Cellular cushion
First Claim
1. A cushion comprising a generally flat and thin base formed from a flexible material and containing passageways;
- a plurality of flexible hollow cells attached to the base and projecting away from it, the cells being detached from each other beyond the base and having sides and outer ends, the cells being expandable laterally when the pressure within the cells is increased, so that the sides of adjacent cells contact each other and the outer ends form a supporting surface, the cells being arranged in two spaced apart end zones, a single center zone located between the end zones, and at least two intermediate zones, with the intermediate zones being located between the center zone and the end zones, the cells of the end zones being longer than the cells of the intermediate zones and the cells of the intermediate zones being longer than the cells of the center zone, whereby the supporting surface formed by the outer ends of the cells possesses a cradle-like contour, the cells of each zone being in communication with each other through the passageways of the base, so that within each zone the cells exist at equal pressure, but the cells of any zone being isolated from the cells of the other zones so that the cells of different zones may exist at different pressures; and
means connected with the cells of each zone for admitting an inflating fluid into such cells and for thereafter retaining the fluid in the cells.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A cushion has a base and a plurality of flexible hollow cells attached to the base and projected outwardly from it. The cells may be arranged in zones, with the interiors of the cells for each zone being in communication, yet isolated from the interiors of the cells for the other zones. The cells are inflated slightly to support a load applied to the cushion, and when the cushion is so loaded, the cells of each zone are at the same pressure, so that the supporting force exerted by each cell of a particular zone against the load is essentially the same. The cells may be of varying length to contour the surface formed by the ends of the cells, giving that surface, for example, a wedge-shaped configuration or a cradle-like configuration. Some of the cells may be separated more than others to provide the cushion with a cavity where no support is provided, and the cavity may extend through the base.
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Citations
1 Claim
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1. A cushion comprising a generally flat and thin base formed from a flexible material and containing passageways;
- a plurality of flexible hollow cells attached to the base and projecting away from it, the cells being detached from each other beyond the base and having sides and outer ends, the cells being expandable laterally when the pressure within the cells is increased, so that the sides of adjacent cells contact each other and the outer ends form a supporting surface, the cells being arranged in two spaced apart end zones, a single center zone located between the end zones, and at least two intermediate zones, with the intermediate zones being located between the center zone and the end zones, the cells of the end zones being longer than the cells of the intermediate zones and the cells of the intermediate zones being longer than the cells of the center zone, whereby the supporting surface formed by the outer ends of the cells possesses a cradle-like contour, the cells of each zone being in communication with each other through the passageways of the base, so that within each zone the cells exist at equal pressure, but the cells of any zone being isolated from the cells of the other zones so that the cells of different zones may exist at different pressures; and
means connected with the cells of each zone for admitting an inflating fluid into such cells and for thereafter retaining the fluid in the cells.
- a plurality of flexible hollow cells attached to the base and projecting away from it, the cells being detached from each other beyond the base and having sides and outer ends, the cells being expandable laterally when the pressure within the cells is increased, so that the sides of adjacent cells contact each other and the outer ends form a supporting surface, the cells being arranged in two spaced apart end zones, a single center zone located between the end zones, and at least two intermediate zones, with the intermediate zones being located between the center zone and the end zones, the cells of the end zones being longer than the cells of the intermediate zones and the cells of the intermediate zones being longer than the cells of the center zone, whereby the supporting surface formed by the outer ends of the cells possesses a cradle-like contour, the cells of each zone being in communication with each other through the passageways of the base, so that within each zone the cells exist at equal pressure, but the cells of any zone being isolated from the cells of the other zones so that the cells of different zones may exist at different pressures; and
Specification
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- Resources
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Current AssigneeRobert H. Graebe, Robert H Graebe Revocable Trust
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Original AssigneeRobert H. Graebe
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InventorsGraebe, Robert H.
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Primary Examiner(s)Smith, Gary L.
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Assistant Examiner(s)TRETTEL, MICHAEL
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Application NumberUS06/801,484Time in Patent Office687 DaysField of Search5/449, 5/453-456, 5/458, 5/464, 5/436, 5/441, 297/458, 297/459, 297/DIG. 3US Class Current5/654CPC Class CodesA47C 27/081 of pneumatic typeA47C 27/10 with two or more independen...A61G 5/1045 for the seat portionY10S 297/03 Pneumatic
