Single spring element of a mattress spring support

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing mattress base spring systems lack the ability to provide interactive spring support and cannot produce various variants, as the bearing surfaces are rigid and do not allow for sufficient interaction or adjustment in spring rate.

Innovation Solution

The individual spring element features a concave rocker arch with pivot axes and lateral support springs, along with torsionally elastic bearings and locking devices, allowing for adjustable and interactive support by varying the size and connection of partial bearing surfaces, and combining different spring elements to create multiple configurations.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Stability of the object's composition

If a rigid bearing surface is used, then structural stability is improved, but the ability to provide interactive spring support and create various variants is lost

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructural stabilityVSAvoidinteractive spring support capability
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The bearing surface is divided into multiple separate partial bearing surfaces (11) that can be independently positioned and connected. This segmentation allows each partial surface to move and interact independently, providing the desired interactive spring support while maintaining overall structural stability through their connected arrangement.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The bearing surfaces are designed to be dynamic rather than rigid, allowing them to tilt and adjust laterally when loaded. The torsionally elastic bearings enable the partial bearing surfaces to rotate and adapt to load conditions, creating interactive spring support while maintaining structural integrity through the rocker arch mechanism.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Ease of manufacture

If separate foot part and spring function parts are used, then manufacturing flexibility is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemanufacturing flexibilityVSAvoidassembly complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The foot part (4) and spring function part (5) are merged into a single injection-molded lower part made of plastic. This integration reduces assembly complexity by eliminating the need to separately assemble these components, while still allowing for manufacturing flexibility through the injection molding process that can incorporate various spring configurations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The integrated lower part serves multiple functions: it provides the foot structure for mounting, contains the spring function parts, and incorporates the rocker arch mechanism. This multi-functionality reduces the number of separate components needed, simplifying assembly while maintaining manufacturing flexibility through modular design elements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Adaptability or versatility

If small separate partial bearing surfaces are used, then interactive support capability is improved, but manufacturing precision requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinteractive support capabilityVSAvoidpositioning precision
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

Torsionally elastic bearings act as intermediaries between the partial bearing surfaces and the rocker arch. These bearings accommodate positioning variations and allow the partial surfaces to self-align under load, reducing the stringency of manufacturing precision requirements while maintaining effective interactive support capability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The system allows for variation in the size, shape, and arrangement of partial bearing surfaces to optimize interactive support for different applications. By changing these parameters rather than requiring high precision in a fixed configuration, the design achieves adaptability without excessively stringent manufacturing precision requirements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

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 enables a wide range of spring variants and mattress base configurations, providing enhanced support and stiffness adjustment, ensuring effective interaction between bearing surfaces and improved load distribution.

Implementation Method 1

lateral support springs which, together with the rocker arch and the pivot axis, are supported on the foot part (4) in an elastic fashion

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Implementation Method 2

torsionally elastic bearings for pivot bearing bolts of the upper part (2) are designed as corresponding locking devices

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectTorsional elasticity: Torsion Spring

Data Source

PatentEP2801296B1Single spring element of a mattress spring support
Publication Date: 2017.08.09 HARTMANN SIEGBERT
  • EP2801296B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP2801296B1 patent drawingFigure 3~5
  • EP2801296B1 patent drawingFigure 6~8

AI summary

An interactive individual spring element of a mattress base spring system is made up of a foot part (4) for arrangement on a fixed substructure, an upper part (2; 12; 22) with a bearing surface (11) for a mattress and a spring function part (5) arranged between them with the Upper part (2; 12; 22) corresponding latching devices with the possibility of creating a large number of variants available, which realizes a large spring deflection when a bearing surface is loaded on one side and at the same time the adjacent bearing surfaces interactively generate increased support for the mattress on top, which is achieved as a result that the spring function part (5) has a concave rocker arch (6) with its ends extending upwards, which extends centrally downwards and can be tilted there about a pivot axis (7) and is elastically mounted on the lower part (1 ) is supported, with a connecting in the area of ​​its ends Support arches (13) and torsionally flexible bearings (10) for pivot bearing bolts (14) of the upper part (2; 12; 22) are formed as a corresponding latching device.