Metal working – Method of mechanical manufacture – Spring making
Reexamination Certificate
2000-06-01
2001-07-24
Barfield, Anthony D. (Department: 3636)
Metal working
Method of mechanical manufacture
Spring making
C029S450000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06263573
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to furniture products, and more particularly to seating products and the like which employ sinuous springs rather than the traditional coil springs to form the interior core of the product.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Seating products or the like which employ sinuous springs are known. Usually the seating product is divided into a back section which supports the back of a person sitting on the product and a seat section upon which the user sits. Either section may comprise a generally rectangular wooden frame made up of four orthogonal rails, typically made of wood, and a plurality of sinuous springs extending between a pair of opposed rails of the frame. In order to secure the sinuous springs to the opposed rails of the frame, generally clips are secured to the top surfaces of the opposed rails at spaced intervals in order to space the parallel sinuous springs. The endmost segments or portions of the sinuous springs are inserted into the clips in order to secure the sinuous springs to the opposed rails of the frame. Due to the inherent stiffness of the sinuous springs, the sinuous springs are commonly arched or domed so as to provide a softer, more comfortable “feel” for the user. Even with arched or arcuate sinuous springs, if the sinuous springs are secured directly to the frame by metal clips or other conventional securements, the seating product generally has a relatively “hard,” less-than-desirable seating surface because of the firmness of the sinuous springs.
In order to increase the softness or give of either the back or seat section of a seating product employing sinuous springs, several different types of connectors connecting the endmost segments of the sinuous springs to the frame have been employed. U.S. Pat. No. 4,157,173 discloses rail connectors in the form of torsion springs connecting the endmost segments of the sinuous springs to clips secured to the rails of the seating product. Similarly, U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,210,064 and 3,311,366 disclose coiled springs extending between and secured to the endmost segments of the sinuous springs and the clips secured to the frame in order to increase the resiliency of the sinuous springs. When any of these types of connectors are used to secure the endmost segments of the sinuous springs to the frame, the endmost segments of the sinuous springs may be moved inwardly from the opposed rails of the frame, thus increasing the resiliency or softness of product.
The use of clips to secure the sinuous springs or connecting elements to the frame often requires that the frame be made of a relatively hard wood product such as oak or maple, because the clips must be nailed or stapled in place securely in order to support the load placed on the sinuous springs. Such hardwood frames present a drawback to the manufacture of sinuous wire seating products because of the expense of the hardwood material from which the frame must be made.
An additional drawback to using clips to secure the endmost segments of the sinuous springs to the frame is that often the interaction between the endmost segments of the sinuous springs and the clips creates unwanted noise due to the movement of the endmost segments of the sinuous springs inside the clips secured to the frame.
Another type of seating or furniture product uses a plurality of webbing strips rather than sinuous springs extending between opposed rails of the frame in order provide the supporting surface of the product. Such a construction is most commonly used on outdoor seating furniture. This type of construction does not provide a comfortable seating or back surface for the user, primarily because the webbing lacks sufficient resiliency or give once a load is placed on the webbing.
Regardless of whether a seating product employs arched sinuous springs or lengths of webbing to make the body of the product, the resiliency of the product is generally uniform or symmetrical. Oftentimes, it is desirable to increase the firmness of a particular portion of a seating product. For example, in the back section of a seating product, an increased firmness in the lower portion of the back section may be desirable in order to provide lumbar or lower back support.
Therefore, it has been one objective of the present invention to provide a seating product which does not employ clips in order to secure the endmost segments of arched sinuous wire springs to the frame of the seating product.
It has further been an objective of the present invention to provide a seating product which does not require the use of hardwoods for the frame of the seating product.
It has been a further objective of the present invention to provide a seating product in which sinuous wire springs may be secured to lengths of webbing in different locations in order to provide lower back or lumbar support for the user of the seating product.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The seating product of the present invention comprises a frame having a front rail, a rear rail and a pair of opposed side rails. The frame is commonly made of wood, but may be made of any other type of material including fiberboard or plywood. A plurality of sinuous spring assemblies are secured to a pair of opposed rails of the frame with fasteners. Padding covers the top surface of the sinuous spring assemblies, and an upholstered covering encases the frame, the padding and the sinuous spring assemblies.
Each of the sinuous spring assemblies comprises a length of webbing intertwined with a sinuous spring. The sinuous spring has a plurality of spaced linear segments joined by arcuate connecting segments. The length of webbing passes over and under spaced linear segments of the sinuous spring. The endmost segments of the sinuous spring may be secured to the length of webbing in any number of ways including inserting the endmost segments of the sinuous springs in loops integrally formed in the length of webbing. Depending on the location of the loops relative to the length of webbing, the sinuous spring may be secured at any number of locations on the length of webbing.
Each length of webbing has two opposed end portions which are not intertwined with the sinuous spring and which extend beyond the ends of sinuous spring. These end portions of the length of webbing may be the same length or of differing lengths. These end portions of the length of webbing pass over the top surface of the frame and are stapled or otherwise secured to the frame with fasteners.
The sinuous springs may be of any length and may be secured at differing locations on the length of webbing. In a back section of a seating product the sinuous springs may be secured toward the lower portions of the lengths of webbing in order to create an arcuate or curved lumbar or lower back support. In the same manner, either the seat or back section of a seating product may be customized for a particular use or for a particular individual.
These objects and advantages will be more apparent from the following description of the drawings.
REFERENCES:
patent: 2234253 (1941-03-01), Hopkes
patent: 3039763 (1962-06-01), Staples et al.
patent: 3170220 (1996-11-01), Doerer
patent: 3170221 (1965-02-01), Doerer
patent: 3210064 (1965-10-01), Crosby
patent: 3311366 (1967-03-01), Crosby
patent: 3527499 (1970-09-01), Rathbun et al.
patent: 4157172 (1979-06-01), Crosby
patent: 4458943 (1984-07-01), Krakauer
patent: 5570874 (1996-11-01), Tornero
Barfield Anthony D.
L&P Property Management Company
Wood Herron & Evans LLP
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