Contoured seat cushion

• US 5,052,068 A
• Filed: 02/11/1991
• Issued: 10/01/1991
• Est. Priority Date: 11/14/1989
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Roho Incorporated (Permobil Holding AB)
• Original Assignee: Robert H. Graebe
• Inventors: Graebe, Robert H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Smith, Gary L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): SAETHER, FLEMMING
• Application Number:
  US07/655,205
• Time in Patent Office: 232 Days
• Field of Search: 5/455, 5/464, 297/458, 297/459, 297/DIG. 3
• US Class Current: 5/654
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 27/081 of pneumatic type
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 27/10 with two or more independently-fillable chambers
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 7/021 Detachable or loose seat cushions
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 297/03 Pneumatic

Abstract

A contoured cellular cushion has a base and flexible cells, which are inflatable, projecting upwardly from the base. The base is rectangular and the cells are arranged in front-to-rear and transverse rows upon its. Moreover, the cells are preferably organized into two zones--an outer zone and an inner zone--with the cells of each zone being interconnected amongst themselves, but not with the cells of the other zone. The outer zone includes long cells which lie along the sides of the base in side sections and also in an abductor section between the side sections near the front margin. The shorter cells of the inner zone occupy the remainder of the base and produce a depression between the side sections and behind the abductor section of the outer zone, and troughs on each side of the abductor section. When one sits upon the cushion, the side sections of the outer zone cradle the individual such that the boney protuberances of the buttocks rest on the short cells of the depression, while the thighs extend through the troughs, being spread slightly by the abductor section. The contour formed by the cells of varying length is ideally suited for seating. All of the cells may be in communication in a single zone.

Claims

1. A cushion comprising:

a base having front, rear and side margins, long cells projecting upwardly from the base along its side margins to form two spaced apart side sections to prevent the user'"'"'s thighs from excessive spreading;

more long cells projecting upwardly from the base near the front margin and between the side sections, yet spaced from the side sections, to form an abductor section to prevent inward rotation of the user'"'"'s thighs;

short cells located between the side sections and behind the abductor section to form a depression that extends to the rear margin to cradle the user'"'"'s buttock; and

intermediate cells, projecting upwardly from the base between the abductor section and the two side sections, the intermediate cells being shorter than the long cells to form troughs between the abductor section and the side sections, but being longer than the short cells;

whereby the cushion possesses a contour that is well suited for seating, and the troughs cradle the user'"'"'s legs, the short cells of the depression and at least some of the intermediate cells of the troughs adjacent to the abductor cells being in pneumatic communication through the base and pneumatically isolated from the long cells and the remainder of the intermediate cells to allow the long cell area and the short cell area to be inflated separately to provide the desired stability in the side and in the abductor areas and the desired cushioning in the depression and trough areas.

2. A cushion according to claim 1 wherein more intermediate cells project upwardly from the base between the short cells of the depression and the long cells of the side sections and abductor section to form a transition between the depression and the side and abductor sections.

3. A cushion comprising:

a rectangular base formed from a flexible material and having front, side and rear margins;

long flexible air cells projecting upwardly from the base along the side margins and being organized into side sections, each side section having at least one front-to-rear row of long cells that extend from the front margin to the rear margin to prevent the user'"'"'s thighs from excessive spreading;

more long air cells organized into at least two front-to-rear rows that are located between the side sections and further extend rearwardly from the front margin, but terminate ahead of the rear margin, to form an abductor section to prevent inward rotation of the user'"'"'s thighs;

short flexible air cells located behind the long air cells of the abductor section and between the long air cells of the side sections to form a depressed section along the rear margin to cradle the user'"'"'s buttocks;

intermediate air cells, which are longer than the short cells but shorter than the long air cells, located in at least one rearwardly extending row on each side of the abductor section so as to be between the long air cells of the abductor section and the long air cells of each side section to thereby form troughs that lead rearwardly to the depressed section to cradle the user'"'"'s legs, the long air cells of the side sections and the long air cells of the abductor section being in pneumatic communication in one zone and the short air cells of the depressed section and at least some of the intermediate cells of the trough being in pneumatic communication in another zone;

the two zones being pneumatically isolated from each other.

4. A cushion according to claim 3 wherein more intermediate cells are located in a single front-to-rear row between the long cells of each side section and the short cells of the depressed section so as to form a transition between the side sections and the depressed section, the said intermediate cells in said front-to-rear rows being in pneumatic communication with the long air cell zone.

5. A cushion according to claim 4 wherein still more intermediate cells are arranged in a lateral row between the long cells of the abductor section and the short cells of the depressed section to form a transition between the two sections, said intermediate cells in said lateral row being in pneumatic communication with the short air cell zone.