Patents by Inventor Tony M. Pearce

Tony M. Pearce 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).

  • Publication number: 20200405082
    Abstract: A pillow includes a pillow cushion consisting essentially of a gelatinous elastomer that is sized and configured to support a head and neck of a person using the pillow cushion. The pillow cushion has a first major surface, a second major surface, and deformable wall members extending between the first major surface and the second major surface. The deformable wall members are located and configured to define voids therebetween such that the deformable wall members may be displaced into adjacent voids upon deformation of the deformable wall members. The deformable wall members are configured to buckle when a pressure applied to a cushioning surface of the pillow cushion, in a direction perpendicular to the first major surface, exceeds a threshold pressure level. A pillow cover covers the pillow cushion. A method of fabricating a pillow includes enclosing such a cushion in a pillow cover.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 15, 2020
    Publication date: December 31, 2020
    Inventors: Tony M. Pearce, Shawn D. Moon
  • Patent number: 10863837
    Abstract: A pillow includes a first pillow cushion consisting essentially of a gelatinous elastomer that is sized and configured to support a head and neck of a person using the pillow cushion and a second pillow cushion coupled thereto. The pillow cushion has deformable wall members located and configured to define voids therebetween such that the deformable wall members may be displaced into adjacent voids upon deformation of the deformable wall members. The deformable wall members are configured to buckle when a pressure applied to a cushioning surface of the first pillow cushion, in a direction perpendicular to a first major surface, exceeds a threshold pressure level. A pillow cover covers the first pillow cushion and the second pillow cushion. A method of fabricating a pillow includes enclosing such first and second pillow cushions in a pillow cover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2020
    Assignee: Purple Innovation, LLC
    Inventors: Tony M. Pearce, Shawn David Moon, John Nathan Abel
  • Patent number: 10772445
    Abstract: A pillow includes a pillow cushion consisting essentially of a gelatinous elastomer that is sized and configured to support a head and neck of a person using the pillow cushion. The pillow cushion has a first major surface, a second major surface, and deformable wall members extending between the first major surface and the second major surface. The deformable wall members are located and configured to define voids therebetween such that the deformable wall members may be displaced into adjacent voids upon deformation of the deformable wall members. The deformable wall members are configured to buckle when a pressure applied to a cushioning surface of the pillow cushion, in a direction perpendicular to the first major surface, exceeds a threshold pressure level. A pillow cover covers the pillow cushion. A method of fabricating a pillow includes enclosing such a cushion in a pillow cover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2020
    Assignee: Purple Innovation, LLC
    Inventors: Tony M. Pearce, Shawn D. Moon
  • Publication number: 20200268162
    Abstract: A method for packaging a cushion includes coating a cushioning element with a powder while the cushioning element is in an expanded state and then compressing the cushion to a compressed state. As the cushioning element is compressed, the powder prevents surfaces of the cushioning element (e.g., surfaces of intersecting walls that define hollow buckling columns of a cushioning element formed from an elastomeric polymer extended with a plasticizer, etc.) from adhering to each other. The powder may allow the cushioning element to substantially return to its expanded state substantially immediately following removal of a compressive force from the cushioning element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 11, 2020
    Publication date: August 27, 2020
    Inventor: Tony M. Pearce
  • Patent number: 10555618
    Abstract: A mattress protector includes a composite sheet having a non-deformed length and a non-deformed width. The composite sheet includes a fabric and a water impermeable polymer. The composite sheet is capable of repeatedly stretching to a deformed length of at least 115% of the non-deformed length and returning to within 8% of the non-deformed length without rupture or permanent wrinkling of the composite sheet. Mattresses may be covered and protected by such a mattress protector. Methods of forming mattress protectors include providing a water impermeable polymer on a fabric so as to form a composite sheet having a non-deformed length and a non-deformed width, and formulating and configuring the composite sheet so as to be capable of repeatedly stretching to a deformed length of at least 115% of the non-deformed length and returning to within 8% of the non-deformed length without rupture or permanent wrinkling of the composite sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2020
    Assignee: Purple Innovation, LLC
    Inventor: Tony M. Pearce
  • Publication number: 20190150632
    Abstract: A mattress assembly includes a base layer, a coil layer disposed over the base layer, an upper layer disposed over the coil layer, and an elastomeric cushioning element disposed over the upper layer. The coil layer may include a plurality of pocketed coils. Furthermore, the elastomeric cushioning element may have a thickness within a range of about 2.0 inches to about 4.5 inches. Furthermore, the elastomeric cushioning element may form between about 15.0% and about 32.0% of an overall thickness of the mattress assembly. A method of forming a mattress assembly includes disposing a coil layer over a base layer, disposing an upper layer over the coil layer, disposing an elastomeric cushioning element over the upper layer, and disposing an outer covering over at least the upper layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 17, 2017
    Publication date: May 23, 2019
    Inventors: Tony M. Pearce, Lars Christen Hamilton, Tanner Rick Wheadon
  • Publication number: 20190150629
    Abstract: A cushion may include a cushioning element. The cushioning element may comprise an elastomeric material and one or more reinforcing features positioned at one or more exterior portions of the cushioning element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 17, 2017
    Publication date: May 23, 2019
    Inventor: Tony M. Pearce
  • Publication number: 20190150631
    Abstract: A method of forming a cushioning element including forming a large cushioning element, and then dividing the large cushioning element into four equal smaller cushioning elements. The four smaller cushioning elements may be substantially the same size. Each of the smaller cushioning elements may be used as separate cushioning elements.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 16, 2018
    Publication date: May 23, 2019
    Inventors: Tony M. Pearce, Lars Christen Hamilton, Tanner Rick Wheadon
  • Publication number: 20190075884
    Abstract: An insole for a shoe includes an insole body of elastomeric material having a first major surface and a second major surface opposite the first major surface. A distance between the first major surface and the second major surface is between about 1 mm and about 10 mm. The elastomeric material defines a plurality of voids extending through the elastomeric material from the first major surface to the second major surface. Each void has a dimension between about 1 mm and about 3 mm in a plane parallel at least one of to the first major surface and the second major surface. A minimum distance between adjacent voids is between about 0.5 mm and about 3 mm. A shoe insole includes such a cushion. A method of forming an insole for a shoe includes providing an elastomeric material within a mold to form an insole body of elastomeric material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 11, 2017
    Publication date: March 14, 2019
    Inventors: Tony M. Pearce, Terry V. Pearce, Russell B. Whatcott, Shawn David Moon, Dhyey Acharya
  • Publication number: 20180305199
    Abstract: A pillow includes a first pillow cushion consisting essentially of a gelatinous elastomer that is sized and configured to support a head and neck of a person using the pillow cushion and a second pillow cushion coupled thereto. The pillow cushion has deformable wall members located and configured to define voids therebetween such that the deformable wall members may be displaced into adjacent voids upon deformation of the deformable wall members. The deformable wall members are configured to buckle when a pressure applied to a cushioning surface of the first pillow cushion, in a direction perpendicular to a first major surface, exceeds a threshold pressure level. A pillow cover covers the first pillow cushion and the second pillow cushion. A method of fabricating a pillow includes enclosing such first and second pillow cushions in a pillow cover.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2018
    Publication date: October 25, 2018
    Inventors: Tony M. Pearce, Shawn David Moon, John Nathan Abel
  • Publication number: 20180244462
    Abstract: A bag for enclosing a cushion is disclosed. The bag comprises a tubular sleeve having first and second end pieces coupled to first and second longitudinal ends thereof, a plurality of reinforcing straps encircling a circumference of the tubular sleeve, and at least one handle extending between the plurality of reinforcing straps. The at least one handle is configured to lay flush against the tubular sleeve during shipping. Methods for packaging and shipping a cushion in the bag include roll packing a cushion into a cylindrical shape, disposing the cushion in a compressed form into the bag, and shipping the bag to a customer without inserting the bag in any other container. Methods of unpacking the cushion from the bag includes uncoupling the first end piece from the tubular sleeve, opening the tubular sleeve along a longitudinal length thereof, and unrolling the compressed cushion to an expanded form.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 1, 2018
    Publication date: August 30, 2018
    Inventor: Tony M. Pearce
  • Publication number: 20180168359
    Abstract: An adjustable bed foundation includes an adjustable frame and at least one height adjuster configured to raise and lower a portion of the adjustable frame. The adjustable frame defines a support surface, a bottom surface opposite the support surface, and a plurality of lateral side surfaces intersecting each of the support surface and the bottom surface. A fabric at least partially covers the plurality of lateral side surfaces and is secured to a material covering the support surface. A massage device is disposed within the adjustable frame and configured to impart vibration to a mattress disposed on the adjustable frame. The massage device is secured to the adjustable frame by a flexible fastener, and a gap between the flexible fastener and the support surface is between about 2 mm and about 10 mm. Related methods are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2017
    Publication date: June 21, 2018
    Inventors: Shawn David Moon, Tony M. Pearce
  • Publication number: 20180110348
    Abstract: A bed linen comprises a single, continuous piece of fabric extending substantially completely across lateral dimensions of the bed linen and including elastomeric fibers and non-elastomeric fibers. The single, continuous piece of fabric is configured to stretch to at least 125 percent of an initial length thereof without damage thereto and to substantially return to the initial length thereof after being stretched. A bedding assembly and a method of forming a bedding assembly are also described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 20, 2016
    Publication date: April 26, 2018
    Inventors: Tony M. Pearce, Shawn D. Moon
  • Publication number: 20180078048
    Abstract: A mattress protector includes a composite sheet having a non-deformed length and a non-deformed width. The composite sheet includes a fabric and a water impermeable polymer. The composite sheet is capable of repeatedly stretching to a deformed length of at least 115% of the non-deformed length and returning to within 8% of the non-deformed length without rupture or permanent wrinkling of the composite sheet. Mattresses may be covered and protected by such a mattress protector. Methods of forming mattress protectors include providing a water impermeable polymer on a fabric so as to form a composite sheet having a non-deformed length and a non-deformed width, and formulating and configuring the composite sheet so as to be capable of repeatedly stretching to a deformed length of at least 115% of the non-deformed length and returning to within 8% of the non-deformed length without rupture or permanent wrinkling of the composite sheet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 21, 2016
    Publication date: March 22, 2018
    Inventor: Tony M. Pearce
  • Publication number: 20180078062
    Abstract: A pillow includes a pillow cushion consisting essentially of a gelatinous elastomer that is sized and configured to support a head and neck of a person using the pillow cushion. The pillow cushion has a first major surface, a second major surface, and deformable wall members extending between the first major surface and the second major surface. The deformable wall members are located and configured to define voids therebetween such that the deformable wall members may be displaced into adjacent voids upon deformation of the deformable wall members. The deformable wall members are configured to buckle when a pressure applied to a cushioning surface of the pillow cushion, in a direction perpendicular to the first major surface, exceeds a threshold pressure level. A pillow cover covers the pillow cushion. A method of fabricating a pillow includes enclosing such a cushion in a pillow cover.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 25, 2016
    Publication date: March 22, 2018
    Inventors: Tony M. Pearce, Shawn D. Moon
  • Patent number: 9796522
    Abstract: A bag for enclosing a cushion is disclosed. The bag comprises a tubular sleeve having first and second end pieces coupled to first and second longitudinal ends thereof, a plurality of reinforcing straps encircling a circumference of the tubular sleeve, and at least one handle extending between the plurality of reinforcing straps. The at least one handle is configured to lay flush against the tubular sleeve during shipping. Methods for packaging and shipping a cushion in the bag include roll packing a cushion into a cylindrical shape, disposing the cushion in a compressed form into the bag, and shipping the bag to a customer without inserting the bag in any other container. Methods of unpacking the cushion from the bag includes uncoupling the first end piece from the tubular sleeve, opening the tubular sleeve along a longitudinal length thereof, and unrolling the compressed cushion to an expanded form.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: Purple Innovation, LLC
    Inventor: Tony M. Pearce
  • Publication number: 20170267442
    Abstract: A bag for enclosing a cushion is disclosed. The bag comprises a tubular sleeve having first and second end pieces coupled to first and second longitudinal ends thereof, a plurality of reinforcing straps encircling a circumference of the tubular sleeve, and at least one handle extending between the plurality of reinforcing straps. The at least one handle is configured to lay flush against the tubular sleeve during shipping. Methods for packaging and shipping a cushion in the bag include roll packing a cushion into a cylindrical shape, disposing the cushion in a compressed form into the bag, and shipping the bag to a customer without inserting the bag in any other container. Methods of unpacking the cushion from the bag includes uncoupling the first end piece from the tubular sleeve, opening the tubular sleeve along a longitudinal length thereof, and unrolling the compressed cushion to an expanded form.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 1, 2017
    Publication date: September 21, 2017
    Inventor: Tony M. Pearce
  • Publication number: 20170254003
    Abstract: A cushion cover includes a one-piece knit fabric configured to at least partially surround a cushion, the cover including at least one graphic feature protruding from an associated surrounding area of the one-piece knit fabric. The at least one graphic feature is integrally knitted in the one-piece knit fabric and has a thickness at least about 2 times the thickness of the associated surrounding area of the one-piece knit fabric.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 7, 2016
    Publication date: September 7, 2017
    Inventor: Tony M. Pearce
  • Patent number: D799858
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2017
    Assignee: Purple Innovation, LLC
    Inventors: Tony M. Pearce, Andrea N. Pearce, Daniel Harmon, Brett Crockett
  • Patent number: D864613
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2019
    Assignee: Purple Innovation, LLC
    Inventors: Tony M. Pearce, Andrea N. Pearce, Daniel Harmon, Brett Crockett