Plastic Spring Element With Inward Return Arms for Stable Compression
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing spring elements for mattresses lack stability and symmetrical arrangement, leading to inefficient compression and demolding issues, particularly when the spring arms overlap during compression.
Innovation Solution
The spring arms are connected at their radially outer ends and run back inward in a common section, forming a stable and symmetrical structure that deforms only the inward arm under compression, allowing for easy demolding and increased lateral stability, with optional additional outward sections for height extension.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If spring arms are arranged to extend outward from the lower support surface, then the spring element can be easily demolded, but the spring arms may overlap during compression leading to instability
Solution Approach 1:
The spring body is segmented into multiple spring arms that are distributed around the central axis. Each spring arm is a separate structural element that can be independently formed during molding, allowing easy demolding while maintaining stability through their collective arrangement.
Solution Approach 2:
The spring arms are designed with asymmetric geometry where they extend radially outward from the lower support surface at different angular positions. This asymmetric distribution prevents overlapping during compression while maintaining structural stability and facilitating easy demolding.
2Stability of the object's composition
If spring arms are connected at their radially outer end and run back inward, then a symmetrical arrangement is achieved, but the structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
Spring arms are connected at their radially outer ends to form a common section, merging multiple individual elements into a unified structure. This creates a symmetrical arrangement where the spring arms run back inward together, achieving stability through symmetry while the merging simplifies the overall configuration.
Solution Approach 2:
The common section where spring arms connect at their outer ends serves multiple functions: it creates the symmetrical arrangement, provides structural stability, and acts as a single integrated component during compression. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional separate elements.
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 configuration provides a stable, symmetrical spring element with improved spring properties and easy demolding, enhancing both stability and usability.
Implementation Method 1
spring body connecting the lower support surface with the upper support surface, which has a plurality of spring arms
Data Source
Figure 1~4
Figure 5~8
AI summary
The element has a spring body (3) connecting a lower supporting surface (1) with an upper supporting surface (2). The spring body has spring arms (4), which are outwardly guided away from the lower supporting surface and guided back inwardly, when viewing in a spring direction (I). The two spring arms are connected with each other at a radially outside lying end (5) and run radially inward with a common section (6). The two spring arms form a circular, circle or oval shaped bend together up to a connection point, where the spring element is made of plastic.