Adjustable upholstered cushion

• US 5,520,438 A
• Filed: 09/22/1994
• Issued: 05/28/1996
• 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): REDMAN, JERRY E
• Application Number:
  US08/310,837
• Time in Patent Office: 614 Days
• Field of Search: 297/284.11, 297/284.9, 297/337, 297/284.1, 297/452.48, 297/452.62, 297/DIG. 1, 5/653, 5/465, 5/468, 5/448, 5/481
• 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 upholstered seat cushion is manufactured from a unitary piece of foam. The upholstery material is integrally molded with the foam cushion. 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 upholstered cushion, comprising:

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

a layer of upholstery material integrally molded to the upper surface of said unitary cushion member;

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 cushion member to divide said unitary cushion 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 unitary cushion member, and said hinge being configured so that said hinge folds into said channel when said unitary cushion member is collapsed.

2. The cushion of claim 1, wherein said layer of upholstery material comprises an outer fabric layer and an inner film layer.

3. The cushion of claim 2, further comprising a foam layer disposed between said outer fabric layer and said inner film layer.

4. The cushion of claim 2, wherein said inner layer includes a thermoplastic material.

5. The cushion of claim 4, wherein said inner layer further includes a flexible foam layer bonded to said thermoplastic material.

6. The cushion of claim 1, wherein said upholstery material is a cloth.

7. The cushion of claim 1, wherein said upholstery material is vinyl.

8. The cushion of claim 1, wherein said upholstery material is plastic.

9. The cushion of claim 1, wherein said upholstery material is nylon.

10. The cushion of claim 1, wherein said layer of upholstery material includes a single piece of upholstering material.

11. The cushion of claim 1, wherein said layer of upholstery material is seamless.