Abstract: A symmetrical sofa stretcher rail for compact assembly of a furniture item is provided. Embodiments of the invention include a symmetrical sofa stretcher rail with two ends that are mirror images of each other, which can thus be coupled to a seat box frame and installed inside a sofa frame with either end of the sofa stretcher rail coupling to either the front or rear of the sofa frame. In embodiments, the sofa stretcher rail may be pre-assembled as part of a seat box frame, and pivoted between a position parallel to the seat box frame and a position perpendicular to the seat box frame. Embodiments of the sofa stretcher rail include a curved central body, interior pivot tabs, fastening plates, and exterior mounting plates, having a plurality of attachment points for fastening the sofa stretcher rail to a sofa frame coupled to the seat box frame.

Abstract: A bedding or seating product comprises a pocketed spring assembly comprising a plurality of parallel strings of individually pocketed springs. The strings of springs may extend from head-to-foot or side-to-side of the product. Adjacent individually pocketed springs are separated from each other by at least one separating seam. Each of the separating seams comprises a pair of Y-shaped or U-shaped seams which may be joined together or spaced apart.

Abstract: A system and method for incorporating presence-sensing technology into furniture is provided. More particularly, the invention relates to incorporating a conductive medium into the periphery of a furniture item, such as an adjustable bed, for detecting the presence of a user or other body. The bed includes a mattress with a covering material and a tape edge surrounding the perimeter of the mattress. A capacitive wire is coupled the tape edge, and is adapted to have a voltage based on proximity of an object to the capacitive wire. The bed also includes a processor coupled to the capacitive wire. The processor receives information provided by the capacitive wire, determines when a change in voltage satisfies a threshold, and indicates whether presence is detected. Based on a determination of presence, or lack of presence, a variety of corresponding features of the adjustable bed may be activated.

Abstract: A pocketed spring assembly comprises a plurality of parallel strings of individually pocketed springs of different heights. Each string is joined to an adjacent string. Each string has first and second opposed plies of fabric and a plurality of pockets formed along a length of the string by transverse seams joining the plies. An upper end of each transverse seam is below the upper surface of the string so as to partially separate adjacent pockets within a string of springs when the spring is relaxed. The strings of springs have ventilation openings to increase airflow.

Abstract: A system and method of using a combination strapping machine including a wire tying system and a plastic tying system is provided. Embodiments of the strapping machine include a common frame coupled to a wire strapping system, a single wire track, a plastic strapping system, and a single plastic track. In some embodiments, the combination strapping machine includes a strapping machine frame having a common track perimeter and a top side. Further, the strapping machine includes a plastic tying system configured to apply a plastic strap to a baled material, and a wire tying system configured to apply a wire strap to the baled material, wherein the track for the wire tying medium is adjacent the track for the plastic tying medium. In some embodiments, the combination strapping machine is controlled by a common interface that coordinates both plastic and wire strapping.

Abstract: A tilt mechanism is configured for adjustment of a tension applied by a chair back. The tilt mechanism includes a base, a back bracket tiltably supported on the base, and a rocker coupled to the back bracket so as to be moveable relative to the back bracket. The rocker has a pivot axis and pivots about the pivot axis when the back bracket tilts relative to the base. An energy storage mechanism is coupled to the rocker to exert a force onto a portion of the rocker. An actuating mechanism is coupled to at least one of the rocker or the energy storage mechanism and is configured to alter a distance between the pivot axis and the portion of the rocker at which the force is exerted onto the rocker, thereby altering a length of a lever arm.

Abstract: A machine for closing an open end of a cover encasing a mattress core in order to form a mattress is provided. A frame is adapted to support at least an edge portion of the mattress core encased in the cover. A mattress core press is mounted on the frame for vertical movement and is adapted to compress an edge of the mattress core to a desired height. A mattress cover clamp is mounted on the frame for vertical movement and is adapted to clamp free edges of the open end of the mattress cover together. A sewing head carriage is mounted on the frame for horizontal movement. A sewing head is mounted on the carriage, and a sewing head motor is mounted on the carriage for driving the sewing head. The sewing head is adapted to stitch the free edges of the open end of the mattress cover closed as the sewing head carriage traverses from one side of the mattress to the other side of the mattress.

Abstract: A mattress age indicating device (10) includes an enclosure (20) and an indicating assembly (30) contained within the enclosure (20). The age indicating device (10) may be configured to present an indication related to the mattress's age and may be coupled to the mattress (2) or other bedding or seating product.

Abstract: A product display apparatus is provided. The display has a forward face with at least one display element disposed thereon. The display element is activated in some way upon receiving power. An inductive receiving coil is located on a flap that is below the forward face. This inductive receiving coil receives power from an inductive transmission coil located in proximity to the display apparatus. The receiving coil provides power to the display element when the coil is in proximity to the transmission coil. This power is used to activate the display element, such as by, for example, illuminating it.

Abstract: A tilt mechanism (10) for a chair comprises a base (11), a first support (12) configured to support a chair seat and a second support (13) configured to support a chair back. The second support (13) is pivotably coupled to the base (11). A first coupling mechanism (41) couples the first support (12) with the base (11) and includes a first pin (40) slideably supported in a first linear guide slot (20). A second coupling mechanism (42) couples the second support (13) with the first support (12) and includes a second pin (44) slideably supported in a second linear guide slot (36). When the second support (13) pivots relative to the base (11), the first pin (40) is caused to be displaced along the first linear guide slot (20) and the second pin (44) is caused to be displaced along the second linear guide slot (36).

Abstract: A foldable bedding foundation comprising a first section is hingedly secured to a second section so that the bedding foundation may be folded for storage or transportation purposes. Each section has a base, an upper deck and a plurality of generally L-shaped spacers pivotally secured to the base and upper deck. Upper and lower hinges extend between the base and upper deck of each section. Locking members extending through the spacers maintain the foundation in its erected position.

Abstract: A screening for separating a protected area has a plurality of vertical supports with removable panels between the supports. Upper attachment members on the supports have a vertical channel for slideably receiving a complementary attachment member on the panel. A hook on one attachment member engages a catch on the other to retain the attachment members together. The lower end of the panel is retained between parallel flanges on the vertical supports. A tool is provided to release the hook for removal of the panel from the vertical supports.

Abstract: An armrest assembly is provided for adjusting an armrest of a seating unit in three degrees of motion. The armrest assembly includes an angle-adjustment mechanism that allows the armrest to pivot and to translate forward, and a lift mechanism that enables vertical articulation of the armrest. The angle-adjustment assembly includes a pivot bracket with a downwardly disposed pin and a shuttle with an arcuate slot to receive the pin. The arcuate slot includes contoured walls that form detents for restricting movement of the pin, thereby restraining rotation of the shuttle, with respect to the pivot bracket, to predefined angular positions. The lift mechanism includes a rack with ride element(s) extending therefrom and locking teeth, and a control bar with track(s). An upward manual actuation of the control bar causes the track to shift laterally and retract the locking teeth, via interaction between the track(s) and ride element(s), respectively.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided which makes a border wire having a rectangular cross-section. The apparatus is adapted to receive a roll of wire having a circular cross-section, straighten the wire and change the cross-section of the wire to rectangular. The reconfigured wire is then accumulated, passed through another straightener, cut to size and then bent into a rectangular configuration. Opposed ends of the piece of wire having a rectangular cross-section are welded together to complete the border wire. The apparatus has an ejector which removes the completed border wire from the apparatus.

Abstract: A seating unit that includes a linkage mechanism adapted to move the seating unit between closed, extended, reclined, and seat-lift positions is provided. The linkage mechanism includes a footrest assembly, a back-mounting link coupled to a seat-mounting plate, a base plate coupled to a lift-base assembly via a lift assembly, a motor tube, and two linear actuators for automating adjustment of the linkage mechanism. A first phase involves a second linear actuator rotating the motor tube angularly within a first range of degrees, causing the seat-adjustment assembly to bias the seat-mounting plate. A second phase involves the second linear actuator rotating the motor tube angularly within a second range of degrees, causing the footrest assembly to extend or retract without affecting the back-mounting link bias. A third phase involves a first linear actuator causing the lift assembly to raise and tilt the base plate directly over the lift-base assembly.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method of making a spring core (12) for a bedding or seating product (10). The spring core (12) has coil springs (26) having unknotted end turns (72, 74) made from high tensile strength wire. In each embodiment, the end turns (72, 74) of the coil springs (26) are generally U-shaped having one arcuate leg (76) longer than the other (78), the legs (76, 78) being joined by a connector (80) having an arcuate bump (81) therein. The springs (26) are oriented in the spring core (12) such that a long leg (76) of one end turn (72) abuts a short leg (78) of the adjacent end turn (72) prior to being wrapped in helical lacing wire (32). The high tensile wire enables the coil springs (26) to be manufactured using less wire than heretofore possible.

Abstract: A collapsible wire carrier (10) includes a base (12) and a top (24) spaced from each other with a plurality of tubular legs (32). The legs (32) are secured to the base (12) and the top (24) with connectors (36) using fasteners (40). Each leg (32) has openings (34) at each end which, upon assembly, are aligned with openings (38) in connectors (36) and secured thereto with fasteners (40). Four connectors (36) fit inside portions of the base (12) and inside portions of the legs (32). Four other connectors (36) fit inside portions of the top (24) and inside portions of the legs (32).

Abstract: A multi-needle quilting machine (20) is provided with a tape or ribbon guide (30) that is operated by a method by which a narrow strip (32) is fed against a facing layer (11a) of a wide multi-layered material (24) as it is fed into the quilting machine. In the quilting machine (20), series of chain stitches are sewn, at least one of which joins the tape (32) and layers of the multi-layered material (24) together with the same thread in a quilting process, thereby applying the tape (32) to the quilted product in a single quilting operation without the need for a post-quilting tape application step. The tape may form a decorative strip or have unsewn sections that serve as handles for a mattress when the quilted product is formed into a mattress cover.

Abstract: A multi-needle chain-stitch quilting machine and method of operation thereof are provided that imparts relative motion between the needles and the material that is controlled so as to pull needle thread tails from the needle side of the quilted material. The feature of controlling thread tails may be optional to provide selection of either a high speed mode of operation without thread tail control or a quality mode of operation with reduction or removal of needle thread tails from the face of the quilted material. Thread trimmers may be included at each needle location on the looper side of the material to cut both needle and looper threads.