초록

A spring assembly including a helical coil formed from a multi-strand cord.

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What is claimed is: 1. A coil spring assembly comprising, a plurality of strands configured as a multi-strand cord, the multi-strand cord coiled into a first helical spring having four or more active coils, at least one inactive coil forming a closed end, and a free length of at least about four in

What is claimed is: 1. A coil spring assembly comprising, a plurality of strands configured as a multi-strand cord, the multi-strand cord coiled into a first helical spring having four or more active coils, at least one inactive coil forming a closed end, and a free length of at least about four inches, and an encasing material formed around the first helical spring, wherein the first helical spring comprises a pocketed-spring, and wherein the encasing material forms the pocket. 2. The coil spring assembly of claim 1, wherein the plurality of strands are twisted together. 3. The coil spring assembly of claim 1, wherein the plurality of strands are braided together. 4. The coil spring assembly of claim 1, wherein the plurality of strands consists of two strands twisted together into the multi-strand cord. 5. The coil spring assembly of claim 1, wherein the plurality of strands consists of three strands twisted together into the multi-strand cord. 6. The coil spring assembly of claim 1, wherein the plurality of strands consists of three or more strands twisted into the multi-strand cord. 7. The coil spring assembly of claim 1, wherein the plurality of strands consists of three strands braided into the multi-strand cord. 8. The coil spring assembly of claim 1, wherein the plurality of strands consists of three or more than three strands braided into the multi-strand cord. 9. The coil spring assembly of claim 1, wherein the plurality of strands all are formed from the same material. 10. The coil spring assembly of claim 1, wherein at least one of the plurality of strands are formed from a different material than at least one other of the plurality of strands. 11. The coil spring assembly of claim 1, wherein at least one of the plurality of strands has a plurality of segments, at least one of the segments being formed from a different material than at least one other of the plurality of segments. 12. The coil spring assembly of claim 1, wherein the multi-strand cord has a plurality of segments, at least one of the segments being formed from a different material than at least one other of the plurality of segments to provide a variable spring rate. 13. The coil spring assembly of claim 1, wherein the multi-strand cord has a coating. 14. The coil spring assembly of claim 13, wherein the coating includes a sealant. 15. The coil spring assembly of claim 13, wherein the coating includes a plastic. 16. The coil spring assembly of claim 13, wherein the coating includes an epoxy. 17. The coil spring assembly of claim 1, wherein at least one of the plurality of strands includes an anodizing surface treatment. 18. The coil spring assembly of claim 1, wherein at least one of the plurality of strands includes a plastic coating. 19. The coil spring assembly of claim 1, wherein the plurality of strands are fastened together at least at one end of the multi-strand cord. 20. The coil spring assembly of claim 1, wherein the plurality of strands are fastened together at a plurality of locations along the multi-strand cord. 21. The coil spring assembly of claim 1, where the plurality of strands all have approximately equal outside diameters. 22. The coil spring assembly of claim 1, wherein at least one of the plurality of strands has an outside diameter different from that of at least one other of the plurality of strands. 23. The coil spring assembly of claim 1, wherein all of the active coils have approximately equal outside diameters. 24. The coil spring assembly of claim 1, wherein at least one of the active coils has an outside diameter different from that of at least one other of the active coils. 25. The coil spring assembly of claim 1, wherein the active coils each have an associated outside diameter and the outside diameter of each subsequent one of the active coils is less than the outside diameter of each prior one of the active coils progressing from a first terminal end of the first helical spring to a second terminal end of the first helical spring. 26. The coil spring assembly of claim 1, wherein at least a first of the active coils is located near a first terminal end of the first helical spring and at least a second of the active coils is located near a second end of the terminal end, and the first and second active coils each have an outside diameter larger than at least one of the active coils located intermediate to the first and second active coils. 27. The coil spring assembly of claim 1, wherein the active coils have approximately equal pitch. 28. The coil spring assembly of claim 1, wherein a pitch between first and second ones of the active coils is different from a pitch between second an third ones of the active coils. 29. The coil spring assembly of claim 1 comprising, a second helical spring located concentrically inside the first helical spring. 30. The coil spring assembly of claim 29, wherein the second helical spring is formed from a multi-strand cord. 31. The coil spring assembly of claim 30, wherein the multi-strand cord of the first helical spring and the multi-strand cord of the second helical spring attach at least one terminal end.