Patent US4700447A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4700447A
Expired / Lapsed
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Support pad and method of manufacture
Assignee: Span America Medical Systems Inc
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Filing: 1986-03-13
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Granted: 1987-10-20
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Expires: 2006-03-13
Abstract
Abstract A unitary support pad constructed of synthetic foam is described especially for use as a mattress pad for hospital patients. The pad has a number of discrete upstanding projections being independently compressible and formed in the pad so as to provide a generally flat surface with voids between the projections, preferably extending entirely through the pad, formed by compressing the foam, in discrete areas, which is severed as through the action of a transverse band saw while compressed.
Inventors
- 👤 Donald C. Spann
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 08:46
CPC Classifications
A; A47; A47C; A47C27/00; A47C27/14; A47C27/142; A47C27/146; A61; A61G; A61G7/00; A61G7/05; A61G7/057; A61G7/05707; B; B26; B26D; B26D3/00; B26D3/28; B26D3/281; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T29/00; Y10T29/49; Y10T29/49799; Y10T428/00; Y10T428/24; Y10T428/24273; Y10T428/24479; Y10T428/24496; Y10T428/24504; Y10T428/24512; Y10T83/00; Y10T83/02; Y10T83/0267; Y10T83/0274; Y10T83/04; Y10T83/0405; Y10T83/0419; Y10T83/0429; Y10T83/343
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
95 words
The method of making a foam pad, comprising the steps of: feeding at least one foam pad blank separably together with at least one compressible auxiliary blank into a convoluter machine having rolls with spaced projections thereon compressing discrete areas of said foam and compressible blanks, said foam blank and said compressible blank being in stacked relation when passing between the rolls of the convoluter machine; and sawing said foam blank while in a compressed state emerging from such rolls to thereby form a plurality of promontories on said foam blank having flat apex portions.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
95 words
The method of making a foam pad, comprising the steps of: feeding at least one foam pad blank separably together with at least one compressible auxiliary blank into a convoluter machine having rolls with spaced projections thereon compressing discrete areas of said foam and compressible blanks, said foam blank and said compressible blank being in stacked relation when passing between the rolls of the convoluter machine; and sawing said foam blank while in a compressed state emerging from such rolls to thereby form a plurality of promontories on said foam blank having flat apex portions.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method set forth in claim 1 wherein said feeding step includes feeding at least one compressible blank on each side of said foam pad blank into said convoluter machine.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
81 words
The method of making a foam pad comprising the steps of: feeding at least a pair of stacked separable foam pad blocks separably together with at least one compressible auxiliary block into a convoluter machine having rolls with spaced projections thereon compressing discrete areas of said foam and compressible blocks; and sawing said foam block while in a compressed state emerging from such rolls to thereby form a plurality of promontories on said foam blocks, said promontories having flat apex portions.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
81 words
The method of making a foam pad comprising the steps of: feeding at least a pair of stacked separable foam pad blocks separably together with at least one compressible auxiliary block into a convoluter machine having rolls with spaced projections thereon compressing discrete areas of said foam and compressible blocks; and sawing said foam block while in a compressed state emerging from such rolls to thereby form a plurality of promontories on said foam blocks, said promontories having flat apex portions.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method set forth in claim 3 wherein auxiliary blocks are carried on both sides of said pair of stacked blocks.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method set forth in claim 3 including arranging said projections on the rolls of the convoluter machine in a wavy pattern to thereby form wavy ridges across said form blocks.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method set forth in claim 4 including arranging the roll projections in a substantially checkerboard pattern.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method set forth in claim 4, wherein the roll projections are not present on marginal portions of the convoluter machine rolls, thereby forming a solid foam boarder on each side of the pads.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method as in claim 1, wherein the compression of the rolls is controlled so as to form voids through said foam blank between adjacent promontories thereof.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
161 words
A method of manufacturing a resilient foam pad from a resilient foam blank, said pad having a plurality of upstanding promontories and valleys alternating in a predetermined pattern, and said method using a convoluter machine of the type having transversely disposed compression means for differentially compressing in accordance with the predetermined pattern materials fed therethrough, and slicing such materials with a transverse blade while same are still under compression, whereby alternating valleys and promontories in accordance with such pattern are formed in at least one side of said pad, said method comprising: providing at least one generally planar resilient foam blank; placing at least one auxiliary resilient planar sheet in a separable contiguous relationship with said blank; simultaneously forwarding said blank and said auxiliary sheet separably contiguous therewith through the convoluter machine so as to produce alternating promontories and valleys in said blank so as to form said pad from said blank; and thereafter separating said auxiliary sheet from said pad.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
161 words
A method of manufacturing a resilient foam pad from a resilient foam blank, said pad having a plurality of upstanding promontories and valleys alternating in a predetermined pattern, and said method using a convoluter machine of the type having transversely disposed compression means for differentially compressing in accordance with the predetermined pattern materials fed therethrough, and slicing such materials with a transverse blade while same are still under compression, whereby alternating valleys and promontories in accordance with such pattern are formed in at least one side of said pad, said method comprising: providing at least one generally planar resilient foam blank; placing at least one auxiliary resilient planar sheet in a separable contiguous relationship with said blank; simultaneously forwarding said blank and said auxiliary sheet separably contiguous therewith through the convoluter machine so as to produce alternating promontories and valleys in said blank so as to form said pad from said blank; and thereafter separating said auxiliary sheet from said pad.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
50 words
A method as in claim 9, further including the steps of preselecting the thickness of said auxiliary resilient sheet and the degree of compression exerted by the convoluter machine so that said valleys form voids extending completely through said pad, with said promontories remaining integrally connected at their respective bases.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
37 words
A method as in claim 10, wherein said forwarding step produces planar apex surfaces in said promontories, and said preselecting step includes varying said degree of compression so as to select the area of said apex surfaces.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
49 words
A method as in claim 9, wherein the predetermined pattern of the convoluter machine is a wave-like pattern, and said method includes the step of controlling the degree of compression of such machine so that the resulting pattern of said pad comprises transverse wave-like ridges having planar apex surfaces.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method as in claim 9, wherein said auxiliary resilient sheet is of a different density than that of said resilient blank.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
19 words
A method as in claim 9, wherein said auxiliary sheet is of substantially the same construction as said blank.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
45 words
A method as in claim 9, including the step of providing at least two auxiliary resilient planar sheets, and placing one each on each side of said blank separably contiguous therewith, said auxiliary sheets both beign subsequently removed from said pad in said separating step.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
52 words
A method as in claim 15, including the step of providing at least two generally planar resilient foam blanks, placed in separable contiguous relationship with respect to each other, and with said auxiliary sheets similarly situated thereabout, both of said auxiliary sheets being subsequently removed from said pad in said separating step.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1990-10-19 | 1991-04-20 | 1991-10-20 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1994-10-19 | 1995-04-20 | 1995-10-20 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1998-10-19 | 1999-04-20 | 1999-10-20 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |