With Cantilevered Surface Extension, I.e., "soft Edge" Patents (Class 267/102)
  • Patent number: 10919423
    Abstract: A vehicle seat includes a fabric center portion, first and second bolsters, a first seam between the first bolster and the center portion, a second seam between the center portion and the second bolster, and a seat frame. First and second extension members are disposed along and coupled to the respective first and second seams. The first and second extension members are adjustable between first and second positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2021
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Thomas J. Susko
  • Patent number: 9730520
    Abstract: Described herein is a chair for relieving pressure points from prolonged sitting. The chair comprises a plurality of armrests, the armrests comprising: an armrest frame; a foam layer coupled to an upper portion of the armrest frame; and a first gel infused foam layer coupled to an upper portion of the foam layer. The chair further comprises a seat bottom, the seat bottom comprising: a seat bottom frame; a sinuous spring base coupled to the seat bottom frame; a plurality of coil springs coupled to the sinuous spring base; and a second gel infused foam layer coupled to the coil springs. The chair further comprises a seat back, the seat back comprising: a seat back frame; elastic webbing coupled to the seat back frame; and one or more cushions coupled to the seat back frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2017
    Assignee: GES Consulting Services, LLC
    Inventor: Joseph Savovic
  • Patent number: 9266455
    Abstract: Embodiments of present invention may include a cushion pad for supporting a seated passenger; the cushion pad being divided into a left pad section, a middle pad section and a right pad section; a soft resin foam dispersed throughout the left pad section, the middle pad section and the right pad section; the left pad section having a left holding volume for holding a first volume of an elastic three-dimensional fibrous network and the soft resin foam; the right pad section having a right holding volume for holding a second volume of an elastic three-dimensional fibrous network and the soft resin foam; and the middle pad section not having a volume of an elastic three-dimensional fibrous network contained within.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2016
    Assignees: TOYOTA BOSHOKU KABUSHIKI KAISHA, TOYOBO CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hideki Uramichi, Fumiya Makiguchi, Masayuki Imagawa, Hirotaka Harada
  • Patent number: 8801422
    Abstract: A machine and method to produce structural elements for the building trade made of cement material with one or more inserts made of polymer material. The machine comprises at least a molding member, a loading unit for loading the inserts and a depositing member to deposit the cement material. The molding member is open at the upper part and the loading unit and the depositing member are selectively positionable above the molding member in order to load and deposit from above, respectively, the inserts and the cement material into the molding member, in order to achieve the structural elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2014
    Assignee: S.A.C.M.E. Srl
    Inventor: Luciano Badin
  • Patent number: 8662483
    Abstract: A shock absorber for vehicle seat is provided. The shock absorber is suspended on a seat frame so as to elastically support a pad. The shock absorber includes: a plurality of wires that are disposed in parallel to the seat frame, both ends of the wires being locked to the seat frame; and a resinous member that connects the wires to each other, the resinous member having a bent portion, wherein the resinous member is elastically deformable in a direction in which the wires are opposed each other in accordance with a deformation of the bent portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Toyota Boshoku Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shigetomo Yamaguchi, Masayuki Kitou, Toshiyuki Ario, Ryuji Hayashi
  • Patent number: 8246023
    Abstract: A vibration damper, particularly for supporting compressors, pumps, electric motors and the like, comprising a flat body from which at least two engagement tabs protrude on each of the two faces and at least two elastically deformable contact and shock-absorbing portions protrude on at least one of the faces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2012
    Assignee: Mollificio Cappeller S.R.L.
    Inventor: Alessandro Cappeller
  • Publication number: 20080023894
    Abstract: A captive retaining spring for a recessed mounting assembly has a retaining spring which is adjustable to compensate for multiple ceiling thicknesses, does not require the use of tools for installation, and may be assembled by the manufacturer and shipped ready for installation
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 31, 2006
    Publication date: January 31, 2008
    Applicant: Genlyte Thomas Group LLC
    Inventors: Craig S. Nevers, Kevin Willis, Graham M. Rippel, Mark O. Jones, Karl E. Mortensen, Robert J. Wedekind
  • Patent number: 6264179
    Abstract: The seat assembly of the present invention comprises a generally rectangular frame, a center rail, a plurality of modular springs secured to the frame and a wire grid secured to the modular springs. Each of the modular springs has a front section secured to the front rail of the rectangular frame, a resilient center section secured to the center rail and a rear section spaced above the frame and unattached to any of the rails. The front section of each modular spring is preloaded to increase the resilient support of the seat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2001
    Assignee: L&P Property Management Company
    Inventor: Larry I. Bullard
  • Patent number: 6012190
    Abstract: A body support moveable between unfolded and folded positions comprises: serially interconnected body, cavity and seat sections defined by respective upper and lower grids and including resilient members. The body, cavity and seat sections have their upper and lower grids positioned to be substantially coplanar in the unfolded position, and the seat section overlies the body section in the folded position. The resilient members of the seat section are generally planar and are arranged in a plurality of transverse rows. The resilient members are pivotally attached to the seat section upper and lower grids such that, in the unfolded position, the resilient members of the seat section are erect and extend substantially normal to the seat section upper and lower grids, and in the folded position, the resilient members of the seat section pivot relative to the seat section upper and lower grids to bring the seat section upper and lower grids adjacent each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2000
    Assignee: Pharma Corporation
    Inventor: W. Clark Rogers
  • Patent number: 5363522
    Abstract: A perimeter support spring for use in a mattress or furniture spring assembly having an array of coil springs connected with spaced parallel border wires along the perimeter of the spring array is connected between the border wires to provide supplementary support to the mattress perimeter. The support spring comprises a torsion spring member having an intermediate torsion coil, a pair of spring arms diverging from the torsion coil, and a pair of molded plastic mounting clips attached to the terminal ends of the spring arms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 1994
    Date of Patent: November 15, 1994
    Assignee: Hickory Springs Manufacturing Company
    Inventor: Kevin N. McGraw
  • Patent number: 5253851
    Abstract: In order to provide a springing effect in correspondence with the edge of a belt frame in chairs, sofas or the like, a device is envisaged consisting of a plurality of arms, each fixed to a belt and extending from the latter in inclined position, as well as a common transverse element connecting all the arms. Due to stresses on the latter element, the arms deform the belts which cause a bending moment of elastic return.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 1992
    Date of Patent: October 19, 1993
    Assignee: Cintel S.r.l.
    Inventor: Anacleto Fontana
  • Patent number: 5231712
    Abstract: A bedding spring is formed of a single piece of sinuous wire with a plurality of bars connected together by bends. A top portion of the spring includes two inboard bars and two outboard bars which connect the spring to a wire grid. The outboard bars lie below a grid wire, the inboard bars lie above the grid wire, and the inboard bars have localized bends which form downwardly facing notches for receiving the grid wire. The spring has a bottom portion formed of two spaced apart feet which are connectable to a horizontal platform, and a midportion formed of two downwardly diverging sinuous wire sections which connect the top portion to the feet. A bedding unit is made from a horizontal platform, a wire grid, and plurality of such springs which have their bottom portions connected to the platform and their top portions connected to the grid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 1992
    Date of Patent: August 3, 1993
    Assignee: Elite Support Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Phillip K. Edwards, Burl T. Kenner, Jr.
  • Patent number: 4606532
    Abstract: An improvement in a seat for mounting on pairs of forward and rearward brackets in a vehicle. The seat includes a seat spring for supporting the seat cushion, a pair of connecting members for interconnecting the pairs of forward and rearward brackets, a rearward spring for connecting a rear portion of the seat spring to the rearward connecting member, and a forward spring for connecting a front portion of the seat spring and a rearward portion of the seat spring with the forward connecting member. The forward spring is pivotable and slidable on the forward connecting member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 1984
    Date of Patent: August 19, 1986
    Assignee: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kenichi Kazaoka, Hiroshi Okazaki
  • Patent number: 4597566
    Abstract: A spring deck for upholstered seating consisting of a thin deck sheet, flexible transversely of its plane but inelastic in its plane, arranged generally horizontally over an open seat frame, and being connected at its front and rear edges to the frame, the connection at its rearward edge being by edge springs resiliently yieldable toward its forward edge so that it may yield downwardly responsively to top loading, and vertically yieldable sub-springs disposed beneath the central portion of the deck sheet and biased to offset that portion of the deck sheet upwardly above a plane determined by its front and rear edge connections, so that a load imposed on the deck is supported first by the sub-springs and later by both the sub-springs and the edge springs. The forward edge of the deck sheet may be supported by springs which are vertically yieldable, but not yieldable toward the rear deck sheet edge, in order that the deck sheet provides a soft-edge yieldability at its forward edge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 1985
    Date of Patent: July 1, 1986
    Assignee: Flex-o-lators, Inc.
    Inventor: Jerry G. Scrivner
  • Patent number: 4337931
    Abstract: A spring base for upholstered seating, particularly automotive seats having upwardly and outwardly inclined "wings" or bolsters at the sides thereof, consisting of a pair of spaced apart side bolster wires each adapted to be supported by spaced helical springs attached thereto and extending outwardly therefrom for connection at their outer ends to a fixed frame, and a series of relatively closely spaced spring cross wires extending between the bolster wires and connected thereto, certain of the cross wires being of relatively small gauge and extending only between the bolster wires, and certain of the cross wires being relatively heavy gauge and extending beyond the bolster wires and being angled upwardly and outwardly to provide spring support for the bolsters, all with the purpose of providing the necessary spring strength in the various areas of the seat, as well as the necessary closeness of the wires to provide adequate support for the helical springs and adequate support for the cushioning material appl
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 1980
    Date of Patent: July 6, 1982
    Assignee: Flex-O-Lators, Inc.
    Inventors: Donald D. Mundell, John P. Gowing
  • Patent number: 4283046
    Abstract: A seat construction comprising a spring assembly including a pair of longitudinally extending wires, a plurality of transversely extending spaced spring wires, portions of which are wound around the longitudinally extending wires to define an intermediate portion extending between the spaced longitudinally extending wires and free ends extending beyond the longitudinally extending wires. An additional longitudinally extending wire is connected to the free ends of the transversely extending wires along each end of the longitudinally extending wires. The portions of the transversely extending wires between one of the first-mentioned longitudinally extending and one of the additional longitudinally extending wires is curved so that that additional longitudinally extending wire is spaced from the plane of the remaining longitudinally extending wires.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 1979
    Date of Patent: August 11, 1981
    Assignee: Gulf & Western Manufacturing Company
    Inventor: Louis G. Bowles, Jr.
  • Patent number: 4171125
    Abstract: In a seat support structure of the kind comprising two spaced longitudinally extending cord members, and a plurality of spaced apart spring metal wires extending transversely between the longitudinal cords and connected to the latter, the transverse wires extending beyond at least one of the longitudinal cords into connection with an edge wire to define an angled, sprung wing of the structure, there is provided an improved, interlocking connection between the transverse wires and the or each longitudinal cord adjacent the wing to prevent failure of the connection under tension on the longitudinal cord.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 1978
    Date of Patent: October 16, 1979
    Assignee: Youngflex S.A.
    Inventor: David T. Griffiths
  • Patent number: 4153959
    Abstract: A spring attachment clip for the fastening of springs to furniture frames, the clip carrying its own means for being secured to the frame and having in addition means for reducing or eliminating audible noise as ordinarily caused by the action of the spring working against the clip. The clip configuration is adapted to permit its multiple formation in long strips intended to be fed into an automatic device which separates the individual clips from the strips and secures them to the frame. Additionally, the U-shaped edges of the spring engaging end of the clips are bevelled outward to strengthen the clip rendering it unnecessary to close the clip to prevent its opening under spring tension.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 1978
    Date of Patent: May 15, 1979
    Assignee: Omley Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Herbert A. Omley
  • Patent number: 4124201
    Abstract: A knockdown spring unit for seating furniture has lift springs connectible to a rail of a frame of the furniture and releasably attachable to a suitable platform arrangement forming a seating surface. The platform arrangement can either be fastened directly to the frame at points opposite connection of the lift springs to the frame, or the platform arrangement can be supported entirely by the lift springs for indirect attachment to the frame. Each of the lift springs has a coil portion which terminates at a one end thereof in an eye and at the other end thereof in a stem disposed extending transversely from the turns of the coil portion and forming a hook provided with a substantially V-shaped bend the vertex of which is normally disposed adjacent the eye of the spring when the spring is in an undeflected state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 1977
    Date of Patent: November 7, 1978
    Inventor: Robert E. Burton
  • Patent number: 4062087
    Abstract: A metallic clip designed for holding the end bar of a sinuous cushion-supporting spring in position on one rail of an article of furniture and also having associated therewith jaw portions which straddle the rail and, when pressed inwardly against the rail, seize the sides of such rail and maintain the clip firmly in position on the rail. In one form of the invention, a string of such clips are held together in slightly spaced side-by-side fashion by a liner strip which is seated within the reentrant or reverse bends of the clips so that individual clips may be successively severed from the strip for application to the rail. In a modified form of the clip, means are provided whereby the clips may be stacked together loosely against complete separation so that individual clips may be successively removed from the stack at will for rail application.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 1976
    Date of Patent: December 13, 1977
    Assignee: Hartco Company
    Inventor: Harrison Church Lingle
  • Patent number: 3998371
    Abstract: A spring edge for a furniture deck, the deck consisting of a wire fabric deck sheet resiliently supported over a rigid frame, the spring edge consisting of a series of vertically V-shaped spring elements distributed along the forward edge of the frame opening forwardly, with their apices being connected to the deck, each element consisting of a single strand of spring wire configurated to present a horizontally transverse top reach, downwardly and rearwardly inclined legs extending from each end of the top reach to the apex, horizontally transverse torsion legs extending from the lower end of each inclined leg, the torsion legs defining the apex of the element and being secured to the deck, and a forwardly extending bottom leg extending from the opposite ends of the torsion legs and being secured at their forward ends to the frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 1976
    Date of Patent: December 21, 1976
    Assignee: Flex-O-Lators, Inc.
    Inventor: Lloyd E. Tieman
  • Patent number: 3994482
    Abstract: A spring edge for a furniture deck, the deck consisting of a wire fabric deck sheet resiliently supported over a rigid frame, the spring edge consisting of a series of generally V-shaped sinuous spring elements distributed along the forward edge of the frame, opening forwardly, the lower legs of the elements being fixedly related at their forward ends to the frame and deck, and the apices of the elements being connected to the deck for forward and rearward sliding movement, the upper legs of the spring elements being inclined upwardly and forwardly and supporting a transversely extending horizontal border wire at their upper ends.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 1975
    Date of Patent: November 30, 1976
    Assignee: Flex-O-Lators, Inc.
    Inventors: John G. Platt, Robert O. Isaacs
  • Patent number: 3992059
    Abstract: A seat of the disclosure has an exposed edge construction that reduces the seat padding necessary to cushion a frame portion extending along the seat edge. The seat edge construction may be utilized with either the seat cushion or seat back of the seat and incorporates auxiliary sinuous springs having first ends supported by primary sinuous springs so as to extend therefrom in a cantilevered manner. The auxiliary springs extend over the adjacent frame portion with a curved configuration that is convex with respect to seat padding supported by these springs. Second ends of the auxiliary springs are secured to the frame portion on the opposite side thereof from their first ends.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 1975
    Date of Patent: November 16, 1976
    Assignee: Lear Siegler, Inc.
    Inventor: Henry L. Kloepfer
  • Patent number: 3982737
    Abstract: A spring assembly for a seat having a rigid frame including front and rear rails, comprising a flexible deck sheet connected at its rearward edge to said rear frame rail, with its forward edge spaced rearwardly from the front frame rail, a series of angled levers spaced across the forward edge of the deck sheet and vertically pivoted thereon, the longer upper legs of the levers being inclined upwardly to be spaced at their upper ends above the front frame rail to form a bolster support, links connecting the free ends of the shorter lower legs of the levers to the front frame rail, and springs applying elastic tension to the deck sheet, lower level legs and links between the front and rear frame rails.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 1975
    Date of Patent: September 28, 1976
    Assignee: Flex-O-Lators, Inc.
    Inventors: John G. Platt, Harmon W. Arnold, Lloyd E. Tieman, Robert O. Isaacs
  • Patent number: 3971081
    Abstract: A frame for a box spring unit utilizing torsion bar springs comprises a generally rectangular wood frame member and a plurality of parallel transverse metal slats secured to the frame member, the metal slats being adapted to precisely position and firmly secure the base of the torsion bar spring to the metal slat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 1974
    Date of Patent: July 27, 1976
    Assignee: Sealy, Incorporated
    Inventor: Richard C. Roe
  • Patent number: 3942777
    Abstract: A seat spring for a seating structure having front and rear frame rails wherein the spring is constructed from a one piece wire body shaped to form a front end fishmouth portion mounted on the front rail, a yieldable rear end portion mounted on the rear frame rail and a variable length main portion extending between the front and rear portions. The fishmouth portion and the front end of the main portion are configured so that when the spring is deflected in response to a downwardly directed seating load, the spring will bottom out on the front frame rail without any wire-to-wire engagement of portions of the spring during deflection. The result is a limited deflection spring which, under shock load, will deflect without any noise.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 1974
    Date of Patent: March 9, 1976
    Assignee: Hoover Ball and Bearing Company
    Inventors: Jack C. Mandusky, Neville L. Riddle