Appeal No. 2003-0858 Page 10
Application No. 09/557,509
extends for the full length of the strip 22. Each coil spring 31 comprises about 2½ turns
of wire with an axis which extends vertically perpendicular to the top and bottom faces
of the band of springs 23 and the spring interior. The end turns of the coil springs 31 lie
adjacent to the top and bottom faces 27, 28 of the band. Each coil spring 31 is joined
to the next adjacent coil spring by two interconnecting segments 35, 36 of the wire
integral with the coil springs. One of the two interconnecting segments 35, 36 is in the
top face 27 of the band 23, and the other is in the bottom face 28 thereof. Each
interconnecting segment 35, 36 comprises a bridging portion 37, which extends
longitudinally of the band or row of coil springs, and end portions 38, which extend in a
direction normal to the longitudinal axis of the band 22. These end portions 38 of the
interconnecting segments 35, 36 also lie in the top and bottom faces 27, 28 of the band
22.
Long teaches that in the prior art, after formation of the rows of coil springs 22, it
was common practice to interconnect the bands or rows of coil springs by lacing them
together by means of helical lacing wires. Such helical lacing wires are eliminated,
though, according to the practice of Long's invention. In accordance with Long's
invention, each band of coil springs 23 is encased within a folded two-ply strip of
non-woven fabric of thermoplastic fibers in which individual spring pockets 42 are
defined between the plies by transverse lines 43 of discrete thermal welds of the plies
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