POCKET COIL SPRING ASSEMBLY INCLUDING FLEXIBLE FOAM

CLAIM TO PRIORITY

[0001]This application is a divisional application of U.S. application Ser. No. 16/758,150, filed Apr. 22, 2022 as a 35 U.S.C. § 371 National Stage patent application of PCT Patent Application No. PCT/US2018/057948, filed Oct. 29, 2018 and titled “Pocket Coil Spring Assembly Including Flexible Foam”, which claims priority to and benefit of, under 35 U.S.C. § 119(e), U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 62/579,209, filed Oct. 31, 2017, all of which are incorporated herein by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0002]The present embodiments relate to pocket coil spring assemblies. In particular, the present embodiments relate to pocket coil spring assemblies that include an amount of flexible foam positioned either on top of the coil springs or in areas between rows of coil springs.

BACKGROUND

[0003]Spring assemblies that make use of pocket coil springs, which are also known as wrapped coils, encased coils, encased springs, or Marshall coils, are generally recognized as providing a unique feel to a mattress when used as a part of a spring assembly because each discrete coil is capable of moving independently to support the body of a user, or a portion thereof, resting on the mattress. In particular, in pocket coil spring assemblies, each coil is wrapped in a fabric pocket and moves substantially independently of the other coils in the pocket coil spring assembly to thereby provide individualized comfort and contouring to the body of a user. Moreover, as a result of moving substantially independently from one another, the pocket coils also do not directly transfer motion from one pocket coil to another, such that the movement of one user resting on a mattress assembly using pocket coils will not disturb another user resting on the mattress assembly. In this regard, mattress assemblies constructed with pocket coil springs are generally recognized as providing a soft and luxurious feel, and are often more desirable than a traditional inner spring mattress. Accordingly, a pocket coil spring assembly that improves the unique feel and support provided by traditional pocket coil springs would be both highly desirable and beneficial.

SUMMARY

[0004]The present include pocket coil spring assemblies. In particular, the present embodiments include pocket coil spring assemblies that include an amount of a flexible foam positioned either on top of the coil spring or disposed between rows of coil springs.

[0005]In one exemplary embodiment, a pocket coil spring assembly is provided that comprises a coil spring having an upper portion and a lower portion collectively defining a height of the coil spring. A fabric pocket encases the coil spring, and includes a top area covering the upper portion of the coil spring and a bottom area covering the lower portion of the coil spring. An amount of flexible foam in the shape of a hemisphere is then positioned on the top area of the fabric pocket.

[0006]In another embodiment, a mattress assembly is provided that comprises a spring core having a first support surface and a second support surface opposite the first support surface. The spring core includes a plurality of coil springs positioned in a matrix and extending in rows from a first end of the mattress assembly to a second end of the mattress assembly. Each of the coil springs included in the mattress assembly have an upper portion and a lower portion that collectively defining a height of each coil spring. Fabric pockets encase each one of the plurality of coil springs, with each fabric pocket including a top area covering the upper portion of each coil spring and a bottom area covering the lower portion of each coil spring. A plurality of amounts of a flexible foam, each having a top surface, are then positioned between the rows of the coil springs. In some embodiments, the amounts of flexible foam are small, discrete amounts of flexible foam, while in other embodiments, the flexible foam are continuous pieces of flexible foam that extend along the entire length of the rows.

[0007]Further features and advantages of the present embodiments will become evident to those of ordinary skill in the art after a study of the description, figures, and non-limiting examples in this document.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0008]FIG. 1 is a side view of an exemplary pocket coil spring assembly made in accordance with the present embodiments with a portion of a fabric pocket of the pocket coil spring assembly removed to show a coil spring;

[0009]FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an exemplary mattress assembly made in accordance with the present embodiments with a portion of the mattress assembly removed to show a plurality of the pocket coil spring assemblies of FIG. 1 positioned in the interior of the mattress assembly;

[0010]FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an exemplary mattress assembly made in accordance with the present embodiments with a portion of the mattress assembly removed to show a plurality of the pocket coil spring assemblies and an amount of flexible foam positioned between the rows of the pocket coil springs in the interior of the mattress assembly; and

[0011]FIG. 4 is a perspective view of another exemplary mattress assembly made in accordance with the present embodiments with a portion of the mattress assembly removed to show a plurality of exemplary pocket coil spring assemblies and an amount of flexible foam positioned between the rows of the pocket coil springs in the interior of the mattress assembly.

DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

[0012]The present embodiments include pocket coil spring assemblies. In particular, the present invention includes pocket coil spring assemblies that include an amount of flexible foam positioned either on top of the coil springs or disposed between rows of coil springs in the assembly, either as single amount or a plurality of discrete amounts, and extending from one end of the mattress assembly to the other.

[0013]Referring first to FIG. 1, in one exemplary embodiment, a pocket coil spring assembly 10 is provided that includes a coil spring 20 having an upper portion 22 and a lower portion 24 which collectively define a height of the coil spring 20. The pocket coil spring assembly 10 further includes a fabric pocket 30 that encases the coil spring 20. Specifically, the fabric pocket 30 includes a top area 32 that covers the upper portion 22 of the coil spring 20, as well as a bottom area 34 that covers the lower portion 24 of the coil spring 20. Further included in the pocket coil spring assembly 10 is an amount of flexible foam 40 that is positioned on the top area 32 of the coil spring 20 and that has a top surface 42 that extends above the coil spring 20. The flexible foam 40 is depicted as a rounded shaped, for example a generally partial spherical or partial ovoid shaped. However, these are examples and other shapes may be used depending on the shape of the upper convolution of the coil spring. For example, if a polygon shaped upper convolution is used, it may be desirable to install a cube or other three-dimensional polygon shaped foam.

[0014]With respect to the coil spring 20, the exemplary pocket coil spring assembly 10 shown in FIG. 1 includes a coil spring 20 made of a continuous wire that extends from an upper end convolution 23 at the upper portion 22 of the coil spring 20 to a lower end convolution 25 opposite the upper end convolution 23 at the lower portion 24 of the coil spring 20. In the coil spring 20, there are seven intermediate convolutions 26 that helically spiral between the upper end convolution 23 and the lower end convolution 25, such that the coil spring 20 is made of a total of nine convolutions or turns. Of course, various other springs, such as coil springs having a different number of convolutions, could also be used in an exemplary pocket coil spring assembly without departing from the spirit and scope of the present claims.

[0015]With respect to the fabric pocket 30, in the exemplary pocket coil spring assembly 10 shown in FIG. 1, the top area 32 and the bottom area 34 of the fabric pocket 30 extend along the outside of the coil spring 20 and form a generally cylindrical (or tubular) side surface 36 of the fabric pocket 30. In this regard, the fabric pocket 30 is preferably made of an inelastic fabric which can be joined or welded together by heat and pressure (e.g., via ultrasonic welding or by a similar thermal welding procedure) to form such a cylindrical structure. For example, suitable fabrics that can be used for the fabric pocket 30 can include one of various thermoplastic fibers known in the art that define a textile, such as non-woven polymer-based fabric, non-woven polypropylene material, or non-woven polyester material. The fabric pockets 30 may be formed of a single piece of fabric folded over the spring 20 or may be formed of two or more pieces of fabric. One or more welds may be used to close the fabric pocket 30.

[0016]Referring still to FIG. 1, the flexible foam 40 included in the pocket coil spring assembly 10 is generally comprised of a type of foam having a density suitable for supporting and distributing pressure from a user's body, or portion thereof, resting on the pocket coil spring assembly 10. Such flexible foams include, but are not limited to: latex foam; reticulated or non-reticulated visco-elastic foam (sometimes referred to as memory foam or low-resilience foam); reticulated or non-reticulated non-visco-elastic foam; high-resilience polyurethane foam; expanded polymer foams (e.g., expanded ethylene vinyl acetate, polypropylene, polystyrene, or polyethylene); and the like. In the exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the flexible foam 40 is comprised of a two-part polyurethane foam that can be dispensed as a liquid directly onto the top area 32 of the fabric pocket 30 to create a small, hemisphere (i.e., half of a sphere) that reacts and bonds to the fabric pocket 30 itself and that includes a top surface 42 having a convex shape and a flattened bottom surface (not shown). Of course, it is appreciated that varying the composition of the liquid can result in a different shape of the flexible foam 40. The amount of liquid dispense, and thus the amount of foam resulting, may vary.

[0017]With respect to hardness, the flexible foam 40 included in the pocket coil spring assembly 10 can, in some embodiments, have a hardness of at least about 10 N to no greater than about 80 N, as measured by exerting pressure from a plate against a sample of the material to a compression of at least 40% of an original thickness of the material at approximately room temperature (i.e., 21° C. to 23° C.), where the 40% compression is held for a set period of time as established by the International Organization of Standardization (ISO) 2439 hardness measuring standard. In some embodiments, the flexible foam 40 included in the pocket coil spring assembly 10 has a hardness of about 10 N, about 20 N, about 30 N, about 40 N, about 50 N, about 60 N, about 70 N, about 80 N, about 90 N, about 100 N, about 110 N, about 120 N, about 130 N, about 140 N, about 150 N, about 160 N, about 170 N, about 180 N, about 190 N, or about 200 N, to provide a desired degree of comfort and body-conforming or supporting qualities.

[0018]With respect to density, the flexible foam 40 included in the pocket coil spring assembly 10 can, in some embodiments, also have a density that assists in providing a desired degree of comfort and body-conforming qualities, as well as an increased degree of material durability. In some embodiments, the density of the flexible foam 40 included of the pocket coil spring assembly 10 has a density of no less than about 30 kg/m³ to no greater than about 150 kg/m³. In some embodiments, the density of the flexible foam 40 included in the pocket coil spring assembly 10 is about 15 kg/m³, 20 kg/m³, 25 kg/m³, 30 kg/m³, about 40 kg/m³, about 50 kg/m³, about 60 kg/m³, about 70 kg/m³, about 80 kg/m³, about 90 kg/m³, about 100 kg/m³, about 110 kg/m³, about 120 kg/m³, about 130 kg/m³, about 140 kg/m³, or about 150 kg/m³. Of course, the selection of a flexible foam having a particular density will affect other characteristics of the foam, including its hardness, the manner in which the foam responds to pressure, and the overall feel of the foam, but it should be appreciated that a flexible foam having a desired density and hardness can readily be selected for a particular pocket coil spring assembly or application as desired. Regardless of the particular properties of the flexible foam 40, a user's body, or portion thereof, resting on the pocket coil spring assembly 10 will be supported by both the flexible foam 40 as well as the coil spring 20, however, because the top surface 42 of the flexible foam 40 is positioned above the coil spring 20, the user's body, or portion thereof, resting on the pocket coil spring assembly 10 will only contact the flexible foam 40 and not the coil spring 20. Accordingly, the exemplary pocket coil spring assembly 10 advantageously combines the contact feel of foam with the durability and support of a spring.

[0019]As previously stated, the flexible foam 40 in the exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 1 is comprised of a two-part polyurethane foam, but it is appreciated that other materials can be used in addition to or instead of a foam, such as a gel or a fibrous fill material. For example, in some embodiments, the flexible foam can comprise, or can be replaced with, a vinyl- or silicone-based gel or other similar material. As another example, in some embodiments, the flexible foam can comprise an elastomeric gelatinous material that is capable of providing a cooling effect by acting as a thermal dump or heat sink into which heat from a user's body, or portion thereof, positioned on the flexible foam 40 can dissipate. More specifically, in these embodiments, the flexible foam comprises a polyurethane-based gel made by combining Hyperlast® LU 1046 Polyol, Hyperlast® LP 5613 isocyanate, and a thermoplastic polyurethane film, which are each manufactured and sold by Dow Chemical Company Corp. (Midland, MI), and which can be combined to produce a gel having a thermal conductivity of 0.1776 W/m*K, a thermal diffusivity of 0.1184 mm²/s, and a volumetric specific heat of 1.503 MJ (/m³K) as established by the International Organization of Standardization (ISO) 22007-2 volumetric specific heat measuring standard. It should also be appreciated that varying “zones,” or areas, may be created by the plurality of spring coil and foam. For example, the density of the flexible foam may vary in different “zones,” or areas, of the mattress assembly.

[0020]Furthermore, it is appreciated that the wire gauge, spring constant, pre-compression, and overall geometry of the coil spring used in a particular pocket coil spring assembly can also be readily varied and used to impart a particular feel or characteristic in an exemplary pocket coil spring assembly without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

[0021]Referring now to FIG. 2, in another embodiment, an exemplary mattress assembly 200 is provided that comprises a plurality of the pocket coil spring assemblies 10 described above with reference to FIG. 1. As shown in FIG. 2, the pocket coil spring assemblies 10 are arranged in a matrix and collectively form a spring core 202 having a first support surface 204 (or sleep surface), and a second support surface 206 opposite the first support surface 204. In the spring core 202 shown in FIG. 2, the pocketed coil spring assemblies 10 may be aligned in each of two dimensions of the mattress assembly 200, for example the head-foot dimension and the side-to-side dimension. In some other embodiments, the coil spring assemblies 10 may be aligned in one dimension and may be offset in a second perpendicular dimension. In still other embodiments, the coil spring assemblies 10 may be offset in two dimensions. The arrangements of any given matrix may vary.

[0022]Further, the longitudinal axes of each of the pocket coil spring assemblies 10 are arranged parallel with one another such that the top surface 42 of the flexible foam 40 of the pocket coil spring assemblies 10 forms, at least in part, the first support surface 204 of the spring core 202, and the bottom area 34 of the fabric pocket 30 along with the lower portion 24 of the coil spring 20 of each of the pocket coil spring assemblies 10 form the second support surface 206 of the spring core 202.

[0023]Additionally, in some embodiments, the exemplary mattress assembly 200 further comprises an upper body supporting layer 260 positioned adjacent to the first support surface 204 of the spring core 202, along with a lower foundation layer 270 positioned adjacent to the second support surface 206 of the spring core 202. A side panel 280 may extend between the upper body supporting layer and the lower foundation layer around the entire periphery of the spring core 202 such that the plurality of the pocket coil spring assemblies 10 are surrounded.

[0024]The upper body supporting layer 260 may be comprised of a visco-elastic foam; however, it is contemplated that the upper body supporting layer 260 can also be comprised of some combination of foam, upholstery, and/or other soft, flexible materials known in the art. Furthermore, the upper body supporting layer 260 can be comprised of multiple layers of material configured to improve the comfort or support of the upper body supporting layer 260. In contrast to the upper body supporting layer 260, the lower foundation layer 270 is generally comprised of a piece of wood, or other similarly rigid member, and is configured to support the plurality of pocket coil spring assemblies 10. In other embodiments, the lower foundation layer may be formed of foam or other material, less rigid, so that the mattress assembly 200 may be rolled, for shipping for example.

[0025]Referring now to FIG. 3, as another embodiment, an exemplary mattress assembly 300 is provided which comprises a plurality of pocket coil spring assemblies 310 that have a height that is less than the height of the coil springs described above with reference to FIGS. 1-2. The exemplary mattress assembly 300 shown in FIG. 3 further includes an upper continuous sheet 350 and a lower continuous sheet 352, which are described further below.

[0026]Each of the pocket coil spring assemblies 310 shown in FIG. 3 includes a coil spring 320 having an upper portion 322 and a lower portion 324 which collectively define a height of the coil spring 320. Each coil spring 320 in FIG. 3 is made of a continuous wire that extends from an upper end convolution at the upper portion 322 of the coil spring 320 to a lower end convolution opposite the upper end convolution at the lower portion 324 of the coil spring 320.

[0027]As noted, the exemplary mattress assembly 300 shown in FIG. 3 further includes an upper continuous sheet 350 which extends across the upper portion 322 of each of the plurality of coil springs 320, and a lower continuous sheet 352 which extends across the lower portion 324 of each of the plurality of coil springs 320. The upper continuous sheet 350 is connected to the lower continuous sheet 352 around and between each of the plurality of coil springs 320, such that the upper continuous sheet 350 and the lower continuous sheet 352 collectively form a fabric pocket that encases each of the coil springs 320. Specifically, a portion of the upper continuous sheet 350 forms, at least in part, the top area 332 of the fabric pocket that covers the upper portion 322 of the coil spring 320 of each of the plurality of pocket coil spring assemblies 310. Similarly, a portion of the lower continuous sheet 352 forms, at least in part, the bottom area 334 of the fabric pocket that covers the lower portion 324 of the coil spring 320 of each of the plurality of pocket coil spring assemblies 310.

[0028]Referring still to FIG. 3, the flexible foam 340 is disposed in areas between the pocket coil spring assemblies 310 instead of on top of the pocket coil spring assemblies, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. Specifically, the pocket coil spring assemblies 310 are arranged in a matrix extending from a lower foundation 360 of the mattress assembly 300 to a body supporting layer 370 of the mattress assembly. The flexible foams 340 of mattress assembly 300 are positioned in areas between the pocket coil spring assemblies 310 such that the top surface 342 of each flexible foam 340 is about the same height as the upper portion 322 of each of the pocket coil spring assemblies 310. For example, in the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 3, the top surface of each of the flexible foams 340 is level with the upper end convolution of each of the coil springs 320 such that the first support surface of the mattress assembly 300 is comprised of both the top surface 342 of the flexible foams 340 and the first convolutions of the upper portions 322 of the coil springs 320. This arrangement aids in filling gaps between the pocket coil spring assemblies 310.

[0029]Referring now to FIG. 4, as another embodiment, an exemplary mattress assembly 400 is provided that is substantially similar to the mattress assembly 300 described above with reference to FIG. 3, except that the flexible foam 440 is disposed in continuous amounts in the areas between the pocket coil spring assemblies 410 instead of in a matrix arrangement and instead on top of the pocket coil spring assemblies. Specifically, whereas the flexible foams 340 shown in FIG. 3 are discrete amounts that are positioned between the rows of coil springs 320, the flexible foams 440 shown in FIG. 4 extend in continuous amounts along the length of the rows of coil springs 420. In the depicted example, the rows extend in one direction, but alternatively may extend in the perpendicular direction of the mattress surface. Further, in some embodiments, the continuous amounts of the flexible foams 440 may extend in two directions wherein one of the directions is continuous first rows and the other direction forms second discontinuous rows extending between the first continuous rows. As with mattress assembly 300 of FIG. 3, each of the flexible foams 440 is positioned between coil spring assemblies 410 such that the top surface 442 of each flexible foam 440 is at about the same height as the upper portion 422 of each of the coil spring assemblies 410. Thus, an upper support surface of the mattress assembly 400 is comprised of both the top surface 442 of the flexible foams 440 and the first convolutions of the upper portions 422 of the coil springs 420.

[0030]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.