Patents by Inventor John P. Kitchen

John P. Kitchen has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 5752284
    Abstract: A spring assembly comprising a frame, a plurality of rails secured to the frame and a plurality of spaced springs secured to the rails. Each of the rails has a generally U-shaped cross-section and comprises a bottom and two sidewalls. Each sidewall has an inwardly projecting detent creating a receptacle underneath the detent adapted to receive and hold a spring. Each of the springs has a substantially planar lower portion which is generally S-shaped and adapted to be positioned in the receptacles of the sidewalls of the rail and rotated into a snap-fit locked position. In this locked position, the detents of the sidewalls hold the lower portion of the spring against the bottom of the rail and prevent lateral or vertical movement of the spring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 19, 1998
    Assignee: L&P Property Management Co.
    Inventors: Upton R. Dabney, John P. Kitchen, William C. Rodgers
  • Patent number: 5704595
    Abstract: A nestably stackable pre-assembly for a box spring foundation having a top support surface formed by a substantially rectangular border wire, lateral surface support wires and longitudinal surface support wires. The top support surface is supported by a series of longitudinal formed wire structural support members having V-shaped sections extending down from the top support surface. The structural support members are attached to the surface support wires by clips. The V-sections of adjacent structural support members are angled towards each other in pairs such that they form a series of four-sided open-apex pyramids. The pre-assemblies can be stored and shipped by attaching a first pre-assembly to a bottom wooden frame, and stacking additional pre-assemblies on top of the first.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 1995
    Date of Patent: January 6, 1998
    Assignee: L& P Property Management Company
    Inventors: John P. Kitchen, Upton Dabney
  • Patent number: 5639071
    Abstract: A support rail for springs as might be used in a spring assembly such as a bedding or seat foundation. The support rails are metal and form part of a frame to which the springs are mounted. The support rails have a generally inverted U-shape and include a pair of spaced upright webs with a load carrying plate extending between and located below the upper ends. The plate is further defined by a base and side sections which curve outwardly and upwardly from the base before connecting to the upper ends of the webs. The curves of the side sections define inwardly facing receptacles located immediately below a necked area of reduced width. The support rails are utilized with springs that include at least one mounting portion shaped to snap mount into the receptacles upon downward insertion into the load carrying plate. Features are also provided to limit longitudinal movement of the springs relative to the support rails once mounted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 17, 1997
    Assignee: L&P Property Management Company
    Inventor: John P. Kitchen
  • Patent number: 5562274
    Abstract: A formed wire spring assembly having upper and lower spaced decks including a border wire and a plurality of deck wires arranged in a criss-cross fashion. The deck wires of the upper deck and lower decks are paired with one another and are connected by springs disposed between the two decks to support the decks in spaced relationship and yieldable fashion relative to one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 1994
    Date of Patent: October 8, 1996
    Assignee: Hoover Wire Products, Inc.
    Inventors: John P. Kitchen, William C. Rodgers
  • Patent number: 4805883
    Abstract: A box spring assembly consisting of a generally horizontal frame and a generally horizontal wire grid disposed a predetermined distance above the frame, and a plurality of grid support springs arranged between and secured to the grid and the frame so as to yieldably support the grid on the frame. Auxiliary grid crosswires formed of spring wire are incorporated in the grid to strengthen the grid and distribute bedding loads between the support springs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 1987
    Date of Patent: February 21, 1989
    Assignee: Hoover Group, Inc.
    Inventor: John P. Kitchen
  • Patent number: 4779293
    Abstract: A box spring assembly in which the mattress support deck is formed by a plurality of components all of which are formed from spring wire to thereby achieve a support deck of increased strength and improved durability. In addition, the components are structurally interrelated and clipped together so as to restrain relative movement of the components to thereby achieve a box spring assembly of improved stability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 1987
    Date of Patent: October 25, 1988
    Assignee: Hoover Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Upton R. Dabney, John P. Kitchen
  • Patent number: 4371152
    Abstract: A box spring assembly which includes a generally rectangular frame and a plurality of wire springs mounted on the frame and connected to each other so as to yieldably resist downwardly directed bedding loads. Each of the springs has an elongated body portion arranged above the frame and downwardly extending end portions, each of the end portions having a lower column section consisting of a straight length of spring wire and an upper section consisting of a plurality of substantially horizontal torsion bars and a plurality of angularly arranged connecting bars connected to and extending between the torsion bars so that in response to a downwardly directed bedding load, the upper section will yieldably collapse to accommodate the load and impart a feeling of soft support to the bedding user. The straight wire column is inclined inwardly so that it can bend slightly and cause a twisting of the torsion bar on which it is mounted. This action imparts a feeling of firm support to the bedding user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 1980
    Date of Patent: February 1, 1983
    Assignee: Hoover Universal, Inc.
    Inventors: John P. Kitchen, Jack C. Mandusky
  • Patent number: 4285080
    Abstract: A spring deck for supporting padding material in seating structures in which an open rigid frame is covered by a sheet of polypropylene fabric so as to provide both a cover for the frame and spring means to accommodate yieldingly loads that are applied to the surface of the sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 1979
    Date of Patent: August 25, 1981
    Assignee: Hoover Universal, Inc.
    Inventors: John P. Kitchen, Neville L. Riddle
  • Patent number: 4253208
    Abstract: A box spring assembly which includes a generally rectangular frame and a wire spring assemblage mounted on the top side of the frame; the assemblage including a large number of straight wires arranged criss-cross fashion and arcuate springs that support and connect the straight wires at some of the points of intersection. A basic wire grid is formed with downwardly extending hook portions that snap over some of the spring wires to secure the grid to the assemblage so as to bridge the spaces between the straight wires. The "spring back" capability of the spring wires allows them to spring into the hook portions so as to retain the grid in position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 1979
    Date of Patent: March 3, 1981
    Assignee: Hoover Universal, Inc.
    Inventors: William L. Hancock, John P. Kitchen, Ned W. Mizelle
  • Patent number: 4207634
    Abstract: A box spring assembly with end rail spring mounting units consisting of a frame having wood side and end rails, metal cross rails, and metal end rail mounting units secured to the end rails. The mounting units locate and support some of the springs in the assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 1978
    Date of Patent: June 17, 1980
    Assignee: Hoover Universal, Inc.
    Inventors: John P. Kitchen, Terry L. Gabhart
  • Patent number: 4195376
    Abstract: A spring and frame assembly, particularly for box springs for beds of extended length, consisting of a plurality of main springs arranged criss-cross fashion on a rectangular supporting frame to form a load supporting deck having a regular array of rectangular spaces, and internal support springs mounted on the frame extending diagonally across associated rectangular spaces and secured to the main springs. Each internal support spring has a main body portion and depending end portions which resiliently support the main body portion in spaced relation above the frame. Selected ones of the internal support springs have longer main body portions than the remaining internal support springs and are arranged adjacent the opposite ends of the box spring assembly to provide the ends of the box spring assembly with additional resistance to downward loads.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 1978
    Date of Patent: April 1, 1980
    Assignee: Hoover Universal, Inc.
    Inventor: John P. Kitchen
  • Patent number: 4195377
    Abstract: A leg assembly for a bed frame comprising a main body member having an upright passageway and a caster unit having a stem insertable into the passageway by moving it upwardly therein. Flexible tab members on the body member project into the passageway and into a recess formed in the stem when the stem is inserted into the passageway to a predetermined position to inhibit retraction of the stem from the passageway.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 1978
    Date of Patent: April 1, 1980
    Assignee: Hoover Universal, Inc.
    Inventors: John P. Kitchen, Terry L. Gabhart
  • Patent number: 4163296
    Abstract: A box spring assembly having a rectangular horizontal frame, a wire grid displaced vertically above the frame and yieldably supported thereon, transverse cross rails secured to the frame and foam bodies on the cross rails and supporting the wire grid for providing yieldable resistance to downwardly directed loads placed on the grid. Each cross rail has a pair of horizontal end portions, a vertically displaced horizontal support portion and connecting portions extending between the end and horizontal support portions. The cross rails have generally inverted U-shaped cross sections and at least the horizontal support portions of the rails are embedded in the undersides of the foam bodies. The wire grid includes a network of criss-cross wires with torsion bar spring end and edge portions supporting the grid on the frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 1978
    Date of Patent: August 7, 1979
    Assignee: Hoover Universal, Inc.
    Inventors: John P. Kitchen, David W. Samuels
  • Patent number: 4135835
    Abstract: A latch unit for a pair of rectangular telescoped bed frame rails having overlapped side walls with aligned openings therein. The latch unit consists of a hollow rectangular body of one-piece, non-rigid construction, preferably yieldable plastic material, telescoped over the telescoped rails.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 1977
    Date of Patent: January 23, 1979
    Assignee: Hoover Universal, Inc.
    Inventors: John P. Kitchen, Terry L. Gabhart, Joseph S. Lanham
  • Patent number: 4131961
    Abstract: A wire grid unit cooperating with a box spring assembly to support a mattress. The box spring assembly has a mattress support framework defined by spaced apart longitudinally and transversely extending main springs having generally straight body portions. The grid unit, which consists of a plurality of generally straight wire members secured to each other in criss-cross fashion, is supported on the mattress support framework so that some of the grid wire members extend midway between adjacent pairs of transversely extending spring body portions and other grid wire members extend midway between adjacent pairs of longitudinally extending spring body portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 1977
    Date of Patent: January 2, 1979
    Assignee: Hoover Universal, Inc.
    Inventor: John P. Kitchen
  • Patent number: 4120058
    Abstract: A box spring assembly is disclosed in which a plurality of main wire springs and intermediate wire springs are mounted on a generally rectangular frame. Each wire spring has a generally straight body portion and relatively short depending end portions, each of which is formed to a generally fish-mouth configuration. The end portions are secured to the frame and provide a substantial resistance to downwardly directed loads.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 1977
    Date of Patent: October 17, 1978
    Assignee: Hoover Universal, Inc.
    Inventors: John P. Kitchen, Jack C. Mandusky
  • Patent number: 4070717
    Abstract: A bed carrying frame comprising a pair of generally parallel side rail members, of hollow rectangular shape, a pair of end rail units, each of which consists of two relatively telescoped end rail members which are also of hollow rectangular shape, and corner bracket members mounting each of the end rail members on one of the side rail members. The corner bracket members are substantially identical and function to pivotally mount the end rail members on the side rail members for movement between folded positions in which two end rail members are folded against each side rail member and assembled positions in which pairs of end rail members are relatively telescoped and cooperate with the side rail members to form a rectangular frame. A novel latch unit is provided for each pair of relatively telescoped end rail members to maintain the end rail members in predetermined relative positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 1976
    Date of Patent: January 31, 1978
    Assignee: Hoover Ball and Bearing Co.
    Inventors: John P. Kitchen, Terry L. Gabhart, Joseph S. Lanham
  • Patent number: 4060862
    Abstract: A box spring assembly consisting of a horizontally disposed rectangular frame and a plurality of main wire springs and intermediate wire springs connected to each other and mounted on the top side of the frame. Each of the springs has a generally straight wire body portion and depending end portions, each of which is of serpentine shape and has a pair of angularly related sections. The end portions are secured to the frame so that they are compressible in a vertical direction when subjected to downwardly directed load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 1976
    Date of Patent: December 6, 1977
    Assignee: Hoover Ball and Bearing Company
    Inventors: John P. Kitchen, Neville L. Riddle