Patents Assigned to Parma Corporation
  • Patent number: 5655240
    Abstract: A foldable bed is movable between an unfolded position, in which interconnected seat, cavity, and body sections are substantially horizontally aligned and of substantially uniform depth, and a folded position, in which the body section is horizontally disposed, the seat section is horizontally disposed and overlies said body section, the cavity section is generally upright and extends between the body and seat sections. In the folded position, the seat section of the mattress is collapsible, and the cavity section of the mattress is noncollapsible. The bed frame can include a leg that is spaced away from the frame in the folded position that compresses a mattress head section, thereby forming a space within which collapsible springs of the seat section can reside. The bed can include springs having upper, intermediate, and lower runs, wherein the upper and lower runs include offset portions extending in opposite directions that are generally orthogonal to a plane defined by the spring intermediate run.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 1996
    Date of Patent: August 12, 1997
    Assignee: Parma Corporation
    Inventor: John E. Miller
  • Patent number: 5653505
    Abstract: A highly compact, stable mechanism for enabling a chair to perform rocking and gliding movements, and optionally swiveling movement, includes a channel-shaped frame mounting member mounted to a chair frame, and an inverted channel-shaped base mounting member mounted on a base. The mounting members are interconnected by one pair of front and one pair of rear swing arms, and also by a pair of tensioned springs operative for restraining the rocking and gliding movements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 1995
    Date of Patent: August 5, 1997
    Assignee: Parma Corporation
    Inventor: Raymond E. Holobaugh, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5642536
    Abstract: A foldable bed is movable between an unfolded position, in which interconnected seat, cavity, and body sections are substantially horizontally aligned and of substantially uniform depth, and a folded position, in which the body section is horizontally disposed, the seat section is horizontally disposed and overlies said body section, the cavity section is generally upright and extends between the body and seat sections. In the folded position, the seat section of the mattress is collapsible, and the cavity section of the mattress is noncollapsible. The bed frame can include a leg that is a space away from the frame in the folded position that compresses a mattress head section, thereby forming spaced within which collapsible springs of the seat section can reside. The bed can include springs having upper, intermediate, and lower runs, wherein the upper and lower runs include offset portions extending in opposite directions that are generally orthogonal to a plane defined by the spring intermediate run.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 1996
    Date of Patent: July 1, 1997
    Assignee: Parma Corporation
    Inventor: John E. Miller
  • Patent number: 5540418
    Abstract: A foldable bed is movable between an unfolded position, in which interconnected seat, cavity, and body sections are substantially horizontally aligned and of substantially uniform depth, and a folded position, in which the body section is horizontally disposed, the seat section is horizontally disposed and overlies said body section, the cavity section is generally upright and extends between the body and seat sections. In the folded position, the seat section of the mattress is collapsible, and the cavity section of the mattress is noncollapsible. The bed frame can include a leg that is spaced away from the frame in the folded position that compresses a mattress head section, thereby forming spaced within which collapsible springs of the seat section can reside. The bed can include springs having upper, intermediate, and lower runs, wherein the upper and lower runs include offset portions extending in opposite directions that are generally orthogonal to a plane defined by the spring intermediate run.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 1995
    Date of Patent: July 30, 1996
    Assignee: Parma Corporation
    Inventor: John E. Miller
  • Patent number: 5539944
    Abstract: A foldable bed is movable between an unfolded position, in which interconnected seat, cavity, and body sections are substantially horizontally aligned and of substantially uniform depth, and a folded position, in which the body section is horizontally disposed, the seat section is horizontally disposed and overlies said body section, the cavity section is generally upright and extends between the body and seat sections. In the folded position, the seat section of the mattress is collapsible, and the cavity section of the mattress is noncollapsible. The bed frame can include a leg that is spaced away from the frame in the folded position that compresses a mattress head section, thereby forming a space within which collapsible springs of the seat section can reside. The bed can include springs having upper, intermediate, and lower runs, wherein the upper and lower runs include offset portions extending in opposite directions that are generally orthogonal to a plane defined by the spring intermediate run.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 1994
    Date of Patent: July 30, 1996
    Assignee: Parma Corporation
    Inventor: John E. Miller
  • Patent number: 5539940
    Abstract: A foldable bed is movable between an unfolded position, in which interconnected seat, cavity, and body sections are substantially horizontally aligned and of substantially uniform depth, and a folded position, in which the body section is horizontally disposed, the seat section is horizontally disposed and overlies said body section, the cavity section is generally upright and extends between the body and seat sections. In the folded position, the seat section of the mattress is collapsible, and the cavity section of the mattress is noncollapsible. The bed frame can include a leg that is spaced away from the frame in the folded position that compresses a mattress head section, thereby forming a space within which collapsible springs of the seat section can reside. The bed can include springs having upper, intermediate, and lower runs, wherein the upper and lower runs include offset portions extending in opposite directions that are generally orthogonal to a plane defined by the spring intermediate run.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 1995
    Date of Patent: July 30, 1996
    Assignee: Parma Corporation
    Inventor: John E. Miller
  • Patent number: 5535460
    Abstract: A runner wire useful with collapsible springs includes a plurality of generally parallel and generally aligned runner sections and at least one offset portion. The offset portion merges with and extends from an adjacent pair of runner sections and includes a pair of parallel, rectilinear wire segments that extend generally perpendicularly from the runner sections and a loop connecting the pair of wire segments. The loop extends away from the wire segments within a plane defined by the runner sections and the wire segments in a direction that is nonparallel relative to the wire segments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 1995
    Date of Patent: July 16, 1996
    Assignee: Parma Corporation
    Inventor: John E. Miller
  • Patent number: 5524305
    Abstract: A foldable bed is movable between an unfolded position, in which interconnected seat, cavity, and body sections are substantially horizontally aligned and of substantially uniform depth, and a folded position, in which the body section is horizontally disposed, the seat section is horizontally disposed and overlies said body section, the cavity section is generally upright and extends between the body and seat sections. In the folded position, the seat section of the mattress is collapsible, and the cavity section of the mattress is noncollapsible. The bed frame can include a leg that is spaced away from the frame in the folded position that compresses a mattress head section, thereby forming a space within which collapsible springs of the seat section can reside. The bed can include springs having upper, intermediate, and lower runs, wherein the upper and lower runs include offset portions extending in opposite directions that are generally orthogonal to a plane defined by the spring intermediate run.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 1995
    Date of Patent: June 11, 1996
    Assignee: Parma Corporation
    Inventor: John E. Miller
  • Patent number: 5474283
    Abstract: A spring includes upper and lower runs of wire interconnected by an intermediate run of wire, all of the runs being integrally formed from spring wire. The opposite ends of the upper and lower runs respectively include hooks and coils while the intermediate run includes a coil. The hooks and coils of the upper and lower runs are used to connect the spring to an adjacent spring with the hook of one spring being received about the coil of an adjacent spring. The upper and lower runs are offset above and below the coils of the upper and lower runs respectively to accommodate a helical wire which is wrapped around the upper run for interconnecting runner wires which extend transversely of the upper run. The runner wires have offset portions which are secured to the upper runs by the helical wire. In one form the coils in the upper and lower runs are provided with a projecting recess or ear for receiving the hooks of an adjacent spring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 12, 1995
    Assignee: Parma Corporation
    Inventor: John E. Miller
  • Patent number: 5431376
    Abstract: A spring includes upper and lower runs of wire interconnected by an intermediate run of wire, all of the runs being integrally formed from spring wire. The opposite ends of the upper and lower runs respectively include hooks and coils while the intermediate run includes a coil. The hooks and coils of the upper and lower runs are used to connect the spring to an adjacent spring with the hook of one spring being received about the coil of an adjacent spring. The upper and lower runs are offset above and below the coils of the upper and lower runs respectively to accommodate a helical wire which is wrapped around the upper run for interconnecting runner wires which extend transversely of the upper run. The runner wires have offset portions which are secured to the upper runs by the helical wire. In one form the coils in the upper and lower runs are provided with a projecting recess or ear for receiving the hooks of an adjacent spring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 1994
    Date of Patent: July 11, 1995
    Assignee: Parma Corporation
    Inventor: John E. Miller
  • Patent number: 5427433
    Abstract: A highly compact, stable mechanism for enabling a chair to perform rocking and gliding movements, and optionally swiveling movement, includes a channel-shaped frame mounting member mounted to a chair frame, and an inverted channel-shaped base mounting member mounted on a base. The mounting members are interconnected by one pair of front and one pair of rear swing arms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 1993
    Date of Patent: June 27, 1995
    Assignee: Parma Corporation
    Inventor: Raymond E. Holobaugh, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5364082
    Abstract: A spring includes upper and lower runs of wire interconnected by an intermediate run of wire, all of the runs being integrally formed from spring wire. The opposite ends of the upper and lower runs respectively include hooks and coils while the intermediate run includes a coil. The hooks and coils of the upper and lower runs are used to connect the spring to an adjacent spring with the hook of one spring being received about the coil of an adjacent spring. The upper and lower runs are offset above and below the coils of the upper and lower runs respectively to accommodate a helical wire which is wrapped around the upper run for interconnecting runner wires which extend transversely of the upper run. The runner wires have offset portions which are secured to the upper runs by the helical wire. In one form the coils in the upper and lower runs are provided with a projecting recess or ear for receiving the hooks of an adjacent spring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 1994
    Date of Patent: November 15, 1994
    Assignee: Parma Corporation
    Inventor: John E. Miller
  • Patent number: 5346277
    Abstract: A headrest mechanism suitable for use in a seating unit comprising a headrest plate movable between a retracted position and an extended position having a lower front edge, means for actuating the headrest plate between the retracted position and the extended position pivotally interconnected to the headrest plate, and means for fixedly mounting the headrest mechanism onto the seating unit pivotally connected to the actuating means is disclosed. In the retracted position, the headrest plate is disposed generally horizontally, with the lower front edge being separated from a fixed point on the mounting means by a first distance, and in the extended position, the headrest plate is disposed generally vertically, with the lower edge being separated from the same fixed point on the mounting means by a second distance, the second distance being substantially greater than the first distance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 1992
    Date of Patent: September 13, 1994
    Assignee: Parma Corporation
    Inventors: Raymond E. Holobaugh, W. Clark Rogers
  • Patent number: 5184809
    Abstract: A spring assembly has a plurality of rows of springs interconnected in chain-like fashion, each spring including upper and lower runs and an intermediate run interconnecting the upper and lower runs. The upper and lower runs each include a coil on one end and a hook on the opposite end hooked about a coil of an adjacent spring. A plurality of runner wires extend transversely of the upper runs where they are connected thereto by a plurality of helical wires respectively received about the upper runs. The upper runs are in planes above the coils of the upper runs providing recesses above the coils receiving the helical wires.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 1991
    Date of Patent: February 9, 1993
    Assignee: Parma Corporation
    Inventor: John E. Miller
  • Patent number: 4811932
    Abstract: A mattress core particularly useful in a sofa bed has a plurality of rows of coil springs extending longitudinally of the coil in the head to foot direction thereof. A plurality of coiled spring wires extend transversely of the rows while interconnecting adjacent coil springs in each row and adjacent coil springs of adjacent rows by being wound about the coil springs. The coiled spring wires are located on opposite sides of the core. On only one side of the core which forms the sleep surface are a plurality of transversely extending "torsion" spring wires, however, these wires are of a generally rectilinear shape with intermediate offset portions at intervals extending generally along the head to foot direction while being connected to the coil springs of each of the rows. The offset portions provide torsion arms providing torsional resistance to deflection at the sleep surface to thereby increase resistance to deflection while, at the same time, distributing loads across the sleep surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 1987
    Date of Patent: March 14, 1989
    Assignee: Parma Corporation
    Inventor: John E. Miller
  • Patent number: 4758044
    Abstract: A rocking chair having a fixed base, and a seat frame mounted on the base for rocking movement by means of a plurality of rocker cams mounted one behind the other. The rocker cams are pivotally mounted to one of the base or seat frame and having arcuate surfaces engaged against the other of the base or seat frame. This achieves a predetermined desired motion of the seat relative to the base. In one embodiment, a pair of such rocking cams are provided in tandem on each side of the chair. In another embodiment, only a single pair of cams are provided in tandem at a central portion of the chair. In another embodiment three cams are provided in a triangular arrangement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 1987
    Date of Patent: July 19, 1988
    Assignee: Parma Corporation
    Inventor: Walter C. Rogers, Jr.
  • Patent number: 4740031
    Abstract: An improved mechanism for a reclining chair or sofa module allows the backrest to be placed virtually against a nearby wall in a room without offering any obstruction when the chair is placed into reclining position. The mechanism may incorporate a backrest of an average of conventional length and, in the preferred embodiment, the mechanism is driven to TV position by the weight of the chair occupant upon release of a locking means which holds the mechanism in the normal or closed position. Preferably, a manually-operable handle positioned on one side of the chair in accordance with conventional practice, is utilized to release the lock mechanism. Once in TV position, the chair may be moved to advanced reclining positions by the occupant exerting pressure on the backrest during which time the backrest will not strike the adjacent wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 1986
    Date of Patent: April 26, 1988
    Assignee: Parma Corporation
    Inventor: Walter C. Rogers, Jr.
  • Patent number: 4707025
    Abstract: A rocker-recliner chair utilizing but two mounting links for mounting the seat and backrest to the rocker cams and which mounting links are also utilized to position the chair in advanced reclining positions beyond the TV position. The chair is biased to the TV position wherein the footrest is extended, by the weight of the chair occupant acting through the rear mounting link. However, the chair is retained in upright position against the gravity basis by a spring-loaded lock mechanism which is actuated by a handle to release the lock mechanism to allow the occupant's weight to drive the chair to TV position. When moving to TV position, the seat undergoes a certain amount of rearward displacement relative to the rocking cams to position the weight of the occupant to the rear while a "landing gear" stop descends to engage the base to thus prevent rearward rocking of the chair.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 1986
    Date of Patent: November 17, 1987
    Assignee: Parma Corporation
    Inventor: Walter C. Rogers, Jr.
  • Patent number: 4694515
    Abstract: An air mattress comprising an inflatable and deflatable flexible body enclosing an air chamber having a resilient means urging the opposite upper and lower walls of the body apart while being yieldable to permit the body to be folded and deflated. In one embodiment, removable a closure is attached to the body to be received in a portal in the wall of the body to seal the chamber closed. When the body is unfolded into a generally horizontal or planar position with the portal opened, the resilient means within the body will separate the upper and lower walls of the body drawing air from the atmosphere into the chamber, the portal may then be closed to seal the air in the chamber. The air mattress is illustrated on a foldable bed including frame portions which are foldable into overlying positions to fold and deflate the mattress and which are unfoldable into a horizontal position to unfold and inflate the mattress.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 1986
    Date of Patent: September 22, 1987
    Assignee: Parma Corporation
    Inventor: Walter C. Rogers, Jr.
  • Patent number: RE33704
    Abstract: A rocker-recliner chair including a base, rocker cams mounted on the base, a unitary seat and armrest assembly mounted on the rocker cams by a novel linkage system for movement between a closed or generally upright position with the associated footrest closed, a TV position wherein the footrest has been extended and the seat inclined relative to the rocker cam, and any one of a number of advanced reclining positions where the footrest remains extended and the backrest has moved relative to the seat while the seat has moved relative to the rocker cam. When the chair is in the TV or any advanced reclining position, a "rock-blocking" mechanism prevents forward-rearward rocking of the cams relative to the base, however, the cams are permitted to rock rearwardly to permit movement of the seat into advanced reclining positions. In the preferred embodiment, actuation of the footrest to the TV position is initiated by means of a handle positioned on one side of the chair.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 1989
    Date of Patent: October 1, 1991
    Assignee: Parma Corporation
    Inventor: Walter C. Rogers, Jr.