US2725580A - Resilient surfaces for furniture - Google Patents

Description

Dec. 6, 1955 M. HELLER RESILIENT SURFACES FOR FURNITURE Filed Dec. 7, 1951 INVENTOR:

United States Patent RESILIENT SURFACES FOR. FURNITURE Maximilian Heller, London, England Application December 7, 1951, Serial No. 269,426

3 Claims. (Cl; 5-1 85) This invention relates to resilient surfaces in conjunction with support frames for chairs, couches, settees, spring mattresses, vehicle seats or the: like (hereinafter referred to as furniture or the like); and has: for its object the provision of a simple and highly effective resilient structure.

According to the present invention the resilient surface for furniture or the like comprises in combination a rigid frame wherein a cushion support in the form of a cross extends partially or wholly over said frame both laterally and longitudinally thereof said cushion support being held suspended by a number of oppositely arranged tensioned tensile springs extending directly from the cushion support to the four corners of a rectangular area on said frame, there being a plurality of such springs at each said corner radiating divergently therefrom towards the cushion support, the whole construction being such that the resilient surface constituted by the cushion support and the suspension springs extends across a large area so as to form a coherent unit, the latter being characterised in that a great degree of resilient supporting strength is ensured throughout the whole length and width of the cushion support.

In my prior patent No. 2,248,913, dated July 8, 1941, it has been proposed to provide frames with resilient structures comprising crosswise-arranged strips or the like and tension springs, said structures being held above the base batons of said frames so as to form raised resilient edges. Whilst the teachings of the aforementioned patent are sound, there is the disadvantage that the greater part of this structure, more especially the portion extending into the inner area, does not provide sufficient support and thus this structure may be liable to excessive sagging on application of pressure. Moreover the structure according to the specification referred to has some gaps and so does not afford a wholly satisfactory surface and its application has only a limited scope by comparison with the present invention.

The disadvantages inherent in my Patent 2,248,913 have been eliminated in this present invention which further comprises various other features and forms of construction which will appear from the following description made with reference to the accompanying drawing which illustrates the invention by way of example and in which:

Fig. 1 shows in diagrammatic plan View two adjoining resilient units having a common longitudinal member.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a bed inset fitted with two units according to the invention.

Referring to the drawing, in which like reference numerals denote like parts, Fig. 1 shows two adjoining units having one common longitudinally disposed cushion support member a and two laterally-extending support members b.

The member a and members 11, which together form the cushion support, are suspended by oppositely-arranged and tensioned bearer springs c the inner ends of which are anchored at the cushion support forming a cross, and

2,725,580 Patented Dec. 6-, 1955 the outer ends of springs c aresecured to the four corners of a. rectangular area on a frame (not shown). The

support members a and b may extend over the whole length and width of a large frame area and may consist of wood, metal, steel, plasticcomposition, fabric, or the like, whilst the springs c radiating from each corner are arranged in comparatively close relationship and secured to the members a and b in such a manner that the latter together with said springs c constitute a coherent structure providing a great degree of resilient supporting strength throughout said cushion support.

In order to provide an even more compact surface structure with smaller gaps, the individual bearer springs 0 may be composed of a number of component springs joined together end-to-end or by intermediary linking means such as rings, discs or hooks, the latter serving for holding in position panel-filling. elements d consisting of bands, springs, ropes or the like.

The resilient surfaces may bearranged lower than or in a common plane with the top edge of its surrounding supporting frame and, if desired, said surface may be raised relative to the substructure of said frame.

Fig. 2 illustrates a bed inset comprising a supporting frame a on which are mounted two separate units in accordance with the invention; said units may be interconnected by linking means consisting of springs, bands, ropes or the like. Some or all the outer ends of springs c radiating divergently from each of the four corners may be secured to attachment members g shown by way of example or said ends may be secured directly to the frame. In cases of adjacent units the outer ends of springs c appertaining to two units may be anchored at a common attachment member as indicated in Fig. 1. The cushion-supporting members a and b may be shorter in length and width than their supporting frame and may be arranged to freely intersect each other. Alternatively said members a and b may be fastened together or be formed in one piece.

The bearer springs are preferably distributed so as to ensure an even resilient support throughout the resilient surface, or if required some of said bearer springs may be made of heavier gauge or more tensioned than others in order to obtain greater strength at one or several parts of the resilient surface, e. g. at the points farthest removed from the outer anchorages of the springs c or at the portion of a resilient surface which ordinarily takes up most of the Weight on occupation.

Resilient surfaces in accordance with the present invention may be employed in seats and backs of furniture or the like and may be provided with fixed or detachable upholstery or loose cushions, mattresses or the like.

I claim:

1. In an article of furniture, the combination of a rigid substantially rectangular frame having two longer sides and two shorter sides, two attachment fixtures secured one at the middle of each of said longer sides of said frame, a plurality of tensioned tensile springs of which some have their outer ends connected to corner portions of said frame and some have their outer ends connected to said attachment fixtures, and two cushion supports within said frame, the inner ends of all of said springs being connected to said cushion supports, each of said cushion supports being of the shape of a cross, each of said springs extending directly between said frame and one of said cushion supports, and there being at least four of said springs radiating divergently from each corner portion of said frame and at least four of said springs radiating divergently from each of said attachment fixtures to each of said cushion supports, whereby said cushion supports are strongly resiliently supported throughout their whole length and width.

2. In an article of furniture, the combination of a rigid substantially rectangular frame, at each of the four corners of a substantially rectangular area within said frame at least four tensioned tensile springs connected by their outer ends to said frame and radiating divergently into said area, and a cushion support in the form of a cross within said area extending over substantially the full length and width of said area, the inner end of each of said springs being secured to said cushion support and each of said springs extending directly between said frame and said cushion support, whereby said springs substantially fill the four spaces between said frame and said cushion support, and said cushion support is strongly resiliently supported throughout its length and width.

3. In an article of furniture, the combination of a rigid substantially rectangular frame having two longer sides and two shorter sides, two attachment fixtures secured one at the middle of each of said longer sides of said frame, a plurality of tensioned tensile springs of which some have their outer ends connected to corner portions of said frame and some have their outer ends connected to said attachment fixtures, and a plurality of cushion support elements within said' frame, the inner ends of all said springs being connected to said cushion support elements, said cushion support elements being of elongated form and crossing one another to form at least one cross, each of said springs extending directly between said frame and one of said-cushion support elements, and there being at least four of said springs radiating divergently from each corner portion of said frame and at least four of said springs radiating divergently from each of said attachment fixtures to said cushion support elements, whereby said cushion support elements are strongly resiliently supported throughout their whole length and width.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 969,963 Laa Sept. 13, 1910 2,248,913 Heller July 8, 1941 2,574,871 Heller Nov. 13, 1951 FOREIGN PATENTS 518,060 Great Britain Feb. 15, 1940 525,693 Great Britain Sept. 3, 1940 812,040 France Jan. 27, 1927

Images