Elastic-Laced Open Coil Spring Assembly for Motion Isolation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional open coil spring assemblies suffer from excessive motion transfer due to rigid helical wire lacing, which reduces conformity and comfort, whereas pocketed coil springs offer better independence but are more expensive to produce.
Innovation Solution
The use of elastic lacing or alternative connecting methods to join open coil springs, allowing for greater independence and reduced motion transfer, similar to pocketed coil springs, while maintaining the economic advantages of open coil springs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If rigid helical wire lacing is used to join open coil springs, then structural stability is improved, but motion transfer between springs increases and conformity to body shape decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical parameter of the lacing material from rigid (traditional wire) to elastic (rubber or polymer-based), allowing the lacing to stretch and absorb motion while maintaining structural connectivity. This parameter change enables the system to achieve both stability and reduced motion transfer simultaneously.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs composite construction by combining open coil springs with elastic lacing material, creating a hybrid system that leverages the structural support of metal springs with the shock-absorbing properties of elastic materials. This composite approach resolves the contradiction between rigidity and flexibility.
2Ease of manufacture
If rigid helical wire lacing is used to join open coil springs, then manufacturing simplicity is improved, but comfort and conformity to body shape deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent modifies the material parameter of the lacing from rigid wire to elastic material, which maintains ease of attachment (similar to traditional methods) while dramatically improving conformity to body shape through the elastic material's ability to deform and adapt to user contours.
3Object-generated harmful factors
If pocketed coil springs are used instead of open coil springs with elastic lacing, then motion transfer is reduced, but production cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a functional copy of the pocketed coil spring system's performance characteristics using open coil springs with elastic lacing. Instead of using individual fabric pockets for each spring, the elastic lacing replicates the motion-isolating effect at lower cost, achieving similar performance through a different structural approach.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the connection mechanism parameter from fabric enclosure (pocketed) to elastic lacing, maintaining the beneficial motion transfer reduction while using simpler, more cost-effective materials and assembly methods associated with open coil spring construction.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The open coil spring assembly with elastic lacing or connections reduces bounce and motion transfer, allowing each coil to move independently, enhancing comfort and performance comparable to pocketed coil springs without the higher production costs.
Implementation Method 1
an elastic lacing extending between pairs of adjacent rows of the plurality of rows of open coil springs
Data Source
AI summary
Present embodiments provide various open coil spring assemblies which perform like an encased spring assembly. The embodiments have elastic lacings or connections which connect springs to springs or springs to lacings. Various spring embodiments are provided as well as various arrangements for the elastic lacings. All of these features improve compliance and stability while reducing motion transfer.