Zigzag Patents (Class 267/144)
  • Patent number: 11489403
    Abstract: A motor includes a case; and a partition that is fitted into the case and has an easily deformable part formed on an outer peripheral surface for dispersing and dissipating vibration transmitted between the case and the partition. A space is formed in the easily deformable part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2022
    Assignee: MABUCHI MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kunihiro Kuwano, Takashi Muramoto
  • Patent number: 10258387
    Abstract: A fastener retention system for retaining fasteners within apertures of an orthopedic plate includes a first pocket disposed between two of the apertures in the plate, a blocking member disposed between the two apertures and including a second pocket that forms a cavity with the first pocket, and a spring that expands from a compressed configuration within the first pocket to a decompressed configuration within the cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2019
    Assignee: Alphatec Spine, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher M. Campbell, Tyler Holschlag
  • Patent number: 9944474
    Abstract: Adjustable lateral seals for loading dock barriers are disclosed. An example barrier includes a header structure coupled to the wall, where the header structure is horizontally elongate, extending above the doorway, and protrudes in the forward direction from the wall. A lateral seal is coupled to the wall. The lateral seal is vertically elongate and extends below the header structure. The lateral seal extends farther into a cargo passageway of a loading dock when the weather barrier is in a relaxed configuration than when the weather barrier is in an activated configuration. The lateral seal is to be engage by a vehicle when the vehicle is in a parked position. The lateral seal including an upper seal segment and a lower seal segment, the upper seal segment to move between a lowered position and a raised position relative to the lower seal segment. A flexible elongate member has an upper end coupled to the header structure and a lower end coupled to the upper seal segment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: Rite-Hite Holding Corporation
    Inventors: Frank Heim, Ryan Withrow
  • Patent number: 9861207
    Abstract: Cushioning articles such as mattresses can include a three dimensional wave spring core. The wave spring includes a polymeric lattice spring structure including a plurality of alternating layers stackedly arranged to define a height of the wave spring, wherein each one of the alternating layers is defined by a single strand having one or more upward and downward undulations, wherein the alternating layers are arranged such that an upward undulation of one layer is connected to a downward undulation of the other layer to define a cell configured to receive a compressive force, wherein the lattice structure has a sinusoidal shape when viewed top down and is configured to have three dimensional structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: DREAMWELL, LTD.
    Inventors: Michael S. DeFranks, Rahul Kirtikar, Henry J. Marcacci, Michael McDonald, Nicholas B. Savage, Kevin C. Bogaert, Parker Frost
  • Patent number: 9050914
    Abstract: Provided is a seat structure capable of suppressing the size increase of a vehicle seat provided with a rotation member that rotates to stow a seat body. In a vehicle seat that includes a stowable seat body and a link member attached to a seat cushion, the link member rotates about a rotation shaft provided along the width direction of the seat body to shift the seat cushion to a stowed position in stowing the seat body. Further, the link member is positioned below the seat cushion and is attached to the center portion of the seat cushion in the width direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2015
    Assignee: TS Tech Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Souheil Hage-Hassan, Eiji Toba
  • Publication number: 20140346718
    Abstract: The mattress assemblies have an array of springs extending from a sheet. Each spring in the array may be manufactured by choosing a position for the spring, cutting a profile of the sheet spring in the sheet, peeling back or bending the profile or tab of the sheet, and shaping the profile to form the sheet spring. The array of springs may be formed from creating a plurality of such springs along rows and columns. In certain embodiments, multiple sheets may be stacked to form the sheet spring array.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 11, 2014
    Publication date: November 27, 2014
    Inventor: Michael S. DeFranks
  • Patent number: 8800979
    Abstract: The mattress assemblies have an array of springs extending from a sheet. Each spring in the array may be manufactured by choosing a position for the spring, cutting a profile of the sheet spring in the sheet, peeling back or bending the profile or tab of the sheet, and shaping the profile to form the sheet spring. The array of springs may be formed from creating a plurality of such springs along rows and columns. In certain embodiments, multiple sheets may be stacked to form the sheet spring array.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2014
    Assignee: Dreamwell, Ltd.
    Inventor: Michael S. DeFranks
  • Patent number: 8662483
    Abstract: A shock absorber for vehicle seat is provided. The shock absorber is suspended on a seat frame so as to elastically support a pad. The shock absorber includes: a plurality of wires that are disposed in parallel to the seat frame, both ends of the wires being locked to the seat frame; and a resinous member that connects the wires to each other, the resinous member having a bent portion, wherein the resinous member is elastically deformable in a direction in which the wires are opposed each other in accordance with a deformation of the bent portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Toyota Boshoku Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shigetomo Yamaguchi, Masayuki Kitou, Toshiyuki Ario, Ryuji Hayashi
  • Patent number: 8262051
    Abstract: An isolator. The novel isolator includes a first mounting structure, a second mounting structure, and a structure for providing a coupling path between the first and second mounting structures, this path having a series of zigzag patterns adapted to attenuate shock and/or vibration energy. The first mounting structure is attached to the shock source, and the second mounting structure is attached to the device to be isolated. In an illustrative embodiment, the isolator provides a path having a series of ninety-degree bends and a length greater than a direct distance between the first and second mounting structures. The path length and number of bends is tuned to provide a desired attenuation level. The dimensions of the isolator may also be tuned to provide a desired resonant frequency. In a preferred embodiment, the isolator is made from metal or some other material having stable properties over time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2012
    Assignee: Raytheon Company
    Inventors: Peter H. Vo, Edward C. Schlatter, Jeffrey J. Layton
  • Patent number: 8075981
    Abstract: An alternating pattern gel cushioning device and methods for making the same. The gel pattern may be two- or three-dimensional. The devices may be zoned or stacked. The device may be made by a variety of methods including roller molding, open-face molding, injection molding, casting, extrusion, compression molding and other methods.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2011
    Assignee: Edizone, LLC
    Inventors: Tony M. Pearce, Terry V. Pearce, Russell Whatcott
  • Publication number: 20110031665
    Abstract: The mattress assemblies have an array of springs extending from a sheet. Each spring in the array may be manufactured by choosing a position for the spring, cutting a profile of the sheet spring in the sheet, peeling back or bending the profile or tab of the sheet, and shaping the profile to form the sheet spring. The array of springs may be formed from creating a plurality of such springs along rows and columns. In certain embodiments, multiple sheets may be stacked to form the sheet spring array.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 6, 2010
    Publication date: February 10, 2011
    Applicant: Dreamwell, Ltd.
    Inventor: Michael S. DeFranks
  • Patent number: 7726636
    Abstract: A quiet, non-binding collapsible spring mechanism for resiliently supporting a mattress includes a system of collapsible, sinuous springs, each having hooked ends for silencing the mechanism during use or collapse, as well as central offset portions for enabling the sinuous springs to compress to a greater extent than heretofore. Both rigid and yieldable support structures connect the spring mechanism to an item of furniture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2010
    Assignees: Item Development
    Inventor: John Miller
  • Patent number: 7513344
    Abstract: The present invention includes an article of manufacture with a layer with a plurality of corrugations to form an energy absorbing structure, where each corrugation has a floor and two walls connecting the floor to the base layer and the length of each corrugation is longer than the widest width of the corrugation. The present invention also includes an energy absorbing structure with a multi-layer energy absorber having a layer with a plurality of surface features and a second layer with a second plurality of surface features wherein the surface features of one layer are nested within the surface features of the other layer such that the base layers are adjacent to each other. The present invention also includes a single step method of manufacturing the energy absorbers including forming a two layer material in a single step. Further, the present invention includes a method of absorbing impact energy that involves generating heat through friction between surface features on a pair of base layers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2009
    Assignee: Dow Global Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Eugenio Toccalino, Myron J. Maurer, Gavin D. Vogel, Laxman P. Katakkar, Prashant S. Shembekar, Srinivasan Velusamy
  • Patent number: 7458172
    Abstract: An impact attenuating device includes both concave and convex side walls, e.g., in an interleaved arrangement, optionally at least partially surrounded by a restraining element that may help return the impact attenuating device back to its original orientation after attenuating an impact. Such impact attenuating devices may be included in pieces of footwear and/or other foot-receiving devices. Additionally, such impact attenuating devices or portions thereof may be freely selected and/or interchanged in a piece of footwear or other foot-receiving device, e.g., based on one or more characteristics of an intended user and/or an intended use, so as to allow users to obtain footwear (or other devices) customized and targeted for use under a predetermined set of conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2008
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael A. Aveni
  • Patent number: 7338039
    Abstract: In a spring assembly, more especially for the cushioning of seats, beds or chairs or all types, including spring legs arranged in pairs, a bridge member extending between each spring leg of a pair of the spring legs, and a connecting member disposed between adjacent spring legs pairs to connect adjacent pairs. The spring leg pairs, bridge member and connecting member may be formed from a one-piece, continuous material, said material having a plurality of bends formed therein. The bends allow the spring leg pairs to fold independently of each other when the bridge member is subjected to a force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2008
    Inventors: Karl-Heinz Pfau, Edgar Franke
  • Patent number: 7338038
    Abstract: The present invention includes an article of manufacture with a layer with a plurality of corrugations to form an energy absorbing structure, where each corrugation has a floor and two walls connecting the floor to the base layer and the length of each corrugation is longer than the widest width of the corrugation. The present invention also includes an energy absorbing structure with a multi-layer energy absorber having a layer with a plurality of surface features and a second layer with a second plurality of surface features wherein the surface features of one layer are nested within the surface features of the other layer such that the base layers are adjacent to each other. The present invention also includes a single step method of manufacturing the energy absorbers including forming a two layer material in a single step. Further, the present invention includes a method of absorbing impact energy that involves generating heat through friction between surface features on a pair of base layers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2008
    Assignee: Dow Global Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Myron J. Maurer, Gavin D. Vogel, Eugenio Toccalino, Laxman P. Katakkar, Prashant S. Shembekar, Srinivasan Velusamy
  • Patent number: 6422547
    Abstract: A spring suitable for use in bedding construction, including mattresses, mattress-bases and the like which is able to achieve a variety of spring heights and resiliences using the same thickness of wire. The spring includes a first leg (2), a first upper foot (3), a first lower foot (4), a second leg (2), a second upper foot (3), a second lower foot (4), at least one coil spring (5) and linking means (6). The spring's first leg links the first upper foot to the first lower foot and includes at least one coil spring (5) at some point along its length. The spring's second leg links the second upper foot to the second lower foot and includes at least one coil (5) spring at some point along its length. The linking means links the first upper foot to the second upper foot in such a way that the first leg, first upper foot, and first lower foot are oriented at approximately 180 degrees relative to the second leg, second upper foot, and second lower foot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2002
    Assignee: George Gibbons Pty. Ltd.
    Inventor: Gregory Richard Gibbens
  • Patent number: 5964453
    Abstract: A wire spring module and wire grid for use in a furniture spring assembly for mounting an array of multiple spring modules to the wire grid and the resulting furniture spring assembly. The wire grid includes a plurality of straight, coplanar wires arranged in a first sub-plurality of parallel spring placement wires and a second sub-plurality of parallel spring seating wires extending in generally perpendicular relation to the spring placement wires, the spring seating wires being arranged in a plurality of seating wire pairs with the spring seating wires of each seating wire pair disposed at a first predetermined spacing from one another and with each seating wire pair disposed at a second greater predetermined spacing from each seating wire pair adjacent thereto. The unitarily-formed wire spring module comprises a generally coplanar top and a pair of legs extending from opposite ends of the top and in spaced relation to one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 12, 1999
    Assignee: Hickory Springs Manufacturing Co.
    Inventor: Kevin McCraw
  • Patent number: 5747140
    Abstract: A completely vented upholstered body of grid plates with a wave profile includes solid portions of the grid which pass through the wave extrema of its wave contour. Many of the solid portions of the grid preferably are disposed transversely to at least one wave propagation direction and, in each case, continuously over a large portion of a wavelength, at a distance from one another. There is only a limited, specified bending deformation, during which the solid portions of the grid can be deformed largely independently of one another as if they were individual spiral springs. As a result, the upholstered body has a high point elasticity despite the plate construction. By adroit dimensioning of the course of the wave thickness, an advantageous diffusion of stresses can be achieved without stress peaks. Moreover, the work of deformation is absorbed uniformly in the upholstered material. This results in a long service life of the upholstered body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 1996
    Date of Patent: May 5, 1998
    Inventor: Siegfried Heerklotz
  • Patent number: 5074534
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is an automotive seat which includes a seat frame and a plurality of S-springs which are spanned between spaced two portions of the seat frame. Each spring has one U-shaped end portion. In order to tightly and unmovably connect the U-shaped end portion of each spring to selected one of the side portions of the frame, an improved spring holding structure is formed on the selected portion of the frame, which includes a tunnel portion which is integrally formed on the selected portion and two raised portions which are integrally formed on the same selected portion in a manner to put therebetween the tunnel portion. The distance between the two raised portions is substantially equal to the longitudinal length of the U-shaped end portion of the spring. The U-shaped end portion of the spring is received in the tunnel portion having its longitudinal ends respectively contacting with the two raised portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 1989
    Date of Patent: December 24, 1991
    Assignee: Ikeda Bussan Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Akihiko Hoshino
  • Patent number: 5005809
    Abstract: A spring element for a foundation unit and a foundation unit employing the spring element. The foundation unit is of the type having a top wire grid structure and a wooden bottom structure, with a plurality of the spring elements being disposed in space relationship between the grid structure and the bottom substructure. The spring elements include spaced support legs extending from a top portion, with the legs converging toward one another. Each leg has a series of spaced support segments, with the support segments lying generally in a single plane and extending oppositely from one another in a zig-zag fashion between the top portion and an attachment segment. Torsion segments are located between adjacent support segments, with the torsion segments extending generally perpendicular to the plane of the support legs. Suitable links are used to interconnect each torsion segment with its adjacent support segments of each support leg.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 1989
    Date of Patent: April 9, 1991
    Assignee: Steadley Company
    Inventor: Lonnie R. Harmon
  • Patent number: 4973032
    Abstract: The member is intended to connect the zigzag tensioning wires mounted parallel to each other in a frame reinforcing a seat cushion. It comprises a flat bar (12) provided at regular intervals with gripping lugs (14) pressing against the bar a straight portion of the wire which is parallel to this bar. Side walls (16, 17) of the bar comprise spaced notches for receiving and fixing portions (4b) of the wire substantially perpendicular to the bar. Since the bar has a lug gripping each wire, the latter are kept at a precise distance from each other and the cushion is locally tensioned.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 1989
    Date of Patent: November 27, 1990
    Assignee: ECIA - Equipements et Composants pour l'Industrie Automobile
    Inventors: Francois Fourrey, Serge Deley
  • Patent number: 4932535
    Abstract: A limited deflection spring for use in a box spring assembly has a unitary wire body having a foot portion, an upright yieldable portion on the foot portion and a loading bearing portion at the upper end of the upright portion. The upright yieldable portion includes a pair of horizontally spaced upright columns which diverge relative to each other. Each of the upright columns is suspended between the load bearing portion and the foot portion by separate upper and lower torsion bar systems. Each of the torsion bar system includes a pair of generally horizontal torsion bars connected together by a central connecting bar. Suspension of the upright columns between separate torsion bar systems enhances lateral stability and impact load withstand capability of the spring elements. Spring elements having upwardly diverging upright columns may be mixed with elements having downwardly diverging upright columns in a box spring assembly so as to produce an optimum desired loading response in the assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 1989
    Date of Patent: June 12, 1990
    Assignee: Hoover Group, Inc.
    Inventor: Upton R. Dabney
  • Patent number: 4815663
    Abstract: A trigger type sprayer which comprises a sprayer body whose inner lateral walls are provided with a pair of mutually facing engagement grooves, and wherein a trigger of the sprayer has a notch cut out in the upper end portion of the front wall and a pair of lugs formed on the outside of the upper end portions of the lateral walls. A nozzle fixed to the sprayer body extends outward through the notched portion of the trigger, and has a pair of axially extending stoppers integrally formed on the outer surface of the nozzle. The trigger can be rotatably connected to the sprayer body with ease due to the paired lugs being snap-fitted to the engagement grooves of the sprayer body and the upper end portions of the lateral walls of the trigger are prevented from being thrown inward by the stoppers of the nozzle and inconsequence coming off the sprayer body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 1980
    Date of Patent: March 28, 1989
    Inventor: Tetsuya Tada
  • Patent number: 4778157
    Abstract: A spring module for disposition between a base frame and a grid frame of a spring assembly embodying upper and lower attaching elements for attachment to, respectively, the grid frame and the base frame and spaced, parallel, vertically-disposed, yieldable legs, each leg embodying a vertically-disposed loop of wire and upwardly and downwardly, oppositely-inclined, V-shaped lengths of wire extending from the loop to, respectively, the upper and lower attaching elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 1987
    Date of Patent: October 18, 1988
    Assignee: Webster Spring Co. Inc.
    Inventor: Kenneth H. Thomas
  • Patent number: 4770397
    Abstract: A wire support member for a foundation unit. The support member is composed of a continuous, planar wire element, comprising parallel upper and lower attachment segments and a sinuous central segment extending between the upper and lower segments. The central segment is composed of a series of C-shaped curved portions. A series of the support members can be used in rows to form a foundation unit, and the members can be located perpendicular to one another at the corners of a foundation unit in order to form a corner support.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 1986
    Date of Patent: September 13, 1988
    Assignee: Steadley Company
    Inventor: Martin Schulz, Jr.
  • Patent number: 4696517
    Abstract: A dumping mechanism for a dumping toy truck with a rear deck is disclosed, which is provided with a covering element for preventing invasion of dust and gravel through a large hole for a lifting rod, as well as a buffering pad for a bearing shaft for the rear deck and a flexible buffer at the lower end of the lifting rod for absorbing any sudden shock or loading applied by an infant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 1985
    Date of Patent: September 29, 1987
    Assignee: Shinsei Kogyo Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Toshiaki Nagano
  • Patent number: 4682763
    Abstract: An adjustable cushion support device for adjusting the holding pressure applied to support a seat cushion. The adjustable support device includes a frame member having a first end and a second end to support the cushion. A spring member is mounted on the frame member between the first end and the second end for flexibly supporting a load. A control mechanism is mounted on the frame member and is connected to the spring member for adjusting the holding pressure applied to the spring member. The control mechanism includes an enforcing member pivotally supported on the frame member for pushing the spring member upwards, a biasing member for biasing the enforcement member, and an operating lever to control the inclination of the biasing member to regulate the holding pressure applied to the spring member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 1985
    Date of Patent: July 28, 1987
    Assignee: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kenichi Kazaoka, Hiroshi Okazaki, Yasuhisa Inaba
  • Patent number: 4610334
    Abstract: A luggage construction wherein a flexible reinforcement spring is utilized. A flat spring having a repeating U-shaped pattern disposed on a wire is provided around the peripheral wall of the luggage to enhance structural integrity and assist in returning the luggage to its original shape after being deformed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 1985
    Date of Patent: September 9, 1986
    Inventor: Joseph Y. Pelavin
  • Patent number: 4357005
    Abstract: A seat pad support (12) disclosed includes at least one strip (22,24) of generally flexible tape which is preferably of the pressure sensitive type extending laterally between elongated supports preferably embodied by wire torsion bar springs (16) that cooperatively support a foam pad on a seat frame (14), whereby the tape connection of the springs facilitates storage, handling, and assembly. In the preferred construction, two end strips (22,24) of the tape respectively connect end torsion bars (28,30) of the springs (16). Each end tape strip (22,24) is folded and bonded to itself and preferably includes recesses (46) associated with the torsion bars (28,30) connected thereby so as to facilitate connection of the springs to the frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 1980
    Date of Patent: November 2, 1982
    Assignee: Lear Siegler, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert P. Bourke