Device for hinging slats to a bed support and method of manufacturing the same.

p0001The present invention relates to a slatted hinge device on the frame of a bed and the method for manufacturing such a device.

p0002There are slats hinge devices allowing the slats of a bed to pivot about an axis parallel to the transverse direction of the bed Some of these joints can absorb a slight vertical movement of the batten. However, even in the case where such joints exist, this movement is only due to the elasticity of the material used and can not, by a trimming, on the one hand to modify the stiffness of the hinge element, of secondly to limit movement downwards of the strut.

p0003A first object of the invention is therefore to propose a hinge device for modifying the rigidity of this joint according to the position thereof on the slatted base.

p0004This first object is achieved in that the slats of the articulation device on the frame of a bed comprising at each slat end damping means adjustable reaction force, is characterized in that the damping means are associated with means of articulation with each slat.

p0005Another object of the invention to provide an example of economic achievement and easy to assemble the hinge device with a hinge on the frame.

p0006This object is achieved in that the damping means are constituted by a member placed in a cage of the frame of the slatted bed located at the location of each slat, this element comprising elastic means, each having the form of a strip thick shaped zigzag and pressing, first on the connection means at each end slat, on the other hand on a supporting plate mounted on the adjustment means relative to the frame, the securing means comprising a parallel branch to each slat end and penetrating through an opening of the cage in the element.

p0007In a further feature, the adjustment means are constituted by a screw having at the end of the thread of the hinge means on the support plate.

p0008Another object of the invention is to provide a method of manufacturing the joint frame.

p0009This object is achieved in that the frame of the manufacturing method includes a manufacturing step spars p frame ourvus at regular intervals cages each accessible through an opening, a stage of introduction into the opening of a support plate length corresponding to the central part of the U of the second part.

p0010Another object of the invention is to provide a frame of spars manufacturing process.

p0011This object is achieved in that the method comprises the following steps:<ul><li>a) cutting into a strip of the frame length of a succession of openings;</li><li>b) bending of the U-shaped strip and so that a folding line passes within the area of ​​the openings;</li><li>c) folding a second U-shaped strip with two lateral wings and a threaded hole in the central part of the U to form a second piece forming the side walls of each cage; </li><li>d) securing a second piece in the crotch of the U close to each opening.</li></ul>

p0012Another object of the invention is to provide a frame whose shape is adapted to avoid a deburring operation of cuts and injuries due to burrs on the edges of these cutouts.

p0013This object is achieved in that the method further comprises a step of folding inward of the ends of the U legs of the piece forming a frame and a step of introducing at least a second part by the end of built.

p0014Another object is to prevent the support plate and the elastic means allowing articulation escapes from the cage.

p0015This object is achieved in that the method comprises a step of introducing bias in the opening of smaller dimension than the cage length of support plates corresponding to the central part of the second part of U.

p0016According to another characteristic, the method comprises a step of compressing the elastic means for introducing through the opening in the cage and a step of establishment of the adjustment means.

p0017According to a last characteristic, the method comprises a step of introducing the connecting piece to the slat in the elastic means.

p0018Other features and advantages of the present invention appear more clearly on reading the following description with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:<ul><li>- Figure 1 represents the block diagram of a first embodiment of a hinge device according to the invention;</li><li>- Figure 2A shows a front view of a second embodiment of the hinge device according to the invention; </li><li>- Figure 2B shows a side view of a second embodiment of the hinge device according to the invention;</li><li>- Figure 3 shows a front view of the elastic means used in the second and third embodiment;</li><li>- Figure 4 shows a side view of the elastic means used in the second and third embodiments;</li><li>- Figure 5 shows a third embodiment of the joint in the wooden frame of a bed;</li><li>- Figure 6A is a side view of the frame according to the second embodiment;</li><li>- Figure 6B is a side view in section of the frame formed after folding the strip;</li><li>- Figure 6C shows a top view of the strip to form the frame;</li><li>- Figure 7A shows a side view of the second part to form the sides of the cage;</li><li>- Figure 7B shows a side view of the same piece;</li><li>- Figure 8A shows a side view in section of a third embodiment of the device according to the invention;</li><li>- Figure 8B shows a front view in section of a mounting piece on the batten of the connecting piece;</li><li>- Figure 8C shows a top view of the connecting part between the hinge and a slat;</li><li>- Figure 8D shows a top view of an alternative embodiment of the part forming a cage.</li></ul>

p0019FIG 1 shows a first embodiment of a hinge device of a lath (1), comprising a cage (2) secured to a beam (7) or the frame (8) of a bed slat. Through the opening (20) of this frame (2) passes a rod (3) hinged, for example, by a ball (30) in a housing (10) of corresponding shape formed in the slat (1). The rod (3) extending towards the bottom by a plate (31) against which bears a spring means (4). This elastic means (4) supported by its other end on a second plate (5) mobile in displacement in the cage (2) under the action of an adjusting screw (6) whose position can be fixed with a against -écrou ((60). L, ball joint (30) to absorb the differences in magnitude of the forces (a) and (B) in a rotation shown by an arrow, along an axis perpendicular to the plane of the figure . the resultant of these forces (a) and (B) causes, in addition, depression of the stem (3) of a length in relation to the stiffness of the elastic means (4). the adjusting screw (6) allows by moving the fulcrum (5) resilient means for varying the stiffness.

p00202A and 2B show a second alternative embodiment of the joint according to the invention, wherein a frame (8) forming the turn of the slatted base supports a frame (7) consists of a profiled U-shaped represented in FIG 6B. This frame (7) comprises rigid portions mounted on the frame or swivel to allow the constitution, as is known, of inclined planes in the head and footboard The frame (7) comprises at the location of each slat opening (70) whose axis of symmetry is parallel to the symmetry axis of the slats. At the location of each opening (70) is formed in the leg (72) of the U of the part (7), a hole (73) allowing the passage of a frame of the fixing screws (7) to the frame wood (8). At the location of each opening (70), a cage is delimited by means of a second part (9) in U-shape shown in FIG 7A, and the ends of the legs are bent outwards to form side flanges (90,91). This second U-shaped part has in the central part of the U a hole (92) provided with a thread for receiving a screw (6) trimming. The second part (9), shown in Figures 2 and 6A, is secured to the first part (7) U-shaped by spot welds on the tongues (90 and 91).

p0021In an alternative embodiment of the part (7), the latter may comprise at the end of its legs (71,72) a further folding thereof towards the inside, so as to constitute the inner lips (720.710, Figure 6B). This embodiment prevents the cutting edges hurt the user. In this case, each part (9) of width corresponding to the thickness (e) of the central part of the U-shaped part (7) is introduced at the end of the frame and slid to the location corresponding to the opening (70) near which it is to be secured. The support plate (5) has a recess or a hole (50) in which is housed a conical tip (61) or a stud located at the end of the screw (6) for adjusting the rigidity of the joint. This plate (5), of length greater than the length (L) of the opening (70) is inserted into the cage, length (D) greater than the length of the plate, by inserting slantwise in the opening (70).

p0022The resilient means (4) shown in Figures 3 and 4 are constituted by a molding of suitable elastic material having a bearing face (42) on the plate (5), two spring elements (40,41) placed side near adjacent faces alongside the workpiece (9) forming the cage and a second bearing face (43) in support on the internal face of the central portion of the frame (7). As shown in Figure 2A, the resilient elements (40,41) have the form of a thick strip folded in zigzag. The bearing surface (43) has an opening (44) of suitable size for receiving the workpiece (11) for connection to the slat (1). In addition the upper part of the bearing surface (43) includes a lip (430, Figure 4) projecting and avoids friction between the metallic edge (700) of the frame (7) and the connecting piece (11). This part (11) shown in Figure 4 also has a shape in section of U. The leg (110) of this part is housed in the opening (44) while the limb (111) is received in a blind hole integral with a part (12) whose shape is adapted to wrap the end of the slat (1). This part (12) is made of slightly stretchable material to ensure with the slat (1) attachment by friction. It is noted that, on each side of the end of a slat, the U-shaped part (11) has its limbs (111.110) parallel to the slat and oriented outwardly of the bedding to ensure a slatted blocking transversely to the frame, when the apertures (70) are oriented towards the inside of the bed frame

p00235 shows a second connection part of guide (11) with a strip (1). In this embodiment the connection is made by mechanical means such as rivet (13) or all not shown screw-nut or such allen head screwed into a threaded hole in the leg (111) of the part (11).

p0024With this method of fixing can be considered a connecting piece (11) stepped with one leg (110) parallel to the slat and outwardly oriented and the other leg (111) secured to the inwardly facing lath the frame.

p0025This Figure 5 also shows a variant in which the cage (2) enclosing the spring means (4) is formed directly inside the frame (8) of wood bedding. This embodiment makes it possible to realize that the mattress slats having no regulating device to tilt the mattress in the head and footboard

p00266C shows a part of the frame of the manufacturing process from a web (7) of width corresponding to the dimensions of the expanded U. In this band (7) apertures is practiced at the desired locations (70) by cutting with a tool and then is folded the strip along the two dotted lines (73,74). The line (74) passes inside the openings (70) so that the edge (700) of the cutout is slightly recessed, as shown in Figures 4 and 6B, with respect to the face corresponding to the leg (71 ) of the U. This removal avoids the friction of the workpiece (11) against the edge (100) and therefore the existing operating noise. Once the strip (7) bent into a U, is continued, optionally, the method of manufacture with two other folds forming two lips (720.710) facing inwardly of the section to prevent injury. Then close to each opening (70) a second part (9) constituting the lateral sides of the cage, is connected to the part (7). This operation on metal parts may be effected by welding on either side of the opening (70) the tongues (90,91). The second parts (9) are also obtained by cutting and folding a strip of width (1). Well before the folding operation of the workpiece (9) in U there will be in a threaded hole in the area corresponding to the central part of the U. In the case where the profile (7) has lips (720) is introduced the parts (9) by the end of the frame. The pieces thus formed frame are cut to the appropriate dimensions to be either rigid mattresses or box springs to head and foot articulated and mounted on each side of the bed frame. Prior to the mounting of the frames on the frame existing one will be placed in each frame portion of components of the joint.

p0027It was thus, by simple means, conducted a joint that can be produced more easily by automated means at low costs and enabling trimming the stiffness of the joint.

p00288A to 8D show another embodiment of the joint. In these figures were the same reference to the same parts and only changed or added parts are new standards. And the part (9) forming the sides of the cages has a central portion (93) deeper than the depth of the elastic piece (4). This part (9) comprises two suplémentaires lips (94, 95) obtained by folding along a plane perpendicular to the branches of the U and to the central portion (93). These lips (94, 95) hold the elastic means (4) against the face (71) of the frame (7).

p0029In this way cleaning between the elastic means (4) and the face (72) of the frame (7) a space in which is lodged the head of a screw (82) passing through the hole (73), comes to screwed onto a ring nut (81) provided with claws (810) and fixed in the wooden frame (8).

p0030As can be seen in Figure 8A, the lip (430) resilient means (4) prevents friction of the workpiece (11) on the frame (7). The upper leg (111) of the U-shaped connecting piece (11) comprises two teeth (111A and 111B) which get in the grooves (172, 173) of a fastener (17) whose cross section has the shape of a T. This fastening piece (17) is fixed by any means to the end of each slat so as to have the axis of symmetry of the grooves (172, 173) parallel to the axis of symmetry the slat (1). For example a screw (14) with countersunk head passes through a hole (170) provided with a chamfer (171) of the fastening part and is screwed into a nut washer (16) with claws (160) which is embedded in the wood of the slat (1). Each nut (16) is covered by a cap (16) to improve the finish of the slat (1).

p0031It should be noted that, in the variants of FIGS 2-8 the spring elements (40, 41) allow vertical displacement of the slat (1) via the connecting piece (11) but also a rotational or joint of the slat (1) by a difference of deformation of a member (4o) and relative to the other (41), respectively (41) to (40).

p0032Any changes to the scope of the art is also part of the spirit of the invention.

p0033Thus, by way of example, the assembly of parts (7) and (9) forming the frame of a metallic material or not can be performed by any method other than welding. The frame can also be constituted by a single molded part made of thermosetting material and provided with openings at regular intervals (70) forming the cage for receiving the other of the articulation elements, namely, the support plate (5), the means elastic (4) and a nut washer forming the thread for trimming screw (6).

p0034Alternatively, the openings (70) of the cages will be rotated outwardly of the frame and in this case, the securing parts (11) have at least the leg (110) parallel to the slat and inturned the bed frame