Constant pressure seating system
First Claim
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1. A cushion system for supporting a body of a person, the cushion system comprising:
- a. a plurality of foam members, each foam member having an outside surface and a length, each foam member exhibiting substantially constant pressure over a range of compression of the member caused by providing support to the body, the range of compression corresponding to constant pressure having an onset substantially at a pressure exerted by the supported body of the person, each foam member disposed such that the outside surface of each foam member is substantially separated from the outside surface of any other foam member under conditions of both compression and relaxation of any foam member; and
b. a matrix for retaining the foam members in a supporting configuration with respect to the body.
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Abstract
A cushion system for supporting a body such as a seated person at risk of developing pressure sores. An array of one or more foam members is biased such that each foam member exhibits a substantially constant force per unit area when supporting the body. The bias may be passive, by choice of foam characteristics, and additionally, may be applied actively by providing a gas to the foam and controlling the pressure of the gas in response to the pressure conditions at the interface with the supported body.
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Citations
32 Claims
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1. A cushion system for supporting a body of a person, the cushion system comprising:
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a. a plurality of foam members, each foam member having an outside surface and a length, each foam member exhibiting substantially constant pressure over a range of compression of the member caused by providing support to the body, the range of compression corresponding to constant pressure having an onset substantially at a pressure exerted by the supported body of the person, each foam member disposed such that the outside surface of each foam member is substantially separated from the outside surface of any other foam member under conditions of both compression and relaxation of any foam member; and b. a matrix for retaining the foam members in a supporting configuration with respect to the body. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 26, 27)
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18. A cushion system for supporting a body of a person, the cushion system comprising:
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a. a plurality of foam members, each foam member exhibiting substantially constant pressure over a range of compression of the member caused by providing support to the body, the range of compression corresponding to constant pressure having an onset substantially at a pressure exerted by the supported body of the person, each foam member disposed such that the outside surface of each foam member exhibits separation from the outside surface of any other foam member under conditions of both compression and relaxation of any foam member, wherein the separation includes a lubricating material such that any shear force transmitted between each foam member and any other foam member is insubstantial; and b. a matrix for retaining the array of the plurality of foam members in a supporting configuration with respect to the body.
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19. An adjustable cushion system for supporting a body of a person, the adjustable cushion system comprising:
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a. a cushion comprising a plurality of cells, each cell having open-cell foam, said foam exhibiting a transition between a linear dependence of pressure on displacement and a collapsed plateau the transition dependent upon applied pressure; b. a pressure system for providing a fluid to the open-cell foam; and c. a controller for regulating the pressure of the fluid in such a manner as to bias the applied pressure to each cell substantially at the transition between linear dependence and collapsed plateau when supporting the person. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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28. A method for relieving pressure on the contacting surface of a supported body of a person, the method comprising:
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a. providing an adjustable cushion system comprising; i. a cushion comprising a plurality of zones of open-cell foam, the foam exhibiting a substantially constant pressure over a specified range of compression; ii. a pressure system for providing a fluid to the zones of open-cell foam; and iii. a controller for regulating the pressure of the fluid; b. supporting the person on the adjustable cushion system; and c. applying a partial vacuum to a subset of the zones of open-cell foam so as to bias the foam of the subset of zones in such a manner as to exhibit substantially constant pressure in the course of supporting the person. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30)
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31. A cushion system for supporting a body of a person, the cushion system comprising:
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a. a foam member having an outside surface and a length and exhibiting substantially constant pressure over a range of compression of the member caused by providing support to the body, the range of compression corresponding to constant pressure having an onset substantially at a pressure exerted by the supported body of the person; and b. an enclosure for retaining the at least one foam member in a supporting configuration with respect to the body.
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32. An adjustable cushion system for supporting a body of a person, the adjustable cushion system comprising:
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a. a cushion comprising a cell, the cell having open-cell foam exhibiting a transition between a linear dependence of pressure on displacement and a collapsed plateau, the transition dependent upon applied pressure; b. a pressure system for providing a fluid to the open-cell foam; and c. a controller for regulating the pressure of the fluid in such a manner as to bias the applied pressure to each cell substantially at the transition between linear dependence and collapsed plateau when supporting the person.
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Specification