Selectively deformable cushion

• US 6,012,188 A
• Filed: 05/28/1998
• Issued: 01/11/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 03/13/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Ooltewah Manufacturing Company
• Original Assignee: Ooltewah Manufacturing Company
• Inventors: Simonson, Michael E, Daniels, Jerry, Grove, Keith E.
• Primary Examiner(s): TRETTEL, MICHAEL
• Application Number:
  US09/086,316
• Time in Patent Office: 593 Days
• Field of Search: 5/709, 5/653, 5/654, 5/655.9, 5/703, 5/704, 297/284.1, 297/284.2, 297/284.6
• US Class Current: 5/654
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 7/021 Detachable or loose seat cushions
• CPC Class Codes: B62J 1/12 Box-shaped seats; Bench-type seats, e.g. dual or twin seats
• CPC Class Codes: B62J 1/26 Paddings involving other resilient material, e.g. sponge rubber with inflatable compartments

Abstract

A seat cushion with a carrying handle has a multi-cellular foam interior structure for holding and releasing air encased within an air impermiable covering and at least one valve member secured to the covering and having a conduit extending through the covering into the foam. The handle may span a front indented portion in which the valve is located so as to span the valve. The cushion may have a second valve permitting air to enter into but not exit from the foam so as to re-inflate the cushion gradually. The first valve permits air to exit the foam when it is open while a compressible force is applied to the foam. Thus, when a person sits on the cushion and opens the valve, air within the cellular structure of the foam is expelled in accordance with the force applied and the foam is shaped to that of the user'"'"'s compression applying members. The second valve permits re-inflation of the cushion gradually if the user fails to open or actuate the first valve when removed from the cushion for an extended time. Additionally, the cushion may include a gel containing sealed packet positioned within the covering for those instances where the cushion is used on extremely hard surfaces.

Claims

1. A seat cushion for use on a rigid seat comprising:

a resilient multi-cellular foam material capable of holding air within the cellular structure, an air impermeable covering disposed about said foam material encasing and sealing said foam material within said covering, said covering and foam having a peripheral configuration between an upper surface on which a person may sit and a lower surface which may be disposed on said rigid seat, said peripheral configuration comprising a rear portion, side portions and a front portion, said front portion having a substantially centrally located indented section disposed closer to said rear portion than adjacent lateral sections of said front portion, a carrying handle extending intermediate said lateral sections and spanning said indented section, and a valve disposed in said indented section having a conduit extending through said covering in sealed relationship therewith and terminating within said foam material, said valve including an operator disposed externally of said covering for opening and closing communication between said conduit and ambient air external of said covering, whereby air selectively may be expelled from said foam material through said conduit when said foam material is compressed by a force on said cushion and deformed and air may re-enter deformed foam material when compression is relieved.

2. A seat cushion as recited in claim 1, including a second valve having an outlet including a portion extending through said covering in sealed relationship therewith and communicating with the foam and an inlet opening outside said covering, said second valve having means for permitting air to bleed from said inlet through said outlet slowly to inflate said foam after air in said foam has been expelled so as to prevent said foam from remaining in a compressed state for an excessive period of time after said compression force is removed.

3. A seat cushion as recited in claim 1, including a gel containing sealed packet positioned on or below said foam within said covering.

4. A seat cushion as recited in claim 3, including a second valve having an outlet including a portion extending through said covering in sealed relationship therewith and communicating with the foam and an inlet opening outside said covering, said second valve having means for permitting air to bleed from said inlet through said outlet slowly to inflate said foam after air in said foam has been expelled so as to prevent said foam from remaining in a compressed state for an excessive period of time after said compression force is removed.

5. A seat cushion as recited in claim 2, wherein said second valve is disposed in said lower surface.

6. A seat cushion as recited in claim 3, wherein said second valve is disposed in said upper surface.

7. A seat cushion for use on a rigid seat comprising:

a resilient multi-cellular foam material capable of holding air within the cellular structure, an air impermeable covering disposed about said foam material encasing and sealing said foam material within said covering, a first valve including a conduit extending through said covering in sealed relationship therewith and terminating within said foam material, said valve including an operator disposed externally of said covering for opening and closing communication between said conduit and ambient air external of said cushion, whereby air selectively may be expelled from said foam material through said conduit when said foam material is compressed by a force on said cushion and deformed and air may re-enter deformed foam material when compression is relieved, a second valve having an outlet including a portion extending through said covering in sealed relationship therewith and communicating with the foam and an inlet opening outside said covering, said second valve having means for permitting air to bleed from said inlet through said outlet slowly to inflate said foam after said air in said bladder has been expelled so as to prevent said foam from remaining in a compressed state for an excessive period of time after said compression force is removed, and a carrying handle extending from a first portion of said covering material to a second portion of said covering material.

8. A seat cushion as recited in claim 7, wherein said carrying handle is formed from said covering material and spans the location of said first valve operator.

9. A seat cushion as recited in claim 7, including a gel containing sealed packet positioned on or below said foam within said covering.

10. A seat cushion as recited in claim 7, wherein said second valve is disposed in said lower surface.

11. A seat cushion as recited in claim 7, wherein said second valve is disposed in said upper surface.

12. A seat cushion as recited in claim 8, including a gel containing sealed packet positioned on or below said foam within said covering.

13. A seat cushion as recited in claim 8, wherein said second valve is disposed in said lower surface.

14. A seat cushion as recited in claim 8, wherein said second valve is disposed in said upper surface.

15. A seat cushion for use on a rigid seat comprising:

a resilient multi-cellular foam material capable of holding air within the cellular structure, an air impermeable covering disposed about said foam material encasing and sealing said foam material within said covering, a valve including a conduit extending through said covering in sealed relationship therewith and terminating within said foam material, said valve including an operator disposed externally of said covering for opening and closing communication between said conduit and ambient air external of said cushion, whereby air selectively may be expelled from said foam material through said conduit when said foam material is compressed by a force on said cushion and deformed and air may re-enter deformed foam material when compression is relieved, a gel containing sealed packet positioned within said covering, and a carrying handle fastened to said covering spanning said valve operator.

16. A seat cushion as recited in claim 15, wherein said foam material and said covering define front, side and rear surfaces, said front surface having an indented section relative to said rear surface, and said valve being disposed in said indented section.