US2311256A - Spring construction - Google Patents

Description

Feb. 16, 1943. T, SARK SPRING CONSTRUCTION Filed Jan. 6, 1941 Patented Feb. 16, 1943 UNITED sr SPRING CONSTRUCTION Ward T. Sark, Oak Park, Ill., assgnor to Haggard and Marcusson Co., Chicago, Ill., a corporation f Illinois Application January 6, 1941, serial No. 373,239

4 Claims.

My invention relates to spring means for use in beds, couches, gliders and the like and particularly to a construction in which e, flexible structure is arranged over the top of the spaced spring elements.

In a construction such as described, it is common to employ a series of flat, exible strips overlying the tops of adjacent springs and extending between the border, the strips being joined to the border by helical springs placed under a degree of tension. The objection to such an arrangement, even where a. border member of substantial cross sectional area is provided, is that the constant pull of the tension members for the strips tends to bow or bend inward the border, rendering the spring objectionable both in the point of sale and use. l

Such bowing and distortion of the border member occurs also during handling, and so-called stabilizers are commonly provided for strengthening or reinforcing the borders and preventing side sway.

I have accomplished the desired result of avoiding distortion of the border, even when one of small cross sectional area is used, and of stabilizing the structure by the use of very simple and inexpensive means. with a resulting saving, not only in weight but in cost of construction.

The invention will be more readily understood by reference to the accompanying drawing; in which:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a portion of a bed spring to which my improvement has been applied; and

Fig. 2 is a sectional view somewhat enlarged, the view being taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

The spring construction illustrated in Fig. l comprises a frame I0 with the usual cross girders on which the side springs Il and intermediate springs I2 are mounted. The respective springs are joined by the diagonally arranged helicals I3, all of the foregoing being common construction.

The side springs II are connected to a border rod I4 which extends entirely around the spring structure, the top coil of the springs II being seated in a kerf milled into the border, and the metal of the rod being pinched over the wire of the spring to hold it in place, all as shown at I5in Fig.2.

Flexible flat strips Iii-I1 extend transversely and longitudinally of the structure and overlie each other at the axis of each of the intermediate springs. A helical spring I8 is connected through a wire clip I9 to the border, the clip being bent around the top coil of the side springs II at its point of engagement with the border, and the opposite end of the helical being hooked to the strip. However, the strips at their end portions are reinforced by means of a short section 2U which is welded or riveted thereto, the section being oiiset as at i2| to provide an open space or slot 22. The outer end of the short section is perforated to receive the hook of the helical I8. The parts areso dimensioned that in normal position all the tension exerted by the helical I8 is exerted against the upper turn of the outer spring II, the portion of the flat strip between the outer coils, being without tension. It should be understood that, for all practical purposes, the top coil of the border spring is laterally incompressible by the force of the helical I8. The said top coil is of such rigidity that the initial tension of the helical has no noticeable effect toward changing the shape of the said top coil. When a load is imposed on the spring that would tend to elongate the strips and consequently the helicals I8, the strips may freely move inwardly because of the slot 22, and thus exert an additional pullon the helicals at the ends of the strips. Thus the only time that any pull is exerted tending to bend inward the border member is when a load is imposed on the spring. At all other timesv the tension of the helicals is neutralized so far as the border is concerned.

The construction described brings about the other important result; that is, the stabilizing of the structure. In view of the fact that the outer edges of the side springs are firmly held against rotation, the holding of the inner edges of the outer springs against rotation and the reinforcing of the strips at their ends brings about the surprising result of stabilizing of the structure. This is best explained by stating that since the top coil of the outer spring cannot bend downward, at its inner portion, any inward thrust exerted on the border is transmitted directly along the axis of the strip. Although the strips are flexible, they are held against flexure at closely spaced points and thus the thrust is in effect, transmitted entirely across the structure. In this manner I am able to avoid more expensive and complicated stabilizing structures and thereby to produce a lighter and less expensive spring.

It will be understood that the opposite side of the spring is identical with that shown. Further, that while I have shown the spring neutralizing device as applied to all of the flat strips composing the platform or upper structure, I may prefer to apply the feature: only to the strips at the middle of the structure, omitting it at the ends. It will be understood also that the desired result of neutralizing the pull of the transverse helical springs by exerting the normal pull against the top coil of the outside springs in a specific manner may be accomplished in other ways than that shown, and I do not wish to be limited except as indicated in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In means for preventing the bending of the border of a spring structure, and for stabilizing said structure, a series of spaced springs,the top coils of a plurality of the outer springs of which are immovably fixed to said border, at strips overlying the springs and extending between the members constituting the respective sides of the border, helical springs connecting the ends of the strips to the border, the strips having a double thickness at their ends between which the top coil of the outer springs is conned, said strips providing stops abutting the top coil of the outer springs at a point diametrically opposite the point of engagement of said top coil with the border, whereby the initial tension of said helical springs is exerted against said top coil and is thus neutralized in relation to the border.

2. In means for preventing the bending of the border of a spring structure and for stabilizing said structure, a series of spaced springs, the top coils of a plurality of the outer springs of which are immovably xed to said border, flat strips overlying the springs and extending between the members constituting the respective sides of the border, helical springs connecting the ends of the strips to the border, said strips being stiffened at their ends and having a sliding connectionl with the top coils of said outer springs so as to prevent rotation of said top coils about the border and permit sliding movement of the strip, said stiiening elements providing a stop abutting the top coils of the outer springs at a point diametrically opposite the point of engagement of said top coils with the border whereby the initial tension of saidhelical springs is exerted against said top coils and is thus neutralized in relation to thev border. v

vr3. In means for preventing the bending of the border of a spring structure and for stabilizing e the structure, a series of spaced springs, the top coils of a plurality of the outer springs of which are immovably i'lxed to said border, at strips overlying the springs and extending between the members constituting the respective sides of the border, helical springs connecting the ends of the strips to the border, the strips having a double thickness at their ends providing a slot, the inner end of which acts as a stop for the top coil of an outer spring,r at a point diametrically opposite the point of engagement of said top coil with the border, whereby said strips may be pulled inwardly, thus placing additional tension on said helical springs, but so that. the normal initial tension of said helicals isexerted against said top coil and not between the border members.

4. In means for stabilizing a spring structure, a series of spaced springs and a border, the top coils of a plurality of the outer springs being immovably xed to said border, at strips overlying the springs and extending between the members constituting the respective sides of the border, and helical springs connecting the ends of the strips to the border, said strips having means at their ends providing a sliding connection with said top coils of said outer springs so as to prevent rotation of said top coils about the border, but so as to permit sliding movement of said strips relative to said top coils.

WARD T. SARK.

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