US2845996A

US2845996A - Unit sinuous spring and brace rod

Info

Publication number: US2845996A
Application number: US386525A
Authority: US
Inventors: Hyland C Flint
Original assignee: American Metal Products Co
Current assignee: American Metal Products Co
Priority date: 1953-10-16
Filing date: 1953-10-16
Publication date: 1958-08-05
Anticipated expiration: 1975-08-05

Description

Aug. 5, 1958 H. c. FLINT ,9

UN'IT smuous SPRING AND BRACE ROD Filed Oct. 16, 1953 I s Sheets-Sheet 1 15- 14 33- 147 is; BY 4;

arrows/1K5 Aug. 5, 1958 H. C. FLINT 2,845,996

UNIT SINUOUS SPRING AND BRACE ROD Filed Oct. 16, 1953 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 v I INVENTOR. H y/M4 6. mm?

' Aug. 5, 1958 H. FLINT I UNIT SINUOUS SPRING AND BRACE ROD Filed Oct. 16, 1953 I 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 .T INVENTOR.

E LE. f/y'zdrr f 27/772 United States UNIT SINUOUS SPRWG AND BRACE ROD Hyland C. Flint, Birmingham, Mich., assignor to American Metal Products Company, Detroit, Mich, a corporation of Michigan Application October 16, 1953, Serial No. 386,525

14 Claims. (Cl. 155179) The end portions of such a spring strip embodying the 735:

spring unit of the present invention have the front supporting portion of substantially V formation, while the rear portion is deflected downwardly and forwardly and joined to the main'central portion of the unit.

the variable spacing of the torsion bars and the brace provided by the extension from the rear end of the strip to the forward portion of the load-supportirng area of the unit. The V front end is so formed that under an initial load a portion thereof collapses upon itself to increase the support provided thereafter upon further application of load. The bracing bar formed at the rear end of the spring strip unit may be a separate element secured in rigid or pivoted relation at the end of the spring strip unit end. The bracing bar follows the construction of that illustrated, described and claimed in the copending application of R. J. Williams et al., Serial No. 226,771, filed May 17, 1951, now Patent No. 2,764,227, granted September 25, 1956, and assigned to the assignee of the present invention.

Accordingly, the main objects of the present invention are: to provide a spring strip unit for a seat cushion having parallel torsion bars spaced different amounts apart and a brace provided between a deflected rear end portion of the strip and the forward portion of the load bearing area of the unit; to provide a V-shaped supporting end for a spring strip unit of a seat cushion having a portion which bottoms on another portion to thereby increase the resistance to deflection of the V-shaped section as the load increases; to form a spring strip with an inwardly projecting end to which a separate bracing bar may be secured in fixed or in pivotal relation, and, in general, to provide a spring strip unit which produces a desired contour when loaded that has a support at one end which increases its resistance to deflection as the load increases and which is simple in construction and economical of manufacture.

Other objects and features of novelty of the invention will be specifically pointed out or will become apparent when referring, for a better understanding of the invention, to the following description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a seat cushion embodying features of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional view of the structure illustrated in Fig. 1, taken on the line 2-2 thereof;

Controlled contour is obtained in the spring strip through 2,845,996 Pa tente d Aug. 5, 1958 "ice Fig. 3 is a plan view of the structure illustrated in Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a broken view of the structure illustrated in Fig. 2, after a predetermined load has been applied to the cushion;

Fig. 5 is a view of an unattached spring unit, similar to that illustrated in Fig. 2, showing a modified form thereof;

Fig. 6 is a broken view of structure, similar to that illustrated in Fig. 2, illustrating another form of the invention;

Fig. 7 is a plan view of the structure illustrated in Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is a view of structure, similar to that illustrated in Fig. 7, showing a further form which the invention may assume;

Fig. 9 is an enlarged, broken sectional view of structure, similar to that illustrated in Figs. 6 and 7, showing another form thereof;

Fig. 10 is a plan view of the structure illustrated in Fig. 9;

Fig. 11 is a view of structure, similar to that illustrated in Fig. 9, showing another form of the invention, and

Fig. 12 is a plan view of the structure illustrated in Fig. 11.

The cushion illustrated in Fig. 1 has covering material 11 applied thereto over a frame 12 which supports a plurality of spring units 13. The spring unit 13 follows the form of the spring strip illustrated, described and claimed in the above-mentioned copending application and embodies transverse torsion bars 14 joined by side bars 15, most of the latter of which are parallel to the side edges of the strip, while the torsion bars 14 are parallel to each other and normal to the length of the strip. It will be noted that the side bars 15 are of varying length to vary the strength of the various portions of the strip to resist downward deflection, to thereby permit the load supporting area 16 of the strip to assume a desirable contour under various load conditions. It will be noted that certain of the bars, such as the bar 17, have been bent in the center to provide two angularly disposed straight portions so as to produce a desired contour to the load supporting portion of the spring unit while providing further strength to the bar against bending.

At the rear end of the load supporting portion 16 of the strip 13, the transverse bar 18 is secured in an eye 19 secured to the rear frame element 21. The Wire of the strip beyond the bar 18 is deflected beneath the strip to form a side bar 22 which preferably extends forwardly, as illustrated in Figs. 6 and 7. The side bar 22 is extended to form a loop 23 and further extended at 24 to prvide a brace rod portion having a transversely extending end 25 which is secured by a clamping band 26 to a transverse torsion bar 14 of the load supporting portion 16 of the strip.

The forward end of the spring has a V-shaped supporting portion embodying an inwardly deflected section 27 comprising three

loops

28, 29 and 30 to which an angularly and outwardly deflected section 31 extends. The section 31 comprises

loops

32, 33 and 34, along with a longitudinally extending side bar 35 which forms with the adjacent transverse bar of the loop 34 attaching means for the front end of the unit. The structure for and method of supporting the forward end of the spring unit is illustrated, described and claimed in the copending application of Hyland C. Flint et al., Serial No. 390,228, filed November 4, 1953, and assigned to the assignee of the present invention. When a plurality of the units are assembled on a frame to form a cushion, the forward transverse torsion bar 14 of the load supporting portion 16 of the unit supports a border wire 36 which is secured thereto by the clamping bands 26 in the conventional manner. The loop 30 of the section 27 and the adjacent loop 32 of the section 31 are disposed at an angle to the

loops

28 and 29, and 33 and 34, respectively. With such an arrangement, the side bar of the loop 30 'will move into engagement with the side bar of the loop 32 disposed therebelow when a predetermined 'load has been applied to the load supporting portion 16 of the units. Further loading of the load supporting portion 16 will cause the

loops

28 and 29 to deflect relative to the

loops

33 and 34 but, because of the shorter length of the tree portion of the sections, a greater resistance will be offered to deflection so that a greater load may be supported by the supporting portion of the units at the forward end of the strips as the load is increased thereon. This is illustrated in Fig. 4 where the loops 30 and 32 are disposed in engagement with each other, with the shortened sections extending therefrom.

In Fig. the same spring unit is illustrated, with the exception that the portion 24 of the bracing rod is bent at 37 to have the end extending portion 38 project upwardly at a greater angle when engaging the torsion bar 14 of the load supporting portion 16 of the strip when secured thereto by the band 26. By adjusting the angle of the extending portion 38 of the bracing rod, more or less support is provided to the load supporting portion of the unit which aids further in controlling the contour of the unit when loaded.

Referring to Figs. 6 and 7, a separate bracing bar 39 is provided on the end of the unit 13 attached to the forwardly extending portion 41 thereof. In this relationship, the inwardly sloping side bar 22 has a torsion bar 41 extended at 42 and reversely bent at 43. The bracing bar 39 is similar to that described and claimed in the above mentioned application of R. J. Williams et al., and embodies a straight portion 44 having an angularly disposed end portion 45 which is secured by a band 46 to a transverse bar 14 of the spring unit. The opposite end is twisted at 47, in the nature of a pigtail, and is hooked over the torsion bar 41. A loop 48 may be provided in the straight portion 44 to permit longitudinal extension thereof, which loop functions to engage the end 43 of the torsion bar 4-1, to thereby rigidly lock the brace bar 39 in extension of the side bar 22. By employing a separate bar 39, a coating 49 may be applied thereto, the coating being of plastic or similar sounddeadening material to prevent any noise from being developed through the engagement of the torsion bars of the strip with the bracing bar when the load supporting portion 16 of the unit is deflected.

In Fig. 8 a similar construction is illustrated, with the exception that the torsion bar 41 has a bent end 51 there on which prevents the coiled end 47 from moving from the torsion bar 41 and which permits the end 47 to pivot thereon. The difierence between the construction illustrated in Fig. 8 and that of Fig. 7 is that the bracing bar 39 of the former has the coiled end 47 disposed in pivoted relation to the torsion bar 41, while in the latter it is in fixed relation thereto. It is to be understood that the straight portion 44 of the bracing bar 39 may be bent so as to have an annularly extending end portion 38 which may be presented at difierent angles to the load supporting portion 16 of the spring unit to change the force produced by the bracing bar, to thereby further control the contour of the unit under load.

The structure of Fig. 9 is similar to that of Figs. 6 and 7, the spring 13 having the downwardly sloping side bar 22 from which a lateral portion 41 extends to form a C-shaped loop with the side and lateral portions 56 and 57. A separate bracing bar 53 is secured by the twisted pigtail-like end portion 47 to the lateral portion 41. The bracing bar as illustrated in Fig. 9 has a substantially horizontal portion 54 and an upwardly extending angular portion 55 that engages the forward portion of the load bearing section of the spring 13 to which it is secured by a clamping band 14. The angular relationship of the

portions

54 and 55 of the bar 53 is similar to the relationship of the portion of the spring 16 of Fig. 5 indicated at 37. It will thus be seen that the structure of Figs. 9 and 10 is similar to that of Figs. 6 and 7, with the exception that the bar 39 has been replaced by a bar 53 which has a shape of the extending bar portion 23 of the structure of Fig. 5.

The structure of Figs. ll and 12 is similar to that of Fig. 8, with the exception that the spring 13 has a bracing bar 53 secured thereto which has

angular portions

54 and 55, the same as the bar 53 of Figs. 9 and 10. The pigtail end portion 47 is secured over the bar 56 which extends laterally from the sloping side bar portion 2.2 in a manner to permit free pivotal movement thereon. In the structure of Figs. 9 and l0, the lateral portion 57 extends over a loop 53 of the bracing bar 53 and thereby prevents the pivoting of the pigtail end on the lateral bar portion 41. The springs of Figs. 9 to 12 are, therefore, similar to those of Figs. 6, 7 and 8, with the exception that the bracing bar 53 has two portions 54 and S5 in angular relation to each other, the same as the bracing bar portion of the spring illustrated in Fig. 5.

What is claimed is:

1. A spring unit having a load supporting portion with an end portion abruptly bent and extended inwardly therebelow from which a straight portion extends forwardly and upwardly to engage the under side of the load supporting portion of the unit in spaced substantially parallel relation thereto, the end of the load supporting portion where the abrupt bending occurs being the point at which the end of the unit is attached to a support.

2. A spring unit having a load supporting portion with an end portion abruptly bent and extended inwardly therebelow from which a straight portion extends forwardly and upwardly to engage the under side of the load supporting portion of the unit in spaced substantially parallel relation thereto, said forwardly extending portion being a continuation of the wire forming the load supporting portion, the end of the load supporting portion where the abrupt bending occurs being the point at which the end of the unit is attached to a support.

3. A spring unit having a load supporting portion with an end portion abruptly bent and extended inwardly therebelow from which a straight portion extends forwardly and upwardly to engage the under side of the load supporting portion of the unit in spaced substantially parallel relation thereto, the forwardly extending'portion being a separate element rigidly secured to the inwardly extending end portion at the rear end of the load supporting portion, the end of the load supporting portion where the abrupt bending occurs 'being the point at which the end of the unit is' attached to a support.

4. A spring unit having a load supporting portion with an end portion abruptly bent and extended inwardly therebelow from which a straight portion extends forwardly and upwardly to engage the under side of the load supporting portion of the unit in spaced substantially parallel relation thereto, the forwardly extending portion being a bracing element having pivotal relationship with the inwardly extending end portion at the rear end of the load supporting portion, the end of the load supporting portion where the abrupt bending occurs being the point at which theend of the unit is attached to a support.

5. A spring unit having a load supporting portion with an end portion extended inwardly therebelow from which a portion extends forwardly and upwardly to engage the under side of the load supporting portion of the unit, the forwardly extending portion being a bracing element having pivotal relationship with the inwardly extending end portion at the rear end of the load supporting portion, a supporting portion at the forward end of the load supporting portion of the spring unit formed by a reversely bent inwardly extending section, and an outwardly extending section angularly disposed thereto with the sections in substantially V relation, the adjacent loops at the joined portion of the sections being disposed in angular relation to the adjacent portions of the sections which are in greater angular relationship to each other.

6. A spring unit having a load supporting portion with an end portion extended inwardly therebelow from which a portion extends forwardly and upwardly to engage the under side of the load supporting portion of the unit, the forwardly extending portion being a bracing element having pivotal relationship with the inwardly extending end portion at the rear end of the load supporting portion, a supporting portion at the forward end of the load supporting portion of the spring unit formed by a reversely bent inwardly extending section, and an outwardly extending section angularly disposed thereto with the sections in substantially V relation, the outwardly extending section terminating in an end portion disposed parallel to the length of the unit.

7. A spring unit embodying a load supporting portion made of wire bent back and forth to provide parallel transverse torsion bars joined by side bars, certain of the side bars being of different lengths and having an angular bend in the center, sections of loops beneath the forward end of the load supporting portion, the adjacent section extending rearwardly, the section therebelow extending forwardly, the two sections being disposed in V relationship, the end bar of the forwardly extending section being disposed parallel to the length of the load supporting portion of the unit.

8. A spring unit embodying a load supporting portion made of wire bent back and forth to provide parallel transverse torsion bars joined by side bars, certain of the side bars being of different lengths and having an angular bend in the center, sections of loops at the forward end of the load supporting portion being bent rearwardly and reversely bent to have the sections disposed in V relationship, the end bar of the terminal section being disposed parallel to the length of the load supporting portion of the unit, and a loop extending inwardly under the rear end of the load supporting portion and forwardly of the torsion bar at the end of the load supporting portion of the unit, said loop having an extending bracing bar disposed in engagement with a forwardly disposed torsion bar of the load supporting portion of the spring unit, the junction between the inwardly extending loop and the rear end of the load supporting portion forming the point at which the rear portion of the unit is attached to a support.

9. A spring unit embodying a load supporting portion made of wire bent back and forth to provide parallel transverse torsion bars joined by side bars, certain of the side bars being of different lengths and having an angular bend in the center, sections of loops at the forward end of the load supporting portion being bent rearwardly and reversely bent to have the sections disposed in V relationship, the end bar of the terminal section being disposed parallel to the length of the load supporting portion of the unit, and a loop extending inwardly under the rear end of the load supporting portion and forwardly of the torsion bar at the end of the load supporting portion of the unit, said loop having an extending bracing bar disposed in engagement with a forwardly disposed torsion bar of the load supporting portion of the spring unit, said forwardly extending bracing bar being bent to in crease the angle of engagement with the load supporting portion of the unit to provide greater support therefor.

10. A spring unit embodying a load supporting portion made of wire bent back and forth to provide parallel transverse torsion bars joined by side bars, certain of the side bars being of difierent lengths and having an angular bend in the center, sections of loops at the forward end of the load supporting portion being bent rearwardly and reversely bent to have the sections disposed in V relationship, the end bar of the terminal section being disposed parallel to the length of the load supporting portion of the unit, and a loop extending inwardly under the rear end of the load supporting portion and forwardly of the torsion bar at the end of the load supporting portion of the unit, said loop having an extending bracing bar disposed in engagement with a forwardly disposed torsion bar of the load supporting portion of the spring unit, said forwardly extending bracing bar being bent to increase the angle of engagement with the load supporting portion of the unit to provide greater support therefor, said forwardly extending bracing bar being a separate element which is secured in fixed relation to the forwardly extending loop at the rear end of the load supporting portion of the unit.

11. A spring unit embodying a load supporting portion made of wire bent back and forth to provide parallel transverse torsion bars joined by side bars, certain of the side bars being of different lengths and having an angular bend in the center, sections of loops at the forward end of the load supporting portion being bent rearwardly and reversely bent to have the sections disposed in V relationship, the end bar of the terminal section being disposed parallel to the length of the load supporting portion of the unit, and a loop extending inwardly under the rear end of the load supporting portion and forwardly of the torsion bar at the end of the load supporting portion of the unit, said loop having an extending bracing bar disposed in engagement with a forwardly disposed torsion bar of the load supporting por- -tion of the spring unit, said forwardly extending bracing bar being bent to increase the angle of engagement with the load supporting portion of the unit to provide greater support therefor, said forwardly extending bracing bar being a separate element which is secured in pivotal relation to the forwardly extending loop at the rear end of the load supporting portion of the unit.

12. A spring unit embodying a load supporting portion made of wire bent back and forth to provide parallel transverse torsion bars joined by side bars, certain of the side bars being of different lengths and having an angular bend in the center, sections of loops at the forward end of the load supporting portion being bent rearwardly and reversely bent to have the sections disposed in V relationship, the end bar of the terminal section being disposed parallel to the length of the load supporting portion of the unit, a loop extending inwardly under the rear end of the load supporting portion and forwardly of the torsion bar at the end of the load supporting portion of the unit, said loop having an extending bracing bar disposed in engagement with a forwardly disposed torsion bar of the load supporting portion of the spring unit, said forwardly extending bracing bar being bent to increase the angle of engagement with the load supporting portion of the unit to provide greater support therefor, said forwardly extending bracing bar being a separate element which is secured in fixed relation to the forwardly extending loop at the rear end of the load supporting portion of the unit, and a coating of soundproof material on said bracing bars.

13. A spring unit embodying a load supporting portion made of wire bent back and forth to provide parallel transverse torsion bars joined by side bars, certain of the side bars being of different lengths and having an angular bend in the center, sections of loops at the forward end of the load supporting portion being bent rearwardly and reversely bent to have the sections disposed in V relationship, the end bar of the terminal section being disposed parallel to the length of the load supporting portion of the unit, a loop extending inwardly under the rear end of the load supporting portion and forwardly of the torsion bar at the end of the load supporting portion of the unit, said loop having an extending bracing bar disposed in engagement with a forwardly disposed torsion bar of the load supporting portion of the spring unit, said forwardly extending bracing bar being bent to increase the angle of engagement with the load supporting portion of the unit to provide greater support therefor, said forwardly extending bracing bar being a separate element which is secured in pivotal relation to the forwardly extending loop at the rear end of the load supporting portion of the unit, and a coating of soundproof material on said bracing bars.

14. A spring unit embodying a load supporting portion made of wire bent back and forth to provide parallel transverse torsion bars joined by side bars, certain of the side bars being of difierent lengths and having an angular bend in the center, sections of loops beneath the forward end of the load supporting portion, the adjacent section extending rearwardly, the section therebelow extending forwardly, the two sections being disposed in V relationship, the rearwardly extending section having two portions in angular relation to each other permitting the one portion adjacent to the forwardly extending section to collapse thereon when the unit is partially loaded, the other portion and forwardly extending section providing a greater resistance to deflection.

References (Iited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,548,968 Goldstein Apr. 17, 1951 2,565,021 Flint Aug. 21, 1951 2,629,430 Flint Feb. 24, 1953 2,639,763 Neely May 26, 1953 2,657,740 Daniels et al. Nov. 3, 1953 2,684,844 Flint et a1 July 27, 1954 FOREIGN PATENTS 629,634 Great Britain Sept. 23, 1949 681,795 Great Britain Oct. 29, 1952 683,676 Great Britain Dec. 3, 1952