US3892001A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Flexible panel protector for uppermost springs of sofa beds
Assignee: CHARLES Inc
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Filing: 1974-10-21
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Granted: 1975-07-01
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Expires: 1994-10-21
Abstract
Abstract Disclosed are elongate flexible panel protectors having elongate frontal stiffener means, the panel protector being adapted to lie neatly flatly horizontally between the removable seating cushions and the uppermost springs of a closeably collapsed sofa bed. The elongate panel protector serves one or more of the following separate purposes: prevents the sofa seating cushions from being abrasively worn by the closeably collapsed uppermost springs; conceals and even aesthetically decorates the unsightly uppermost springs in the event a seating cushion is dislodged from the sofa bed; and provides an intermediate cushiony effect between the uppermost springs and the removable cushions to enhance the comfort for seated occupants. The elongate panel protector does not interfere with the opening operation of the sofa bed into its forwardly extended or sleeping condition, and in the hammock-like use form thereof remains with the forwardly extended bed.
Inventors
- 👤 Charles Schneider
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 00:46
CPC Classifications
A; A47; A47C; A47C17/00; A47C17/04; A47C17/22; A47C27/00; A47C27/002; A47C27/008; A47C31/00; A47C31/10
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
195 words
An elongate felexible panel protector adapted to lie neatly flatly horizontally between the removable seating cushions and the uppermost springs of closeably-collapsed sofa beds, said protector panel extending along an elongate linear horizontal central-axis and comprising: A. An elongate flexible horizontal envelope having a pair of opposed horizontal elongated extremities including a front-side and a rear-side, said envelope comprising an elongate flexible base-sheet having a pair of opposed broad surfaces including a top surface and a bottom surface which is directly abuttably superimposeable against the uppermost springs of a closeably collapsed sofa bed, said envelope also comprising a flexible elongate cover-sheet attached to the base-sheet and having a pair of opposed broad surfaces including a lower-surface and an exposed upper-surface for the removable seating cushions to rest upon; B. Flexible resiliently compressible padding as self-sustaining laminar sheet material enclosed within and extending along the elongate envelope; and C. Elongate stiffener means attached to and for stiffening the elongate envelope front-side whereby when the stiffened protector is lifted by an upward force applied solely at a frontal central portion thereof, the envelope elongate frontside remains horizontally linear and buckling of the envelope rearward portions is minimized.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
195 words
An elongate felexible panel protector adapted to lie neatly flatly horizontally between the removable seating cushions and the uppermost springs of closeably-collapsed sofa beds, said protector panel extending along an elongate linear horizontal central-axis and comprising: A. An elongate flexible horizontal envelope having a pair of opposed horizontal elongated extremities including a front-side and a rear-side, said envelope comprising an elongate flexible base-sheet having a pair of opposed broad surfaces including a top surface and a bottom surface which is directly abuttably superimposeable against the uppermost springs of a closeably collapsed sofa bed, said envelope also comprising a flexible elongate cover-sheet attached to the base-sheet and having a pair of opposed broad surfaces including a lower-surface and an exposed upper-surface for the removable seating cushions to rest upon; B. Flexible resiliently compressible padding as self-sustaining laminar sheet material enclosed within and extending along the elongate envelope; and C. Elongate stiffener means attached to and for stiffening the elongate envelope front-side whereby when the stiffened protector is lifted by an upward force applied solely at a frontal central portion thereof, the envelope elongate frontside remains horizontally linear and buckling of the envelope rearward portions is minimized.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
98 words
The panel protector of claim 1 wherein the envelope is of generally rectangular shape including a linearly extending front-side that is substantially parallel to a linearly extending rear-side whereby the envelope has an average finite-length and a regular finite-width, the ratio of finite-length to finite-width exceeding two; wherein the envelope comprises a cover-sheet which is attached to a differing sand togher base-sheet; and wherein the preponderant portion of the laminar padding is of constant thickness whereby the padded envelope has a regular finite-height, the ratio of envelope finite-width to finite-height being within the range of twenty to fifty.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
70 words
The panel protector of claim 2 wherein the tougher base-sheet is a fibrous-reinforced sheet material; wherein the cover-sheet is upholstery fabric which itself aesthetically provides the front-side and rear-side extremities for the envelope; wherein the laminar padding comprises foam sheet material; and wherein the stiffener means comprises an elongate metallic bar attached to the envelope with an intervening flexible elongate flap whereby the metallic bar is locatable under the base-sheet.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
42 words
The panel protector of claim 1 wherein the envelope has a linearly extending front-side extremity; and wherein there is resiliently stretchable suspender means attached to the envelope, said suspender means being laterally rearwardly extendable and resiliently stretchable of the envelope rear-side extremity.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
51 words
The panel protector of claim 4 wherein the envelope is of generally rectangular shape including a linearly extending rear-side extremity; wherein the stiffener means comprises an elongate metallic bar; and wherein the suspender means comprises a plurality of resiliently stretchable straps and stationed at separated intervals along the envelope rearward portion.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
74 words
The panel protector of claim 5 wherein the envelope comprises a cover-sheet which is attached to a differing and tougher base-sheet; wherein the elongate metallic bar siffener means is attached to the envelope with an intervening flap of flexible sheet material, said elongate bar at increments therealong being attached to the elongate flap with a plurality of separate mechanical fasteners which are also adapted to attach the protector panel to the sofa bed chassis.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
98 words
The panel protector of claim 6 wherein the envelope base-sheet comprises a fibrous-reinforced tough sheet material; wherein an upholstery fabric cover-sheet is sewn to the base-sheet and through the enclosed laminar padding to provide a peripheral bead for the envelope; wherein the mechanical fasteners are of the spreadable wings type and having an upholstered head portion at the stiffener bar; wherein for the suspender means there is a plurality of resiliently stretchable straps at each said interval station and respectively adapted to be tied to the sofa bed chassis; and wherein the laminar padding comprises foam sheet material.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
47 words
The panel protector of claim 6 wherein the coversheet aesthetically provides the linear front-side and rear-side extremities for the envelope; wherein the laminar padding comprises foam sheet material; and wherein there is a plurality of resiliently strtchable straps at each said interval station for the suspendEr means.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
101 words
The panel protector of claim 8 in hammock-like physical combination with a closeably collapsed sofa bed structure, the resiliently stretchable straps being tied to the rearward portion of the sofa bed uppermost springs and the metallic bar stiffener means being attached with the spreadable wings mechanical fasteners to the forward portion of the uppermost springs whereby the panel protector is made into hammock-like suspended fashion across the uppermost springs to further enhance and augment seating comfort for the closeably collapsed sofa bed, said attached panel protector remaining in attached non-interfering relationship with the forwardly extended sleeping condition of the sofa bed.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-06-30 | 1978-12-30 | 1979-07-01 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-06-30 | 1982-12-30 | 1983-07-01 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-06-30 | 1986-12-30 | 1987-07-01 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |