Elastic modules and elastic pads for furniture

Abstract

The present invention provides an elastic module and an elastic pad for use in furniture. [Solution] The elastic module includes a base (20), an end cap (30), and a spring (10) installed between the two, the end cap (30) having a flexible connecting portion (33) and configured to be removably fixed to the base (30), the flexible connecting portion (33) being located radially inward of the spring (10).

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of furniture, and in particular to resilient modules and resilient pads for use in furniture. [Background technology]

[0002] Furniture such as beds are an essential part of people's lives. Currently, most large pieces of furniture are not easy to disassemble or to reassemble after disassembly. However, with the development of modern life, in order to meet the needs of population mobility and outdoor leisure time, furniture such as beds in particular need to be disassembled and reassembled more frequently. Because disassembling and assembling beds during transportation and relocation is very difficult, people sometimes throw away beds that are still usable in order to reduce the burden of transportation and relocation.

[0003] A bed usually consists of a bed frame, an elastic pad, and a cover. Current elastic pads are generally one-piece mattresses formed by multiple layers and springs, which are large in size and difficult to disassemble and store.

[0004] Current independently packaged spring mattresses are designed to prevent two or more people sleeping on the same bed from affecting each other (for example, if there is a relatively large difference in weight between individuals, one person's body may turn over or move, potentially affecting the other person). In these types of mattresses, each spring is individually packaged in a bag or sleeve made of nonwoven fabric or other material. The spring packages are then arranged as shown in the drawings, and the entire set of spring packages is then coated with foam rubber by adhesive or glue, thereby forming a furniture cushion or a required spring cushion in the form of a furniture cushion. However, independently packaged spring mattresses are still whole products that cannot be removed and are difficult to transport. Furthermore, in independently packaged spring mattresses, the nonwoven fabric covering the packaged springs is adhesively pulled against each other, so when the mattress is pushed, the packaged springs cannot move up and down as if they were completely independent, which affects the comfort of the mattress.

[0005] Furthermore, current mattresses have the additional drawback of being difficult to clean. With conventional mattresses, it is generally possible to remove only the bed cover, but the sponge portion cannot be removed, making cleaning difficult. Even if latex rubber has some degree of dust mite prevention effect, a single mattress may be used for several years, and the sponge portion, which is difficult to clean, may have a significant impact on hygiene. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] Therefore, there is a need to improve the design of the elastic pad so that it can be more easily removed, moved, reassembled, and stored in a compact space, and also be more comfortable and easier to use.

[0007] In response to the problems of the prior art, the present invention provides an elastic module and an elastic pad for use in furniture. The elastic module of the present invention has at least the following advantages: (1) its structure is simple, allowing consumers to easily assemble and disassemble it themselves, and the detached components can be compressed or stacked, significantly saving space for storage and transportation; (2) the elastic module has a base, which allows it to have a larger load-bearing area and be more stable than an independent spring, making the elastic pad more stable when in use; (3) the initial pressure of the spring in the elastic module can be specified in advance according to needs, allowing the elastic module to have the required hardness, and elastic modules with different hardness can be installed in different parts of the elastic pad according to needs; (4) the elastic modules in the elastic pad can achieve truly independent compression and release movements, making the elastic pad of the present invention more comfortable than current packaged spring mattresses; and (5) the sponge layer and other cushion layers in the elastic pad are removable, making it easier to use in clinics and more clean. The elastic pad of the present invention may be used in furniture that includes an elastic pad, such as, but not limited to, a mattress, a sofa cushion, or a bench cushion, or may be used alone, such as, for example, a picnic mat.

[0008] On the one hand, the present invention provides an elastic module for manufacturing a furniture product, the elastic module comprising: a spring; a base; and an end cap; the base has a first spring fixing part and an end cap locking part, the first spring fixing part being configured to removably fix a first end of the spring; the end cap comprises a lid body part, a locking part, and a flexible connecting part; a second spring fixing part is formed on a side of the lid body part facing the base, the second spring fixing part being configured to removably fix a second end of the spring; the locking part is configured to be releasably locked to the end cap locking part; the flexible connecting part connects the lid body part to the locking part and is located inside the spring along the radial direction of the spring.

[0009] In one preferred embodiment according to the present invention, the spring is held between the base and the end cap with a predetermined initial compression force.

[0010] In one preferred embodiment according to the invention, the end cap is a one-piece member.

[0011] In one preferred embodiment according to the present invention, the flexible connection portion comprises two or more flexible belts.

[0012] In one preferred embodiment according to the present invention, the first spring fastener includes a slot configured to receive the first end of the spring.

[0013] In one preferred embodiment according to the present invention, the first spring fastening portion includes a recess configured to receive the first end of the spring.

[0014] In one preferred embodiment according to the present invention, the first spring fixing portion includes a first circumferential wall configured to fix the first end of the spring, the first circumferential wall being located outward from the first end of the spring along a radial direction of the spring.

[0015] In a preferred embodiment according to the present invention, the first spring fixing portion further includes a second circumferential wall configured to fix the first end of the spring, and the second circumferential wall is located inward of the first end of the spring along the radial direction of the spring, thereby removably fixing the first end of the spring between the first circumferential wall and the second circumferential wall.

[0016] In one preferred embodiment according to the present invention, the second spring fixing portion includes a circumferential flange configured to removably fix the second end of the spring, the circumferential flange being located radially outward of the second end of the spring.

[0017] In one preferred embodiment according to the present invention, the spring is a tapered spring.

[0018] In one preferred embodiment according to the present invention, the locking portion includes a snap protruding toward the base, the end cap locking portion includes a locking hole, and the snap is configured to be removably fixed in the locking hole by elastic deformation.

[0019] In one preferred embodiment according to the present invention, when the snap is fixed in the locking hole, the base end of the snap is flush with or recessed relative to the bottom surface of the base.

[0020] In one preferred embodiment according to the present invention, a recess is formed in the bottom surface of the base facing away from the end cap, surrounding the base end of the snap, the radial dimension of the recess being greater than the radial dimension of the base of the snap base, thereby facilitating insertion of a finger or tool into the recess to release the snap.

[0021] In one preferred embodiment according to the present invention, the locking portion includes a base, a neck extending from the base toward the base, and a latch member located at the base end of the neck and extending generally parallel to the base, the end cap locking portion includes a locking hole, and the latching member and the locking hole are shaped so that the latching member can pass through the locking hole and can be locked into or released from the locking hole by rotating.

[0022] In one preferred embodiment according to the present invention, the latch member is configured to be able to pass through the lock hole in a first direction relative to the lock hole, and to be able to be locked in a different second direction relative to the lock hole.

[0023] In one preferred embodiment according to the present invention, the rotation angle of the second direction relative to the first direction is about 90 degrees.

[0024] In a preferred embodiment according to the present invention, when the latch member is locked in the lock hole, the base end of the latch member is flush with or recessed into the bottom surface of the base.

[0025] In one preferred embodiment according to the present invention, one or more stopper portions are provided on the bottom surface of the base near the locking hole, and the one or more stopper portions are configured to prevent the latch member from rotating from the second direction to the first direction.

[0026] In a preferred embodiment according to the present invention, the base of the locking part has a plurality of grooves and / or a plurality of protrusions provided around the periphery thereof to facilitate twisting of the locking part.

[0027] On the other hand, the present invention provides an elastic pad for manufacturing furniture products, the elastic pad comprising a base fabric, a plurality of elastic modules according to the above embodiments, and a cover fabric, the base fabric comprising a slider fastener arranged around the periphery of the base fabric, the base of the elastic module being fixed on the base fabric in advance, and a slider fastener that can be combined with the slider fastener of the base fabric being arranged around the periphery of the cover fabric, thereby allowing the cover fabric to be detachably connected to the base fabric and forming a closed space that accommodates the plurality of elastic modules.

[0028] In one preferred embodiment according to the present invention, the elastic pad further includes a sponge layer, and one side of the sponge layer is provided with a plurality of recesses, each recess being configured to accommodate a lid body portion of a corresponding end cap.

[0029] In a preferred embodiment according to the present invention, the elastic pad further includes one or more cushion layers, which are disposed between the sponge layer and the cover fabric.

[0030] Of course, the configurations or features described in one embodiment above can be used singly or in combination in other embodiments. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0031] In the drawings, the dimensions and proportions do not represent the actual dimensions and proportions of the products. The drawings are used for explanation only, and for convenience of explanation, some unnecessary structures or features have been omitted. [Figure 1A] 1 is an exploded view illustratively showing a resilient module of a preferred embodiment according to the present invention; [Figure 1B] 1B is a partially enlarged view exemplarily showing a locking portion of the end cap in FIG. 1A. FIG. [Figure 1C] FIG. 1B is a top view exemplarily showing the base in FIG. 1A. [Figure 2A] 1B exemplarily illustrates an assembled state of the elastic module in FIG. 1A. [Figure 2B] 2B is a side view exemplarily showing the elastic module in FIG. 2A. FIG. [Figure 2C] 2B is a bottom view exemplarily showing the elastic module in FIG. 2A. FIG. [Figure 2D] 2B is a cross-sectional view showing an example of the elastic module in FIG. 2A. [Figure 3A] 10 is an exemplary illustration of an end cap according to another embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 3B] 10 is an exemplary illustration of an end cap according to another embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 4A] 10 is an exploded view exemplarily showing a resilient module according to yet another preferred embodiment of the present invention; FIG. [Figure 4B] 4B is a partially enlarged view exemplarily showing a locking portion of the end cap in FIG. 4A. FIG. [Figure 4C] 4B is a top view exemplarily showing the base in FIG. 4A. FIG. [Figure 5A] 4B exemplarily illustrates an assembled state of the elastic module in FIG. 4A. [Figure 5B] 5B is a side view exemplarily showing the elastic module in FIG. 5A. FIG. [Figure 6A] 5B is a bottom view exemplarily showing the elastic module in FIG. 5A, in which the latch member is positioned in a first direction; [Figure 6B] 5B is a bottom view illustrating the elastic module in FIG. 5A, in which the latch member is positioned in a second direction; [Figure 7A] 1 shows an exemplary base fabric of a resilient pad according to one preferred embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 7B] 7B is an exemplary illustration of a spring and end cap assembled to the base fabric shown in FIG. 7A. [Figure 7C] 10 exemplarily shows a sponge layer for assembling the elastic pad. [Figure 7D] The bottom side of the sponge layer in FIG. 7C is shown illustratively. [Figure 7E] 10 exemplarily shows another cushioning layer for assembling the elastic pad. [Figure 7F] 1 shows an exemplary resilient pad according to one preferred embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0032] The elastic module and the elastic pad of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. Only preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described here, and those skilled in the art may conceive of other embodiments that can realize the present invention based on the preferred embodiments, and such other embodiments also fall within the scope of the present invention.

[0033] As shown in FIG. 1A , a preferred embodiment of the elastic module according to the present invention includes a base 20, a spring 10, and an end cap 30, which can be removably assembled together to form the elastic module. The base 20 and the end cap 30 are integral components and may be integrally molded from the same material (e.g., plastic) or formed into an integral component by ultrasonic welding or other methods using multiple parts. Specifically, the base 20 is provided with a spring fixing portion 21 for removably holding one end of the spring 10 and an end cap locking portion 22 for removably fixing the end cap 30. The end cap 30 includes a lid body portion 31, a locking portion 32, and a flexible connection portion 33 connecting the two together. The lid body portion 31 has a spring fixing portion 311 formed on the side facing the base 20 for removably holding the other end of the spring 10. The locking portion 32 is configured to be releasably locked with the end cap locking portion 22. 1B and 1C, the locking portion 32 may include a base 321 and a snap 322 extending downward from the bottom surface of the base 321. The end cap locking portion 22 may include a protruding base 221 and a locking hole 222 formed in the protruding base 221. When assembling the elastic module, the locking portion 32 and the locking hole 222 are aligned, and then the base 321 of the locking portion 32 is pressed toward the locking hole 222 to elastically deform the snap 322 and penetrate the locking hole 222. After penetrating the locking hole 222, the snap 322 recovers its original shape and is removably fixed within the locking hole 222, thereby securing the spring 10 between the base 20 and the end cap 30, thereby forming an elastic module. Preferably, the spring 10 in the elastic module has a predetermined initial compression force to achieve a desired comfortable hardness. The locking holes 222 shown in FIGS. 1B and 1C are rectangular, and correspondingly, the snaps 322 are linear structures, and such an arrangement can prevent the end cap 30 from rotating relative to the base 20 to some extent.In other embodiments of the present invention, the locking hole 222 may have other shapes, for example, a circular shape, and the snap 322 has a corresponding arc shape, and such a structure is more convenient for assembly.

[0034] As shown in FIG. 2A , in the assembled elastic module, the flexible connector 33 is located radially inward of the spring 10. The lower surface of the base 321 is joined to the upper surface of the protruding base 221, thereby providing a more robust connection between the end cap 30 and the base 20 and preventing the locking portion 32 and the flexible belt 33a from penetrating the locking hole 222. In other embodiments of the present invention, the protruding base 221 may be omitted. When the elastic module is subjected to pressure to compress the spring 10, the flexible connector 33 adaptively deforms. Preferably, the flexible connector 33 includes a flexible belt 33a. While two flexible belts 33a are shown in the drawings, those skilled in the art should understand that the flexible connector 33 may include more flexible belts 33a. For example, FIG. 3A shows three flexible belts 33a, and FIG. 3B shows four flexible belts 33a.

[0035] The spring fixing portion 21 on the base 20 may be a slot, a recess, or another form. For example, as shown in Figures 1C and 2A, the spring fixing portion 21 may be in the form of a circumferential wall 211, the dimensions of which are designed to fit tightly against the outer side of the lower end of the spring 10 and thereby restrict the lower end of the spring 10 in the radially outward direction. Furthermore, the spring fixing portion 21 may further include a circumferential wall 212, the dimensions of which are designed to fit tightly against the lower end of the spring 10 and thereby restrict the lower end of the spring 10 in the radially inward direction.

[0036] The spring fixing portion 311 in the lid body portion 31 may be a slot, a recess, or another form. For example, as shown in Fig. 2D, the spring fixing portion 311 may be a circumferential flange that surrounds the periphery of the lid body portion 31 and is in close contact with the outer tip of the spring 10. Similarly, the spring fixing portion 311 may include a circumferential wall located inward of the tip of the spring.

[0037] 2B and 2D, when the snap 322 is secured in the locking hole 222, the lower base end of the snap 322 is flush with the bottom surface of the base 20 or recesses upward, thereby maintaining a stable position of the base 20.

[0038] As shown in FIGS. 2C and 2D , a recess or depression 23 is formed on the bottom surface of the base 20, surrounding the base end of the snap 322. The radial dimension of the recess 23 is greater than the radial dimension of the base 20 at the base end of the snap 322, thereby forming an operating space surrounding the snap 322, which makes it convenient for a finger or a disassembly tool to be inserted into the recess 23 to release the snap 322.

[0039] 4A to 5B show another preferred embodiment of an elastic module according to the present invention. This elastic module is essentially similar to the elastic module described above. It includes a base 60, a spring 10, and an end cap 70, which can be removably assembled together to form the elastic module. The base 60 and the end cap 70 are integral components, and may be integrally molded from the same material (e.g., plastic) or formed into an integral component by ultrasonic welding or other methods. In this embodiment, identical or similar features are designated by identical or similar reference numerals, and descriptions of similar components to those in the above embodiment are omitted. This embodiment differs from the above embodiment in the locking portion 72 of the end cap 70 and the end cap locking portion 62, which is mounted on the base 60 and locks the end cap. As shown in the drawings, the locking portion 72 may include a base 721 and a latch member 722 extending downward from the bottom surface of the base 721. The end cap locking portion 62 may include a protruding base 621 and a locking hole 622 formed in the protruding base 621. The shape of the latch member 722 and the locking hole 622 is designed so that the latch member 722 can be locked into or released from the locking hole by rotating relative to the locking hole 622. For example, as shown in FIGS. 4B and 4C , the latch member 722 may be a narrow, slender member extending generally parallel to the base 721, with a narrow neck portion between the base 721 and the locking hole 622. The locking hole 622 may have a shape corresponding to the latch member 722, but its dimensions may be slightly larger than those of the latch member 722 to facilitate insertion of the latch member 722. When assembling the resilient module, the orientation of the latch member 722 can be adjusted to align with the locking hole 622, and the latch member 722 can be inserted through the locking hole 622 in that direction. The latch member 722 is then rotated (eg, 90 degrees) so that it locks onto the underside of the base 60 , thereby securing the spring 10 between the base 60 and the end cap 70 .Preferably, the spring 10 in the elastic module has a predetermined initial compression force to create a desired comfortable firmness.

[0040] 5A and 5B, in the assembled state of the elastic module, the flexible connecting portion 33 is located radially inward of the spring 10, and the lower surface of the base 721 is joined to the upper surface of the protruding base 621, which makes the connection between the end cap 70 and the base 60 more robust and prevents the locking portion 72 and the flexible belt 33a from further passing through the locking hole 622. In other embodiments of the present invention, the protruding base 621 may be omitted.

[0041] 5A and 5B are bottom views, in which Fig. 5A shows the latch member 722 passing through the locking hole 622 in a first direction, and Fig. 5B shows the latch member 722 in Fig. 5A rotated a certain angle (e.g., about 90 degrees) and then locked in a second direction. To prevent the latch member 722 in the locked state from rotating and accidentally releasing from the base 60, one or more stopper protrusions 63 may be provided near the lower locking hole 622 of the base 60 to hold the latch member 722 in the locking direction (second direction).

[0042] Further referring to FIG. 5B, when the latch member 722 is secured within the lock hole 622, the lower base end of the latch member 722 is flush with the bottom surface of the base 60 or recessed upward, thereby maintaining a stable position of the base 60.

[0043] To facilitate twisting of the locking portion 72, a plurality of grooves and / or a plurality of protrusions may be provided around the periphery of the base 721, as shown in FIG. 4B.

[0044] 7A to 7F show an elastic pad according to the present invention, in which a plurality of bases as described above are pre-fixed to a base fabric 80 of the elastic pad by adhesive bonding, ultrasonic welding, caulking, or similar methods. Although base 20 is shown in the drawings, base 60 may be substituted. After purchasing the product, consumers can simply fix a plurality of springs 10 and a plurality of end caps 30 or 70 to the corresponding bases 20 or 60 of the base fabric 80 in the above-described manner, and then assemble the mattress themselves.

[0045] Further referring to Figures 7C and 7D, in order to improve the comfort of the elastic pad and the stability of the elastic module, a sponge layer 90 may be installed on the top of the elastic module, and the side of the sponge layer 90 facing the elastic module has multiple recesses 91, each of which can accommodate the tip portion of the elastic module, including the lid body portion 31 or 71.

[0046] As shown in FIG. 7F, the elastic module further includes a cover fabric 100, and slider fasteners are installed around the periphery of both the cover fabric 100 and the base fabric 80, thereby detachably connecting the cover fabric 100 to the base fabric 80 to form a closed space that can accommodate multiple elastic modules.

[0047] To further improve the comfort of the elastic pad, a single or multiple layers of the same or different cushioning layers may be additionally placed between the sponge layer 90 and the cover fabric 100, if necessary.

[0048] Although the spring 10 shown in the drawings is a tapered spring, those skilled in the art should understand that by adjusting the radial dimensions of the base 20 and end cap 30 or the dimensions of the spring fixing portion, the elastic module of the present invention may include other types of springs, such as pillar-shaped springs.

[0049] The scope of protection of the present invention is limited only by the claims. Under the teaching of the present invention, those skilled in the art can easily imagine alternatives to the structures disclosed in the present invention as feasible alternative embodiments, and can combine the embodiments disclosed in the present invention to create new embodiments, which also fall within the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

1. 1. A resilient module for making a furniture item, comprising: the elastic module includes a spring, a base, and an end cap; the base includes a first spring fixing portion and an end cap lock portion, the first spring fixing portion being configured to removably fix a first end of the spring; The end cap includes a lid body portion, a lock portion, and a flexible connection portion; a second spring fixing portion is formed on a side of the lid body portion facing the base, and the second spring fixing portion is configured to be able to removably fix a second end of the spring; the locking portion is configured to be releasably lockable to the end cap locking portion; The flexible connection portion connects the lid body portion to the lock portion and is located radially inside the spring along the axial direction of the spring. Elastic module.

2. The spring is held between the base and the end cap with a predetermined initial compression force. The elastic module of claim 1 .

3. The end cap is a one-piece member. The elastic module of claim 1 .

4. The flexible connection portion includes two or more flexible belts. The elastic module of claim 1 .

5. the first spring retainer includes a slot configured to receive the first end of the spring; The elastic module of claim 1 .

6. the first spring securing portion includes a recess configured to receive the first end of the spring; The elastic module of claim 1 .

7. the first spring fixing portion includes a first circumferential wall configured to fix the first end of the spring, the first circumferential wall being positioned outward of the first end of the spring along a radial direction of the spring; The elastic module of claim 1 .

8. the first spring fixing portion further includes a second circumferential wall configured to fix the first end of the spring, the second circumferential wall being positioned inward of the first end of the spring along a radial direction of the spring, thereby removably fixing the first end of the spring between the first circumferential wall and the second circumferential wall; The resilient module according to claim 7 .

9. the second spring fixing portion includes a circumferential flange configured to removably fix the second end of the spring, the circumferential flange being positioned outward of the second end of the spring along a radial direction of the spring; The elastic module of claim 1 .

10. The spring is a tapered spring. The elastic module of claim 1 .

11. The locking portion includes a snap protruding toward the base, and the end cap locking portion includes a locking hole, and the snap is configured to be removably fixed in the locking hole by elastic deformation. The elastic module of claim 1 .

12. When the snap is secured in the locking hole, the base end of the snap is flush with or recessed into the bottom surface of the base. The resilient module according to claim 11 .

13. a recess formed in a bottom surface of the base away from the end cap, surrounding the base end of the snap, and a dimension of the recess along the radial direction of the base being larger than a dimension of the base end of the snap along the radial direction of the base, thereby making it easier to insert a finger or a tool into the recess to release the snap; The elastic module of claim 12.

14. The locking portion includes a base, a neck extending from the base toward the base, and a latch member located at the base end of the neck and extending generally parallel to the base, and the end cap locking portion includes a locking hole, and the latching member and the locking hole are shaped so that the latching member can pass through the locking hole and can be locked into or released from the locking hole by rotating. The elastic module of claim 1 .

15. The latch member is configured to be able to pass through the lock hole in a first direction relative to the lock hole, and to be able to be locked in a different second direction relative to the lock hole. The resilient module of claim 14.

16. The rotation angle of the second direction relative to the first direction is approximately 90 degrees. The resilient module of claim 15.

17. When the latch member is locked in the lock hole, the base end of the latch member is flush with or recessed into the bottom surface of the base. The resilient module of claim 16.

18. One or more stopper portions are provided on the bottom surface of the base near the lock hole, and the one or more stopper portions are configured to prevent the latch member from rotating from the second direction to the first direction. The resilient module of claim 17.

19. A plurality of grooves and / or a plurality of protrusions are provided around the periphery of the base of the locking portion to facilitate twisting of the locking portion. The resilient module of claim 14.

20. 1. An elastic pad for making furniture products, comprising: The elastic pad includes a base fabric, a plurality of elastic modules according to claim 1, and a cover fabric, The base fabric includes a slider fastener disposed around the periphery of the base fabric, The base of the elastic module is fixed on the base fabric in advance, A slider fastener is provided around the periphery of the cover fabric, which can be combined with the slider fastener of the base fabric, thereby allowing the cover fabric to be separably connected to the base fabric and forming a closed space for accommodating a plurality of the elastic modules. Elastic pad.

21. The container further includes a sponge layer, and a plurality of recesses are provided on one side of the sponge layer, each recess being configured to receive a corresponding end cap lid body portion.

21. The elastic pad according to claim 20.

22. The cushion further includes one or more cushion layers, the one or more cushion layers being disposed between the sponge layer and the cover fabric.

22. The elastic pad of claim 21.

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