US2993215A

US2993215A - Spring cushion assembly

Info

Publication number: US2993215A
Application number: US596590A
Authority: US
Inventors: Rymland Murray Jerome
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1956-07-09
Filing date: 1956-07-09
Publication date: 1961-07-25
Anticipated expiration: 1978-07-25
Also published as: CH341280A; DE1152510B

Description

July 25, 1961 J, RYMLAND 2,993,215

SPRING CUSHION ASSEMBLY Filed July 9, 1956 INVENT OR My 2 731130] @m BY M v MM ATTORNEYS.

United rates Fatent C 2,993,215 SPRING CUSHION ASSEMBLY Murray Jerome Rymland, 2700 Hollins Road,

Baltimore 30, Md. Filed July 9, 1956, Ser. No. 596,590 4 Claims. (Cl. -270) This invention relates in general to spring cushion assemblies of the type described in my prior Patent No. 2,630,586, granted March 10, 1953, and in my copending applications, Serial No. 384,874, filed October 8, 1953, now Patent No. 2,791,783, issued May 14, 1957, and Serial No. 495,309, filed March 18, 1955, now Patent No. 2,857,603, issued October 28, 1958. More particularly, this invention relates to a novel means for interconnecting a plurality of helical coil springs in rows and files to define a spring cushion assembly.

In my prior patent, identified above, a spring assembly was disclosed having a clip structure for interconnecting corresponding portions of overlapping end convolutions of adjacent springs in the same row with tie wires so that no relative movement or displacement was permitted either between the overlapping end convolutions and the associated clip or between the overlapping convolutions themselves. That is to say, the overlapping convolutions and associated clip were connected together so tightly and firmly that movement of any one caused a corresponding movement of the others. This arrangement resulted in -a spring cushion assembly wherein weight depressions were.

distributed proportionately throughout the entire spring assembly.

Such a rigid connection between the overlapping convolutions and clips will prevent the spring cushion assembly from being folded or collapsed along the axis of one of its tie wires. While in some spring cushion assemblies such folding is neither desired nor necessary, it is of considerable importance when the spring cushion assembly is used in a bed mattress or the like which is intended to be folded or collapsed when not in use.

Accordingly, it is an important object of this invention to provide a spring cushion assembly that may be folded or collapsed for facilitating the handling and storing of such assemblies. A related object is to provide a novel clip structure constituting a hinge-type connection for adjacent spring coils in the same row of the spring assembly to make the assembly foldable without sacrificing the weight distributing advantages afiorded by a rigid connection such as the one in my prior patent.

It is another object of this invention to provide a durable and relatively strong spring cushion assembly which is very responsive to body weight and similar loads applied thereto, making the assembly extremely soft and comfortable.

A further object is to provide a spring cushion assembly that is particularly well adapted to withstand repeated distortions around its border or perimeter caused by locally applied forces and also to provide an assembly of simplified and inexpensive construction having means at its border strengthening the same and materially reducing the tendency of the assembly to undergo permanent and unsightly distortions in its border regions.

An additional object is to provide a novel border means for the spring assembly to prevent padding or filling material normally used in covering the springs, from entering into the component springs of the assembly by passage through the voids or cleavages between the springs in outside or border rows and files.

It is a still further object of this invention to provide a spring cushion assembly with a novel border structure at the end files of springs for readily interconnecting these springs and for providing a means to which thefabric covering for the assembly may be attached.

Further objects of this invention will be in part ob vious and in part pointed out hereinafter.

The invention and the novel features thereof may best be made clear from the following description and the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a fragmentary top plan view of a spring cushion assembly constituting a preferred embodiment of this invention;

FIGURE 2 is a perspective view of one form of tie wire, partially, cut away;

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary perspective view of another form of tie wire;

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged, fragmentary, elevational view, partly in section, of the construction of the connection between overlapping end convolutions of adjacent springs;

FIGURE 5 is a view corresponding to FIGURE 4 but showing the overlapping end convolutions displaced or pivoted from their normal, substantially coplanar position;

FIGURE 6 is an enlarged end elevational view of a preferred form of the clip or clamp member, per se, after it has been connected in the spring assembly.

Referring to the drawings in detail, the spring cushion assembly constituting a preferred embodiment of my invention, comprises a plurality of component helical coil springs 10, constructed of wire in a conventional manner, as illustrated in FIGURE 1. The springs are arranged in rows 12 and files 14, and each row of springs is aligned and arranged with an arcuate portion of the upper and lower end convolutions of each spring overlapping a corresponding portion of an adjacent spring in the same row, whereby one such portion becomes an overlying arcuate portion 20 and the other becomes an underlying arcuate portion 22, and a space 24 is provided between the overlapped portions.

To fix adjacent rows in the desired parallel spaced relationship, and to insure that the corresponding springs of adjacent rows are properly arranged in files 14, a plurality of tie 'wires 26 extend transversely of the rows, parallel to the files 14, and along the lines of overlap of the coils; that is, along the lines of overlap between the files. As shown in FIGURES 2 and 3, each tie wire 26 is provided with a plurality of pairs of spaced depressions 28, each pair of spaced depressions being separated by an upwardly projecting insert 30' therebetween. When positioned in the assembly, each pair of depressions 28 partially embraces an intersecting section of an overlapping pair of

arcuate portions

20, 22 and the intermediate insert 30 projects into the space 24 therebetween. As will be readily understood, the pair of depressions 28 are spaced along the length of the tie wires 26 to suitably space adjacent rows 12 of component springs from each other, the structure illustrated in FIGURE 1 merely being a partial view of two spring rows 12 and two spring files 14 of the overall assembly.

The present invention contemplates the employment of a clip or clamp member 60- for interfitting the tie wires 26 with adjacent overlapping springs 10 and also for interconneoting the end convolutions of the springs 10. A preferred embodiment of clip 60 is best seen in FIGURE 6, and it includes transversely spaced

portions

62, 64. Portion 62 comprises

spaced legs

66, 68 joined by a bight portion 70 to define an inner groove 72. The portion 64 also includes

spaced legs

74, 76 joined by a bight portion 78 to define another inner groove 80 in the clipstructure, which is parallel to the first groove 72. These grooves receive adjacent overlapping arcuate portions of end convolutions of the springs 10 for interconnecting the latter. A depressed portion 82 is formed in the clip 60 and defines an inner ridge 84 intermediate the parallel grooves -72, 80. The depressed portion 82 joins adjacent legs 66,

lationship'of the size of

clip grooves

72, 80 to the diameter of the wire in the springs 10. In my prior patent, the clip structure therein disclosed was intended to tightly and frictionally clasp the arcuate portions of corresponding end convolutions of adjacent springs in such a manner that virtually a unitary structure resulted. This structure prevented any relative sliding or pivotal displacement between the adjacent end convolutions and the clip, or between the adjacent end convolutions themselves so that downward pressures applied to one spring were transmitted proportionately to the other springs in the assembly.

"It has been found that by enlarging the clip inner grooves a slight amount, the overlapping convolution portions will be loosely embraced by the

clip portions

62, 64 so that they may relatively rotate within their respectiveclip grooves. However, if the clip grooves 72, 80 a'ie 'not made too largeit has been found that the resulting connection will still operate to transmit and distribute downward pressures applied to one spring substantially proportionately to the other springs in the assembly.

"This pressure distribution is due to a considerable extent to inward forcesexerted on the clips 60 by the tie wires. By inward forces I mean forces exerted on clip' 60 in an inward directionfro-m the spring end convolutions'and substantially parallel to the spring axes. These inward forces are produced by proper vertical spacing between tie wire depressions'28 and the tie wire inserts 30 (as seen in FIGURES 2 and 3). That is to say, since the depressions '28 embrace, the undersideof the overlapping spring convolutions, the tie wire insert 30 will be tensioned.

over the clip depressedportion 82 if it is vertically spaced closer to the tie wire depressions 23 than the clip depressed portion 82 when these parts are assembled as il-v lustrated in FIGURE 4. This tensioning of the tie wire inserts 30 creates the inward forces on the clip 60 thereby causing corresponding inward forces on the overlapping convolutions in the clips, tending to make the connection rigid between the overlapping convolutions whereby downward pressures on any one spring will be transmitted or distributed to other springs in the assembly. Moreover, this inward force obviously can be increased by reducing the vertical distance between the tie wire depressions and inserts.

"The transverse dimension of the base or bottom of

inner grooves

72, 80, preferably is at least as large as the diameter of the wire in the spring convolutions, while the

overlapping legs

68, 76 are slightly displaced from each other and are not pressed or clinched tightly against the,

arcuate portions of the overlapping end convolutions.

By virtue of this construction, the clip 60 of thepresent invention permits a hinging action on the part of the ad jacent overlapping end convolutions (see FIGURE 5) so that when the whole assembly is constructed with these clips, an entire file '14 of springs may be pivoted or swung simultaneously with respect to an adjacent file 14 of springs. 'The planes of the individualehdconvolu tions'of the springs in the middle adjacent files of theassembly'may be pivoted towards each other through substantially a 90 angle to fold the assembly in half. During such pivoting or swinging, the clips 60 on the fold line will undergo a small counterclockwise movement as viewed in FIGURES 4 and 5. i i V 'This hinging or swinging action between adjacent files lf Willi e re p i s em i It will be thus apparent that the structure of the clip 60 permits the manufacture of a spring cushion assembly having the desirable characteristics of a rigidly connected assembly, combined with the characteristics of being coll'apsible and extremely soft and comfortable.

The ends of the tiewires 26 preferably are formed in the same manner as the tie wires described in my prior application, Serial No. 495,309, mentioned above. That is, the tie wires 26 extend outwardly beyond the overlap of. the outside row 12 and are then transversely bent to define a plane 36 which is substantially coplanar with the planes defined by the convolutions of the coils in, being disposed in the cleavage 35 defined by adjacent end portions of the end convolutions of the coil springs and the edge line 34 (the later. being shown as a phantom line); In defining the plane 36, the ends of the tie wires preferably arefbent into a triangular or delta shape or any other convenient polygonal shape. The tie wires 26 connecting the upper end convolutions of the springs 10, may be separate from the tie wires connecting the bottom end convolutions of the springs (as in FIGURE 3) or they may be integrally connected thereto by means of a sear spring having two

sear legs

46, 48 tangentially joined to a suitable coil spring 50 (as in FIGURE 2).

i A border structure preferably including a straight wire 99, (see FIGURE 1), arranged in combination with a tie wire 26 and clips '60, is utilized for interconnecting the laterally outermost portions of the end convolutions of the springs, in the end files. The clips 60- are fitted over the laterally outermost portions of end convolutions of springs in an 'end file, the arcuate convolution portion being fitted into clip groove 72, with the other clip groove disposed radially inwardly from the convolution and both clipgrooves facing inwardly of the spring.

The'depressed portions 28 on the tiewire 26 are disposed inembracing relation with the axially inward surface of. the end convolutions with the insert portion 30 of the tie wire disposed in the depressed portion 32 of the clip. The border wire is preferably more flexible than the tie wires and extends on the other side of the end convolutions and radially inwardly from the depressed portions 28. of the tie wire. Border wire 96 is flexed downwardly to extend through each of the clip grooves 80 thereby forming an interlaced and interlocked connection with the tie wire and end convolutions of the springs in the end files. The ends of border Wire 90 and its associated tie wire 26 may be reversely. bent inwardly to form loops or eyes 92 as shown, to'eliminate any undesirable sharp edges at these points.

While not shown, a similar border structure to that described. immediately above will be provided for the opposite end file of the spring assembly. These border struc'turescooperate withthe planes36 on the ends of tie wires 26 at the extremities of rows 12 to strengthen the border rowsand files of the assembly for resisting permanent and unsightly distortion of the springs 10" therein. Additionally, these edge structures prevent the fabric covering and the padding around the spring assembly from dropping through the cleavages35 thereby enabling Border i 0.,m y. al e nss si egribs 9.

both the bottom as well as the top convolutions of the springs in the end files and, although not preferred, they may also be connected to the end convolutions in the extreme or exterior rows of springs. In the latter case, the tie wires 26 would not be provided with the planar ends 36 but would terminate short of the edge line 34.

While the described arrangement of the border wires 90 with a tie wire and clips permits their attachment to the spring assembly to be performed rapidly and inexpensively, these border wires may be used by themselves and welded or otherwise connected to the end convolutions in the border of the assembly.

Variations in the structure of the clip 60, within the scope of this invention, will readily suggest themselves to those skilled in the art, such as changing the shape of the depressed portion 82 or shortening or lengthening the

legs

68, 76.

It will thus be seen that there has been provided, by this invention, an improved spring cushion assembly in which the various objects hereinabove set forth, together with many practical advantages are successfully achieved. As various possible embodiments may be made of the mechanical features of the present invention, such as those mentioned, all without departing from the scope thereof, it is to be understood that all matter hereinbefore set forth or shown in the accompanying drawing is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

I claim:

1. A spring cushion assembly comprising a plurality of parallel rows and parallel files of similar helical coil springs, said springs being interconnected with their axes arranged in parallelism, means for interconnecting the laterally outermost arcuate portions of end convolutions of the springs in the end files, said means including a tie wire extending parallel to the files and having a plurality of pairs of spaced depressions with upwardly projecting oifset inserts therebetween, the depressions of each pair being disposed in embracing relation to one of said arcuate portions at circumferentially spaced points on one side thereof, with the intermediate olfset insert projecting away from said points, a flexible wire arranged parallel to and coextensive with said tie wire, said flexible wire being disposed on the other side of said arcuate portions, and means for interconnecting said arcuate portions with said flexible wire and with said tie wire ofiset inserts to retain said wires in assembled relation engaged to opposite sides of said arcuate portions.

2. The structure defined in claim 1 wherein the interconnecting means comprises a clip having two parallel inner grooves and an outer groove formed intermediate said inner grooves, said inner grooves receiving the arcuate portion and the flexible wire respectively and the tie wire ofiset insert being disposed in said outer groove.

3. A spring cushion assembly of generally rectangular outline comprising a plurality of parallel rows and parallel files of similar helical coil springs having their axes arranged in parallelism, each spring having an arcuate portion of an end convolution thereof so overlapping a corresponding convolution portion of an adjacent spring in the same row as to provide a space between such overlapping portions, a plurality of parallel tie wires extending transversely of the rows and each tie wire having a plurality of pairs of spaced depressions with upwardly projecting offset inserts therebetween, the depressions of each pair being disposed in embracing relation to the overlapping points of a pair of adjacent arcuate spring portions with the intermediate offset insert projecting into the space between said arcuate portions, a hinge means underlying the projecting ofiset insert of the tie wire and interconnecting the overlapping arcuate portions of each adjacent pair of end convolutions whereby any file of said springs may be swung with respect to an adjacent file of said springs, each of the tie wires extending beyond the overlap of an exterior row of springs into the exterior cleavage defined by the end portions of the overlapping convolutions, said tie wires having a planar edge support means of generally polygonal shape at the ends thereof and disposed within said cleavages so as not to interfere with the swinging of said files of springs, said planar edge support means at the ends of said tie wires defining lines of border support along the two border sides perpendicular to said files without interfering with the ability of the files of springs to be swung with respect to adjacent files, and separate, elongated border support means interconnected to the springs in each of the two border files of springs and providing lines of support along the two border sides parallel to the files of springs.

4. The structure defined in claim 3 wherein said elongated border support means includes a pair of parallel and adjacent wires extending parallel to and substantially coextensive with each of the two border files of springs, said parallel wires being engaged to the end convolutions of said springs in said border files and on opposite sides of said last-named end convolutions, and clip means interlaced with said parallel wires and said last-named end convolutions and holding said parallel wires in engagement with said end convolutions.

7 References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 184,568 Allen Nov. 21, 1876 970,157 Young Sept. 13, 1910 1,863,450 McNally June 14, 1932 1,866,664 Munn July 12, 1932 1,897,396 Oldham Feb. 14, 1933 2,050,105 Lewis Aug. 4, 1936 2,465,333 Levine Mar. 22, 1949 2,478,650 Asaro Aug. 9, 1949 2,515,177 Bank July 18, 1950 2, Ry and M 95.3