US3367648A - Spring deck for upholstered seating - Google Patents

Spring deck for upholstered seating Download PDF

Info

Publication number
US3367648A
US3367648A US596514A US59651466A US3367648A US 3367648 A US3367648 A US 3367648A US 596514 A US596514 A US 596514A US 59651466 A US59651466 A US 59651466A US 3367648 A US3367648 A US 3367648A
Authority
US
United States
Prior art keywords
spring
sheet
deck
strands
wires
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
US596514A
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
William F Richardson
Raymond L Mcquitty
Robert O Isaacs
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Flex O Lators Inc
Original Assignee
Flex O Lators Inc
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Flex O Lators Inc filed Critical Flex O Lators Inc
Priority to US596514A priority Critical patent/US3367648A/en
Priority to GB51361/67A priority patent/GB1165820A/en
Priority to BE706638D priority patent/BE706638A/xx
Priority to FR128801A priority patent/FR1545025A/fr
Priority to JP1970131565U priority patent/JPS471879Y1/ja
Priority to DE1967F0054092 priority patent/DE1654237B2/de
Priority to NL6715807A priority patent/NL6715807A/xx
Priority to ES1967145064U priority patent/ES145064Y/es
Priority to SE16046/67A priority patent/SE345586B/xx
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of US3367648A publication Critical patent/US3367648A/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

Links

Images

Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60N—SEATS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLES; VEHICLE PASSENGER ACCOMMODATION NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • B60N2/00—Seats specially adapted for vehicles; Arrangement or mounting of seats in vehicles
    • B60N2/70—Upholstery springs ; Upholstery
    • B60N2/7023—Coach-like constructions
    • B60N2/7035—Cushions
    • B60N2/7047—Springs
    • B60N2/7058—Metallic springs
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
    • A47C—CHAIRS; SOFAS; BEDS
    • A47C7/00—Parts, details, or accessories of chairs or stools
    • A47C7/02—Seat parts
    • A47C7/28—Seat parts with tensioned springs, e.g. of flat type
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
    • A47C—CHAIRS; SOFAS; BEDS
    • A47C7/00—Parts, details, or accessories of chairs or stools
    • A47C7/02—Seat parts
    • A47C7/28—Seat parts with tensioned springs, e.g. of flat type
    • A47C7/32—Seat parts with tensioned springs, e.g. of flat type with tensioned cords, e.g. of elastic type, in a flat plane

Definitions

  • ABSTRACT F THE DISCLOSURE discloses a spring deck for upholstered seating comprising a planar sheet which is inelastic in its own plane but is resiliently exible transversely to its plane, means aixing the forward edge of said sheet to the rigid frame in such a Way that the rearward portion thereof cannot pivot downwardly, and resiliently extensible members extending between and interconnecting the rearward edge of said sheet to the rearward edge of said frame, said sheet being free of attachment along its side edges, whereby the spring deck formed by said sheet tends to tilt downwardly and rearwardly when loaded.
  • This invention relates to new and useful improvements in upholstery accessories, and has particular reference to spring decks for upholstered seating structures in furniture, automotive seating and the like.
  • the spring deck in such structures is 4of course the resiliently yieldable sub-structure mounted in the seating frame and over which the padding layers are applied t0 complete the structure.
  • the principal object of the present invention is the provision of a spring deck which is conducive to better posture on the part of persons using the seating, and which therefore provides greater comfort and less fatigue7 particularly when persons must remain seated for substantial periods of time.
  • a spring deck which tends to urge the users hips rearwardly so that his lower back contacts and is supported by the back structure of the seating structure
  • a spring deck which tends to eliminate or minimize the front-torear hammocking or localized deflection thereof under load.
  • a spring deck comprising a spring fabric sheet secured rigidly along its forward edge to its seat frame, and secured to the frame along its rearward edge by springs which are resiliently extensible in a direction extending from front to rear of the seat.
  • FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a seating frame for upholstered furniture having a spring deck embodying the present invention mounted operatively therein, and
  • FIG. 2 is an enlarged, foreshortened fragmentary sectional view taken on line II-lI of FIG. 1.
  • the numeral 2 applies generally to the seat frame of an upholstered furniture or automotive chair structure, with the padding and decorative layers omitted.
  • said frame is rigid, consisting of a front rail 4, rear rail 6 and side rails 8 rigidly joined together to form a rectangular frame which is disposed generally horizontally.
  • the spring deck forming the central subject matter of the present invention includes a sheet of material which is inelastic in its own plane, but which may be flexed transversely to its plane, and a series of helical tension springs 12.
  • Sheet 10 comprises a ⁇ pair of side strands 14 each consisting of a spring wire core 16 (see FIG. 2) enclosed in a sheath 18 of twisted kraft paper or the like, and a series of closely spaced apart cross strands 26 each comprising a spring steel wire extending between side strands 14 in generally parallel relation and secured at their ends to said side strands.
  • each cross wire is wrapped clampingly about each side strand, with the extreme end thereof being twisted around the portion of the general extent thereof immediately adjacent said side strand, as indicated at 22.
  • the sheet may include intermediate strands 24, also formed of twisted kraft paper, extending parallel with and spaced regularly -between side strands 14 each of cross wires 20 piercing each of said intermediate strands at its point of intersection therewith, also as shown in FIG. 2.
  • Said intermediate strands serve to maintain a generally uniform spacing between cross wires 20 throughout their lengths.
  • One of side strands 14 of sheet 10 is laid along the top edge of front frame rail 4, and secured thereto at intervals along its length by staples 26 bridging said side strand and driven into said rail.
  • the width of the fabric, measured between side strands 14 is less than the frontto-rear depth of frame 2, so that opposite side strand 1'4 of the fabric is then spaced forwardly apart from rear frame rail 6, as shown.
  • the latter rearwardly disposed side strand 14 is then attached to rear frame rail 6 by helical tension springs 12 which are spaced along the full length of said side strand.
  • each spring is formed in a hook 30 which is engaged around rearward strand 14, and the rearward end of each spring is formed in a hook 32 which is engaged in a triangular wire hanger 34.
  • Said hanger comprises a length of wire bent in triangular form with the wire ends overlapping at the apex of the triangle.
  • the base side of the hanger is affixed to rear frame rail 6 by a plurality of staples 36 driven into the rail, and the apex of the hanger extends forwardly from said rail.
  • the rear hook 32 of the spring is engaged in the apex of the hanger, engaging the overlapped end portions of the hanger wire so that the spring tension itself tends to prevent accidental opening of the hanger.
  • each spring can pivot vertically about its connection with its associated hanger, without interference either from the hanger or from rail 6.
  • the length of sheet 10, measured in a direction parallel to side strands 14 thereof, is slightly less than the inside distance between side frame rails 8, as clearly shown in FIG. 1, whereby said side rails do not engage or interfere with movement of the spring deck.
  • the usual padding and decorative finishing layers are then applied over the spring deck, usually also extending over and being secured to frame 2. However, these layers are not shown as they are not pertinent to the present invention.
  • the chair back although it will be understood that said back rises upwardly from rear frame rail 6 in the usual manner.
  • sheet 10 of the spring deck spans substantially the entire seating area of the chair, springs 12 of the deck normally being disposed directly beneath the lower edge of the chair back so that no vertical load is normally applied directly thereover.
  • the structure is rendered quiet and free from the grinding, grating and rubbing noises which otherwise would result from relative movement of wires in contact with each other by the paper sheaths 18 of side strands 14. These sheaths also provide good purchase and non-slip engagement between said side strands and cross wires 20.
  • the engagement of hooks 30 and 32 of each spring respectively with rear side strand 14 and its hanger 34 permits free vertical pivoting of the springs so that they never need be transversely flexed by the deck action. Such transverse exing of the helical springs has been found to result in overstraining and breakage thereof, particularly in extended periods of use.
  • the fabric sheet 10 possess a degree of resilient resistance to tlexure about an axis parallel to side strands 14, and the resilience of cross wires 20 supplies this resistance.
  • a complete lack of this resistance would tend to defeat the effect of the tilting action in urging the users hips rearwardly, since then the fabric would hammock freely between its forward and rearward edges, and the zone directly beneath the users hips would tend to be shifted somewhat forwardly due to the yielding of springs 12.
  • free hammocking tends to wrap the cushion around the users posterior, and this in itself can be a direct cause of fatigue and discomfort to the user.
  • cross strands 20 are formed of resilient spring steel wire and conjointly provide a considerable degree of resistance to flexure of the sheet about any axis transverse to said wires, so that the sheet tends to remain more nearly planar as its rearward edge is lowered by extension of springs 12.
  • the close spacing of wires 12 also results in the fact that they form a deck which is sufficiently complete to support the padding layers applied thereover and to prevent said padding from working down therebetween.
  • the total vertical yielding of the loaded zone of the deck fabric is accomplished partially by tilting of the fabric as allowed by extension of springs 12, and partially by flexure of the fabric itself as a result of the flexure of wires 20, and the proportion of the total yield accomplished by the two actions may be varied and adjusted by regulating the relative strengths of springs 12 and wires 20, to produce a deck having the desired characteristics.
  • springs 12 since it is almost impossible to prevent a substantial degree of flexure of wires 20 when the deck is loaded, due to the considerable length or span of said wires, it is generally desirable to install springs 12 under a very slight tension, so that they can be extended to allow rearward tilting of the fabric, without causing excessive additional ilexure of wires 20.
  • the stiffness of the spring wire cores 16 of side strands 14 which are preferably heavier and stiffer than wires 20 provides structural strength to fabric 10 so that it will hold its form permanently, and permits the use of a smaller number of stronger springs 12, as compared to the larger number of weaker springs which would be required if said side strands were more flexible, 'and also a smaller number of staples 26 at the forward edge of the deck.
  • This is important since labor time and costs represent a large proportion of the price of seating structures.
  • the presently described deck structure is extremely simple and economical and can be installed easily with a minimum of labor time.
  • the spacing of springs 12 is optional, and could be varied if desired. For instance, in some cases it may be preferable to space said springs more closely in a zone midway between side rails 8, this ordinarily being the zone of maximum loading and wear.
  • (c) means securing the forward edge of said sheet nonpivotally to said front rail, whereby the rearward portion of said sheet can move downwardly only by flexure of said sheet, the rearward edge of said sheet being spaced forwardly from said rear rail,
  • each of said side strands includes a spring steel wire relatively heavier and stiffer than said cross Wires, and wherein said means securing the forward edge of said sheet to said front rail, and said resiliently extensible members, have engagement only with said side strands.
  • each of said resiliently extensible members constitutes an elongated helical spring secured at its forward end to the rearward edge of said sheet, and is provided at its rear- Ward end with a hook
  • said means securing the opposite end of said spring to said rear rail comprises a vertically opening loop member 'aixed to said rear rail and extending forwardly thereof, the hook of said spring being engaged in said loop member whereby to permit vertical pivotal movement of said spring.
  • a spring deck for use in a rigid seating frame having front, rear and side rails, said spring deck comprising:

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Aviation & Aerospace Engineering (AREA)
  • Transportation (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Seats For Vehicles (AREA)
  • Folding Of Thin Sheet-Like Materials, Special Discharging Devices, And Others (AREA)
US596514A 1966-11-23 1966-11-23 Spring deck for upholstered seating Expired - Lifetime US3367648A (en)

Priority Applications (9)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US596514A US3367648A (en) 1966-11-23 1966-11-23 Spring deck for upholstered seating
GB51361/67A GB1165820A (en) 1966-11-23 1967-11-10 Spring Deck for Upholstered Seating
BE706638D BE706638A (fr) 1966-11-23 1967-11-16
FR128801A FR1545025A (fr) 1966-11-23 1967-11-20 Garnissage formant support élastique pour sièges capitonnés
JP1970131565U JPS471879Y1 (fr) 1966-11-23 1967-11-21
DE1967F0054092 DE1654237B2 (de) 1966-11-23 1967-11-21 Federndes auflageteil fuer polsterkoerper
NL6715807A NL6715807A (fr) 1966-11-23 1967-11-21
ES1967145064U ES145064Y (es) 1966-11-23 1967-11-22 Un dispositivo de tablero de resortes para estructuras de asiento tapizadas.
SE16046/67A SE345586B (fr) 1966-11-23 1967-11-22

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US596514A US3367648A (en) 1966-11-23 1966-11-23 Spring deck for upholstered seating

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US3367648A true US3367648A (en) 1968-02-06

Family

ID=24387601

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US596514A Expired - Lifetime US3367648A (en) 1966-11-23 1966-11-23 Spring deck for upholstered seating

Country Status (9)

Country Link
US (1) US3367648A (fr)
JP (1) JPS471879Y1 (fr)
BE (1) BE706638A (fr)
DE (1) DE1654237B2 (fr)
ES (1) ES145064Y (fr)
FR (1) FR1545025A (fr)
GB (1) GB1165820A (fr)
NL (1) NL6715807A (fr)
SE (1) SE345586B (fr)

Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3527499A (en) * 1968-12-04 1970-09-08 Alan E Rathbun Spring seat front edge construction
JPS5275504U (fr) * 1975-12-02 1977-06-06
DE2806754A1 (de) * 1977-02-28 1978-08-31 Youngflex Sa Auflage

Families Citing this family (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5624161A (en) * 1994-05-31 1997-04-29 Takashimaya Nippatsu Kogyo Co., Ltd. Seat cushion pad supporting construction
EP1634517A1 (fr) * 2004-09-14 2006-03-15 Pullmaflex Benelux N.V. Structure de soutien pour un siège et dispositif de suspension de siège correspondant
WO2024013805A1 (fr) * 2022-07-11 2024-01-18 日産自動車株式会社 Cadre de siège pour véhicule

Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US1876305A (en) * 1931-07-20 1932-09-06 Kroehler Mfg Co Spring seat construction
US2010578A (en) * 1934-02-03 1935-08-06 Sylvia Bank Chair bottom
US2158441A (en) * 1938-04-01 1939-05-16 Thum Martin Spring structure for furniture
US2788845A (en) * 1955-09-01 1957-04-16 Bond Inc Chair bottoms
US3195955A (en) * 1963-08-05 1965-07-20 Flex O Lators Seat back structure

Patent Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US1876305A (en) * 1931-07-20 1932-09-06 Kroehler Mfg Co Spring seat construction
US2010578A (en) * 1934-02-03 1935-08-06 Sylvia Bank Chair bottom
US2158441A (en) * 1938-04-01 1939-05-16 Thum Martin Spring structure for furniture
US2788845A (en) * 1955-09-01 1957-04-16 Bond Inc Chair bottoms
US3195955A (en) * 1963-08-05 1965-07-20 Flex O Lators Seat back structure

Cited By (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3527499A (en) * 1968-12-04 1970-09-08 Alan E Rathbun Spring seat front edge construction
JPS5275504U (fr) * 1975-12-02 1977-06-06
JPS5440252Y2 (fr) * 1975-12-02 1979-11-28
DE2806754A1 (de) * 1977-02-28 1978-08-31 Youngflex Sa Auflage

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
DE1654237A1 (de) 1972-08-31
SE345586B (fr) 1972-06-05
DE1654237B2 (de) 1977-04-21
FR1545025A (fr) 1968-11-08
GB1165820A (en) 1969-10-01
NL6715807A (fr) 1968-05-24
JPS471879Y1 (fr) 1972-01-22
ES145064Y (es) 1969-12-16
BE706638A (fr) 1968-05-16
ES145064U (es) 1969-06-01

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
JP5603329B2 (ja) シーティングユニット用の同調背もたれ
US4049315A (en) Chair having independent seat and back
US20080106136A1 (en) Seat front edge construction
US4601516A (en) Contoured chair
US2526184A (en) Seat and back frame and spring construction
US5544943A (en) Seat construction and method
US5188343A (en) Spring system for upholstered furniture
US3860287A (en) Seating construction
EP2583590B1 (fr) Chaise pourvue d'un dossier
US3610688A (en) Encapsulated cushion and spring deck assembly for seating structures
US3367648A (en) Spring deck for upholstered seating
US2341419A (en) Furniture
US3086817A (en) Seat for a motor vehicle
US2305530A (en) Seat construction
US2214136A (en) Spring construction
US4247089A (en) Spring construction
US2995182A (en) Chair
US20020043842A1 (en) Back rest for seat back
US3744846A (en) Seating construction
JP2000093250A (ja) 椅子等の身体支持装置
US4597566A (en) Spring deck for upholstered seating
US3025102A (en) Seat construction
US2557269A (en) Posture seating device
US3069203A (en) Back support mats
US2586433A (en) Seat