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US 7,624,462 B2Granted
Load bearing or cushioning elements and method of manufacture
AssigneeNomaco Inc.
InventorsBangshu Cao, Eduardo Lauer, Michael W. Allman
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
By providing an elongated profile which incorporates a plurality of indentations formed therein, a load bearing/cushioning/supporting element is realized. By employing this construction, the element accommodates large strain under force, and shows good resiliency and repeated recovery. The element can be produced from a continuous extrusion process with immediate manipulation to re-shape the extrusion profile, or secondary thermal forming process which follows the extrusion process, or blow molding process, or injection molding process.
Claims29
A support system for mattresses, cushions, upholstery, and seat backs comprising:
- A. a plurality of separate and independent load bearing, cushioning, and supporting elements each comprising:
- a. a hollow profile defined by an outer surface, an inner surface, and a central passageway longitudinally extending therethrough with each of said hollow profiles comprising a substantially smooth, continuous, outer surface and a substantially smooth continuous inner surface, and
- b. a plurality of indentations formed in the outer surface of the profile and extending inwardly toward the central axis thereof, said plurality of indentations being formed about the outer surface of the profile while being spaced from the inner surface, and being in sufficient quantity and position to impart repeatable and predictable deformation and recovery to the profile in response to the application of a compressive force and the release of said force;
- B. said plurality of separate and independent load bearing, cushioning, and supporting elements being positioned in juxtaposed, spaced, adjacent parallel relationship to each other with the longitudinally extending central passageway of each element being aligned to be substantially parallel to each other element;
- and
- C. said plurality of separate and independent load bearing, cushioning, and supporting elements being cooperatively associated with each other for supporting loads placed thereon which exert a compressive force thereto, with the loads being applied substantially coaxially to the central axis of each element for causing the entire length of each hollow profile to be longitudinally compressed in a manner which causes the plurality of indentations formed on each of said load bearing, cushioning, and supporting elements to be deformed in the predictable and repeatable manner;
- whereby a support system is achieved which is capable of providing cushioning, shock absorbing, and load bearing capabilities.
4 more elements
A support system for mattresses, cushions, upholstery, and seat backs comprising:
- A. a plurality of separate and independent load bearing, cushioning, and supporting elements each comprising:
- a. a hollow profile defined by an outer surface, an inner surface, and a central passageway longitudinally extending therethrough with each of said hollow profiles comprising a substantially smooth, continuous, outer surface and a substantially smooth continuous inner surface, and
- b. a plurality of indentations formed in the outer surface of the profile and extending inwardly toward the central axis thereof, said plurality of indentations
- 1. being formed about the outer surface of the profile while being spaced from the inner surface, and being in sufficient quantity and position to impart repeatable and predictable deformation and recovery to the profile in response to the application of a compressive force and the release of said force,
- 2. comprising a first pair of indentations formed in the outer surface of the profile diametrically opposed from each other and a second pair of indentations are formed in the outer surface of the profile diametrically opposed from each other, axially spaced away from the first pair of indentations and positioned substantially 90° from said first pair of indentations, and
- 3. comprising a pair of slanted, sloping sidewalls converging towards each other and terminating at a single, elongated, base formed entirely in the outer surface;
- B. said plurality of separate and independent load bearing, cushioning, and supporting elements being positioned in juxtaposed, spaced, adjacent parallel relationship to each other with the longitudinally extending central passageway of each element being aligned to be substantially parallel to each other element;
- and
- C. said plurality of separate and independent load bearing, cushioning, and supporting elements being cooperatively associated with each other for supporting loads placed thereon which exert a compressive force thereto, with the loads being applied substantially coaxially to the central axis of each element for causing the entire length of each hollow profile to be longitudinally compressed in a manner which causes the plurality of indentations formed on each of said load bearing, cushioning, and supporting elements to be deformed in the predictable and repeatable manner;
- whereby a support system is achieved which is capable of providing cushioning, shock absorbing, and load bearing capabilities.
7 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.