US3368226A - Wood slat mattress - Google Patents

Description

Fb. 13, 19,68 J KPPEL I 3,368,226

' WOOD SLAT MATTRESS Filedoct. 21, 1965 2 sheets-she@ 1 A T TOK/VEY United States Patent O 3,368,226 WOOD SLAT MATTRESS Josef Kppel, Widnau, Saint Gall, Switzerland, assigner to North American Import Bedding Inc., New York, N.Y., a corporation of New York Filed Oct. Z1, 1965, Ser. No. 500,391 4 Claims. (Cl. 5-236) ABSTRACT F THE DISCLGSURE A wood slat mattress comprising a continuous frame with 'a cross-piece secured on each of the adjacent end portions of the frame, and having a plurality of substantially parallel resilent slats supported on said crosspiece to form a support surface for a mattress. The slats lat their sides are provided with inclined surfaces which form with the slats an acute angle, and which abut in the unloaded state because of the resilent nature of the slats in a tight or clamping fashion against the corresponding inclined or tapered surfaces of the cross-pieces lying opposite them. The cross-pieces are constructed in two sections, a lower section secured to the frame, and an inclined section removably connected therewith. The slats carry at their surfaces, directed toward the crosspieces, stops constructed to correspond with the crosspieces. The slats in nonuse are tightly and firmly positioned on the two cross-pieces, and in use, lie loosely thereon.

This invention relates to a wood slat mattress and more particularly relates to an improved wood slat mattress of the type consisting of many strips ot wood laid tightly alongside each other, producing an entirely smooth surface.

Mattresses, the top surface of which consists of slats parallelly arranged on two cross-pieces provided closely adjacent the ends thereof, are known. In this connection, it has been proposed that the wood slats of such mattresses be constructed so that in their unloaded position they are arched or curved upwardly while, under loading, they are flattened out or depressed downwardly. Further, it has been proposed to construct slats so as to provide stops or cams on the Kbottom surfaces thereof, which stops hold the slats in an abutting position against a cross-piece which can be rounded off at the point of abutment. Such cross-piece forms in the movement of the slats under loading the fulcrum joint, the slats sliding in a longitudinal direction on the other cross-piece, which can also be tapered or rounded at its top surface. With cross-pieces having rounded top portions, the slats can be joined so that they abut in a more or less level position with the tapered or rounded portion of the crosspiece. According to the degree of the taper of the crosspieces, the slats can, therefore, either in their unloaded or loaded position, lie flat against the cross-piece. As a result of the uniform lateral joining of the slats to one ofthe cross-pieces, the displacement path of the slats is comparatively great at the site of free abutment, resulting, on the one hand, in that movement of the slats is made difficult and, on the other hand, in that such impaired mobility results in undesirable noises on such movement. In addition, slats so joined `are very easily detached in the transporting of the mattress.

It has also been proposed to provide wood slats with elongated slots which can engage with bolts provided on the cross-pieces. While this does result in providing that the slats can move or slide within a certain small range simultaneously on both cross-pieces, it has the disadvantage that the slats are weakened at the places of abutment with the cross-piece Kand also the further dis- ICC advantage that sheets, covers, blankets, and the like, resting or coming in contact with the wood slats, are caught up in the elongated slots, possibly jamming the latter, and certainly damaging the former. Further, large frictional surfaces are thereby formed so that, in use, undesirable noises are inevitable.

One object of this invention is to provide a wood slat mattress which will include means facilitating movement of the slats while in use.

Another object of this invention is to provide a wood slat mattress that will not damage `any overlying fabric,

Still another object of this invention is to provide a wood slat mattress that is entirely noiseless in use and which can be easily transported from place to place.

Still further objects of the invention reside in the provision of a wood slat mattress that is highly etlicient in operation, simple in construction and design, and cornparatively inexpensive to produce.

These, together with the various ancillary objects of the invention, which will become apparent as the following description proceeds, are attained by this wood slat mattress, a preferred embodiment of which has been illustrated in the accompanying drawings, by Way `of eX- ample only, wherein:

FIG. l is a top view of a wood mattress;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing the connection of the slats with the cross-bar;

FIG. 3 is a side View showing the connection of the slats with the cross-bar;

FIG. 4 is a view of the cross-piece in accordance with the instant invention.

(FIGS. 2 and 3 designate a form of connection in the lart attributable to the inventor herein.)

In contrast to the wood slat mattresses as heretofore available, the wood slats in accordance with the invention in non-use are tightly and tirmly positioned on the two cross-pieces and, in use, lie loosely thereon.

The resulting mattress provides a at, firm, resilient surface capable of considerable adaptation to the weight supported thereon. Furthermore, it has the advantage that the mattress can be transported, i.e., the -bed can be taken 'apart without slats becoming unintentionally detached or displaced, and, further, that the mattress does not produce any undesirable noises in the shifting of the weight thereon.

The aforesaid advantages are attained in accordance with the invention, in that the cams or stops provided at the undersurface of the slats are developed as buffers, and their sides directed toward the cross-pieces are provided with inclined surfaces which form with the slats an acute angle and which abut, in the unloaded state of the mattress, because of the resilient nature of the slats, in a tight or clamping fashion against corresponding inclined or tapered surfaces of the cross-pieces lying 0pposite them.

In order to further improve the mattress, the cams can -be made of such a length that they simultaneously serve as spacer supports for the slats.

The cross-pieces in accordance with the invention consist of one or several layers of a glued, solidly joined, part. It has now been found that the resiliency of the wood and, therefore, of the slat may most advantageously be availed of, the distance of the cross-pieces made adjustable, and provision made for replacement of the wornout parts (points of abutment of the cross-pieces) by constructing the cross-pieces in two sections or parts. The lower fixed part is a rectangular or square-shaped section, which is much simpler to produce as compared to the production of the one-piece part heretofore produced. The proled support, piece or section which includes the inclined surface lying opposite the cam, may be made of 3 wood or it may be constructed of plastic. The production of the part in plastic decreases the friction and, therewith, increases the noiselessness. Above all, subsequent adjustments are possible if the wood parts of the frame or of the cross-piece should sag.

With reference to the vaccompanying drawing, the numeral 1 is used to designate the two side posts of the :frame of the wood slat mattress which are joined through corner connections 2 with the transverse slats 3. The frame is supported by legs 4. The cross-pieces 5 are rigidly connected with the two side posts 1 at a point closely adjacent their head and foot ends. The cross-pieces 5 are constructed so as to have an incline 6 and at their highest point a rounded-olf support surface 7. The sides of the cross-pieces 5, which are outwardly directed, are provided with an incline 11 and serve as stops for the cams 10, which are attached to the slats 8 by means of screws 9. The sides of the slats directed toward the cross-pieces 5 are provided with a corresponding incline 11, which acts together with the incline 11 of the crosspiece 5. The cross-piece, in accordance with the invention, is shown in FIG. 4 and is constructed of a solid wood part 12 rigidly connected with the side parts and a displaceable proled section 13, constructed of wood or plastic and which is attached by screws to the part 12. The proled part 13 corresponds to the cross-piece 5 and, namely, is provided with inclines 6 and 11 and the rounded support surface 7.

The slats 8 are arched upwardly and speci'cally so that the curvature measured at the vertex amounts to at least 20 mm. Advantageously, the slats 8 are formed of at least three wood layers glued together. Because of their curvature, they are, according to the thickness chosen, more or less resilient and assume in the unloaded state the maximal curvature.

The cams are positioned on the slats 8 so that, in the unloaded state of the slats 8, they fully abut on the cross-pieces (FIG. 4). Because of the incline 11 at the stop 10, which abut on the corresponding incline 11 of the cross-pieces 5, the slats 8 are, in their resting position, secured against unintentional displacement or detachment. The stops 10, which simultaneously serve as spacers, prevent a lateral displacement of the slats 8. If, in the use of the mattress, a load is placed thereon, the slats stretch and the cams 10 are displaced in the direction of the arrows (FIG. 1) and are withdrawn from the cross-piece 5.

Since the slats 8, because of the rounded-01T support surface 7, only abut on a very small surface, there results in the displacement of the slats 8 only the very slightest frictional resistance, and no noise results.

The wood Slat mattress, in accordance with the invention, is extremely easy t0 clean, and meets all of the hygienic requirements. Because of the construction of the slats, the mattress offers excellent resilience and, consequently, is comfortable to lie on.

In place of the wood or wood laminates, the slats 8 may lalso be made of synthetic materials.

I claim:

1. A wood slat mattress comprising a continuous frame formed by two side sections joined through corner sections with transverse sections, a cross-piece secured on each of the adjacent end portions of said frame to said side sections, `a support surface consisting of substantially parallel and spaced resilient slats supported on said crossapieces, said slats in the unloaded position ybeing upwardly curved; stop means secured at the surfaces of said slats directed toward the cross-pieces, the surfaces of said stop means directed toward the cross-pieces being constructed in the form of an incline, the surfaces of said cross-pieces directed toward said slats being constructed with a corresponding incline for abutment with said stop means forming in the unloaded state an acute angle with said slats, said cross-piece being constructed in two sections, a base section rigidly secured to said frame and an inclined section removably connected therewith.

2. Wood slat mattress according to claim 1, wherein said cross-piece section, the surface of which is constructed in the form of an incline, is made of plastic.

3. Wood slat mattress according to claim 1, wherein said stop means are dimensioned to serve as spacers for said slats.

4. Wood slat mattress according to claim 1, wherein said slats are constructed of multi-layers of wood securely joined together.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,126,554 3/1964 Janapol 5-243 FOREIGN PATENTS 384,694 11/ 1923 Germany.

676,218 5/ 1939 Germany.

466,793 6/ 1937 Great Britain.

294,632 7/ 1954 Switzerland.

305,069 4/ 1955 Switzerland.

375,501 4/ 1964 Switzerland.

BOBBY R. GAY, Primary Examiner.

FRANK B. SHERRY, Examiner.

R. D. KRAUS, Assistant Examiner.

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