Abstract: A spring assembly for use with a generally rectangular frame comprising a plurality of individual wire spring members interconnected to form a horizontal yieldable support deck, each spring member having a plurality of substantially square side-by-side U-shaped sections comprising a base portion and generally parallel leg portions which terminate in transversely extending leg extensions, one leg extension being integrally connected to a leg extension of the adjacent U-shaped section on one side thereof, and the other leg extension being connected to a leg extension of the adjacent U-shaped section on the other side thereof. The spring members are interconnected so that the junctures of the base portion and the leg portions of each U-shaped section of one spring member interconnects with an aligned U-shaped section of an adjacent spring member at the junctures of the leg portions and leg extensions thereof to thereby provide for pivotal movement of each spring member relative to the adjacent spring member.

Abstract: A lightweight portable inflatable structure in the form of a baby's crib has a base portion and upstanding side walls integrally formed thereabout in communication therewith. Interconnecting webs formed by heat sealing the air impervious sheet material from which the inflatable structure is formed assist in controlling the size and shape of the inflatable structure and a separate rigid rectangular frame and supporting legs detachably supports the inflatable structure to prevent collapse in the event of loss of air pressure therefrom.

Abstract: A double joint assembly for interconnecting three elements of a foldable structure, two elements being capable of pivoting in the same plane so as to be located at a pre-selected angle to the third element, the joint assembly comprising a forked member, a clamping member and a bolt member, each of which members is integral with, or affixable to one of the said elements, the clamping member and the bolt member each having a flat portion which is pivotable about a pivot axis and which is located in an aperture formed in the forked member, each flat portion having a cam surface formed thereon having at least one support surface, that the clamping member abuts against one surface of the forked member when the foldable structure is extended, the cam surface of the bolt member co-operating with the cam surface of the clamping member such that, in use, the clamping member is retained in position relative to the forked member in two directions, the angular position of the bolt member being determined by the angle at

Abstract: A dust ruffle is adapted to be positioned between the upper mattress and the lower box spring mattress of a bed, and covers only a portion of the upper plan platform of the lower mattress. Secured to the elastic partial platform portion is a continuous side portion adapted to cover the sides of the lower mattress, and in turn, depending from said continuous side portion is the dust ruffle portion. Since the partial platform portion is made of elastic material, it may readily be expanded so as to slip over the upper mattress in order to position the dust ruffle on the bed without resort to removing the upper mattress.

Abstract: Side and end boards are assembled to define a rectangular frame for a waterbed. External vertical grooves are formed on the exterior portions of the boards adjacent each of the corners. A metal bracing member comprised of two panels at a right angle to each other with 90.degree. turned in end flanges and a triangular web connecting the top edges of the panels and lying in a plane perpendicular to both panels is positioned above a corner of the frame. The flanges are fitted in the upper ends of the grooves and the bracing member then slid down over the corner so that the panels exteriorally straddle the corner. Each corner of the frame is treated in the same manner to provide an extremely simple assembly operation and resulting strong waterbed frame.

Abstract: The waterbed comprises a body supporting liquid filled bag or bladder and a freely expansible ballast chamber in unrestricted fluid communication with the body supporting bag or bladder. The fluid interchange operates to regulate and maintain at a comfortable low value, the surface stress of the bag or bladder.

Abstract: A pin tumbler lock has a housing, a cylindrical key plug provided with a keyway rotatable in the housing, a shear line between the plug and the housing, pin tumbler bores with aligned parts respectively in the housing and the key plug and spring pressed outer and inner pin tumblers in each bore. In one of the bores is an extra frangible graphite tumbler of substantially the diameter of the other pin tumblers. When construction key is inserted in the keyway the graphite tumbler and the other pin tumblers meets at the shear line permitting the lock to unlock. When construction is finished a conversion key is inserted in the keyway and the graphite tumbler is shifted to a position crossing the shear line whereupon the graphite tumbler is shattered by rotation of the key plug. Thereafter the lock can not be unlocked by the construction key but can be unlocked by the householder's key.

Abstract: Fitted bedclothes for rectangular waterbeds comprising a flat substantially rectangular panel member overlying an upper surface of the mattress and an upper portion of the mattress sides. A right-triangular pocket member is connected to at least two panel member corners, forming pockets therebetween and being adapted for receiving a waterbed mattress corner therein. An extensible portion of a free edge of each pocket member resiliently engages a lower corner surface of said mattress, opposingly and diagonally pulling the bedclothes taut over the mattress.

Abstract: The coupling comprises two coupling elements, the first element of which may form part of a lifting device for lifting sick persons or invalids and the second element may serve for attaching to a supporting element to carry the sick person, the first coupling element comprising two spaced parallel jaw plates provided with first hook means adjacent their upper end and clamping means adjacent their lower end, the second coupling element comprising an elongated rod provided with second hook means adapted to cooperate with the first hook means, the said rod fitting between the jaw plates when the first and second hook means are caused to cooperate, a lower portion of the rod being provided with a cam for cooperating with the said clamping means in the coupling position.

Abstract: An innerspring mattress wherein the middle portion of the mattress has two superposedly arranged sets of springs having different degrees of firmness, a rigid member, such as a plate, being insertable therebetween to provide two additional degrees of yieldability to the mattress. By placing the firmer set of springs either upward or downward and by either inserting the rigid plate therebetween or not, four degrees of flexibility for the mattress are provided. The mattress also comprises an improved handle structure to manipulate the mattress, the handle structure being mounted in cooperative relationship with the coil springs of the mattress construction.

Abstract: The invention provides a bed which, when an individual lies down upon it, allows him to take the "Yoga Slant Position" -- with the head lower than the feet -- through its automatic tilting operation, which gently returns the bed to its normal horizontal position after a short time. The bed is supported by a pair of hydraulic support means disposed respectively at the front and rear section, each oil chamber of the hydraulic support means being connected to an oil chamber of an oil tank which is provided separately, via a variable throttle valve.

Abstract: An adjustable footboard is disclosed in combination with a bed such as a hospital bed for allowing the occupant of the bed to move themselves in the direction of the head of the bed. The apparatus is especially useful in hospital beds, the matteress of which if foldable at several points along its longitudinal edge in order to provide extra or additional comfort to the occupant. When the mattress is folded to elevate the back of the patient in the bed, the patient's weight is shifted towards the foot of the bed which after a time, can be a source of discomfort to the patient but can be relieved by providing the adjustable footboard that is automatically brought into contact with the patient's feet to allow the patient to reposition themselves.

Abstract: The invention discloses a three-piece clamping device especially adapted for clamping together an inner packing box and an outer packing box or clamping together the packing boxes. The clamping device comprises a pair of rectangular retaining members similar in construction and a retaining wedge member with a knob or wing. According to one preferred embodiment, each retaining member has a saucer-shaped flat-bottomed barrel portion formed by a drawing operation, and a flange portion extending outwardly from the periphery of the open end of the barrel portion. An elongated-hexagon-shaped slot is formed through the flat bottom of the barrel portion, a projection is extended outwardly from the outer bottom surface and a recess is formed in the outer bottom surface of the barrel portion.

Abstract: An inflatable structure which includes a resilient wall with cuts, of the type comprising a print of allusive drawing on one of its surfaces, wherein said structure is composed substantially of an inflatable cushion having in the outer surface of one of its sides a resilient panel of considerable thickness attached thereto, and on the opposite side said cushion having a valve with cover for the admission of air or gas to inflate said structure, and in that the resilient panel of considerable thickness projects peripherally some distance beyond the edge of the cushion forming a flange and that it includes on the same wall attached to the cushion, near the edge thereof a slot, and includes a rigid support plate with ribs near the edges thereof which engages the slot of the flange of said resilient panel, and may include an adhesive for better attachment to the rigid support; said rigid support including also a perforation which coincides with the air or gas admission valve to permit the inflation of the structu

Abstract: A mattress device designed for treating a pregnant woman by releasing the pressure ordinarily produced by the pregnant uterus and the abdominal wall on the abdominal aorta, thereby helping to prevent complications of pregnancy, such as toxemia and fetal distress. The device comprises a thick mattress-like member having an inflated ring extending through the mattress with a chamber formed on the central portion of the ring. The chamber is open at the top for receiving the pregnant uterus of a woman lying in the prone position, with her abdominal wall floating freely in the chamber. The inflated ring is filled to an air pressure which provides a body support that compensates for the heavier weight around the midsection. The combination of the variable air pressure of the ring and different sizes and shapes of such ring permit a mattress support well adapted to the varied sizes and shapes of the pregnant uterus while also enabling the abdominal wall to float freely in the chamber.

Abstract: A sleeping bag having double shells, an inner shell and an outer shell both open at one and the same side, each preferably differentially cut so that the sleeping bag is narrow at the bottom or foot end than at the upper end, and having insulating material between said shells, said shells being closed along said open side by a pair of off-set slide fasteners, said off-sets providing effective closing off of any leakage through the fasteners of the warmed air inside the sleeping bag and the entry of cold air from the outside and providing both a dead air space between said double fasteners and insulated pads to cover the two closures.

Abstract: A normally-deflated, readily-flexible, inflatable pad which underlies a bed patient can be inflated to raise that bed patient and to gently but firmly hold that bed patient in raised position. When that inflatable pad is inflated, it defines a recess at the lower surface of the center thereof into which the supporting surface of a portable support can be moved; and that inflatable pad and that portable support can thereafter hold the bed patient at a desired level relative to the bed on which that inflatable bed normally rests. When the supporting surface of the portable support subsequently is removed from the recess at the lower surface of the center of the inflatable bed, that inflatable pad can be deflated to lower the bed patient. A pressure transducer, between the supporting surface and the carrier therefor, develops a signal while that supporting surface underlies and holds the inflatable pad and the bed patient; and a readout responds to that signal to indicate the weight of that bed patient.

Abstract: An adjustable cot is disclosed having an adjustable knee comfort device which comprises a folding planar surface extending in the same direction as the leg supporting portion of the cot and intermediate the ends of the leg supporting portion whereby the knee comfort device is adjusted from a planar configuration to an upwardly projecting configuration substantially in the area of the leg supporting portion of the cot that provides support for the section of the leg under the knee.

Abstract: A bed-fitted patient restraining device comprises a mattress cover fabricated to conform about the top mattress of a bed; and a restraint jacket including a pair of complementary panels corresponding to front panels of a sleeveless bodice garment, the panels being secured at their upper ends and sides corresponding to sides and shoulder portions of the garment, with openings through which the patient's arms may be disposed, matable edges of the jacket panels being provided with fasteners, arm restraining straps disposed centrally at the sides of the jacket panels, and a crotch restraint.

Abstract: A belt assembly for an operating room gown comprising, an elongated belt associated with the gown and having an end section for closing the gown. The belt assembly has a protective member removably positioned on and covering an outer end of the one end section to prevent contamination of the one end section while handling the belt. The belt assembly also has means for releasably retaining the protective member on the outer end of the belt to prevent the protective member from prematurely slipping from the belt.