Abstract: A utility rack for a motor vehicle is provided comprising a stationary mounting frame mountable to a vehicle, a cargo frame movable between an access position and a storage position and capable of carrying substantially elongated cargo, a carriage to move said cargo frame between said access position and said storage position, said carriage movably attaching said cargo frame to said mounting frame, said carriage being manually actuated to move said cargo frame between said access position and said storage position, said carriage comprising an assist capable of assisting manual movement of said cargo frame between said storage position and said access position.

Abstract: A method of packaging spring units in which first and second webs of insulator material are fixedly located against the top and bottom surfaces of the spring units. The webs are folded around outermost coil springs along longitudinal edges of the spring units. The reverse sides of the webs are glued, welded or otherwise permanently secured together. In another embodiment, side portions of the webs are secured together, sandwiching the spring units therebetween. The resultant bedding products are then roll-packed.

Abstract: A bedding or seating product having a spring core made up of a plurality of coil springs arranged in rows and columns. The spring core is divided into sections, each section having springs of an identical height. The springs of one section are taller than the springs of another section. Filler is placed above the shorter springs in select sections. The taller springs are of a greater firmness than the filler material, thus creating a posturized effect.

Abstract: A rack is provided having a track which is adapted to removably support a plurality of items in a predetermined pattern or order. The track comprises a plurality of interconnected levels so that the items may move along the track between the different levels and the items are readily accessible from all locations on the track. Clips may be used to sectionalize the rack and to balance the load on the rack while it spins. Alternatively, one or more vertical rods secured to and extending between at least several levels of the track may be provided to strengthen the track and sectionalize the track into segments.

Abstract: The inventive cable operated actuator assembly includes an actuator element, a reaction element, a conduit defining a lumen therethrough, a cable longer than the conduit slideably disposed through the lumen of the conduit, and at least one pivoting ferrule defining a bore therethrough. One of the ends of the conduit is secured to the actuator element and the other end of the conduit is secured to the pivoting ferrule. The reaction element is pivotally secured to the other end of the pivoting ferrule. While the cable is slideably disposed within the bore, the second end of the cable extends out of the second end of the pivoting ferrule. At least one of the pivoting ferrule and the reaction element may pivot substantially about the axis created by the cable as it exits the second end of the pivoting ferrule. A specific application of the inventive assembly includes a steering column tilt actuator assembly.

Abstract: A lumbar support device includes a flexible grid that can be bowed to provide additional curvature and axially moved on a track. The flexible grid is bowed and moved by brackets on the track in combination with cables and actuators. For bowing the flexible grid, a cable segment pulls a pair of brackets together which bow the flexible grid. The segment is wrapped around one of the brackets and is attached at its ends to the other bracket and an actuator, thereby providing a mechanical advantage to the bowing resistance of the flexible grid. For axially moving the flexible grid, a cable in a fixed bracket directly pulls on the pair of brackets and the flexible grid moves with the pair of brackets; a compression spring is used to provide resistance to the cable and movement in an opposite direction. In another embodiment, a lumbar support device includes a flexible grid that is bowed without any change in axial position.

Abstract: A mattress or bedding product is covered with a topper comprising individual tubes, each of which is filled with shredded foam/fiber material. In one embodiment, the topper has a foam layer having a number of arcuate-shaped cradles in which are placed the individual tubes. The shredded foam/fiber materials may be modified as required to provide different density and/or firmness characteristics to different portions of the product.

Abstract: A method of making low density spring interior assemblies having rectangular arrays of spring positions, some of which are occupied by individual coil springs and some of which are empty, is provided. Preferably, the array is formed of rows of alternating springs and empty positions laced to similar rows offset from each other in a staggered arrangement so that spaces and springs alternate both transversely and longitudinally. Preferably the springs are unknotted. The assemblies are automatically formed on a system that includes at least one coil former, at least one conveyor, a transfer station or mechanism and a spring interior assembly machine. A coil former forms and loads springs individually onto a conveyor. The transfer station transfers rows of coils to the assembly machine, which laces rows of coils together in the array.

Abstract: The spring interior 10 comprises springs 12 with different spring constants (hardness). The variation of the spring constant is effected by changing the average radius of the windings 13 between the central winding 15 and the two end rings 14 of each individual spring. With a spring winding machine 21 whose bending tools can be set and adjusted by software during the production, in this manner spring interiors 10 may be manufactured which comprises any amount of zones of differing hardness. With this, all springs 12 consist of wire with the same diameter, the same end ring 14 diameter and the same height, and the automatic manufacture may be effected without conversion of the spring interior assembly automatic machines.

Abstract: Ink jet printing is provided onto fabric using ultraviolet (UV) light curable ink. The ink is first cured with UV light to about a 90-97% cure, and then is subjected to heating to more completely cure the ink and to remove by evaporation or otherwise, the uncured monomers and producing a printed image of ink having less than 100 PPM of uncured monomers, and as low as 10 PPM of uncured monomers. The printing is provided in a quilting machine having a quilting station and a printing station located upstream of the quilting station. Preferably, at the printing station, only a top layer of fabric is printed with a multicolored design under the control of a programmed controller. UV curable ink is jetted at a dot density of about 180×254 dots or more per inch per color, each dot of about 80 picoliters.

Abstract: A display stand assembly comprising a plurality of display stand modules joined together. Each display stand module comprises an upper and lower base or spanner having a plurality of spanner members generally bisecting each other medially. A plurality of vertical uprights extends between the end portions of the spanner members of the upper and lower spanners and are joined to the ends of the upper and lower spanners with a plurality of wedges. A portion of each wedge fits around a clover defined on the vertical uprights and a bracket attached to each spanner member end slides over and attaches to each wedge.

Abstract: A push button actuator including a plunger movable between return and actuating positions, a conduit with an axial bore therethrough and a core slideably disposed within the bore. The first end of the conduit is operatively connected to the plunger and moves substantially with the plunger. The second end of the conduit and the first end of the core are fixed with respect to the movement of the plunger between its return and activating positions. Movement of the plunger from its return position to its actuating position pushes the first end of the conduit away from the first end of the core, causing the second end of the core to be drawn towards the second end of the conduit. The movement of the second end of the core may be used to activate a reaction mechanism operatively connected to the second end of the core.

Abstract: A reclining mechanism for a furniture item includes support structure adapted for attachment to the furniture item, a footrest support bar connected for longitudinal movement with respect to the support structure between extended and retracted positions and actuating structure connected with the footrest support bar. The footrest support bar includes an S-shaped section and is connected to a footrest member for supporting the legs of the seat occupant. The actuating structure moves the footrest support bar along the S-shaped section between the extended and retracted positions to closely approximate a conventional footrest portion of a reclining mechanism, while presenting a simplified construction.

Abstract: A roll of roll-packed bedding products is created by permanently securing spaced spring units between first and second webs of insulator material. The bedding products are compressed and wound into a roll for shipping. During shipment and handling, the spring units are maintained within the roll in a similar orientation spaced from one another by the first and second webs of insulator material until the roll is unrolled and the insulator web material cut between the spring units to create spring units having the insulator web material thereon.

Abstract: A method of assembling strings of pocketed coil springs into an innerspring core which may be used as the core of a mattress, cushion or similar body support foundation uses a reinforcing material, preferably having an adhesive component, between rows of pocketed coil springs. The reinforcing, adhesive material serves to bond the rows of springs to each other and to reinforce the pockets to prevent wear between coils in frictional relation.

Abstract: A shelf assembly for organizing and merchandising a plurality of products. The shelf assembly comprises a shelf having a bottom, plurality of dividers extending from front to back, a pair of dividers and the bottom forming a track in which a column of products are arranged. A front member pivotal about a stop, or pivotally engaged with the dividers, prevents the forwardmost product within the column from falling off the front of the shelf. The pivotal front members enable product to be pulled forwardly off the shelf, minimizing the spacing necessary between adjacent shelves.

Abstract: A shelf assembly for organizing and merchandising a plurality of products. The shelf assembly comprises a shelf having a bottom, plurality of dividers extending from front to back, a pair of dividers and the bottom forming a track in which a column of products are arranged. A front member pivotal about a stop, or pivotally engaged with the dividers, prevents the forwardmost product within the column from falling off the front of the shelf. The pivotal front members enable product to be pulled forwardly off the shelf, minimizing the spacing necessary between adjacent shelves.

Abstract: A shelf assembly for organizing and merchandising a plurality of products. The shelf assembly comprises a shelf having a bottom, plurality of dividers extending from front to back, a pair of dividers and the bottom forming a track in which a column of products are arranged. A front member pivotal about a stop, or pivotally engaged with the dividers, prevents the forwardmost product within the column from falling off the front of the shelf. The pivotal front members enable product to be pulled forwardly off the shelf, minimizing the spacing necessary between adjacent shelves.

Abstract: An apparatus for automatically changing a bobbin case on a quilting machine having a hook drive operatively supporting the bobbin case during a stitching operation. The apparatus includes a staging station adapted to support at least one bobbin case normally having a full spool of thread, and a carriage movable between the staging station and the hook drive. A finger is movably mounted on the carriage, and the finger moves a release lever on the bobbin to an unlock position and clamps the release lever at the unlock position. A method of using the above apparatus in an automatic bobbin changing operation is also provided. A controller determines the need for a bobbin change, for example, by counting stitches and calculating the thread remaining on the bobbin. The bobbin change can be carried out between patterns or during a pattern by cutting the bobbin thread or both the top and bottom threads. The sewing of tacking stitches may also be done in sequence with the thread cutting and bobbin changes.

Abstract: A display stand including a plurality of vertical uprights defining a plurality of holes. Four vertical uprights are joined together and a shelf is attached thereto with a first set of clips fixedly attached to a first end of the shelf and a second set of clips slidably attached to the second end of a shelf. The first set of clips are first engaged with holes defined in the vertical uprights. Next, the second end of the shelf is lowered into position substantially at the same height as the first end of the shelf, whereby the second set of clips is slid from the first position flush with the first end of the shelf to the second position extending into the holes defined in the vertical uprights in order to support the shelf within the vertical uprights.