Multi-layer cushion and cover

• US 6,901,617 B2
• Filed: 04/29/2003
• Issued: 06/07/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 05/06/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Roho Incorporated (Permobil Holding AB)
• Original Assignee: Roho Incorporated (Permobil Holding AB)
• Inventors: Sprouse, Anthony Eric II, Parsons, David Kenneth
• Primary Examiner(s): Santos, Robert G.
• Application Number:
  US10/425,726
• Publication Number:
  US 20030205920A1
• Time in Patent Office: 770 Days
• Field of Search: 565/4, 565/3, 565/53, 570/6, 571/0, 571/3, 573/7, 573/8, 564/4, 564/5, 549/0, 592/5, 592/6, 297/219.1, 297/284.1, 297/452.21, 297/452.25, 297/452.26, 297/452.41, 297/DIG.1, 297/DIG.3
• US Class Current: 5/654
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 27/081 of pneumatic type
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 27/10 with two or more independently-fillable chambers
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 4/54 Inflatable chairs connection of valves to inflatable elastic bodies B60C29/00
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 7/021 Detachable or loose seat cushions
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 7/18 having foamed material included in cushioning part foamed material mattresses A47C27/14

Abstract

A multi-layer cushion having a shaped base on which is positioned a resilient, cushioning layer. The shaped base is constructed from a supportive foam and has front and lateral bolsters. The cushioning layer is an inflatable air cell cushion having a flexible base and an array of individual air cells arranged in rows across the flexible base. Rows of cells around the perimeter of the air cell cushion are configured to provide comfortable transition areas between the bolsters and the air cell cushion. The cushion includes a cover that has a lower compartment for the foam base and an upper compartment for the air cell layer. The cover functions to keep the air cell layer in place on the foam layer.

Claims

1. A seat cushion comprising:

a supportive base having a front bolster with an inwardly angled surface, a first lateral bolster extending along substantially the entire length of a first side of the base, and a second lateral bolster extending substantially along an opposite side of the base,

a cushioning layer positioned on the base, said cushioning layer comprised of a flexible base having a front edge, opposed side edges and a rear edge with an array of individual air cells on the flexible base, each said air cell comprised of a substantially rectangular body and a top wall, the array of individual air cells arranged in a plurality of rows of linearly aligned air cells, at least one of said rows of air cells positioned along the front edge of the cushioning layer flexible base and comprising individual air cells having a top wall configured to form a transition area between the inwardly angled surface of the front bolster and the cushioning layer; and

a cover enclosing the base and the cushioning layer comprising a first compartment for containment of the base and a second compartment for containment of the cushioning layer, said second recited compartment functioning to position and maintain the cushioning layer on the base.

2. The seat cushion of claim 1 wherein the individual air cells of said at least one row positioned along the front edge of the cushioning layer each have a top wall angled downwardly toward the front bolster.

3. The seat cushion of claim 1 wherein the individual cells of said at least one row being of a lesser vertical height than the individual air cells of a row adjacent to said at least one row of individual air cells.

4. The seat cushion of claim 1 wherein the said cushioning layer further comprises a row of individual air cells along the rear edge of the flexible base of the cushioning layer to form a rear bolster.

5. The seat cushion of claim 4 wherein said row of individual air cells along the rear edge of the flexible base of the cushioning layer is further comprised of two individual air cells.

6. The seat cushion of claim 4 wherein the individual air cells along the rear edge of the flexible base of the cushioning layer has a greater surface area than any other individual air cell in the array of air cells.

7. The seat cushion of claim 1 wherein said cushioning layer includes a row of cells along the first side edge of the flexible base and a row of cells along the second side edge of the flexible base, said row of cells along said first side edge of the flexible base shaped and positioned to form a transition area between the first lateral bolster and the cushioning layer and said row of cells along said second side edge of the flexible base shaped and positioned to form a transition area between the second lateral bolster and the cushioning layer.

8. The seat cushion of claim 1 wherein the cushioning layer is molded from neoprene.

9. The seat cushion of claim 1 wherein the supportive base is formed from a polyurethane foam.

10. A multi-layer seat cushion comprising;

a supportive base having a front bolster, a first lateral bolster and a second lateral bolster;

a cushioning layer positioned on the base within the recited bolsters; and

a cover comprising a first compartment enclosing the supportive base and a second compartment enclosing the cushioning layer, whereby the cover maintains the cushioning layer in position on the supportive base within the recited bolsters.

11. The multi-layer seat cushion of claim 10 wherein said cushioning layer comprises a flexible base having a front edge, opposed side edges and a rear edge with an array of individual air cells on the flexible base, each said air cell comprised of a substantially rectangular body and a top wall, the array of individual air cells arranged in a plurality of rows of linearly aligned air cells, at least one of said rows of air cells positioned along the front edge of the cushioning layer flexible base comprising air cells having an angled top wall configured to form a transition area between the front bolster and the cushioning layer.

12. The multi-layer seat cushion of claim 11 wherein the said cushioning layer further comprises a row of individual air cells along the rear edge of the flexible base to form a rear bolster.

13. The multi-layer seat cushion of claim 10 wherein said cushioning layer further comprises a gel-filled cellular cushion.

14. The multi-layer seat cushion of claim 10 wherein the cushioning layer is molded from a plastic.

15. The multi-layer seat cushion of claim 10 wherein said cushioning layer further comprises a gelatinous elastomer.

16. The multi-layer seat cushion of claim 15 wherein said cushioning layer further comprises a gelatinous elastomer formed in a honeycomb arrangement.

17. The multi-layer seat cushion of claim 15 wherein said cushioning layer further comprises gelatinous elastomer formed into shock absorbing columns.

18. The multi-layer seat cushion of claim 10 wherein said cover further comprises a top panel, a first side panel, a second side panel, a front panel, a rear panel, and bottom panel, said recited panels defining an inner compartment, and a middle panel within said inner compartment dividing said inner compartment into said first and second compartments.

19. The multi-layer seat cushion of claim 18 wherein said top panel is comprised of an elastic material.

20. The multi-layer seat cushion of claim 18 wherein said bottom panel is comprised of a wear resistant, non-skid material.

21. The multi-layer seat cushion of claim 10 having a first closure apparatus for closing said first compartment.

22. The multi-layer seat cushion of claim 10 having a closure apparatus for closing said second compartment.

23. The multi-layer seat cushion of claim 21 or 22 wherein said closure apparatus is a zipper.

24. The multi-layer seat cushion of claim 21 wherein said closure apparatus is located on a back panel of said cover.

25. The multi-layer seat cushion of claim 10 wherein said cushioning layer further comprises an air fill tube and said cover further comprises an opening therein for egress of said air fill tube.

26. A cover for use with a seat cushion having at least two cushioning layers, comprising a top panel, a first side panel, a second side panel, a front panel, a rear panel, and bottom panel, said recited panels defining a inner compartment, and a middle panel within said inner compartment dividing said inner compartment into a first pocket to contain one of said at least two cushioning layers and second socket in vertical alignment with the first pocket to contain the other of said at least two cushioning layers whereby the cover maintains the at least two layers in vertical alignment;

means on said bottom panel for attaching the seat cushion to a seat of a wheelchair.

27. The cover of claim 26 having a first closure apparatus far closing said first pocket.

28. The cover of claim 26 having a closure apparatus for closing said second pocket.

29. The cover of claim 26 wherein said top panel is comprised of an elastic material.

30. The cover of claim 26 wherein said bottom panel is comprised of a wear resistant, non-skid material.

31. An air cell cushion for placement on a support surface to provide comfortable seating for a user seated on the cushion, comprising:

a flexible base for positioning on the support surface; and

an array of individual air cells extending upwardly from said flexible base, each said air cell having a front wall, a back wall, a first side wall , a second side wall and a top wall, said array of cells arranged in rows across the flexible base and comprising a plurality of generally centrally positioned rows forming a seating area for positioning under the ischial area of a user seated on the cushion, and at least one row of cells along a front edge of the base, each cell comprising the row along the front edge configured with the back wall having a vertical height greater than the vertical height of the front wall so that the top wall is downwardly angled from the back wall to the front wall and positioned to provide comfortable transition areas between the front of the seating area and the support surface.

32. The multi-layer cushion of claim 31 wherein the individual air cells have four fins.

33. The air cell cushion of claim 31 wherein the plurality of generally centrally positioned rows further comprises three generally centrally positioned rows.

34. The air cell cushion of claim 33 wherein the cells comprising the three generally centrally positioned rows are of a uniform configuration and have a uniform vertical height.

35. The air cell cushion of claim 34 wherein said rows of cells around the perimeter of the base further comprises a row of cells along a rear edge of the flexible base have a rectangular configuration to form a rear bolster.

36. The air cell cushion of claim 34 wherein in said rows of cells around the perimeter of the base further comprises a row of cells on a first side edge of the base and a row of cells on a second side edge of the base, said last two recited rows of cells having a vertical height less than the vertical height of the cells in the three generally centrally positioned rows to form transition areas between the centrally positioned rows of cells and the support surface.

37. The air cell cushion of claim 34 wherein in said rows of cells around the perimeter of the base further comprises at least one row of cells on a front edge of the base said at least one row of cells having a vertical height less than the vertical height of the cells in the three generally centrally positioned rows, and a top surface angled toward the front edge of the base to form a transition area between the centrally positioned rows of cells and the support surface.

38. The air cell cushion of claim 37 further comprising a row of cells positioned between the at least one row of cells on the front edge of the base and the three generally centrally positioned rows having a vertical height less than the vertical height of the cells in the three generally centrally positioned rows to form a transition area between the centrally positioned rows of cells and the at least one row of cells on the front edge of the base.

39. An air cell cushion for placement on a support surface to provide comfortable seating for a user seated on the cushion, comprising:

a flexible base having a front edge, a rear edge, a first side edge and a second side edge;

an array of individual upstanding air cells on the base arranged in rows on the base, the rows on the base further comprising a plurality of rows positioned substantially centrally on the base to form a seating area for positioning under the ischial area of the user, each individual cell in the seating area having the substantially the same configuration and vertical height, and the rows of cells further comprising a row of cells along each of the recited edges of the flexible base;

wherein the row of cells along the rear edge of the base form a bolster;

wherein the row of cells along the first side edge of the base is comprised of individual cells having a vertical height less than the vertical height of the cells in the seating area to form a transition area between the seating area adjacent that side edge and the support surface;

wherein the row of cells along the second side edge of the base is comprised of individual cells having a vertical height less than the vertical height of the cells in the seating area to form a transition area between the seating area adjacent that side edge and the support surface; and

wherein the row of cells along the front edge of the base is comprised of individual cells having a wedged shaped configuration and a vertical height less than the vertical height of the cells in the seating area to form a transition area between the seating area adjacent the front edge and the support surface.

40. The cushion of claim 39 wherein the plurality of rows positioned substantially centrally on the base to form a seating area for positioning under the ischial area of the user further comprise three rows.

41. The cushion of claim 39 molded from a plastic material.

42. An air cell cushion for placement on a support surface to provide comfortable seating for a user seated on the cushion, comprising:

a flexible base for positioning on the support surface; and

an array of individual air cells extending upwardly from said flexible base, said array of cells arranged in rows across the flexible base and comprising three generally centrally positioned rows comprising cells of a uniform configuration and uniform height forming a seating area for positioning under the ischial area of a user seated on the cushion, and a row of cells on a first side edge of the base end a row of cells on a second side edge of the base, said last two recited rows of cells having a vertical height less than the vertical height of the cells in the three generally centrally positioned rows to form transition areas between the centrally positioned rows of cells and the support surface.