Abstract: A system for adjusting the firmness of a substrate configured to support a subject includes a first rod configured to be movable by a mechanism, a second rod parallel to and spaced from the first rod a distance that spans a majority of a dimension of the substrate, and flexible straps extending between the first rod and the second rod and attached to the first rod and the second rod at respective ends of each flexible strap. The mechanism is configured to move the first rod in a first direction to increase tension on the flexible straps and move the first rod in a second direction to decrease tension on the flexible straps. The mechanism can be manually operated by the subject or can be a motor that is controlled by a controller.

Abstract: A bedding foundation has a wire core which may be nestably stacked with numerous other such assemblies for transportation, thereby avoiding the need to compress and tie multiple assemblies for shipping. The wire core which includes an upper wire grid made of four distinct border wires and support wires extending between two opposing border wires. Each support wire has flattened valleys below the plane of the upper wire grid, each flattened valley being adapted to be secured to a wooden base frame. The wire cores, wooden bases and corner guards may be shipped separately.

Abstract: An internal corner structures for mattress foundations that sit at each corner between the frame and the grid. The rigid member contains a base, body and grid support deck. The base member sits atop the foundation frame and contains two flanges that overlap the frame and guide the positioning of the internal corner structure relative to the frame. The body structure supports the grid deck and has a rounded exterior profile to provide a rounded smooth contour to the mattress foundation corners, and has a plurality of square shaped openings that extend in both a vertical and horizontal direction. The grid support deck sits atop the body structure and provides support to the mattress foundation grid, and has engagement clips that engage and position the grid and an edge guard that functions to disperse a load and protect the engagement clips from impact.

Abstract: A corner guard arrangement for a box spring, the corner guard arrangement having first and second members formed of a sheet material and being interlocked together, the interlocking arrangement being such that the first and second members are in sliding engagement to permit adjustment for different height box springs, one end of each of the first and second members being engaged with a perimeter wire on the box spring. The arrangement permits a smooth covering of fabric material on the box spring.

Abstract: A spring element for supporting a seat cushion or mattress includes a base body adapted to be attached to a foundation member. The base body includes a plurality of spring arms. Attached to the base body is a support body which includes at least two support arms. The support body is rotatable relative to the base body about an axis to displace the support arms between a supporting position to limit the deflection of the spring arms, and a non-supporting position to exert no influence on the spring arms. Therefore, the flexibility of the spring element can be adjusted by rotation of the support body.

Abstract: A box spring corner guard is disclosed which protects and reinforces the corner of a box spring. The box spring corner guard consists of a curved body having the shape of a 90 degree section of an imaginary cylinder with a concave inner surface and a convex outer surface. A locator flange extends from the concave inner surface adjacent the bottom end of the curved body. Strengthening ribs run along the length of the curved body to add rigidity. In one embodiment, the curved body also has a limit flange, similar to the locator flange, extending from the concave inner surface adjacent the top end of the curved body. The curved body is attached to the base of the box spring, but the curved body is not attached to the border wire.

Abstract: A box spring corner guard is disclosed which protects and reinforces the corner of a box spring. The box spring corner guard consists of a curved body having the shape of a 90 degree section of an imaginary cylinder with a concave inner surface and a convex outer surface. A locator flange extends from the concave inner surface adjacent the bottom end of the curved body. Strengthening ribs run along the length of the curved body to add rigidity. In one embodiment, the curved body also has a limit flange, similar to the locator flange, extending from the concave inner surface adjacent the top end of the curved body. The curved body is attached to the base of the box spring, but the curved body is not attached to the border wire.

Abstract: A box spring corner guard is disclosed which protects and reinforces the corner of a box spring. The box spring corner guard consists of a curved body having the shape of a 90 degree section of an imaginary cylinder with a concave inner surface and a convex outer surface. A locator flange extends from the concave inner surface adjacent the bottom end of the curved body. Strengthening ribs run along the length of the curved body to add rigidity. In one embodiment, the curved body also has a limit flange, similar to the locator flange, extending from the concave inner surface adjacent the top end of the curved body. The curved body is attached to the base of the box spring, but the curved body is not attached to the border wire.

Abstract: A bedding or furniture spring product comprising a plurality of coil springs arranged in linear rows and columns. Each of the coil springs is preloaded by an endless strip of fabric, the strip of fabric encircling the exterior of one of the coil springs. The interior surface of the strip of fabric may be coated with a non-slip material so as to prevent the strip from falling or moving off the coil spring. Alternatively, the coil spring itself may be coated with a non-slip material. The strip of fabric leaves a portion of the end turns of the coil springs uncovered enabling the coil springs to be secured to a wire grid as for example by being wrapped around or clipped or laced to wires of the grid assembly. Alternatively, traditional hand 8-way tie may be used to connect the precompressed coil springs together and to a frame.

Abstract: A bedding or furniture spring product comprising a plurality of coil springs arranged in linear rows and columns. Each of the coil springs is preloaded by an endless strip of fabric, the strip of fabric encircling the exterior of one of the coil springs. The interior surface of the strip of fabric may be coated with a non-slip material so as to prevent the strip from falling or moving off the coil spring. Alternatively, the coil spring itself may be coated with a non-slip material. The strip of fabric leaves a portion of the end turns of the coil springs uncovered enabling the coil springs to be secured to a wire grid as for example by being wrapped around or clipped or laced to wires of the grid assembly. Alternatively, traditional hand 8-way tie may be used to connect the precompressed coil springs together and to a frame.

Abstract: A furniture seat spring assembly is presented which allows simplicity and economical seating for chairs, sofas or the like. The spring assembly comprises a U-shaped base having an eccentrically positioned coil spring which is covered with an elastic webbing. The eccentric position of the spring allows the user's weight to depress the webbing without "feeling" the coil spring which is positioned near the seat frame front rail. Multiple assemblies are positioned at selected intervals within conventional seat frames, depending on the particular frame size used.

Abstract: An improved innerspring construction such as a mattress or box spring unit which includes improved edge support characteristics. A torsion edge support unit is disclosed which may be placed about the periphery of an innerspring construction with a minimum of interference with more interiorly-positioned coil springs.

Abstract: An improved spring is provided which may be used in cushions, mattresses, or box springs which includes a limiting internal member. This limiting member assist in limiting the longitudinal deflection of the springs. Also provided are snapped-fitting connections between the spring and a grid for use within a box spring. Also provided is a "floating" portion of a peripheral border wire, particularly suitable for use in a pair of box springs beneath a king-size mattress unit. Also provided is a corner guard which provided support for upholstered fabric on a box spring. Finally, an improved borderwireless mattress using a peripheral band is provided, which allows the mattress to bend more easily, without disadvantageous setting of its border wires.

Abstract: A support deck for a sofa bed having a plurality of wires arranged in a grid and being interconnected at grid intersections such that when a force is applied to one side of the deck the deck will yield but when a force is applied to the opposite side the deck will be relatively unyieldable.

Abstract: A mattress foundation includes upper and lower frame sections which are resiliently interconnected and supported by a combination of springs and foam. In different embodiments, the springs comprise coil springs, torsion springs, torsion spring modules or a combination thereof. In one embodiment, the foam comprises an elongate piece of foam which extends peripherally around the foundation and envelops or encases the springs. The foam is slitted in a pattern to receive portions of the springs. Alternatively, the foam comprises discrete foam blocks spaced around the periphery of the foundation and between select pairs of adjacent springs.

Abstract: A mattress construction includes upper and lower structures defining generally parallel planes, and coil springs operatively connected to such structures and located between those lanes, and with at least one of the upper and lower structures including a first tensionable sheet; a member or members extending at the periphery of the mattress and connected with the first tensionable sheet to interact therewith and transmit force for tensioning the tensionable sheet; and a device for adjusting the tension exerted by said member or members. The mattress construction also enables treating of a patient having a spinal condition for which traction is recommended by suspending the patient's body to extend generally horizontally on a "trampoline" grid mattress surface which interacts with the mattress border perimeter structure to create a surface lift and therefore stretch reflex on the patient's body.

Abstract: A spring apparatus has a spring body including a plurality of elastic longitudinal beam members and a coupling beam member for holding the elastic longitudinal beam members at a predetermined interval. The apparatus further has a pair of spring retaining members for supporting the both ends of the spring body, and a rotary member rotatable provided around the central axis of the spring body as a center at least one one spring retaining member. At least one of the elastic longitudinal beam member is provided at one end of the rotary member. This spring apparatus is a tightly wound coil and made of the elastic longitudinal beam members in fully compressed state. When extended, each elastic longitudinal beam member is sequentially spirally deformed at larger pitch from the end. The twisting deformation of the elastic longitudinal beam member is released by rotation of the rotary member.

Abstract: A bedding foundation comprising a lower base frame, an upper wire grid and a plurality of novel spring elements interposed between the base frame and the wire grid. Each of the spring elements comprises two discrete lengths of spring wire, each of which has a center portion and two free end portions. The center portions of the discrete lengths of wire are twisted about one another to form an elongated, vertically oriented center portion of the spring element from which there extend a pair of upper spring arms and a pair of lower spring arms, the spring arms being formed by the free end portions of the two discrete lengths of spring wire.

Abstract: A bedding unit such as a box spring has springs with lower portions mounted on the frame of the unit, upper portions connected to the wire grid of the unit, and midportions which are collapsible to support the grid resiliently on the frame. The upper portion of a corner spring includes a vertically uncompressible loop which contacts the frame when the midportion is collapsed, thereby limiting the deflection of the spring. The loop also prevents the filler material fo the unit from collapsing inwardly. The main springs of the unit have upper portions which have hooks for engaging the grid wires of the unit. These hooks are located at opposite ends of the wire which forms the spring. The upper portions have transverse bars which are connected to the hooks by connecting sections.

Abstract: A bedding unit spring has an upper portion attached to a grid, a lower portion attached to a frame, and a vertically collapsible midportion which connects the upper portion to the lower portion. The upper portion of a spring may have two transverse bars at its ends, a third transverse bar at its center, and a center bar formed of two sections which are on opposite sides of the third transverse bar. The center bar sections are directed toward the midportions of the end transverse bars. A deflection limiter member is attached to the spring to limit the collapsing movement of the spring and to increase the effective stiffness of the spring. It is formed of a wire which has an abutment portion and two connector bar portions. The connector bar portions extend at different inclination angles from the abutment portion to the spring.

Abstract: An innerspring mattress comprising a plurality of wire or flat spiral springs which have securement ends secured to the mattress frame and support ends supporting an elastic material surface on which the springs are designed and positioned such that a respective work axis of spring force of the springs describe an angle relative to a perpendicular of the frame, said angle being greater than 0.degree..

Abstract: A box spring is condensed along its depth dimension and then packaged in this depressed state for storage and/or transportation. At its point of use, the box spring is unpackaged and expanded along its depth dimension for use. Within the box spring are a plurality of support springs movable from retracted, unstressed positions enabling the aforementioned compaction of the box spring, to extended positions which provide the resilient support of the box spring when placed into use. In the preferred form of the invention, the springs are made from spring wire or similar material formed into a sinusoidal shape including generally coplanar wavy or sine portions. The springs are mounted such that movement of the upper support surface of the box spring relative to the base will cause the springs to move into their extended or erect positions to provide resilient support for use of the box spring or to enable the box spring to be depressed into a compact mass for storage or shipment.

Abstract: A bedding unit utilizes formed wire springs for supporting a wire grid on a frame. A spring has an upper portion which has two transverse bars, a longitudinal center bar located between and spaced from the transverse bars, and connecting sections which connect the opposite ends of the center bar to the ends of the transverse bars. Under compression, the upper portion of the spring or a grid wire attached thereto contacts a torsion bar in the spring. Some embodiments have a continuous and uninterrupted lower portion and an upper portion with two sections which terminate in the ends of the spring wire.

Abstract: A boxspring is provided with stop members for limiting the amount the springs therein can be compressed. The stop members may be light weight hollow cylindrical members fitted within or about a selected number of springs. Supporting braces having a height sufficient to prevent overstressing of the springs when compressed may also be employed. The braces also have the advantage of providing additional stiffness to the boxspring frame. Areas of the boxspring most vulnerable to damage are protected by selective positioning of the stop members.

Abstract: An internal support structure for a mattress which has a plurality of springs oriented in matrix fashion into a plurality of rows and columns, at least one outer border wire extending around the periphery of the matrix and secured to the springs located at the border or terminal rows and columns of the matrix, layers of padding or cushioning material and a fabric cover. The internal support unit comprises an inner border wire structure which is connected to the outer border wire of the mattress and to at least some of said springs. The inner border wire includes four separate wire band sections which overlap one another in a grid pattern and form a closed inner border loop. The ends of each band section are connected to the outer border wire. The inner border wire and outer border wire are concentric and located in the same horizontal plane.

Abstract: A reinforcing structure for the corners of innerspring assemblies comprising spaced parallel parts disposed diagonally across the top and bottom sides of the innerspring assembly, spring members at the opposite ends of the spaced parallel parts disposed between the top and bottom sides which yieldably resist displacement of the top and bottom sides relative to each other and clips fixing the structures to the top and bottom sides of the assembly. The spring members are torsion springs comprising a coil and angularly disposed arms and these are disposed with the arms situated in the planes of the sides and ends of the assembly. Optionally, the top and bottom parts are longitudinallly adjusted to vary the distance between the spring members.

Abstract: Disclosed is a mattress comprising a flat-constructed spring assembly, a pair of elastic material sheets which are attached to upper and lower faces of said spring assembly and whose peripheral edge portions are so extended as to form a space at a side peripheral portion of said spring assembly and opposed to each other at their respective tip ends, and a side-elastic material member formed in said space by subjecting a foamable plastic to foaming-in-place, and a covering means for covering an elastic body consisting of said spring assembly, said elastic material sheets and said side-elastic material member, whereby to eliminate a feeling of physical disorder during the use of the mattress and to prevent a mattress body from being subject to lateral swing or rocking motion.