TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to meditation cushions and methods for manufacturing the same, particularly inflatable meditation cushions constructed from upcycled materials and distributed methods for manufacturing the same.
BACKGROUND
The recent mental health crisis and isolation experienced due to the COVID-19 pandemic have elucidated the benefits of mindful health and wellness pursuits, including self-care activities, such as yoga and meditation. Accordingly, accessibility to equipment used in these activities is of increased importance. Meditation cushions, also referred to as zafus, are often used to support seated individuals during meditation. Such cushions facilitate maintaining a comfortable seated position, specifically maintaining spinal alignment and hip/seat elevation. However, materialistic aspects of meditation cushions, particularly their construction in manufacturing facilities and use of new materials, are contrary to their contemplative purpose. Accordingly, improved meditation cushions and manufacturing methods would be beneficial.
SUMMARY
According to one embodiment of the present invention, a method for manufacturing an inflatable meditation cushion includes, at a manufacturing location, forming a cover from a textile and positioning the cover, an inflatable bladder, and padding in packaging. The packaging carrying the cover, the inflatable bladder, and the padding is then transported to an end user location. At the end user location, the inflatable bladder and the padding are positioned inside the cover.
In some embodiments, the method further includes, after positioning the inflatable bladder and the padding inside the cover, closing the cover.
In certain embodiments, forming the cover from the textile includes cutting the textile.
In some embodiments, the method further includes obtaining the textile from a previously used product.
In certain embodiments, the cover includes an opening and the inflatable bladder includes a valve being selectively accessible through the opening.
In some embodiments, an end user conducts the step of positioning the inflatable bladder and the padding inside the cover.
In certain embodiments, the method further includes obtaining the padding from a previously used product.
According to another embodiment of the present invention, a method for using an inflatable meditation cushion includes receiving a cover, an inflatable bladder, and padding; positioning the inflatable bladder within the padding; closing the cover over the padding and the inflatable bladder; and subsequently inflating the inflatable bladder.
In some embodiments, receiving the cover, the inflatable bladder, and the padding includes receiving packaging carrying the cover, the inflatable bladder, and the padding.
In certain embodiments, the method further includes, after inflating the inflatable bladder, sitting on the meditation cushion.
In some embodiments, the method further includes, after inflating the inflatable bladder, deflating the inflatable bladder.
In certain embodiments, the method further includes, after deflating the inflatable bladder, reconfiguring the inflatable meditation cushion to a transport configuration.
In some embodiments, the method further includes securing the inflatable meditation cushion in the transport configuration.
According to yet another embodiment of the present invention, a kit for manufacturing an inflatable meditation cushion includes packaging; a cover disposed in the packaging; padding disposed in the packaging and configured to be positioned within the cover; and an inflatable bladder disposed in the packaging and configured to be positioned within the padding.
In certain embodiments, the inflatable bladder includes a main body and a valve.
In some embodiments, the cover includes: a side panel; an upper panel configured to be coupled to the side panel at an upper seam; and a lower panel configured to be coupled to the side panel at a lower seam.
In certain embodiments, the cover includes a plurality of pleats positioned at at least one of the upper seam and the lower seam.
In some embodiments, the kit further includes a zipper coupled to the cover.
In certain embodiments, the kit further includes a handle coupled to the cover.
In some embodiments, the kit further includes a fastener configured to secure the inflatable meditation cushion in a transport configuration.
While multiple embodiments are disclosed, still other embodiments of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description, which shows and describes illustrative embodiments of the invention. Accordingly, the drawings and detailed description are to be regarded as illustrative in nature and not restrictive.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a top perspective view of an inflatable meditation cushion in a support configuration, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.
FIG. 2 is a bottom perspective view of the inflatable meditation cushion of FIG. 1.
FIG. 3 is a side sectional view of the inflatable meditation cushion along line 3-3 of FIG. 1.
FIG. 4 is a side view of the inflatable meditation cushion of FIG. 1 in a transport configuration.
FIG. 5 is a top perspective view of an inflatable bladder of the inflatable meditation cushion of FIG. 1.
FIG. 6 is a top detail perspective view of the inflatable bladder and a cover of the inflatable meditation cushion of FIG. 1.
FIG. 7 is a flow diagram of a method for manufacturing an inflatable meditation cushion, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.
FIG. 8 is a top perspective view of the cover of the inflatable meditation cushion of FIG. 1 during the method of manufacturing of FIG. 7.
FIG. 9 is a schematic view of a kit for manufacturing the inflatable meditation cushion of FIG. 1.
FIG. 10 is a flow diagram of a method for using an inflatable meditation cushion, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.
It should be understood that the drawings are intended to facilitate understanding of exemplary embodiments of the present invention and are not necessarily to scale.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
FIGS. 1-4 illustrate an inflatable meditation cushion 100 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Illustratively, the inflatable meditation cushion 100 may be constructed of one or more materials from products that were previously used by an end user (referred to hereinafter as “previously used” products and materials), or upcycled materials, and/or using distributed manufacturing methods, which advantageously reduce manufacturing impacts of the cushion 100. The inflatable meditation cushion 100 may be reconfigurable to facilitate use and transportation, more specifically from a support configuration (for example, as shown in FIGS. 1-3, in which the cushion 100 is configured to support a meditating or otherwise seated user) to a transport configuration (for example, as shown in FIG. 4, in which the cushion 100 has a reduced sized compared to the support configuration). The cushion 100 may be rolled upon itself in the transport configuration.
The inflatable meditation cushion 100 may have various shapes. Illustratively, the inflatable meditation cushion 100 has a pin cushion-like shape, or, stated another way, the cushion 100 may be generally shaped as a spheroidal frustum. In other embodiments, the inflatable meditation cushion 100 has a different shape, such as a three-dimensional rectangle or the like.
With continued reference to FIGS. 1-4, the inflatable meditation cushion 100 generally includes an outer cover 102 that internally carries padding 104 (FIG. 3) and an inflatable bladder 106 (FIG. 3). The cover 102 may be constructed of various relatively durable, conformable, and soft materials, such as textiles. Illustratively, the cover 102 is constructed of one or more previously used or upcycled materials, such as previously used garments, blankets, sheets, or the like.
With specific reference to FIGS. 1-3, the cover 102 illustratively includes an upper panel 108, a lower panel 110, and a side panel 112. In certain embodiments and as illustrated, the upper panel 108 and the lower panel 110 include generally circular shapes (and thereby define the upper and lower planes of the spheroidal frustum shape of the cushion 100), and the side panel 112 includes an outwardly curved shape (and thereby defines the sides of the spheroidal frustum shape of the cushion 100). The upper panel 108 is coupled to the side panel 112 at an upper seam 114 (FIG. 1), such as a stitched seam, and the lower panel 110 is similarly coupled to the side panel 112 at a lower seam 116 (FIG. 2), such as a stitched seam. In some embodiments and as illustrated, the side panel 112 includes upper pleats 118 and lower pleats 120 positioned at the upper seam 114 and the lower seam 116, respectively, that facilitate forming the curved shape of the side panel 112.
The outer cover 102, more specifically the side panel 112 of the cover 102, may include an opening 122 that permits access to the interior of the cover 102. In certain embodiments, the opening 122 is selectively openable and closeable by including a closure, such as a zipper (shown elsewhere). The outer cover 102 may also include a handle 124 that facilitates carrying the cushion 100. Illustratively, the handle 124 is coupled to the side panel 112 at the upper seam 114 and the lower seam 116. In some embodiments and as illustrated, the handle 124 is positioned adjacent and generally obscures the opening 122. The cover 102 further includes a fastener that facilitates securing the cushion 100 in the transport configuration. Referring specifically to FIGS. 2 and 4, the fastener may be a button 126 coupled to the lower panel 110 and positioned through an opening 128 in the handle 124 in the transport configuration. Alternatively, the fastener may take other forms, such as a hook-and-loop fastener.
With specific reference to FIG. 3, the padding 104 is disposed between the outer cover 102 and the inflatable bladder 106. The padding 104 is a relatively conformable and durable material. The padding 104 may be, for example, cotton, wool, buckwheat, feathers, shape memory materials, such as foams, plant-based or otherwise compostable insulation, or combinations thereof. The padding 104 may be formed as a generally continuous structure or a non-continuous structure (for example, as packing “peanuts” or “popcorn”). Illustratively, the padding 104 includes one or more previously used or upcycled materials, such as the padding of previously used pillows, blankets, mattresses, furniture, shipping materials, or the like.
Referring now to FIGS. 3, 5, and 6, the inflatable bladder 106 generally includes a main body 130 and a selectively openable and closable valve 132. The main body 130 is configurable to an enlarged configuration (FIG. 3), for example, by receiving air via the valve 132, and a compact configuration (FIG. 6), for example, by releasing air via the valve 132. In the enlarged configuration, the inflatable bladder 106 maintains the inflatable meditation cushion 100 in the support configuration, and in the compact configuration (for example, as shown in FIGS. 1-3), the inflatable bladder 106 permits the inflatable meditation cushion 100 to be reconfigured to the transport configuration (for example, as shown in FIG. 4).
The inflatable bladder 106 may have the same general shape as the overall shape of the cushion 100. More specifically, the inflatable bladder 106 illustratively has a pin cushion-like shape, or, stated another way, the bladder 106 may be generally shaped as a spheroidal frustum. In other embodiments, the bladder 106 has a different shape, such as a three-dimensional rectangle or the like. The inflatable bladder 106 may be constructed of flexible and air-tight materials, such as rubber, latex, mylar, vinyl, chloroprene, polyester, nylon, polyurethane. In some embodiments, the bladder 106 may internally include one or more materials that facilitate self-expansion, such as open cell foams.
Referring specifically to FIG. 6, the valve 132 may be movable through or otherwise accessible via the opening 122 in the cover 102, more specifically by unzipping the zipper 134.
FIG. 7 is a flow diagram of a method 200 for manufacturing the inflatable meditation cushion 100, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. At block 202, the method 200 begins by providing the cover 102, the padding 104, and the inflatable bladder 106 separate from each other. In certain embodiments, block 202 occurs at a manufacturing location (that is, a facility including machinery for processing and transforming materials into semi-finished or finished products) and/or is conducted by a manufacturer (that is, machinery operators and individuals other than the end users of the products). In some embodiments, providing the cover 102 includes forming the cover 102 from a textile, more specifically cutting a textile, and even more specifically cutting a textile using one or more patterns. In certain embodiments, block 202 includes obtaining a textile for the cover 102 and/or the padding 104 from one or more previously used products. In certain embodiments and as illustrated in FIG. 8, forming the cover 102 includes partially joining one of the upper panel 108 and the lower panel 110 (shown elsewhere) to the side panel 112 at the upper seam 114 and the lower seam 116 (shown elsewhere), respectively, such that the cover 102 includes an access opening 136. At block 204 and with additional reference to FIG. 9, the method 200 continues by forming a kit 300 for manufacturing the cushion 100. More specifically, the block 204 includes positioning the cover 102 with the access opening 136, the padding 104, and the inflatable bladder 106 in packaging 302. In certain embodiments, block 204 occurs at the manufacturing location and/or is conducted by the manufacturer. In some embodiments, the packaging 302 is a bag, a box, or another type of container. At block 206, the method 200 continues by transporting the packaging 302 carrying the cover 102, the padding 104, and the inflatable bladder 106 to an end user location (that is, the location of an individual intending to own the inflatable meditation cushion 100; for example, a meditation retreat). The kit 300 is then unpacked, more specifically the cover 102, the padding 104, and the inflatable bladder 106 are removed from the packaging 302. At block 208, the inflatable bladder 106 and the padding 104 are positioned inside the cover 102. Block 208 may occur at the end user location and/or is conducted by the end user. In some embodiments, the inflatable bladder 106 and the padding 104 are moved through the access opening 136 and positioned inside the cover 102. At block 210, the method 200 concludes by closing the access opening 136 of the cover 102, more specifically fully joining the one of the upper panel 108 and the lower panel 110 to the side panel 112 at the upper seam 114 and the lower seam 116.
FIG. 10 is a flow diagram of a method 400 for using the inflatable meditation cushion 100, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Any of the actions of the method 400 may occur at an end user location and/or may be conducted by an end user. At block 402, the method 400 begins by receiving the kit 300, more specifically the packaging 302 carrying the cover 102, the padding 104, and the inflatable bladder 106. At block 402, the cover 102 may include the access opening 136, more specifically one of the upper panel 108 and the lower panel 110 is partially joined to the side panel 112 at the upper seam 114 and the lower seam 116. At block 404, the kit 300 is then unpacked, more specifically the cover 102, the padding 104, and the inflatable bladder 106 are removed from the packaging 302. At block 406, the inflatable bladder 106 and the padding 104 are positioned inside the cover 102. In some embodiments, the inflatable bladder 106 and the padding 104 are moved through the access opening 136 and positioned inside the cover 102. At block 408, the method 200 continues by closing the access opening 136 of the cover 102, more specifically fully joining the one of the upper panel 108 and the lower panel 110 to the side panel 112 at the upper seam 114 and the lower seam 116. At block 410, the inflatable bladder 106 is inflated to reconfigure the cushion 100 to the support configuration. At block 412, the end user sits on the cushion 100 in the support configuration. At block 414, the inflatable bladder 106 is deflated. At block 416, the cushion 100 is then reconfigured to the transport configuration, more specifically the cushion 100 is rolled upon itself. At block 418, the method 400 concludes by securing the cushion 100 in the transport configuration by using the fastener, more specifically the button 126 and the handle opening 128.
In some embodiments of the present disclosure, inflatable meditation cushions and methods advantageously reduce manufacturing impacts by incorporating previously used or upcycled materials, and/or by using distributed manufacturing. In certain embodiments, such distributed manufacturing methods include actions performed by the end users of the cushions, which provides an enhanced affinity for such cushions.
Various modifications and additions can be made to the exemplary embodiments discussed without departing from the scope of the present invention. For example, while the embodiments described above refer to particular features, the scope of this invention also includes embodiments having different combinations of features and embodiments that do not include all of the above described features.
Patent Application
20240374044
