Spring element

Abstract

Spring element with a lower base, an upper cover plate forming a support surface with several separately springable cover plate parts and a spring body arranged between the base and cover plate with several spring arms extending from the base to the cover plate, characterized in that each cover plate part is connected to the base via one, in particular exactly one, spring arm and that each of these spring arms adjacent to the associated cover plate part is designed in two parts, namely with two upper partial spring arms that diverge from a common, central spring arm section and are connected at their upper end to one of two cover plate connection areas of the associated cover plate part, which connection areas are spaced apart from each other in the plane of the support surface.

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a spring element for elastically supporting a seat or reclining element according to the preamble of claim 1.

[0002] Such spring elements are used, for example, as part of a base mattress with a plurality of independent spring elements distributed over at least part of the base mattress to support a top mattress, or as a spring core of a top mattress. In base mattresses, they replace conventional spring slats and offer the advantage of quasi-point-elastic support.

[0003] A spring element according to the preamble of claim 1 is known from EP 2 107 267 A1 and DE 20 2018 101 719 U1.

[0004] The invention is based on the object of providing a spring element of the type mentioned which has good spring properties and in particular a high tipping stability.

[0005] This object is achieved by a spring element having the features of claim 1.

[0006] The two-part design of the spring arms in the connection area to the cover plate parts increases the stability of the spring element against tipping of the cover plate parts. Furthermore, the diverging spring arms from the common, central spring arm section increases the length of the spring arm compared to an undivided, straight spring arm.

[0007] This reduces the radial outward displacement of the cover plate parts when the spring element is compressed.

[0008] According to the invention, the spring arms adjacent to the base are also each constructed in two parts, namely with two partial spring arms each diverging from the common, central spring arm section and connected at their lower ends to one of two connection areas of the base, which connection areas are spaced apart from each other in the plane of the base surface. This design allows the spatial stability of the spring element to be further increased.

[0009] It is particularly preferred if the two partial spring arms are designed to diverge in an arc, in particular along an arc extending from the common central spring arm section to the respective cover plate connection area, preferably with a constant radius, and if the length of the two partial spring arms is equal to each other. This results in harmonious, uniform deflection. It is particularly preferred if the length of all partial spring arms of the spring element is the same. This ensures that all cover plate parts deflect equally under load.

[0010] According to a further embodiment of the invention, the connection areas of the cover plate parts are further away from the spring axis of the spring element than the geometric center of the respective cover plate part. This results in particularly good stabilization of the cover plate parts against tilting. It is particularly preferred if the connection areas are provided in a radially outer region of the cover plate parts with respect to the spring axis.

[0011] It is also particularly preferred and advantageous if the lower partial spring arms diverge in an arc, in particular along an arc extending from the common central spring arm section to the respective base connection area, preferably with a constant radius, and if the length of the two partial spring arms of a spring arm is the same relative to each other and the length of all partial spring arms of the spring element is the same. As with the upper partial spring arms, this results in harmonious, uniform compression, with the arc-shaped course again lengthening the length of the spring arms compared to undivided straight spring arms. The radial outward displacement of the cover plate parts when the spring element is loaded is thereby further reduced.

[0012] According to a further embodiment of the invention, an upper spring arm and a lower spring arm of a spring arm form a continuous arc, in particular with a constant radius. This also leads to a particularly harmonious deflection of the spring element.

[0013] According to another embodiment of the invention, the lower spring arms of a cover plate part each merge seamlessly into the adjacent lower spring arm of the adjacent cover plate part. This transfers the load from one cover plate part to the corresponding adjacent cover plate part via the base, resulting in a more uniform deflection of the spring element.

[0014] According to a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, an upper and a lower partial spring arm of a cover plate part form a continuous arc with an upper and a lower partial spring arm of the adjacent cover plate part, in particular with a constant radius. This allows the uniformity of the deflection of the spring element to be further increased.

[0015] According to a further embodiment of the invention, the cover plate parts, the spring arms, and the base do not overlap, viewed in the spring direction. This allows the spring element to be manufactured particularly advantageously, since no sliders are required and the spring element is easy to demold.

[0016] According to a further embodiment of the invention, the cover plate parts have support areas defined by curved sections, wherein the curved sections run parallel to the curved partial spring arms when viewed in the spring direction. This allows the total support surface of the spring element to be designed as large as possible without overlapping individual spring element parts.

[0017] It is preferable for the outer perimeter of the cover plate sections to be in the shape of a circular arc. This not only creates an aesthetic impression but also ensures good surface coverage.

[0018] According to a further embodiment of the invention, the cover plate parts have openings. This allows ventilation of a supported object from below.

[0019] According to a further embodiment of the invention, adjacent cover plate parts are connected to one another, in particular via a web between the radially inner end sections of the two respective cover plate parts. This allows for advantageous deflection of the spring element, since a load absorbed by one cover plate part is partially transferred to one or both adjacent cover plate parts.

[0020] It is preferred if the cover plate parts have a radially inwardly open aperture in the region of their connection point. This increases the flexibility of the connection between the adjacent cover plate parts and improves the deflection properties of the spring element.

[0021] According to a preferred embodiment, the spring element has exactly four cover plate sections and exactly four spring arms. This has been shown to provide particularly good support.

[0022] The spring element is preferably made of plastic. It is cost-effective to manufacture and can be assigned advantageous properties.

[0023] Particularly preferably, the spring element is formed in one piece. This is also cost-effective to manufacture.

[0024] An embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the drawing and described below. They show, in schematic representation, Fig. 1 a perspective view of a spring element according to the invention, Fig. 2 a plan view from above of the spring element of Fig. 1 , and Fig. 3 a side view of the spring element of the Figures 1 and 2 .

[0025] The spring element 1 shown in the figures comprises a lower base 2, an upper cover plate 3 forming a support surface with four cover plate parts 3 1 to 3 4 which can be deflected separately from one another, and a spring body 4 arranged between the base 2 and the cover plate 3 and having four spring arms 5 running from the base 2 to the cover plate 3. The spring arms 5 each have a central section 6, from which two upper partial spring arms 7 1 , 7 2 diverge in an arc and are connected by their upper end 8 to one of two cover plate connection areas 9 1 , 9 2 of the associated cover plate part 3 1 to 3 4. The cover plate connection areas 9 1 and 9 2 are spaced apart from one another in the plane E of the support surface.

[0026] The spring arms 5 further comprise two lower partial spring arms 7 3 and 7 4, which also diverge in an arc shape from the central section 6 of the spring arm 5 and are connected by their lower end 10 to one of two base connection areas 11 1 , 11 2 of the base 2. The base connection areas 11 1 and 11 2 are also spaced apart from each other in the plane B of the base 2. As can be seen in particular in Fig. 2 As can be seen, all partial spring arms 7 1 to 7 4 have the same length. Furthermore, it can be seen that an upper partial spring arm 7 1 , 7 2 forms a continuous arc with a constant radius with a lower partial spring arm 7 3 , 7 4.

[0027] Furthermore, in Fig. 2It is particularly clearly visible that the lower partial spring arms 7 3 and 7 4 of the spring arm of a cover plate part 3 1 to 3 4 each continuously merge into the adjacent lower partial spring arm 7 3 , 7 4 of the spring arm 5 of the respective adjacent cover plate part 3 1 to 3 4. In this case, an upper partial spring arm 7 1 , 7 2 and a lower partial spring arm 7 3 , 7 4 of a cover plate part 3 1 to 3 4 form a continuous arc with an overall constant radius with an upper partial spring arm 7 1 , 7 2 and a lower partial spring arm 7 3 , 7 4 of the adjacent cover plate part 3 1 to 3 4. This is also best seen in Fig. 2 to recognize.

[0028] Furthermore, you can Fig. 2 recognize that the cover plate parts 3 1 to 3 4 , the spring arms 5 of all cover plate parts 3 1 to 3 4 and the base 2, viewed in spring direction I of the spring element 1, do not overlap.

[0029] The cover plate parts 3 1 to 3 4 furthermore have support areas 12, which are limited to the center of the respective cover plate part 3 1 to 3 4 by curved sections 13. The curved sections 13 run (see again especially Fig. 2 ) viewed in spring direction I, parallel to the arcuate partial spring arms 7 1 to 7 4 of the spring arms 5. The outer edge 18 of the cover plate parts 3 1 to 3 4 has the shape of a circular arc section. The circular arc is almost completely closed. Only in the radially inner region, adjacent to the base 2, is the circular arc open in order to prevent the cover plate parts 3 1 to 3 4 from overlapping with the spring arms 5. This ensures easy demolding of the spring element.

[0030] As can also be seen from the figures, the cover plate parts 3 1 to 3 4 are connected to one another by a connecting web 14 being provided between each two adjacent cover plate parts 3 1 to 3 4. The webs 14 connect radially inner end sections of the two respective cover plate parts 3 1 to 3 4 with respect to the spring axis I. In these end sections, the cover plate parts 3 1 to 3 4 are each provided with openings 15 which are open on one side. These increase the flexibility of the cover plate parts 3 1 to 3 4 in this area and thus the flexibility of the connection between adjacent cover plate parts 3 1 to 3 4.

[0031] The cover plate parts 3 1 to 3 4 are also provided with further openings 16, closed at both ends, which are arcuate and provided adjacent to the circular edge 18 of the cover plate parts 3 1 to 3 4. These openings 16 can serve to ventilate an object supported by the spring element 1. Finally, it can be seen in the figures that the base 2 of the spring element 1 is essentially annular. On the inside of the ring, two opposing ribs 17 are provided, which form part of a bayonet catch, with which the spring element 1 can be connected to a carrier located underneath, which has a corresponding counter element of the bayonet catch. The spring element 1 is preferably made of plastic and is molded in one piece.Overall, the result is a spring element which can be produced cost-effectively and has advantageous spring properties, which is particularly stable against tilting and whose cover plate parts 3 1 to 3 4 are moved slightly radially outwards during deflection. List of reference symbols

[0032] 1Spring element 2Base 3Cover plate 4Spring body 5Spring arm 6Middle spring arm section 7 1 , 7 2 Upper spring arm section 7 3 , 7 4 Lower spring arm section 8Upper end of 7 1 , 7 2 9 1 , 9 2 Cover plate connection area 10Lower end of 7 3 , 7 4 11 1 , 11 2 Base connection area 12Support area 13Curved section 14Web 15Perforation 16Perforation 17Rib 18Edge IFlexibility BPile of the base EPile of the support surface

Claims

1. A spring element (1) having a lower base (2), an upper cover plate (3), which forms a support surface and which has a plurality of cover plate parts (31 to 34) which can be deflected separately from one another, and a spring body (4) which is arranged between the base (2) and the cover plate (3) and which has a plurality of spring arms (5) extending from the base (2) to the cover plate (3), wherein each cover plate part (31 to 34) is connected to the base (2) via one, in particular exactly one, spring arm (5) and each of these spring arms (5), adjacent to the associated cover plate part (31 to 34), is designed in two parts, namely with two upper partial spring arms (71, 72) which diverge from a common central spring arm section (6) and which are connected with their upper end (8) to a respective one of two cover plate connection regions (91, 92) of the associated cover plate part (31 to 34), which connection regions (91, 92) are spaced apart from one another in the plane (E) of the support surface, characterized in that the spring arms (5), adjacent to the base, are each designed in two parts, namely with two lower partial spring arms (73, 74) each, said two lower partial spring arms (73, 74) diverging starting from the common central spring arm section (6) and being connected with their lower end (10) to a respective one of two base connection regions (111, 112) in each case, which base connection regions (111, 112) are spaced apart from one another in the plane (B) of the base.

2. A spring element according to claim 1, characterized in that the two upper partial spring arms (71, 72) are designed as diverging in an arcuate manner, in particular along an arc, having a preferably constant radius, starting from the common central spring arm section (6) and passing through up to the respective cover plate connection region (91, 92).

3. A spring element according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the length of the two upper partial spring arms (71, 72) is the same as one another.

4. A spring element according to claim 3, characterized in that the length of all the upper partial spring arms (71, 72) of the spring element (1) is the same.

5. A spring element according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the cover plate connection regions (91, 92) of the cover plate parts (31 to 34) are further away from the spring axis (I) of the spring element (1) than the geometric center of the respective cover plate part (31 to 34).

6. A spring element according to claim 5, characterized in that the cover plate connection regions (91, 92) are provided in a radially outer region of the cover plate parts (31 to 34) with respect to the spring axis (I).

7. A spring element according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the lower partial spring arms (73, 74) diverge in an arcuate manner, in particular along an arc, having a preferably constant radius, starting from the common central spring arm section (6) and passing through up to the respective base connection region (111, 112), with the length of the two lower partial spring arms (73, 74) preferably being the same as one another and with, particularly preferably, the length of all the lower partial spring arms (73, 74) of the spring element being the same.

8. A spring element according to claim 7, characterized in that a respective upper partial spring arm (71, 72) together with a lower partial spring arm (73, 74) of a spring arm (5) forms a continuous arc, in particular having a constant radius.

9. A spring element according to one of the claims 7 or 8, characterized in that the lower partial spring arms (73, 74) of the spring arm (5) of a cover plate part (31 to 34) each merge continuously into the adjacent lower partial spring arm (73, 74) of the spring arm (5) of the adjacent cover plate part (31 to 34).

10. A spring element according to claim 9, characterized in that a respective upper partial spring arm (71, 72) and a lower partial spring arm (73, 74) of the spring arm (5) of a cover plate part (31 to 34) together with an upper partial spring arm (71, 72) and a lower partial spring arm (73, 74) of the spring arm (5) of the adjacent cover plate part (31 to 34) form a continuous arc, in particular having a constant radius.

11. A spring element according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the cover plate parts (31 to 34), the spring arms (5) and the base (2), viewed in the direction of the spring axis (I), do not overlap, and / or characterized in that in that the cover plate parts (31 to 34) have support regions (12) which are bounded towards the center of the respective cover plate part (31 to 34) by arcuate sections (13), with the arcuate sections (13) extending parallel to the arcuate partial spring arms (71 to 74), viewed in the direction of the spring axis (I).

12. A spring element according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the outer margin (18) of the cover plate parts (31 to 34) has the shape of a circular arc section, and / or characterized in that the cover plate parts (31 to 34) have apertures (16) which are closed at both ends.

13. A spring element according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that adjacent cover plate parts (31 to 34) are connected to one another, in particular via a web (14) between radially inner end sections of the two respective cover plate parts (31 to 34), with, preferably, the cover plate parts (31 to 34) having an aperture (15) open at one side in the region of their connection point with an adjacent cover plate part (31 to 34).

14. A spring element according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the spring element (1) has exactly four cover plate parts (31 to 34) and exactly four spring arms (5), and / or characterized in that the spring element (1) is made of plastic, and / or characterized in that the spring element (1) is formed in one piece.

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