Coil-in-Coil Spring With Variable Loading Response and Mattresses Including the Same

Abstract

A coil-in-coil spring is provided that exhibits a variable loading response as the spring is compressed. The coil-in-coil spring comprises a continuous wire forming an inner coil having a substantially conical shape and an outer coil extending around the inner coil and having a substantially cylindrical shape. The inner coil includes a plurality of helical convolutions with diameters that progressively decrease as the plurality of helical convolutions extend from a lower end of the coil-in-coil spring to an upper end convolution of the inner coil. The inner coil also has an uncompressed height that is about 75% of the uncompressed height of the outer coil, A mattress is further provided and includes the coil-in-coil springs arranged in a matrix.

Claims

1. A coil-in-coil spring, comprising a continuous wire forming an inner coil having a substantially conical shape and an outer coil extending around the inner coil and having a substantially cylindrical shape.

2. The coil-in-coil spring of claim 1, wherein the inner coil includes a plurality of helical convolutions and an upper end convolution, the plurality of helical convolutions of the inner coil extending from a lower end of the coil-in-coil spring to the upper end convolution of the inner coil, and wherein the outer coil includes a plurality of helical convolutions and an upper end convolution, the plurality of helical convolutions of the outer coil extending from the lower end of the coil-in-coil spring to the upper end convolution of the outer coil.

3. The coil-in-coil spring of claim 2, wherein the upper end convolution of the inner coil and each of the plurality of helical convolutions of the inner coil has a diameter, and wherein the diameter of each of the plurality of helical convolutions of the inner coil progressively decreases as the plurality of helical convolutions of the inner coil extend from the lower end of the coil-in-coil spring to the upper end convolution of the inner coil.

4. The coil-in-coil spring of claim 3, wherein the diameter of the upper end convolution of the inner coil is about 25.5 mm, and wherein the diameter of each of the plurality of helical convolutions of the inner coil ranges from about 27.5 mm to about 57.5 mm.

5. The coil-in-coil spring of claim 2, wherein the plurality of helical convolutions of the inner coil comprises eight helical convolutions.

6. The coil-in-coil spring of claim 5, wherein the eight helical convolutions comprises a first helical convolution having a diameter of about 57.5 mm, a second helical convolution having a diameter of about 52 mm, a third helical convolution having a diameter of about 47 mm, a fourth helical convolution having a diameter of about 42.5 mm, a fifth helical convolution having a diameter of about 38.5 mm, a sixth helical convolution having a diameter of about 35 mm, a seventh helical convolution having a diameter of about 32 mm, and an eighth helical convolution having a diameter of about 27.5 mm.

7. The coil-in-coil spring of claim 2, wherein the upper end convolution of the outer coil and each of the plurality of helical convolutions of the outer coil has a respective diameter, and wherein the diameter of each of the plurality of helical convolutions of the outer coil are substantially the same.

8. The coil-in-coil spring of claim 7, wherein the diameter of the upper end convolution of the outer coil is about 66 mm, and wherein the diameter of each of the plurality of helical convolutions of the outer coil is about 70 mm.

9. The coil-in-coil spring of claim 2, wherein the continuous wire defines a pitch between each of the plurality of helical convolutions of the inner coil, and wherein the pitch between each of the plurality of helical convolutions of the inner coil progressively decreases as the plurality of helical convolutions of the inner coil extend from the lower end of the coil-in-coil spring to the upper end convolution of the inner coil.

10. The coil-in-coil spring of claim 9, wherein the pitch between each of the plurality of helical convolutions of the inner coil ranges from about 14 mm to about 28 mm.

11. The coil-in-coil spring of claim 9, wherein the plurality of helical convolutions of the inner coil comprise eight helical convolutions, and wherein the pitch between the lower end of the coil-in-coil spring and the first helical convolution is about 22 mm, the pitch between the first helical convolution and the second helical convolution is about 28 mm, the pitch between the second helical convolution and the third helical convolution is about 25 mm, the pitch between the third helical convolution and the fourth helical convolution is about 23 mm, the pitch between the fourth helical convolution and the fifth helical convolution is about 21 mm, the pitch between the fifth helical convolution and the sixth helical convolution is about 18 mm, the pitch between the sixth helical convolution and the seventh helical convolution is about 16 mm, and the pitch between the seventh helical convolution and the eighth helical convolution is about 14 mm.

12. The coil-in-coil spring of claim 2, wherein the continuous wire defines a pitch between each of the plurality of helical convolutions of the outer coil, and wherein the pitch between each of the plurality of helical convolutions of the outer coil is substantially the same.

13. The coil-in-coil spring of claim 12, wherein the pitch between each of the plurality of helical convolutions of the outer coil is about 66 mm.

14. The coil-in-coil spring of claim 1, wherein the inner coil and the outer coil each have an uncompressed height, and wherein the uncompressed height of the inner coil is about 75% of the uncompressed height of the outer coil.

15. The coil-in-coil spring of claim 14, wherein the uncompressed height of the inner coil is about 175 mm, and the uncompressed height of the outer coil is about 235 mm.

16. The coil-in-coil spring of claim 1, wherein the continuous wire has a wire diameter of about 0.072 inches to about 0.076 inches and/or a tensile strength of between about 240 kpsi to about 260 kpsi.

17. The coil-in-coil spring of claim 1, further comprising a flexible enclosure encasing the continuous wire.

18. A mattress, comprising: a plurality of coil-in-coil springs arranged in a matrix and defining a first support surface and a second support surface opposite the first support surface, each of the plurality of coil-in-coil springs comprising a continuous wire forming an inner coil having a substantially conical shape and an outer coil extending around the inner coil and having a substantially cylindrical shape.

19. The mattress of claim 18, wherein the inner coil of each of the plurality of coil-in-coil springs includes a plurality of helical convolutions and an upper end convolution, the plurality of helical convolutions of the inner coil extending from a lower end of the coil-in-coil spring to the upper end convolution of the inner coil, and wherein the outer coil of each of the plurality of coil-in-coil springs includes a plurality of helical convolutions and an upper end convolution, the plurality of helical convolutions of the outer coil extending from the lower end of the coil-in-coil spring to the upper end convolution of the outer coil.

20. The mattress of claim 18, further comprising: an upper body supporting layer positioned adjacent to the first support surface; a lower foundation layer positioned adjacent to the second support surface; and a side panel extending between the upper body supporting layer and the lower foundation layer.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0015] FIG. 1 is a side view of an exemplary coil-in-coil spring made in accordance with the present invention;

[0016] FIG. 2 is a side view of the exemplary coil-in-coil spring of FIG. 1, but showing the coil-in-coil spring compressed a predetermined distance D.sub.1;

[0017] FIG. 3 is a side view of the exemplary coil-in-coil spring of FIG. 1, but showing the coil-in-coil spring compressed a predetermined distance D.sub.2;

[0018] FIG. 4 is a graph depicting the forces necessary to maintain compression distances of the exemplary coil-in-coil spring of FIG. 1;

[0019] FIG. 5 is a side view of an exemplary pocketed coil-in-coil spring made in accordance with the present invention, with a portion of a side wall removed to show the coil-in-coil spring of FIG. 1 positioned within a flexible enclosure; and

[0020] FIG. 6 is a side view of an exemplary mattress made in accordance with the present invention, with a portion removed to show the plurality of pocketed coil-in-coil springs of FIG. 5 in the interior of the mattress.

DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

[0021] The present invention relates to coil-in-coil springs that provide a variable loading response as the coil-in-coil spring is compressed. In particular, the present invention relates to coil-in-coil springs made of a continuous wire helically coiled such that a cylindrical outer coil extends around a conical inner coil. The coil-in-coil springs of the present invention are used within a mattress to provide a user positioned on the mattress increased support for portions of the user's body where a higher load is applied to the mattress. Thus, the mattress including the coil-in-coil springs of the present invention provides a user the non-linear support typically seen in a foam mattress, but through the use of springs.

[0022] Referring first to FIG. 1, in one exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a coil-in-coil spring 10 is provided made of a continuous wire 20 forming an inner coil 30 having a substantially conical shape and an outer coil 40 extending around the inner coil 30 and having a substantially cylindrical shape. More specifically, the inner coil 30 of the coil-in-coil spring 10 includes an upper end convolution 39 and a plurality (eight) of helical convolutions 31-38 which extend in a clock-wise direction from a lower end 12 of the coil-in-coil spring 10 to the upper end convolution 39 of the inner coil 30. Similarly, the outer coil 40 includes an upper end convolution 49 and a plurality (four) of helical convolutions 41-44 which extend in a counter-clockwise direction from the lower end 12 of the coil-in-coil spring 10 to the upper end convolution 49 of the outer coil 40. Each convolution of the coil-in-coil spring 10 is made up of a portion of the continuous wire 20 substantially equal to about one turn of the continuous wire 20 (i.e., about 360? of the helical path of the continuous wire 20). The upper end convolution 49 of the outer coil 40 of the coil-in-coil spring 10 forms a substantially planar loop at the topmost portion of the coil-in-coil spring 10. Similarly, the lower end 12 of the coil-in-coil spring 10 also forms a substantially planar loop at the lowermost portion of the coil-in-coil spring 10. In this way, the coil-in-coil spring 10 terminates at either end in a generally planar form which serves as the supporting end structures of the coil-in-coil spring 10.

[0023] With further respect to the configuration of the coil-in-coil spring 10, in a typical coil spring formed with a helically-spiraling continuous wire, the spring constant and resultant feel of the coil spring are primarily determined by the wire diameter (or wire gauge), the total number of convolutions in the coil spring, the pitch between the convolutions of the coil spring, and the size of the convolutions (coil diameter). In this regard, the pitch (or vertical spacing) between each convolution of the coil spring is typically controlled by the rate at which the continuous wire, which forms the coil spring, is drawn through a forming die in a coil-forming machine. Once formed, a larger pitch will typically produce a stiffer coil spring due to the increased vertical orientation of the wire, while a smaller pitch will typically produce a softer coil spring and allow for a larger number of total convolutions in the coil body. Similarly, larger diameter convolutions in a coil spring also contribute to a lower spring constant and consequentially softer feel. Of course, because the wire forming the coil-in-coil spring is continuous there is no clearly defined beginning point or ending point of any single convolution. Furthermore, the diameter and pitch is typically adjusted gradually between one portion of the spring to another. As such, oftentimes a single convolution of the coil spring does not, in fact, have just one single diameter or just one single pitch, but may include, for example, a beginning or end portion with a variable diameter and/or pitch that transitions to the adjacent convolution. Therefore, as used herein, the diameter and pitch of a convolution will typically refer to an average diameter and pitch, but can also, in some embodiments, be inclusive of or refer to a maximum diameter and pitch or a minimum diameter and pitch.

[0024] In the exemplary coil-in-coil spring 10 shown in FIG. 1, the wire diameter of the continuous wire 20 ranges from about 0.072 inches to about 0.080 inches with a preferred range from about 0.072 inches to about 0.076 inches. Furthermore, the continuous wire 20 has a tensile strength of between about 240 kpsi to about 260 kpsi with a preferred tensile strength of about 250 kpsi.

[0025] With respect to the diameters and pitches included in the coil-in-coil spring 10, and focusing more specifically on the inner coil 30 of the coil-in-coil spring 10, the upper end convolution 39 has a diameter and each of the eight helical convolutions 31-38 has a diameter that progressively decreases as the eight helical convolutions 31-38 extend from the lower end 12 of the coil-in-coil spring 10 to the upper end convolution 39 of the inner coil 30. In particular, in the exemplary coil-in-coil spring 10 shown in FIG. 1, the upper end convolution 39 has a diameter of about 25.5 mm and each of the eight helical convolutions of the inner coil has a diameter that ranges from about 27.5 mm to about 57.5 mm, with the first helical convolution 31 having a diameter of about 57.5 mm, the second helical convolution 32 having a diameter of about 52 mm, the third helical convolution 33 having a diameter of about 47 mm, the fourth helical convolution 34 having a diameter of about 42.5, the fifth helical convolution 35 having a diameter of about 38.5, the sixth helical convolution 36 having a diameter of about 35 mm, the seventh helical convolution 37 having a diameter of about 32 mm, and the eighth helical convolution 38 having a diameter of about 27.5 mm.

[0026] Referring still to the exemplary coil-in-coil spring 10 shown in FIG. 1, as noted above, the continuous wire 20 also defines a pitch between each of the eight helical convolutions 31-38, with the pitch between each of the eight helical convolutions 31-38 progressively decreasing as the plurality of helical convolutions 31-38 extend from the lower end 12 of the coil-in-coil spring 10 to the upper end convolution 39 of the inner coil 30. In the exemplary coil-in-coil spring 10 shown in FIG. 1, the pitch between each of the eight helical convolutions 31-38 of the inner coil 30 ranges from about 14 mm to about 28 mm. More specifically, the pitch between the lower end 12 of the coil-in-coil spring 10 and the first helical convolution 31 is about 22 mm; the pitch between the first helical convolution 31 and the second helical convolution 32 is about 28 mm; the pitch between the second helical convolution 32 and the third helical convolution 33 is about 25 mm; the pitch between the third helical convolution 33 and the fourth helical convolution 34 is about 23 mm; the pitch between the fourth helical convolution 34 and the fifth helical convolution 35 is about 21 mm; the pitch between the fifth helical convolution 35 and the sixth helical convolution 36 is about 18 mm; the pitch between the sixth helical convolution 36 and the seventh helical convolution 37 is about 16 mm; and the pitch between the seventh helical convolution 37 and the eighth helical convolution 38 is about 14 mm.

[0027] Referring still to the exemplary coil-in-coil spring 10 shown in FIG. 1, but focusing now on the outer coil 40 of the coil-in-coil spring 10, the upper end convolution 49 also has a diameter and each of the four helical convolutions 41-44 has a diameter that are all substantially equal to one another. Specifically, in the exemplary coil-in-coil spring 10, the upper end convolution 49 of the outer coil 40 has a diameter of about 66 mm and each of the four helical convolutions 41-44 of the outer coil 40 has a diameter of about 70 mm. The continuous wire 20 also defines a pitch between each of the four helical convolutions 41-44 of the outer coil 40, where each of the pitches are substantially equal to one another and, in the exemplary coil-in-coil spring 10, is about 66 mm.

[0028] Referring now to FIGS. 1-3, which show the coil-in-coil spring 10 in different states of compression, when the coil-in-coil spring 10 is uncompressed, the outer coil 40 has an uncompressed height H.sub.1 of about 235 mm and extends from the lower end 12 of the coil-in-coil spring 10 to the upper end convolution 49 of the outer coil 40. In this regard, and as shown in FIG. 1, the uncompressed height of the coil-in-coil spring 10 is the uncompressed height H.sub.1 of the outer coil 40. As also shown in FIG. 1, the inner coil 30 has an uncompressed height H.sub.2 of about 175 mm (or about 75% of the uncompressed height H.sub.1 of the outer coil 40) and extends from the lower end 12 of the coil-in-coil spring 10 to the upper end convolution 39 of the inner coil 30, such that the upper end convolution 39 of the inner coil 30 is positioned a distance away from the upper end convolution 49 of the outer coil 40. As such, when the coil-in-coil spring 10 is partially compressed a first predetermined compression distance D.sub.1, the outer coil 40 is compressed until the compressed height of the coil-in-coil spring 10 (i.e., the compressed height of the outer coil 40) is the same as the uncompressed height H.sub.2 of the inner coil 30, as shown best in FIG. 2. At that point, the upper end convolution 39 of the inner coil 30 is then substantially contained within and is coplanar with the upper end convolution 49 of the outer coil 40. Subsequently, however, as the coil-in-coil spring 10 is compressed beyond the first predetermined compression distance D.sub.1, both the outer coil 40 and the inner coil 30 compress simultaneously and the compressed height of the coil-in-coil spring 10 is the same as both the compressed height of the outer coil 40 and the compressed height of the inner coil 30, as shown best in FIG. 3.

[0029] Referring now more specifically to FIGS. 2-3, which also shows a first predetermined force F.sub.1 applied to the coil-in-coil spring 10 such that the coil-in-coil spring 10 is compressed the first predetermined compression distance D.sub.1, the outer coil 40 is compressed such that the upper end convolution 49 of the outer coil 40 is the same height as the upper end convolution 39 of the inner coil 30. In this regard, as the coil-in-coil spring 10 compresses from the uncompressed state to the first predetermined compression distance D.sub.1 shown in FIG. 2, only the convolutions of the outer coil 40 compress and, as such, an initial spring constant K.sub.1 of the coil-in-coil spring 10 is based solely on the outer coil 40. Then, as a second predetermined (and greater) force F.sub.2 is applied to coil-in-coil spring 10 such that the coil-in-coil spring 10 is compressed a second predetermined compression distance D.sub.2 greater than the first predetermined compression distance D.sub.1, the coil-in-coil spring 10 compresses beyond the first predetermined compression distance D.sub.1 shown in FIG. 2 and both the outer coil 40 and the inner coil 30 are partially compressed as shown in FIG. 3. Accordingly, at that point, a second spring constant K.sub.2 of the coil-in-coil spring 10 (i.e., for compression distances beyond the first predetermined compression distance D.sub.1) is based on both the inner coil 30 as well as the outer coil 40.

[0030] In operation, the coil-in-coil spring 10 functions substantially as two helical springs in parallel, where the effective spring constant is the sum of the spring constants of each spring that is actively engaged. Accordingly, when a force is applied to the coil-in-coil spring 10 and only the outer coil 40 begins to compress, the coil-in-coil spring 10 compresses at a constant rate according to the initial spring constant K.sub.1 until the coil-in-coil spring 10 has compressed a first predetermined compression distance D.sub.1, as shown in FIG. 2. Then, once the coil-in-coil spring 10 has compressed beyond the first predetermined compression distance D.sub.1, the inner coil 30 is engaged and begins to compress along with the outer coil 40. In this way, initially the outer coil 40 alone provides support to a user's body positioned on the coil-in-coil spring 10, but upon compressing the first predetermined compression distance D.sub.1 the inner coil 30 and the outer coil 40 act together to provide support to a portion of the user's body positioned on the coil-in-coil spring 10. As the coil-in-coil spring 10 is compressed past the first predetermined compression distance D.sub.1, the coil-in-coil spring 10 compresses according to the second spring constant K.sub.2 of the coil-in-coil spring 10. In particular, the inner coil 30 and the outer coil 40 compress simultaneously, and the coil-in-coil spring 10 will compress at a constant rate according to the secondary spring constant K.sub.2 until the coil-in-coil spring 10 reaches a maximum compression distance of the coil-in-coil spring 10 where the inner coil 30, the outer coil 40, or both the inner coil 30 and the outer coil 40 are unable to compress further.

[0031] Referring now to FIG. 4, which graphically depicts the forces necessary to maintain compression distances of the coil-in-coil spring 10, the spring constant of the coil-in-coil spring 10 is the slope of the line at any given compression distance. Accordingly, as the force applied to the coil-in-coil spring 10 increases and the compression distance of the coil-in-coil spring 10 exceeds the first predetermined compression distance D.sub.1, the inner coil 30 is engaged and the spring constant of the coil-in-coil spring 10 increases. As the spring constant increases (e.g., from K.sub.1 to K.sub.2), the coil-in-coil spring 10 becomes harder. Thus, the coil-in-coil spring 10 of the present invention provides a variable and non-linear response to loading.

[0032] With further respect to the spring constants of exemplary coil-in-coil spring 10, the spring constant of the inner coil 30 is thus not the same as the spring constant of the outer coil 40. Typically, the spring constant of the inner coil 30 ranges from about 0.5 to about 0.77, whereas the spring constant of the outer coil 40 ranges from about 0.77 to about 1.18. For instance, when the wire diameter is about 0.072 inches, the spring constant of the inner coil 30 is about 0.77 and the spring constant of the outer coil 40 is about 0.50; when the wire diameter is about 0.076 inches, the spring constant of the inner coil 30 is about 0.96 and the spring constant of the outer coil 40 is about 0.62; and when the wire diameter is about 0.80 inches, the spring constant of the inner coil 30 is about 1.18 and the spring constant of the outer coil 40 is about 0.77. Of course, one skilled in the art would recognize that by modifying the inner coil 30 or the outer coil 40, the comparative values of the spring constants can be adjusted to provide further variability and customization of the spring constants and develop alternative loading responses in an exemplary coil-in-coil spring of the present invention.

[0033] Referring now to FIG. 5, in another embodiment of the present invention, a pocketed coil-in-coil spring 100 is provided that includes a coil-in-coil spring 10 as described above with reference to FIGS. 1-3, and that further comprises a flexible enclosure 50 that encases the coil-in-coil spring 10. The flexible enclosure 50 includes a bottom wall 52 positioned adjacent to the lower end 12 of the coil-in-coil spring 10, a top wall 56 positioned adjacent to the upper end convolution 49 of the outer coil 40 of the coil-in-coil spring 10, and a continuous side wall 54 that extends from the bottom wall 52 to the top wall 56, such that the continuous side wall 54 surrounds the coil-in-coil spring 10.

[0034] The flexible enclosure 50 is preferably made of a material, such as a fabric, which can joined or welded together by heat and pressure (e.g., via ultrasonic welding or similar thermal welding procedure). For example, suitable fabrics may include one of various thermoplastic fibers known in the art, such as non-woven polymer-based fabric, non-woven polypropylene material, or non-woven polyester material. Alternatively, the flexible enclosure 50 may be joined together by stitching, metal staples, or other suitable methods. In short, a wide variety of fabrics or similar sheet material may be used to make and join together the flexible enclosure as would be recognized by those skilled in the art.

[0035] Referring now to FIG. 6, in another embodiment of the present invention, a mattress 200 is provided that includes a plurality of the pocketed coil-in-coil springs 100 described above with reference to FIG. 5. The pocketed coil-in-coil springs 100 are arranged in a matrix, such that the upper end convolutions 49 of the outer coils 40 of the coil-in-coil springs 10 define a first support surface 201, and the lower ends 12 of the coil-in-coil springs 10 define a second support surface 202 opposite the first support surface 201. The mattress 200 also comprises an upper body supporting layer 203 positioned adjacent to the first support surface 201, along with a lower foundation layer 204 positioned adjacent to the second support surface 202. Furthermore, a side panel 205 extends between the upper body supporting layer 203 and the lower foundation layer 204 around the entire periphery of the two layers 203, 204, such that the pocketed coil-in-coil springs 100 are completely surrounded.

[0036] In the mattress 200 shown in FIG. 8, the upper body supporting layer 203 and the sidewall 205 of the mattress 200 are each comprised of a visco-elastic foam to support the body of a user and provide a sufficiently soft surface on which to rest. The lower foundation layer 204, on the other hand, is typically comprised of a piece of wood or other similarly rigid material capable of supporting the matrix of pocketed coil springs 100. However, it is of course contemplated that the upper body supporting layer 203 and the sidewall 205 of the mattress 200, as well as the lower foundation layer 204, can also be comprised of other materials or combinations of materials known to those skilled in the art, including, but not limited to foam, upholstery, and/or other flexible materials.

[0037] One of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that additional embodiments are also possible without departing from the teachings of the present invention or the scope of the claims which follow. This detailed description, and particularly the specific details of the exemplary embodiments disclosed herein, is given primarily for clarity of understanding, and no unnecessary limitations are to be understood therefrom, for modifications will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon reading this disclosure and may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the claimed invention.