Patent Application
20240389762
This invention relates to cushions in general, and more particularly to novel deformable cushions for supporting a mass (e.g., a person).
Cushions are used in a wide variety of applications in order to provide a comfortable and/or supportive structure between a first object (e.g., an object having mass, such as a person) and a second object (e.g., a hard surface). Generally speaking, where the first object disposed on top of a cushion is a person, cushions act to increase comfort for the person disposed on the cushion by eliminating peak pressure areas and by evenly distributing the force from the mass of the person sitting on the cushion (i.e., the force resulting from the weight of the person under Earth's gravity) over a broad surface area.
In order to provide a comfortable and/or supportive structure between a first object and a second object, cushions must be both (i) deformable so as to deform under the weight of an object disposed on the cushion, and (ii) resilient so as to revert to their original shape/configuration once the weight of the object is removed from the cushion. To achieve this, prior art cushions often comprise a non-solid interior defined by a series of regularly shaped openings between regularly-spaced walls. By way of example but not limitation,
However, it has been found that prior art cushions deform either too much (leading to inefficient distribution of force and/or lack of resiliency) or not enough (leading to a cushion which fails to distribute force or deforms in such a way that peak pressure areas exist).
Thus there is a need for a new and improved cushion which maintains substantial resiliency while still deforming under the mass of an object disposed on the cushion (i.e., the weight of the object) so as to eliminate peak pressure areas and evenly distribute the force resulting from the mass of the object on the cushion over a substantial area.
The present invention comprises the provision and use of a new and improved cushion which maintains substantial resiliency while still deforming under the mass of an object disposed on the cushion (i.e., the weight of the object) so as to eliminate peak pressure areas and evenly distribute the force resulting from the weight of the object on the cushion over a substantial area.
In a preferred form of the invention, there is provided apparatus for cushioning and/or supporting an object, the apparatus comprising:
In another preferred form of the invention, there is provided a method for cushioning and/or supporting an object, the method comprising:
These and other objects and features of the present invention will be more fully disclosed or rendered obvious by the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments of the invention, which is to be considered together with the accompanying drawings wherein like numbers refer to like parts, and further wherein:
The present invention comprises the provision and use of a new and improved cushion which maintains substantial resiliency while still deforming under the mass of an object disposed on the cushion (i.e., the weight of the object) so as to eliminate peak pressure areas and evenly distribute the force resulting from the weight of the object on the cushion over a substantial area.
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First portion 135 generally comprises a solid frustoconical body 150 defined by a first diameter D1 where first portion 135 abuts zone of demarcation 140, and tapering to a second, smaller diameter D2 where frustoconical body 150 terminates in a generally planar, circular surface 155 at first end 125. A plurality of flats 160 extend radially outward from frustoconical body 150 to a radial distance that is equal to D1 of frustoconical body 150. In a preferred form of the invention, four flats 160 extend radially outward from frustoconical body 150 to radial distances equal to D1 of frustoconical body 150, such that the combined radial distance spanned by any two diametrically-opposed flats 160 is equal to D1 of frustoconical body 150.
Second portion 145 generally comprises a solid cylindrical body 165 having a diameter equal to D1. Second portion 145 is mounted to first portion 135 at zone of demarcation 140, or is formed integral therewith.
Support elements 120 which are disposed adjacent to one another are arrayed in an alternating manner across the entire cushion 105, with the first portion 135 of a first support element 120 abutting the second portion 145 of an adjacent, second support element 120. See
Alternatively, if desired, the number of radially-extending flats 160 connecting first portion 135 of support element 120 to second portion 145 of an adjacent support element 120 can vary between support members 120. With this form of the invention, a zone comprising a plurality of support elements (e.g., a central zone, a peripheral zone, etc.) may comprise a greater number of radially-extending flats 160 than an adjacent zone comprising a plurality of support elements. As a result of this construction, novel cushion 105 may comprise a plurality of zones having different degrees of resiliency. Furthermore, if desired, adjacent support elements 120 may also be connected together at the adjacent zones of demarcation 140.
As a result of the foregoing construction, when an object (e.g., a person) is disposed on top surface 115 of cushion 105, support elements 120 deform (e.g., compress longitudinally) to support the weight of the object, with each of the first portions 135 flexing to a slightly greater degree than each of the second portions 145, owing to their frustoconical geometry (which provides somewhat reduced column strength relative to the solid cylindrical body 165 of second portion 145). At the same time, flats 160 provide interconnected strength which prevents first portion 135 from compressing too much relative to the weight of the object. Thus, the novel configuration of support elements 120, combined with the novel geometry of first portions 135, permits support elements 120 to compress/flex as needed in order to eliminate peak pressure areas and evenly distribute the force resulting from the weight of the object disposed on top surface 115 of cushion 105 over a substantial area (e.g., the surface area of bottom surface 110).
It should be understood that many additional changes in the details, materials, steps and arrangements of parts, which have been herein described and illustrated in order to explain the nature of the present invention, may be made by those skilled in the art while still remaining within the principles and scope of the invention.
This patent application claims benefit of pending prior U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 63/469,229, filed May 26, 2023 by Rachel Liao for NOVEL CUSHION (Attorney's Docket No. LIAO-6 PROV). The above-identified patent application is hereby incorporated herein by reference.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 63469229 | May 2023 | US |
