Encapsulated foam pad
OwnerRobert E. Ackleyinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A resilient panel comprising a first sheet having a plurality of pockets each having a resilient foam element located therein. Each of the foam elements is sized to substantially conform with the size of the pocket within which it is located. A second sheet is arranged over and attached to the first sheet so as to encapsulate the foam elements within the pockets in an uncompressed manner. This arrangement allows the panel to maintain a compression potential equal the entire compression range of the elastic elements. It also allows individual foam elements to be compressed without affecting adjacent foam elements.
Claims23
A resilient panel for use as a body support comprising:
- a first flexible fabric being conformed to include a plurality of juxtaposed expandable pockets each having folds therein and an open peripheral area defined by edges, said pockets being formed of selected sizes arranged longitudinally and transversely of said panel;
- a plurality of resilient foam elements of selected second sizes which substantially conform with said size of said pockets, said resilient foam elements possessing a selected compression range,
- and each of said resilient elements being arranged within a respective one of said pockets of substantially conforming size, in a free standing and uncompressed condition thereby maintaining the maximum of their elastic capability;
- a second flexible fabric secured to said first sheet along said edges to encapsulate said foam elements within said pockets of said resilient panel;
- whereby
- said encapsulated resilient foam elements, which are capable of being compressed independently without affecting adjacent foam elements and of being compressed in an unsupported condition, act to expand respective encapsulating pockets upon being compressed.
A resilient panel comprising:
- a first fabric having a plurality of expandable pockets formed therein said pockets being formed with folds which allow expansion thereof;
- each of said pockets containing a free standing, resilient foam element having a compression range, each of said resilient foam element being sized to substantially conform with the size and shape of the respective pocket within which it is located while said foam element is in an un-compressed condition;
- a second fabric arranged over and attached to said first sheet to encapsulate said foam elements within said pockets in an independent, free standing and uncompressed condition;
- whereby
- said panel possess a compression potential equal the maximum of the compression range of said resilient foam elements.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.