IMPROVEMENTS TO STRUCTURE TO RESIST IMPACT
First Claim
1. A fluid filled structure, said structure having a body with a plurality of cells in which a fluid is received and wherein at least two of said cells are interconnected by at least one choke port to allow the passage of fluid between said cells in order to allow the controlled transfer of the fluid between the cells once the structure is filled with the desired quantity of the fluid for use and during use of the structure wherein a first cell is provided with a top wall and a base wall spaced apart by side walls, said side walls attached to, or common with, side walls of one or more adjacent cells such that the said first cell is substantially surrounded by one or more cells and provided in fluid communication with the cell or cells adjacent the side walls thereof via said one or more ports in order to allow the passage of fluid between the respective cells.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The invention relates to the provision of a structure (2) which can be used alone or in conjunction with other components, such as a support frame or the like. The structure is movable to a condition for use, at the time of manufacture or subsequently, in which the interior of a number of cells in the structure are filled with a fluid, most typically by inflation with a gas such as air. The structure includes a plurality of cells (14) which can be filled with air, and at least two of which are interconnected to allow the flow of fluid therebetween during use and particular upon impact on one of cells occurring, so as to mitigate the effect of the impact in a controlled manner.
11 Citations
36 Claims
- 1. A fluid filled structure, said structure having a body with a plurality of cells in which a fluid is received and wherein at least two of said cells are interconnected by at least one choke port to allow the passage of fluid between said cells in order to allow the controlled transfer of the fluid between the cells once the structure is filled with the desired quantity of the fluid for use and during use of the structure wherein a first cell is provided with a top wall and a base wall spaced apart by side walls, said side walls attached to, or common with, side walls of one or more adjacent cells such that the said first cell is substantially surrounded by one or more cells and provided in fluid communication with the cell or cells adjacent the side walls thereof via said one or more ports in order to allow the passage of fluid between the respective cells.
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2. (canceled)
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3. (canceled)
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4. (canceled)
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6. (canceled)
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7. (canceled)
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11. (canceled)
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12. (canceled)
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13. (canceled)
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15. (canceled)
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16. (canceled)
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18. (canceled)
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19. (canceled)
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20. (canceled)
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22. (canceled)
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23. (canceled)
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27. (canceled)
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28. (canceled)
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29. (canceled)
- 30. A structure which is provided as a means of mitigating the effect of an impact or blast on a person in contact with, or in the vicinity of the said structure, and wherein said structure includes a plurality of cells, each of said cells provided to be moved and/or retained in an inflated condition by a gas contained therein and wherein at least two of the said cells are interconnected such that once inflated, the fluid can pass between the said interconnected cells in a regulated and controlled manner wherein the regulation is achieved by the provision of one or more ports or passages which interconnect the said cells so as to allow the passage of gas between the cells but to restrain the flow of transfer of the gas through the ports or passages.
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31. (canceled)
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33. (canceled)
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34. A structure according to claim 34 wherein the structure is incorporated to form the base of a seat, said seat also having a back rest formed of a first rear layer and a second front layer with the majority of said first and second layers being held in a spaced apart configuration.
- 35. A method of forming structure comprising a number of cells, at least two of which are interconnected by one or more ports to allow the passage of fluid therebetween when the structure is formed, said method comprising the steps of analysing the use to which the structure is to be put, identifying an area or areas of the structure at which impact is most likely to occur, locating a first cell at said area or areas of predicted greatest impact, and wherein substantially enclosing the said first cell to the side walls therefore by locating one or more further cells therewith and providing one or more ports to allow the controlled passage of fluid between the said first cell and the said further cell or cells.
Specification