WO1996035355A1

WO1996035355A1 - Frame mounting method

Info

Publication number: WO1996035355A1
Application number: PCT/SE1995/000531
Authority: WO
Inventors: Christer Nordqvist
Original assignee: New Technology I Lidköping Ab
Priority date: 1995-05-12
Filing date: 1995-05-12
Publication date: 1996-11-14
Also published as: AU2810995A

Abstract

In accordance with a method of mounting frames (7) along the upper and lower peripheral edges (5, 6) of a spring carcass (1) which is manufactured by gluing together a number of spring-pocket lengths (2), said lengths in turn being formed by pockets (4) made from a gluable and weldable fabric (3), and by springs arranged inside said pockets, each frame (7) is made from a strip (8) of a material of the same kind as that of the spring pockets (4) and the strips (8) are joined to the spring pockets (4) positioned adjacent the upper and lower peripheral edges (5, 6) of the spring carcass (1) by means of gluing welding or other similar interconnection technique.

Description

FRAME MOUNTING METHOD

TECHNICAL FIELD The invention concerns a frame mounting method generally and more specifically a method of mounting at least one frame along the upper and/or lower edges of a spring carcass consisting of an assembly of spring pockets and intended e.g. for beds and the like, according to which method a number of spring-pocket lengths correspond¬ ing to the dimensions of the spring carcass in question are assembled to form the spring carcass, said spring- pocket lengths being formed by rows of juxtaposed pockets made from a gluable and/or weldable fabric or similar material, and by preferably metal springs arranged inside said pockets.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with a prior-art method for achieving the above purpose the frame is manufactured from a pre¬ ferably round or flat profile member of metal or plastics and the frame/frames are joined to the springcarcass by means of the springpockets that are positioned adjacent the upper and lower edges thereof with the aid of suitable metal staples.

The number of such staples amounts to some hundred in the case of a spring carcass of the standard size of 90 x 200 cm and these staples are mounted manually with the aid of comparatively heavy and bulky specialty machines. It is readily understood that this type of mounting, owing to the relatively high working speed and the repetitive working movements, induces fatigue and lack of concentra¬ tion in the operators and in time leads to manufactoring faults and stress injuries. PURPOSE OF THE INVENTION

The purpose of the invention is to reduce as far as possible the disadvantages and drawbacks outlined above and this purpose is achieved by the suggestion of a novel and unique method allowing spring carcasses to be manu¬ factured rapidly and efficiently at a competitive price.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The above purpose is solved in accordance with the invention generally in that the frame is made from a strip which is placed on the spring carcass along the upper and lower peripheral edges thereof and which is joined to the spring pockets positioned adjacent said upper and lower peripheral edges by means of gluing, welding or any simi- lar interconnection technique.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will be described in closer detail in the following with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein

Fig. 1 is a perspective view as seen obliquely from above which schematically illustrates a spring carcass consisting of assembled spring pockets and on which car¬ cass frames have been mounted in accordance with the method of the invention.

Fig. 2 illustrates, on an enlarged scale, a portion of the spring carcass with the frames shown in sectional views essentially along line II-II of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 illustrates, on an even larger scale, a first preferred embodiment of a frame shown in a sectional view essentially along line III-III of Fig. 2

Fig. 4 is a sectional view corresponding to Fig. 3 but showing a second preferred embodiment of the frame. Fig. 5, also in a sectional view corresponding to Fig. 3, illustrates a third preferred embodiment of the frame. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

As already mentioned, Fig. 1 illustrates, in a per¬ spective view as seen obliquely from above and schemati- cally, the spring carcass 1 generally designated by numeral reference 1 and consisting of an assembly of pocket springs to form a semi-finished product for the manufacture of mattresses to be used for instances in beds, sofas and similar items. The shown spring carcass 1 is preferably made from an assembly of a plurality of pocket-springs lengths 2 the number of which (in the present case nine) corresponds to the size of the carcass, for instance 90 x 200 cm., which lengths are assembled side face against side face in a manner to be described more in detail further on. Each pocket-spring length 2 in turn comprises a number, say twenty, of coiled springs made from wires of steel or other suitable material and arranged in rows and welded in position inside pockets 4 consisting of a glueable and weldable fabric 3, preferably a non-woven fabric or similar material.

The assembly of these spring-pocket lengths 2 side face by side face preferably in the case of the above pocket-spring construction is effected by means of some gluing method using a suitable hot-melt adhesive intended for the purpose, which may be applied on the side faces of the pocket-spring lengths by means of spray nozzles or similar equipment not shown in detail.

Along the upper and/or lower peripheral edges 5 and 6 respectively of the spring carcass, in accordance with the embodiment illustrated along both edges, a frame, general¬ ly designated by reference 7, is to be mounted with the aid of the method suggested in accordance with the inven¬ tion. More precisely the frame 7 is manufactured, in accordance with the shown and described preferred embodi¬ ment, from a strip 8, which preferably is manufactured in the same material as the pockets 4, i.e. from a glueable and weldable fabric, preferably a non-woven fabric or the like. By means of suitable not illustrated means, each frame strip 8 is positioned on the spring carcass 1 along the upper and lower peripheral edges 5, 6 thereof and is joined to the spring pockets 4 positioned immediately adjacent the upper and lower edges 5, 6 by means of gluing, welding or with the aid of any similar technique. For the purpose of imparting to said frame strip an improved stability prior to the mounting thereof on the spring carcass 1, the strip preferably is folded and the free edges 9 of the folded strip are joined together, see particularly Figs. 3 - 5, in a manner similiar to that used when joining the strip to the spring pockets 4, i.e. through gluing, welding or the like.

Alternatively, the frame strip may be used in a single layer condition or be formed by two or several superposed layers, not shown, the layers in the unit thus formed being interconnected along the free edges, also in this case preferably by means of gluing, welding or the like.

In accordance with a first preferred embodiment of the frame 7 in accordance with Fig. 3 an elongate rein- forcement member 10 having a round profile configuration is enclosed inside the strip 8 and in accordance with another preferred embodiment, illustrated in Fig. 4, the corresponding reinforcement member 10 has a flat profile configuration. No separate reinforcement member is pro- vided in the third preferred embodiment illustrated in Fig. 5, a solution that might be of interest when the strip need not be particularly rigid.

In the embodiment comprising a reinforcement member 10 the latter preferably is manufactured from a compara- tively rigid material, such as rigid plastics or round or flat steel bars. Obviously, the reinforcement member 10 could be given a different profile configuration than round or flat, for instance an oval shape.

When the gluing technique is used to carry out the method in accordance with the invention, the gluing step is effected by application of a glue that is suitable for this purpose, such as hot melt, on the facing sides of the spring pockets 4 and/or the frame strips 8 in order to there form glue lines 11.

The application of the glue is effected in a manner similar to that used when gluing together the spring- pocket lengths 2 as described earlier, by means of spray nozzles not illustrated.

Other equivalent glue application methods could of course be used within the scope of the invention, for instance dipping, or roller application and similar methods.

On the other hand, when the welding technology is used to perform the method of the invention, the welding operation preferably is effected preferably but not necessarily with the aid of an ultrasonic welding head, not shown in detail, which head is arranged to be applied against a welding pad, not either illustrated, with inter¬ position between the head and said pad of the weldable fabric 3 of the spring pockets 4 and the strip 8 in order to form welding seams corresponding to the glue lines 11, to interconnect the spring carcass 1 and the frame 7.

Instead of the ultrasonic welding as mentioned above other welding methods could be used, for instance fusion welding by means of welding jaws or the like which are heated in a suitable manner. Obviously the invention should not be considered limited to the applications and the embodiment described and illustrated herein but could be modified as desired within the framework of the claimed scope of protection.

Claims

CLAIMS 1. A method of mounting at least one frame (7) along the upper and/or lower peripheral edges (5, 6) of a spring carcass (1) consisting of an assembly of spring pockets and intended e.g. for beds and the like, according to which method a number of spring-pocket lengths (2) corresponding to the dimensions of the spring carcass (1) in question are assembled to form the spring carcass (1), said spring-pocket lengths being formed by rows of juxtaposed pockets (4) made from a gluable and/or weldable fabric or similar material, and by springs arranged inside said pockets, c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n that said frame (7) is made from a strip (8) which is placed on the spring carcass (1) along the upper and lower peripheral edges (5 and 6 respectively) of the carcass and which is joined to the spring pockets (4) positioned adjacent said upper and lower peripheral edges (5, 6) by means of gluing, welding or any other similar interconnection technique.

2. A method as claimed in claim 1, c h a r a c t e ¬ r i z e d i n that said strip (8) preferably is manu¬ factured from a material that is identical with or similar to that of the spring pockets (4) of the carcass (1).

3. A method as claimed in claims 1 and 2, c h a - r a c t e r i z e d by double-folding said strip (8) and joining together the free edges (9) of said folded strip, preferably by gluing, welding or other similar inter¬ connection technique.

4. A method as claimed in claims 1 and 2, c h a - r a c t e r i z e d by forming said strip (8) from at least two superposed strip layers which layers are joined together along their free edges, preferably by means of gluing, welding or other similar interconnection technique.

5. A method as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, c h a r a c t e r i z e d by enclosing an elongate reinforcement member (10) by or arranging it in said strip (8).

6. A method as claimed in claim 5, c h a r a c ¬ t e r i z e d i n that said reinforcement member (10) is made from a comparatively rigid material, preferably a plastics or metal material.

7. A method as claimed in claim 6, c h a r a c ¬ t e r i z e d by configuring said reinforcement member (10) with a round, oval or flat profile contour.

8. A method as claimed in claim 1, c h a r a c - t e r i z e d i n that the gluing operation preferably is performed by means of applying a glue of a kind suit¬ able for the intended purpose on the opposing side faces of the spring pockets (4) and/or the strip (8) so as to form glue lines (11) in these areas.

9. A method as claimed in claim 1, c h a r a c ¬ t e r i z e d i n that said gluing preferably is per¬ formed by means of a suitably ultrasonic welding head which is arranged to be applied against a welding pad with interposition between said head and said pad of said weldable fabric (3) in respectively the spring pockets (4) and the strip (8) to form welding seams joining together said spring carcass (1) and said frame (7).