US3593979A

US3593979A - Edge spring arrangement

Info

Publication number: US3593979A
Application number: US858240A
Authority: US
Inventors: Lawton H Crosby
Original assignee: MORLEY FURNITURE CO Inc
Current assignee: MORLEY FURNITURE CO Inc
Priority date: 1969-08-13
Filing date: 1969-08-13
Publication date: 1971-07-20
Anticipated expiration: 1988-07-20

Abstract

A spring edge arrangement for a seat assembly where the seat assembly includes a sinuous spring band. A cantilever arm member has an attachment section which anchors at its inner end onto at least two linear wire segments of the band and a cantilever section which extends away from the attachment section to terminate in a border wire-retaining mouth plumbed over the front rail of the seat assembly.

Description

United States Patent [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,951,674 3/1934 Saunders 5/3537 X 2,117,748 5/1938 Stewart 5/3533 X 2,356,417 8/1944 Mayer 267/102 2,663,361 12/1953 Diamond 287/l89.35 3,091,451 5/1963 Reed 267/107 3,210,064 10/1965 Crosby 267/103 3,425,680 2/1969 Garrision 267/102 Primary ExaminerArthur L. La Point AttorneyHume, Clement, Hume & Lee

ABSTRACT: A spring edge arrangement for a seat assembly where the seat assembly includes a sinuous spring band. A cantilever arm member has an attachment section which anchors at its inner end onto at least two linear wire segments of the band and a cantilever section which extends away from the attachment section to terminate in a border wire-retaining mouth plumbed over the front rail of the seat assembly.

PATENTED JUL20 l9?! 3, 5 83,1979

' SHEET 1 BF 2 PATENTEUJULZOIHYI 3.593 979 SHEET 2 OF [Ma M A K/wy EDGE SPRING ARRANGEMENT This application is a continuation-in-part of the copending application of Lawton H. Crosby, Ser. No. 697,868, filed Jan. 15, 1968, and now abandoned.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates in general to springs for furniture or the like, and more particularly to sinuous wire springs. It deals specifically with an edge spring arrangement which provides edge resilience and comfort in sinuous spring seat assemblies.

The advent of sinuous springing in the furniture business permitted the manufacturer to provide good seating at minimum cost. The quality of the sinuous spring seat was subsequently heightened with the appearance of the levered springing arrangement of Crosby et al. disclosed in US. Pat. No. 3,210,064.

Sinuous spring seats are normally set up as either hard edge" or spring edge" seats. Spring edge seats are, in general, well known: An excellent front spring edge is disclosed in the Crosby U.S. Pat. No. 3,3l 1,366, for example.

A front spring edge has always been somewhat cumbersome to provide in a sinuous spring seat assembly, however. One arrangement for providing this front edge resilience is found in the"fold-back" type spring edge illustrated in the aforementioned Crosbyv US. Pat. No. 3,3l L366. Another spring edge arrangement incorporates a separate sinuous spring member clipped ontothe sinuous spring band adjacent the front end of the band and diverging therefrom. Still another spring edge arrangement is embodied in a wishbone" type spring steel member which also snaps onto the spring band adjacent the front end.

Each of the aforementioned spring edge arrangements leaves something to be desired, however. They are all relatively expensive to employ, for example. In the case of the foldback construction, different springs must actually be stocked for the construction of either hard edge or soft edge furniture. The clip-on and the wishbone constructions are each adaptable only to a preselected type of sinuous band. In other words, they are not interchangeable from regular loop to super loop, for example. In each construction, the attachment of the necessary border wire in the spring edge arrangement is costly, cumbersome and time consuming, requiring a separate clipping operation, as is the clip mounting of the conventional cardboard backing for edge stuffing material. Furthermore, only by trial and error adjustment of main spring band length or the spring edge band segment length is the border wire positioned precisely over the front rail ofthe frame.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The object of the present invention is to provide a new and greatly improved spring edge arrangement for a sinuous spring band assembly in a furniture seat or the like. The foregoing and other objects are realized in accord with the present in vention in a spring edge arrangement including a resilient cantilever arm which readily adapts any type sinuous spring band to luxurious,soft edge seating at minimum cost with minimum labor. Regardless of the type of sinuous spring band employed, whether it is regular loop, X-L loop, or super loop, the cantilever arm fits and cooperates with the band so that the border wire terminus of the arm is in vertical "plumb" with the front edge of the furniture seat, for example. It completely obviates all clipping operations required in other forms of spring edge arrangements. The cantilever arm is fabricated of spring steel strip or wire formed according to the invention to provide a preselected degree of resilience and support at the cushion edge and, at the same time, obviate cushion gap.

The border wire terminus of the arm is adapted to receive and retain the border wire without separate attachment clips. In addition, less expensive, relatively narrow gauge wire with a paper wrapping can readily be employed, in fact is highly advantageously employed, with this'invention, in contrast to the prior art arrangements.

The cantilever arm; is especially adapted to mounting cardboard backing' for edge stuffing material normally supported on spring edge arrangements. This cardboard backing is readily seated and retained simply and expeditiously.

The spring edge arrangement of the present invention thus provides five major advantages. First, it is the only arrangement which readily fits all spring band loop sizes. Second, it assures the border wire being positioned directly over the frame rail. Third, the softness-firmness resilience ratio is readily controlled by varying cantilever arm segment lengths and angles. Fourth, border wire clips and the clipping operation are eliminated. Fifth, stapling of cardboard stuffing support is eliminated.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The invention, including its construction and method of operation, is illustrated more or less diagrammatically in the drawings, in which:

FIG. I is a plan view of a portion of furniture spring assembly incorporating a first form of the spring edge arrangement embodying features of the present invention, with parts broken away;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged side view of the spring edge arrangement seen in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged side view of a spring edge arrangement broadly similar to that illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, but with the border wire terminus of the cantilever arm modified according to the invention;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged side view of the border wire terminus of the cantilever arm otherwise modified according to the invention;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged side view of the border wire terminus of the cantilever arm still otherwise modified according to the invention;

FIG. 6 is a plan view of the modification seen in FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged side view of a second form of spring edge arrangement embodying features of the present invention;

FIG. 8 is a further enlarged side view of a third form of spring edge arrangement embodying features of the present invention;

FIG. 9 is an enlarged plan view of the third form of spring edge arrangement illustrated in FIG. 8;.

FIG. 10 is a side sectional view ofa modification of the third form of spring'edge arrangement illustrated in FIGS. 8 and 9;

FIG. 11 is an enlarged side view of a fourth form of spring edge arrangement, with parts removed;

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of a fifth form of spring edge arrangement; and

FIG. 13 is a perspective view of yet a sixth form of the spring edge arrangement, with parts removed.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring now to the drawings, and particularly to FIG. I, a portion of a furniture spring seat is illustrated generally at 10. The furniture spring seat 10 comprises a series of sinuous spring assemblies It (only one of which is shown) mounted in a frame 12. The frame 12 includes a pair of side rails 15 (only one of which is shown), a front rail 16, and a back rail 17. The rails 15, I6 and 117 are fabricated of wood and joined together in a conventional manner.

Each sinuous spring band assembly 11 includes a sinuous spring band 20 secured to the front rail 16 by a conventional fastening clip 21 and to the back rail 17 by a similar conventional fastening clip 22. The band 20 is modified adjacent the back rail 17 of the frame 12 to provide: a substantially integral rear torque inducing arrangement 26 which exerts a downward torque in the band 20 adjacent the back rail 17, but displaced therefrom to afford translatory movement in the manner disclosed in the copending application of Crosby et al., Ser. No. 602,448, filed Nov. 28, 1966, now US. Pat. No. 3,388,904, June 18, 1968, entitled SPRING CONSTRUC- TlON" and assigned to the same assignee as the present invention.

The band 20 is comprised ofa series of linear wire segments 27 interconnected by an alternating series of generally semicircular wire segments 28. In the illustrated band 20, which is known in the trade as a regalur loop sinuous band, the linear segments are spaced about thirteen-sixteenths inch apart from center to center. This is the most commonly used sinuous. Sinuous spring stock is also available and widely used in what is known as XL" loop and super loop sinuous. The XL sinuous has linear segments spaced about 1 H16 inches apart from center to center and the super loop sinuous has linear segments spaced about 1 /16 inches apart from center to center. lnother words, there are one-fourth inch increments in linear segment spacing between regular, XL and super loop sinuous. I

Adjacent the front rail 16 ofthe furniture spring seat 10, the spring band assembly 11 is provided with an edge spring arrangement 30 embodying features of the first form of the present invention. As seen in FIGS. land 2, the edge spring arrangement 30 includes a cantilever arm member 31 mounted on the sinuous spring band according to the present invention. The cantilever arm member 31, in turn, mounts a border wire 32 and cardboard backing 33 for conventional edge stuffing material, all according to the invention.

The cantilever arm member 31 is fabricated of a l-inch wide strip of 0.065 gauge, 1090 carbon steel, hardened to 49 Rockwell on the C scale. The steel strip is, in its tlat, unformed configuration, 8 inches long, very resilient, yet extremely strong.

The steel strip is formed into the cantilever arm member 31 by conventional forming techniques. The cantilever arm member 31 includes an attachment section 40 and a cantilever section 41 which meet at an intermediate .point 42 in the arm member 31. I

The attachment section 40 includes a series of three

wire seat channels

45, 46 and 47, formed upwardly into the steel strip and disposed transversely thereof adjacent the aforementioned intermediate point 42. The channels 45-47 are formed in the attachment section at A-inch centerline longitudinal (of the strip) spacing from each other, for reasons hereinafter discussed in detail. 7

The channels 454'7 lie generally in the same plane, extending axially away from the intermediate point 42 of the cantilever arm member 31. Coextensive with the channels 45-47 and extending from the outermost channel 47 in generally the same plane is an anchor segment 50 of the attachment section 40.

1n the edge spring arrangement 30 illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, for example, where a "regular" loop sinuous spring band 20 is employed, it will be seen that the wire seat channel 45 is seated over the fifth linear segment 270 from the front endmost linear segment 27b of the sinuous band 20. The anchor segment 50 extends under and is anchored beneath the sixth linear segment 270 as pressure is applied to the cantilever section 41 of the arm member 31. The portion of the attachment section 40 between the wire seat channel 45 and the anchor segment 50 which extends under and is anchored beneath the fixed linear segment 27c actually extends through the band, from above it to below it. As a result, the arm member 31 can not inadvertently move transversely off the band 20, to either one side or the other. 7

The cantilever section 41 ofthe arm member 31 includes an inner segment 55 bent upwardly from the plane of the attachment section 40 at an angle of approximately 30. The outer segment 56 of the cantilever section 41 is, in turn, bent upwardly form the plane of the inner section 55 at an angle of approximately 30. Theoverall length of the cantilever section 41 is divided so that approximately 40 percent of its length is made up by the inner segment 55 while 60 percent is made up by the outer segment 56, for reasons hereinafter discussed.

The free end of the outer segment 56 in the cantilever section 41 is formed backwardly upon itself, as best illustrated in FIG. 2, to form a retainer snap 58. The retainer snap 58 is formed with a spacing at its mouth 59 of slightly. less than the thickness of a border wire 32 which is, as illustrated, forced into the snap and retained there. To assure retention of the border wire 32 in the snap 58, a tang 60 may be formed upwardly from the outer cantilever segment 56 in the mouth 59. The tang 60 faces into the snap 58 and is resilient so as to prevent the wire 32 from being inadvertently forced out of the snap.

The cantilever section 41 of the arm member 31 has three

lips

65, 66 and 67, formed upwardly from it by conventional techniques. The lips 67 are evenly spaced along the cantilever section 41 so that, in this form of the invention, one lip 67 lies on the outer segment 56 of the section 41 and the other two lips 65, 66 lie on the inner segment 55.

Each lip 6567 has an outwardly extending flange 70 at its free end. In a-manner hereinafter discussed in greater detail, one of the lips, lip 66 in the present illustration, receives and seats the lower edge of the cardboard strip 33 employed according to the invention as a support for conventional edge stuffing material (not shown).

The cantilever arm member 31 is constructed so that its retainer snap 58 can readily be positioned in plumb line relationship directly above the front rail 16 of the furniture spring seat 10, regardless of the type of spring band 20 which is employed, as hasbeen previously pointed out. In the illustration of FIGS. 1 and 2, where regular loop sinuous is employed, the arm member 31 is seated on the spring band 20 so that the clip 58 is directly over the front rail 16 when the innermost wire channel seat 45 is seated on the linear segment 27a of the band. lf the band were XL loop, or super loop sinuous, the arm member 31 could readily be positioned on the band with any selected on of the wire seat channels 4547 seated over a selected linear segment 27 in order to position the snap 58 directly over the front rail 16; 7

1t will now be seen that regardless of the type of sinuous spring band 20 employed, and even regardless of unexpected variations in spacirig between linear segments 27 of the band, the cantilever arm 31 can be mounted on the band so that its snap 58 end is directly over the front rail 16, thus assuring that the finished seat will be squared off at its front edge. The arm member 31 is especially suited for transition between regular loop, X-L loop and super loop sinuous, since its wire seat channels 4547 are spaced one-fourth inch apart in the attachment section 40 of the arm member.

When the arm member 31 is correctly mounted on the band 20 according to the invention, the border wire 32 is forced into the snap 58 through the relatively narrow mouth 59 of the clip. No separate clip attachment means or attaching tools are required to mount and securely retain the border wire 32 in the snap 58, thus simplifying and considerably lowering the cost of the assembly operation. Further from the cost reduction standpoint, this snap 58 arrangement permits the use of, in fact even encourages the use of, conventional paper wrapped wire of relatively narrow gauge, in lieu of the heavier gauge bare wire required with previously known border wire attachment means. The former is much less expensive, of course. The retention of the conventional paper wound wire is enhanced by the slight resiliency and greater frictional effect of the paper-winding on the wire. 1t also provides a completely noise free combination.

ln final assembly of the spring edge arrangement 30 according to the invention, the'cardboard element 33 is seated with its lower edge resting on one of thelips 6S--67. Depending upon the desired width of the cardboard element 33, one of the lips 65-67 is selected. A lip is selected as the lower edge seat for the element 33 so that its upper edge extends out to and is coextensive with the border wire 32 where it rests upon the snap 58 enclosing the border wire. I

The arm member 31 has been described as having two 30 bends separating the inner and

outer segments

55 and 56 of the cantilever section 41 from the attachment section 40. These specific bends introduce a selected amount of stiffness and flexibility to the arm member 31 so that a firm, yet soft seat is achieved. 1

One other feature of the invention affects the firmness of the seat achieved with the front edge spring arrangement 30. In the illustration of FIGS. 1 and 2, the arm member has a cantilever section 41 which is divided in length between the inner segment 55 and the outer segment 56. Here the outer segment is 50 percent longer than the inner segment. This produces a relatively firm edge. By reversing this relationship, for example, to make the inner segment 50 percent longer than the outer segment, an edge which is slightly less firm is achieved. This relationship is actually illustrated in the form of the invention seen in FIG. 7.

Referring to FIG. 3, a modified version of the first form of the spring edge arrangement embodying features of the invention is illustrated at 130. The spring edge arrangement 130 is identical to the spring edge arrangement 30 hereinbefore described in all respects except in the construction and arrangement of the snap 158 on the free outer end of the cantilever arm member 131. Accordingly, corresponding components of the

arm members

131 and 31 are, except for the snap 158, identified by corresponding reference numerals.

Referring specifically to the snap, it will be seen that it is formed by bending the free end of the outer segment 56 in the cantilever section 41 backwardly upon itself, similar to the snap 58, to form an open mouth 159 which is narrower than the thickness of a border wire 32. In addition, however, the snap 158 is, in its entirety, bent downwardly at generally a right angle to the plane of the outer segment 56. As a result, when the border wire 32 is forced into the snap 158, no amount of downward pressure on the edge spring can be effective to force the border wire out of the snap. This is an added safety feature to the spring edge arrangement, which is, in all other respects, identical to that shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

The cantilever section 41 of the arm member 31 includes an inner segment 55 bent upwardly from the plane of the attachment section 40 at an angle-of approximately 30. The outer segment 56 of the cantilever section 41 is, in turn, bent upwardly from the plane of the inner section 55 at an angle of approximately 30. The overall length of the cantilever section 41 is divided so that approximately 40 percent of its length is made up by the inner segment 55 while 60 percent'is made up by the outer segment 56, for reasons hereinafter discussed.

The free end of the outer segment 56 in the cantilever section 41 is formed backwardly upon itself, as best illustrated in FIG. 2, to form a retainer snap 58. The retainer snap 58 is formed with a spacing at its mouth 59 of slightly less than the thickness of a border wire 32 which is, as illustrated, forced into the snap and retained there. To assure retention of the border wire 32 in the snap 58, a tang 60 may be formed upwardly from the outer cantilever segment 56 in the mouth 59. The tang 60 faces into the snap 58 and is resilient so as to prevent the wire 32 from being inadvertently forced out of the snap.

The cantilever section 41 of the arm member 31 has three

lips

65, 66 and 67, formed upwardly from it by conventional techniques. The lips 6567 are evenly spaced along the cantilever section 41 so that, in this form of the invention, one lip 67 lies on the outer segment 56 of the section 41 and the other two lips 65, 66 lie in the inner segment 55.

Referring to FIG. 4, another variation in border wire snap is shown generally at 258. The snap 258 is formed similarly to the

snaps

58 and 158 by bending the free end of the outer segment 56 backwardly upon itself to form the open mouth 259.

Referring to I65. 5 and 6, still another variation in border wire snap is shown generally at 358. The snap 358 is formed by diecutting a tang out of the free end of the outer segment 56 and bending it downwardly andthen upwardly to form the open mouth 359. Once again, when the border wire 32 is forced into the snap 358, no amount of downward pressure can force it out.

Turning to FIG. 7, a second form of the spring edge arrangement is seen generally at 330. The spring edge arrangement 330 includes a cantilever arm member 331 broadly similar to the

arm members

31 and 131 hereinbefore discussed, mounted on the sinuous spring band 20 according to the present invention. Once again, the cantilever arm member 331 mounts a border wire 32 and a cardboard backing strip 33.

The arm member 331, fabricated of steel strip, includes an attachment section 340 and a cantilever section 341 which meet at an intermediate point 342 in the arm member 331. In the attachment section 340, three wire seat channels 345, 346 and 347 are formed downwardly into the steel strip adjacent the free end of the strip. These channels are formed on onefourth inch centerlinc spacings and lie generally in the same plane as an anchor segment 350 of the attachment section 340. The anchor segment extends between the innermost channel 345 and the intermediate point 342 of the arm member 331. r

In the spring edge arrangement 330, the arm member 331 is shown seated on an X-L loop sinuous: band 20 wherein the wire seat channel 346 underlies the sixth linear segment 27d of the sinuous band 20. The anchor segment 350, in turn, extends over and is supported by the fifth linear segment 27a.

The cantilever section 341 of the arm member 331 includes an inner segment 355 bent upwardly from the plane of the attachment section 340, once again at an angle of approximately 30. The outer segment 356 is bent upwardly from the plane of the inner segment 355 at a corresponding angle of approximately 30. Contrary to the construction of the

arm members

31 and 131 hereinbefore described, however, the overall length of the cantilever section 341 is divided so that approximately 60 percent of its length is made up by the inner segment 355 while 40 percent is made up by the outer segment 356. In this arrangement, the lips 365367 are all formed on the inner segment 355, as illustrated.

The arm member 331 is provided with a retainer snap identical to the snap 58 hereinbefore discussed. Accordingly, it is not described in greater detail.

The cantilever arm member 331 functions in a manner substantially identical to that of the

arm members

31 and 131, as will be recognized in the illustration of FIG. 7. It is distinct, however, in that the anchor segment 350 of the attachment section 340 overlies a sinuous band linear segment while the channel 346 underlies an adjacent linear segment. The result obtained is the same, however.

The cantilever section 341 is distinct in that it incorporates an inner segment 355 which is approximately 50 percent longer than the outer segment 356. As a result, the edge support provided is slightly softer andless firm than provided by the edge spring arrangements 30 and hereinbefore discussed.

Turning now to FIGS. 8 and 9, a third form of the spring edge arrangement is seen generallyat 430. The spring edge arrangement 430 includes a cantilever arm member 431 broadly similar to the

arm members

31 and 131, hereinbefore discussed, mounted on the sinuous spring band 20 according to the present invention. Once again, the cantilever arm member 431 mounts a border wire 32 and a cardboard backing strip 33.

The arm member 431 is fabricated of steel strip and includes an attachment section 440 and.a cantilever section 441. In the attachment section 440, three wire seat channel means 445, 446, and 447 are defined above the steel strip by tangs 448 formed upwardly from the free end of the strip:

In the spring edge arrangement430, the arm member 431 is shown seated on a super loop sinuous band wherein the wire seat channel 445 underlies the fifth linear segment 27:: of the sinuous band. The anchor segment 450 of the attachment section 440, in turn, extends over and is supported by the fourth linear segment 27f of the band 20.

The cantilever section 441 of the arm member 431 includes an outer segment 456 bent upwardly from the plane of the attachment section 440 at an angle of approximately 30. The outer segment 456 is provided with a retainer snap 458 identical to the snap 358 hereinbefore discussed.

The cardboard element 33 is seated on the outer segment 456 of the cantilever section 441 in the manner illustrated. It is retained tightly against each such segments 456 by compressible snap clips 460 which are pressed through the cardboard 33 and through apertures 461 in the outer segments 456. In insertion, the bow" legs 462 of the clip are compressed toward each other and, after passing through the aperture 461, expand to retain the cardboard 33 against the segment 456 between the legs and the loop head 465 of the clip.

Turning to FIG. 10, an alternative form of the cardboard mounting arrangement illustrated in FIGS. 8 and 9 is seen at 480. In the mounting arrangement 480, the clip 460 is turned I80 so that its loop 465 extends toward the free end of the arm segment 456. The loop 465 is then bent out slightly so as to form a mouth 481 into which the lower end of the cardboard element 33 is inserted. The cardboard element 33 seats in the clips 465 mounted on each of the arm segments 456 and retains the cardboard element 33 in this manner.

Referring now to FIG. 11, a fourth from of the spring edge arrangement is seen generally at 530. The spring edge arrangement 530 includes a cantilever arm member 531 which is substantially identical to the arm member 431 hereinbefore discussed in relation to the third form of the invention. The only distinction is, in 'fact, that the three wire seat channel means 545, 546 and 547 are formed underneath the steel strip 531 and displaced from the free end of the attachment section 540 of the member. Tangs 548 formed downwardly from the steel strip define the channel means 545547. The outwardly extending anchor segment 550 of the member is adapted to underlie the linear segment 27c outwardly of the linear segment 27f over which the innermost channel means 545 rests. In operation, the fourth form of the spring edge arrangement 530 is also substantially identical to that of the spring edge arrangement 430 hereinbefore discussed.

Referring now to FIG. 12, yet a fifth form of the spring edge arrangement is seen at 630. The spring edge arrangement 630 includes a cantilever arm member 631 quite similar to the spring edge arrangement 330 illustrated in FIG. 7, except that the member is fabricated of spring steel wire rather than steel strip.

As illustrated, the member 631 is formed of wire in a generally U-shape, so as to define an attachment section 640 and a cantilever section 641. In the attachment section 640, three wire channel means 645, 646, and 647 are formed upwardly into the wire legs 642 adjacent the free end of the wire legs 642. These channel means are formed by bending the wire to provide tangs 648 extending upwardly from the wires in the manner illustrated. g

A snap arrangement 658 similar to the snap 258 hereinbefore discussed is provided at the closed end of the U-shaped wire cantilever section 641. A cardboard element 33 (not shown) rests on the cantilever section 641 and is supported on its lower edge against upwardly extending lips 665 formed in the wire.

A sixth form of the spring edge arrangement is illustrated generally at 730 in FIG. 13. In the spring edge arrangement 730, the cantilever arm member 731 is again formed of wire in a manner similar to the construction of the spring edge arrangement 630 illustrated in FIG. 12. The spring edge arrangement 730 differs only in that

wire channels

745, 746 and 747 are formed downwardly from the wire legs 742 in the manner illustrated, and displaced somewhat from the free terized in that:

ends of the attachment section 740. The spring edge arrangement 730 mounts on the spring band 20 much in the manner of the spring edge arrangement 530 illustrated in FIG. 11.

While several embodiments described herein are at present considered to be preferred, it is understood that various modifications and improvements may be made therein, and it is intended to cover in the appended claims all such modifications and improvements as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.

What I desire to be claimed and secured by Letters Patent of the United States is:

' 1. A spring edge arrangement for a seat assembly or the like wherein the seat assembly includes a sinuous spring band having a plurality of generally linear segments connected by a plurality of generally semicircular segments between a front rail and a back rail, comprising:

a. a cantilever arm member,

b. said arm member including an attachment section and a cantilever section,

c. said attachment section extending axially away from said cantilever section and having a series of transversely disposed wire seat means formed on one side thereof in longitudinally spaced relationship,

d. one of said wire seat means receiving and seating on a linear segment of thespring band,

e. said attachment section further including anchor means extending into engagement with another linear segment of said band, i

. the portion of said attachment section between said one wire seat means and said anchor means extending through the band from above the band adjacent said cantilever section to below the band at the free end of said attachment section so that one of said one wire seat means and said anchor means seats over a corresponding linear (wire) segment and the other of said one wire seat means and said anchor means seats under a corresponding linear (wire) segments,

g. said cantilever section having wire-receiving snap means fonned at its free end for receipt and resilient retention of border wire means,

h. said one wire seat means being selected for seating on said linear segment of the spring band so that said resilient snap means and, accordingly, said border wire means is disposed in plumb line relationship vertically over the front rail of the seat assembly, regardless of whether a regular sinuous, X-L sinuous, or super loop sinuous wire spring is employed.

2. The spring edge arrangement of claim 1 further characa. at least a portion of said cantilever section is bent upwardly at an angle from the plane of said attachment section.

3. The spring edge arrangement of claim 2 further characterized in that:

a. said angle is at least 30". i

4. The spring edge arrangement of claim 2 further characterized in that: I

a. said cantilever section includes an inner segment and an outer segment, 7

b. said inner segment being bent upwardly at a first angle of at least 30 from the plane of said attachment section, and

c. said outer segment being bent upwardly at a second angle of at least 30 from the plane of said inner segment.

5. The spring edge arrangement of claim 4 further characterized in that:

a. said wire-receiving snap means includes a wire-receiving mouth opening away from said attachment section.

6. The spring edge arrangement of claim 1 further characterized in that:

a. said wire-receiving snap means includes a wire-receiving mouth means opening away from said attachment sections.

7. The spring edge arrangement of claim 1 further charac terized in that:

a. said wire seat means are formed in said attachment section adjacent the free end of said attachment section, opposite said cantilever section. 8. The spring edge arrangement of claim l further characterized in that:

a. said cantilever arm member is formed from a flat strip of resilient material, b. said snap means being formed from said strip by forming said material to define a mouth which resiliently opens in a direction away from said attachment section to admit the border wire means. 9. The spring edge arrangement of claim 8 further characterized by and including:

a. tang means formed in said mouth to lock said border wire in said snap means.

10. The spring edge arrangement of claim terized by and including:

a. backing member seat means formed in said cantilever section, and

b. a sheet backing member for stuffing material overlying said cantilever section and supported by said seat means.

11. The spring arrangement of claim 10 further characterized in that:

a. said seat means comprises lip means formed upwardly from said cantilever section and toward said snap means.

12. A spring edge arrangement for a seating assembly or the like wherein the seat assembly includes a sinuous spring band having a plurality of generally linear segments connected by a plurality of generally semicircular segments between a front rail and a back rail, comprising:

a. a cantilever arm member,

b. said arm member including an attachment section and a cantilever section,

d. one of said wire seat means receiving and seating on a linear segment of the spring band,

c. said attachment section further including anchor means 1 further characextending into engageme'nt'with another line or segment of said band,

f. at least a portion of said cantilever section being bent upwardly at an angle of at least 30 from the plane of the remainder of said cantilever section,

g. said cantilever section having resilient snap means formed at its free end for receipt and retention of border wire means, 7

h. said wire seat means being selected for seating on said one linear segment of the spring band so that said resilient snap means and, accordingly, said border wire means is disposed in plumb line relationship vertically over the front rail of the seat assembly regardless of whether a regular, sinuous, X-L sinuous, or super loop sinuous wire spring is employed.

13. The spring edge arrangement of claim 12 further characterized in that:

a. said wire-receiving means snap comprise mouth means opening away from said attachment section for receipt of the border wire means.

14. A cantilever arm member for an edge spring arrangement, comprising:

a. an attachment section and a cantilever section,

b. said attachment section extending axially away from said cantilever section and having a series of transversely disposed wire seat means formed on one side thereof in longitudinally spaced relationship,

c. said attachment section further including anchor means extending axially away from one end of said series of wire seat means,

d. at least a portion of said cantilever section being bent upwardly at an angle of at least 30 from the plane of the remainder of said cantilever section, e. said cantilever section having resilient snap means formed at its free end for receipt and retention of border wire means.

15. The cantilever arm member of claim 14 further charac-

Claims

2. The spring edge arrangement of claim 1 further characterized in that: a. at least a portion of said cantilever section is bent upwardly at an angle from the plane of said attachment section.
3. The spring edge arrangement of claim 2 further characterized in that: a. said angle is at least 30*.
4. The spring edge arrangement of claim 2 further characterized in that: a. said cantilever section includes an inner segment and an outer segment, b. said inner segment being bent upwardly at a first angle of at least 30* from the plane of said attachment section, and c. said outer segment being bent upwardly at a second angle of at least 30* from the plane of said inner segment.
5. The spring edge arrangement of claim 4 further characterized in that: a. said wire-receiving snap means includes a wire-receiving mouth opening away from said attachment section.
6. The spring edge arrangement of claim 1 further characterized in that: a. said wire-receiving snap means includes a wire-receiving mouth means opening away from said attachment sections.
7. The spring edge arrangement of claim 1 further characterized in that: a. said wire seat means are formed in said attachment section adjacent the free end of said attachment section, opposite said cantilever section.
8. The spring edge arrangement of claim 1 further characterized in that: a. said cantilever arm member is formed from a flat strip of resilient material, b. said snap means being formed from said strip by forming said material to define a mouth which resiliently opens in a direction away from said attachment section to admit the border wire means.
9. The spring edge arrangement of claim 8 further characterized by and including: a. tang means formed in said mouth to lock said border wire in said snap means.
10. The spring edge arrangement of claim 1 further characterized by and including: a. backing member seat means formed in said cantilever section, and b. a sheet backing member for stuffing material overlying said cantilever section and supported by said seat means.
11. The spring arrangement of claim 10 further characterized in that: a. said seat means comprises lip means formed upwardly from said cantilever section and toward said snap means.
12. A spring edge arrangement for a seating assembly or the like wherein the seat assembly includes a sinuous spring band having a plurality of generally linear segments connected by a plurality of generally semicircular segments between a front rail and a back rail, comprising: a. a cantilever arm member, b. said arm member including an attachment section and a cantilever section, c. said attachment section extending axially away from said cantilever section and having a series of transversely disposed wire seat means formed on one side thereof in longitudinally spaced relationship, d. one of said wire seat means receiving and seating on a linear segment of the spring band, e. said attachment section further including anchor means extending into engagement with another line or segment of said band, f. at least a portion of said cantilever section being bent upwardly at an angle of at least 30* from the plane of the remainder of said cantilever section, g. said cantilever section having resilient snap means formed at its free end for receipt and retention of border wire means, h. said wire seat means being selected for seating on said one linear segment of the spring band so that said resilient snap means and, accordingly, said border wire means is dIsposed in plumb line relationship vertically over the front rail of the seat assembly regardless of whether a regular, sinuous, X-L sinuous, or super loop sinuous wire spring is employed.
13. The spring edge arrangement of claim 12 further characterized in that: a. said wire-receiving means snap comprise mouth means opening away from said attachment section for receipt of the border wire means.
14. A cantilever arm member for an edge spring arrangement, comprising: a. an attachment section and a cantilever section, b. said attachment section extending axially away from said cantilever section and having a series of transversely disposed wire seat means formed on one side thereof in longitudinally spaced relationship, c. said attachment section further including anchor means extending axially away from one end of said series of wire seat means, d. at least a portion of said cantilever section being bent upwardly at an angle of at least 30* from the plane of the remainder of said cantilever section, e. said cantilever section having resilient snap means formed at its free end for receipt and retention of border wire means.
15. The cantilever arm member of claim 14 further characterized in that: a. said wire receiving snap means comprises mouth means opening away from said attachment section.