Double Spring Slat Structure for Mattress Hollow Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional mattress base springs often result in suboptimal lying comfort due to the formation of permanent hollows, which can be uncomfortable, especially for back and side sleepers, as they do not adequately involve the spring system in the deflection process, leading to uneven pressure distribution and potential issues like rolling off the mattress.

Innovation Solution

A double spring slat design where the upper spring slat is more flexible and supported by a convexly curved support element between the upper and lower spring slats, dividing the lying surface into softer and harder deflection areas, allowing for adjustable deflection characteristics to accommodate different sleeping positions and weights.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If conventional mattress base springs with single spring slats are used, then the structure is simple and cost-effective, but the lying comfort is suboptimal due to formation of permanent hollows and inadequate involvement of the spring system in the deflection process

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelying comfortVSAvoidspring slat configuration
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The spring slat is divided into multiple independent spring elements (at least three) that react independently of one another. This segmentation allows each element to adapt to the lying position locally, improving comfort while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure that connects these elements through a frame of longitudinal and transverse bars.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent transitions from a single-layer spring slat to a multi-layer arrangement where spring slats are stacked vertically at different levels. This vertical dimensionality allows the spring system to participate more effectively in the deflection process, creating progressive hollow formation that improves lying comfort without significantly increasing horizontal complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Ease of manufacture

If spring slats with uniform deflection characteristics are used, then the manufacturing is simple, but the lying comfort is not optimal for different sleeping positions and user weights

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvespring slat productionVSAvoidaccommodation of different sleeping positions
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

Different spring slats or different regions of spring slats are given different deflection characteristics through variations in thickness, width, or material properties. This local differentiation allows the spring system to adapt to different sleeping positions (back, side, stomach sleepers) and user weights, providing optimized comfort zones without requiring complete customization of each slat.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The spring slat system is designed to dynamically adapt to applied loads through its multi-element, multi-level configuration. The independent spring elements and vertical stacking allow the system to automatically adjust its deflection pattern based on the distribution and magnitude of forces from different body positions and weights, providing versatile adaptability while maintaining standardized manufacturing processes.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

This design enhances lying comfort by forming a cradle that supports various sleeping positions independently of the mattress's elasticity, reducing the formation of permanent hollows and preventing rolling off, especially beneficial for users of different weights.

Implementation Method 1

the upper spring slat is more flexible than the lower spring slat when the same force is applied

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentEP3066960B1Suspension spring for a mattress support and mattresses support having at least one such suspension spring
Publication Date: 2018.05.09 RECTICEL SCHLAFKOMFORT
  • EP3066960B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3066960B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP3066960B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5

AI summary

A slat for a mattress base spring system 1, which slat is designed as a double slat 6, 13, comprises an upper slat 8, 14 and a lower slat 9; 15, the upper slat 8, 14 being more flexible than the lower slat 9, 15 and both slats 8, 9; 14, 15 are held at a vertical distance from one another in the region of their ends, which double spring slat 6, 13 has at least one support 10, 25 arranged between the end sections of the same, by means of which the upper spring slat 8, 14 is supported on the lower spring slat 9, 15. This spring strip is characterized in that the support 10, 25 has a convexly curved support surface S pointing to the underside of the upper spring strip 8, 14 and the upper spring strip 8, 14 on the support surface S of the support even without a load acting on it via a certain lengthwise extent of the upper spring strip 8, 14, such that a movement of the upper spring strip relative to the support 10, 25 attached to the lower spring strip 9, 15 in the longitudinal direction thereof is possible.