Metal slat box spring assembly

Claim 1

A box spring assembly comprising a generally rectangular bottom frame, a plurality of spaced parallel cross slats extending between and connected to opposite sides of said rectangular bottom frame, a plurality of helical springs each terminating at one end in a generally planar lower round and at the opposite end in a generally planar upper round, means interconnecting and securing said upper rounds of said helical springs in a common plane, each of said slats being formed from metal shaped to define transversely spaced flat bottom surfaces resting upon said opposite sides of said bottom frame and a transversely extending rib having opposed spaced side walls and a top surface located between said flat bottom surfaces, and connector means formed in said ribs of said slats for connecting said lower rounds of said helical springs to said slats, said connector means comprising slots formed in said opposed walls of said ribs of said slats, said bottom rounds of said helical springs being frictionally secured within said slots by forcing said bottom rounds of said helical springs away from the adjacent helical round as said bottom round is inserted into a slot and by maintaining said bottom and adjacent rounds of said spring under stress with said bottom round physically contacting said slot and the adjacent round physically contacting said top surface of said rib.