US2867265A - Spring construction - Google Patents

Description

Jan. 6, 1959 H. c. FLINT SPRING CONSTRUCTION Filed July 15, 1950 I INVENTOR.

flgZd/Ya/ [fr/2772? SPRING CONSTRUCTION Hyland C. Flint, Birmingham, Mich., assignor to American Metal Products Company, Detroit, Mach, a corporafion of Michigan Application July 15, 1950, Serial No. 174,111

8 Claims. (Cl. 155-179) This invention relates to spring constructions and, in particular, to those embodying sinuous or zigzag springs of the prearched type as disclosed and claimed in Kaden Reissue Patent No. 21,263. Features disclosed in this application are related to those disclosed in the inventors copending application No. 152,727, filed March 29, 1950, entitled Spring Supporting Strips Having A Top Seating Portion Spaced Above A Bottom Reinforcing Portion, now Patent No. 2,629,431, and assigned to the assignee of the present invention.

In the preferred practice of the present invention, as well as in the invention of the aforementioned copending application, the zigzag spring unit comprises at least two vertically spaced web portions, the upper of which defines the resilient load supporting or seating surface. The vertically spaced web portions are each longitudinal and lie in the planes of projection of each other, and one or both of the webs are mounted upon and secured to the rails which extend transversely of the webs, and which are located at the front and rear of the seat. One or both of the zigzag springs which provide the web portions have ends that are bent transversely to the web and which serve to space the upper web above the lower. Relative longitudinal movement of these end portions which space the upper and lower webs is yieldably resisted by the lower web which is fixedly secured thereto. Thus, a closed loop or ring of zigzag spring wire is pro vided and its ability to resiliently support loads enables lighter springs to be used in various applications. Furthermore, this type of construction is relatively easy to manufacture and also may be readily adapted to provide various desired contours and depths of spring construction. As illustrated in the aforementioned application, it is also possible to secure the lower web to the rear rail and allow the end of the upper web to deflect relative to this rail thus providing adequate toe room or space beneath the seat as well as resilience and comfort at the rear of the seat. Room beneath an edge of the cushion may also be provided by allowing the webs to overhang the rails.

With reference to the multi-web zigzag spring unit, it is an object of the present invention to provide increased resistance to deflection of the upper web at a selected point or points thereon. This is accomplished by means of a sinuous strip that interconnects an intermediate point onthe upper web with the lower web, this strip being preferably formed on either of the zigzag springs or, if desired, may be a separate element.

Other objects are to provide foot room beneath the front of a seat constructed from sinuous spring units and to improve the appearance of the spring cushion construction which is obtained when upholstery and padding are applied to the spring units. These are accomplished by forming the front of the seat so that the spring units overhang the rail and by the use of both upper and lower border wires at the front of the spring units.

Other objects and features of the invention will appear Patented Jan. 6, 1959 upon consideration of the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a plan view with parts of the upholstery broken away to reveal the spring strips of a seat construction embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a section taken along the line 2--2 of Fig. 1 showing the zigzag unit of this invention in side elevation;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a clip that may be used to interconnect the zigzag springs which provide the upper and lower web' portions; and

Fig. 4 is a section along a line corresponding to line 2-2 of Fig. 1 but through a'modified form of spring unit. 7

The invention as shown in the drawings is applied to the seat construction 1, although it will be evident to those in the art that it can be used in spring constructions employed for other purposes. The seat 1 has a tubular frame 3 which includes a front rail 5 and a rear rail 7 that is spaced above the front rail so as to provide toe room at the'rear of the seat 1. The zigzag spring units 9 are mounted upon the front and rear rails 5 and 7 and are parallel to each other and spaced transversely of each other along the frame 3. Preferably, each of the spring units that is used to make up the spring construction is the same except perhaps for the endmost spring units which must often be adapted to serve in cramped areas.

The zigzag unit 9 consists of a sinuous spring 11 that provides the upper web 13 and a sinuous spring 15 which provides-at least part of the lower web 17. As is well known, the sinuous spring strips 11 and 15 consist of spring wire that is bent in a zigzag fashion so as to form adjacent loops that open in opposite directions, and, as

indicated above, are preferably prearched in accordance with the teachings of the Kaden Reissue Patent No. 21,263. thereof which is bent beneath the front of the web 13 to form a substantially upright leg 19 and also a portion extending from the bottom of the leg 19 which is bent at an angle thereto and extends rearwardly and downwardly to terminate in a loop 23 that may be bent up wardly' at an 'angle to the portion 21. The rear end. of the spring 11 has a portion 25 bent forwardly beneath the rear end of the web 13 and a portion 27, separated from portion 25 by a loop 29, that extends upwardly and forwardly and is pivotally connected bv a clip 31 to the web 13 at a point sli htly forward of the midpoint of the web. Spring 15, which provides the lower web 17, is non-pivotally secured at its extreme forward loop.33 by a clip 35 to the loop 23 of the spring strip 11. An intermediate loop 37 of the spring 15 is connected bya clip 35 to the loop 23' of the spring strip 11. It will be evident that the webs 13 and 17 together with spring portions 25, 19, and 21 form' a closed resilient loop or ring, all parts of which serve to resiliently support loads. The resistance of the upper'web 13 is controlled or varied by the spring section 27, the effect being to provide a somewhat softer seating surface to the rear of the clip 31 than forward thereof. Q

The spring 15 is mounted upon and secured to the rails 5 and 7. If non-pivotal connection is desired, and this is preferred at present, the mounting may be conveniently accomplished through the medium of clips formed on the rails in accordance with the teachings of the present inventors copending application, Serial No. 88,293, filed April 19, 1949, entitled Spring Supporting Clip Having A Locking Tongue, assigned to the assignee of the present inventionf-now Patent No. 2,695,658, granted November 30, 1954. A loop 39 of the web 17 that is slightly to the rear of the loop 33 is inserted in the -clip41 that is provided on the rail 5 whereby the spnng'15 is non-pivotally secured to the rail. The rear 'The spring 11 has a portion at the front end end of the spring 15 is bent upwardly in a section 43 that is transverse to the web 17 and the upper end of section 43 is inserted in and secured to a clip 41 formed on the rea r ra'il 7. This arrangement provides for toe room beneath the rail 7 and also allows the rear end of web 13 to deflect downwardly'in'side of and beneath the surface of rear rail '7. If the front rail is elevated above the floor of the auto, room will be provided beneath the front of the seat because of the overhang of the substantially trapezoidal shape of the' forward section of the spring unit, that is, the section forward of and including spring section 27.

The modified formQof spring unit 51 that is shown in i Fig. 4 is the same in principle as the spring unit 9, the' main difference being that the support for the upper web is provided by a portion bent from the lower spring and the unit is connected to the front rail 5 by a portion bent from the upper spring. In this construction, the upper web 53 is provided by the sinuous spring'55. The front of the spring 55is bent downwardly to form a substantially upright leg 57 which corresponds to the leg 19, and is then bentat an angle to the leg 57 to provide a downwardly and'rearwardly extending section 59 which may be slightly concave upwardly as indicated. The section 59 has a loop 61 that is secured by a clip 41 to the front'rai-l 5. The rear end of the upper spring 55 is bent downwardly and inwardly beneath the spring in a section 63 which may terminate in a loop 65 that is bent forwardly and upwardly at a slight angle to the direction of the section 63. The lower spring '67 provides a lower. web 69 which, however, in this case, is not the complete lower web for the zigzag unit 51, this being providedby the sections 59 and 69 acting together for which purpose they are non-pivotally interconnected 1 in their respective loops "71 and 73 by'a clip 35. The spring 67- has a portion 75 that is bent forwardly and upwardly from the loop 73 and which is connected at its upper end by a suitable clip 77 to a point on the upper web 53. As in the case of the zigzag unit 9, the lower spring 67 has a section 79 that is bent upwardly from the web 69 to be secured by clip 41 to the rear rail 7. In the spring unit 51, the upper web 53, the lower webs 69 and 59, and the front and rear portions 57 and 63 p of the spring 55 provide a closed loop. Auxiliary support for the upper web is provided by the section 75 which'interconnects the upper and lower webs and which is formed from the spring 67. It is clear that the rear of the web 53 can deflect inside rail 7 so that a soft rear edge is obtained in combination with toe room and that the forwardend overhangs the rail 5.

. In accordance with the invention, upper and lower border wires '81 and 83, respectively, are secured to the spring units 9 and 51 by' suitable clips 85. As is well known, the border wires 81 and 83 extend transversely of the seat and are connected to each of the plurality of spring units 9 or 5-1; The upper borderiwire 81 is connected to the units at the juncture of the upper web and the front legs 19 or 57 while the lower border wire 83 is connected'to the spring units at the apex.

of the angle between the sections 19 and 21, or 57 and 59. A layer 87 of burlap or other fabric is wrapped around the exposed surfaces of thespring units, it being shown as extending from the front rail 5 around the border wires 83 that is 'rearwardly over the rear rail]? to be connected by suitable hog rings or the like tofthe lower spring or 67 at'the base of the upright sections 43 and 79. Suitable padding or stuffing 89 is placed over the fabric 87 and this is held in position by the outermost layer of upholstery cloth 91 which is also connected by suitable clips or the like to front and rear portions of the spring construction. The use of 'the substantially upright legs19 and 57, in conjunction with upper and lower border wires that are directly connected thereto, provides a desirable appearance for the front of the seats "and eliminates the necessity for spacers of one type or sheet metal which has a preferably flat web 92 and' upright or transverse flanges 93 at the opposite longitudinal edges of web 92, which may be tapered toward each other if the spring loops are so formed, the transverse sides of the clip being open. The height of the flanges 93 and their transverse spacing is such that they may snugly receive two superposed loops of the springs and thereafter be bent inwardly over the top of each leg of the loop whereby the loops may be tightly clamped together.

It will be evident to those in the art that the structure herein shown is subject to modification within the spirit of the several features of the invention. For example, the benefits of space beneath the front end of the seat that accrue from the use of the overhang may be obtained without the use of a lower web, though it is preferred at present, that the web be used.

What is claimed is: v

l. A zigzag spring unit comprising a closed loop of sinuous spring wire including an upper web and a lower web, a sinuous spring strip inside of said loop interconnecting an intermediate point on the upper web with the lower web, and a sinuous spring portion extending longitudinally from the lower web and then bent upwardly toward the upper web whereby it is adapted for connection to a rail of a-supporting frame in a manner to permit the upper web to deflect downwardly in front of the rear rail. g

2. A zigzag spring unit comprising a closed loop of sinuous spring wire including'an upper web and a lower web, a sinuous spring strip inside of said loop interconnecting an intermediate point on the upper web with the lower web, and a sinuous spring portion extending longitudinally from the lower web beyond the end of the upper web and then bent upwardly toward the upper web whereby it is adapted for connection to a rail of a supporting frame whereby the upper web may deflect downwardly in front of the rear rail.

3. A zigzag spring unit comprising a first sinuous spring strip having a web portion, the front end of said strip being bent transversely to extend beneath the web, the rear end of said strip being bent to extend beneath the'web and then up to and connected to an intermediate part ofthe web, and a second sinuous spring strip having a web portion beneath the first strip web and a front portion 'nonpivotally connected to the front endof the first strip, said second strip being nonpivotally connected to the rear end of the first mentioned strip at a point spaced beneath the upper web.

7 4. A zigzag spring unit comprising afirst sinuous spring strip having .a web and front and rear ends bent to e);-

tend beneath the web, a second sinuous spring having .a.

web beneath the web of thelfirststrip, said second strip being nonpivotally connected to the front and rear ends of said first spring and having a portion extending .upwardly from its web and connected to an intermediate point on the upper web. i

5. In a spring construction, the combination of a frame having front and rear rails parallel :to each other, transversely spaced spring units spanning the space between said rails, said units each comprising spaced upper and lower webs and sinuous spring elements securing the front and rear ends and an intermediate portion of the upper web to the lower web, said lower web of each unit being nonpivotally secured to the front and rear rails, said lower web being located below the rear rail and extending beyond the rear end of the upper web whereby said upper web can deflect inside of the rear rail.

6. In a spring construction, the combination of a frame having front and rear rails parallel to each other, a plurality of spaced parallel sinuous spring .units spanning the space between said front and rear rails, said units each including a first sinuous spring strip having a first web and front and rear portions bent to extend beneath the web, the webs of the first strips of said units each providing a resilient surface, said units including a second sinuous strip beneath the first secured to the front and rear portions to provide a second web beneath the first, a sinuous spring element integral with one of said strips interconnecting an intermediate point on the first web with said second web, and means securing the units to the front and rear rails, the front portions of said units substantially overhanging the front rail and being of substantially the shape of a trapezoid.

7. The invention set forth in claim 6 wherein said second web of each unit is located below the rear rail and extends beyond the rear end of the first web and is connected at its end to said rail whereby said first web can deflect inside of said rear rail.

8. In a spring construction having a frame with a front rail, a sinuous spring strip including a load supporting web and a front end portion bent to extend beneath the web, said strip extending transversely to said rail and the front portion and web thereof substantially overhanging the front rail to provide a cantilever section of said strip extending forwardly of the front rail, said front end portion comprising a section of said strip bent at. substantially right angles to the web and extending a substantial distance below the web and then bent rearwardly toward the front rail and substantially parallel to the web, and means for securing the rear end of the strip to the frame.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,302,119 Young Apr. 29, 1919 2,122,979 Gleason July 5, 1938 1 2,251,043 Freeman July 29, 1941 2,251,049 Haberstump July 29, 1941 2,330,906 Neely Oct. 5, 1943 2,526,184 Williams et a1 Oct. 17, 1950 2,526,250 Matthaei Oct. 17, 1950 2,591,185 Neely Apr. 1, 1952 Flint Feb. 24. 1953

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