Space-saving mattress support

Abstract

A mattress support ( 10 ) consisting of longitudinal beams ( 11 a, 11 b ) extending at a distance from each other, transverse beams ( 12 a, 12 b ) rigidly connected at or near the ends of the longitudinal beams, a flexible support material ( 14 ) stretched between the longitudinal beams that is situated at a distance above the underside of the longitudinal beams, and at least one rotatable bracing element ( 13 a, 13 b ) under the flexible support material surface that is loaded under pressure by the flexible support material surface. The rotatable bracing element can be rotated between an unfolded operational position in which the rotatable bracing element extends downwards at right angles to the flexible support material surface to allow for elastic deformation of the flexible support material surface, and a folded rest position. The rotatable bracing element ( 13 a, 13 b ) including the rotation means ( 15 a, 15 b ) can be at least partially enclosed within the space defined between the underside of the flexible support material, the underside of the longitudinal beams and the inner surfaces of the longitudinal beams facing each other.

1 . A mattress support, comprising:
 longitudinal beams, which extend next to and at a distance from each other;   transverse beams that are rigidly connected to the longitudinal beams at or near to the ends of the longitudinal beams, and which together with the longitudinal beams form a main frame;   a flexible surface material elastically stretched between the longitudinal beams and located at a level distance above a level of an underside of the longitudinal beams;   a rotatable bracing element located below the flexible support material, which is configured to hold the longitudinal beams apart at a constant transverse width, and   rotatable coupling means provided at both ends of the rotatable bracing element, which connect the rotatable bracing element to the longitudinal beams, around an axis of rotation that is orthogonal to the longitudinal beams and parallel to the flexible support material; wherein the rotatable bracing element is provided with a plastic deformation extending in a direction perpendicular to the axis of rotation, and wherein the rotatable bracing element is pivotally mounted around the axis of rotation between:   a first extended operational position in which the plastic deformation of the rotatable bracing element extends away from the flexible support material downwards under the level of the underside of the main frame to allow for elastic deformation of the flexible support material, and   a second folded rest position in which the rotatable bracing element is completely above the level of the underside of the main frame.   
     
     
         2 . The mattress support according to  claim 1 , wherein the rotatable bracing element extends between the longitudinal beams over the transverse width, wherein a central part of the plastic deformation of the rotatable bracing element forms an area which, in the unfolded position of use, is situated below the level of the underside of the main frame and which, in the direction of extension relative to the axis of rotation, is situated at a central internal distance, and wherein a ratio ΔR/ΔY between the central internal distance and the transverse width satisfies 1/20≤ΔR/ΔY≤1/10. 
     
     
         3 . The mattress support according to  claim 1 , wherein the plastic deformation of the rotatable bracing element has a curved or kinked concave shape, which is preferably mirror symmetric with respect to a plane orientated orthogonally to the axis of rotation and located at the centre of the rotatable bracing element. 
     
     
         4 . The mattress support according to  claim 3 , wherein the rotatable bracing element is bent away from the axis of rotation near the ends by a component along the deformation direction, and further towards a central part is bent back by an opposite component along the deformation direction, so that a central portion of the rotatable bracing element lies parallel to the axis of rotation. 
     
     
         5 . The mattress support according to  claim 1 , wherein the rotatable coupling means comprises an axial bearing, a thrust bearing or a pivot bearing. 
     
     
         6 . The mattress support according to  claim 5 , wherein a rotatable bracing element is in the form of a shaped tube or rod defined capped by mutually parallel end faces, wherein the end faces are orthogonal to the axis of rotation and wherein the axial bearing, thrust bearing or pivot bearing is incorporated between each end face of the rotatable bracing element and the adjacent longitudinal beam. 
     
     
         7 . The mattress support according to  claim 1 , whereby the rotatable bracing element is equipped with blocking devices for blocking the rotatable bracing element in the extended use position and/or in the folded rest position. 
     
     
         8 . The mattress support according to  claim 5 , wherein one end of the rotatable bracing element has a end face and the corresponding longitudinal beam carries a counter surface, in which end face and counter surface interact as a sliding pivot bearing, and in which end face and counter surface have recesses or protrusions, respectively, which engage in a blocking manner in the folded rest position and/or in the folded use position of the rotatable bracing element. 
     
     
         9 . The mattress support according to  claim 1 , whereby the rotatable bracing element has a maximum width orthogonal to the direction of plastic deformation and orthogonal to the axis of rotation, and the rotatable coupling means has a width orthogonal to the direction of plastic deformation and orthogonal to the axis of rotation, whereby both the rotatable bracing element width and the rotatable coupling means width are smaller than the distance between the underside of the flexible support material and the underside of the main frame. 
     
     
         10 . The mattress support according to  claim 1 , wherein the rotatable bracing element in the unfolded position of use is at least partially and preferably completely accommodated in an internal space determined between the underside of the flexible support material, the underside of the main frame and the inward facing side surfaces of the longitudinal beams. 
     
     
         11 . The mattress support according to  claim 1 , wherein the rotatable bracing element viewed perpendicularly to the axis of rotation has a rotatable bracing element height defined in a radial direction away from the axis of rotation and has a rotatable bracing element width defined in a direction orthogonal to both the height and the axis of rotation, and wherein the height is greater than the width. 
     
     
         12 . The mattress support according to  claim 1 , whereby the axis of rotation of the rotatable bracing element intersects the longitudinal beams at a position essentially midway between the underside of the longitudinal beams and the underside of the flexible support material. 
     
     
         13 . The mattress support according to  claim 1 , comprising ground support elements connected to the longitudinal beams, and provided with one or more ground support bodies and movable between an operative ground support position, projecting downwards in relation to the main frame, and a folded position in which the ground support elements are at least partially accommodated in the internal space defined between the underside of the flexible support material, the underside of the main frame and the inward facing side surfaces of the longitudinal members, preferably a folded position in which the ground support elements are wholly accommodated in the internal space defined between the underside of the flexible support material, the level of the underside of the main frame and the inward facing side surfaces of the longitudinal members. 
     
     
         14 . The mattress support according to  claim 13 , wherein the ground support element also comprises a ground support bracing element. 
     
     
         15 . The mattress support according to  claim 13 , wherein at least one ground support bracing element is provided between a ground support body of the ground support element and a longitudinal beam, in which the ground support bracing element and the longitudinal beam together have a stop for determining the extended position of the ground support body. 
     
     
         16 . The mattress support according to  claim 15 , wherein the ground support bracing element is rotatably connected to the ground support body and slidably cooperates with a sliding track provided on the longitudinal beam. 
     
     
         17 . The mattress support according to  claim 13 , whereby the ground support elements are equipped with blocking devices for blocking the ground support bodies in their folded position. 
     
     
         18 . The mattress support according to  claim 13 , wherein a ground support element and two slide block rails provided at its ends form a substructure that is attached to the longitudinal beams. 
     
     
         19 . The mattress support according to  claim 1 , wherein the flexible support material comprises an elastic material, such as, for example, a network of elastic yarns or interwoven helical springs, or a perforated breathable sheet of rubber with an inlay. 
     
     
         20 . The mattress support according to  claim 1 , wherein in relation to the top or underside of the main frame protrusions are provided, and in relation to the underside or top of the main frame recesses are provided, where in the recesses are so arranged as to interlock with the protrusions of a second, identical, mattress support, if the second mattress support is stacked on top in the correct orientation, for the purpose of stabilising stacked mattress supports. 
     
     
         21 .- 23 . (canceled)