Encased asymmetric coil innersprings with alternating coil spring orientations

Abstract

Encased coil innersprings with alternating spring coil orientations utilize a common coil configuration and a uniform encasement or pocket configuration, and wherein the coils have an asymmetrical configuration and the vertical end-up orientation of the coils that is alternated or otherwise varied. Selected coils in different areas or patterns in the array of pocketed coils that form the spring core are inverted, relative to a support surface of the spring core, within the individual pockets. The inverted coils have spring characteristics including spring rate, stiffness and initial deflection force which are different from the spring characteristics of the non-inverted coils due to the asymmetry of the coils along a longitudinal axis.

1 . A mattress comprising:
 a core of a plurality of individually encased asymmetric coils, each asymmetric coil having a coil body, a first coil end and a second coil end, and asymmetry in the coil body or between the first coil end and the second cod end, the first and second ends of the coils located in first or second planes of the innerspring, at least some of the coils of the innerspring being in with respect to other coils of the innerspring;   at least one layer of padding on one of the surfaces of the innerspring,   an upholstery layer over the padding and the innerspring; and   the coil body of the encased asymmetric coil has at least one non-helical segment.   
     
     
         2 . The mattress of  claim 1  wherein the coil body of the encased asymmetric coil is generally helical. 
     
     
         3 . The mattress of  claim 1  wherein the coil body of the encased asymmetric coil is asymmetrical. 
     
     
         4 . The mattress of  claim 3  wherein the coil body of the encased asymmetric coil has helical turns with differing pitch. 
     
     
         5 . The mattress of  claim 3  wherein the coil body of the encased asymmetric coil has helical turns with differing diameter. 
     
     
         6 . (canceled) 
     
     
         7 . The mattress of  claim 1  wherein a lateral extent of the first coil end of the encased asymmetric coil differs from a lateral extent of the second coil end of the asymmetric coil. 
     
     
         8 . The mattress of  claim 1  wherein encased asymmetric coils in a first orientation are located in a first column of coils of the core, and encased asymmetric coils in a second orientation are located in a second column of coils of the core. 
     
     
         9 . The mattress of  claim 1  wherein encased asymmetric coils in a first orientation are located in a first row of coils of the core, and encased asymmetric coils in a second orientation are located in a second row of coils of the core. 
     
     
         10 . The mattress of  claim 1  wherein encased asymmetric coils in a first orientation are located in a first region of the core, and encased asymmetric coils in a second orientation are located in a second region of the core. 
     
     
         11 . The mattress of  claim 1  wherein encased asymmetric coils in a first orientation are located on a first lateral side of the core, and encased asymmetric coils in a second orientation are located on a second lateral side of the core. 
     
     
         12 . The mattress of  claim 1  wherein encased asymmetric coils in a first orientation are located at a perimeter of the core, and encased asymmetric coils in a second orientation are located in as non-perimeter region of the core. 
     
     
         13 . The mattress of  claim 1  wherein the core is comprised of a plurality of asymmetric coils are encased in as first strand of encasement material in a first orientation and a plurality of asymmetric coils encased in a second strand of encasement material in a second orientation. 
     
     
         14 . The mattress of  claim 13  wherein the encasement material of the first strand and encasement material of the second strand is connected together. 
     
     
         15 . (canceled) 
     
     
         16 . (canceled) 
     
     
         17 . (canceled) 
     
     
         18 . (canceled) 
     
     
         19 . (canceled) 
     
     
         20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . (canceled) 
     
     
         22 . (canceled) 
     
     
         23 . (canceled) 
     
     
         24 . (canceled)