FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention concerns a tillable structure to make a structure for a bed, suitable to contain a bed-base for mattresses and provided with support legs. In particular, the present invention concerns a structure that can be filled with air or other gaseous fluids, and therefore inflatable, or with water or other liquids, or even with loose material such as polystyrene balls or sand and suchlike.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Structures for beds are known, made of materials such as wrought iron, solid wood or wood by-products, which can be used as they are or padded and covered. These structures are generally solid, but have the disadvantages of being difficult to transport, because they are heavy and bulky, and can be assembled exclusively by specialized personnel.

Inflatable mattresses are also known, which can be used by themselves or associated with fixed structures. The fact that a mattress is inflatable, and can therefore be deflated, means that, when not in use, it does not take up too much space. This is even more important when there is little space available, in particular when there are guests to be accommodated

An inflatable mattress also has the advantage that it can be transported deflated, avoiding unnecessary bulk, and that it retains a considerable lightness and ease of transport even when it is inflated.

One disadvantage of known inflatable mattresses is however that that they have little resistance to holes and tears and do not have a pleasant esthetic appearance, as well as not always supplying the correct support for posture during sleep.

A known inflatable mattress is described for example in the document EP-A- 1.616.508. This known solution provides a single inflatable casing with lateral protection elements to stop babies, infants or small children from falling out, which in itself defines a central inflatable mattress, on which a person can lie. This solution does not allow to use, dispose or rest an autonomous mattress or a bed-base to support a mattress, or to replace the mattress or the bed-base if needed. This solution, therefore, is not only disadvantageous because it has little resistance to holes and is therefore completely unusable if the mattress is holed, but is also uncomfortable, not versatile and quite impractical because it is not possible to choose the mattress or the mattress support according to the needs of the user. In other words, this known solution is limited by the central mattress that defines it and cannot be personalized with a separate bed-base to support the mattress or other mattresses. This solution, therefore, is conceivable as an inflatable mattress which can be used occasionally and for short periods, for example in emergencies, for play, when camping, in the open air and is therefore to be used for limited periods of time and certainly not suited to a constant and stable use, particularly considering the great diversity of use and the needs of the different people who can lie on a mattress and the related questions concerning posture, physiology and orthopedics and health which the inflatable mattress of EP-A-1.616.508 cannot satisfy.

Armchairs and poufs are also known, made from an external sack made of fabric or similar material, which can be inflated or filled with loose material of small size, such as small balls of light polymeric material such as for example polystyrene, or loose biological material, such as shells or nuts or sand. These however are uncomfortable, unstable, and often inclined to break or tear the external sack.

The present invention therefore proposes to obtain a tillable structure to make a structure for a bed, complete with headboard, footboard and side elements, which is easy to put together even by the final user and which takes up very little space when not in use.

Another purpose of the present invention is to make a fillable structure which is economical, light and robust at the same time and which can be easily transported, limiting bulk to a minimum.

Another purpose of the present invention is to make a structure which is both easily washable and hygienic, as well as not absorbing odors or dust.

It is also a purpose of the present invention to provide an enhancing covering for the fillable structure, for example of fabric or leather or similar, or precious or enhancing material which at the same time enhances it from the esthetic point of view and protects it from wear, holes or tears and makes it easy to clean.

The Applicant has devised, tested and embodied the present invention to overcome the shortcomings of the state of the art and to obtain these and other purposes and advantages.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is set forth and characterized in the independent claim, while the dependent claims describe other characteristics of the invention or variants to the main inventive idea.

In accordance with the above purposes, a fillable structure according to the present invention is usable to make a structure for a bed which comprises a headboard, a footboard and two lateral side-members reciprocally disposed to define a frame structure around an internal central area, or aperture, which defines an empty compartment suitable to house a mattress or a support bed-base for a mattress which rests directly on a resting plane. Within the field of the present invention, the term support bed-base for a mattress means a suitable resting plane for the mattress, shock-absorbing or not, flexible or not, for example formed by a meshed bed-base proper, or a slatted bed-base, or a supporting board or panel, solid or holed or suchlike. For example, a bed-base suitable to be inserted internally in the central area or aperture is a bed-base provided with legs, uprights, panels or support elements and able to support a mattress.

According to one form of embodiment of the present invention, the fillable structure comprises one or more casings hollow inside and suitable to be filled with at least a filling material, said filling material being liquid, solid and/or gaseous. The one or more casings are configured to define a first condition, not filled, in which they have a first bulk size, and a second condition, filled, in which they have a second bulk size, bigger than the first bulk size, which defines the frame structure which surrounds the central area of the headboard, footboard and lateral side-members. The possible filling materials comprise for example air or other gaseous fluids, water or other liquids, and loose materials such as for example little balls of light polymeric material such as polystyrene, or loose biological materials such as shells or nuts, or sand or suchlike are comprised. An advantage of the fillable structure made, according to the present invention, inflatable or fillable with loose materials and/or liquids, is that it can have any shape, easily obtainable in production stage, while for known structures for beds complex and costly workings would be necessary. Moreover, in the first unfilled condition, the fillable structure of the present invention has a minimum bulk, with obvious advantages of the logistical type, both in the post-production storage step, in the factory or at sales points, and also in the post-sale step, in places where the structure for the bed will be used.

In some forms of embodiment, the central area or aperture is completely through along the whole height of the frame structure which surrounds the central area or aperture.

In some forms of embodiment, the central area or aperture has a depth which extends downward as far as a resting plane common to the frame structure and the mattress or bed-base for supporting a mattress.

The present invention allows to make a fillable structure which is economical, light and robust at the same time and which can be transported easily, limiting its bulk to a minimum.

The structure of the present invention is also easily washable and hygienic, and moreover does not absorb odors or dust. Furthermore, the structure of the present invention can be personalized, also in its esthetic features, leaving plenty of freedom for personalization and variation for the user.

Moreover, with the present invention, it is possible to substitute the bed-base for the mattress as desired, or the mattress itself, without changing, removing or modifying the frame structure, defined by the fillable casings of the headboard, footboard and lateral side-members, which surrounds the central area in which the bed-base for the mattress or the mattress itself are housed.

The present invention, having an empty central area or aperture, is not constrained to a pre-existing and non-replaceable mattress, and is therefore configured as a solution to make a definitive bed, lasting and stable, which an be used with continuity, since the possibility of inserting inside the frame structure the bed-base and/or the mattress which are most suitable for the requirements of posture, physiology and orthopedics of the person using it, makes it personalizable and effective in satisfying over time the requirements for the person's comfortable and healthy rest.

According to some forms of embodiment of the fillable structure of the present invention, said structure comprises connection means, associable to the headboard or the footboard or both and suitable to connect them, in the second filled condition, to corresponding counter-connection means associable to the lateral side-members. The connection and counter-connection means can comprise closings of the zipper type or the Velcro type, or other types of attachment, provided that the attachment between the headboard, the footboard and the lateral side-members is such as to guarantee robustness to the fillable structure and to maintain its components substantially flat.

It comes within the spirit of the present invention to provide, as a variant, at least a shaped covering fabric which, in the second filled condition, covers the headboard, the lateral members and the footboard, individually or after they have been reciprocally attached. This confers on the structure according to the present invention a greater resistance to wear, to tears or holes as well as facilitating cleaning, and at the same time enhances it esthetically, especially if the covering fabric is a precious cloth or leather or suchlike.

According to one form of embodiment, the headboard, the two lateral side- members and the footboard are obtained in a single body, or formed by a single casing, hollow inside which, once filled, determines overall the desired shape of the structure for a bed in the second operating condition.

According to another form of embodiment of the present invention, anchoring and connecting means can be provided for the possible bed-base, comprised in at least two components of the fillable structure according to the present invention, opposite the central area. The anchoring and connecting means for the bed-base can be made by means of laces or belts which wind around the frame, generally tubular, of the bed-base itself, and are advantageously counterbalanced by reinforcement elements positioned inside the casings which constitute the components of the fillable structure of the present invention.

According to a variant, during the production step it is possible to shape the casings which constitute the headboard, the lateral side-members and the footboard, so that at least two of these four components, opposite the central area which they delimit, comprise a seating, with at least a support base suitable to facilitate the attachment of the casing to the bed-base.

In some forms of embodiment, it is possible to make the casings of the invention with material resistant to pressure, even high pressure, in the case of inflation, as for example the casings used for dinghies in the nautical sector.

It is also advantageous to provide the possibility of heterogeneous filling, for example using a plurality of dedicated introduction valves, so as to be able to fill the structure with air or other gaseous fluid, and also to fill it with stabilizing material, such as for example expanding resin or loose materials such as small balls of light polymeric material, such as polystyrene, or loose biological materials such as shells or nuts, or sand or similar. In this variant, it is possible to provide that each casing comprises a plurality of internal hollows, separated from each other and communicating with the outside by means of dedicated introduction valves, selectively fillable with different filling materials, in order to define in a desired way zones with different hardness and softness, or degrees of compression.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other characteristics of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of some preferential forms of embodiment, given as a non-restrictive example with reference to the attached drawings wherein:

- fig. 1 is a three-dimensional view of a first form of embodiment of a fillable structure according to the present invention;

- fig.2 is a three-dimensional view of a second form of embodiment of a fillable structure according to the present invention;

-fig. 3 is a three-dimensional view of a third form of embodiment of a fillable structure according to the present invention;

- fig. 4 is a three-dimensional view of a fourth form of embodiment of a fillable structure according to the present invention;

- fig. 5 is a three-dimensional view from below of a variant of the present invention;

- fig. 6 is a three-dimensional view of another form of embodiment of the present invention;

- fig. 7 is a three-dimensional view of another variant of the present invention; - fig. 8a is a three-dimensional view of another variant of the present invention;

- fig. 8b is an enlarged detail of fig. 8a;

- fig. 9a is a three-dimensional view of another variant of the present invention;

- fig. 9b is an enlarged detail of fig. 9a. In the description that follows, the same reference numbers indicate identical parts of the fillable structure according to the present invention, even in different forms of embodiment.

DESCRIPTION OF SOME FORMS OF EMBODIMENT

With reference to the attached drawings, a fillable structure 10, 110, 210, 310 according to the present invention is usable to make a structure for a bed which comprises a headboard 1 1, two lateral side-members 12 and a footboard 13.

In the structure for a bed made with the fillable structure 10, 110, 210, 310 of the present invention, headboard 11 and footboard 13 are disposed on opposite sides and substantially parallel to each other, as are the two lateral side-members 12 in a direction transverse to the headboard 1 1 and footboard 13. The headboard 11, footboard 13 and two lateral side-members 12 are reciprocally disposed to define a frame structure 18 around an internal central area, or aperture 14. In other words, headboard 1 1, footboard 13 and the two lateral side-members 12, once positioned as described above, delimit internally the central area or aperture 14 which defines an empty compartment in which a bed-base 15, in this case of the slatted type, is suitable to be positioned, resting directly on a floor or a resting plane common to a resting plane of the fillable structure 10, 110, 210. The bed- base 15 acts, for example, as a support for a mattress of the known type, not shown in the drawings, or the mattress itself, when the bed-base 15 is not provided.

In some forms of embodiment, the central area or aperture 14 is completely through along the whole height of the frame structure 18.

In some forms of embodiment, the central area or aperture 14 has a depth which extends downward as far as a common resting plane of the frame structure

18 and the mattress or bed-base 15 for supporting a mattress.

For example, during use, both the fillable structure 10, 110, 210, 310 and the possible bed-base 15, by means of respective support legs 16, or the mattress, both rest on a floor 25.

The fillable structure 10, 1 10, 210, 310 of the present invention comprises one or more casings 20, 121, 122, 222, 223, 321, 322, 323 hollow inside and suitable to be filled with at least a filling material, for example of the liquid, solid and/or gaseous type. The one or more casings 20, 121, 122, 222, 223, 321, 322, 323 are configured to define a first non-filled condition, in which they have a first bulk size, and a second filled condition, in which they have a second bulk size, bigger than the first bulk, which defines headboard 11, lateral side-members 12 and footboard 13.

In a first form of embodiment of the fillable structure, shown in fig. 1 and indicated by the reference number 10, the headboard 11, the footboard 13 and the two side-members 12 as above are made with a single containing element, in this case with a single casing 20 made of plastic material, with an internal cavity 24 suitable to contain any filling material, of the gaseous, liquid or solid type, or a combination of several filling materials. In this case, fig. 1 shows a fillable structure 10 inflated with air.

In accordance with a second form of embodiment of the present invention, the fillable structure, shown in fig. 2 and indicated by the reference number 110, provides that on one side the headboard 1 1 and on another side the lateral side- members 12 and the footboard 13 in a single body are made of respective casings 121, 122, hollow, separate and distinct from each other.

In particular, the headboard 1 1 is made with a first casing 121, which defines a first internal cavity 124, and the lateral side-members 12 and the footboard 13 are in a single body, made with a second casing 122 which defines a second internal cavity 125.

In this way, the first internal cavity 124 and the second internal cavity 125 can be filled separately (in fig. 2 they are shown inflated with air). Subsequently, the first casing 121 and the second casing 122 can be joined together by coupling first connection means 130a, 130b, positioned on a front face 132 of the casing, which, in the second filled condition, defines the headboard 1 1 , with corresponding second connection means 131a, 131b disposed at a free end of the casing which, in the second filled condition, defines the lateral side-members 12. In a third form of embodiment, the fillable structure shown in fig. 3 and indicated by the reference number 210, provides that on one side the headboard 1 1 and the lateral side-members 12 in a single body and on the other side the footboard 13 are formed by respective casings 222, 223, hollow, separate and distinct from each other. In particular, the headboard 11 and the lateral side-members 12 are in a single body, made with a first casing 222, which defines a first internal cavity 224, and the footboard 13 is made with a second casing 223, which defines a second internal cavity 225.

In this way, the first and the second internal cavity 224, 225 can be filled separately (in fig. 3 they are shown inflated with air). Subsequently, the first casing 222 and the second casing 223 can be joined together by coupling first connection means 230a, 230b, disposed at a free end of the casing which, in the second filled condition, defines the lateral side-members 12, with corresponding second connection means 231a, 231b, positioned on an internal face 232 of the casing which, in the second filled condition, defines the footboard 13, or the one facing toward the headboard 11.

In accordance with a fourth form of embodiment of the present invention, the fillable structure, shown in fig. 4 and indicated by the reference number 310, provides that the headboard 1 1, the lateral side-members 12 and the footboard 13 are each formed by respective casings 321, 322, 323, hollow, separate and distinct from each other.

In particular the headboard 11 is made with a first casing 321, which defines a first internal cavity 324, the two lateral side-members 12 are made with two second casings 322, so as to define two second internal cavities 325, and the footboard 13 is made with a third casing 323, which defines a third internal cavity 326.

In this way, the internal cavities 324, 325, 326 can be filled separately (in fig. 4 they are shown inflated with air). Subsequently, the first casing 321 and the third casing 323 can be joined to the second casings 322 by coupling connection means, as described hereafter.

In this case, first connection means 330a, 330b are disposed on a front face 334 of the casing which, in the second filled condition, defines the headboard 1 1 and are suitable to be coupled with corresponding second connection means 331a, 331b, disposed at a first end 333 of the casing which, in the second filled condition, defines the lateral side-members 12. At a second end 335 of the casing which, in the second filled condition, defines the lateral side-members 12, opposite the first end 333, there are third connection means 336a, 336b, configured to couple to corresponding fourth connection means 337a, 337b, positioned in the casing which, in the second filled condition, defines the footboard 13, on an internal face 338, facing toward the front face 334 of the headboard 1 1.

The connection means as described heretofore in relation to the forms of embodiment described can be of any type, such as for example standard or special zippers, or other types of attachment or constraining elements suitable to confer solidity, stability and durability to the coupling of the elements of the fillable structure 10, 110, 210, 310.

According to a variant (fig. 5), each of the fillable structures 10, 110, 210, 310 described above can be internally or partially covered by a covering fabric 26, with a lower face 27 comprising closing means 28, for example, but not only, with Velcro or similar or equivalent means. The covering fabric 26 has both the function of protecting the fillable structure 10, 1 10, 210, 310, against holes, tears and normal wear, and also that of enhancing it esthetically, if it is made with precious fabrics or leather or other enhancing materials.

According to another variant of the present invention (fig. 6), a plurality of covering fabrics 29 can be used, instead of the covering fabric 26, in order to cover, each partially, the fillable structure 10, 110, 210, 310. To obtain a complete covering of the latter, the covering fabrics 29 can then be coupled with each other by means of corresponding connection means 30, for example, but not only, by a zipper or similar or equivalent, associated to one or more of the headboard 1 1, side-members 12 and footboard 13.

Fig. 7 shows a variant of the fillable structure 310 of fig. 4, in which the headboard 1 1, the two lateral side-members 12 and the footboard 13 are covered individually, or each by its own covering fabric 29, autonomous from the other covering fabrics 29. The covering fabrics 29 are then disposed adjacent and finally made solid by corresponding connection means 31, present in each of the ends of the one or more casings which, in the second filled condition, define the headboard 1 1, the side-members 12 and the footboard 13 which make up the fillable structure 310. The connection means 31, unlike the connection means 30 already mentioned in the variant described above with reference to fig. 6, also have the function of connecting the lateral side-members 12 to the headboard 11 and the footboard 13. Advantageously, the connection means 31 are sufficiently robust to support the stresses of traction which originate, during normal use, between the components of the fillable structure 310.

According to another variant of the present invention (figs. 8a, 8b, 9a and 9b), the fillable structure 10, 110, 210, 310 also comprises connection means 35, suitable to connect or attach the bed-base 15 to the corresponding casing.

The connection means 35, in a first form of embodiment given by way of example (figs. 8a, 8b), comprise a plurality of belts 36, positioned on the walls of one or more casings which, in the second filled condition, define the lateral side- members 12, facing toward the inside of the central area 14 and attached to corresponding reinforcement elements 37, positioned inside the casings 20, 122, 22, 322 of each lateral side-member 12.

It is clear that similar connection means can also be provided for the headboard 1 1 and the footboard 13, also, but not only, in combination with those provided for the lateral side-members 12.

The connection means 35, in a second form of embodiment (figs. 9a, 9b), comprise a seating 40, made in the walls of one or more casings which, in the second filled condition, define the headboard 1 1, the lateral side-members 12 and the footboard 13 facing toward the inside of the central area 14. The seating 40 consists of a support base, or step 41 which develops, completely or partly, around the perimeter which delimits the central area 14, and which, defining a geometric coupling with the bed-base 15, facilitates the attachment of the bed- base 15 to the corresponding casing, without needing auxiliary attachment means, and of a vertical wall 42, which acts as both a lateral abutment for the attachment, and also as an esthetic covering toward the outside for the bed-base

15. The support base or step 41 is obtained by suitably shaping the casings which define the headboard 1 1, side-members 12 and footboard 13.

It is clear that modifications and/or additions of parts may be made to the fillable structure 10, 110, 210, 310 as described heretofore, without departing from the field and scope of the present invention.

It is also clear that, although the present invention has been described with reference to some specific examples, a person of skill in the art shall certainly be able to achieve many other equivalent forms of fillable structure, having the characteristics as set forth in the claims and hence all coming within the field of protection defined thereby.