Beds – Bedsteads – Having bottom
Reexamination Certificate
2000-01-28
2001-08-14
Browne, Lynne H. (Department: 3628)
Beds
Bedsteads
Having bottom
C005S252000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06272700
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to bedding or seating products and more particularly to a bedding or seating product having an interior containing a dual layer of springs.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Traditional box springs have been made which comprise a generally rectangular wooden base including a pair of end rails and a pair of side rails and a plurality of intermediate rails extending from one side rail to the other side rail. A plurality of spaced coil springs arranged in a matrix are supported by the end rails and intermediate rails of the box spring frame. The lower end turns of each of the coil springs are stapled or otherwise secured to the wooden rails of the box spring frame. At the other end of each of the coil springs the upper end turns of the coil springs are secured to a wire grid comprising a plurality of intersecting wires arranged in a crisscrossing pattern. A generally rectangular upper border wire extends around the periphery of the grid. The box spring frame, coil springs and upper grid are encased in an upholstered covering in order to complete the box spring. Such a box spring has uniform characteristics throughout due to the uniform nature of the spring matrix. Other types of bedding or seating products have been made in the same manner.
Bedding or seating products including box springs have also been made with modular springs or other configurations of springs different than conventional coil springs. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,068,329 discloses a plurality of modular springs supported by a box spring frame. A conventional wire grid is attached to the tops of the modular springs. Additionally, U.S. Pat. No. 5,231,712 discloses a box spring having a plurality of sinuous-shaped springs supported by the frame members and an upper grid attached to the upper ends of the sinuous springs.
Additionally, bedding or seating products including box spring assemblies have been constructed with a plurality of wooden slats or members in the interior thereof. U.S. Pat. Nos. 414,390; 270,799 and 2,853,721 all disclose mattresses which include a plurality of solid members extending either lengthwise or widthwise inside the interior of the mattress. These solid members are either wooden or metallic and are located between adjacent convolutions of a row or column of coil springs. However, none of these patents discloses a box spring with a plurality of parallel wooden members located inside the interior of the box spring, a layer of springs underneath the wooden members and a separate layer of springs above the wooden members, thus dividing the box spring into separate layers.
Therefore, it has been one objective of the present invention to provide a bedding or seating product having multiple layers separated by a series of wooden interior slats.
It has been a further objective of the present invention to provide a bedding or seating product such as a box spring having two distinct layers with different firmness characteristics due to the nature of the springs comprising the different layers.
It has been a further objective of the present invention to provide a bedding or seating product such as a box spring having a peripheral edge of a different firmness to that of the interior of the product due to the nature of the springs and their location inside the product.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The invention of this application which accomplishes these objectives comprises a bedding or seating product having a base comprising a pair of end rails, a pair of side rails and a plurality of intermediate rails. The intermediate rails may extend parallel the side rails, parallel the end rails or both, depending upon the size of the product and the desired application. The rails of the base are preferably wooden, but may be made of other materials.
A plurality of intermediate slats are spaced above the intermediate rails of the base. The intermediate slats are preferably wooden but may be metallic or any other material. A plurality of spacers extend between the intermediate slats and the intermediate rails of the box spring. Each of the spacers is secured to one of the intermediate slats and one of the intermediate rails of the base, thus spacing the intermediate slat directly above the intermediate rail of the base. In one preferred embodiment of the present invention, the spacers are a plurality of sinuous springs extending between the intermediate slats and corresponding intermediate rails of the base. However, the spacers may be other configurations of springs, or alternatively, blocks of foam or any other material.
A plurality of first modular springs are secured to the base around the periphery thereof. These first modular springs are all of approximately the same fixed height, which will be referred to as a first height for purposes of this application. In one preferred embodiment of the present invention, these peripheral modular springs extend upwardly from opposed end rails of the base and are spaced from one another. In this embodiment, each transversely extending internal row of springs between the end rails of the base has at least one first modular spring at each end thereof. These endmost first modular springs are supported by the intermediate rails of the base and extend upwardly therefrom.
Alternatively, rows of first modular springs may extend along the lengths of the opposed side rails of the base, spaced from one another. In this embodiment the internal rails of the base extend longitudinally, each supporting a row of springs. At the end of each row is at least one first modular spring.
A plurality of second modular springs are secured to the intermediate slats and extend upwardly therefrom. Each of these second modular springs is of a fixed second height, has a generally planar upper portion and is secured to one of the intermediate slats. The second height is preferably less than the first height (the height of the first modular springs). When secured to the intermediate slats, the upper portions of each of the second modular springs are generally coplanar with the upper portions of the first modular springs. Thus a generally planar grid may be secured to the upper portions of both sets of modular springs.
A wire grid comprising a plurality of intersecting wires is secured to the upper portions of all of the modular springs of the bedding or seating product. A border wire extends around the periphery of the wire grid. Alternatively, a plastic grid or any other type of structure may be secured to the upper portions of modular springs.
An upholstered covering surrounds the intermediate slats, the base, the spacers, the modular springs and the grid, encompassing the entire interior of the product. Thus, the bedding or seating product of the present invention has an interior divided into two layers by the intermediate slats. The upper layer comprises a plurality of second modular springs and the lower level comprises a series of spacers which are sinuous springs in one embodiment but may be numerous other items including coil or modular springs. In addition, the periphery of the product comprises a plurality of modular springs. Thus, depending on the firmness characteristics of the modular springs of the upper layer and the spacers of the lower layer, different firmness characteristics may be imparted to the bedding or seating product. These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will be more readily apparent from the following drawings.
REFERENCES:
patent: 198546 (1877-12-01), Lombart
patent: 208077 (1878-09-01), Davis
patent: 215981 (1879-05-01), Segar
patent: 270799 (1883-01-01), Hiams
patent: 414390 (1889-11-01), Farrell
patent: 2853721 (1958-09-01), Koenigsberg
patent: 4068329 (1978-01-01), Gross et al.
patent: 4100631 (1978-07-01), Slone
patent: 5231712 (1993-08-01), Edwards et al.
Browne Lynne H.
Conley Fredrick
L&P Property Management Company
Wood Herron & Evans LLP
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