Cushioning device formed from separate reshapable cells

• US 5,829,081 A
• Filed: 01/13/1997
• Issued: 11/03/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 11/09/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Edizone LC (Edizone)
• Original Assignee: Lc Teksource
• Inventors: Pearce, Tony M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Grosz, Alexander
• Application Number:
  US08/783,378
• Time in Patent Office: 659 Days
• Field of Search: 5/654, 5/911, 5/702, 5/655.4, 5/655.5, 5/922, 297/284.6, 297/452.41
• US Class Current: 5/654
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 27/083 with pressure control, e.g. with pressure sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 27/10 with two or more independently-fillable chambers
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 2203/34 for pressure
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 5/1043 Cushions specially adapted for wheelchairs
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 5/1045 for the seat portion
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 5/1091 Cushions, seats or abduction devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/05769 with inflatable chambers
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 5/922 with hook and loop type fastener

Abstract

A cushion that includes a base and numerous bladders locatable on the base is disclosed and claimed. Each bladder contains a quantity of filler insufficient to completely fill the bladder, and each bladder has a loose or elastomeric skin to accommodate its conforming to the shape of an object to be supported by the cushion. The top surface of each bladder acts as a hammock when supporting a cushioned object, and the bladders interact with each other to accommodate protuberance and crevices of the cushioned object. Other embodiments of the invention include a cushion that is pre-shaped in a form complementary to the shape of the object to be cushioned, and a cushion that re-shapes itself to maintain supporting forces that are generally equal across the contact surface of the supported object.

Claims

1. A cushioning device comprising:

(a) a base,

(b) a plurality of individual bladders, a plurality of said bladders being oriented on said base,

(c) filler within each of said bladders, and

(d) a cover;

wherein said filler is a fluid which flows under slight pressure, shears easily and has low shape memory;

wherein said cushioning device is capable of generally equalizing supporting hammock forces across the contact area of a supported object by conforming itself to the shape of the supported area including accommodating uneven surfaces such protruberances and crevices;

wherein said cushioning device is adapted to contact and support an area of a human body and wherein pressure exerted by said cushion on the contact surface of the body is less than that which would cause tissue damage and lead to decubitus ulcers;

wherein the majority of said bladders do not permit fluid communication between them, so that when required to support a cushioned object, said bladders interact with each other in a manner such that a bladder beneath a protruberances of the cushioned object is depressed and in turn exerts a generally lateral force on adjacent bladders, forcing the adjacent bladders upward to fill crevices of the cushioned object, thereby providing uniform support across the contact surface of the cushioned object;

wherein a plurality of said bladders contain a flowable filler that includes microspheres and lubricious substance; and

wherein said bladders are arranged on said base into an array, said array having a width of N bladders and a length of M bladders, where both M and N are at least 2.

2. A cushioning device comprising:

(a) a plurality of individual bladders being arranged in close proximity with each other so that said bladders provide a cushioning effect in said cushioning device by generally conforming to the shape of an object being supported by the cushioning device, said individual bladders being arranged close enough to each other so that when a downward force is applied to a particular bladder that causes that bladder to expand radially in an outward direction, an adjacent bladder may be contacted by said radially expanding bladder, tending to cause such adjacent bladder to be forced upward in a direction generally opposite the direction of said downward force and to consequently provide support to the object being supported by the cushioning device,

(b) a quantity of flowable filler within a majority of said bladders, said filler comprising a lubricious substance and microspheres, said filler readily flowing under slight pressure, said filler shearing easily, and said filler having low shape memory, and

(c) a cover covering said bladders and serving as a barrier against which an object to be cushioned by the cushioning device may rest without directly contacting said bladders;

wherein a plurality of said bladders are arranged into an array, said array having dimensions of N×

M bladders where both N and M are integers and where both N and M are least 2;

wherein said cushioning device is capable of generally equalizing supporting hammock forces across the contact area of a supported object by conforming itself to the shape of the supported area including accommodating uneven surfaces such as protruberances and crevices;

wherein said cushioning device is adapted to contact and support and area of a human body; and

wherein said bladders are not in fluid communication with each other.

3. A cushioning device as recited in claim 2 further comprising:

(d) a base upon which said bladders may be placed, and

(e) hook and loop fasteners fastening said bladders to said base.

4. A cushioning device comprising:

(a) a plurality of individual bladders being arranged in close proximity with each other so that said bladders provide a cushioning effect in said cushioning device by generally conforming to the shape of an object being supported by the cushioning device, said individual bladders being arranged close enough to each other so that when a downward force is applied to a particular bladder that causes that bladder to expand radially in an outward direction, an adjacent bladder may be contacted by said radially expanding bladder, tending to cause such adjacent bladder to be forced upward in a direction generally opposite the direction of said downward force and to consequently provide support to the object being supported by the cushioning device,

(b) a quantity of flowable filler within a majority of said bladders, said filler comprising a lubricious substance and microspheres, said microspheres being present in said filler in an amount that occupies the majority of the volume occupied by said filler, said filler readily flowing under slight pressure, said filler shearing easily, and said filler having low shape memory,

(c) a cover covering said bladders and serving as a barrier against which an object to be cushioned by the cushioning device may rest without directly contacting said bladders, and

(d) a base upon which said bladders may be placed, and

(e) fasteners fastening said ladders to said base;

wherein a plurality of said bladders are arranged into an array on said base, said array having dimensions of N×

M bladders, where both N and M are integers and where both N and M are at least 2;

wherein said cushioning device is capable of generally equalizing supporting hammock forces across the contact area of a supported object by conforming itself to the shape of the supported area including accommodating uneven surfaces such as protruberances and crevices;

wherein said cushioning device is adapted to contact and support and area of a human body; and

wherein said bladders are not in fluid communication with each other.