US2579818A

US2579818A - Spring assembly

Info

Publication number: US2579818A
Application number: US588403A
Authority: US
Inventors: Goldstein Jacob
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1945-04-14
Filing date: 1945-04-14
Publication date: 1951-12-25
Anticipated expiration: 1968-12-25

Description

J. GOLDSTEIN SPRING ASSEMBLY Dec.25, 1951 2 SHEETS--S-EET l Filed April 14, 1945 m@ Num Jaco@ sf/N.

INVENTOR. mi 7M Dec 25, 1951 J. GOLDSTEIN 2,579,818

SPRING ASSEMBLY Filed April 14, 1945 2 SHEETSSHEET g J/Ica 60.4 D .s rfv/V.

INVENTOR. BY Y'f,

Patented Dec. 25, 1951 UNITED sTATizs cargar orrica SPRING ASSEMBLY Jacob Goldstein, Mishawaka, Ind.

Application April 14, 1945, Serial No. 588,403

This invention relates to improvements in spring assemblies or spring units for use in furniture, box springs, mattresses and the like.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a, construction of this character wherein certain intermediate frame units of the frame are hinged at one end thereof to a perpendicularly cir-tending intermediate frame element near a margin of the device to accommodate depression of springs at said margin or margins without producing a bulging action of the remainder of the assembly.

A further object is to provide a spring assembly with a spring mounting frame including a marginal frame and intersecting frame elements carried by and spanning said marginal frame, certain of said elements terminating short of said marginal frame at one side thereof, whereby the tendency for compression of springs outwardly thereof to distort the remainder of the assembly will be minimized.

A further object is to provide a spring assembly, including a frame and spring elements, which is provided with a wood strip extending along at least one end to form a foundation for a roll edge and a retainer for a seat cushion when used in furniture.

A further object is to provide a spring unit of this character which is flat and remains iiat despite edge compression, so that when it is used in furniture, a cushion will lie flat thereon.

Other objects willV be apparent from the description, drawings and appended claims.

In the drawings:

Fig'. l is a diagrammatic vertical sectional view l (if `a chair using my improved spring unit. Fig. 2 is a top plan view of my spring unit illustrating the springs diagrammatically.

Fig'. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary bottom perspective view of the spring unit.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view of a Spring unit, taken on line 4 4 of Fig. 2.

Fig.l 5 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view similar to Fig. 4 and illustrating the edge of the unit compressed.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary schematic view illustrating a Inodied embodiment of the invention.

n most spring assemblies certain undesirable conditions or characteristics occur in use. Among them is a tendency for the central portion of the assembly to bow upwardly when pressure is applied at the margin or edge thereof. This condition may become permanent in time, and renders the unit or article in which the assemblyis used unsightly or unattractive. Also,

8 Claims. (Cl. 5--269) in furniture of the type having separate seat cushions, such distortion and central bulging of the springs permit the cushions to shift and expose a gap between the cushion and the supporting spring assembly which is highly objectionable. industry to provide a roll edge to avoid this gap and produce a good fit of a seat cushion on the seat springs. Such roll edges are usually formed of rolls made of paper, ber and other materials which are stitched to the cover of the spring assembly. The cost in labor and materials of roll edges formed on such rolls is high, and the results depend on the skill and care used in applying the rolls.

I propose to overcome the difficulties outlined above by providing a spring assembly with frame elements so constructed and arranged that the assembly lies at under all conditions of use, without sacrifice of cushioning action or yielding properties. Also, I provide a hinge in the frame at one or more margins thereof and so arrange the parts as to permit the margin orthe edge portion of the assembly to be depressed without causing the central portion of the spring to bow upwardly. Additionally, I provide a wood strip secured to and reinforced by the pivoted marginal portion of the spring assembly and projecting upwardly therefrom to provide a firm but flexible foundation for a, bead roll or roll edge.

Referring to the drawings, the numeral I0 designates an upholstered chair or davenport having a base I I including legs I2, a back I3, a. spring assembly I4 and a seat cushion I5. The spring assembly is enclosed, and the various parts are upholstered, for example, padded, covered and decoratively trimmed, as is conventional.

The spring assembly i4 is best illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3 and comprises a plurality of con-` ventional double conical coil springs I6 spaced apart uniformly and in alignment. A frame is fabricated from a plurality of fairly stiff wire members, and one end of each spring is secured to this frame. One wire is bent in rectangular shape with longitudinal runs I'I and end runs i8. This member outlines the frame and the spring assembly. A plurality of longitudinal wires I9 with perpendicularly bent ends 2li span the frame in spaced relation and their ends 25! extend alongside end runs I3 of the marginal frame element. At the front of the assembly and spaced from front longitudinal run Il a distance equal to the diameter of the springs I6 is another longitudinal wire 2l with short perpendicularly bent ends 22 lying alongside the end runs i8 of the 'marginal It is common practice in the furniture lie alongside each other.

Il of the marginal frame element. Wire coils 2B encircle each of the longitudinal elements and the two end runs IB of the frame. These coils serve to secure the various frame elements together by encircling all parts which engage or Also, the coils serve to secure the individual springs I5 to the frame elements. This function of the coils 26 is best illustrated in Fig. 3.

The unit or assembly provided in this manner serves to connect each spring to the frame "at fz,

two or more circumferentially spaced portions of one end of each spring. Therefore, the connection serves to position the springs to space them properly, and generally to provide a usable spring unit or assembly. The wires which form the frame elements are stiff enough to normally maintain the unit in flat form, but are sufliciently exible to accommodate the desired cushioning or yielding action of the unit, as will be Well understood.

The arrangement shown is illustrative only. Thus the transverse

U-shaped spring elements

23, 24', 25 may terminate at the rearmost of the intermediate longitudinal frame elements i9 to which the inner portions of the rear row of springs are attached as illustrated schematically in Fig. 6. Such a construction would duplicate the front construction and would serve the same purpose. Likewise as also illustrated schematically in Fig. 6, a transverse member lill could be provided for attachment to the inner portion of each of the springs at each end of the frame and the longitudinal intermediate frame members I9 and 2l could be secured thereto instead of to the end runs I3 of the marginal frame elements as illustrated in Fig. l. This would duplicate at all margins of the assembly the frame and spring arrangement shown in Figs. 1 to 5 at the front only of the unit and would impart thereto the same properties possessed by the front margin si of the construction illustrated in Figs. l to 5.

If the spring assembly is to be used as a support for a cushion in upholstered furniture, and also in other uses where a roll edge or the like is desired, it can be provided very simply and inexpensively by the use of a wood strip 27 secured along one or more edges of the assembly. As best illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4, a strip 21 of triangular cross-section is secured to springs I6 and to the frame run Il by means of staples 28. The strip 2l lies flat upon the spring frame with its tapered edge extending inwardly. Thus it forms a rrn foundation upon which a roll edge 28 may be formed by the use of padding and covering fabric as shown in Figs. 1 and 4.

In use, the spring assembly or unit maintains its normal flat shape under all conditions, without detracting from its desired yielding and cushioning properties. One of the severest tests which a spring unit must' stand is compression Y at one edge only. The instant construction reacts to this testas shown in-Fig. 5. Specifically, the interconnection of the runs 23 of the transverse frame elements with frame element 2| by means of coil 26 permits the element 2| to rotate as its end portions 22 are deflected downwardly, incident to the bending of marginal frame runs I8 by the applied pressure. Thus the transverse frame members 2li are not subjected to the bending action of the compressing force and therefore remain fiat. The bending of the end frame runs la incident to thisV compression produces little effect upon the unit, and is not important inasmuch as the transverse frame members 24 serve to retard and minimize it. Also, the compressive force is seldomrapplied directly at the end of the unit, and hence bending at IS is never very great. Likewise, upon release of such marginally applied compressive force, the return force of the springs is exerted, particularly through strip 21, to effect return of the unit, including end frame runs I8, to at or straight form. Consequently, the unit, and the furniture or article in which it is used, retain their flat trim shape indefinitely and are not subject to that deformation with use to which most spring filled articles are subject ordinarily.

The use of strip 2 provides several distinct advantages. Principal among them are the part played in retaining the at trim shape of the spring lled unit, and` the reduction in time and expense required to fabricate a roll edge. Also, it will be observed that the wood strip insures that the roll edge which is made thereon will be true and uniform, without requiring special skill. When properly cushioned the strip d'oes not irnpart objectionable rigidity to the assembly. Also, there is no danger that the strip will be broken in normal use, since it is supported effectively by frame element il and the springs to which it is secured.

The combinationV of theV two factors of shape retention and firm roll edge foundation is particularly effective in upholstered furniture. The seat cushions always fit snugly and are retained by the roll edge so that there is no exposed gap or other condition which detracts from the appearance or comfort 0f the article.

I claim:

l. A spring unit comprising a plurality of substantially uniformly spaced coil springs, a iiat frame assembly including a rectangular marginal frame and a plurality of intermediate spaced longitudinal and transverse frame elements, means connecting said intermediate longitudinal and transverse frame elements to each other at adjacent and intersecting portions, and means connecting portions of said intermediate longitudinal and transverse frame elements to said marginal frame, said connecting means cooperating to connect each spring at spaced points in a common plane tol at least two parts of said frame assembly, the intermediate transverse frame elements terminating short of said marginal frame and spaced from the marginal springs Yat one sid of the frame assembly. Y Y

2. A spring unit comprising a plurality of substantially uniformly spaced coil springs arranged in a plurality of parallel rows, a at frame assembly including a rectangular marginal frame and intermediate spaced longitudinal and transverse frame elements, means connecting said intermediate longitudinal and transverse frame elements to each other at adjacent and intersecting portions, and means connecting portions of said intermediate longitudinal and transverse frame elements to said marginal frame,V said connecting means also connecting each s-pring at spaced points in a common plane to at leasttwo parts of said frame assembly, said intermediate transverse frame elements being pivotally connected at one end thereof to an intermediate longitudinal frame element.

3. A spring unit comprising a plurality of coil springs arranged uniformly in spaced rows, a

frame assembly formed from a rectangular marginal frame and spaced longitudinal and transverse intermediate frame elements, means connecting said intermediate longitudinal and transverse frame elements to each other at adjacent and intersecting portions, and means connecting portions of said intermediate longitudinal and transverse frame elements to said marginal frame, said connecting means also connecting each spring to at least two parts of said frame assembly in a common plane, at least one end of the intermediate frame elements which extend in one direction terminating adjacent to the outermost intermediate frame element perpendicular thereto and spaced from at least one side of said marginal frame and from the marginal springs connected at said side of said marginal frame.

4. A spring unit comprising a frame assembly including a substantially rectangular marginal frame and spaced intermediate longitudinal and transverse intersecting frame elements, a plurality of substantially uniformly spaced coil springs, means connecting said intermediate longitudinal and transverse frame elements to each other, and means connecting portions of said intermediate longitudinal and transverse frame elements to said marginal frame, said connecting means also connecting each spring to at least two parts of said frame assembly, the portions of the intermediate frame elements which extend in one direction terminating in spaced relation to at least one side of said marginal frame and the marginal springs connected to said frame side.

5. A spring assembly comprising a substantially rectangular marginal Wire frame, a group of substantially parallel longitudinal intermediate wire frame elements having perpendicularly bent end portions, a group of substantially parallel transverse intermediate wire frame elements having perpendicularly bent end portions, the intermediate frame elements of one of said parallel groups being shorter than the corresponding portions of said marginal frame and having one perpendicularly bent end portion thereof positioned alongside one of the intermediate frame elements of the other group, a plurality of coil springs arranged in substantially equi-spaced relation throughout the assembly, means for connecting said intermediate frame elements together at intersecting and adjacent portions thereof, and means for connecting portions of said intermediate frame elements to said marginal frame to dene a frame assembly, said connecting means also connecting each coil spring to at least two parts of said frame assembly.

6. A spring assembly comprising a substantially rectangular marginal wire frame, a plurality of substantially parallel longitudinal intermediate wire frame elements having perpendicularly bent end portions, a plurality of substantially parallel transverse intermediate wire frame elements having perpendicularly bent end portions, the parallel intermediate frame elements of one group being shorter than the corresponding portion of said marginal frame, a plurality of substantially uniformly spaced coil springs arranged in a plurality of rows, and Wire coils encircling selected frame elements to interconnect said frame elements to one another to dene a frame assembly and to said marginal frame and to connect each coil spring to at least two parts of said frame assembly, the bent portion at one end of each short intermediate frame element being secured to said marginal frame, and the bent portion at the other end of each short intermediate frame element being secured to one of the intermediate frame members of the other group.

7. A spring unit comprising a rectangular marginal frame, intermediate intersecting frame elements, a plurality of substantiaily uniformly spaced coil springs, and connecting means connecting said coil springs to said frame and frame elements and connecting said frame elements to said marginal frame and to intersecting elements, the portions of said intermediate frame elements which extend in one direction terminating short of a selected side of said marginal frame and of the springs connected thereto, the stress transmitted by said short intermediate frame elements incident to compression of the springs connected to said selected side of said marginal frame being small compared to the stress transmitted by intermediate frame members incident to compression of any or" the other springs or" said spring unit.

8. A spring unit comprising a rectangular marginal frame, intermediate intersecting frame elements, a plurality of coil springs, means connecting said marginal frame, intermediate frame elements and coil springs in a unit, said ntermediate frame elements terminating short of said marginal frame and marginal springs at one side thereof, and a Wood strip adapted to be flexed extending parallel to and secured to said marginal frame and the spring secured to said frame at said last named side and spaced from said intermediate frame elements.

JACOB GOLDSTEIN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the ille of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 426,022 Jeffery Apr. 22, 1890 902,011 Staples Oct. 27, 1908 1,395,421 Johnson Nov. l, 1921 1,633,544 Hanauer June 21, 1927 1,695,444 TreW Dec. 18, 1928 1,948,130 Reed Feb. 20, 1934 2,008,185 Pittoni July 16, 1935 2,052,040 Sklar Aug. 25, 1936 2,261,581 Gleason Nov. 4, 1941 2,265,426 Foster Dec. 9, 1941