Patent Application
20070110495
This invention relates generally to improvements in user contact surfaces and related shape-conforming or biomorphic pods and grips for use with manually grasped implements and the like, such as a cooking vessel, hair brush, paint brush, sports racquet or bat, scissors or other hand tool, musical instrument, or virtually any other type of manually grasped device having a handle or related structure for manual grasping or engagement as by means of the hand or fingertips, or alternatively for contact and/or manipulation by a portion of the human body.
More specifically, this invention relates to an improved bioconforming or biomorphic pod for mounting onto an appropriate implement surface, and a related method of pod production, wherein the conformable pod incorporates a viscous and tacky gel material adapted for custom-fit shape deformation in response to a minimal applied inertia or pressure, and for substantially pressureless retention of the deformed shape until the pod is released by the user. When released, the pod exhibits a memory characteristic for subsequent relatively slow return to an initial nondeformed shape.
Manual implements generally incorporate a handle or related structure having a size and shape for appropriate manual grasping and manipulation of the implement during normal intended use. In one common form, the handle structure comprises an elongated rigid element having one end securely connected to the implement, such as a cooking pot or pan, a hair brush, a tool head, etc. In another common form, the manual implement is normally grasped directly about the body thereof, such as in the case of writing and other marking instruments, baseball and softball bats, etc. Other manual implements are adapted for fingertip manipulation and thereby include one or more keypads for fingertip depression, e.g., keyboards, musical instruments such as a clarinet, saxophone, trumpet and the like. Still other manual implements incorporate handle-like structures of alternative or complex shapes, such as circular structures adapted for finger or fingertip insertion to manipulation the implement, e.g., scissors and shears, and the like. In this regard, a variety of improved grips and the like have been developed in recent years for use with such manual implements, primarily to provide a relatively soft and resilient grip structure for enhanced user comfort and/or improved control of the manual implement during normal use thereof.
In the past, grip structures for relatively large manual implements such as sports equipment, hand tools, cookware, and hair brushes and the like have generally been limited to relatively soft and resilient rubber or rubber-like elastomer sleeves or sleeve-like wraps mounted onto the implement handle. While such grip structures beneficially provide a degree of cushioning for improved user comfort, the relative deformation of such grip structures during normal use is inherently limited. In particular, such cushioned grip structures are generally incapable of significant shape deformation, and thus have generally not provided a high degree of shape deformation needed to assume a customized ergonomical shape conforming closely to the anatomical contours of an individual user's hand and/or fingers. Such customized ergonomic shape is beneficially conducive to substantially optimized user comfort with substantially minimized user fatigue, by providing anatomical pressure relief while enhancing manual dexterity and improving manual control of the related device or implement.
In relatively small manual implements such as writing instruments and the like, cushioned grip structures have been similarly provided in the form of resilient elastomer sleeves and the like. In some designs, an outer resilient sleeve encloses an internal cavity which is filled with a flowable substance such as a deformable putty or relatively viscous liquid adapted to displace and thereby achieve substantial shape deformation when the grip structure is manually grasped. With such deformable grip structures, the outer resilient sleeve can exhibit a relatively high stiffness in comparison with the deformable putty or flowable substance contained within the internal cavity, whereby a significant minimum applied pressure for grip deformation is defined by the structure of the outer sleeve and not by the flowable material contained within said outer sleeve. In this regard, the structural thickness and thus the stiffness of the outer sleeve is often increased with a view toward preventing or minimizing inadvertent sleeve puncture and resultant undesirable escape of the flowable material from the internal cavity. Increased sleeve stiffness is, of course, contrary to a desire to provide a significantly reduced and substantially minimized pressure threshold for initiating deformation of the deformable grip. Moreover, such grip structures having a flowable material encased within a resilient outer sleeve are difficult to manufacture and assemble.
Exemplary grip structures having a flowable material encased within an outer resilient sleeve or the like are shown and described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,000,599 and 6,647,582 and 6,725,505; U.S. Publication Nos. US2003/0123917; US2003/0051316; US 2004/0233169; and US 2004/0248063; and in copending U.S. Ser. Nos. 09/484,127, filed Jan. 15, 2000 and Ser. No. 10/678,148, filed Oct. 2, 2003.
There exists, therefore, a need for further improvements in and to deformable pods and grips of the type used with manual implements and the like, particularly wherein a pod or grip structure can be initially deformed to a customized ergonomic shape upon application of an extremely light and substantially minimal pressure, and thereafter retain the deformed shape in substantial conformance with the unique anatomical contours of a specific user, substantially without requiring further or continued application of pressure, followed by relatively slow return upon release of the pod or grip structure substantially to its initial non-deformed shape. The present invention fulfills these needs and provides further related advantages.
In accordance with the invention, a conformable or biomorphic pod and related method of production are provided, wherein the pod defines a soft structure adapted for mounting onto a user-contacted surface of a manual implement or the like, and for shape deformation in response to minimal pressure applied thereto, i.e., by contact with some portion of the body including but not limited to the fingers, fingertips, and hands, and for retaining a deformed configuration substantially in the absence of continued application of manual pressure. The pod includes a viscous and tacky gel material encased or contained within a closed chamber or cavity defined at least in part by a relatively thin and easily deformed outer skin providing minimal deformation resistance to pod deformation and shape conformance to a substantially customized ergonomic shape conforming with the anatomical contours of the individual user. In a preferred form, the encased gel material is a coagulated or partially coagulated gel such as a silicone-based gel material adapted for deformation in response to minimal applied manual pressure, and for substantially pressureless retention of the as-deformed shape, followed by shape retention for a time delay period following user release (at least about two seconds or more) before relatively slow return (at least about four seconds or more) to an initial nondeformed shape.
A fastener element such as a pressure sensitive adhesive film is carried by the pod for stick-on attachment to a selected surface of a manual implement or the like. In one alternative form, the fastener element may comprise an elongated rim or rib carried by the pod and shaped for assembly as by clamped retention or the like between opposed structures forming the manual implement or the like.
In the preferred form, the gel material comprises a coagulated or partially coagulated or catalized gel or equivalent colloidal material such as a silicone-based gel material adapted for deformation in response to minimal applied pressure. This gel material can be relatively tacky or sticky and thereby adheres to the chamber-defining interior surfaces provided by the overlying pod skin. In one form, the highly deformable pod skin cooperates with a rear-side substrate which may comprise a thicker, less deformable material, to define the gel-containing chamber or cavity. The fastener element may be formed on or as part of, or otherwise connected to the substrate.
In use, when the conformable pod is mounted onto a manual implement or the like at a position for user contact during normal implement use, the outer skin is exposed for shape deformation in response to a relatively light or minimal applied manual or tactile pressure or the like. Such shape deformation of the outer skin is accompanied by a corresponding or conforming displacement of the gel material contained within the pod cavity, wherein this gel material tends to retain the deformed shape upon continued contact by the user but without requiring any significant continued application of manual or tactile pressure or the like. Thereafter, following user release of the pod, the gel material exhibits a memory characteristic causing the pod to initially retain the deformed shape following user release for a time delay period of at least about two seconds, and then return relatively slowly over a period of at least about four seconds to its initial nondeformed shape.
The conformable pod may be constructed by initially forming the outer skin as by injection, tumble, compression, or blow molding, or the like. The pod skin, in an inverted orientation, defines an open-sided chamber which is then substantially filled with the gel material, followed by closing and sealing the pod chamber with the substrate.
In one preferred form and method, the skin may incorporate a textured pattern and/or multiple folds in a corrugated configuration at one or more locations or zones for further reducing the requisite tactile force or the like required to deform the pod skin thereby displacing the contained gel material within the enclosed chamber. In this construction, the patterned or folded skin accommodates close control over the timing and/or direction of skin and resultant overall pod displacement. In a modified form, the patterned or folded skin zone or zones may each include a region of reduced or variable skin wall thickness. In each configuration, following user release, the gel material encased by the skin returns slowly to an initial, substantially nondeformed shape.
In one alternative preferred form, the deformable outer skin of the conformable pod can be shaped to define a plurality of elongated ribs formed generally in parallel relation and spaced apart by intervening troughs or valley of substantial depth. This deformable outer skin cooperates with a rear-side pod substrate which may comprises a thicker and/or less deformable material to define a closed chamber cavity that is filled or substantially filled with the gel material. In one form, one or more fasteners such as mounting bolts are anchored as by co-molding within the rear-side pod substrate and protrude rearwardly therefrom for quick and easy connection with an article or implement such as a chair structure, e.g., a chair seat or chair seatback. In use, a person sitting in the chair contacts the distal surfaces of the elongated ribs, resulting in displacement of the gel material within and between the pod ribs.
In one further alternative configuration, modified fasteners such as mechanical fasteners can be connected to a relatively stiff support strip formed from a suitable material and inserted as by co-molding within the pod generally at an inboard side of the rear-side pod substrate, with a portion of the fasteners protruding from or otherwise externally exposed at the rear side of the pod for mounting onto the selected article or implement. Alternative fasteners, e.g., magnet-type fasteners can be carried at the rear side of the pod for mounting onto the selected article or implement. Alternative fastening methods can also be used, such as co-molding of the selected article or implement directly to the rear side of the pod.
Other features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings which illustrate, by way of example, the principles of the invention.
The accompanying drawings illustrate the invention. In such drawings:
s
As shown in the exemplary drawings, an improved conformable or biomorphic pod referred to generally in
The conformable pod 10 of the present invention may be used with a wide range of implements and devices designed or intended for contacting the human skin, particularly such as manually grasped implements including but not limited to items such as a cooking vessel, hair brush, paint brush, scissors, sports racquet or bat, hand tool, musical instrument, or virtually any other type of manually grasped device having a handle or related structure for manual grasping or engagement as by means of the hand or fingertips. In this regard, it will be understood that use herein of the term manual implement will include devices that are grasped, held, manipulated, or otherwise contacted by some portion of a user's body in the course of normal operation and/or use. The conformable pod 10 may be constructed in a wide range of different sizes and shapes, or combination of multiple pods assembled for mounting as a group, onto the handle structure or fingertip keypad structure or other selected user-contacted surface of the related manual implement or the like. In this regard, the pod 10 may be sized and shaped for mounting onto a flat surface, a curvilinear surface, or other geometric surfaces. In addition, the pod 10 may be construction in a cylindrical, sleeve-shaped configuration sized for slide-fit onto an implement handle or the like.
In accordance with a primary aspect of the invention, the conformable pod 10 incorporates a viscous and tacky gel or equivalent colloidal material 14 adapted for resilient deformation when subjected to manual or other bodily pressure. This gel material 14 is contained within a substantially closed chamber 16 defined at least in part by an outer skin 18 formed from a material, and having a thickness selected for minimal deformation resistance to applied lightweight manual or tactile pressure. Accordingly, the easily deformable skin 18 does not provide significant resistance to pod deformation, thereby enabling the encased gel material 14 to deform in response to minimal applied pressure.
Once deformed, the gel material 14 exhibits sufficient shape memory capacity for relatively slow return to its initial nondeformed shape following a time delay of at least about two seconds after release of the applied pressure. Accordingly, after deformation, the gel material retains its deformed shape upon continued user contact, but in a pressureless manner substantially without requiring further input of manual force or pressure to retain the pod 10 in the deformed shape. Following the post-release time delay, the gel material returns slowly over a period of at least about four seconds or more substantially to the initial nondeformed shape. In addition, in the event of inadvertent or accidental puncture of the outer skin 18, the gel material 14 exhibits sufficient material integrity to prevent leakage outflow of the gel material from the pod interior.
As viewed in one preferred form in
While the illustrative drawings show the conformable pod 10 to have a generally rectangular shape, persons skilled in the art will understand that numerous alternative pad configurations such as circular, oval, toroidal, cylindrical or sleeve-shaped, etc., may used. Moreover, persons skilled in the art will recognize and appreciate that other types of fastener elements may be employed, such as Velcro-type fastener components, ribs or rims protruding from the substrate 20, and the like.
The upper male mold die 36 is then separated from the lower female die 38 having the molded skin 18 supported therein. In this configuration, the molded skin 18 is supported in an inverted orientation for facilitated pour-in reception of the gel material 14, as illustrated by arrow 42 in
Exemplary gel materials include Silgel 612, available from Wacker Chemical Corporation, Adrian, Mich., and ER 8015 GE TSE3053, both available from GE Silicones, Wilton, Mass. Importantly, such gel materials exhibit a memory characteristic whereby the material deformably responds to relatively lightweight or minimal applied pressure, but thereafter, following a time delay of at least about two seconds after user release, the gel material returns relatively slowly (over a period of at least five seconds or more) to its initial nondeformed shape. The gel material has a preferred penetration range of about 100-1,000 cm/sec., and preferably a precured viscosity range of about 500 cP (centepoids) to about 1,500 cP.
In accordance with one important aspect of the invention, the gel material 14 retains the deformed shape in a substantially pressureless manner, i.e., substantially without requiring the user to exert a deformation force for the purpose of holding and retaining the pod 10 in the desired custom-fitted geometry. Instead, the user can operate and/or manipulate the implement 12 in a secure, stable, and comfortable manner, without requiring continued exertion of additional forces to hold the pod 10 in the desired deformed shape. The gel material 14 maintains the deformed shape for at least a short delay period following release of the applied pressure therefrom. That is, the gel material 14 tends to retain the deformed shape for at least about two seconds or more, following release of the applied pressure, and thereafter returns slowly over a period of about four seconds or more to the initial nondeformed shape.
Additional alternative preferred forms of the invention are depicted in
More particularly, each of the seatback pods 310 comprises a plurality of elongated raised ribs 86 extending generally in parallel and spaced-apart relation, and separated by intervening recessed troughs or valleys 87. These seatback pods 310 are each shown mounted onto the chair seatback 312 with the ribs 86 and troughs 87 oriented to extend generally transversely or horizontally across the chair seatback. Three of the seatback pods 312 are shown mounted onto the seatback 312 in vertically spaced relation to each other. Persons skilled in the art will appreciate, however, that each seatback pod 310 can be constructed with any convenient number of elongated ribs 86 with intervening recessed troughs 87. In this regard, the seat pod 310′ has a similar construction and is shown in the illustrative drawings with a larger number of elongated raised ribs 86 with intervening recessed troughs or valleys extending generally transversely across the chair seat 312′.
In accordance with one primary aspect of the embodiment shown in
Each of the mounting bolts 88 has a head portion 91 securely anchored to the associated conformable pod. As viewed best in one preferred form in
In use, when the conformable pods 310 or 310′ are mounted onto the appropriate article or implement such as the illustrative chair seatback 312 or chair seat 312′, the user contacts the raised or distal end portions of the elongated ribs 86 resulting in deformation of the gel material 314 contained therein. As shown best in
In further alternative form, different types of mechanical fasteners may be employed, such as magnet fasteners carried by the conformable pod at the rear side thereof for quick and easy attachment to the structure of a selected article or implement. A magnet can be carried at a rear side of the pod for attachment to a suitable structure which may include a mating magnet of opposite polarity. Or, in some configurations, the rear-side substrate of the conformable pod may be designed for direct attachment as by co-molding directly onto the structure of the selected article or substrate.
A variety of further modifications and improvements in and to the improved conformable pod of the present invention will be apparent to those persons skilled in the art. Accordingly, no limitation on the invention is intended by way of the foregoing description and accompanying drawings, except as set forth in the appended claims.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parent | 11158900 | Jun 2005 | US |
| Child | 11558981 | Nov 2006 | US |
