Inflatable cushion devices for bicycle seats and other sporting goods

• US 5,558,395 A
• Filed: 07/29/1994
• Issued: 09/24/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 11/23/1992
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Yong Huang
• Original Assignee: Yin-Jun Huang
• Inventors: Huang, Yin-jun
• Primary Examiner(s): Grosz, Alexander
• Application Number:
  US08/281,984
• Time in Patent Office: 788 Days
• Field of Search: 5/454, 5/449, 5/453, 5/455, 5/644, 36/29, 36/153, 297/199, 297/200, 297/DIG. 3, 297/452.41, 417/479, 417/480
• US Class Current: 297/199
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 13/203 provided with a pump or valve
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 13/206 provided with tubes or pipes or tubular shaped cushioning members
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 27/081 of pneumatic type
• CPC Class Codes: B62J 1/26 Paddings involving other resilient material, e.g. sponge rubber with inflatable compartments
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 297/01 Foam

Abstract

An inflatable air cushion has an integrally formed extension tube of zig-zag form with its free end attached to another cushion or to a pump assembly for inflating the cushion. By separating the limbs of the zig-zag tube, the cushions, or the cushion and pump assembly can be spaced apart at different distances to suit different applications. The pump may include a pressure limiting chamber integrated therewith for limiting the maximum inflation pressure of the cushion. In a preferred embodiment, the inflatable air cushion is shaped to fit a bicycle saddle.

Claims

1. An air cushion having at least one extension tube with one end communicating with the interior of the cushion, said tube being integrally formed with said cushion and having a zig-zag form with adjacent limbs which can be moved apart and together so as to adjust the spacing between the cushion and a second end of the tube wherein the cushion is shaped to fit a bicycle saddle.

2. An air cushion according to claim 1, wherein the second end of the tube is connected to a component of a pumping means for inflating the cushion.

3. An inflatable air cushion shaped to fit a bicycle saddle, a compressible pump for inflating the cushion and a release device for selectively discharging air from the cushion wherein at least one of the pump and the release device is carried on tube means connected with the cushion, said tube means having a zig-zag portion with adjacent limbs which can be moved apart and together to vary the positioning of said at least one of the pump and the release device relative to the cushion.

4. An air cushion as claimed in claim 3 wherein the zig-zag tube is connected with the release device and branches off another portion of the tube means connected with the pump.

5. An air cushion as claimed in claim 3 wherein the release device is-connected to one end of the zig-zag tube and the pump is connected to an opposite end of the zig-zag tube.

6. An inflatable air cushion shaped to fit a bicycle saddle and a compressible pump for inflating the cushion wherein the pump is carried on tube means connected with the cushion, said tube means having a zig-zag portion with adjacent limbs which can be moved apart and together to vary the positioning of the pump relative to the cushion.

7. A molded air cushion structure comprising two superimposed synthetic plastic sheets peripherally sealed together and bounding an interior space with an air inlet, a first group of recesses formed in one of said sheets and being sealed together with the other of said sheets, said recesses defining an air flow conduit means between a first cushion portion of the structure and a second cushion portion of the structure, said second cushion portion of the structure including said air inlet and being molded to provide an inflation means for the first cushion portion.

8. A molded air cushion structure as claimed in claim 7 which includes a second group of recesses formed in the other of said sheets conforming to and sealed together with the first group of recesses.

9. A molded air cushion as claimed in claim 7 wherein the first group of recesses define cutable webs formed between adjacent limbs of a zig-zag conduit forming said conduit means whereby selective cutting of said webs provides adjustment in spacing between the first and second cushion portions.

10. A molded air cushion structure as claimed in claim 7 wherein the second cushion portion is molded to include a compressible pump for inflating the first cushion portion and wherein the air inlet comprises an inlet to said pump.