Folding Patents (Class 5/250)
  • Patent number: 8990983
    Abstract: A bed frame with a support structure has a rigid structural frame for carrying an articulating structure for an adjustable bed. The support structure extends substantially to the extents of the articulating structure in an unarticulated position and has a padded bolster. The bolster incorporates a mounting support attached to the structural frame and a resilient foam bumper received on the mounting support with a fabric covering surrounding the bumper and fastened to the mounting support. The articulating structure includes rigid planar supports having edges with a surrounding resilient foam layer having a fabric covering secured to the planar support. The bumper and foam layer are resilient to deform upon contact with an intruding appendage inserted between them. For an exemplary embodiment, an electrical outlet is mounted in a housing which penetrates the support frame, mounting support and bumper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Ergomotion, Inc.
    Inventors: Alain Clenet, Joseph Ermalovich
  • Patent number: 8898832
    Abstract: A foldable mattress support has an adjustable inner frame with a ratchet support for raising the head of a mattress. Legs are incorporated into the side and end bars of the mattress support. Upper and lower bars of the support are pivotally attached to the vertical plate of a hinge. Bolts oriented along axes of rotation pass through the bars and through the vertical plate. A first upper bar pivots about a first axis; a second upper bar pivots about a second axis; a first lower bar pivots about a third axis; and a second lower bar pivots about a fourth axis. Each of the axes is orthogonal to the vertical plate, and the third axis is spaced farther apart from the fourth axis than the first axis is spaced apart from the second axis. The distal ends of the upper and lower bars are pivotally attached to end bars.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2014
    Assignee: Zinus, Inc.
    Inventor: Suk Kan Oh
  • Patent number: 8769740
    Abstract: A foldable mattress support has an adjustable inner frame with a ratchet support for raising the head of a mattress. Legs are incorporated into the side and end bars of the mattress support. Upper and lower bars of the support are pivotally attached to the vertical plate of a hinge. Bolts oriented along axes of rotation pass through the bars and through the vertical plate. A first upper bar pivots about a first axis; a second upper bar pivots about a second axis; a first lower bar pivots about a third axis; and a second lower bar pivots about a fourth axis. Each of the axes is orthogonal to the vertical plate, and the third axis is spaced farther apart from the fourth axis than the first axis is spaced apart from the second axis. The distal ends of the upper and lower bars are pivotally attached to end bars.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2014
    Assignee: Zinus, Inc.
    Inventor: Suk Kan Oh
  • Patent number: 8407834
    Abstract: A foldable mattress support is made by covering a metal frame with a fabric covering. The metal frame includes two sections that fold together at two hinges. A first section includes first upper and lower frames, and a second section includes second upper and lower frames. Each of the upper and lower frames is pivotally attached to a hinge. A bolt that is oriented along a first axis passes through the first upper frame and through a plate of the hinge. The first upper frame pivots about a first axis; the second upper frame pivots about a second axis; the first lower frame pivots about a third axis; and the second lower frame pivots about a fourth axis. Each of the axes is orthogonal to the plate, and the third axis is spaced farther apart from the fourth axis than the first axis is spaced apart from the second axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2013
    Assignee: Zinus, Inc.
    Inventor: Suk Kan Oh
  • Patent number: 8370973
    Abstract: A foldable mattress support with legs includes a metal frame with a fabric covering. The metal frame includes first upper and lower frames and second upper and lower frames. Each of the upper and lower frames is pivotally attached to a vertical plate of a hinge. A bolt that is oriented along a first axis passes through the first upper frame and through the vertical plate. A leg attaches through the fabric covering to a base plate of the hinge. The first upper frame pivots about a first axis; the second upper frame pivots about a second axis; the first lower frame pivots about a third axis; and the second lower frame pivots about a fourth axis. Each of the axes is orthogonal to the vertical plate, and the third axis is spaced farther apart from the fourth axis than the first axis is spaced apart from the second axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2013
    Assignee: Zinus, Inc.
    Inventor: Suk Kan Oh
  • Patent number: 8312576
    Abstract: A foldable mattress support is made by covering a metal frame with a fabric covering. The metal frame includes two sections that fold together at two hinges. A first section includes first upper and lower frames, and a second section includes second upper and lower frames. Each of the upper and lower frames is pivotally attached to a hinge. A bolt that is oriented along a first axis passes through the first upper frame and through a plate of the hinge. The first upper frame pivots about a first axis; the second upper frame pivots about a second axis; the first lower frame pivots about a third axis; and the second lower frame pivots about a fourth axis. Each of the axes is orthogonal to the plate, and the third axis is spaced farther apart from the fourth axis than the first axis is spaced apart from the second axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2012
    Assignee: Zinus, Inc.
    Inventor: Suk Kan Oh
  • Patent number: 7503086
    Abstract: A foldable bedding foundation comprising a first section is hingedly secured to a second section so that the bedding foundation may be folded for storage or transportation purposes. Each section has base, a plurality of wire struts pivotally secured to the base, an upper wire grid pivotally secured to the wire struts and braces extending between the base and an outermost wire strut. Plastic sliders help the braces move between raised and lowered positions. Lower connectors are secured to and extend between the section bases. Upper connectors are secured to and extend between border wires of the sections to aid in the collapsing of the foundation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2009
    Assignee: L & P Property Management Company
    Inventors: Brenda Wickstrom, Niels S. Mossbeck
  • Patent number: 7376989
    Abstract: A foldable bedding foundation comprising a first section is hingedly secured to a second section so that the bedding foundation may be folded for storage or transportation purposes. Each section has base, a plurality of wire struts pivotally secured to the base, an upper wire grid pivotally secured to the wire struts and braces extending between the base and an outermost wire strut. Lower connectors each comprising a rectangular piece of plastic having living hinges is secured to and extends between the bases. Upper connectors are secured to and extend between border wires of the sections to aid in the collapsing of the foundation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2008
    Assignee: L&P Property Management Company
    Inventors: Brenda Wickstrom, Niels Mossbeck
  • Patent number: 6012190
    Abstract: A body support moveable between unfolded and folded positions comprises: serially interconnected body, cavity and seat sections defined by respective upper and lower grids and including resilient members. The body, cavity and seat sections have their upper and lower grids positioned to be substantially coplanar in the unfolded position, and the seat section overlies the body section in the folded position. The resilient members of the seat section are generally planar and are arranged in a plurality of transverse rows. The resilient members are pivotally attached to the seat section upper and lower grids such that, in the unfolded position, the resilient members of the seat section are erect and extend substantially normal to the seat section upper and lower grids, and in the folded position, the resilient members of the seat section pivot relative to the seat section upper and lower grids to bring the seat section upper and lower grids adjacent each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2000
    Assignee: Pharma Corporation
    Inventor: W. Clark Rogers
  • Patent number: 5507047
    Abstract: A composite mattress assembly adapted to be extended flat to provide a sleeping surface and to be folded for storage within a sofa is provided. The composite mattress assembly includes a composite pad assembly surrounded by an upper panel and a lower panel. A plurality of linear flange members are fixedly secured to the top edges of the upper panel and are also secured, preferably by staples, at preselected intervals along the lower edges of the composite pad assembly, or along the bottom surface of the composite pad assembly. A plurality of score lines are located upon one or both of an upper pad member and a lower pad member of the spring assembly, to assist in the folding of the composite mattress assembly, while maintaining fixed relative positions of all components, thereby reducing bunching and relative shifting of mattress materials and components during folding.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 1993
    Date of Patent: April 16, 1996
    Assignee: La-Z-Boy Chair Company
    Inventors: William A. Calvert, Jr., Douglas A. Habegger
  • Patent number: 5257424
    Abstract: A foldable bed comprising a frame including a body section, a cavity section, a seat section, and a foot section, each of which includes a pair of side rails, each of which are pivotally interconnected and which are movable between an unfolded position and a folded position, a mattress carried by the frame and movable therewith between the unfolded and folded positions, wherein in the folded position the mattress is folded upon itself to define an upper support surface, and interconnecting means for pivoting the frame sections between the unfolded position and the folded position, wherein in the unfolded position the body section, the cavity section, the seat section, and the foot section are serially and horizontally aligned, and the side rails of the sections are positioned along respective opposite sides of and generally below the mattress, and in the folded position, the body section is generally horizontal, the seat section overlies the body section, the cavity section extends substantially vertically be
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 1992
    Date of Patent: November 2, 1993
    Inventor: Walter C. Rogers
  • Patent number: 4899404
    Abstract: A system for elevating the head portion of a bed assembly defined by a mattress and a box spring foundation, including a double pivot hinge secured to the border wires on either side of the mattress, a double linkage hinge secured to the upper border wire assemblies connecting the foundation to the mattress for maintaining the mattress in its position of alignment on the foundation, and an elevating mechanism for jointly raising and lowering the corresponding head portions of the mattress and foundation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 1988
    Date of Patent: February 13, 1990
    Inventor: Michael H. Galumbeck
  • Patent number: 4811932
    Abstract: A mattress core particularly useful in a sofa bed has a plurality of rows of coil springs extending longitudinally of the coil in the head to foot direction thereof. A plurality of coiled spring wires extend transversely of the rows while interconnecting adjacent coil springs in each row and adjacent coil springs of adjacent rows by being wound about the coil springs. The coiled spring wires are located on opposite sides of the core. On only one side of the core which forms the sleep surface are a plurality of transversely extending "torsion" spring wires, however, these wires are of a generally rectilinear shape with intermediate offset portions at intervals extending generally along the head to foot direction while being connected to the coil springs of each of the rows. The offset portions provide torsion arms providing torsional resistance to deflection at the sleep surface to thereby increase resistance to deflection while, at the same time, distributing loads across the sleep surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 1987
    Date of Patent: March 14, 1989
    Assignee: Parma Corporation
    Inventor: John E. Miller
  • Patent number: 4790519
    Abstract: A clip for use in a hinged border wire assembly, such as a border wire assembly used in a mattress, joins border wire portions together in a manner that permits one border wire section to rotate with respect to the other. This permits folding of a large border wire of the type that would be used on a king-size mattress, for example, in order to pass the mattress through small areas such as doors and stairways. The disclosed embodiment has two border wire sections which are generally U-shaped and which abut along portions formed at the ends of each U. The clip has a pair of adjacent sleeves within which respective abutting border wire portions are received. A barb is formed inwardly of a sleeve to secure the barbed sleeve in place on its border wire portion while allowing the other abutting portion to rotate within its sleeve in hinged fashion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 1986
    Date of Patent: December 13, 1988
    Assignee: Sealy, Incorporated
    Inventor: Gary M. Stewart
  • Patent number: 4771995
    Abstract: A collapsible bedding foundation comprises a rectangular base frame and a rectangular wire grid. The wire grid is hingedly supported upon the frame for movement between a collapsed position and an erect position. The hinged connection between the wire grid and the base frame is achieved by a plurality of transverse spaced, parallel planar support elements pivotally connected to the base frame and the wire grid. The foundation is supported in an erect position solely by a pair of longitudinally extending, parallel planar support elements pivotally connected to the longitudinal edge of the wire grid and, when the foundation is erect, fixedly secured to the base frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 1987
    Date of Patent: September 20, 1988
    Assignee: Leggett & Platt, Incorporated
    Inventors: Thomas J. Wells, Angelo Serafini
  • 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: 4654905
    Abstract: A body support such as a mattress, box spring or the like that is foldable between a use position wherein it extends in a generally horizontal plane and a storage position wherein one section overlies the other section. The body support includes a plurality of support members movable between erect and retracted positions in response to movement of the body support between the use and storage positions. One embodiment disclosed relates to a box spring and a second embodiment relates to a mattress. Also disclosed is a novel construction and arrangement of support members incorporated in the body support.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 1984
    Date of Patent: April 7, 1987
    Assignee: Parma Corporation
    Inventor: John E. Miller
  • Patent number: 4620336
    Abstract: A box spring is condensed along its depth dimension and then packaged in this depressed state for storage and/or transportation. At its point of use, the box spring is unpackaged and expanded along its depth dimension for use. Within the box spring are a plurality of support springs movable from retracted, unstressed positions enabling the aforementioned compaction of the box spring, to extended positions which provide the resilient support of the box spring when placed into use. In the preferred form of the invention, the springs are made from spring wire or similar material formed into a sinusoidal shape including generally coplanar wavy or sine portions. The springs are mounted such that movement of the upper support surface of the box spring relative to the base will cause the springs to move into their extended or erect positions to provide resilient support for use of the box spring or to enable the box spring to be depressed into a compact mass for storage or shipment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 1983
    Date of Patent: November 4, 1986
    Assignee: Parma Corporation
    Inventor: John E. Miller
  • Patent number: 4541133
    Abstract: A sofa bed has a stationary framework and a foldable bed frame connected to and foldable into the framework, the foldable frame having an outer section connected to and pivotal relative to a body section, the outer section overlying the body section in the folded position of the frame to form a seat. The outer section has a plurality of individual seat support elements extending thereacross transversely to the sofa back. The individual elements are spaced apart in a direction parallel to that axis, and each of the individual elements is downwardly deflectable independently of the others when a person sits on said seat. A spring edge is mounted on and extends above a front rail of the stationary framework to form the front supporting edge of the seat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 1982
    Date of Patent: September 17, 1985
    Assignee: Sealy of Maryland and Virginia, Inc.
    Inventors: Bernard Reiss, Irl E. Ward
  • Patent number: 4523342
    Abstract: A folding sofa bed frame structure including four bed sections pivotally connected end-to-end and an operatively associated linkage arrangement by which the bed sections are mounted and which controls their relative movement between a retracted, folded position and a horizontally extended position. The forwardmost end bed section in the extended position folds to be horizontally uppermost in the folded position and includes spaced fixed cross-members which move pivotably therewith and between which a sinuous spring fabric assembly extends to provide strong, firm seating support in the folded position of the bed frame structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 1983
    Date of Patent: June 18, 1985
    Assignee: Hickory Springs Manufacturing Company
    Inventor: Homer F. Poovey
  • Patent number: 4489450
    Abstract: A body support for a bed or a seat having a plurality of resilient support members or springs that are movable between a retracted or collapsed, inoperative position and an extended, operative position. The springs are contained in a case of flexible sheet material so that when the springs are collapsed, the case is collapsed or depressed into a relatively thin layer for storage or other purposes; and when the springs are extended the case will be distended by the springs to provide a resilient support such as a mattress, "box-spring" or a combination thereof for use in a bed or seat. Actuating means is provided for actuating one or more of the springs between the retracted and extended positions thereof, and a connecting means interconnects all of the springs to drive them from the retracted to extended positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 1982
    Date of Patent: December 25, 1984
    Assignee: Parma Corporation
    Inventor: John E. Miller
  • Patent number: 4377279
    Abstract: A foundation unit which, when assembled, can be collapsed for compact storage and shipping and later can be elevated to a fully expanded state. The foundation unit includes a rectangular, grid wire top bearing structure, a rigid bottom substructure such as a wooden frame, and a series of spaced, parallel rows of substantially flat support members extending between the top bearing structure and the bottom substructure. The support members are hingedly secured to the top bearing structure and bottom substructure to permit reduction of the foundation unit to the collapsed state with the rows of support members lying essentially prone. In the elevated state, the foundation unit includes stabilizers which are oppositely reactive and which prevent relative longitudinal translation between the top and bottom of the foundation unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 1980
    Date of Patent: March 22, 1983
    Assignee: Steadley Company
    Inventors: Martin Schulz, Jr., James E. Bane