US3170223A

US3170223A - Method of stretching and attaching an insulator to a supporting spring structure

Info

Publication number: US3170223A
Application number: US254354A
Authority: US
Inventors: Richard P Doerer
Original assignee: Van Dresser Specialty Corp
Current assignee: Van Dresser Specialty Corp
Priority date: 1961-11-13
Filing date: 1963-01-28
Publication date: 1965-02-23
Anticipated expiration: 1982-02-23

Description

Feb. 23, 1965 R. P. DOERER 3,170,223

METHOD OF STRETCHING AND ATTACHING AN INSULATOR TO A SUPPORTING SPRING STRUCTURE 13, 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Original Filed Nov.

IEE L INVENTOR.

s M a AW Feb. 23, 1965 R. P. DOERER 3,170,223

METHOD OF STRETCHING AND ATTACHING AN INSULATOR TO A SUPPORTING SPRING STRUCTURE Original Filed Nov. 13, 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 l as m Iii-=15 fiE-mlfl7 27 /3 .22 Z/ E 5 3%.: a Lg 4; u E WM M W =15 I @245 mafia; f

/.r as f g x /0 4 H M Eli-'5 2 g 1 g INVENTOR.

// R/CHJFD 2 0042 451? W211, MM? 4 United States Patent 3,176,223 ETHUI) GE STRETCHING AND ATTAQHING AN INSULA'IGR TO A SUIPQRTING SPRING STRUQTURE Richard P. Doerer, Ypsilanti, Mich, assignor to Van Dresser Specialty Corporation, Warren, Mich., a corporation of Michigan 7 Original application Nov. 13, 1961, Ser. No. 151,773, new Patent No. 3,132,353, dated May '12, 1964. Divided and this application Ian. 28, M63, Ser. No. 254,354

4 Claims. (Cl. 29-911) This invention relates to a method of stretching and attaching an insulator to a supporting spring structure of an upholstered assembly, and is a division of my copending application Serial No. 151,773, filed November 13, 1961, now Patent No. 3,132,353, granted May 12, 1964.

One of the essential objects of the invention is to provide a method of applying to the border frame of the supporting spring structure of an upholstered assembly an elongated, flexible, stretchable insulator initially having in its free state an overall dimension in one direction less than the minimum dimension of the border frame in the aforesaid direction, comprising securing one edge of the insulator to one edge of the border frame, stretching the insulator in the said one direction, and securing the opposite edge of the stretched insulator to the opposite edge of the border frame.

Another object is to provide a method of applying to the border frame of the supporting spring structure of an upholstered assembly a flexible, stretchable insulator at least a portion of which extending in one direction between opposite edges of said insulator has in its free state a dimension in said one direction less than the dimension in the said one direction of the corresponding portion of the border frame, comprising securing one of said edges of the insulator to one edge of the border frame, stretching the insulator in said one direction, and securing the opposite edge of the stretched insulator to the opposite edge of the border frame.

Other objects, advantages, and novel details of construction of the invention willbe made more apparent as this description proceeds, especially when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective View of an upholstered assembly provided with an extensible insulator embodying my invention, and showing parts broken away and in section.

FIGURE 2 is a top plan view of the insulator, shown overlying a supporting spring structure of an upholsteredassembly before being stretched'to a configuration conforming to the contour of the border frame of the supporting spring structure.

FIGURE 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 33 of FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 4 is a view similar to FIGURE 2 but shows the insulator after it has been bodily stretched to conform to the contour of the border frame of the supporting spring structure and marginally secured thereto. FIGURES 5-11, inclusive, are sectional views taken 3,170,223. Patented Feb. 23, 1&65

a modified construction, being shown in its initial free state.

FIGURE 17 is a top plan view of the insulator of FIGURE 16 after it has been stretched to a configuration conforming to the contour of the border frame of the supporting spring structure, shown marginally secured to the border frame.

FIGURES 18 and 19 are sectional views taken through reinforcing strands of different diameters.

In the drawings, A is an elongated, rectangular, substantially horizontally extending, flexible, bodily stretchable, shcet-lilce insulator embodying my invention disposed between an overlying padding B for an exterior trim material C and an elongated underlying supporting spring structure D of'an upholstered assembly.

As shown, the insulator A includes an elongated, substantially rectangular extensible sheet 10 of flexible material, and separate elongated, laterally spaced, parallel, stretchable, resilient, reinforcing strands 11 of uniform length threaded lengthwise through the extensible rectangular sheet 10.

The rectangular sheet 16) is formed with a longitudinal series of transverse pleats or undulations 12, and the reinforcing strands 11 are preferably in the form of helically coiled wires at right angles to the pleats. The strands 11 thread through the pleats 1.2 so that alternate pleats lie on opposite sides of the strands. In the initial respectively on the lines 55, 66, 7-7, 8-8-, 9-9,

1(l10, and 1111 of FIGURE4;

FIGURE 12 is a sectional view taken on the line 12-42 V of FIGURE 4. l v a FIGURE 13 is similar to FIGURE 12 but shows a modification.

FIGURE 14 is similar to FIGURES 12 shows still another modification.

FIGURE 15 is a sectional view taken on the line 15-15 of FIGURE 2.

2 FIGURE 16 is a top plan view of an insulator having and 13 but free state of the insulator shown in FIGURE 2, the undulations or pleats 12 are relatively deep and close together, substantially as shown in FIGURE 5, and the reinforcing strands are all of the same pitch, being suitably coiled and having a plurality of convolutions between successive undulations or pleats of the sheet. It will be understood that in some instances the pleats may extend longitudinally of the sheet and the strands may extend transversely of the sheet and may be threaded through the longitudinally extending pleats.

The insulator A also includes a pair of elongated anchorage portions 13, one along each end of and separate from the sheetltl. Alternatively, each anchorage portion may be integral with and formed as a rolled or folded end of the sheet, as indicated at 1% in dotted lines in FIGURE 15. The reinforcing strands 11 are terminally provided at each end with return bent portions 14 which are clamped around the anchorage portions 13.

The supporting spring structure includes an elongated substantially horizontal border frame 18 of predetermined length, made to the desired configuration and area from a wire element or the like and having contoured

ends

20 and 21. It will be noted that the rectangular insulator It has, in its initial free state shown in FIG- URE 2, an overall length less than the minimum lengthwise dimension of the border frame, measured between the

ends

20 and 21 thereof.

A plurality of laterally spaced clips 15 are provided along each end of the insulator, each clip being formed at one end with a return bent portion 16 which is clamped around an anchorage portion 13, and being formed at the opposite end with a return bent portion 17 for quick attachment to the'border frame 18 of the support ing spring structure D. The clips 15 are preferably of the clinch type, wherein the .return bent portion 17. has i i FIGURE 13 illustrates a resilient snap-on type clip 15".,

a plurality of which can be used in place of clips 15. The return bent portion 17' of each clip 15' has a flared.

end 18 so that the border frame can snap into the return bent portion, facilitated by the flared end 18', and.

be resiliently held therein. Otherwise, clips 15' are exactly like the clips 15 and are secured to an anchorage portion 13 of the insulator in the same way.

The

clips

15 or 15 may be permanently clamped on the anchorage portions 13 of the insulator for quick attachment of the insulator to the border frame of the supporting spring structure.

Although the various elements of my insulator may be formed of any suitable material for the purposes set forth, the rectangular sheet is preferably formed of burlap, and the reinforcing strands 11 are preferably formed of wire of circular cross section. The anchorage portions 13 are preferably formed of rolled or folded burlap, and the clips are preferably formed of fiat or round wire stock.

In order to apply the insulator A to the border frame 18 of the supporting spring structure, one end of the insulator is attached to one

end

20 or 21 of the border frame by engaging the return bent portions .17 or 17' of the clips or 15 over the corresponding end of the border frame. The insulator is then bodily stretched horizontally to a configuration conforming to the contour of the horizontal border frame and its opposite end secured to the opposite end of the border frame by engaging the return bent portions 17 or 17' over the opposite end of the border frame.

As an alternative, the clips 15 may be replaced by hog rings 22. A plurality of spaced hog rings along the length of each anchorage portion 13 will be provided to embrace both the anchorage portion and the border frame at the corresponding end of the supporting spring structure. This is shown in FIGURE 14. The hog rings, while of anysuitable flexible, deformable material, are preferably of vmetal and are formed as an open loop capable of being deformed to cross or open the ends to secure the anchorage portion of the insulator to or release it from the border frame.

The same procedure is employed to secure the insulator to the border frame by hog rings; that is, the hog rings encircling the anchorage portion at one end of the insulator will be clinched about the corresponding end of the border frame, the insulator will be bodily stretched to a configuration conforming to the contour of the border frame, and thereafter the hog rings encircling the other anchorage portion of the insulator will be clinched about the other end of the border frame.

Either before or after the ends of the insulator are secured by the clips or hog rings as described above, the longitudinal edges of the insulator will be secured to the parallel sides 23 and 24 of the border frame 13 by additional spaced hog rings 22. The hog rings 22 along the longitudinal edges of the insulator pierce the body of the sheet 10 and encircle the sides 23 and 24 of the border frame. It will be noted that the width of the insulator A, in its free state, is substantially equal to the distance between the sides 23 and 24 of the border frame.

Since the ends and 21 of the border frame are contoured or curved as shown in FIGURES 2 and 4, different longitudinal segments of the insulator will be stretched different amounts (FIGS 4-11). Referring to FIGURES 4 and 11, it will be seen that along side 23 of the border frame, the sheet and coiled reinforcing strands are stretched considerably. However, both the pleated fabric and reinforcing strands, although bodily stretched, remain in an undulated condition. Referring to FIGURES 4 and 5, it will be noted that along the opposite side 24 of the border frame, the pleated fabrica and the coiled reinforcing strands are extended very little if at all. Hence in this section of the insulator,

the pleats or undulations in the fabric are deep andthe reinforcing strands are more closely coiled. Between the opposite longitudinal edges of the insulator, the fabric and reinforcing strands are stretched varying amounts,

as will be apparent from an inspection of FIGURES 4 and 6-10.

It will be observed that both the fabric sheet and the reinforcing strands remain in an undulated condition after application to the border frame of the supporting spring structure at all points, although at some points the undulations are deeper or more closely formed than at others. Hence, the insulator, when applied to the supporting spring structure as shown in FIGURE 4, remains stretchable at all points to compensate for 10- calized loads imposed thereon.

Referring to FIGURES 16 and 17, an insulator A of modified construction is shown. This insulator differs from the one shown in FIGURES 24 in that the reinforcing strands 11', in their initial free state, are not all of the same pitch. As noted in FIGURE 16, the strands near one longitudinal edge 26 of the insulator are of relatively small pitch and the strands near the opposite longitudinal edge 27 are of a relatively greater pitch. The intermediate strands are of progressively greater pitch from the longitudinal edge 2s to the other edge 27. In this instance, the pitch of the strands has been varied so that when the insulator is stretched bodily and secured to the border frame, as in FIGURE 17, the variously stretched strands will all be of the same pitch and hence will simulate strands of the same pitch. It will be understood, of course, that other variations in the pitch of the strands may be made to compensate for heavy localized loads which may occur in certain areas of the upholstered assembly.

While both the insulator A shown in FIGURES 2, 3, and 4 and the insulator A shown in FIGURES 16 and 17 may have reinforcing strand-s all of the same circular cross section, the cross section of the various strands may be varied to compensate for heavy localized loads in particular areas of the upholstered assembly. Thus, as shown inFIGURES 1S and 19 one strand may be of a greater diameter than another 11b. The strands 11a and 1112 may be considered to be different strands of either of the insulators A or A. Hence, the insulator A for example, shown in FIGURES l6 and 17, may have reinforcing strands which, in their free state, are of different pitch, and those strands may be of different diameter as well.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. A method of forming and applying an elongated flexible, sheet-like insulator to an elongated border frame of a supporting spring structure of an upholstered assembly; comprising providing a preformed insulator including an elongated substantially rectangular sheet of flexible material provided with transverse undulations and having an initial lengthwise dimension less than the lengthwise dimension of said border frame, and also including a plurality of elongated, laterally spaced substantially parallel, stretchable resilient reinforcing strands threaded through said undulations and extending longitudinally of said sheet and having anchorage members at the opposite ends of said sheet extending transversely thereof to which said strands are terminally connected, securing one of said anchorage members to one end of said border frame, then longitudinally stretching said preformed insulator whereby to place said strands in tension and to increase the lengthwise dimension of said strands and said sheet to approximately the lengthwise dimension of said border frame, and thereafter while said strands are in tension and said strands and sheets are increased in length as aforesaid, securing the other of said anchorage'members to the opposite end of said border frame.

2. The method defined in claim 1 wherein said anchorage members are secured as aforesaid to the ends of said border frame in a manner such that said anchorage members and the ends of said sheet conform substan tially in contour to the ends of said border frame.

3. A method of forming and applying an elongated flexible, sheet-like insulator to an elongated border frame of a supporting spring structure of an upholstered assembly; comprising providing a preformed insulator including an elongated rectangular sheet of flexible burlap material provided with transverse undulations and having an initial lengthwisedimension less than the lengthwise dimension of said border frame, and also including a pluralityof elongated, laterally spaced, substantially parallel,

stretchable, resilient reinforcing strands threaded through said undulations and extendinglongitudinally ofsaid sheet and having anchorage members atthe opposite ends of said sheet which are separate from and extend Y transversely of'said sheet and to'which said strands are terminally connected, securing one of said anchorage Wise dimension of said border frame, and also including a plurality of elongated, laterally spaced, substantially parallel, stretchable, resilient reinforcing strands threaded through said undulationsand extending longitudinallyof said sheet and having anchorage members at the opposite ends of said sheet which are integral with and ex tend transversely ofsaid' sheet and ,t hichsaidstrands are terminally connected, securing one of said anchorage v members to one end of said border frame, thenlongitudinally stretching said preformed insulator whereby to place said strands in tension and to increase the length- I wise dimension of said strands and said sheet to approximembers to one end of said border frame, then longitudinally stretching said preformed insulator whereby "to placeosaid strands in tension and toincrease the length Wise dimensionjofsaid strands and said sheet to approximately the lengthwise dimension of said border frame, and thereafter While said strands are in tension and said strands and sheet are increased .in length as aforesaid, securing the other of said anchorage members to the opposite end; of said border frame, o

4. A method of forming and applying an elongated flexible, sheet-like insulator to an elongated border frame material provided with transverse undulations and having an initial lengthwise dimension less than thelengtha securing the otherof said anchorage members to the 0pof a supporting spring structure of an upholstered assern- .bly; comprising providinga preformedinsulatorinclud- .ing an elongated rectangular sheet "of flexible burlap mately the lengthwise dimension of said border frame,

and thereafter, while said strands are in tension and said strands and sheet are increased in length as aforesaid,

po'siteend of said border frame.v

References Cited'by the Examiner V UNITED STATES PATENTS WHITMORE A. WILTZ, Primary Examiner.

THOMAS H. EAGER, Examiner.

Claims

1. A METHOD OF FORMING AND APPLYING AN ELONGATED FLEXIBLE, SHEET-LIKE INSULATOR TO AN ELONGATED BORDER FRAME OF A SUPPORTING SPRING STRUCTURE OF AN UPHOLSTERED ASSEMBLY; COMPRISING PROVIDING A PREFORMED INSULATOR INCLUDING AN ELONGATED SUBSTANTIALLY RECTANGULAR SHEET OF FLEXIBLE MATERIAL PROVIDED WITH TRANSVERSE UNDULATIONS AND HAVING AN INITIAL LENGTHWISE DIMENSION LESS THAN THE LENGTHWISE DIMENSION OF SAID BORDER FRAME, AND ALSO INCLUDING A PLURALITY OF ELONGATED, LATERALLY SPACED SUBSTANTIALLY PARALLEL, STRETCHABLE RESILIENT REINFORCING STRANDS THREADED THROUGH SAID UNDULATIONS AND EXTENDING LONGITUDINALLY OF SAID SHEET AND HAVING ANCHORAGE MEMBERS AT THE OPPOSITE ENDS OF SAID SHEET EXTENDING TRANSVERSELY THEREOF TO WHICH SAID STRANDS ARE TERMINALLY CONNECTED, SECURING ONE OF SAID ANCHORAGE MEMBERS TO ONE END OF SAID BORDER FRAME, THEN LONGITUDINALLY STRETCHING SAID PREFORMED INSULATOR WHEREBY TO PLACE SAID STRANDS IN TENSION AND TO INCREASE THE LENGTHWISE DIMENSION OF SAID STRANDS AND SAID SHEET TO APPROXIMATELY THE LENGTHWISE DIMENSION OF SAID BORDER FRAME, AND THEREAFTER WHILE SAID STRANDS ARE IN TENSION AND SAID STRANDS AND SHEETS ARE INCREASED IN LENGTH AS AFORESAID, SECURING THE OTHER OF SAID ANCHORAGE MEMBERS TO THE OPPOSITE END OF SAID BORDER FRAME.