US2794495A

US2794495A - Structure for furniture and the like

Info

Publication number: US2794495A
Application number: US438256A
Authority: US
Inventors: Justin J Wetzler
Original assignee: Englander Co Inc
Current assignee: Englander Co Inc
Priority date: 1954-06-21
Filing date: 1954-06-21
Publication date: 1957-06-04
Anticipated expiration: 1974-06-04

Description

June 4, 1957 J. J. wETzLER STRUCTURE EUR FURNITURE ANU THE LIKE Filed June 2l, 1954 United States Patent O STRUCTURE Fon FURNITURE AND Tim LIKE Justin J. Wetzler, Evanston, lll., assignor to The Englander Company, Inc., Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Delaware Y Application June 21, 1954, Serial No. 438,256

5 Claims. (Cl. 1755-180) The present invention relates to a novel structure -for use 1n furniture such, for example, as chairs, divans, box

springs and vehicle seats, and more particularly, to a i As set forth in the above mentioned co-pending applii' A' cation, wood has heretofore generally Abeen used for prof viding frames for box spring structures and various pieces of furniture,Y but vsuch wooden frames are subjectv to a number of disadvantages which maybe overcome by pro# viding metal frames of the type described in the above mentioned cro-pending application. One problem Vthat arisesY when utilizing metal frames of the type contemplated herein is the attachment vof covering fabric sections or panels to the metal frame since such usual devices as includes a substantially at longitudinally extending portacks and staples cannot be used. It is, therefore, a primary object of the present invention to provide a novel structure including a metal frame member and a fabric panel, which structure is formed so that the fabric panel may be readily attached to the metal frame in a manner that will permit the fabric to have a neat, unwrinkled l' appearance,

Another object of the present invention is to provide a novel metal frame member of the above described type with means for gripping or securing a vfabric panel or section substantially through the entire length of the frame member whereby the fabric panel may be uniformly held along its length so as to reduce any possibility of bulges or wrinkles appearing therein.

Patented June 4, 1957 ICC with a metal frame member similar to the frame member shown iniFig. 6 but embodying a slightly modified form ofthis invention; and

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary cross sectional view similar to Fig. 7 and showing how the fabric gripping metal portion of the metal frame member shown in Fig. 8 may be deformed to its ultimate fabric retaining position.

Referring now more specilically to the drawings wherein like parts are designated by the same numerals throughout the various figures, a structure 10 embodying the preferred form of the present invention is shown in Figs. l through 4. The structure 10 includes a sheet metal frame member 12, a covering fabric panel or section 14, and a member 16 mounted on the frame member forv securing the fabric panel to the frame member. In instances when the structure 10 is to be utilized in a box spring unit frame of the type shown in the aforementioned co-pending application, it may be desired to provide the structure with a dust protecting fabric panel 1 8 for covering the bottom of the box spring unit frame, not shown, which dust protecting panel may also be secured to the frame member 12 by the securing member 16. The Vframe member 12 is formed from sheet metal and includes a web portion 20 and integral laterally extending

anges

22 and 24. A longitudinally extending midportion of the` web 20 is provided with an inwardly formed channel section including inwardly bent portions 26 and ,28' Yjoined by a section 30. Various uses and advantages ofthe metal frame member 12 are fully set forth in the above mentioned copendingapplication.

The member 16 is formed from sheet spring metal and tion-32 vwhich is secured to the flange 24 of the frame member by means of a plurality of spaced welds 3 4. The member 16 also includes a longitudinally extending section 36 which extends from the section 32 and flares outwardlyor downwardly from the ange 24. The sectionr 36 merges with an inwardly curved and reversely extending portion 38 which has a serrated free' marginal edge or an edge provided with a series of closely spaced pointed teeth 40. The

sections

36 and 38 of the securing Still another object of the present invention is to provide a novel metal frame memberY 'of the above described type having means thereon into which a portion of a fabric panel may be easily inserted, which means is operable positively to prevent withdrawal of the fabric. Other objects and advantages of the present invention lwill becomeapparent from the following description and the accompanying drawings wherein:

Fig. l is a fragmentary perspective 'view showing a structure embodying the principles of this'invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary cross sectional View Y taken along line 2 2 in Fig. l;

Fig. 3 is a further enlarged fragmentary cross sectional view similar to Fig. 2 and showing the novel structure in greater detail;

Fig. 4 is Aa perspective view of an element ladapted'to panel to the frame member;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary cross sectional View similar to Fig. 3 and showing a slightly modified form of the present invention;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary perspective view showing another modiiied form of the present invention;

Fig. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary cross sectional view taken along line 7-7 in Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary cross sectional view illustrating the manner in which a fabric panel may be assembled be'secured to a metal frame member for attaching afabric member 16 are formed s'o that the teeth 40 are normally resiliently urged into contact or substantially into contact with the ange 24.

When assembling the fabric panel or section 14 with the frame member, the margin of the fabric panel is forcedbetween the teeth 40 and the ange 24 as shown best'in Fig. 3. It will be noted that the inward inclination of the teeth facilitates insertion of the fabric through the restricted opening between the teeth and the flange whereupon the teeth dig into the fabric and positively prevent withdrawal of the fabric. The fabric may be easily inserted with the aid of any simple flat bladed tool such as the tool 42 shown in Fig. 2 as will be understood.' The dust protecting fabric 1S is inserted into the securing member in the same manner as the fabric panel 14 and is shown best in Fig. 3. The teeth 40 are preferably forme'd so that they are long enough to pierce both 'ofthe panels 14 and 13.

Fig. 5 shows a slightly modified form ofthe present invention which is substantially similar to the above described structure as indicated by the application 'of iden- 'tical reference numerals with the sulix a added to corresponding elements. This embodiment diifers only in that the fabric panel 14a is provided with a marginal hem portion 44 which is sewn as at 46 and a wire 48 is inserted into the hem. The hem and the Wire are then forced into the securing member 16a whereupon the wire is engageable with the inner surface of the teeth 40a. This structure has an advantage in that the margin of the fabric panel is even more securely retained in assembled relationship with the frame member and cannot be removed witbontfrst nnnnnally bending,themen;-

ber 16 away from the flange 24a suiciently to permit withdrawal of the wire.

lnFigs. 6 and 7, thereis shown another modified-form of the present invention which is similar to the above described structure as indicated by the application of identical vreference numerals with the sux b .added to corresponding elements. As will be seen by referring to the drawings, this embodiment diers primarily in that securing means 16b is formed integral with the ange 24h of the frame member. Morespeciiically, the securing means 1Gb isprovided by an extell$i011 of ,the Aflange 2.4!1., which .extensionincludes a portion ,50 whiebis bent laterally outwardly ornewnwerdly .from the, .11ans/.e and n Portion 5,2v which extendsY back toward; therange `and prpvides a restricted opening',V for receiving the [margin o r Ahem of the covering fabricY 14b. freemalgjllal portion 54 of thesecuring -means ispreferably-dared-outf Wardly-to .faoltate insertion of the covering tabrohem and the wire or rod enclosed rin the hem through ythe testtieted orening- Preferably7 a plurality of ,teeth `5.6 lare striuck inwardly from andate s lPaCed along the pqr.- tion 52 for further closing the restricted opening V and for positively preventing removal of `the rfabric from the opening.y Y y In Figs. v8 Yand 9, there is vshown :an embodiment 4similar .toV the embodiment of Figs. 6, and 7 as indicated by the application of identical reference numerals with the suiix c added to corresponding elements. This embodimentdiffers in that the above described teeth' have been omitted and the engagement between the portion 521e ,of the securing means and the wire or rod Within the hem ,of the fabric may be relied upon for preventing disassembly of the fabric f As shown best in Fig. 8, the portionrSZc is initially formed s o that therestricted opening provided thereby is relatively wide. This arrangement facilitates insertion ofthe fabric hem and wire or rod therein through the opening. After the hem and the wire or rod have been inserted through the opening, the portion 52e is collapsed inwardly as shown inV Fig. 9 securely to hold the hem of the'fabrie eoyerins. Y

From the above description, it is seen that the present invention has provided a novel structure whereby fabric panels may be quickly and easily connected with a metal.

frame member. In, addition, it is seen that thenovel fabric securing means of the present invention is adapted to retain the `fabric evenly through its entire length whereby to tednee any possibility of unsightly-boleta or wrinkles appealing in the fabric. It should also be noted that the fabric panel securing means described above not only serve to retain the fabric in assembled relationshipY with the frame member but also serve. to reinforce the flange of the frame member since they extend for substantially the entire length of the flange.

While the preferred, embodiments of the present; inf vention have been shown and described herein, it is obvious that many structural details may be changed withoutdepanting from the spirit and scope of the appended elaints.

'libe present invention is claimed as follows:

1. A structure for use in furniture and the like com.- prising a metal frame member, fabric panel means, means securing said;fabric panel means` and saidY frame member .togthen said securing means including a separate sheet metal member having a base portion secured-tosaid frame member, Ya second portion extending from said base portion generally in one direction and flaring away from said frame member, and a reversely bent portion extending from said second portion between said second portion and the frame member toward said base portion and substantially to said frame member and providing a restricted opening along a substantial length of said frame member, said fabric panel means having a portion thereof extending through said restricted opening and retained against removal from said opening by interengagement with said reversely bent portion.

2. A structure, as defined in claim 1, wherein said reversely bent portion terminates in av plurality of Ylongitudinally spaced teethimpinging said fabric means, and wherein said fabric means includes a hem portion extending into said restricted opening, and an elongated member extending longitudinally within said hem portion and cooperatingv with said reversely bent portion for preventing removal of the hem portionfrom said restricted opening- Y 3. A structure for use in` furniture and the like comprising a metal frame member, fabric panel means, means securing said fabric panel 4means and said metal frame member together, said securing means including sheet metal means extending laterally from a portion of said frame member and generally in one direction, and teeth means integral with a free marginal portion of said sheet metal means and extending reversely generally in an opposite direction and between said sheet metal means and said frameV member back toward Vand substantially to ysaid frame member portion,l said fabric panel means having a portion thereof inserted and retained bef' tween said frame member portion and Ysaid teeth means.

4. In a structurefor use in furniture and the like the combination comprising a metal frame member, and means on said frame member for securing fabric panel means to the frame member, which fabric panel means extends from the frame member in one direction, said Securngvmeans including a separate sheet Ymetal member extending along an O uter surface of and secured to a substantial length of said frame member, Vsaidrsheet metal member having a portion extending laterally from a section of said frame member and generally in a direction Opposite from said one direction, anda retaining portion projecting from said laterally extending portion toward said frame member and between said laterally extending-portion and said section reversely toward said one direction and substantially to said section to provide an elongated restr-ietedopening between said frame member section; and said retaining portion of thesheet metal member, into which opening a fabric panel means may beinserted audjlueid by a free marginal edge of said retaining portion.

5,V A Structure, as dened in, claim 4, which includes teeth. means disposed along said free marginal edge and extending substantially to said frame member section forimpjnging fabric panel means being heldl by saldretaining portion:-

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,695,051 Naughton .v.,- Nov. 23, 1954