Mattress spring unit construction

Claim 2

A retention and support strip for attachment to a mattress innerspring unit with cross helicals which extend transversely of the unit and lace together terminal convolutions of adjacent coil springs in the rows, to reduce spin-out of the cross helicals and increase firmness of the innerspring unit comprising: a strip including leg members for extending about the cross helicals of the innerspring unit and for being crimped together with the cross helicals about the terminal convolutions of adjacent coil springs in a row when said strip overlies the terminal convolutions of the coil springs in a row.

Claim 3

The retention and support strip of claim 1 wherein the leg members have a width at least equal to the length of two convolutions of a cross helical.

Claim 4

The retention and support strip of claim 1 wherein said strip is formed from a single length of material and said leg members are cut out along three sides from said length.

Claim 5

The retention and support strip of claim 3 wherein said legs have tapered ends.

Claim 6

The retention and support strip of claim 4 wherein the strip is formed of metal.

Claim 7

The retention and support strip of claim 4 wherein the strip is formed of plastic.

Claim 8

The retention and support strip of claim 5 wherein the strip is formed of steel strapping and is about 3/4 of an inch wide and about 0.028 of an inch thick.

Claim 9

In a generally rectangular mattress innerspring unit, a spring structure comprising: a. a plurality of coil springs arranged in side by side relation in a plurality of parallel rows, said coil springs including opposed terminal convolutions; b. said terminal convolutions of said springs adapted to substantially abut adjacent terminal convolutions of adjacent springs in the rows; c. a plurality of cross helicals extending transversely of said rows and coiling about pairs of substantially abutting adjacent terminal convolutions so that adjacent springs are interconnected; d. at least one retention and support strip extending along at least one row of the unit overlying a plurality of terminal convolutions of the coil springs in said row, said strip having a plurality of leg members along its length which partially surround the circumference of said cross helicals; and e. said legs and said cross helicals being deformed so that said cross helicals frictionally engage said pairs of adjacent terminal convolutions in said rows of springs and said legs frictionally engage said cross helicals wherein said strip firms the surrounding area of the unit and substantially prevents cross helical spin-out.

Claim 10

In a generally rectangular mattress innerspring unit, a spring structure comprising: a. a plurality of coil springs arranged in side by side relation in a plurality of parallel rows, said coil springs including opposed terminal convolutions; b. said terminal convolutions of said springs adapted to substantially abut adjacent terminal convolutions of adjacent springs in the rows; c. a plurality of cross helicals extending transversely of said rows and coiling about pairs of substantially abutting adjacent terminal convolutions so that adjacent springs are interconnected; d. at least one retention and support strip extending along at least one row of the unit overlying a plurality of terminal convolutions of the coil springs in said row, said strip having a plurality of leg members along its length which partially surround the circumference of said cross helicals; and e. said legs and said cross helicals being deformed so that said cross helicals frictionally engage said pairs of adjacent terminal convolutions in said rows of springs and said legs frictionally engage said cross helicals wherein said strip firms the surrounding area of the unit and substantially prevents cross helical spin-out.

Claim 11

The innerspring unit of claim 8 wherein the retention and support strips extend along both the upper and lower terminal convolutions of springs in a row, and are unsecured to any portion of the unit at their ends.

Claim 12

The second spring unit of claim 9 wherein the strips extend along the second row of springs adjacent to the longitudinal side border of the unit.

Claim 13

The spring unit of claim 8 wherein the substantially abutting portions of the terminal convolutions are U-shaped offsets.

Claim 14

The spring unit of claim 11 wherein said adjacent offsets overlap.

Claim 15

The innerspring unit of claim 8 wherein said retention and support strips are elongated pieces of material selected from the group consisting of metal and plastic in which said leg members are cut from said strip along three sides.

Claim 16

The innerspring unit of claim 8 wherein said strip is formed wire.

Claim 17

The innerspring unit of claim 13 wherein said strip is flexible plastic.

Claim 18

The innerspring unit of claim 15 wherein said strip is deformed both by compression and heat.

Claim 19

The innerspring unit of claim 8 wherein the width of the retention and support strip is at least 1/4 the diameter of the terminal convolutions of the coil springs.

Claim 20

The innerspring unit of claim 13 wherein the strip is formed of steel strapping and is about 3/4 of an inch wide and about 0.028 of an inch thick.

Claim 21

The innerspring unit of claim 13 where the strip is further secured to the unit by a pin which overlies the strip and extends transversely thereof about which the end of the leg is wrapped.

Claim 22

The innerspring unit of claim 8 wherein said leg members frictionally engage said cross helicals about at least two convolutions of each of said cross helicals.

Claim 23

The innerspring unit of claim 8 only wherein four strips are present and the strips extend along the second rows of springs adjacent to the longitudinal side border of the unit along both the upper and lower terminal convolutions of said springs in said second rows.

Claim 24

In a generally rectangular mattress innerspring unit, a spring structure comprising: a. a plurality of coil springs arranged in side by side relation in a plurality of parallel rows, said coil springs including opposed terminal convolutions; b. said terminal convolutions of said springs adapted to substantially abut adjacent terminal convolutions of adjacent springs in the rows; c. a plurality of cross helicals extending transversely of said rows and coiling about pairs of substantially abutting adjacent terminal convolutions so that adjacent springs are interconnected; d. at least one retention and support strip extending along at least one row of the unit overlying a plurality of terminal convolutions of the coil springs in said row, said strip having a plurality of leg members along its length which partially surround the circumference of said cross helicals and a plurality of openings through which the ends of the legs extend; e. said legs and said cross helicals being deformed so that said cross helicals frictionally engage said pairs of adjacent terminal convolutions in said rows of springs and said legs frictionally engage said cross helicals; and said strip being further secured to the unit by at least one pin which overlies the strip and extend transversely thereof, the leg of the strip being at least partially wrapped about said pin.

Claim 25

In a generally rectangular mattress innerspring unit, a spring structure comprising: a. a plurality of coil springs arranged in side by side relation in a plurality of parallel rows, said coil springs including opposed terminal convolutions; b. said terminal convolutions of said springs adapted to substantially abut adjacent terminal convolutions of adjacent springs in the rows; c. a plurality of cross helicals extending transversely of said rows and coiling about pairs of substantially abutting adjacent terminal convolutions so that adjacent springs are interconnected; d. at least one retention and support strip extending along at least one row of the unit overlying a plurality of terminal convolutions of the coil springs in said row, said strip having a plurality of leg members along its length which partially surround the circumference of said cross helicals and a plurality of openings through which the ends of the legs extend; e. said legs and said cross helicals being deformed so that said cross helicals frictionally engage said pairs of adjacent terminal convolutions in said rows of springs and said legs frictionally engage said cross helicals; and said strip being further secured to the unit by at least one pin which overlies the strip and extend transversely thereof, the leg of the strip being at least partially wrapped about said pin.

Claim 26

The innerspring unit of claim 22 wherein the retention and support strips extend along both the upper and lower terminal convolutions of springs in a row.

Claim 27

The innerspring unit of claim 23 wherein the strips extend along the second row of springs adjacent to the longitudinal side border of the unit.

Claim 28

The innerspring unit of claim 24 wherein the substantially abutting portions of the terminal convolutions are U-shaped offsets.

Claim 29

The innerspring unit of claim 25 wherein said adjacent offsets overlap.

Claim 30

The innerspring unit of claim 26 wherein said retention and support strips are elongated pieces of material selected from the group consisting of metal and plastic in which said leg members are cut from said strip along three sides.

Claim 31

The innerspring unit of claim 27 wherein said strip is flexible plastic.

Claim 32

The innerspring unit of claim 28 wherein said strip is deformed both by compression and heat.

Claim 33

The innerspring unit of claim 29 wherein the width of the retention and support strip is at least 1/4 the diameter of the terminal convolutions of the coil springs.

Claim 34

The innerspring unit of claim 30 wherein the strip is formed of steel strapping and is about 3/4 of an inch wide and about 0.028 of an inch thick.

Claim 35

In a generally rectangular mattress innerspring unit, a spring structure comprising: a. a plurality of coil springs arranged in side by side relation in a plurality of parallel rows, said coil springs including opposed terminal convolutions; b. said terminal convolutions of said springs adapted to substantially abut adjacent terminal convolutions of adjacent springs in the rows; c. a plurality of cross helicals extending transversely of said rows and coiling about pairs of substantially abutting adjacent terminal convolutions so that adjacent springs are interconnected; d. at least one retention and support strip extending along at least one row of the unit overlying a plurality of terminal convolutions of the coil springs in said row, said strip having a plurality of leg members along its length which partially surround the abutting adjacent terminal convolutions; and e. at least one cross helical lacing together said adjacent terminal convolutions and a portion of the retention and support strip adjacent said terminal convolutions and said strip and cross helicals being deformed to frictionally engage said adjacent terminal convolutions.

Claim 36

In a generally rectangular mattress innerspring unit, a spring structure comprising: a. a plurality of coil springs arranged in side by side relation in a plurality of parallel rows, said coil springs including opposed terminal convolutions; b. said terminal convolutions of said springs adapted to substantially abut adjacent terminal convolutions of adjacent springs in the rows; c. a plurality of cross helicals extending transversely of said rows and coiling about pairs of substantially abutting adjacent terminal convolutions so that adjacent springs are interconnected; d. at least one retention and support strip extending along at least one row of the unit overlying a plurality of terminal convolutions of the coil springs in said row, said strip having a plurality of leg members along its length which partially surround the abutting adjacent terminal convolutions; and e. at least one cross helical lacing together said adjacent terminal convolutions and a portion of the retention and support strip adjacent said terminal convolutions and said strip and cross helicals being deformed to frictionally engage said adjacent terminal convolutions.

Claim 37

The innerspring unit of claim 32 wherein the retention and support strips extend along both the upper and lower terminal convolutions of springs in a row.

Claim 38

The innerspring unit of claim 33 wherein the strips extend along the second row of springs adjacent to the longitudinal side border of the unit.

Claim 39

The innerspring unit of claim 34 wherein the sustantially abutting portions of the terminal convolutions are U-shaped offsets.

Claim 40

The innerspring unit of claim 35 wherein said adjacent offsets overlap.

Claim 41

The innerspring unit of claim 36 wherein said retention and support strips are elongated pieces of material selected from the group consisting of metal and plastic in which said leg members are cut from said strip along three sides.