Abstract: A flexible foam composition includes a flexible foam body having a surface, which flexible foam is polyurethane and/or latex flexible foam, and an expandable graphite layer on the surface or within the foam surface adjacent to the surface. The flexible foam composition with the expandable graphite layer imparts improved flame retardant properties to the composition.

Abstract: A compact recliner mechanism for use in theater seating units is provided that allows the seat to move linearly as the seating unit moves from the closed position to the reclined position. The mechanism has a back bracket coupled to the seat plate and base plate with a linkage that moves a projected point representing the top of the back of the seating unit downwardly in vertical plane as the seating unit moves from the closed position to the reclined position. In other aspects, the seating unit has an armrest linkage coupled between the seat plate and the back that maintains an armrest lever at a horizontal orientation. Additionally, in some aspects, the base plate of the seating unit may have an adjustment feature that limits recline of the seating unit, to accommodate theater seating with different riser dimensions, and/or legs with an adjustment feature to level the seating unit on existing theater floors.

Abstract: A flexible cellular foam or fabric product is coated with a coating including highly thermally conductive nanomaterials. The highly thermally conductive nanomaterials may be carbon nanomaterials, metallic, or non-metallic solids. The carbon nanomaterials may include, but are not necessarily limited to, carbon nanotubes and graphene nanoplatelets. The highly thermally conductive nanomaterials may include but are not limited to nano-sized solids that may include graphite flakes, for example. When coated on a surface of flexible foam, the presence of nanomaterials may impart greater thermal effusivity, greater thermal conductivity, and/or a combination of these improvements. The flexible foam product may be polyurethane foam, latex foam, polyether polyurethane foam, viscoelastic foam, high resilient foam, polyester polyurethane foam, foamed polyethylene, foamed polypropylene, expanded polystyrene, foamed silicone, melamine foam, among others.

Abstract: A pocketed spring assembly comprises a plurality of parallel strings of springs, each string joined to at least one adjacent string, each string comprising one piece of fabric folded into first and second opposed plies of fabric. Outer pockets are formed along each string by transverse seams joining the first and second plies. One pocketed spring and at least cushion pad is positioned in each outer pocket. The cushion pad may be individually pocketed. An upper end of each transverse seam may be below an upper surface of the string to partially separate adjacent outer pockets within a string.

Abstract: Apparatuses, methods, and computer program products for quilting webs without compressing the webs. A quilting machine includes a needle bar to which needles are attached, needle thread passing through each needle, a looper shaft to which loopers are attached, a looper corresponding to each needle and from which looper thread is provided to form stitches, and a retainer bar to which spreaders are attached to facilitate stitching. A drive pulley powered by a first servo motor rotates cranks to move the needles through a cycle and rotates a belt which rotates an indexer pulley. Rotation of the indexer pulley oscillates the looper shaft and reciprocates the retainer bar. Another drive pulley powered by a second servo motor operates to move an input web through the machine between chain stiches.

Abstract: A three-layered topper fora bedding or seating product has a first piece of foam, a second piece of foam and a pocketed spring comfort layer therebetween. The pocketed spring comfort layer has individually pocketed mini coil springs. At least one of the foam pieces may be infused with metallic particles to improve thermal conductivity. Alternatively, at least one of the foam pieces may be infused with microencapsulated phase change materials to improve heat absorption. At least one of the foam pieces may have a coating to further improve thermal conductivity or heat absorption.

Abstract: Methods and combinations of mattress support surfaces comprising one or more flexible polyurethane foam layers containing highly thermally-conductive solids, such as diamond or silicon carbide, and said layer combination is capable of transferring heat from a warm surface, such as a person sleeping on a bed, to a cooler region at a faster rate throughout the mattress than the thermal dissipation rate obtained from flexible polyurethane foam without highly thermally-conductive solids.

Abstract: A rocker recliner is disclosed that has a pair of stationary arms; a seat disposed between the arms; an ottoman; a back coupled to the seat. A full-recline linkage mechanism couples the ottoman, the seat and the back and is operable to move the ottoman, the seat and the back between a closed position, a TV position and a fully reclined position. A rocker assembly is coupled between the full-recline linkage mechanism and the stationary arms that allows the seat, back and ottoman to rock between the stationary arms in any of the closed position, the TV position or the fully reclined position.

Abstract: A motorized positioning apparatus for a seating unit includes a motor assembly that is configured to move a pair of linkage mechanisms though a series of positions that arrange the seating unit in a closed position, open position, or extended position. The motor assembly is selectively and releasably coupled to the linkage mechanisms, to allow the motor assembly to be de-coupled from the linkage mechanisms to allow the seating unit to be manually closed by a user.

Abstract: Methods and combinations for making and using one or more thermally conductive cellular foam layers comprising flexible cellular foam and metallic material particulates, and said thermally-conductive cellular foam layers may be located on, under, or in cushioning foams and mattresses or placed between on, under, within, or between other layering substrates to increase the overall cooling capability of the composite. The thermally conductive foam may be used in mattresses, pillows, bedding products, medical cushioning foams, and similar materials used in bedding environments.

Abstract: A flexible foam composition comprising a flexible foam structure comprising a plurality of struts, and a plurality of fibers, where a majority of the fibers are associated with the struts. The fibers may be thermally conductive fibers. The fibers include, but are not necessarily limited to, homopolymer and/or copolymer fibers having a glass transition temperature (Tg) of ?50° C. (?58° F.) or greater, carbon fibers, animal-based fibers, plant-based fibers, metal fibers, and combinations thereof. The presence of fibers can impart to the flexible foam composition greater indentation force deflection (IFD), greater static thermal conductivity, improved compression set, improved height retention or durability, and/or a combination of these improvements.

Abstract: A tilt mechanism for a chair comprises a base, a first support configured to support a chair seat and mounted to the base, a second support configured to support a chair back and pivotably coupled to the base about the first pivot axis, a link element pivotably coupled to the second support about a second pivot axis, and a shaft attached to the first support. A first guide slot is provided at the base and a second guide slot is provided at the link element. The shaft is supported in the first guide slot and the second guide slot.

Abstract: A cushion for a piece of furniture or a pillow includes a cushion core and an exterior cover at least partially surrounding the cushion core. The cushion core comprises a cushion wrap surrounding a filler, which may be foam or fiber or down or any known filler. The cushion wrap is at least partially made of fabric having a raised surface pattern to increase friction between the cushion core and the exterior cover for holding the cushion core in a desired orientation inside the exterior cover.

Abstract: A pocketed spring assembly comprises a plurality of parallel strings of springs, each string joined to at least one adjacent string, each string comprising first and second opposed plies of fabric and a plurality of pockets formed along a length of the string by transverse seams joining the first and second plies. At least one spring is positioned in each pocket. Exterior strings have identical springs in their pockets. Interior strings have two different springs along their length, the outermost springs being firmer than the interior core springs. The pocketed spring assembly has increased firmness or edge support along all four sides due to the different coil springs of the assembly.

Abstract: An apparatus for upholstering a truss allows an operator to staple a fabric web to the truss, rotate the truss, further staple the semi-finished truss and cut the fabric web. The truss is fully upholstered after the end surfaces of the truss are wrapped up in fabric and the fabric stapled in place. The apparatus may accommodate different size trusses. A web of fabric is pulled around at least one roller in the apparatus by rotation of two vise mechanisms on opposite sides of the truss.

Abstract: An apparatus for assembling a bedding foundation having spring modules and a frame includes a support configured to receive the frame, a bridge disposed over the support, and staplers movably coupled to the bridge and positioned over the support, each stapler configured to staple a spring module to the frame. The apparatus also includes cameras coupled to the bridge and positioned over the support. Each stapler is operatively associated with one of the cameras and each camera is positioned to provide a field of view toward the support. The apparatus also includes a driver configured to move the frame relative to the support and a controller in communication with the cameras and the driver, the controller configured to receive vision guidance signals from one of the cameras to direct movement of the driver and of the stapler operatively associated with the one of the cameras.

Abstract: A motorized positioning apparatus for a seating unit includes a motor assembly that is configured to move a pair of linkage mechanisms though a series of positions that arrange the seating unit in a closed position, open position, or extended position. The motor assembly is selectively and releasably coupled to the linkage mechanisms, to allow the motor assembly to be manually closed by the user and automatically coupled via a coupling mechanism.

Abstract: A mechanism is provided for a seating unit that moves the seating unit between closed, TV, and fully reclined positions. The mechanism allows independent movement of a seat frame, relative to the chair arms and chair back to which the mechanism is mounted. The mechanism thus allows the seat depth of the chair to be adjusted relative to the chair back to accommodate the individual characteristics of the chair occupant.

Abstract: Aspects herein are directed to systems and methods for synchronization of actuators to reposition furniture units. Specifically, a master control box receives input to reposition a furniture unit from one position to another and communicates the input to a plurality of control boxes. Then, each of the plurality of control boxes assigns a virtual axis to each of a plurality of actuators attached to each associated control box. Furthermore, each of the plurality of control boxes assigns a transfer function to each of the plurality of actuators. The transfer function is used by the actuators to transform an output of the virtual axis to determine a target position. In this way, the plurality of actuators can reference the same virtual axis for synchronization purposes, but use different transfer functions to maintain complex relationships between the positions of each actuator. Based on the target position, the actuators reposition the furniture unit.

Abstract: An integrated chair for selectively providing seating support and sleeping support is provided. The integrated chair comprises a mobile sleeping unit and a chair shell. The chair shell comprises: a pair of spaced, opposed, side walls, each side wall having at least a bottom edge, an inner surface and an outer surface; a back wall extending between the pair of side walls; and a pair of truncated arms, one of each of the pair of arms corresponding with a respective one of the pair of side walls, each extending inwardly from the inner surface of a corresponding side wall and having a lower edge that is distal and above the bottom edge of the corresponding side wall; wherein the inner surfaces of the side walls and the lower edge of the arms of the chair shell define a storage compartment sized to accommodate the mobile sleeping unit when the mobile sleeping unit is in the closed position.