Portable padding device

Abstract

A portable padding device for comfortably supporting a user across seats in a cab of a vehicle includes a mattress pad having a first section, a second section, and a third section. Each of the first and third sections are pivotably attached to the second section. The mattress pad has a flat configuration, wherein each of the first and third sections are pivoted away from the second section. The mattress pad also has a folded configuration, wherein each of the first and third sections are pivoted toward the second section. A locking mechanism is attached to the mattress pad to releasably retain each of the first and third sections in the flat configuration with respect to the second section. The locking mechanism includes a first pin that secures the first section to the second section and a second pin that secures the third section to the second section.

I claim: 
     
         1 . A padding device comprising:
 a mattress pad having a first section, a second section, and a third section, the second section being between the first and third sections, each of the first and third sections being pivotably attached to the second section, each of the first section, the second section, and the third section including:
 a padded top side; 
 a rigid bottom side; 
 a sidewall extending between the padded top side and the bottom side; 
   the mattress pad having a flat configuration and a folded configuration, wherein each of the first section and the third pivot relative to the second section to transition between the flat configuration and the folded configuration;   each of the first and third sections pivoting away from the second section into the flat configuration;   each of the first and third sections pivoting toward the second section into the folded configuration;   a locking mechanism being attached to the mattress pad, the locking mechanism being configured to releasably retain each of the first section and the third section in the flat configuration with respect to the second section, the locking mechanism comprising:
 a first pin being coupled to the first section proximate to the second section, the second section having a first pin chamber extending therein, the first pin chamber being configured to receive the first pin, wherein the first pin secures the first section and the second section in the flat configuration when the first pin is inserted into the first pin chamber; and 
 a second pin being coupled to the third section proximate to the second section, the second section having a second pin chamber extending therein, the second pin chamber being configured to receive the second pin, wherein the second pin secures the third section and the second section in the flat configuration when the second pin is inserted into the second pin chamber. 
   
     
     
         2 . The padding device of  claim 1 , wherein the first section pivots relative to the second section independently from the third section, and wherein the third section pivots relative to the second section independently from the first section. 
     
     
         3 . The padding device of  claim 1 , further comprising a handle being attached to the sidewall of the second section. 
     
     
         4 . The padding device of  claim 1 , the padded top side further comprising a resiliently compressible padding and an exterior covering surrounding the resiliently compressible padding. 
     
     
         5 . The padding device of  claim 4 , the exterior covering further comprising leather, fabric, or rubber. 
     
     
         6 . The padding device of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a first pivot point being between the first section and the second section, the first pivot point being positioned on the sidewall along the rigid bottom side between the first section and the second section, the first section pivoting around the first pivot point to transition between the flat configuration and the folded configuration;   a first set of angles being positioned at the first pivot point when the mattress pad is in the flat configuration, the first set of angles comprising:
 a first acute angle being formed along the rigid bottom side in the sidewall of the first section; 
 a first obtuse angle being formed along the rigid bottom side in the sidewall of the second section; 
   a second pivot point being between the third section and the second section, the second pivot point being positioned on the sidewall along the rigid bottom side between the third section and the second section, the third section pivoting around the second pivot point to transition between the flat configuration and the folded configuration;   a second set of angles being positioned at the second pivot point when the mattress pad is in the flat configuration, the second set of angles comprising:
 a second acute angle being formed along the rigid bottom side in the sidewall of the third section; 
 a second obtuse angle being formed along the rigid bottom side in the sidewall of the second section. 
   
     
     
         7 . The padding device of  claim 1 , wherein each of the first and third sections pivots toward the second section into the folded configuration, wherein the first section pivots upwardly toward the second section such that the padded top side of the first section contacts the padded top side of the second section when the first section and the second section are in the folded configuration, and wherein the third section pivots downwardly toward the second section such that the rigid bottom side of the third section contacts the rigid bottom side of the third section when the second section and the third section are in the folded configuration. 
     
     
         8 . The padding device of  claim 1 , the first pin further comprising:
 a first pin head extending outwardly from the first section;   a first shaft, the first pin chamber being configured to receive the first shaft;   a first flange extending outwardly from the first shaft, the first flange having a width that is larger than a diameter of the first pin chamber, the first flange being configured to remain outside of the first pin chamber when the first pin is inserted into the first pin chamber; and   a first spring being positioned around the first shaft and bearing against the first flange, the first spring being positioned between the first pin head and the first flange, the first spring biasing the first shaft into the first pin chamber thereby inhibiting the first section from pivoting around the second section.   
     
     
         9 . The padding device of  claim 1 , the second pin further comprising:
 a second pin head extending outwardly from the second section;   a second shaft, the second pin chamber being configured to receive the second shaft;   a second flange extending outwardly from the second shaft, the second flange having a width that is larger than a diameter of the second pin chamber, the second flange being configured to remain outside of the second pin chamber when the second pin is inserted into the second pin chamber; and   a second spring being positioned around the second shaft and bearing against the second flange, the second spring being positioned between the second pin head and the second flange, the second spring biasing the second shaft into the second pin chamber thereby inhibiting the third section from pivoting around the second section.   
     
     
         10 . The padding device of  claim 1 , wherein the first pin chamber is alignable with the first pin when the mattress pad is in the flat configuration, and wherein the second pin chamber is alignable with the second pin when the mattress pad is in the flat configuration. 
     
     
         11 . A portable padding device comprising:
 a mattress pad having a first section, a second section, and a third section, the second section being between the first and third sections, each of the first and third sections being pivotably attached to the second section, each of the first section, the second section, and the third section comprising:
 a top side, the top side having a resiliently compressible padding and an exterior covering surrounding the resiliently compressible padding, the exterior covering comprising leather, fabric, or rubber; 
 a rigid bottom side opposite the top side; 
 a sidewall extending between the top side and the bottom side; 
   the mattress pad having a flat configuration and a folded configuration, the flat configuration being configured to support a user resting on the mattress pad, the folded configuration facilitating storage of the mattress pad, wherein each of the first section and the third section pivot relative to the second section to transition between the flat configuration and the folded configuration, wherein each of the first section and the third section pivot independently of each other relative to the second section;   the first section pivoting away from the second section and the third section pivoting away from the second section to form the flat configuration, wherein the first section, the second section, and the third section form an elongated surface when the mattress pad is in the flat configuration;   a first pivot point being between the first section and the second section, the first pivot point being positioned on the sidewall along the rigid bottom side between the first section and the second section, the first section pivoting around the first pivot point to transition between the flat configuration and the folded configuration;   a first set of angles being positioned at the first pivot point when the mattress pad is in the flat configuration, the first set of angles comprising:
 a first acute angle being formed along the rigid bottom side in the sidewall of the first section; 
 a first obtuse angle being formed along the rigid bottom side in the sidewall of the second section; 
   a second pivot point being between the third section and the second section, the second pivot point being positioned on the sidewall along the rigid bottom side between the third section and the second section, the third section pivoting around the second pivot point to transition between the flat configuration and the folded configuration;   a second set of angles being positioned at the second pivot point when the mattress pad is in the flat configuration, the second set of angles comprising:
 a second acute angle being formed along the rigid bottom side in the sidewall of the third section; 
 a second obtuse angle being formed along the rigid bottom side in the sidewall of the second section; 
   each of the first and third sections pivoting toward the second section into the folded configuration, wherein the first section pivots upwardly toward the second section such that the top side of the first section contacts the top side of the second section when the first section and the second section are in the folded configuration, and wherein the third section pivots downwardly toward the second section such that the rigid bottom side of the third section contacts the rigid bottom side of the third section when the second section and the third section are in the folded configuration;   a locking mechanism being attached to the mattress pad, the locking mechanism being configured to releasably retain each of the first section and the third section in the flat configuration with respect to the second section, the locking mechanism comprising:
 a first pin being coupled to the first section proximate to the second section, the second section having a first pin chamber extending therein, the first pin chamber being positioned proximate to the first section, the first pin chamber being configured to receive the first pin, the first pin chamber being alignable with the first pin when the mattress pad is in the flat configuration, wherein the first pin secures the first section and the second section in the flat configuration when the first pin is inserted into the first pin chamber, the first pin comprising:
 a first pin head extending outwardly from the first section; 
 a first shaft being coupled to the first pin head, the first pin chamber being configured to receive the first shaft; 
 a first flange extending outwardly from the first shaft, the first flange having a width that is larger than a diameter of the first pin chamber, the first flange being configured to remain outside of the first pin chamber when the first pin is inserted into the first pin chamber; 
 a first spring being positioned around the first shaft and bearing against the first flange, the first spring being positioned between the first pin head and the first flange, the first spring biasing the first shaft into the first pin chamber thereby inhibiting the first section from pivoting around the second section; 
 
 a second pin being coupled to the third section proximate to the second section, the second section having a second pin chamber extending therein, the second pin chamber being positioned proximate to the third section, the second pin chamber being configured to receive the second pin, the second pin chamber being alignable with the second pin when the mattress pad is in the flat configuration, wherein the second pin secures the third section and the second section in the flat configuration when the second pin is inserted into the second pin chamber, the second pin comprising:
 a second pin head extending outwardly from the second section; 
 a second shaft being coupled to the second pin head, the second pin chamber being configured to receive the second shaft; 
 a second flange extending outwardly from the second shaft, the second flange having a width that is larger than a diameter of the second pin chamber, the second flange being configured to remain outside of the second pin chamber when the second pin is inserted into the second pin chamber; 
 a second spring being positioned around the second shaft and bearing against the second flange, the second spring being positioned between the second pin head and the second flange, the second spring biasing the second shaft into the second pin chamber thereby inhibiting the third section from pivoting around the second section; and 
 
   a handle being attached to the sidewall of the second section.