Underbody ventilating structure

Claim 2

Underbody ventilating structure, comprising a first sheet member including a resilient base portion, a resilient second sheet member opposing the first sheet member, the second sheet member having an exposed surface defining a decorative pattern which faces away from the first sheet member, the first sheet member including spaced-apart body-support means projecting from the base portion for maintaining the second sheet member spaced from the base portion of the first sheet member to form an underbody ventilation space between the first and second sheet members, each body-support means having an end portion which is spaced from the base portion of the first sheet member, the end portion of at least a plurality of the body-support means including an end wall joined to the second sheet member to prevent scrubbing of the second sheet member across the first sheet member, and means defining ventilation apertures communicating with the ventilation space for flow of air into and out of the ventilation space.

Claim 3

The structure of claim 1 in which recessed portions of the exposed surface of the second sheet member form projections on an inner surface facing the first sheet member, each recessed portion including an end portion spaced from portions of the inner surface which are contiguous to the recessed portion, the end portion of each of at least the plurality of the body-support means being joined to the end portion of at least one recessed portion of the second sheet member.

Claim 4

The structure of claim 2 in which each body-support means has side walls and a generally columnar configuration, the recessed portions of the second sheet member including a central recessed portion and a plurality of peripheral recessed portions dispersed peripherally around the central recessed portion, the central recessed portion being joined to the end wall of a body-support means, the peripheral recessed portions being offset from the end wall to oppose the side walls of the body-support means when the second sheet member is deformed by a body resting on the exposed surface of the second sheet member.

Claim 5

The structure of claim 2 in which the recessed portions define a woven-cane pattern with the recessed portions defining intersections of interwoven cane-simulating members at locations registered with end walls of at least the plurality of the body-support means.

Claim 6

The structure of claim 3 in which the plurality of recessed portions include a plurality of apertures with at least a portion of such apertures communicating with the ventilation space.

Claim 7

The structure of claim 4 in which the recessed portions at each intersection include a central recessed portion and a plurality of peripheral recessed portions dispersed peripherally around the central recessed portion with at least the central recessed portion being joined to the end wall of a body-support means.

Claim 8

The structure of claim 2 in which the second sheet member includes at least a plurality of the ventilation apertures, the ventIlation apertures in the second sheet member being interspersed among the recessed portions of the second sheet member.

Claim 9

The structure of claim 7 in which the base portion of the first sheet member includes apertures communicating with the ventilation space and registered with the ventilation apertures in the second sheet member.

Claim 10

The structure of claim 1 with each body-support means being hollow and having side walls, the side walls of each body-support means including a plurality of serially disposed support portions extending in a direction away from the base portion of the first sheet member, and a collapsible portion between serially contiguous support portions.

Claim 11

The structure of claim 9 in which the support portions are rigid and radially offset from one another, and the collapsible portions extend in a direction along the base portion of the first sheet member.

Claim 12

The structure of claim 10 with each rigid support portion including at least one stiffening corrugation.

Claim 13

The structure of claim 1 in which the first and second sheet members are made of plastic, the end portion of each of at least the plurality of the body-support means being joined to the second sheet member by a bond between the end portion of the body-support means and the second sheet member.

Claim 14

The structure of claim 12 with the end portion of each of at least the plurality of the body-support means being thermal fusion-bonded to the second sheet member.

Claim 15

The structure of claim 12 with the end portion of each of at least the plurality of the body-support means being adhesive-bonded to the second sheet member.

Claim 16

The structure of claim 12 with the second sheet member being more flexible than the first sheet member.

Claim 17

Underbody ventilating pad structure comprising a first sheet member of generally uniform thickness material having a periphery and a resilient base portion, and a resilient second sheet member generally coextensive with the first sheet member and having a periphery joined to the periphery of the first sheet member, the second sheet member being of generally uniform thickness material having a surface which is exposed to view and which faces away from the first sheet member, the second sheet member having an inner surface facing the first sheet member, the first sheet member including spaced-apart hollow body-support means projecting from the base portion for maintaining the second sheet member spaced from the base portion of the first sheet member to form a ventilation space between the first and second sheet members, the second sheet member including recessed portions defining a decorative pattern in the exposed surface, each recessed portion including an end portion spaced from portions of the inner surface which are contiguous to the recessed portion, each body-support means having an end portion which is spaced from the base portion of the first sheet member, the end portion of at least a plurality of the body-support means being bonded to the end portion of at least one recessed portion of the second sheet member to prevent scrubbing of the second sheet member across the first sheet member, the second sheet member including a plurality of ventilation apertures communicating with the ventilation space, the base portion of the first sheet member having a surface facing away from the second sheet member for disposition on a pad-supporting surface.

Claim 18

Underbody ventilating pad structure comprising a first sheet member of generally uniform thickness material having a periphery and a resilient base portion, and a resilient second sheet member generally coextensive with the first sheet member and having a periphery joined to the periphery of the first sheet member, the second sheet member being of generally uniform thickness material having a surface which is exposed to view and which faces away from the first sheet member, the second sheet member having an inner surface facing the first sheet member, the first sheet member including spaced-apart hollow body-support means projecting from the base portion for maintaining the second sheet member spaced from the base portion of the first sheet member to form a ventilation space between the first and second sheet members, the second sheet member including recessed portions defining a decorative pattern in the exposed surface, each recessed portion including an end portion spaced from portions of the inner surface which are contiguous to the recessed portion, each body-support means having an end portion which is spaced from the base portion of the first sheet member, the end portion of at least a plurality of the body-support means being bonded to the end portion of at least one recessed portion of the second sheet member to prevent scrubbing of the second sheet member across the first sheet member, the second sheet member including a plurality of ventilation apertures communicating with the ventilation space, the base portion of the first sheet member having a surface facing away from the second sheet member for disposition on a pad-supporting surface.

Claim 19

The structure of claim 16 in which the end portion of each of at least the plurality of the body-support means includes an end wall bonded to at least one recessed portion of the second sheet member with the recessed portions defining intersections of interwoven cane-simulating members at locations registered with the end walls of at least the plurality of the body-support means.

Claim 20

The structure of claim 16, each body-support means having side walls, the side walls of each body-support means including a plurality of serially disposed support portions extending in a direction away from the base portion of the first sheet member, and a collapsible portion between serially contiguous support portions.