US2302514A - Bedspring and the like - Google Patents

Description

Nov. 17, 1942. J. T. ATKINSON BED SPRING rAND THE LIKE Filgd oci. 11, 195e 4 sheets-snee; 1

Novu 17, 1942. l 1 T ATK|N50N 2,302,514

BED SPRING AND THE LIKE' @es mm Lau- Akal ile-, mn--- Nov. 17, 1942. .1. T. ATKINSON -Fi 1edvoot-. '11, 1958 BED SPRING AND THE LIKE 4 sheets-snaai 3 Nov.. 17, 1942. .1 T ATKINSQN 2,302,514

BED SPRING AND THE LIKE Filed oct. 11, 1958 4 sheets-sheet 4 Patented Nov. 17, 1942 UNITED STATES PATENT. YGFFICE 2,302,514 BEDsrRINGnND THE LIKE Jerome r. Atkiison, Northfield, n1.

Application October 11, 1938, Serial No. 234,461

1 claim.

This invention has to do with springs generally? used on beds and the like. More particularly this invention relates to the provision of means for adjusting and regulating the various portions of the springs.

In commercialI bed springs as generally con- 'l structed and used today there is no provision made for variation in weight of the person or persons using the spring, nor is any provision made for variations in the types of mattresses that may be employed upon any particular spring;

nor is there any provision made for any modication that would compensate for the normal Wear in a mattress used on the spring.

Numerous tests conducted clearly indicate that f.

two persons of identical weight may need and desire entirely different support when sleeping. A tall muscular person of a given weight needs quite a different combination of spring and mattress from that most comfortable for a short plump individual of the same weight.

It has also been found that a person with a slight spinal curvature or personal idiosyncrasies and. persons with physical pecularities should have a sleeping surface that is relatively dat anddoes not sag below the horizontal when the weight is placed upon the mattress. A common fault with mattresses and springs used in combination today is that they areY substantially flat when not in use, but when the weight of the user is placed;`

upon the mattress, the mattress and spring combination yields to such an extent-particularly under the heavy portions of the body; that is, the torsothat the bed is far from being as comfortable as it should be. This, to a great extent,-

accounts for many people sleeping on their sides in efforts to get their spines in relatively straight lines or comfortable positions.

Pillows are generally used for a softer cushioning near the face which is most sensitive, to raise the head somewhat when people lie on their sides and to keep drafts off their shouders in cold weather. From habit most people use pillows for sleeping but the pillow in turn contributes to .f

and accentuates the distortion of the sleeping surculiarities, and since springs, mattresses and pillows also vary with age and use and since the combination of different mattresses with different springs and pillows vary to a great extent it has been impossible heretofore to provide a sleeping surface that is always satisfactory or that may be adjusted at will to give normal orthograde posture to any individual wishing to use a particular spring, mattress and pillowcombination.

Up to the present time several types of adjustable springs have been-placed on the market. The fact-none of these is generally available, and that their manufacture has been discontinued is evidence that the functions they perform do not adequately meet the qualifications satisfactory to adjustable bed springs. So far as applicant has been able to determine these springs have fallen into disuse primarily because the adjusting means was generally intended to provide compensation for the distortion developed through wear, abnormal use or abuse. The adjustment of the complete spring in fact accomplished so little that these constructions have long since been abandoned and fallen into commercial disuse,

f It is a purpose of the present invention to supply a heretofore unfilled need; namely, a bed spring wherein an adjustment may independently be made on each side to provide for each of the two occupants independently, the type of sleeping surface which each desires although these may be markedly different, and further to permit the changing of either or both sides when and if desired. The principle, of course, is also applicable to a single size as well as to a double size spring.

Experiments conducted show that to provide normal orthograde posture, it is necessary to crown the surface of the spring longitudinally; that is, to have the portions under the torso higher .than the end portions when the spring is not in use. Raising of certain sections'to crown the spring provides more support in those po-rtions where the surface is crowned. As a result when an individual then lies upon a mattress which is placed on the spring, the surface of the mattress under the weight of theroccupant -yields comfortably but does not sag, as is the case with any spring which is flat when not in use.

Today all springs are manufactured with the objective a flat surface when not in use. This we contend is wrong as the spring will then sag when the bed is occupied. This distorts the position of the sleepers spine and does not permit perfect relaxation. Recognition by the industry of the faults existing in 'springs and most mattresses is evidenced by the many mattresses that are being manufactured today with built-up centers to compensate for the faults of design and construction of the springs. However, this does not go to the basic cause of the difficulty which is the foundation support for the mattress; namely, the spring. Further the additional support provided in these new mattresses is through the mathematical center cross section of the mattress. This, experiments established, is unsatisfactory as the added support is needed where there is additional weight; namely, toward the head of the bed and under the torso. This is provided in the constructions disclosed and is an important feature in connection with our invention.

Due to personal idiosyncrasies and sleeping habits of individuals and couples provision is further made by applicant for adjusting the spring to provide more or less support under the shoulders as may be desired and under the hips as may be desired and in addition to provide for adjusting the center portion of a double bed spring along the longitudinal axis to counteract the tendency of two persons rolling together. This is sometimes desirable in that some people are easily disturbed by being touched or bumped by another perso-n in the bed.

Further means of adjustment is provided in applicants spring, which is the crowning of each half of the double bed spring transversally as well as longitudinally and independently of the other half. The purpose of this is essentially to compensate for the wear on the mattress which develops most markedly directly under the portion where there is greatest weight and in a bed occupied by two persons sleeping side by side is often appreciably noticeable as a longitudinal depression on each side of the mattress. Normally, the mattress must be discarded if these depressions become too bad.

It is the purpose of applicant to provide a bed spring which may be adjusted transversely and longitudinally so as to compensate for the wear.

and faults of the mattress, as mentioned above.

It is a further purpose to provide a relatively v inexpensive device easy to manufacture and easy to adjust.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear as the nature of the improvements is better understood, the invention consisting substantially in the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and finally pointed out in the appended claims.

The form of the invention herein shown and described presents a preferred embodiment thereof, and delineates its adaption to practical use, but it is to be understood that the present disclosure is to be considered from the illustrative standpoint and not as imposing restriction or limitation on the invention.

f In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a plan View of a single bed size of a spring with adjusting mechanism as set forth in this application. The coils have not been shown except for one portion of the spring, having generally been omitted from above the adjusting support for the purpose of more clearly showing a plan view of that mechanism;

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the device shown in'Figure 1 Figure 3 is a transverse sectional view, of the device illustrated in Figure 2, being taken on the line 3--3 of Figure 2, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary sectional elevation of l the lifting mechanism illustrated in Figure 3, the

view being transverse;

Figure 5 is a plan view similar to that of Figure l except that it represents a new concept of a double bed spring;

Figure 6 is a side elevation of the spring shown in Figure 5;

Figure '7 is a transverse sectional view of the device illustrated in Figure 6, being taken on the line 'l-l of Figure 6, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Figure 8 is a plan view essentially the same as that shown in Figure 5, with the exception that it shows a longitudinal separation through the approximate center;

Figure 9 is a side elevation of the spring illustrated in Figure 8; s

Figure l0 isa transverse sectional view of the spring illustrated in Figures 8 and 9, being a view taken on the line III- l0 of Figure 9, looking in the directions of the arrows;

Figure 11 is a fragmentary plan view of a spring showing an additional transverse adjusting mechanism for each longitudinal adjustable unit, as well as the adjusting mechanism in the previous figures;

Figure 12 is a transverse elevation of the structure shown in Figure 1l, being a View taken on the line i2-l2 of Figure 1l, looking in the direction ofthe arrows;

Figure 13 is a fragmentary sectional elevation of the adjusting mechanism of Figures ll and l2, more clearly showing the additional mechanism.

Referring more specifically to the drawings, the same number indicates the same device or portion of the construction wherever used in various figures,

In the figures, 20 represents the rigid base frame of the conventional bed spring, and 2| M designates the rigid cross supports conventionally employed in bed springs. Number 22 designates transverse radditions to the base frame 20, which additions are joined to and integral with said base frame 20, and 23 designates the rigid cross supports on the adjustable portion of the spring. s These cross supports terminate and are attached to the moveable longitudinal strips 24-26 and 25-21, which normally are supported by the longitudinal sides of the base frame 2i). The longitudinal strips 26 and 21 are shownfas being supported by the transverse additions 22 of base frame 20.

Various means are available for moving the longitudinal strips Z4-26 and 25-2'l, but for the purpose of this application, I have shown the conventional set vscrews 2B, 29, 3U, 3|, 32, 33, 34,

Y 35, 35, 31, 38 and 39. These set screws operate independently of each other to raise the portion of the longitudinal strips 24.-26 and- 25-21 apportioned to each of the set screws, as may be desired. This relative movement of each of the longitudinal strips 24-25 and 25-21 may be accomplished in the portion of any strip desired.

It may be seen by the above explanation and in examination of the drawings, that by adjusting the various set screw, the top surface of the 0 springmay be modified to suit the needsof the occupant. In connection with the above, it will be seen that the top surface of the spring illustrated in Figures 5, 6 and 7 iiexes but remains unbroken. In the various figures, the top surface is designated 45, and includes 'the entire top of the bed. It is the portion of the bed spring on which the mattress rests and may be similar to the top surface of the ordinary bed spring in use today. As indicated in Figure 8, for example, the top surface may be comprised of a plurality of top portions, one for each section of the bed spring, and being two top portions 46 and 41, making up the top surface 45, as shown in Figures 8 and 10.

By adjusting the set screw 30 as much of the longitudinal strip 24 is moved away from rigid frame 20, as is supported by set screw 30, and the longitudinal strip 24 in turn moves transverse cross supports 23, associated with it- 'Ihe cross supports when moved by longitudinal strip 24 on the adjustment, in their turn move the coil springs 40, thus modifying the surface of the bed spring and giving added support at that area. Likewise adjustment of the other set screws accomplish the same relative movement of the other areas in the manner described. Two or more set screws of course may be coordinated in movement as is apparent in examination of the drawings. Thus it will be seen that the entire area directly above and adjacent to the moveable transverse supports may be modified at will.

Referring to the structure and arrangement shown in Figures 8, 9 and 10, the portion of the spring above the horizontal plane of the base is separated longitudinally into the sections A and B, to provide at least a semi-independent supporting portion (46 or 41 as the case may be) of the top surface 45 in each half of the spring. By this arrangement the adjustment of the section A by the person using the spring will have little or no effect on the adjustment of section B and the comfort to the user is that of a single bed in addition to the fact that each side, A and B, may be adapted to the individual comfort of the user as explained in connection with the structure shown in the various figures.

In Figure 11 the coil supports 4| are made ilexible Under the transverse coil supports 4I are supplemental supports 42, which although indicated in the drawings as rods may be coil springs or other supporting means.

Trusses numbered 43 are shown passing under supports 42. Said trusses are secured at either end to longitudinal flexible strips 24-26 and 25-21. In the truss rods 43 are means 44, here indicated as turnbuckles, which are employed to shorten the truss rods 42, thus transversely arching transverse coil supports 4|. As a result, the transverse flexing, in addition to the longitudinal flexing gives a compound adjustment which modifies the bed spring, thus also modifying the mattress, transversely as well as longitudinally, which both compensates for the wear developed in the mattress and provides additional comfort.

It is understood that there are many mechanical equivalents that may be used in elevating and ilexing the longitudinal supports 24--2i,` 25-21. In the figures shown we employ a simple set screw. Coordinated means may, of course, be provided whereby the corresponding portions of strips 24-26 and 25-21 may simultaneously be elevated through the actuation of one element. This is likewise true of means for arching transverse co-il supports 4I.

While it is set forth that certain of the parts have a certain position, it will be understood that applicant intends the description and drawings to cover normal variation of these parts. As an example the longitudinal strips number 24-26 and 25-21 would work very well in a crossed relation instead of apparently parallel as shown. Obviously equally satisfactory variation may be had without removing the device from the scope of this application.

The form of invention herein shown and described is believed to be a preferred embodiment thereof, but it is to be understood that the same is susceptible to change, variation and modification in the arrangements of the parts. 'I'he form illustrated, therefore, is to be taken from the illustrative standpoint only, and not as imposing restrictions or limitations upon the invention.

I claim:

A coil type bed spring and the like having a base frame with rigid cross supports and transverse additions, a top portion, which top portion is supported by coil springs, only some of which coil springs are in turn supported by the rigid cross supports, subsidiary frame arrangements carried by said base frame and resting on said transversed additions, top surface supporting coil springs carried by said subsidiary frame arrangements and constituting substantially the remainder of the coil springs not supported by the rigid cross supports, said subsidiary frame arrangements including movable longitudinal strips, adjusting means such as set screws variously positioned and operable independently of each other to raise and lower, as the case may be, various portions of the longitudinal strips,

whereby each of the longitudinal strips is varied and in turn varies the tension on the coil springs supporting the top surface of the bed spring and thereby varies the tension on the respective top portions above and adjacent the said coil springs.

JEROME T. ATKINSON.

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