Composite Spring Clip Assembly to Eliminate Furniture Squeak

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing U-shaped sheet metal clips used in furniture manufacturing for securing sinuous springs to wooden rails often result in squeaking noise over time, inadequate holding strength, and high material usage, leading to increased costs.

Innovation Solution

A clip assembly comprising a plastic clip with a U-shaped hook portion and a metal fastener featuring tacks that extend through the plastic clip, providing a secure connection to wooden rails without squeaking and reducing material usage.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If U-shaped sheet metal clips are used to secure sinuous springs to wooden rails, then the clips provide structural support and connection, but they result in squeaking noise over time and inadequate holding strength

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesqueaking noiseVSAvoidholding strength

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The invention uses a composite structure combining a plastic clip body with metal reinforcement elements (tacks or wires) embedded within it. The plastic component eliminates squeaking by preventing metal-on-metal contact, while the metal reinforcement provides adequate holding strength for securing sinuous springs to wooden rails.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

2Strength

If traditional sheet metal clips are used, then connection strength is provided, but material usage is high leading to increased costs

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveconnection strengthVSAvoidmaterial usage

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of making the entire clip from metal, the invention applies metal material only locally where strength is needed - specifically in the form of tacks or wires embedded in the plastic body. This localized reinforcement provides adequate connection strength while significantly reducing overall material usage and cost.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

3Object-affected harmful factors

If plastic liners are added to prevent squeaking, then noise is reduced, but the liners may wear out or move/shift over time

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenoise preventionVSAvoidliner durability

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The invention extracts the problematic plastic liner component and integrates its noise-prevention function directly into the clip structure itself. The plastic clip body with embedded metal tacks provides noise prevention as an inherent feature rather than a separate, wear-prone component, eliminating the issue of liners wearing out or shifting.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Data Source

PatentUS8991016B2Clip assembly for use holding sinuous springs

Publication Date: 2015.03.31 L & P PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO

AI summary

A piece of furniture (10) includes a rectangular frame (12) for supporting a plurality of sinuous springs (20). A plurality of clip assemblies (18) are secured to opposed side walls (14) of frame (12). Each clip assembly (18) comprises a non-metallic piece (22) having openings (40) and a metallic piece having tacks (42) extending through the openings (40) for insertion into the frame (12). Flexible connectors (38) may be located in grooves (36) of the clip assembly (18) to collate multiple clip assemblies (18).