Abstract:
A cost-effective supportive spring base which nevertheless ensures a high degree of comfort for sleeping or reclining. For this purpose, connecting elements ( 13 ) for the connection of at least two spring slats ( 10 ) are provided. The connecting elements ( 13 ) preferably have spring elements and/or suspension devices ( 16 ) which permit a relative movement of the connecting elements ( 13 ) with respect to the spring slats ( 10 ). The abovementioned measures use simple means to provide a supportive spring base having a high degree of comfort for reclining or sleeping.

Description:
STATEMENT OF RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]     This patent application is the Unites States Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) Chapter II National Phase of International Application No. PCT/EP03/04523, having an International Application Date of 30 Apr. 2003, designating the United States of America, which in turn claims priority on German Patent Application No. 20207055.7, having a filing date of 3 May 2002, and German Patent Application No. 20209330.1, having a filing date of 15 Jun. 2002. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     1. Technical Field  
         [0003]     The invention relates to a supportive spring base for, in particular, a mattress for a place to sleep and/or recline having a plurality of spring slats running at a parallel distance to one another, and having longitudinal struts which run transversely with respect to the spring slats and belong, in particular, to a frame, the spring slats being mounted with their end regions on the longitudinal struts.  
         [0004]     The supportive spring base discussed here is an elastic and/or resilient support for mattresses or similar means of padding beds, bunks, couches, armchairs or the like.  
         [0005]     2. Prior Art  
         [0006]     Various supportive spring bases of the abovementioned type are known. The supportive spring bases differ substantially in their spring characteristic. The spring characteristic has a decisive influence on the degree of comfort when sleeping or reclining exhibited by the beds, couches or the like which are provided with a supportive spring base of this type. Further differences between the known supportive spring bases are found in their production costs.  
         [0007]     The invention is based on the object of providing a supportive spring base for, in particular, a mattress for a place to sleep or recline, which provides a high degree of comfort when sleeping, reclining or sitting and nevertheless can be produced cost-effectively.  
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0008]     A supportive spring base for achieving this object has a plurality of spring slats running at a parallel distance to one another, and longitudinal struts which run transversely with respect to the spring slats and belong, in particular, to a frame, the spring slats being mounted with their end regions on the longitudinal struts, characterized by connecting elements for connecting at least two spring slats in each case. Accordingly, provision is made for the connecting elements of the supportive spring base to be designed in such a manner that they connect at least two spring slats in each case to one another. Whereas it was previously customary to mount all of the spring slats independently of one another, the invention now goes down another route by the independent mounting and therefore the isolated spring behavior of the individual spring slats being intentionally removed by the spring slats being connected to one another by means of the connecting elements. The connecting elements serve in this manner not only to influence, in particular to increase, the spring properties of the supportive spring base but also the connecting elements connect individual spring slats to one another.  
         [0009]     Provision is furthermore made for the connecting elements to be of at least partially elastic design. If they are not elastic, rigid or quasi-rigid properties are obtained. Connecting elements comprising flexurally slack ropes or straps were only suitable for transmitting tensile forces between adjacent spring slats; by contrast, it is possible for the connecting elements according to the invention, on account of them being of elastic design, to transmit at least part of the movement of the particular spring slat to at least one adjacent spring slat. In particular, the elastic properties of the connecting elements make it possible, at least in part, to transmit a vertical movement of a particular spring slat to at least one adjacent spring slat in such a manner that the latter likewise executes a vertical movement. The connecting elements therefore provide a comprehensive intercoupling of the spring slats by a type of bridge formation. The consequence is that not only do individual spring slats change their shape when subjected to a load, in particular sag, which could result in a discontinuous profile for the supportive spring base, but also, the coupling together of the spring slats by means of the connecting elements, which are of elastic design according to the invention, results in the sagging of individual spring slats being transmitted to the other spring slats, as a result of which the supportive spring base undergoes a continuous, steady change in shape. A “sliding” transition between adjacent spring slats may also be spoken of.  
         [0010]     In one preferred refinement of the supportive spring base according to the invention, provision is made for the connecting elements to be mounted on at least two different spring slats. This provides a preferably elastic or partially elastic connection of the spring slats. In this case, the connecting elements form bridges between the spring slats that affect, but eliminate the cushioning properties of the spring slats. Preferably, one connecting element in each case is arranged between two adjacent, parallel spring slats. Two spring slats are therefore coupled to each other in each case by means of at least one connecting element, with a plurality of connecting elements usually being arranged between two adjacent spring slats. A multiple coupling of adjacent spring slats to one another therefore takes place. At the same time as the spring slats are coupled to one another by the connecting elements the connecting elements are also mounted on the spring slats. Two essential functions of the supportive spring base according to the invention are therefore linked to each other, this substantially contributing to the capability of producing the supportive spring base according to the invention at reasonable cost. In order to assist the overall function, the connecting elements may be provided with additional springs which allows the spring characteristic of the overall system to have a flatter profile in the lower-load range.  
         [0011]     According to one advantageous refinement of the invention, which may also involve an independent solution of the object on which the invention is based, the connecting elements may be formed from at least one spring element, at least one load-bearing means and/or suspension devices for connecting the connecting elements to the spring slats. The spring elements impart independent spring properties to the connecting elements. For this purpose, the spring elements are preferably designed as spring bellows, as spring plates or as elastic wings. The load-bearing means serve to hold the spring elements, which impart elastic properties to the connecting elements, between two adjacent spring slats in each case. The load-bearing means can be of entirely or substantially rigid design. The remaining parts of the connecting means then ensure that the spring slats are elastically connected. However, it is also possible for the load-bearing means and the spring elements to be of elastic design, in which case the spring properties of the load-bearing means preferably differ from those of the spring elements.  
         [0012]     According to a further independent solution of the object mentioned at the beginning, which may also be a development of the supportive spring base, provision is made for the connecting elements to be mounted on the spring slats in such a manner that the connecting elements are movable both in a rotational and also translational manner relative to the spring slats—or vice versa. The translational mobility of the spring slats with respect to the connecting elements leads inter alia to it being possible to change the distances of the spring slats from one another in spite of the spring slats being connected by the connecting elements. The rotational movement between the spring slats and the connecting elements makes it possible, for example, for the connecting elements to sag in the center without the connecting elements as a result having to rotate the spring slats about their longitudinal axis. The aforesaid rotational and translational mobility of the connecting elements with respect to the spring slats results in the spring slats not being stiffened owing to them being connected by the connecting elements. Nevertheless, the coupling of the spring slats to one another by the connecting elements—even if the coupling is elastic—results in the movement behavior, in particular the bending behavior or cushioning behavior, of the spring slats being influenced in a specific way.  
         [0013]     The suspension devices for connecting the connecting elements to the spring slats are preferably assigned to ends of the load-bearing means. The suspension devices serve primarily for mounting the connecting elements on the spring slats, in particular for attaching the connecting elements to the spring slats. However, the suspension devices preferably also have a further task: by means of an appropriate formation of the suspension device, in particular an elastic design of the same, the suspension devices can in fact be rotated in relation to the spring slats, specifically preferably about the longitudinal axis of the particular spring slat. However, the suspension devices additionally also permit a translational mobility, specifically preferably transversely with respect to the longitudinal direction of the spring slats. As a result, the suspension devices of the connecting elements do not form a rigid connection of the spring slats which would result in the spring slats losing the resilient, namely elastic, properties. Rather, the suspension devices make it possible for the spring slats to be deformed in a defined manner, namely to behave in a resilient manner, the connecting elements and, in particular, their suspension devices leading to defined coupling properties for the spring slats. Similarly, the suspension devices make it possible for the connecting elements to be able to move independently of the spring slats, in particular resilient deformations of the connecting elements independently of the spring slats are possible. In spite of the suspension devices permitting elastic deformations with a plurality of degrees of freedom between the connecting elements and the spring slats, their elastic design ensures that adjacent spring slats are coupled to one another, as desired by the invention, in particular that all of the spring slats are interlinked, as a result of which independent movements of the individual spring slats are intentionally removed and instead the movements of the individual spring slats are transmitted to adjacent spring slats in a certain manner, but to such an extent that a rigid connection of the spring slats is not produced.  
         [0014]     According to one preferred development of the invention, which may also constitute an independent solution of the object mentioned at the beginning, at least one suspension device of the connecting elements is assigned at least one locking device which fixes the particular connecting element nondisplaceably in the longitudinal direction of at least one spring slat. The locking devices are preferably designed in such a manner that they hold the particular connecting element nondisplaceably in the longitudinal direction of the particular spring slat in a frictional and/or non-positive manner. Locking devices of this type render superfluous profilings on the spring slats for the nondisplaceable fixing of the connecting elements along the spring slats or a construction of the connecting elements in such a manner that they support one another over the entire width and therefore reduce the outlay on manufacturing a material.  
         [0015]     According to a further refinement of the invention, provision is made to form the connecting elements from elongate strands. The elongate strands extend over a plurality of spring slats, preferably all of the spring slats, and form a coupling of the spring slats that has an influence on the spring properties of the spring slats in such a manner that a loading or compressive deflection of a certain spring slat is transmitted to at least one adjacent spring slat by the connecting elements, specifically, in particular, also strands. In the very simplest case, all the spring slats can be connected to a single strand. The formation of the connecting elements from strands constitutes a particularly cost-effective measure for realizing the invention, namely the coupling together of the spring slats.  
         [0016]     The strands, preferably a plurality of strands, run in a horizontal plane defined by the spring slats, or parallel hereto. However, the direction of the longitudinal axes of the strands points way from the direction of the longitudinal axes of the spring slats. The strands preferably run perpendicularly or in a transverse direction with respect to the spring slats. However, it is also conceivable to allow the strands to run obliquely with respect to the spring slats, specifically either at an acute or an obtuse angle. In this case, the individual strands situated next to one another preferably run in parallel.  
         [0017]     The strands may have an identical elasticity behavior or bending behavior throughout. However, it is also conceivable to change the elasticity of the strands, in particular in all or selected regions between consecutive spring slats, by means of inserts or attachments, to be more precise preferably in such a manner that the strands become stiffer at the points concerned. The attachments may be stiffening means which are releasably connected to the strands, for example by means of a snap connection or by bonding, for example by sticking them on. The attachment may thus also be formed from (short) strand sections. The strand sections may be formed from the same material as the strands themselves.  
         [0018]     According to one development of the invention, the strands are connected by transverse strands. A net is then produced, so that the preferably integral net interlinks the connecting element, specifically all of the connecting elements. A net of this type can be produced in a particularly simple manner. In addition, the net can easily be placed on the spring slats with the strands in the desired profile. The strands cannot slip when attached to the spring slats. The transverse strands, which extend in the longitudinal direction of the spring slats when strands run at right angles to spring slats, can serve, when arranged over the spring slats, to connect the net and therefore the strands to the spring slats.  
         [0019]     The strands and, if appropriate, also the transverse strands, i.e. the entire net, are formed from a material of defined flexural rigidity. As a result, the spring slats can be coupled together by the strands or the net, so that the movements, in particular sagging, of the spring slats affect one another without the spring slats thereby being connected rigidly to one another.  
         [0020]     The net additionally provides the possibility of fastening both local stiffening means for the connection and also for variously distributed springs or spring elements. The springs or spring elements distributed as desired over the surface of the net provide an additional spring mounting of a support, in particular a mattress, arranged on the supportive spring base. The springs or spring elements can be clipped onto longitudinally or transversally directed strands of the net. The springs or spring elements are preferably situated at junction points of the net where a particularly favorable snap connection of the spring or spring elements to the net is possible. The springs or spring element preferably have supports with a large surface area, in particular spring disks. These result in a distribution of the load under the support or mattress, with the result that local indentations are avoided.  
         [0021]     It is furthermore possible to enweave the spring slats into the net. This enables a simply, but permanent connection of the net to the spring slats to be produced. The spring slats are preferably threaded over their entire length or only selected regions through the meshes of the net.  
         [0022]     Furthermore, the use of the elastic net or else of the connecting elements of defined elasticity makes it possible to design the supportive spring base in a manner such that it can be rolled up and therefore transported in a space-saving manner. The elastic properties of the net or of the other connecting elements which are not net-like not only permit the supportive spring base according to the invention to be rolled up in a simple and space-saving manner; what is more, the supportive spring base inevitable returns into its planar position after being unrolled. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0023]     Preferred exemplary embodiments of the invention are explained in greater detail below with reference to the drawing, in which:  
         [0024]      FIG. 1  shows a perspective illustration of part of a supportive spring base,  
         [0025]      FIG. 2  shows a perspective illustration of a detail from  FIG. 1  with a few connecting elements,  
         [0026]      FIG. 3  shows a cross section through two adjacent spring slats with a connecting element connecting them,  
         [0027]      FIG. 4  shows a plan view of two adjacent spring slats and part of a connecting element connecting them,  
         [0028]      FIG. 5  shows an alternative refinement of the invention in an illustration analogous to  FIG. 2 ,  
         [0029]      FIG. 6  shows a further exemplary embodiment of the invention in an illustration analogous to  FIG. 2 , and  
         [0030]      FIG. 7  shows an alternative refinement of the supportive spring base according to the invention with a net-like connecting element. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0031]     The supportive spring bases, which are only shown in part in the figures, serve as a support for, for example, a mattress (not shown) of a bed or else of a bunk or a couch.  
         [0032]     The supportive spring base has a plurality of preferably identically designed spring slats  10 . The individual spring slats  10  run parallel to one another at a distance. The distances between adjacent spring slats  10  may be identical, but also may differ from one another in some regions. All of the spring slats  10  preferably lie in a common, horizontal plane, but may also be in a different plane or on a slope in some regions, for example in the head region.  
         [0033]     The spring slats  10  are mounted at opposite ends on two parallel longitudinal struts  11 . The longitudinal struts  11  extend in the longitudinal direction of the supportive spring base or of the mattress arranged thereon. By contrast, the spring slats  10  run transversely with respect to the longitudinal struts  11  ( FIG. 1 ). The longitudinal struts  11  are preferably connected to one another by transverse struts (not illustrated), so that the longitudinal struts  11  are part of a preferably rigid, rectangular frame.  
         [0034]     The spring slats  10  are connected at their opposite ends to the longitudinal struts  11  by bearing bodies  12  (illustrated only by way of intimation in  FIGS. 1 and 7 ). The bearing bodies  12  usually serve to connect the ends of the spring slats  10  elastically or in an articulated manner to the longitudinal struts  11 . However, a rigid connection of the ends of the spring slats  10  to the longitudinal struts  11  is also conceivable in the supportive spring base according to the invention.  
         [0035]     According to the invention, the spring slats  10  are (additionally) connected to one another in the region between the longitudinal struts  11 . This additional connection takes place only by means of connecting elements. FIGS.  2  to  7  show different exemplary embodiments of entirely or partially elastic or semi-rigid connecting elements which automatically return to the original form after a compressive deflection, the connecting elements shown in FIGS.  2  to  6  connecting two adjacent spring slats  10  in each case to each other or coupling them together. The connecting elements couple the relevant spring slats  10  together. As a result, the spring slats  10  act in the manner of a spring surface which is continuous over the entire surface of the supportive spring base. Local compressive deflections of the spring slats  10  and the resulting discontinuous profile of the supportive spring base with locally defined depressions are thereby avoided. The connecting elements result in local deformations of individual spring slats  10 , in particular vertical compressive deflections of the spring slats  10 , being transmitted to adjacent spring slats  10 . Adjacent spring slats  10  therefore participate, to be more precise preferably only in part, in the compressive deflection of individual spring slats  10 . As a result, even when individual spring slats  10  are subjected in particular to perpendicular loads, this produces a steady, continuous transition to adjacent spring slats  10  and therefore a deformation of the same which is distributed uniformly over the surface of the supportive spring base.  
         [0036]     FIGS.  2  to  4  illustrate connecting elements  13  which have spring elements which are designed as wings  14 . The two wings  14 , which are of identical design, are assigned to opposite sides of a load-bearing means  15  of the connecting element  13  or  31 . The elongate, strip-like load-bearing means  15  extends between two adjacent, consecutive spring slats  10 . The load-bearing means  15  extends transversely with respect to the longitudinal direction of the spring slats  10 , specifically from one spring slat to the adjacent spring slats  10 .  
         [0037]     Opposite ends of the load-bearing means  15  are in each case assigned a suspension device  16 . The suspension devices  16 , which are identical in  FIG. 3 , serve to connect the particular connecting element  13 , i.e. the load-bearing means  15  having the wings  14 , to the particular spring  10 . The exemplary embodiment of  FIG. 4  shows the connecting element  31  in which different suspension devices  16  and  18  are provided.  
         [0038]     The wings  14  on opposite sides of the load-bearing means  15  have approximately rectangular base areas. The wings are profiled in a direction extending parallel to the longitudinal direction of the spring slats  10 , specifically in such a manner that the wings  14  increasingly extend towards their free transverse edges  17  over the horizontal plane defined by the spring slats  10 . The wings  14  thereby partially protrude with respect to the horizontal plane of the spring slats  10 .  
         [0039]     An independent invention is to be seen in the design in particular of the suspension device  16 .  FIG. 4  shows the connecting element  31  with different suspension devices  16  and  18 . The suspension device  16 , which is shown on right in  FIG. 4 , has two identical claws  19  having an approximately semicircular cross section. The claws  19  engage around the upper half of the spring slat  10  which is likewise approximately circular in cross section in the exemplary embodiment shown. The two claws  19  which are spaced apart from each other in the longitudinal direction of the spring slat  10  are connected integrally to a spring section  20  which is likewise part of the suspension device  16 . The spring section  20  shown comprises two parallel springs  21  which are formed from a respective elastic material strip which has a meandering profile, and, in particular in the exemplary embodiment shown, corresponds to an entire (full-circle) sinusoidal oscillation. The two springs  21  are of identical design and are arranged in mirror-inverted fashion on opposite sides of a longitudinal center axis  22  (running transversely with respect to the longitudinal direction of the spring slats  10 ) of the particular connecting element  31 . The relative arrangement of the springs  21  is undertaken in such a manner that the sinusoidal profile of the springs  21  is in a horizontal plane defined by the spring slats  10 . Those ends of the springs  21  of the spring section  20  which are directed away from the claws  19  are connected integrally to the corresponding end of the load-bearing means  15 .  
         [0040]     The suspension device  18  ( FIG. 4 ) of the connecting element  31 , which suspension device lies opposite the suspension device  16 , is designed like the suspension device  16  with regard to the spring section  20  and the springs  21 , in particular is also elastically deformable. The sole change is that just a single claw  23  adjoins the spring section  20  on the outside. This claw  23  has a cross section which corresponds to the claws  19  of the suspension device  16 . The width of the claw  23  corresponds to the overall width of the two separate claws  19  of the suspension device  16 . In this case, the clear distance between the two separate claws  19  of the suspension device  16  is selected in such a manner that it is somewhat larger than the width of the claw  23  of the suspension device  18 . This makes it possible to connect adjacent spring slats  10  to connecting elements  31  lying on a common longitudinal center axis  22 , each spring slat  10  being assigned a suspension device  16  of the one connecting element  31  and a suspension device  18  of an adjacent connecting element  31 . In this case, the wider claw  23  of the suspension device  18  of the adjacent connecting element  31  engages in the intermediate space between the claws  19  of the suspension device  16  of the one connecting element  31 , as indicated by a chain-dotted line in  FIG. 4 .  
         [0041]     The special meandering design of the spring sections  20  of the suspension devices  16  and  18  results in the connecting elements  31 , specifically in particular the wings  14  of the same, being movable in relation to the spring slats  10  in a plurality of directions, in particular with a plurality of degrees of freedom. The connecting elements  31  and wheels  14  are preferably movable in a manner such that they spring back elastically in relation to the spring slats  10 .  
         [0042]     At least a rotational movement and a translational movement of the connecting elements  31  or wings  14  in relation to the particular spring slat  10  are possible. This mobility is obtained by the special meandering design of the spring sections  20  of the suspension devices  16  and  18 , but also by the relative arrangement of the springs  21  with respect to the longitudinal axis of the spring slats, on the one hand, and with respect to the longitudinal center axis  22  of the particular connecting element  31 , on the other. The translational movement of the connecting element  31  with respect to the spring slats  10  can take place in such a manner that the connecting elements  31  can move along their longitudinal center axis  22  towards the spring slat  10  and away from it. However, the translational movement may also take place in such a manner that the wings  14  and, if appropriate, the load-bearing means  15 , but not the suspension devices  16  and  18 , can move and/or deform elastically in the longitudinal direction of the spring slats  10 . Finally, the connecting element  31  (or at least parts of the same) can also move to a small extent perpendicularly with respect to the horizontal plane of the supportive spring base that is defined by the spring slats  10 . However, the cushioning properties of the connecting element  31  perpendicular with respect to the horizontal plane are harder than in other directions because of the special relative arrangement of the springs  21 .  
         [0043]     In the case of the connecting element  31  shown in  FIG. 4 , the (right-hand) suspension device  16  is assigned two locking devices  24 . The locking devices  24 , which are of identical design, are assigned to opposite outer sides of the claws  23 , specifically in such a manner that a small intermediate space  25  remains between the outer wall of the particular claw  23  and the inner wall, directed towards the latter, of the particular locking device  24 .  
         [0044]     Each locking device  26  has a narrow claw  26  which is of semicircular design and extends over the upper half of the particular spring slat  10 . A projection  27  is arranged at opposite, lower ends of the semicircular profile. The projection  27  is designed to correspond to a corresponding longitudinal groove  28  of the particular spring slat  10 . The projections  27  of the claws  26  engage in the longitudinal grooves  28 , with the result the claws  26  of the locking devices  24  are snapped onto the spring slat  10  in such a manner that they cannot be rotated about the longitudinal axis of the spring slat  10 .  
         [0045]     Each claw  26  is connected integrally to the corresponding end of the load-bearing means  15  of the connecting element  31  by a dedicated, narrow spring section  29 . Like the spring sections  20  of the suspension devices  16  and  18 , the spring sections  29  have a meandering profile. However, each spring section  29  is formed only from a single spring  30  which likewise has a complete (full-circle) sinusoidal profile. The springs  30  of the locking devices  24  are rotated through 90° with respect to the springs  21  of the suspension devices  16  and  18 . In the exemplary embodiment shown, the springs  30  are arranged in such a manner that their sinusoidal profile extends in a vertical plane which runs transversally with respect to the longitudinal axis of the particular spring slat  10 . The springs  30  are therefore rotated with respect to the springs  21  through 90° about the longitudinal center axis  22  of the connecting element  31 . This arrangement of the springs  30  of the locking devices  24  means that the springs  30  do not significantly affect the mobility of the connecting elements  31 , and in particular of the wings  14 , in relation to the spring slats  10 .  
         [0046]     The springs  30  of the locking devices  24  serve to prevent the particular connecting element  31  from being displaceable in the longitudinal direction of the spring slats  10 . If namely a force which acts along the spring slats  10  is exerted on the connecting elements  31 , this results in the locking devices  14 , in particular the claws  26  on the spring slats  10 , being inclined, as a result of which the locking devices  24  are twisted in the longitudinal direction of the spring slats  10  and prevent further displaceability of the connecting element  31  in the longitudinal direction of the spring slats  10 . In this case, it suffices if—as in the exemplary embodiment of  FIG. 4 —two opposite locking devices  24  are assigned to just one suspension device  16 . This ensures that the connecting elements  31  according to the illustration in  FIG. 4  are connected consecutively on a common longitudinal center axis  22  to two spring slats  10  in each case. If such a consecutive arrangement of the connecting elements  31  is not necessary or not desired, the connecting elements  31  can have identical suspension devices  16  on each side, and two locking devices  24  in each case. This symmetrically constructed connecting element  13  is illustrated in  FIG. 3 .  FIG. 2  shows the manner in which such connecting elements  13  having identical suspension devices  16  and locking devices  24  on both sides are arranged offset in a consecutive arrangement between different pairs of spring slats  10  in each case.  
         [0047]     In one exemplary embodiment (not shown) of the supportive spring base, the connecting elements  13  or  31  are arranged situated one behind another in a row and are also connected to one another, i.e., as it were interlinked. The connection of the connecting elements  13  or  31  takes place at the suspension devices  16  or  18 . Identical suspension devices  16  or  18  are preferably provided for connected connecting elements  13  or  31 . Suspension devices  18  without locking devices  24  are sufficient because the connection or interlinking means that the connecting elements  13  or  31  cannot so easily be displaced longitudinally in relation to the spring slats  10 . However, it is also entirely possible for suspension devices  16  with locking devices  24  to be provided. The interlinking of the connecting elements  13  or  31  means that only one suspension device  16  or  18  is ever required between two adjacent connecting elements  13  or  31  in each case. Two adjacent connecting elements  13  or  31  in each case are therefore connected to a respective spring slat  10  by a common suspension device  16  or  18 . The interlinking of the connecting elements  13  or  31  gives rise in each case to a type of strap with a plurality of interconnected connecting elements  13  or  31  which extend preferably continuously over the entire length of the supportive spring base element. The direction of longitudinal extent of the strap extends transversely with respect to the spring slats  10 , it being possible for a plurality of parallel straps to be provided. The interconnected connecting elements  13  or  31  connect more than two spring slats  10 , preferably all of the spring slats  10 , to one another. An appropriately pliable design of the suspension devices  16  or  18  means that the latter act “in an articulated manner”. In this case, the joints formed by the suspension devices  16  and  18  of appropriately pliable design rest on the spring slat  10 . In this manner, deformations of an individual connecting element  13  or  31  are not transmitted or not significantly transmitted to the adjacent spring element  13  or  31 . The spring properties of the interconnected, interlinked connecting elements  13  or  31  therefore correspond approximately to the spring properties of the individual connecting elements  13  or  31 , as is shown in FIGS.  2  to  4 . It is alternatively also conceivable to connect, in particular to interlink, the connecting elements  13  or  31  in the longitudinal direction of the spring slats  10 .  
         [0048]      FIG. 5  shows elastic or partially elastic connecting elements  32  according to another exemplary embodiment of the invention. The connecting elements  32  of identical design are arranged offset next to one another and consecutively between two spring slats  10  in each case in order to bridge the same. The spring elements of the connecting elements  32  are designed as bellows  33 . Each connecting element  32  has a bellows  33 . The bellows  33  can be deformed elastically, namely can be compressed, by either the air contained in the bellows, which is sealed in an airtight manner, being compressed or by the bellows being ventilated, so that its spring properties are determined solely by the deformability of the cylindrical wall of the bellows  33 . The bellows  33  of each connecting element  22  is connected to two parallel, elongate, load-bearing means  34  which extend transversely with respect to the longitudinal direction of the spring slats  10 . Suspension devices which can correspond to the suspension device  16  or else to the suspension device  18  of the exemplary embodiment of FIGS.  2  to  4  are arranged at opposite ends of the two load-bearing means  34 . All or else only some of the suspension devices  16  and/or  18  are in turn assigned locking devices  24  which secure the particular connecting element  32  against displacements in the longitudinal direction of the spring slats  10 .  
         [0049]     The arrangement of the connecting elements  32  that is shown in  FIG. 5  permits all of the suspension devices  16  or  18  at the ends of the connecting elements  32  to be of identical design. In principle, however, it is also possible to assign different suspension means  16  or  18  to the load-bearing means  34  and to provide only some of the suspension devices  16  or  18  with one or more locking devices  24 .  
         [0050]      FIG. 6  shows a connecting element  35  which differs from the connecting element  32  of  FIG. 5  only by it having two bellows  36  preferably of identical design. The bellows  36  follow one another in a direction running transversally with respect to the spring slats  10 . The load-bearing means  37  is designed in such a manner that it serves to receive the two consecutive bellows  36 . The suspension device and the locking device in the case of the connecting element  35  are designed in the manner as has been described in conjunction with the connecting elements  13 ,  31  and  32 . In this case too, different alternatives with regard to the design and arrangement of the suspension device  16 ,  18  and the locking device  24  are conceivable.  
         [0051]     In place of the bellows  33  and  36 , the connecting elements  32  and  35  may also be provided with other spring elements, for example disk-like springs, corrugated surfaces or the like.  
         [0052]     According to an alternative refinement (not shown) of the invention, the connecting elements  32  and  35  may also be designed such that they are interconnected in at least one row running transversely with respect to the spring slats  10 . Two suspension devices  16  which are situated at a short distance next to each other in the longitudinal direction of a spring slat  10  then serve in each case to connect two adjacent connecting elements  32  and  35 . As a result, the connecting elements  32  and  35  are also situated one behind another interlinked in a row, the respective row running transversely with respect to the spring slats  10 . All the connecting elements  32  and  35  are interconnected in a strap-like manner in the particular row and, as a result, connect more than two spring slats  10 , preferably all of the spring slats  10 . The suspension devices  16  for connecting adjacent connecting elements  32  and  35  serve for the articulated coupling together of the connecting elements  32  and  35  which follow one another in the longitudinal direction of the supported spring base. It is also conceivable, instead of the suspension devices  16 , to use the suspension devices  18  (shown in  FIG. 4 ) without a locking device  24  in order to interlink consecutive connecting elements  32  and  35  of each row of connecting elements  32  and  35 . The connecting elements  13  and  31  can additionally or alternatively also be used in rows running longitudinally with respect to the spring slats  10 .  
         [0053]      FIG. 7  shows a supportive spring base having a single connecting element  37 . In the exemplary embodiment shown, the connecting element  37  is designed as a net  38 . The net  38  extends approximately over the entire area defined by the spring slats  10 , in particular an at least partially horizontal plane. The net  38  has a plurality of longitudinally directed strands  39  running transversally with respect to the spring slats  10 , and transverse slats  40  running along the spring slats  10  and/or parallel to the spring slats  10 . It least the strands  39  are of spring-elastic design and they accordingly behave in a similarly resilient manner to the spring slats  10 . The strands  39  or else the transverse strands  40  have a softer spring characteristic than the spring slats  10 . In the exemplary embodiment shown, all of the strands  39  and also all of the transverse strands  40  run parallel to one another, with the transverse strands  40  extending perpendicularly with respect to the strands  39 . However, it is also conceivable for some of the strands to run antiparallel and for the transverse strands  40  not to extend perpendicularly with respect to the strands  39 . It is also possible for at least the strands  39  to run at an angle of less than 90° with respect to spring slats  10 .  
         [0054]     In the exemplary embodiment shown, some of the transverse strands  40  extend centrally over each spring slat  10 . At those points at which the transverse strands  40  run over the spring slats  10 , the net  38  is connected to the spring slats  10 . In the exemplary embodiment shown, this takes place by means of preferably releasable clamps  41  (only illustrated by way of intimation). The distribution of the clamps  41  over the surface of the supported spring base  30  shown in the figures is to be understood as only one possible example. In actual fact, the clamps  41  may be fixed at virtually all desired points, specifically in a positioning and number sufficient to couple the spring slats together with the net  38 . Instead of the clamps  41 , it is also possible for other connecting means for coupling together the spring slats  10  to the transverse strands  40  or, if appropriate, also to the longitudinal strands  39  to be used. These connecting means may be designed in such a manner that they connect the net  38  resiliently to the spring slats  10 . The elasticity of the supportive spring base shown in  FIG. 7  then comes about by means of the elasticity of the net  38  as such and the elastic connection of the net  28  to the spring slats  10 . Furthermore, the supportive spring base is also elastically and resiliently flexible by means of a deformation of the spring slats  10 .  
         [0055]     As an alternative, it is conceivable to connect the net  38  to the spring slats by enweaving. To do this for example, the spring slats  10  are made to pass in alternating fashion from above and below through adjacent loops of the net  38 . With this type of connection of the net  38  to the spring slats  10 , the clamps  10  can be omitted.  
         [0056]     The net  38  is preferably formed from plastic, in particular thermoplastic. The strands  38  and the transverse strands  40  are of such a thickness that they are still flexible, in particular can be deformed elastically. The transverse strands  40  are connected to the strands  39  at the crossing points, specifically preferably integrally during the production of the net  38 . It is conceivable to provide the strands  39  and/or the transverse strands  40  of the net  38  with reinforcements, in particular tensile strands. These tensile strands may be formed, for example, from high-tensile fibers, such as glass fibers, carbon fibers or the like. Although this type of reinforcement allows the strands  39  and/or transverse strands  40  to retain their elastic properties, the extensibility of the strands  39  and/or transverse strands  40  is lower, as a result of which effective coupling of the spring slats  10  to one another is brought about.  
         [0057]     The strands  39 ,  40  of the net  38  may also be designed in such a manner that their elasticity changes in the longitudinal direction. For this purpose, the strands  39  preferably have a higher degree of stiffness between the spring slats  10 . This higher degree of stiffness can be brought about by a thicker cross section of the strands  39  between the spring slats  10 , specifically, for example, by short strand sections which are glued or clipped onto the strands  39  in regions between spring slats  10 .  
         [0058]     The net  38  may also be provided with additional spring elements (not shown in the figures). These may be, for example, disk springs which form a relatively large supporting surface for a mattress or the like. The disk springs are connected preferably in a snap-fitting manner either to the strands  39  or the transverse strands  40 . However, the disk springs may also be snapped onto the net  38  at the crossing points.  
         [0059]     It is alternatively also conceivable to form a net from connecting elements  13 ,  31 ,  32  and/or  35  connected or interlinked longitudinally and transversally with respect to the spring slats  10 .  
         [0060]     All of the above-described, elastic connecting elements permit the supported spring base to be rolled up, specifically with spring slats  10  running parallel to one another. Particularly suitable for a supportive spring which can be rolled up is one in which the connecting elements are formed by the net  38 .  
         [0061]     The remaining connecting elements  13 ,  31 ,  32  and  35  are preferably formed integrally from plastic, in particular thermoplastic. However, it is also conceivable to form the load-bearing means  15  and  34  from a different material than the remaining parts of the connecting elements  13 ,  31 ,  32  and  35 . In such a case, the connecting elements  13 ,  31 ,  32 ,  35  are of multipart design. The formation of the load-bearing means  15  and  34  from a different material or a material having different properties makes it possible to design the load-bearing means  15 ,  34  to be stiffer than, in particular, the spring elements, for example wings  14  or bellows  33 ,  36  of the connecting elements  13 ,  31 ,  32  and  35 .  
         [0062]     Whereas the net  38 , according to  FIG. 4 , which is arranged on the spring slats  10  involves a uniform coupling of the spring slats  10  to one another over the entire surface of the supportive spring base, it is possible, when individual connecting elements  13 ,  31 ,  32  and  35  are used, to distribute these connecting elements nonuniformly over the surface of the supportive spring base, specifically in a manner which meets requirements. However, if the need arises, the connecting elements  13 ,  31 ,  32 , and  35  may also be distributed uniformly over the surface of the supportive spring base. Finally, it is also conceivable to combine different connecting elements  13 ,  31 ,  32  and/or  35  with one another by the particular connecting elements being assigned as required to certain points on the supportive spring base.  
       LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS  
       [0000]    
       
           10  spring slat  
           11  longitudinal strut  
           12  bearing body  
           13  connecting element  
           14  wing  
           15  load-bearing means  
           16  suspension device  
           17  transverse edge  
           18  suspension device  
           19  claw  
           20  spring section  
           21  spring  
           22  longitudinal center axis  
           23  claw  
           24  locking device  
           25  intermediate space  
           26  claw  
           27  projection  
           28  longitudinal groove  
           29  spring section  
           30  spring  
           31  connecting element  
           32  connecting element  
           33  bellows  
           34  load-bearing means  
           35  connecting element  
           36  bellows  
           37  connecting element  
           38  net  
           39  strand  
           40  transverse strand  
           41  clamp