Self-adjusting cushioning device

• US 20030208848A1
• Filed: 02/28/2003
• Published: 11/13/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 02/28/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Stryker Corporation
• Original Assignee: Gaymar Industries Incorporated (Stryker Corporation)
• Inventors: Jusiak, Joel T., Flick, Roland E., Paolini, Raymond P.
• Granted Patent: US 6,813,790 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 5/713
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 27/082 with non-manual inflation, e.g. with electric pumps
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 27/083 with pressure control, e.g. with pressure sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 27/10 with two or more independently-fillable chambers
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 2203/34 for pressure
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/05715 with modular blocks, or inserts, with layers of different material
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/05769 with inflatable chambers
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/05776 with at least two groups of alternately inflated chambers

Abstract

A cushioning device including a first fluid bladder support structure having a first surface and an opposing second surface, a second fluid bladder support structure having a first surface and an opposing second surface, and at least one fluid accumulation reservoir. The first and second fluid bladder support structures deform under application of a load and reform upon removal of the load. A first conduit interconnects the first fluid bladder support structure in fluid communication with the second fluid bladder support structure. The first conduit includes a first one-way valve which permits fluid flow from the first fluid bladder support structure to the second fluid bladder support structure. A second conduit interconnects the second fluid bladder support structure in fluid communication with the at least one fluid accumulation reservoir. The second conduit includes a second one-way valve which permits fluid flow from the second fluid bladder support structure to the at least one fluid accumulation reservoir and which is a pressure relief valve. A third conduit interconnects the at least one fluid accumulation reservoir in fluid communication with the first fluid bladder support structure. The third conduit includes a third one-way valve which permits fluid flow from the at least one fluid accumulation reservoir to the first fluid bladder support structure.

Claims

1. A cushioning device comprising:

a first fluid bladder support structure having a first surface and an opposing second surface;

a second fluid bladder support structure having a first surface and an opposing second surface, wherein the first and second fluid bladder support structures deform under application of a load and reform upon removal of the load;

at least one fluid accumulation reservoir;

a first conduit interconnecting the first fluid bladder support structure in fluid communication with the second fluid bladder support structure, wherein the first conduit comprises a first one-way valve which permits fluid flow from the first fluid bladder support structure to the second fluid bladder support structure;

a second conduit interconnecting the second fluid bladder support structure in fluid communication with the at least one fluid accumulation reservoir, wherein the second conduit comprises a second one-way valve which permits fluid flow from the second fluid bladder support structure to the at least one fluid accumulation reservoir and wherein the second one-way valve is a pressure relief valve; and

a third conduit interconnecting the at least one fluid accumulation reservoir in fluid communication with the first fluid bladder support structure, wherein the third conduit comprises a third one-way valve which permits fluid flow from the at least one fluid accumulation reservoir to the first fluid bladder support structure.

2. The cushioning device according to claim 1 wherein the first and second fluid bladder support structures each comprise a plurality of interconnected cells.

3. The cushioning device according to claim 1 wherein the first and second fluid bladder support structures each comprise a plurality of individual cells.

4. The cushioning device according to claim 1 wherein the first and second fluid bladder support structures contain a resilient device.

5. The cushioning device according to claim 4 wherein the resilient device is a foam material.

6. The cushioning device according to claim 1 wherein the first and second fluid bladder support structures comprise a resilient material.

7. The cushioning device according to claim 1 wherein the first one-way valve is a pressure relief valve.

8. The cushioning device according to claim 6 wherein at least one of the first and second one-way valves is an adjustable pressure relief valve.

9. The cushioning device according to claim 1 further comprising:

an intermediate fluid bladder support structure having a first surface and an opposing second surface; and

an intermediate conduit interconnecting the first fluid bladder support structure in fluid communication with the intermediate fluid bladder support structure, wherein the intermediate conduit comprises an intermediate one-way valve which permits fluid flow from the first fluid bladder support structure to the intermediate fluid bladder support structure and wherein the first conduit interconnects the intermediate fluid bladder support structure in fluid communication with the second fluid bladder support structure, the first one-way valve permitting fluid flow from the intermediate fluid bladder support structure to the second fluid bladder support structure.

10. The cushioning device according to claim 1 further comprising:

a retaining member surrounding one or all of the first fluid bladder support structure, the second fluid bladder support structure, and the at least one fluid accumulation reservoir.

11. The cushioning device according to claim 1 further comprising:

at least one user restraint structure attached to at least a portion of the cushioning device.

12. The cushioning device according to claim 1 further comprising:

a pressure monitoring device operably connected to at least one of the first fluid bladder support structure and the second fluid bladder support structure.

13. The cushioning device according to claim 1 wherein at least one of the first and second fluid bladder support structures comprises a first plurality of cells in flow communication with each other and a second plurality of cells in flow communication with each other, wherein the first and second plurality of cells are alternatively inflated and deflated through an inflation-deflation device operably connected to the first and second plurality of cells.

14. A cushioning system comprising:

a cushioning device in accordance with claim 1;

and

an air loss system comprising at least one air loss device having a plurality of openings and an air supply operably connected to the at least one air loss device, wherein the at least one air loss device is adjacent at least one of the first fluid bladder support structure and the second fluid bladder support structure.

15. A cushioning system comprising:

a cushioning device in accordance with claim 1;

and

a rotational bladder system comprising first and second alternatively inflatable bladders positioned adjacent and in contact with the second surface of the first fluid bladder support structure and the second surface of the second fluid bladder support structure and an inflation device operably connected to the first and second inflatable bladders.

16. A method for cushioning a load on a cushioning device comprising:

providing a cushioning device according to claim 1, wherein the first and second fluid bladder support structures contain a fluid; and

positioning the load on the cushioning device, wherein at least one of the first, second, and third one-way valves opens in response to changing loading on at least one of the first and second fluid bladder support structures.

17. A cushioning device comprising:

at least one fluid bladder support structure having a first surface and an opposing second surface, wherein the at least one fluid bladder support structure deforms under application of a load and reforms upon removal of the load;

a fluid accumulation reservoir structure, wherein the at least one fluid bladder support structure is positioned within the fluid accumulation reservoir structure;

at least one pressure relief valve in fluid communication with the at least one fluid bladder support structure and the fluid accumulation reservoir structure, wherein the at least one pressure relief valve is a first one-way valve which permits fluid flow from the at least one fluid bladder support structure to the fluid accumulation reservoir structure; and

at least one second one-way valve in fluid communication with the at least one fluid bladder support structure and the fluid accumulation reservoir structure, wherein the at least one second one-way valve permits fluid flow from the fluid accumulation reservoir structure to the at least one fluid bladder support structure.

18. The cushioning device according to claim 17 wherein the at least one fluid bladder support structure comprises a plurality of interconnected cells.

19. The cushioning device according to claim 17 wherein the at least one fluid bladder support structure comprises a plurality of individual cells.

20. The cushioning device according to claim 17 wherein the at least one fluid bladder support structure contains a resilient device.

21. The cushioning device according to claim 20 wherein the resilient device is a foam material.

22. The cushioning device according to claim 17 wherein the at least one fluid bladder support structure comprises a resilient material.

23. The cushioning device according to claim 17 wherein the pressure relief valve is an adjustable pressure relief valve.

24. The cushioning device according to claim 17 further comprising:

a retaining member surrounding the fluid accumulation reservoir structure.

25. The cushioning device according to claim 17 further comprising:

at least one user restraint structure attached to at least a portion of the cushioning device.

26. The cushioning device according to claim 17 further comprising:

a pressure monitoring device operably connected to the at least one fluid bladder support structure.

27. The cushioning device according to claim 17 wherein the at least one fluid bladder support structure comprises a first plurality of cells in flow communication with each other and a second plurality of cells in flow communication with each other, wherein the first and second plurality of cells are alternatively inflated and deflated through an inflation-deflation device operably connected to the first and second plurality of cells.

28. A cushioning system comprising:

a cushioning device in accordance with claim 17;

and

an air loss system comprising at least one air loss device having a plurality of openings and an air supply operably connected to the at least one air loss device, wherein the at least one air loss device is adjacent the fluid accumulation reservoir structure.

29. A cushioning system comprising:

a cushioning device in accordance with claim 17;

and

a rotational bladder system comprising first and second alternatively inflatable bladders positioned adjacent and in contact with at least one of the second surface of the at least one fluid bladder support structure and the fluid accumulation reservoir structure and an inflation device operably connected to the first and second inflatable bladders.

30. A method for cushioning a load on a cushioning device comprising:

providing a cushioning device according to claim 17, wherein the at least one fluid bladder support structure contains a fluid; and

positioning the load on the cushioning device, wherein at least one of the pressure relief valve and the second one-way valve opens in response to changing loading on the at least one fluid bladder support structure.

31. A cushioning device comprising:

at least one fluid bladder support structure, wherein the at least one fluid bladder support structure deforms under application of a load and reforms upon removal of the load;

a plurality of fluid accumulation reservoirs interconnected to be in fluid communication; and

at least one manual shut-off valve in fluid communication with the at least one fluid bladder support structure and at least one of the plurality of fluid accumulation reservoirs.

32. The cushioning device according to claim 31 wherein the at least one fluid bladder support structure comprises a plurality of interconnected cells.

33. The cushioning device according to claim 31 wherein the at least one fluid bladder support structure comprises a plurality of individual cells.

34. The cushioning device according to claim 31 wherein the at least one fluid bladder support structure contains a resilient device.

35. The cushioning device according to claim 34 wherein the resilient device is a foam material.

36. The cushioning device according to claim 31 wherein the at least one fluid bladder support structure comprises a resilient material.

37. The cushioning device according to claim 31 further comprising:

a retaining member surrounding one or more of the at least one fluid bladder support structure and the plurality of fluid accumulation reservoirs.

38. The cushioning device according to claim 31 further comprising:

at least one user restraint structure attached to at least a portion of the cushioning device.

39. The cushioning device according to claim 31 further comprising:

a pressure monitoring device operably connected to the at least one fluid bladder support structure.

40. The cushioning device according to claim 31 wherein the plurality of fluid accumulation reservoirs have an adjustable volume.

41. A cushioning system comprising:

a cushioning device in accordance with claim 31;

and

an air loss system comprising at least one air loss device having a plurality of openings and an air supply operably connected to the at least one air loss device, wherein the at least one air loss device is adjacent the at least one fluid bladder support structure.

42. A cushioning system comprising:

a cushioning device in accordance with claim 31;

and

a rotational bladder system comprising first and second alternatively inflatable bladders positioned adjacent and in contact with the second surface of the at least one fluid bladder support structure and an inflation device operably connected to the first and second inflatable bladders.

43. A method for cushioning a load on a cushioning device comprising:

providing a cushioning device according to claim 31, wherein the at least one fluid bladder support structure contains a fluid;

applying the load to the cushioning device; and

opening one or more of the at least one manual shut-off valves based on the weight of the load.

44. A cushioning device comprising:

at least one fluid bladder support structure, wherein the at least one fluid bladder support structure deforms under application of a load and reforms upon removal of the load; and

at least one fluid accumulation reservoir interconnected in fluid communication with the at least one fluid bladder support structure, wherein the at least one fluid accumulation reservoir comprises a movable adjustment device which adjusts the volume of the at least one fluid accumulation reservoir.

45. The cushioning device according to claim 44 wherein the at least one fluid bladder support structure comprises a plurality of interconnected cells.

46. The cushioning device according to claim 44 wherein the at least one fluid bladder support structure comprises a plurality of individual cells.

47. The cushioning device according to claim 44 wherein the at least one fluid bladder support structure contains a resilient device.

48. The cushioning device according to claim 47 wherein the resilient device is a foam material.

49. The cushioning device according to claim 44 wherein the at least one fluid bladder support structure comprises a resilient material.

50. The cushioning device according to claim 44 further comprising:

a retaining member surrounding one or more of the at least one fluid bladder support structure and the at least one fluid accumulation reservoir.

51. The cushioning device according to claim 44 further comprising:

at least one user restraint structure attached to at least a portion of the cushioning device.

52. The cushioning device according to claim 44 further comprising:

a pressure monitoring device operably connected to the at least one fluid bladder support structure.

53. A cushioning system comprising:

a cushioning device in accordance with claim 44;

and

an air loss system comprising at least one air loss device having a plurality of openings and an air supply operably connected to the at least one air loss device, wherein the at least one air loss device is adjacent the at least one fluid bladder support structure.

54. A cushioning system comprising:

a cushioning device in accordance with claim 44;

and

a rotational bladder system comprising first and second alternatively inflatable bladders positioned adjacent and in contact with the second surface of the at least one fluid bladder support structure and an inflation device operably connected to the first and second inflatable bladders.

55. A method for cushioning a load on a cushioning device comprising:

providing a cushioning device according to claim 44, wherein the at least one fluid bladder support structure contains a fluid;

applying the load to the cushioning device; and

adjusting the volume of the at least one fluid accumulation reservoir based on the weight of the load.