Rubber pad

Nov. |1, 1952 ι_ε ROY m. bickett

RUBBER PAD

Filed July 10, 1550

2,617,751

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BY

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ATTORNEY.

Patented Nov. 11, 1952

2,617,751

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE

2,617,751

RUBBER PAD

Le Roy M. Bickett, Watertown, Wis.

Application July 10, 1950, Serial No. 172,929

Claims.

This invention relates to rubber pads for use primarily as sleeping pads or mattresses although other uses are contemplated.

Rubber pads lack the requisite softness and fail to provide the comfort desired for satisfactory use as sleeping pads or mattresses. This is also true of those composed of socalled sponge or foam rubber, because, as heretofore designed, they rely entirely upon the natural compressibility of these materials which alone is inadequate to provide the extent or depth of yield required for sleeping comfort.

One object of the present invention is to provide an improved rubber pad so constructed as to materially increase the capacity to yield under compressive load.

Other more specific objects and advantages will appear, expressed or implied, from the following description of an illustrative embodiment of the invention.

In the accompanying drawing:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of a rubber cushion constructed in accordance with the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary plan view with parts broken away.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view showing the cushion slightly compressed.

The pad shown is formed of sponge or foam rubber and comprises top and bottom layers 10 and 11 separated by a series of laterally spaced upright ribs i 2 traversing the same. The pad is preferably closed by suitable end and side walls 13 and 14.

The several ribs 12 are specially shaped so that each has a tendency to bend or buckle under a compressive load. In this instance the upper half 12a of each is slightly inclined from the vertical for this purpose, while the lower half 12b is similarly inclined in an opposite direction, so that the mid-portion of each rib is laterally offset with respect to the point of juncture thereof with the top and bottom layers 10 and ί I of the pad. As a result of this shape, the mid-portion of each rib 12 has a tendency to deflect laterally under compressive load, as indicated in Fig. 4, thereby substantially reducing the resistance offered by each rib against compressive deformation of the pad. This results in a high degree of compressibility and consequent softness not otherwise attainable.

The several ribs 12 are preferably uniformly shaped and dimensioned and also, preferably equally spaced a distance substantially equal to their width so that, as they approach a condition (Cl. 154—54) of maximum deflection, each meshes or interfolds with adjacent ribs in a manner to ultimately fill the space between the upper and lower layers 10 and 11; and when this condition is reached, fur5 ther compression is possible by reason of the natural compressibility of the material itself, as in an ordinary pad. The pad shown is therefore compressible in two stages, the first stage resulting from lateral deflection of the ribs, and the 1° second stage resulting from compression of the material in the pad.

The pad shown is preferably produced by molding the same in separate upper and lower sections of identical form, and thereafter inverting and 15 applying one section on the other, the two sections being secured together by a suitable adhesive applied to the mating faces thereof. A suitable fabric covering i 5 may be cemented or otherwise attached to the exposed faces of the pad.

Various changes may be made in the embodiment of the pad hereinabove specifically described without departing from or sacrificing the advantages of the invention as defined in the appended claims.