Abstract: A spring element for bedding and furniture which can be constructed in a simple manner but will not tend to come apart in ordinary use. The spring element includes a laterally extending pair of parallel wires and a longitudinally extending pair of parallel wires atop the laterally extending wires. The pairs of wires are welded to one another at their crossing points to form a seat for engaging the open top loop of a coil spring, and the ends of the wires are connected to a framework. Each longitudinally extending wire has a depressed portion between the crossing points extending beneath the laterally extending wires. The top loop of the spring is snapped into engagement with the pairs of wires, so that the top loop is sealed above the depressed portions of the longitudinally extending wires and beneath the laterally extending wires and so that the top of the free end portions of the top loop is biased against the bottom of one of the laterally extending wires.

Abstract: A machine for connecting successive rows of coil springs together into a coil spring assembly. The machine, in preferred form, initially picks up a row of coil springs by inserting a pick up finger into the barrel of each coil and moving the springs onto a support platen. In the course of transporting the coils between pick up and the support platen, the pick up fingers change the spacing of the coils. The springs are then compressed against the support platen to a desired height through use of a reciprocable compression bar. Thereafter, and through use of rotatable transfer fingers on a transfer shaft, the springs are removed from under the compression bar, and are moved into clamping dies. Leading rotary transfer fingers on the transfer shaft first pull the row of springs out from under the compression bar, and trailing rotary fingers then push the springs into the downstream one of upper and lower clamping dies.

Abstract: A box spring for supporting a bedding mattress. The box spring includes a rectangular base frame, a plurality of modular spring elements mounted atop the base frame, and a wire grid mounted atop the modular spring elements. Each of the modular spring elements comprises a horizontal straight center section terminating in horizontal plane curved end sections, at least some of the curved end sections having single revolution coil springs extending vertically downwardly therefrom. The modular spring elements are arranged in parallel rows, said adjacent spring elements of each row having aligned straight center sections and overlapping curved sections. The overlapping curved center sections of adjacent modular spring elements are connected by transverse wires of the grip top, which transverse wires have generally U-shaped bights or hooks from therein received over the overlapping curved sections and crimped shut to secure adjacent modular spring elements of multiple rows of modular spring elements to one another.

Abstract: An improved paperboard shipping container having a relatively gas impervious lining or layer located exteriorly to an insulated cold or hot storage compartment comprised of sized panels of open-celled, non-rigid foamatious insulating material enclosing substantially all of the cold or hot storage compartment.

Abstract: A bedding foundation box spring having novel double twist coil springs interconnecting a wooden base frame and a top wire grid. The coil springs each comprise a single length of wire having a middle section located in a diametral plane of one end convolution of the spring and a pair of spring arms coiled in the same rotational direction from opposite ends of the middle section. Each of the spring arms is formed into a helix of varying pitch which terminates in a free end of the spring arm. The free ends of the two spring arms of each coil are located on opposite sides of the end convolution of the coil and are secured to the wire grid. The novel coils are manufactured by inserting a straight length of wire through a stationary pair of forming dies and a mandrel located between the dies. With the middle of the straight length of wire located in the mandrel, the mandrel is then simultaneously rotated and moved axially while the ends of the length of wire are pulled through the stationary forming dies.

Abstract: A latch is disclosed for positioning and releasably retaining articulated linkages such as the pivotally interconnected head and body section angles of a folding sofa sleeper bed frame. The latch includes a connecting link pivotally connected at one end to the body section having at its opposite end an elongated slot including a latching notch, a latch plate slidably mounted on the connecting link having an elongated slot which overlies a portion of the length the slot in the connecting link, and a pin connected to the head section angle making a lost motion connection within the connecting link and latch plate slots.

Abstract: A three-position away-from-the-wall recliner and a three-position rocker recliner are disclosed wherein the body support including the seat and backrest of both recliners are movable between upright, intermediate or TV and full recline positions. Both recliners include a mechanism operable upon release of a latch to move the body support of the recliner between upright and TV positions as a consequence of the weight of a person sitting in the recliner propelling the body support to the TV position. Both recliners utilize a common recliner linkage to support the body support from a fixed base. In the away-from-the-wall recliner, the recliner linkage is mounted upon a forward biased four bar linkage mechanism such that upon release of the latch, the four bar linkage swings forwardly, propelling the body support from the upright to the TV position. In the rocker recliner, this same recliner linkage pivots about a front pivot of a rocker base plate and drops the rear of the seat upon release of the latch.

Abstract: A two-tiered display rack merchandiser for gravity feeding two columns of products one after another to the front of the rack as the lead product in either column is successively removed by a customer, each column of which includes a roller-mounted tray which, when loaded with product, is operative to push products located in front of the tray forwardly over a slip surface over which the products would not slide in the absence of the roller-mounted tray pusher at the rear of the column. The rollers of each tray are entrapped within tracks which extend parallel to opposite sides of the slip surfaces such that the trays cannot easily be removed from the rack.

Abstract: High-low speed drive system includes a main drive shaft which may be selectively driven off one or the other of a pair of continuously driven high and low speed shafts by selective engagement and disengagement of associated pneumatic operated disc clutches. Such clutches have fast response times, and the clutch associated with the low speed shaft acts as a brake when engaged to rapidly decelerate the main drive shaft down to the speed of the low speed shaft. The timing of both the high speed and low speed pneumatic operated disc clutches are closely controlled so that the low speed clutch is engaged practically instantaneously with the disengagement of the high speed clutch. The clutches are located in substantial radial alignment with each other in close proximity to the gear train between the high and low speed shafts and main drive shaft within the main housing for ease of maintenance and simplified porting of fluid through lines on the same path to all of the clutches.

Abstract: A bedding foundation box spring having novel double twist coil springs interconnecting a wooden base frame and a top wire grid. The coil springs each comprise a single length of wire having a middle section located in a diametral plane of one end convolution of the spring and a pair of spring arms coiled in the same rotational direction from opposite ends of the middle section. Each of the spring arms is formed into a helix of varying pitch which terminates in a free end of the spring arm. The free ends of the two spring arms of each coil are located on opposite sides of the end convolution of the coil and are secured to the wire grid. The novel coils are manufactured by inserting a straight length of wire through a stationary pair of forming dies and a mandrel located between the dies. With the middle of the straight length of wire located in the mandrel, the mandrel is then simultaneously rotated and moved axially while the ends of the length of wire are pulled through the stationary forming dies.

Abstract: A coil spring unit having a series of coil springs connected together in column and row matrix configuration, the end loops of the coil springs being open loops that terminate in free ends, i.e., the end loops of the coil springs not being closed and knotted. The coil spring assembly method comprises forming a series of coil spring rows, each row being formed from a single continuous length of spring wire. Each intermediate spring within a row has an adjacent coil spring on one side directly connected at one end of that intermediate spring, and an adjacent coil spring on the other side directly connected at the other end of that coil spring, through use of connector sections that are part of the single continuous length of spring wire used to form that row. The pre-formed rows thereafter are connected in matrix form. After the rows have been connected in matrix configuration, the connector sections are selectively cut between adjacent springs on both sides of each intermediate spring.

Abstract: A machine for connecting successive rows of coil springs together into a coil spring assembly. The machine, in preferred form, initially picks up a row of coil springs by inserting a pick up finger into the barrel of each coil and moving the springs onto a support platen. In the course of transporting the coils between pick up and the support platen, the pick up fingers change the spacing of the coils. The springs are then compressed against the support platen to a desired height through use of a reciprocable compression bar. Thereafter, and through use of rotatable transfer fingers on a transfer shaft, the springs are removed from under the compression bar, and are moved into clamping dies. Leading rotary transfer fingers on the transfer shaft first pull the row of springs out from under the compression bar, and trailing rotary fingers then push the springs into the downstream one of upper and lower clamping dies.

Abstract: A display rack in which a plurality of shelves are mounted at desired locations along vertical corner posts by wedge lock elements. Each wedge lock element comprises a two-piece, wedge-shaped insert having outwardly extending projections which are adapted to releasably mount within dimples or detents vertically spaced along the corner posts. The shelves are formed with a sleeve at each corner adapted to fit over the corner posts and into engagement with the inserts. The inserts become wedged between the corner posts and sleeves to prevent downward vertical motion of the shelves relative to the corner posts while permitting easy removal of the shelves by lifting them upwardly from the inserts for disassembly or movement to a new position along the corner posts.

Abstract: A machine for connecting rows of coil springs together into a coil spring assembly. The machine initially picks up a row of coil springs by inserting a pick up finger into the barrel of each coil and moving the springs onto a support platen. While transporting the coils, the pick up fingers change the spacing of the coils. The springs are then compressed against the support platen to a desired height through use of a reciprocable compression bar. Thereafter, rotatable transfer fingers remove the springs from under the compression bar, and move them into clamping dies. Leading rotary transfer fingers on the transfer shaft first pull the row of springs out from under the compression bar, and trailing rotary fingers then push the springs into the downstream one of upper and lower clamping dies. The rows of clamping dies clamp together the upper and lower end loops of the leading and trailing rows of coil springs.

Abstract: A glider recliner comprises a recliner linkage mounted atop a glider base adapted to mount the recliner linkage for forward and rearward gliding motion. The recliner linkage comprises a recliner seat link adapted to support a back rest and seat, a recliner base plate and recliner linkage mechanism connected between the recliner seat link and base plate and operable to effect movement of seat and back rest between upright and reclined positions. The recliner linkage also includes a leg rest assembly adapted to move between an extended and retracted position.

Abstract: A sofa-sleeper includes a stationary sofa frame having a front, back and opposed sides, and a sofa bed mechanism including pivotally interconnected head, body, intermediate and foot frame sections which are extendable to form a bed and foldable within the sofa frame to form a seat. The sofa bed mechanism is removably mounted upon the stationary sofa frame by dove-tail shaped brackets mounted on opposed sides of the sofa frame, and a pair of tapered mounting plates pivotally connected on opposite sides of the sofa bed mechanism to the head and body frame sections. The tapered mounting plates of the sofa bed mechanism are adapted to slide into the dove-tail shaped brackets of the sofa frame, and are releasably locked therein by a tab formed on each mounting plate which snap fits within a mating slot formed in each bracket.

Abstract: A three-position away-from-the-wall recliner and a three-position rocker recliner are disclosed wherein the body support including the seat and backrest of both recliners are movable between upright, intermediate or TV and full recline positions. Both recliners include a mechanism operable upon release of a latch to move the body support of the recliner between upright and TV positions as a consequence of the weight of a person sitting in the recliner propelling the body support to the TV position. Both recliners utilize a common recliner linkage to support the body support from a fixed base. In the away-from-the-wall recliner, the recliner linkage is mounted upon a forward biased four bar linkage mechanism such that upon release of the latch, the four bar linkage swings forwardly, propelling the body support from the upright to the TV position. In the rocker recliner, this same recliner linkage pivots about a front pivot of a rocker base plate and drops the rear of the seat upon release of the latch.

Abstract: A bed frame for a sofa-sleeper including pivotally interconnected head, body, intermediate and foot sections, each having a pair of opposed side rails adapted to support an overlying link fabric frame and mattress, which are movable between a retracted position in which the bed frame is contained within the sofa frame of the sofa-sleeper and an extended position in which the bed frame extends outwardly to form a bed. The bed frame is provided with a U-shaped cross brace to enhance lateral stability which is pivotally mounted at each end to a side rail for pivotal movement between a position beneath the link fabric and mattress, in the extended position of the bed frame, so as to avoid contact with persons lying on the sofa bed, and a folded position wherein the cross brace is disposed immediately adjacent the link fabric with the bed frame in a retracted position within the sofa frame.

Abstract: A sheet metal bedrail for mounting within a cutout portion formed in the legs of the headboard of a bed. The bedrail is formed of thin gauge sheet metal having a longitudinally and vertically extending central web portion and longitudinally extending beads at the upper and lower marginal edges of the web. A plastic end cap having a pair of spaced legs mounted perpendicularly to a plate is adapted to engage the bedrail so that the legs extend within the spaced beads. Aligning mounting bores are formed in the beads of the bedrail and legs of the end cap which receive bolts adapted to mount the bedrail within the cutout portion of the headboard legs.

Abstract: An adjustable retainer bracket for retaining a bedding foundation such as box springs on a pedestal bed base having spaced side rails and cross slats connected between the side rails, includes a retainer plate having a horizontal web connected to downwardly extending vertical side legs, and spaced locator holes and a keyhole formed in the horizontal web. The retainer plate is mounted atop a cross slat by placing the keyhole over an upstanding shouldered rivet fixed to the cross slat. The vertical legs of the retainer plate extend downwardly and straddle the cross slat to prevent rotation of the retainer plate relative to the cross slat. A spring locking member having a locking pin at one end is mounted to the underside of the cross rail so that the locking pin extends upwardly through one of the spaced locator holes formed in the retainer plate.