According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of forming a pocketted spring comprising the steps of inserting a compressed spring between two continuous layers or a folded layer of fabric or other material, joining the fabric or other material together at the side extremity (ies) in the vicinities of the spring and laterally so as to form a closed pocket in which the spring is located, and turning the spring through approximately 90° so as to allow the spring to lie substantially co-axial with said closed pocket. h an embodiment of the invention, the pocketted spring will be a double pocketted spring wherein two springs are located in end-to-end relationship and in separate pockets.

The double pocketted spring will be formed by inserting two compressed springs between two continuous layers of fabric or other

suitable material, securing said two layers together at their side extremities in the vicinities of the two springs and simultaneously securing said layers together along a medial line of said two layers, additionally securing said two layers together along lateral lines so as to form two pockets each containing one of said springs, and thereafter turning said springs through approximately 90 such that said springs lie substantially co-axial with said pockets.

The springs may be fed between the layers of fabric or other suitable material from a single coiler located at one side of the layers of fabric or other suitable material.

In an alternative arrangement for forming double pocketted springs, the springs may be fed towards each other and between the layers of fabric or other suitable material from discrete coilers located one at either side of said fabric or other suitable material. In such a case, the layers of fabric or other suitable material will firstly be connected together along a medial line so as to form two open-ended pockets into which said

springs are inserted, whereafter the open ends of the pockets are' closed and simultaneously the layers of fabric or other suitable material are secured together laterally so as to form two closed pockets arranged in end-to-end relationship and each containing a spring. Thereafter, the springs are turned through approximately 90° such that the springs lie substantially c-axial with said pockets.

The layers of fabric or other suitable material will preferably be connected together by welding.

In order that the invention may be more readily understood, embodiments thereof will now be described, by way of example only, reference being made to the accompanying drawings, wherein: Figure 1 is a schematic representation of apparatus for carrying out a method of forming pocketted springs according to a first embodiment of the invention ; and Figure 2 is a schematic representation of apparatus for carrying out a method of forming pocketted springs according to a second

embodiment of the invention, Figure 2 showing the use of two discrete coilers.

Referring to the drawings and firstly to Figure 1, there is shown pocketted spring forming apparatus comprising a conveyor (not shown) for conveying superposed layers of fabric or other suitable material in the direction of arrow 2, the upper layer of fabric or other suitable material being indicated by reference numeral 4.

Located to the side of the conveyed material is a coiler 6 for forming coil springs, the coiler being adapted to push formed coil springs out of the coiler in the direction of arrow 8 and onto the conveyor such that pairs of springs, such as those indicated by reference numerals 10A, 10B and 12A, 12B, lie between the layers of fabric or other suitable material.

Located in the vicinity of the conveyor, are welding machines which are arranged such that there is a welding machine 14 on the medial line

of the conveyor, welding machines 16 and 18 along the edges of the conveyor, and welding machines 20 and 22 arranged laterally of the conveyor.

As the coil springs 10A and 10B approach and pass beyond the welding machines, the welding machines are actuated to cause the layers of fabric or other suitable material to be welded together at their edge regions, and along the medial line and laterally, so as to create two end-to-end pockets, such as those indicated by reference numerals 24 and 26, the pockets containing springs 28 and 30 respectively.

After being enclosed in the pockets, the coil springs are turned through approximately 90° such that the coil springs lie substantially c-axial to one another and to the pockets in which they are located.

Thus there is provided a'string'of pocketted springs for subsequent insertion and incorporation into a bed, divan bed, mattress or other upholstered unit.

Referring now to Figure 2, the arrangement is substantially similar to that described with reference to Figure 1, such that like parts have been given like reference numerals. It will be observed from Figure 2 that instead of there being a single coiler, there are two discrete coilers 40 and 42 located one at either side of the conveyor. These coilers 40 and 42 are adapted to feed coil springs 12A and 12B in the directions of arrows 44 and 46 and between the layers of fabric or other suitable material.

It will be observed that unlike the arrangement of Figure 1, the welding machine 14 is located in a position in advance of the position at which the coil springs are fed onto the conveyor and that the welding machines 16 and 18 are located after (in the direction of travel of the conveyor) the lateral welding machines 20 and 22.

Instead of the pocketted springs being formed as double pocketted springs, they may be formed as single pocketted springs, such that there is formed a'string'of single pocketted springs, two of such

'strings'being subsequently welded or otherwise secured together to form a two-layer construction.

In addition, where a'string'of single pocketted springs is required, the 'strings'of double pocketted springs may be slit longitudinally so as to for the single'strings'.

Instead of the fabric or other material being in two discrete layers, it may be constituted by a folded piece of fabric or other material, in which case it will only be necessary to join the fabric or other material at the open side thereof instead of at both sides as previously described.