MODULAR SUPPORT ELEMENT

• US 20120131752A1
• Filed: 07/29/2009
• Published: 05/31/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 07/29/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Technogel Italia Srl (Ottobock SE & Co. KGaA)
• Original Assignee: Technogel Italia Srl (Ottobock SE & Co. KGaA)
• Inventors: Mason, Matteo
• Granted Patent: US 9,265,354 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 5/652.1
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 27/146 on the outside surface of the mattress or cushion
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 27/148 of different resilience

Abstract

A modular supporting element has a supporting surface for a user and includes a plurality of elastic modules, suitable for being deformed according to a direction substantially perpendicular to the supporting surface of the user. Each module has a side surface and an upper portion, wherein the modules are arranged juxtaposed to each other with the side surfaces substantially in contact or with the side surfaces at such a distance as not to prevent contact between one module and another during the elastic deformation movement. The modules have anti-friction surfaces arranged in a part of the side surface of the modules in such a way as to prevent interferences by friction between one module and another. The modular supporting element is made up of a plurality of modules with different rigidity from area to area without any appreciable influence between one module and another.

Claims

1. Modular supporting element having a supporting surface for a user, comprising a plurality of elastic modules suitable for being deformed according to a direction substantially perpendicular to the supporting surface of the user, each module having at least a side surface and an upper portion, wherein said modules are arranged juxtaposed one to each other with the side surfaces substantially in contact or with the side surfaces at such a distance as not to prevent contact between one module and another during the elastic deformation movement, wherein it the modules comprises anti-friction means arranged in a part of the side surface of the modules in such a way as to prevent interferences by friction between one module and another, and wherein said modular supporting element is made up of a plurality of modules with different rigidity from area to area without any appreciable influence between one module and another.

2. Supporting element according to the claim 1, in which the modules have the shape of a prism or a parallelepiped, so as to be able to be juxtaposed the one with the other without substantially forming empty spaces, or forming empty spaces such as not to prevent contact during the elastic deformation movement, between the side surfaces of one module and another.

3. Supporting element according to the claim 1, in which the modules comprise anti-friction means arranged on a part of the side surface and on the upper portion.

4. Supporting element according to claim 1, in which the modules have a height dimension substantially the same as that of the supporting element itself.

5. Supporting element according to claim 1, in which the modules comprise anti-friction means arranged on all the side surfaces and on the upper portion.

6. Supporting element according to claim 1, comprising unification means suitable for keeping the modules juxtaposed the one to the other.

7. Supporting element according to the claim 6, in which the unification means comprises a containment hood.

8. Supporting element according to the claim 6, in which the unification means comprises anti-friction means.

9. Supporting element according to the claim 8, in which said anti-friction means comprises horizontal-wall meshes of the grille type or with vertical walls of the pigeon-hole type.

10. Supporting element according to claim 6, in which the unification means comprise plates, that can be made of plastic or fabric.

11. Supporting element according to claim 6, in which said unification means comprises fastening means suitable for fastening the modules juxtaposed the one with the other.

12. Supporting element according to claim 11, in which said fastening means comprises peg means suitable for fitting in respective housing means provided in the modules.

13. Supporting element according to the claim 11, in which said fastening means are integrated in a containment hood.

14. Supporting element according to the claim 13, in which said fastening means comprises peg means suitable for fitting in respective housing means provided in the modules.

15. Supporting element according to claim 1, in which the modules comprises complementary geometry means that determine a self-assembly of the modules themselves.

16. Supporting element according to the claim 15, in which said complementary geometry means comprises complementary protrusions and recesses.

17. Supporting element according to claim 1, in which the modules comprise single-density or multi-density material, including materials in viscoelastic foam and flexible foam, or gel and flexible foam, or honeycomb gel and flexible foam, or different-density flexible foams, or a combination of the materials.

18. Supporting element according to claim 1, in which said anti-friction means comprise films, fabrics, non-woven fabrics, coating, or self-skin foam materials.

19. Supporting element according to the claim 18, in which said anti-friction means comprises one or more materials including ethyl vinyl acetate, foam EVA, silicone, or thermoplastic elastomer.

20. Supporting element according to claim 1, in which the modules comprise means for the circulation and the flow of air.

21. Supporting element according to the claim 20, in which said means for the circulation and the flow of air comprises three-dimensional geometries and/or channels.

22. Supporting element according to the claim 20, in which said modules comprise a summital part and a lower body and said means for the circulation and the flow of air comprises a summital part of smaller surface compared to the lower body, suitable for creating passageways and channels on a surface in contact with the user.

23. Supporting element according to claim 1, in which the modules comprise two summital parts suitable for being in contact with the user thereby making it supporting elements with two opposite surfaces of use.

24. Supporting element according to claim 1, in which the modules comprise an upper layer in gel, an intermediate layer in viscoelastic foam and a body in flexible foam.

25. Supporting element according to claim 22, in which the modules comprise, at least in the summital part, a protective washable and hypoallergenic film, in particular a film of polyurethane thermoplastic elastomer (TPU).

26. Supporting element according to the claim 25, in which said protective washable and hypo-allergenic film is overmolded with the polyurethane foam of the modules or is cohesive with the module.

27. Supporting element according to claim 1, in which the modules comprise at least a part in mould or block polyurethane foam, with compression resistance values at 40% included between 0.5−

10 kPa, such values being measured according to the ISO 3386 standard.

28. Supporting element according to claim 1, in which the modules comprise a body having open or closed cavities.

29. Supporting element according to the claim 28, in which said body comprises compact or expanded materials of a family of the thermoplastic elastomer or TPE type, polyurethane or PU type, ethyl vinyl acetate or EVA type, silicone type.

30. Supporting element according to claim 1, in which said modules comprise a body having at least an inner open or closed cavity, and/or openings, and/or grooves.

31. Supporting element according to the claim 30, in which said body, having at least an inner open or closed cavity, comprises at least a spring.

32. Supporting element according to the claim 31, in which said spring is connected to the body by means of connection means which permits a joint deformation movement between the body and the spring.

33. Supporting element according to the claim 31, in which said spring is completely or partially drowned in the material of the body.

34. Supporting element according to claim, in which said modules have a height substantially equal to 100% the thickness of the supporting element itself.