US4055866A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Polymorphic support systems
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1976-01-19
•
Granted: 1977-11-01
•
Expires: 1996-01-19
Abstract
Abstract A polymorphic body support system wherein the surface which engages the body is provided by a plurality of support elements to effect a contour support to the person thereon. Each support element is a closed flexible bag partially filled with a plurality of beads characterized as non-absorbent, non-compressible and capable of free flow with respect to each other within said bag when subjected to the weight of a body member.
Inventors
- 👤 Franklin Temple Evans
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 14:12
CPC Classifications
A; A47; A47C; A47C27/00; A47C27/08; A47C27/086; A47C27/12; A47C3/00; A47C3/16; A47G; A47G9/00; A61; A61G; A61G7/00; A61G7/05; A61G7/057; A61G7/05738
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
167 words
A polymorphic body support system comprising a base structure including a generally planar supporting surface dimensioned to receive a person thereon, a plurality of unattached, individual closed flexible bags contiguously arranged on said base structure, said contiguous arrangement including at least a single layer of said bags, said contiguous arrangement between said unattached, individual bags and the quantity of said bags being infinitely variable, at the discretion of the user prior to or during use, each of said bags containing a plurality of beads, said beads being characterized as non-absorbent, non-compressible and capable of free flow with respect to each other within said bag when subjected to the weight of a body member so that the upper surface of the bag conforms to the body member supported thereon, each of said contiguous flexible bags being independently responsive to the compressive force component resulting from the presence of the body member and jointly responsive to the lateral force components to provide a comfortable contour support for the person.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
167 words
A polymorphic body support system comprising a base structure including a generally planar supporting surface dimensioned to receive a person thereon, a plurality of unattached, individual closed flexible bags contiguously arranged on said base structure, said contiguous arrangement including at least a single layer of said bags, said contiguous arrangement between said unattached, individual bags and the quantity of said bags being infinitely variable, at the discretion of the user prior to or during use, each of said bags containing a plurality of beads, said beads being characterized as non-absorbent, non-compressible and capable of free flow with respect to each other within said bag when subjected to the weight of a body member so that the upper surface of the bag conforms to the body member supported thereon, each of said contiguous flexible bags being independently responsive to the compressive force component resulting from the presence of the body member and jointly responsive to the lateral force components to provide a comfortable contour support for the person.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
24 words
The body support system of claim 1 wherein said beads are selected from the group consisting of metals, metal alloys, glass, ceramics and plastics.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
15 words
The body support system of claim 2 wherein said plastics are thermoplastics and theremoset resins.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
13 words
The body support system of claim 3 wherein said thermoplastic resin is polypropylene.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
19 words
The body support system of claim 1 wherein the diameter of said beads ranges between 1 and 50 millimeters.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
19 words
The body support system of claim 1 wherein the diameter of said bead ranges between 1 and 5 millimeters.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
21 words
The body support system of claim 1 wherein said flexible bag is manufactured from natural or synthetic textiles or blends thereof.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
21 words
The body support system of claim 1 wherein said flexible bag is filled to between 70-90 volume percent with said beads.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
26 words
The body support system of claim 7 wherein said synthetic textile is spandex and said bag is substantially filled in the relaxed state with polypropylene beads.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
26 words
The support system of claim 1 wherein said base structure comprises a rigid bottom and rigid sidewalls extending upwardly from said bottom to form an enclosure.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
GB190803424A
Cited
US2219974A
Cited
US3330598A
Cited
US3480280A
Cited
US3629882A
Cited
US3626526A
Cited
US3608961A
Cited
US3840920A
Cited
US3899210A
Cited
US3893731A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1980-10-31 | 1981-05-02 | 1981-11-01 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1984-10-31 | 1985-05-02 | 1985-11-01 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1988-10-31 | 1989-05-02 | 1989-11-01 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |