Spring, supporting spring system and mattress, each comprising such a spring assembly
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing spring slat arrangements for upholstered furniture, such as mattresses, are costly and difficult to adjust for deflection hardness, with prior solutions requiring numerous components and complex adjustments that are not easily customizable or cost-effective.
Innovation Solution
A spring slat arrangement featuring a flexible tension element, such as a belt or cable, that extends between the end sections of a convexly curved spring slat, allowing for adjustable deflection hardness through simple attachment methods like staples, toggles, or hook-and-loop fasteners, which transfers some load-bearing capacity to the tension element and eliminates the need for support elements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a spring slat arrangement uses multiple components (support elements, compression springs, angled brackets) to achieve adjustable deflection hardness, then the deflection characteristic can be adjusted, but the device complexity and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the support element from the system, transferring its load-bearing function to the tension element. This extraction simplifies the structure by eliminating unnecessary components while maintaining the essential functions of deflection control and hardness adjustment.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines the functions of the support element and tension element into a single integrated tension element system. The tension element simultaneously provides structural support, load-bearing capacity, and deflection control, replacing multiple separate components with one unified element.
2Adaptability or versatility
If compression springs and adjustment slides are used to modify deflection hardness, then the hardness can be adjusted, but the ease of operation and tool-free adjustment is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a dynamic adjustment mechanism where the distance between end blocks can be easily modified to change deflection hardness. The system allows for simple positional adjustments of end blocks along the spring slat, enabling users to modify hardness characteristics without requiring tools or complex adjustment procedures.
3Strength
If a round bar or rectangular bar with elastic properties is used as the tension element, then the load-bearing capacity is sufficient, but the weight and resource usage increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces rigid bars with a flexible tension element that has thin-film characteristics. This flexible element maintains sufficient load-bearing capacity through its material properties and geometric configuration while significantly reducing weight and material resource usage compared to traditional rigid bar structures.
4Ease of operation
If the tension element is made highly extensible to allow deflection, then the deflection comfort increases, but the load-bearing capacity and structural stability decrease
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes the extensibility parameter of the tension element to fall within the specific range of 2% to 4%. This parameter optimization achieves a balance where the element provides sufficient deflection comfort for user comfort while maintaining adequate structural stability and load-bearing capacity to ensure reliable operation.
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 provides a cost-effective and easily adjustable spring slat arrangement with consistent deflection characteristics over its lifespan, enhancing deflection comfort and allowing for customizable hardness settings without requiring tools, while reducing the weight and resource usage of the slat base.
Implementation Method 1
the tension element being flexible, for example a belt or a cable, with the tension element extending between the end sections of the spring slat
Implementation Method 2
a spring slat (2) which is convexly curved counter to the spring deflection direction
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5
AI summary
A spring slat arrangement 1 comprises a spring slat 2 convexly curved counter to the compression direction and a tension element 3 which extends between the end sections 4 of the spring slat 2 and is arranged on the pressure shadow side. The tension element is flexible, for example a belt 3 or a cable, with the tension element extending between the end sections 4 of the spring strip 2 extending section of the tension element 3 is shorter than the longitudinal extension of the curved spring strip 2.