US3107367A

US3107367A - Bed spring assembly

Info

Publication number: US3107367A
Application number: US70755A
Authority: US
Inventors: Jr Fred A Nachman
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1960-11-21
Filing date: 1960-11-21
Publication date: 1963-10-22
Anticipated expiration: 1980-10-22

Description

1963 F. A. NACHMAN, JR 07, 7

BED SPRING ASSEMBLY Filed Nov. 21. 1960 INVENTOR. .34 Fr fiachman,Jn

Wfik 07 2272193 United States Patent 3,107,367 BED SPRING ASSEWLY Fred A. Nachrnan, Jr., 20 E. Cedar St, Chicago, ill. Filed Nov. 21, 1960, Ser. No. 70,755 3 Claims. (Cl. -248) This invention relates to a coil spring assembly and relates more particularly to a new and improved coil spring assembly for use as a bedspring, in a spring mattress, cushioning, and the like bedding and furniture.

It is an object of this invention to produce a new and improved spring assembly for bedding and furniture and it is a related object to produce a spring assembly of the type described which is characterized by improved resiliency and stiffness, which gives a relatively uniformly flattened surface both while in use and out of use, which embodies means for more uniform direction of load throughout the area of the spring assembly, which embodies an improved resiliency and stiffness in the edge construction and wherein such improved stiffness and resiliency is transmitted through the inner portions of the spring assembly, and which is formed of relatively few inexpensive and readily available parts which are capable of interconnection in a simple and efiicient machine to effect the desired assembled relationship.

This and other objects and advantages of this invention will hereinafter appear, and for purposes of illustration, but not .of limitation, an embodiment of the invention is shown in the accompanying drawing in which:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a spring assembly embodying the features of this invention;

FIG. 2 is a sectional elevational view taken substantially along the line 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of a fragmentary portion of the spring assembly of FIG. 1 showing the band construction and arrangement; and

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a bridging band member employed in the practice of this invent-ion.

Referring now to the drawing for illustration of the practice of this invention, the spring assembly is formed of a plurality of spring coils ranged in parallel lengthwise and

crosswise rows

12 and 14 respectively with the coil springs 10 in the lengthwise rows 12 being arranged in edge to edge relation and with the lengthwise rows of coil springs ranged in spaced parallel relation. All of said coil springs are positioned within an area defined by upper and lower

border frame members

16 and 18, respectively, formed of heavier gauge, circular or flat, wire or bands of a metallic, wooden or plastic material with the border frame members disposed adjacent the upper and lower

temiinal coils

20 and 22, respectively, of the outermost coil springs in each of the rows for attachment therebetween, as will hereinafter be described.

The coil springs and border frame members are interconnected one with the other by means of helical tie wires 24 which extend crosswise in alignment with the adjacent edges of the upper and lower terminal of the coil springs in the lengthwise rows. The helical tie wires 24 are threaded about the adjacent edges of the terminal coils of the adjacent coil springs to interconnect the adjacent coil springs in the lengthwise rows and to interconnect the coil springs in the adjacent rows While the free ends of the helical tie wires are connected to the aligned sidewall portions of the border frame members to interconnect the coil springs and the border frame members into a unitary assembly.

Lengthwise bridging bands 26 of spring metal or plastics are ranged to extend lengthwise from border wire to border wire and there positioned to overlie the top terminal coils of the coil springs and to underlie the bottom terminal coils of the coil springs with the bands preferably ar ranged to extend lengthwise across the lengthwise rows of 3,lii?,367 Patented Oct. 22, 1%63 the coil springs and in substantial alignment with the centers thereof. The bands 26 are adapted to be interwoven with the overlapping, interconnected edges of the terminal coils of the adjacent coil springs whereby the bands become interconnected with the terminal coils of the coil springs and the helical tie wires passing therethrough to stabilize the position of the bands for spanning the major diameter of the coil springs. Thus, the bands 26 function in a manner not only to block the openings 28 to the interior of the coil springs to minimize infiltration of matting or other cushioning material but also to transmit load between the coil springs whereby additional load applied to one section will be transmitted by the bands to adjacent spring members not directly in the path of the applied load. As a result, localized effects of load are greatly minimized so that the spring assembly becomes characterized by a greater resiliency, better feel, and stiffness and is capable of support of greater loads without such excessive deformation as would result in discomfort to the user or damage to the spring assembly. The arrangement of bands in interwoven relationship with the terminal coils of the coil springs enables the bands also to operate as a means for supporting the terminal coils of the coil springs whereby they are held to substantially the same level thereby to insure a desirable flattened surface in the coil spring assembly in all stages of use and non-use.

An important concept of this invention resides in the additional construction wherein the bridging bands 26 are secured at their ends to the border frame members in a tensioned relationship for automatic assembly in a manner which resists disengagement or relative movements and wherein greater stiffness and resiliency are built into the edge construction, and whereby such improved stiffness and resiliency in the edge construction is transmitted through the bands to the body portion of the spring assembly. This increases the load carrying capacity of the spring assembly and the stiffness and resiliency thereof while at the same time interconnecting the edge cconstruction with the body portion to improve the characteristics of the edge construction for better performance and feel.

For this purpose, the

border frame members

16 and 18 are ranged to overlie and underlie the upper terminal coils respectively of the outermost coil springs in each row with the border frame members being preferably vertically aligned with the central portion 28 of the coil springs so as to be in vertical alignment with all of the coils making up the coil springs. It will be sufficient if the border wires or border frame members are in vertical alignment with the outer edges of the coil of the smallest diameter usually at the center of the saddle shaped coil springs. This will form an outer portion 30 for each of the terminal coils of the coil springs which extends outwardly beyond the border frame members and which portion can be wrapped inwardly about the border frame members, as illustrated by the numeral 32, to effect a firm interconnected relationship therebetween.

The bands 26 which extend lengthwise over the coil springs from one border frame member to the other are formed with an L-shaped end portion 34 to provide a leg which extends parallel with the border frame members in an overlapping relationship therewith. Thus, when the outwardly extending portion of the terminal coils of the outermost coil springs are wrapped about the border frame members to effect an interconnected relationship, the legs 34 of the bands can also be included within the wrap secured to interconnect the bands at their ends with the terminal coils of the outermost coil springs and with the border frame members to effect a relatively permanent interconnected relationship therebetween.

In the preferred practice, the bands will be interconnected simultaneously with the wrapping of the terminal coil about the border frame members. Since the bands are generally aligned with the central portions of the coil springs in the rows, it will be apparent that the leading edge of the coil can be fed to the inside edge of the bandi.e., to the side on which the arm 34 extends, whereby the coil will initially cam the end portion of the band in the opposite direction as the adjacent portions of the coil engage the hand during the wrapping operation. This will result in slight displacement in the end portions of the bands, as illustrated in FIG. 1 of the drawing, which will function consistently to urge the leg 34 of the band into the wrapping thereby to militate against inadvertent disengagement.

When, as in the described arrangement, the border frame members are positioned in vertical alignment with the concentration of the coils making up the coil springs, the coil springs will be able more effectively to resist deformation of the border frame members in response to applied load especially when compared with the prior constructions wherein the border frame members were interconnected with the outermost edges of the terminal coils of the outermost coil springs, as by means of helical tie wires, such that the applied force was outside the principal lines of resistance to deformation by the coil springs. When the border frame members are aligned with the portions of the coil springs capable of greater resistance to deformation, greater stiffness and resiliency are built into the edge construction.

In addition to the improved edge construction resulting from the described arrangement between the border frame members and the coil springs, improved load factors, resiliency and stifiness are introduced through the band construction which is so tied into the edge construction as to offer greater resistance to deformation not only from the standpoint of the support contributed by the inner coil springs but also by reason of the inability of the bands to shift lengthwise in a manner which would be required to conform to deformation under load.

Conversely, the increased stiffness and load bearing factors in the edge construction of the spring assembly is capable of being transmitted through the bands to the inner portions of the spring assembly whereby such inner portions are capable of supporting greater load without increased deformation or, in other words, the inner portions of the spring assembly will be subject to less deformation under load without disturbing the softness and feel. The transmission for distribution of load through the band members places the band members in a position whereby they become effective to support the terminal coils of the coil springs at uniform levels, since the bands are so resiliently tied into the border frame members at their ends as to resist displacement whereby the bands more effectively resist deformation throughout the length thereof. This then imparts a tensioned relationship over the entire surface of the coil spring assembly which operates to maintain the terminal coils of the coil springs at uniform level and to distribute load.

In actual practice a coil spring assembly embodying the features of this invention is capable of withstanding twenty five (25%) percent greater load in the edge construction or in portions interior of the edge without corresponding increase in deformation and Without increase in the weight or in the number or concentration of springs employed in the assembly.

It will be understood that the bands may be faced in opposite directions in alternate rows of the coil springs, as illustrated in FIG. 1, or in the same directions without departing from the spirit of the invention and that other changes may be made in the details of construction, arrangement and operation without departing from the spirit of the invention, especially as defined in the following claims.

I claim:

1. A multiple coil spring assembly comprising a plurality of coil springs arranged in a series of lengthwise and crosswise rows with the coil springs in the lengthwise rows being arranged in end to end relationship with the upper and lower terminal coils of adjacent coil springs overlapping and with the coil springs in the crosswise rows being spaced one from the other, means interconnecting the terminal coils of the adjacent coil springs in the. lengthwise rows and extending crosswise of the coil springs to interconnect corresponding adjacent coil springs in the crosswise rows, a top and a bottom border frame member arranged about the assembled coil springs alongside the top and bottom terminal coils respectively of the outermost coil springs in the rows, a resilient band extending unidirectionally and continuously lengthwise over the central portions of the terminal coils of the coil springs in the lengthwise rows and having terminal flanges extending substantially perpendicularly unidirectionally from the ends of the bands and disposed alongside the border frame members with the portions of the bands between the ends being interconnected with the overlapping portions of the terminal coils of the coil springs whereby the portions of the bands between the ends are resiliently held in lengthwise alignment with substantially the centers of the aligned coil springs in the lengthwise rows, said border frame members being positioned to extend as a chord across the terminal coils of the outermost coil springs to subdivide the terminal coils into an inwardly extending portion and an outwardly extending chord portion, the latter of which is wrapped about the border frame members and on the side of the band from which the flanges project to effect an interconnected relationship which positions the border frame members in substantial vertical alignment with the coils of least diameter in the coil springs thereby to position the border frame members in substantially vertical alignment with the major axial force capable of being developed by the engaged coil springs and to cam the end portions of the bands in the direction opposite that in which the flanges extend respectively to engagement between the wrapped-about portion of the terminal coils and the adjacent end portions of the band as the chord pontion is wrapped around the flange and border wire thereby to eifect a tension relationship with end portions of the band being cammed to be offset from central alignment wtih the coil springs while the intermediate portions of the band are resiliently held in central alignment thereby to introduce a tensioned relationship throughout the spring assembly.

2. A structure according to claim 1 wherein the resilient border frames and the resilient wires are composed of flat wire.

3. A structure according to claim 1 wherein the resilient wires which bridge all springs in each row are interweaved through the adjacently disposed coil springs of said row.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,291,390 Krakauer July 28, 1942 2,473,706 Gleason June 21, 1949 2,885,693 Wuest May 12, 1959 2,945,245 Gleason July 19, 1960

Claims

1. A MULTIPLE COIL SPRING ASSEMBLY COMPRISING A PLURALITY OF COIL SPRINGS ARRANGED IN A SERIES OF LENGTHWISE AND CROSSWISE ROWS WITH THE COIL SPRINGS IN THE LENGTHWISE ROWS BEING ARRANGED IN END TO END RELATIONSHIP WITH THE UPPER AND LOWER TERMINAL COILS OF ADJACENT COIL SPRINGS OVERLAPPING AND WITH THE COIL SPRINGS IN THE CROSSWISE ROWS BEING SPACED ONE FROM THE OTHER, MEANS INTERCONNECTING THE TERMINAL COILS OF THE ADJACENT COIL SPRINGS IN THE LENGTHWISE ROWS AND EXTENDING CROSSWISE OF THE COIL SPRINGS TO INTERCONNECT CORRESPONDING ADJACENT COIL SPRINGS IN THE CROSSWISE ROWS, A TOP AND A BOTTOM BORDER FRAME MEMBER ARRANGED ABOUT THE ASSEMBLED COIL SPRINGS ALONGSIDE THE TOP AND BOTTOM TERMINAL COILS RESPECTIVELY OF THE OUTERMOST COIL SPRINGS IN THE ROWS, A RESILIENT BAND EXTENDING UNIDIRECTIONALLY AND CONTINUOULSY LENGTHWISE OVER THE CENTRAL PORTIONS OF THE TERMINAL COILS OF THE COIL SPRINGS IN THE LENGTHWISE ROWS AND HAVING TERMINAL FLANGES EXTENDING SUBSTANTIALLY PERPENDICULARLY UNIDIRECTIONALLY FROM THE ENDS OF THE BANDS AND DISPOSED ALONGSIDE THE BORDER FRAME MEMBERS WITH THE PORTIONS OF THE BANDS BETWEEN THE ENDS BEING INTERCONNECTED WITH THE OVERLAPPING PORTIONS OF THE TERMINAL COILS OF THE COIL SPRING WHEREBY THE PORTIONS OF THE BANDS BETWEEN THE ENDS ARE RESILIENTLY HELD IN THE LENGTHWISE ALIGNMENT WITH SUBSTANTIALLY THE CENTERS OF THE ALIGNED COIL SPRINGS IN THE LENGTHWISE ROWS, SAID BORDER FRAME MEMBERS BEING POSITIONED TO EXTEND AS A CHORD ACROSS THE TERMINAL COILS OF THE OUTERMOST COIL SPRINGS TO SUBDIVIDE THE TERMINAL COILS INTO AN INWARDLY EXTENDING PORTION AND AN OUTWARDLY EXTENDING CHORD PORTION, THE LATTER OF WHICH IS WRAPPED ABOUT THE BORDER FRAME MEMBERS AND ON THE SIDE OF THE BAND FROM WHICH THE FLANGES PROJECT TO EFFECT AN INTERCONNECTED RELATIONSHIP WHICH POSITIONS THE BORDER FRAME MEMBERS IN SUBSTANTIAL VERTICAL ALIGNMENT WITH THE COILS OF LEAST DIAMETER IN THE COIL SPRINGS THEREBY TO POSITION THE BORDER FRAME MEMBERS IN SUBSTANTIALLY VERTICAL ALIGNMENT WITH THE MAJOR AXIAL FORCE CAPABLE OF BEING DEVELOPED BY THE ENGAGED COIL SPRINGS AND TO CAM THE END PORTIONS OF THE BANDS IN THE DIRECTION OPPOSITE THAT IN WHICH THE FLANGES EXTEND RESPECTIVELY TO ENGAGEMENT BETWEEN THE WRAPPED-ABOUT PORTION OF THE TERMINAL COILS AND THE ADJACENT END PORTIONS OF THE BAND AS THE CHORD PORTION IS WRAPPED AROUND THE FLANGE AND BORDER WIRE THEREBY TO EFFECT A TENSION RELATIONSHIP WITH END PORTIONS OF THE BAND BEING CAMMED TO BE OFFSET FROM CENTRAL ALIGNMENT WITH THE COIL SPRINGS WHILE THE INTERMEDIATE PORTIONS OF THE BAND ARE RESILIENTLY HELD IN CENTRAL ALIGNMENT THEREBY TO INTRODUCE A TENSIONED RELATIONSHIP THROUGHOUT THE SPRING ASSEMBLY.