Abstract:
The invention provides as a connecting element at least one flexural pull element ( 29 ) disposed between the pivotable back element ( 13 ) and leg element ( 15 ) of the support ( 12 ). Such a flexural pull element, which can be a cord or belt, for example, can be arranged in a space-saving manner under the support ( 12 ) and integrated in a frame ( 11 ) of the bed or cot. Thus, no space is taken up by the pull element beneath the frame ( 11 ). The invention thereby provides a connecting element of simple and space-saving design which allows for the simultaneous pivoting of the back element ( 13 ) and leg element ( 15 ) of the support ( 12 ).

Description:
STATEMENT OF RELATED APPLICATIONS 
   This patent application claims convention priority on German Patent Application No. 20 2005 016 193.4 having a filing date of 12 Oct. 2005, which is incorporated herein by this reference. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Technical Field 
   The invention relates to a device for receiving at least one mattress for beds, cots or the like, with a frame and a support, assigned to the frame, for the at least one mattress, the support having at least one back element and one leg element which are coupled pivotably and by at least one connecting element in order to pivot the leg element simultaneously when the back element is pivoted. 
   2. Related Art 
   The comfort of beds and cots has to meet increasingly exacting requirements. This applies to all areas in which beds and cots are used, namely in hospitals, homes for the elderly or the like, in camping vehicles and also in lorry cabs as well in addition to the conventional use in home and hotel. 
   A care bed, which has a support of multipart design for lying and resting, is known from DE 36 18 680 C2. A back element and a leg element of the support are mounted pivotably on a frame. The back element and leg element are interconnected via a connecting element, which allows simultaneous pivoting of back element and leg element. In this connection, the connecting element consists of a lever arm and an actuating lever which, although articulated flexibly to the back element and leg element, are otherwise of rigid design. 
   A disadvantage of this prior art is the complicated constructional design of the connecting element, which also has a large space requirement because, in particular when the back element is not raised, the connecting element protrudes considerably under the frame. For cramped space conditions, above all in lorries, this known bed is therefore unsuitable. 
   It is an object of the invention to provide a device for receiving at least one mattress for beds, cots or the like which allows simultaneous pivoting of back part and leg part by virtue of a space-saving connecting element of simple construction. 
   BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The object is achieved by a device for receiving at least one mattress for in particular beds or cots, with a frame and a support, assigned to the frame, for the at least one mattress, the support having at least one back element and one leg element which are coupled pivotably and by at least one connecting element in order to pivot the leg element simultaneously when the back element is pivoted, characterized in that the connecting element is designed as at least one pull element. The connecting element is designed as at least one pull element, by virtue of which it can be integrated into the frame in flaccid form. The space below the frame is not taken up by the pull element, so that the device according to the invention does not require any additional space for the at least one pull element. 
   According to a preferred development of the invention, one end of the at least one pull element is articulated on the back element and an opposite end of the at least one pull element is articulated on the leg element. The pull element transmits the tensile forces resulting from the pivoting of the back element directly to the leg element, by virtue of which this can be moved accordingly. 
   According to an especially advantageous development of the invention, the movement of the back element and of the leg element is synchronized by the at least one pull element. When the back element is raised from a starting position, the leg element likewise has its position changed. Consequently, only one manual operation is necessary in order to transfer the support from a position for lying into a position for sitting and vice versa. 
   In an advantageous development, the leg element is of multipart design, preferably consisting of a shank element and a thigh element, which are interconnected via at least one articulation. The two part elements are dimensioned in such a way that the or each articulation connecting the two part elements lies approximately under the knee joints of the legs resting thereon. 
   According to a preferred development of the invention, a free outer end of the shank element is displaceable in relation to the frame, preferably along the plane of the frame. The shank element lies at least in part in the plane of the frame and is moved out of this during pivoting, the free outer end remaining in the plane of the frame. In this connection, the free outer end is preferably not articulated on the frame or connected to it in a similar way. If appropriate, the free outer end lies in the frame on a guide, rail or the like. 
   According to an advantageous development of the invention, the at least one pull element is connected to the shank element, in particular to the free outer end thereof. When the back element is raised, the tensile forces of the pull element act on the free outer end of the shank element and cause this free end to be displaced in the plane of the frame. 
   In a further development of the device, the at least one pull element is assigned to the back element and the shank element in such a way that, when the back element is pivoted up, the at least one articulation between the shank element and the thigh element is simultaneously raised. By virtue of this, the thigh element and the shank element pivot in opposite directions and correspond in a lateral view to an inverted “V”. The legs rest in each case on the thigh element and shank element assigned to them, which elements together and in conjunction with the inclined back element bring about a pleasant rest position, which relieves the spinal column. 
   The at least one pull element is advantageously designed as a rope, a belt, a chain or the like of essentially constant length. By virtue of this, it is designed as a cost-effective connecting element and can be integrated compactly into the device in various ways. 
   For pivoting the leg element consisting of shank element and thigh element from a raised position into a starting position, at least one resiliently length-adjustable restoring means, preferably a rubber rope, a tension spring, a gas pressure spring or the like, is provided between the frame and the leg element, preferably the shank element. The or each restoring means is assigned to the frame and the leg element, or the shank element, in such a way that no forces are transmitted to the frame and the shank element by the restoring means in the starting position of the leg element, or the shank element. That end of the at least one restoring means assigned to the frame lies in the region of the free outer end of the shank element, whereas the end assigned to the leg element consisting of shank element and thigh element is fastened in the region of the articulation between the thigh element and shank element. The tensile force of the at least one resilient, length-adjustable restoring means counteracting pivoting-up of shank element and thigh element is small in the initial phase of the movement from the flat starting position and increases continuously with increasing pivoting of the shank element. This arrangement permits comparatively easy pivoting-up of the back element and the leg element consisting of thigh element and shank element, which requires little effort. When the back element is pivoted into the flat starting position, the pull element relaxes, by virtue of which it cannot move the leg element back into the flat starting position. This function is performed by the or each restoring means, which pulls the leg element back into the starting position. 
   In an advantageously designed device, the back element can be locked in at least one pivoted-up position. Locking the back element causes the thigh element and shank element likewise to be held in a corresponding position by the pull element. The back element can preferably be locked in various positions, by virtue of which the pivoting height of the articulation between the thigh element and shank element can likewise be locked at various heights. 
   In a development of the device according to the invention, the support has a trunk element, the back element preferably being articulated pivotably on one end of the trunk element and the thigh element preferably being articulated pivotably on another end of the trunk element. The trunk element is designed to be approximately of such a size that the back and the legs are advantageously supported by the elements assigned to them. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     Preferred illustrative embodiments of the invention are explained in greater detail below with reference to the drawing, in which: 
       FIG. 1  shows a side view of the device in the flat starting position. 
       FIG. 2  shows a side view of the device in the pivoted-up position. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
   The device  10  illustrated in the figures has a frame  11  with a support  12  for, for example, a mattress (not shown). The support  12  is of multipart design, parts of the support  12  being assigned to the frame  11  in such a way that at least some of the parts are pivotable. The support  12  has a back element  13 , a leg element  15  and, in the illustrative embodiment shown, a trunk element  14 . However, a support  12 , which does not have a trunk element  14 , is also conceivable within the scope of the invention. The leg element  15  is formed from a thigh element  16  and a shank element  17 . The relation of the parts elements  13 ,  14 ,  15 ,  16 ,  17  of the support  12  corresponds to the human body, so that the trunk element  14  is bounded by the back element  13  and the leg element  15  consisting of thigh element and shank element  16 ,  17 . The trunk element  14  is fixed, in particular non-displaceable. The trunk element  14  is preferably connected non-displaceably to the frame  11 . One end  18  of the trunk element  14  has an articulation  19 , on which the back element  13  is movably articulated. The back element  13  has two ends  27  and  28 , of which the end  28  is connected to the articulation  19  and the end  27  has no connection to the frame  11  and is freely movable. Another end  20  of the trunk element  14  likewise has an articulation  21 , on which the leg element  15  is movably articulated with one end  22  of the thigh element  16 . An opposite end  23  of the thigh element  16  has an articulation  24 , on which one end  25  of the shank element  17  is movably articulated. A free end  26  of the shank element  17  is freely displaceable in relation to the frame  11  in the longitudinal direction thereof and accordingly has no connection to the frame  11 . 
   In a starting position, the part elements  13 ,  14 ,  16 ,  17  are located approximately in a plane ( FIG. 1 ), by virtue of which a preferred position suitable for sleeping is brought about. In this flat starting position, the support  12  lies at least in part in a preferably horizontal plane extending through the frame  11 . For a resting or sitting position, at least some of the part elements  13 ,  16 ,  17  are mounted movably and so as to be capable of being pivoted up out of the plane of the frame  11  in the region of the frame  11 , in particular thereon. 
   The back element  13  and leg element  15 , consisting of thigh element  16  and shank element  17 , are coupled by a connecting element which is designed as a simple pull element  29 . However, it is also conceivable to provide a number of preferably parallel pull elements  29 . The pull element  29  is connected firmly to the back element  13  in the region between the articulation  19  and the free end  27  of the back element  13 . The distance of the connection location of the pull element  29  on the back element  13  from the articulation  19  is selected in a way appropriate to the requirements for mobility of the leg element  15 . This distance sets the amount by which the leg element  15  is moved, in particular bent when the back element  13  is pivoted. The greater the distance of the fastening point of the pull element  29  from the articulation  19 , the more the leg element  15  is moved, that is the shank element  17  and the thigh element  16  are bent, when the back element  13  is pivoted. Another free end  31  of the pull element  29  is articulated on the free outer end  26  of the shank element  17 . In the flat starting position of the support  12 , the pull element  29  extends for the most part approximately parallel to the part elements  13 ,  14 ,  16 ,  17 . By virtue of the back element  13  being pivoted up, tensile forces are exerted by the pull element  29  on the shank element  171  in particular the free outer end  26  thereof. As a result, the pull element  29  pulls the free outer end  26  of the shank element  17  in the direction of the back element  13 . 
   Displacement of the free end  26  of the shank element  17  gives rise to pressure forces which act on the articulation  24  between the shank element  17  and the thigh element  16 . Owing to this force introduction, the articulation  24  is moved out of the plane of the frame  11  and pivoted up with the ends  23 ,  25  of the thigh element  16  and the shank element  17  which are brought together at the articulation  24 , as a result of which the leg element  15  is bent at the articulation  24 . In this connection, the end  22  of the thigh element  16  and the free end  26  of the shank element  17  remain in the plane of the frame  11 . With the articulation  24  raised, the two part elements  16 ,  17  consequently project at an angle to one another in opposite directions and at least in part out of the plane. In this position, the thigh element  16  and the shank element  17  describe an inverted V, the angle between the thigh element and shank element  16 ,  17 l varying as a function of the position of the back element  13 . The height by which the articulation  24  is raised in relation to the frame  11  is dependent on the pivoting angle of the back element  13 . The further the back element  13  is pivoted upwards, the further the pull element  29  pulls the free end  26  of the shank element  17  in the direction of the back element  13  and pushes the articulation  24  with the articulated thigh element  16  and shank element  17  upwards. 
   The pull element  29  is of flexible design, preferably in the form of a rope, belt, chain or the like. In this connection, the flaccid pull element  29  is inelastic or virtually unyielding, so that the pull element  29  transmits the pivoting travel of the back element  13  directly and unchanged to the free end  26  of the shank element  17 . 
   In the illustrative embodiment shown, a deflecting means  32  arranged at a spacing from the articulation  19  is connected firmly to the frame  11 . On the deflecting means  32 , preferably designed as a deflecting roller, the pull element  29  is deflected below the back element  13 . That portion of the pull element  29  located between the deflecting means  32  and the back element  13  extends vertically or at an angle above the plane of the frame  11 . From the deflecting means  32  to the shank element  17 , the pull element  29  extends approximately horizontally next to or below the support  12 . In this way, the pull element  29  is located within the outlines of the frame  11  and the support  12 . Consequently, the pull element  29  does not project outwards in relation to the outlines of the frame  11  and the support  12 , as a result of which it requires no additional space and is essentially invisible. When the back element  13  is pivoted up, that end of the pull element  29  connected to the shank element  17  is moved in the direction of the back element  13 . That part of the pull element  29  lying in the plane of the frame  11  is thus shortened. The result is that the articulation  24  is raised and the leg element  15  is bent. If required, further deflecting means (not shown) are arranged on the frame  11  and/or on the support  12 . 
   When the back element  13  is pivoted back into a lower position, or into the flat starting position, the pull element  29 , which is acting on the free end  26  of the shank element  17  with the tensile forces, relaxes. The end  26  of the shank element  17  is consequently free and can be moved back in the direction of one end  35  of the frame  11  again by the length the pull element  29  has relaxed. In the case of the back element  13  being pivoted back into the flat starting position, the entire leg element  15  can accordingly also be moved back into the starting position. 
   When a person is resting on the device  10 , the leg element  15  is as a rule moved back into a position corresponding to the back element  13  during pivoting back by the weight of the legs lying thereon. In particular in the case of the support  12  not being loaded, but also if the weight is not sufficient in order to bring the thigh element and shank element  16 ,  17  into the fiat starting position, at least one restoring means  33  is assigned to the leg element  15 . The restoring means  33  is articulated with in each case one end on the frame  11  and the leg element  15 , preferably the articulation  24 , and designed to be resiliently length-adjustable. To this end, the restoring means concerned is designed in the manner of a rubber spring, for example as a rubber rope or rubber strand, but if appropriate also as a tension spring or gas pressure spring. The articulation points of the restoring means  33  are assigned to the articulation  24  and the frame  11  in such a way that, in the starting position, the restoring means  33  rises in the direction of the articulation  24  only slightly in relation to the horizontal. The articulation point is preferably arranged on the inner side of the articulation  24  and at a spacing from that side of the frame  11  facing outwards. However, it is also conceivable to assign the restoring means to other locations on the leg element  15  and/or the frame  11 . 
   In the flat starting position of the leg element  15 , the restoring means  33  has a starting length that, in the illustrative embodiment, corresponds to the distance between the two articulation points. In this connection, the restoring means  33  can be unloaded or slightly elastically pretensioned. When the back element  13  is pivoted up and the articulation  24  is simultaneously raised, the length of the restoring means  33  is increased and this increases the tension in the resilient restoring means  33 . As a result, with the articulation  24  raised, increasing tensile forces act on it in the downward direction. 
   In the starting position of the support  12 , the articulation points of the restoring means  33  on the frame  11  and the articulation  24  lie at a spacing from one another virtually in the plane of the frame  11 . By virtue of this, the restoring means  33  is stretched only a little with a small pivoting travel of the leg element  15  out of the starting position, so that correspondingly smaller tensile forces act on the articulation  24  and therefore on the back element  13 . These tensile forces of the restoring means  33  become greater with increasing upward movement of the articulation  24  and pull the thigh element  16  and the shank element  17  downwards into a lower position as soon as the back element  13  is pivoted back. 
   A locking means  34  that holds the back element  13  in a pivoted-up position is arranged between the back element  13  and the frame  11 . The locking means  34  preferably makes a number of defined pivoting positions of the back element  13  possible, a locking means  34  with sliding transitions also being possible. By locking the back element  13  in a pivoted-up position, the leg element  15  is simultaneously fixed in a corresponding position by the pull element  29  connecting the back element  13  to the leg element  15 . With the release of this locking, the leg element  15  can also be pivoted again. 
   The functioning of the device  10  is described in greater detail below. 
   In the starting position of the support  12 , the pull element  29 , which interconnects the back element  13  and the leg element  15 , lies flaccid or slightly taut between the two elements  13  and  15 . In this position, virtually no tensile forces are transmitted to the end  26  of the shank element  17  from the back element  13 . During initial raising of the back element  13 , the pull element  29  is subjected to tensile stress. As the pivoting-up of the back element  13  continues, tensile forces are exerted on the end  26  of the shank element  17  because that part of the pull element  29  located in the plane of the frame  11  is shortened. As a result, the free end  26  of the shank element  17 , which is mounted freely displaceably in the plane of the frame  11 , is displaced in the direction of the back element  13 . In this connection, pressure forces act on the articulation  24  between the shank element  17  and the thigh element  16 , as a result of which the articulation  24  is pushed up by the forces acting on it. By virtue of this, the leg element  15  is bent in the center, that is between the thigh element  16  and the shank element  17 , at the articulation  24 , as a result of which the leg element  15  takes on the shape of an inverted “V”. The angle between the thigh element  16  and the shank element  17  is dependent on the length by which the end  26  is displaced in the plane of the frame  11  by the pull element  29 . Similarly, the height by which the articulation  24  is raised is therefore dependent on the pivoting angle of the back element  13 . 
   The connection, designed as a simple pull element  29 , between back element  13  and leg element  15  synchronizes the movement sequences of the leg element  15  with the pivoting-up of the back element  13 . When the back element  13  is put back, no forces are transmitted to the leg element  15  via the pull element  29 . Rather, the pull element  29  is extended, as a result of which the tensile forces that have thus far acted on the end  26  of the shank element  17  decrease. It is thus possible to push the end  26  of the shank element  17  back, in particular away from the back element  13 . Pushing the end  28  of the shank element  17  back and simultaneously lowering the back element  13  and the articulation  24  in the leg element  15  brings the support  12  back into the flat starting position. 
   Lowering the articulation  24  with the thigh element  16  and shank element  17  in the direction of the frame  11  cannot take place automatically with an unloaded support  12 . The at least one resilient restoring means  33  is therefore assigned to the leg element  15 . In the starting position of the support  12 , the restoring means  33  lies, rising slightly at an angle to the articulation  24 , in the plane of the frame  11  and has a starting length. At this starting length, no forces or only small tensile forces are transmitted from the restoring means  33  to the articulation  24 . Only by raising the back element  13  and simultaneously moving the articulation  24  up in relation to the frame  11  is the restoring means  33  tensioned, as a result of which the resilient properties are activated, in particular increase gradually. Owing to the particular arrangement of the restoring means  33  between the frame  11  and the leg element  15 , the tensile forces that act on the articulation  24  are small to begin with. Only with an increase in the distance of the articulation  24  from the frame  11  is the restoring means  33  stretched further, as a result of which the tensile forces which, directed downwards, act on the articulation  24  increase. The force with which the restoring means  33  counteracts raising of the back element  13  is consequently small during initial raising of the back element  13 . Only with increasing raising of the back element  13  does the restoring means  33  exert increasing force counter to the raising direction of the back element  13 . However, this force is not so great that it appreciably affects raising of the back element  13 . 
   When the back element  13  is pivoted back, in which connection the flaccid pull element  29  cannot exert any restoring force on the leg element  15 , the restoring means  33  generates a force which acts downwards on the articulation  24  between the thigh element  16  and the shank element  17  and has a vertically downwardly directed force component which pulls the articulation downwards, in particular into the starting position, in which the leg element  15  again lies virtually horizontally. The restoring means  33  consequently brings about synchronization of the movement of the leg element  15  with the pivoting-back of the back element  13  because the vertical force component exerted by the restoring means  33  on the articulation  24  keeps the pull element  29  under tension and the articulation  24  is thus lowered similarly to the pivoting-back of the back element  13  during the relaxation of the pull element  29  brought about by the pivoting-back of the back element  13 . 
   If the back element  13  is locked in the desired pivoting position by the locking means  34 , locking of the position of the leg element  15 , which corresponds to the (desired) inclination of the back element  13  fixed by the locking means  34 , is also brought about automatically by the pull element  29  of essentially constant length. 
   LIST OF DESIGNATIONS 
   
     
       
             
             
           
         
             
                 
             
           
           
             
               10 
               device 
             
             
               11 
               frame 
             
             
               12 
               support 
             
             
               13 
               back element 
             
             
               14 
               trunk element 
             
             
               15 
               leg element 
             
             
               16 
               thigh element 
             
             
               17 
               shank element 
             
             
               18 
               end (14) 
             
             
               19 
               articulation 
             
             
               20 
               end (14) 
             
             
               21 
               articulation 
             
             
               22 
               end (16) 
             
             
               23 
               end (16) 
             
             
               24 
               articulation 
             
             
               25 
               end (17) 
             
             
               26 
               free end (17) 
             
             
               27 
               free end (13) 
             
             
               28 
               end (13) 
             
             
               29 
               pull element 
             
             
               30 
               free end (29) 
             
             
               31 
               free end (29) 
             
             
               32 
               deflecting means 
             
             
               33 
               restoring means 
             
             
               34 
               locking means