Patent US1966707A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
Patent US6679557B2 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US6679557B2
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Article of furniture having a support member with an adjustable contour
Assignee: Pent Technologies Inc
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Filing: 2002-01-23
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Granted: 2004-01-20
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Expires: 2022-01-23
Abstract
Abstract An article of furniture includes a support having a support surface. A plurality of air bladders are positioned relative to the support surface, each air bladder having expandable foam therein. At least one fluid line fluidly couples the air bladders together. A single valve is fluidly coupled with the at least one fluid line. A contoured cushion has an inner contoured portion generally conforming to said plurality of air bladders. The plurality of air bladders are mounted between the support surface and the contoured cushion.
Inventors
- 👤 Raymond E. Craft
- 👤 Randall L. Bixler
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 10:13
CPC Classifications
A; A47; A47C; A47C7/00; A47C7/36; A47C7/40; A47C7/46; A47C7/467
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim
129 words
An article of furniture, comprising: a support having a support surface; a plurality of air bladders positioned relative to said support surface, each said air bladder having expandable foam therein; at least one fluid line fluidly coupling said air bladders together; a single valve fluidly coupled with said at least one fluid line; and a contoured cushion positioned in association with said support surface and having an a preformed inner contoured surface defining a contour gap with said support surface, said preformed inner contoured surface generally conforming to said plurality of air bladders and solely holding said air bladders in a substantially fixed orientation relative to said support surface, said at least one fluid line and said air bladders being mounted between said support surface and said contoured cushion.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
129 words
An article of furniture, comprising: a support having a support surface; a plurality of air bladders positioned relative to said support surface, each said air bladder having expandable foam therein; at least one fluid line fluidly coupling said air bladders together; a single valve fluidly coupled with said at least one fluid line; and a contoured cushion positioned in association with said support surface and having an a preformed inner contoured surface defining a contour gap with said support surface, said preformed inner contoured surface generally conforming to said plurality of air bladders and solely holding said air bladders in a substantially fixed orientation relative to said support surface, said at least one fluid line and said air bladders being mounted between said support surface and said contoured cushion.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
35 words
The article of claim 1 , wherein said at least one fluid line is coupled to said air bladders in one of parallel connection of said air bladders and series connection of said air bladders.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
26 words
The article of claim 2 , wherein said at least one fluid line is coupled to said air bladders in parallel connection of said air bladders.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
24 words
The article of claim 1 , wherein said expandable foam has an expanded state, said expandable foam being characteristically biased toward said expanded state.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
39 words
The article of claim 4 , wherein said single valve is configured to be selectively closed to prevent air from flowing into said air bladders and thereby prevent further biasing of said expandable foam toward said expanded state thereof.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
35 words
The article of claim 1 , wherein said support and said contoured cushion are conjunctively configured for holding said at least one fluid line and said air bladders in place in relation to said support.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
31 words
The article of claim 6 , wherein said support is a seat back, said air bladders and said contoured cushion being configured for conjunctively providing lumbar support on said seat back.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
16 words
The article of claim 1 , wherein said air bladders are configured to be selectively contoured.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
34 words
The article of claim 1 , wherein said article of furniture is one of a chair, recliner, rocker, couch, sofa, ottoman, stool, desk, keyboard support and wrist pad for use with a keyboard support.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
111 words
An air bladder system for use with a support of an article of furniture, comprising: a plurality of air bladders configured for positioning relative to the support, each said air bladder having expandable foam therein; at least one fluid line fluidly coupling said air bladders together; a single valve fluidly coupled with said at least one fluid line; and a contoured cushion having a preformed inner contoured surface defining a contour gap, said preformed inner contoured surface generally conforming to said plurality of air bladders, said preformed inner contoured surface being configured for solely holding said plurality of air bladders in place in a substantially fixed orientation relative to the support.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
111 words
An air bladder system for use with a support of an article of furniture, comprising: a plurality of air bladders configured for positioning relative to the support, each said air bladder having expandable foam therein; at least one fluid line fluidly coupling said air bladders together; a single valve fluidly coupled with said at least one fluid line; and a contoured cushion having a preformed inner contoured surface defining a contour gap, said preformed inner contoured surface generally conforming to said plurality of air bladders, said preformed inner contoured surface being configured for solely holding said plurality of air bladders in place in a substantially fixed orientation relative to the support.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
27 words
The air bladder system of claim 10 , wherein said at least one fluid line is coupled to said air bladders in one of parallel and series.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
23 words
The air bladder system of claim 11 , wherein said at least one fluid line is coupled to said air bladders in parallel.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
26 words
The air bladder system of claim 10 , wherein said expandable foam has an expanded state, said expandable foam being characteristically biased toward said expanded state.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
41 words
The air bladder system of claim 13 , wherein said single valve is configured to be selectively closed to prevent air from flowing into said air bladders and thereby prevent further biasing of said expandable foam toward said expanded state thereof.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
26 words
The air bladder system of claim 10 , wherein said air bladder system is configured to be attached one of temporarily and permanently to the support.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
22 words
The air bladder system of claim 15 , wherein said air bladder system is configured to be attached permanently to the support.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
210 words
A method of adjusting an air bladder system associated with a support of an article of furniture, said method comprising the steps of: providing an air bladder system in association with said support, said air bladder system including: a plurality of air bladders positioned relative to said support, each said air bladder having expandable foam therein, said expandable foam having air therein; at least one fluid line fluidly coupling said air bladders together; a single valve fluidly coupled with said at least one fluid line; and a contoured cushion having a preformed inner contoured surface defining a contour gap, said preformed inner contoured surface generally conforming to said plurality of air bladders, said preformed inner contoured surface being configured for solely holding said plurality of air bladders in place in a substantially fixed orientation relative to said support; opening said single valve; compressing at least one said air bladder and said expandable foam associated therewith, thereby forcing at least a portion of the air from said expandable foam, said portion of the air escaping into said at least one fluid line and out through said open single valve; and closing said single valve to prevent ingress of air into said expandable foam of said at least one compressed air bladder.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
210 words
A method of adjusting an air bladder system associated with a support of an article of furniture, said method comprising the steps of: providing an air bladder system in association with said support, said air bladder system including: a plurality of air bladders positioned relative to said support, each said air bladder having expandable foam therein, said expandable foam having air therein; at least one fluid line fluidly coupling said air bladders together; a single valve fluidly coupled with said at least one fluid line; and a contoured cushion having a preformed inner contoured surface defining a contour gap, said preformed inner contoured surface generally conforming to said plurality of air bladders, said preformed inner contoured surface being configured for solely holding said plurality of air bladders in place in a substantially fixed orientation relative to said support; opening said single valve; compressing at least one said air bladder and said expandable foam associated therewith, thereby forcing at least a portion of the air from said expandable foam, said portion of the air escaping into said at least one fluid line and out through said open single valve; and closing said single valve to prevent ingress of air into said expandable foam of said at least one compressed air bladder.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
44 words
The method of claim 17 , further comprising the step of opening said single valve to allow the ingress of air into said expandable foam of said at least one compressed air bladder, thereby permitting said expandable foam to fill with air and expand.
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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) | 2007-01-19 | 2007-07-21 | 2008-01-20 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2011-01-19 | 2011-07-21 | 2012-01-20 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2015-01-19 | 2015-07-21 | 2016-01-20 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |