Expandable multicelled cushioning structure
First Claim
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1. A cushion device comprising:
- a base formed from a fluid impervious material and having at least one cavity therein which is isolated from the surrounding atmosphere and is capable of retaining a fluid under pressure; and
a plurality of cells connected to the base and formed from a fluid impervious material which is flexible, the cells having hollow interiors which are isolated from the surrounding atmosphere and open into the cavity of the base such that the interiors of all of the cells communicate through the cavity of the base, the cells having side walls with the sidewalls of adjacent cells being located opposite each other, the cells when deflated being generally spaced apart and having flutes along their side walls, the flutes of each cell being generally parallel and arranged around the entire cell and further extending away from the base, the cells being sufficiently flexible that when pressurized they will expand laterally such that the flutes are generally obliterated and the side walls of adjacent cells are in contact for substantial portions of their lengths so as to interfere with each other, the cells when pressurized further being such that the ends of the cells form a generally continuous outwardly presented surface which conforms to the shapes of objects brought against it.
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Abstract
A multicelled structure which may be used as a body support or other cushioning device has inflatable cells against which a supported or cushioned body bears. The structure is formed from a flexible material on mandrels which have a fluted or other shaped configuration and spaced apart. This prevents the material which is in a soft or uncured condition from bridging adjacent cells during the forming operation. The fluting or shape on the resulting cells is configured to enable the side walls of adjacent cells to closely approach or contact each other when the cells are expanded by internal fluid pressure so that the end walls of the cells form a generally continuous surface.
123 Citations
11 Claims
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1. A cushion device comprising:
- a base formed from a fluid impervious material and having at least one cavity therein which is isolated from the surrounding atmosphere and is capable of retaining a fluid under pressure; and
a plurality of cells connected to the base and formed from a fluid impervious material which is flexible, the cells having hollow interiors which are isolated from the surrounding atmosphere and open into the cavity of the base such that the interiors of all of the cells communicate through the cavity of the base, the cells having side walls with the sidewalls of adjacent cells being located opposite each other, the cells when deflated being generally spaced apart and having flutes along their side walls, the flutes of each cell being generally parallel and arranged around the entire cell and further extending away from the base, the cells being sufficiently flexible that when pressurized they will expand laterally such that the flutes are generally obliterated and the side walls of adjacent cells are in contact for substantial portions of their lengths so as to interfere with each other, the cells when pressurized further being such that the ends of the cells form a generally continuous outwardly presented surface which conforms to the shapes of objects brought against it. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
- a base formed from a fluid impervious material and having at least one cavity therein which is isolated from the surrounding atmosphere and is capable of retaining a fluid under pressure; and
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11. A cushion device comprising:
- a base formed from a fluid impervious material and having a cavity therein which is isolated from the surrounding atmosphere and is capable of retaining a fluid under pressure; and
a plurality of cells connected to the base and formed from a fluid impervious material which is flexible, the cells having hollow interiors which open into the cavity of the base such that the interiors of all of the cells communicate with each other through the cavity of the base, each cell having a side wall and a flared pedestal interposed between the side wall and the base, the side wall when the cell is deflated having a plurality of flutes with the flutes being generally parallel and arranged around the entire cell and extending away from the pedestal, the pedestal when the cell is deflated being flared such that it possesses greater width at the base than at the side wall, the side walls of adjacent cells being generally spaced apart when the cells are deflated, but when the cells are pressurized the side walls are expanded such that the side walls of adjacent cells are in contact and interfere with each other, the cells when pressurized further being such that the ends of the cells form a generally continuous outwardly presented surface which conforms to the shapes of objects brought against it.
- a base formed from a fluid impervious material and having a cavity therein which is isolated from the surrounding atmosphere and is capable of retaining a fluid under pressure; and
Specification