US3681798A - Spring interiors and articles combining spring interiors - Google Patents

Spring interiors and articles combining spring interiors Download PDF

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Publication number
US3681798A
US3681798A US51311A US3681798DA US3681798A US 3681798 A US3681798 A US 3681798A US 51311 A US51311 A US 51311A US 3681798D A US3681798D A US 3681798DA US 3681798 A US3681798 A US 3681798A
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United States
Prior art keywords
spring
spring interior
former
main face
helical wires
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Expired - Lifetime
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US51311A
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English (en)
Inventor
Leslie Thomas Docker
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Slumberland Group Ltd
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Slumberland Group Ltd
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Publication date
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    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
    • A47C—CHAIRS; SOFAS; BEDS
    • A47C23/00—Spring mattresses with rigid frame or forming part of the bedstead, e.g. box springs; Divan bases; Slatted bed bases
    • A47C23/04—Spring mattresses with rigid frame or forming part of the bedstead, e.g. box springs; Divan bases; Slatted bed bases using springs in compression, e.g. coiled

Definitions

  • A47c 25/00 limbs may in erted into parallel helical wires of 53 Field ofSearch...267/l07; 297/284; 5/236, 237, spring lmener If such are pr9v1ded-
  • the former 5/264, 246, 260-267, 351 may be bent before or after being secured to the spring interior.
  • the spring interior may be heat- 5 References i d treated to relieve stresses after it is in its final shape.
  • This invention relates to spring interiors and articles containing spring interiors.
  • Such articles include mattresses, divans (i.e. supports for mattresses), seats, seat cushions, squabs, back-rests and the like.
  • the spring interiors used in such articles usually have two main faces which are flat and parallel with each other when the spring interior is not stressed, and which are of generally square or rectangular shape. Spring interiors of that kind will hereinafter be referred to as regular spring interiors.
  • the present invention aims to overcome or at least to reduce these disadvantages.
  • the present invention consists in a method of shaping a spring interior in which method as least one stiff yet resilient former of wire, rod, strip or the like elongate material is secured to a main face of the spring interior and is bent so as to determine at least in part varying contours of said main face of the spring interior or of an extension of said main face.
  • the present invention consists in a spring interior shaped by the method outlined in the last preceding paragraph.
  • the present invention consists in a spring interior in which at least one of the main faces, or an extension thereof, is non-planar and has varying contours determined at least in part by at least one stiff yet resilient former of wire, rod, strip or the like elongate material secured to the main face.
  • spring interiors are described as being planar or contoured. Reference is also made to extensions of the main faces, and again these are described as being planar or contoured. It will be appreciated that these terms are used herein not in a strictly geometrical sense, in that spring interiors by their very nature are of open-work construction and have component wires which may bend or overlap so that they do not lie truly in a common plane. Nevertheless spring interiors are such that their component parts do quite closely define notional or imaginary faces which can be distinguished readily and without significant ambiguity as to their positions and shapes.
  • the invention is particularly applicable to regular spring interiors, but is also applicable to irregular ones.v
  • a former secured to one of its main faces may serve to alter the shape of that main face so that it is no longer flat but is of varying contours, or it may project beyond that main face, leaving the face flat, and define an extension.
  • the same former may, of course, perform both functions at once so that both the main face and its extension are contoured.
  • a former secured to one of its main faces may alter the shape of that main face so that its contours are changed and are partially or almost wholly determined by the shape of the former, or the former may project beyond that main face, leavingits contours unaltered, and define an extension of varying contours.
  • thesarne former may perform both functions at once.
  • the spring interior with the former may be subjected to heat-treatment which at least partially relaxes the stresses induced during manufacture.
  • heat-treatment which at least partially relaxes the stresses induced during manufacture.
  • the contoured shape of one of the main faces of the springinterior is no longer maintained by the shape of the former against the resistance of the component springs.
  • This does not alter the fact that during an earlier stage of manufacture, before the heat treatment, the contoured shape was determined at least in part by the former, and that had the former not been secured to the spring interior the final shape of the main face would have been different.
  • Heat treatment to effect stress-relief is often necessary when the spring interior is to be incorporated in an article which is to be sat on or lain on in use; stress relief is .usually less necessary when the article is only going to be leant against in use.
  • the spring interiors may for example be of the kind comprising a plurality of individual coil springs with their axes parallel and their end coils defining the main surfaces of the spring interior.
  • the end coils may be interconnected by straight wire linkages, or by clips, or by helical wires, each of these interconnectors being in the main planes of the spring interior.
  • the spring interiors may be of the kind comprising bands of coil springs disposed side-by-side and interconnected by helical wires in the planes of the main faces of the spring interior and transverse to the bands, each band being constituted by a single length of wire: bent so as to form a row of coil springs, and each spring extending between the main faces and each being joined to the next by an integral connector.
  • Spring interiors of the latter kind lend themselves to mechanised production and therefore they are generally regular.
  • the formers are preferably embraced by the helical wires and are partially or wholly secured in place by being so embraced.
  • the formers are preferably clipped in place, as for example to the straight wire linkages'where such are provided.
  • formers are secured to a main face they are preferably contoured alike and disposed adjacent to one another in a regular manner so that the face or its extension is similarly contoured over a relatively extensive area.
  • successive formers may be of gradually differing shapes so that the contours of the main face to which they are secured, or the contours of the extension thereof, vary gradually over a relatively extensive area.
  • Each former preferably comprises two spaced parallel or substantially parallel limbs interconnected by a base integral with the limbs and at one end thereof, the whole preferably being formed from a single length of wire.
  • the limbs of the former are preferably equal in length.
  • the former may be planar initially and its limbs may be bent to provide the required contours after it has been secured to a spring interior. Alternatively the former may be bent first and secured to the spring interior subsequently. Yet again the former may be partially bent before being secured in place and additionally bent after being secured in place.
  • the spacing between the limbs is preferably equal to, or an integral multiple of, the spacing between adjacent rows of springs in the spring interior.
  • helical wires are incorporated in the main faces of the spring interior the limbs of the former are preferably inserted into parallel helical wires.
  • the limbs may be crimped or corrugated to give them additional stiffness.
  • the bases of the formers are usually straight and at right angles to the adjacent parts of the limbs, but if desired they may be somewhat curved.
  • its base When the former has been secured to the spring interior its base may be in an intermediate part of the main face of the spring interior, but preferably the arrangement is such that the base extends along one edge of the face or is beyond one edge and defines or assist in defining an edge of an extension to that face.
  • FIG. 1 is a somewhat diagrammatic plan view of a regular spring interior before formers characteristic of the invention have been secured to it;
  • FIG. 2 is an end view of the spring interior shown in FIG. 1;
  • FIG. 3 is a side view of the spring interior shown in FIG. 1;
  • FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a former of a kind which can be secured to a spring interior of the kind shown in FIGS. 1 to 3;
  • FIG. 5 is a perspective view of an alternative kind of former
  • FIG. 6 1s a side view of a spring interior, similar to FIG. 3, but after formers of the kind shown in FIG. 4 have been secured to it;
  • FIG. 7 is a perspective view of another kind of fonner which can be secured to a spring interior of the kind shown in FIGS. 1 to 3;
  • FIG. 8 is a side view of a spring interior, similar to FIG. 3, but after formers of the kind shown in FIG. 7 have been secured to it;
  • FIG. 9 is a perspective of a seat incorporating the spring interior shown in FIG. 8;
  • FIG. 10 is a perspective view of yet another kind of former which can be secured to a spring interior of the kind shown in FIGS. 1 to 3;
  • FIG. 11 is a side view of a spring interior, similar to FIG. 3, but after formers of the kind shown in FIG. 10 have been secured to it;
  • FIG. 12 is a perspective view of a seat incorporating the spring interior shown in FIG. 11;
  • FIG. 13 is a section through a divan incorporating a spring interior embodying the invention.
  • the regular spring interior shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 is of a known kind and comprises a plurality of bands 1 of coil springs 2 disposed side-by-side.
  • Each band 1 is constituted by a single length of wire bent so as to form coil springs 2, alternate springs being of one hand and the springs between them being of the other hand.
  • the axes of the springs are approximately parallel to one another.
  • Each spring 2 is joined to the next by an integral connector 3 which lies in one of the main faces of the spring interior and extends lengthwise of the band.
  • the coil springs 2 extend between the main faces 4 and 5 of the spring interior, and each spring 2 is linked to its neighbors by having intermediate coils thereof passed around adjacent coils of the neighboring springs.
  • each band 1 of springs There is a gap between each band 1 of springs and the next, and the bands are interconnected by helical wires 6 at right angles to the bands 1 and in the planes of the main faces 4 and 5 of the spring interior.
  • Each helical wire 6 is linked to each band 1 in such a manner as to embrace the end parts of two neighboring springs 2 immediately adjacent to the connectors 3 which stem from the ends of the springs.
  • FIGS. 4, 5, 7 and 10 Various kinds of formers are illustrated in FIGS. 4, 5, 7 and 10.
  • Each former comprises a length of stiff yet resilient wire bent so as to provide a straight base 7, equal in length to the spacing between adjacent helical wires 6 on each of the main faces 4 and 5 of the spring interior, and a pair of parallel or substantially parallel limbs 8 of equal length, the limbs being crimped or corrugated as shown.
  • One limb 8 enters each helical wire 6 on one of the main faces 4 and 5 except where there are an odd number of helical wires, in which case the end helical wire does not contain a limb of a former.
  • three formers can be secured to each of the faces 4 and 5.
  • each limb 8 of each former is bent so that the part of the limb nearest the base 7 is arcuate as indicated at 9 and lies in a plane normal to the base 7, while the remainder of the limb is straight and is aligned with the adjacent end of the base.
  • the length of each limb 8 is equal to the length of each helical wire 6, and when the forms are fully inserted into the helical wires from one end thereof the spring interior is distorted as shown in FIG. 6 so that the main face containing these helical wires has a raised portion of arcuate cross-section near one edge, while the remainder is flat. There are five bands 1 and the raised portion extends across two of them.
  • the wire from which the formers are made is sufficiently stiff to preclude any significant alterations in the shapes of the formers as they are inserted into the helical wires. It is found that the other main face 11 of the spring interior is scarcely distorted at all. If desired, however, the main face 11 may be stiffened by means of planar formers of the kind shown in FIG. 5.
  • the shaped interior may be used in a motor vehicle seat, the shaped spring interior being covered with a layer of padding of substantially unifonn thickness, and the whole being contained in a cover of appropriate shape.
  • each former is modified as 1 shown in FIG. 7 in that the part of each limb 8 nearest the base 7 is bent into a 90 arc l2 and lies in a plane normal to the base, while the remainder of the limb is straight and is tangential to that part of the arc 12 from which it stems.
  • the straight parts of the limbs 8 are inserted into the helical wires 6 of one main face, leaving the arcuate parts 12 to define a curved extension which terminates in the plane of the other main face, the edge of the extension in said plane being defined by the spaced, aligned bases 7 of the formers.
  • FIG. 9 shown a seat incorporating the spring interior shown in FIG. 8.
  • each limb 8 is bent, to an angle of about 25 or 30, at a point spaced from the base 7 by a distance equal to about a quarter or a fifth of the overall length of the limb.
  • the two limbs 8 of each former lie in parallel planes normal to the base 7.
  • the limbs 8 of the formers are fully inserted into the helical wires so that a shallow depression is formed in the main face of the spring interior near one edge thereof, as illustrated in FIG. 11.
  • the limbs 8 of the formers may be inserted into the helical wires 6 up to the points at which they are bent, so that the projecting parts of the formers define a planar extension to the spring interior, terminating in an edge defined by the spaced, aligned bases 7 of the formers.
  • the extension projects away from the other main face rather than towards it.
  • Either of these shaped spring interiors may be used in the seat cushions or squabs of motor-vehicle seats.
  • FIG. 12 shows a seat incorporating the spring interior shown in FIG. 11.
  • the shape spring interiors are to be used as seat cushions they may be stress-relieved by being heated in a suitable oven to between 500 F and 550 F.
  • planar formers like that shown in FIG. 5 can be inserted into the helical wires and subsequently deformed so that they assume shapes such as those illustrated in FIGS. 4, 7 and
  • the invention is also applicable to divans, that is to supports for mattresses.
  • a divan may comprise a spring interior provided with formers with outer end parts which project from each of the two longer side ed es of the r main urface f the i eri r, th projecti ng parts ii iii; curve upwards to diine m ex tension along each side edge with an upwardly concave face.
  • FIG. 13 A divan of this kind is illustrated in FIG. 13.
  • the divan comprises a spring interior 13 secured to a wooden base 14 with legs 15.
  • the spring interior 13 comprises a plurality of bands of springs 16 similar to the bands I, joined by helical wires 17 similar to the helical wires 6.
  • Formers 18, each somewhat similar to that shown in FIG. 10 are secured to the side edges of the upper face of the spring interior 13, their limbs entering the helical wires 17.
  • the pro- 20 jecting end parts of the formers 18 are curved upwards,
  • a thin layer of padding 19 covers the spring interior l3 and its extensions, and the whole is enclosed within a fabric cover 20.
  • the present invention is related to that which is the subject of our US. Pat. No. 1,1 13,772 and articles may embody both the present invention and the invention which is the subject of that patent.
  • a spring interior comprising a plurality of compression-spring elements disposed in an array, the ends of the spring elements defining at least part of first and second main faces, a plurality of helical wires disposed in said main faces of the spring interior, the helical wires linking adjacent compression-spring elements, at least the first main face being non-planar and having varying contours, and at least one stiff yet resilient former of elongate but non-rectilinear shape, at least a part of which extends lengthwise of one of said helical wires in said first main face and determining at least to some extent the varying contours of that face.
  • a spring interior according to claim 1 in which there are a plurality of substantially parallel helical wires disposed in said first main face of the spring interior, and there are a plurality of formers each comprising two spaced substantially parallel limbs of nonrectilinear shape and a base integral with the limbs at one end of each former, the two substantially parallel limbs of each former being inserted into two of said substantially parallel helical wires disposed in said first main face.
  • a spring interior according to claim 2 in which parts of the limbs project from the helical wires to define an extension portion of said first main face, and the bases of the formers are mutually aligned to define the outer edge of said extension portion.

Landscapes

  • Mattresses And Other Support Structures For Chairs And Beds (AREA)
  • Toys (AREA)
  • Springs (AREA)
US51311A 1969-07-03 1970-06-30 Spring interiors and articles combining spring interiors Expired - Lifetime US3681798A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB3351969 1969-07-03

Publications (1)

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US3681798A true US3681798A (en) 1972-08-08

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US51311A Expired - Lifetime US3681798A (en) 1969-07-03 1970-06-30 Spring interiors and articles combining spring interiors

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US (1) US3681798A (de)
JP (1) JPS526662B1 (de)
CA (1) CA923227A (de)
DE (1) DE2033139B2 (de)
FR (1) FR2060027B1 (de)
GB (1) GB1319445A (de)
ZA (1) ZA704432B (de)

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4286344A (en) * 1979-10-22 1981-09-01 France Bed Co., Ltd. Mattress
US5233711A (en) * 1990-05-31 1993-08-10 Tachi-S Co., Ltd. Cushion body and method of forming same

Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US999678A (en) * 1911-03-30 1911-08-01 Charles W Schultz Seat-back spring.
US1179062A (en) * 1911-11-06 1916-04-11 William G Sullivan Spring seat and back.
US2656880A (en) * 1951-06-25 1953-10-27 Arthur H Graupner Dual edging
US3085260A (en) * 1960-12-06 1963-04-16 Lloyd O Caldemeyer Edge roll structure
US3454054A (en) * 1966-03-12 1969-07-08 Slumberland Group Ltd Spring seats and the like articles

Patent Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US999678A (en) * 1911-03-30 1911-08-01 Charles W Schultz Seat-back spring.
US1179062A (en) * 1911-11-06 1916-04-11 William G Sullivan Spring seat and back.
US2656880A (en) * 1951-06-25 1953-10-27 Arthur H Graupner Dual edging
US3085260A (en) * 1960-12-06 1963-04-16 Lloyd O Caldemeyer Edge roll structure
US3454054A (en) * 1966-03-12 1969-07-08 Slumberland Group Ltd Spring seats and the like articles

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4286344A (en) * 1979-10-22 1981-09-01 France Bed Co., Ltd. Mattress
US5233711A (en) * 1990-05-31 1993-08-10 Tachi-S Co., Ltd. Cushion body and method of forming same

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
DE2033139A1 (de) 1971-01-21
ZA704432B (en) 1971-03-31
DE2033139B2 (de) 1974-04-25
CA923227A (en) 1973-03-20
FR2060027A1 (de) 1971-06-11
DE2033139C3 (de) 1974-11-28
GB1319445A (en) 1973-06-06
JPS526662B1 (de) 1977-02-23
FR2060027B1 (de) 1973-01-12

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