US1962436A - Spring assembly unit - Google Patents

Description

June 12, 1934. c, T, DYER 1,962,436

SPRING ASSEMBLY UNIT Filed Oct. 23, 1931 Patented June 12, 1934 SPRING ASSEMBLY UNIT Clare T. Dyer, Holland, Mich, assignor to Charles Karr Company, a corporation of Michigan Application October 23, 1931, Serial No. 570,615

2 Claims.

This invention relates to spring assemblies and more particularly to spring constructions adapted for use in bed mattresses, cushions, upholstered furniture and the like.

One of the object of the invention is the provision of a new and improved spring assembly having a novel arrangement of springs along one or more marginal edges of the assembly.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a spring assembly of spiral springs having a new and improved arrangement of springs for supporting one or more of the marginal edges of the assembly together with novel means for connecting the springs together.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a new and improved spring assembly that is inexpensive to manufacture, 'eiiicient in use and that may be assembled with the minimum amount of labor and time.

Other and further objects and advantages of the invention will appear from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which- Fig. 1 is a plan view of a spring assembly embodiying the invention with parts broken away;

Fig. 2 is a section on the line 2--2 of Fig. 1. Referring now to the drawing, the reference character 10 designates a spring assembly comprising a plurality of spiral springs 11.- These springs may be arranged in any convenient manner and connected together by any suitable means. For the purpose of illustrating the invention, they may be arranged in rows, the rows 5 being connected together by the helicals 12, as will presently appear. Q

In spring assembliea more or less difficulty has been experienced in properly supporting the marginal edges or the assembly. The conventional spiral springs have the diameter of their terminal turns considerably enlarged and consequently there is considerable distance between the points where the terminal coils contact the marginal sides of the mattresses or cushions within which the springs are positioned. That is, the sides or end valance members of the mattresses will be tangent to the curve of the terminal turns and the points of tangency will be at such a, distance apart that the fabric will tend to sag between these points.

The present invention seeks to overcome this difilculty by the provision of an increased number of springs reduced in diameter for supporting one or more of the marginal edges of the spring assembly. In the form of construction shown, I

which is by way of example only, one of the marginal edges of the spring assembly comprises a plurality of cylindrical springs 13 which are connected together and to the helicals 12.

- The spiral springs 11 may be of any suitable construction. In the construction shown, each of the terminal turns or coils 14 of each spiral has its end terminating in a distorted portion, which may be formed by straightening a section of the end as at 15 in such a manner that the same may be embraced by the helical 12 and by forming a corrugation or offset 16 therein which extends around one or more turns of the helical and forms shoulders 17 and 18 preventing the withdrawal of the distorted end from the helical after it has been threaded thereon. The offsets 16 engage the helicals and also assist in preventing the rotation of the spirals. Theterminal turn of coil 11 is also provided on the side opposite the distorted end portion 15 with another distortion which may be in the form of an offset as shown at 40, about which the helicals are adapted to extend. The shoulders 19 and. 21 formed by this offset will assist in preventing the spiral from rotating when the same is used in the assembly.

The terminal turns of the spirals may otherwise be circular, but if desired they may each have an offset straight portion-extending at substantially a right angle to the endportion 15 for forming a straight marginal edge at the opposite edge of the assembly from the marginal springs 13.

The marginal springs 13 are of any suitable form .but preferably they are helicals, cylindrical in form and preferably unknotted. Each terminal turn 20 of the springs may be constructed like the terminal turns of the springs 11, that is, the ends are distorted by being straightened more or less as at 22 and each distorted portion is further distorted as by being provided with a corrugation or ofiset 23 for forming a recess for receiv: ing one or more of the turns of the helical 12 or of the short helicalconnecting member 24, as the case may be. The opposite side of the terminal turn from the distorted portion 22 is also distorted as at 25 which may be in the form 'of an offset similar to the ofisets 40 in the springs 11.

Between the two distorted portions 22 and 25, the terminal turn 20 may be provided with a third distortion- 26 which may be in the form of a substantially straight section whereby when the assembly is fabricated the straight portions 26 of the marginal springs 13 will be in alinement to form a straight marginal edge forthe assembly.

Where the spiral springs 11 are connected together by helicals as in the construction shown, the number of marginal springs in the marginal row is a multiple of that of the spiral springs in an adjacent row whereby the helicals 12 connecting the rows of spiral springs 11 together will also connect the marginal springs to the helical springs. In the construction shown the number of marginal springs is twice that of the adjacent row of spiral springs. Each alternate spring connection of the helical springs is efiected by the short helical springs 24. In other words, where there are twice as many marginal springs as spiral springs for a given distance, the main helical connecting springs 1'2 will constitute the spring connecting means for each alternate connection. If there were three times as many marginal springs as spiral springs for a given distanoe, the main helicals 12 would constitute the connector for every third connection and so on.

In assembling the device, the distorted portions of one row of springs are placed over the adjacent distorted portions of an adjacent row of springs and the helicals 12 run on in the position shown. The small helicals 24 may be applied before or after the helicals 12 are applied. Preferably, they are applied before. The helicals hold the distorted portions in lapped position and not only hold the springs in assembled relation but prevent their rotation during use.

The marginal springs being close together and being comparatively small in diameter, they efliciently support the margin of the assembly and will prevent the mattress or other fabric with which the device is used from sagging between the springs as is the tendency where spiral springs of the conventional size are employed.

While the springs are shown as being connected together by helicals, it is understood that other suitable means may be employed for this purpose.

Since in the construction shown a single marginal edge only is formed by the marginal springs 13, it is understood that the other edges of the assembly, or certainof them, may be formed by these marginal springs.

In use, the marginal springs being more numerous than the adjacent row of interior springs will when the assembly is in use tend to prevent objects placed on the assembly or persons sleeping on mattresses containing said assemblies from rolling off the mattress.

In any event, the edge of the mattress or cushion or other structure supported by these marginal springs will be maintained in proper 'larged in diameter and having a straight portion in its enlarged turn, said straight portions being in alignment and constituting a marginal edge of said assembly, said last-named row extending transversely to said first-named rows, the terminal turns of said coil springs having offset portions at opposite sides thereof proided with straight sections, the straight sections of one spring engaging the straight sections of adjacent springs, and straight helicals surrounding the engaging portions of said spiral springs and encircling certain of the engaging straight sections of said coil springs, and short straight helicals encircling alternate engaging straight portions of said coil springs, whereby said coil springs are connected together and said 1 straight sections constitute a turning axis about which the offset portions are hinged.

2. In a spring assembly, a plurality of spiral springs arranged in rows, a row of coil springs of materially less diameter than said spiral springs, each of said coil springs having its terminal turn enlarged in diameter and having a straight portion in itsenlarged turn, said straight portions being in alignment and constituting a marginal edge of said assembly, said last-named row extending transversely to said first-named rows, the number of said coil springs being greater than, but a multiple of, the number of rows of spiral springs, the terminal turns of said springs each having ofiset portions at opposite sides thereof provided with straight sections,-the straight sections of one spring engaging the adjacent straight sections of adjacent springs in the same row, certain of the straight engaging sections of said coil springs being in alignment connected together and said straight sections constitute a turning axis about which the offset portions are hinged.

CLARE T. DYER.

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