EP0783857A1 - Spring unit for mattresses and beds and method of making - Google Patents

Spring unit for mattresses and beds and method of making Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0783857A1
EP0783857A1 EP97400015A EP97400015A EP0783857A1 EP 0783857 A1 EP0783857 A1 EP 0783857A1 EP 97400015 A EP97400015 A EP 97400015A EP 97400015 A EP97400015 A EP 97400015A EP 0783857 A1 EP0783857 A1 EP 0783857A1
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EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
adjacent
frame
structures
springs
transverse
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Granted
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EP97400015A
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German (de)
French (fr)
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EP0783857B1 (en
Inventor
Robert Martinetti
Carlos Nunes
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SLUMBERLAND FRANCE
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Epeda SA
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    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
    • A47C—CHAIRS; SOFAS; BEDS
    • A47C27/00—Spring, stuffed or fluid mattresses or cushions specially adapted for chairs, beds or sofas
    • A47C27/04—Spring, stuffed or fluid mattresses or cushions specially adapted for chairs, beds or sofas with spring inlays
    • A47C27/06—Spring inlays
    • A47C27/065—Spring inlays of special shape

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to spring frames for mattresses and box springs, and to methods of manufacturing such frames.
  • the spring reinforcements in question here are those which have two substantially flat main faces which are separated by a certain thickness and which are delimited by two longitudinal edges and two transverse edges, these reinforcements each comprising a plurality of compression springs which are made of metal wire wound in turns and which extend in the thickness of said frame between two ends each forming a bearing structure, the bearing structures of the various compression springs forming the main faces of the frame and being arranged in rows in rows parallel to the longitudinal edges and in lines parallel to the transverse edges, the load-bearing structures which belong to two adjacent transverse lines, in one and the same main face of the frame, being connected together by a connecting spring constituted by a helical metal wire which passes around sons m adjacent lines belonging respectively to the supporting structures of these two transverse lines.
  • a general problem which arises in all reinforcement with springs of the kind in question, is to adapt their firmness according to the needs, on all or part of their surface, and this without having to entirely modify their design.
  • the object of the present invention is in particular to overcome the aforementioned drawbacks, by proposing a method which makes it possible to locally or globally adapt the firmness of a spring frame, without substantially increasing the cost or the complexity of the manufacture of this frame, and which allows if necessary to produce transverse bands of different firmness extending over the entire width of the spring frame.
  • the invention also relates to a spring frame of the kind in question, characterized in that in at least one of the main faces of the frame, at least some of the supporting structures not adjacent to the transverse edges of the frame , hereinafter said firmed load-bearing structures, are pressed parallel to the longitudinal direction against the interior of the two connecting springs which are fixed to said bearing structures, thereby eliminating any play between the firmed bearing structures and the adjacent connecting springs.
  • Figure 1 shows a mattress 1, or if necessary a box spring, which is constituted by an inner frame with springs covered by a lining.
  • the mattress 1, as well as the spring frame it contains, has a parallelepiped shape with two main faces 2, 3 which, in use, are horizontal and which extend along a longitudinal axis X (corresponding to the length of the mattress) and along a transverse axis Y (corresponding to the width of the mattress).
  • These two main faces 2, 3 are delimited laterally by two longitudinal edges 4 and by two transverse edges 5, these edges 4, 5 extending over the thickness of the mattress along an axis Z perpendicular to the axes X, Y mentioned above.
  • Figures 2 to 5 show a first spring frame 10 usable in the mattress of Figure 1.
  • each longitudinal strip 11 can be produced as taught in particular in document DE-1 155 218 from a single metal wire 12.
  • the metal wire 12 is wound in turns to form compression springs 13, the turns of the various compression springs being wound alternately in one direction and in the other from one spring 13 to the other.
  • compression springs 13 are connected to each other in pairs, by crossing some of their intermediate turns.
  • compression springs 13 are also connected to each other by connecting sections 14 which are formed in the same metal wire 12 as said compression springs.
  • These connecting sections 14 initially initially all have a U-shaped plan comprising on the one hand a base 15 which extends in the longitudinal direction X, and on the other hand two lateral branches 16 which extend in the transverse direction Y. These two lateral branches 16 both extend in the same direction from the base 15, to ends which extend towards inside the frame to form the compression springs 13.
  • the connecting sections 14 are arranged alternately in the main faces 2 and 3 of the frame.
  • the different connecting sections 14 are matrically juxtaposed in longitudinal rows and in transverse lines in the two main faces of the frame, so that these connecting sections constitute bearing structures which effectively support the lining of the mattress 1.
  • the different longitudinal strips 11 are connected to each other by connecting springs 17, which extend in the transverse direction Y in the two main faces 2, 3 of the frame.
  • connecting springs 17 are wound around the lateral branches 16 adjacent to the successive connecting sections 14, initially with a certain play in the longitudinal direction, at least as long as the main faces of the frame are not subjected to any load.
  • each of the main faces 2, 3 of the frame can, if necessary, be bordered by a rigid frame 18 which follows the longitudinal 4 and transverse edges 5 of the frame and which is fixed to the adjacent connecting sections 14 by fasteners 19.
  • the frame 18 can be provided only on one of the two main faces of the frame, in particular when the mattress 1 contains two superimposed frames 10, separated by a flexible layer, in which case the frame 18 can only be provided on the face of each frame which is arranged towards the inside of the mattress.
  • the bases 15 of the connecting sections 14 located in these areas are deformed (before or after installation rigid frames 18), so as to reduce the clearances which initially exist in the longitudinal direction between the lateral branches 16 of these connecting sections and the connecting springs 17.
  • the bases 15 concerned are sufficiently deformed to eliminate any play between the corresponding lateral branches 16 and the connecting springs 17, the lateral branches 16 in question then being in elastic abutment against the interior of the two adjacent connecting springs 17, even when the main faces 2, 3 of the frame 10 are not subjected to any load.
  • each of the firmed areas of the reinforcement may consist of a central transverse area 6 of a main face, which separates two end areas 7, 8 which are not firmed in the vicinity of the transverse edges 5 of the frame.
  • the firmed central zone can for example represent substantially the central third of the main firmed face.
  • an entire main face of the frame could be strengthened by deformation of all the connecting sections 14 of this main face, preferably with the exception of the connecting sections 14 which are adjacent to the longitudinal edges 4 or to the transverse edges 5 of the armature, so as not to interfere with the fixing of said connecting sections on the corresponding frame 18.
  • the deformation which is imposed on the connecting sections 14 in order to strengthen the reinforcement consists in folding the base 15 of the relevant connecting sections 14 in a V shape towards the inside of the two lateral branches. 16 correspondents.
  • These lateral branches 16 then extend slightly obliquely outwards from the base 15, and these lateral branches bear elastically against the interior of the connecting springs 17 inwards in the vicinity of the base 15 and outward in the vicinity of their far ends from the base.
  • connecting sections 14 can be obtained for example by successively arranging each face of the frame 10 which must have firmed zones on a machine tool having a plurality of dies 20 and bending fingers 21. These dies and folding fingers engage respectively on either side of the different deformed bases, each matrix 20 having a V-shaped notch 22 opposite the corresponding folding finger 21.
  • the folding fingers 21 are then moved simultaneously towards the notches 22 in the direction of the arrows 23, which produces the desired deformations of the connecting sections 14 concerned.
  • the two main faces of the frame 10 have firmed areas, but of course, the frame 10 may also have a single main face firmed, in particular when it is a box spring frame or when the interior of the mattress 1 is constituted by two superimposed reinforcements 10 separated by a flexible layer, in which case only the main faces of the reinforcements 10 which are oriented towards the outside of the mattress have firmed zones.
  • the spring frame 30 which forms the interior of the mattress 1 of Figure 1 is constituted by the juxtaposition of independent compression springs 31.
  • each of these springs 31 is constituted by a metal wire 32 wound in turns, for example in a biconical shape.
  • Each spring 31 has two end turns which are closed on themselves by a knot 34 or another fixing of the ends of the metal wire 32 at a point of this wire 32.
  • the terminal turns 33 are substantially flat and included in the main faces 2, 3 of the frame, and they constitute bearing structures for lining the mattress 1.
  • the terminal turns 34 are distributed in a matrix, in rows along the longitudinal direction X of the frame, and in lines along the transverse direction Y of said frame.
  • the end turns 33 are connected to each other from one transverse line to the other by helical connecting springs 35 which extend transversely and which are each wound around adjacent portions of the metal wires 32 constituting two adjacent terminal turns 33 in the longitudinal direction.
  • the frame can also include frames similar to the frames 18 already described for the frame 10.
  • the terminal turns 33 are initially all engaged with play in the connection springs 35, then at least some of these end turns are deformed, so as to limit this play and preferably to eliminate it, each deformed end turn 33 then pressing against the inside the connecting springs 35 in which it is engaged.
  • the distribution of the terminal turns 33 deformed within the frame 30 may be similar to the distribution of the connecting sections 14 deformed within the frame 10 previously described.
  • the deformations imposed on at least some of the terminal turns 33 may in particular consist of a curvature, directed radially inwards in the transverse direction Y, this curvature being formed in at least one intermediate portion 36 located between two neighboring connecting springs 35, which causes a certain ovalization of the corresponding terminal turns 33.
  • this curving can be carried out for example by placing the main face or faces concerned of the frame 30 on a machine tool having groups of three folding fingers 37, 38, 39, which engage respectively on the terminal turns 33 to be deformed.
  • Each of these groups of folding fingers comprises two folding fingers 37, 38 which engage inside the corresponding end turn 33, and a folding finger 39 which is located outside the corresponding end turn 33 and which is movable in the direction of the arrow 40 towards the two stationary fingers 37, 38 to bend the terminal turn 33 by forming the curve 36.

Abstract

The method is used for manufacturing a reinforcing system (10) with flat upper and lower main faces (2,3), and lengthwise and transverse edging members (4,5). The method involves using compression springs (13) made from spirals of metal wire extending between two ends forming a supporting structure (14). The supporting structures for the different springs forming the main upper and lower faces are positioned in a matrix pattern of rows parallel to the lengthwise and transverse edging members. Adjacent spring ends (16) are joined together by connecting springs (17) of coiled metal wire and some are bent to avoid clearances between them.

Description

La présente invention concerne les armatures à ressorts pour matelas et sommiers, et les procédés de fabrication de telles armatures.The present invention relates to spring frames for mattresses and box springs, and to methods of manufacturing such frames.

Les armatures à ressorts dont il est question ici sont celles qui présentent deux faces principales sensiblement planes qui sont séparées par une certaine épaisseur et qui sont délimitées par deux bords longitudinaux et deux bords transversaux, ces armatures comprenant chacune une pluralité de ressorts de compression qui sont réalisés en fil métallique enroulé en spires et qui s'étendent dans l'épaisseur de ladite armature entre deux extrémités formant chacune une structure portante, les structures portantes des différents ressorts de compression formant les faces principales de l'armature et étant disposées matriciellement en rangées parallèles aux bord longitudinaux et en lignes parallèles aux bords transversaux, les structures portantes qui appartiennent à deux lignes transversales voisines, dans une même face principale de l'armature, étant reliées ensemble par un ressort de liaison constitué par un fil métallique hélicoïdal qui passe autour des fils métalliques adjacents appartenant respectivement aux structures portantes de ces deux lignes transversales.The spring reinforcements in question here are those which have two substantially flat main faces which are separated by a certain thickness and which are delimited by two longitudinal edges and two transverse edges, these reinforcements each comprising a plurality of compression springs which are made of metal wire wound in turns and which extend in the thickness of said frame between two ends each forming a bearing structure, the bearing structures of the various compression springs forming the main faces of the frame and being arranged in rows in rows parallel to the longitudinal edges and in lines parallel to the transverse edges, the load-bearing structures which belong to two adjacent transverse lines, in one and the same main face of the frame, being connected together by a connecting spring constituted by a helical metal wire which passes around sons m adjacent lines belonging respectively to the supporting structures of these two transverse lines.

Un problème général qui se pose dans toutes les armatures à ressorts du genre en question, est d'adapter leur fermeté en fonction des besoins, sur tout ou partie de leur surface, et ce sans avoir à modifier entièrement leur conception.A general problem which arises in all reinforcement with springs of the kind in question, is to adapt their firmness according to the needs, on all or part of their surface, and this without having to entirely modify their design.

Bien entendu, on sait déjà adapter la fermeté globale d'une armature à ressorts, en utilisant un fil métallique plus ou moins gros pour constituer tous les ressorts de compression de cette armature.Of course, we already know how to adapt the overall firmness of a spring frame, by using a more or less large metal wire to constitute all the compression springs of this frame.

Mais ceci oblige à multiplier les types de fils métalliques à ressort utilisés au sein de chaque unité de fabrication, ce qui n'est jamais souhaitable.But this requires to multiply the types of spring metal wires used within each unit of manufacturing, which is never desirable.

Il existe par ailleurs des méthodes pour adapter localement la fermeté d'une armature à ressorts afin que cette armature présente des zones plus fermes et des zones moins fermes :

  • pour les armatures constituées de ressorts de compression indépendants les uns des autres, les documents GB-A-0 760 958, US-A-4 052 760 et US-A-4 161 046 enseignent de réaliser certains des ressorts de compression avec un fil métallique de plus gros diamètre aux endroits où l'on souhaite que l'armature à ressorts soit plus ferme ; mais là encore, ceci oblige à multiplier les diamètres de fils métalliques à ressort utilisés au sein de chaque unité de fabrication, ce qui rend plus complexe le processus de fabrication et oblige à augmenter les stocks de fils métalliques ;
  • pour les armatures dont les ressorts de compression forment des bandes longitudinales continues de fils métalliques, le document WO-A-92/00693 enseigne d'utiliser des bandes longitudinales constituées en un fil métallique de plus gros diamètre pour les bords longitudinaux de l'armature ; mais ce procédé oblige à multiplier les diamètres de fils métalliques à ressort utilisés dans chaque unité de fabrication ;
  • et pour un type particulier d'armature dont les ressorts de compression forment des bandes longitudinales continues de fils métalliques, le document US-A-4 705 079 enseigne de couper par endroits le fil métallique qui constitue chacune de ces bandes longitudinales pour affaiblir localement lesdites bandes longitudinales, en créant ainsi des zones moins fermes dans l'armature à ressorts ; mais d'une part, ce procédé risque de rendre moins durable l'armature à ressorts du fait des affaiblissement locaux qu'elle subit, et d'autre part, les fils métalliques qui ont été coupés pour affaiblir localement l'armature à ressorts risquent éventuellement de perforer ou d'abîmer les couches de garnissage du matelas ou du sommier.
There are also methods to locally adapt the firmness of a spring reinforcement so that this reinforcement has firmer areas and less firm areas:
  • for the reinforcements made up of compression springs independent of each other, the documents GB-A-0 760 958, US-A-4 052 760 and US-A-4 161 046 teach to make some of the compression springs with a wire larger diameter metal where you want the spring reinforcement to be firmer; but here again, this makes it necessary to multiply the diameters of spring metal wires used within each manufacturing unit, which makes the manufacturing process more complex and obliges to increase the stocks of metal wires;
  • for the reinforcements of which the compression springs form continuous longitudinal strips of metal wires, the document WO-A-92/00693 teaches to use longitudinal strips made of a metallic wire of larger diameter for the longitudinal edges of the reinforcement ; but this process requires multiplying the diameters of spring metal wires used in each manufacturing unit;
  • and for a particular type of reinforcement, the compression springs of which form continuous longitudinal strips of metal wire, document US-A-4 705 079 teaches to cut in places the metal wire which constitutes each of these longitudinal strips in order to locally weaken said wires. longitudinal strips, thus creating less firm areas in the spring reinforcement; but on the one hand, this process risks making the spring reinforcement less durable due to the local weakening which it undergoes, and on the other hand, the metallic wires which have been cut to locally weaken the spring reinforcement risk possibly puncture or damage the layers padding the mattress or box spring.

La présente invention a notamment pour but de palier les inconvénients susmentionnés, en proposant un procédé qui permette d'adapter localement ou globalement la fermeté d'une armature à ressorts, sans augmenter sensiblement le coût ou la complexité de la fabrication de cette armature, et qui permette le cas échéant de réaliser des bandes transversales de fermeté différente s'étendant sur toute la largeur de l'armature à ressorts.The object of the present invention is in particular to overcome the aforementioned drawbacks, by proposing a method which makes it possible to locally or globally adapt the firmness of a spring frame, without substantially increasing the cost or the complexity of the manufacture of this frame, and which allows if necessary to produce transverse bands of different firmness extending over the entire width of the spring frame.

A cet effet, l'invention propose un procédé de fabrication d'une armature à ressorts pour matelas et sommiers comportant l'étape préliminaire suivante :

  • a) réaliser une armature à ressorts du genre en question dont toutes les structures portantes sont engagées dans les ressorts de liaison avec un certain jeu dans la direction longitudinale,
       ce procédé étant caractérisé en ce qu'il comporte en outre l'étape ultérieure suivante :
  • b) déformer au moins certaines des structures portantes appartenant à au moins une face principale de l'armature, pour rattraper au moins partiellement le jeu susmentionné dans la direction longitudinale, au moins certaines des structures portantes déformées n'étant pas adjacentes aux bords transversaux de l'armature.
To this end, the invention proposes a method of manufacturing a spring frame for mattresses and box springs comprising the following preliminary step:
  • a) make a spring frame of the kind in question, all the load-bearing structures of which are engaged in the connecting springs with a certain play in the longitudinal direction,
    this process being characterized in that it further comprises the following subsequent step:
  • b) deforming at least some of the load-bearing structures belonging to at least one main face of the frame, to at least partially make up for the above-mentioned clearance in the longitudinal direction, at least some of the deformed load-bearing structures not being adjacent to the transverse edges of the frame.

On notera que ce procédé n'induit normalement pas de variation dimensionnelle de l'armature à ressorts.It will be noted that this method does not normally induce a dimensional variation of the spring frame.

Dans des modes de réalisation préférés du procédé selon l'invention, on a recours en outre à l'une et/ou à l'autre des dispositions suivantes :

  • on déforme suffisamment les structures portantes pour qu'elles soient engagées dans les ressorts de liaison sans jeu dans la direction longitudinale, les structures portantes déformées s'appuyant alors contre l'intérieur des deux ressorts de liaison adjacents ;
  • au moins une face principale de l'armature présente une zone centrale raffermie qui sépare deux zones d'extrémité non raffermies adjacentes aux bords transversaux de l'armature, et les structures portantes qui sont déformées au sein de ladite surface principale, au cours de l'étape b) susmentionnée, sont situées dans la zone centrale raffermie de cette face principale ;
  • on déforme au moins toutes les structures portantes qui sont non adjacentes aux bords longitudinaux de l'armature et qui appartiennent à plusieurs lignes transversales voisines les unes des autres ;
  • on ne déforme pas les structures portantes adjacentes aux bords de l'armature, le procédé comportant en outre une étape consistant à fixer lesdites structures portantes voisines des bords de l'armature à au moins un cadre rigide ;
  • les ressorts de compression et les structures portantes forment des bandes longitudinales continues en fil métallique, chaque structure portante non voisine d'un bord transversal de l'armature étant commune à deux ressorts de compression adjacents appartenant à une même bande longitudinale, cette structure portante présentant deux branches latérales sensiblement parallèles à la direction transversale et reliées entre elles par une base, ces deux branches latérales s'étendant dans un même sens à partir de la base, jusqu'à des extrémités prolongées par les deux ressorts de compression adjacents, chaque ressort de liaison passant autour de deux branches latérales adjacentes appartenant respectivement à deux structures portantes voisines, et l'étape b) susmentionnée consistant à déformer la base d'au moins certaines des structures portantes pour diminuer le jeu entre les branches latérales de ces structures portantes et les ressorts de liaison, dans la direction longitudinale.
  • l'étape b) susmentionnée consiste à plier la base d'au moins certaines structures portantes, en V vers l'intérieur des deux branches desdites structures portantes, ces deux branches s'étendant alors légèrement en biais vers l'extérieur à partir de la base ;
  • les différents ressorts de compression sont formés par autant de fils métalliques indépendants, chacun de ces fils métalliques présentant des extrémités fixées rigidement à un point intermédiaire dudit fil métallique pour former deux spires terminales fermées qui constituent les structures portantes du ressort de compression et qui pénètrent à l'intérieur des ressorts de liaison, l'étape b) susmentionnée consistant à déformer dans la direction transversale au moins une portion intermédiaire de certaines spires terminales, portion intermédiaire qui est située entre deux ressorts de liaison adjacents pour les spires terminales non voisines des bords transversaux de l'armature ;
  • l'étape b) susmentionnée consiste à plier ladite portion intermédiaire des spires terminales concernées, radialement vers l'intérieur de ces spires.
In preferred embodiments of the method according to the invention, use is also made of one and / or the other of the following arrangements:
  • the supporting structures are sufficiently deformed so that they are engaged in the connecting springs without play in the longitudinal direction, the deformed supporting structures then pressing against the inside of the two adjacent connecting springs;
  • at least one main face of the frame has a firm central zone which separates two zones unreinforced end adjacent to the transverse edges of the frame, and the load-bearing structures which are deformed within said main surface, during step b) mentioned above, are located in the central strengthened zone of this main face;
  • at least all the load-bearing structures which are not adjacent to the longitudinal edges of the frame and which belong to several transverse lines adjacent to each other are deformed;
  • the bearing structures adjacent to the edges of the frame are not deformed, the method further comprising a step consisting in fixing said bearing structures adjacent to the edges of the frame to at least one rigid frame;
  • the compression springs and the supporting structures form continuous longitudinal strips of metal wire, each bearing structure not adjacent to a transverse edge of the frame being common to two adjacent compression springs belonging to the same longitudinal strip, this bearing structure having two lateral branches substantially parallel to the transverse direction and connected together by a base, these two lateral branches extending in the same direction from the base, to ends extended by the two adjacent compression springs, each spring connecting passing around two adjacent lateral branches belonging respectively to two adjacent supporting structures, and the aforementioned step b) consisting in deforming the base of at least some of the supporting structures to reduce the clearance between the lateral branches of these supporting structures and the connecting springs, in the direction lo ngitudinal.
  • the aforementioned step b) consists in folding the base of at least certain load-bearing structures, in a V towards the inside of the two branches of said load-bearing structures, these two branches then extending slightly diagonally outwards from the base;
  • the various compression springs are formed by as many independent metal wires, each of these metal wires having ends rigidly fixed at an intermediate point of said metal wire to form two closed terminal turns which constitute the bearing structures of the compression spring and which penetrate at inside the connecting springs, the aforementioned step b) consisting in deforming in the transverse direction at least one intermediate portion of certain end turns, an intermediate portion which is located between two adjacent connection springs for the end turns not near the edges transverse of the reinforcement;
  • the aforementioned step b) consists in folding said intermediate portion of the terminal turns concerned, radially towards the inside of these turns.

Par ailleurs, l'invention a également pour objet une armature à ressorts du genre en question, caractérisée en ce que dans au moins une des faces principales de l'armature, au moins certaines des structures portantes non adjacentes aux bords transversaux de l'armature, dites ci-après structures portantes raffermies, s'appuient parallèlement à la direction longitudinale contre l'intérieur des deux ressorts de liaison qui sont fixés auxdites structures portantes, en supprimant ainsi tout jeu entre les structures portantes raffermies et les ressorts de liaison adjacents.Furthermore, the invention also relates to a spring frame of the kind in question, characterized in that in at least one of the main faces of the frame, at least some of the supporting structures not adjacent to the transverse edges of the frame , hereinafter said firmed load-bearing structures, are pressed parallel to the longitudinal direction against the interior of the two connecting springs which are fixed to said bearing structures, thereby eliminating any play between the firmed bearing structures and the adjacent connecting springs.

Dans des modes de réalisation préférés de l'armature selon l'invention, on a recours en outre à l'une et/ou à l'autre des dispositions suivantes :

  • au moins une des faces principales présente une zone centrale raffermie qui sépare deux zones d'extrémité non raffermies adjacentes aux bords transversaux de l'armature, et toutes les structures portantes raffermies de cette face principale appartiennent à ladite zone centrale,
  • l'armature comporte plusieurs lignes transversales adjacentes de structures portantes dans lesquelles au moins les structures portantes non voisines des bords longitudinaux de l'armature sont des structures portantes raffermies,
  • les ressorts de compression et les structures portantes forment des bandes longitudinales continues en fil métallique, chaque structure portante non voisine d'un bord transversal de l'armature étant commune à deux ressorts de compression adjacents appartenant à une même bande longitudinale, cette structure portante présentant deux branches latérales sensiblement parallèles à la direction transversale et reliées entre elles par une base, ces deux branches latérales s'étendant dans un même sens à partir de la base, jusqu'à des extrémités prolongées par les deux ressorts de compression adjacents, chaque ressort de liaison passant autour de deux branches latérales adjacentes appartenant respectivement à deux structures portantes voisines, et chaque branche latérale des structures portantes raffermies s'appuyant parallèlement à la direction longitudinale, contre au moins deux points de l'intérieur du ressort de liaison correspondant,
  • la base de chaque structure portante raffermie s'étend sensiblement en forme de V vers l'intérieur des deux branches latérales de cette structure portante, tandis que lesdites branches latérales s'étendent légèrement en biais vers l'extérieur à partir de la base, ces deux branches latérales s'appuyant contre l'intérieur des ressorts de liaison correspondants, l'une vers l'autre au voisinage de la base, et vers l'extérieur à leurs extrémités éloignées de la base,
  • les différents ressorts de compression sont formés par autant de fils métalliques indépendants, chacun de ces fils métalliques présentant des extrémités fixées rigidement à un point intermédiaire dudit fil métallique pour former deux spires terminales fermées qui constituent les structures portantes du ressort de compression et qui pénètrent à l'intérieur des ressorts de liaison, et chaque spire terminale qui constitue une structure portante raffermie présentant une portion intermédiaire qui est située entre deux ressorts de liaison voisins et qui est pliée radialement vers l'intérieur.
In preferred embodiments of the frame according to the invention, use is also made of one and / or the other of the following arrangements:
  • at least one of the main faces has a firmed central zone which separates two non-firmed end zones adjacent to the transverse edges of the frame, and all the firming bearing structures of this main face belong to said central zone,
  • the reinforcement comprises several adjacent transverse lines of bearing structures in which at least the bearing structures not adjacent to the longitudinal edges of the reinforcement are firm bearing structures,
  • the compression springs and the support structures form continuous longitudinal strips of metal wire, each support structure not adjacent to a transverse edge of the frame being common to two adjacent compression springs belonging to the same longitudinal strip, this support structure having two lateral branches substantially parallel to the transverse direction and interconnected by a base, these two lateral branches extending in the same direction from the base, to ends extended by the two adjacent compression springs, each spring of connection passing around two adjacent lateral branches belonging respectively to two neighboring bearing structures, and each lateral branch of the reinforced bearing structures pressing parallel to the longitudinal direction, against at least two points of the interior of the corresponding connecting spring,
  • the base of each firmed supporting structure extends substantially in the form of a V towards the inside of the two lateral branches of this supporting structure, while said lateral branches extend slightly obliquely outward from the base, these two lateral branches pressing against the inside of the corresponding connecting springs, one towards the other in the vicinity of the base, and towards the outside at their ends remote from the base,
  • the various compression springs are formed by as many independent metal wires, each of these metal wires having ends rigidly fixed at an intermediate point of said metal wire to form two closed terminal turns which constitute the load-bearing structures of the compression spring and which penetrate at the interior of the connecting springs, and each terminal turn which constitutes a firming bearing structure having an intermediate portion which is situated between two neighboring connecting springs which is bent radially inwards.

D'autres caractéristiques et avantages de l'invention apparaîtront au cours de la description suivante de deux de ses formes de réalisation, données à titre d'exemples non limitatifs, en regard des dessins joints.Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will appear during the following description of two of its embodiments, given by way of nonlimiting examples, with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Sur les dessins,

  • la figure 1 est un schéma de principe en perspective illustrant un matelas susceptible de comprendre une armature à ressorts selon l'invention,
  • la figure 2 est une vue partielle en perspective d'une première armature à ressorts utilisable dans le matelas de la figure 1,
  • la figure 3 est une vue de dessus partielle de l'armature à ressorts de la figure 2,
  • la figure 4 est une vue de dessus partielle de l'armature de la figure 2, illustrant une phase du processus de fabrication de cette armature,
  • la figure 5 est une vue schématique en perspective d'un ressort de compression qui fait partie d'une deuxième armature susceptible d'être utilisée dans le matelas de la figure 1,
  • la figure 6 est une vue de dessus partielle de l'armature dont fait partie le ressort de la figure 5,
  • et la figure 7 est une vue de dessus partielle de l'armature de la figure 6, illustrant une phase du processus de fabrication de cette armature.
In the drawings,
  • FIG. 1 is a perspective block diagram illustrating a mattress capable of comprising a spring frame according to the invention,
  • FIG. 2 is a partial perspective view of a first spring frame usable in the mattress of FIG. 1,
  • FIG. 3 is a partial top view of the spring reinforcement of FIG. 2,
  • FIG. 4 is a partial top view of the armature of FIG. 2, illustrating a phase in the process of manufacturing this armature,
  • FIG. 5 is a schematic perspective view of a compression spring which is part of a second frame capable of being used in the mattress of FIG. 1,
  • FIG. 6 is a partial top view of the frame of which the spring of FIG. 5 is a part,
  • and Figure 7 is a partial top view of the frame of Figure 6, illustrating a phase of the manufacturing process of this frame.

Sur les différentes figures, les mêmes références désignent des éléments identiques ou similaires.In the different figures, the same references designate identical or similar elements.

La figure 1 représente un matelas 1, ou le cas échéant un sommier, qui est constitué par une armature intérieure à ressorts recouverte par un garnissage.Figure 1 shows a mattress 1, or if necessary a box spring, which is constituted by an inner frame with springs covered by a lining.

Le matelas 1, de même que l'armature à ressorts qu'il contient, présente une forme parallélépipédique avec deux faces principales 2, 3 qui, en utilisation, sont horizontales et qui s'étendent selon un axe longitudinal X (correspondant à la longueur du matelas) et selon un axe transversal Y (correspondant à la largeur du matelas).The mattress 1, as well as the spring frame it contains, has a parallelepiped shape with two main faces 2, 3 which, in use, are horizontal and which extend along a longitudinal axis X (corresponding to the length of the mattress) and along a transverse axis Y (corresponding to the width of the mattress).

Ces deux faces principales 2, 3 sont délimitées latéralement par deux bords longitudinaux 4 et par deux bords transversaux 5, ces bords 4, 5 s'étendant sur l'épaisseur du matelas selon un axe Z perpendiculaire aux axes X, Y susmentionnés.These two main faces 2, 3 are delimited laterally by two longitudinal edges 4 and by two transverse edges 5, these edges 4, 5 extending over the thickness of the mattress along an axis Z perpendicular to the axes X, Y mentioned above.

Les figures 2 à 5 présentent une première armature à ressorts 10 utilisable dans le matelas de la figure 1.Figures 2 to 5 show a first spring frame 10 usable in the mattress of Figure 1.

Il s'agit d'une armature à ressorts constituée d'une pluralité de bandes longitudinales 11 continues en fil métallique, qui sont juxtaposés dans la direction transversale.It is a spring frame consisting of a plurality of continuous longitudinal strips 11 of metal wire, which are juxtaposed in the transverse direction.

Comme on peut le voir en particulier sur la figure 2, chaque bande longitudinale 11 peut être réalisée comme enseigné notamment dans le document DE-1 155 218 à partir d'un fil métallique unique 12.As can be seen in particular in FIG. 2, each longitudinal strip 11 can be produced as taught in particular in document DE-1 155 218 from a single metal wire 12.

Le fil métallique 12 est enroulé en spires pour constituer des ressorts de compression 13, les spires des différents ressorts de compression étant enroulées alternativement dans un sens et dans l'autre d'un ressort 13 à l'autre.The metal wire 12 is wound in turns to form compression springs 13, the turns of the various compression springs being wound alternately in one direction and in the other from one spring 13 to the other.

Ces ressorts de compression 13 sont reliés les uns aux autres par paires, par croisement de certaines de leurs spires intermédiaires.These compression springs 13 are connected to each other in pairs, by crossing some of their intermediate turns.

De plus, les ressorts de compression 13 sont également reliés entre eux par des tronçons de liaison 14 qui sont formés dans le même fil métallique 12 que lesdits ressorts de compression.In addition, the compression springs 13 are also connected to each other by connecting sections 14 which are formed in the same metal wire 12 as said compression springs.

Ces tronçons de liaison 14 présentent initialement tous une forme plane en U comprenant d'une part une base 15 qui s'étend dans la direction longitudinale X, et d'autre part deux branches latérales 16 qui s'étendent dans la direction transversale Y. Ces deux branches latérales 16 s'étendent toutes les deux dans le même sens à partir de la base 15, jusqu'à des extrémités qui se prolongent vers l'intérieur de l'armature pour constituer les ressorts de compression 13.These connecting sections 14 initially initially all have a U-shaped plan comprising on the one hand a base 15 which extends in the longitudinal direction X, and on the other hand two lateral branches 16 which extend in the transverse direction Y. These two lateral branches 16 both extend in the same direction from the base 15, to ends which extend towards inside the frame to form the compression springs 13.

Les tronçons de liaison 14 sont disposés alternativement dans les faces principales 2 et 3 de l'armature.The connecting sections 14 are arranged alternately in the main faces 2 and 3 of the frame.

Les différents tronçons de liaison 14 sont juxtaposés matriciellement en rangées longitudinales et en lignes transversales dans les deux faces principales de l'armature, de sorte que ces tronçons de liaison constituent des structures portantes qui soutiennent efficacement le garnissage du matelas 1.The different connecting sections 14 are matrically juxtaposed in longitudinal rows and in transverse lines in the two main faces of the frame, so that these connecting sections constitute bearing structures which effectively support the lining of the mattress 1.

Par ailleurs, les différentes bandes longitudinales 11 sont reliées les unes aux autres par des ressorts de liaison 17, qui s'étendent selon la direction transversale Y dans les deux faces principales 2, 3 de l'armature.Furthermore, the different longitudinal strips 11 are connected to each other by connecting springs 17, which extend in the transverse direction Y in the two main faces 2, 3 of the frame.

Ces ressorts de liaison 17 sont enroulés autour des branches latérales 16 adjacentes des tronçons de liaison 14 successifs, initialement avec un certain jeu dans la direction longitudinale, du moins tant que les faces principales de l'armature ne sont soumises à aucune charge.These connecting springs 17 are wound around the lateral branches 16 adjacent to the successive connecting sections 14, initially with a certain play in the longitudinal direction, at least as long as the main faces of the frame are not subjected to any load.

Enfin, chacune des faces principales 2, 3 de l'armature peut, le cas échéant, être bordée par un cadre rigide 18 qui suit les bords longitudinaux 4 et transversaux 5 de l'armature et qui est fixé aux tronçons de liaison 14 adjacents par des attaches 19.Finally, each of the main faces 2, 3 of the frame can, if necessary, be bordered by a rigid frame 18 which follows the longitudinal 4 and transverse edges 5 of the frame and which is fixed to the adjacent connecting sections 14 by fasteners 19.

Eventuellement, le cadre 18 peut être prévu uniquement sur l'une des deux faces principales de l'armature, notamment lorsque le matelas 1 contient deux armatures 10 superposées, séparées par une couche flexible, auquel cas on peut prévoir le cadre 18 uniquement sur la face de chaque armature qui est disposée vers l'intérieur du matelas.Optionally, the frame 18 can be provided only on one of the two main faces of the frame, in particular when the mattress 1 contains two superimposed frames 10, separated by a flexible layer, in which case the frame 18 can only be provided on the face of each frame which is arranged towards the inside of the mattress.

Selon l'invention, afin de rendre plus fermes certaines zones d'au moins une des faces principales 2, 3 de l'armature 10, on déforme les bases 15 des tronçons de liaison 14 situés dans ces zones (avant ou après mise en place des cadres rigides 18), de façon à réduire les jeux qui existent initialement dans la direction longitudinale entre les branches latérales 16 de ces tronçons de liaison et les ressorts de liaison 17.According to the invention, in order to make certain areas of at least one of the main faces 2, 3 of the reinforcement 10 firmer, the bases 15 of the connecting sections 14 located in these areas are deformed (before or after installation rigid frames 18), so as to reduce the clearances which initially exist in the longitudinal direction between the lateral branches 16 of these connecting sections and the connecting springs 17.

De préférence, on déforme suffisamment les bases 15 concernées pour supprimer tous jeux entre les branches latérales 16 correspondantes et les ressorts de liaison 17, les branches latérales 16 en question étant alors en appui élastique contre l'intérieur des deux ressorts de liaison 17 adjacents, même lorsque les faces principales 2, 3 de l'armature 10 ne sont soumises à aucune charge.Preferably, the bases 15 concerned are sufficiently deformed to eliminate any play between the corresponding lateral branches 16 and the connecting springs 17, the lateral branches 16 in question then being in elastic abutment against the interior of the two adjacent connecting springs 17, even when the main faces 2, 3 of the frame 10 are not subjected to any load.

Grâce à ces dispositions, lorsqu'un utilisateur du matelas 1 s'appuie sur une des zones où les tronçons de liaison 14 ont été déformés, la force d'appui de l'utilisateur est reprise, non seulement par les ressorts de compression situés immédiatement sous le point d'appui, mais également par les portions voisines de l'armature, et ce dès le début de l'appui, puisque les tronçons de liaison 14 déformés sont reliés sans jeu longitudinal aux tronçons de liaison 14 voisins.Thanks to these provisions, when a user of the mattress 1 rests on one of the zones where the connecting sections 14 have been deformed, the bearing force of the user is taken up, not only by the compression springs located immediately under the fulcrum, but also by the neighboring portions of the frame, and this from the start of the support, since the deformed connecting sections 14 are connected without longitudinal play to the neighboring connecting sections 14.

Par contre, dans les zones où les tronçons de liaison 14 n'ont pas été déformés, un appui de l'utilisateur se traduit d'abord par un déplacement vertical des tronçons de liaison 14 non déformés, pour rattraper le jeu longitudinal qui existe avec les ressorts de liaison 17 adjacents.On the other hand, in the areas where the connecting sections 14 have not been deformed, support from the user results first of all in a vertical displacement of the non-deformed connecting sections 14, to make up for the longitudinal play which exists with the adjacent connecting springs 17.

Par conséquent, les zones où les tronçons de liaison 14 ont été déformés sont plus fermes que les zones où les tronçons de liaison 14 n'ont pas été déformés.Consequently, the areas where the connecting sections 14 have been deformed are firmer than the areas where the connecting sections 14 have not been deformed.

Avantageusement, comme représenté sur la figure 1, chacune des zones raffermies de l'armature peut consister en une zone transversale centrale 6 d'une face principale, qui sépare deux zones d'extrémité 7, 8 non raffermies au voisinage des bords transversaux 5 de l'armature.Advantageously, as shown in FIG. 1, each of the firmed areas of the reinforcement may consist of a central transverse area 6 of a main face, which separates two end areas 7, 8 which are not firmed in the vicinity of the transverse edges 5 of the frame.

La zone centrale raffermie peut représenter par exemple sensiblement le tiers central de la face principale raffermie.The firmed central zone can for example represent substantially the central third of the main firmed face.

Avantageusement, dans la zone raffermie 6, tous les tronçons de liaison 14 sont déformés, à l'exception des tronçons 14 adjacents aux bords longitudinaux 4 de l'armature, qui sont avantageusement laissés non déformés afin de ne pas interférer avec la bonne fixation de ces tronçons de liaison au cadre rigide 18.Advantageously, in the firmed zone 6, all the connecting sections 14 are deformed, with the exception of the sections 14 adjacent to the longitudinal edges 4 of the reinforcement, which are advantageously left undeformed so as not to interfere with the proper fixing of these connecting sections to the rigid frame 18.

Eventuellement, toute une face principale de l'armature pourrait être raffermie par déformation de tous les tronçons de liaison 14 de cette face principale, de préférence à l'exception des tronçons de liaison 14 qui sont adjacents aux bords longitudinaux 4 ou aux bords transversaux 5 de l'armature, afin de ne pas interférer avec la fixation desdits tronçons de liaison sur le cadre 18 correspondant.Optionally, an entire main face of the frame could be strengthened by deformation of all the connecting sections 14 of this main face, preferably with the exception of the connecting sections 14 which are adjacent to the longitudinal edges 4 or to the transverse edges 5 of the armature, so as not to interfere with the fixing of said connecting sections on the corresponding frame 18.

De préférence, comme représenté sur la figure 3, la déformation qui est imposée aux tronçons de liaison 14 pour raffermir l'armature, consiste à plier la base 15 des tronçons de liaison 14 concernés en forme de V vers l'intérieur des deux branches latérales 16 correspondantes.Preferably, as shown in FIG. 3, the deformation which is imposed on the connecting sections 14 in order to strengthen the reinforcement, consists in folding the base 15 of the relevant connecting sections 14 in a V shape towards the inside of the two lateral branches. 16 correspondents.

Ces branches latérales 16 s'étendent alors légèrement en biais vers l'extérieur à partir de la base 15, et ces branches latérales s'appuient élastiquement contre l'intérieur des ressorts de liaison 17 vers l'intérieur au voisinage de la base 15 et vers l'extérieur au voisinage de leurs extrémités éloignés de la base.These lateral branches 16 then extend slightly obliquely outwards from the base 15, and these lateral branches bear elastically against the interior of the connecting springs 17 inwards in the vicinity of the base 15 and outward in the vicinity of their far ends from the base.

Ces déformations de tronçons de liaison 14 peuvent être obtenues par exemple en disposant successivement chaque face de l'armature 10 qui doit présenter des zones raffermies sur une machine-outil présentant une pluralité de matrices 20 et de doigts de pliage 21. Ces matrices et ces doigts de pliage s'engagent respectivement de part et d'autre des différentes bases déformées, chaque matrice 20 présentant une échancrure 22 en forme de V en regard du doigt de pliage 21 correspondant.These deformations of connecting sections 14 can be obtained for example by successively arranging each face of the frame 10 which must have firmed zones on a machine tool having a plurality of dies 20 and bending fingers 21. These dies and folding fingers engage respectively on either side of the different deformed bases, each matrix 20 having a V-shaped notch 22 opposite the corresponding folding finger 21.

Les doigts de pliage 21 sont alors déplacés simultanément vers les échancrures 22 dans la direction des flèches 23, ce qui produit les déformations souhaitées de tronçons de liaison 14 concernés.The folding fingers 21 are then moved simultaneously towards the notches 22 in the direction of the arrows 23, which produces the desired deformations of the connecting sections 14 concerned.

De préférence, les deux faces principales de l'armature 10 présentent des zones raffermies, mais bien entendu, l'armature 10 peut également comporter une seule face principale raffermie, notamment lorsqu'il s'agit d'une armature de sommier ou lorsque l'intérieur du matelas 1 est constitué par deux armatures 10 superposées séparées par une couche flexible, auquel cas seul les faces principales des armatures 10 qui sont orientées vers l'extérieur du matelas présentent des zones raffermies.Preferably, the two main faces of the frame 10 have firmed areas, but of course, the frame 10 may also have a single main face firmed, in particular when it is a box spring frame or when the interior of the mattress 1 is constituted by two superimposed reinforcements 10 separated by a flexible layer, in which case only the main faces of the reinforcements 10 which are oriented towards the outside of the mattress have firmed zones.

Dans la forme de réalisation représentée sur les figures 5 à 7, l'armature à ressorts 30 qui forme l'intérieur du matelas 1 de la figure 1 est constituée par la juxtaposition de ressorts de compression 31 indépendants.In the embodiment shown in Figures 5 to 7, the spring frame 30 which forms the interior of the mattress 1 of Figure 1 is constituted by the juxtaposition of independent compression springs 31.

Comme représenté sur la figure 5, chacun de ces ressorts 31 est constitué par un fil métallique 32 enroulé en spires, par exemple selon une forme biconique.As shown in Figure 5, each of these springs 31 is constituted by a metal wire 32 wound in turns, for example in a biconical shape.

Chaque ressort 31 comporte deux spires terminales qui sont fermées sur elles-mêmes par un noeud 34 ou une autre fixation des extrémités du fil métallique 32 en un point de ce fil 32.Each spring 31 has two end turns which are closed on themselves by a knot 34 or another fixing of the ends of the metal wire 32 at a point of this wire 32.

Les spires terminales 33 sont sensiblement planes et comprises dans les faces principales 2, 3 de l'armature, et elles constituent des structures portantes pour le garnissage du matelas 1.The terminal turns 33 are substantially flat and included in the main faces 2, 3 of the frame, and they constitute bearing structures for lining the mattress 1.

Au sein de chaque face principale de l'armature, les spires terminales 34 sont réparties matriciellement, en rangées selon la direction longitudinale X de l'armature, et en lignes selon la direction transversale Y de ladite armature.Within each main face of the frame, the terminal turns 34 are distributed in a matrix, in rows along the longitudinal direction X of the frame, and in lines along the transverse direction Y of said frame.

De plus, dans chaque face principale de l'armature 30, les spires terminales 33 sont reliées les unes aux autres d'une ligne transversale à l'autre par des ressorts de liaison 35 hélicoïdaux qui s'étendent transversalement et qui sont enroulés chacun autour des portions adjacentes des fils métalliques 32 constituant deux spires terminales 33 voisines dans la direction longitudinale.In addition, in each main face of the frame 30, the end turns 33 are connected to each other from one transverse line to the other by helical connecting springs 35 which extend transversely and which are each wound around adjacent portions of the metal wires 32 constituting two adjacent terminal turns 33 in the longitudinal direction.

Enfin, l'armature peut comporter en outre des cadres similaires aux cadres 18 déjà décrits pour l'armature 10.Finally, the frame can also include frames similar to the frames 18 already described for the frame 10.

Les spires terminales 33 sont initialement toutes engagées avec jeu dans les ressorts de liaison 35, puis on déforme au moins certaines de ces spires terminales, de façon à limiter ce jeu et de préférence à le supprimer, chaque spire terminale 33 déformée appuyant alors contre l'intérieur des ressorts de liaison 35 dans lesquels elle est engagée.The terminal turns 33 are initially all engaged with play in the connection springs 35, then at least some of these end turns are deformed, so as to limit this play and preferably to eliminate it, each deformed end turn 33 then pressing against the inside the connecting springs 35 in which it is engaged.

Ces déformations permettent de raffermir au moins certaines zones d'une moins une des faces principales de l'armature 30, comme déjà explicité précédemment pour l'armature 10.These deformations make it possible to firm up at least certain zones of at least one of the main faces of the frame 30, as already explained above for the frame 10.

La répartition des spires terminales 33 déformées au sein de l'armature 30 peut être similaire à la répartition des tronçons de liaison 14 déformés au sein de l'armature 10 précédemment décrite.The distribution of the terminal turns 33 deformed within the frame 30 may be similar to the distribution of the connecting sections 14 deformed within the frame 10 previously described.

Comme représenté sur le figure 6, les déformations imposées à au moins certaines des spires terminales 33 peuvent notamment consister en une incurvation, dirigée radialement vers l'intérieur selon la direction transversale Y, cette incurvation étant formée dans au moins une portion intermédiaire 36 située entre deux ressorts de liaison 35 voisins, ce qui provoque une certaine ovalisation des spires terminales 33 correspondantes.As shown in FIG. 6, the deformations imposed on at least some of the terminal turns 33 may in particular consist of a curvature, directed radially inwards in the transverse direction Y, this curvature being formed in at least one intermediate portion 36 located between two neighboring connecting springs 35, which causes a certain ovalization of the corresponding terminal turns 33.

Comme représenté sur la figure 7, cette incurvation peut être réalisée par exemple en plaçant la ou les faces principales concernées de l'armature 30 sur une machine-outil présentant des groupes de trois doigts de pliage 37, 38, 39, qui s'engagent respectivement sur les spires terminales 33 à déformer.As shown in FIG. 7, this curving can be carried out for example by placing the main face or faces concerned of the frame 30 on a machine tool having groups of three folding fingers 37, 38, 39, which engage respectively on the terminal turns 33 to be deformed.

Chacun de ces groupes de doigts de pliage comprend deux doigts de pliage 37, 38 qui s'engagent à l'intérieur de la spire terminale 33 correspondante, et un doigt de pliage 39 qui se situe à l'extérieur de la spire terminale 33 correspondante et qui est déplaçable dans la direction de la flèche 40 vers les deux doigts fixes 37, 38 pour plier la spire terminale 33 en formant l'incurvation 36.Each of these groups of folding fingers comprises two folding fingers 37, 38 which engage inside the corresponding end turn 33, and a folding finger 39 which is located outside the corresponding end turn 33 and which is movable in the direction of the arrow 40 towards the two stationary fingers 37, 38 to bend the terminal turn 33 by forming the curve 36.

Claims (15)

Procédé de fabrication d'une armature à ressorts pour matelas et sommiers, comportant l'étape préliminaire suivante : a) réaliser une armature à ressorts (10, 30) présentant deux faces principales (2, 3) sensiblement planes qui sont séparées par une certaine épaisseur et qui sont délimitées par deux bords longitudinaux (4) et deux bords transversaux (5), cette armature comprenant une pluralité de ressorts de compression (13, 31) qui sont réalisés en fil métallique enroulé en spires et qui s'étendent dans l'épaisseur de ladite armature entre deux extrémités formant chacune une structure portante (14, 33), les structures portantes des différents ressorts de compression formant les faces principales (2, 3) de l'armature et étant disposées matriciellement en rangées parallèles aux bord longitudinaux et en lignes parallèles aux bords transversaux, les structures portantes qui appartiennent à deux lignes transversales voisines, dans une même face principale de l'armature, étant reliées ensemble par un ressort de liaison (17, 35) constitué par un fil métallique hélicoïdal qui passe autour des fils métalliques adjacents appartenant respectivement aux structures portantes (14, 33) de ces deux lignes transversales voisines, toutes les structures portantes de cette armature étant engagées dans les ressorts de liaison avec un certain jeu dans la direction longitudinale,
ce procédé étant caractérisé en ce qu'il comporte en outre l'étape ultérieure suivante : b) déformer au moins certaines des structures portantes (14, 33) appartenant à au moins une face principale de l'armature, pour rattraper au moins partiellement le jeu susmentionné dans la direction longitudinale, au moins certaines des structures portantes déformées n'étant pas adjacentes aux bords transversaux (5) de l'armature. Method for manufacturing a spring frame for mattresses and box springs, comprising the following preliminary step: a) producing a spring frame (10, 30) having two substantially flat main faces (2, 3) which are separated by a certain thickness and which are delimited by two longitudinal edges (4) and two transverse edges (5), this armature comprising a plurality of compression springs (13, 31) which are made of metallic wire wound in turns and which extend in the thickness of said armature between two ends each forming a bearing structure (14, 33), the structures bearing of the various compression springs forming the main faces (2, 3) of the frame and being arranged in rows in rows parallel to the longitudinal edges and in lines parallel to the transverse edges, the bearing structures which belong to two adjacent transverse lines, in a same main face of the frame, being connected together by a connecting spring (17, 35) constituted by a helical metal wire which p around the adjacent metallic wires belonging respectively to the supporting structures (14, 33) of these two adjacent transverse lines, all the supporting structures of this frame being engaged in the connecting springs with a certain play in the longitudinal direction,
this process being characterized in that it further comprises the following subsequent step: b) deforming at least some of the load-bearing structures (14, 33) belonging to at least one main face of the frame, to at least partially make up for the above-mentioned clearance in the longitudinal direction, at least some of the deformed load-bearing structures not being adjacent to the transverse edges (5) of the frame. Procédé selon la revendication 1, dans lequel, au cours de l'étape b) susmentionnée, on déforme suffisamment les structures portantes (14, 33) pour qu'elles soient engagées dans les ressorts de liaison (17, 35), sans jeu dans la direction longitudinale, les structures portantes (14, 33) déformées s'appuyant alors contre l'intérieur des deux ressorts de liaison (17, 35) adjacents.The method of claim 1, wherein at during step b) mentioned above, the supporting structures (14, 33) are sufficiently deformed so that they are engaged in the connecting springs (17, 35), without play in the longitudinal direction, the supporting structures (14, 33) deformed then pressing against the inside of the two connecting connecting springs (17, 35). Procédé selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, dans lequel au moins une face principale de l'armature présente une zone centrale (6) raffermie qui sépare deux zones d'extrémité (7, 8) non raffermies adjacentes aux bords transversaux de l'armature, et dans lequel toutes les structures portantes (14, 33) qui sont déformées au sein de ladite face principale au cours de l'étape b) susmentionnée, sont situées dans la zone centrale (6) raffermie de cette face principale.Method according to any one of the preceding claims, in which at least one main face of the reinforcement has a firmed central zone (6) which separates two unarmed end zones (7, 8) adjacent to the transverse edges of the reinforcement, and in which all the supporting structures (14, 33) which are deformed within said main face during the aforementioned step b), are located in the central zone (6) strengthened of this main face. Procédé selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, dans lequel, au cours de l'étape b) susmentionnée, on déforme au moins toutes les structures portantes (14, 33) qui sont non adjacentes aux bords longitudinaux (4) de l'armature et qui appartiennent à plusieurs lignes transversales voisines les unes des autres.Method according to any one of the preceding claims, in which, during the abovementioned step b), at least all the supporting structures (14, 33) which are not adjacent to the longitudinal edges (4) of the reinforcement are deformed and which belong to several transverse lines adjacent to each other. Procédé selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, dans lequel on ne déforme pas les structures portantes (14, 33) adjacentes aux bords (4, 5) de l'armature, le procédé comportant en outre une étape consistant à fixer lesdites structures portantes voisines des bords de l'armature à au moins un cadre rigide.Method according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the supporting structures (14, 33) adjacent to the edges (4, 5) of the frame are not deformed, the method further comprising a step consisting in fixing said supporting structures adjacent to the edges of the frame to at least one rigid frame. Procédé selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, dans lequel les ressorts de compression (13) et les structures portantes (14) forment des bandes longitudinales continues (11) en fil métallique, chaque structure portante non voisine d'un bord transversal (5) de l'armature étant commune à deux ressorts de compression adjacents (13) appartenant à une même bande longitudinale, cette structure portante présentant deux branches latérales (16) sensiblement parallèles à la direction transversale (Y) et reliées entre elles par une base (15), ces deux branches latérales s'étendant dans un même sens à partir de la base, jusqu'à des extrémités prolongées par les deux ressorts de compression adjacents (13), chaque ressort de liaison passant autour de deux branches latérales (16) adjacentes appartenant respectivement à deux structures portantes (14) voisines, et l'étape b) susmentionnée consistant à déformer la base (15) d'au moins certaines des structures portantes pour diminuer le jeu entre les branches latérales (16) de ces structures portantes et les ressorts de liaison (17), dans la direction longitudinale.Method according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the compression springs (13) and the supporting structures (14) form continuous longitudinal strips (11) of metal wire, each supporting structure not adjacent to a transverse edge (5 ) of the reinforcement being common to two adjacent compression springs (13) belonging to the same longitudinal strip, this bearing structure having two lateral branches (16) substantially parallel to the transverse direction (Y) and connected between them by a base (15), these two lateral branches extending in the same direction from the base, to ends extended by the two adjacent compression springs (13), each connecting spring passing around two adjacent lateral branches (16) belonging respectively to two adjacent supporting structures (14), and the aforementioned step b) consisting in deforming the base (15) of at least some of the supporting structures to reduce the clearance between the lateral branches ( 16) of these supporting structures and the connecting springs (17), in the longitudinal direction. Procédé selon la revendication 6, dans lequel l'étape b) susmentionnée consiste à plier la base d'au moins certaines structures portantes, en V vers l'intérieur des deux branches desdites structures portantes, ces deux branches s'étendant alors légèrement en biais vers l'extérieur à partir de la base.Method according to claim 6, in which the abovementioned step b) consists in bending the base of at least certain load-bearing structures, in a V towards the inside of the two branches of said load-bearing structures, these two branches then extending slightly at an angle outward from the base. Procédé selon l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à 5, dans lequel les différents ressorts de compression (31) sont formés par autant de fils métalliques indépendants (32), chacun de ces fils métalliques présentant des extrémités fixées rigidement en un point intermédiaire (34) dudit fil métallique pour former deux spires terminales fermées (33) qui constituent les structures portantes du ressort de compression et qui pénètrent à l'intérieur des ressorts de liaison (35), l'étape b) susmentionnée consistant à déformer dans la direction transversale au moins une portion intermédiaire (36) de certaines spires terminales, portion intermédiaire qui est située entre deux ressorts de liaison (35) adjacents pour les spires terminales non voisines des bords transversaux (5) de l'armature.Method according to any one of Claims 1 to 5, in which the different compression springs (31) are formed by as many independent metal wires (32), each of these metal wires having ends rigidly fixed at an intermediate point (34 ) of said metal wire to form two closed terminal turns (33) which constitute the load-bearing structures of the compression spring and which penetrate inside the connection springs (35), the aforementioned step b) consisting of deforming in the transverse direction at least one intermediate portion (36) of certain end turns, an intermediate portion which is located between two connecting connecting springs (35) for the end turns not adjacent to the transverse edges (5) of the frame. Procédé selon la revendication 8, dans lequel l'étape b) susmentionnée consiste à plier ladite portion intermédiaire (36) des spires terminales (33) concernées, radialement vers l'intérieur de ces spires.Method according to claim 8, in which the abovementioned step b) consists in folding said intermediate portion (36) of the terminal turns (33) concerned, radially inwards of these turns. Armature à ressorts (10, 30) pour matelas et sommiers susceptible d'être fabriquée par un procédé selon la revendication 2, cette armature présentant deux faces principales (2, 3) sensiblement planes qui sont séparées par une certaine épaisseur et qui sont délimitées par deux bords longitudinaux (4) et deux bords transversaux (5), cette armature comprenant une pluralité de ressorts de compression (13, 31) qui sont réalisés en fil métallique enroulé en spires et qui s'étendent dans l'épaisseur de ladite armature entre deux extrémités formant chacune une structure portante (14, 33), les structures portantes des différents ressorts de compression formant les faces principales (2, 3) de l'armature et étant disposées matriciellement en rangées parallèles aux bord longitudinaux et en lignes parallèles aux bords transversaux, les structures portantes qui appartiennent à deux lignes transversales voisines, dans une même face principale de l'armature, étant reliées ensemble par un ressort de liaison (17, 35) constitué par un fil métallique hélicoïdal qui passe autour des fils métalliques adjacents appartenant respectivement aux structures portantes de ces deux lignes transversales voisines, caractérisée en ce que, dans au moins une des faces principales de l'armature, au moins certaines des structures portantes (14, 33) non adjacentes aux bords transversaux (5) de l'armature, dites ci-après structure portantes raffermies, s'appuient parallèlement à la direction longitudinale contre l'intérieur des deux ressorts de liaison (17, 35) qui sont fixés auxdites structures portantes, en supprimant ainsi tout jeu entre les structures portantes raffermies et les ressorts de liaison adjacents.Spring frame (10, 30) for mattresses and box springs capable of being manufactured by a method according to claim 2, this reinforcement having two main faces (2, 3) substantially planar which are separated by a certain thickness and which are delimited by two longitudinal edges (4) and two transverse edges ( 5), this frame comprising a plurality of compression springs (13, 31) which are made of metal wire wound in turns and which extend in the thickness of said frame between two ends each forming a bearing structure (14, 33 ), the supporting structures of the various compression springs forming the main faces (2, 3) of the frame and being arranged in rows in rows parallel to the longitudinal edges and in lines parallel to the transverse edges, the supporting structures which belong to two transverse lines neighbors, in the same main face of the frame, being connected together by a connecting spring (17, 35) c formed by a helical metallic wire which passes around the adjacent metallic wires belonging respectively to the load-bearing structures of these two adjacent transverse lines, characterized in that, in at least one of the main faces of the frame, at least some of the load-bearing structures (14 , 33) not adjacent to the transverse edges (5) of the frame, hereinafter called firmer supporting structures, bear parallel to the longitudinal direction against the inside of the two connecting springs (17, 35) which are fixed to said load-bearing structures, thereby eliminating any play between the strengthened load-bearing structures and the adjacent connecting springs. Armature selon la revendication 10, dans laquelle au moins une des faces principales (2, 3) présente une zone centrale (6) raffermie qui sépare deux zones d'extrémité (7, 8) non raffermies adjacentes aux bords transversaux (5) de l'armature, et dans laquelle toutes les structures portantes raffermies (14, 33) de cette face principale appartiennent à ladite zone centrale (6).Reinforcement according to claim 10, in which at least one of the main faces (2, 3) has a firmed central zone (6) which separates two unarmed end zones (7, 8) adjacent to the transverse edges (5) of the 'frame, and in which all the load-bearing structures strengthened (14, 33) of this main face belong to said central area (6). Armature selon l'une quelconque des revendications 10 et 11, comportant plusieurs lignes transversales adjacentes de structures portantes (14, 33) dans lesquelles au moins les structures portantes non voisines des bords longitudinaux (4) de l'armature sont des structures portantes raffermies.Reinforcement according to any one of claims 10 and 11, comprising several adjacent transverse lines of load-bearing structures (14, 33) in which at least the load-bearing structures not adjacent to the longitudinal edges (4) of the reinforcement are firm load-bearing structures. Armature selon l'une quelconque des revendications 10 à 12, dans laquelle les ressorts de compression (13) et les structures portantes (14) forment des bandes longitudinales continues (11) en fil métallique, chaque structure portante (14) non voisine d'un bord transversal (5) de l'armature étant commune à deux ressorts de compression adjacents (17) appartenant à une même bande longitudinale, cette structure portante présentant deux branches latérales (16) sensiblement parallèles à la direction transversale (Y) et reliées entre elles par une base (15), ces deux branches latérales s'étendant dans un même sens à partir de la base, jusqu'à des extrémités prolongées par les deux ressorts de compression adjacents (13), chaque ressort de liaison (17) passant autour de deux branches latérales (16) adjacentes appartenant respectivement à deux structures portantes (14) voisines, et chaque branche latérale des structures portantes raffermies s'appuyant parallèlement à la direction longitudinale, contre au moins deux points de l'intérieur du ressort de liaison correspondant.Reinforcement according to any one of Claims 10 to 12, in which the compression springs (13) and the supporting structures (14) form continuous longitudinal strips (11) of metal wire, each supporting structure (14) not adjacent to a transverse edge (5) of the frame being common to two adjacent compression springs (17) belonging to the same longitudinal strip, this bearing structure having two lateral branches (16) substantially parallel to the transverse direction (Y) and connected between them by a base (15), these two lateral branches extending in the same direction from the base, to ends extended by the two adjacent compression springs (13), each connecting spring (17) passing around two adjacent lateral branches (16) belonging respectively to two adjacent supporting structures (14), and each lateral branch of the reinforced supporting structures pressing parallel to the d longitudinal irection, against at least two points on the inside of the corresponding connecting spring. Armature selon la revendication 13, dans laquelle la base (15) de chaque structure portante raffermie (14) s'étend sensiblement en forme de V vers l'intérieur des deux branches latérales de cette structure portante, tandis que lesdites branches latérales s'étendent légèrement en biais vers l'extérieur à partir de la base, ces deux branches latérales s'appuyant contre l'intérieur des ressorts de liaison (17) correspondants, l'une vers l'autre au voisinage de la base, et vers l'extérieur à leurs extrémités éloignées de la base.Reinforcement according to claim 13, in which the base (15) of each firm supporting structure (14) extends substantially in a V shape towards the inside of the two lateral branches of this supporting structure, while said lateral branches extend slightly angled outwards from the base, these two lateral branches pressing against the inside of the corresponding connecting springs (17), one towards the other in the vicinity of the base, and towards the outside at their far ends from the base. Armature selon l'une quelconque des revendications 10 à 12, dans laquelle les différents ressorts de compression (31) sont formés par autant de fils métalliques indépendants (32), chacun de ces fils métalliques présentant des extrémités fixées rigidement chacune à un point intermédiaire (34) dudit fil métallique pour former deux spires terminales fermées (33) qui constituent les structures portantes du ressort de compression et qui pénètrent à l'intérieur des ressorts de liaison (35), chaque spire terminale (33) qui constitue une structure portante raffermie présentant une portion intermédiaire (36) qui est située entre deux ressorts de liaison voisins (35) et qui est pliée radialement vers l'intérieur.Reinforcement according to any one of the claims 10 to 12, in which the various compression springs (31) are formed by as many independent metal wires (32), each of these metal wires having ends rigidly fixed each at an intermediate point (34) of said metal wire to form two closed end turns (33) which constitute the load-bearing structures of the compression spring and which penetrate inside the connection springs (35), each end turn (33) which constitutes a firm load-bearing structure having an intermediate portion (36) which is located between two neighboring connecting springs (35) and which is folded radially inwards.
EP19970400015 1996-01-09 1997-01-06 Spring unit for mattresses and beds and method of making Expired - Lifetime EP0783857B1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
FR9600168A FR2743279B1 (en) 1996-01-09 1996-01-09 SPRING ARMATURE FOR MATTRESSES AND BEDS, AND MANUFACTURING METHOD
FR9600168 1996-01-09

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EP0783857A1 true EP0783857A1 (en) 1997-07-16
EP0783857B1 EP0783857B1 (en) 2001-05-09

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Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP19970400015 Expired - Lifetime EP0783857B1 (en) 1996-01-09 1997-01-06 Spring unit for mattresses and beds and method of making

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EP (1) EP0783857B1 (en)
DE (1) DE69704721T2 (en)
ES (1) ES2157531T3 (en)
FR (1) FR2743279B1 (en)

Families Citing this family (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2005115909A1 (en) * 2004-05-28 2005-12-08 Gibbens Industries Pty Limited Spring wire connector

Citations (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB760958A (en) 1954-01-01 1956-11-07 Chapmans Of Trowbridge Ltd Improvements in or relating to spring mattresses and like spring units
US4052760A (en) 1976-02-23 1977-10-11 The United States Bedding Company Coil spring assembly
US4161046A (en) 1978-05-10 1979-07-17 The United States Bedding Company Coil spring assembly
EP0132362A2 (en) * 1983-07-22 1985-01-30 Multilastic Limited Spring interiors for mattresses and other articles
US4705079A (en) 1985-04-10 1987-11-10 Leggett & Platt, Incorporated Bedding coil spring unit and assembly method
US4960267A (en) * 1989-05-26 1990-10-02 Leggett & Platt, Incorporated Edge-reinforced spring bedding product
WO1992000693A1 (en) 1990-07-11 1992-01-23 Silentnight Holdings Plc A bed spring unit

Patent Citations (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB760958A (en) 1954-01-01 1956-11-07 Chapmans Of Trowbridge Ltd Improvements in or relating to spring mattresses and like spring units
US4052760A (en) 1976-02-23 1977-10-11 The United States Bedding Company Coil spring assembly
US4161046A (en) 1978-05-10 1979-07-17 The United States Bedding Company Coil spring assembly
EP0132362A2 (en) * 1983-07-22 1985-01-30 Multilastic Limited Spring interiors for mattresses and other articles
US4705079A (en) 1985-04-10 1987-11-10 Leggett & Platt, Incorporated Bedding coil spring unit and assembly method
US4960267A (en) * 1989-05-26 1990-10-02 Leggett & Platt, Incorporated Edge-reinforced spring bedding product
WO1992000693A1 (en) 1990-07-11 1992-01-23 Silentnight Holdings Plc A bed spring unit

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
DE69704721D1 (en) 2001-06-13
DE69704721T2 (en) 2001-10-25
EP0783857B1 (en) 2001-05-09
ES2157531T3 (en) 2001-08-16
FR2743279B1 (en) 1998-03-20
FR2743279A1 (en) 1997-07-11

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