Patents by Inventor Henry Zapletal

Henry Zapletal has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 5515294
    Abstract: A curved sample of material is tested for ultimate tensile stress and elongation without prestraightening or premarking of the length of the sample. The sample is gripped at its ends and positioned to extend over convex surfaces mounted adjacent to the grippers on a pair of longitudinally moveable members. The members are moved apart and incremental data of the relative distances between the convex surfaces, representing the length of the sample, are stored. With each of the distance measurements, tensile stress measurements in the wire are made and stored. After the wire breaks, the data is analyzed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 1994
    Date of Patent: May 7, 1996
    Assignee: L & P Property Management Company
    Inventors: Henry G. Mohr, Daniel W. Martin, Steven M. Montague, Henry Zapletal
  • Patent number: 4862532
    Abstract: A box spring assembly includes a base frame, a top wire grid and a plurality of sinous wire springs interconnecting the top wire grid and the base frame. The sinuous wire springs each comprises a sinuous wire strip formed into an inverted U-shaped configuration with the closed end of each U-shaped spring attached to the top wire grid by a snap-fit connection and the free ends at the bottom of the U-shaped spring being attached to the base frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 1988
    Date of Patent: September 5, 1989
    Assignee: Leggett & Platt, Incorporated
    Inventors: Thomas J. Wells, Angelo Serafini, Sidney A. Hiatt, Henry Zapletal
  • Patent number: 4771494
    Abstract: A spring assembly for mattresses, innersprings, and the like. The assembly comprises rows of coils, each row comprising a continuous length of wire formed into a plurality of coils interconnected by Z-shaped wire segments alternately disposed at the top and bottom of the coils. Adjacent rows of coils are connected by helical wire wound through overlapping sections of the Z-shaped wire segments. The overlapping connected sections are straight, flat offset sections located on opposite sides of each coil with the center of each overlapped section being located in a common diametral plane of the coil so that complete compression of the coil does not result in the coil being pulled laterally, twisted and distorted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 1987
    Date of Patent: September 20, 1988
    Assignee: Leggett & Platt, Incorporated
    Inventors: Henry Zapletal, Edwin B. Watts, Terry L. Aronson, Thomas J. Wells
  • Patent number: 4760616
    Abstract: A box spring assembly includes a base frame, a top wire grid and a plurality of sinuous wire springs interconnecting the top wire grid and the base frame. The sinuous wire springs each comprise a sinuous wire strip formed into an inverted U-shaped configuration with the closed end of each U-shaped spring attached to the top wire grid and the free ends at the top of the U-shaped spring attached to the base frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 1987
    Date of Patent: August 2, 1988
    Assignee: Leggett & Platt, Incorporated
    Inventors: Sidney A. Hiatt, Henry Zapletal
  • Patent number: 4730358
    Abstract: A box spring assembly includes a base frame, a top wire grid and a plurality of sinuous wire springs interconnecting the top wire grid and the base frame. The sinuous wire springs each comprise a sinuous wire strip formed into a U-shaped configuration with the bottom of each U-shaped spring attached to the base frame and the free ends at the top of the U-shaped spring attached to the wire grid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 1987
    Date of Patent: March 15, 1988
    Assignee: Leggett & Platt, Incorporated
    Inventor: Henry Zapletal
  • Patent number: 4686753
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 1984
    Date of Patent: August 18, 1987
    Assignee: Leggett & Platt, Incorporated
    Inventors: Henry Zapletal, Horst F. Wentzek, George M. Chembakaffery
  • Patent number: 4593809
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 1984
    Date of Patent: June 10, 1986
    Assignee: Leggett & Platt, Incorporated
    Inventors: Henry Zapletal, Horst F. Wentzek, George M. Chembakaffery
  • Patent number: 4593726
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 1984
    Date of Patent: June 10, 1986
    Assignee: Leggett & Platt, Incorporated
    Inventors: Henry Zapletal, Horst F. Wentzek, George M. Chembakaffery
  • Patent number: 4553324
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 1984
    Date of Patent: November 19, 1985
    Assignee: Leggett & Platt, Incorporated
    Inventors: Henry Zapletal, Horst F. Wentzek, George M. Chembakaffery
  • Patent number: 4553572
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 1984
    Date of Patent: November 19, 1985
    Assignee: Leggett & Platt, Incorporated
    Inventors: Henry Zapletal, Horst F. Wentzek, George M. Chembakaffery
  • Patent number: 4548241
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 1984
    Date of Patent: October 22, 1985
    Assignee: Leggett & Platt, Incorporated
    Inventors: Henry Zapletal, Horst F. Wentzek, George M. Chembakaffery
  • Patent number: 4492298
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 1981
    Date of Patent: January 8, 1985
    Assignee: Leggett & Platt, Incorporated
    Inventors: Henry Zapletal, Horst F. Wentzek, George M. Chembakaffery
  • Patent number: 4358097
    Abstract: A spring assembly for mattresses, innersprings, and the like. The assembly comprises rows of coils, each row comprising a continuous length of wire formed into a plurality of coils interconnected by Z-shaped wire segments alternately disposed at the top and bottom of the coils. Adjacent rows of coils are connected by a helical wire wound through overlapping Z-shaped wire segments. The overlapping connected segments on opposite sides of each coil are located in a common diametrical plane of the coil so that complete compression of the coil does not result in the coil being pulled laterally, twisted and distorted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 1980
    Date of Patent: November 9, 1982
    Assignee: Leggett & Platt, Incorporated
    Inventors: Henry Zapletal, Thomas J. Wells
  • Patent number: 4112726
    Abstract: A single continuous length of spring wire is formed into a continuous length spiral or helix which is subsequently folded into a wave configuration for establishing in row form, a plurality of individual spring coils disposed generally parallel one to another. Each coil in the row is connected at its opposite ends to adjacent coils by head or connector end sections. The head or connector end sections are then formed, preferably into a planar Z-shaped configuration such that the formed connector sections at the same ends of the coils are disposed in a common plane normal to the axes of the coils which they interconnect. During forming of the end sections or heads of the coils, each connector section is deformed from a looped three-dimensional attitude into the planar Z-shaped attitude by interengagement with novel forming pins and forming dies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 1977
    Date of Patent: September 12, 1978
    Assignee: Leggett & Platt, Incorporated
    Inventors: Elvin E. Adams, Tom J. Wells, Horst F. Wentzek, Henry Zapletal, Marty J. Zugel