Patent Application
20210127867
A cushion system that meets multiple needs by providing at least two distinct cushion designs: a convex shaped cushion that acts as a closed seat type cushion and a concave cushion that functions as a neck cushion.
Pillow. pad or foam type cushions are used to provide comfortable support users sitting, kneeling, leaning, resting one's head or supporting one's neck. Outside of the home, portable cushions are used in various settings including stadium seats, additional seat or leg supports for those sitting in car or airplane seats, office chairs, cushions for car drivers and passenger and neck and back supports for travelers.
Efforts have been made to optimize cushions for a specific purpose such as a chair cushion, a stadium seat cushion, a back support cushion and a head or neck support cushion. Conventional detachable seat cushions are seldom easily portable. U.S. Pat. No. 4,843,662 describes a two person seat case. The need for a headrest for supporting the head of a user while the user is seated in a high-backed seat and is in a relaxed, dozy or even sleeping condition has been addressed by, for example, u-shaped neck support pillows. U.S. Pat. No. 4,236,264, discloses a horseshoe-shaped pillow support having spaced-apart legs projecting forwardly from a horseshoe return, the pillow support being inflatable by air. Other u-shaped neck support pillows are known with foam, gel beads or another fill.
A multipurpose cushion system that meets various needs. Embodiments of the invention include various advantageous features. The system includes at least two distinct cushion designs: a convex shaped cushion that acts as a closed seat type cushion and a concave cushion designed as a hippocrepiform-shaped neck cushion.
The two cushions are nested to provide a synergistic effect in which the concave cushion acts as fill for a closed convex seat type cushion and the outer convex cushion casing acts as a cover for a concave (hippocrepiform shaped) neck cushion.
The shape of the inner cushion is particularly important. A hippocrepiform form (sometimes referred colloquially as horseshoe shape) differs from a straight u-shape in that the legs are curved inward. In an embodiment of the invention, it has been found that advantages result from a hippocrepiform shape in which the space when the surfaces of the legs nearest to one another (near the end of the legs) is less than one-half the maximum spacing. In addition, the thickness of the cushion is preferably less than that maximum spacing between the legs and more than the minimum spacing between the legs. These dimensional relationships and the generally flat side walls provide firm but comfortable neck support. The hippocrepiform shaped cushion offers advantages over a straight U-shape form in that the shape provides better neck support and also facilitates storing the inner cushion in the outer cushion case in a way that aligns the flat top and bottom surfaces of the inner cushion to support the flat top and bottom surfaces of the outer cushion casing.
The flat top and bottom surfaces of the concave cushion align to provide a flat cushion for the flat surfaces of the convex cushion. The concave cushion may also wrap around a storage space to provide a storage space with lateral cushioning. Additional cushions may be nested within the system such as foot cushions nested within the arms of the hippocrepiform shaped neck pillow.
More specifically, the multipurpose cushion system includes a convex outer cushion casing having a convex (e.g., circular, ovate, or regular polygonal shape) that includes a flat front face and a flat back face and a side wall extending between a perimeter edge of the flat front face and a perimeter edge of the flat back face. The outer cushion has a closeable opening removed from both the perimeter edge of the flat front face and the perimeter edge of the flat back face.
The system further includes a concave inner cushion configured in a hippocrepiform-shape (or horseshoe shape) and having a substantially uniform rectangular cross section around the hippocrepiform-shape of the body, the inner cushion comprising a casing made of an hippocrepiform-shaped fabric member having a substantially rectangular cross section to provide a flat front face and a flat back face with an inner side wall and an outer side wall extending between a perimeter edge of the flat front face and a perimeter edge of the flat back face, the inner cushion having a closeable opening removed from both the perimeter edge of the flat front face and the perimeter edge of the flat back face, and the inner cushion containing a fill material, the inner cushion hippocrepiform-shape having a crotch formed by the joining of two legs, configured to receive the neck of a user sufficiently closely to hold the inner cushion in position, and the closeable opening covered by a fly, the opening for adding or removing fill material.
The inner cushion insert has an uncompressed thickness that is greater than the thickness of the inner cushion casing and the inner cushion casing has a thickness that is greater than the thickness of the outer cushion casing. Moreover, the lateral dimensions of the inner cushion are equal to or greater than the outer cushion casing, which is made of stretch material—such as lycra—that stretches to cover the inner cushion. Thus, the inner cushion insert is compressible to fit within the inner cushion casing such that the inner cushion acts as fill for a hippocrepiform-shaped neck cushion and the encased inner cushion is compressible to fit within the outer cushion casing so as to function as fill for a closed seat type cushion and the outer cushion casing acts as a cover for a hippocrepiform-shaped neck cushion.
A positioning strap is provided at the top of the cushion to allow the cushion to be detachably secured to a fixture (such as a head rest, luggage handle) so that the cushion is held in position. In an embodiment. Because the length between the strap snap and the attachment point is longer than the distance between the case shape and the attachment point a loop is formed when the strap snap is snapped onto the case snap. This loop allows the strap to be secured to a fixture such as a head rest of luggage handle to hold the cushion in position. Various snaps may be used and the snaps be magnetic to facilitate attachment.
The snap attachment may be a grommet snap fastener in the form of a pair of interlocking discs (metal or plastic) secured to the strap and case respectively. A circular lip under one-disc fits into a groove on the top of the other, holding them fast until a certain amount of force is applied. Different types of snaps can be used—an S-type snap has springs in the socket part. Two springs open to allow the snap to fit in or ring-type springs that open to allow the snap to fit in. The ring type snap has a stronger action than that of the S-Spring Snap.
The provision of the outer case provides additional function as a circular or egg shaped (ovate) cushion. The case also keeps the inner cushion clean when in public and passing through security checkpoints and other others where the cushion might otherwise contact strangers or unclean surfaces Providing an ovate (egg) shaped outer case that conforms closely to the shape of the inner cushion ensures that the inner cushion is not overly compressed such that a cushioned open space is preserved within the outer case. This open void in the outer cushion may serve various purposes. To begin with, for some people a doughnut-shaped pillow is used to bring some temporary relief from discomfort associated with hemorrhoids or similar conditions. The “doughnut shape” offers relief who suffer from inflamed hemorrhoids by relieving pressure on the swollen tissues. Because of their shape, there is no cushion to press against the affected tissues. Because doughnut pillows do not properly support the area, some specialists contend that a doughnut shaped pillow cannot provide adequate support. With the void covered, however, a hybrid support—a light support in the center of the cushion may be superior to an open void. In addition, the cushioned void provides a convenient cushioned storage space for valuables. To provide easy access to the storage space, a zipper (or other sealable closure) may be provided on one planar face of the outer casing to allow direct access to the cushion void. This closure may be in addition to or in lieu of the zipper provided on the outer side wall. Thus, in the egg-shaped embodiment, the centrally located open space can be used for storage and provide a more comfortable to a user having irritation in the seat area.
Piping trim may be used at the seams between the side edges and the top and bottom sides of the cushions. Piping is a trim or embellishment that is typically cut on the bias and folded to create a pipe, which is inserted into a seam. The addition of piping helps maintain a flat top and bottom surface of the cushion. When the outer cushion is used for a face pillow, the piping could create discomfort and a seam without piping may be preferable.
The multipurpose cushion system provides a wide variety of options for the user. The cushion may be used to support the neck (inner cushion), seat/bottom (outer cushion), back (outer cushion), leg (outer cushion), arm (inner or outer cushion), head (outer cushion). Such an adaptable multipurpose cushioning system is useful in various environments such as car, train, office and especially in an airplane or similar environment where a user may find themselves in a variety of tight spaces. A single cushion configuration is not optimal for the many types of cushion a user might desire when confined in a tight space such as the window, middle or aisle seat of an airplane. The multipurpose system is adaptable to the unique needs of individuals.
Embodiments of the invention are shown in the drawings. As shown, the multipurpose cushion system includes a concave hippocrepiform-shaped compressible foam cushion insert the is encased within a concave hippocrepiform-shaped foam cushion casing that, in one embodiment, is slightly smaller than the foam cushion insert so that the foam cushion insert is compressed and fills the concave hippocrepiform-shaped foam cushion casing. The filled hippocrepiform-shaped foam cushion casing may be encased within a convex outer casing that is less thick than the hippocrepiform-shaped foam cushion casing so that the hippocrepiform-shaped foam cushion acts as compressed fill for a convex shaped cushion
The inner cushion casing 200 may be formed of a plush washable material. To facilitate use as a neck pillow, straps 250a and 250b may be provided at the ends of the opposed legs of the inner cushion casing 200. Snaps, Velcro or some other connectors are provided to connect the straps 250a, 250b to secure the neck pillow around a user's neck.
In addition to use as a neck cushion, the inner cushion 200 may be compressed into various shapes to meet the wide variety of cushioning needs one might experience while traveling.
As noted above,
Various fabrics and fill material may be used. A stretch lyrca-spandex blend is advantageous for the outer casing to allow limited stretching to facilitate insertion of the inner cushion. Alternatively, a clear polymer material may be used to permit the cushion to be used in venues, such as stadiums, that restrict opaque containers. The inner cushion is ideal as a neck support pillow. A washable plush fabric may be most comfortable for this purpose. A polyurethane or memory foam insert may be used as the insert for the inner cushion. The insert may be one piece or two more pieces that themselves act as cushions such as foot cushions, for example.
As described, the multipurpose cushion system meets various needs by providing at least two distinct cushion designs: a convex shaped cushion that acts as a closed seat type cushion and a concave cushion designed as a hippocrepiform-shaped neck cushion. The two cushions are nested to provide a synergistic effect in which the concave cushion acts as fill for a closed convex seat type cushion and the outer convex cushion casing acts as a cover for a concave (hippocrepiform shaped) neck cushion.
The shape of the inner cushion is particularly important. A hippocrepiform form differs from a straight u-shape in that the legs are curved inward. In an embodiment of the invention, it has been found that advantages result from a hippocrepiform shape in which the legs curve inward so that the distance/space (Smin) when the surfaces of the legs nearest to one another (near the end of the legs) is less than one-half the maximum spacing (Smax). In addition, the thickness T200 of the inner cushion 200 is preferably less than that maximum spacing Smax between the legs and more than the minimum spacing Smin between the legs. These dimensional relationships and the generally flat side walls provide firm but comfortable neck support when the inner cushion is used as a neck pillow. The hippocrepiform shaped cushion offers advantages over a straight U-shape form in that the shape provides better neck support and also facilitates storing the inner cushion in the outer cushion case in a way that aligns the flat top and bottom surfaces of the inner cushion to support the flat top and bottom surfaces of the outer cushion casing.
The inner cushion has an uncompressed thickness T300 that is greater than the thickness T200 of the inner cushion casing and the inner cushion casing has a thickness T200 that is greater than the thickness T100 of the outer cushion casing. By virtue of this dimensional relationship, the inner cushion 300 is compressed when encased within the inner cushion casing 200 and the hippocrepiform shaped inner cushion 200 is compressed when encased within the outer casing 100. The flat top 210 and bottom 220 surfaces of the concave hippocrepiform shaped cushion 200 align to provide a flat cushion for the flat surfaces 110, 120 of the convex cushion. The concave cushion may also wrap around a storage space 170 to provide a storage space with lateral cushioning. Additional cushions may be nested within the system such as foot cushions nested within the arms of the hippocrepiform shaped neck pillow.
A positioning strap 150 is provided at the top of the cushion to allow the cushion to be detachably secured to a fixture (such as a head rest (e.g.,
The snap attachment may be a grommet snap fastener in the form of a pair of interlocking discs (metal or plastic) secured to the strap and case respectively. A circular lip under one-disc fits into a groove on the top of the other, holding them fast until a certain amount of force is applied. Different types of snaps can be used—an S-type snap has springs in the socket part. Two springs open to allow the snap to fit in or ring-type springs that open to allow the snap to fit in. The ring type snap has a stronger action than that of the S-Spring Snap.
Though the outer cushion casing is described as part of a multipurpose cushion system, the casing can be used to encase other forms of inner cushions including other forms of neck pillows. Features, such as the storage access closure (zipper) and positioning strap, described herein in the context of the multipurpose cushion system may be used for a separate casing for other neck pillows and inner cushions. The outer casing could also be used to store a travel blanket or other soft material in addition to or in lieu of an inner cushion. The firmness of the outer cushion can be adjusted be changing or addition to the material encased. The outer casing provides an important function in preserving the inner cushion in a sanitized state when traveling in environments where the cushion might get dirty or unsanitary.
A wide variety of fabric, leather and synthetic materials may be used for the outer and inner cushions with each offering advantages and limitations. Leather provides durability and strength. PU leather is an artificial leather material made with split leather (that's the fibrous part of the hide left over from making genuine leather) which has been coated with polyurethane (hence the name “PU”). Velour and similar plush materials provide comfortable and are available in stretch and non-stretch blends. Nylons such as nylon packcloth, ripstop nylon (lightweight and resistant to tearing), ballistic nylon (thick and durable). Others include Cordura (water resistant and abrasion and puncture resistant), denim, neoprene Polyutherane (PU) Synthetic leather. For the outer casing in particular, washability can be an important factor in material choice.
