Abstract: A mechanical fuse is used with ergonomic devices for seats such as automobile seats to allow the ergonomic devices to tolerate abusive loads without breaking a linkage, such as a traction cable, used to move the ergonomic supports. The traction cable is comprised of a sleeve with a wire disposed to slide axially through the sleeve. The mechanical fuse is installed with the sleeve divided into two sections, with an end of each section seated into a male component or a female component of the mechanical fuse. The male and female components of the mechanical fuse slide axially relative to one another but are restrained from sliding by insertion of a boss on one component into a detent on the other component. The boss and detent hold the male and female components together in a friction fit that resists axial movement. When an abusive force is applied to the fuse, the friction fit of the boss and detent is overcome so that the boss slides out of the detent in a radial direction.

Abstract: A universal adjustable bed is provided to accommodate twin, twin extra long, full extra long, queen, etc. adjustable beds through a single adjustable bed mechanism which can be accommodated in beds irrespective of the differences in sizes thereof. The adjustable bed mechanism includes headboard and footboard adjusting linkage mechanisms and drive mechanisms therefor with associated head, seat, thigh and foot boards, all unitized in a single assembly which can be “drop-in” assembled to an associated bed foundation. Significantly, the support frame includes locating or connecting points which correspond in transverse distances to like support points of the bed foundation irrespective of the width of the specific bed foundation. In this manner a single universal adjustable bed mechanism can be dropped-in and connected to an appropriate bed foundation to form a bed of virtually any conventional size.

Abstract: A nestably stackable bedding foundation assembly replaces the traditional border wire and disposed coil spring foundation assembly in a so-called box spring. The foundation assembly may be nestably stacked with numerous other such assemblies for transportation, thereby avoiding the need to compress and tie the assembly for shipping. Each foundation assembly includes a number of corrugated support wires having alternating peaks and valleys. The valleys of selected support wires are twisted relative to their associated peaks to provide a more stable mounting to a base and offer a variety of firmness to specific zones of the assembly.

Abstract: An ergonomic weight support device for a seat comprising a housing having a channel defined by at least one guide boss, an extending element having an unanchored weight supporting end and an engaged end slidingly disposed within the channel of said housing and an actuator fixedly attached to said housing and in moving communication with said extending element whereby said actuator mediates the weight supporting end of said extending element between a substantially retracted position and an extended position.

Abstract: A seat support includes a panel that is connected to opposite sides of the seat through a pair of fixtures and is operated by an actuator that is connected to at least one of the fixtures. The panel includes a recessed center channel that is bounded by flat side plates and that has apertures extending across the channel. The panel can be made from a single piece of material and may also include top and bottom extensions.

Abstract: A multi-needle quilting machine (10) and method are provided, in most embodiments of which needles (132) reciprocate horizontally through material (12) supported in a vertical quilting plane (16). Two or more bridges (21,22) are provided having separate motion control. Each bridge (21,22) has a row of selectively operable stitching element pairs (90), which may be fixed to or transversely moveable on the bridges (21,22). Either the material or the bridges may be moved relative to the frame. The bridges (21,22) each move transversely and vertically with the stitching elements (90) on each bridge can operate at different speeds. Each of the needle drives (25) and, in some embodiments the looper drives (26), can be selectively activated and deactivated. Control schemes are provided to quilt continuous patterns, discrete patterns, linked multiple patterns, 360 degree patterns, closely spaced patterns. A plurality of small presser feet (158) are provided, each for one or more needles (132).

Abstract: An ink jet printing is provided on large area such as wide textile webs, having such pores or other opening therethrough such that, when ink is jetted from a print head onto the web, some of the ink jets through the opening to a side of the web opposite the print head. At the printing station, maintaining a space between the web and the surface such that the web is out of contact with the surface at the printing station so that when ink jetted through the web and onto the surface it does not contaminate the web.

Abstract: The present invention is an ejector drive hub. The ejector drive hub comprises an axial through hole in a cylinder with a slot in the circumferential side wall of the cylinder. The slot truncates less than 180° of the cylinder. The ejector drive hub has an engagement face for a cam or pawl to drive it rotationally. A radial through hole in the slot forms a communicating opening between the slot and the axial through hole. The ejector drive hub further comprises a mount adapted to maintain a drive pawl in operative position relative to the radial through hole. The ejector drive hub further has at least one notch for engagement of a latch to maintain the ejector drive hub in a stationary position during knotting. The ejector drive hub has a boss to actuate an ejector. The boss and the disc portion of the ejector drive hub are integrally fabricated from a single piece of material as by machining.

Abstract: An apparatus for forming flanged quilted panels from an infed web of quilted material (18) has a panel cutter (14) which receives the web of quilted material (18) and severs it into discrete quilted panels (16). A flanger (34) integrated with the panel cutter (14) has a table (40) which supports individual panels in a fixed position while a trimming and sewing head (60) is moved around the perimeter of the panel to trim the panel to a desired size and to stitch a flange near the trimmed edge. Because the panel is trimmed prior to stitching, precise alignment of the panel on the table is not required. The flanger (34) may further include a cutting head (72) which is movable relative to the table (40) and enables the flanger (34) to cut very thick quilted material without the need for precise holding and guiding of the material.

Abstract: A quilting machine (10, 100, 200, 300, 400, 500, 600) is provided with a printing station (20, 125, 225, 325, 425, 525, 611, 626, 631) and a quilting station (44, 127, 227, 327, 427, 527, 627, 632), either on the same or a different production line. Ticking is preprinted with a plurality of different patterns, organized and coordinated by the computer so that a print head can scan the material and print different patterns of different panels (32). Identifying data (40) for matching the panels of a mattress product can be provided in data files and codes can be printed on the fabric. Panels can be matched and assembled into products based on the codes, and quilting, cutting, slitting and other operations can be controlled by printed codes and other data. The quilting and combining of the panels for assembly of a mattress product can be carried out manually or automatically using the data.

Abstract: A foldable bedding foundation comprising a first section is hingedly secured to a second section so that the bedding foundation may be folded for storage or transportation purposes. Each section has base, a plurality of wire struts pivotally secured to the base, an upper wire grid pivotally secured to the wire struts and braces extending between the base and an outermost wire strut. Lower connectors each comprising a rectangular piece of plastic having living hinges is secured to and extends between the bases. Upper connectors are secured to and extend between border wires of the sections to aid in the collapsing of the foundation.

Abstract: A scissors lumbar support includes a hinge axle and two arms each having a forward portion and a rearward portion. The forward portions are lumbar support pads. At least one of the rearward portions of the arms are adapted to operatively engage a force applicator. Each of the arms hinge around a hinge axle upon application of force by a force applicator. At least one of the rearward portions of the arms are mountable on a seat frame.

Abstract: A system and method for remote release actuation is disclosed. The system includes a control mechanism, a switch, a power supply, an actuator assembly, a position sensor, a ground, a cable, and a latch mechanism. The method includes the steps of: providing a remote release actuating system; powering the control mechanism with the power supply; powering the position sensor via the control mechanism; and using the control mechanism to check the electrical connection of the position sensor and powering the actuator assembly to release the cable which releases the latch mechanism into a home position if the position sensor is not connected.

Abstract: A mattress retainer for use with adjustable beds. The mattress retainer can be secured to an upper surface of a mattress support, between the mattress support and a mattress positioned thereon. In one embodiment, the mattress support is configured to engage a taped edge border of the mattress to thereby constrain movement of the mattress relative to the mattress support when the mattress support is articulated to raise and/or lower various portions of the mattress. The mattress retainer includes a channel formed on an outboard edge for receiving the taped edge border of the mattress. The taped edge border can be clamped within the channel to thereby fix the position of the mattress relative to the mattress support.

Abstract: An adjustable bed having an upper frame mounted to translate with respect to a lower frame. A center support is connected to the upper frame and has a head support pivotally connected to one end thereof. A thigh support is pivotally connected to the other end of the center support and a foot support is connected to the other end of the thigh support. The bed includes an improved mounting for a massage motor in which a massage motor is suspended from a mounting plate resting on a mattress pad or base supported by an articulated support platform.

Abstract: An adjustable bed includes at a minimum a head support and a back support pivotally connected to each other, a mechanism for pivoting the head support automatically from a first position horizontal and coplanar to the back support to an inclined position, and the latter mechanism being effective upon further operation to pivotally move the back support from its horizontal position to any one of a number of inclined positions without altering the inclination of the head support relative to the back support.

Abstract: A horizontal adjustment mechanism for use with a chair having a base, a seat supported on the base and a seat back. The mechanism includes a first plate that is to be coupled to the base and a second plate that is coupled to the seat. The second plate includes a mating portion. The second plate is slidably coupled to the first plate such that the second plate can move relative to the first plate. The mechanism also includes a lever mechanism. The lever mechanism includes a mating portion that selectively disengages from the mating portion of the second plate to allow the second plate to move relative to the first plate.

Abstract: A tucking attachment for a sewing machine having a tucking blade with one end positioned adjacent material and a tucking blade drive with an output shaft mechanically coupled to the tucking blade. A control, connected to the tucking blade drive, is operable to command the tucking blade drive to move the tucking blade through a programmable displacement to form a tuck in the material adjacent a presser foot of the sewing machine. Thereafter, the sewing machine is operated to sew a number of stitches in the tuck, and the tucking blade is then retracted. Repeating the above cycle of operation permits successive tucks of different lengths to be formed in the material.

Abstract: A roll (54) of compressed materials (14) is provided which has a sleeve (50) formed around a rotatable mandrel (12). The sleeve (50) about which the materials (14) are rolled prevents the roll (54) from radially collapsing. The roll (54) may be removed from the mandrel (12) without tearing or telescoping of the material. In one embodiment the sleeve (50) is corrugated material (38). The corrugated material (38) is around the rotatable mandrel (12) prior to the compressible material (14) being wrapped around the sleeve (50). In another embodiment, the sleeve (58) comprises roll-packing material (32) laminated prior to being wound upon the mandrel (12).