Clip assembly for use holding sinuous springs

• US 9,427,094 B2
• Filed: 09/30/2014
• Issued: 08/30/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 10/10/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: L&P Property Management Company (Leggett & Platt Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: L&P Property Management Company (Leggett & Platt Incorporated)
• Inventors: Conway, Lawrence J., Bridges, Scott A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Sandy, Robert J
• Assistant Examiner(s): LEE, MICHAEL S
• Application Number:
  US14/501,696
• Publication Number:
  US 20150013118A1
• Time in Patent Office: 700 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 23/057 Hangers or supports for fastening spring units to frame
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 23/16 of plane meandering type
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 23/26 Frames therefor; Connecting the springs to the frame
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 31/04 Clamps for attaching flat elastic strips or flat meandering springs to frames
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 31/06 for attaching flat meandering springs
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/3455 Penetrating type
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/3476 and hook

Abstract

A piece of furniture includes a rectangular frame for supporting a plurality of sinuous springs. A plurality of clip assemblies are secured to opposed side walls of frame. Each clip assembly comprises a metallic piece having a generally planar portion and tacks for insertion into the frame. The generally planar portion of the metallic piece is encased by plastic of a non-metallic piece having a hook to secure one end of a sinuous wire. Flexible connectors may be located in grooves of the clip assembly to collate multiple clip assemblies.

Claims

1. A clip assembly for securing an end portion of a sinuous spring to a wooden rail, said clip assembly comprising:

a metal fastener including at least two tacks extending downwardly from a generally planar portion of the metal fastener; and

a plastic piece comprising a generally planar body portion, a U-shaped hook portion extending outwardly from one end of the body portion, the hook portion being adapted to receive and retain the end portion of the sinuous spring, and a generally planar flange portion extending outwardly from the other end of the body portion in a direction generally perpendicular to the body portion,

wherein the metal fastener and plastic piece are molded together into a unitary member, the generally planar portion of the metal fastener being encased by the flange portion of the plastic piece, the tacks of the metal fastener extending through the plastic piece and being adapted to extend into the wooden rail.

2. The clip assembly of claim 1 wherein the metal fastener is a unitary member, the tacks of the metal fastener being formed from the material of the metal fastener and extending outwardly from the generally planar portion of the metal fastener.

3. The clip assembly of claim 1 wherein at least one of the tacks of the metal fastener is serrated.

4. The clip assembly of claim 1 wherein each of the tacks of the metal fastener is serrated.

5. The clip assembly of claim 1 wherein the metal fastener has two tacks.

6. The clip assembly of claim 1 wherein the flange portion of the plastic piece has spaced grooves adapted to receive flexible connectors to join multiple clip assemblies together.

7. The clip assembly of claim 1 wherein at least one of the tacks of the metal fastener is creased.

8. The clip assembly of claim 1 wherein each of the tacks of the metal fastener is creased.

9. The clip assembly of claim 1 wherein the generally planar body portion of the plastic piece has a ledge extending from one side edge to the opposed side edge of the plastic piece.

10. The clip assembly of claim 1 wherein the generally planar portion of the metal fastener is generally U-shaped.

11. The clip assembly of claim 10 wherein a portion of the metal fastener has openings created by forming the tacks.

12. A clip assembly for securing an end portion of a sinuous spring to a wooden rail, said clip assembly comprising:

a metal fastener including at least two tacks extending outwardly from a planar portion of the metal fastener; and

a non-metallic piece comprising a generally planar body portion, a U-shaped hook portion extending outwardly from one end of the body portion and a generally planar flange portion extending outwardly from the other end of the body portion in a direction generally perpendicular to the body portion, wherein the generally planar body portion of the non-metallic piece has a ledge extending from one side edge to the opposed side edge of the non-metallic piece, the hook portion and ledge being adapted to receive and retain the end portion of the sinuous spring,

wherein the metal fastener and non-metallic piece are molded together into a unitary member, the generally planar portion of the metal fastener being encased by the flange portion of the non-metallic piece, the tacks of the metal fastener extending through the non-metallic piece and being adapted to be embedded into the wooden rail.

13. The clip assembly of claim 12 wherein the non-metallic piece has spaced grooves therein.

14. The clip assembly of claim 12 wherein the metal fastener is a unitary member, the tacks of the metal fastener being formed from the material of the metal fastener and extending outwardly from the remainder of the metal fastener.

15. The clip assembly of claim 12 wherein at least one of the tacks of the metal fastener is serrated.

16. The clip assembly of claim 12 wherein each of the tacks of the metal fastener is serrated.

17. The clip assembly of claim 12 wherein the metal fastener has two tacks.

18. The clip assembly of claim 12 wherein the generally planar portion of the metal fastener is generally U-shaped.

19. The clip assembly of claim 12 wherein at least one of the tacks of the metal fastener is creased.

20. A clip assembly for securing an end portion of a sinuous spring to a wooden rail, said clip assembly comprising:

a first non-metallic piece comprising a generally planar body portion, a U-shaped hook portion extending outwardly from one end of the body portion and a generally planar flange portion extending outwardly from the other end of the body portion in a direction generally perpendicular to the body portion, wherein the generally planar body portion of the first non-metallic piece has a ledge extending from one side edge to the opposed side edge of the plastic piece, the hook portion and ledge being adapted to receive and retain the end portion of the sinuous spring; and

a second metal piece having two projections extending outwardly from a planar portion of the metal piece through the first piece, the projections being adapted to be secured into a wooden rail,

wherein the first and second pieces are molded together into a unitary member, the generally planar portion of the second metal piece being encased by the flange portion of the first non-metallic piece, the tacks of the second metal piece extending through the flange portion of the first non-metallic piece.

21. The clip assembly of claim 20 wherein the flange portion of the first non-metallic piece has spaced grooves therein.

22. The clip assembly of claim 21 wherein the first non-metallic piece has portions of flexible connectors secured inside the spaced grooves.

23. The clip assembly of claim 20 wherein the second metal piece is a unitary member, the tacks of the second metal piece being formed from the material of the generally planar portion of the second metal piece and extending outwardly from the generally planar portion of the second metal piece.

24. The clip assembly of claim 20 wherein at least one of the tacks of the second piece is serrated.

25. The clip assembly of claim 20 wherein the second piece has two tacks.

26. The clip assembly of claim 20 wherein the generally planar portion of the second piece is generally U-shaped.

27. The clip assembly of claim 20 wherein at least one of the tacks of the second piece is creased.