiltable central part (11), so as to be able to put the bed base in an armchair position,
   the driving means (22) intended to tilt the part (15) for the legs being connected to an axis of rotation (25), characterized in that this axis of rotation (25) is driven directly by the driving means (21) intended to tilt the part (14) for the thighs.
2. The bed base according to claim 1, characterized in the driving means (22) intended to act on the part (15) for the legs comprise a disengageable element with an adjustable length.
3. The bed base according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the driving means (21, 22) are configured so that, when the part (14) for the thighs is tilted from the horizontal position, the part (15) for the legs appears first to follow the tilt of the part (14) for the thighs and is gradually delayed through reverse rotation around the transverse pivot axis (P2) through which the part (15) for the legs is articulated on the part (14) for the thighs.
4. The bed base according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the part (15) for the legs is provided with means (16) allowing it, during contact with a floor (40), to roll on the floor.
5. The bed base according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the shared motor source (21) comprises an electric motor mounted in a fixed position relative to the central part (11).
6. The bed base according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the driving means (22) for tilting the part (15) for the legs comprise a disengageable cylinder.
7. The bed base according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the part (14) for the thighs and the part (15) for the legs are divided into two independent parts along the length of the bed so as to be able to vary the position of the two parts (14, 15) individually for each of the two legs of a user of the bed.
8. A bed comprising a bed base (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 7 and a support (30) by which the bed rests on a floor (40) and on which said bed base (10) is mounted.
9. The bed according to claim 8, characterized in that the support (30) comprises a truncated frame (35) of the side of the foot of the bed and in that the bed (10) is mounted overhanging relative to the support (30), at least the part (15) for the legs protruding past the support (30).

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