Patents Examined by Andrew M. Calvert
  • Patent number: 3995337
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 1975
    Date of Patent: December 7, 1976
    Assignee: Ther-A-Pedic Associates, Inc.
    Inventor: Gerald Gershaw
  • Bed
    Patent number: 3993051
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 1976
    Date of Patent: November 23, 1976
    Inventor: Shinjiro Maruyama
  • Patent number: 3990122
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 1975
    Date of Patent: November 9, 1976
    Assignee: Lawrence Peska Associates, Inc.
    Inventor: Frank C. Peterson
  • Patent number: 3990131
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 1975
    Date of Patent: November 9, 1976
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kouich Okamura
  • Patent number: 3988792
    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
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 1975
    Date of Patent: November 2, 1976
    Inventor: Charles Klein
  • Patent number: 3988793
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 1975
    Date of Patent: November 2, 1976
    Inventor: M. Maurice Abitbol
  • Patent number: 3988791
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 1975
    Date of Patent: November 2, 1976
    Assignee: Snow Lion Corporation
    Inventor: William N. Simon
  • Patent number: 3988790
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 1975
    Date of Patent: November 2, 1976
    Inventors: Milo F. Mracek, Ronald J. Bauer
  • Patent number: 3987504
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 1975
    Date of Patent: October 26, 1976
    Assignee: Lawrence Peska Associates, Inc.
    Inventor: Roslyn Fox
  • Patent number: 3987518
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 1975
    Date of Patent: October 26, 1976
    Assignee: The Kendall Company
    Inventor: Robert F. Collins
  • Patent number: 3987505
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 1976
    Date of Patent: October 26, 1976
    Inventor: Wilma Jayne Hickey
  • Patent number: 3984886
    Abstract: Fluid-filled cushioning assemblies including a body member having a plurality of fluid-tight, fluid-filled cells formed therein. The cells may be sealed off from each other so that no fluid communication therebetween is possible, whereby the assembly will maintain the position in which it is disposed, each cell having a particular pressure therein, or free fluid communication between the cells may be provided so that the assembly may be worked into a particular position. A single valve may be provided for selectively sealing off the cells from one another or allowing fluid communication therebetween.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 1975
    Date of Patent: October 12, 1976
    Inventor: J. Herbert Keeton
  • Patent number: 3983586
    Abstract: A contour bed blanket and detachable sheet assembly. The blanket portion is provided with insulating filling in its top surface and has depending flaps on three of its four sides. The flaps are sewn together at two corners to define a pocket adapted to slip over and around the end of a mattress. A sheet may also be buttoned in place inside the blanket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 1973
    Date of Patent: October 5, 1976
    Inventor: Joseph Gridel
  • Patent number: 3982290
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is an edge stiffener for mattresses. The stiffener is of single piece construction and includes a pair of oppositely projecting lateral mounting arms which are adapted to be carried by the upper and lower border wires of the mattress and which bend at their inner ends to define a corresponding pair of angularly disposed cantilever spring portions joined in a centrally disposed anchor loop.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 1975
    Date of Patent: September 28, 1976
    Inventor: James T. Ward
  • Patent number: 3982291
    Abstract: The specification discloses a locking apparatus and method for assembling bed frames which simplifies assembly of such frames allowing the same to be easily and quickly accomplished by one person. Included in the apparatus are opposing rigid bracket members joined by a rigid, two-point connection. One connection provides a pivot while a camming means cams the other connection into a corresponding receiving means to lock the members together when one member is rotated about the pivot. The method includes pivotally supporting one member on the other and rotating one member with respect to the other while camming a locking projection into a receptacle to lock together the members and their associated mattress and head or foot support frames.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 1975
    Date of Patent: September 28, 1976
    Assignee: Joerns Furniture Company
    Inventor: Frank M. Damico
  • Patent number: 3981033
    Abstract: Disclosed is a mattress comprising a flat-constructed spring assembly, a pair of elastic material sheets which are attached to upper and lower faces of said spring assembly and whose peripheral edge portions are so extended as to form a space at a side peripheral portion of said spring assembly and opposed to each other at their respective tip ends, and a side-elastic material member formed in said space by subjecting a foamable plastic to foaming-in-place, and a covering means for covering an elastic body consisting of said spring assembly, said elastic material sheets and said side-elastic material member, whereby to eliminate a feeling of physical disorder during the use of the mattress and to prevent a mattress body from being subject to lateral swing or rocking motion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 1975
    Date of Patent: September 21, 1976
    Assignee: France Bed Co. Ltd.
    Inventor: Kooichiro Toda
  • Patent number: 3979795
    Abstract: A decorative eyeglass holder of the type worn around the neck to suspend spectacles and including a long band. A pair of one-piece molded clasps are interlinked via the band and each has an elongated slot extending through a flexible head portion to receive a temple of the eyeglasses, a neck portion for attachment with the band, and an annular recess intermediate said head and neck portions. A hollow and spherical clamp depends from a connection with the recess to generally encompass the neck portion and to coact with the neck portion in fastening the band and clasp together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 1975
    Date of Patent: September 14, 1976
    Assignee: Seron Manufacturing Company
    Inventor: Suren V. Seron
  • Patent number: 3979784
    Abstract: An adaptor pad is devised for use with sleeping bags, particularly those commonly referred to as mummy bags, in which the mummy bag can be unfolded and the zipper edges wrapped or folded over the opposite side edges of the adaptor pad and removably secured to zipper sections at or beneath the side edges of the adaptor pad. The pad is so constructed and arranged as to permit its use either with a single or double panel portion of a sleeping bag to provide sleeping accommodations for one or two persons, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 1975
    Date of Patent: September 14, 1976
    Inventor: Richard A. Boothe
  • Patent number: 3974531
    Abstract: A fitted pillow case includes a front, center and rear panel, each being of substantially rectangular configuration and approximately identical in dimension and size. The side edges of the panels are joined by stitching. The top edges of the front and center panels are joined by folding to form a first pocket and the bottom edges of the center and rear panels are joined by folding to form a second pocket. A pillow is inserted into the second pocket and the front panel is then everted over the rear panel to cover the opening to the second pocket and thereby secure the pillow therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 1975
    Date of Patent: August 17, 1976
    Inventor: Verona L. Van Pelt
  • Patent number: 3973281
    Abstract: A bed comprising a platform composed essentially of an expanded polystyrene foam mattress support base or platform upon which a conventional mattress may be supported. The polystyrene foam platform has a panel and an open lattice of flat ribs therebelow with a taut sheet of paper across the bottom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 1974
    Date of Patent: August 10, 1976
    Inventors: William R. Davis, Joel T. Davis, William P. Davis