Constant restoring force support surface
AssigneeOffspring, LLC
InventorRobert H. Graebe
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An all mechanical support surface that tracks the flotation properties of a true fluid and utilizes a series of constant restoring force springs connecting reciprocating pistons which have supporting surfaces with multiple degrees of freedom to define a user supporting surface that assumes the shape of the user and minimizes the force differential on different areas of the user's skin.
Claims38
A constant restoring force structure comprising a first tubular member positioned on a base, a second tubular member slidable in said first tubular member and guided by said first tubular member, and a constant restoring force spring interconnecting said first and second tubular members, said second tubular member having an extended position whereby it is projecting outwardly of said first tubular member and a retracted position whereby it is recessed in said first tubular member, said second tubular member being responsive to a force exerted on its outward end to move into said first tubular member when said force exceeds the rating of said constant force restoring spring, the restoring force on the second tubular member urging it outwardly of the first tubular member being constant regardless of its position in the first tubular member after its first move into said first tubular member.
A cushion or mattress assembly comprising a series of longitudinal support structures each including a side wall and a top wall, the top wall having openings therein, reciprocal members positioned in said openings, constant restoring force return springs anchored to said side wall adjacent to a reciprocal member and connected to said adjacent reciprocal member, the support structures being positioned side by side to define the length and breadth of said cushion or mattress.
A constant restoring force structure comprising a first tubular member positioned on a base, a second tubular member slidable in said first tubular member and guided by said first tubular member, and a constant restoring force spring interconnecting said first and second tubular members, said second tubular member having an extended position whereby it is projecting outwardly of said first tubular member and a retracted position whereby it is recessed in said first tubular member, said second tubular member being responsive to a force exerted on its outward end to move into said first tubular member when said force exceeds the rating of said constant force restoring spring, said second tubular member having a pivotable tiltable top to align to the surface area of a force exerted on it.
A constant restoring force structure comprising a first tubular member positioned on a base, a second tubular member slidable in said first tubular member and guided by said first tubular member, and a constant restoring force spring interconnecting said first and second tubular members, said second tubular member having an extended position whereby it is projecting outwardly of said first tubular member and a retracted position whereby it is recessed in said first tubular member, said second tubular member being responsive to a force exerted on its outward end to move into said first tubular member when said force exceeds the rating of said constant force restoring spring, said constant restoring force spring being positioned inside said second member.
A constant restoring force structure comprising a first tubular member positioned on a base, a second tubular member slidable in said first tubular member and guided by said first tubular member, and a constant restoring force spring interconnecting said first and second tubular members, said second tubular member having an extended position whereby it is projecting outwardly of said first tubular member and a retracted position whereby it is recessed in said first tubular member, said second tubular member being responsive to a force exerted on its outward end to move into said first tubular member when said force exceeds the rating of said constant force restoring spring, said bases on the first and second tubular members, the base of said second tubular member having an opening therethough and a peripheral seal whereby air trapped in said first tubular member is forced through the opening to dampen movement of the second member into the first member.
A cushion or mattress assembly comprising a support structure having a base, side and end walls, and a plurality of constant restoring force spring elements positioned adjacent to each other inside said support structure and each comprises a first tubular member positioned on said base, a second tubular member slidable in said first tubular member and guided by said first tubular member, and a constant restoring force spring interconnecting said first and second tubular members, said second tubular member having an extended position whereby it is projecting outwardly of said first tubular member and a retracted position whereby it is recessed in said first tubular member, said second tubular member being responsive to a force exerted on its outward end to move into said first tubular member when said force exceeds the rating of said constant force restoring spring, whereby the outward ends of the second tubular elements define a substantially continuous support surface and the strength of the constant restoring force springs are selected to support the weight of a person positioned on the cushion or mattress assembly without any of the second tubular members of the constant restoring force return spring assemblies engaging the base, the ends of the tubular members being pivotable and tiltable to conform to the shape of the portion of the anatomy of the person utilizing said cushion or mattress.
A cushion or mattress assembly comprising a support structure having a base, side and end walls, and a plurality of constant restoring force spring elements positioned adjacent to each other inside said support structure and each comprises a first tubular member positioned on said base, a second tubular member slidable in said first tubular member and guided by said first tubular member, and a constant restoring force spring interconnecting said first and second tubular members, said second tubular member having an extended position whereby it is projecting outwardly of said first tubular member and a retracted position whereby it is recessed in said first tubular member, said second tubular member being responsive to a force exerted on its outward end to move into said first tubular member when said force exceeds the rating of said constant force restoring spring, whereby the outward ends of the second tubular elements define a substantially continuous support surface and the strength of the constant restoring force springs are selected to support the weight of a person positioned on the cushion or mattress assembly without any of the second tubular members of the constant restoring force return spring assemblies engaging the base, the constant restoring force spring elements being replaceably positioned in said support structure.
A cushion or mattress assembly comprising a support structure having a base, side and end walls, and a plurality of constant restoring force spring elements positioned adjacent to each other inside said support structure and each comprises a first tubular member positioned on said base, a second tubular member slidable in said first tubular member and guided by said first tubular member, and a constant restoring force spring interconnecting said first and second tubular members, said second tubular member having an extended position whereby it is projecting outwardly of said first tubular member and a retracted position whereby it is recessed in said first tubular member, said second tubular member being responsive to a force exerted on its outward end to move into said first tubular member when said force exceeds the rating of said constant force restoring spring, whereby the outward ends of the second tubular elements define a substantially continuous support surface and the strength of the constant restoring force springs are selected to support the weight of a person positioned on the cushion or mattress assembly without any of the second tubular members of the constant restoring force return spring assemblies engaging the base, and sockets on the base, said first tubular members being engaged in said sockets to locate and position the constant restoring force structures in a predetermined arrangement.
A cushion or mattress assembly comprising a support structure having a base, side and end walls, and a plurality of constant restoring force spring elements positioned adjacent to each other inside said support structure and each comprises a first tubular member positioned on said base, a second tubular member slidable in said first tubular member and guided by said first tubular member, and a constant restoring force spring interconnecting said first and second tubular members, said second tubular member having an extended position whereby it is projecting outwardly of said first tubular member and a retracted position whereby it is recessed in said first tubular member, said second tubular member being responsive to a force exerted on its outward end to move into said first tubular member when said force exceeds the rating of said constant force restoring spring, whereby the outward ends of the second tubular elements define a substantially continuous support surface and the strength of the constant restoring force springs are selected to support the weight of a person positioned on the cushion or mattress assembly without any of the second tubular members of the constant restoring force return spring assemblies engaging the base, at least some of the second tubular members being provided with openings therethrough and having peripheral seals to allow air trapped in the associated first tubular members to pass through at a controlled rate to dampen movement of the second tubular members.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.