GB2403901A

GB2403901A - Mattress incorporating duplex springs

Info

Publication number: GB2403901A
Application number: GB0414645A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Simon Paul Spinks
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2003-07-02
Filing date: 2004-06-30
Publication date: 2005-01-19
Anticipated expiration: 2024-06-30
Also published as: GB0315403D0; GB2403901B; GB0414645D0

Abstract

A spring assembly (2) for incorporation into a bed, divan bed, mattress or other article of upholstered furniture comprises a plurality of spring units, some at least of which have inner springs (8) which differ from the inner springs of others of said spring units. The inner springs may differ in height, and/or in diameter, and/or in tension, and/or in form, and the spring units may comprise one or more pocketted springs.

Description

SPRING ASSEA"WES This invention relates to spring assemblies and more

particularly to spring assemblies for use in beds, divan beds, mattresses, and other articles of upholstered furniture.

For the purposes of the present invention, the term 'spring assemblies' should be taken to mean a plurality of spring units which are located in adjacent relationship andlor located in parallel so as to form the spring assembly, some at least of the spring units comprising an outer spring and an inner spring. The spring units may each be in the form of a single pocketed spring, i.e. the outer spring will be located in a closed sleeve of fabric or other material with the inner spring being free to move within said outer spring. Alternatively, the inner spring may be located in a closed\sleeve of fabric or other materiel which is then located in the outer spring such that the springs may move relative to one another. In a still further alternative, both the inner and outer springs may be located in discrete sleeves of fabric or other material.

The term 'spring assemblies' should be interpreted accordingly.

According to the present invention there is provided a spring assembly including a plurality of spring units, some at least of said spring units having inner springs which differ from the inner springs of others of said spring units.

The inner springs may differ in the material from which the springs are made, they may differ in height, andlor diameter, andlor tension, or they may differ in form.

In order that the invention may be more readily understood, embodiments thereof will now be described, by way of example only, reference being made to the accompanying drawings, wherein: Figures 1 and 1A are plan and front views of a first form of spring assembly in accordance with the invention,.

Figures 2 and 2A are plan and front views of a second form of spring assembly in accordance with the invention, and Figures 3 and 3A are plan and front views of yet another form of spring assembly in accordance with the invention.

Referring to the drawings and firstly to Figures 1 and 1A, there is shown a spring assembly -indicated generally by reference numeral 2 which comprises a plurality of individual spring units 4. Each of the spring units 4 comprise an outer spring 6 and an inner spring 8 The outer springs 6 may each include an outer closed sleeve or pocket 10, and the inner springs 8 may each include a sleeve or pocket 12.

Alternatively, the sleeve or pocket 10 or the sleeve or pocket 12 may be omitted, such that the pocketed spring 6 encloses an open spring 8, or the pocketed spring 8 may lie within an open spring 6.

As will best be seen from Figure 1A, the inner springs 8 are of differing heights, i.e. the mner spring 8A, for example, is of a differing height to that of its adjacent inner spring 8B, which in turn is of a differing height to its adjacent spring 8C. In addition to being of differing heights, the inner springs may be of diffeinmg materials, andlor of differing tensions, and/or of differing forms in that the inner springs may be formed as coil springs, barrel springs, or indeed - 4 any other form of suitable spring. The springs may be formed of metal, other suitable material.

As will be seen from Figure 1A, the other spring units in the spring assembly have differing height inner springs, but it will be appreciated that such inner springs may not necessarily be in the precise form shown in the drawing.

Refemng now to Figures 2 and 2A, it will be seen that spring assembly includes a plurality of spring units 22 and a plurality of springs 24, the springs 24 preferably being pocketed springs each comprising a spring 26 and an outer closed sleeve or pocket 28 of fabric or other

suitable materiel.

Figure 2A demonstrates that the spring units 22 each include an outer spring 30 and an inner spring 32, the spring 30 having a closed sleeve or pocket 34 and the spring 32 having a closed sleeve or pocket 36. - 5

As with the Figures 1 and 1A embodiment, the inner springs 32 of the spring units 22 may be of differing materials, andlor of differing forms, and/or of differing tensions, and as will be seen from Figure 2A the inner springs of the spring units 22 are of differing heights.

Figures 3 and 3A show a spring assembly 40 wherein a plurality of springs 42 - which may be pocketed springs - are located in said assembly in a random (but predetermined), i.e. irregular arrangement.

In addition to the springs 42, the assembly includes a plurality of spring units 44, each of which includes an outer spring 46 (which may be a pocketed spring) and an inner spring, which may also be a pocketed spring. Again, and as will be best seen from Figure 3A, the heights of the inner springs differ throughout the assembly, in addition to which the forms of the springs, the materials of the springs, as well as the tensions of lhe springs may also differ.

As well as the inner springs differing as described, the outer springs may also differ, in material, in form, andlor in tension, as well as in diameter, although the latter is not shown in the drawings. Such variation applies to all the outer springs of all three described embodiments.

In each of the described embodiments ofthe invention, the inner springs or the springs of the inner spring units may be formed of any suitable material such as metal or foam, or there may be a combination of such materials. The outer springs or the springs of the outer spring units could also be of either of these materials.

By varying &e inner springs or the springs of the inner spring units as described above, the spring assembly, when incorporated into a bed, divan bed, mattress or other upholstered article of furniture, may be varied so as to give the resulting item varying degrees of hardness and thinness, i. e. the 'spring count' of the unit may be varied ad ink nitum to suit any particular end-user requirements, needs and personal preferences.

Claims

CLAIMS: 1. A spring assembly including a plurality of spring units, some

at least of said spring units having inner springs which differ from the inner springs of others of said spring units.
2. A spring assembly according to Claim 1, wherein said inner springs differ in height.
3. A spring assembly according to Claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein said inner springs differ in diameter.
4. A spring assembly according to any of Claims 1 to 3, wherein said inner springs differ in tension.
5. A spring assembly according to any of Claims 1 to 4, wherein said inner springs differ in form. - 8
6. A spring assembly according to Claim 5, wherein said inner springs are coil springs, barrel springs, or other suitable forms of OS springs.
7. A spring assembly according to any ofthe preceding Claims, wherein said spring units comprise an outer spring and an inner spring, some at least of said outer springs and/or some at least of said inner springs being pocketed springs.
8. A spring assembly according to any of the preceding Claims, wherein said springs are formed of metal, foam or otber suitable material.
9. A spring assembly substantially as herein described with reference to and as illustrated in Figures 1 and 1A, Figures 2 and 2A, or Figures 3 and 3A of the accompanying drawings.
10. A bed, divan bed, mattress or other article of upholstered g finiture incorporating a spring assembly according to any of Claims lto9.