Expansible air cell cushion

• US 5,689,845 A
• Filed: 04/17/1996
• Issued: 11/25/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 04/17/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Roho Incorporated (Permobil Holding AB)
• Original Assignee: Roho Incorporated (Permobil Holding AB)
• Inventors: Sobieralski, Richard F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Grosz, Alexander
• Application Number:
  US08/633,463
• Time in Patent Office: 587 Days
• Field of Search: 5/710, 5/654, 5/655.3, 5/655.5, 5/644, 5/706, 297/DIG. 3, 297/452.41
• US Class Current: 5/654
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 5/1091 Cushions, seats or abduction devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/05769 with inflatable chambers

Abstract

An add-on segment to an air filled cushion having inflatable flexible air cells in which the add-on segment has corresponding air cells and is physically and pneumatically connected to those air cells of the base cushion adjacent to the add-on segment air cushions. The base cushion is expandable to allow for growth of the patient using the cushion and is especially adapted for pediatric use.

Claims

1. In a base cushion which comprises a base section and a top section bonded thereto, the top section having an array of upstanding inflatable flexible air cells, some of which are interconnected so that those interconnected air cells are at the same air pressure, and an independent fill nozzle for said air cells, the improvement comprising an add-on segment comprising a base section and a top section bonded thereto, the top section having upstanding flexible inflatable air cells, means for physically attaching the add-on segment to the base cushion along one or more peripheral edges, a conduit on the exterior of the base cushion pneumatically connected to the array of air cells, a second conduit on the exterior of the add-on segment and alignable with the base cushion conduit, and a connector positioned between and pneumatically connected to the said conduits on the exteriors of the air cells to pneumatically connect the base cushion air cell array to the add-on air cells.

2. The cushion of claim 1 wherein at least some of the air cells in the add-on segment are pneumatically interconnected.

3. The cushion of claim 1 wherein the add-on segment has the same number of air cells as the base cushion edge to which it is attached.

4. The cushion of claim 1 wherein the add-on segment is substantially L-shaped and the number of air cells in each leg of the segment is one greater than the number of cells on the edge of the base cushion adjacent to the segment legs.

5. The cushion of claim 1 being a wheelchair cushion.

6. The cushion of claim 1 being a wheelchair cushion adapted for pediatric use.

7. The cushion of claim 1 wherein the connector has an outer ribbed body, the connector being insertable into the air conduits in an air tight seal.

8. The cushion of claim 7 including a fill nozzle with an on-off valve attached to a cell of the add-on segment.

9. In a cellular base cushion comprising:

a flexible non-rigid base;

an array of flexible and hollow inflatable air cells attached to and projecting away from the base, the cells being organized into zones, with the interiors of the cells for each zone within the region of the zone being in communication through the base, but not with the air cells of the other zones;

independent means for introducing air into the cells of each of the zones;

the improvement comprising an add-on segment comprising a base section and a top section bonded thereto, the top section having upstanding flexible inflatable air cells, means for physically attaching the add-on segment to the base cushion along one or more peripheral edges, a conduit on the exterior of the base cushion pneumatically connected to the array of air cells, a second conduit on the exterior of the add-on segment and alignable with the base cushion conduit, and a connector positioned between and pneumatically connected to the said conduits on the exteriors of the air cells to pneumatically connect the base cushion air cell array to the add-on air cells.

10. The cushion of claim 9 wherein at least some of the air cells in the add-on segment are pneumatically interconnected.

11. The cushion of claim 9 wherein the add-on segment has the same number of air cells as the base cushion edge to which it is attached.

12. The cushion of claim 9 wherein the add-on segment is substantially L-shaped and the number of air cells in each leg of the segment is one greater than the number of cells on the edge of the base cushion adjacent to the segment legs.

13. The cushion of claim 9 being a wheelchair cushion.

14. The cushion of claim 9 being a wheelchair cushion adapted for pediatric use.

15. The cushion of claim 9 wherein the cellular cushion is divided into four independent zones of rectangular configuration and wherein the cells in the add-on cushion are interconnected so as to form sets of interconnected cells which are contiguous to corresponding zones of cells in the cellular cushion and each set is connected pneumatically only to the contiguous zone.

16. A cellular base cushion comprising a flexible non-rigid base throughout the cellular area of the cushion, said flexible base having front, rear and side edges, an array of flexible and hollow air containing cells attached to and projecting away from the flexible base, the cells being organized into zones, with the interiors of the cells for each zone within the region of the zone being in communication through the flexible base, but not with the air cells of the other zones, a manifold located at one edge of the flexible base and extending outwardly from the flexible base, first and second separate and independent air passages connected to each zone, said first air passage for each zone defining a fixed channel extending between at least one cell of its zone and the manifold, the channels being connected to the cushion cells through the flexible base of the cushion and the channels extending along the underside of the flexible base to the manifold, whereby the cells of the different zones communicate only through the manifold, and means for selectively blocking the channels independently of the manifold so that the cells of the different zones do not communicate and the air pressure of each zone can be adjusted independently, said second air passage for each zone being separate form and independent of the first air passage and the manifold to allow adding and bleeding air only from the zone to which it is connected, an add-on segment comprising a base section and a top section bonded thereto, the top section having upstanding flexible inflatable air cells, said segment being physically attachable to the base cushion along one or more peripheral edges, a conduit on the exterior of the base cushion pneumatically connected to the array of air cells, a second conduit on the exterior of the add-on segment and alignable with the base cushion conduit, and a connector positioned between and pneumatically connected to the said conduits on the exteriors of the air cells to pneumatically connect the base cushion air cell array to the add-on air cells.

17. The cushion of claim 16 wherein at least some of the air cells in the add-on segment are pneumatically interconnected.

18. The cushion of claim 16 wherein the add-on segment is substantially L-shaped and the number of air cells in each leg of the segment is one greater than the number of cells on the edge of the base cushion adjacent to the segment legs.

19. The cushion of claim 16 wherein the cellular cushion is divided into four independent zones of rectangular configuration and wherein the cells in the add-on cushion are interconnected so as to form sets of interconnected cells which are contiguous to corresponding zones of cells in the cellular cushion and each set is connected pneumatically only to the contiguous zone.

20. The cushion of claim 19 wherein the add-on segment is L-shaped and is divided into 3 pneumatically separate zones which are pneumatically attachable to the adjacent base cushion zone.

21. In a base cushion which comprises a base section and a top section bonded thereto, the top section having upstanding inflatable flexible air cells, some of which are interconnected so that those interconnected air cells are at the same air pressure, the improvement comprising an add-on segment comprising a base section and a top section bonded thereto, the top section having upstanding flexible inflatable air cells, said segment being physically attachable to the base cushion along one or more peripheral edges and pneumatically attachable to the base cushion air cells positioned adjacent said peripheral edges, said add-on segment being substantially L-shaped and the number of air cells in each leg of the segment being one greater than the number of cells on the edge of the base cushion adjacent to the segment legs.

22. In a cellular base cushion comprising:

a flexible non-rigid base;

a plurality of flexible and hollow inflatable air cells attached to and projecting away from the base, the cells being organized into zones, with the interiors of the cells for each zone within the region of the zone being in communication through the base, but not with the air cells of the other zones;

independent means for introducing air into the cells of each of the zones;

the improvement comprising a substantially L-shaped add-on segment comprising a base section and a top section bonded thereto, the top section having upstanding flexible inflatable air cells, said segment being physically attachable to the base cushion along one or more peripheral edges and pneumatically attachable to the base cushion air cell zone positioned adjacent said peripheral edges, the number of air cells in each leg of the add-on segment being one greater than the number of cells on the edge of the base cushion adjacent to the segment legs.

23. A cellular base cushion comprising a flexible non-rigid base throughout the cellular area of the cushion, said flexible base having front, rear and side edges, a plurality of flexible and hollow air containing cells attached to and projecting away from the flexible base, the cells being organized into zones, with the interiors of the cells for each zone within the region of the zone being in communication through the flexible base, but not with the air cells of the other zones, a manifold located at one edge of the flexible base and extending outwardly from the flexible base, first and second separate and independent air passages connected to each zone, said first air passage for each zone defining a fixed channel extending between at least one cell of its zone and the manifold, the channels being connected to the cushion cells through the flexible base of the cushion and the channels extending along the underside of the flexible base to the manifold, whereby the cells of the different zones communicate only through the manifold, and means for selectively blocking the channels independently of the manifold so that the cells of the different zones do not communicate and the air pressure of each zone can be adjusted independently, said second air passage for each zone being separate from and independent of the first air passage and the manifold to allow adding and bleeding air only from the zone to which it is connected, the improvement comprising a substantially L-shaped add-on segment comprising a base section and a top section bonded thereto, the top section having upstanding flexible inflatable air cells, said segment being physically attachable to the base cushion along one or more peripheral edges;

and pneumatically attachable to the base cushion air cell zone positioned adjacent said peripheral edges, the number of air cells in each leg of the segment being one greater than the number of cells on the edge of the base cushion adjacent to the segment legs.

24. A cellular base cushion comprising a flexible non-rigid base throughout the cellular area of the cushion, said flexible base having front, rear and side edges, a plurality of flexible and hollow air containing cells attached to and projecting away from the flexible base, the cells being organized into four zones of rectangular configuration, with the interiors of the cells for each zone within the region of the zone being in communication through the flexible base, but not with the air cells of the other zones, a manifold located at one edge of the flexible base and extending outwardly from the flexible base, first and second separate and independent air passages connected to each zone, said first air passage for each zone defining a fixed channel extending between at least one cell of its zone and the manifold, the channels being connected to the cushion cells through the flexible base of the cushion and the channels extending along the underside of the flexible base to the manifold, whereby the cells of the different zones communicate only through the manifold, and means for selectively blocking the channels independently of the manifold so that the cells of the different zones do not communicate and the air pressure of each zone can be adjusted independently, said second air passage for each zone being separate from and independent of the first air passage and the manifold to allow adding and bleeding air only from the zone to which it is connected, the improvement comprising a substantially L-shaped add-on segment comprising a base section and a top section bonded thereto, the top section having upstanding flexible inflatable air cells, said segment being physically attachable to the base cushion alone one or more peripheral edges, and pneumatically attachable to the base cushion air cell zone positioned adjacent said peripheral edges, the cells in the L-shaped add-on cushion being interconnected so as to form sets of interconnected cells which are contiguous to corresponding zones of cells in the cellular cushion and each set is connected pneumatically only to the contiguous zone.

25. The cushion of claim 24 wherein the add-on segment is divided into three pneumatically separate zones which are pneumatically attachable only to the adjacent base cushion zone.