Adjustable Pocket Spring Firmness Without Adjacent Spring Interference
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing furniture devices, such as mattresses, struggle to adjust firmness accurately without affecting adjacent elastic devices, are complex to manufacture, heavy, and prone to failure due to intricate mechanisms and solid grid connections.
Innovation Solution
A furniture device with a base, movable plate element, and elastic devices in fabric pockets, where the plate element interacts with elastic devices via a moving mechanism to adjust firmness, using flexible threads or strings to connect elastic members independently, allowing for precise adjustment and reduced weight and manufacturing complexity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If a solid grid net member is used to connect elastic members, then the structural stability is improved, but the device complexity and weight increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the complex solid grid net member from the structure and replaces it with individual connection members that connect each elastic member directly to the plate element. This extraction of the unnecessary connecting network simplifies the overall structure while maintaining the required stability through direct connections.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of using a single solid grid structure to connect all elastic members, the patent segments the connection system into individual connection members for each elastic member. This segmentation allows for simpler, lighter connections while maintaining structural integrity through distributed direct connections rather than a continuous rigid grid.
2Adaptability or versatility
If pocket spring design is used, then each spring can deform independently, but the firmness adjustment mechanism becomes complex and affects adjacent springs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by allowing each elastic member to have its own independent connection and deformation characteristics through individual connection members. Each elastic member-pair can be adjusted independently without affecting neighbors, as the connection is localized to each specific elastic member rather than through a shared rigid grid structure.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple inflatable members are used to adjust firmness, then the firmness adjustment capability is improved, but the device becomes heavy and prone to failure
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and removes the inflatable members from the structure, replacing them with a simpler mechanical adjustment system using the movable plate element. This eliminates the complexity and reliability issues associated with multiple inflatable members while maintaining the firmness adjustment capability through direct mechanical means.
4Measurement precision
If the plate element is displaced to pre-tension elastic members, then the firmness adjustment precision is improved, but the manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of adjusting the elastic members themselves to achieve firmness adjustment, the patent inverts the approach by moving the plate element to which the elastic members are connected. This inversion simplifies manufacturing because the elastic members remain in their natural state while the plate element displacement provides the adjustment mechanism, achieving precision without complex manufacturing.
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
Enables accurate firmness adjustment without influencing neighboring elastic devices, simplifies manufacturing, reduces weight, and enhances sensitivity, making the device easier to handle and more economical while maintaining durability.
Implementation Method 1
the at least one elastic member is compressed and relaxed respectively over it's entire length during movement of the plate element upwards and downwards
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a furniture device configured to receive the weight of a being, said furniture device having a holding arrangement (20) and at least one section (30). The section (30) comprises a base (2), a movable plate element (6), a moving mechanism (4) and at least one elastic device (12). The plate element (6) is configured to interact with the at least one elastic device and to be moved by the moving mechanism in respect to the base in order to adjust the firmness of the at least one elastic device. The elastic device comprises a pocket (14) made of a fabric, and an elastic member (18), the elastic member is arranged within said pocket, the pocket is attached to adjacent pockets whereby the attachment (32, 32') is formed so that adjacent elastic devices may move independently from one another along a distance (A), as measured from a free end of the elastic device and in a direction perpendicular to the plate member. The holding arrangement comprises a connecting portion (26) and a holding member (22), which is connected to the at least one elastic device via the connecting portion, such that the at least one elastic member is compressed and relaxed over its entire length during movement of the plate element in a respective direction, wherein the connecting portions are arranged on a straight line, which extends through the centre of two or more attached elastic devices.