Spring Means Spacing Loading Surface Vertically From Plane Of Supporting Frame Patents (Class 267/103)
  • Patent number: 5964453
    Abstract: A wire spring module and wire grid for use in a furniture spring assembly for mounting an array of multiple spring modules to the wire grid and the resulting furniture spring assembly. The wire grid includes a plurality of straight, coplanar wires arranged in a first sub-plurality of parallel spring placement wires and a second sub-plurality of parallel spring seating wires extending in generally perpendicular relation to the spring placement wires, the spring seating wires being arranged in a plurality of seating wire pairs with the spring seating wires of each seating wire pair disposed at a first predetermined spacing from one another and with each seating wire pair disposed at a second greater predetermined spacing from each seating wire pair adjacent thereto. The unitarily-formed wire spring module comprises a generally coplanar top and a pair of legs extending from opposite ends of the top and in spaced relation to one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 12, 1999
    Assignee: Hickory Springs Manufacturing Co.
    Inventor: Kevin McCraw
  • Patent number: 5927695
    Abstract: A bed coil spring unit comprises a plurality of joined and interconnected spring cell units and a method of manufacturing the same. Each spring cell unit comprises a plurality of coil springs within long legs which long legs are used to form the coil springs. Each spring cell unit has a generally vertical axis. The coil springs which make up each spring cell unit are positioned symmetrically about the central axis. The plurality of coil springs in each spring cell unit conveniently numbers four(4).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 27, 1999
    Inventor: Donald G. Eady
  • Patent number: 5924682
    Abstract: A drop-in spring unit seat assembly includes a top grid spaced from a bottom grid having conical springs positioned therebetween. The conical springs are snap-fit for attachment to the top grid and/or bottom grid and require no mechanical fasteners nor complicated tools for such attachment. A pair of opposed detents are formed in the top and/or bottom turns of the spring and/or the detents formed in grid wires extending on the top and/or bottom grid. The opposed detent in the springs snap-fit engage with the depressions in the grid wires and a plurality of springs are interposed between the top grid and bottom grid to form the spring unit assembly. In selected embodiments, the spring unit includes multiple bottom grids attached via springs to a single top grid. The assembled spring unit can be dropped into a chair, seat or other article of furniture for attachment to and support by a pair of spaced frame members of the chair or other article of furniture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 20, 1999
    Assignee: L&P Property Management Company
    Inventor: Larry I. Bullard
  • Patent number: 5857750
    Abstract: A seat device comprises a cushion frame mounted on a floor; a support member for supporting a seat pad; and torsion bars for elastically supporting the support member on the cushion frame, including a torque bar section and an arm section, wherein the torsion bars are provided at the front and rear positions of the seat or at the left and right positions thereof by at least one pair, and each arm section of the at least one pair of torsion bars be provided so as to form a parallel link mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 1996
    Date of Patent: January 12, 1999
    Assignees: NHK Spring Co., Ltd, Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takayoshi Kashiwamura, Akira Homma, Nozomu Munemura, Toshimichi Hanai, Kazuhito Kato, Kozo Yamaura
  • Patent number: 5803440
    Abstract: An innerspring structure for a mattress comprises a plurality of outer coils extending generally parallel with each other to collectively form top and bottom face surfaces of the innerspring structure. One or more of the outer coils has an inner coil of preferably similar shape positioned generally coaxially with the respective outer coil. In one embodiment, a helical lacing wire wraps together adjacent end turns of the inner and outer coaxially aligned coils to form reinforced coil units in an area of the innerspring structure to increase the firmness of an area of the mattress utilizing the invention. Helical lacing wire connects the coils of the structure together and connects the end turns of peripheral coils to a border wire surrounding the periphery of the structures at the top and bottom face surfaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 8, 1998
    Assignee: L&P Property Management Company
    Inventor: Thomas J. Wells
  • Patent number: 5785303
    Abstract: This invention relates to a spring core of leaf springs for mattresses and seat cushions. According to the invention, the spring core comprises at least two plates opposite each other, having a multiplicity of spring elements broken out of holes. Preferably, the spring elements of the opposite plates are mirror-images.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 1996
    Date of Patent: July 28, 1998
    Inventor: Franz Kutschi
  • Patent number: 5765240
    Abstract: A bedding product comprising a collapsible spring assembly, a pad covering the spring assembly and a fabric covering encasing the padded spring assembly. The spring assembly comprises a plurality of collapsible spring modules connected to a plurality of spaced parallel connecting rods and locking means to hold the assembly in an expanded condition and prevent its collapse. The parallel connecting rods are located between border rods in the top and bottom planes of the assembly. Each of the spring modules comprises four individual wires joined together with helical lacing wire wrapped around a center section of each of the wires. The center sections of the wires define an axis about which each of the wires are capable of rotational movement. Upon the collapse of the assembly, each of the spring modules collapses rotating around the axis of the module. The assembly is held in an expanded condition by a plurality of locking rods, pieces of plastic mesh or other locking means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 16, 1998
    Assignee: L&P Property Management Co.
    Inventor: Joe C. Workman
  • Patent number: 5752284
    Abstract: A spring assembly comprising a frame, a plurality of rails secured to the frame and a plurality of spaced springs secured to the rails. Each of the rails has a generally U-shaped cross-section and comprises a bottom and two sidewalls. Each sidewall has an inwardly projecting detent creating a receptacle underneath the detent adapted to receive and hold a spring. Each of the springs has a substantially planar lower portion which is generally S-shaped and adapted to be positioned in the receptacles of the sidewalls of the rail and rotated into a snap-fit locked position. In this locked position, the detents of the sidewalls hold the lower portion of the spring against the bottom of the rail and prevent lateral or vertical movement of the spring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 19, 1998
    Assignee: L&P Property Management Co.
    Inventors: Upton R. Dabney, John P. Kitchen, William C. Rodgers
  • Patent number: 5749108
    Abstract: A spring assembly comprising a frame, a plurality of metal rails secured to the frame and a plurality of spaced spring modules secured to the rails. Each of the rails comprises a top portion and two sidewalls extending downwardly from the top portion and terminating in outwardly extending flanges. The sidewalls define a throat proximate the flanges. The spring module has at least one mounting foot comprising two opposed leg portions joined together by a connecting portion, each of the leg portions having a notch therein for engagement with a slot in the planar upper portion of the rail. The connection portion of the mounting foot is engagable with the throat defined by the sidewalls of the rail so as to inhibit lateral movement of the mounting foot within the rail.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 12, 1998
    Assignee: L&P Property Management Co.
    Inventor: Clayton M. Barnett
  • Patent number: 5704595
    Abstract: A nestably stackable pre-assembly for a box spring foundation having a top support surface formed by a substantially rectangular border wire, lateral surface support wires and longitudinal surface support wires. The top support surface is supported by a series of longitudinal formed wire structural support members having V-shaped sections extending down from the top support surface. The structural support members are attached to the surface support wires by clips. The V-sections of adjacent structural support members are angled towards each other in pairs such that they form a series of four-sided open-apex pyramids. The pre-assemblies can be stored and shipped by attaching a first pre-assembly to a bottom wooden frame, and stacking additional pre-assemblies on top of the first.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 1995
    Date of Patent: January 6, 1998
    Assignee: L& P Property Management Company
    Inventors: John P. Kitchen, Upton Dabney
  • Patent number: 5699999
    Abstract: A mattress inner spring core comprising a plurality of coil springs arranged in longitudinally extending columns and transversely extending rows. Each coil spring has an identically configured upper and lower end turn between which are a plurality of central convolutions defining a spring axis. Each end turn comprises first and second offset legs connected by a linear base web. A portion of a first leg of one end turn overlaps a portion of a second leg of an adjacent end turn in an overlapping region. Helical lacing wires encircle the legs of adjacent end turns to connect rows of springs. Each helical lacing wire has multiple revolutions encircling the overlapped legs of adjacent end turns with the same number of revolutions of the lacing wire encircling the overlapped portions of the legs and at least one complete revolution encircling a non-overlapped portion of the first and second legs of the end turns.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 23, 1997
    Assignee: L&P Property Management Company
    Inventor: Thomas J. Wells
  • Patent number: 5632473
    Abstract: An elastic framework for a mattress, chair, upholstery, etc. is disclosed which includes elastic springs made of opposing upper and lower elastic elements, each elastic element having a base portion and a plurality of flexible arms which extend from the base portion and are joined to the flexible arms of the opposing upper or lower element so as to form a closed flexible ring. These flexible rings are joined to top support elements and bottom support elements at the base portion of the upper and lower elastic elements, respectively, and the top support elements as well as the bottom supported elements are respectively interconnected so as to form a spring support.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 1994
    Date of Patent: May 27, 1997
    Inventor: Joao Dias Magalhaes Queiroz
  • Patent number: 5622357
    Abstract: A foundation unit which can be relaxed in a compact configuration for shipping and which can be then elevated to an expanded state for completion. The foundation unit includes a rectangular grid wire top bearing structure, a rigid bottom substructure, and a series of spaced, parallel intermediate rows of wire supports. The wire supports are oriented in pairs, with the bottom attachment segments of the wire supports being adjacent one another and secured to the bottom substructure. The top attachment segments of the wire supports are spaced from one another such that the wire supports of each pair form a generally V-shaped configuration. The wire supports are sandwiched between spaced longitudinal grid wires of the top bearing structure so that, prior to being secured to the bottom substructure, the wire supports are pivotally secured to the top bearing structures so that the foundation unit can be selectively relaxed for storage or shipping.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 1996
    Date of Patent: April 22, 1997
    Assignee: Steadley Company
    Inventors: Martin Schulz, Jr., David Warner
  • Patent number: 5615869
    Abstract: A torsion spring assembly for furniture seating and the like utilizes an intermediate spring of the coil or folded form type for durability and comfort purposes. Parallel lateral members are attached to the top of the intermediate springs which connect the intermediate springs and torsion springs for additional support and durability. A top stiffening frame can also be utilized to better unify the assembly components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 1996
    Date of Patent: April 1, 1997
    Assignee: Lancer, Inc.
    Inventors: Herman R. Phillips, Fred L. Ingle
  • Patent number: 5562274
    Abstract: A formed wire spring assembly having upper and lower spaced decks including a border wire and a plurality of deck wires arranged in a criss-cross fashion. The deck wires of the upper deck and lower decks are paired with one another and are connected by springs disposed between the two decks to support the decks in spaced relationship and yieldable fashion relative to one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 1994
    Date of Patent: October 8, 1996
    Assignee: Hoover Wire Products, Inc.
    Inventors: John P. Kitchen, William C. Rodgers
  • Patent number: 5558315
    Abstract: A foundation spring module especially adapted for easy assembly in an interlocking spring and grid bedding foundation structure has a short generally vertical section which extends down from an interlockable wire grid-engaging horizontal top portion to position an upper end of each of two contiguous legs of the spring away from the area of intersection of the top portion and legs of the spring with the wire grid to greatly ease manipulation and assembly of the spring into the interlocked position in the wire grid of the foundation structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 1994
    Date of Patent: September 24, 1996
    Assignee: Ohio Mattress Licensing and Components Group
    Inventors: Eugen Constantinescu, Robert F. Wagner
  • Patent number: 5548857
    Abstract: A box spring includes a border frame with an opening therethrough and spaced and parallel slats extending thereacross, a wire grid spaced from and parallel with the border frame and slats, and a plurality of springs extending between the wire grid and the border frame/slats, wherein the internally located springs have ends which are secured to plastic clips, and each of these clips is removably secured to one of the slats via a snap-on connection. Each of the clips also has a hook for removably retaining a spring portion. The snap-on connections of these spring holding clips, and additionally, the hooks for removable spring retention, facilitate interconnection of the wire grid to the border frame/slats. The snap-on clips of this invention reduce the costs associated with construction and assembly of a box spring, while providing secure interconnection of the internal springs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 1994
    Date of Patent: August 27, 1996
    Assignee: L & P Property Management Company
    Inventor: Darrell A. Richmond
  • Patent number: 5544943
    Abstract: A seat construction for upholstered furniture is presented and a method of forming the same and includes a rectangular frame with webbing attached in the form of lateral strips positioned across the frame. Spaced therebelow are webbing strips which are positioned longitudinally along the frame. When a person uses the seat, the upper webbing strips allow maximum stretching and contact the second webbing strips, which are less stretchable and more supportive, to provide a luxurious feel and maximum comfort.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 1995
    Date of Patent: August 13, 1996
    Assignee: Matrex Furniture Components, Inc.
    Inventor: Walter E. Durling
  • Patent number: 5539944
    Abstract: A foldable bed is movable between an unfolded position, in which interconnected seat, cavity, and body sections are substantially horizontally aligned and of substantially uniform depth, and a folded position, in which the body section is horizontally disposed, the seat section is horizontally disposed and overlies said body section, the cavity section is generally upright and extends between the body and seat sections. In the folded position, the seat section of the mattress is collapsible, and the cavity section of the mattress is noncollapsible. The bed frame can include a leg that is spaced away from the frame in the folded position that compresses a mattress head section, thereby forming a space within which collapsible springs of the seat section can reside. The bed can include springs having upper, intermediate, and lower runs, wherein the upper and lower runs include offset portions extending in opposite directions that are generally orthogonal to a plane defined by the spring intermediate run.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 1994
    Date of Patent: July 30, 1996
    Assignee: Parma Corporation
    Inventor: John E. Miller
  • Patent number: 5540418
    Abstract: A foldable bed is movable between an unfolded position, in which interconnected seat, cavity, and body sections are substantially horizontally aligned and of substantially uniform depth, and a folded position, in which the body section is horizontally disposed, the seat section is horizontally disposed and overlies said body section, the cavity section is generally upright and extends between the body and seat sections. In the folded position, the seat section of the mattress is collapsible, and the cavity section of the mattress is noncollapsible. The bed frame can include a leg that is spaced away from the frame in the folded position that compresses a mattress head section, thereby forming spaced within which collapsible springs of the seat section can reside. The bed can include springs having upper, intermediate, and lower runs, wherein the upper and lower runs include offset portions extending in opposite directions that are generally orthogonal to a plane defined by the spring intermediate run.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 1995
    Date of Patent: July 30, 1996
    Assignee: Parma Corporation
    Inventor: John E. Miller
  • Patent number: 5518226
    Abstract: A spring seating support system which includes an upper support frame that includes rigid wire grids located between adjacent rows of coil springs. The rigid wire grids are flexibly connected to the top loop of the coil springs located in adjacent rows, and are comprised of latitudinal perimeter wires welded to longitudinal support wires. Latitudinal interior wires welded to the longitudinal support wires may be added for additional strength where the distance between rows of coil springs requires such support.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 1994
    Date of Patent: May 21, 1996
    Assignee: Bauhaus USA, Inc.
    Inventors: Marty Silver, Bruno Policicchio
  • Patent number: 5497979
    Abstract: A wire support member for a foundation unit, the resulting foundation unit, and a method of fabricating the foundation unit. The wire support member comprises a pair of parallel wire elements arranged in mirror image with a transverse link extending between and joining the wire elements. A dimple is formed in the top of each of the wire elements to form an engagement location to accommodate and seat a grid wire extending transverse to the wire support member. The foundation unit is comprised of a series of the wire support members installed in a flat grid wire top bearing structure and affixed to a rigid bottom substructure. The foundation unit is formed by inserting a wire support member at an oblique angle to the grid wire top bearing structure with the wire elements straddling a pair of longitudinal grid wires and with one wire element being located on one side of a transverse grid wire and with the other wire element being located on the other side of the transverse grid wire.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 1995
    Date of Patent: March 12, 1996
    Assignee: Steadley Company
    Inventors: Martin Schulz, Jr., Billie Pieper, David Warner
  • Patent number: 5438716
    Abstract: A box spring assembly having a support deck, a frame and support springs. The deck includes a border wire, long wires extending longitudinally and cross wires extending transversely. Support springs are mounted between the frame and the deck to yieldably support the deck above the frame. The support springs each include a pair of yieldable portions extending between the frame and deck and a deck attaching portion extending between upper ends of said yieldable portions. The deck attaching portion has end bars longitudinally extending from each of the yieldable portions and a cross bar transversely extending between the end bars. The deck attaching portion is configured to engage a cross wire of the deck in an interwoven fashion in response to axial movement of the entire support spring relative to the deck thereby clamping the spring module to the deck.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 1993
    Date of Patent: August 8, 1995
    Assignee: Hoover Group, Inc.
    Inventor: Upton R. Dabney
  • Patent number: 5401007
    Abstract: Wire spring assemblies for use in furniture items such as mattresses and seat cushions are made of two half units. The half units include spring elements extending from a generally planar deck with the spring elements containing complementary connecting structures at their distal ends which enable the half units to be assembled together by inverting one half unit relative to the other, aligning the two half units and snap-fitting the connecting structures of the spring elements together to form a double sided mattress or seat core. The assemblies are then upholstered in a normal fashion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 1994
    Date of Patent: March 28, 1995
    Assignee: Hoover Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Upton R. Dabney, William C. Rodgers
  • Patent number: 5395097
    Abstract: A spring wire core for use in bedding mattresses and/or upholstered furniture cushions and the like comprised of a pair of half units. Each half unit includes a surface portion and a plurality of springs projecting in one direction from the surface portion. Connecting elements are provided to enable a pair of half units, one inverted relative to the other, to be connected together forming a wire core with two spaced surface portions. Preferably, the spring portions are configured to enable a plurality of the half units to be nestably stacked one upon another to enable efficient shipping of the half units without compression of the spring portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 1993
    Date of Patent: March 7, 1995
    Assignee: Hoover Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Upton R. Dabney, William C. Rodgers
  • Patent number: 5375820
    Abstract: A drop-in spring assembly unit and method of manufacture of furniture. The assembly unit includes a plurality of spring elements coupled together by unique individual grid inserts, a wire base that may be customized to customer specifications and a border wire surrounding the top perimeter of the unit. The grid inserts are assembled prior to assembly of the drop-in unit and are coupled to spring elements by cushion clips.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 1993
    Date of Patent: December 27, 1994
    Assignee: Steadley Company
    Inventor: Steven J. Adams
  • Patent number: 5370374
    Abstract: A spring assembly for bedding and furniture which includes a support frame and a grid unit disposed above and in general vertical alignment with the frame, the grid unit including a border wire and cross wires arranged in a criss-cross pattern on said border wire. A plurality of upright spring modules are arranged in a predetermined pattern on the grid unit and supported on said frame, each of the modules being attached in a clipless manner at the upper end thereof to the grid unit so as to be connected to the unit in a manner such that up and down movement of the grid unit results in up and down compression and expansion of the spring modules. Each of the spring modules being a one-piece wire spring of tapered shape to enable spring modules to be arranged in nested stacks for shipping and storage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 1993
    Date of Patent: December 6, 1994
    Assignee: Hoover Group, Inc.
    Inventors: William C. Rodgers, Arval W. Barnes, Sr.
  • Patent number: 5369822
    Abstract: A bent wire spring unit having a spaced pair of foot portions and a spring member extending upwardly from each foot portion. Each spring member is formed of a series of torsion bars and connector bars interconnected by bends in the spring wire. The spring members are connected at their upper ends by a locking member or portion having first and second pairs of bends in the spring wire and two locking bars extending from the second pair of bends. The locking bars are linear segments of wire angled downwardly such that they converge into a connecting bend. The locking bars and the connecting bend lie in a single plane and the distal ends of the locking bars and the connecting bend extend significantly below an uppermost torsion member of each spring member. A spring assembly is disclosed which includes the bent wire spring unit attached to a wire grid at its upper end and a base frame at its lower end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 1993
    Date of Patent: December 6, 1994
    Assignee: Leggett & Platt Incorporated
    Inventor: Timothy D. Dennison
  • Patent number: 5346188
    Abstract: A foundation assembly is disclosed in which a wire grid is supported above a support frame by a plurality of wire form members extending parallel to one another and arranged in pairs. The wire form members have leg portions extending therefrom and are rotatably mounted to the wire grid to enable a wire subassembly to be shipped with the wire form members rotated to folded positions in which the leg portions lie against the wire grid. After shipping, the wire form members are rotated to extend the leg portions away from the wire grid at an angle less than ninety degrees where the paired wire support members cooperate together forming a rigid structure to prevent collapse of the foundation assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 1993
    Date of Patent: September 13, 1994
    Assignee: Hoover Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Kevin T. Rodgers, James Lewis
  • Patent number: 5346190
    Abstract: A box spring assembly which having a frame, a plurality of upwardly extending wire springs mounted on the frame and a wire deck supported by the springs so that the deck and springs cooperate to yieldably resists downwardly directed bedding loads. Each of the springs has a body comprised of a pair of side-by-side yieldable portions connected at their upper ends by a mounting bar. The yieldable portions include an upper column section and a lower column section connected by a middle section. The middle section is configured to bend in a substantially vertical plane in response to the downwardly directed load. Mounting feet extend from the lower ends of the yieldable portions and enable securement of the spring to the frame. The use of bending stresses in the springs to resist the bedding load produces a spring which stimulates a non-spring system in effective firmness while improving deformation resistance under normal abuse conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 1993
    Date of Patent: September 13, 1994
    Assignee: Hoover Group, Inc.
    Inventor: Upton R. Dabney
  • Patent number: 5253851
    Abstract: In order to provide a springing effect in correspondence with the edge of a belt frame in chairs, sofas or the like, a device is envisaged consisting of a plurality of arms, each fixed to a belt and extending from the latter in inclined position, as well as a common transverse element connecting all the arms. Due to stresses on the latter element, the arms deform the belts which cause a bending moment of elastic return.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 1992
    Date of Patent: October 19, 1993
    Assignee: Cintel S.r.l.
    Inventor: Anacleto Fontana
  • Patent number: 5246210
    Abstract: A spring and grid sub-assembly for use in furniture and box spring assemblies in which spring modules are attached to the wire grid through an attachment system in which the springs are in both an over-under relationship and a side-to-side interwoven relationship with the cross wires through plastic deformation of the cross wires whereby the springs can not be removed from the wire grid without plastic deformation of either the grid or spring modules. The resultant sub-assembly can be easily transported from a sub-assembler to a final assembler without risk of the springs being displaced or removed from the wire grid. Furthermore, spring clips are not needed for attaching the spring modules to the grid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 1992
    Date of Patent: September 21, 1993
    Assignee: Hoover Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Upton R. Dabney, William C. Rodgers
  • Patent number: 5197155
    Abstract: A bedding foundation unit having a top planar portion defined by two pluralities of spaced parallel grid wires, and a rigid frame spaced apart from the top planar portion by a plurality of modular springs. Each modular spring is formed from one piece of wire and has a top section, two vertical legs and two foot sections, with each of the vertical legs having at least one arcuate portion. The top section of most, if not all, of the modular springs extend longitudinally of the foundation and are connected to the top planar portion in a snap-fit manner, each top section of each modular spring being held in place by three grid wires and one grid wire below the top section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 1992
    Date of Patent: March 30, 1993
    Assignee: L&P Property Management Company
    Inventors: Steven E. Ogle, Danny L. Wylie
  • Patent number: 5188343
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a spring assembly for the seat portions or areas of upholstered furniture. The spring assembly provides a frame and a series of different spring types supported in a generally parallel arrangement within the frame. The spring assembly inlcudes a plurality of upper spaced, elongate sinuous springs extending between and above a pair of opposing front and back members. Located in the central region of the assembly is a rectangular quad coil spring mounted on two upper and lower wire stringers. The spring assembly is provided with a pair of Z-shaped sinuous springs, one located on each lateral side of the quad coil. The Z-shaped springs are mounted on lower elongate sinuous springs extending between the front and back members. The upper portions of the Z-shaped sinuous springs and the upper elongated sinuous springs are secured to the upper and lower stringers for stability and to prevent lateral movement of same.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 1991
    Date of Patent: February 23, 1993
    Assignee: Sklar-Peppler Furniture Corporation
    Inventor: Joseph M. Galea
  • Patent number: 5188344
    Abstract: A box spring assembly in which the support springs are designed so as to permit spring location independent of long wire location in the support deck. The mattress support deck is suspended on support springs which are interwoven and self-secured on crosswires so as to eliminate the need of retaining clips in the assembly. The mattress support deck is inhibited in its lateral motion by support springs disposed therein in an interference relation with the long wires of the support deck. So constructed, a manufacturer is enabled to distribute the support springs as required and desired on the frame regardless of the position of the long wires.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 1992
    Date of Patent: February 23, 1993
    Assignee: Hoover Group, Inc.
    Inventor: Upton R. Dabney
  • Patent number: 5184802
    Abstract: An improved wire grid for connecting an array of coil springs in a box spring assembly includes perpendicularly-connected lengthwise-extending and widthwise-extending wires with the widthwise-extending wires arranged in sufficient number of possible groupings, each of three successively adjacent wires, spaced along the length of the grid to enable the grid to accept plural differing arrays of coil springs by utilizing varying combinations of the wire groupings for use of the grid without modification in box spring assemblies having differing spring-supporting base frame constructions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 1990
    Date of Patent: February 9, 1993
    Assignee: Hickory Springs Manufacturing Company
    Inventor: Michael Galumbeck
  • Patent number: 5178372
    Abstract: A spring assembly for bedding and furniture which includes a support frame and a grid unit disposed above and in general vertical alignment with the frame, the grid unit including a border wire and cross wires arranged in a criss-cross pattern on the border wire. A plurality of upright spring modules are arranged in a predetermined pattern on the grid unit and supported on the frame, each of the modules being attached in a clipless manner at the upper end thereof to the grid unit so as to be connected to the unit in a manner such that up and down movement of the grid unit results in up and down compression and expansion of the spring modules. Each of the spring modules being a one-piece wire spring of tapered shape to enable spring modules to be arranged in nested stacks for shipping and storage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 1990
    Date of Patent: January 12, 1993
    Assignee: Hoover Group, Inc.
    Inventors: William C. Rodgers, Arval W. Barnes, Sr.
  • Patent number: 5176367
    Abstract: A spring assembly for bedding and furniture which includes a rectangular support frame and a grid unit disposed above and in general vertical alignment with the frame, the grid unit including a border wire and cross wires arranged in a criss-cross pattern on said border wire. A plurality of upright formed wire springs modules are arranged in a predetermined pattern on the grid unit and supported on said frame. Some of the modules constitute main springs which are attached in a clipless manner at the upper ends thereof to the grid unit so as to be connected to the grid unit in a manner such that loads on the grid unit are yieldably resisted by the main springs. Others of the spring modules are corner springs located at the corners of the frame. The corner springs are similar to the main springs but are secured by conventional clips to the corners of the border wire in the grid unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 1991
    Date of Patent: January 5, 1993
    Assignee: Hoover Group, Inc.
    Inventors: William C. Rodgers, Arval W. Barnes, Sr.
  • Patent number: 5165667
    Abstract: A box spring assembly in which the mattress support deck is supported by crosswires having integral, planar, sinuous end springs to provide improved peripheral support. Intermediate support springs are interwoven on the crosswires thus eliminating the need of retaining clips in assembly. The interweaving of the support springs on the crosswires allows the support springs, crosswires and integral sinuous end springs to act as a single entity. So constructed, the cost of manufacture is lowered and the ease of manufacture is increased.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 1992
    Date of Patent: November 24, 1992
    Assignee: Hoover Group, Inc.
    Inventor: Upton R. Dabney
  • Patent number: 5152509
    Abstract: A box spring assembly includes a base frame, a top wire grid and a plurality of modular wire springs interconnecting the top wire grid and the base frame. The modular wire springs each comprises a unitary wire formed into an inverted U-shaped configuration with the closed end of each U-shaped spring having two edge connector bars and a diagonally extending central connector bar interconnected at its opposite ends to the edge connector bars by attachment segments. The closed end of the modular spring is snap-fit to the top wire grid so each of the edge connector bars supports separate portions of the top wire grid at intersections within the wire grid. The vertical legs of the modular spring include at least three torsion bars and two edge loops of differing radii. The edge loops, because of their differing radii impart differing softness or deflection characteristics to the modular springs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 1990
    Date of Patent: October 6, 1992
    Assignee: Leggett & Platt, Incorporated
    Inventors: Thomas J. Wells, Steven E. Ogle
  • Patent number: 5142716
    Abstract: A bedding foundation unit having a top planar portion defined by two pluralities of spaced parallel grid wires, and a rigid frame spaced apart from the top planar portion by a plurality of modular springs. The modular springs are connected to the top planar portion in a snap-fit manner, each snap-fit end of each modular spring being held in place by three grid wires above and one grid wire below the snap-fit end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 1991
    Date of Patent: September 1, 1992
    Assignee: Leggett & Platt, Incorporated
    Inventors: Steven E. Ogle, Danny L. Wylie
  • Patent number: 5104099
    Abstract: A spring interior comprising a plurality of longitudinally extending bands of springs disposed side by side and connected together by helical lacing wires in the top and bottom faces of the bands. Each band of springs comprises a single length of wire formed into a plurality of substantially vertical coil springs interconnected by interconnecting segments of wire located alternately in the top and bottom faces of the bands. The coil springs of each row are interconnected by interconnecting segments with the adjacent coils of the same row. The interconnecting segments comprise a planar bridging portion which extend generally lengthwise of the row and arcuate end sections which extend generally transversely of the row. The arcuate end sections are planar and connect the coil springs to the bridging portions of the interconnecting segments. The arcuate end sections are of approximately the same radius as the coil springs to which the arcuate end sections are connected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 1990
    Date of Patent: April 14, 1992
    Assignee: Leggett & Platt, Incorporated
    Inventor: Thomas P. Long
  • Patent number: 5080329
    Abstract: A spring loaded locking system for a box spring assembly having a generally rectangular frame, a plurality of spring modules and a grid type wire support deck disposed a predetermined distance above the frame. The locking system provides an interference fit which secures the spring modules to the support deck. Each spring has a pair of outwardly open V-shaped sections integrally formed with the upper portion of the spring. The vertices of the V-shaped sections commonly contact one wire of the support deck. A pair of legs extends from each vertex and straddle the common wire and either cross one of a pair of parallel brace wires of the support deck. The V-shaped sections are biased apart from each other by the shape of the upper portion of the spring module itself. The interaction between the vertices and the common wire, between the legs and the brace wires, and the outward bias of the upper portion of the spring module provides an interference lock fit which secures the support deck to the spring module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 1990
    Date of Patent: January 14, 1992
    Assignee: Hoover Group, Inc.
    Inventor: Upton R. Dabney
  • Patent number: 5054751
    Abstract: A frame for a spring assembly has a plurality of parallel transverse cross rails with mounting slots that form openings through the top portion of the cross rail. Springs are firmly secured to the cross rails by inserting foot portions of the springs into the mounting slots by a simple press fit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 1990
    Date of Patent: October 8, 1991
    Assignee: The Ohio Mattress Company Licensing and Components Group
    Inventor: Daniel E. Brown
  • Patent number: 5005809
    Abstract: A spring element for a foundation unit and a foundation unit employing the spring element. The foundation unit is of the type having a top wire grid structure and a wooden bottom structure, with a plurality of the spring elements being disposed in space relationship between the grid structure and the bottom substructure. The spring elements include spaced support legs extending from a top portion, with the legs converging toward one another. Each leg has a series of spaced support segments, with the support segments lying generally in a single plane and extending oppositely from one another in a zig-zag fashion between the top portion and an attachment segment. Torsion segments are located between adjacent support segments, with the torsion segments extending generally perpendicular to the plane of the support legs. Suitable links are used to interconnect each torsion segment with its adjacent support segments of each support leg.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 1989
    Date of Patent: April 9, 1991
    Assignee: Steadley Company
    Inventor: Lonnie R. Harmon
  • Patent number: 4932535
    Abstract: A limited deflection spring for use in a box spring assembly has a unitary wire body having a foot portion, an upright yieldable portion on the foot portion and a loading bearing portion at the upper end of the upright portion. The upright yieldable portion includes a pair of horizontally spaced upright columns which diverge relative to each other. Each of the upright columns is suspended between the load bearing portion and the foot portion by separate upper and lower torsion bar systems. Each of the torsion bar system includes a pair of generally horizontal torsion bars connected together by a central connecting bar. Suspension of the upright columns between separate torsion bar systems enhances lateral stability and impact load withstand capability of the spring elements. Spring elements having upwardly diverging upright columns may be mixed with elements having downwardly diverging upright columns in a box spring assembly so as to produce an optimum desired loading response in the assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 1989
    Date of Patent: June 12, 1990
    Assignee: Hoover Group, Inc.
    Inventor: Upton R. Dabney
  • Patent number: 4921228
    Abstract: A box spring assembly comprises a horizontal rectangular frame, a generally horizontal mattress support deck disposed a predetermined distance above the frame, and a plurality of deck support springs arranged between the deck and the frame to yieldably support the deck. The deck includes a plurality of long and cross deck wires each having notches. The long and cross deck wires are oriented in a criss-cross fashion engaging each other at the notches, and a plurality of deck support springs having notched deck attaching portions engaged with the notched intersections of the wire members. At least one of the deck attaching portions includes a pair of end straight wire sections arranged in a side-by-side relation with a spaced pair of the deck wire members and arranged in a supporting relation with spaced portion of another one of the deck wire members that intersects the spaced pair interlocking the deck wire members and the straight wire section together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 1988
    Date of Patent: May 1, 1990
    Assignee: Hoover Group, Inc.
    Inventor: Mark A. Lowe
  • Patent number: 4903949
    Abstract: A foundation unit which can be collapsed for compact shipping and which later can be elevated to a fully expanded state. The foundation unit includes a rectangular, grid wire top bearing structure, a rigid bottom substructure, and a series of spaced, parallel rows of support members extending between the top bearing structure and the bottom substructure. The support members are hingedly secured to the top bearing structure and the bottom substructure to permit reduction of the foundation unit to the collapsed state with the elements of the rows of support members lying essential prone. In the elevated state, each of the rows of support members is composed at least in part of a plurality of spring wire segments comprising a pair of generally flat support elements forming a generally V-shaped configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 1989
    Date of Patent: February 27, 1990
    Assignee: Steadley Company
    Inventor: Martin Schulz, Jr.
  • Patent number: 4886250
    Abstract: An adjustable coil seat is provided which utilizes the combination of a plurality of parallel rows of sinuous springs which are connected at opposite ends of the frame, at least one row of tapered conical coil springs in transverse relation to the sinuous springs and positioned in supporting relationship under the sinuous springs at a location between the ends of the sinuous springs, and a rigid cross-support beam structure which supports the bottom end of the tapered coiled springs. The cross support structure may be of adjustable height to vary pretension of the spring mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 1987
    Date of Patent: December 12, 1989
    Assignee: Schweiger Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas H. Lucas
  • Patent number: 4867424
    Abstract: A box spring assembly that comprises a rectangular frame and a mattress support deck above the frame is supported by a plurality of deck support springs arranged between the deck and the frame. Each spring has a deck attaching portion, a yieldable portion, and a foot portion. The yieldable portion of the springs comprises a coil spring portion joining a wire column portion having one or more straight torsion bar portions thereby combining the characteristics of limited deflection columns and for torsion bars with the equalized torsional stresses of a coil spring to provide improved impact withstand capability and improved impact loading response and a soft firmness in a box spring assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 1988
    Date of Patent: September 19, 1989
    Assignee: Hoover Group, Inc.
    Inventor: Upton R. Dabney