GB2212392A - Furniture and method of upholstering same - Google Patents

Abstract

In an upholstered chair comprising a spring unit (14, 15, 16), a rail (21) is linked to the spring unit to lie along the front of that unit and the upholstery is attached to the rail. The rail undergoes movement relative to the chair frame when the springs are compressed and are allowed to expand. The rail (21) may be connected with the springs at the front of the spring unit by a linkage incorporating pivoted links (22) and may be connected to further parts of the spring unit by ties 23, 24. A plurality of ties may connect the rail with upholstery above the spring unit. <IMAGE>

Description

Title: "Furniture and method of upholsteriina same" Description of Invention The present invention relates to uoholstered furniture which incorporates a frame, an array of springs mounted in the frame and a fabric cover coverina at least the arrav of sprinqs. Isually, an insulator is interoosed between the sorinas of the arrav and the cover to overlie the sprinas and support a aenerallv horizontal oart of the cover. The insulator is a resiliently flexible sheet which has a stiffness considerably areater than that of the fabric cover. The invention has been Hevised primarily in connection with upholstered seats.

According to a first asoect of the invent;on. there is provided a Diece of uoholstered furniture which incorporates a frame, an arrav of sDrings mounted in the frame, a fahric cover coverina at least the springs and a rail disposed at a lateral marain of the arrav of sDrinas with the length of the rail extending alona that marain, wherein the rail is connected with the springs of the arrav to underqo movement relative to the frame when the sorinas are compressed and are allowed to expand and wherein the cover is connected with the rail.

connection of the cover with the rail enables the rail to control the position of a portion of the cover. This improves the appearance of the furniture. part;cularly when the springs are compressed. and enhances the stahility of the upholstery in the reaion of the lateral marain of the arrav of sprinas.

The connection between the rail and the springs of the arrav is preferably indirect. There may be provided a linkage 'which links the rail to one or more sprinas of the array.

The linkage mav include one or more pivoted links. The or each link may be substantially rigid and subjected to a compressive load or to a bending load when the piece of furniture is in use.

The connection between the rail and the sprinas may further comprise one or more ties which is subjected to tension hen the piece of furniture 5 'n use. The or each tie may be substantally inextensible.

According to a second aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of uphoistering a piece of furniture comprisinq a frame and an array of springs mounted in the frame, wherein a raii is inked with sprints of the array to iie at one margin of the array with the length of the rail extending along that margin, a portion of a cover is attached to the rail and a further portion of the cover is then moved past the rail and is secured to the frame so that the rail is conceaied by the cover.

Examples of furniture embodyina the invention will now he described, with reference the accompanying drawings, wherein: FIGURE I shows diagrammatically a perspective view of a frame and a spring unit of a choir, prior to upholstering of the chair; FIGURE 2 shows a partiai cross-section in a vertical plane of the completed chair: Fl(3tJRE 3 iiiustrates a part of a linkage connections a rail with a spring, as viewed from above; and FIG iRE 4 iliustrates a modification of the chair of Figures 1 to 3.

The chair illustrated in Figures 1, 2 and 3 of the drawing comprises a frame 10 which may be formed of timber and which includes a back 11, a pair of arms 12 and a base 13. Such frames are well known and it will be understood that the particular configuration of frame illustrated is mereiy one representative exampie of many frames which may be employed.

The chair further comprises an array of coiied compression springs 14.

Each spring is of helical form and is arranged with its axis substantially upright. It will be understood that references herein to the attitude of components and to directions assume that the piece of furniture is in its normai attitude of use. The springs 14 rest on a lower grid 15 of wires which is attached to the base 13 of the timber frame. An upper grid 16 of wires and is supported by the springs, the top turn of each spring being incorporated in the grid 16. The springs are attached to the upper and lower grids.In the particular example iiiustrated, the springs and the upper and lower qrids are combined in a spring unit which is assembled separately from the timber frame 10 and which is then mounted in the timber frame. different spring units may be provided and it would he within the scope of the invention to avoid a sprina unit which exists independently of the frame 10 and to mount the springs one by one in the frame. r;eneraiiy, a layer comprisinq wires or other filamentary materiai will be provided over the springs.

A front edge of the sprina unit is defined by a rectilinear element 17 of the upper grid 16. The element 17 is formed of wire and preferably lies slightly forwardly of the foremost springs 14. The wire element 17 is covered hy an element 18 of U-shaped or substantially tubular form which is thicker than and is softer than the wire eiement. The element IS may be a moulding or extrusion of a piastics material, possible a foamed piastics materiai.

An insulator 19 rests on the upper qrid 16 and supports a textiie seat cover 20. Th & insulator is a sheet of materiai which is much thicker and stiffer than the cover 20 and may be formed of a foamed plastics materiai.

The insulator 19 extends across the entire width of the array of springs and from the rear of the array of springs to and somewhat hevond the front element !7 of the upper arid.

The chair further comprises a rail 21 which is disposed adjacent to the front of the array of springs, with the length of the rail extending across the chair from one side to the other. The rail is disposed below the front element 17 of the upper grid and may he directly below that eiement. The length of the rail is substantially equal to the length of the element 17. The rail is formed of a material suitable for receiving fasteners, by means of which the upholstery can be attached to the rail. Plywood is a suitable material for the rail.

The rail 21 is connected with the sprinas 14 so that, when the springs are compressed, the rail moves downwardly reiative to the frame 10 and when the springs are permitted to expand again, the rail rises reiative to the frame 10. The rail is connected with springs 14 at the front of the array by a linkage incorporating pivoted links 22 and is connected with further parts of the spring unit by ties ?3 and 24. The links 22 are arranged to permit movement of the rail 21 between a raised position, in which the rail is close to the front element 17 of the upper grid, and a lowered position in which the rail is spaced considerahiy from that element. Before the ties 23 and 24 are secured, the rail can swing freely between its raised and lowered positions.

The links 22 pivot relative to the springs 14 when the rail moves upwardiy and downwardly in this way. The linkaqe is preferably adaDted to restrain longitudinal movement of the rail 21 reiative to the spring unit. To this end, the iinkage may incorporate a wire which extends along suhstantially the entire length of the rail and which is connected at its opposite end portions with the spring unit as shown in Figure 3. This connection is preferably adapted to permit swinging of the rail between its lowered and raised positions.Prior to linking of the rail 21 with the springs 14, a pair of upper ties 23 and a pair of lower ties 24 are secured to the rail, preferably at that face of the rail which will be presented rewardly in the finished chair.

After the spring unit has been mounted in the frame 10, the insulator 19 and the seat cover 20 are placed on the spring unit and are anchored with respect to the frame 10 near to the rear of the spring unit. A front portion of the cover is turned back over the spring unit to allow access to the insulator in a reqion extending from one side of the spring unit to the other and which region is spaced somewhat rearwardly from the front element 17 of the upper grid. Fasteners are applied in this region to fasten together the insulator, the cover and possibly other elements, for example a card gutter and a layer 25 of plastics foam or other upholstery material. During this procedure. the rail 21 is in its lowered position, to facilitate access by a tool for applying the fasteners.After the tool has been withdrawn, a front portion of the insulator 19 is bent around the element 18 which covers the front element 17 of the upper arid. A free-end portion of the insulator is inserted between the rail 21 and the element 18.

The upper ties 23 are passed through the spring unit to a transverse member of the upper grid 16 which is spaced rearwardly from the front element !7. As these upper ties are drawn tight, the rail 21 is caused to swing upwardly towards the front element 17, so that a free edge portion of the insulator !9 is nipped between the rail and the element 17. After the upper ties 23 have been secured, the lower ties are drawn around a transverse element of the lower grid 15 and are secured.

Once connection of the rail 21 with the spring unit has been completed, the foam layer 25 is drawn over the insulator and the front element 17 to the rail 21 and a marqinal portion of the foam is fastened to the rail, preferably on to a forwardly facing surface of the rail. A front portion of the cover 20 ;s then drawn forwardly over the foam layer 25 to the rail.The cover includes a seam adjacent to the rail and a turning which proiects from the rear of the seam is fastened to the rail below the foam layer 25. The forwardly facina surface of the rail may be steDDed to provide a shoulder which lies a part of the way down the front face and which provides a convenient location for the turning proiectinq from the rear of the seam, so that the seam will occupy a predetermined position relative to the rail and establishment of the required relation between the cover and the rail along the entire length of the rail is facilitated.

After the cover has been secured to the rail 21, a marginal portion of the cover is permitted to fall below the rail and is secured to the base 13 of the frame.

It will be noted that movement of the rail 21 relative to the frame 10 is restricted only by the spring unit. 8then the springs 14 are compressed by apDlication of a load to the seat of the chair, the rail 21 moves downwardly.

The positional relation of the rail to the front element 17 of the spring unit, to the gutter defined by the upholstery near to the front edge of the seat and the front edge portion of the seat is preferably maintained constant, irrespective of the degree of compression of the springs. That portion of the cover which extends from the rail around and over the front element 17 is maintained taut Attachment of the cover and the foam layer 25 to the rail stabilises the upholstery at the front of the seat.

then the springs 14 are compressed, that portion of the cover 20 which extends downwardly from the rail 21 will become slack. However, the cover is firmly located at the base 13 and at the rail 21 and the height of the uncontrolled portion of the cover is fairly small so that a neat appearance is maintained. This portion of the cover mav have a lining of a relatively soft layer of plastics foam material.

It will be understood that the chair would normally have a cushion which rests on the seat cover 20. The structure hereinbefore described may be used in a settee. In this case, there is preferably a single rail 21 extending along the entire distance between the arms of the settee.

The structure illustrated in Figure 2 may be modified by terminating the insulator 19 at the gutter and interposing between the cover 20 and the tubular element 18 the foam layer 25 alone or a plurality of layers which are initially separate from the insulator. Furthermore, fibrous layers may be used in place of one or more of the layers of plastics foam material hereinbefore mentioned.

The structure illustrated in Figure 2 may also be modified in the manner illustrated in Figure 4. In the modified chair illustrated in Figure 4, the ties 23 and ?4 are omitted and alternative means is provided for retaining the rail 21 in its upper position. This alternative means comprises an elongated, flexible element, for examole a length of twine 30. The twine is attached to the rail 21 and extends upwardly from that rail through the upholstery to a position above the element 17 of the upper grid at the upper surface of the insulator 19. From that position, the twine extends along the forwardly and downwardly facing surface of the insulator to the rail 21 once more and is attached again to the rail.

In preparation for application to the rail, the length of twine is doubled and a knot is formed at the middle of the length. The knot is then stapled to the rail 2!, preferably on the upwardly facing surface of the rail. Prior to drawing the foam layer 25 and the cover 20 forwardly around the insulator, both ends of the twine are passed upwardly through the upholstery just behind the element 17 to the outside of the insulator and are drawn forwardly over and around the insulator and passed between the insulator and the rail 21.

The ends of the twine are then drawn downwardly behind the rail and stapled to the underside of the rail and to the front of the rail. From the point where the twine emerges through the insulator 19 to the upwardly facing surface of the insulator, the two ends of each length of twine may he separated from each other to pass either side of the knot previously stapled to the rail so that the ends of the twine are stapled separately to the rail in positions spaced apart along the rail. Once the rail has been secured in its upper position in the foregoing manner, the upholstery is completed in the manner hereinbefore described with reference to Figure 2.

The features disclosed in the foregoing description, or the following claims, or the accompanying drawinqs, expressed in their specific forms or in terms of a means for performing the disclosed function, or a method or process for attaining the disclosed result, may separately or in any combination of such features, he utilised for realising the invention in diverse forms thereof.

Claims (10)

1. CLAIMS:

   I. A piece of upholstered furniture which incorporates a frame, an array of springs mounted in the frame, a fabric cover covering at least the array of springs and a rail disposed at a lateral margin of the array with the length of the rail extending along that margin, wherein the rail is connected with the springs of the array to undergo movement relative to the frame when the springs are compressed and are allowed to expand and wherein the cover is connected with the rail.
2. 2. Furniture according to Claim I further comprising a linkage which connects the rail with one or more of the springs.
3. 3. Furniture according to Claim 2 wherein the linkage includes one or more pivoted links.
4. 4. Furniture according to Claim 2 or Claim 3 further comprising one or more ties connecting the rail with the array of springs.
5. 5. Furniture according to Claim 2 or Claim 3 further comprising a plurality of ties connecting the rail with upholstery above the array of springs.
6. 6. Furniture according to any preceding Claim wherein the array of springs is incorporated in a spring unit, the spring unit includes an elongated element disposed at a front of the array, the elongated element is arranged with its length extending in the same direction as the length of the rail extends and wherein the rail lies below said element.
7. 7. A method of upholstering a piece of furniture comprising a frame and an array of springs mounted in the frame, wherein a rail is linked with springs of the array to lie at one margin of the array with the length of the rail extending along that margin, a portion of a cover is attached to the rail and the rail is concealed by the cover.
8. 8. A method according to Claim 7 wherein there is interposed between a portion of the cover and said array of springs an insulator for insulating the cover mechanically from the sprinqs, a portion of the cover is foided back over the insulator and array of springs and is secured to the insulator at a position overiying the array of springs, the rail, whist linked with the springs, is raised and is secured in a raised position and the cover is then attached to the rail.
9. 9. A piece of furniture havina a spring unit, upholstery and rail substantially as herein described with reference to Fiqures 1,2 and 3 of the accompanyinq drawinqs.
10. 10. A piece of furniture according to Claim 9 modified substantially as herein described with reference to and as iliuistrated in Figure 4 of the accompanying drawings.

    II. Any novei feature or novei combination of features disclosed herein or in the accompanying drawina.