Leaf spring

Claim 2

A leaf comprising a plate member having a thickness of between approximately 5 mm and 20 mm and a width of between approximately 20 mm and 200 mm, said plate member having a given length and being arcuately deformed so that it includes a central portion, a first end and a second end with a height of said central portion above a plane passing through said first end and said second end being between about 20 mm and 40 mm; said plate comprising means for providing a predetermined resiliency for maintaining the plate member in a substantially horizontal position under a load of between 5 kg and 30 kg, and for preventing said plate member from breaking under a load of between 50 kg and 100 kg; and said plate member comprising first and second layers made of glass-fiber or carbon-fiber and a core member made of a polyurethane foam material, with said core member being positioned between said first and second layers.

Claim 3

The leaf spring in accordance with claim 1, wherein said polyurethane foam material has a density of between approximately 35 kg/m 3 and 45 Kg/m 3 .

Claim 4

The leaf spring in accordance with claim 2, wherein said polyurethane foam material has a density of approximately 35 Kg/m 3 .

Claim 5

The leaf spring in accordance with claim 2, wherein said polyurethane foam material has a density of approximately 45 Kg/m 3 .

Claim 6

The leaf spring in accordance with claim 1, having a thickness of between approximately 5 mm and 6 mm at each of said first end and said second end; said central portion having a thickness of approximately 20 mm; said plate member thus having a non-uniform thickness throughout; and said plate further having a length of approximately 100 cm.

Claim 7

The leaf spring in accordance with claim 1, wherein said first and second layers are made from glass-fiber.

Claim 8

The leaf spring in accordance with claim 6, wherein said glass-fiber has an elastic modulus of between approximately 3,900 Kg/m 3 and 4,480 Kg/m 3 .

Claim 9

The leaf spring in accordance with claim 7, wherein said glass-fiber has an elastic modulus of approximately 3,900 Kg/m 3 .

Claim 10

The leaf spring in accordance with claim 7, wherein said glass-fiber has an elastic modulus of approximately 4,480 Kg/m 3 .

Claim 11

The leaf spring in accordance with claim 6, wherein said glass-fiber has an elastic modulus of between approximately 3,900 Kg/m 3 and 4,480 Kg/m 3 , and said core comprises a polyurethane foam material having a density of between approximately 35 Kg/m 3 and 45 Kg/m 3 .

Claim 12

The leaf spring in accordance with claim 10, wherein said glass-fiber has an elastic modulus of approximately 3,900 Kg/m 3 .

Claim 13

The leaf spring in accordance with claim 10, wherein said glass-fiber has an elastic modulus of approximately 4,480 Kg/m 3 .

Claim 14

The leaf spring in accordance with claim 10, wherein said polyurethane foam material has a density of approximately 35 Kg/m 3 .

Claim 15

The leaf spring in accordance with claim 10, wherein said polyurethane foam material has a density of approximately 45 Kg/m 3 .

Claim 16

The leaf spring in accordance with claim 1, wherein said first and second layers comprise carbon-fiber.

Claim 17

The leaf spring in accordance with claim 15, wherein said carbon-fiber has an elastic modulus of between approximately 10,000 Kg/m 3 , and said polyurethane foam material has a density of between approximately 35 Kg/m 3 and 45 Kg/m 3 .

Claim 18

The leaf spring in accordance with claim 16, wherein said polyurethane foam material has a density of approximately 35 Kg/m 3 .

Claim 19

The leaf spring in accordance with claim 16, wherein said polyurethane foam material has a density of approximately 45 Kg/m 3 .

Claim 20

A leaf spring comprising a plate having a first end, a second end, and a central portion; said plate having a width of approximately 50 mm and a length of approximately 910 mm, said first end and said second end each having a thickness of between approximately 5 mm and 6 mm and said central portion having a thickness of about 20 mm; said plate comprising a core member having an upper surface and a lower surface, with said core member being arcuate in configuration and said central portion having a height of approximately 25 mm with respect to a plane passing through said first end and said second end; a thin reinforcing member covering at least one of said upper surface and said lower surface of said plate; and said plate comprising means for providing a predetermined resiliency for maintaining said plate in a substantially horizontal position under a load of between 5 kg and 30 kg, and further comprising means for preventing said plate from breaking under a load of between 50 kg and 100 kg.

Claim 21

A leaf spring comprising a plate having a first end, a second end, and a central portion; said plate having a width of approximately 50 mm and a length of approximately 910 mm, said first end and said second end each having a thickness of between approximately 5 mm and 6 mm and said central portion having a thickness of about 20 mm; said plate comprising a core member having an upper surface and a lower surface, with said core member being arcuate in configuration and said central portion having a height of approximately 25 mm with respect to a plane passing through said first end and said second end; a thin reinforcing member covering at least one of said upper surface and said lower surface of said plate; and said plate comprising means for providing a predetermined resiliency for maintaining said plate in a substantially horizontal position under a load of between 5 kg and 30 kg, and further comprising means for preventing said plate from breaking under a load of between 50 kg and 100 kg.

Claim 22

The leaf spring in accordance with claim 19, wherein both said upper surface and aid lower surface are covered with a thin reinforcing member, and a heat-shrink synthetic resin film covers said reinforcing members.

Claim 23

A leaf spring comprising a plate member in the form of a core having first and second ends of a thickness of between approximately 5 mm and 6 mm; said plate member further having a thickness of approximately 20 mm at a central portion thereof, said plate member therefore having a non-uniform thickness; said plate member having an upper surface, a lower surface, and a width of approximately 50 mm; said plate member having an arcuate configuration with a height at said centrl portion of approximately 25 mm with respect to a plane passing through said first and second ends; said plate member further comprising a fiber reinforced plastic layer of between approximately 0.5 mm and 0.8 mm thickness on said upper surface and said lower surface of said core; said core comprising a polyurethane foam material; and said plate member comprising means for providing a predetermined resiliency for maintaining said plate member in a substantially horizontal position under a load ranging between 5 kg and 30 kg, and for preventing said plate member from breaking under a load of between 50 kg and 100 kg.

Claim 24

A leaf spring comprising a plate member in the form of a core having first and second ends of a thickness of between approximately 5 mm and 6 mm; said plate member further having a thickness of approximately 20 mm at a central portion thereof, said plate member therefore having a non-uniform thickness; said plate member having an upper surface, a lower surface, and a width of approximately 50 mm; said plate member having an arcuate configuration with a height at said centrl portion of approximately 25 mm with respect to a plane passing through said first and second ends; said plate member further comprising a fiber reinforced plastic layer of between approximately 0.5 mm and 0.8 mm thickness on said upper surface and said lower surface of said core; said core comprising a polyurethane foam material; and said plate member comprising means for providing a predetermined resiliency for maintaining said plate member in a substantially horizontal position under a load ranging between 5 kg and 30 kg, and for preventing said plate member from breaking under a load of between 50 kg and 100 kg.

Claim 25

A mattress support comprising a plurality of spaced-apart leaf springs covered by a cloth, each of said leaf springs comprising a plate member having a thickness of between approximately 5 mm and 20 mm, a width of between approximately 20 mm and 200 mmm, and a length of approximately 100 cm, each of said plate members having an arcuate configuration having a central portion, a first end and a second end, with said central portion having a height of between about 20 mm and 40 mm; and said plate member comprising means for providing a predetermined resiliency for permitting each plate member to bend into a substantially horizontal position under a load of between 5 kg and 30 kg and for preventing each plate member from breaking under a load of between 50 kg and 100 kg, wherein said mattress support comprises means for supporting a human body at an attitude similar to a normal standing position for said human body.

Claim 26

A mattress support comprising a plurality of spaced-apart leaf springs covered by a cloth, each of said leaf springs comprising a plate member having a thickness of between approximately 5 mm and 20 mm, a width of between approximately 20 mm and 200 mmm, and a length of approximately 100 cm, each of said plate members having an arcuate configuration having a central portion, a first end and a second end, with said central portion having a height of between about 20 mm and 40 mm; and said plate member comprising means for providing a predetermined resiliency for permitting each plate member to bend into a substantially horizontal position under a load of between 5 kg and 30 kg and for preventing each plate member from breaking under a load of between 50 kg and 100 kg, wherein said mattress support comprises means for supporting a human body at an attitude similar to a normal standing position for said human body.

Claim 27

The mattress support in accordance with claim 22, wherein a corrugated sponge is positioned above said plurality of spaced-apart leaf springs and below said cloth.

Claim 28

The mattress support in accordance with claim 22, wherein each of said plate members comprises an upper surface, a lower surface, and reinforcing members are adhered to each of said upper surface and said lower surface.

Claim 29

A bed assembly comprising a cabinet and a plurality of spaced leaf springs; each of said plurality of spaced leaf springs comprising a plate member having a thickness of approximately between 5 mm and 20 mm, a width of between approximately 20 mm to 200 mm, and a length of approximately 100 cm; said plate member having first and second ends, and a generally arcuate shape; said plate member having a central portion with a height of between approximately 20 mm and 40 mm with respect to a plane passing through said first and second ends; said plate member comprising means for providing a predetermined resiliency for permitting said plate member to assume a substantially horizontal position when subjected to a load of between 5 kg and 30 kg and for preventing said plate member from being broken under a load of between 50 kg and 100 kg; and said bed further comprising a plurality of support leg assemblies, with said plurality of leaf springs being capable of supporting a human body at an attitude similar to a normal standing position of said human body, and said leaf springs being attached to said plurality of support leg assemblies.

Claim 30

A bed assembly comprising a cabinet and a plurality of spaced leaf springs; each of said plurality of spaced leaf springs comprising a plate member having a thickness of approximately between 5 mm and 20 mm, a width of between approximately 20 mm to 200 mm, and a length of approximately 100 cm; said plate member having first and second ends, and a generally arcuate shape; said plate member having a central portion with a height of between approximately 20 mm and 40 mm with respect to a plane passing through said first and second ends; said plate member comprising means for providing a predetermined resiliency for permitting said plate member to assume a substantially horizontal position when subjected to a load of between 5 kg and 30 kg and for preventing said plate member from being broken under a load of between 50 kg and 100 kg; and said bed further comprising a plurality of support leg assemblies, with said plurality of leaf springs being capable of supporting a human body at an attitude similar to a normal standing position of said human body, and said leaf springs being attached to said plurality of support leg assemblies.

Claim 31

The bed in accordance with claim 25 wherein each of said plurality of support leg assemblies comprise a plurality of connected support rod pairs, the rods in each pair being connected to each other in a pivotable fashion so as to form a selectively openable X-shape, with said support rod pairs thereby being mounted to expand and retract; one end of each of said plurality of support leg assemblies being attached to an inner surface of a cabinet, and a second end of each said plurality of support leg assemblies being attached to an inner surface of a lid adapted to close said cabinet; and said leaf springs being mounted over and attached in parallel to said plurality of support leg assemblies in a predetermined spaced-apart relationship.

Claim 32

The bed assembly in accordance with claim 26, further comprising a plurality of rollers located at lower portions of said plurality of support leg assemblies to facilitate expansion and contraction of the bed assembly.

Claim 33

A leaf spring comprising a plate having a first end, a second end, and a central portion; said plate having a width of approximately 50 mm and a length of approximately 910 mm, said first end and said second end each having a thickness of between approximately 5 mm and 6 mm, and said central portion having a thickness of about 20 mm; said plate comprising a core member having an upper surface and a lower surface, with said core member having an arcuate configuration; said plate further comprising a thin reinforcing member covering at least one of said upper surface and said lower surface of said plate; and said plate comprising means for providing a predetermined resiliency for maintaining said plate in a substantially horizontal position under a load of between 5 kg and 30 kg, and for preventing said plate from breaking under a load of between 50 kg and 100 kg.

Claim 34

A leaf spring comprising a plate having a first end, a second end, and a central portion; said plate having a width of approximately 50 mm and a length of approximately 910 mm, said first end and said second end each having a thickness of between approximately 5 mm and 6 mm, and said central portion having a thickness of about 20 mm; said plate comprising a core member having an upper surface and a lower surface, with said core member having an arcuate configuration; said plate further comprising a thin reinforcing member covering at least one of said upper surface and said lower surface of said plate; and said plate comprising means for providing a predetermined resiliency for maintaining said plate in a substantially horizontal position under a load of between 5 kg and 30 kg, and for preventing said plate from breaking under a load of between 50 kg and 100 kg.