US4388358A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Adaptive support system
Assignee: Southern Research Institute
•
Filing: 1981-08-25
•
Granted: 1983-06-14
•
Expires: 2001-08-25
Abstract
Abstract A rigid, shaped, mass support system, such as support or seating appliances for disabled or handicapped persons, is provided by charging a flexible container (2) made of elastic polymeric film with a uniform mixture of rigid particles of a mesh size relatively small compared to the size of the system and a curable adhesive polymeric binder material. The charged container (2) and its contents are molded to adapt to or fit the shape of the mass, such as the contour of that portion of the body to be supported, and evacuated to remove volatiles and fix the shape of the contents of the container. The adhesive binder is then cured to solidify the molded contents of the container to form a composite, from which the polymeric film can be stripped away, after which an adhesive paint is applied to seal and protect the surface.
Inventors
- 👤 Thomas A. Davis
- 👤 Donald R. Cowsar
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 16:53
CPC Classifications
B; B29; B29C; B29C67/00; B29C67/20; B29C67/207; A; A47; A47C; A47C27/00; A47C27/08; A47C27/086; A61; A61F; A61F5/00; A61F5/01; B29C44/00; B29C44/02; B29C44/12; B29C44/1204; B29L; B29L2031/00; B29L2031/753; B29L2031/771; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S264/00; Y10S264/07; Y10S5/00; Y10S5/911; Y10S5/913; Y10T; Y10T428/00; Y10T428/23; Y10T428/233; Y10T428/239; Y10T428/249921; Y10T428/249953; Y10T428/249982; Y10T428/249985; Y10T428/249987; Y10T428/249991; Y10T428/249992; Y10T428/25; Y10T428/254
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 7
Claim 1
Independent Claim
157 words
A rigid, shaped, mass support system, comprising: (a) a multiplicity of rigid particles of polystyrene foam spheres having an average diameter of between about 1 and 5 millimeters. (b) a cured, polymeric adhesive binder material uniformly distributed among and bonding the rigid particles to form a rigid composite, said binder material being alternatively selected from the group consisting of (1) a polyurethane formed by curing a mixture of a polyol and a polyisocyanate with a gaseous tertiary amine catalyst, and (2) an epoxy resin cured with a hardener composed of (i) a fatty amido-amine, (ii) an amine-terminated butadiene-acrylonitrile copolymer, and (iii) a lower alkanol; and (c) a coating adherent to the surface of the composite and formed of a plurality of coats of polymeric latex paint, said system being disposable against and conforming to the shape of the mass such as the contour of that portion of a person's body which the system is intended to support.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
157 words
A rigid, shaped, mass support system, comprising: (a) a multiplicity of rigid particles of polystyrene foam spheres having an average diameter of between about 1 and 5 millimeters. (b) a cured, polymeric adhesive binder material uniformly distributed among and bonding the rigid particles to form a rigid composite, said binder material being alternatively selected from the group consisting of (1) a polyurethane formed by curing a mixture of a polyol and a polyisocyanate with a gaseous tertiary amine catalyst, and (2) an epoxy resin cured with a hardener composed of (i) a fatty amido-amine, (ii) an amine-terminated butadiene-acrylonitrile copolymer, and (iii) a lower alkanol; and (c) a coating adherent to the surface of the composite and formed of a plurality of coats of polymeric latex paint, said system being disposable against and conforming to the shape of the mass such as the contour of that portion of a person's body which the system is intended to support.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
34 words
A support system according to claim 1 wherein: the rigid particles each has an average diameter of between about 2 and 3 millimeters; and the polymeric latex paint is a vinyl-vinylidene copolymer latex paint.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
105 words
A rigid, shaped, mass support system, comprising a flexible container made of elastic polymeric film containing: (a) a multiplicity of rigid particles of polystyrene foam spheres having an average diameter of between about 1 and 5 millimeters; and (b) a cured, polymeric adhesive binder material uniformly distributed among and bonding the rigid particles to form a rigid composite, said binder material comprisng a polyurethane resin which has been cured with a gaseous tertiary amine, said system being disposable against and conforming to the shape of the mass such as the contour of that portion of a person's body which the system is intended to support.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
105 words
A rigid, shaped, mass support system, comprising a flexible container made of elastic polymeric film containing: (a) a multiplicity of rigid particles of polystyrene foam spheres having an average diameter of between about 1 and 5 millimeters; and (b) a cured, polymeric adhesive binder material uniformly distributed among and bonding the rigid particles to form a rigid composite, said binder material comprisng a polyurethane resin which has been cured with a gaseous tertiary amine, said system being disposable against and conforming to the shape of the mass such as the contour of that portion of a person's body which the system is intended to support.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
23 words
A support system according to claim 3 wherein the rigid particles each has an average diameter of between about 2 and 3 millimeters.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
19 words
A support system according to claim 4 wherein the polymeric film of the container is made of latex rubber.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2959508A
Cited
US3300421A
Cited
US3304219A
Cited
US3256133A
Cited
US3806566A
Cited
US3863758A
Cited
US4055866A
Cited
US4027888A
Cited
US4213213A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1986-06-13 | 1986-12-13 | 1987-06-14 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1990-06-13 | 1990-12-13 | 1991-06-14 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1994-06-13 | 1994-12-13 | 1995-06-14 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |