Patent Publication Number: US-4838528-A

Title: Bent wire spring module

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     In my pending application, Ser. No. 760,253, now U.S. Pat. No. 4,666,136, filed July 29, 1985, there is shown and claimed a spring module wherein there are upper and lower attaching elements for connecting the units to a support frame and a grid frame and wherein there are spaced, parallel, vertically-disposed legs yieldable in spaced, parallel, perpendicular planes. Because the legs are diametrically opposite, yield is asymmetrical. It is the purpose of this invention to provide a structure wherein the supporting legs are so disposed as to provide symmetrical yielded about the perpendicular axis of the module. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In accordance with the invention, the spring module as herein illustrated for disposition between a supporting frame and a grid frame to yieldably support the latter relative to the supporting frame comprises top and bottom attaching means structured to be attached to the grid and support frames, respectively, and yieldable supporting means disposed between the attaching means, comprising vertically-disposed, spaced, parallel lengths of wire, first diverging lengths of wire connected at one end to the upper and lower ends of said vertically-spaced, parallel lengths of wire, second diverging lengths of wire connected at one end to the opposite ends of the first diverging lengths of wire and extending from said opposite ends in opposite directions and connected at their upper and lower ends to the top and bottom attaching elements, said second diverging lengths of wire being inclined in opposite directions. The first diverging lengths of wire are disposed at obtuse angles with respect to the ends of said vertically-spaced, parallel lengths of wire and the second diverging lengths of wire are disposed at obtuse angles with respect to the first diverging lengths of wire. The second diverging lengths of wire are disposed in a plane which is obtuse to the plane of the first diverging lengths of wire. 
    
    
     The invention will now be described in greater detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a spring module constructed according to the invention disposed between a base frame and a grid frame, only portions of which are shown; 
     FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the spring module shown in FIG. 1 taken on the line 2--2 of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 3 is a top plan view; 
     FIG. 4 is a elelvation of FIG. 3; 
     FIG. 5 is an elevation at right angles to FIG. 4; and 
     FIG. 6 is a bottom plan view. 
    
    
     Referring to the figures, FIGS. 1 and 2, there is shown a spring module 10 constructed according to this invention disposed between a base frame 12 and a grid frame 14 with its lower end stapled to the crossbars 16 of the base frame and its upper end connected to the crossing wires 18 of the grid frame. The lower end of the module 10 comprises spaced, parallel lengths of wire 20--20 connected by a diagonal length of wire 22 and the upper end comprises spaced, parallel lengths of wire 24--24 connected by a diagonal length of wire 26. The upper lengths of wire 24--24 contain deviations 28--28. The lengths of the wires 20--20 and the lengths of the wires 24--24 comprise attaching elements by means of which the module is connected to, respectively, the base frame and the grid frame. 
     The lower and upper attaching elements 20--20 and 24--24 are yieldably connected to each other by symmetrically structured supporting legs 30--30, FIGS. 4 and 5. Each leg 30 comprises a vertical length of wire 32. At the opposite ends of the legs 30--30, there are oppositely-diverging legs 34--34. The vertical and diverging lengths of wire 32--32 and 34--34 are disposed in vertical, spaced, parallel planes. At the upper and lower ends of the diverging lengths of wire 34--34, there are upwardly and downwardly-inclined lengths of wire 36--36 extending transversely with respect to the legs 30--30 at obtuse angles to the legs 34--34. As thus structured in plan view, FIGS. 3 and 6, the lengths of wire 24--24, 34--34 and 36--36 are symmetrically disposed about the vertical axis of the module. The upper and lower ends of the respective legs 36--36 are connected to the attaching elements 20--20 and 24--24. 
     The vertical lengths of wire 32--32 and the inclined first and second lengths of wire 34--34 and 36--36 are disposed symmetrically about the vertical axis of the module such that pressure applied to the upper ends of the modules is supported symmetrically about the vertical axis of the modules. 
     The vertical lengths of wire 32--32 may optionally be rectilinear or may be bent at obtuse angles in oppositedirections relative to each other. 
     It should be understood that the present disclosure is for the purpose of illustration only and includes all modifications or improvements which fall within the scope of the appended claims.