Support device for a seat or bed base

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional mattress support devices with slats flex and sag under user weight, compromising comfort, while replacing slats with pads disrupts continuity of support across the mattress width, affecting user experience.

Innovation Solution

A support device with a slender crosspiece and elastic members arranged to densify near the center, providing enhanced support and maintaining continuity across the mattress width, featuring a lower section fixed to the bed frame, an upper section for mattress support, and an intermediate section connected by elastic members, with varying longitudinal spacings to manage sagging and support density.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Stability of the object's composition

If conventional slats are used to support the mattress, then continuity of support across the mattress width is maintained, but the slats significantly flex and sag under user weight, compromising comfort

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontinuity of supportVSAvoidresistance to sagging
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The support device is divided into multiple independent elastic members (at least three) arranged along the crosspiece, each capable of individual deformation. This segmentation allows the system to maintain overall continuity while distributing the load across multiple flexible elements rather than a single rigid slat, reducing sagging through shared load-bearing capacity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The elastic members are positioned at specific locations along the crosspiece (between ends and middle) to provide targeted support in regions most prone to sagging. The non-uniform distribution of elastic members creates locally optimized support zones that address the specific stress patterns experienced by mattress supports, enhancing resistance to sagging where it occurs most frequently.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Strength

If pads are used instead of slats to reduce sagging, then resistance to sagging is improved, but discontinuity in support across the mattress width occurs, harming comfort

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveresistance to saggingVSAvoidcontinuity of support
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

Multiple elastic members are combined along a single crosspiece structure, merging the benefits of flexible support (from individual elastic elements) with continuous coverage (from the crosspiece spanning the full width). This combination allows the system to achieve both sagging resistance through elastic deformation and continuity of support through the interconnected arrangement of members along the entire crosspiece length.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Ease of manufacture

If elastic members are uniformly distributed along the crosspiece, then manufacturing simplicity is maintained, but sagging is not effectively limited in the central part where user weight is concentrated

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveuniform distribution of elastic membersVSAvoidsupport in central area
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The elastic members are positioned at specific locations along the crosspiece (between ends and middle) to provide targeted support in regions most prone to sagging. The non-uniform distribution of elastic members creates locally optimized support zones that address the specific stress patterns experienced by mattress supports, enhancing resistance to sagging where it occurs most frequently.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

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

The solution effectively limits sagging and maintains comfort by densifying elastic members in the central area, ensuring continuous support across the mattress width, improving user experience and reducing the likelihood of discomfort from flexing slats or discontinuous support.

Implementation Method 1

an intermediate section elastically connecting the lower and upper sections to each other by means of a plurality of elastic members arranged along the crosspiece

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentEP2803297B1Support device for a seat or bed base
Publication Date: 2019.07.03 TOURNADRE STANDARD GUM
  • EP2803297B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2803297B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2803297B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

Support device (10) intended to extend between two long sides (1L, 1R) of a bed frame or seat to support a mattress, said device (10) comprising: a lower section (S1) comprising at least one long cross member (20) longitudinally comprising two ends (22L, 22R) respectively suitable for being fixed to the two long sides (1L, 1R) of the frame, and a middle (O) equidistant from the two ends (22L, 22R); an upper section (S3) comprising a platform (40) suitable for supporting the mattress;and an intermediate section (52) elastically connecting the lower (S1) and upper (S3) sections to each other by means of a plurality of elastic elements (30,30A-30H) which are arranged along the cross member (20), in which the longitudinal spacing (d1L) between the first two elastic elements (30A,30B) closest to a first end (22L) of the cross member (20) is greater than the longitudinal spacing (d2L) between the first two elastic elements (30C,30D) closest to the middle (O) of the cross member (20).;