Abstract:
A support for reclining or sitting has two tubes extending in the longitudinal direction and filled with a liquid, transverse rods being guided on said tubes so as to be movable back and forth in the loading direction. A cushion is disposed on the transverse rods and extends over the tubes from one side of the support to the other.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     A bed is known from DE 32 32 123 A 1. The tubes are disposed in troughs and the transverse rods formed as boards resting with the broad side on the tubes. The ends of the boards are guided in slots on the inside of the troughs, being disposed below the upper edges of the troughs. The area of the transverse rods above the tubes can thus not be used as a rest for a mattress or similar cushion. 
     EP 0 161 392 A 1 discloses a support wherein a cover is fastened to the substructure on both long sides so as to encompass the tubes, transverse rods and cushion on the transverse rods to form one unit. With this support the area above the tubes can be used to recline on, but single parts can only be replaced if the cover is removed. This makes it difficult both to replace or turn over the cushion and to replace a broken transverse rod or leaky tube. 
     EP-A-0 378 469 discloses a bed support. The transverse rods are supported on the tube via a shaft with a piston. The tube is for this purpose disposed in a rectangular hollow section having high side walls for guiding the piston. This not only results in a high structure. Since the person&#39;s weight on the bed is transferred to the tube via the piston, the piston with the shaft must also be of elaborate stable design. In addition, the pistons must be pushed into the hollow section from one side and then awkwardly connected with the transverse rods. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The object of the invention is to provide such a support which permits unproblematic replacement of the cushion as well as the other parts while having a maximum reclining surface and simple structure. 
     In the inventive support the cushion, tubes, transverse rods and other parts can be replaced without any problem. To prevent the transverse rods from shifting when moved back and forth in the loading direction, they are guided. To permit their total length to be used as a rest for the cushion, the transverse rods are disposed according to the invention so as to protrude beyond the guide means. 
     Further, one guides the transverse rods by fastening guide rods to the transverse rods and providing guide members on the longitudinal bars of the substructure laterally beside the tubes, said guide rods being inserted in said guide members so that the guide rods are mounted displaceably in the guide members. 
     The guide member can be formed by a bore in the longitudinal bar. In a further preferred embodiment the guide rod is formed by a piston fastened to the transverse rods, and the guide member by a cylinder firmly connected with the longitudinal bar, said piston being mounted displaceably in said cylinder. 
     The tubes are preferably made of a nonexpandable material, in particular woven hose, i.e. pressure tubing like a fire hose. The weave can be embedded in a thermoplastic resin. The tubes can have a constant diameter over their total length. However, it is also possible to provide the tubes with constrictions or a widened diameter in certain areas. 
     The tubes are preferably filled with a liquid, in particular water, or pellets, but only partly, preferably less than four fifths and more than one quarter, in particular less than three quarters and more than one half. The nonexpandable tubes partly filled with liquid or pellets result in uniform distribution of pressure on the body and thus an essential improvement in reclining comfort. 
     The transverse rods are preferably formed by wooden laths or boards. The substructure is likewise preferably made of wood. 
     The inventive support can be formed in particular as a slatted base for a bedstead, in particular a bedding box. 
     The substructure is then supported on the mounting strips normally fastened to the inner sides of the two long sides of the bedding box. 
     However, the inventive support can also be provided on seating furniture, whereby it can form the seat but also the back rest. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     In the following, several embodiments of a slatted base as embodiments of the inventive support will be explained in more detail with reference to the drawing, in which: 
     FIG. 1 shows a longitudinal section of an embodiment of the slatted base; 
     FIG. 2 shows a cross section corresponding to FIG. 1 of the slatted base; 
     FIG. 3 shows a partial view of FIG. 2 in an enlarged view; 
     FIG. 4 shows a cross section corresponding to FIG. 2 through a further embodiment of the slatted base; and 
     FIG. 5 shows a partial view of FIG. 4 in an enlarged view. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     According to FIGS. 1 and 2, slatted base  1  has transverse rods  2  formed by slats as a rest for a cushion not shown. 
     The transverse rods  2  are spaced apart at a distance corresponding approximately to their width. However, the distance of transverse rods  2  can also be smaller or greater, for example three or more times their width. This depends in particular on the thickness and solidity of the cushion resting on transverse rods  2 . 
     Longitudinal beams  9 , e.g. boards, are fastened to crossbeams  8  on each long side of slatted base  1 . On each longitudinal beam  9  on each long side of slatted base  1  there are tubes  10  on which transverse rods  2  rest. Tubes  10  are formed, for example, by pressure tubing two thirds filled with water. 
     The cushion  6 , shown in phantom, can extend over the total length of transverse rods  2 , i.e. also in the area of tubes  10 , so that the total width of slatted base  1  is available as a resting surface. 
     As evident in particular from FIG. 3, each longitudinal beam  9  consists of a board and two narrow side walls  20 , formed e.g. by boards. These boards are provided on their upper edges with strips  16  made, for example, of plastic. Tube  10  extends upwardly laterally above the upper edges of side walls  20 . Thus, no frictional noise can occur through tube  10 . 
     Side walls  20  are beveled inwardly and downwardly. They are also formed as low as possible in order not to hinder transverse rods  2  upon compression of tube  10 . 
     In order to limit the up-and-down motion, or in general reciprocal motion, of transverse rods  2 , two guide rods  21  are disposed a distance apart on each transverse rod  2  so that two rows of guide rods  21  extend along slatted base  1 . 
     Guide rods  21  are set at one end in blind bore  22  on the lower side of particular transverse rod  2 . For fastening guide rod  21  in blind bore  22 , one provides barblike projections  23  at the end of guide rod  21  facing transverse rod  2 . These projections  23  are formed so that the end of guide rod  21  can be inserted into blind bore  22  but not pulled out again. 
     For guiding each row of guide rods  21 , one provides bores  24  in longitudinal bars  25  which extend at a distance apart along slatted base  1  and are fastened to crossbeams  8  laterally beside one and the other tube rest  11 . Longitudinal bars  25  are thus firmly connected with substructure  19 . Guide rods  21  are guided in bores  24  in the loading direction, i.e. so as to be movable up and down in slatted base  1  shown. 
     Longitudinal bars  25  can consist of wooden laths. In order to reduce sliding friction and prevent sliding noise, one can provide sliding bushes  26 , made e.g. of plastic, in bores  24 . Longitudinal bars  25  can also be made completely of plastic. 
     To limit the up-and-down motion of guide rods  21  a stop is provided at least above longitudinal bar  25  or sliding bushes  26 . 
     For this purpose one provides a plurality of bores  27  along each guide rod  21  for insertion of cross pins  15 ,  16 . Cross pin  15  inserted into bore  27  above longitudinal bar  25  limits the downward motion of transverse rod  2 , while cross pin  16  inserted into bore  27  below longitudinal bar  25  limits the upward motion of transverse rod  2 . To prevent guide rod  21  from being pulled out of bores  24 , guide rods  21  can additionally have at the lower end barb-shaped stop  28  which can be inserted through bore  24  from above but not pulled out of bore  24  again. 
     Guide rods  21 , including barblike projections  23  and  28 , can be made of plastic. 
     Through insertion of cross pins  15 ,  16  into bores  27  in guide rods  21  at a suitable height one can adjust the maximum and minimum height of each transverse rod  2  individually upon use of the bed. 
     In order to improve comfort, tubes  10  can also have different diameters along slatted base  1 . By a greater diameter in certain areas one can achieve softer cushioning there. 
     To limit the up-and-down motion, or in general reciprocal motion, of transverse rods  2 , transverse rods  2  are connected in the embodiment according to FIGS. 4 and 5 with substructure  19 , i.e. cross- and longitudinal beams  8 ,  9 , by pistons  30  fastened to transverse rods  2  and mounted displaceably in cylinders  31  firmly connected with substructure  19 . 
     On each transverse rod  2 , two pistons  30  are disposed at a distance apart so that two rows of pistons  30  or cylinders  31  extend along the slatted base. 
     Cylinders  31  are set in bores  32  in longitudinal bars  33  disposed on crossbeams  8 . Each longitudinal bar  33 , together with side wall  20  and longitudinal beam  9 , forms a rest  11   a  for tube  10 . 
     Piston  30  closes cylinder space  34  in which air is compressed when piston  30  is pushed into cylinder  31 , and a vacuum is produced when piston  30  is drawn out of cylinder  31 . 
     This damps the motion of piston  30  and thus of transverse rods  2 , which results in reduced noise since it prevents transverse rod  2  from hitting parts when subjected to a sudden stronger load, for example when a person gets on the bed. In addition the damped motion suppresses sliding and frictional noise. 
     Piston  30  and cylinder  31  are preferably made of plastic. Piston  30  can also be of hollow design. At its end facing transverse rod  2  cylinder  31  has collar-shaped radial projection  35  which supports it on longitudinal bar  33 . 
     To limit the upward motion of transverse rod  2 , piston  30  is provided with longitudinal groove  36  which is engaged by projection  37  on cylinder  31 . Along piston  30  there are a plurality of cross bores  38  for insertion of a cross pin (not shown). This permits adjustment of the maximum depth of transverse rod  2 . For this purpose piston  30  is pulled out of cylinder  31  until cross bore  38  in which the cross pin (not shown) is inserted protrudes beyond collar-shaped projection  35 , said pin then determining as a stop the deepest position of transverse rod  2 . 
     Cylinder  31  has opening  39  in its circumferential wall. When the cross pin (now shown) is inserted in opening  39  and through one of cross bores  38  flush therewith, the motion of transverse rod  2  is completely blocked. 
     Limiting or blocking the motion of the transverse rod can be desirable for example in the head area of a bed. 
     Piston  30  is fastened to transverse rod  2  via ball joint  41 . This permits transverse rod  2  to be adapted better to the body. It also results in better distribution of forces, for example when one climbs onto the bed. In addition, no clamping forces occur in cylinder  31  which could cause frictional noise for example. 
     Ball joint  41  consists of spherical part  42  on piston  30  and ball socket  43  inserted into blind bore  44  in transverse rod  2 . Ball socket  43  is for this purpose provided on the outside with barb-shaped projections  45  so formed that ball socket  43  inserted into blind bore  44  cannot be pulled out again. Further, ball socket  43  has radial collar-shaped projection  46  disposed around blind bore  44  on the lower side of slat  2 . Ball socket  43  is likewise preferably made of plastic.