FIRMNESS CONTROLLING APPARATUS FOR A BED OR SEATING ARRANGEMENT
FIG5 shows a cross-sectional side view of the firmness control apparatus of FIG1 in a contracted state, with a retraction device arranged beneath the non-elastic flexible elongate elements
The non-elastic flexible elongate elements may also be retracted in other ways. One such alternative is illustrated in FIG5, where the non-elastic flexible elongate elements 12 are led downwards via two rollers 15b or sliding surfaces. The non-elastic flexible elongate elements may then be pulled downwardly by a plunger 15c or the like. The pulling may occur downwardly, but may also occur in the plane of the frame, e.g. by being led via a further roller 15d, as shown in the illustrative example. In this embodiment, the retraction device is arranged beneath the plane in which the non-elastic flexible elongate elements extend. The plunger may be operated manually or automatically, e.g. by being connected to an electrical pump.
cross-sectional view
5
e.g. discussed in US
12
non-elastic flexible elongate element non-elastic flexible elongate elements
4
US
15
retraction device
3
inlay
13
elastic flexible elongate element elastic flexible elongate elements
['1. A firmness controlling apparatus for use in a bed arrangement or a seating arrangement, the firmness controlling apparatus comprising: a rigid frame having two opposed sides; at least one non-elastic flexible elongate element extending between the two opposed sides, each non-elastic flexible elongate element being provided with two ends, wherein each end of the non-elastic flexible elongate element is directly or indirectly connected to one of the opposed sides, and wherein at least one of the ends of each non-elastic flexible elongate element is indirectly connected to one of the opposed sides via an elastic flexible elongate element; a plurality of elongate springs extending in a flat or curved plane, each elongate spring having two ends, the ends of each elongate spring being attached to one of the at least one non-elastic flexible elongate elements at two separated connections; and a retraction device arranged to tighten and slack the non-elastic flexible elongate element(s) between said two separated connections, thereby adjusting the distance between the two separated connections of each non-elastic flexible elongate element, and thereby controlling the curvature and height of the elongate springs.']