Spring element, spring and mattress
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing spring elements for mattresses require large and expensive molds, limiting flexibility in adjusting softness or hardness, and necessitate replacement of the entire spring if a single element breaks, making it difficult to adapt to individual user needs.
Innovation Solution
A spring element design featuring a pair of cuffs connected by a central piece with wedge-shaped projections, allowing for adjustable hardness by varying the distance between elements, enabling individual adjustment and replacement without damaging the spring or central web.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If plastic material is used for springs with large dimensions corresponding to mattress width, then the springs can provide adequate support, but large and expensive molds are required and adaptability to individual user needs is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The spring is divided into multiple individual spring elements that can be independently manufactured and then assembled onto a central web. Each spring element is made separately in small, cost-effective molds, and multiple elements are combined to form the complete spring structure, enabling both cost efficiency and configurability.
Solution Approach 2:
The system allows dynamic adjustment of spring characteristics by varying the number, arrangement, and spacing of individual spring elements on the central web. Users can customize the softness or hardness by selecting different configurations of spring elements, making the mattress adaptable to individual needs.
2Reliability
If the entire spring is replaced when a single spring element breaks, then structural integrity is maintained, but resource efficiency decreases and cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The spring is constructed as an assembly of independent spring elements that can be individually replaced. When one element fails, only that specific element needs to be removed and replaced, rather than replacing the entire spring, simplifying repair and reducing waste.
Solution Approach 2:
The design enables selective replacement of only the defective spring element while retaining functional elements. This extends the service life of the spring assembly and reduces material waste by recovering and reusing still-functional components.
3Ease of operation
If spring elements are pushed onto central web during installation, then assembly is simplified, but material stress and risk of damage increase
Solution Approach 1:
The spring elements are pre-formed with specific geometric features including flattened regions and wedge-shaped projections that create a receiving space. This preliminary structuring enables the central web to be inserted without excessive force, as the geometry guides and accommodates the assembly process.
Solution Approach 2:
The wedge-shaped projections and flattened regions act as intermediary features that mediate between the spring element and central web. These features distribute forces evenly during assembly, preventing stress concentration and material damage while facilitating smooth insertion.
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 allows for the production of springs with adjustable hardness using smaller molds, enabling users to customize the softness or firmness of mattresses after delivery by adding or removing spring elements, preventing damage and reducing material stress during installation.
Implementation Method 1
each projection is wedge-shaped. As a result, the receiving space has an approximately rectangular cross section. The wedge-shaped design of the projections makes it possible to open the receiving space evenly by pushing the two projections apart while the spring element is being pushed onto a central web
Implementation Method 2
The approximately elliptical cross section has proven advantageous in terms of strength and elasticity
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
The invention discloses a spring element (1) having a pair of cuffs made up of two cuffs (5, 7). Each cuff (5, 7) of the pair of cuffs is formed from a closed strip. The two cuffs (5, 7) are connected to one another, in each case at an oppositely located circumferential location, by means of a connecting piece (9). Each cuff (5, 7) has provided on it, at a spacing apart from the connecting piece (9), a protrusion (11a, 11b) which is directed towards the opposite cuff (7, 5). This results an accommodating space (13) being formed between the cuffs (5, 7), the accommodating space being defined by the connecting piece (9) and the protrusions (11a, 11b). A spring has a rod-like central crosspiece (21) and a spring element (1) of the aforementioned type. The spring element (1) is pushed onto the central crosspiece (21) such that a portion of the central crosspiece (21) is accommodated in the accommodating space (13) of the spring element (1) and can be removed in a non-destructive manner from the accommodating space (13) of the spring element (1). This spring is provided for a mattress which is intended for arrangements for sitting and/or lying on and has a mattress body made of an inherently movable material, in particular from foam or latex, with cavities arranged transversely to a longitudinal axis or widthwise axis. A spring is located in at least one cavity.