Cushion member

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION AND RELATED ART STATEMENT

The present invention relates to a cushion member to be attached to a portion of a bag or the like contacting a body of a user.

A knapsack generally includes a back surface formed of a mesh for cushioning and air permeability, as disclosed in Japanese Patent Publications (Kokai) No. 03-71881, No. 8-242923, and No. 2000-152819 and Japanese Patent No. 3034502. Such a back surface has a small mesh for air permeability, so that the user may feel uncomfortable due to a moist state and the like.

In view of the problem, an object of the present invention is to provide a cushion member to be attached to a portion of a bag or the like contacting a body of a user and having good cushioning ability and high air permeability when the bag or the like is used.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description of the invention.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In order to attain the above objects, according to the present invention, a cushion member is to be attached to a portion of a bag or the like contacting a body of a user when the bag or the like is used. The cushion member includes an uneven surface portion having a plurality of elastic projections on the whole or a part thereof. Each of the elastic projections on the uneven surface portion includes an interior space and a communicating portion communicating with the interior space.

With the structure as described above, when the cushion member is attached to the bag or the like such that a front surface thereof contacts the body of the user and a back surface thereof faces a surface of the bag, the user carries the bag or the like in a state that the uneven surface portion on the front surface of the cushion member pleasantly contacts the body of the user. The uneven surface portion on the front surface of the cushion member has a plurality of elastic projections. Among the elastic projections of the uneven surface portion, projections strongly pressed against the body deform greatly and projections not so strongly pressed against the body do not deform so much. Further, projections not contacting the body do not deform at all. In other words, the uneven surface portion of the cushion member contacting the body of the user fits a contour of the body of the user.

Also, each of the elastic projections constituting the uneven surface portion includes the interior space and the communicating portion communicating with the interior space. Accordingly, when the projections deform as described above, it is possible to secure the air permeability between the body and the outer surface of the bag, thereby preventing a moist state as much as possible to thereby obtain comfort.

A through-hole communicating with the interior space of each elastic projection may be formed in a base member of the uneven surface member. Accordingly, it is possible to secure the air permeability between the front surface and the back surface of the cushion member through the communicating portion, the interior space of each elastic projection and the through-hole, thereby attaining the object. In this case, the air permeability between the front surface and the back surface of the cushion member is secured, and the moist state can be effectively reduced when the bag or the like is used.

The cushion member may include the uneven surface portion, and a flat surface portion. An attaching portion with respect to the bag or the like may be formed on the flat surface portion. In this case, the attaching portion may be formed of an inserting hole formed in the flat surface portion for inserting a cord or belt-like member. Accordingly, the cushion member can be easily and adequately attached to the bag or the like. When the attaching portion is the inserting hole, the cord or the belt-like member connected to the bag or the like is inserted into the inserting hole as needed, so that the cushion member can be easily and adequately attached to the outer surface of the bag or the like in a detachable state.

The cushion member may be structured such that two or more of the uneven surface portions are connected through a flat surface portion. The flat surface portion has a thickness so that the flat surface portion can be cut easily along the flat surface portion. In this case, the cushion member can be formed in a required size by cutting as needed in advance.

The cushion member may also be formed of two or more cushion parts having one or more uneven surface portions and a connecting portion to be connected to the other cushion part. In this case, it is possible to join one of the adjacent cushion parts to the other at the connecting portion in a state that a connecting position can be adjusted in the vertical or horizontal direction. It is possible to combine a plurality of the cushion parts to form the cushion member with a various size. When one of the adjacent cushion parts is connected to the other at the connecting portion in a state that the connecting portions of the adjacent cushion parts can be adjusted in the vertical direction or in the horizontal direction, the whole size of the cushion member can be changed as needed by changing positions of the connecting portions.

With the cushion member according to the invention, it is possible to obtain good cushion ability and air permeability at the portion contacting the body of the user when the bag or the like is used.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front view of a cushion member M according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along line 2-2 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged perspective view of an essential part of the cushion member M as shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged perspective view of a variation of an essential part of the cushion member M;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged perspective view of a variation of an essential part of the cushion member M;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged perspective view of a variation of an essential part of the cushion member M;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged perspective view of a variation of an essential part of the cushion member M;

FIG. 8 is an enlarged perspective view of a variation of an essential part of the cushion member M;

FIG. 9 is an enlarged perspective view of a variation of an essential part of the cushion member M;

FIG. 10 is an enlarged perspective view of a variation of an essential part of the cushion member M;

FIG. 11 is an enlarged perspective view of a variation of an essential part of the cushion member M;

FIG. 12 is a perspective view showing a cushion member M in use state according to another embodiment;

FIG. 13 is a perspective view showing a cushion member M according to a further embodiment;

FIG. 14 is a front view showing a cushion member M according to a still further embodiment; and

FIG. 15 is a perspective view showing a cushion member M according to a still further embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Hereunder, embodiments of the invention will be explained with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIGS. 1 and 2 show a cushion member M according to an embodiment of the invention. FIG. 3 is an enlarged view showing an elastic projection 10 constituting an uneven surface portion 1 of the cushion member M. FIGS. 4 to 11 are views showing variations of the elastic projection 10, respectively. FIG. 12 shows the cushion member M attached to a shouldering surface Ra of a knapsack R. FIG. 13 shows another embodiment of the cushion member M. FIG. 14 shows a further embodiment of the cushion member M. FIG. 15 shows a still further embodiment of the cushion member M.

The cushion member M according to the embodiment is attached to a portion of a bag or the like contacting a body of a user. The cushion member M is typically attached to a shouldering surface Ra of a knapsack R, or a back surface of a waist bag. The uneven surface portion 1 formed of a plurality of elastic projections 10 is provided on a part or the whole area of a front surface 2 of the cushion member M. Each of the elastic projections 10 constituting the uneven surface portion 1 includes an interior space 10a and communicating portions 10b communicating with the interior space 10a, respectively.

The cushion member M is attached to the bag or the like so that the front surface 2 thereof contacts the body of the user and a back surface 3 thereof faces an outer surface of the bag or the like. The uneven surface portion 1 formed on the front surface 2 contacts the body of the user when the user carries the bag. The uneven surface portion 1 on the front surface 2 of the cushion member M is formed of the plurality of the elastic projections 10. The elastic projections 10 pressed strongly against the body of the user deform largely and the elastic projections 10 pressed not strongly do not deform much. Further, the elastic projections 10 not contacting the body of the user do not deform at all. In other words, the uneven surface portion 1 of the cushion member M contacting the body of the user deforms to fit a contour of the body of the user.

Each of the elastic projections 10 includes the interior space 10a and the communicating portions 10b for communicating with the interior space 10a. Accordingly, when the elastic projections 10 deform as described above, it is possible to obtain good air permeability between the body and the outer surface of the bag or the like, thereby eliminating a moist state and obtaining comfortable wearing. The cushion member may be formed integrally of a flexible synthetic resin, thereby providing the elastic projections 10 constituting the uneven surface portion 1 of the cushion member M with predetermined elastic deformation characteristics.

The cushion member M may be easily stitched to a cloth constituting an outer surface of the bag or the like. Also, the front surface 2 of the cushion member M may contact the body of the user directly or indirectly. In other words, the front surface 2 of the cushion member M attached to the bag or the like may be covered with a cloth having air permeability.

A plurality of through-holes 40 communicating with the interior spaces 10a of the elastic projections 10 may be formed in a base member 4 constituting the uneven surface portion 1 having the elastic projections 10 on the surface thereof. Accordingly, it is possible to provide the air permeability between the front surface 2 and the back surface 3 of the cushion member M through the communicating portions 10b, the interior spaces 10a of the elastic projections 10 and the through-holes 40. In this case, it is also possible to further secure the air permeability between the front surface 2 and the back surface 3 of the cushion member M, thereby further eliminating the moist state when the bag is shouldered.

FIGS. 1 to 3 show the embodiment of the cushion member M as described above. In the embodiment, a plurality of the elastic projections 10 is arranged in a grid pattern on the front surface of the base member 4 formed in a plate shape, so that the front surface has the uneven surface portion 1. A flat surface portion 5 is formed around the uneven surface portion 1, so that the cushion member M is sewed together with a cloth constituting the outer surface of the bag or the like at the surface portion 5. In view of the sewing, the flat surface portion 5 preferably has a thickness and hardness to be easily sewed together. The cushion member also can be attached to the bag or the like through bonding or welding the back surface 3 to the cloth constituting the outer surface of the bag or the like.

In the present embodiment, the elastic projection 10 is formed of a leading end constituting member 10c in a ring shape and four leg members 10d with lower ends integrally connected to the base member 4 and upper ends connected to the leading end constituting member 10c. Substantially equal spaces are formed between the respective adjacent legs 10d around the elastic projection 10. The respective leg members 10d project in an inclined state to reduce an outer dimension of the elastic projection 10 toward an upper end. A through-hole 40 in a square shape is formed in the base member 4, and the elastic projection 10 is positioned over the through-hole 40. Specifically, the lower ends of the respective leg members 10d are integrally connected to four corners of the square-shape through-hole 40, so that the leading end constituting member 10c is positioned over the through-hole 40 with the four leg members 10d. In other words, the elastic projection 10 has the interior space 10a communicating with the through-hole 40 and the communicating portions 10b communicating with the interior space 10a between the leg members 10d.

The elastic projection 10 may have a structure shown in FIG. 4. In the embodiment, the elastic projection 10 is formed of the leading end constituting member 10c in a ring shape and the leg members 10d with lower ends integrally connected to the base member 4 and upper ends integrally connected to the leading end constituting member 10c. Substantially equal spaces are formed between the respective leg members 10d around the elastic projection 10. Also, the respective leg members 10d project in an inclined state to reduce the outer dimension of the elastic projection 10 toward the upper end. The through-hole 40 in a triangular shape is formed in the base member 4 and the elastic projection 10 is positioned over the through-hole 40. Specifically, the lower ends of the leg members 10d are integrally connected to three corners of the triangular through-hole 40, so that the leading end constituting member 10c is positioned over the through-hole 40 through the leg members 10d. In other words, the elastic projection 10 includes the interior space 10a communicating with the through-hole 40 and the communicating portions 10b communicating with the interior space 10a between the leg members 10d.

The elastic projection 10 may has a structure shown in FIG. 5. In the embodiment, the elastic projection 10 is formed of the leading end constituting member 10c in a ring shape and the four leg members 10d with lower ends integrally connected to the base member 4 and upper ends integrally connected to the leading end constituting member 10c. Substantially equal spaces are formed between the respective adjacent leg members 10d around the elastic projection 10. Also, the respective leg members 10d project in an inclined state halfway, and extend straight and perpendicular to the surface of the base member 4. The through-hole 40 in a round shape is formed in the base member 4 and the elastic projection 10 is positioned over the through-hole 40. Specifically, the lower ends of the respective leg members 10d are integrally connected to an edge portion of the round through-hole 40, so that the leading end constituting member 10c is positioned over the through-hole 40 through the four leg members 10d. In other words, the elastic projection 10 includes the interior space 10a communicating with the through-hole 40 and the communicating portions 10b communicating with the interior space 10a between the adjacent leg members 10d.

The elastic projection 10 may have a structure shown in FIG. 6. In the embodiment, the elastic projection 10 is formed of the leading end constituting member 10c in a square shape and the four leg members 10d with lower ends integrally connected to the base member 4 and upper ends integrally connected to the leading end constituting member 10c. Substantially equal spaces are formed between the respective leg members 10d around the elastic projection 10. Also, the respective leg members 10d project in an inclined state to reduce the outer dimension of the elastic projection 10 toward the upper end. The through-hole 40 in a square shape is formed in the base member 4 and the elastic projection 10 is positioned over the through-hole 40.

Specifically, the lower ends of the respective leg members 10d are integrally connected to four corners of the square-shape through-hole 40 and the leading ends of the respective legs are integrally connected to four corners of the leading end constituting member 10c in a square shape, respectively. Accordingly, the leading end constituting member 10c is positioned over the through-hole 40 through the four leg members 10d. In other words, the elastic projection 10 includes the interior space 10a communicating with the through-hole 40 and the communicating portions 10b communicating with the interior space 10a between the leg members 10d adjacent to the leading end constituting member 10c.

The elastic projection 10 may have a structure shown in FIG. 7. In the embodiment, the elastic projection 10 is formed of the four leg members 10d with lower ends integrally connected to the base member 4 and upper ends integrally connected to each other. Substantially equal spaces are formed between the respective leg members 10d around the elastic projection 10. Also, the respective leg members 10d project in an inclined state to reduce the outer dimension of the elastic projection 10 toward the upper end. The through-hole 40 in a square shape is formed in the base member 4 and the elastic projection 10 is positioned over the through-hole 40. Specifically, the lower ends of the respective leg members 10d are integrally connected to corners of the square projecting portion 10g around the edge portion of the square shape through-hole 40. Accordingly, the elastic projection 10 has a pyramid shape. In other words, the elastic projection 10 includes the interior space 10a communicating with the through-hole 40 and the communicating portions 10b communicating with the interior space 10a between the adjacent leg members 10d.

The elastic projection 10 may have a structure shown in FIG. 8. In the embodiment, the elastic projection 10 is formed of a pair of arch members 10e having a curved arch shape with lower ends integrally connected to the base member 4, and a plurality of connecting members 10f disposed between the arch members 10e. The through-hole 40 is formed in the base member 4, and the elastic projection 10 is positioned over the rectangular through-hole 40. Specifically, the arch members 10e extend in the longitudinal direction of the through-hole 40 and the lower ends thereof are integrally connected to the corners of the through-hole 40 on the longitudinal side. More specifically, the elastic projection 10 includes the interior space 10a communicating with the through-hole 40, and the communicating portions 10b communicating with the interior space 10a between the arch shape members 10e, and between the connecting members 10f.

The elastic projection 10 may have a structure shown in FIG. 9. The elastic projection 10 is formed of the leading end constituting member 10c in a ring shape and the leg members 10d with lower ends integrally connected to the base member 4 and upper ends integrally connected to the leading end constituting member 10c. Substantially equal spaces are formed between the respective leg members 10d around the elastic projection 10. Also, the respective leg members 10d project in a step state to reduce the outer dimension of the elastic projection 10 toward the upper end. The through-hole 40 in a round shape is formed in the base member 4 and the elastic projection 10 is positioned over the round through-hole 40. Specifically, the lower ends of the respective leg members 10d are integrally connected to the edge portion of the round through-hole 40. In other words, the elastic projection 10 includes the interior space 10a communicating with the through-hole 40 and the communicating portions 10b communicating with the interior space 10a between the leg members 10d adjacent to the leading end constituting member 10c.

The elastic projection 10 may have a structure shown in FIG. 10. In the embodiment, the elastic projection 10 is formed of six leg members 10d with lower ends integrally connected to the base member 4 and upper ends integrally connected to each other. Substantially equal spaces are formed between the respective adjacent leg members 10d around the elastic projection 10. Also, the respective leg members 10d project in a curved state to reduce the outer dimension of the elastic projection 10 toward the upper end. Also, the through-hole 40 in a round shape is formed in the base member 4 and the elastic projection 10 is positioned over the through-hole 40. Specifically, the lower ends of the respective leg members 10d are integrally connected to a circular protruding portion 10g around the edge portion of the through-hole 40. Accordingly, the elastic projection 10 has a dome shape. In other words, the elastic projection 10 includes the interior space 10a communicating with the through-hole 40 and the communicating portions 10b communicating with the interior space 10a between the adjacent leg members 10d.

FIG. 11 shows an example of the base member 4 wherein tubular members 10h are arranged in parallel and integrally connected with connecting portions 10i. Accordingly, a plurality of elastic projections 10 is formed on the front surface 2 of the cushion member M, and the uneven surface portion 1 is formed of the elastic projections 10. Each of the tubular members 10h includes through-holes 10j communicating with the interior space 10a on the front surface 2 of the cushion member M. In other words, the elastic projections 10 include the interior spaces 10a and the communicating portions 10b communicating with the interior spaces 10a through the through-holes 10j.

FIG. 12 shows an example of the cushion member M having two uneven surface portions 1. In the embodiment, the uneven surface portions 1 are arranged side by side on the front surface of the base member 4 in a state that the flat surface portion 5 is formed in the middle of the base member 4 in a rectangular plate shape in the longitudinal direction. The flat surface portion 5 is also formed on an outer edge portion around the base member 4. The cushion members M are sewed to a cloth constituting the outer surface of the bag or the like, i.e. a cloth constituting the shouldering surface Ra of the knapsack R, at the flat surface portions 5 disposed on both edge portions of the cushion member M in the width direction and the middle portion between the two uneven surface portions 1.

In the embodiment, the shouldering surface Ra of the knapsack R is substantially covered with the four cushion members M attached to the knapsack R in the vertical direction with a space therebetween. The flat surface portions 5 between the uneven surface portions 1 of the cushion members M are positioned on the same imaginary line on the knapsack R in the vertical direction, so that the uneven surface portions 1 of the cushion members M do not contact a backbone of the user of the knapsack R, thereby obtaining a good shouldering feeling.

In the embodiment, each of the cushion members M is sewed at three sewing portions 50 of the flat surface portions 5, and is not sewed to the knapsack R between the respective sewing portions 50. Accordingly, when a small stone, pebble or the like enters the interior space 10a through the communicating portions 10b of the elastic projection 10 constituting the uneven surface portion 1 of the cushion member M, or enters the backside of the back surface 3 of the cushion member M through the through-hole 40 formed in the base member 4, the cushion member M is deformed and separated from the outer surface of the knapsack R at the non-sewed portions between the sewing portions 50, thereby make it easy to take the stone out.

When the cushion member M includes the uneven surface portions 1 and the flat surface portions 5, an attaching portion 51 may be formed in the flat surface portions 5 for easily attaching the cushion member M to the knapsack or the like. The attaching portion 51 may be a through-hole 52 formed in the flat surface portion 5 for passing a cord or belt member. In this case, a cord or belt member attached to the bag or the like is inserted into the through-hole 52. Accordingly, it is possible to easily and adequately attach the cushion member M to the outer surface of the bag or the like in a detachable state as needed.

FIG. 13 shows an example wherein the uneven surface portions 1 are formed on the front surface of the base member 4 in a plate shape covering substantially the whole shouldering surface Ra of the knapsack R. The through-holes 52 are formed in the flat surface portions 5 around the outer edge portion of the base member 4. In the embodiment, the flat surface portion 5 is formed at an upper center portion of the cushion member M, and the uneven surface portions 1 are formed on both sides of the flat surface portion 5 vertically. Also, the flat surface portion 5 is formed at a lower portion of the cushion member M, and the uneven surface 1 is formed on the flat surface portion 5, so that the flat surface portion 5 is formed below lower ends of the uneven surface portions 1 on the upper portion.

Further, slit-like upper through-holes 52a extending in the horizontal direction are formed in both sides of the flat surface portion 5 along an upper edge portion of the cushion member M. Slit-like lower through-holes 52b extending in the vertical direction are formed in the flat surface portions 5 on both sides of the cushion member M at a lower edge portion thereof. A pair of shouldering bands Rb of the knapsack R is inserted into the upper through-holes 52a, and a pair of waist bands Rc of the knapsack R is inserted into the lower inserting holes 52b, so that the cushion member M is attached to the shouldering surface Ra of the knapsack R in a detachable state with the bands Rb and Rc without displacement.

The cushion member M may be structured such that two or more uneven surface portions 1 are connected through the flat surface portions 5. The flat surface portions 5 may have a thickness so that the flat surface portions 5 can be easily cut along thereof. In this case, the cushion member M can be formed in a desired size as needed.

FIG. 14 shows an example wherein the uneven surface portions 1 are formed on the front surface of the base member 4 in a plate shape covering substantially the whole shouldering surface Ra of the knapsack R. In the embodiment, the flat surface portion 5 is disposed at the upper center portion of the cushion member M, and the vertical uneven surface portions 1 are formed on both sides of the flat surface portion 5. The horizontal uneven surface portions 1 are formed on the lower portion of the cushion member M, so that the flat surface portion 5 is formed below the lower ends of the upper uneven surface portions 1. The flat surface portions 5 extending in the horizontal direction are formed between the horizontal uneven surface portions 1, and are connected to the flat surface portion 5 around the outer edge portion of the base member 4. The horizontal uneven surface portions 1 have three steps in the vertical direction.

When the knapsack R has a large capacity, for example, larger than 40 litters, the cushion member M may be used as it is. When the knapsack R has a capacity smaller than that, for example, 20 to 40 litters, the uneven surface portion 1 at the lowermost position is removed by cutting along the flat surface portion 5 extending in the horizontal direction, and the remaining portions are used as the cushion member M. When the knapsack R has a further smaller capacity, for example, less than 20 litters, the uneven surface portions 1 below the middle are removed and the remaining portions are used as the cushion member M. In other words, when the cushion member M has the structured as described above, the cushion member M can be used in a various size and a molding die can be simplified, so that the cushion member M can be supplied at a lower cost. The removed portions can be applied to a smaller bag such as a belt bag.

The cushion member M may be formed of two or more cushion parts M′ having one or more uneven surface portions 1 and a connecting portion 53 for connecting another cushion part M′. In this case, the plural cushion parts M′ are appropriately combined to obtain the cushion member M having a different size. The connecting portion 53 may be formed of a hole formed in the flat surface portion 5 of one of the cushion parts M′ and a projection formed on the other of the cushion parts M′. Alternatively, the connecting portion 53 may be formed of a female buckle member connected to one of the cushion part M′ and a male buckle member connected to the other of the cushion parts M′. One of the cushion parts M′ may connected to the other of the cushion parts M′ with the connecting portions 53 in a state that the connecting position in the vertical or horizontal direction can be adjusted. Accordingly, the whole size of the cushion member M can be adjusted if necessary by changing positions of the connecting portions 53.

FIG. 15 shows an example wherein the cushion member M covering substantially the whole shouldering surface Ra of the knapsack R is formed of an upper cushion part M′ having a lower flat surface portion 54 projecting downwardly from a lower portion thereof and a lower cushion part M′ having an upper flat surface portion 55 projecting upwardly from an upper portion thereof. The upper cushion part M′ includes the uneven surface portions 1 extending in the vertical direction with the flat surface portion 5 extending in the vertical direction in between, and the inserting holes 52 for inserting the shouldering bands Rb of the knapsack R at both sides of the flat surface portion 5 above the uneven surface portions 1. The lower cushion part M′ includes the uneven surface portion 1 extending in the horizontal direction, and the inserting holes 52 for inserting the waist bands Rc of the knapsack R at both sides of the flat surface portion 5.

In the embodiment, through-holes 56 with a substantially equal space in between are formed in the upper flat surface portion 55 of the lower cushion part M′ in the horizontal direction. Adjusting holes 57 are formed in three levels in the vertical direction, i.e. three through-holes 56 lined in the horizontal direction with a substantially equal space in between and three through-holes 56 lined in the vertical direction with a substantially equal space in between. Rivet-like connecting members 58 are inserted into the through-holes 56 of the lower cushion part M′ and the corresponding adjusting holes 57 of the upper cushion part M′, and stopping ring members 59 are fitted to leading ends of the rivet-like connecting members 58. Accordingly, the lower and upper cushion parts M′ are connected in a state that a front surface of the lower flat surface portion 54 of the upper cushion part M′ is closely attached to a back surface of the upper flat surface portion 55 of the lower cushion part M′. The through-holes 56 of the lower cushion part M′ can be aligned to the adjusting holes 57 of the upper cushion part M′ at a different level, so that the size of the cushion member M can be adjusted, i.e. longer or shorter, so as to fit the body of the user or change the capacity of the knapsack R.

The disclosure as disclosed in Japanese Patent Application No. 2003-294917 filed on Aug. 19, 2003 is incorporated in the application.

While the invention has been explained with reference to the specific embodiments of the invention, the explanation is illustrative and the invention is limited only by the appended claims.

Cushion member

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CPC

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Description

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Priority Claims (1)