US2651058A - Portable body-supporting assemblage - Google Patents

Description

Sept. 8, 1953 H. A. ALMOSLINO PORTABLE BODY-SUPPORTING ASSEMBLAGE I 3 Shee tS-Sheet 1 Filed April 19, 1949 S p 8, 1953 HQA. ALMOSLINO 2,651,058

PORTABLE BODY-SUPPORTING ASSEMBLAGE Filed April 19, 1949 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 II o 3 Maw AGENT Sept. 8, 1953 H. A. ALMOSLINO PORTABLE BODY-SUPPORTING ASSEMBLAGE 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed April 19, 1949 Inventor O m a O m A 0. L W R A S M Patented Sept. 8, .1953

UNITED S' I'AT'ES EEATENT OFFICE PORTABLE BODY-SUPPORTING ASSEMBLAGE This invention relates to improvements in portable body-supporting assemblages, the present disclosure beinga continuation in part of the disclosure of my prior application filed October. 20, 1948, Serial No. 55,590, laterformally abandoned in favor of the present application.

There are many differentforms and types of assemblages for supporting thehuman body in prone, reclined or semi-reclined position. Beds, cots, berths, cribs,,etc., illustrate various forms of such structures. These prior devicesare generally so formed as to ,be supported. in a more or less fixed position, and while they are capable of being moved about, theirdimensions, weigh, and other characteristicsaresuchasto cause them generally to be retained inan approximately fixed location. Assemblages such as. hammocks, etc., are portable, but generally these are positioned on fixed supports. Assemblages such as deck chairs, reclining chairs and the like are foldable for transportation, but since they generally are so constructed as to provide the'contact with the supporting surface in "the form of feet or footed construction, the folded assembly becomes somewhat large and somewhat unwieldy. These indicate somewhat the range of service'fields in which the present invention may .be applied, the particular form the assemblage may take being more or less individualto the field of service, but the fundamentals of the invention are. applicable for use in all of such fields. Hence, the specific form may diifer as between fields ofv service, while presenting these fundamental characteristics.

The present invention is designedto provide an assemblage of this general type, and in such form as to be generallyself-contained. The base or body supporting member and the member for such surface form a unit which has one form when in position for service,.and a different form when arranged for storage or transportation. The surface and the membermay not be permanently connected, but they are of such form that the assemblage, in'its transportable form, generally carries all of theelements of the assemblage, with the elements capable of being quickly set up for service.

The weight of the body occupying the assemblage is an active agentin maintaining the assemblage initsservice form, since the weight tends to maintain the supporting structure in its more rigid form, thus making possible the positioning of the assemblage on the ground, fioor, etc., with assurance of stability. The support may be of a formpapablepf a rocking action, depending uponthe specific construction of the support members. The weight factor is made active by connecting the end zones or extremities of the actual body support, itself generally in the form of fabric, such as canvas or the like, to the end zones or extremities of the supporting base, so that the body supporting member is suspended between such extremities. The structure of the supporting base is such that the weight of the body causes the members composing the base to ecome firmly engaged to thereby provide a strong and stable support within which the canvas body support is held in suspension. When it is desired to take down the assemblage, at least one end of the canvas support is released, permitting the base to lie flat. The base is then manipulated to place its under side on top, after which the base is rolled up into a, roll the length of which equals the width of the base, with the canvas support within the roll or wrapped about it, thus placing the assemblage in condition for storage or transportation.

Since the canvas body support may be of different types, the basic feature of the invention is in the construction of the base member. This comprises a plurality of individual elements, having characteristics of blocks of comparatively small dimensions, the assemblage presenting two or more rows of these with the rows in spaced relation and parallel with each other. In an assemblageof ordinary width, two of such rows are sufficient, these being positioned at the side zones of the assemblage. The elements or blocks of a row are assembled into a linear succession with adjacent blocks in contact relation. This result can be secured in several difierent ways and with blocks of different types. In the following disclosure, two ways of assembly are shown as well as several difierent types of blocks. The rows are connected together by cross rods mounted in spaced relation by having their ends mounted in corresponding blocks of the rows.

Due to the fact that the invention is formed of a multiplicity of parts assembled in various ways, the terms assemblage-and unit assembly are being employed to express individual meanings. The term assemblage including the structure as an. entirety, the disclosure of Figs. 1, 6, 9, 11 and 1e, for instance, while the term unit assembly is being employed as specific to an element it made up of anassembly of blocks and the means for connecting them in the succession form, the disclosure of Figs. 5, l2 and 13, for in stance, such unit assembly thus forming an element of the assemblage.

The shape which the base assembly rows are to have in service is determined by the contour shapes of the blocks contained in the rows. For instance, in one of the forms, the upper and lower faces of a block are in planar parallelism, while in other forms, the upper face is planar while the lower face is arcuate in the direction of block length. However, in each form, it is the lower zone of the block which presents the maximum length dimension of the block, the length referring to the direction of linear succession of blocks. The width dimension of a block equals that of the width of the row, the width end faces of the block being in parallelism. In the linear succession facial contact between adjacent blocks is present at least in the lower zone of the blocks at all times, but the extent and location of such contact depends upon the form of the assemblage. In one of the forms shown the contact is at the bottom of the block and is practically a line contact, in other forms it is above the arcuate bottom facethere may be a shifting contact in the latter forms as hereinafter explained. The length of the upper face of the block, however, will depend upon whether a block forms a part of a straight portion of the row or of a portion that is curved in the direction of length of the row. Blocks forming parts of a straight portion have their side mating or contacting faces extending generally normal to the plane of the upper face, while if located within a curved zone the side faces extend generally in planes other than right angular to the upper face plane, and generally slightly angular to each other. Since the length of the canvas body support is always less than the length of a block connecting element of a unit assembly, it is apparent that if the ends of the canvas body support be secured to the opposite ends of the unit assemblies of the assemblage, the end zones of such assemblies will be caused to move inward, and when the weight of the body of the occupant is also present on the support, the end zones of the unit assemblies will be drawn inward until the block mating faces are in their mating relation and establish the shape of the base member with the mating faces in tight contact and maintained therein by such weight.

Hence, by properly shaping opposite mating faces of the blocks, any desired shape, straight or curved, can be given to the row of connected blocks for service operation with assurance that the structure will be completely stable.

As is apparent, if the assembly of the base be inverted, after disengaging the canvas support, the assembly can be rolled up, since the blocks are then practically on the outer side of the connecting element instead of the inner side, as when in service, with the mating faces of adjacent blocks free to move away from each other to the extent necessary to permit the rolling up of the assembly.

The assemblage is of light Weight characteristic, can be manufactured at reasonably low cost, is capable of selective forms in both the canvas support and the base assembly, and is simple and efficient in service activities, and adapted for storage and transportation in comparatively compact form.

To these and other ends, therefore, the nature of which will be understood as the invention is hereinafter disclosed, the invention consists in the improved constructions and combinations of parts, hereinafter more fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings, in which similar reference 4 characters indicate similar parts in each of the views-- Figure 1 is a perspective view showing one form of the assemblage in service position.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view of the same taken on line 22 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view, on an enlarged scale, taken on line 33 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a detail fragmentary perspective view illustrating a simple Way of mounting the hooks of the canvas body support, the view indicating the arrangement where the canvas body support presents characteristics of a crib formation, as in Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a detail perspective view of one row of block assemblies of the structure of Fig. l, the blocks extending in a straightline relation.

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of an assemblage of a different form.

Fig. 7 is an elevationof the base assembly used in connection with an assemblage of the Fig. 6 form.

Fig. 8 is an end elevation showing the assemblage in its rolled up form for storage or transportation.

Fig. 9 is a side elevation of an assemblage of the type of Fig. 6, but showing a different way of securing the block succession.

Fig. 10 is a side elevation with part broken away of the block form shown in Fig. 9.

Fig. 11 is a perspective view showing the invention employed with an assemblage base member of completely arcuate shape.

Fig. 12 is a side elevation showing a pair of blocks of modified form.

Fig. 13 is a detail view of the blocks of Fig. 12 arranged in the roll-developing formation.

Fig. 14 is a side elevation of an assemblage without the arm rest and legs.

As indicated in Fig. 6, for instance, the assemblage may be formed of a body supporting element A, which may be selected from a number of forms individual to a particular service, and a supporting assembly B, which is adapted to support element A for service activity, or be manipulated into a relatively compact roll for storage or transportation. The specific form which the supporting service may take depends more particularly upon the particular service to be performed. In all cases, however, the element A is supported in suspended relation by the extremities or end zones of assembly B during active service of the assemblage and regardless of the specific form which the assembly may take in service. Hence, in each form of assembly B, in

the present invention, the arrangement is such that when element A is service laden with the body of the occupant the end zones or extremities of the assembly have an upstanding relation to the ground or other supporting surface to thereby produce the suspension effect for element A. The assembly B may be formed to produce a rockable support or a support having an extended the simpler form, Figs. 1 to; 8, lusive, fi st described.

In this form, assembly Bis formed-of two or more rows I of block members I l constructed and mounted asopresen-tly described detail, therows being'of, the required length with all rows of similar length the rows extending in parallelism with the rows spaced apart laterally. Where the assemblageis designedtosupport a single individual, tworows only areneeded, one in each side zone-of theassembly, but where an assemblage-of greater width is; desired, one or more intermediate rows may be added, dependent upon the particular width;desired. Each of the rows is similarly formed and arranged.

Each row Ill is preferably. formed of a strap [2 and asuccession of blocksJl. The strap 12 is relatively thin (0.03125), hasa width of approximately 1.75", and alengthequal-to the full length of the row. The thickness of the strap is such as will permit itsready shaping to a desired form longitudinally at will. The strap is preferably formed of metal since this will give stability to the. structure, but under some conditions a strap or other material may be employed and is contemplated within the invention.

The blocks II are individual, and preferably formed of hard wood, although they may be made of other suitable material within the invention. The lower face of each block is approximately dimensioned to presentv a lateral length of 1.75", and equal to the linear length of the strap 12, and a width of 2". The thickness or depth of the block is, approximately 0.75", the upper face of the block being parallel with its lower face, but its dimensions depend upon its position in the row and the particular configuration which the. row is to take in service, as presently explained. The blocks are individually, secured to the strap l2 in any suitable manner, such as by nails I3', the lower side edges of the lower faces of adjacent blocks being in contact. Since all of the blocks of a row are secured to the strap in this, relation, with the lower faces of preferably similar dimensions, the facial contact of the lower edges of, the side of the blocks with the strap, is substantially continuous lengthwise of'the strap.

Obviously, if the side faces of the blocks extend exactly perpendicular to the plane of the bottom faces, a series of blocks will present a straight line effect, since the contacting sides of adjacent blocks will have this perpendicular relation and have complete facial contact with each other on such perpendicular line. However, if one or both of the side faces of a block extend on lines inclined to such perpendicular line, adjacent blocks may be brought into facial contact at said side faces. However, due to the inclinations, such contact can be had only when the lower faces of the blocks also become inclined to such straight line, the latter inclination value depending upon the respective values of the inclinations of the side faces relative to the perpendicular line.

Figure 5 illustrates an assembly. of both of the above types, the first type being indicated in zone a, while the-second type is indicated in zone b. In this figure, all of the blocks have their lower faces in horizontal alinement, so that the strap extends in a, straight line. As a result, the side faces of the blocksof zone 2) are shown as out of contact, excepting at their lower side edges. The effect of this is seen by considering either of.v the rows shown in Figure 1,

in which the-ends of the strap l2, have been drawn upward until the side, faces of all the blocks of the row have been brought into close facial contact. In this figure, theblocks-of zones a present the straight lineeifeet, but the blocks of zones I; provide a, curvature effect upon these portions of the strap. Theblock zone, in-effect, becomes continuous in its direction of length and in correspondence with the length contour configuration of the strapi As indicated in Figurefi, this ability to set up the curvatures isprovidedby the degreeof inclination to the perpendicular line referred to of individual side faces of the blocksof zone. b. With someblocks, the,inclination values of the side faces of a block are similar, while with others, the inclination values differ. In. the showing of Fig. 7, all but the end blocksare of the zone b type, with the inclination values, of the two sides of a block, substantially similar but of opposite angle. This results in a row formation of the type of Fig. 6, which illustrates an assemblage capable of rocking, since the linear form of the row Sets up a. curvature of the row extending from endto end, the, intermediate blocks having similar cross sectional configurations, as shown in Fig. 7.

As is apparent, the degree of curvature of any zone 72 is governed by the. angularity of the inclined side face or faces of adjacentblocks with respect to a perpendicular, to the plane of the lower face of the block when the assemblage is in service condition, opposing faces of adjacent blocks having facial contact, The greaterthe inclination value of the side face, the smaller becomes the radial length, of the arc of curvature. Hence, it is possibleto control the service configuration of a. row simply by, the proper selection of the angularity of side faces relative to the plane of the lower face of the block. It will be understood that. when the opposing side faces of adjacent blocks actually engage, in the service position, the limit in this respect, is reached, since the row then .becomes, in effect, the equivalent of abar bent into the same configuration. The configurationwill be maintained in such form as long asthe-endzones or ex,- tremities of the row remainin the same position. For instance, in the,Fig. 6 form, there could be a slight difference, between the tight.- ness of the contact between blocks simply through the presence or absence of an occupant on the body supporting unit, the weight of the occupant tending to draw the endzones or extremities of the rows closerv together, but when the faces are in their closest contact, no further decrease in distance between the row end zones or extremities would be p ssible.

The rows are exact duplicates of each other structurally, and are connected, together by cross-bars I a, spacedapart, andwhich connect corresponding blocks of, the rows. The end blocks of therows are connectedtogether in this manner, and the remaining cross-bars areselectively positioned to meet the conditions. In the Fig. 6 form, they; are spaced practically-uniformly as to distance, but in theFjig. 1 form they are located in: the end; blocks of curved zones 1). Should intermediate rows be employed, these would be similarto those shown, with the cross-bars or rods 14 passing; through the; proper blocks of the rows.

The above conditions apply during service, since the blocks are; then located, within the configuration of the straps l2 When, howev er,

of the opposite end zone.

than the length of strap tions at such time. positioned and the weight of the user placed tl'li body-supporting unit is released, even at one end, the row can take the linear position shown in Figs. or '7. If the released assembly then be reversed so as to place the straps l2 uppermost, it is apparent that the assembly can then be rolled up as indicated in Fig. 8, since the blocks are then on the outer side of the straps and are free to be opened out as shown to any necessary extent.

As will be understood from the above, a corresponding end zone of each block (indicated as the lower zone in the present disclosure) is similarly mounted relative to a connecting element, strap 12 in the form above set forth,

which extends the full length of the block succession of a unit assembly and serves to provide the means by which the blocks are maintained in such linear succession. However, the opposite end zone of each block is wholly free of connection with an adjacent block, being capable only of contact engagement with such adjacent blocks, thus permitting adjacent blocks to move relatively about the connecting element It is this relationship between adjacent blocks that permits the assemblage to be positioned in either the service position, as in Figs. 1 and 6, or in the transportation or storage condition shown in Fig. 8, a change made possible, for instance, by re leasing the connection between an end of the canvas body support and the adjacent ends of the unit assembly, thereby permitting the unit assemblies to be manipulated from the position of Fig. 6 to that of Fig. 8, with the manipulation temporarily placing the assemblies in the Fig. '7 position. This cycle practically presents a reversal in the relation of faces of adjacent blocks of a unit assembly without, however, affecting the structure of the unit assembly itself, a simple reversal of the demounting regimen restoring the assemblage to its service condition.

The body-supporting unit, indicated at 20, may have many different forms, two of these being shown in the drawings. A simpler form is indicated in Fig. 6 as composed of a canvas element 2| of a desired width and a length less l2, but preferably slightly greater than the distance between the ends of the strap and block assembly to thereby permit of the production of a concave effect 4 within the canvas body support. In other words, the canvas length, when mounted, tends to take on a slight concave appearance, as shown. The

increased length permits ready assemblage, since the blocks are not in the tight contacting posi- After the canvas has been on the suspended member, the ends of the row assembly will be drawn toward each other to the extent permitted by the contacting side faces of the blocks of the two rows. When the blocks are in such position, further inward movement of the row ends is prevented, and the assemblage is complete.

Figure 4. illustrates a convenient way of mounting the member 2| in which two or more hook members 22 are carried by the end zone of the member 2|. The latter may include a rod support 23, as shown, one end zone of the hook member being secured in position on rod support 23, while the other end zone is in the form of an open hook 22a which can be readily and removably mounted on an end rod l4, thus making the unit readily removable from the assemblage.

The form of the unit shown in Figs. 1 and 2 differs somewhat from that shown in Fig. 6 above described, the Fig. 1 form of unit being more particularly usable as a carrier for a child, presenting somewhat the characteristics of a crib. The structure is of canvas and formed with a bottom, side and end walls, the connections between these tending to give a shaped form to the unit. The ends of the unit may be formed as in Fig. 4, thus enabling the unit to be mounted on the base support in the same manner as indicated above in connection with Fig. 6 through the use of the hook elements.

Obviously, other forms of body-supporting units may be employed to meet particular conditions and it is also obvious that either of these may be used with either the Fig. 1 or the Fig. 6 configuration of the base assembly, the unit and assembly being mutually dimensioned to permit the desired mounting.

As will be understood, the assemblage is one that is simple and efiicient in operation, durable in construction, and is of a type which can be produced under practically low cost conditions.

As shown in Figs. 9 to 14, the linear succession of blocks may be secured in a different way. Instead of employing the strap l2 as above described, the succession may be secured by the use of two or more cables 25, these extending through parallel openings 26 extending through the lower zone of the block in the direction of length of the block. The cables are of the type generally used in airplane service and are of suflicient flexibility to permit the various manipulations of the assembly. Since the cables are small in cross-section, they must extend through the blocks instead of on the surface, openings 26 being provided, these being in the lower zone of the block, in proximity to the lower face of the block but spaced therefrom sufiicient to maintain the integrity of the block. With this arrangement, the lower face of the block is preferably made arcuate, as shown, with the ends rounded, to permit of ready rolling of the structure as indicated in Fig. 13. For securing the blocks in succession relation, after being strung on the cables, the ends of the latter may be threaded and nuts 21 applied to retain the succession with the blocks in contact relation.

As will be understood, the mating faces of adjacent blocks have the general characteristics of those previously described; those designed for use in a zone it having these faces perpendicular to the plane of the direction of length of openings 26, while those designed for zone I) will be inclined to such perpendicular, thus producing the effects above explained. This places the portion of greatest length of the block as at the plane of such openings, so that the secured blocks are in constant contact in the immediate vicinity of such openings, a condition which practically conceals the cables within the succession while in the service positions. As indicated in Fig. 13, rolling of the assembly for storage or transportation may slightly expose cable portions due to the rolling contact effectset up by reversal of the succession.

The mating faces of the blocks may be similar to those previously described, as indicated in Fig. 10. However, it is preferred to vary such shape under certain conditions, this being indicated in Fig. 12 in which the mating faces 28 of a block include a zone which is designed to interlock with a similar zone of the adjacent block, as by having a projection 29 on one face and a mating depres- 9? sion ..30Lon.the..cornpanion.,mating face, these extending .inthe dircctionsottwidth of the. block with theremai-nder oftheface havingtheplanar characteristic; a roundedprojection 29. and com:- panionrecessltt will indicatethe. nature of the interlock, theiorm. ,of thesebeing. such as will permit the. necessary movements of one to the other. as .the. assembly is :manipulated. Such interlockivilltend to. relieveany strain: which might be placed. on thecable during. assembly service. As is. apparent, the projection and :depression are made..relative to. the planar. zonesof the matingfaca. the latter otherwise. having thecharace teristicsiof the. mating. faces 1. referred. to .above,

perpendicular. to the base, plane. orv inclined. to.

sucliperpendi'cular; in the. formotfifigs 9. to theplane .of .op enings. 26 servesas such base plane. Theassemblvshown inFigs. 9 to. .14 is. designed as: asubstitute .for the specificirowformations. oftheremain-ing. figures inproducing, the. complete.v assemblages fOI-wSEI'ViGE, theassemblage otherwise.

being similar tothat. described. above. so that either form is capableof usein. the mannerindir cated, the form. .of. .Figs..l to..8 being-less elaborate than that .of the remainingiorms.

If desired,- theasscmblagemay include. various aids,,as indicated in Fig. 9;. For instance, assume the .structure. may have the, formation of. a re clining chair, and an arm rest maybe provided by thence. of .flexible=.members. .35 removablysecured tothe endsof predeterminedbloclrs; the-members arelremoved when the: assembly is. arranged for storage. or. transportation. Again, should. it. be desired. .to. hold the. assembly stationary, the base.

membenformation. may carrvfoot structures, in dicated,.at..3.l, these being orsuitable structure.

and. arrangement.. For. instance, they may. be

fcrmcdas rockahle shaftsshavingieet, with the. shafts. mounted. cnthe upperiace ofthe block. assembly to..malre:ppssibleithe-swinging oi. the.

feet. from, a housed. to, an. active position; in

housed position the. structurewouldnot interfere,

materially. with .the :rollingoithe. base. structure for storage .or .transportationsince. the .foot Stl'llCrture wouldthenibe. located .on,the outer. side of theiroll.

assembly. stationary,

Asis. apparent from thedrawingsandjthe above.

disclosure, several difierentjorms of. the, inven, tion are presenteiwith each, of .the forms, however, having. thefundamental .feature..-thatthe.

baseassembly. of ,the, assemblage. is: formedof a connected; successioni of, individual. blocks arran ed in. dimer formation,. each .block having a mating. relationship. with itsadjacent neighboring Theblocks. are X comparatively small in.

blocks. dimensions,.. so. that themequiredi length of. the

baseassemblydepends not .only on theshapes of. the, individual. blocks, but ,also. upon the integrity,

of .the... connecting; means which .holds. the blocks in.. proper. position. when. the.- assemblage is in Several. different. forms, of connecting.

This-is; due. to; the, factl-that-the assemblage, in service, .utilizesthe .loadsupporting, unitas the means .for, maintaining the, base assembly, a1-.

thcughumade ,up ,ofjthcsuccession, of blocks,v in.

proper. servicastatus Thcunderlying, feature. in. securing. this result.

is the fact'that the blocks in the succession are In active osition anarmtiipt thefoot. 31 will .bear. on. connecting ..bar 34 to. hold the,

10- preventecl from: rocking relative: to :one: another in the presence of the suspended-load; the-weight of the latter tending to. draw inward-on theends of the base-assembly,- in the-forms shown; there.- by setting up leverageaction ;in connection with the connected-blocks;- It can be ;understood that if the blocks: are-capable of rocking relative: to each other-when in-xservice, the. leverageefiect of the load places-thez-entire leveragegvalue upon a single connecting point of the-connecting means; subjecting such .point :toheavystress conditions with the possibilitypresent thatthezmeans would be ruptured'at suchpoint; On-the other hand; if the blocks are assembled in-the-con-nected succession in such manner that norelative rocking movement of bloclrgand blocleis. possible; the. pull-.9.- ing; stress produced. by-thez load-issdistributed. lengthwise of the connecting means throughout the length of the baseassembly so that: only. a; small portion of thestressis madesmanifest-on; the connecting means at. any particular: point: In other words; insteadwof localizing the Y stresses; and strains at one. specific point i in thevlength :ofthe connecting means-to render the poi-ntzvulncr-g able, the distribution of the=;stresses; and strains: is such as-to be well withintheinherent abilitv of the'mcans to resist disruption; sinccthexstrainz: is being distributed throughout the length-ofithe; meansinstead of being localized at .a-singlepoint:

In the present 1 invention, the :ma-tln-gfaces: of: adj acent I blocks are so: -formed-asi-toeprevent any: rocking-of a bloch-relative-to .itsadjacent neigh bor, In the disclosure, two different ways. are shown for producing thiswesult, both; in effect producinga similarresult: The simpler arrangement is shown in Figs. 1 to 10 inwhich themating: face presents the face,ascontinuousand extends. on a single plane andhence is; flat,.thus,,ccnsti-.- tuting the. face as a, planar mating face, .withtheplane extendin angularly to, the: directionv of. length of'the connected succession of blocks in service. As shownin Figs. 1.to..8, theconnecting means for producing thicassembly is, inthe form of an elongated 1strip, securedinoverlyingrela: tion to an end face of;each block, preferably the. outer end face, so that itheplanarmating .face ex.- tends inwardlvfromthe inner. side. of thestrip, means. Hence, when the loadiweightis. applied. to draw the endsoftheassemblageinward, the. mating planar facesof adjacentblocks willbe in contactonsuch,plancsjhroughout the areas of the facesandthusin the. zone adjacent the connectin means.(l2) as wellasin azone ad: jacent the oppositeendoi the block. Such con-, tact will obviouslvprevent, any rockingofone block relative to. its ,neighbor, since such zones. are located on acominonplane with, thepossible hinging point locatedQat .one end .of-.such.p ne,.. at which .point the adjacent blocks are, also in contact. A blockcan swing outward with respect to said point, as indicated in, Figs. 7 and.8, but, the swinging or hinging action is then away from the service position .ofthe assemblage, the planar faces preventing vany swing .inward .from. the service. position regardless of the extent of. the load Weight.

The same. type of .jmatingoface. is, shown inFig. 10, which resentsthje connectingme ns aspror videdby apair. of ..cables.,. Duelto the small icrosssectional area of the cables, positioning thereof in overlyingrelationto .the. endof the-block, as. in Figsl to. 8. form, is. impracticable and, the cables. are. hencemarrangedjto,extend through the blocks. adjacent the. outerlends' of the. latter and; thus in an endzone ofth'e block; the end of the block beyond the cables being given a rounded configuration, as in Fig. 13, for instance, to enable the reversal of the assembly, the curvature, however, not extending inward materially beyond the cables. The remainder of the mating face has the planar structure referred to, the latter thus extending from the connecting means to the inner end of the block and thus sets up the same conditions in service as the Figs. 1 to 8 form.

This latter form of connecting means, because of its small cross-section, however, may be more vulnerable to shearing strains in service than the strip form, and protecting measures are provided to meet these conditions, this means being in the form of the projections 29 and depressions 35!, these being located on the mating faces, and so dimensioned as to occupy but a portion of the length of the respective mating faces, occupying an intermediate portion of such length, so that the zone adjacent the connecting means and that at the opposite end zone of the block still remain and extend on a common plane. In other words, the planar characteristic and its service are present as before, but is divided into two zones so located as to provide the same preventive of rocking action as is provided by the unitary planar face. The projections and depressions are shown as practically semi-circular, a configuration which would negative cable shearing and at the same time avoid block separation in the presence of shearing pressures. In other words, the projections and depressions do not affect the planar and mating characteristics of the mating faces of adjacent blocks but provide means for preventing shearing of the cables in service.

While I have herein disclosed the general features of the invention, I reserve the right to make any and all changes or modifications so deemed desirable or essential, insofar as the same may fall within the spirit and scope of the invention as expressed in the accompanying claims.

I claim:

1. An assemblage for supporting an occupant in a position of rest and transformable into compact form for transportation and/or storage, said assemblage including a base made up of a set of parallel structures connected together, and a canvas body receiving element removably connected to said base; each base structure presenting a unit assembly of a flexible linear element and a plurality of individual blocks carried in definite succession by the flexible element, said blocks each having a corresponding face carried similarly by the linear element, the opposite face of each block being free to move with respect to the corresponding faces of the adjacent blocks, said blocks each having a pair of other faces angularly related to such secured face with each of such angular faces adapted to cooperate matingly with a complemental face of an adjacent block in the production of the body supporting formation; said canvas body receiving element being removably secured to the opposite ends of such base block succession and having an overall length less than the linear length of the flexible block connecting element to thereby position the block succession with its opposite end zones raised, the length of said canvas body receiving element being greater than the distance between extremities of the block succession when adjacent blocks are in substantially mating relation to thereby render the weight of the occupant of such receiving element efiective to perfect the such mating relation of the blocks in each succession; the respective unit assemblies having theindividual blocks of each block succession related to each other and to the linear flexible element of the assembly in such a manner as to permit the block succession thereof to assume a linear form or a reversal into a roll form when at least one end of the canvas body receiving element is released from the base for transportation or storage of the assemblage while maintaining the cooperative relation of the blocks and the flexible linear element of each unit assembly.

2. An assemblage as in claim 1 characterized in that each row formation of the base assembly includes a zonal succession of blocks in which corresponding mating faces of adjacent blocks extend in parallelism to thereby present a straight-line effect to the row within the zone in service, other predetermined blocks of a row having corresponding mating faces of adjacent blocks extending in directions generally slightly varied from exact parallelism to thereby present a zonal curved line effect within the zone of the latter blocks and thereby control the linear configuration of the row in service.

3. An assemblage for supporting an occupant in a position of rest and transformable into compact form for transportation and/or storage, said assemblage including a base made up of parallel structures connected together, and a canvas body receiving element removably connected to said base, each base structure presenting a unit assembly consisting of a linear flexible element and a plurality of individual blocks carried in definite succession by the flexible element, said blocks each having a corresponding face carried similarly by the element face, the opposite face of each block being free to move with respect to the corresponding faces of the adjacent blocks, said flexible element being of elongated strap type with each block of the succession having its corresponding end face in engagement with and secured to such strap, said blocks each having a pair of other faces angularly related to such end face in such succession with each of such angular faces adapted to cooperate matingly with a complemental face of an adjacent block in the production of the body supporting formation; said canvas body receiving element being removably secured to the opposite ends of such base block succession and having an overall length less than the linear length of the block connecting strap to thereby position the block succession with its opposite extremities raised, the length of said body receiving element being greater than the distance between such bloek succession extremities when I adjacent blocks are in substantially mating relation to thereby render the weight of the occupant of such receiving element effective to maintain such mating relation of the block succession and thereby support the element in suspended relation to the base element when in service, and upon disconnection of at least one end of the canvas element from its supported position in the assembly being effective to produce a straight line linear condition of the base element and its unit assemblies, the base element being manipulable from such straight line linear condition by reversal of its faces into roll formation for storage or transportation; adjacent blocks of the succession having their lower side edges in contact and having their upper and lower faces in parallelism, the complemental mating faces of adjacent blocks being in facial contact during active service with the succesanemia:

13 sion of contactingfaces, on the block-succession. active in; developing: and. controlling,- the -..lineaii shape of thebase-element: underv active service: conditions.

4. An assemblage as in. claim- '3 characterized: in that the side faces-ofaadjacentw blocks are planar andextend relativeitozthe planes of the bottom faces of such.-block-s in:suoh mannerzthat when-the end zones of the assembly areielevated and secured to the: unit endzonee-all: ofbthe; blocksof arow. will have-sidefaces of: adjacent blocks incontact engagement;throughouti. the length of the row to thereby, providerpredeterfmined linear configuration: tothe rowfor such serviceoperation;

5. An assemblage aswini. claimil-characterized: inthat at least one sideaface ofapredetermined: blocks. of the. rowiextend-son a plane=rangulan to: a plane extending, at, right" angles toe the 'bOttOHl'i face of the block-1 and:withirrtheanglerproduced bysuch. bottom} faceandsuchsrighti-angular' plane.

6. An assemblageas, in c1aim..5 characterized in that atleastone'side'fa'ceof predetermined blocks of the row extend in such right-angular plane;

'7. An assemblageas -in l claimv3' characterized in that the strap and block arrangement of vone row are duplicated in each row with predetermined andcorresponding blocks of; the rows .connected by cross members" in". spaced apart f relation;

8. An assemblage" as in cIaimBIJ'characteriZed inthat eachrowofthe base'assembly includes a zonal succession" of predetermined blocks having side faces-extendingin planes normal-its. the plane of the lower "face of the block to J. thereby. present a straight-'lineeffectito the row. within the zone in" service; other predeterminediblocks of a row having" at" least one side. face: of; the blocks extending angular "to such" normal plane to present the block-3asfiofidecreasing width upwardlyfrom the block lovrenface to thereby. prewsent a'zonallcurved line effect/within the zone of the latter blocks and thereby control the linear configuration of the row in service.

9. An assemblage as in claim 8 characterized in that the row includes an intermediate portion formed of two spaced apart zones of blocks of decreasing width type to form spaced apart curved supporting structure formations, with the zone therebetween being formed of blocks of the straight-line type to thereby provide a base assembly having a straight-line supporting base to cooperate with the supporting face on which the assemblage is mounted with the extremities of the assemblage elevated by and beyond the spaced curved formations.

10. An assemblage as in claim 3 characterized in that each row of the base assembly has its end blocks formed with at least one side face extending in a plane normal to the plane of the lower face of the block, the intermediate blocks of the row each having its opposite side faces extending angular to such normal planes of the block carrying the faces to present the block as of decreasing width upwardly from the block lower face to thereby present a base assembly of rockable type when the assemblage is in serv- 11. An assemblage as in claim 3 characterized in that the extremities of the base assembly each includes a rod member connecting corresponding blocks of the extremities of the spaced row formations and further in that the base assem- 1'74 blmincludesspaced laterall'yrextending rodrmeme. bers, thebody, supportingunit including. antelope-- gated element formed of fabric andiihavingatr least". one extremity:- equipped" with; swingably mounted: hook ele'mentswith the free endof said elongated iel'ement formed: 'of fabric for: rem-ow able mounting on the rod member of one ex;- tremityg-of the Phase-assembly; the length'of .the unit: being such: as; :to: maintain the: extremities ofz thecbase-assemblydnitheir elevated: positions:

when ithevhooktelements are connected to, the; otherzrodmember of the base extremity.

l2. Anxassemblage as in claim 11 characterized 2 ins that-- the: elongated 2, fabric element includes;

lei-upstanding side and end. afabric portions. to" constitute the elementnaishallow .openetopgreceptacle adapted-forxsupportingdnfants in crib-like man-- ner;

13." assemblage for i-supporting 'an :occupant sin a position of rest and transformable into com:--

pact formtfor transportation and/or storage, said assemblage-including: a sbase =made up, of :parallel structuressconnected together; and a canvas body receiving': elementxremovably connected to said base; each"; base structure-c urrit' assembly. con sist-ingri of a: linear; element; and: a plurality: of individual blocks carriedirr: definite: succession by.-the.:linear:element; said blocks each having a corresponding face-r carried: similarly by'the 1 elementrface; the opposite face-iof 1 each block. being;

free :toai move; with-J. respect to thegcorresponding: facesrof theeadjacent blocks; eachblock; having. at "least:one:opening;extendingrfrommating face toamatingeface; of the blockainpthe. vicinity of:

:but spaced :from the: lower face of .;the blocklwith the openings of::adjacentiblocks'alined, and cable means extending through I' such alined openings iron-rend toendfof: the ;row.=assembly, said: cable meansuhavingg:locking: elements: at the ends of ttheirovr assembly toim'ai-ntain' thesuccession :re-

lation-with: adjacent blockscinxcontact, the blocks being; individually; shaped". .to. present the oppos ingdacessof adjaeent. blocks as having mating relation'xtherebetweenwhen; the: assemblage is in service position with the blocks in predetermined relation; said canvas body receiving element having an overall length less than the linear length of the cable means to thereby position the block succession with its opposite ends raised, the length of said body receiving elementbeing greater than the distance between such block succession extremities when adjacent blocks are in such mating relation to thereby render the weight of the occupant of such receiving element effective to maintain such mating relation of the block succession and thereby support the receiving element in suspended relation to the base element when in service position, and upon disconnection of at least one end of the canvas element from its supporting position in the assembly being effective to produce a straight line linear condition of the base element and the unit assemblies; the respective unit assemblies having the individual blocks of the block succession related to each other and the linear cable means in a manner to permit the block succession thereof to assume a linear form or a reversal into a roll form when at least one end of the canvas body receiving element is released from the base, for transportation or storage of the assemblage while maintaining the cooperative relation of the blocks and the cable means element of each unit assembly.

14. An assemblage as in claim 13, characterized in that each row includes blocks having planar mating faces extending angular to a plane corresponding with the direction of length of the block opening.

15. An assemblage as in claim 13 characterized in that the lower face of each block is arcuately curved in the direction of length of the block opening.

16. An assemblage as in claim 15 characterized in that the mating faces of a block include planar zones and an intermediate non-planar zone with the non-planar zones having configurations presenting a zone of one face as complemental to the zone of the other face as to contour and position to thereby establish a mating relation between the mating faces of adjacent blocks.

17. An assemblage as in claim 16 characterized in that the planar zones of pre-determined blocks extend perpendicular to a plane corresponding to the direction of length of the block opening.

18. A unit assembly adapted for service as a controlling element of the base structure of an assemblage for supporting an occupant in a position of rest and transformable into compact form for transportation and/or storage, said unit assembly consisting of a flexible linear element and a plurality of individual blocks carried in definite succession by the flexible element, said blocks each having a corresponding face carried similarly by the flexible element, the face of each block being free to move with respect to the corresponding faces of the adjacent blocks, :said blocks each having a pair of other faces angularly related to such secured face in such succession with each of such angular faces adapted to cooperate matingly with a complemental face of an adjacent block in the production of the base element, said linear element and the succession of blocks being relatively mounted to combinedly provide a unit assembly of definite length with such length determined by the length of the linear element, such length including at least a zone of arcuate curvature produced by the mating relation of faces of adjacent blocks, the linear element connected faces of the blocks forming the outer side of the curvature contour of the unit assembly in service position, with the opposite free moving face of the blocks forming the inner side of such curvature contour to thereby permit the block succes- .sion to assume a linear form or a reversal into a roll form when the assemblage is being transformed into compact form for transportation and/or storage during and by such unit assembly reversal while maintaining the cooperative relation of the blocks and the linear element of the unit assembly.

19. A unit assemblage as in claim 18 characterized in that the mating faces of adjacent members include a zone in which the face of one member projects relative to the plane of the face with the zone of the face of the adjacent member complementally depressed relative to the plane of its face, said zones being intermediate such spaced facial areas with the walls of the projected and depressed zones of curved type.

HANS ARNOLD ALMOSLINO.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 39,933 Lafreniere Sept. 15, 1863 264,814 Wood Sept. 19, 1882 355,873 Humphrey Jan. 11, 1887 918,659 Corneil Apr. 20, 1909 1,234,883 Douglass July 31, 1917 1,400,049 Goddard Dec. 13, 1921 1,714,158 Collesdanchise May 21, 1929 1,745,232 Richter Jan. 28, 1930 2,209,145 Weber July 23, 1940 2,410,368 Stackhouse Oct. 29, 1946 2,465,418 Baker Mar. 29, 1949 2,487,907 Turner Nov. 15, 1949 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 2,209,145 Australia July 23, 1940

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