Cushion for seating

• US 9,789,018 B2
• Filed: 10/30/2013
• Issued: 10/17/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 10/30/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Otto Bock Mobility Solutions GmbH (Nader Holding GmbH & Co. KG)
• Original Assignee: Otto Bock HealthCare LP (Nader Holding GmbH & Co. KG)
• Inventors: Anderson, Vaughn R., Call, Evan W., Rane, Darshan P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Sosnowski, David E
• Application Number:
  US14/067,742
• Publication Number:
  US 20150113735A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,448 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 27/142 with projections, depressions or cavities
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 27/18 in combination with inflatable bodies
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 7/021 Detachable or loose seat cushions
• 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 7/05715 with modular blocks, or inserts, with layers of different material
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/05769 with inflatable chambers
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49826 Assembling or joining

Abstract

A hybrid seating cushion made up of a cushion base and a cushion insert. The cushion base has a seating surface in which a void in or extending through the cushion base is formed. A cushion insert such as an air bladder or fluid sack is positioned within the void. A lip or upper surface around an opening in the void overhangs at least a portion of the cushion insert, thereby minimizing the size and corresponding negative effects of a transition area where the base and the insert overlap.

Claims

1. A hybrid seating cushion, comprising:

a cushion base having a seating surface, the seating surface having a lip edge extending along an upper perimeter of and overhanging a void in the cushion base;

the void having a top surface defining the upper perimeter, a bottom surface defining a lower perimeter, and a sidewall extending between the top surface and the bottom surface and along both perimeters, the void extending completely through the cushion base from the seating surface to the bottom surface;

the sidewall having a linear reverse taper such that a width of the void at the lip edge and the top surface is smaller than a width of the void at the bottom surface;

a bladder configured to support at least one of an ischial tuberosity, a coccyx, and a sacral area of a user, the bladder being positioned in the void and having an outer wall extending at least partially under the lip edge, wherein the sidewall is configured to be pressed into contact with at least a portion of the outer wall of the bladder;

and

the seating surface further having at least one contoured region configured to receive and support at least one leg of the user, the at least one contoured region being completely located outside of the upper perimeter of the void.

2. The hybrid seating cushion of claim 1, wherein the bladder further comprises a plurality of at least partially separate cells.

3. The hybrid seating cushion of claim 2, wherein the plurality of at least partially separate cells are interconnected by a plurality of pressure-distributing passages.

4. The hybrid seating cushion of claim 1, wherein the lip edge is pointed inward in relation to an opening of the void.

5. The hybrid seating cushion of claim 1, wherein the lip edge at least partially forms a transition surface between the sidewall of the void and the seating surface.

6. A hybrid seating cushion, comprising:

a cushion base having a seating surface, the seating surface having a lip edge extending along an upper perimeter of and overhanging a void in the cushion base;

the void having a top surface defining the upper perimeter, a bottom surface defining a lower perimeter, and a sidewall extending between the top surface and the bottom surface and along both perimeters, the void extending completely through the cushion base from the seating surface to the bottom surface;

the lower perimeter being greater than the upper perimeter such that said sidewall is angled;

a bladder configured to support at least one of an ischial tuberosity, a coccyx, and a sacral area of a user, the bladder being positioned in the void and having an outer wall extending at least partially under the lip edge, wherein the sidewall is configured to be pressed into contact with at least a portion of the outer wall of the bladder;

and

the seating surface further having at least one contoured region configured to receive and support at least one leg of the user, the at least one contoured region being completely located outside of the upper perimeter of the void.