Adjustable cushion

• US 5,370,444 A
• Filed: 09/11/1992
• Issued: 12/06/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 09/11/1992
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Sears Manufacturing Co.
• Original Assignee: Sears Manufacturing Co.
• Inventors: Stulik, Edward
• Primary Examiner(s): Cuomo, Peter M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): REDMAN, JERRY E
• Application Number:
  US07/944,059
• Time in Patent Office: 816 Days
• Field of Search: 297/452.48, 297/452.62, 297/DIG. 1, 297/284.1, 297/337, 297/284.11, 297/284.9, 5/481, 5/448, 5/468, 5/465, 5/653
• US Class Current: 297/284.11
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 1/023 the parts being horizontally-adjustable seats ; Expandable seats or the like, e.g. seats with horizontally adjustable parts
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 7/18 having foamed material included in cushioning part foamed material mattresses A47C27/14
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/0284 Adjustable seat-cushion length B60N2/0224 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/62 Thigh-rests B60N2/914 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2002/2204 Adjustable back-rest height or length

Abstract

An extendable and collapsible seat cushion manufactured from a unitary piece of foam. Channels are molded into the foam perpendicular to the length of the seat to allow for compression of the overall length of the seat cushion. Further, channels may be molded into the foam in a direction parallel to the length of the seat cushion to allow for compression of the seat cushion in the lateral direction as well. The channels have angular recesses near the surface of the cushion to provide a home for compression hinges created by connective foam and cloth disposed between segments of the cushion. A telescoping support frame is provided to assist in the compression and extending of the seat cushion. This support frame may be telescoped manually or with assistance by power.

Claims

1. An extendable and collapsible cushion comprising:

a unitary cushion member of flexible foam material having an upper surface and a lower surface;

at least one channel of a depth less than the thickness of said unitary cushion member, said channel being disposed in the lower surface of said cushion member to divide said unitary member into a plurality of cushion segments;

a compression hinge bridging said channel and connecting adjacent cushion segments; and

said plurality of segments being movable relative to one another to open or close said hinge and to thereby adjustably extend or collapse said cushion member and said hinge being configured so that said hinge folds into said channel when said cushion member is collapsed.

2. The cushion of claim 1, further comprising:

a layer of upholstery material disposed on the upper surface of said unitary cushion member.

3. The cushion of claim 2, wherein said upholstery material is a cloth.

4. The cushion of claim 2, wherein said upholstery material is vinyl.

5. The cushion of claim 1, wherein said channel includes an angular recess to facilitate the folding of said hinge when said cushion member is compressed.

6. The cushion of claim 1, wherein said cushion is employed as an extendable and collapsible cushion for a generally horizontal seat portion of a seat.

7. The cushion of claim 1, wherein said cushion is employed as an extendable and collapsible cushion for a generally vertical backrest portion of a seat.

8. The cushion of claim 1, wherein said at least one channel is disposed substantially perpendicular to said two sides of said cushion to permit adjustment of said cushion.

9. The cushion of claim 1, wherein said at least one channel is disposed substantially parallel to said two sides of said cushion to permit adjustment of the width cushion.

10. An extendable and collapsible cushion comprising:

a unitary cushion member of flexible foam material having an upper surface and a lower surface;

at least one channel of a depth less than the thickness of said unitary cushion member, said channel being disposed in the lower surface of said unitary member to divide said unitary cushion member into a plurality of cushion segments;

a compression hinge bridging said channel and connecting adjacent cushion segments;

said plurality of segments being movable relative to one another to open or close said hinge and to thereby adjustably extend or collapse said cushion member, and said hinge being configured so that said hinge folds into said channel when said cushion member is collapsed;

a first sliding member connected to said lower surface of said unitary cushion member; and

,

a second sliding member slidably engaging said first sliding member, wherein said first sliding member is movable relative to said second sliding member to extend or collapse said cushion member.

11. The cushion of claim 10, wherein one of said sliding members includes a handle to facilitate movement of said first sliding member relative to said second sliding member.

12. The cushion of claim 10, further comprising:

powered actuator for moving said first sliding member relative to said second sliding member.

13. An extendable and collapsible cushion, comprising:

a unitary cushion member of flexible foam material having an upper surface and a lower surface, a front, a back and two sides;

at least one channel of a depth less than the thickness of said unitary cushion member, said channel being disposed in the lower surface of said unitary member to divide said unitary member into a plurality of segments;

a compression hinge bridging said channel and connecting adjacent cushion segments, said plurality of segments being movable relative to one another to open or close said hinge and to thereby extend or collapse said cushion member, and said compression hinge being configured so that said hinge folds into said channel when said cushion member is collapsed; and

wherein at least one channel is disposed substantially perpendicular to said two sides of said cushion member and at least one channel is disposed substantially parallel to said two sides of said cushion member to permit adjustment of said cushion member.

14. An extendable and collapsible cushion comprising:

a unitary cushion member of flexible foam material having an upper surface and a lower surface, a front, a back and two sides;

at least one channel of a depth less than the thickness of said unitary cushion member, said channel being disposed in the lower surface of said cushion member to divide said unitary member into a plurality of cushion segments;

a compression hinge bridging said channel and connecting adjacent cushion segments; and

said plurality of segments being movable relative to one another to open or close said hinge and to thereby adjustably extend or collapse said cushion member and said hinge being configured so that said hinge folds into said channel when said cushion member is collapsed.